Married by Law

Chapter Five: Stuck.

"Draco. Draco. Malfoy." snapped Hermione. She waved her hand in front of the vacant blonde's face. His blue eyes refocused and his mouth turned down.

"Merlin Granger, you don't have to get so up close." muttered Draco, side stepping her. Hermione placed her hands on her hip just as Draco sat down on a cushy chair in the corner of the library.

"Whatever. Look, Harry and I went to the Ministry yesterday." began Hermione. Draco's face didn't change. "We came up empty handed though. The law is irreversible,so I feel we should just let go."

"There's something you're not telling me, though I'm unsure why. Either you don't trust me or don't want me to know." pointed out Draco bluntly. Hermione's eyes widened then narrowed.

"Actually I'm not allowed to tell you. Kingsley swore me to secrecy." replied Hermione evenly. Draco shrugged.

"So two people who have never spoken two kind words to each other, well more like civil words to each other are expected to marry and produce a child within a year. Hm, that is their most logical idea yet."

"Look, I didn't say it was going to work at first. We need to make it work. As in a little optimism would be nice." retorted Hermione.

"Optimism is for the weak." quipped Draco. Hermione huffed angrily, crossing her arms tightly. Draco softened slightly.

"Look Hermione, we can try and make it work. Since we're going to be forced to wed, there's something we should probably think about." sighed Draco. He gestured for Hermione to sit down, and she did so.

"And that is?" prompted Hermione. Draco grinned.

"The actual wedding." snickered Draco. Hermione's brown eyes widened.

"O-Oh..." stammered Hermione. She had never actually realized the whole wedding thing, only ever thinking about who she was to wed. She cocked her head to the side, deep in thought.

"Honestly? I...I've always wanted a winter wedding." confessed Hermione. Her eyes roamed his face for a reaction.

"Well Miss Granger, I say that's doable." replied Draco, thinking something over in his brain.

"You mean you won't mind?" gasped Hermione. She had expected more of a fight.

"Hermione, you may be surprised but I actually don't go out of my way to disagree with you. So, do you have a color scheme in mind?" said Draco, diverting the conversation back to wedding details. Hermione merely stared at him, her mouth slightly ajar.

"Close your mouth, or the flies will fly in." snapped Draco. Hermione was shaken out of her revive.

"Look Draco, why don't I get back to you on this? I'm sorry but this is all happening...so fast. I haven't even told my parents yet!" said Hermione shakily. Draco leaned back and nodded.

"Alright. But if you do want a winter wedding it ought to be in January. So you should probably figure things out quick." noted Draco with a nod of his head. Hermione stood up, nodding absently. She began to walk away, before turning back towards him.

"Draco...a-are we really doing this? G-Getting married I mean?" whispered Hermione, her brown eyes piercing his blue ones. He stared at her, the corners of his eyes turning up into a hint of a smile.

"Guess so." replied Draco, his voice barely above a whisper. Hermione nodded slowly, before turning away. Millions of thoughts swam in her brain as she walked through the corridors of Hogwarts. Suddenly she stopped.

"Holy shit." cussed Hermione, her voice barely above a whisper. It was like everything finally hit her.

'Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god!' thought Hermione frantically. Tears pooled into her eyes as she staggered over to the wall. She sunk to the floor and curled up in the fetal position. She sobbed for everything and nothing.

"Hermione? Hermione!" shouted a voice. She heard running and arms encircled her.

"Shh, it's going to be alright." whispered Harry. He cradled her carefully and rocked her back and forth.

"Mione...what's wrong?" said Harry once Hermione calmed down and wiped the tears from her cheeks.

"It...it just hit me. My life was just moved up about ten years. You know? I mean, I wanted to get married some day. I wanted to have kids someday. Not now! Especially not in the same year." rushed Hermione.

"I-" started Harry.

"I wanted to be a Healer! I wanted to get a stable life! I wanted to enjoy life."

"Hermione!" snapped Harry. Hermione closed her mouth

"Sorry..." Hermione blushed.

"Its alright." He smiled. "But Hermione, it's going to be okay. At least you're not already pregnant!"

Hermione nodded thoughtfully. "Good point. Oh sweet Jesus, how are you going to tell Molly?"

Harry's face turned grim. "Well she knows about the marriage law already. We can just say we got a head start on things...you know. Spur of the moment, just found out we're engaged?"

"Harry, uh. Ginny was already three months along. Molly will realize that..."

"Fine, well it's not like it wasn't bound to happen." replied Harry, sticking out his tongue. Hermione smiled.

"So... talked to Draco."

"Draco now? Humph."

"We are getting married...I thought it time to start at least trying to be civil." sighed Hermione. "Anyway, I've-we've decided on a winter wedding. Mid January."

"Really? That's wonderful! Ginny wants to have the wedding over the holiday. 'Before she becomes a whale.'" He made air quotes. She laughed as they both stood up. The pair began to walk.

"I understand her point. Guess you don't want it to be a big wedding?"

"Nope. Oh! She's not mad at me anymore. I sent her flowers and an apology note!" Harry was clearly proud of himself. Hermione shook her head.

"Oh Harry..."

"Oh shush, I didn't even do anything! Intentionally at least..."

"I know." was all Hermione said before they slipped into the common room.

"So you're really gonna do it?"

"Do what?" asked Hermione confused.

"Marry Malfoy."

"Yeah...yeah I am." said Hermione, for the first time her voice rang clear. At this point the marriage was inevitable, so from then on she was going to try her damned hardest to actually make it work. Or die trying.