My Enemy, Friend, Husband, Death Eater, Lover, Git
Chapter 9: Enchanted rings and drinks
Many thanks to my reviewers for this chapter: xxxxcrazychickxxxx, D.M. Lover 21, lizwhiz, The Oh So Bored One, Elven at Heart, allycat1186, mrs.draco.malfoy.2010, silkandsatin, October Addums, vanillaluv, slytherinqueen23, witchbeth, xSlytherclaWx, Secretly-In-Love, TheVampire89, fwakes47, PRchic559, Varietygirl9143, Kat.1600, Sonia120462, Isadora120, Cal8907, MissSiriusBlack-x,
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It was Wednesday, less then half a week left till the wedding that things started to sink in. Hermione and Draco received their first wedding present, and silently they observed it.
"Shall I read the card?" Hermione suggested awkwardly.
Draco shrugged, then nodded. Hermione reached forward and picked up the small card with a picture of roses on it.
Dear Hermione and Draco,
Here our wedding presents to you, we hope that you enjoy them.
Love Phillip and Emma Granger
Hermione put the card down again, and Draco looked at her sideways, "That's all it says?"
Hermione nodded sadly, "They don't really approve of the wedding."
Draco reached for the box, Hermione let him. He lifted the lid and removed the wrapping paper. Hermione knew the present, the dishes her mum had been saving for her until she got married. Beautiful porcelain dishes and bowls with a rose and thorn pattern. Draco made admiring noises, after all the dishes were out on the table they found another package with another note.
For our future son in law Draco, for he may not appreciate muggle dishes like Hermione will.
Draco unwrapped it and revealed a magnificent peacock feather pen, enchanted so that it would never run out of ink. Hermione couldn't help but feel a small twinge of jealousy.
Her parent's gift wasn't the only gifts they got that morning. From Draco's aunt Bellatrix they gotten a gold inlaid torture device and from Neville's grandmother (for reasons unknown to both of them) a magical toaster.
Hermione was packing away the gifts when Draco suddenly appeared next to her with her coat, "Uhm, I've arranged a carriage to take us to Hogsmead."
Hermione looked at him confused, "Why?"
Draco smirked, "Wedding bands."
Hermione swallowed nervously, "Well then, we should go." She took her black coat from Draco, he quickly handed her a scarf too and mittens, Hermione raised an eyebrow at him, "What's up with you?"
"Nothing, don't want you to get a cold that's all. It would be terrible if you were a dumpy snotty mess on our wedding." Draco replied trying to sound moody but didn't quite pull it off.
Hermione shrugged, "Fair enough."
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Hermione and Draco got out at the jewellery shop, the attendant had been expecting them and ushered them in hastily.
"Welcome to Glitter, Glamour and Glen. I'm Glen, I presume you two are Draco Malfoy and the lovely lady must be Hermione Granger, soon to be Malfoy. I've prepared a selection of rings for you, but first how about some tea?"
Hermione and Draco were soon pushed into two large chairs as Glen disappeared into a back door.
Hermione exchanged a bemused glance with Draco. When Glen returned with cups of tea he seemed to be calmer. "So when is the wedding? A marriage law commitment I suppose?" Draco nodded, "Yes, marriage law. The wedding is this Saturday.
Glen looked surprised, "So soon? The last couple from Hogwarts I had here are getting married on Valentines day."
Hermione smiled, "It was more convenient for us both to be wedded sooner." Draco felt the temptation to snort, Hermione had conveniently left out the Death Eater bit. He managed to convert his snort into an awkward cough which Hermione ignored. Glen shot him a curious glance but Hermione distracted him by asking about other couples who had been to visit him.
Draco decided that 15 minutes of small talk was more then enough to him so interrupted Hermione and Glen by clapping his hands together and announcing, "Wedding bands! Shall we go take a look Hermione?" Hermione's mouth hung upon, clearly affronted to being interrupted mid sentence. Then with a strained smile said to Glen, "Sure."
Glen out a tray with about 10 rings, all different but simple designs. Draco skimmed over them, making approving sounds. Glen was feeling quite confident but was caught by surpise when Draco declared, "Don't like any of them." Hermione frowned, the rings were fine.
"Oh well, should I get more?" Glen suggested, a bit distraught.
"No that is not necessary," Draco said briskly, "I'd like to design one myself. Could you get the materials I need?"
Glen nodded and rushed away again. Hermione looked at him, "You want to design one? But why, its not even…well….real?" Draco raised an eyebrow, "This wedding is very much real Ms. Granger. Even if we don't feel for each other like real couples do this marriage is binding. Even if the Dark Lord is defeated magical marriages are hard to break. I figured I might as well make the best of it."
Hermione felt extremely awkward, but also confused, "Dumbledore said that…"
Draco sighed impatiently, "He said that You Know Who wouldn't be in power forever. He never said that the marriage would not last because of it."
Hermione blinked, "Oh," was all she could manage to say.
