Dueling with Fate

Draco, who had just listened to Hermione and Ginny's whole conversation, smiled slyly as he realized what had happened.

"Potter loves someone," he said. "And I know just what to do."

* * *

"Ginny, what exactly do you want your dress to look like?" Hermione asked, walking by many shop windows filled with wedding dresses.

"Not sure. I don't want it to be to frilly, maybe a few sequins, and I want it to be tight across my bosom," Ginny said.

"It better not be too revealing though, you don't want Harry staring at your breasts the whole service," Hermione said, laughing hard as she imagined Harry saying his vows to Ginny's chest.

"Not funny," Ginny grumbled. "Here!" Hermione turned to let her eyes rest upon a gorgeous wedding dress. It was a sequined bodice, tight against the stomach and chest, and loosened as it trailed down the lower half of the body.

It's beautiful," Ginny breathed. "Can we go get it? Or at least let me try it on."

"Sure, it doesn't bother me," Hermione said, still in awe at the beauty of the dress. Ginny hurried inside, and Hermione heard her humming merrily in a dressing room. A few minutes later, Ginny stepped out of the dressing room. She looked amazing, her red hair flowed down her back and her pale skin glowed.

"Ginny that dress is absolutely beautiful," Hermione said. "Harry will definitely like it."

"You think?" Ginny asked, still checking out how she looked from every angle. Hermione nodded her head in agreement.

"I'll ask them to put it on hold for a few days, and then we can come back," Ginny said.

* * *

At the Hermione and Draco's new home, Draco sat at his desk contemplating every plan he could execute to get revenge on Potter.

"Ha! I've got you now, Potter," Draco mumbled to himself, writing furiously. He had figured it out a plot, and he was sure it would work.

* * *

"Ginny, does this look alright?" Hermione asked self-consciously, checking for the third time how she looked in the mirror.

"Yes," Ginny sighed. "Why do you worry so much? You look amazing." Hermione had tried on a pair of light brown, tight-fitting pants, and had a matching lavender shirt.

"But it might be to Muggle, don't you think?" Hermione asked.

"It looks fine," Ginny insisted. "Do you want to buy it or not?"

"I'll buy it. I can wear it almost anywhere, so it should be alright," Hermione said, heading back into the changing room.

* * *

When Hermione returned home, she was met by a sneering Malfoy.

"What are you so happy about?" Hermione asked as she set her bag by the stairs.

"Nothing," Draco responded, a sinister smile upon his lips. "I just haven't felt this happy since my dad was alive, that's all."

"And why are you so happy?" Hermione asked, circling around him, heading towards the kitchen.

"Oh, nothing really. Just that soon, all will be right again," Draco said, staring at Hermione.

"I'm going to keep an eye on you, Malfoy," Hermione threatened.

"You do that," Draco said as he ran up the stairs to finish up his plans. Hermione began to worry. She began to rack her brain for reasons why Malfoy could be happy. I'd better check to see if Harry and Ron are alright, she thought as she apparated outside the Harry's flat. Knocking on the door, she desperately hoped that her friends were alright.

"Hey Hermione," Harry's cheerful face greeted her.

"Harry you're alright!" Hermione said, leaping into Harry's arms.

"Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be? Harry asked, looking at his friend suspiciously.

"Because Malfoy was in a good mood, so I was worried about you," Hermione said, feeling a bit foolish for overreacting.

"Well, I'm fine. And don't feel bad Hermione, I'm glad you care about me," Harry said, raising Hermione's chin which she had lowered in shame.

"Alright, but I feel a bit childish for letting Malfoy get to me like that."

"He can get to anyone, including me, and I defeated Voldemort," Harry joked, making Hermione feel better.

"Thanks, Harry. Oh! I almost forgot congratulations with Ginny."

"Thank you. She's wonderful. It's so nice having a stubborn red head. I love her so much," Harry said, staring off into space.

"Alright, well, I better get back and stop Malfoy from reeking havoc," Hermione said, disapparating.

* * *

Once at home, Hermione headed towards the master bedroom.

"Oh Draco!" A female voice cried from within the room. "Harder! I want some more!"

