Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

A Match Made In Convenience	By : ErisNight Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 47188 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 9
Disclaimer: The entire universe of Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling. I make no profit from writing these stories. I am only borrowing her inventions for my fiction.

Chapter List
- 21
- 22
- 23
A/N:
Woo! I'm back for good until this story is complete and not only did I finish my summer course with a final grade of a 94 but I'm on vacation from work so I can write to your hearts content!!
I'm super excited about how understanding you guys were during this mini absense. I expected update death threats haha, but you're awesomeness will not be forgotten!!
Review Replies are up at: http://www2.adult-fanfiction.org/forum/index.php/topic/49940-a-match-made-in-convenience-review-replies-and-discussion/
So here's Chapter 22: Last Chance
Eris :)

  It was all over every newspaper by Monday morning, the ministry’s latest decree. Outrage and shock were so sudden and swift that even large groups of ministry workers boycotted and abandoned their positions in protest.
            The rallying carried on for three full days before the minister responded in kind by giving speeches in which he was booed and sending out ministry letters to help soften the blow to the affected individuals.
            No matter the objections however the new law stayed in place.
            It was the Friday after the ball when Harry finally managed to get back to Grimmauld. Between the investigation into The Valiant, quelling riots about the marriage law and maintaining the peace, Harry had barely gotten a chance to eat in the past few days.
            He made a quick stop to visit Hermione in St. Mungo’s before returning home. She had sustained several cracked ribs, massive blood loss and a severe concussion but despite her blow to the head, the healers thankfully had been able to repair everything.
            Her status was still unchanged though, and while her body was fully healed on the outside, the trauma to her brain had induced a temporary coma. The healers all agreed that she would wake up whenever her body felt ready but they couldn’t estimate how long that would take.
            It was all driving him insane.
            Harry needed to see Hermione awake to confirm that she was alive, that she was still really with him. He couldn’t fathom living in a world without his best friend.
            The only good news they had for him was that her brain function was vivid and active. Hermione wasn’t getting worse but better day by day and that there wouldn’t be any long term effects from her injuries.
            The look of relief on Malfoy’s face when they had told them that bit of information had been all Harry really needed to know. Malfoy was wavering on his decision of being with Hermione and the threat of her death only seemed to worry him more.
            Harry could tell that Malfoy wanted to keep her safe, but with the threat of The Valiant looming he was at a loss with figuring out how to do so. But despite his fears, he still he remained by her side.
            The blonde wizard had even sent word to Hermione’s parents before Harry had thought of it himself and had been to the hospital daily to see her.
            Harry supposed the St. Mungo’s staff were constantly hundreds of galleons richer from every one of his visits because Malfoy didn’t want his feelings for Hermione to go public just yet, especially in the aftermath of all that had happened.
            Malfoy was more worried about Hermione being bombarded with the media as soon as she woke up as it was, and didn’t want to add fuel to the fire. The media practically lived outside the hospital following the attack.
            It had gotten to the point where Harry had three Aurors stationed there daily but even though Hermione was proven to be perfectly safe without him, Malfoy remained. Harry couldn’t think of someone better for the woman he revered as his sister. Draco Malfoy was proving to be the best choice.
            But in all actuality, Harry didn’t even have time to worry about his best friend even if he wanted to. With the emergence of The Valiant, the marriage law and the death of hundreds, life was one perpetual cluster fuck that Harry wanted to escape.
            Even as Head Auror and savior of the entire wizarding community, he didn’t get a pardon from the ordained nuptials in his future.
            It was all reminiscent of a poorly thought out and delivered joke. Harry couldn’t even look at Elphias without wanting to strangle the older man. The ministry’s reaction to the attack was his entire fault for even suggesting that somehow everyone getting married would help quell the onslaught that inevitably came.
            Hindsight was twenty-twenty and how exactly was forcing everyone into unions after the massacre going to change the fact that they had been slaughtered?
            Just thinking about the ball made Harry see red. He threw down the jacket he had been holding and began to pace the length of the room.
            Every lead for the investigation into The Valiant had long since run cold.
            It was as though the group didn’t really exist and had he not been present at the ball Harry would have been hard pressed to even believe that they did. Their tactics and goals were both familiar and completely unlike anything Harry had faced before.
            Their knowledge of the fundamentals of magic were stifling, and just how had they managed to infiltrate the even without any of the Aurors noticing?
            Harry had personally dealt with psychos wanting to eradicate an entire genre of people. He could wrap his mind around the intense hatred of Purebloods. But what Harry didn’t understand is how this group had managed to completely thwart them at what he had personally cleared as a secure ministry event.
            How had he not noticed that the beverages were spiked and that the apparition field felt different? How had he not understood that the crows were more than ornamental and symbolized the death to come?
            Harry cursed and pounded the wall. He was Head Auror dammit! He held the lives of many in his hands and he couldn’t afford to be anything less than the best.
            “Harry?” a soft questioning voice called out. He spun on his heel and saw Luna standing in the doorway. She was a beautiful sight to behold in her simple olive colored jumper and skirt. He went to her immediately and drew her in his arms.
            “Hey there lovely girl, I’m so glad to finally be home.” Luna regarded him carefully for a moment and he knew the questions would come. Nothing got passed her and for some reason she was more in tune with him that even Malfoy was.
            “What has happened Harry? I’ve heard about the marriage law but what bothers you so?” Harry held her tight against him and laid his cheek atop hers. “I’ll talk to you about it later, but for now all I want is to hold you.”
            Luna sighed contently at his response before her hands came up and around his back. They stayed locked in each other’s embrace for a long silent while, absorbing comfort from the feel of one another.
            “I’m glad you’re finally home too. Let’s get you upstairs shall we?” Harry nodded and kissed her briefly before picking up his jacket and following as she led him up to his room.
