I - Langlock
Hermione Granger was many things; smart, quick-witted, temperamental… the list would vary depending on whom was asked. In this instance, she was sombre. Her parents had insisted on following her to the train station. Her father stood stoic. Fine lines were beginning to deepen through his pale skin, dark bags were haunting his striking green eyes. She felt an odd tickle of guilt creep through her but pushed it down. Her parents had come all the way to see her off, she could at the least amuse them. Her mother was fussing over Crookshanks, her dark hair was wilting under stress, once lustrous and curled now hung limply over her shoulders.
Hermione often liked to draw the similarities she shared with her parents when she was almost asleep. She had her mothers’ tawny skin and boisterous hair, yet her fathers’ quizzical mind and eyes. The dentistry that her family ran was becoming bankrupt due to an influx of larger dentistry places becoming available. Her parents didn't have a plan b besides their business, they had no investments nor savings. Those had been whipped just as their house had been. During the summer the Grangers had moved in with her mother’s sister. Any loose change that could be spared was directed straight into galleons so she could afford this school year's materials.
Her heart was heavy. She knew that it wasn’t something she could fix, but she would go live her best life at Hogwarts whilst her parents were stuck grappling to make ends meet.
“Come here dear. There are quite a few people milling around.”
Hermione scoffed under her breath as someone barged into her causing the books she had been cradling her arms to tumble lifelessly to the ground.
“Oh, pardon us.” A woman sighed and rather viciously yanked two people back with her. “Draco dear, go help the young lady pick up her books you knocked out of her arms.”
Hermione instantly blushed a furious shade of red as she honed into the boy that had ducked under her feet to reach the books. His hair was parted, no longer slicked back . The nape of his neck was porcelain white, his blonde hair fading into milky skin.
That could only mean that Mrs and Mr Malfoy stood before her. They were talking to a mudblood and two muggles.
“Nice to meet you Mrs Granger. What year is your daughter coming into?” Mrs Malfoy smiled keenly. Her skin had a lively sheen to it, a healthy rogue glistened upon her high cheekbones. She was impeccably put together. She had her hair tied into a low bun, her robes were dark and lines of pearls strung from her arms and neck.
“Hermione is going into her sixth year. How about your son?”
Mr Malfoy had tugged out his pocket watch scanning it as if it were the most interesting thing he had ever seen. Hermione clenched her hands by her side as she observed the man. He had treated people she considered dear very horribly. Dobby, the Weasley's, Harry, even her beloved Hagrid. But now he stood before her as if he didn't care for her existence. His earlier remarks in her years growing up at Hogwarts did not support the newfound experience. He must be placitating his wife. What a kind man she thought sarcastically.
“Here you go,” Draco smiled, his teeth shining. “I suppose scumming around on the floor is something you and your family are rather used to. Glad to be of help for the less fortunate.” he whispered the last part into her ear as he placed the books into her arms. His breath was hot, his lips moving so close to the sensitive part of neck it caused her to blank out. His haughty tone and horrid words falling upon deaf ears.
Mrs Malfoy and her mother continued their conversation until Hermione’s dad clutched his chest, coughing. His face had turned a sickly green and bloody phlegm fell from his mouth in bouts.
“Are you ok?” Hermione whined softly, she wound around the Malfoy’s and to his side. She glanced worriedly at her mother.
“You best be off Hermione, I’ll go take your dad to the hospital on our way home.” Her mother smiled wanly, pulling her daughter in for one last hug before they would become separated again. “Study hard and don’t worry about us too much darling.”
Before Hermione could reach out for her father or look into her mother’s eyes, they had vanished as if they had never been there in the first place.
She blinked hard. She tapped her nose to make sure she hadn’t dozed off.
“Well then, would you like to come with us while we wait for the train to come, Miss Granger? It seems as if you could use some help moving all of your things, I have two useless loafs to help with that.” Mrs Malfoy asked, her pale blue eyes scanning her as if she were a frightened creature.
Malfoy stood there with his mouth hanging wide as anything. He looked between his parents as if waiting for one of them to laugh. They never did.
“Draco, carry the trunk and…” Mr Malfoy paused for a moment, his long hair flowing in the wind as he turned to face her questioningly.
“Crookshanks. He is part kneazle.” She mumbled, eyes beginning to water as she glanced around one last time for her own parents. Something felt off, she didnt know how to place it.
“Very well then, Draco carries the cat and the trunk whilst I carry the books and other luggage.” Mr Malfoy said, his brows drawing together as he sent a dangerous look towards his son.
“We best be off then. Miss Granger, do come walk with me. Those two tend to be quite a bore after some time.”
“You can just call me Hermione, Mrs Malfoy.”
“Very well then, Hermione. Do you enjoy tea? We can have the luggage taken by our handler and grab something nice before the train comes.”
