Chapter 13

Time had dragged on these last few days, and little had changed besides the papers. Hermione clung to her arms in front of the mirror and reflected on the difference distance could make. If she were to admit to a belief in destiny, or whether it was mere circumstance, she never could have predicted that she would be teaching her peers how to perform a patronus or that Draco Malfoy would ask her to marry him.

She stood in her under garments and examined her frame the way she had when Voldemort had fallen. In this same castle she had begun a journey into a life that looked more secure and understanding with the ending of a war – more secure than she had seen since she entered the wizarding world. A year ago she had been in love with a man who had seemed true in character, but had not actually been that way. She had been determined to make a change in the school, and had seen small success. But because of the distance from her truest friends she's been able to make her most cherished bond of all, with Draco.

This past year had been life changing, and had given Hermione a new identity. Yes, she and Draco had their secrets. To some they were merely friends. To others they were associates. No one knew that they loved each other on a much deeper level, but tonight Hermione was ready to show her school that in fact she had come to her own, and that she was more than the girl who followed Harry Potter around.

She looked over the bruises that traced the length of her arms, and her eyes skimmed the scars tracing her forearm. A deep sigh escaped her as she shook her head clear. It did her no good to be lost in her thoughts, remembering the past that harmed her the most was unwise.

She tugged on her stockings and the rest of her uniform, braiding her short hair into two plaits along her head parted down the middle, the only style that could keep it off her face. She dusted some blush on her pale cheeks, stepped back and deemed her self sufficiently groomed, before she left the bathroom and descended the stairs to their cosy common room.

Sitting in the middle of the room was a huge trunk that rattled and groaned with a note resting on top of it. She cautiously approached the suspicious blue box and quickly snatched the letter away, as the chest made a screeching noise.

Miss Granger,

We found this boggart lurking in the broom closet on the first floor and thought it might come in handy for your first tutorial session this evening.

Good luck,

Minerva

She had just finished reading the note when Draco came down the stairs, his timing perfect as usual, for the bells chimed in the distance signalling seven. Hermione's lips tugged in a smile but she toned it down to a more casual look that she usually brought out as a mask. She didn't want to lead Draco on. If they were to get married, and she did mean if, they would have to wait. She had to squash that dragon in her that pulsed when he was near because she was prepared for a life with him that meant giving him her all, and she wouldn't allow their possible marriage to be weak because their souls had already attached without the proper incantations.

Draco pointed his chin casually at the note, hands in their usual pockets and asked, "What've you got there, Granger?"

He stood a little away, understanding how she felt about the whole soul thing (although he couldn't say he agreed with her ideologies he would respect hers). The weather hinted at being cold so he wore his Slytherin scarf and vest under his open cloak. Her eyes raked over him hungrily but she stepped away, closer to the trunk.

"Seems we'll be playing with boggarts tonight," she muttered, brushing her fly-aways off her forehead exasperatedly. He raised his eyebrows in response and stepped closer to her until he could drape his arm over her shoulders.

"Sounds a bit kinky love," he joked, wiggling his eyebrows down at her. She broke out into a grin and shoved him away allowing for a friendly space to fall between them as they made their way out the room.

"You're an idiot," she giggled, the sound filling the halls. They walked quietly to the great hall happy in one another's company. Both their insides would churn when their hands brushed but Draco fought with his all to not throw her against the wall and have his way with her.

She let out another sigh and stopped walking. "We need to talk about this," she said, gesturing to the space between them, feeling her heart give another tug like an elastic band to him. "I can't leave things unsaid and I think it's important we iron out the kinks. Can we do that during our free period this afternoon while we set up the room?"

"Of course," he whispered, tucking a strand behind her ear. He felt a tug inside him drawing him closer to her but he squashed it. He wanted to protect her and lead her and if he did that to her he would be showing her he was just like the Weasel, and he wouldn't do that- couldn't.

They kept walking until they reached the great hall; separating they joined their friends at their respective tables with their backs to one another. As Hermione sat the chatter around her died down; she looked around her quickly sure of her self that she hadn't let anyone in on hers and Draco's secret but she relaxed when she realised Professor McGonagall was standing at the front of the room.

"All seventh and eight years are to remain behind this morning for a special meeting with a ministry official. Classes will be cancelled," she said tonelessly before taking her seat. The woman appeared uncomfortable but conversation began to buzz, mostly in wonder of what the ministry could have to say to the adults.

"Is the ministry getting involved in Hogwarts again?" Padma wondered aloud, looking worried. "I hope there isn't going to be another toad running around scarring our hands…"

Ginny turned her nose up unkindly, looking more haughty than usual. "I'll drop out if that happens, regardless of weather I'm quidditch captain or not. If George can do it, so can I!" she cried melodramatically.

Hermione rolled her eyes and covered Ginny's hand with her own. "Stop being a drama queen, Gin. McGonagall and Kingsley would never let that happen." She chose to ignore the way the red head had skipped over her other brother's name, deciding to let her grieve in her own way. "I wonder what they have to tell us…"

They didn't have to wait long for breakfast to end as conversations spun quickly, creating unrealistic ideas as to what could be going on. Once all the other years had left, McGonagall again stood coldly at the front of the podium. Whatever the ministry wanted the woman wasn't happy. "Please move closer to the front of the room."

