Author's Note: If you're looking for a happy Dramione/Theomione fic this one isn't it.

Fic is meant for 18 and over so reader discretion is advised. Fic includes explicit language, sexual scenes, alcoholism, trauma, emotional abuse, infidelity, eating disorders, kidnapping, traumatic childbirth, major character injury, and major character death. Again, not a happy fic, non-HEA. You will most likely not like many of these characters by the end.

Trigger Warning: This chapter includes sexual content. Intended for 18 and over reader. Reader discretion is advised.


Chapter One


"Hurry up, Granger. I've a limited amount of time I'm able to disappear without my absence being noticed, as you well know." Malfoy noted in an impatient tone.

Godric, was she really going to do this?

"Fine." Hermione bit out.

Without thinking of the consequences or the embarrassment to follow she unbuttoned her muted mauve cloak at her neck, pushed it quickly off her shoulders, and let it pool on the ground around her feet. The light, short sleeved chemise made of cream colored gauzy silk rustled around her knees in the breeze. The top was, as tradition called for, held together only by a blue silk ribbon tying the offensive fabric together just below her collarbone.

She had threaded it herself per the tradition's requirement, but she hadn't bothered with any other undergarments. 'What good would it do to wear another barrier to the inevitable', she reasoned. Now, she wished she had something as the wind gusted lightly over her prickled skin. Its airy chill temperature made her nipples pebble, making them fully displayed through the flimsy material.

At least Malfoy was, for his part, rendered speechless. He even stood there unmoving as if he were admiring her. She mentally scoffed.

Unlikely.

Hermione's somehow steady fingers began to unpin her hair she'd gathered at the nape of her neck. When the last bobby pin was removed, she shook her riotous curls loose so they flowed down in uneven layers to her mid waist. She didn't have the time or the means to cut it whilst on the run. Malfoy should consider himself lucky she apparated to a muggle hotel she knew of and used the last of her money to rent a room for the evening to primp a little. With nothing left to make herself prepared for this inane arrangement, she removed her muggle trainers off her feet, revealing her bare toes.

"Did you bring them?" She questioned in a tone full of haughtiness.

Now it was his turn to make an indignant sound, as he pulled a strap she hadn't noticed off his shoulder, and tossed the rucksack to her. She caught it eagerly and opened it with nervous fingers.

"I wrapped the fang in a protective cloth so you don't nick yourself. The bag will replenish with anything you need. Food, potions, and such."

Her hand withdrew the aforementioned green cotton material bundled tightly and tied off. She knelt in the grass then, fingers yanking on the knot because the deal would be off if he's lying. Once the knot was free she gently unravelled the fabric and the item it held thudded softly onto the grass. A basilisk fang. A sigh of relief past her lips.

At last.

Progress.

Hermione slipped her shaking hand within the bag again to withdraw a gold cup decorated intricately with a gold molded H on the front. It glistened brilliantly in the moonlight but felt heavy with dark magic.

"You did it. Malfoy I-thank you."

She pressed as much gratefulness into her statement as she could. This would change so much. The tide of the war was about to shift in the next twenty-four hours when she brought these gifts of good faith back to the tent to destroy. The dark magic swam through the cup and began to creep along her fingers until she gently returned it along with the rewrapped fang to the bag. Once it was all secure, she made her way over to a distant tree to tuck the rucksack safely into a notch. Before she walked back she withdrew her wand and performed several protective spells on the bag, making sure she was the only one leaving with it tonight.

"I haven't found the item for Ravenclaw yet. If I do, per our bargain, I'll contact you." Malfoy supplied when she returned to stand a few feet from him.

Hermione nodded, her mind tingling with the realization he had completed his end of said bargain and soon it would be her turn.

"We should review the terms of our agreement." He suggested after a few awkwardly silent minutes.

"Alright."

He flourished his wand in the air and two rolls of parchment appeared before each of them. With little fanfare they reached out to unroll their perspective scroll to reread the words of fate.