            He closed the door behind them and set down his things on the dresser before turning toward his girlfriend. “I’m sorry for…”
            Luna’s mouth landed soundly on his as she reached up against him to hold herself steady against his lithe frame. Harry groaned when her tongue slid against his and felt every cell in his body come alive under her touch.
            But he brought his hands to her shoulders and gently held her back. “Wait, I haven’t gotten a chance to bathe in a few days and scourgify isn’t the same.” She shrugged her shoulders until his hands fell away and just continued as though she didn’t hear him.
            “I’ve been holed up here in your lovely home for nearly a week Harry. I’m not worried if you’re dirty.”
            She flashed him a lovely smile that sent his blood rushing south before taking a step away from him. “In fact I’m in need of a shower myself.” Then she turned her back on him and began to pull her oversized jumper over her head. Dropping it to the ground, Luna headed for the bathroom removing articles of her clothing and humming as she went.
            Harry couldn’t even fathom a situation in which a man couldn’t comprehend an invitation as obvious as that but still her actions shocked him for a moment. She bared her dimpled back to him as she shimmied out of her skirt and walked into the bathroom, her long hair swaying in tune with her hips as she disappeared behind the door.
            He was ripping his clothes off the moment he heard the water running and was in the shower behind her so fast that he surprised even himself.
            Harry wrapped her in his arms from behind and nestled his burgeoning arousal against the crevice of her tush, but just held her close as the hot water beat against his skin. It was the best feeling in the world to have Luna in his arms while he took a relaxing shower.
            All the worries of the week were melting away in her presence and he wanted nothing more for life to remain just that simple.
            Brushing his hair back from his face Harry leaned down and kissed the top of her head before trailing kisses down the side of her neck to her shoulders. “I missed you” she admitted quietly pushing the heavy weight of her hair to one side.
            Turning her away from the spray, Harry pulled her in his arms and kissed her, her mouth a sweet haven that he was dying to return to. “I missed you too” he said seriously kissing her forehead, her cheeks and nose.
            Luna ran her fingers against the head of his shaft before trailing her fingers up his chest and winding her arms around his neck, her fingers tangling into the hair at the base of his nape.
            “At least you’re a quick study Harry, I thought you might wait for me to finish showering” she teased pressing even closer to his engorged length. He looked down into her luminous eyes and saw the entirely of every single thing he had ever wanted wrapped up into one lovely Lovegood package.
            Harry loved having her to come home to; she was absolutely everything he had ever dreamed of. He smiled in response to her taunt and smoothed his hair back away from his eyes again.
            Grabbing her waist in his hands, Harry hoisted her small frame up easily until her legs were around his hips and thrust inside in one smooth stroke. In all her Luna Lovegood glory she squeaked when he drove into the warm heart of her and squeezed her thighs around him.
            Harry loved the way she was always wet for him as though he were the only man for her in the world. He groaned at the feeling and pressed her back up against the shower wall before meeting her mouth in another kiss.
            She tasted of mint and strawberry and Harry could not get enough of it as he rocked himself in and out of her in a steadily quickening rhythm. Luna titled her head back and closed her eyes, moving her hips in time with his thrusts.
            Leaning down he licked the water off her shoulders and chest before taking a nipple into his mouth and sucking the tightened little bud as he filled her in such a way that he brushed her clit each time he moved.
            Luna held onto him, her mouth in the shape of a perfect little “o” as he tasted her. Harry loved how her long blonde hair hung down almost to the floor, swaying as her body absorbed the forced of every impaling plunge inside her.
            The shower water thrummed on his back almost like a massage and Harry tried to remember a time when sex had ever been this amazing. His shifted his weight forward and pressed even deeper inside of her with each subsequent drive of his cock.
            “Harry, Harry Oh!” Her body stiffened for a moment before her quim began to convulse all around him. But it was her soft and pleading voice that did him in just like always.
            Luna didn’t scream and she didn’t yell so when her voice reached a fever pitch just as Harry was deep inside her, he lost it. No one else shared moments like this with her; no one ever heard her or saw the flash of near bursting passion in her eyes.
            Harry loved making his little witch scream. He loved fucking all the normal out of her, so that she was even more her oddly lovely self as she begged Morgana for him to thrust faster, harder and deeper.
            He felt his thighs burn under the strain of their lovemaking but felt more powerful than ever.
            With a shout of his own Harry buried himself to the hilt within her, just as Luna bucked beneath him accepting him deeper than he had ever been. He held his face against her shoulder and grasped her hips tight as he pistoned in and out of her.
            Harry couldn’t breathe as his cock spasmed and shot his seed as far as it would go. Tremors wracked his body as he moved against her and just as the sensation build to a point of no return, there was only one name that Harry could call as he fell forward into the oblivion.
            A long moment later, Harry lifted his head to look at the witch pressed in between his body and the shower wall. Luna brushed her fingers against his cheek and gave him a small smile. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this you know.”
            Harry kissed her fingers when they brushed against his lips and gently pulled himself out of her. “Sex?” he inquired nuzzling his nose into the crook of her neck. Luna shook her head and took a moment to steady her wobbly legs when he set her down on her own two feet.
            “No you and me together. It’s wonderful. Much more wonderful than anything I could have ever imagined.” Harry felt the more and more usual warmth in his chest at her words and reached up to grab the shower head.
            “The way you make me feel is…” her words died off and he saw the beginning of a blush light up her cheeks.
            Kneeling in front of her, he parted her legs gently and began to clean her already dripping center. It gave him this sort of primal thrill to see Luna filled to the brim with his essence, a trait he was sure was leaking over from his roommate’s personality.
            The more and more time he spent with Luna, the more he wanted to mark and claim her as his and while it was something that wasn’t Harry’s usual style, he could live with this particular Draco Malfoy influence through the oath.
