Thank you for all your lovely reviews! Thanks again to Ren- she had her hands full betaing this chapter!
The next morning, Hermione arrived at work in bundle of nerves. She had debated about what to wear, before finally deciding on some of the new robes she had purchased the day before. They were a pale blue colour, the same pale colour of a robin's egg, that she loved. She had actually ended up buying quite a few new robes and dresses, and had spent nearly all the money that Malfoy had given her. He had alerted Madam Duvalle herself that Hermione would be coming; which had annoyed Hermione greatly because it meant he knew that she would give in to his ultimatum.
"Are you ready, Hermione?" Harry's gentle voice pushed through her thoughts. "They're doing the ceremonies every fifteen minutes, due to the sheer number of them. We can't be late." Hermione nodded in reply, and stood up from her desk before walking slowly towards her office door. "It'll be fine," Harry assured her for the hundredth time in the past week, as they walked to the location of the ceremonies. "Just to warn you though, The Prophet has a reporter there. They'll be running the names of all the couples tomorrow."
"Perfect," Hermione muttered. "That's all I need." She and Harry finally reached the part of the Ministry that was now dedicated to the Wizard Preservation Act. There were couples milling around everywhere; most looked like Hermione felt, but a few looked happy. One of them happened to be Moira, who seemed to have taken a shine to Dennis Creevy; who was standing beside her, grinning. They were talking to Dennis' brother, Colin, who was currently a reporter with The Prophet. Hermione shifted as far away from them as possible, but Colin still saw her.
"Hermione Granger! And Harry Potter! How are you?" Colin gestured to the photographer who was stationed beside him to take a picture.
"Fine, Colin. How have you been?" Harry said politely.
"Creevy and Hopkins!" a voice called over the din of the room, and Moira and Dennis rushed into the Officiators Office.
"Good luck!" Colin called after them, giving an excited thumbs-up. "Now, as you're already married, Mr. Potter, I take it you're here in support of Ms. Granger's marriage?"
"Yes," Harry said, looking at him uneasily.
"Ms. Granger, who is the lucky wizard?"
"Well…" Hermione mumbled, in an attempt to stall.
"Gin! You made it!" Harry spoke out in relief from the questioning, as Ginny waddled over to them.
"Wouldn't miss it!" Ginny beamed.
"I appreciate the thought, Ginny, but really, it's hardly necessary," Hermione said, smiling at her friend as Colin's photographer clicked away.
"It's not everyday that my best friend gets married," Ginny dismissed. "Of course I came."
"Please, don't tell me – " Hermione began.
"Hermione!"
She cringed as Ron and Katie came barrelling through the crowd of other couples, obnoxiously. "I thought we wouldn't make it; good thing that they're running a bit behind, yeah? It's a madhouse!" he said, surveying the room.
"Here, Hermione, I brought you this," Katie offered, handing Hermione a bouquet of flowers.
"Thank you, all of you; but really, it's not needed," Hermione tried again, though no one was listening.
"Ron, is that Lavender Brown?" Katie asked in a stage whisper.
"Looks like it," Ron said. "Did you see poor Neville, Gin?"
"No, who's he with?" Ginny's question was answered momentarily, as Neville was pulled from the Officiator's room newly bound to Millicent Bulstrode.
"Poor Neville," said Harry sadly. Neville looked petrified of his new wife. He waved quickly at them – whether in greeting, or of pleading for help, they couldn't tell – before Millicent pulled him out of the room.
"See? It could have been worse," Harry whispered. Hermione just rolled her eyes and ignored him.
"Malfoy and Granger!" bellowed the voice from before, immediately causing conversation to hush in the room as all eyes focused on Hermione.
"You've been betrothed to Draco Malfoy?" Colin asked, gawking in disbelief.
"Quiet, Colin. We're over here!" Harry called, pulling Hermione past all the staring onlookers. Ron, Ginny, and Katie followed behind her, propelling her forward until the doors closed behind them. Already in the room were the Officiator and Mr. Mewes, from the negotiation. Malfoy was nowhere to be seen.
"Where is he?" Hermione hissed at Harry. "If he doesn't show, can I get out of this nonsense?"
"He'll show," Harry said, gritting his teeth. "He's just making a scene."
They all stood there, awkwardly looking at each other for a few minutes, until Hermione heard a growing commotion from outside the room. A few seconds later, the doors burst open and Malfoy sailed in, kicking the doors shut behind him, snuffing the noise and camera flashes out.
"I had a meeting that ran late," he told the officiator, as a means of explanation. Hermione stared at him, her fists clenched in anger and humiliation. Malfoy regarded her briefly. "Managed to get that hair of yours under control for the day, did you? Can we get on with this?" he added, abruptly turning to the officiator.