"I, Draco Lucius Malfoy, swear an oath of protection for one Hermione Jean Granger, to do no untoward harm upon her body, to forsake those who would do harm unto her to the best of my abilities, and to assist her as I am able when it is requested without jeopardizing the lives or positions of myself or parents so named Lucius Malfoy and Narcissa Malfoy nee Black."

She snorted quietly. Of course he would add that little bit, but she didn't mind. He continued as if he didn't hear her.

"In good faith I present these gifts of intent to one Hermione Jean Granger for her acceptance and guarantee of our binding vows and marriage contract."

It sounded so formal, but then again, an agreement to binding yourself to someone and accepting the terms of a life contract should be she supposed. With a clear voice she read hers out loud.

"I, Hermione Jean Granger, swear an oath of protection for one, Draco Lucius Malfoy, to do no untoward harm upon his body and to forsake those who would do harm unto him."

She doesn't add the selfish parts as he did.

"In good faith I accept these gifts of intent from one Draco Lucius Malfoy for the purpose and guarantee of our binding vows and marriage contract."

Her words are as cold as his but for all intents and purposes it's written with no room for adjustment. Seeing no further reason to wait she accioed a quill and inkwell from inside her beaded bag tucked in a pocket of her cloak to sign her name and future to him. She offered both to him which he took to sign his name and future to her.

Once the formality was done, and the contracts safely hidden in their cloaks, they waited for their third party.

"Have you spoken with your parents?" She asked, wondering at their reaction.

He huffed a short laugh.

"Of course not. They won't be told until the last minute, lest they get any cheeky ideas to off you before the end of the war."

Her eyes widened and she paled.

"Should I worry then once they do know?"

Malfoy shook his head.

"Not with what we're doing. There's no breaking these vows once they're made and the bonds set. Besides that, when you win the war, you'll be our only protection."

Not very reassuring, she thought.

"No one will know, then?"

"No and make sure it stays that way until the war is over. We'll be tortured and killed if this is discovered before then." His voice was scolding which made her eyes roll.

Hermione knew this the day she stumbled upon Malfoy in muggle London a few weeks into being on the run. She'd thought she was as good as dead and he would turn her into his master. Thank Godric, Harry and Ron weren't with her. Instead, he gave her a galleon wrapped in cloth and told her not to touch it unless she wanted to make a deal to end the war. Months passed with little to no progress for the wandering trio and they were starting to suffer negative side effects from starvation combined with the dark magic from the locket horcrux. When Ron had left them, Hermione was so distraught she decided it was time to hear Malfoy's offer.

Using the portkey galleon to appear in an abandoned, half decrepit cottage, somewhere in an unknown forest had taken her by surprise as did Malfoy's prompt appearance. He took in her state of clothes, fragile skin, and thin features before he demanded she sit and eat whilst she listened to his proposal. It was the first time in a long while she'd a proper meal, even if it was a simple cold roast chicken sandwich and an apple.

When he explained his plan was to assist in aiding them with the task Dumbledore had assigned, in exchange for his family's immunity, she'd thought him mad. She didn't have anything to offer him and couldn't guarantee immunity for any of them let, alone all three.

Malfoy saw reason in this and agreed to her only needing to provide immunity for himself and his mother. That brought them to tonight on the sloping hills not far from that abandoned cottage, in a grove of sacred ash trees. A hope, not a guarantee, of defeating Voldemort in exchange for her life after. It wasn't even a question of if she would do it. For her friends and family, nothing was off the table.

Just then a portkey sound filled the air around them and the pair turned, wands raised and ready. An elderly woman with gnarled hands and a hunched back that made walking look painful, eyed them adroitly. Their wands lowered after they took in her non-threatening appearance.

"So, you two are the couple wishing to perform the bond and marriage ceremonies, yes?"

Malfoy approached her and withdrew a sack from his cloak that clinked with a heavy sound of coins.

"Yes, discreetly."

The witch peered into the bag and nodded in satisfaction. Removing her cloak at a languid pace, she commanded them to follow her, which they did as she moved slowly to a half-moon shaped area in the grove.

"Did you attend to your ribbons on your garments properly and bring rings?" She asked briskly.