            Harry found that he quite liked this tiny little witch being completely his and he wasn’t going to hand her over to any other wizard just because of some stupid law. Sure they really hadn’t gotten to know each other for very long yet but happy marriages were often built on less.           Suddenly a crazy idea took hold and before he even fully thought it through Harry knew he was going to do it.
            “So why don’t you keep me then?” He asked looking up and meeting her confused stare with a grin. Luna’s adorable eyes widened and she blinked twice at him.
            “Harry?” He stood to his full height in front of her and brought his hands on either side of her head. “Why don’t you ask me to marry you so that you can keep me?” Her breath caught in her throat and he knew that he had shocked her and Merlin how bold that made him feel.
            “I mean this marriage law is a pretty big problem Luna, and I can’t even escape it. So if you like what I do to you so much, if you like the way I love you…” he added lowering her face level with her own, “then why don’t you keep me?”
            Harry could see the rapid rise and fall of her chest as her heart threatened to tear itself from behind her ribs. Her eyes darted around his face to ascertain how serious he was but he gave nothing away. He maintained a deadly serious visage and wondered what she would do next.
            She was silent for such a long time that Harry wondered if somehow he had crossed the line. He was pressuring her and they had only been dating for a short time. Maybe she had someone else in mind for the marriage law?
            Just the thought of her rejection made him want to flee. Luna looked down to her feet and then back up and he was about to tell her that he was joking when he saw it. The sudden flash of determination in her eyes followed by such a raw happiness that Harry immediately knew what she had decided.
            “Harry will you…” He kissed Luna with all the love in his heart and held her wet body up against his before scooping her into his arms and taking her to his bed.
            “Yes, Luna… I will.”
            There wasn’t any of that incessant beeping but Hermione still knew she was in the hospital from the sound of pit pattering feet in the distance and from the other familiar magical sounds, she surmised that she was in St. Mungo’s.
            Hermione opened her eyes to see the expected magnolia colored ceiling and was grateful that her sense of sight wasn’t impaired.
            Still alive…
            She looked at the closed wooden door before turning her head slowly to the other side of the room but was surprised to see Draco standing by the window with his back to her. He’s here with me…
            Her mind instantly flashed back to the night of the ball on the balcony. She had done her best to tell him how she truly felt, even as she had felt herself slipping away. She had been dying right before his eyes but somehow Hermione knew that he must’ve saved her.
            It was the only explanation. Draco would have been the only person close enough to save her at that point. Which led Hermione to deduce further that Draco must’ve figured out that she was “Mia” sometime during the night.
            Just when exactly, she didn’t know but something had managed to tip him off.
            Hermione closed her eyes and tried to figure out how she felt about all of this. Aside from the fact that they had to have been under attack, a detail that she would need to learn as much as possibly about sooner rather than later, Draco knew how she felt.
            There wasn’t a doubt in her mind that he had understood her intent that night. Draco knew that she didn’t just like him or admire him but that she, Hermione Granger, loved him; loved him enough for it to be her last words.
            Yet despite all that he was still here in her hospital room with her. Hermione didn’t want to delude herself anymore by thinking that he didn’t feel something for her.
            He hadn’t been going to cast some contraceptive charm; Draco was in the midst of casting “Finite Incantatem” to cancel all of her spells before he took her.
            Every single endearment that he had said to Mia had been meant for her. Draco had even told her that her he was in love with her.
            “There is no one I want more than you.”
            “I can’t live without you.”
            “I belong to you”
            The memory of his words was like the sweetest confession, the most poignant form of validation for Hermione now that she knew he had meant her. Draco’s actions the night of the ball spoke volumes of his desire but even so she was at a complete loss for how to proceed with him.
            Life wasn’t as simple as it had been however many days ago that she had been brought in. They were under attack again; Hermione was sure of it. There was no explanation for a wall being blasted from behind her at a ministry function other than that.
            It was a well-known fact that Ministry events were the most secure and so an explosion of that magnitude only meant a premeditated attack by some third party source.
            Hermione opened her eyes again and looked at Draco. She took in his profile and had to keep from sighing at just the sight of him. He wore a dark blue sweater and slacks and had his arms crossed. She could tell by the set of his jaw that he was lost in thought and instinctively wanted to console him.
            She opened her mouth to call his name but only a hoarse whisper escaped from her dry throat. Draco still turned at the sound though and the relief evident in his eyes, made her feel glad of his presence.
            He came to her side and immediately brought the cup of water by her bed side. She could tell he wanted to help her drink it from the way he hesitated when she tried to lift a weak hand to grasp it.
            “Granger I…” Suddenly the door opened and Draco stood straight. “Mr. Malfoy visiting hours are… Miss Granger you’re awake!” The aide exclaimed happily.
            The older woman rushed over and began to check her vitals and before Hermione even knew what was happening the room was full of people checking her out and giving her tests.
            She saw the same healer that had taken care of Harry motion for Draco to leave but shook her head “he… stays.” One of the healers offered her water but she refused it and looked clearly to the one she remembered as Healer Burbage.
            “Draco stays and if my parents or Harry is here too they stay as well.” She took a deep breath as she finished her sentence and thanked the gods that she could still speak properly. She seemed to be able to think clearly as well.
            The healer turned to her “Ah Miss Granger, I understand your need…”
            “I’m staying” Draco announced loudly sitting in the chair beside the bed. The healer frowned but bowed none the less. “As you wish Miss Granger, I am pleased that you have awakened. Feel free to contact me if there is anything you need” and with that he left the room, his bevy of healers following him as they went.
            Draco waved a hand towards the door and it shut quietly behind them. Rising and coming to her side, his fingers immediately bent toward her face and cupped her cheek. Hermione closed her eyes at the feel of his warm skin and exhaled peacefully.
