Chapter 39

Hermione had effectively avoided the world for few weeks. She went to work and she went home, and they had a lovely time in the evenings. If she shut everything out it was perfect. Disapproving friends and family were not exactly in short supply, but they didn't understand what they had together.

They read and debated. They spent an inordinate amount of time in bed. On the weekends, they would go out, go to places where they didn't know many people. They explored many of the magical areas in Europe, just the two of them. Draco impressed her with his languages, she found him speaking in other languages incredibly sexy, and he had discovered this little trick before long.

But then came the intrusion. Theo Nott and Daphne Greengrass' wedding. Hermione was disbelieving at first, but Draco confirmed that it was indeed the coming weekend. They must have made up, Hermione guessed. In a way she was glad as it was so much better that they went into their marriage with the everything on the table and having worked through any issues. If they'd had it out and still chose to marry after, who was she to judge?

It meant she would have to get another dress. Not her favourite activity, but it was required within this company. It was actually becoming less of a painful process now. She knew better what suited her and the process was more streamlined now. Draco did enjoy it, her dressing up and showing him.

The day of the wedding came quickly. It was being held early so they had to dress pretty much as soon as they got up. She didn't mind the dressing part so much. It was something they did together. The trick was to not get distracted, or they would just be late. Not a simple task because he looked so good dressed in his formal robes and she knew that he was game for a bit of distraction.

She would have to spend the day with the Slytherins. She wasn't looking forward to it, but she was sufficiently recovered from the last time. If these things were intermittent, she could deal with it. More of a worry was the fact that Draco's parents were going to be there. Another tense and uncomfortable moment to look forward to. Somehow she doubted that they had changed their minds about her.

The wedding was being held at the Nott's residence. The Minister was performing the ceremony. Everything was tasteful. There had been a lot of thought put into this wedding, and there were cascades of flowers adorning the walls. Hermione was awestruck by the sight of it. The tables were laid out with sparkling silver everywhere. There was no expense spared.

Her mouth when dry when she realised that she was expected to have a similar wedding where everything was perfect, every detail meticulously planned. It wasn't that she couldn't plan, she just didn't really want to. It wasn't just all the things that went into the wedding; it was the hundreds of tiny spells in the details. The moving ornaments, the little silver lady birds that adorned some of the flowers, and then the multitude of levitating things. The floor was even obscured by this low fog that swirled around people's feet when they walked, but it didn't feel moist and clammy.

It looked gorgeous, but Hermione also saw the endless work behind the picture of perfection. She saw the glasses that Daphne had been so excited about in Egypt. Hermione didn't think she could ever get that excited about glasses.

Draco was chatting to some of the older boys who graduated well before them. That was something different about the Slytherins, they were much more tied to the Slytherin association than they were with age. The Gryffindors were different, the relationships were more with people your age, and the house association dissipated somewhat with people you didn't know. Maybe that was the point, they Slytherins knew each other, past, present and future.

The ceremony started and they took their places. Theo appeared, looking more severe than usual. His dark hair was slicked back. He had a Slytherin green waist coat, deep black robes and a look of gravity. When Daphne appeared, she looked the exact opposite. She was dressed in white; her dress had some kind of gauzy, semi-transparent material that floated around her shoulders and arms. Her blond hair was tied back in a bun and the top of her back was bare. She was very beautiful. She was also not happy.

Hermione realised that they hadn't made up, she was marrying him anyway. Daphne had a tight look. She still looked incredibly beautiful, but there was no look of joy on her face. This was an ordeal that she was being put through. She may not even be willing, Hermione realised.

It was too quiet in the room for her to ask Draco, although she was itching to. Hermione searched for answers and the only eyes she found were Pansy's. Pansy seemed more than her usual bitchy shallowness. She wasn't entirely sure what she was in Pansy's eyes, but it confirmed that Daphne was being forced into this marriage. Hermione felt tightness in her chest. This was so wrong, but this wasn't just some oversight, this was the way this society worked. Daphne literally didn't have a choice. It wasn't her decision when it came down to it, it was her parents, and Daphne's opinion didn't matter.

