A MALFOY ALWAYS GETS WHAT A MALFOY WANTS

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

RATING M+ for explicit scenes. I hope you all enjoy.

Chapter 8

Ron picked up the Daily Prophet to read the page.

The last day for claims saw the Ministry Department of Law and Regulations in a tumult with many last minute submissions arriving, some a little too late. Those who successfully submitted their application forms will be receiving owls shortly with congratulations on their engagements. The rest of you will learn over the coming weeks who your future spouses will be. For those of you who find they will need to appeal their cases you will have only a week following the receipt of you match.

Ron frowned "bloody hell" he whined to himself "I forgot to submit that bloody thing Hermione's going to kill me" 'then again Peony will be happy, he wasn't sure if she was pregnant or not still, when he'd come too after he passed out that time, she told him that she'd just said that to gage his reaction but if was true then it would make things easier although Hermione won't be too happy and neither will mum but at least Harry will side with me' he thought nodding to himself. Ron was just putting down the paper when he had another thought 'this means the ministry will match me with whoever they decide it better be Peony or one of his old lovers' he knew there was no way the ministry would match him with Hermione.

It had been days since the papers release that those who had submitted claims would be getting their owls shortly and still Hermione waited, in fact it was the following Monday before she actually did receive an owl. For some reason she felt nervous; maybe she subconsciously knew Ron had not filed the paperwork or maybe she was hoping he hadn't she wasn't sure which. Opening up the letter she let her eyes run briefly across the words till she had her answer and she just stared - she wanted to cry but why she couldn't fathom was it because she was relieved, happy or sad and angry, not knowing how she felt she cried anyway. When finally the tears abated she decided to visit her surrogate family, she felt tired from work and crying but she needed to talk to Molly so that was what she was going to do.

Ron was still at work when he received his owl, opening it slowly his jaw dropped, it was his brother's voice to withdraw him from his shock. "Is that your confirmation of marriage to Hermione?" Ron shook his head "I didn't send it in, she kept nagging me so I kept putting it off" he knew that wasn't true, in fact it was a lie she hadn't nagged him at all, maybe if she had he would have remember. "You really are an idiot, mum is going to hit the roof, so who's your match then?" "Susan Bones" Fred laughed and Ron looked up at him with an expression of what's so funny "well they're certainly keeping the red hair in the family" nodding "they have haven't they? Hermione will not be happy with me and then there is Peony" Ron continued absently not realising what he'd just revealed "you mean the Periwinkle witch? What have you been doing Ron? You've been cheating on Hermione haven't you?" Fred questioned, Ron turning red; he always did that when caught out. "Ah, ah, um" "come on brother you might as well tell me now before everyone else finds out, besides I get the feeling mum's going to more than hit the roof" "oh Merlin I didn't think about that, she'll kill me!" "Well?" "Oh alright, I've been seeing and sleeping with Peony Periwinkle for about a year and she might be pregnant" "WHAT, THAT LONG HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO HERMIONE? I THOUGHT YOU LOVED HER?" "You don't have to yell, I do love Hermione but she wouldn't give it up before marriage, so I got it elsewhere – she's not a pureblood so it's not like she's expected to remain a virgin till marriage; what's the big deal? – loads of wizards do it!" Fred looked at him, he really didn't know this wizard in front of him – he thought it was his brother, shaking his head he decided to leave before he did something he'd regret but not without a few more words "It's a very big deal Ron and not a lot of wizards to that to their betrothed especially if they love them and as for Hermione staying a virgin till marriage have you not learnt anything about muggles? Some have the same or similar standard, beliefs and expectations as pureblood families when it comes to their children." He then turned and walked away. As Ron watched his brother's back he knew he'd have to break the news to his mother soon so he headed for the Burrow straight after work.

Molly was just heating some water for a nice cup of tea when a rather tear faced Hermione arrived. "Hermione dear whatever is the matter?" asked a surprised Molly as she ushered her in and giving her a cuppa. "Thanks mum" replied Hermione taking a sip, she'd started calling Molly mum during the war. Molly had told both her and Harry that they could call her mum when they were still at school since they were part of the family and that the rest of her children had friends that called her mum.

Hermione looked at her ready to continue "I received the formal engagement today" "Oh Hermione that's fantastic, we've all been waiting such a long time for you and Ron to get engaged..." Molly frowned slightly "...you should be happy so why are you crying?" "I know mum how you have been looking forward to Ron and I... but it's not Ron I'm engaged to." "WHAT! Sorry dear I didn't mean to shout. What do you mean you're not engaged to my Ron?" "It would appear I'm to marry Draco Malfoy" "Oh dear, Ron will not be happy, I wonder how that happened, Ron did submit the application didn't he?" Hermione shrugged her shoulders "He told me he had, so I don't know what has happened.

