Muggle Marriage Law 51599

Cap

Hermione took in another breath as she looked around the immense office. She quickly turned as she heard Draco murmur a silencing charm. She heard the click of the deadbolt.

“Silencing charm, Draco?” she said, her eyes following the blonde wizard as he walked away from the doors.

“Well,” he said. “You know how loud our arguments get.”

She couldn’t stop a tear from falling down her cheek. “We’re going to be arguing about something?”

If Draco had been facing Hermione she would have seen his signature smirk across his face. He removed his cloak and rolled up his sleeves. “We make important decisions in here all the time that affect the Wizarding world. That’s where we repealed the Muggle Marriage Laws,” he said as he pointed his wand towards the large conference table.

“There was no glitch in the paperwork, was there. When were you going to tell me?” Draco tried to sound menacing. He turned on her, wand wielded. “The marriage was sealed.”

Hermione stifled a sob, her wand hand trembled as the tip of the wand grazed the under part of Draco’s chin. The tip of Draco’s wand pressed gently into her chest. She looked up at him. His eyes softened. He took in a breath as he watched a tear roll down her cheek.

He slowly dropped his wand hand, trusting she was not going to hex him. He took a step towards her. He ran his fingers along the side of her face.

“You’re not going to really use that on me, are you?” he asked her reaching slowly for her wand. The wand trembled before he took it gently from her. All he wanted to do was hold her in his arms.

“All we have to do is go downstairs and sign those papers, Draco,” she said softly, looking up at him. “You won’t ever have to deal with me again.”

Draco looked at her. He shook his head. He walked to his desk not knowing what to say to her for a moment. He pinched the bridge of his nose as he turned to face her, dropping both their wands on his desk. He leaned against his desk as he studied her for a while.

He suddenly reached for her jacket lapels and pulled her into him. His eyes pierced through hers and then they softened as a tear slid down her right cheek. He swooped down and captured her lips. She froze for a moment, her brown eyes growing larger. Then she gave into the kiss, allowing him to bring her closer to his body. It seemed like they held each other for an eternity.

He finally broke the kiss. They both took in large breaths. He looked at her hungrily. She unbuttoned her jacket, clumsily removing it. He tugged on her silk form fitting tank top. He had a time trying to pull it over her head. He looked at her. He tore her tank top open.

He stood waiting for a violent response. She just smiled coyly. He swooped down to kiss her again pulling her top off her and allowing it to drop at their feet. With his left arm, he pulled her in close to him again turning her against his desk. With his other arm, he cleared his desk, essentially pushing everything off it, including their wands.

She worked to unbutton his white collared shirt. When she was done, she lay on his desk. He pulled it off along with his t-shirt. He was shirtless just like she was. He leaned over her, the circular wedding band on his silver chain acted like a pendulum swinging side to side. She looked up at him trying to control her breathing.

His hands lay on either side of her head. He, too, was trying to control his breathing. He kept eye contact, slowly lowering his face to where her neck met her left shoulder. She let out a soft moan as he kissed her skin.

He inched down to her left breast, trailing soft kisses over it. She let out another moan, in spite of herself. His hand ventured down over her midsection. He watched her reaction, waiting for her to tell him to stop. She said nothing.

He kept her eye contact. He deftly unbuttoned her slacks and pulled her zipper down. She took in a sharp breath and then gulped, never once taking her eyes off him. She allowed him gently to pull her pants down to her knees. He kissed her. She kicked her shoes off and allowed him to pull her pants all the way off.

She lifted her pelvis. He pulled her knickers off her along with her socks. She was completely naked now. He looked at her again, taking in a breath. She closed her eyes, breathing slow deep breaths.

He stripped away his clothing as well. He placed his knee in between hers, leaning over her. He kissed her forehead. She opened her eyes, seeing him naked as well. They held each other’s gaze for a while. She smiled at him, giving him permission. He kissed her as he entered her, catching her moan in his mouth.

* * *

The silencing charm worked. Steven could not have heard a thing even if he knew his boss and his “wife” were making love. He was too busy becoming nervous about how close the time was for Mr. Malfoy’s weekly progress meeting; this time in Mr. Thomas’s office one floor below. Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy were talking for nearly an hour.

* * *

“I love you,” Draco whispered as he gave one final thrust and then collapsed on her, kissing her shoulder. Hermione couldn’t keep her eyes open for a while. Her breathing finally slowed as Draco gently rolled off her. She lay on her side facing him.

He turned to face her, watching her trying to control her breathing, her eyelids fluttering. “Are you all right?” he asked, moving a strand of hair away from her face.

She took a deep breath. She looked up at him and smiled, “Yes,” she said weakly.

“I didn’t hurt you, did I?” he asked concerned as he saw her trembling.

She shook her head, giving him a weak smile. “No, it’s just . . .” she looked up at him. “It’s been a long time.”

Draco touched her face and smiled gently. “How long?” he asked softly.

She colored slightly; she took another breath, “Let’s just say that, if we’re really still in a marriage, then I’ve been true to it.”

Draco looked at her. How could he have ever let her slip away?
He watched Hermione’s face turn. He gulped.

“Oh, God,” she said turning away from him. She quickly sat up. Draco’s eyes enlarged.

“What the hell have we done?” she asked as she started to gather up her clothing. Draco shot up to a sitting position, as he watched her try to dress quickly.

“Hermione,” Draco said, grabbing for his pants. “We didn’t do anything wrong.”

