A/N: Still don't own HP. That belongs to JKR.

As always, I can't thank my beta reader, shealone, enough. She makes my work so much better!

Ch. 11

Sunday Morning

Breakfast

The Great Hall

Owls swooped down, delivering the morning post. Draco looked across the table at Hermione who was reading the Daily Prophet already. She seemed satisfied. Draco could not help but wonder what blackmail material she had on Rita Skeeter.

Sunday Mid-Morning

Blaise Zabini's Room

"Drake, what can I do for you?"

Draco handed him the letter he had received yesterday morning.

Son,

In my missive yesterday, I may have implied that I would disinherit you for marrying the Mudblood. After contemplation, I would never disinherit you for following the law. When you move into the Manor, I suggest that her rooms be in the West Wing, on the first floor. Your mother can instruct you on wedding night rituals for Malfoy brides. The Manor will provide the perfect welcome for the newest member of the family. And perhaps one day soon, you will be able to provide the family with a suitable heir. It would truly be a shame for the Malfoy estate to dissolve on my death.

Best regards,

Your Father.

"Did he just threaten Granger?"

"Yeah. He did," Draco confirmed. "And he's expecting me to keep quiet."

"What about your mum?"

"It depends. If she sees that I'm happy, she will be happy. You know that. She lied to the fucking Dark Lord for me. She'll get over the blood issue. My father… I think he has really gone round the twist. He's stopped just short of openly threatening Granger, one third of the Golden Trio. If Shacklebolt knew about this..." Draco shook his head. "I don't know if he'd ever get out of Azkaban."

"Do you want Lucius out?"

Draco didn't hesitate. "Not anymore."

After a beat, Blaise said exactly what Draco thought he would, "You need to tell Granger."

Sunday

1:00pm

8th Commons

Hermione, Parvarti, Tracey, and Daphne commandeered the 8th year common room for their gown fittings. Hannah, Ginny, and Padma came in to watch the show and to flaunt their engagement rings. Ginny, of course, was to be fitted as well as she would be standing up with Hermione at her wedding.

Liliana was not what Hermione expected. She was dressed stylishly, but comfortably, and was quite friendly. "Miss Granger, we need to get you sorted first. Sarah," Liliana looked at her assistant, "get Miss Granger measured, and then move to Miss Weasley for the bridesmaid dress. Then Miss Patil, Miss Davis, and Miss Greengrass."

Daphne sat with Hermione and Liliana after Hermione's measurements were recorded. "So, tell me, Miss Granger, what type of wedding do you imagine?"

"Please call me Hermione. I hadn't imagined such a huge wedding as I am having, but it is going to be on Halloween and..." she drew a blank and looked to Daphne for help. Hermione had no experience with large society weddings.

Daphne knew just where to begin. "Hermione, let's start with colours. What colour would you like your dress to be?"

"White, well, maybe a shade off of white. Whatever would look best on my complexion."

Daphne and Liliana nodded. "And material?"

"I've always loved dupioni silk. But lace... lace is so elegant," she said with a soft smile. "And a skirt, like a ball gown." Hermione had more likes than she realized.

Liliana had a Quick Quill and was taking notes. "What about your bridesmaid dress?"

Hermione glanced down at her hand. "My ring is a sapphire, and I'd love for Ginny's dress to be blue and floor length."

Liliana nodded at Hermione's request. "I have a suggestion. The silk will be very heavy and formal, and I think it would make a statement if you had two dresses. I can just see it. A formal ball gown silhouette for the wedding dress and a smaller, lighter dress for the reception. It will be perfect! No one has done this and you will set a trend!" Liliana seemed quite sold on the notion.

Hermione looked over to Daphne who nodded in approval. "You have to. It will be perfect," the Slytherin said.

"Now while we are designing, what did you have in mind for your Yule Ball gown?" Liliana was all business.

When Parvati arrived to discuss her dress with Liliana, Daphne turned to Hermione for advice. "Hermione, I was wondering... what can you tell me about Harry?"

"What do you mean?"

"I know he's one of your best friends, but I don't know him very well."

"Have you gone on any dates?" Hermione asked. "I see your ring, how did he propose, by the way? I mean, I'm not sure what you are looking for."

