Title: The Marriage Bet
Author(s): josephinestone
Beta(s)/Alpha(s): digthewriter, tavia_d, helikesapeanut
Written For: wipbigbang
Pairing(s): Harry/Draco
Rating: R
Era(s): Post-Hogwarts
Content: bets, arranged marriage, genderbending Draco, hints at mpreg
Summary: Ginny just signed a two year Quidditch contract and is questioning her future with Harry, but Harry is ready to for them to promise their lives to each other. Draco runs into Harry at a jeweller's shop and bets him that he'd be a better spouse for him then Ginny would; Draco believes that you learn to love your spouse through marriage, but Harry thinks you have to be in love first for a marriage to work. Dejected because Ginny just called it quits for the two years she'll be away, Harry agrees.

'You are doing what!'

Harry braced himself in case she started throwing hexes. They were in her bedroom at the Burrow, where she was still going through her things: packing some, getting rid of a lot, and finding places for the sentimental to wait for her return.

'Ginny,' he said, trying to calm her down. 'It'll only be for two years. You'll be gone for it all anyway, and it's just a bet.' As well as, they weren't together anymore per her request.

She was still glaring at him, but she hadn't moved for her wand. He walked over to her and tried to embrace her, but she twisted away from him and crossed her arms over her chest.

'You're getting married to someone else, but it's okay because it's just a bet?' She paused, searching his eyes. 'Are you insane?' Then she turned her back on him as she returned to her packing.

'It's Malfoy.' Harry dropped down on her bed in exasperation. 'I'm not going to fall in love with him. I'm not even gay.'

He'd already gone through this same conversation with Ron and Hermione. They weren't so sure about Harry's sexuality, as it turned out. He hoped he didn't get the same questions from Ginny. None of his answers had appeased his friends.

'That's not the point.' Ginny began to pace in front of him. 'Two days ago, you were ready to propose to me, and now you're going to marry someone else?'

'Two days ago, you broke up with me,' Harry said, suddenly angry. 'So that we both could be free to do whatever we wanted for the next two years—and how did you know I was ready to propose?' He had not told anyone about it, not even Ron and Hermione.

Ginny rolled her eyes at him. 'Everyone saw you shopping for engagement rings, Harry; it wasn't exactly a secret.' Uncrossing her arms, she threw her hands in the air. They stared at each other mutely for a minute, before Harry got up and stood before her.

'What would you have said, if I would have asked you?'

'What does it matter?' Ginny gritted out.

'It matters to me,' Harry said. He knew she'd be angry with his question. She already made her reason for their break up clear, and he knew her answer before she said it.

'I would have said no.' She took a deep breath and continued more softly, 'We talked about this. Long-distance relationships do not work, Harry. I don't want you to be tied down to me while I am away, and then have us break up from the stress of it.' She came to him and let him wrap his arms around her.

No, she didn't want to be tied to him; he had no problem with the reverse. He could handle being alone for a couple of years as long as he knew she was coming back. She wanted their break up to be peaceful, like it was the last time.

'Then why are you so upset about this?' He searched her face for any trace of the emotions he was feeling as she answered.

'Because you're getting married, and I haven't even left yet! It's quite a bit different from having a few flings to get over the loneliness.'

That was what had really bothered him for the past couple of days. He had no problems with being celibate for two years while she was away. Especially since they hadn't had sex with each other yet. Ron and Hermione said it was more difficult to live without after you've had it. Which just made Harry question who Ginny had slept with.

Also, it wasn't like they wouldn't see each other for the entire time. He agreed that maybe, regular visits would be a little difficult, but he would have been satisfied with anything she could give him as long as in the end they were together again. Ginny didn't see how much easier it was to visit someone with magic. Living with each other might have been impossible with international travel, but not visiting each other monthly.

Their problem was that she wanted more than that, but she didn't want to cheat on him, either.

'It's just a bet,' Harry said, again. 'We'll get a divorce in two years. This means nothing to me, and no one's even going to know about it.'

'Like Malfoy isn't going to use this against you. It'll be all over the papers in the morning.'