Both nodded and Malfoy produced a black velvet box which he handed to Hermione.

"You'll need a proper ring that can be glamoured."

She took it hesitantly and steadied her hand as it opened the box. Surprise coursed through her. It was a simple band of platinum with a large princess cut white diamond. Nestled next to it was a man's simple black band with three silver diagonal slashes. Not too formal, yet elegant.

"It was my grandmother's. She preferred simplicity to the garish pieces most of my family vault holds. I custom created mine to match the aesthetic."

They really were lovely. She held the box out to the witch. The woman carefully examined them before nodding in approval.

"Right, the marriage bond first then. Now lad, hurry up, off with your cloak and boots. We don't have all night."

Malfoy's cheeks tinted at the elder witch's admonishment but nevertheless he removed his cloak before tossing it aside.

He stood in a plain white tunic made with some of the finest silk Hermione had seen that shimmered in the moonlight. His light tan trousers were again made of a fine material that stopped mid calf as tradition insisted. The top of them were laced shut with a silk golden ribbon, similar to her blue one. His dragon hide boots easily slipped off his feet to join his cloak and left him barefoot like herself.

The marriage bond was rather simple as requested. The witch gathered them next to each other without facing one another, thankfully. A few vows recited, the exchanging of their beautiful rings, a ribbon colored blood red for a new life born together, and a wave of the old woman's wand tying their hands had them married in a matter of minutes.

Hermione felt nothing.

"Now, the binding ceremony. This will take time, so please be patient." The elderly witch explained.

She swirled her wand in a series of complex spells, grafting the bond ribbon with several thread-like spells, all emitting from the tip of her wand, that braided into a solid band of gold. She walked backwards slowly, laying the gold band in a half moon shape before cutting it off with a slash of her wand and continuing to create a second rope in a half moon shape. At last, two strands lay separate from each other on the grass to form an empty circle, wide enough to fit several people if need be. The old witch stepped outside of the area.

"Step into the bonding ritual of your own volition."

They did so, neither looking at the other.

"You must clasp each other at the elbow and look into each other's eyes in order for the bond to take effect." The woman instructed stringently.

With great reluctance, not for doing this but the intimate proximity it created, the pair stepped close to each other. It was Malfoy who lifted Hermione's arms, sliding his hands up the underside of hers, until they reached her elbows and grasped them. Her hands in turn settled around the crook of his elbows before her eyes met his.

Empty. So empty of anything she wished she'd have in this private moment with someone who truly loved her. She pined for such things momentarily before locking those thoughts away. An adult decision had no time for such feelings.

"Now, repeat after me." The witch turned to Malfoy. "I, Draco Lucius Malfoy, bind myself to thee, Hermione Jean Granger, in body, mind, and magic. I cast asunder all other pursuits. In this binding vow I forsake myself to thee until death becomes my master. This vow I make thee."

"I, Draco Lucius Malfoy, bind myself to thee, Hermione Jean Granger-" He continued to say the words but the crackle of ancient, old magic began to hum between them and it distracted her. It's as if the earth had split in two and something not seen often crawled forth and surrounded them. The witch was nodding her head as Malfoy finished, then she turned to Hermione.

"Now, your turn, repeat after me. I, Hermione Jean Granger, bind myself to thee, Draco Lucius Malfoy, in body, mind, and magic. I cast asunder all other pursuits. In this binding vow I forsake myself to thee until death becomes my master. This vow I make thee."

Hermione licked her lips as her eyes met his and she held them.

"I, Hermione Jean Granger, bind myself to thee, Draco Lucius Malfoy, in body, mind, and magic. I cast asunder all other pursuits. In this binding vow I forsake myself to thee until death becomes my master. This vow I make thee."

She saw when he felt it too as she recited her vow. It hovered over them, watching and waiting like a strange sentient being, as they participated in the archaic ceremony.

The witch performed another small spell and two orbs of light were sucked from both of their chests, as if their very magic had been ripped away inside the container, and gently floated to their own respective ribbon on the ground. A sharp flash of light emitted blindingly and when they could see again the bands were now pulsing the same glowing light golden color. They both took a few steps back within the circle from the other, overwhelmed by the surge of the powerful ancient magic between them.

