Chapter 2: What did we get ourselves into?

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Special thanks to old readers Zarroc, Hanyou in my dreams and Gothmaniac. Zarroc's and Hanyou's old reviews were always really helpful and I'll work extra hard to keep you as readers :P

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Hermione and Harry sat in Dumbledore's office together with Pansy Parkinson and Draco Malfoy, the couples glared haughtily at each other and were sure to keep a large distance between them.

Dumbledore sat behind his desk look extremely tired, he rubbed his brow in a weary manner before setting his hand down on the table. "I understand that none of you are particular excited about your marriage prospects, but there is not much I can do."

Hermione shifted in her chair, "But you can't expect Harry and I to marry Death Eaters," she argued pointlessly. Malfoy got up so suddenly that his chair fell back with a loud thump, "Don't you call me a Death Eater, mudblood." He threatened at her angrily, he then turned accusingly at Dumbledore, "You can't expect me to marry a mudblood."

"Language Malfoy," Dumbledore warned him. The old man sighed and splayed his hands out over the table, "It is not up to me, you can argue all you want but you can't get out of it. You've heard my solution, think about it."

Hermione fell back against her chair in a huff; she glanced exasperatedly at Harry, who she thought wasn't really giving much support.

Harry ignored her glance and then looked seriously at Pansy. "So you are telling me that Pansy is not involved in any Death Eater activity, and that she doesn't intend to be either?" he asked cautiously.

Both Pansy and Dumbledore nodded. Malfoy harrumphed in a way that irritated Hermione greatly, "If you've got something to say just say it." She snapped.

"Professor Dumbledore, sir," Malfoy said with surprising politeness, "I know Pansy and myself came to you two years ago, eager to prove that we weren't like our parents or house mates. We however did not count on being requested to marry them. I have Pansy on my list of eligible ladies and she has me on hers. We're close friends and we trust each other, I'd prefer to marry her."

Dumbledore observed the blond boy from behind his half-moon spectacles, he tapped a finger to his chin thoughtfully, "I know you do Draco but I have good reasons for asking you both to do it. You know the reputation Harry and Hermione have in….well…your world and you also know that Harry and Hermione face a potential death if they marry any other of their candidates because those people, unlike yourself, are Death Eaters, intend to be Death Eaters or are related to Death Eaters. Please, you two are my solution. I'm counting on you."

"But it's for life," Pansy interjected sadly, "No offence Potter but…being bound to you? For life?"

Dumbledore cocked his head sideways, a sympathetic smile on his face, "It might not be for life Pansy. I suspect that the Ministry has nothing to do with this. That it is in fact a trick to lure Harry and Hermione into their world and to kill them, or to turn them to Darkside. Pansy, you're family and relations are free of Death Eaters, so I could guarantee Harry that by marrying you he'd be relatively safe. If he married Miss Bullstrode, well that would be an entirely different story. Nevertheless, once the Dark Lord is defeated, we will reverse the law, and you'd be free to marry however you wish."

Pansy nodded, but was hesitant, "but what if you-know-who isn't defeated?"

"If you don't marry someone Pansy, you'll die. If you marry Harry, you probably won't die, because you're important and the Death Eaters know that because you'd be their key to Harry. I assume Dumbledore will do everything possible to assure your safety, so don't worry about that…….but if you marry Draco….well then the Death Eaters wont see the utility in you, and if the Darkside isn't defeated they will eventually come to know that you and Draco are not with them. Then what? You'll be killed. So really, just be smart for a moment, keep up appearances and marry Harry for your own safety as much as for Harry's." Hermione explained to her carefully.

Dumbledore smiled at Hermione, "Thank you Hermione. Do you understand now Pansy, why I ask this of you?"

Pansy crossed her arms over her chest, "Yes I understand, I'm not as dim-witted as Miss Granger would like to think," she snapped, more at Hermione then at Dumbledore. "You can't stop me from being unhappy about it though," she added snidely.

Dumbledore clasped his hands together, his old long fingers entwining, "I take that as a yes then? Good, I hereby declare Harry Potter and Pansy Parkinson engaged. Pansy Potter, has quite a ring to it don't you think?"

Harry sat there, feeling rather odd, he looked at Pansy, who glared back. It a took moment or two before Harry got up and walked towards her chair, "Well?" he said unromantically. Pansy shrugged and got up as well. A few more moments of placid staring followed before they awkwardly hugged one another. Hermione silently praised Harry for keeping his cool.

They parted quickly and Harry looked to Dumbledore for further instruction, which Dumbledore provided, "Harry, please take a school owl and confirm your engagement to Ministry. Pansy, go with him. Get to know each other."