'He said that he didn't want anyone to know about it.' Harry thought about it and realised: 'Though, even if Malfoy doesn't tell anyone, there is still the owner of the jewellery store.' He paused as she eyed him critically. 'Ginny, I can't hide from the world or let what they think of me dictate everything I do. I can't stop them from printing stories about me, and most of what they print isn't true anyway.'

'How can you trust him?'

'I don't.'

Harry had never been able to keep anything about himself out of the papers, and had long ago given up caring about it. It'd probably be in the next morning's papers. It would say that he and Draco had been together all along, or had fallen in love over lunch or something similar. He shook his head at the thought of what he'd just gotten himself into. Then he thought of what the headlines would read once he left Draco for Ginny again, which reminded him of why he had said yes to begin with.

'I'm doing this to prove that all his theories about you, your family, and us, are wrong.'

'His theories?'

'How a marriage based on love won't ever work. How I should marry for political reasons, because this world will just tear us apart. That you learn to love your spouse, and that love is a lot stronger than anything we feel, because all we see is skin deep.'

'That's ridiculous. Their marriages last because they're not allowed to get a divorce, not because they love each other more. Look at my parents—they love each other and nothing, not money, not possessions, can compare to that. They are happy just with each other.'

Harry exhaled in relief. He couldn't expect her to be enthusiastic about it, but at least she was talking calmly to him again. She also did not tell him it was over, and not just while she was away, which after she had started yelling had become his real fear. Then he would have backed out of the bet, and let Draco win. Nothing, especially a stupid bet with Draco, was worth losing Ginny for.

'I know, Ginny. That's what I am going to prove to him, and I'm not gay. There's no way I could ever love him the way I love you, no matter what he does.' He squeezed her, and she wrapped her arms around him in response, then he kissed her head. He was still a little wary to kiss her on the mouth; he wasn't sure she would welcome it. He would let her make that move first, but she didn't.

Instead, she pulled back and sat on her bed.

'Well, I'm still not happy about it. I have packing to do, so I guess I'll see you downstairs.'

'Okay,' Harry said and nodded sadly. 'I'll leave you to it then.'

Harry walked downstairs and sat down on the sofa next to Hermione. Ron sat in a chair across from them. Ron and Hermione had stayed for moral support. Harry took a deep breath and stared at the ceiling.

'So,' Hermione said, 'how did it go?'

'You mean you didn't hear the screaming?' He turned his head to look at her.

She smiled at that, and he was sure that Ron had rolled his eyes. It was obvious that they'd spent the entire time he was upstairs talking about him; they only sat across from each other, and not together, when they had serious discussions.

'Yes, but it stopped.' Hermione paused. 'Eventually.'

'She's not happy about it.'

'I still can't believe you agreed to this,' Ron said. 'How could you let Malfoy talk you into it?'

Apparently, Ron had to let it sink in before he could get angry about it. He was glaring at Harry then.

'It isn't that surprising, Ron. Malfoy has always known how to get what he wanted out of Harry.'

Harry frowned at that. 'He has?'

Hermione continued, 'I'm more worried about why Malfoy's chosen to do this.'

'Well,' Ron said looking at Harry, 'why did he say he wanted to do it?'

Thank Merlin for Hermione. Ron forgot all about his anger towards Harry with just the idea that Draco was up to something.

'He didn't,' said Harry. 'It's just to prove a point. Does he need a reason to prove me wrong—or embarrass me?'

'Well, Harry,' Hermione said. 'What do you get if you win the bet? What happens after the two years?'

He hated the judgemental look on her face and really did not want to answer that question. They hadn't talked out all the particulars, and he really didn't need her pointing out all the problems he'd just walked into. Of course, he could walk away whenever he wanted. He could always walk away.

'Um . . . we get a divorce. He admits that he's wrong, and it does take love to make a marriage work.' And Draco would admit that Harry and Ginny really do love each other and are perfect for each other. Harry will get back together with Ginny without being alone waiting for her for two years.

Hermione watched him closely; he didn't like the accusing look she was giving him. He started to feel rather guilty about what he was about to put them all through.

'That . . .' Harry finished, 'You can't just fall in love with whoever you're arranged with.'

