Sorry guys, not sure what's going on with the formatting here but I'm trying to fix
Chapter Nine
Harry found Hermione being comforted by McGonagall in the Gryffindor common room, the rest of the Gryffindors were stood outside the Fat Lady and shifting about awkwardly. Harry went straight in, the Fat Lady not even asking for the password.
He knelt at Hermione's feet and gently laid a hand on her knee. "Can I do anything?" He whispered.
McGonagall released Hermione when she tugged away and collapsed into Harry, sobbing into his chest. He wrapped his arms around her, burying his face in her hair and rubbing her back. He muttered soft words of comfort, nothing of any meaning, just soothing her as best he could.
He noticed McGonagall take her leave, the other Gryffindors heading in but studiously ignoring the two on the floor. When she finally calmed down, Harry tugged her hand gently and led her out of the common room, away from prying eyes, and up to the seventh floor.
Pacing three times, the Room of Requirement appeared before them. Harry guided Hermione inside, a comforting room with a giant sofa, roaring fire, and drinks were before them. He led her to the sofa and settled down. He held his arms open, patiently waiting for whatever comfort Hermione wanted to take from him. Eventually, she laid down on the cushions and pillowed her head in Harry's lap, her eyes closing when his fingers carded through her wild curls.
"I'm sorry, Harry," she whispered.
Harry frowned. "Why are you apologising?"
She sniffled and plucked at a pull in his trousers. "I couldn't say it, I let Malfoy get away with it."
He scratched lightly at her scalp. "No, love, you didn't," he murmured. "I can't imagine how it had to have felt trying to tell them what that bastard did to you. You were so brave."
Harry listened to her quiet cries, his legs slowly soaking with her tears. He sat patiently, stroking her hair, letting her cry until she had no tears left. "Will it be okay in the end?" She asked, her voice so small that Harry almost didn't hear her.
He nodded, though she couldn't see him. "It will, I'll make sure of it."
The pair stayed like that for some time, Harry with his hand in her hair, Hermione tugging at the pull in his trousers until the material developed a hole. "I still haven't picked anyone…to marry, I mean."
Harry glanced down and frowned slightly. "You still have time."
They both knew she didn't, but neither wanted to really discuss it. "I guess so."
When Harry's wand buzzed, he checked the time and it was curfew. Rather than traipse across the castle back to the tower, Harry stood up. He lifted Hermione in his arms, her weight barely noticeable given how little she had been eating of late, and carried her to the huge bed in the back of the room. She climbed under the covers, eyes red-rimmed from crying and her nose stuffy.
He turned to go sleep on the sofa, but her hand shot out and wrapped around his wrist. "Will you stay with me?"
Harry studied her cautiously. "Are you sure?"
She nodded. "Yes, please, I don't want to sleep on my own."
He pulled off his robes, and his jumper, slid his tie off and climbed between the sheets with her. Hermione moved closer and settled next to him, her breath hitting his neck. "Goodnight, Harry."
He extinguished the lights until only one lamp remained lit. "Goodnight, love."
It was well into the night until Harry was able to find sleep, Hermione slipping into an exhausted but fitful sleep. She whimpered with nightmares, and Harry chased them away, his hand reaching over and ghosting over her cheek until she settled again.
When he did finally get to a point he thought he could sleep, he cast a final Tempus and saw it was three in the morning. He sighed softly and let his eyes close, praying the day passed without incident.
-oo0oo-
Tuesday passed mostly without incident, there were whispers and sneers from the Slytherin's about Malfoy's suspension. Hermione ignored what she could, and Harry dealt with the rest. Wednesday was much of the same, though the deadline for the marriage law was hanging over their heads and tension was rife in Gryffindor.
Hermione fretted about who to pick, and even with Malfoy out of the way, the Gryffindors were reluctant to accept her request. Harry stared at his house in horror as he realised that none of them were willing to save her from a horrible fate of the Ministry picking someone for her.
Ron had even started berating them for their unwillingness to save their housemate from an arranged marriage that would result in her being forced into who only knew what. The stress from it all came to a head on Friday morning with only two days left to notify the Ministry of her intended husband.
With Hermione at her wits end about what she was going to do, Ron doing his best at trying to help with getting the others on side, and Seamus making a rather flippant, albeit unintentionally hurtful, comment, Harry lost his temper and slammed his goblet of pumpkin juice on the table.
"You're all a bunch of fucking hypocrites!" He bellowed, shaking sticky juice off his hand.
Dean choked on his drink, Seamus stopping speaking mid-sentence and Ron just gawped at him. "Harry don't…" Hermione pleaded.
"No, 'Mione! Gryffindor bravery? Bullshit! Not one of you is going to help, not one? Every single fucking Muggleborn in this school has a witch or wizard to marry, except Hermione!"