Harry nodded and left, Pansy shot a last meaningful glance at Malfoy before leaving as well.

"Well Mr. Malfoy. It appears I've eliminated your first choice of a bride." Dumbledore said with a smile. Neither Malfoy nor Hermione expected this, and looked at him, mouths agape, mildly shocked. "I suppose you'll just have to marry Miss Granger then." He said with an even larger smile.

"What?" they chorused. Dumbledore stared evenly back at them, "You heard me." He said, wondrously calm.

Hermione shifted again in her chair, "But Malfoy, although he claims not to be, is very much involved with Death Eaters! His father is one!" Hermione exclaimed.

Malfoy looked annoyed as he hissed, "My father might be but I'm not."

Dumbledore waited for them to finish before saying, "If you don't believe Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger……I suggest Draco should takie some veritasium."

Malfoy jumped up, "What?" he all but roared, "But Professor! You trusted me two years ago, why do I need to prove my loyalty now?" he asked angrily.

"Oh no to me! To miss Granger." Dumbledore added, clearly enjoying himself.

Malfoy stamped his feet, "I will not. You put me under veritasium two years ago and I was telling the truth."

Hermione got up as well, "How do you know that? He might have changed his mind in two years time."

Malfoy shot her a furious look, "I didn't."

"Hermione. Draco. Please." Dumbledore reminded them.

Malfoy slumped back down again, "If marrying her proves my loyalty, then fine." He huffed, "I'll marry her." His voice was laced with unhidden disgust.

Hermione swallowed a retort, inside forced herself to clam down and look at him, as calmly as she could manage she asked, "How can I trust you Draco Malfoy. How can I know this is not a trick to bring Harry and me down?"

"How?" he replied, "Fine, I'll show you how."

Malfoy got up again and took of his black robe. Under it he wore a white shirt, which he unbuttoned and then took off as well. Standing with a bare chest, he turned around a couple of times and stretched out his arms in front of her face, "See? No dark mark."

Hermione blushed as she couldn't help but ask, "How do I know that it's not somewhere else?"

Malfoy raised an eyebrow at her, "You sure this is not some trick to get me to undress?"

Hermione blushed even deeper as he unzipped his trousers; "Alright, alright!" she said loudly, "I believe you! Put your clothes back on." She tugged her turtle neck nervously, avoiding eye contact with Malfoy.

Malfoy smirked as he donned his clothes and sat down again. Dumbledore sat leaning back in his chair (I'm sure you all heard Rowling's press statement which stated dumbly-dore's sexual orientation? But alright, he's not a paedophile so Draco stripping can't be too much of a turn on.), a small smile on his face, "I'm glad you've come to that conclusion……….at last" he said to Hermione.

"Now," he continued, addressing both of them, "Hermione you were right. Draco's family is known for their Death Eater status, which is why, besides Draco's neutrality I'm asking both of you to do this. You both know Professor Snape is a spy? (they both nodded) Good. However, Severus has other things to worry about lately and I desperately need someone to be my eyes and my ears in the Death Eater world."

Hermione didn't like where this was going, nervously she started wringing her hands. "Draco, I would have requested you to do it, but you're alone and just a student but now I have the solution right before me. Two students, two brilliant students. That's something different then just one student. I don't want to endanger your lives but I see no other way."

"No other way Sir?" Draco inquired uncertainly.

"I'm requesting you to marry each other, and to use Draco's reputation to intrude into the Death Eater world and to spy for me." Dumbledore finished simply. Hermione couldn't believe what she was hearing, "But Professor Dumbledore!"

Dumbledore smiled at her, "Of course, you don't have to Draco, Hermione. I'm not forcing you to, the choice is yours entirely……after all you're both 17." Neither of them replied, they both looked lost in thought, "I'd like this to be your first assignment as members of the Order of the Phoenix." Hermione shot Malfoy a glance, so I had heard of it.

"I'm flattered, sir." Hermione stammered, overwhelmed. Even Malfoy looked impressed to the point of being unable to utter a logical sentence, "I…uhm…yeah….really….I…..uhmm...don't know….um…seriously?"

Dumbledore inclined his head towards them, "It's a big question to ask you, please consider it carefully. In any case, if you take the mission or not, I do recommend you marrying each other."

Hermione looked down into her lap, "I'll do it. If Malfoy, I mean….Draco…..wants to." She said quietly.

Malfoy, the mocking sneer for once not present one his face, looked perplexed to say the least, "Which one? Marrying me or taking the mission?"

Hermione hesitated, "Both."

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