Hermione shared a look of disbelief with Malfoy, her heart racing wildly as tried to keep up with the changing dynamics of those around her. Since when did the Malfoy’s treat anyone but themselves with respect? Let alone someone like her. Dirty blood and poor as she.
And just as she suspected, there was nothing short of attention on them as they weaved their way through crowds. She was at least pleasantly surprised by Crookshanks behaviour, not once had he even hissed as Malfoy carted the carrier.
Mrs Malfoy handed off their luggage to two coachmen, both furrowed their brows similarly as Mr Malfoy had before as they reached for her things.
“Keep it in the same safe as Draco’s things please, and if her cat becomes agitated, do treat it kindly.” Mr Malfoy said smoothly, at last handing away a large Eurasian Eagle-Owl. Yellow eyes similar to Crooks.
Hermione shivered as she felt the wind breeze right through her robes. They had been hand-me-downs from the Weasley’s. She had outgrown her robes perhaps years ago yet it didn’t bother her too much. She was beginning to feel more comfortable wearing her usual muggle attire when not attending classes at Hogwarts.
“Mother, Blaise and Theo are waiting for me.” Draco said, stormy eyes flickering through the twirling crowds as he searched for them. He pulled his sleeves out in exaggeration as he stayed waiting, not yet moving away.
“You have all the school year to hang out with your friends. I do believe Theodore spent almost every waking minute at our manor, Blaise wasn’t far behind. Do be a gentleman and lead Hermione to the table over there. Your father and I have something we’d like to discuss with you both.” Mrs Malfoy asserted, placing a hand into her pocket as she fished around for something.
“What is going on with all of this Malfoy?” Hermione quipped, her heart racing as he offered her his arm.
He scoffed, lines drawing together on his forehead. “I don’t understand myself. I thought they knew of your status. Of who you are. I suppose they are simply extending their kindness to mudbloods like you out of pity.”
Hermione saw red, trying her best to rip her arm out of his, she reached for her wand and held it on the underside of his jaw. “Never say that word again. Especially when you are speaking to me.” She hissed, struggling to control the words that threatened to tumble out of her mouth.
“You should know your place in the wizarding world. It isn’t my fault, it’s just the way things are.” Malfoy spat, his own wand headily placed against her temple.
“Langlock.”
She saw the confusion flash across his face as her wand protruded with the spell. Her birthday was June, meaning she was one of the eldest in their grade. She had counted on Malfoy’s self-centredness to come in handy one day. Outside of Hogwart grounds, he wasn't permitted to cast a spell.
“What were you saying again? You hadn’t realised how inferior you were to me when it came to everything? I would have to agree with you there, Malfoy. Perhaps you aren’t as thick-headed as you look.” Hermione gushed sarcastically, grabbing his hand and leading them towards the table.
If only she could find a good opportunity to sneak away from the family and pass time doing something else other than put up with this nonsense. What were they playing at?
Watching as Draco glanced between his trailing parents, he pulled out a chair and glowered at her. Hermione wracked her brain as she thought; was it considered rude to sit down before everyone else had arrived? It made sense, those she hadn't taken the Malfoy’s as nearly polite, let alone traditional in a sense.
“Fine, but if you say another foul word about me; you will regret it.” Hermione threatened as she spoke the counter-jinx.
“Sit here before you create another problem.” Malfoy huffed, pulling her into the seat with his free hand.
Hermione squeaked rather embarrassed to find that their hands were still entangled, she also hadn’t realised how tall the demon had grown over the break. Her eyes barely brushed his shoulders. Ron had always been tall and lanky yet she found that maybe Malfoy would soon be just as tall. In her opinion, someone as arrogant as Malfoy didn’t deserve any extra height. If he were short enough, no one would be able to see him.
“We have something serious to discuss with you both. It was not entirely our choice yet thanks to the ministry, a new law may be passed on under the guidance of Dolores Umbridge. It is being tested on 8 individuals, the trial run based in three different wizarding schools.” Mrs Malfoy smiled tightly, her hand fidgeting as Mr Malfoy sat beside her, casting a silencing spell around their table.
“What does this have to do with us?” Malfoy asked sharply, his face paling as he tried to connect all the dots.
“There are four people who will be affected by this in Hogwarts during the trial. You are two of them.”
Hermione raised her gaze from her lap as she was dumb-founded. Who was this Dolores Umbridge and what vendetta had she against her? No where did she remember signing up for any law trials during her Hogwarts emission. Even her parents, as vacant as they were about the wizarding world, would never do something so callously.
“Muggle-borns witches and wizards are being trialled in engagements to determine if strengths such as protectional magic and generational abilities that stem from each pureblood family will have any effect.”
