Hold On (A Dramione Fanfiction)

3. Alea Jacta Est

Hermione was beyond furious at what had happened: she had been paired with Malfoy, thus meaning they were supposed to marry and have kids together. Draco was in a similar state of mind, thinking more of what his mother was going to say at the announcement of his match. He could already imagine her going to the Ministry of Magic and making a scandal. For sure he would say the Malfoy bloodline will be tainted by Granger, a muggleborn.

They didn't talk once as they climbed the moving stairs and tried finding the painting on the second floor. After turning a few corners, Hermione suddenly noticed Harry, Ginny, Luna, and Blaise standing in front of a large painting, waiting for the other couples of their dorm room to arrive. She was then filled with hope and ran towards them.

"Please, please tell me you're in dorm 12!" she pleaded, shaking Ginny by the shoulders. Her friend nodded, trying to push Hermione's hands off of her shoulders. "Oh, thank you so much, unknown god, who has done at least one right thing tonight!" the witch said, looking upwards at the ceiling.

Harry raised his eyebrows at her action and word. "What is going on, Hermione? Who were you paired with?" She was about to reply, but Malfoy cut her off.

"With me," he told them, standing next to Blaise with a nonchalant look. Harry had at first a surprised face, that quickly changed to an angered one.

He was about to say something, but Blaise spoke before him. "Why don't we wait peacefully for the next couple to arrive? Preferably without killing each other." Luna nodded absentmindedly to his words, agreeing.

It didn't take long for another pair to come in their direction. When she saw who was walking towards them, Hermione scowled and deliberately ignored him. "Ron! Are you in dorm 12?" Harry asked excitedly, happy to see his best friend.

"Yeah," Ron nodded. "Everyone, here is Ariane de Mont-Aigne, my future wife," he told them. Hermione looked at the girl and immediately felt insecure of herself. The girl was beautiful: green almond eyes, hair as black as a raven's feathers, and everything in the right place.

In the corner of an eye, she noticed how Malfoy and Zabini were starring at her with wide eyes, probably thinking of how Ron had been paired with this girl, so she scoffed and shook her head at them. "We have to choose a password," she said to everyone, turning around and looking at the biggest painting she had ever seen at Hogwarts.

An old man and woman were smiling downwards at them. They were both sitting on a red sofa, the man having an arm wrapped over his wife's shoulders, Hermine had deduced such while seeing the rings on both of their hands. They had crinkled face and white hair, but their smile held youth. The woman patted her husband's knee and got up to welcome them. "Hello, my dear children. Please, choose a password for the rest of the year, but no inappropriate words."

The group waited for someone to speak first. Blaise then decided to break the tension. "How about We are in really deep shit?" His words had the consequences of Ginny slapping his arm, Ariane giggling, Hermione sighing while Draco rolled his eyes. His friend never knew when to make a joke.

Hermione thought at how unlucky they all were, but also at how they all had to follow the law. She snapped her fingers, gaining everyone's attention. "Why not Alea jacta est?" she offered. Except for Draco, they all stared at her as if she was speaking an unknown language. "It means that we can't do anything about the situation. Also, it's Latin." 

They stared at the others and Harry shrugged. "Let's go with that. Unless someone has another proposition?" He waited but no reply. "Okay," he said, looking at the founder of his House. "Our password will be Alea jacta est."

The couple in the painting nodded in sync while the painting pivoted on itself, showing a large wooden door. Harry pushed it open and entered, quickly followed by the others.