Chapter 10
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“You're kidding Hermione McClaggen, Krum and Malfoy; your Luck sucks. I suppose knowing that I understand why you would Choose Draco.” Ginny replied after Hearing Hermione’s vent about her Choices.
“I was lucky I was able to Choose Neville as mine, I do think he will keep me Grounded and I will keep him from being to Serious.” Luna sighed, sipping her fourth butterbeer.
“I for One am glad we’ll all kind of Be together and be Family.” Pansy replied, Dipping the Nail polish brush into the Bottle to finish Hermione’s feet.
“True we are lucky we are just adding to our group, It’s still going to be a struggle.” Ginny added sliding her legs over the end of the Sofa to dangle them over the end; shoving Chocolate in her mouth as she did.
“Where did you get this chocolate Hermione;it beats Honeydukes? Pansy Asked picking another out of the Box.
“Muggles, my dear Muggles, they do Chocolate better, The Gold box is Godiva, the Bars wrapped in purple wrapping are Cadbury, they are not very high quality that would be Swiss Chocolate but it's rather good." Hermione smiled nibbling on the Bar she had split with Ginny.
"How do Muggle Women celebrate weddings?" Ginny was curious; her fathers influence.
"Well Honestly there is no one set way the muggle world has many religions and Cultures many Traditions. Most of the time you date a man, get engaged if you both agree, then an engagement party followed by a hen do a parth for the bride and her friends and Stag night A party for the Groom and his Mates then the Formal Ceremony some are rather elaborate. Every woman can pick what is best for her and make it how she wants it, like my mother wore her mother's dress. Some hand down rings." Hermione sighed, wishing she had something to use for her own wedding, something from both of her families.
"I guess comparatively that's a bit more exciting than our world, Engagement dinner then Ceremony and formal dinner." Pansy replied.
"I always dreamed about getting Married when I was little. Before I knew about Magic, I never thought that I would marry a Wizard. Do you think Draco would mind if I ask to have a Hen night?" Hermione whispered looking at Pansy who knew the man the best.
"If you Explain why it's important to you he'd throw it for you himself." Pansy patted her leg softly.
"I'm sorry for bugging you, Pansy." Hermione Replied Just as the Portrait opened and the man they had just been speaking of walked in he paused seeing the women lounged in his dorm.
"Sorry to Interrupt I just wanted to drop my bag off before dinner." Draco Hesitated looking at Hermione.
"I'm sorry I should have asked you if it was ok that the girls visit me today, We're having a bit of a lay about, pj chocolate music girl talk." Hermione began to rise to her feet; Draco waved her sorry away.
"No don't be sorry you don't need to say sorry or even ask,these are your room's as much as they are mine even after the whole pairing thing. I hope you'll use this place as your getaway. Next Time just send me a patronus or have Uncle Sev yell at me. I can make myself scarce. Blaise'll put me up for a night." Draco smiled looking around at the girls.
Pansy was now turned to Luna painting her toes blue and Bronze, she had already done Ginny and Hermione's Scarlet and Gold.
"Yeah cliche I know House colors but it's cute, I… I found little decals in my favorite little shop that had all the Mascots." Hermione blushed, ducking her head sitting back down.
"That's cute can I see?" Draco asked softly, pointing to Hermione's toes. Hermione nodded, lifting her foot up to show Draco the golden Lion's head on her big toe. Draco touched her foot softly leaning down a bit to get a better look.
"I think this is better than the woman that Mum goes to gives her. You should definitely share this with her; she's been unhappy with the witch she goes to now." Draco let her foot drop softly.
"I can't take credit for the paint job at all. It's a stencil. Here I'll show you Pansy Foot." Hermione smiled, turning to Pansy and peeling the sticker off of the paper and adding it to Pansy's toe and showed Draco the little cut outs and painted an Emerald Snake on Pansy's toe. "The trick is that it has to dry fully before you can remove the stencil." Hermione laughed as she turned back to Draco.
"So it's not hand painted wow that's quite ingenious, Do muggle's have nail Salons?" Draco asked.