"Well, he sent over an owl, and he asked me to go with him to a Muggle zoo, of all places. And he sent clothes! I think he wanted to make sure I was comfortable. He's never seen me dress casually, I don't think." Daphne smiled softly. "He was so sweet."

Hermione nodded. "And?"

"We went to the zoo, and he tried to avoid the reptile house. It turns out he let a snake go there when he was ten! Did you know that?" Daphne laughed. "Maybe he was supposed to be in Slytherin." Hermione smiled. "And afterward, we had a bit of a picnic in a Muggle park. Hyme? Hyle?"

"Hyde?"

"Yes, that's it! Hyde. It wasn't raining, finally. And we just sat and talked. After we ate, he brought out the ring, and he proposed. It was like he really wanted me to have a moment I could remember."

"That's Harry," Hermione said with a delighted grin, very proud of her best friend for making the moment special for Daphne. "He would have liked you if he had gotten to know you in school, you know. But the Slytherin/Gryffindor thing always got in the way." She paused and looked into the fireplace. "He's been through so much, Daphne. And he's had so many decisions taken away from him. I can see why he would do that — buy you an outfit, try to give you a wonderful day, all of that stuff. He may not be the most eloquent wizard you'll meet, but he will take care of you and, if you give him a chance, he will love you." She turned to face Daphne full-on. "And your children? He will die for them."

"Miss Greengrass, we are ready!" Liliana's assistant interrupted the moment between the two witches.

Daphne nodded and turned to leave but stopped short to smile at the other witch. "Thanks, Hermione."

"No problem." Hermione paused. "But Daphne, if you hurt him, I will hex you until you wish you were dead."

Daphne's eyes widened and she swallowed. "I understand."

Tracey, who was making her way toward the pair, stopped in her tracks, looking from Hermione to Daphne and back. After a pause, she continued and dropped to sit in the chair beside Hermione. "I am I to assume the same fate awaits me should I hurt Ronald?" she queried.

"Absolutely, Tracey. Absolutely." Hermione smiled at the witch. "But I don't have anything to worry about, do I?"

Tracey shook her head. "No, you don't."

"Good. Now, let me see your ring." Tracey showed Hermione the beautiful emerald and diamond ring. "Oh, it is lovely. Do you like it?"

"I do! It fits me perfectly. Oh, and let me tell you how he proposed…"

Sunday Late Evening

Hermione's Room

Hermione laid on her bed, contemplating the canopy. The day — the entire weekend really — had been exhausting. Beginning with Friday night's confrontation with all the boys and Saturday's non-stop posing, then ending it all with Liliana treating her as a human pin cushion whilst simultaneously trying to make decisions for a wedding. A wedding that would take place in less than six weeks! Not just any wedding. Her wedding to Draco Malfoy. It was difficult to believe she would be Hermione Malfoy in just over a month.

"Hermione Malfoy. Hermione Granger Malfoy," she said, testing the names on her tongue.

Draco Malfoy — he was such an enigma. He said he had always liked her, but what did that mean? He could be so cruel. But, he hadn't been, not recently, anyway. Even before the Marriage Law, he hadn't been cruel or cutting; just sarcastic and bitingly funny. And he could kiss. Sweet Merlin, that boy could kiss.

The object of her ruminations drew her attention. "Granger, how did it go?"

He wore silk pyjama pants and a thin shirt, leaning against the doorframe, arms hanging by his side. In his left hand were two bottles of butterbeer, and Draco wondered how Hermione would react to seeing the Dark Mark displayed so openly. He was pleased to note that she didn't even flinch at the sight of it. Maybe his uncharacteristic bout of unvarnished honesty last night was helpful, but Draco wasn't going to take the chance of telling Hermione everything about his feelings... not yet anyway.

"I thought we said we were going to use first names, Malfoy." Hermione returned dryly, sitting up and holding out her hand for the proffered drink. "Thanks for this."

He shrugged and sat down at the foot of her bed, lounging down on one elbow. "It seemed appropriate. But really, how did it go today?"

Hermione relaxed back against the pillows. "Two dresses."

"What was that?" He raised a pale eyebrow.

"I have to have two dresses," she reiterated. "Liliana thinks it will set the 'right tone' for a ultra-formal wedding."