The old witch put her wand away and turned to them.

"You'll have around three hours to seal the bond. If you don't, you risk not being able to return your magic correctly to your body. The orbs will become unstable and bound your magic inside the ribbons. The text says you must be shown of no cloth to complete the binding. You're aware of what to do with the ribbons from your clothes?"

Both nod, unwilling to speak yet.

"Excellent. Well, good luck Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy. Many congratulations on this auspicious day."

Hermione paled at the realization.

Her name was Hermione Jean Malfoy now.

Oh Godric.

She was married and soon-to-be bonded to her childhood tormentor, which made her lament the price she'd paid for the mission. It felt overwhelming in that moment. even if it's for the greater good.

She knew they'd have to not only marry, but also bond themselves for life together. Malfoy had been right when he asserted that the Ministry would most certainly come after him and his mother, regardless of the covert help he provided Potter and his friends. There'd be few pardons offered to any death eaters to satiate the blood lust to come from the survivors and public at large. If there's anything the Malfoys could do well, it's know how to find an advantage to a situation from any angle to ensure their survival. Malfoy being life bonded to Hermione Granger, best friend of Harry Potter and possible future heroine of the wizarding world, was theirs.

The old woman walked back to where she appeared via portkey a mere hour ago to replace her cloak around her frail body and disappeared the same way she had appeared.

Malfoy and Hermione stood facing each other, alone at last, still within the bonding ring which pulsed a glowing gold hue like a newborn heartbeat of its own.

"I haven't done this before." She confessed, ready to get the embarrassment over with.

"Neither have I." He admitted.

This surprised her. She thought for sure Parkinson...huh.

"I have two requests with regards to these...intimate interactions in this marriage."

He said nothing, waiting for her to continue.

"We call each other by first name only...and we never use this as a weapon of anger, harm, or hatred."

Malfoy's mouth drew into a thin line.

"I believe I swore an oath to not harm you."

"There are many ways to harm, Malfoy, as we both well know."

His nostrils flared at her deeper meaning. He made to think about her requests for a good minute.

"Fine, I swear. When we join in bed it will be treated with respect and-"

"Kindness." She finished for him.

He nodded, some slight disdain echoing in his eyes that he masked, but not quick enough to escape her notice. She understood this part would be uncomfortable for both of them.

"We-we have to be shown of no cloth, right? So...do you want to...should we help each other?" She asked weakly.

He stared at her before nodding curtly.

She wasn't sure how her Gryffindor courage was keeping her hands from shaking, but she was thankful they weren't. A slight tug of her blue ribbon loosened the neck of the chemise. She crossed the few steps to stand before him, mere inches apart.

With her eyes downcast she watched as his hands deliberately raised toward the ribbon she'd untied. His fingers slowly slipped the blue strand free of her gown, as tradition avowed, and wrapped it several times around his left wrist. The neck of the gown was open and now immodestly dipped to a low vee, displaying the valley between her breasts. She exhaled slowly, raising her eyes to his face as his hands reached out again to grasp the hem of her chemise.

There was no going back now.

A gentle tug up had her arms raised and the fabric followed over her head. A second later left her exposed to the cool night air and even cooler gaze of her new husband. She didn't look away in shame, even as her blush burned from her chest up towards her cheeks, across her shoulders, and down to her naked stomach.

Not to be outdone in bravery by her, Malfoy began to tug at his own shirt cuffs and ties before pulling the white fabric over his head. He didn't move to his trousers, waiting for her to complete her part of the tradition. Distractingly, she noticed his pants were expensive, soft, and elegant as he was prone to.

The similar ribbon to her own but made of gold silk was slowly undone and pulled from its laces by her unshaken fingers. She mimicked his earlier movements of wrapping the gold ribbon around her right wrist a few times. Without much thought she slipped her hands around the waistband of his trousers and pushed them down so they dropped to the carpet of grass. He stepped out of them easily and kicked them aside.