            “You need to stay alive Granger.” He said gruffly and her eyes shot open. He was looking at her with an expression she couldn’t read but as soon as their eyes met the look was gone and he was retreating away from her, back to the chair.
            Hermione sighed inwardly and turned her head back to look at the ceiling. “What happened to me?” She could hear him shifting in the chair and assumed that he had crossed his legs as was a true Draco Malfoy mannerism while sitting.
            “There was an attack on the ministry at the ball, I’m not sure what happened to the wall but someone must’ve sent a spell at it causing it to explode.” Hermione nodded at this. “How long have I been out for?”
            She lifted a hand slowly and flexed her fingers in front of her face, and then she did her toes and knew that she would be alright if not a little stiff when she finally got moving. “six days.”
            Hermione groaned, she was going to catch up on so much work when she returned to the ministry. Draco stood and was by her feet in an instant. “Are you alright? Shall I call the aides?” Hermione laughed a little “no I’m alright, I was just thinking about all the work I have to catch up on.”
            Draco laughed too and his fingers hooked around hers lightly “Only you would wake up from a coma and think about work.” She smiled up to him “you would do the same.” He shrugged “probably.”
            The door opened a moment later and in came Harry and Luna. “They just sent us word, I’m so relieved you’re awake Mione” Harry exclaimed on a half breath coming forward and hugging her gently before kissing her forehead. Draco pulled his fingers free from hers and crossed his arms.
            “You’re not allowed to die Hermione; I need you to stay well.” She returned Harry’s hug the best she could, “so I’ve heard.” She responded looking at her blonde roommate. Luna was next; she hugged the bed ridden girl softly and even kissed her on the cheek.
            “I’m glad to see you’re awake and just as radiant as ever Hermione. It’s a relief” The brunette smiled at the woman that had become one of her best friends “you look as radiant as ever yourself Luna, I’m glad to see you survived the ball alright.”
            Luna straightened and took hold of Harry’s hand. “Of course I did, I’ve got the best kind guardian to protect me” and then she shot Harry such a loving look Hermione almost wanted to cry for joy that they made it out alive.
            “The others?” Hermione asked, obviously referring to their other friends. “Blaise is fine, he loves a good duel and so he didn’t bother to try and escape. He wanted to fight them instead.” Draco supplied taking a seat. “Same for Ron and the Weasleys, they all opted to defend the others and ended up in the floor in pain but safe.”
            “In pain?” Hermione questioned looking around the room. Her three visitors spent the next hour or so explaining the details of the night in full and by the end of it Hermione was wracking her brain for a plan of counter attack.
            “Have they made any demands since? It’s been six days?” Harry shook his head “not a single word. We think they’re lying back and watching as the magical world tears itself apart over this marriage law.”
            Out of the corner of her eye, Hermione saw Draco stiffen in his chair but kept her gaze focused on Harry “marriage law?” The Head Auror sighed and explained the Ministry’s reaction to the attack.
            Hermione shook her head “that is not a logical reaction that should follow an attack. This vigilante group basically has declared war on all Purebloods and the ministry tries and protects their citizens because Elphias Doge said marriage is the way? What… how… why?”
            She was at a loss for words. So not only were they under attack again from an unknown group that had access to advanced magic, she was being forced to find a Pureblooded husband by the first of next year.
            It just wasn’t a plausible reaction to something of this magnitude from their government. Granted they were prone to making surprisingly emotional decisions, but acting in fear at the direction of an old man just because he was preaching something reminiscent of Albus Dumbledore?
            Someone on the council knew more than they were saying, and manipulating things from within. Hermione opened her eyes “so what are we going to do?” Harry looked down to the blonde by his side, “well I’m going to marry Luna.”
            The couple laughed out at the shocked expressions on the other twos faces and shared a quick kiss. Draco was the first to recover and he offered his congratulations before Hermione did the same.
            “We figure we’ll be forced to find someone anyway, so why not give it a shot since we’re dating. We don’t have a choice in the matter truthfully.” Harry ended bitterly. Luna patted his back but remained quiet.
each other well and would be fine. Herself on the other hand was an entirely different issue, what was she going to do?
            Hermione knew what she would have liked to do in this situation but the chances of it happening were so incredibly miniscule that she was forced to think of other alternative.
            Draco suddenly stood “I have to head out” he announced heading for the door. He turned and sent her an indiscernible look before leaving. Luna sat on the edge of the bed but had an amused look on her face.
            Harry looked between Hermione but shrugged “he’s probably behind on everything.” Hermione tried her best to sit up and was relieved when the task proved to be much easier than she would have thought.
            Hermione liked the support system Luna was providing for her best friend. They suited
            “Behind?” Luna nodded “Draco's been here every single day since the attack; Blaise has been running everything at work.” The revelation floored Hermione and she felt the emotions she often sought to beat back swell uncontrollably in her.
            “He was here the entire time?” Harry nodded “He even called your parents in before I even thought about it. He’s been paying off the staff too to keep the media from bothering you. Truth be told he’s been doing a better job of looking after you than I have.”
            Hermione suddenly wished that Draco hadn’t left. She wanted nothing more than to be in his presence and to feel his touch.
            Long after Harry and Luna left in order to let her rest, Hermione had vivid dreams of beautiful colors and love. She dreamt of Draco Malfoy most clearly and wandered through a room full of clocks admiring them and her blonde roommate for his mastery over them.
            Draco is the master of time magic and Grimmauld place is in a layer of its own reality, she answered when a clock asked her what was so wonderful about the man she loved. He’s the most amazing and brilliant wizard I’ve ever met.
            Hermione danced her way through the room and found herself in front of a familiar green door. Swinging the wood open eagerly she rushed forward to the place she wanted to be the most and dreamed of the night she intended to have after the ball.
