Dueling with Fate

"I have agreed to let Professor McGonagall punish you as she sees fit," Professor Dumbledore stated calmly. "Minerva, if you will."

"As I said earlier, 'You two fight as much as a married couple does, therefore. . ." Professor McGonagall began, staring at the two awestruck faces. They had a vague idea of what she was going to say, but hoped their ideas were wrong. "I think you should become a married couple."

Hermione's jaw dropped and Malfoy's eyes bulged. "WHAT?!?!" Malfoy asked, after he had let the thought fully sink into his stunned mind. "I-I can't marry her."

"And why in Merlin's name not? It is a punishment. And from what I understand though my many years of teaching, is that a punishment is not to be enjoyed--and no Mr. Malfoy, you are not supposed to negotiate either," Professor McGonagall said sharply. "You may return back to the Great Hall to enjoy what is left of the feast. After this term is over we will finalize the agreements for this marriage."

Reluctantly they both left the office in silence.

They walked down the stairs and into the deserted corridor. Hermione then coldly stated to a miserable-looking Malfoy, "Let me just say one thing. I don't want to hear you complaining because you know good and well that I'm not going to enjoy any of the time that I have to spend with you."

"Shut up, Granger," Malfoy said, but not with the usual malice in his voice. His tone was more solemn, with a hint of a sigh mixed in. Hermione noticed that he had been acting very moody and somewhat gloomy lately.

* * *

"You what?" Harry asked, awestruck. Ron choked on his pumpkin juice.

"I have to marry Malfoy, but not until I've graduated. And worst of all, I don't have a choice. McGonagall said that it was not negotiable," Hermione said, her voice wrapped in misery.

"It's a good thing Malfoy's dad is dead. I mean he'd definitely have a thing or two to say about his son marring a Muggle born. He might even go to extremes to make sure it didn't happen," Ron said flatly.

* * *

The second to last week of the school herself in even more books than usual. Malfoy could be seen in the corridors with a sour look on his face.

* * *

"Ginny, this is so horrible!" Hermione said, very close to tears. The pair was sitting together in the Head Girl's room.

"I don't see why. I mean sure, Malfoy may be a Slytherin but he is hot," Ginny said, attempting to comfort her best friend.

"Virginia Weasley! How can you say that? He is an obnoxious, spoiled, little brat!" Hermione said, rising from her spot on the bed. "I'm disappointed in you, Ginny!"

"Goodness Hermione, you're over reacting. All I said was that Malfoy was hot. Everyone at Hogwarts knows it. And you can't deny it you'll get to be married to him," Ginny said in a dreamy voice.

"Okay, fine. Sure Malfoy is somewhat attractive, but I don't want to be married to a man who keeps calling me Mudblood. That's not exactly how I envisioned the perfect husband. And how do you expect us not to hex each other to death. Because if we're in a house alone... Ginny, that's disgusting. Get your mind out of the gutter! And there is no way I'm going to have sex with him. That'd be so gross. I'd think I would die from that."

Ginny laughed. Hermione was easily predictable. "Well, it might not be a bad thing, some of the Slytherin girls say he's..."

"Ginny! I don't want to know anything from his sex partners. I have other things to worry about. For example, tomorrow I have to walk up to Dumbledore's office and discuss my 'agreements' for this marriage. How can there be AGREEMENTS? Hermione said, falling back onto her bed.

"Hermione, relax!"

"You know, it's a wonder I managed to get through my N.E.W.T.'s without losing my mind!" Hermione said, snorting at her own joke.

"Mione, don't worry about it, just get some rest. I mean, you have huge bags under your eyes and you look as though you haven't slept in days," Ginny said, her voice full of concern.

"I know, but with everything that's been going on, well, let's just say sleep hasn't been the easiest thing to get."

"I'll talk to you later. If you need anything, you know where to find me," Ginny said, rising from the chair she had been sitting in. She exited the room quickly, leaving Hermione alone in her room to stress over that fact that she had to marry Malfoy.