'Okay.' Hermione nodded, and then thinking aloud said, 'So if he wins then you admit that he's right?'

Harry nodded.

'And that iyou love him/i?'

He nodded, again.

'And then what? You—what? Stay married?'

'I don't know. I didn't ask. It doesn't matter, because I'm not going to fall in love with him.'

'So if he wins,' Hermione continued, 'he gets to break your heart?'

'He isn't going to win.'

Ron and Hermione looked at each other, ignoring Harry's protest.

Ron said, 'Sounds like a pretty good revenge to me.'

'Yes, to me, as well.' She looked thoughtful for a moment. 'Although, for Draco to be technically right, he would have to be in love with Harry as well. Really, though, what would Draco care if he lost on a technicality? He's been losing to Harry for years. It really would be the perfect revenge to break his heart.'

'He isn't going to win!' Harry said, again. 'I'd have to be an idiot to fall in love with him.'

They both give him half-hearted smiles.

'It'll be fine,' he repeated more to himself than to reassure his friends.

'Mother,' Draco called as he came into the parlour. 'I'm getting married in six weeks, and I need your help to plan the wedding.' He sat in the chair opposite to his mother and began to pour himself a cup of tea. He could feel her eyes on him.

'Draco, that's normally the responsibility of the bride's parents.'

Of course, the news would come as a surprise to her. Draco hadn't dated anyone in ages.

'I know, Mother.' Draco smirked. 'However, in this situation there'll be no bride and therefore, no bride's parents.'

That didn't surprise her, but she played along. 'How's that possible?'

'I'm marrying Harry Potter.'

The corner of Narcissa's mouth twitched, fighting a smile. His mother was not slow by any means, and he knew she had realised a long time ago that he was not interested in the opposite sex.

'Again, how's that possible?'

'That's of no importance. What is important is that we have a wedding to plan. One that must be kept secret.'

It wasn't that he didn't trust his mother; more that he didn't want to hear a lecture from her. Slytherin that she was, it would look only like an invitation to get himself hurt by her, instead of a sneaky way of getting what he wanted. He never seemed to come out on top when it came to Potter.

'So, only family then?'

'Well, and close friends, considering that he has no family.'

'And of your close friends?'

'Only Blaise and Pansy need to know about it.'

'What about him? Who does he consider his close friends?'

'I haven't discussed it with him yet,' Draco said, although he could answer the question well enough without it. 'We are meeting on Monday to start picking out things. I need you to tell me where to go. What to do.' He'd never taken part in any festivity planning before. His mother had always been in charge of that sort of thing. He went where he'd been told to go and got what he'd been told to get.

'We want everything to be traditional.'

'Oh?' She paused a beat. 'I'll make appointments for you—do you have his schedule?'

He shook his head.

'Make sure you get it. You'll both need to be at all the appointments together. Traditionally, you two wouldn't have met, but since you have a history you should use this time to get to know each other.' She half-laughed. 'In a better light, at least.'

Draco smiled. 'I'll let him know.' He finally started to relax and sipped his tea, and she brought her tea cup to her lap.

'Is this a secret at his request?'

'It was a mutual decision.' At her confused expression he added, 'It might only last a few years.'

'That wouldn't look good for you.'

'As I said: a mutual decision. I need to know that it's permanent before I allow it to be public knowledge.'

'And if someone leaks it?'

'I have already been to the Prophet, and Rita knows they aren't allowed to print a word of it.'

'What about the other magazines and newspapers?'

'No one believes the other papers and magazines, unless there is an actual interview.'

'What about anything else about him?'

'Starting next week, everything has to be run by me first.'

'Next week?'

'I need to have a conversation with him first.' He was going to talk Harry into giving an interview and try to pull him out of his shell when it came to the press. If they continued to write false stories about him, it would never work. After his father was sent to Azkaban, the Malfoy name had been in the papers quite often, and he had learned to deal with them. When he graduated from Hogwarts, Draco had to take his father's place, and he was not going to let the media walk all over his family name again. Making bargains with people like Rita Skeeter kept his name out of the papers and got her promoted with the information he shared anonymously.