            Draco held her close under the moon and stars and told her every single truth he had told to Mia, and just as the clock struck twelve all around them. Draco Malfoy leaned close and kissed her. “Hermione Granger, I have loved you for longer than you can even imagine.”
            Hermione was released the following Monday, after a weekend of observation and was surprisingly transported back home by her parents and none other than Draco himself. He apparently opted not to go into work in order to make sure she settled in properly even though she insisted she would be alright with her parents there.
            He charmed her mother and discussed various topics with her father as he led them to her room. Dan and Jean Granger seemed thoroughly impressed with the blonde by the time he finished explaining the new security measures he had put in place following the attack on the ministry.
            Hermione nodded to him as she absorbed all the new information and was glad that the circle surrounding her bed was now a disapparition point. It made her feel safe that she had a way to escape but that the point was only one way. She could leave as she pleased but would still need to floo or apparate to the sitting room.
            Something Draco assured her he would teach her how to do considering apparating to this particular Grimmauld was trickier than the 2002 Grimmauld. He leaned down and whispered this to her while she sat on the bed so that her parents wouldn’t hear a thing about the time magic but earned a frown from her father because of it.
            Hermione could only grin at her father though; she loved his over protective nature. It was endearing. Her mother only looked extremely pleased by it all and genuinely seemed sad to see Draco go when he excused himself in order to give them time alone.
            “Will you be coming home for Christmas?” her mother asked quickly sensing her husband’s annoyance. Hermione nodded “yes of course, I’ll be there on Christmas eve and day and then I’ll be coming back to celebrate with everyone here.”
            “You live with two men” her father stated matter-of-factly as soon not even willing to pretend and talk about happier subjects. Her mother came to her and began stroking her hair. “Leave her alone Dan, its Harry and that Draco fellow seemed quite sweet.”
            Her father crossed his arms “you don’t fool me Jean, you only think he’s “sweet” because you’re smitten with his looks.” Her mother grinned and went up to her husband placing a hand lightly on his arm. “You’re right of course dear, but who are we to judge Hermione for who she lives with. I lived with you before we got married.”
            Dan Granger scoffed “and you see how that turned out.” Hermione laughed at her parent’s antics. “Nothing of THAT sort is happening dad; I’m not engaged in a tryst with both of my male roommates.” She replied with a laugh “but speaking of marriage wait until you hear about the latest.” She filled them in on the marriage law and her parents both looked stricken.
            “Can they even do that?” Hermione nodded and sighed.
            “The more I think about it, the more I understand that they actually can. Anti-Pureblood sentiment had been on the rise for the past few years. The division between the blood statuses has only been getting worse. The ball was an effort to alleviate all of that. It was serving as a charity for the relief effort for those still struggling after the war, kind of as a chance for everyone to come together to do something right. But it clearly failed, so while their methods are desperate, they certaintly will be bringing us all together."
            “Well what do you plan on doing Mia?” Hermione thought back to the night of the ball when she heard her childhood nickname and shrugged. “I don’t know yet. I have over a month though so I’m sure I’ll be able to figure it out.”
            “Are you dating that Draco Malfoy chap? He seemed awfully concerned about you, even took off work you said.” Her father questioned, fixing her with a look that she recognized. Hermione took her time but was able to stand without assistance and silently celebrated the small victory.
            “No we are not dating but we would be if somehow we could figure it all out.” Her mother took her hand as she took slow steps to her father. “Is he a pureblood?” Hermione cracked a soft smile.
            “Remember that dreadful boy that I always used to come home crying about until about fifth year? The pureblood one that always made fun of me because my background wasn’t magical?” Her father nodded “of course, I can’t remember the little bastards name but I’ll never…”
            “That’s Draco dad” she interrupted, reaching out to take his hand too before he charged off seeking revenge for all those years. “That son of a…”
            “My point is that you would have never expected that same boy to be the incredibly sweet and caring man that you just watched carry your daughter all the way home from the hospital.” Her father’s mouth closed abruptly.
            “Draco has been better than Ron’s ever been and he’s not even my boyfriend. He even saved my life. Draco Malfoy is a changed man Dad and if I could have him I would.” Her mother cupped her cheeks in her hands “look at you growing up on us dear. It’s beautiful to watch. Draco seems more than interested though, what could possibly be holding you back?”
            Hermione sighed and made her way back to her bed. Frustrated that somehow the events of the ball hadn’t just completely made everything fall into place between her and Draco, she took a seat and met her mother’s inquisitive gaze, “ourselves.”
            By Thursday Hermione was able to walk normally again. Her body was a mass of aches and pains but it was mostly from unused muscles and the effect of getting practically her entire chest reconstructed. She was cleared to return to work the following Monday and was almost eager to go Friday anyway.
            She asked Harry for as much information that he could give her about The Valiant and was surprised when the inquiry turned into a meeting with the minister, Ronald, Draco and a group of Aurors at the table in their dining room.
            Turns out, Harry was in charge of an investigative task force that apparently included her and he had been in the midst of setting up a meeting when her question spurred a last minute idea that he ran with.
            The small group spent the better part of an hour going over all the intel they had on the vigilante group but didn’t decide on a definitive plan other than waiting to see the groups next move considering they didn’t have much to go on.
            “Hermione, your department has been in put in charge of examining the majority of the memories of that night of the ball for future research and analysis. When you return on Monday that is the task you are to focus on” Kingsley told her.
            Hermione nodded happily and looked forward to returning to work.
            At the end of the meeting just as Hermione was saying her goodbyes and rising from the table Ron took her hand and looked into her eyes. “Can we talk Mione?” She mostly didn’t even want to bother with her estranged best friend but he at least deserved to be heard out.
            Even though the last thing he had said to her had been completely wretched and months ago, she sent Harry a wistful look but had Ron follow her down the hall to the living room. She stopped in front of the fire and turned to him.