He grabbed his bag and stormed out, snarling something extremely rude to Pansy Parkinson when she tried to make a comment, making even the Slytherin blush. Hermione grabbed her own bag and ran after him, telling Parkinson to leave off when she tried to apologise.
Harry had only gotten as far as the grounds just outside the Entrance Hall when she caught up with him. "Harry," she called.
He stopped and his shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry, 'Mione. I shouldn't have lost it."
She dropped her bag on the ground and moved into his line of vision, hugging him fiercely. "No, don't be. I am honoured you defend me so fiercely, Harry. Really. I think we're just going to have to face facts and pray I'm not saddled with some wet behind the ears wizard, or worse, someone like Malfoy."
He felt her shudder in fear, and his resolve strengthened further. "We have one other option, Hermione."
She pulled back and frowned slightly. "What?"
Harry fiddled with the band in his pocket and dropped to one knee. "Hermione Granger, you're my best friend and I would give my life to protect you. Will you marry me?"
He produced the simple band with a little gemstone set in it. Hermione stood frozen, her brown eyes comically wide. "Harry, what are you doing?"
He smiled. "I'm asking you to marry me. Hermione, I will do absolutely anything to keep you safe. I didn't ask sooner in case someone you wanted stepped up, but I will not let you be passed off to some arsehole to be used when I can keep you safe."
"Harry…I don't know what to say. You'd be giving up everything!" She cried.
He shook his head. "No, 'Mione, I wouldn't. I'd be keeping my friend safe. I know what the marriage law requires, and I've thought about this a great deal. There is nothing I wouldn't do to keep you safe."
"What about your future? What if this law doesn't get repealed any time soon?"
Harry shrugged and held the ring closer to her. "Then I will love my best friend, until death do us part."
Hermione held out her hand and let him slide the ring onto her ring finger, the band magically resizing to fit her. "Yes, I'll marry you," she breathed.
Neither paid any attention to the many people who had gathered, or the whispers that spread out. All Harry knew was that he would be keeping her out of harm's way. Things would work out, and if it really did come to consummating their marriage before the law was repealed, they would manage.
-oo0oo-
Word spread quickly that Harry Potter was marrying Hermione Granger, owls poured in, but Harry instantly set them on fire until one from the Ministry arrived. The pair had filed their intent to marry straight away, not willing to risk something going wrong and the Ministry not finding out in time before the deadline.
Harry opened the letter and the pair read it together. "We've got a date," he murmured.
Hermione nodded and laid her hand over his. "It's not too late to back out."
"No, absolutely not. We're getting married a week tomorrow, October seventh."
She exhaled loudly. "Alright, well, what do we do now?"
Harry faced her and passed her the letter. "I don't know, I suppose it depends on how many people you want to attend the wedding, among other things."
The pair had been engaged for little over sixteen hours and had so far made no plans for their 'big day'. Harry wasn't overly fussed about plans, he had no family to invite, but he figured Hermione may want her parents there. And they needed to find two people each that would be their witnesses.
"We've got a week to sort it out though right?" She asked him.
Harry nodded. "Sure, we've got time. Do you want your parents to come?"
She chewed her lip. "I don't know. It's a sham marriage."
Can't argue there, he thought. "Hermione, just because we know our hands are being forced, doesn't mean they need to know. I'll make it real for them, if it makes it easier for you. They need never know that it's part of a law, and I can be a loving, doting husband."
A bright smile lit her face, eyes sparkling. "Thank you, Harry. That means a lot to me. If I can make anything good out of this, I want them to believe I'm loved and happy."
Heart aching, Harry smiled. "I do love you, 'Mione, and you will be happy. I won't let anything ever happen to you."
She smiled and patted his arm affectionately. "I love you too, Harry. You're my best friend."
Over the course of the next few days, Harry and Hermione planned their day. She informed her parents of the wedding, and though they protested at how sudden it seemed, given they knew nothing of her 'fiancé', but on seeing how devoted Harry was to her, they were swayed.
Dumbledore had agreed that in light of the Granger's likely knowing nothing of the marriage law it wouldn't hurt for Harry and Hermione too meet with her parents in Hogsmeade. They were excused from Transfiguration the following afternoon and the two teens made their way to the village.
He never strayed far from her side, he planted kisses on her head and hands, behaving every bit the doting, loving man who couldn't wait to marry the love of his life. Richard and Alice Granger offered their blessing, and Richard tearfully agreed to walk Hermione down the aisle.