The hall filled with the sound of a hundred young adults scraping their chairs back and moving to the front of the room. Hermione sat right at the front, ready at hand should she be needed, and she noticed Draco had done the same.

"Now that the wizarding world is settling back down, the Wizengamot has voted for a new law that needs to be addressed to you, as you are the new adults it pertains to…" she let her voice fall off as she gripped the sides of the podium tightly. The students began to whisper among themselves but McGonagall silenced it with a stern look. "Mr Flitwick, if you please…"

The short skinny man ran to the centre of the room with a familiar stool and hat held tightly between his bony knuckles. He set the stool down loudly on the stone, before moving to stand beside McGonagall. "The Wizengamot has voted in favour of arranged marriages-" the room broke off into loud shouts and protests immediately, with Seamus and Dean standing up angrily yelling profanities at the witch. She held up her hand patiently waiting for the room to quieten, ignoring the rudeness of her own house in particular, who seemed to know a few choice words they daren't say in front of their mothers.

"There is a large fear that the wizarding community will die out… and so through the use of the sorting hat, you will be paired with a person who the hat thinks you are most suited to. There will be a magical binding contract signed by both parties that agrees to be married by the age of 22. It is expected that each couple will produce a minimum of two children by the age of thirty. Once you have been partnered you will sit together and wait further instructions."

Her expression was stern and deadly; no student dared speak for fear of her wrath. Minerva cleared her throat and spoke calmly. "We will begin with the heads of our school, as they lead you into this new chapter of their lives. Let us hope the hat leads your fates well... Ladies first, if you please Miss Granger?"

Hermione paled and her stomach dropped, feeling like she had been winded. She stood timidly, her knees knocking together as she walked carefully over to the stool. Sitting down carefully, the witch waited as the hat was placed on her child-like hairstyle.

She took a deep breath and waited. Unlike her first experience with the same hat, it did not talk to her or order it's thought out loud. Instead she could feel it searching around inside her investigating the woman she had become. Hermione's eyes slipped closed and she breathed nervously, knotting her fingers in the trim of her skirt as she anticipated the end of the agonising minutes the hat was taking. She heard the hat sigh in her head, as it declared her fate.

"Draco Malfoy," the hat robotically sprouted out with a flamboyant huff. Clearly the conscience of the hat wanted to protest his dislike in the decision for arranged marriages.

Shock rippled through her peers as Hermione sat in surprise at the truth in the Hat's decision. It really did see what she saw; Draco Malfoy would be her husband one day.

Flitwick carefully removed the hat and directed Hermione towards her partner who had stood stoically and moved to the back of the group. Whispers ran around Hermione as she joined Draco, grabbing his hand so tightly in relief below the table as she sat.

What happened to Ron? But he's a pureblood! Mudblood with out Prince!

Whispers swirled around her, but she sat in relief. She wasn't stuck with Ron any longer. She felt Draco press his whole leg alongside hers, demonstrating her his pleasure in the destiny that they had already begun beneath the table; above the table both their faces were perfectly composed, showing nothing.

The whispers died down as McGonagall called the second name.

Blaise Zambini carefully climbed the steps and perched on the stool; he sat looking down trying to ooze a wealthy confidence. The brim ripped open and paired him with Pavarti Patil. The pair joined them as names were listed off haphazardly. All Hermione managed to take in that the hat was clearly not restricted to those in the room; Ginny was paired to Harry and surprisingly Luna was paired with Neville- both men currently training to defend their community.

As the last couple of people were sorted McGonagall cleared her throat more politely than she began that morning. "Professor Flitwick, if you'll distribute the contracts please…

"Now each of you has until the youngest of your pair turns twenty two to marry. In every class you have together it is expected that you will be partnered together so as to get to know one another better, including the tutorial with Miss Granger this evening. I am sorry it has to be this way. If you have any concerns you may see me after. And one last thing I've been reluctant to share… If either of fails to fulfil this contract, you will have your magic stripped of you…"

The Scottish woman stood grimly at the front, the corners of her mouth twisted down in dislike. Dismissing them with a flick of her hand, Hermione and Draco let their hands fall away from one another as they walked to their last class of the week, Charms. Sighing as though they were annoyed at the outcome of their sorting, they sat dejectedly in the second row. As the rest of the class arrived, looking as dismal as they came the pair turned around to the sound of a psst.

"Hey, love birds!" the person behind the half whispered. "I bet you're super happy with the turn out! What with the whole kiss-"

Hermione snapped her head around so fiercely her braids whipped around her. "Blaise!" she hissed quietly, thankful the room was noisy. "You know my only rule! Don't tell anyone anything! Sheesh!"

Zambini chuckled light heartedly and tapped his nose. "Ah, but it feels so good to be Granger. And I'm pretty sure you can agree," he teased with a wink.

A/N: Hello to all my new followers out there! I know this might come as a generic surprise with lack of creativity, but let me have my fun! If you've guessed my writing style at all you know I like to twist things up a bit. I hope you like it, can't wait for the next chapter where we'll see some of Hermione's teaching...