            “What is it that you want to speak about Ronald?” The red head came forward and took both of her hands in his.
            “Forgive me, I miss you Hermione and can barely live without you in my life. These past few months have been terrible at the manor without you. I couldn’t think of anyone else the entire time we were apart! No other woman will do.”
            Hermione held back a sour laugh as she thought back to the night of the masquerade and scoffed “I hardly find that to be true Ronald, especially considering this is coming months later. Three months in fact and you mean to tell me that it took you this long to see me even though you hang out with Harry regularly?”
            She crossed her arms and tapped her foot “I’m not interested in your half thought out apologies Ronald. We can be friends of course but that is it.”
            Ron didn’t seem the least bit bothered by her words though instead he did something that stunned Hermione into silence.
            “I know the first time I asked this I made a muck of it Hermione, but I’m willing to be everything you need if you let me. It’s been you and me since we were 12. That’s ten years together and we’re meant. I know that I’ve been a louse to you, I know that I don’t deserve you but I’m still begging for a shot here.”
            Ron took her hands and placed them over his heart. “If there is one thing that the war has taught me, it’s that you and I persevere and against the worst odds, we survive together”
            He squeezed his fingers over hers and gave her the lopsided smile that she had once loved about him. “Hermione Granger, let me prove that I’m everything you ever dreamed of by marrying me.”
            Draco walked past the living room just in time to hear the end of Weaslebee’s little speech and bit his tongue. It would not do to act like an ogre when the prat was actually doing a good job of being sincere.
            Thankfully Granger didn’t answer the fool and after a few seconds of her silence Draco stepped into the room. “Granger, we’ve got to go over the rest of the security measures for Grimmauld and finalize the list for the floo network.”
            She seemed to snap out of her daze at his words but her eyes didn’t leave Weasley’s face. “Thank you Ron, but I’ve got to go. I want us to always be the best of friends and that’s all I want.” She pulled her hands from his and followed Draco up the stairs.
            He led her up to her own room and opened the door before following her in closing it as he went. Granger turned on him almost immediately though, her arms crossed and clearly annoyed.
            “So what did you want Malfoy? We already secured the entire upstairs and added in the new apparition points. I’m fully aware of how to use them. The floo is secure, the entire sitting room is now an apparition field so long as I have my waystone on and my room is completely safe now.”
            Draco shrugged “I just figured you’d want a way to get out of there.”
            “You can’t just interrupt my important conversations with Ron for nothing! It was something we really should have discussed and I blew him off because of you!” Draco knew that she wasn’t really upset with him. She was just in the same place that he was, confused over how to proceed with each other.
            “Well then since you obviously wanted to speak with him about it, then I’m sorry for ruining your chance.” Hermione looked as though she might throttle him.
            “You’re sorry? You’re sorry? You interrupt my shot at finding a husband before this marriage law strips me of my magic and you’re sorry?! So what if I didn’t really want to marry him!? I could have and you had no right to interrupt Malfoy!”
            Granger began to pace in a way that he couldn’t help but find both incredibly adorable and amusing. She was just as frustrated as he was at their inability to get it right. They were on the precipice of being together but both completely terrified of the implications.
            Draco wanted her but just how badly he wanted her was the problem. He didn’t know if he could risk actually having her. He didn’t trust that being with her would always be ok.
            “This is all because of you! I should have been over joyed at his proposal! He finally got it right and it was sincere and beautiful but you ruined it. You’ve ruined everything that was safe in my life. I can’t even look at him the same because of…
            “You looked beautiful at the ball” his simple statement stopping her in her tracks. Granger floundered for a moment and when she didn’t have a retort she blushed. Draco was immensely pleased with his quick thinking.
            “You should go.” She told him quietly and just the fact that she was telling him to leave stroked his arousal. “But I want to stay.” Granger shook her head “knowing Ron, he hasn’t left yet. I really should talk to him.”
            “What was the plan that night?” he asked her curious to know. Her eyes widened and he took a step closer, backing her up toward the bed. “The healers confirmed that you didn’t suffer any memory loss and so I’m sure you remember what your intentions were.”
            Granger brought her hands up almost as if to ward him off and he smirked. “Am I allowed to guess based on my experiences with you that night?” She shook her head violently and the back of her knees hit the edge of the mattress.
            “No? Well that’s alright because we have other matters to settle.” Granger looked around the room at this nervously before bringing her eyes back to his “other matters?” Draco loved how she was trying to escape.
            He hadn’t even touched her yet and her eyes were dilating, her nipples were hardening under her blouse and her breaths were slowly turning into gasps. “Oh yes Granger, you and I had a bet.”
            Her cheeks immediately darkened and Draco felt her reaction in his cock. Merlin how he wanted to be inside her, they had been so close at the ball. He tried his best to calm down before he pounced on her.
            “If I remember correctly, the bet was that if I found you that night I got to kiss you. But not only did I find you Granger, you tried to cheat by being someone other than yourself. I think that calls for immediately disqualification on your end. What do you think?”
            She opened her mouth to reply but no words came out. Draco pulled his shirt up off of his body and threw it onto the bed. He wanted to take his pants off too but figured she would panic if he just tried to go for it.
            “I really should go…” she managed as he stalked closer to her and gently pushed her down onto the mattress. He knelt before her and grasped her hips pulling her to the edge so that he could plant a kiss right in the vee above her jean clad crotch.
            “You’ve got to play fair Granger, you lost and so I get to taste you again.” Granger gasped aloud at the gesture but didn’t move to stop him when he kissed up her body.
            You’re mine, he wanted to tell her. Mine and only mine. His lips melded to hers and he felt it in his core.
            Merlin it had been too long he thought as Granger went pliant in his arms. She opened her mouth under his and stroked his tongue tentatively. Snaking a hand under her hips he raised her up a bit and carried her back further onto the bed without breaking their kiss.