Astoria followed close behind. Daphne likely didn't have a choice in that either. For all Hermione knew, the thing between Theo and Astoria might still be on. It turned her stomach. It was torturous just watching it, but they were all there, all the Slytherins, Daphne's parents, the Malfoys and all the other illustrious Slytherin power personalities.

This wasn't about love, it was a pretty business arrangement between the Notts and the Greengrasses, they just sold it as something more exciting with pretty dresses and sparkling things. Hermione also knew that if she objected, she would be carted from the room and it wouldn't change a thing. She would also get disgusted glances from her own future in-laws. It would end up costing her dearly and achieving nothing.

Pansy seemed to be the only one who apparently indicated that they saw any issues with this. The important question was if Draco did. His hand on her back had more pressure. He knew she was distressed. He was urging her to be still.

Hermione did manage to hold her tongue, but she was angry, angry at what was happening and angry that she was forced to watch it.

When the ceremony was over, she pulled away sharply.

"That was the most revolting scene I have ever seen," she said.

"Then you have led a very protected life," Draco responded. He was joking, she knew he was trying to make light of the situation.

"How can people just stand by and watch that? She clearly didn't want to be there."

"Yes she did," Draco said. "She wasn't exactly being rushed in here at wand point."

"How can you say that she wanted to be here? Didn't you see her face? What girl would want to be married to some arse who is cheating on her with her sister? That isn't even logical."

"Can we talk about this outside?" he said quietly. "Or better yet, can it wait?"

"No, it can't wait!" Hermione said. She was so angry, she wasn't going to plaster on a smile and pretend she wasn't. Draco walked her outside.

"She chose to be here."

"She didn't look like she wanted to be there," Hermione shot back.

"She might not have liked the choice, but she made it. She obviously deemed the alternative to be worse."

"That doesn't constitute a choice, does it?"

"Yes it does. This is what her parents wanted, she chose to comply."

"Maybe that's the point. What parents would make their child enter into a marriage with someone who clearly doesn't want to?"

"Don't make assumptions that Theo doesn't want this."

"He is screwing her sister!"

"All I am saying is don't assume that he is trapped into this."

"So he just wants to marry her and keep a relationship with his sister? You are really not making things better. Does no one care about Daphne?"

"It is Theo's job to care about her."

"And when he clearly doesn't?"

Draco didn't say anything for a second. "They will find some means of existing together."

"You mean he will do what he wants and she will just have to put up with it? Don't you get how revolting that is? And we are just supposed to tolerate it?" Hermione really wanted to know what his views were on it, particularly as this clearly extended to his views on her and her role.

"Don't accuse me, I'm not Theo. Daphne is his responsibility, if he makes her miserable, that is his responsibility too."

"Don't you realise how empty that sounds? It's just an excuse for tolerating anything."

"It is how things are."

"So if he beats her, she just has to tolerate it?"

He didn't answer, which meant that the answer was yes. "Nothing stops her from leaving."

"Except everything."

"Why are we talking about this? Theo is a pratt. That is all there is to it. He has no relation to us, why are we arguing over his shortcomings?"

"It isn't just about him though, is it? It's the whole structure around him that reinforces him."

"It has no relevance to us. I love you and you would certainly hex my balls off if I ever even thought of trying anything even remotely similar. You can't let this get to you. Believe me, Theo is not worth it. Pureblood society has its ways, ways that have always been. If it makes you feel better, then know that I agree with you. I think the Greengrasses are shit for making her go along with this. You take care of your own first and foremost, and to me that means you."

Hermione felt some of her anger dissipate. She knew he couldn't have been alright with what had happened today, and she had been right. She let Draco put his arms around her.

"And I know that there is no structure in the world that can make you do what you don't want to do," he continued. "No me, not society, your parents, or even Potter. And I love you for it."

Hermione let herself melt into the embrace a little more. She did feel marginally better. She needed to hear him say that this was wrong. They would be in serious trouble if he didn't see any issues with this.