When the time for the final battle came, it wasn't the Order who initiated it. They had been planning their attack for a week later. But as it was, they really had no choice when Voldemort infiltrated Hogwarts and dared the Order to do something about it. Many red and green flashes of light later, Voldemort was dead, and his Death Eaters rounded up. Draco had always known he'd picked the winning side to cower at. Though he would never, ever admit he'd cowered.

After the win, as expected, the Ministry of Magic attempted to pretend like Harry Potter had always been their man and that they'd expected nothing less than what he'd achieved. All of them knew, of course, what complete and utter bollocks this was, but considering the information they had, they kept it to themselves. Harry had a conversation with the Minister of Magic about the discovery Hermione had made, and they decided that it should be made public by none other than Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy.

So, as could be expected, Harry came back with the wonderful news and Hermione and Draco both looked as though they were ready to strangle him. He tried to reason with them, to tell them what a good idea this was. Hermione said that Draco would never do it, Draco said that he would never do it. Case closed, right? Apparently, the Boy-Who-Lived had more power than even Draco believed, because before he knew it, he was preparing a speech with Granger.

"I'm sorry you have to do this. Even though I don't like you or what you believe, it's not fair that you're being forced into it."

"It can't be helped. Besides, it's better than Azkaban. I'll live. And anyway, it's not like it's a lie. Wait… it's not a lie, right?"

"Of course not! How could you even think that?"

"More of a hope, really."

So they sat together once more and tried to decide how to put it to the public that purebloods could no longer marry or procreate. The day of their speech came quickly, as things that you are dreading tend to do. Before they knew it, they were on a podium, addressing the media as well as anyone who had heard about the speech and been able to get there.

"So," Draco concluded, "Purebloods like myself can no longer intermarry or have children. I know how difficult it is, especially considering many of the pureblood beliefs and ideals, but really, what choice is there? It's that or magic will be forever wiped out, and no one wants that, pureblood or otherwise."

"Well said, Mr. Malfoy," the Minister said, shaking his hand and effectively moving him out of his way, "And to this end, I would like to announce a rather exciting experiment! The Ministry has seen fit to assign a prominent pureblood wizard his future spouse, as a sign of good faith that the rest will follow. In one week's time, the Ministry has decreed that Mister Draco Malfoy will wed Miss Hermione Granger!"

Leave it to the Ministry to mess up a good thing.

"Did you know about this Harry?" Hermione stormed at Harry after leaving the podium. Draco followed behind her, his steel gray eyes looking as if they were out for blood.

"I had no idea until just now, I swear Hermione! Why would I have ever agreed to this craziness?!"

Hermione turned to Draco. "What are we going to do?"

"What can we do, more like it! If we don't marry, I will be chucked in Azkaban, and the public will refuse to believe your research. Purebloods will continue marrying and magic will one day up and die. I can't believe I'm saying this, Granger, but you're better than prison and no magic any day."

"Why thank you, fiance," Hermione said, still completely livid at Draco and the minister, not only for throwing this on them while they were on stage, but for actually believing that they would go along with it. Well, of course they would… he'd given them no choice, waiting until they had made their announcement!

"I guess we have to get married in a week, whether we like it or not. It's not like it means we have to love each other, or even like it. Who says we even have to live together?" Draco turned to Hermione as he said this, only to find her ashen faced and holding a scroll. He didn't think he wanted to know. No, strike that, he knew he didn't want to know. Anything that could scare Hermione Granger, he was quite sure was beyond his bravery.

"It says…" Hermione began, then stopped to take a gulp of air. "It says that not only do we have to marry, but we have to successfully live together and produce an heir to prove to the wizarding community that my accusations are real. I guess the purebloods who are still in the ministry figured that if I was lying or even the least bit unsure, I would call of the wedding and let them cart you off to Azkaban."

"Well, this puts a damper on things, doesn't it. Well, they can't make us like it, can they?"

"No, I suppose not. I guess we'd better start planning the wedding."

"I guess a small affair is out of the question?"

"Why don't we elope tonight? That way, we don't have to have a big to-do, with a media circus headed by Rita Skeeter."

"No way, Granger, I can't elope. Malfoys don't elope."

"Malfoys don't marry mudbloods either, you know."

"Touche. I guess we elope, then."