Dueling with Fate

The day that Malfoy and Hermione were dreading finally came. Getting up as early as possible, Hermione made her way past the Great Hall, and through the deserted corridors towards Dumbledore's office. Upon arriving, she knocked on the door and heard Dumbledore summon her in.

Peering inside, she saw the aged wizard sitting behind his desk. "Come in Miss Granger."

"Professor Dumbledore, I've had a question on my mind for quite awhile now. Why did you agree to allow Professor McGonagall to punish us that way? I mean, sure we are enemies, but isn't that kind of an extreme for such a punishment," Hermione said as she made her way into the office. She took a seat in one of the two chairs in front of Dumbledore's desk.

"Well you see, Draco Malfoy is a Pureblood, and you on the other hand are a Muggle born, correct?" Hermione nodded, Dumbledore continued. "You see, you two are enemies, he despises you because of what his father has taught him. And, since Voldemort has had his downfall, I think we should work more on inner-house relationships and also the ministry does not believe that a pureblood and muggleborn can live together, so I would like to prove them wrong. And you two are some of the brightest wizards I have ever had the fortune to meet," Dumbledore explained.

There was a knock on the door. "Come in. Ah, yes Mr. Malfoy, how nice of you to join us."

Hermione heard Malfoy mumble something that sounded an awful lot like, "Did I have a choice?"

Malfoy walked over to the chair opposite of Hermione, plopping down in it with a sour look on his face. "So what exactly are we going to do?"

"Well, as soon as Professor McGonagall arrives here we may begin. And here she is," Dumbledore said as the elderly witch came in, dressed in an emerald colored robe.

"Both of you students know why you are here. Now, the time period you will need to remain married is a year and half." When Professor McGonagall said that, both Hermione's and Malfoy's jaws dropped to the floor.

"WHAT?" Hermione yelled out and rose from her chair, before she could stop herself.

"Do not make me extend the time period," McGonagall stated sharply, and Hermione immediately fell back into her seat. "Now, we have already picked a residence out for you. You will live there during this time."

"Anything else we should know?" Hermione asked reluctantly, afraid to find out another horrifying piece of information.

"No that will be all. Your parents have already been informed of the 'project'. You are not to tell anyone but your closest friends that this is not a real marriage. Understand? Good." With that last word, McGonagall rose and left the two utterly depressed students.

"You may go now, if you please," Dumbledore said kindly.

Hermione nodded her head and almost ran out of his office and down the stairs. She ran into a corridor that had Ron and Harry leaning up against a wall.

"Hey, Hermione, over here!" Harry shouted as he waved his arms, trying to catch her attention.

"Hey," Hermione said, looking awfully miserable.

"Well, what did you find out?" Ron asked impatiently.

"Nothing good, I have to be married to him for a year and half." As Hermione said this she began to cry. Harry opened his arms to give her a hug and a shoulder to cry into.

Harry began, "It's alright, 'Mione. We'll come and visit everyday, and if Malfoy lays one of his slimy little hands on your head we'll--"

"What? Take everything else I own away? Destroy what little bit I have left?" Malfoy asked, looking thoroughly appalled.

"Don't hurt her," Harry threatened.

"Why not?Why shouldn't I take away one of the most important things you own? You took away mine," Malfoy responded coldly.

"Are you talking about me killing your dad?" Harry asked cautiously.

"Maybe," Malfoy said as he stormed off, in a fouler mood than he had been when he had left Dumbledore's office.

"Git," Ron said under his breath.

"Yea," Harry said as he stared at Malfoy's retreating body. "If he hurts her, I'll hex him so badly."

"I'm right behind you with that, mate," Ron said as he started to head back to the Gryffindor common room. "You coming?"

"Yes, come, let's go," Harry put his arm out for Hermione to grab onto.

"Alright, I really need to talk to Ginny," Hermione said as she latched onto Harry's arm.

* * *

"Ginny I have to be married to the prat for a year and half. That is, if I live that long. He threatened to kill me," Hermione explained to her best friend.

"Well, at least he's a good looking prat."

"NOT HELPING!" Hermione screamed, throwing her hands up into the air, and then squatting in a ball and beginning to sob.

"I'm sorry," Ginny began, as she came and sat by Hermione's shaking figure.

"It's alright," Hermione said, lifting her tear stained face. "I'm just really scared. That's all."

"Why? You could hex his sorry butt to the moon and back before he could hurt you. You know that," Ginny said as she embraced Hermione in a hug.

"Yes, I could do something like that," Hermione said, beginning to giggle softly.

"Let's go on down to dinner for the final feast. It's your last night at Hogwarts, you shouldn't be crying."

"Oh my goodness, you're right!" Hermione exclaimed, as she began to cry again. "I'm leaving this place."

"That was supposed to get you to stop crying."

"Oops!" Hermione said as she fell into a fit of giggles.

* * *

The two girls made their way down to the lavishly decorated Great Hall.

"Over here!" Hermione heard someone call. Looking up she saw Harry and Ron waving frantically at her and Ginny.