"Is that bad?" he asked.

She smirked at the question. "Do I strike you as a two dress for one event kind of girl?"

"No, Hermione, you don't. But do you like them?"

"Do I like them? I love them," she said, trying to contain her delight, lest she ruin her reputation as a non-girly bookworm. "They are gorgeous. And the conjurings are amazing."

Draco grinned. "Roll with it, then, Granger. We're only doing this once."

She laughed. "'Til death do us part, literally.'"

He went silent, the smile completely gone from his face. Hermione frowned at the sight but kept quiet when he finally spoke, "I got another letter from Lucius."

"What did he say?" she asked, trying to conceal her utter disgust for Draco's father.

He'd thought about how to tell her, a part of him wanting to hide the truth but knowing it was a terrible way to start a marriage, especially if she discovered it later. "He threatened to kill you so that I could be free to have a suitable heir for the Malfoy family," he blurted out.

Hermione choked on her butterbeer. "What was that?"

"You heard me."

She gestured for the letter. "Let me see."

Draco pulled the parchment from the back pocket of his pyjamas and handed it to her, watching carefully as she read it in silence.

After a long moment, Hermione gestured to the letter in her hands. "Am I to take it that something in the West Wing on the first floor will be very unwelcoming?" she asked.

Draco smiled, but it lacked all humor. "You could say that. We probably would not find enough of you to bury if it didn't accept you as a worthy Malfoy wife."

She sucked in a defiant breath. "Well, that settles it. I'm never going to live in the Manor."

"Once you have a child of Malfoy blood, you would be fine," he said, trying to calm her worries. "Well, once you get pregnant, you would be fine. But until then... maybe not."

"But we will have exchanged blood already, so shouldn't that matter?" Hermione asked, her interest sounding purely academic.

His brows furrowed at the question. "I hadn't thought about that. Maybe?" he offered. "But I'd just as soon not take the chance. And we would not be living the West Wing anyway. We will be, or would have been, living in the East wing. I'm telling you because I want to know… what do you want to do? Do we take this to Shacklebolt?" he asked and then glanced back down at the letter once more. "And you see how he threatens to disinherit me again if we have kids," he noted bitterly.

Hermione looked at him askance. "Do you care about the money?"

"I like nice things, Granger." Draco smirked. "But no, I've got quite a bit of my own stored, inheritances from grandparents and what not. But I can make certain I have more before Lucius can make good on his threat. So, no. But I do want my children to have access to everything they deserve. And you won't have to work."

She narrowed her eyes instantly at the mere implication of becoming his little house-witch. "I'm going to work, Draco."

"We can circle back around to that later." Draco grinned at her irritation. "So, what do you want to do?"

"Humph. No need to circle," she said, determined to not let this go. "I'll work," she insisted and then ended the topic right then and there, giving him no room for argument. "Regarding this letter, it's up to you. If we do go to Kingsley, Lucius may not get out of Azkaban for fifteen years rather than just ten. How is your mother going to feel about that?"

Draco sighed. "She loves him and she will always love him no matter how bat-shite crazy he might be." He paused. "But she loves me more. And she will love my children."

Hermione nodded, feeling somewhat relieved to know that they wouldn't be forced to go up against both of Draco's parents. "Then make a copy of both letters and send them to her. Ask her what she wants you to do. We can tell Kingsley if we need to tell him," Hermione suggested. "But, I think we should talk to Bill, too. If there is something in the Manor that eats people..."

Draco thought about it. "The Manor doesn't eat people. It just ... it's just there to protect the purity of the Malfoy family. But..." He paused. Salazar's rod, why was he agreeing to this? "It's a good plan. Maybe he can help. And I'll write my mother; she knows Lucius better than anyone. These letters will help explain to her why we are not planning to live at the Manor." He took another sip of butterbeer. "So, tell me what I need to know about the wedding," he said.

Hermione accepted his bid to change the subject and filled him in on the plans.

An hour later as he was getting up to leave, Draco reached over to kiss Hermione quickly, but firmly. When he reached the door to his room, he turned and said, "You know Lucius assumes you would not be a worthy Malfoy wife. He's wrong."

Monday Morning

Defense Against the Dark Arts Classroom

After 8th year Double D.A.D.A.

