More Than Meets the Eye

Chapter 3

Hours later Hermione silently crept into Ginny's bedroom, trying very hard not to wake the redhead. She had just reached the bed that she was going to be using when a voice called out “Luminous”. Hermione spun around to find Ginny's face gently lit by the soft glow coming from her wand. “Merlin's magic Ginny!” she said rubbing her chest slightly. “You nearly gave me a heart attack!”

“So how did it go?” Harry asked reaching to turn on the bedside lamp.

Hermione's eyes widened when she saw him. “Harry what are you doing here? Molly would skin the two of you alive if she caught you!”

Harry chuckled slightly at her statement. “First of all we are engaged and going through the commitment ceremony in two days, second if you'll notice we are both fully clothed and third I am only here because I wanted to know how things went with Dumbledore. Besides, Ron was snoring and I couldn't sleep. So what happened?”

“Well I hope that you two don't mind, but I am crashing your commitment ceremony. Dumbledore thinks that it would be best if we all just did it together,” she answered bleakly as she sat down on the bed.

“Of course we don't mind,” Ginny assured her. “But who is it? You seem rather upset for someone who just got engaged.”

“Well to say that I am less than thrilled would be a huge understatement.”

“Who is it?” Harry asked with dread.

Hermione looked in his eyes and knew that he had guessed. She gave a short nod and saw his slight wince. “It's Malfoy.”

“What?!” Ginny screeched. “What do you mean it's Malfoy? How could Dumbledore, McGonagall, and my mum recommend him of all people?”

“He's a spy for the order. In order to protect him and to allow him to continue working for us, it would be best for him to be bound to another member.”

“You have got to be kidding me! There is no way that Draco Malfoy, the golden prince of Slytherin, is a spy for the order!”

“Yes he is,” Harry answered her. “He's been with the order since the beginning, right after fourth year. He started spying for us last year.”

“Are you serious? But he's always been such a bastard to everyone.”

“Ginny he had to be,” Hermione responded. “How do you think Voldemort would have acted if all of a sudden he started being nice to muggleborns? He had to stay in character, which is why it's so important that he bind with an order member.”

“So that means that you get to be the sacrificial lamb? Well, don't worry about it Hermione too much. So the two of you have to be committed to each other until the war is over. Once Voldermort is defeated you can always have the charm dissolved, and go your separate ways.” Ginny said trying to comfort her.

“Oh Ginny, if only it was that simple! Unfortunately not only do I have to be committed to Malfoy, but I have to marry him before the start of school!”

“What?” Harry whispered harshly. “Why?”

“When Dumbledore told us that he thought we should get engaged, the two of us started arguing. In order to get us to stop fighting, he made us a deal. If we agreed on five thing during two and a half hours worth of conversation, we would go through the ceremony. If we didn't he would find us other options. Well, when Malfoy heard this he scoffed at the idea of us agree on five things. He swore an oath that if it happened not only would he agree to the engagement, but he would marry me before then end of the summer.”

“And you agreed to those terms?” Ginny asked horrified.

“Okay I know that I shouldn't have responded to his goading. I know I should have ignored him and walked away, but he was insulting me and questioning my courage. It was like he was insulting Gryfindor! I got angry and swore the oath. I never in a million years thought that there would be five things that we would agree on!”

“So what did you end up agreeing on?”

“That we don't like chocolate, that we hate each other, that Dumbledore was acting like a Slytherin, that Draco is complicated, and that we have no idea how this marriage is going to work.”

“Well...not the strongest of foundations to build a relationship on I'll grant you, but you probably have more in common than that. You'll just have to find it,” Harry replied trying to assure her that her life wouldn't be horrible.

“Oh to hear Dumbledore talk about it we are perfect for each other. He says that he didn't just make this recommendation to keep Malfoy safe, but also because our future happiness rests with each other.”

“He actually said that?” Ginny asked wide eyed.

“Well not in so many words, but that was the gist.”

“Hermione aren't you attracted to Malfoy at all? You have to admit he isn't exactly hard on the eyes.” Ginny questioned her. When Harry shot her a look she tried to back peddle. “I mean if you go for the tall blond type. I personally prefer the dark type, but I know that not all witches are like me.”

Hermione started to laugh. “Relax Ginny! I don't think Harry thinks you want my finance'! As to if I think he is attractive? Oh sure he's attractive. If you can overlook the fact that he is an egotistical prat who thinks the entire world is both beneath him, that in fact the entire universe exists simply for him, then yes he is very attractive.”

