Chapter 7: The Third Option

Hermione paced back and forth in her small living room, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. She couldn't stop thinking about Draco Malfoy. The Draco from that night had been so different from the boy she remembered from Hogwarts—so different from the arrogant, cold, and sneering Slytherin she once knew. The man she encountered had been warm, almost gentle, and surprisingly vulnerable. His eyes had held something she hadn't expected to see: a glimmer of sincerity.

She wondered if the Ministry's rehabilitation program had truly transformed him. The program had been designed to reform those who had followed Voldemort, mostly people who supported Voldemort in the background without taking the dark mark. This mainly included family and friends of known death-eaters offering them a chance to get rid of prejudice and reintegrate into society. She knew Draco was the only death eater to be reformed without jail time but she had never given much thought to what that meant for him. Perhaps it had worked, and he really had changed. The alternative was too dreadful to consider. If the Draco she met that night was just a facade created by the love portion, then the next few months, or even years, of her life would be a nightmare.

Hermione sighed, wrapping her arms around herself as if that could protect her from the uncertainty of her situation. She knew she had to prepare herself for the worst but couldn't help hoping for the best. Maybe, just maybe, Draco had changed enough that they could at least make this situation bearable.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden knock at the door. Hermione's heart jumped, startled out of her reverie. She hesitated for a moment before walking over to the door and opening it.

Standing there was Harry, his expression serious, and behind him, slumped over and looking thoroughly miserable, was Ron. Hermione's eyes widened as she took in the state of her ex-boyfriend. Ron's face was a mess of bruises, one eye nearly swollen shut, and his lip split. He looked like he had been through the wringer.

"Harry," Hermione said, her voice a mixture of concern and confusion. "What happened to Ron? And why is he here?"

"After Ginny told me about the pregnancy, I got so angry that I… well, I beat him up, also Ginny may have hexed him" Harry admitted, his voice tight with frustration. "I couldn't hold back. He's responsible for all of this, and I couldn't just let him get away with it."

Ron winced, still clutching his side where Harry had apparently landed a solid punch. He opened his mouth to speak, but Hermione cut him off with a sharp look. She was furious with Ron for putting her in this situation in the first place, and seeing him like this only added to the storm of emotions swirling inside her.

"But," Harry continued, his tone softening as he looked at Hermione, "Ron says he has a way to fix things. I think you should hear him out."

Hermione raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Fix things?" she echoed, her voice laced with doubt. "Whatever Ron is suggesting is probably selfish. Why should I trust anything he has to say?"

"I know you're angry," Harry said gently, "and you have every right to be. But even though he's made a mess of things, I believe he genuinely wants to help. Please, for my sake, just listen to him."

Hermione hesitated, her eyes flicking between Harry and Ron. Every instinct told her to shut the door and not give Ron the time of day, but Harry's plea weighed on her. He had been her rock through all of this, and if he was asking her to listen to Ron, she owed him at least that much.

She sighed, crossing her arms defensively. "Alright, Ron," she said finally, her voice cold but controlled. "You've got one chance. What is this brilliant plan of yours?"

Ron looked up at her, a mix of hope and desperation in his eyes. He took a deep breath, clearly in pain but determined to speak. "Hermione, I know I screwed up—big time. But I think I know how to fix this. Just… just hear me out, okay?"

Hermione remained silent, her expression unreadable as she waited for him to continue. She wasn't hopeful, but for Harry's sake, she would listen. And if there was even a small chance that Ron's idea could make this nightmare any easier, she knew she had to at least consider it.

Ron's voice was shaky as he spoke, "Right now, you think there are only two options. One is to get an abortion. The other is to become Malfoy's wife. But actually, there's a third option that most people don't know about."

Hermione stared at him, her brows furrowed in skepticism. "And what's that?"

Ron took a deep breath, his gaze unwavering as he looked at her with a mixture of determination and desperation. "Hermione, I got you into this mess, and I'm going to take responsibility for my actions." He then dropped to one knee before her, his hands reaching for hers. "Hermione Jean Granger… marry me."

For a moment, Hermione was stunned into silence, her brain struggling to process what he was asking. Then, as if by reflex, a bitter laugh escaped her. "Ron, that's not possible. The magic won't bind us because of the pregnancy."

Ron shook his head, his expression pleading. "No, Hermione, you've got it wrong. If Draco tries to marry someone else, the magic won't bind because he's the father of your child. But for you, it's different. You can marry whoever you want, as long as they're willing."

Hermione blinked, trying to make sense of his words. "But that sounds sexist and unfair. That's… ridiculous."

Harry, who had been silent until now, chimed in. "Well, most laws in the magical world are like that, biassed in one way or another, specially the old ones. This particular law was created to protect women, so it's skewed in their favor. You can choose your partner, Hermione. I know this is a lot to take in, but it's another option for you to consider."

Hermione's mind raced as she tried to grasp the implications of what Ron was suggesting. It felt absurd, a relic of old magical traditions that had no place in the modern world. And yet, here she was, in the middle of a situation where these ancient laws could determine the course of her entire life.

Harry took a step closer, his eyes filled with concern. "I know you don't want this, Hermione. I know you're mad at him. But isn't this better than Draco Malfoy? You could avoid all the complications that would come with being tied to him"

Hermione sighed deeply, the weight of the situation pressing down on her. "I don't know, Harry," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I really don't know. This isn't an easy decision to make, and honestly, I don't like it. Ron put that potion in my drink. He created this whole situation just so he could be with me. And now, even after his plan failed, what he's suggesting would still achieve the same goal."

Ron flinched at her words, worry flashing across his face. "I know, Hermione, and I'm so sorry for everything. But you have to remember, your other option is Draco Malfoy. Do you really think you'd be happier with him than with me? Do you think he'd be a better father to this child than I would? I'm sure he'll be another Lucius Malfoy. Is that who you want for your child?"

Hermione felt a wave of anger rise within her. How dare Ron use her fears against her like this? Yet, as much as she wanted to reject his offer outright, she couldn't deny that he had a point. Malfoy had been raised by a man like Lucius, and even if Draco had changed, could she really trust him to be a better father? Could she risk it?

She looked down at Ron, still on one knee before her, and felt a surge of sadness. This wasn't how she had ever imagined her life would turn out. She had always thought that if she were to marry Ron, it would be because they were in love, not because of some twisted sense of obligation or fear of a worse alternative. Yet here they were, and the reality of it all was crushing.

"I'll think about it," she said at last, her voice heavy with exhaustion. "I really need to think about this."

Ron seemed about to protest, but Harry cut him off, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. "Ron, lets go. If Hermione needs time to think, then she'll think. This is just an option, Hermione," he said, turning back to her. "If you don't want to take it, I understand. I just wanted you to have all the options available. That's it."

Hermione nodded, grateful for Harry's understanding, even if the situation was anything but simple. "Thank you, Harry," she said, her voice soft. "I appreciate that you're looking out for me."

As Harry and Ron turned to leave, Hermione closed the door behind them, her thoughts swirling with everything they had said. She knew that Harry only wanted what was best for her, and Ron, despite his mistakes, was trying to make amends in the only way he knew how. But that didn't make the decision any easier.

She leaned against the door, closing her eyes as she tried to sort through the mess of emotions inside her. Marrying Ron would solve one problem, but it would create so many others. Could she really bind herself to someone who had betrayed her trust so deeply, who had manipulated her? But then again, was Draco any better?

A/N: Hermione has a choice to make. What would you advise her to do? Let me know in your reviews.