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 what you would expect from most 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: Both Sides Now, Joni Mitchell (re-recording)
Lyric of choice: I really don't know love at all.

Ran through Grammarly, 7-17

Charmed to You

Chapter 8
Clouds got in the way.

Hermione stared at her ring sitting at her desk in the ministry. It was an oval diamond set in a band incrusted in emeralds. The detailing was delicate around the diamond, in leaf patterns. Every time she gazed into the diamond, which was rather large, she felt an overwhelming sense of peace come over her. The ring was beautiful and she loved it.

Draco had given it to her before they had met her parents for dinner in Diagon Alley. He hadn't gotten down on one knee or made a fuss over it. He had simply pulled the box out of his pocket, smirked at her and taken her hand and placed it on her finger. Then he had smiled at her and said he had charmed it to stay clean and that she shouldn't lose it as it was one of a kind and that it was meant to only be worn by her and would hurt anyone else who wore it, outside of their children, of course, so to be careful.

Hermione had just stared at him like a simpleton in shock and then had to snap her mouth closed when he started to chuckle as her parents arrived.

Her mother had been enchanted by Draco and his family, her father deeply impressed. She hadn't realized it but Draco had gone to meet them earlier, apologizing that they were only meeting that day and asking for her father's permission to marry his daughter; assuring them that they were deeply in love and committed to building a life together. When her parents had objected at the short time frame before the ceremony his mother had told them that it was a common practice in the wizarding world and that everything could be accomplished on time and they had nothing to worry about.

Hermione had been put in the awkward position of having to explain how short engagements were suddenly a 'custom' because her parents had known very well that Ginny and Harry had been engaged for years. As she was leaving with her parents she had whispered a bit helplessly. "It's different, mother, he's like royalty in this world. They have different rules. Please don't worry, I am very happy."

She had caught Draco's smirk and then he winked, obviously he had heard her but he didn't say anything, instead, he disappeared with his parents.

And she hadn't seen him since!

She saw his mother every day, Niffy checked in with her almost every hour, but she hadn't gotten so much as an owl from her intended. He did, however, send messages with the elf all through the day. Which she found a bit adorable.

She looked up at a knock on her door and was shocked to see Ron standing there, his hair windswept and his eyes troubled. "Announcement was in the Prophet today. You're getting married next weekend?"

Hermione nodded and then reached into her purse pulling out a butter cream envelope with an emerald wax seal.

"Um, I have your invitation. I was going to talk to you-"

Ron cut her off by waving his hand and walking in slamming the door. "So you're really going through with this? TO MALFOY!"

Hermione muttered a quick silencing charm and watched Ron wearily.

He was pacing in front of her desk. "WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?"

She flinched as he yelled at her and then shook her head not knowing what to say to him. This fight had been brewing for a long time between them. She let out a long sigh and then stood up. His eyes fell to the ring on her left finger and his breathing grew ragged. She hid her hand in the skirt of her dress.

"Ron, you will have to accept this. It won't change just because you scream at me. I love you; you were my best friend-"

He looked deeply hurt and cut her off his tone wounded. "I was your best friend?"

She nodded making sure to keep eye contact with him. "Yes, you were. But you have barely spoken to me in a year and you really have no right to yell at me now."

He deflated before rebounding and glaring at her. "Always so cold, so bloody calm. Did you ever think that might have been the problem? You think too much, everything has to be all planned out! It's unnatural."

She tried to hide her pain, even as her heart hurt at what he was saying. "I am sorry if I hurt you."

He glared at her for a moment before he turned around and slammed out of her office, leaving her to fall back into her chair feeling dejected.

There was a pop and she looked up to see Niffy frowning at her. "Young master asked Niffy to check on young mistress. He said his mistress was very sad."

Hermione frowned, how could Draco have possibly known that?

"It's all right Niffy." She said figuring that the elf might just be saying that because she had overheard the argument. It seemed sometimes that Niffy spoke her emotions through her masters.

The other day Niffy had said something similar when Hermione had been happy about her wedding dress.

"Young master told Niffy that young mistress was happy today. Niffy is very pleased."

Niffy watched her for a moment and then nodded. "Young mistress must go now to pick out the flowers for the Muggle church. Niffy was worried when young mistress didn't call her and went to see the young master."

Hermione stood up shoving the invitation into her purse. She would send it to the burrow by owl with a note for Ron. She didn't want them to become enemies, but she wasn't going to be yelled at by him again. "Yes, Niffy. I am very sorry I lost track of time."

Niffy nodded at her, her old weathered face clearing. "Yes, young mistress."

Hermione reached over and took Niffy's hand. They popped into the castle in France and then Niffy disappeared. Hermione took a deep breath and then walked out into the Foyer where she knew her future mother in law was waiting to meet with the florist.