She just looked at him as she picked up her torn tank top. She pulled on her jacket. She shoved the pieces of her tank top into one of her jacket pockets.

“You’re getting married on Saturday, Draco,” Hermione said, pulling on her socks and shoes. A tear slipped down her cheek. “This,” she said waving her hands at his desk, “was wrong.”

“A husband and wife making love, is not wrong, Hermione,” Draco said as he finished buttoning his slacks.

“We’re not married, Draco,” Hermione tried hard to suppress a sob.

He smirked at her, “There are divorce papers downstairs saying otherwise.”

She blinked back tears. There was a long pause. “You’re right,” she said, looking up at him. Draco’s face fell. She made a motion towards the door.

He quickly moved in front of her, halting her progress. He pulled on his shirt quickly. “Hermione, wait.”

“You asked me here to sign papers, Draco,” she said slowly. She choked back a sob. “Please let me do this for you?”

“I am not marrying Celeste,” he said, grabbing hold of her upper arms, tightening his grasp, slightly.

She winced. He let up on his grip. She averted having to look into his grey eyes as tears flowed down her cheeks. She silently chided herself for showing so much emotion.

“I am not marrying her,” he said in a measured tone. He lifted her chin up with his fingers, forcing her to look into his eyes. He leaned down to kiss her. Hermione kissed him back.

When they broke the kiss, she looked up into his face. She gulped. “She and you made a great couple back in school,” she said softly. She gave him a weak smile, “I always knew you two would somehow end up together.”

“Hermione,” he said before she placed her fingertips over his lips. She shook her head.

“I was wrong to believe that I could ever belong in your world. Draco. You,” she looked at him, “have made that clear since we were eleven.”

Draco took in a defeated breath. He touched her cheek.

“When we were together,” she paused. She looked down at her hands, a tear dropped on her wedding band. “Your father made it clear that I could never be good enough for you.”

“Hermione, my father didn’t know what he was talking about,” he said.

She let out a laugh. She looked down again. “Your father was right, Draco.”

“No,” Draco shook his head, a tear slipped down his cheek. He turned her chin up.

“I’m not marrying Celeste, Hermione,” he said, moving a strand of hair out of her eyes. “I can take care of you. I can take care of Lois.”

Hermione realized what he was saying. She shook her head as another flow of tears began. “No,” she said. “I know what you’re thinking, Draco. I’m not going to let you throw everything away because of me; because of a filthy Mudblood.”

Draco took in a sharp breath as he heard the foul name he used to call her echo in his ears. His eyes grew wide as she continued.

“Lois and I are getting by, Draco. I would never ask you,” another tear dropped, “or your family for anything. You don’t have to worry about us.”

“You shouldn’t marry someone,” he said looking into her eyes, “if you’re in love with someone else.”

“Don’t say that, Draco,” she said placing her left hand on his lips.

“From the moment you walked away from the café,” he said taking a hold of her hand. He touched her wedding band, “I felt like you took a piece of my heart with you.”

He smiled at her as he held her hand to his chest. “I thought I could shake that feeling off,” he looked into her face.

“But not one moment went by that I haven’t thought of you. I can’t get your face out of my mind, the way your smile brightens up a room.

“I smell strawberries and vanilla everywhere I go,” he took a deep breath.

“Your touch on my skin lingers,” he said running his thumb across her cheeks, wiping her face.

“I’ve eaten so many times at Ono that Lani and Ka‘el have practically taken me in as a ‘calabash nephew,’ she calls me.

“I’ve bought one book each week from Flourish and Blotts in hopes of bumping into you. The library’s a hundred fifty or so books larger than when you left,” he looked down away from her for a moment.

“I’ve only finished one book, though. It’s not even one that I purchased. You left that muggle fairy tale on our nightstand. I’ve read it countless numbers of times, adding my own tears to the pages on which you left yours,” he said losing himself in her eyes. He watched as she choked back a sob.

He touched the gold wizarding wedding band that hung on his chain to his chest. “I wear this here to keep you close to my heart. I love you,” he said taking a gulp as he gently took her hands into his. “It took me sixteen years to realize it. It’s taken three more years to find you to tell you that.”

He leaned down. Hermione closed her eyes. They kissed each other. She lost herself in the kiss for a moment. Then she opened her eyes. She felt the enormous office closing in on her. She couldn’t breathe. She slipped her hands out of his. “I have to go, Draco.”

“Please Hermione,” he said, pleading as he watched her reach for the doorknob. He quickly tried to button his shirt.

“Finally,” Steven said as he saw the doorway inch open. He needed Draco to sign several parchments before the meeting that was to begin any moment now. Steven held the quill up to the paper in front of Mr. Malfoy. “These need to be signed, Sir.”

“Can this wait, Steven,” Draco looked at his assistant.

Steven, wide eyed, shook his head. Hermione nodded at the young man before giving Draco one last look.

Draco took the quill and started signing. “Stop her,” he said aloud.

Steven stood rooted to his spot, confused. He held the last parchment for his boss to sign as they both watched as the lift doors closed on Hermione.

“You’re not going to sack me are you, Sir,” the young office assistant asked with a hint of fear.

Draco clenched his jaw and then relaxed. He shut his eyes briefly as he signed the last of the paperwork, “No, Steven.”

“You’re not going to hex me are you?”

“Don’t tempt me, Steven,” he said as he was finishing his last signature.

“Uh, you missed a button, Sir,” Steven said pointing at the usually well-groomed Malfoy.

Draco looked down at his shirt. He huffed, adjusting his buttons as he rushed for the elevator.