They informed the pair it would be taking place in the Ministry of Magic, and so the wedding wouldn't be a traditional Muggle one. The Ministry had agreed to allow Hermione's parents to attend, though it was uncommon, but Harry had pulled a string or two to get what they wanted. It was an extremely rare occasion that Harry ever used his name for anything but these were exceptional circumstances, and, if this was something he could do to alleviate some of Hermione's pain he was quite willing to do it.
Hermione couldn't have been more grateful and planted a kiss on Harry's cheek when she found out that he'd managed to make their wedding a tiny bit more like a Muggle one for her parents' sake. Although the Muggle version of the ceremony would not be legally recognised by the Ministry, they had agreed that as Hermione was Muggleborn it wouldn't hurt to allow a few vows from the Muggle version to be used.
Harry had applied for private rooms for them, away from the Gryffindor dormitory. The headmaster had attached a set of rooms to the tower, so they could still interact with their fellow housemates. Though the two hoped the law would be repealed before they had to consummate the marriage, Harry still thought it best they have their own rooms, so they didn't have to put up with persistent questions from anyone.
Dumbledore had agreed to let them get settled early, a couple of days before the wedding, in their new rooms. Harry moved his things from the boy's dorm, and helped Hermione unpack her things once she'd moved them across.
She blushed at the double bed in their room, and awkwardly sat down on it. Harry sat down next to her and covered her hand with his. "Are you feeling okay?" He asked.
Her lip trembled and her eyes filled. "I'm scared," she whispered.
He nodded. "I understand. I'm going to be sleeping on the couch, 'Mione, I promise nothing is going to happen until it has to."
Hermione smiled and nodded. "It's not that I don't trust you, Harry. I just wanted…I wanted to get married because I'd fallen in love."
"I know, if I could do anything to fix this, I would."
"I don't doubt that at all, Harry."
He watched Hermione pick up the photo of his parents off his bedside table, her fingers running over the couple gently jostling a baby Harry. She touched Lily's left hand and glanced down at her own before she locked eyes with Harry.
"This is your mum's ring," she breathed.
Harry nodded. "Yes, it was. When my parents' bodies were collected, their belongings were placed in my vault if I wanted them when I grew up. I took out her ring ages ago, just wanted to keep it with me."
"But…Harry, don't you want to give this to your future wife when you get married properly?"
Harry shook his head, his thumb stroking her hand. "No, I think that if I was ever going to give this to anyone, it would have been my daughter, if I had one. But, with the situation we're in, I think my mum would be happy for you to have it. You're my best friend and the most important woman in my life."
Hermione laid her head on his shoulder and smiled. "Thank you, Harry. Really. I think your mum would be proud of you."
"Yeah, I'd like to think so. Is there anything else you want to plan for the wedding?"
"No, not really. We've got four weeks to…to consummate right?"
Harry nodded. "Yep, I looked up everything so we can be sure to wait as long as possible without breaking the terms of the law. I need to ask you something, 'Mione."
She turned to sit cross-legged on the bed, her eyes on his. "Okay."
He took a deep breath and turned himself to face her. "I'm pretty sure you've never been with anyone before, had sex, I mean."
She blushed but nodded. Harry continued. "When we're married, you won't be able to sleep with anyone else, except for me. You hold no obligations to me, so if you want to have your first time with someone else, I'm not going to have any judgement over that, or hold it against you."
Hermione coughed awkwardly. "What about you?"
He blinked. "I'm not bound by the marriage law to be faithful to you, so I could sleep with other women. Of course, I won't. That's not the sort of person I am, this marriage might be forced on us, but I plan to honour the vow I'll be taking. It was mentioned that neither of us has to enter this marriage untouched though."
Harry watched Hermione's face and caught the flicker of sadness there. He knew he was leading her to believe that he planned to sleep with someone else before he had to sleep with her, but he didn't want Hermione to be led by some belief she had to be with him, and only him. He was quite happy for her to have a pleasant experience with someone else, before she was bound to Harry.
Hermione nodded slowly. "Thank you, Harry. I'll certainly think about it."
He smiled and squeezed her hand. "Alright, well, we've still got a couple of days before the wedding, I'm going to go flying for a bit." She released his hand, and Harry grabbed his broom out of his trunk. "Do you want to come?"
Hermione nodded. "Please. I know Malfoy isn't here anymore, but I really wouldn't like to be on my own."
He flew for most of the evening until curfew closed in, his cloak wrapped around Hermione while she read. Harry kept an eye on her at all times, watching from above as the sun went down, and bathed her in the evening light.
When it was time to go in, the pair stopped by the kitchens for a snack, and true to his word, Harry slept on the sofa, giving Hermione the bed. Sometime in the night, she had migrated from the bed to the couch, her body pressed against Harry's, head under his chin. He didn't bother to try and move her, simply pulled the covers over her sleeping form, and wrapped his arm over her back, holding her close.