"Yeah Hundreds maybe thousands of them, Its quite a big status symbol in the muggle world, To be able to go to a salon its costly; most nail artists go to beauty school and certify for nail's they study for years to get their certifications." Hermione nodded.
“Oh you should take us to one Hermione, I love a good nail place.” Pansy squealed.
“I am making an executive decision, that is going to Be part of your Hen party Hermione. We should have a girl’s day in the Muggle world.” Ginny sat up smiling.
“Ooh yeah I’ve hardly been in the Muggle world. I heard they have great places to eat.” Luna nodded.
“Do forgive us Draco but I’m kicking you out it's girls day, means no guys now shoo.” Pansy jumped to her feet and shoved Draco into his room; She Turned to Smile. “There now that's better.”
“Right back to idle Talk and Chocolate?” Hermione nodded.
“Here, here.” The girls replied together.
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Night Fell quickly and everyone was seated for dinner when the First of the owls descended followed by what most would say was a mass migration over a hundred owls flew to male and female alike. The ministry had decided to flood Hogwarts with the final selection all delivered Via Owl. The entire hall was devoid of sound as dinner was dismissed by McGonagal.
Everyone was too Preoccupied with themselves to even note that they were missing people in the great hall. The quartet of girls were still laid around the head dorms as their letters were dropped on their laps.
They quietly scanned their letters all worried, Draco exited his room and paused near the sitting area.
"If I may have a moment alone with my Intended I would appreciate it." Draco asked, looking directly at Hermione.
"Right may as well find our new rooms, I'll take at least an hour to Help get Luna Packed." Ginny Jumped up pulling on Luna's Arm, glaring at Pansy softly who nodded quietly and followed the redhead out of the Head dorms.
Draco sat on the Sofa next to Hermione's chair, and looked at his new fiance who still had not looked up at him.
"I know this is not Ideal and that you are not well emotionally stable yet, I just want you to know that I will never push you but I wish to share the information the Ministry put in my letter. Would you please look at me? I swear you have nothing to fear at my hands." Draco sighed, eyebrows furrowed.
Brown eyes finally met molten silver, Hermione blinked at the intense look in Draco's eyes.
"I'm sorry I don't mean to be rude; I just can't stop my brain and I keep thinking the worst. I know you do not want this anymore than I do. We are both forced into this and the least I can do is try; We are to be married after all, I'm sorry that I chose you out of my options but I could not end up with either of the other two and felt that at the least we could come to understand one another. ." Hermione sighed, wringing her hands together.
"It is not your fault you suffer from trauma, no one least of all I can ever fault you for your feelings. All that I ask of you as my wife is that you allow me to help you the best I can allow my mother to help you allow us to care for you and that you will always try. You are to be family from now on; Now to the damn Ministry mandates. Number 1 all couples must share a bed for the first five years. Number 2 all couples must request a wedding day within a month of this letter; all marriages must be fulfilled by January 1st. Number 3 the first child must be either conceived or born within the first year; exception will be made if witch or wizard is proven Infertal at that time either the pair can undergo fertility treatment/adoption of muggleborn orphan child with magic. each couple must conceive at least 2 children in the first 5 years. Number 4 if any participant of the law is found beating or abusing their partner will get a one way trip to Azkaban; their victim will receive any property and money in their name. Any questions about the law and its stipulations please contact us." Draco replied.
"I see, I will do my best to try, that's all I can promise. I think we should do this as fairly as possible. I do not wish for you to be miserable in our pairing. I wish for us to find a way for both of us to get what we need. I do understand that we will live in Malfoy Manor but I do hope you will allow me to spend time at Grimmauld place. It has very much become a home to me, Harry and I have completely redone it." Hermione nodded understanding.
"If you wish we could live at our Villa in France, I understand you speak the language quite well. I will never require you to step foot in the Manor if you do not wish to; I am willing to stay where ever you wish, If you wish to live at grimmauld than I will speak with Harry and see if he will allow me to stay with you, We have many properties spread through the continent France, Spain, even Russia, we also own a few muggle Flats in London, as much as my father did not like muggles he always had a head for business we hold stocks in some muggle companies too. I would like your help with our muggle holdings; I'm afraid I don't know much about them. But that can wait for now. I want you to be comfortable around me; we are expected to be fairly intimate quickly." Draco reached over and laid his hand over Hermione trying to be comforting.