He's going to start again on his idea that Draco orchestrated this himself." Molly raised her eyebrows in surprise "well we'll have to see about getting this changed you're supposed to marry Ron..." she stated plainly as if it wasn't obvious "...and I can't imagine that Draco Malfoy would be too happy about this or that he would do something to organise it, no offence Hermione but really you're not his type." "None taken mum but don't forget Draco is friends with us now."

"Did I hear the name Draco mentioned? Why are you talking about him?" came the voice of Ron, Hermione quietly groaned. "Oh Ron you must be so upset that the ministry hasn't match you and Hermione even though you applied."

Ron looked at his mother uncomfortably, it was one thing breaking the news to his mother but Hermione too – he had hoped to do them separately "actually I sort of forgot to apply" "Ron I asked you the night before and you said you'd done them. "I know, I'm sorry okay" Molly shook her head at her son "so who were you matched with?" Hermione asked he voice belying her anger "Susan Bones; and you?" she looked at him and readying for the rant "Draco", "Malfoy?" Hermione looked at him as if to say is there another, then she nodded. "I bet he arranged that himself and that's why we're not matched" Ron ground out, Hermione rolled her eyes while Molly watched on "I don't see how he could Ron since he would then have had to apply like you were supposed too and if he had I would have found out last week. So don't blame him for something that is clearly your own fault" Hermione replied bitingly. "I suppose" he agreed reluctantly; "now, now you two, Ron will just have to appeal" "we have no grounds for appeal Molly..."Hermione started to say as Ron also spoke "I know I will but there's more..." he was nervous, he really didn't want to do this; his mum would kill him and he had no idea how Hermione would react, he had to tell them now it would do him no good them finding out from someone else.

He looked at Hermione, he'd loved her for so long and now he was going to hurt her, he just hoped that one day she'd forgive him and they'd be friends. "I already have grounds for an appeal..." his mother smiled "see there you go" "...it's not what you think mum, my lover might be pregnant!" he looked at Hermione but couldn't read her "WHAT! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO HERMIONE RONALD, WHO IS SHE?" he looked at his mother about to respond when Hermione quietly did "it's Peony Periwinkle isn't it?" Ron had barely nodded when Hermione rose from the table, walked out the door and apparated away.

Draco arrived home to be greeted by his mother "Draco dear you have mail here from the ministry" she held it out to him "I do believe it's to tell us who you are to marry, did you choose?" Draco said nothing but took the parchment from her and opened it, he already knew which it was of course but he had to put on a show for his mother, raising his eyebrows his mother spoke again "well?" Draco smiled "I'm to marry Hermione Granger" "Excuse me? That can't be right" she exclaimed taking the parchment from him to see for herself "well you'll just have to appeal" "I have no grounds for an appeal mother and besides you and I know if she was a pureblood you'd be fine with it" he was right she knew that. "I don't know how you can take it so well, do you want to be married to her?" still smiling he answered "yes mother I do".

Ron was torn he didn't want Draco Malfoy marrying Hermione but then with the possibility of Peony being pregnant he couldn't marry Hermione himself, he decided there was only one other person he could get advice from besides Hermione of course so off to Harry's he went.

Hermione had been surprised by Harry and Ginny's reaction when she told them the news of her new fiancée and Ron's betrayal. Harry had admitted that he and Ginny had talked about Ron and Miss Periwinkle and as much as Ginny had tried to defend her brother Harry had suspected there was something going on more than a friendship. After they both told her that marrying Malfoy was not so bad and they would always be there for her no matter what she left to contemplate her future.

Ginny then turned to her husband "I can't believe Ron..." "Ron what?" came her brother's voice "how could you?" she flew at him hitting him "hey Gin lay off would ya?, what did I do?" "Don't play dumb, you know what you've done..." Ron looked to Harry as if to say she's off her rocker but the look on his face as he spoke had Ron stop short. "You got someone who isn't Hermione pregnant" "how did you know?" "Hermione was just here, I hope mum had a good go at you!" Ron frowned "come on Harry help me out mate." "I'm with Ginny on this one, you were supposed to marry Hermione" "Yeah; well that's what I came to talk to you about" "What's to talk about? You have to marry Peony if she's pregnant" "I know but I don't want Malfoy marrying Hermione" Harry shrugged "Well you should have thought about that before dipping your wick elsewhere shouldn't you?" "I think her and Draco will make a good couple now I've had a chance to consider it" piped in Ginny "WHAT! Gin you can't mean that. How can you say that Malfoy is better than your own brother? Harry you don't agree do you?"

