Disclaimer: I own nothing, all credit to J.K Rowling for the creation of the Harry Potter universe. I just found a plot for this ship.

Warning: Later chapters will contain adult themes. There is an M rating for a reason. The story will NOT contain rape or sexual violence. Lemons and fluff expected. Basically everything you would find in most romance novels you find nowadays.
There will also be the use of profanity.

Just to clarify, I have the most amazing Beta in Ihrin, she is staggering chapters of this fic while she works on my other two WIP! My happiness is a golden poem.
This chapter was updated 10-11-16 If you still find errors, please send me a PM. Thanks, and thanks again to Ihrin.

Music speaks to my muse. I usually have songs on repeat or a playlist for stories as I write and edit them.
This chapters song was: Drunk, Ed Sheeran
Lyric of choice: What didn't kill me never made me stronger at all.

Chapter 3
Match, Match, Match, Fire.

Hermione and Ginny both looked up from the table as an owl tapped at her kitchen window. Ginny had pretty much moved into Hermione's small flat over the last month. Things at her parents' house were very strained. Her mother had still not gotten over Ginny breaking up with Harry Potter. Hardly anyone really had.

Hermione opened the window and untied the letter from the owl's claw, reaching over to hand him a treat that she kept on a shelf by the window. The owl hooted at her thankfully and then took off. Hermione's hands were shaking, though she had a feeling she knew what this letter was.

Ginny was standing up, her face pinched and drawn. "Is it?"

Hermione looked at the seal and then nodded, swallowing. "Yes, it is."

Ginny had gotten her letter yesterday but hadn't opened it yet. Hermione's hands shook as she considered her own.

Ginny cursed and then flew floo powder into the fireplace. "Dad! Hermione got her letter too."

Hermione looked up reflexively as Ginny moved her head out of the fire and Mr. Weasley's head appeared, looking concerned. "Has she? George got his this morning as well. Why don't you girls come over and we can discuss this as a family."

Hermione looked up her face shocked as Mr. Weasley glared at her. "You are still my daughter, Hermione Granger. We made a pact over you years ago. Dinner is served at six."His head disappeared and the flames did as well.

Ginny gave a sad little snort, and then rushed out of the room. Hermione set down her letter and then jumped again as the fire went on. When she turned she was looking at Harry's tense face. "I got my letter. Arthur said we would all talk about it tonight. Does that mean Ginny got one too?"

Hermione nodded, her face going a bit pale. She watched Harry close his eyes for a moment and then open them, his glasses glinting in the fire. "Right. Are you two coming then?"

Hermione nodded again holding up her letter so he could see that she got one as well, not trusting her voice. Harry made a small snort and ran a hand through his already messy hair. "Right then. See you there."

He was gone and Hermione was left in her kitchen alone, shaking.

OoOoOoOoO

At six o'clock on the dot, Ginny and Hermione stepped into the fire and then out into the Weasleys' busy kitchen. Hermione's eyes met Ron's briefly and then quickly moved away. He was frowning at her, his face clearly angry. He had been angry with her for what seemed like forever now and it never gotten any easier. It was almost a year to the day since she had turned down his marriage proposal which of course had signaled the end of their relationship, although that had taken a bit to be official.

Ginny was attacked by her mother, who was wailing sadly. "Mom, stop it," Ginny said firmly.

Arthur hugged Hermione before handing her off to Fleur, who was giving her a pitying look. Hermione just shrugged at Bill who pulled Fleur away and nodded, his face tight. Harry arrived just after them and everyone sat down to eat, trying to ignore Molly's pitiful sighing.

When dinner was over, George pulled his letter out from his coat pocket and set it on the table, his face carefully blank. Percy's wife Penelope rounded up the children, with the help of her sisters-in-law, until finally it was just the Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione left at the table.

Bill shifted, looking around while Hermione and Ginny pulled out their letters as well. Harry was holding his, she noticed, tapping it against his open palm.

Arthur cleared his throat. "Right. Well, who wants to open their letter first?"

George snorted. "Shall we go oldest first, dad?"

Arthur nodded, his face cheerful, although it looked forced. "Certainly!"

Hermione watched as George opened his letter and his face flushed. He carefully pulled out the parchment and then started reading. It was another few minutes before he said softly. "Avery's daughter Constance."