With slight curiosity Hermione let her gaze finally wander down to his chest, learning the scars there. Some she knew of while others, like the deep cuts from Harry's foolishness sixth year, are new to her.

His eyes also roamed over her at last, his gaze almost immediately zeroed in on the large remnant of a botched dark curse on her right ribcage. It spidered out like an angry purple web before disappearing into various faded threads.

"Dolohov at the Department of Mysteries." She explained quietly. He hummed darkly, muttering how he was glad the bastard had gotten what he deserved for his stupid actions that night.

They didn't take much stalk in their more intimate parts. Both glanced over the other's body to take note of more unique marks such as the smattering of freckles all over her abdomen and the strange red tinge around his dark mark he hadn't bothered to glamour. She understood now why he took it, even if it was a flimsy excuse to protect his bungling father.

Resolved to complete this she stepped up close again, closer than their bonding ceremony, and began to tie the ends of the ribbons at their wrists together. Once that was done she was left to stare in uncomfortable silence at his evenly breathing chest, wondering if he also felt any of the trepidation she now felt with the moment upon them.

"Lie down, Hermione."

She started at Malfoy saying her first name, having never heard him say it before then. When she seemed to be frozen in place, he set his hands on her shoulders, and gently pressed down. She automatically complied as they knelt down simultaneously and she laid herself on the grass, the feel of it tickled her already sensitive skin at her back.

Hermione focused on keeping her breathing from not being as erratic as her heartbeat at the feel of Malfoy hovering over her body, making sure to not touch her yet. Her unbound arm and hand remained at her side whilst her bound hand held onto his bound forearm, unsure if she should reach out to hold him as her body naturally wanted to do. His eyes were closed and since he wasn't opening them she took his lead by closing her own. Perhaps if she focused on the magic it would be less unbearable to complete this part of the bonding.

She felt his body shift as he put his weight onto his right elbow while his unbound hand slipped between them, which seemed to be trembling as it glided over her skin. Without warning she felt him press against her sensitive lips, testing her by slipping a finger in between her folds to gauge her responsiveness. She tightened involuntarily and he hissed, retreating his finger.

"Hermione, if this is going to be sealed you need to relax."

She almost hurled an insult at him for not telling her his intentions but bit her tongue. Malfoy was right, she needed to relax and this had to be sealed. Even though it was unwanted and unexpected it would feel good physically, she encouraged herself. He moved again, this time keeping his touch to her nerve bundle as his thumb rolled in small circular motions over her clit.

"Is this alright?" He asked in an unsure whisper.

Hermione hummed an affirmation as a strange warmth began to spread through abdomen and down her thighs. In a matter of seconds she felt herself start to soften to his touch. One of his fingers accidentally strayed and brushed the slit of her heat, making her gasp and arch her back from the combined sensation of his finger and thumb on her. Her breasts pressed into his chest and he froze his hand at the sudden intimate touch between their bodies. Realizing what she'd done Hermione immediately lowered herself back down, away from the too close contact Malfoy obviously didn't want.

"Sorry." She mumbled in humiliation, glad her eyes were closed so as not to see his face.

He said nothing, but instead attempted to repeat his action purposefully by slipping a finger within her. His hand was unpracticed at pushing his finger within her while rubbing her clit but it didn't matter to her because it still felt good and made her thighs spread further apart.

It wasn't long before her body began to move of its own accord, raising her hips and pulling his finger deeper into her. She couldn't help the soft moan she breathed out nor the sudden burst of bravery as her unbound hand drifted between his own thighs and timidly brushed her fingertips against the tip of his cock.

Her eyes almost flew open at the feeling of silken skin she hadn't anticipated. She waited for him to tell her to stop, to pull his own hand from her. Instead, he groaned and pressed more of his shaft into her palm. Unsure of what to do exactly, her fingers stroked along his semi hard length, learning the feel of him and silently worrying how he'd ever fit inside her.

With a gruff sigh Malfoy took matters into his own hands since his new wife was obviously unfamiliar with what to do. He pulled his finger from inside her and laid his hand atop of hers, pressing down so she wrapped her clumsy fingers around his swelling cock. He held firm and began to slide her grip up and down along his length, garnering a shiver from him.