Harry smiled at her description. “He's not that bad. Close, but not quite. I have gotten to know him a little during the past year. I wouldn't say we're friends or anything, but he's not that bad once you get used to him,” Harry told her. Suddenly he got a thoughtful look in his eyes. “Hermione, I have to ask. I mean I know that it won't change anything with you being oath bound to marry him, but you do know how he gathers information for the order don't you?”

“Yes Harry, he was wearing a black T-shirt and didn't have a concealment charm on. I saw the mark.”

“Mark? What are...wait a minute, are you telling me that Malfoy is a death eater? You have to marry a death eater and you're okay with this? How can you be so calm about getting married to a bloody death eater?” Ginny demanded horrified.

“Geneva Molly Weasley, stop right there! Draco Malfoy is not a death eater, he is a spy. His courage in doing what he does is admirable. I think even more so then Snape's. Snape is using a previous mistake for the benefit of the order. Draco Malfoy is courageously putting himself into harms way for Dumbledore and our side. He didn't have to take that mark. He chose to do so, so that he could be more useful, and hopefully end the war faster. Do you have any idea what Voldemort would do to him if he discovered what Draco was doing? I may not love him. Hell I might not like him very much, but if I learned anything tonight it's that there is a lot more to Malfoy than I originally thought. I bloody well am not going to belittle his courage simply because I find some things about him irritating!”

Both of her friends stared at her in wonder. The last time she had been this passionate concerning Malfoy was right before she had punched him, and Ginny hadn't even had the pleasure of seeing her that time. They were of course still concerned about
this marriage, however seeing the light that shone in her eyes when she was defending Malfoy's honor gave them hope.

“Ummm...sorry that I upset you. I didn't mean that I didn't think he's courageous or anything. You know us Weasleys, we tend to overreact a little.” Ginny apologized, catching her breath. She then decided that a change in topic was probably wise. “So you have to get married in three and a half weeks. Did you make any plans tonight?”

Hermione nodded. “I'm going to tell my parents tomorrow morning. Malfoy offered to go with me, but I thought it would be best for me to go alone. They are not going to be pleased. Something has been bothering them lately, and I can't figure out what it is. We are having our commitment ceremony this Saturday with you two, and Ron and Lavender, and are going to get married the Thursday before classes begin. Dumbledore thinks that this will be best because it will give us some time to settle in and adjust. Those were Dumbledore's exact words by the way, as if I can adjust to having Malfoy around twenty-four hours a day in three days. Anyway, he told use that it was just decided last week that the two of us are going to be the heads for this year so they really don't have to make any changes to our living quarters.”

“Are you going to have a plain ceremony before a ministry officer?”

“No, Malfoy wanted a traditional wizard wedding. Dumbledore will oversee it at Hogwarts.”

“Hermione, do you know anything about traditional wizard weddings?” Ginny asked with a touch of concern in her voice.

“Not really. It hasn't been anything that I spent a lot of time thinking about. Why?”

“Well, I don't know about muggle weddings, I've never seen one before. However there is one part in a wizards wedding that most definitely isn't in a muggle wedding. It is were the bride and groom disrobe and then present each other with new robes. It symbolizes casting off the pat and coming as you are, as well a willingness to provide for your mate's needs. It is a very beautiful part in the ceremony, however it does include nudity.”

“You mean I have to be naked in front of everyone? I don't expect a lot of guests, but all of our professors will be there. How in the world am I suppose to look Snape in the eye knowing that he has seen me without any clothes on?”

“You don't have to worry about the guests seeing you. There is a charm that is used so no one but Malfoy and your attendant will see you, however I just wanted you to know that you will have to strip in front of Malfoy in broad daylight.”

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at her friend. “Ginny you are sweet. I know that you are a little weirded out by the idea of Malfoy being my husband, I am too. However he is going to be my husband so it kind of goes without saying that he will see me naked on occasion, so I might as well get used to the idea, and you have already seen me naked so that won't be weird.”

“Me? What do I...ME? You want me to be your attendant?” she squealed wrapping her arms around Hermione's neck.

“Of course I want you. Who else could I want more than you? You, Harry and Ron are my best friends and somehow I think Malfoy might have a problem with Harry or Ron helping me undress.” The tension in the room broke and they laughed at the idea. “Well it is getting late and we all have another big day tomorrow.”

“Are you kicking me out?” Harry asked with a grin.

“Yes I believe I am,” she answered with a yawn. She watched the couple say good night and felt a twinge of jealousy. No matter what she had said tonight, she did wish that she could have what they obviously had.


A/N I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to review my story. Anon- I know that Hermione seems a little OOC since she isn't freaking out about this. Why she isn't will be explained shortly.