"What? Of course," the officiator bumbled, motioning them towards him. Harry pushed Hermione forward, grabbing the wand out of her hand as she went. Hermione glared at him, but continued moving forward.
Malfoy scanned the huddle of people behind her. "Trotted the whole gang out for your special day, Granger?" he asked, smirking at her.
"I didn't know they'd be here – " she began, before Malfoy cut her off.
"I could really care less, you know," he sniffed.
"Hermione, you forgot your bouquet!" Katie said, forcing the bundled flowers into her clenched hand; causing Malfoy's smirk to turn into a wide grin.
"Thanks, Katie," Hermione grumbled, her face burning hotter by the minute.
"We are here…" the officiator began, but Hermione barely heard him. She was too busy being furious with Malfoy, and battling to get her blush under control. She began to imagine how horrible it was going to be living with him. Maybe, if she ignored him, he would simply get bored. Maybe –
"Granger!" Hermione jerked her head up in surprise and confusion. Everyone was staring at her. "You have to speak now," Malfoy said, enunciating as if she didn't speak English.
"Oh. Yes," Hermione said dumbly, having no idea what she was agreeing to. Apparently, it was the right answer because everyone turned to Malfoy. "Do you have a ring?" the officiator asked. Malfoy pulled out a small, black velvet box and opened it. Hermione heard Ginny gasp and move closer to the huge diamond ring that was resting snugly within the soft velvet folds inside the box. Harry nudged her, and she reluctantly moved back.
"Please place the ring on her finger," the officiator asked, and Malfoy grabbed her clammy fist. His was cool by comparison, as he slid the ring on her finger before quickly dropping her hand. "I now pronounce you, husband and wife. Your hands, please," Hermione put her hand out as did Malfoy. The officiator took a sleek, red cord from a side alter, and bound their hands together with it as he chanted a spell. The cord disappeared as he finished, and Hermione felt a small jolt, like the shock one feels from static electricity. She glanced at Malfoy to see if he felt it too, but he didn't move or look at her. "You may kiss the bride," the officiator announced proudly. As he looked at Hermione and Malfoy's faces, he then muttered, "Or not."
"Are we done then?" Malfoy asked, and the officiator nodded in verification. "Splendid. Don't forget to meet me in front of my office at five, Gr –," he broke off, unsure of what to call her.
"Her name is Hermione," the officiator whispered, assuming that Malfoy had forgotten.
Malfoy scowled furiously at him before stalking out of the small room. Hermione saw flashbulbs resume their blaze before the door closed behind him.
"Well, that was fun," she said desolately.
"Can I see that ring?" Ginny asked, grabbing her hand. "Wow, Hermione, that's huge!" she started gushing, causing a jealous glower to cross Katie's face.
Hermione glanced at her hand with disinterest. "I'll sell it as soon as the year's through." she said. "Well, thank you all for coming, but I really must get back to work."
"I'll walk you," Harry offered quickly. "I'm sure Colin's still out there, just waiting for the chance to corner you."
Hermione took a deep breath to steel herself, and opened the door. Colin was, as suspected, right beside it, waiting for her. "So, you are Mrs. Malfoy, now?" he asked eagerly, searching her left hand for the evidence of a ring.
"I suppose," Hermione said, trying to barrel by him, but he caught up to her easily.
"Are you going to be residing at Malfoy Manor?"
Hermione said, "Yes," as Harry said, "No comment."
"That's enough, Colin. No comment." Harry said, pushing past the fervent reporter with Hermione in front of him. "It'll be worse tomorrow," Harry sighed to her, as they left the lift and began walking to her office, "after The Prophet has run."
"They didn't get any pictures of Malfoy and I together," Hermione reminded him. "Maybe that will make it less of a story."
"Perhaps," Harry offered, but his tone suggested that he wouldn't count on it. As they reached Hermione's office, she stopped dead, staring at her door. Her old plastic plaque had already been replaced with a new, shiny gold one that was engraved 'Hermione Malfoy'. Standing by her door was Malfoy's secretary, Jane.
"Mr. Malfoy had that done first thing," Jane said, beaming at Hermione. "He is so sweet, isn't he? Such thoughtfulness!"
"Definitely," Hermione grumbled, as Harry tried not to laugh. "You find this amusing, do you?" she snapped at him.
"See you later," Harry said before quickly running off.
Hermione sighed in exasperation and immediately stalked past Jane, into her office to lie down; it had already been a trying day, and it wasn't even lunchtime.