Hermione may be unskilled but it would do as his hand returned between her legs to slide two fingers in her tight channel. Her stroke faltered and he could feel her walls clamp around the thicker intrusion. Salazar, she needed to relax or he'd never fit inside her. He went back to using his thumb to press down and flick at her clit, the motion immediately loosening her muscles within her cunt and opening herself to his fingers.

Satisfied he'd worked her enough Malfoy shifted back onto his haunches, removing his fingers from Hermione's now dampened nether lips, and grabbed her beneath her thighs. Taking his lead she let go of his cock and grabbed his unbound forearm as her bound hand moved to lay atop his other forearm. Malfoy pulled her legs open wider and moved forward fit his hips between them.

She felt him let go of her leg to align himself with her entrance while she breathed deep breaths in an attempt to calm herself. The more relaxed she was the quicker it would be, she thought. Slowly, achingly slow, he slipped the head of his cock into her. She felt the binding thrum as the strands around them burst softly with light before fading a little. He pressed in further, again the thrumming and light pulsed brighter behind her eyelids around them.

With slightly fearful focus she forced herself to open up to him, trying to think past the odd stretching sensation and the slight burn she felt. Malfoy must be impatient to start because with his next thrust he pushed harder than he had before and seated completely inside of her.

Hermione's nails bit into the flesh at his forearms. A sharp gasp at the sudden pain that shot through her lower abdomen escaped from her chest.

"A moment, please." She begged in a tight voice.

He stilled as she breathed around the discomfort and foreign feeling of fullness. This wasn't what she had expected it to feel like at all. It took about a minute but she managed to settle herself and the pain began to dull before an acute ache took its place. Gently, testing the waters, he pulled his hips back so his cock retreated slightly from within her only to push through the tightness of her and fill her cunt again. It hurt less this time and she lifted her hips to meet his as a show of acceptance.

Their pace was slow, learning. Her movements unpracticed and unguided which forced him to grip her hips firmer and move her as he thought he would like. She sighed pleasurably when he brushed her center with his pelvis, giving her a delicious tingling sensation that shivered throughout her body. His eyes, which had been closed as his mind filled with visions of another dark haired beauty awaiting his victorious return, suddenly opened to focus on her.

Hermione was flushed, lips parted, and eyes closed. With some surprise he noticed her breasts looked fuller, her nipples taunt, and they swayed with each thrust of his cock. She wasn't pretty but Draco would have to be mostly dead to not find her somewhat alluring in this moment. He's not sure why but he decided for this one time to think of his new wife as he took her. A small gift for her wedding night to keep another woman out of their newly made bed for now.

He laid her hips back on the plush grass again before stretching the full length of his body flush against hers. Their bound hands gripped tightly as was required by the ritual but Hermione realized she needed the anchor of his grip to ground her. She's vibrating with the combined new magic they were creating, her body's overwhelming response to him, and her mind trying to not shatter into a thousand pieces.

When Draco groaned a little from the slick feel of her, she moaned in kind to the feel of him pressing closer into her. She focused on that. Even though her mind was screaming at her to be logical the baser part of her acknowledged that this felt good and he was filling her in a way she didn't know she needed filled.

Their rhythm became more steady and the binding cords surrounding them began to vibrate and move. Slowly the magical ends of each strand began to wrap around one of their ankles in warmth, encompassing their bodies in firm cords of light. As their pace increased the cords slither higher, wrapping around them in sensitive places, emphasizing the pleasurable feeling of the moment.

Hermione arched her back again when the golden light band slid across her sensitive breasts but Draco was more fascinated by the feel of her band laying on his skin. It's like a fiery touch of foreign magic. Anywhere the others' band touched their own skin was molten and invading. It's pleasurable and damn near explosive.

Draco's hips began to slam harder into hers, the strange frenzied heat created by the cord was becoming more and more intense by the minute. Hermione rolled her hips wildly beneath him, giving over completely to the magic as it stole her breath and whatever reservations she had left.