Hermione and Draco approached Bill's desk. "Professor, Draco and I would like to set an appointment to talk with you. Will you be available during office hours today or tomorrow?"

Bill looked at the couple in front of him and, knowing Hermione as he did, he suspected this to be a serious concern. "I have a free period now. Do you?"

The duo nodded and then exchanged glances. Draco took the lead. "I'll be brief. My father is threatening to disinherit me if I have children with Hermione, and he has threatened her life."

Bill sat straight up. "You have my undivided attention. How exactly is he threatening her?"

"Traditionally, brides and grooms spend the wedding night in a honeymoon suite at the Manor. If the bride or groom is considered an unfit addition to the Malfoy family, then they are, ahh, removed from the situation, so to speak. By the Manor itself," Draco tried to explain.

Bill nodded and asked, "What would make a spouse 'unfit'?"

Draco shrugged. "Impurity is the only characteristic I know of."

"Impurity of what?" Bill pressed.

The Slytherin sighed. "Blood, I guess."

Bill scoffed. "That's ridiculous. There's no difference in blood."

"But —" Draco began.

"No, Draco, there is literally no difference in blood. Hermione's parents do not make her blood impure any more than your parents make your blood pure. Blood is blood. And I think that Hermione could walk right into the Manor today and spend a night in any room," Bill insisted.

Hermione could not keep quiet any longer. "What?" she asked, shocked by the declaration.

Bill, without warning, reached forward and pulled Hermione's arm toward him, sweeping up the sleeve of her robes, exposing the Mudblood on her arm. "Has the blood stain on the floor in the drawing room faded Draco?" Draco flinched at the sight of the ugly word on her skin, and he could see Hermione trying to tug her arm away from Bill's firm grasp.

Draco shook his head. "No. It… hadn't. It might have by now, but I can't be sure until I go back."

Bill let go of Hermione. "It won't," he insisted. "And I suspect that the Malfoy family has a honeymoon ritual of spilling a small amount of the spouse's blood in the room, which will allow the new family member access through the wards." At Hermione's wide-eyed look he added, "It's traditional, even in families that aren't old fashioned or pureblood," he said to calm her worries. "I think the impurity factor kicks in if the Manor, which is magical — like Hogwarts — feels that the spouse is a danger to the family or isn't the correct match for the Malfoy family member. Hermione's blood has already been spilled in the Manor. It didn't eat her, it didn't recognize her as a threat to the 'purity' of the family; and now that she has spilled her blood there, the Manor would actually recognise her as a member of the family. Your house knew you were matched before the two of you did," Bill said, grinning with amusement at the look of utter shock that had crossed the pair in front of him over his words.

"Tell me, how did Voldemort and his followers get in the Manor, exactly?" he asked Draco.

"My father... he changed the wards to allow those with the Dark Mark through," Draco explained.

"Did he change the blood wards?"

The blonde shook his head. "No, not that I'm aware. Their Dark Marks were like keys."

"Have you fixed that yet?" Bill asked, obviously concerned.

"No. I don't know how." Draco confessed.

Bill started making plans. "I know something about curses and wards. I'll go with you this weekend, and we should probably take a squad of Aurors with us."

Hermione, who had been silent to this point, interjected. "Professor, why do you need Aurors?"

"If the Dark Mark will let people in, then my house may still be Death Eater headquarters," Draco explained, suddenly very concerned. "Think about it, my parents are in Azkaban. I was living with Muggles all summer and came straight here. Only the house-elves are there, but if they don't realize what has happened, then…" Draco did not sound happy at the thought of the few remaining Death Eaters using his home as a base camp.

"I'll get in touch with Kingsley. We will go on Saturday," Bill said, hoping to ease their worries. "Hermione, is there anything else?"

"Well, it's not as important, but Lucius has threatened to disinherit Draco, so, can that be prevented?" she asked.

Bill shook his head. "It goes back to blood, Hermione. By allowing Bellatrix to spill your blood in the house, Lucius essentially offered you and your children — especially since they will be Draco's children as well —" Hermione's body tightened almost imperceptibly at that, "a great deal of protection in all Malfoy properties." He paused. "I can't prove all of this, but if Hermione comes with us this weekend, we can see if she can get through the wards. It will answer our questions."