            Covering her body fully with his own, Draco gathered her in his arms and ran a path of wet kisses down from her mouth to her breasts. Nipping the tops of both he began to undo the buttons of her blouse one by one, pressing bites against her exposed flesh as he went.
            “I bet you’re already wet for me Granger.” He murmured against her skin, completely able to imagine how soaked her underwear was by then. She moaned in response when he kissed her nipple and gasped when he laved at the aching peak with his teeth.
            Draco worked her up until she was trembling under his touch before traveling lower on her body. This time they had all the time in the world and he wanted to enjoy Granger fully.
            “Hermione! We need to talk about this!” came from the other side of the door followed by an annoying sequence of knocking. Draco growled at the sound of Weasley’s voice and stood to tell the wizard to go the fuck away.
            But Granger pulled his arm “he can’t see you in here!” Draco looked down to the woman lying in bed and was even more annoyed to see how incredibly serious she was. He counted to ten the best he could despite the incessant knocking and was gone with a small ‘pop’ in the next moment.
            Hermione scrambled to button up her shirt, unable to catch her breath as Ron pounded on her bedroom door. Where Draco had apparated to shirtless, she didn’t know but she was glad that he had listened to her even though she could tell he didn’t care what the red haired wizard at the door thought.
            Hermione jumped down from her bed but stuffed Draco's forgotten shirt under her pillows before opening the door “yes?”
            “Where’s the ferret?” Ron asked stepping into her room looking around. Hermione didn’t approve of the tone in his voice but still felt as though she was caught out anyway. “Malfoy long since left, but what is it to you? I already gave you my answer.”
            Her stern reply must’ve knocked him down a level or two because he immediately dragged his suspicious eyes down to hers. “Just think about what I said will ya? I know that I’ve hurt you but I’m worth it if you give me a shot.”
            Hermione sighed “fine, I’ll think about it Ron. But I meant what I said about our friendship. We have some serious repair work to do and I’m not just going to marry you because some law says I have to and you happen to be a Pureblood.”
            Ron frowned at this “well who else would you marry? I know that we’ve had our rough patches but we’ve always…”
            “Go home Ronald” she commanded cutting him off. Hermione pushed him out of her room and sent him a look that clearly said she meant it. “We’re not going to discuss this anymore today in order to avoid an argument. Go home and give me space.”
            Ron ran a frustrated hand through his hair but conceded “fine, but I’m not giving up on you Mione” and then he was walking down the hall. Hermione watched him as he went and saw the nasty look he sent to the green door right before descending the stairs.
            Hermione shook her head and closed her door before leaning against the wood and bringing a finger to her lips. She was beginning to love whatever stimulus it was that caused Draco to go from perfectly rational to the passionate and sexually hungry beast he became.
            The weekend dragged by slower than Hermione could bear and it was only made worse by the fact that she didn’t see Draco once. She didn’t want to assume that he was possibly avoiding her again because of what happened with Ron but the worry was there, ever present in the back of her mind.
            Monday Hermione was so eager to finally be allowed back to work that she was ready to go before anyone else even awoke. She prepared her roommates breakfast and was sitting at the table fully dressed reading the prophet when Draco came into the kitchen.
            Harry stumbled in moments later and thanked her. “Where’s Luna? I made enough for her too.” Harry began to help himself to eggs “she went back to her father’s home yesterday, she wanted to check on him and catch up. She’ll be back next week or sooner if she needs me.”
            Hermione nodded, it made sense considering Harry spent most of his time at the ministry anyway as of late. “How did your parents fare the night of the ball Draco? I forgot to ask” she ventured, trying out his name to see how he would react.
            Much to her dismay he stiffened in front of the coffee pot and answered her with a curt “they’re fine,” before sitting down across from her and eating. Hermione wasn’t going to be deterred so easily though. She told him about her parent’s impressions of him and how grateful she was for his assistance during her hospitalization.
            It was the third question that she asked using his name that did it though; even Harry seemed to notice the shift in the room because he looked up between them suddenly alert.
            “Is there a reason you keep using my name Granger?” Draco asked plainly setting down his fork and pulling up the napkin from his lap? Hermione felt her cheeks flush, “No… I…”
            “Well then Malfoy will do just fine.”
            There was an awkward silence that hung in the air and Draco suddenly pushed his chair back and left the room. Hermione looked down to her plate “well I guess I better head into work. Have a good day Harry.” She bid him as she left the kitchen and went toward the sitting room.
            Harry rose to his feet and cleaned up the kitchen with a wave of his wand before quickly exiting the room. He ran up the stairs, catching the blonde wizard just as he was out to disappear behind his green door. “What are you doing?”
            “Not today Potter” Malfoy called out exasperated as Harry forced himself into the room.
            The Head Auror was taken aback by the night sky back drop and could only stare in awe for a moment before forcing his attention back to his roommate. “What was that all about? You need to talk to Hermione about that night sooner rather than later. I know she just woke up but I’m sure she’s figure the majority of everything out by now.”
            The blond went to a bookshelf and just brought both hands up to a shelf. “Not today Potter.”
            Harry was livid. Why was Malfoy being so dim? He finally had Hermione in a place where he could make something happen and he was fucking it all up by being an asshole. Harry closed the distance in between them and pushed Malfoy until he faced him.
            “What the fuck is wrong with you? Am I missing something here because isn’t this whole situation a good thing. Hermione is not only awake but she knows how you feel and she loves you in return. There is a fucking marriage law looming in on the horizon and you choose now to act like a dick?”
            “It will never work between us Potter and I was a fool for thinking that it would in the first place.” Harry took a step back, that wasn’t what he had expected the blonde to say.
            “What the fuck does that mean Malfoy?” Draco was pacing back and forth now, going from book case to book case as if almost in a frenzy. There really was no point in lying, in pretending as though he meant what he had just said.