At last their cords drift up their arms to wrap around their joined hands, entwining over the ribbons they had bound together in a layer of bright gold light. It burned deliciously, intimately. They could feel their magic touching, tasting, and learning each other at this connection; it was euphoric.

When it's difficult to separate the feeling of whose magic was whose Draco submitted to the will of it, taking his new wife without abandon, aching to complete their binding. Hermione's head fell back against the ground as she cried out with each hard plunge inside her, the feel of her magic tightening in time with her pending orgasm around her whole body in a way she never knew she could. As if he too felt the tightening pleasure Draco gasped her name, letting this unbearably amazing binding take all reason from him and fill him with only the need to feel her and their joined magic.

The binding strands at their hands glowing increased, burning brighter and hotter between their laced fingers.

"Draco, Draco please, I ah-ah," she panted, her core clenching and reaching for the last bit before completion.

It's then they opened their eyes and stared at each other. Pleasure, lust, wonder, and awe passed between them. It's enough to tip her over the edge with a cry of his name. Unthinkingly, Draco sealed his lips to her mouth, physically incapable of not touching any part of her that he can in this moment as he slammed into her tight cunt one last time and found his own blissful release. Their binding light flashed at their sealing moment so bright they thought they would be blinded. Passing out from pleasure almost seemed possible as their bodies slowed. Their newly formed magic settled within them as it jittered across both their skins.

Draco collapsed against her in pure exhaustion, twitching as the heady pangs of this new magic that wrecked his body. Hermione held him to her, lost in the tingling sensation and fatique of her own spent body, surprised at how pleasing the feeling of their magic being joined was.

They laid that way for a while as their heavy breathing began to slow and their sweat sleeked bodies cooled in the late night air. At length the realization of the situation brought back the awkwardness of reality. Without warning Malfoy leaned over and reached for his trousers he'd tossed aside. Once they were next to him he pulled his wand from his pocket. With a quick slash the wand severed the ribbons tying the two of them together and the pieces fluttered to the ground next to them. Slightly mortified at what had happened and how she'd acted, Hermione reached over for her chemise once they were separated, tugging it quickly over her head.

Malfoy stood up with his back facing her, pulling up his trousers before bending over to retrieve his shirt. When it was on again he walked over to where he left his cloak and threw it over his shoulders. By then she'd found her way over to her own cloak and shoes that she slid on, wrapping the cloak tightly around herself to hide her body flushed with embarrassment. She glanced up and saw him making his way over to her side, his face again devoid of any emotion. He held out a sheaf of paper.

"It's able to send messages to a twin page so we can communicate. You're to contact me immediately if you're pregnant. You're not to engage in hand or wand combat once you are. Your main priority will be to protect our heir at that point. Do you understand?"

An involuntary shudder ran down her spine even as she nodded. Our heir.

"If you're not, you need to notify me so we can schedule another meeting and try again next month."

She stared in slight horror at the page now. Next month?

"What if we are in the middle of retrieving another horcrux or I'm unavailable?" She sputtered.

Malfoy looked at her with a slight hint of distaste at her theatrical display.

"That's not my problem. You agreed to this arrangement, Granger. The sooner we produce our heir the better."

Her skin chilled at his unfeeling words as she took the page without further argument. Malfoy turned from her then, retrieving his boots to prepare to leave.

"Once I give you an heir, I want you to promise you'll leave me to my books and my own devices, Malfoy." She stated firmly, determined in that moment to set things in place so he couldn't change his mind later.

Malfoy scoffed as he pulled on his second dragon hide boot.

"I swear, Granger. Once you produce my heir you can move to France and build a library for all I care."

His indifference to her existence brought to light a newfound worry in her mind.

"Malfoy, what if we lose the war?" She asked because she couldn't bear to leave not knowing when he was right there.

"You won't, but if by some small chance that happened, I would send you away after you bore my son and place my pureblood mistress in your place." He stated simply, as if it were the most obvious solution. At least she knew he couldn't kill her with their binding in place.

"Do you have a mistress now?"

