Hogwarts, 1998
Draco had arrived at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry not long after leaving St. Mungo's with Dumbledore. He had been told by Dumbledore that he had been chosen for Head Boy due to his strength and bravery to defy his father, not to mention his near perfect grades. Hermione had been appointed Head Girl due to her bravery, loyalty and her exceedingly amazing studies.
The thought itself made him grin gladly. Hermione had become the only person he would think to call a friend. The Slytherins didn't care for others, they were al self-centred prats as he once had been but Hermione had a great heart. She was always kind to others and most importantly, she had forgiven him. Yes…they would definitely be considered friends in his eyes.
The corridors and rooms of the large castle were empty, even the ghosts seemed to be having a rest. There were a few teachers here and there yet none gave him a clue to who would replace Severus Snape as Defence Against The Dark Arts professor.
He had come across Peeves the Poltergeist but he too had quietened down slightly due to the past schooling years events, or Draco had guessed it was from the shock at there being a student in the school premises so early. The Great Hall had been empty that dinner and Draco was beginning to feel slightly lonely. Nevertheless he couldn't wait for Hermione to arrive and for him to settle into the Heads Quarters.
He made his way up the stairs to where there was a portrait of himself and Hermione. He smiled as they seemed to be getting along quite well. "Password, Mr Malfoy?" The sweet voice of Hermione's portrait-self asked. Draco thought carefully before answering, "La muerte es una no maldición, sino un rega."
The portraits nodded before swinging open to reveal a vast room. The walls were a creamy colour suiting the mahogany oak furniture well. The carpets were a peachy orange colour and the couches a deep black colour, contrasting brilliantly with the décor of the room. Much to his surprise, there was a single staircase, which he found out, led to one similarly decorated room with a large king-sized bed in the middle and a wardrobe close to it.
This fact made Draco quirk his eyebrow. Why was this room set in this way? Surely the Headmaster wouldn't want them to share a room. Before taking his worries to the Headmaster, he went to check on the bathroom. The floors were a black marble with wisps of white as where the walls. There was a large white spa bath, large enough for two to fit in comfortably. The sink and toilet were also a pearly white colour. The framings of the shower and the towel railings were silver, creating a wonderful décor in the room.
The Headmaster had done well in the decorating though the bedroom still worried him. Checking his watch he saw it was already half an hour until eleven. It was too late to speak to the Headmaster so Draco decided to ask him the next morning.
After breakfast the next morning, Draco quickly made his way to the Headmasters office. "Buttercup Bunnies," he mumbled softly before entering the office. Dumbledore looked up at Draco upon his arrival as if he were expecting Draco to appear.
"Erm…Professor…there seems to be something wrong with our bedroom…you see…there is only one…" Draco mumbled, trailing off at the end his face a bright red colour.
Dumbledore grinned widely and nodded. "Yes I know Draco. We shall find out after Hermione has been safely brought back and settled in here Meanwhile, a letter has been sent home to your father and mother telling them of your location yet they think it is due to your election as Head Boy. Shall we?"
Draco nodded and together they Floo-ed back to the hospital. When they arrived at the ward, Hermione was already sitting on the bed patiently waiting, colour once again in her delicate cheeks.
"Professor! Draco!" She cried out before racing to embrace Draco, who flushed deeply. "I've been waiting all day for you both to arrive. Did you really have to come so late? It is already ten!" Her arms were still wrapped around Draco who moved his arms around her and her words were muffled by his chest. She looked up fretfully at him.
"It was horrible, Draco. I…I saw it again…as if it were happening all over again…" She whispered, her eyes filling with tears. Draco nodded softly and pulled her closer to him, letting her sob into him.
When her cried ceased she pulled back quickly, her face becoming a ripe scarlet colour. "S-sorry…" She muttered before quickly following a smiling Dumbledore out of the ward. Draco stood rooted to the spot before realising he was alone and sprinted after the two.
They had been at Hogwarts a few hours when they had been called to the Headmasters Office. Hermione had been just as shocked as Draco when she had seen the layout of their bedroom. She had stuttered and spluttered before turning a bright shade of crimson and raced to see the bathroom.
They had both eaten at the Great Hall a scrumptious meal, consisting of roast pumpkin, roast potatoes, roast lamb and gravy with a load of greens of all sorts. Their desert had been delightful. It was a rich chocolate pudding with a spray of brandy on top.
They quickly ascended the steps to the door which led to Dumbledore's office but stopped when they heard a soft argument inside. "Albus, we can't possibly tell them! They are only 16! They are too young to know at the present moment! Why not let them know later?"
"Because, Minerva, the war is fast approaching. It is important for us to allow them to know. They are the ones that can assist Harry to take away Voldemort's life."
"Very well Albus but this will be a great shock for them. I do not want their studies to decline or anything of the sort."
Draco and Hermione had heard enough for their curiosity caused them to enter the office. "Ah, welcome my children."
They both nodded in response and took a seat opposite their Headmaster. Minerva McGonagall nodded before quickly leaving the office, after casting a nervous glance towards the Headmaster.
"Now there is a serious issue I have to discuss with you. As you both know, the Great War will begin yet we are assuming that it will begin soon, Voldemort already attempting to take my life. Now…a prophecy was once made that either Harry shall kill Voldemort or vice versa. Now naturally we want Harry to succeed yet another prophecy was made saying that there is only one way for this to be possible. It concerns two people I know very well yet I was quite unsure of the people until now. If you will…" He indicated to the small pensieve in front of him.
