Chapter 19 of I Work for You:
Disclaimer: I do not own anything regarding Harry Potter.
Summary: Draco hires Hermione to be his 'wife' so his boss will approve of their deal. Only, Draco didn't expect to fall in love with Hermione. DM/HG. This fanfiction is based on the movie Borrowed Hearts.
Recap from Chapter 18:
"Chris, I'm sorry to say, but I never loved you. I mean, perhaps when I was younger, but now I've matured and I'm not the same person I was before. Please understand that."
Chris slowly released Hermione and looked away, "Oh, I understand…"
"And so do I," said a voice.
The three turned around and standing in the corner of the room was Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic himself.
"Minister," said Hermione, in a strangled tone of voice.
Chapter 19:
Fudge nodded at Hermione and took in the scene of Draco standing idly next to Hermione while a sad and forlorn looking Chris was backing away slowly from Hermione.
"What in the name of Merlin is going on?" he asked, trying to make something of it.
"Well, you … you see, it's … completely my … fau …" stuttered Hermione.
"No!" shouted Draco, "Minister, it's absolutely my fault."
"Perhaps I can tell you what's going on," said Chris, smirking.
"All right, why don't you do just that," said Fudge, settling himself in the chair that Hermione once occupied.
"You see, I was and perhaps still would be, Hermione's boyfriend. She said that I was too overprotective, like that was the case, and she dumped me. And then I found out that he," he said, pointing an accusing finger at Draco, "is using Hermione as his wife!"
"What?" said Fudge.
"The deal where you said that if Draco proved to be a 'family-man', then you would allow him to take your place as the Minister of Magic."
"Yes, but, how did you know about this deal?" asked Fudge, his eyes boring into Chris'.
"Well … I might have," he said, turning pink, "looked into this."
"You mean, you snooped?"
"Perhaps, but you cannot forgive Draco Malfoy for lying to you and using Hermione as his wife!"
"I do not see how any of this concerns you! You are not even dating Ms. Granger right now."
Chris blinked, "But Minister!"
"I'm afraid that you will have to be checked into St. Mungo's Hospital for Brain Damage and Mind Impaired."
"What? I beg your pardon? Are you calling me … crazy?" asked Chris.
Hermione's mouth began to twitch as she tried to suppress a smile.
"Not crazy, but I do think that you should get your mind checked."
"I am not crazy for your information! Ask anybody! I assure you that they will back me up!"
Fudge smiled, and handed a piece of blank parchment to Chris.
He took it and before he knew it, he was gone.
"Knew that Portkey would come in handy one day!" he said to himself.
"Minister, I am terribly sorry. I just … wanted the job quite badly and then Percy said that Hermione fit the category and…"
Fudge shook his head, "You two are not married, am I correct?"
"No, we aren't," said Draco, "But leave Hermione out of this! This isn't her fault!"
"Who said that I will be punishing you?" asked Fudge in a tone of disbelief.
"You … aren't?" whispered Hermione.
"Why should I? Though you lied to me, I still believe that you two love each other dearly."
Draco and Hermione exchanged a glance and they both unconsciously took a step away from one another.
Fudge smiled and shook his head, "It is plain to see that you two are in love! Deny it or not. If you, Mr. Malfoy, did not care for Ms. Granger, would you have come dashing off to save her?"
Draco's mouth opened, but no words could come out.
"And Ms. Granger, I know that you used to loathe Mr. Malfoy terribly, but he isn't so bad, is he?"
Hermione's mouth also opened and closed, but she shook her head, and said, "No, he's not that bad."
Draco turned an interesting shade of pink, but Fudge smiled.
"I don't think that this deserves a punishment. If anything, my coming to Mr. Malfoy's house brought you two closer together?"
Draco nodded.
"I just can't believe that you would do something like that. You could have told me that you weren't married. I probably would have still given you a second glance."
Draco hung his head down in shame, and Hermione walked over to him and touched his shoulder comfortingly.
"So, if you would still like to be Minister after I step down…" he trailed off.
Draco's eyes lit up, "Really? Even though I … disappointed you?"
"Draco, my boy, you did anything but. You let me see the two of you in love. And that is all that matters," he said, with a twinkle in his eye.
"I would love to be Minister! Thank you!" he said, and he leapt over to Fudge and hugged him.
Fudge, caught off guard, smiled and said, "You are most welcome."
Fudge gestured at Hermione, "Why don't you talk to her? I'll let you two have some peace."
Draco nodded and said, "Thank you" before walking over to Hermione.
"Hey," he said, taking Hermione's chin and raising her face so she was looking into Draco's eyes.
"Hello," she said, smiling a small smile.
"Sorry about this. But thanks for coming and saving me."
Draco laughed, "It's the least I could do. Besides, you helped me get this position."
Hermione nodded, and her once bright eyes fell.
"What's wrong?" asked Draco.
Hermione shook her head, "Nothing, but now you got this job as Minister, you won't be needing me," she said.
"I guess I should leave," she said in a small voice, trying to keep her voice steady.
She turned around and a tear trickled slowly down her cheek.
She walked out of Chris's garage and suddenly, a hand grabbed her arm and swung her around to face behind her.
"Draco?" she asked in a questioning tone of voice.
"No, Hermione. Don't leave me! I … I love you!" he said, his voice shaking with emotion.
"You … what?" she asked in disbelief.
"I love you," he said, his voice a bit firmer.
All of a sudden, he let go of her arm and he kneeled down on one knee.
"Draco! What are you doing?" she asked, her face clearly looking bewildered.
"Hermione, I don't know how I could have been your enemy all those years at Hogwarts. I hope you forgive me when I say sorry that I made you, and your two best friends' lives miserable. I know that I was a jerk, and I hope one day you'll let me make it up to you. But, I don't want you to go away and live your life by yourself. Please make me the happiest man on Earth and accept my proposal. Will you marry me?" he asked, looking up into Hermione's shocked cinnamon brown eyes.
"I … Draco, I don't know what to say!" she said.
"You could say yes," said Draco, his face showing fear that he would be rejected by the woman he loved.
"I have always disliked you in Hogwarts because you were so arrogant and you strutted around acting as if you owned the school. Then, after all these years, I met you and I agreed to be your 'wife' so you could be Minister. I know that you have changed, no doubt in my mind you haven't, but…"
Author's Note: Haha, I hope the cliffhanger isn't too mean. (: Please review!