Glen came back in, cheerily since he would get more money for this. Designing and creating your own ring was tricky and expensive business. Draco nodded at him and took the box that Glen had brought. He sat down with it for a moment, taking out a piece of dark material. Hermione was surprised that Draco could move it as he wished. Draco noticed her avid interested and explained, "This is metallicois. It's a very rare substance, and of course very expensive. It is what magical wedding bands are made out of. It is extremely strong; it is also very difficult to break. In order for a magical marriage to end the ring needs to be broken. Now I can shape it as I wish with my hands, but I'll use magic for accuracy."
Draco set to work, first moulding it into a circle then he took out his wand and traced it around the circle. Hermione and Glen both stood transfixed with what Draco was doing. A good half an hour later Draco got up and presented two rings to Hermione. Hermione picked one up carefully, they felt comfortably warm in her hand.
Hermione looked at it, twirling it around, "It's beautiful." She breathed, Glen was also impressed. The ring was in fact two thing bands merged. One was the colour of gold, the other the colour of white gold. They were straight and thin at the bottom and thickened at the top. The most interesting thing was that they came together at the top, the part which a person would see if they looked down onto the back of your hand and fitted neatly together like two puzzle pieces, twirling around each other. It looked like the end where two hands gripping each other. §.
Draco smiled, "It's us; yin and yang. Wrong and right. How that if we work together, we'll find balance. We're not in love, but we're getting married because we have to. Let's make it work."
Hermione felt her face flush for some reason, she put the ring onto the table next to the other one and stepped forward. She had never really hugged Draco, so somewhat awkwardly she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his cheek. "Thank you." She whispered into his ear.
Draco was also flushed, he remembered the night he took care of her. She was so beautiful. Her mind, her body. Her body especially, why did she always hide it behind those baggy shirts and simple jeans?
Hermione stepped back and Glen smiled at them, a bit uncomfortable. "Well then, uhm. Shall we take care of the financials Mr. Malfoy?"
Malfoy nodded and left with Glen to the back room. They returned a bit later. Draco put the two rings into a little leather pouch which he hung around his neck.
They left the shop a bit later. They went for a quick shopping trip for books and quills before they ended up the central courtyard again. Hermione waited for Draco to decide what to do; he had taken leader ship over their little escapade.
"The Three broomsticks?" he suggested. Hermione looked towards the castle, "What about school?" Draco shrugged, "I got us the day of. All students get it for wedding business." With that he headed towards the Three Broomsticks. Hermione followed him, he didn't wait for her so she ran a bit to catch up with him.
"Draco," she said hesitantly, "What you did-made…..it was very kind of you. I appreciate it."
Draco smiled grimly, "Good, that was what was intended." He pushed open the door to the pub and held it open for Hermione. Hermione felt engulfed by the warmth and started taking of her coat. Draco helped her out of it, and even took her scarf. Hermione smiled, they were almost like an old married couple.
Hermione took a seat in a far corner whilst Draco ordered the drinks. He came back with two glasses of red liquid. "What is that?" she asked.
Draco shrugged, "It's a magical drink."
Hermione sniffed it, "Will it, uhm effect me?"
Draco smirked, "Will it get you drunk? If you drink too much. Try it, it is really rather good." He emphasized his point by downing his entire glass. Hermione sipped hers tentatively, and was surprised by a rich flavour. It was spicey, sweet, and sour all at the same time. It was cold in her mouth, but warmed her entire body. She emptied her class within seconds. Draco looked bemused. "Another glass?" Hermione's common sense screamed no, but she really liked the drink so nodded her assent.
6 glasses later they stumbled out of the Three Broomsticks. "Where did the carriage go?" Hermione giggled. Draco shrugged again, he did that a lot. Like the French. They shrug a lot too. Hermione thought. "I dunno!" Draco declared somewhat slurrily. "But how are we going to get home?' she whined. "Its coooolllddd!" she made a chattering sound.
Draco took her hand and strolled forward, "we'll walk!"
Hermione allowed herself to be dragged away from the by Draco. After a moment or two she decided she felt like skipping so tugged loose from Draco and skipped out in front of him.
Draco ran after her, "Slow down love!"
Hermione whirled around happily, "Love? I'm love now? What about sweety, or cupcake? What about my little treasure. My beautiful goddess. Hmmm, why don't you call Sweety pie. Or muffin! What else is a sweet delicacy? Hot chocolate? My darling Oreo? Apple crumble or chocolate cake? Ben and Jerry's ice cream cup?" Draco had no idea what she was ranting on about, instead he took her hands and pulled her close. Hermione didn't resist. Rosy cheeked from the cold and the drink her hot breath was comfortable against his face, "Why don't you call me darling?" she suggested.
Draco smiled, "I will if you want me to, love. But I like love better." Hermione smiled sheepishly, "I like love too. But what shall I call you?" she tapped her chin thoughtfully; "I think I'll take over Pansy's nickname for you. Drakey."
Draco laughed, "Please don't!" He held her closer, marvelling in her warmth, her scent.
Hermione looked him in the eyes, "Maybe, Drakey."
Draco grinned and leaned forward, closing the space between their lips. He applied gentle pressure, and coaxed her until she returned the kiss. By instinct or by her own free will he wasn't sure. Breaking away, he watched as she slowly opened her eyes. "That was nice." She said softly.
"Yeah it was."