Hermione laughed in outrage. “When will people realise that being muggle born isn't the sin it is made out to be? I haven't been any less disadvantaged in my learning and performance than any other. This is insane.”
“So you both agreed to this ridiculous idea?” Malfoy shouted, his knuckles growing white from the tension in which he gripped the table.
“As an heir of the family Black and Malfoy, you were in this regardless. We were going to have to move to Drumstrange this year but it is to our fortune that Hermione’s parents obliged to this willingly as did all muggle-born representatives.”
“But I'm now of age… that would have meant they knew about this the whole time.” Hermione whispered, her mind receding with the information. “Have both families willingly sold us for some petty cash to stash their pockets? There is absolutely no reason a law like this to be implemented as if people like me are..are something other. Like we are less for something we can't control.”
Mr Malfoy knocked his glass against the table abruptly, his eyes flashing in anger. “We receive no benefit of the sorts. Keep those filthy allegations to yourself after all it was our family that will give your parents the much needed funds.”
Mrs Malfoy shook her head, her own cheeks lighting in rogue. “Assumptions will get you nowhere. As a muggle-born I suspect you know that better than anyone.”
Hermione could detect an underlying hostility from the woman and suddenly she shrank back into her chair, deflating quickly. What had her parents gotten her into? She knew money was tight but did they think trialling something like this was worth it? And at the very worst she was supposed to come obligingly. To be a bigger person. She was meant to be the one winning a one-of-a-kind lifetime opportunity. Purebloods could remain as charitable as usual.
“Hermione is of age now, does that not change the requirement of the mud-muggle-born being willing?” Malfoy quiered, something in his voice gave her hope.
“No. unfortunately. Her parents were the deciding contributors as she had not been seventeen at the time conceived of the offer.”
“Here are the official letters that tell you everything you need to know. The possible outcomes and consequences. Everything else your mind could possibly lead you to.”
Hermione took the envelope, hands shaking as she tried to pry it open but instead ended up with a burning sensation on her fingers.
“They can only be opened when you two are alone together under a quarter moon. Best make the most of the situation, Dolores Umbridge will be expecting results. If we are to continue sending your family the money they so desperately need to fix their debt, I only ask for your obligation.”
Mrs Malfoy had cooled down now, her eyes pooling with sympathy as if there was something she wanted to add but couldn’t. She looked at Mr Malfoy then at his staff. “We best be off now.”
Draco jumped out of his seat quickly, his face twisting with a multitude of emotions. “Why must I agree to this? I do not need the money nor care for the uprising of mud-muggle borns.”
Hermione noted that he had swiftly corrected himself about that twice now. Her mind could hardly even process what she was being told. A law was being trialled to try and bring muggle-borns up to a certain level that appeased the horrible traditional views that the pureblood families seemed to unconsciously all agree to. Not only this, but she had been engaged to Malfoy as of today. Engaged. At seventeen. They could hardly even stand each other, never before having spoken one on one besides when he taunted her trio.
“Hold out your hands.” Mr Malfoy muttered, his fingers working quickly to fix a ring onto Hermione’s finger as he did to malfoy.
Upon her left middle finger was a thickly clad vine of gold, gemstones of what she could only imagine were diamond, emeralds, perhaps even onyx. It was incredibly intricate with tiny constellations etched into the base, the stones glimmered miraculously under the sun.
Draco expected his own hand in which he wore the heir ring, the silver snake with onyx eyes seemed to blink every few moments. It was unnerving.
“You gave us your grandparents betrothal set.” Malfoy exasperated, blowing out air as he tried to wiggle it around his finger but it remained set.
“Farewell for now children.” Mr Malfoy replied shortly, leading Mrs Malfoy away.
Malfoy simply stood there, eyes bulging as he tried to settle his features.
“What the flying fuck just happened.” Hermione blubbered, her head falling into her knees.
“You can’t fuck me just because we’re engaged now. I still have standards.” Malfoy replied in the same tone as his father. Imprudent bastards.
With firm hands, he whisked her onto her feet and carted her onto the train. Both pulled down their hoods as they hurried to an empty compartment. Malfoy glanced around at the neighbouring rooms and shook his head in approval. “I think we can both agree that is possibly the worst thing that has happened to either of us. If I hear you telling one soul about this, I cannot promise you will live to see until tomorrow.”
“No kidding.” She huffed, feeling lost without any of her bags or crooks. She wouldn’t even have the pleasure of the nine hour trip with Harry and Ron.
“I’ll see you later unfortunately I believe.” He added, sliding away quickly as he marched towards his own silver trio.
She could barely make out their faces all the way from here, their gathering was almost at the end of the train, much further than she could be bothered to walk.
Resting her head on the window, she drew her hood closer around her head to shield her face from the sun and face the extremely long and tedious trip back to Hogwarts without her friends.