"Oh I well that's quite sweet of you but if we are to have children I would not deny them their ancestral home. We both have much to learn about the other, Kingsley has offered me a position as his private researcher for his tenure as Minister; would you mind a wife with a career. I want to research ways to improve wolfsbane. I was actually the one who found this antiquated Law. We had just enough time to revise it before it went into effect, it was much worse than before." Hermione sighed, allowing Draco to touch her, turning her hand and clutching at his hand.
"I just want you to be happy, Hermione, that is all I want, you do not need my permission to pursue anything. All I ask for is to be with you,You chose where we sleep, where we live; my life revolves around you." Draco Replied picking up her hand and pressing a kiss to the top of it.
"Thank you, I'm sorry for this." Hermione Blushed, ducking her head again.
"Please stop apologizing, you did the best you could. I think for our first night best if we share your bed a place you are more comfortable. I want to make you happy Hermione, Selfishly I have had feelings for you since third year you litteraly smacked some sense into me. I just want you to never regret choosing me. Have you eaten anything other than junk?" Draco asked pointedly looking at the wrappers littered on the table.
"Actually yes I had Harry's house elf bring me some pasta for lunch, I don't have much of an appetite but if it's Kreature I'll eat it because it tastes like home." Hermione nodded.
"You need something more substantial. I will not allow my Wife to waste away, and the way you pick at food in the Great hall is concerning. Will you please have the Elf bring you a sandwich?" Draco asked.
"Yes I will." Hermione nodded before calling the Elf. "Kreature."
A loud crack echoed in the suite. A small white haired ancient Elf bowed to Hermione.
"Miss Hermione, what can Kreature do for you?" The elf smiled at the curly haired witch.
"My new Fiance insists upon me eating something. Would you be so kind as to get me a sandwich please?" Hermione replied, asking the creature gently. The small elf blinked at the wizard seated next to his charge.
"Young Master Black this elf is so pleased you chose My Miss as your Intended, it pleases this old elf you will look after My Miss." Kreature bowed to Draco and popped away less than a moment later a tray of roasted turkey and Bacon Sandwiches appeared on the now clean table.
"He's a good Elf sorry about the Young Master thing he tends to come up with weird names for everyone. He's only recently started calling me Miss Hermione better than Curly haired Mistress." Hermione smiled softly.
"Nah better to be Young Master Black than Malfoy guess mom's blood is strong despite me looking like Dad. Sorry about that by the way I know you and Dad had battles." Draco blushed.
"You may have his light colored hair but you have the Black features, your face is quite like your Cousin Regulus, your eyes though they look more Like Sirius's you are more Black than you seem to think just as Handsome as both Sirius and Regulus. I'm sure your mother would agree with me that you are more than your Blood Draco." Hermione replied before eating her sandwich.
"I think I'll take that as a compliment as far as I know there is only Harry, I and the boy Ted; are the last of the Black's. Glad the Minister decided to give Sirius and Regulus full pardon's mum Cried to know neither of them served the Dark Lord willingly." Draco smiled softly.
"What kind of Auntie would I be If I Didn't think Teddy was the most Handsome Black, How dare you." Hermione mocked jokingly Draco laughed head thrown back pure joy out of his mouth.
Hermione smiled watching her new Beau laugh at her joke, happy to have someone who understood that she was fragile. She could do worse. He was quite handsome and Ernest wanted to show her he was a different person than the shallow rich snob most saw him as.
Hermione dutifully ate as many of Kreatures sandwiches much to Draco’s surprise. She excused herself to change for bed, allowing her privacy, throwing his own sleep pants on and waited for her to allow him in her room.
They didn't speak again, just shyly climbed in bed together, both blushing neither used to shareing a bed. Both prying the other did not notice their embarrassment.