The Marriage Law

Chapter 10

This couldn't be happening. Any moment now, Hermione was going to snap out of it and realize that she had zoned out to the drone of the other brides-to-be chattering endlessly about lace and frills and dress styles. Unfortunately, she quickly realised that this was no nightmare that her apprehensive subconscious had dredged up, but cold hard reality. Why was it that every time she and Draco seemed to make progress, he had to turn around and be an arse? She didn't know how long she could continue this way. It was incredibly frustrating, and now that she actually cared, hurtful. The worst part was that she had no choice, she had to keep enduring this, there was no way out. To think that she had sided with him over Ron! She had been loyal, and here he was backstabbing her to that dreadful Slytherin Pukey or Pucey or whatever. Whipping out her wand, she marched over to him and put her wand to his throat. Her fury was such that he backed up until she had him pinned to the wall with her wand and anger. The time that she had punched him in third year flashed across Draco's mind.

"I will marry you Malfoy, because I have no other choice. But if you think that I am willing now, you're wrong. I was actually beginning to think that there were worse things, but now I'd sooner duel Voldemort than marry you. You're a despicable human being and I'm ashamed that I'll be known as your wife."

As she turned to storm away, Draco saw that her anger did not quite hide the hurt that was evident on her face. The site made his gut twist.

She stopped at the edge of the silent room, (they had quite effectively captured the attention of everyone in the room,) and turned to say,

"And if you think that I will ever pin you up against a wall again like just now because of passionate feelings of any sort, you're wrong. After we've had the necessary number of children, your man-parts can shrivel up from misuse for all I care." Shooting him a scathing look, she stalked out of the room with Ginny and Parvati right on her heels.

As soon as Hermione had left, Astoria sidled up to him and blew him a kiss saying,

"Nice one Drakey. You've very nearly gotten rid of her. Soon we can be together."

Draco looked at her in utter disbelief and contempt. "I always knew you were stupid, but I never knew you were quite so delusional."

Astoria laughed airily and reaching out, began to massage his shoulders. "Oh Drakey, you're just tense, it'll all—"

"Get. Off. Of. Me." Draco said in that way of his that had Astoria backing away quickly.

"Aww, calm down Draco man, no need to get riled up, she is just a mudblood after all." Adrien said.

It was now Draco's turn to have his wand to someone's throat.

"Shut it, Pucey!" he snarled. Then, at the look of disbelief on Adrien's face, because he didn't quite want to let go of the act until he had sorted out this terrible mess between himself and Hermione, Draco added, "She is still my fiancée."

"Barely." Blaise muttered.

xxxxx

"Hermione I am so sorry!" Parvati said breathlessly. (Hermione was fastwhen she was angry.)

"I'm going to kill that ferret!" Ginny said angrily.

"Stop."

Her two friends looked at her in confusion.

"What-what do you mean?" Parvati asked timidly.

"I don't need your pity!" Hermione burst out. "I know that you are both happy with your marriage arrangements. You're just here for me out of pity and I don't want it!"

"Mione, we're here because we're your friends," Ginny began.

"GO!"

Casting one-another a sideways glance, her two friends quietly left her as she demanded, leaving Hermione more alone than ever.