'I do hope you know what you're doing.'

'I know what I'm doing,' he said as he got up and walked over to her. He kissed her cheek. 'Thank you.'

'You're welcome.' She smiled at him as she patted his arm. 'It's what I do.'

Be there for him; yes, it's what she did.

Like Harry and Draco had planned, they met for lunch on Monday. They exchanged information so that Mrs Malfoy could make the appropriate appointments, and so that Harry could get a hold of Draco if he needed to. Not that Harry really thought he would need to get a hold of him.

He was mostly worried about what would happen when their relationship went public.

Anyone that saw them shopping together would report it, Harry was sure of it. Even if they both had agreed to keep it quiet, the fact that people saw them together was bound to cause a stir.

They had rather normal workweeks: Monday through Friday. Harry had training from nine to five, and Draco started his days at six. It left them both free for the weekends, which were of course the busiest times to shop. Which meant the more people who would see them.

'Mother needs to know who we would like for attendants and who you would like to be there. That has to be done this week.' Draco started abruptly after the waitress had left. He was not taking his time at that, which Harry was thankful for. He was not quite ready to make small talk with Draco, yet.

'None of my friends are very happy about this,' Harry said nervously, 'but I am sure that Ron and Hermione would be a part of it, at least, for me.'

'I want Pansy to be the maid of honour. She's my best friend.'

Harry thought about it, though he did not intend to object, and he nodded his okay. That was not his real wedding, so he really did not care.

'Um, then Ron could be the best man. He's my best friend.'

'I assumed you wanted that.' Draco looked thoughtful for a moment. 'If he's willing to do it, that is.'

'He'll be willing.' Harry sincerely hoped Ron would. He was not sure he would be able to make it through the day without Ron. He also did not want to hear Draco's "I told you so", nor a lecture on how Ron was not a proper friend.

'Alright then, Hermione and Blaise?' Harry nodded his approval; that was not going as bad as he thought it would be. They were not fighting, even if he was irritated and slightly on edge. 'More importantly we need to discuss who will be there. Anyone that might need to know about it has to be there. So people you come in contact with often enough that they would figure it out, and people that come by your house to visit you.'

'Okay, well I cannot keep any secrets from the Weasleys, and since I have already told Ginny and Ron, the rest should know by tomorrow.' That was something Harry actually liked about their family. He liked sharing his life with people and being free to be himself around them. He liked having them knowing everything about him, and living with no secrets. He was just worried about what they were going to say about that.

'Make sure they know to keep it quiet.'

'They know Malfoy. None of them would ever go to the papers with anything they know about me.'

Finally, the food arrived just in time to cut off Harry before he started to rant.

Draco pulled out a small piece of parchment and a quill and started writing down the names.

'Anyone else?'

'I'm close to my friends, Malfoy. I don't keep secrets from them.'

Draco let out an exasperated sigh, obviously trying to contain himself. 'I don't care who you want to tell, just as long as they know to keep it to themselves. Everyone needs to know who knows and who doesn't. If they're at the wedding then they are allowed to know, and if they aren't then they can't.'

'Okay, I understand that, I'm not a child,' Harry said a little too loud, as he grabbed his sandwich and started to eat to keep himself quiet. He had already gained the attention of a few tables in the vicinity. 'Neville and Luna, your aunt and her grandson Teddy. I'm not sure how much of a risk a two year old is, being that he can barely talk.'

'Is that it?' Draco sighed. 'You haven't kept in touch with the entire Gryffindor house?'

'No, I haven't.' Harry rolled his eyes. He was only really attached to the Weasleys . Their family just happened to be a big one. It was not like he wanted everyone he knew to know everything about him. 'These are all I can think of that really need to know,' then as an afterthought, 'Fleur, Bill's wife.'

'She is considered a Weasley…' Draco drawled. 'I already wrote her down. Are any of the others married?'

'No,' Harry replied calm once again. 'Is there anything else we need to decide?'

'No, at least not today.' Draco rolled up the parchment and tucked it into his robe before he started to eat his food. 'My mother will take care of everything else.'