Ginny ran over and sat on Harry's lap, and gave him a kiss on his soft cheeks. Hermione sat in between Harry and Ron.

"Here, got you some presents," Ron said as he handed Hermione a bulging bag.

"Ronald Weasley. You snuck into Hogsmeade, didn't you?" Hermione laughed as she jokingly slapped Ron arms.

"Look inside."

Opening the bag she found a book entitled: "Becoming an Auror: Things you Need to Know". Farther in the bag she found a golden quill, plenty of parchment, and some gold ink.

"Is this to make me feel better about having to live with Malfoy?" Hermione asked, surveying each boy carefully.

"Yea, did it work?" Ron asked, unsure of what her answer would be.

"YES!" Hermione squealed as she flung herself at both boys and gave them big hugs.

"Good," Ron said as she smiled confidently.

* * *

The next day, Hermione began to pack her bag as she felt another tear slip down her cheek. "Stop crying!" she told herself firmly, "Just think of this as a . . . well I'm not sure what this is."

"Do you always talk to yourself?" Malfoy drawled from the doorway.

"Leave me alone Malfoy. If it's not bad enough I have to live with you, I don't want to spend anymore time with you than is necessary. Do you understand?" Hermione said, gathering herself together, not wanting Malfoy to see her weakness.

"Well I figure you've already made my life miserable, why not pay you back and return the favor," Malfoy threatened with a malicious glint in his eyes.

Hermione sick of his whining whipped out her wand and took a couple threatening steps towards him, "I'm warning you, if you don't leave my room right now, I will hex you."

Malfoy rolled his eyes and left the room muttering, "Mudblood."

A few seconds later a knock was heard at her door. "Go away!" Hermione screamed, assuming it was Malfoy again.

"What? You don't want to see your best friend?"

"Oh! Hey Ginny. I thought it was Malfoy again. Merlin he's annoying."

"Well yeah, McGonagall wanted me to tell you that whenever you're ready you need to take your stuff down. Alright?"

"Yes, got it. Let me just finish up," Hermione said as she spun around, taking one last look at her Head Girl room. "Goodness I'm going to miss this place. Let's go before I start crying again. Help me carry this stuff please."

"Sure," Ginny said as she took one of Hermione's trunks. "What in the name of Merlin do you have in this?" Ginny said laughing at her hopeless attempts to move the heavy trunk.

"Books," Hermione said as she and Ginny started laughing at the predictable answer.

* * *

Hermione, Ron, Harry, and Ginny all sat in the compartment, silence filling every inch of it.

Harry was the first to speak, "Well you know I'm going to miss all of you, but I promise I'll visit a lot, and we are allowed to do magic and we can Apparate."

"I know, but I'll miss you too mate," Ron said as he clapped Harry on the back. "And of course I'll miss you 'Mione." Ron voiced as he gave Hermione a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"Yeah. Promise me, that'll you'll try to visit as much as you can. I'm afraid I'll get awfully lonely living with Malfoy," Hermione said, not taking her eyes away from the window, watching the castle fade away. Sadness overwhelmed her body again.

"Hermione, you've been awfully sad lately," Ron said cautiously.

"Well I haven't exactly found anything to celebrate about now have I?" Hermione joked, as a smile played on the corners of her lips.

"Do you know what the residence will look like?" Harry questioned.

"No, but I believe it's a small house. That's all I know," Hermione voiced as the compartment fell silent again.

They all found themselves dozing off, they awoke when they heard the whistle blow as the train made it's way onto platform 9 ¾.

"Come on. Hermione who's taking you?" Ginny asked as she rose from her seat, taking her stuff as she went.

"Not sure, she said something about that I would Apparate there. I think. I don't really know, I guess I should ask . . . Malfoy," Hermione said as she let a heavy sigh be heard before she spoke his name.

Reluctantly getting off the train, Hermione went in search of the slimly git.

"Malfoy, come here please!" Hermione shouted after she had spotted his platinum colored hair.

"What do you want?" Malfoy asked as he resentfully walked over to where Hermione stood, impatiently tapping her foot on the ground.

"How are we supposed to get to our house?" Hermione asked in a hoarse whisper.

"I thought you knew," Malfoy said as a look of happiness spread across his face.

"Well I don't," Hermione stated firmly, "So please tell me."

"I don't know if I want to," Malfoy said stubbornly as he watched with joy as Hermione began to get mad.

"Tell me right now!" Hermione practically yelled.

"Alright, I suppose I can do that," Malfoy said as if he was straining every inch of his body to do so, "But, only under one condition. You tell your two little annoying friends, to leave me and my mum alone, got it?"

"What?" Hermione asked, taken back by his statement.

"Tell them to stop ruining my life!"

"Alright, fine," Hermione said, irritated by how immature Malfoy was acting.

"Here's where you have to Apparate to," Malfoy said as he handed Hermione a piece of paper.

"Alright," Hermione said as she grabbed her trunk, with a quick good bye to all of her friends she disappeared with a loud pop.

* * *

She arrived in front of a large brick house, which had a picket white fence surrounding the bright green lawn. "This might not be so bad," Hermione said to herself as she walked forward, approaching the large house.

