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/MA rating for a reason. The story will NOT contain rape or sexual violence. Lemons and fluff expected. Basically anything you find in typical romance novels nowadays.
There will also be the use of profanity.

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: The Last Time I Saw Paris, Noel Coward
Lyric of choice: No matter how they change her, I'll remember her that way.

The amazing Ihrin has updated this chapter. Bless her, bless her so much. Chapter updated: 11-13-16 and Ran Through Grammarly 7-17

Charmed To You

Chapter 4
Clotho having a laugh?

Draco was in the library when the owl showed up, scratching at the window. He knew immediately where it was from and threw open the window to retrieve the letter, tossing the huge barn owl a treat as he did. He couldn't quite believe that this had happened so quickly. For once, it would seem the Malfoys had gotten lucky. There was a match for Draco in the first batch of volunteers.

Draco doubted that his father's information had swayed the Minister or matchmakers in any way. He knew it wouldn't have actually swayed the charm. He also knew he wasn't the first pureblood to receive a letter detailing that a match had been found for him. However, he didn't doubt that once he opened this letter he would be the first wizard to be bonded, if the witch was willing- and Merlin help her if she wasn't. His father had been on a bit of a rampage, going on about the wedding; his mother had already made up the guest list. Draco didn't dare add or remove names and he felt a bit sorry for his future bride if she was at all picky. His parents were not to be easily swayed. If he wasn't going to marry who they wished, he was at the very least going to marry how they wished.

What annoyed Draco the most was that he had no idea who he could possibly be marrying. He only knew of two others who had volunteered, and they were Goyle and Flint. Goyle, he knew, had received his letter. Although the man hadn't shared who he'd been matched with, which made him think Goyle hadn't opened it yet. Draco had planned to owl him tonight to see if he'd plucked up the courage and knew who his match was. Draco turned his letter over in his hands a few times before he called for his parents- no reason to put this off now. It was time to find out who his bride was.

Draco sat with his parents in the formal parlor, staring at the letter in his hand.

His mother sighed. "It will be a mud-" she took a deep breath and then said carefully. "It will be a muggle-born, won't it?" She shuddered. "She will make sure of that!"

Draco sighed, knowing perfectly well who his mother was speaking of when she said "she." He had listened to all of his mother's fears surrounding the fact that Hermione Granger had come up with the charm ever since he had announced that he was volunteering. Surprisingly, his father spoke up to defend Granger, his tone harsh. "Cissy, enough! I witnessed this charm in action; it's ingenious. There is no way to trick it, no way to circumvent this magic."

Draco looked up into his father's cool, gray-blue eyes and nodded. "There are many facets to this charm, mother," he said wearily, his gaze falling back to his letter. "Whoever this letter says- they are indeed meant to be mine."

Draco sat back and continued to stare at the thick yellow envelope and the wax Ministry seal. It had arrived an hour ago and they'd been sitting and staring at it since. Finally, Draco ripped open the letter and started reading. Shock such as he had never known before rushed over him. His face grew stormy; his eyes swirled almost silver with his disbelief and anger. Damn the fates!

"Draco?" His mother asked softly.

Draco looked up; his father was frowning at him.

"A mud-" he too paused and then said carefully. "A Muggle-born, then?"

Draco snorted and went back to reading. "Oh yes," he said darkly.

Hermione Granger.

He shook his head as he took in the picture of her, she looked different of course, certainly she didn't look like a teenage girl anymore. But the camera wasn't doing her any favors. Or rather it was probably her too sad expression and her too large robes. Her hair was longer and less bushy than when she had been a child. That he didn't mind. And she was petite still, rather fragile looking, which surprised him. Her personality, intellect, and magical talent were so large, it allowed you to forget sometimes how little she was.

He stared at her for a long moment before he went back to reading the short biography that he already knew.

She was under-secretary to the ministry. She WOULD continue to work. He snorted at that, of course she would make that statement. She didn't have a preference for when she married or how long her engagement was. He paused as he digested the last statement she made: She wanted at least two children. This gave him pause. He had never wanted any children, had in fact been adamant that he wasn't going to have a child. Something that was tenement to blasphemy and treason to his parents. But he had not had a good childhood, truth be told. The stain of his father's connection with the dark lord had always hovered over this house. So he had not wished to procreate, not even for an heir. But as he looked at Hermione Grangers' too sad eyes and too serious face he had a moment of pause. She would make a wonderful mother, brave, strong, and no matter what anyone thought about him, he could admit that she was bloody brilliant. Muggle born or not. Hermione Granger was an exceptional witch and an unblemished soul. And Draco Malfoy was at his core, Slytherin. He touched her picture and felt the ambition to continue the Malfoy name uncoil in him for the very first time.