            “Fuck! Why won’t you leave me alone! I can’t handle this shit! You want the truth! Fine, I’m fucking terrified of the depth of my feelings for her. Granger had lost so much blood Potter you couldn’t even imagine. I thought I had lost her…”
            His voice trailed off and he stopped abruptly in the middle of the room, trying to push away memories of that night as the horrible images of a broken and bloody Hermione Granger rose to the surface.
            “I almost lost her Potter and I love her more than anything. I watched her die in my arms and felt as the entire world fell away. She was pale and limp and even her magic failed her. I couldn’t handle it.”
            He turned toward his roommate and looked the man in the eyes. “Imagine, just how it could possibly feel to watch Luna die… it would be the end of you. Even I wouldn’t be able to save you.”
            Draco went to the book case and leaned against the shelf. “I didn’t save her because I am some hero like you are. I saved her because I am selfish. I used every bit of strength to get her to St. Mungo’s because if she would have died, so would have I.”
            Potter’s voice rang out across the room piercing him and dragging him back from his sorrow “Draco…”
            “She nearly fucking died Potter! I don’t even know if I can handle being with her! Being with her in that hospital room like that ruined me. I didn’t stay because I wanted to, I stayed because I couldn’t function while she was like that. Everything wonderful she thinks she should be thanking me for are all just selfish ass choices on my part!”
            He pounded the book case until the wood cracked under the force.
            “So why would I tell her how I feel and clear the air? Why would I keep her? She’ll get hurt and I’ll go to Azkaban trying to defend her. She’ll die eventually and it will destroy me.”           Then Draco decided to fuck all his reservations about sharing. “Merlin forbid those maniacs target her if she marries me. They want to kill purebloods Potter, Ex-Death Eater is pretty high up on their list I imagine. Once Granger is associated with me who’s to say that they won’t go after her!?”
            Harry suddenly understood everything Malfoy was afraid of so clearly he wondered if the blonde’s wizard’s feelings were a true reflection of his own. Everything Malfoy was saying were the same things he used to think about Ginny during the war but it wasn’t a kind of isolated misery he would wish on anyone.
            “Ron is going to ask her to marry him Malfoy and she might be crazy enough to say yes because he’s the safe choice. She trusts him and knowing Hermione she’ll think she can fix whatever has him screwed up lately.”
            Malfoy turned to him with a disgusted look on his face and a sneer found his lips. “He’s already asked her and I hope that she does, they aren’t targeting purebloods like him. She deserves more than a Death Eater.”
            Harry could appreciate the apparent switch in roles he and Malfoy had taken, where he had asked Luna to marry him in a true Draco Malfoy fashion with all the confidence in the world his roommate was floundering at the thought, worried about all the what ifs and maybes.
            “Ask Hermione and take the risk. It’ll be worth it and there is no more need for all this bullshit.” Draco felt his shoulders stiffen as he turned toward the piano but did his best to keep his emotions in check so that Potter wouldn’t feel them
            When he didn’t say anything Potter repeated his earlier sentiment. “Ask Hermione to marry you Malfoy.”
            Draco stiffened at the suggestion and turned away from the Head Auror again. “What would be the point? It would kill me if something were to happen to her because of me.”
            Draco could hear Potter’s footsteps as the wizard got closer. “Ask her to marry you because you love her and because it will kill you to live without her.”
            He had the sudden feeling of being cornered and felt anxiety settle in his stomach. He wanted to say something sarcastic, something rude to deny it and release him from this situation but there was nothing but the insurmountable feeling of dread and nothing but the incredible rush of adrenaline.
            “Out of everyone, you can’t lie to me. You’re scared, which is perfectly alright. If somehow I didn’t have to legendary Draco Malfoy courage when it came to Luna I’d be scared right now too. But no matter what this oath is doing to us, I’m still me and you’re still you.”
            Potter came to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
            “This is exactly what you want; she is everything that you want. Nothing else matters aside from that Malfoy. Your reason’s don’t matter, you think I killed Voldemort to be a hero? I hated being everyone’s hero. I did what I had to because I wanted peace and freedom. I persisted only for myself. Hermione survived because you managed to apparate her to St. Mungo’s in time. You single handedly alerted the rest of the ministry and then despite your own injuries, you came back and saved us. You deserve her more than anyone else; you’ll protect her better than anyone else. Ask Her. Claim Her, and tell her everything. It’s time Malfoy, no more games.”
            Draco heard everything the other wizard had said but refused to answer him. He just stood there staring at a book he had long since forgotten existed and held his ground until Potter sighed and left the room.
            “You’re a fool if you fuck this up Malfoy.”
            Hermione arrived home late from work that day but was surprised to find Draco on the couch in the sitting room. Seeing him first thing made her happy but she tried to squelch the feeling considering the morning they had shared.
            She didn’t say a word in greeting, she just quickly made her way toward the door, hoping that Harry was home. But before she could even make take one step toward her escape, Draco was up on his feet and in front of her.
            She figured he had probably reverted back to asshole Malfoy, given the way he had left things this morning but was determined not to put up with it if he tried to berate her for her behavior.
            Hermione was absolutely through with letting the men in her life treat her any less than she deserved. She was nobody’s door mat. She mentally prepared all the witty retorts she had in her arsenal as she met his gaze.
            But he had an incredibly serious look on his face, and nothing about the firm set of his jaw told her he was angry with her. Hermione took a step forward. “Did something happen? Are you alright?”
            Draco reached past her to set down the near full glass he held in his hand on the mantle before he turned to her in full.
            “Malfoy…?” He took a step toward her and placed a small black velvet box in her hand so quickly that she had no choice but to accept it.
            “Marry Me Granger.”
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A Match Made In Convenience