What could Harry say he did agree actually, he got the feeling that this was what Draco had wanted and that he had been interested in Hermione for some time, he wouldn't be surprised if he found out that Draco had somehow set himself up to be matched with Hermione. Draco hadn't dated in some time he knew that and now he thought about it and there had been small indicators he was sure. "It doesn't matter now anyway Ron. As Minister I'm telling you the law is set you can't get out of it or change it and as your friend I'm telling you not to make things worse accept that Draco and Hermione will be together, you need to get on with your life with Miss Periwinkle, ultimately you chose your wife when you started this thing and got her pregnant." Ron looked at his best friend he couldn't believe he wasn't siding with him "well that's bloody nice that is, no-one's on my side" he angrily said before flooing away.

Peony was waiting for Ron to arrive home she was going to get him to write to the ministry with an appeal, she now had the proof needed that she was indeed pregnant. "Peony what a pleasant surprised, you always know when I need you" he smiled kissing her lips and squeezing her bottom, she could feeling him already getting hard. "There's something you have to do first" Ron frowned "what?" "write to the ministry with our appeal, I have the documents proving I'm pregnant, we might as well get it over and done with; then we can start planning the wedding, I want to get married before the baby is born" Ron paled "I'm going to be a father?" was his only response it was finally sinking in, he smiled "I guess fate really has chosen for me when I couldn't decide who to marry".

Draco's heart was racing should he go and visit Hermione or write to her first? How would she be reacting to this news? 'well at least she won't be sickened by it, we're not enemies anymore, at least I hope she's not sickened by this' he thought 'I'll write' so gathering some parchment and a quill in the drawing room he sat down to write.

Dearest Hermione,

I hope this letter finds you in not too greater shock from todays

news of our matching. I would like to meet with you tonight if I

may so we can discuss matters further. Just let me know where

and when.

Your future husband

Draco

When Hermione read the letter she smiled, she wasn't sure why but she did, she responded deftly

Dearest Draco,

Your letter found me in not too greater shock from todays

news of our matching, in fact I'm in a rather pleasant mood.

We do have much to discuss as you say. If it suits you come

by my place at about 5.30, the floo will be open.

Your future wife

Hermione

She watched the owl fly off then looking at the clock on her mantle she decided that since she had about an hour she took a bath as she waited. He arrived via the floo just as she finished up her bath, "I'll be out in a moment I'm just getting dressed" he nodded and smiled 'I wish I'd got here earlier, then again since we're getting married I'll get to see plenty and I can make up for lost time then' He was still thinking of a future with her when she reappeared.

"Would you like anything to drink?" "Only if you are" "tea do you?" she headed towards the kitchen and he followed, he stood for a moment unsure of where to start. "Hermione tell me honestly how you feel about the idea of marriage for us? Does the idea disgust you?" he was nervous – she continued making their tea indicating to the sugar and mild to silently as if he wanted any while she answered him "no of course not, why would you think that? Are you disgusted by the idea of being married to me?" she was worried now.

"Merlin no of course not, I'm probably one of the happiest wizards alive right now" he took the tea handed to him and followed Hermione back to the lounge. "Really?" "Yes really..." he said with a smile as they both sat down. "...in truth I've had feelings for you for some time." at the look on her face he continued "but I wasn't trying to steal you from Ron, although I did hope that you two would break up. Do you hate me for that?" "What the caring for me or the fact that you wanted Ron and I to break up?" he shrugged his shoulders "I could never hate someone for caring about me and as for Ron and I well since he's been sleeping with other witches behind my back and now has one pregnant, well I wish I'd known sooner and I could have made the break then. Surprisingly I'm not as upset as I thought I'd be."

"He did what? I can't believe the idiot. I wasn't even dating you and I kept myself faithful to you" he stopped short and looked at her horrified he'd revealed that last bit of information to her, getting up she walked over to him – he watched her – she crouched in front of him smiling "you mean to tell me that Draco Malfoy has not had a relationship since he realised he had feelings for little old me?" she teased; standing back up and moving to her seat she continued "I've seen you at ministry functions with various witches though!" "yes I've had escorts for work functions but they were only friends if that, nothing more even though many of them wanted more. Until I knew there was never a chance with you I wouldn't give up." Hermione's heart flooded with affection for the man she was set to marry, getting back up and walking over to him once again she bent down to hug him. Draco was shocked but responded quickly wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her into his lap. Hermione pulled back but he kept his arms where they were. Looking at her he spoke again "Hermione, I want to date you and then when you feel you're ready we'll get engaged and married, although we do have a deadline. Is that alright?" she smiled, nodded and then kissed his cheek "so when is our first date?"

The End

Well it was short and sweet and I hope you all enjoyed it. I haven't plannned an epilogue but I guess if enough people want one then I'll try working on one. I'm still typing up A Veil of Betrothal and I have a couple of others I need to type up as well so stay tuned for those.