Her shoulders were squared, her back was stiff and she looked like she was ready to take on the world – but inside she was shaking like a leaf. The entire purpose of living like a muggle was to avoid marriage, not abide by it and marry the biggest pureblood of them all.
She looked to the blond walking next to her and smirked. He looked like he was ready to jump out of his skin just as bad as she was and it made her feel better that she wasn't the only one on the verge of having a hysterical breakdown.
He walked just as proud as a Malfoy would, not showing his weariness in the least. She respected that and knew she wouldn't even want to fake a marriage with someone who couldn't keep his cool when needed.
"Nervous?" she asked with a smirk
"I'd be fine if these people would stop looking at us like we have ears growing from our foreheads." He replied
Hermione took a minute to look at her surroundings and instantly noticed what he was saying was true. People were actually stopped and gaping at them, not even bothering to show manners and at least pretend they weren't.
"Uhh, this is just too weird." She replied while tightening her grip on his hand.
"At least we are almost at the department we need, maybe things will be a bit calmer in there."
"I hope so." She said softly
They had almost made it, the door to The Department of Marriage Regulations was only twenty feet away and they were almost in the quietness of an office and away from prying eyes.
"Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy." A woman voice called from behind them.
Hermione knew that voice and groaned. It was just her luck that Rita Skeeter would see them walking towards the marriage department, hand in hand.
"Go away Skeeter." Hermione replied in a bored tone.
"No, I don't think I can do that." Rita replied, "Because I see a story that my readers would absolutely love."
"There is no story here." Draco replied, "No go find your rock and climb back underneath it."
Rita grinned, "Are you ashamed of your soon to be bride, Mr. Malfoy? You probably should, you are just another wizard with wealth that seems to flock to her."
"I am not ashamed and I am not just another wizard – I'm Draco Malfoy and if you will excuse us, I'd like to marry the lovely Ms. Granger as quickly as possible."
"Why the rush? Baby on the way?" Rita asked as her quill wrote at lightning speed.
"Just go away Rita" Hermione sighed
"That's it, isn't it?"
Hermione and Draco both rolled their eyes and continued to walk away. They knew news of their marriage would travel fast but thanks to Rita, everyone would know about it come morning.
"I really hate that woman" Hermione huffed as Draco opened the door.
"We all do" Draco replied and followed her inside.
Oooooooooo
The young witch at the desk was working on a paper, not acknowledging that they were even there. She continued to scratch things out, on the paper in complete ignorence before Draco finally cleared his throat.
"We are here to comply with the law." He said in hope to stir the witch from her paper.
"Just fill out the forms and bring them back when you are finished." She answered while pointing to the yellow forms that were sitting in a messy pile
"Thanks for all your help." Hemione said sarcastically to the witch who had yet to even look up at them.
Draco walked over and picked up the form before sitting down at the provided table to fill it out. Hermione followed his over and took the seat next to him.
"Alright, they want out names and blood status." He said with a shrug, that was easy enough.
He filled out the necessary information and moved on. He filled out the section asking where they would live, the section asking about any medical condition and the section asking if there had been any previous marriages. The form was going easy until the last few questions.
"They can't be serious!" Hermione yelped, "That is barbaric!"
Draco could do nothing but nod in agreement.
"But we both have to initial or they will not marry us." Draco stated.
"I know, but they don't want us using birth control and are pretty much telling us we have to do – well you know twice a week!"
"We will figure out a way around it." Draco replied, "We both know they want us to repopulate the wizarding world and will do whatever it takes to accomplish it."
"It's not right, I don't want to be forced into motherhood."
"You wont, like I said, we will work around it."
Hermione sighed an nodded, there was really no point in stirring the cauldron before the final ingredient had been added.
"lets just sign it and be done."
Draco nodded and added his signature, followed by Hermiones. The both walked up to the desk again, only this time the woman was watching them.
"Are you finished with it?"
"Yes" Draco replied shortly, Did the irritating with think he had spent that time coloring her a picture?
"Very well, I will take this back and they will call you when they are ready for you."
Oooooooooooooooooo
Twenty minutes later, Hermione and Draco found themselves in a small room, decorated like a makeshift wedding chaple.
"Tacky" Hermione muttered
"Very" Draco agreed as he cringed at the corny decoration.
"Are you two love birds ready?" A short balding man asked.
"Yes we are" Hermione replied
"Good to hear, good to hear." The man added, "Now, the marriage is simple. You just have to sign your names to the registry and it will automatically bind you."
"Now that's romantic." Hermione laughed
Draco glared at her before smiling himself. This was just soooooo odd.
The older man placed the registry in front of them and handed each a quill, "Just sign and it will be done."
Both Hermione and Draco nodded, signing the paper and hoping they could get this law over turned quickly.