Their children would be bloody unstoppable!

He found a small smile and raised his eyes to his father. "You might come to regret defending Granger, father."

His father frowned and held out his hand for the letter so Draco handed it to him and waited for the explosion.

To his surprise, his father nodded his eyes going dark, his expression thoughtful and Draco almost snickered as he saw the ambitious gleam enter his father's eyes. Draco knew exactly what his father was thinking. Even his Muggle detesting father could not deny that Hermione Granger was the best witch of their age. And he knew his father was thinking of how auspicious it was that such a witch would be tied to their family, especially one with so many connections in the Ministry and so close to the Minister himself.

His mother was running out a patience. "Who is she?"

Draco leaned back in the arm chair with his arms folded behind his head and crossed his feet at the ankles and said calmly. "I have been matched with Hermione Granger."

His mother's hand flew to her throat and her face went white as a sheet. "No!"

Draco nodded and he watched his rather contained mother completely lose her composure. "But- she was tortured here, almost killed. She won't live here, she won't marry you!"

Draco gave a slow nod watching his mother with a bit of detached amusement. "I am aware of that. I was already planning on building another wing onto the manor for my wife and myself."

His father was shaking his head. "She won't back out of this, it isn't in her nature."

Draco's eyes widened in surprise; his father seemed to know his old schoolmate rather well because the man was right. Granger would never back out of something she had agreed to.

"Do you know her father?"

Lucius gave him an imperious look. "I know of her, Draco. She is very well respected, almost feared, even by her own side. Miss Granger is the only one for example that obnoxious Potter will listen to. The Minister utilizes her often to maneuver Potter to his advantage."

Draco smirked. "Smart of him, she did always have him by the shirt tails. Stupid git."

Lucius' thin lips twitched with humor before he sighed. "Send an elf to invite her to dinner, with a guest I suppose."

Draco again was surprised at his father's insight into Granger's character.

"Why would we send an elf?" His mother asked with a frown. "How crass, I am sure an owl-"

Draco shook his head at his mother. "No, mother, Granger has a soft spot for house elves. She won't be rude to the elf. We have to wait until the mark at the bottom is purple and not red, however. She hasn't read her letter yet."

His father shook his head in obvious distaste. "We will have to go through the home."

His mother looked up and then gasped. "Oh dear, the portraits, they will-"

Draco waved his hand wearily. "Well, get to it then. I will invite her over for tomorrow if she opens her letter tonight. The less time we give her to sit and think on this, the better, trust me on that."

Again his father's mouth twitched before the man looked at his son curiously. "I had expected a bit more of a reaction out of you, Draco?"

Draco thought about that for a moment and then nodded. "I would hedge a guess that I am still in a bit of shock, and also state that I find myself intensely curious to see her reaction to all this. I can guarantee, she would never have volunteered herself if she had known she would be matched with me."

His father was shaking his head at his son while his mother looked scandalized.

Draco smirked and then shook his head. "I would bet all the gold in our vaults that she will be wishing she could use a time turner to go back and not come up with the charm once she reads my name on her letter."

Author Notes:

Did you catch my cheekiness with the song I picked for this chapter?
Let me give you a bit of history (off the top of my head, feel free to google for more in depth information) and maybe you will find the satire for this.
When the German's invaded France the city of Paris surrendered in order to avoid having the city bombed. Immediately after the fall of Paris, the world mourned and this song was written and recorded.
Now, why did I play this song while editing this chapter?
Because I imagine that Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy feel exactly as the world did when Paris fell. They have surrendered their house, their son, their heritage to the enemy! Melodramatic I am sure, but it made me chuckle. Everything is about to change for the elder Malfoy's, right down to the paintings they hang in their house! So, hence the cheeky song choice. You are welcome!

In regards to the title of this chapter:
Clotho is the name of the Roman fate who spun the thread of life.
'Having a laugh' is an English phrase that many of you probably could have used when you saw the Ginny/Goyle match up.
Ex: You think Goyle and Ginny are a good match? You have got to be having a laugh."
So a fate is having a laugh with the Malfoy's right now. Fates are cheeky bastards like that.