"Hello, Narcissa. Sorry I am late." Hermione said brightly with a smile.

OooOoooOooO

Draco paced in his office waiting for Niffy to return to tell him what had been wrong with Hermione. He rubbed the gold ring bearing his families crest softly as he thought of his soon to be bride. She was a controlled little thing. The ring on his right ring finger that he had enchanted along with hers when he bought it had only ever burned a few times since he had given it to her.

His father had told him about the charm a long time ago, it was how he knew his own wife so well, he had said. "It will save your marriage, binding or not." Lucius Malfoy said with a firm nod. "Otherwise you won't know when to bring home bloody gifts or something. It responds best to sadness, anger, happiness and fear mind you. But those are important things to know if you ask me. When your mother had you and was screaming at me nonstop, I would have thought for sure she was mad as a spitting dragon, but that ring burned me with her fear, not anger. Women are tricky that way."

Draco had to agree with his father, women were indeed tricky.

He heard a pop and turned to look at a frowning Niffy. "Young master was right. Young mistress looked very sad. That boy shouldn't have been yelling at my mistress in such a way."

Draco froze as anger washed over him. "Who was yelling at her?"

Niffy glared. "He was tall, with red hair, and he knew her. He was not happy with her and she called him her old friend. But said he hadn't spoken to her in a very long time. That man is no friend to my mistress. Niffy does not like how he looks at her. He said mean things, and he made her sad."

Draco snorted, realizing at once who must have been yelling at Hermione today. Ronald Weasley, that total and complete waste of space was obviously still acting like a complete wanker.

Draco considered his options not realizing Niffy was still there because he hadn't dismissed her. He would have to deal with Ronald Wesley at one point or another. It was inevitable.

"Niffy."

"I is still here, young master."

Draco paused and then laughed at himself. "Oh, sorry. Do you have the current list of people who are attending the wedding?"

Niffy nodded. "I can get that."

Draco waved her off and sat down at his desk in annoyance.

Dean knocked and Draco looked up.

"I overheard," Dean said slowly looking apologetic.

Draco snorted. "Right, I forgot my secretary was at lunch so I had to shut my door to keep you out."

Dean smirked and sat down in a chair. "You want me to talk to him, mate?"

Draco rolled his shoulders considering his business partner. "And say what? Stop being a total prat?"

Dean nodded. "Well, that's a start. My mum said that to me rather a lot."

Draco chuckled softly putting his feet up on the desk. "Yes, I don't doubt it, you were a total prat."

Dean snorted and then said slowly. "So I did that recon you asked. Ginny was actually very helpful."

Draco sat up his eyes interested. "And?"

Dean smiled. "You were right, she has all kinds of muggle stuff in her house; I made a list. You can enchant all of it pretty easily so no worries. Her favorite singer is some ginger bugger who is a Brit. Not half bad actually we all went to see him last year."

Draco nodded scanning down the list. "Her favorite flower is a cornflower?" He said looking up. "What the hell is that?"

Dean laughed. "Beats me. But shouldn't you be asking your soon to be Bride all these questions?"

Draco snorted. "Like she'd just tell me all this."

Dean considered him for a moment. "Well, you're going to marry her, why wouldn't she?"

Draco paused feeling a bit foolish but he was careful not to show it. Instead, he shoved the sheets of paper into his pocket to pursue them later. Dean gave him a small smile and pushed himself up.

Dean gave him a small smile and pushed himself up. "Just something to think about," Dean said before shutting the door.

A few minutes later Niffy was back with the list and Draco looked up at her. "Niffy can you find me a muggle flower called a 'cornflower'?"

Niffy paused and then disapparated showing up a few moments later with a bundle of small blue flowers.

Draco thanked her and looked at the flowers thinking about his fiancé. Maybe it was time to sit down and have a chat with her. "Niffy, please ask my fiancé if she is available for dinner tonight, in my suite and give her these flowers."

Niffy nodded happily and then disappeared to find her mistress.

Draco went back to frowning at the guest list. Why was every Weasley but one coming to his wedding?

When his secretary showed up he shocked her by informing her he was heading off early and then grabbed the list and headed to a place he had never thought to visit.

The Weasley's small home that they called The Burrow.

Author Note:
Ah, Draco, Draco, Draco, you are going to be in so much trouble when Hermione figures out about that ring!

I actually did think this up on my own before I got very deep into fanfiction. After it had already been put in the story I discovered there are rather a lot of fictions about something similar to this. So, I tip my hat to my other fellow authors who have similarly minded muses.
The same is actually true with the marriage law. I read my first fanfiction last month. And this fiction was written soon after that. I simply had no idea that the marriage law fanfic was very popular.

Shall we take bets on how long it takes Hermione to figure out Draco has an inside to her personal emotions?