Hermione just about gagged as she realized what was happening. But, I could really tick Malfoy off this way, she thought, opening the door.

"What the heck is going on?" she cried upon entrance to the room. Draco and Pansy Parkinson immediately stopped their activities.

"What the hell are you doing, Mudblood?" Draco cried out, obviously ticked off by Hermione's interruption.

"What? This is my room, too, and that is our bed," Hermione pointed out. "And I don't appreciate having that whore in the bed I'm going to sleep in tonight."

"Watch it Mudblood!" Pansy threatened.

"What, are you going to hurt me?" Hermione asked.

"Drakie, are you going to let her talk to me like that?" Pansy asked, sticking out her lower lip, making her look like a bulldog.

"One: never call me Drakie. Two: don't make that face, it makes you look really ugly," Draco responded. "Now, Mudblood, please leave so Pansy and myself can resume what we were doing."

"No, see, if you and her are going to have sex, it will not be in our bed. It will be anyplace but in this house," Hermione retorted.

Draco rolled his eyes and told Pansy to leave. "I'll call you."

"Now, you better pay up for messing that up," Draco sneered from his spot on the bed.

"Whatever," Hermione said, turning around. "And for goodness sake, pull up that sheet."

Draco looked down and saw that the sheet had slipped a few inches past his waist.

"What, never seen one before, Granger?" But Hermione had already left and fled down the stairs. Damn! He always makes me cry. He can have fun but I can't. I'll make him pay.

Before she knew what had happened she had walked into her previous Headmaster.

"Oh!" she said sharply.

"Hello, Miss Granger," Dumbledore replied, helping the young girl up from the floor she had fallen on.

"Thank you, sir. What exactly are you doing here?" Hermione asked, brushing her hair out of her face.

"Well, you and Mr. Malfoy have not yet been wed. And we will need to prepare a ceremony for you two to prove to the Wizarding World that you are in love and want to get married," Dumbledore spoke to the awe struck face. "Would you mind to summon Mr. Malfoy?"

"Oh, um, yes, yes of course," she stammered. "Malfoy!"

"Thank you, but you will need to address him by his first name if others are to believe that you are a married couple."

"Right," she breathed, and then said with a huge amount of distaste in her voice, "Draco! Darling, Professor Dumbledore is here to see us."

"What the hell are you rambling about, Granger?" Draco asked as he walked down the stairs. "Oh!" He said upon seeing Dumbledore, "How nice to see you sir."

"Mr. Malfoy, I was just explaining to Miss Granger, soon to be Mrs. Malfoy," as Dumbledore said this Hermione made a face of great distaste and Draco looked as if he had swallowed something foul. "are not yet, under wizarding law, married."

"Do you think it's really necessary to be?" Hermione inquired, desperately hoping for the answer she wouldn't get.

"Miss Granger, I've already explained to you that we need to prove to the Wizarding Community that you two are a married couple and love each other, even though you are from completely different backgrounds. Draco, a Pureblood, and Hermione, a Muggleborn," Dumbledore explained calmly. "So, we will need to plan a wedding."

"But a wedding involves kissing, and a honeymoon," Hermione whined, shuddering at the very thought.

"Yes, of course, so let us begin planning," Dumbledore said, sitting down on the couch. "Professor McGonagall will also be helping."

And with a loud pop, McGonagall joined Dumbledore on the couch. "Sit down please."

Hermione sat on the sofa across from her professors, while Draco chose a small armchair.

"Now, who would you like to be in your wedding?" Professor McGonagall questioned.

"For my Maid of Honor, I would like to have Virginia Weasley," Hermione said, avoiding the dirty look Malfoy threw her. "I would also like to have Ron and Harry in it."

"And how about you, Mr. Malfoy?"

"Well, I would want Blaise Zabini as my Best Man," Draco said, staring at the ceiling. "As well as Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle." Hermione made a pained face at this.

"Don't look at me like that, Granger. I hate having Pothead and Weasel as much as you hate having my friends, though I'm sure I hate it more," he said, with a sly smile that angered Hermione.