A hush moved through the room. Molly had gone totally pale and Arthur seemed to be struggling to say something. George took out a picture from the envelope, not even looking at it. He handed it to Percy, who nodded and then handed it to his father. Bill was taking the letter from George and reading it.

"It says she is twenty-two and has volunteered as well," Bill said, his tone uncharacteristically somber.

Ron snorted. "I can't imagine her Death Eater of a father liked that."

Arthur's voice chided softly, "Ron!"

Ron snorted and shoved away. "What! They did it for the money, I bet! Kingsley had to bribe them. Fifty thousand galleons to sell off their children!"

George's face went deep red and he stood up suddenly. "Is that why we did it, Ron? For the galleons?" His voice was calm but his face was something to behold.

Ron went pale but his ears went bright red.

"Ronald, sit down!" Arthur said suddenly.

Hermione watched as Ron sank back down into his seat. Molly was glaring harshly at her son.

"And if you cared so much about the galleons, why didn't you volunteer?" This was said by Ginny, whose pale face made her eyes stand out brightly.

Ron glared back at her. "I don't care about the galleons! I don't need them."

Ginny looked at him disdainfully. "Yes, we know! Great Quidditch star that you are with all your endorsements, playing off being part of the Golden Trio."

Molly's voice came out strained but strong. "Ginny, that's enough!"

Ron was breathing hard and had his wand drawn.

Bill gave a long sigh. "Put it away, you git. Ginny could hex you into next week."

Hermione didn't look at Ron but instead met Harry's eyes.

He smirked but quickly hid it, instead he calmly said, "I know I am not the next oldest, but I would like to go next."

This worked like someone had cast a silencing charm in the kitchen and all eyes focused on Harry, who began opening his letter carefully.

He sighed and then looked up. "Magnolia Flint."

Hermione felt her mouth drop. "I know of her. She's just out of Hogwarts!"

Harry gave a long sigh and said softly. "Eighteen. It says she wishes to become a healer, with my permission, and would perhaps like to marry sometime after she finishes school."

Arthur cleared his throat. "Well then, you will have plenty of time to get to know her. Great amount of brains goes into becoming a healer. That's…" He trailed off, his eyes gazing into the distance for a while and eventually settling on Ginny, who looked pale but fierce.

Everyone shifted uncomfortably before Ginny said firmly, "Right, so me next then."

She ripped open her letter before Hermione could point out that she was older than Ginny. As she scanned it, she went paler and paler until finally her mother started to look concerned.

As she scanned it, she went paler and paler until finally, her mother started to look concerned.

"Ginny, dear?" Molly said softly.

"Gregory Goyle," Ginny said, her tone deathly quiet.

Ron stood up. "What!"

George was frowning while the other Weasleys looked confused.

Harry was pale. "Ginny?"

She looked at him and then a mask went over her face as she nodded and repeated quietly, "Gregory Goyle."

Arthur was nodding, his face pinched while Molly sobbed into a handkerchief. Charlie was patting his mother's back while Percy appeared to be trying to figure out who that was.

"Wasn't he in your year, Ron?" Percy asked, in his typical formal tone.

Ron made a slashing motion with his hand. "Yes. He's a troll!"

"Ron!" Molly scolded, glaring at her son in indignation.

Ron slumped in his chair and said nothing else.

Ginny was looking at a picture, frowning. "He looks very different," she said softly.

George leaned over and whistled. "Blimey, Ginny. He isn't chubby anymore but he is still huge!"

Ginny handed the picture to her mother, who took it with trembling hands. "He looks very sad," Molly said softly.

OoOoOoOoO

There was silence in the room again until finally Hermione cleared her throat and, without saying anything, began to open her letter with shaking fingers.

She scanned the first paragraph and then froze, the room went silent until she could only hear a loud rushing sound in her ears.

"Hermione?" Ginny's voice finally broke through and she looked up, trying to lick her dry lips.

"Malfoy."

She didn't have to say anything else. There were a few seconds of total silence around the table and then a loud bang. Hermione looked up to see that Ron was gone, having blasted his way out the back door. She met Harry's eyes, which were a bit wild, and then turned over the picture that had been sent with her letter.