"I don't want her facing Death Eaters." Draco was adamant.

"And I don't really want to go back to the Manor, but some things have to be done, Draco." Hermione insisted.

"I don't think we'll be facing Death Eaters, honestly," Bill said confidently. "But it is a possibility. If nothing else, your house-elves will have protected your home."

As the two teenagers turned to leave, Draco was struck with a sudden thought. "What about prisoners? We have dungeons. I'm sure there was blood everywhere down there. Can they get in the Manor too?"

"Of course not, Draco. I told you, I think your house recognized this," Bill said as he pointed from Draco to Hermione and back again, "before the Sorting Hat did. Or are you going to tell me there's no emotional connection between the two of you?"

The couple glanced at one another, Bill's words sinking in.

"Bill... I mean, Professor, I... I don't believe in soulmates and, and…" Hermione stammered as Bill's face showed his patent disbelief. "I'm quite sure Draco doesn't as well, I mean, he's been very nice, and he can kiss rather well, but…" Her voice petered out, her face red with embarrassment.

Chuckling, eyes crinkling with a Fred and George-like glee at her discomfort, Bill turned to the wizard at her side, "Care to add anything, Draco?"

"No, Professor, I believe Miss Granger covered everything." Draco deadpanned. So she thought he could kiss rather well. It was nice to get confirmation of what he read in her reactions. What a perfect place to start.

Wednesday Evening

Dinner

The Great Hall

A lone, obviously tired, owl swooped down and landed beside Hermione and held out its leg to give her a letter. She fed him, and he flew away after another moment's pause.

Dearest Hermione,

To say that we were shocked to hear of your forthcoming nuptials would be an understatement. We cannot understand how a government can dictate your life to you in such a way, and this boy who you say you are marrying. We remember his name. He often made you cry as a child. Why aren't you marrying Harry? Or Ron? There was something there; we always knew it.

After all you have done for the Wizarding world, and how you sacrificed even our family and they just expect you to just follow along with this ridiculous plan? We are deeply upset. So, in an effort to ensure that we are not completely closed out of your life again, we have made several decisions:

We've decided to leave Australia and return to England. We will spend the next few months here, making preparations to move when the seasons change. It will take every bit of that time to properly close our dental practice here and re-open the one in England. Unfortunately, that means we will be unable to be at your wedding.

If you are still with this boy when we arrive home in March, then bring him to meet us at the Easter hols. If not, we will help you find a way of this travesty. However, if you insist on remaining with him, we will then plan your wedding for our family and friends for early June. As your parents, we refuse to be shut out of this as we were the last year of your life. So, you will have a proper wedding with your father walking you down the aisle. We will not consider you married until that happens. And that, young lady, is final.

We love you and will see you in March.

Mum and Dad

Hermione dropped the letter on the table. This was unexpected, but perhaps it would be better this way. Her poor parents. They were so confused and who could blame them? Thank Godric she hadn't told them about the Sorting Hat. Hopefully, by the time her parents met Draco, they would have fallen in love — wait, love?! — what was she thinking?

"Hermione, what's wrong?" Hannah's voice interrupted her thoughts.

Hermione looked to Hannah, but not before she caught Draco's eyes on her. "Umm, nothing. Just a letter from my parents." She smiled at Hannah to put her at ease and folded the letter to put away. "I think I'm done; I'll just head back to our common room."

Before she could stand, Draco was beside her, pulling out her chair and taking her bag. "Tell me what's wrong."

"I can carry my own bag."

The look Draco gave her told her exactly what he thought of that notion. "No. Now tell me what's wrong," he insisted.

They began the long walk to the other end of the Great Hall. As they moved between the Slytherin and Gryffindor tables, Hermione could not help but think of the day coming very quickly when she would be walking the length of this room towards the wizard at her side to tie her life to his. "I just got a letter from my parents."

"So I gathered. What did they say?"

Hermione sighed. "I'll let you read it when we get back to our rooms. It'll be easier than explaining." They completed the walk to the eighth year hall in companionable silence. "Meet me in my room after you change clothes."