"Yes, now that I'm officially married."

"Oh."

It hurt to hear him admit the truth.

"Will you keep her after...after the war?"

He stared at her blankly.

"Would it really matter to you if I did?"

"I...I suppose not."

"Good."

"Will you send me away after the war when we win?" She asked quietly, her heart clenching at the thought of being one of those romance heroines whose jealous husband sent her into exile for his own selfish reasons.

"That would be counterintuitive to all of my efforts I've performed tonight, wouldn't you say?" Malfoy pointed out with a hint of annoyed impatience in his response at all her questions.

She ignored his tone because she needed to ask this one final question. To offer something she greatly hoped they could achieve in this loveless marriage. Her hand came to lay on his forearm and she could see his body stiffened at her touch. Her eyes rose and met his cold, dead gaze.

"Malfoy, can we be friends? In this marriage is it possible to grow a friendship between us and not just tolerance?"

His eyes for the first time that evening turned into an icy glare.

"No."

With that he moved from her touch and was gone with a soft crack of him apparating. She stood there for a long while, left to put the brittle pieces of herself back together before she too took her earned gifts in their rucksack and apparated back to her temporary reality.


The Great Hall was in shambles, Voldemort was vanquished as he lay forgotten elsewhere, the dead now displayed in rows as they were mourned by loved ones, and the injured eerily quiet whilst being tended to. None were more quiet than the two boys situated astride their best girlfriend's shoulders, staring agape at their school days nemesis standing before them and holding a hand out to her.

"Hermione, what's all this?" Ron asked skeptically.

"I'm taking my wife to meet my parents, Weasel. You heard me the first time." Malfoy stated in a condescending tone.

Hermione's eyes burned with tears as she stared hard at him. He was being unkind on purpose. They'd argued the last time they were together. First it had been about his callous approach at their coupling as he took her from behind like she was a breeding mare, which she privately felt herself to be now. He wouldn't even hear her complain about something as trivial as that in his eyes.

Then they had fought about how she should let Harry and Ron know. She insisted on needing a few days to tell all her loved ones after Voldemort's defeat. He countered that there were owls aplenty and he would not leave the battle without his wife in hand. Today he was forcing her hand and she hated him for it.

"Hermione...you didn't..." Harry whispered brokenly next to her as realization dawned on him.

He'd asked her several times where the fang, the cup, and the supply bag had come from. She'd repeatedly told him she'd made a deal and not to worry about it.

Now he knew.

She turned her own devastated gaze to him and simply replied, "Please don't hurt him. The bond...it may hurt me too."

Harry threw his arms around her and she melted into her best friend's embrace. She had given so much and even more than she should've for their victory.

Now she would be made to give up what she had willingly offered; her freedom to choose.

She pulled back to see he was glaring daggers at Malfoy, silently threatening him with so many painful, honest threats. Malfoy stared back unfeelingly at him. She shook her friend gently as she whispered,

"Please explain it later to everyone. I'll owl you in a few days and work out a floo connection."

It was a lie.

After she left them she knew she'd most likely never see them again. Malfoy had made it rather clear he had no intention of letting her visit the Burrow or Grimmauld place. She doubted she could convince her in-laws to let her go lest they thought she would run away. It was the price she willingly paid for their success, she reminded herself.

She turned to Ron who was still completely stunned and unable to see the situation for what it was. Her arms timidly hugged him, putting all her childish feelings into this moment that could now only be an unrequited love for him.

Malfoy didn't say anything nor did he try to hurry her. He simply waited for her to give her goodbyes. When she couldn't delay any longer she turned to him.

He was the devil and she'd made sure he saw that truth in her eyes.

Not moved by Hermione's obvious distress Malfoy waited until she did the inevitable and stepped up to his side, slipping her hand in his. The glamour on their rings when they touched vanished and the boys behind them gasp loudly.

So Hermione Malfoy, war heroine, brightest witch of their age, began her next war that very morning with a coy smile and an agenda to live as she will regardless of her vows when she at last left to meet what she anticipated would be her less than thrilled in-laws.