She walked down the wing brick path until she was at the dark blue door that had a lion and a serpent doorknocker. Reaching down she tried to open the door, but it was locked. She stood there for a moment until she realized how stupid she was acting. Whipping out her wand she muttered, "Alohomora."

The door clicked and she opened it to reveal a small foyer. It was plainly decorated. There was a table to put letters upon.

Farther inside she found, a small sitting area, a kitchen, a dinning area, and two offices. She assumed one was for her and one was for Malfoy.

Going upstairs, she found a guest bedroom and a bathroom. Then she opened a door that she would regret, it opened into a nursery. "Merlin," was all Hermione said as she fainted.

"Hermione! Hermione! Wake up," Harry said as he frantically shook Hermione.

"What?" Hermione said groggily.

"What happened?"

"I'm not sure, I think I fainted," Hermione said as she screamed, looking at a crib in the room.

"What?"

"A . . . crib," Hermione mumbled.

"Yes, come on, let's get you laid down, somewhere more comfortable than the floor."

"Alright," Hermione said as she wrapped her arms around Harry's neck.

"Harry, not to be rude but what are you doing here?" Hermione asked as Harry carried Hermione into the master bedroom that she hadn't gotten to explore yet. Laying her on the king size bed, he replied, "I'm not about to let Malfoy lay one of his slimy hands on you. I wanted to make sure you were alright."

"Thanks, Harry," Hermione said closing her eyes, soon she fell into a deep sleep filled with nightmares.

* * *

"Move," a voice said sharply.

"Huh?" Hermione asked as she opened her eyes.

"Move, I need to lie there."

"No!" Hermione said sharply as she rose into a sitting position.

"I have too. If I had a choice do you think I'd want to sleep beside you," Malfoy growled.

"Why? There's a guest bedroom next door," Hermione said, thoroughly appalled at the thought of sleeping with Malfoy.

"It's jinxed so I can't sleep there. The only place we can sleep is on this bed . . . together," Malfoy said with such loath in his voice.

"Alright fine," Hermione said as she rose from her spot on the bed.

"Don't think you'll be able to sleep in there either."

"I'm not going there," Hermione said as she grabbed a bathrobe and headed for the bathroom.

She needed to get away from him. She had been with him for a minute and already she wanted to get away from this place. Maybe a long, hot bath with help, Hermione thought to herself.

She stepped in side the master-bath, it was again plainly decorated, but it had black marble floors, a double shower (Ewww, Hermione thought as she imagined showering with Malfoy), and a deep Jacuzzi tub. And behind a door in the corner was a toilet.

Hermione bent down and turned on the water faucet, water began to gush out of the valve. A few minutes later Hermione stepped into the hot whirlpool. "Ahhhh," she said aloud as she slipped down into the water with ease.

A banging noise awoke Hermione. "What in the name of Merlin do you want? Can't I have a little peace and quiet?" Hermione yelled.

"Get out! I need to take a shower," Malfoy shouted back.

"Alright fine," Hermione said, then muttered, "Spoiled brat," under her breath. She dried off with a thick linen towel and then wrapped the bath robe over her nude body.

"Took you bloody long enough," Malfoy said, looking completely upset.

"Well in case you don't know there is a guest bathroom, or wait, are there any jinxes on it?" Hermione asked.

"No, I just like a big bathroom," Malfoy said sneering.

"Yes, otherwise you and your overly large ego wouldn't fit in there," Hermione said smiling as she watched Malfoy's sneer quickly fade.

"Shut up,Mudblood," Malfoy said. "I try to be nice to filth like you, but I guess it doesn't work."

Hermione fed up again with Malfoy, took her hand and smacked Malfoy across his pale cheek.

"Bitch!" Malfoy yelled and slammed the door.

* * *

Hermione began to get ready; she was going to go with Ginny to go shopping for some 'professional' looking clothes for her job interview at the ministry next week.

Once she was done, she heard the doorbell ring. She rushed down stairs and opened the door to find a beaming Ginny standing in front of her. "HERMIONE!" Ginny squealed, throwing herself into a hug with Hermione.

Hermione not expecting this had to take a step back to steady herself.

"Hermione, he proposed!" Ginny said as tears of joy began to flow down her cheeks.

"You mean Harry proposed to you?" Hermione asked.

"YES!"

"O Merlin! That's great. Let's see the ring, Mrs. Potter," Hermione asked as she and Ginny giggled at the name Mrs. Potter.

"Here," Ginny said as she put out her hand revealing a 14kt. ring, with a large ruby in the center and two small diamond ones on the side.

"Red for Gryffindor?" Hermione asked.

"Yep."

"So when is the wedding?"

"Probably after I graduate."

"Oh goodness Ginny, I'm so happy for you!"

"Thanks."

"So, are we going to go shopping?"

"Yes, of course. But I was wondering could we take a peak at some wedding dresses?"

"Sure," Hermione said, but she couldn't help feeling a wave of jealousy hit her. She had always imagined leaving Hogwarts engaged to someone, and marrying them. But she couldn't have imagined being forced to marry Malfoy.