Draco nodded his assent and a few minutes later, walked through the connecting door to her room. "You know, this door is handy. Blaise was bitching about not having one the other day. Boot's room is right beside his. Blaise said he can hear Boot and the other Patil through the walls. They are very okay with their match." His conspiratorial look invited her to laugh with him as he dropped down to lounge at the foot of her bed, as was his habit.

"Really?" Hermione rolled her eyes. "You know Terry's not putting up a Silencing Charm on purpose. Rubbing it in Blaise's face that he's not beside his fiancé."

Draco laughed out loud. "I know that. Blaise knows that. How did you know that?"

"Two guys as best friends, remember?"

Draco mimicked her eye roll. "Don't remind me." He paused. "Let me see the letter." She handed it to him and watched as he read it. Draco frowned. "I didn't know I made you cry, Hermione."

She scoffed at his words, waving his worry off with a flick of her hand in irritation. "Now who's focusing on minutia? My parents are insisting on a second wedding, Draco," she said, trying to get him to see the real issues at hand. "I need you to go along with this. I know them; they aren't going to treat us as married until we are married in front of them. And they already have doubts about us as a couple."

Draco winced at that. Shite. "Did you tell them about me being a Death Eater?"

Her eyes widened dramatically. "Have you completely lost the plot? Of course not! I just told them over the years about the boy who teased me so unmercifully and made me cry. And how Ron and Harry always tried to help me."

"Alright, alright. This isn't a big deal, then. As long as they don't feel like I'm some Nazi —" Hermione wasn't surprised that Draco knew enough Muggle history to know about World War Two, "— I can recover from being a jerk as a kid. Trust me, Hermione, I can be charming when I want to be," he assured her and grinned.

When he smiled at her like that, Hermione knew he was right.

He got up and stood beside her. "Slide over." She moved to make room, and he sat down beside her, propped against the pillows and headboard. "Tell me about your family."

Hermione looked at Draco with raised eyebrows. "You really want to know about my Muggle parents?"

"Yes, I do. And I want to know why they are in Australia. I always thought you were from London."

"They are dentists." At his quizzical look, Hermione explained, "They are both Healers for teeth. Muggles don't have the same kinds of protective and cleaning spells we do, so they have doctors to take care of them. Remember when you blew my teeth up?" she asked him, pleased when Draco looked abashed at the memory. "They were furious with me because when Madam Pomfrey was shrinking them, I didn't tell her to stop until they were a bit smaller than they originally had been." She glanced at him. "You probably didn't notice."

Draco thought back. Her teeth had been larger than normal, which was why he thought to make them even bigger. But when she came back to class the next day, he hadn't noticed them anymore. "No, I noticed you had changed, but I didn't know exactly what was different."

"Well, about Australia…" she said, going back to her original point, "when I knew I was going to have to go on the run with Harry and Ron to find the Horcruxes, I couldn't leave them defenseless. So, I Obliviated their memories and sent them to Australia. I hoped they wouldn't be found there," she said and waited to hear his response.

Holy shite, she Obliviated her parents. That was a bloody gutsy move. And genius, Draco thought to himself, impressed with his fiancé. But pride over her brilliance in war wasn't what she needed from him now. Instead, he put his arm around her and pulled her close. "You did the right thing. The Dark— er... Voldemort was furious that they couldn't find you or your family. He wanted to make you suffer. I know they tried to find them." He felt her nod.

"I thought he would send Death Eaters after them," she confessed, not acknowledging the fact that Draco had just confirmed her worst fears. "It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I was so scared when I restored their memories. I knew they would be angry, but they forgave me. I don't know if they will ever fully understand." She sighed. "So, I know you aren't keen on another wedding, but if it will help them be a part of my life again, then I really want to do it."

He nodded. "I get it. If I could have taken my mother away from everything, I would have. And your parents will love me before I'm finished."

"No magic, Malfoy."

"It's Draco, Hermione," he corrected her. "And I don't need magic to make your parents like me. I'm charming, remember?"

"Uh huh. Right, ferret."

"You love me anyway."

"Love, yeah, ri —" Draco cut her off with a kiss and she couldn't think of anything else.

My visions for fashions, rings, and places are contained on this pinterest page (take out the spaces): pinterest sallymacfics/unity/

I'd love to hear what you think about the story and any suggestions. Thanks for reading!