Hermione and Draco drew their wands and entered the memory alongside Dumbledore.
A younger Dumbledore was slowly walking through the corridors of his school on his way to visit Professor Trelawney. He had been meaning to see how her first year at teaching had been going yet had failed and now seemed a perfect opportunity seeing as she had no classes at the present time.
He entered the room and called out her name. He spun and saw her seated at one of the desks which were used for her students. Her breathing was haggard and her eyes glazed over. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder yet it caused her to speak out words in an eerie voice.
'One with love abounding in her life,
The other having dealt with a horrid strife.
The two will join their powers and love,
And together overpower the one above.
Their marriage will bring closer a death,
One from another which not is a myth.
Yet their joining will further bring,
A strong and overpowering offering.
Emotions evolving like a bud to flower,
They will join with pronounced power.
Her life had a trouble with torture,
Yet it was him that was to save her.
Her life to him she does owe,
Yet his love for her shall flow.
Together they will bring the day,
When lives down will lay.'
Dumbledore nodded and together the three left the memory. "Professor, why did you show that to us?"
Dumbledore smiled. "Think carefully, Miss Granger. Her life had a trouble with torture, yet it was him to save her. Her life to him she does owe…think carefully…who, Hermione, is it that you know that has had trouble with torture and who was it to save her?"
Hermione's eyes widened as she understood the Headmaster's implications. "Draco and I…" She mumbled quietly.
"Mr Malfoy…who has had a childhood filled with love and who has had dealt with a terrible conflicting decision to make?"
"Hermione and I. Are you-" He began but was cut off.
"Precisely, my children. I am telling you this because it is both of you only that will help Harry to defeat Voldemort. Are you both willing to do this? Help bring freedom to the whole of the world and save Harry's life?"
Both nodded whilst Dumbledore sighed heavily. "To do this…you both must become 'one' according to the Wizarding measures."
Hermione's eyebrows furrowed together as Draco stared with shock and then began to breathe heavily. "What is that, Professor?"
Dumbledore looked out sadly at the girl. "I know that it is awful to force you both into this type of thing but…it means that you must marry each other." Hermione let out a small, strange noise before staring at the floor before her in apparent shock. She closed her eyes as she felt her world spinning around her. "Miss Granger? Mr Malfoy?" Their heads snapped up at their names.
"I do understand that this is quite a shock on both parts but we must continue. It is vital for you both to be married as soon as possible." Dumbledore began, taking on a professional tone. "It would be disastrous to enforce this with your state of animosity and so you shall two weeks to yourselves in which I hope you will use to repent your past resentment towards each other."
"At the end of this time you shall be married by I myself; a quiet wedding with only the close family of Hermione's, the Minister and the professors at the school here. A week later, school will commence. A short honeymoon, at the beautiful country of France, of four days shall be given to you. What is happening to you only happens to two people at a time. These two people that are chosen are called the 'Golden Children'. They are chosen once every 100 000 years at the least. The most famous of the Golden Children was Merlin himself. You are lucky. As the myth goes, your feelings towards each other will develop at an extraordinarily fast rate yet will be completely real."
"Your time will be hectic as you progress with not only your relationship but the strange powers that are brought by the marriage and then reciprocated love. We understand that the workload on you both will be tremendous so two 'Deputy' Heads have been chosen. They are both from our sister schools, one in England itself, at Bolton and the young lady from Sydney of Australia." He paused before adding in a soft voice. "I am utterly sorry. I only wish that it hadn't needed to involve such young and promising souls."
Hermione and Draco nodded numbly before slowly retreating to their Heads Quarters. Their walk to their room was silent, as they pondered over the shocking news and the implications this had.
Their silence continued as they changed and got ready for bed. It was only when they were at either side of the bed that they spoke. "I..I guess we might as well get used to the whole 'sleeping together' side of this…" Draco muttered softly.
Hermione nodded, her Gryffindor confidence taking over her. "Alright…just pretend I'm one of your many girlfriends and…imagine someone else instead of me."
Draco quirked his eyebrows at this statement. "My many girlfriends? I've only ever had two, both at different times…besides…I never slept with them…not even shared a bed."
Hermione shrugged, hiding her surprise. "Well then…pretend I'm a girlfriend of yours."
They both nodded before entering. Hermione could feel her heart beat rapidly as she watched Draco from one side of the bed. He was only in a pair of black silk boxers which contrasted greatly with the pale colour of his skin. Little did she know that Draco was experiencing the same thing. Hermione was wearing barely nothing, in his eyes; a pale pink silk beater with matching shorts.
They slipt into the bed, staying on the two sides of the bed. Draco coughed nervously. "This is…erm…awkward. We need to break it."
They had both dealt with the news fairly well. If they had been asked this before the event at Malfoy Manor, they would have been aggravated and violent but they knew that the other was alright and that it was necessary for them to go with the prophecy. Besides, they would rather each other than say Neville Longbottom or Pansy Parkinson.
Hermione nodded in agreement as she slowly shuffled to the middle of the bed, closer to Draco. He slowly and stiffly wrapped his arms around her delicate form. Hermione shivered at the touch. To both it seemed so awkward yet so right. Her body seemed to fit into Draco's perfectly, like two pieces of a puzzle.
Before too long, the shock and strain of the day wore them out and they fell asleep, arms around each other. From the other side of the large castle stood Albus Dumbledore watching thoughtfully through a small glass sphere.
Smiling softly he muttered, "Rome wasn't built in a day. One small step to one great deed."