Marry Mione

By the Emperor's Sister

My odd inspired response to WIKTT's 'The Marriage Law' Contest.

Part 2:

Now Hermione had her doubts at first. She didn't feel pregnant; in fact she didn't even suffer from any pregnancy related symptoms. At least not in the early weeks of her first month as an expectant mother. Reeling from both shock and disbelief, she fell back on her usual course of action. Research.

As she was forbidden to leave the Malfoy estate, she rooted through the family's extensive library, and oddly enough found just the book she was looking for. On the neighboring shelf, right beside 'The Malfoy Family Rules of Conduct' and 'The Malfoy Family History and Hereditary Assurances', was a medium sized book called: 'The Pregnancy Book'. A simple title for a book that had simple explanations for one confused knocked-up witch.

It wasn't long after Hermione read the book, from cover to cover, that her body decided to fess up, and confirm the Malfoy's suspicions. The first clue, of course, was her absent period. With its disappearance also came the disappearance of what little freedom she had in the Malfoy Manor. As she was no longer allowed to wander about, Hermione spent quite a bit of her time in her rooms. Which, ironically, suited her well enough, as she no longer had the stamina for usual activities, such as walking about the grounds or even staying awake after supper. The changes in her body used up a surprising amount of energy, even more so as she, and her un-born son, were magical. Unfortunately she had a lot of time on her hands to think, mostly about Harry

'I wonder how he's doing right now?' Was the main question she contemplated in her hours of solitude.

Hermione, though upset, was learning to deal with her situation. As were Narcissa and Lucius.

The second month was a little more difficult though.

Hermione's cravings began. She couldn't get enough orange for example. Orange juice, carrots, raspberry leaf and ginger tea, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, etc... She was becoming rather demanding. Mango ice cream with ketchup chips and applesauce were also on her list, and not the regular brands either, only certain kinds would do. But Lucius Malfoy was rich; he just sucked his teeth and bore it. She was carrying his son's son after all.

Then came the embarrassing bits. For instance, right after lunch, Hermione would break wind. She also suffered from dry heaves first thing every morning, but that wasn't right under their very aristocratic noses. Narcissa was very glad that her reluctant daughter-in-law refused to eat cabbage. She herself had refused cabbages during her pregnancy, but she never felt gassy, only slightly bloated. 'To each their own' she supposed, as she pinched her delicate nasal passages together.

Hermione was definitely feeling pregnant. She was also definitely feeling something else, too. That something else being horny. She had never felt so frustratingly frisky before in all her life and her blasted dreams weren't helping. She had a rather erotic dream about Harry and Lucius Malfoy and a large tub of honeycomb ice cream with ginger shortbread stars that seemed so realistic that it was disturbing. According to the book though such expressive and realistic dreams were perfectly normal for a pregnant woman, not that that explanation soothed her one bit.

It only got worse the night she kissed him. She didn't want to kiss him, and damned if she ever would want to ever again. It just happened. She was so desperate for some affectionate release that when the dumb blonde got too close to her, she just reached out and snogged him. Afterwards she just snarled at him and stomped back up to her rooms for a nap.

Narcissa at least was sympathetic. She understood the power play of emotions Hermione was undergoing and explained quite snottily so to her husband. Lucius felt like he was stuck between and rock and a hard place. What exactly did these women expect him to do? He silently confessed to himself that the young mudblood was rather attractive now, what with her blossoming bust size and sexual voracity, but she was a mudblood and his daughter-in-law. He could attempt to be more attentive, but he was quite sure his wife would not approve of him fondling the girl in the great library. So he decided the safest rout was to run away, and discuss his woes to his closest comrade, Severus Snape.

It was probably a stupid thing to do as all Snape did was laugh at him, but it was easier to handle than the soap opera at his manor.

That was month number two, and this was month number three. Hermione was in the sitting room with Narcissa, knitting if you recall. They had just finished an interview with a prominent witch's wardrobe designer about choosing the right bras, as Hermione was still quite forbidden from leaving the grounds. Hermione, taking the advice from Narcissa, discovered that wearing a lightweight maternity bra to bed gave her extra support and helped ease discomfort, thereby awarding her with a decent night's rest. Naturally she had to have more, as well as some nursing bras for the future. Anyway, they had just settled down for some quiet, and Hermione had begun to reflect yet again on the past, when Lucius Malfoy returned home.

Not that his return would have warranted any undue notice, except that this time he arrived with a loud cacophony of noise to announce him. The two women jumped as he stomped angrily into the room and poured himself a drink.

"Lucius! Whatever is the matter?" Narcissa asked, putting her needlepoint aside.

"The blasted Ministry is the matter my dear!" he snarled and gulped his drink in a rather un-gentleman-like manner.

Hermione had to agree that the Ministry was indeed a problem. It was because of the Ministry that she was here after all, although she no longer abhorred the Malfoy family as she once had. They did seem to grow on a person; much like warts. She was still put out about being forced into becoming a member.

"And what, pray tell, did the Ministry do to put you in such a state, darling?" Narcissa queried, attempting to bring civilized order to their conversation.

"The damned bloody fools gave into Dumbledore, that's what."

Hermione started. 'Did they finally publicly admit that the Dark Lord was among them at last? Was the Order making such progress? I wish Narsissa didn't believe that the Daily Profit was un-fit for lady's eyes.' she thought furiously.

"They've decreed that Hermione must re-marry." He spat, and Hermione's eyes widened.

"But... I'm pregnant!" she gaped, fishlike.

"Have they gone completely daft?" Narcissa snapped, giving up her genteel stand to vent her displeasure.

"There's no stopping it. Believe me I've tried! The law was designed so that our Pureblood families would continue with Half-Blood children, but that meddling Dumbledore wants her out from under our influence! He wants her back in his grasp, and our heir, too."

Hermione suddenly understood. Whoever she was forced into marrying next would also be taking her child. Draco Malfoy Jr. would soon be renamed, to comply with her new husband's wishes, and the Malfoys would loose their heir. More importantly, however, they would lose their last link to their son. As much as she desired to escape, and possibly be re-married to Harry, she couldn't do such a painful thing to the people who had taken care of her these past few months. So she did what she did best. She thought up a plan that would suit everyone's needs. It was quite a spectacular plan really. Harry Potter would just have to wait

It was just the right time to speak too. Lucius was staring morosely into his empty cup, and Narsissa had burst into un-lady-like tears. Taking a deep breath she gave them the answers to their predicament.

"You know, there is a way out of this." She began, gaining the attention of the room. She waited as they held in their breaths and then she announced, "Why don't you just ask Professor Snape to take me? Surely he wouldn't keep Draco Jr. away from you, being such close family friends after all." She cleverly omitted that Dumbledore would be tickled pink to have her attached to an order member. It wouldn't do to announce that he was spying on them after all.

Lucius dived to her knees and kissed her. "Hermione you are indeed the genius they've always painted you to be. It's brilliant!"

"Oh my dear, sweet child!" Narsissa sang and began to cry more becoming tears of joy. "Lucius, stop doddling and floo Severus immediately! This calls for a party! I must write a list!"

So Hermione prepared herself to be wed, for the third time.