Draco Malfoy stared back at her with his piercing silver eyes and signature smirk. He was in a dark, three-piece suit, and his hair was a bit longer than she remembered last seeing it. He was taller as well and a bit more filled out. His shoulders, for example, were a bit broader. Her eyes were drawn to his tie, where a silver snake pin glinted in the flash with an emerald eye shining at her. She didn't think to find it curious that he was in a Muggle suit instead of wizard robes; she was too busy trying not to hyperventilate.

When she looked up, Ginny was staring at her in absolute shock. "He volunteered?" Ginny asked hoarsely.

Hermione gave a brief nod as the shock of this information washed over her in heavy waves. That's right- he had to have volunteered and he wouldn't have needed the galleons. His family was one of the richest in the Wizarding World.

"Merlin's beard," Mr. Wesley said softly, looking up from the parchment he had taken out of Hermione's hand.

She glanced at him questionably and he said softly, "He says he wishes to be married at once. Hermione, you had better find someone to negotiate with the family."

Hermione swallowed, her throat dry and she watched as Harry stood up and walked out, much calmer than Ron had been, but still she could tell he was distraught.

George was staring at the picture, a bit of a sneer creeping onto his face before he tossed it down and stormed out as well.

Molly swallowed and took a deep breath, hiccupping as she said, "Goyle... Did he say when he wishes to marry, Ginny?"

Ginny looked back down at her letter and then looked up, shaking her head. "He says that is up to me, but I don't see the point in dragging it out." She looked at her father. "Dad, will you go speak to him?"

Her father swallowed and then nodded firmly. "I will do it tomorrow."

Percy sat up, his voice brisk and full of pompousness, that certainly had not changed over the years. "I will go with you, father. I can help draw up a contract."

Ginny sighed but said, in a resigned tone, "Thank you, Percy, but that won't be necessary. I will sit down with him and we can decide things ourselves. I will, of course, come to you right away for your opinion."

Percy nodded and then looked at Hermione his face troubled. "We had better think very hard about how we approach the Malfoys, Hermione."

Harry walked back in and she was shocked to see that Andromeda Tonks was with him, Teddy following alongside her.

"Harry fetched me," she said breathlessly, handing Teddy to Ginny who was delighted to see the boy.

Harry sat down. "Andromeda has agreed to help us. Her sister, after all, is Malfoy's mother."

Andromeda flinched a bit and then said quietly. "I can read Cissy rather well, and Lucius as well, if you must know."

Hermione looked at Andromeda kindly. "You don't have to do this, Andromeda. I know how hard-"

Andromeda cut her off as she squared her shoulders. "I would be happy to help, Hermione. He's my nephew."

Hermione gave a small nod and went back to staring at the picture as Andromeda took the letter from Arthur and they started talking, Percy throwing in suggestions as they went along.

Finally, after what seemed like hours, there was a pop in the kitchen and everyone gasped.

A house elf stood in front of Hermione, a crisp ironed sheet on its frail body and its eyes large. "I has a message for Miss Granger from my master," the elf said in a squeaky yet formal voice.

Andromeda spoke up. "Yes?"

"The Malfoys send their regards to Miss Granger and request that she and her representative meet them for dinner tomorrow evening at seven o'clock."

Andromeda frowned. "Where shall she meet them?"

The elf's voice was full of pride. "At Malfoy Manor."

Hermione went white and her eyes flew to Andromeda's. She didn't want to go anywhere near that place if she could help it. She had been tortured there; almost died there. As if sensing her distress, the small elf said in a firm voice.

"Young master told me to tell Miss Granger that it has been redecorated since she was last there."

Andromeda cleared her throat, her voice tight. "Thank you, she will be there."

The elf disapparated with a pop and Hermione let out the breath she had been holding.

Her wild eyes met Andromeda's and then Harry's. When she looked at Molly's they were full of tears and Ginny had buried her head in Teddy's soft curls, bright red to match her own hair.

No one quite knew what to say.

Notes:

Why Goyle? I don't know! I just truly felt that he might deserve redemption, and then that turned into some pondering, and the next thing I knew my muse had matched up Goyle and Ginny. The more I wrote this story though, the happier I became with this pair. Honestly, this side plot makes me rather giddy. I hope you forgive me for indulging my muse with this. I understand if you cannot though. No hard feelings.

Magnolia Flint and Constance Avery are characters I invented for this fic and play minor roles.

Yes, Ron is a total prat. Again, blame my muse.