A Marriage of Convenience

Hey guys, Perky-Thief here, bringing you Chapter Four of A Marriage of Convenience. Hope you like it.



It\'s been brought to my attention that some of you believe that this story is a copy. Specifically, a cop of someone else\'s work. I guarantee that this story is a completely original work of mine, although I am sure that there are plenty of other WIKTT stories with the same theme as this one. If my story seems familiar to something that you have read before then I\'m sorry. However, I have already written several chapters, so I\'m sure that the ending will turn out slightly different than those other fanfics you might have read. But either way, just wait it out. I\'m sure you\'ll all enjoy it.



Title: A Marriage of Convenience



Chapter Four: Use Your Charms





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Hermione awoke Saturday morning with a start; she had barely gotten any sleep the night before. Continuously plagued with dreams, her mind couldn’t seem to relax and get any rest. But it was the topic of her dreams which confused her the most. Throughout the night, Hermione continued to see different situations of herself with Professor Snape.



The first one had been of the two of them walking down a snow-covered street in lower London. They talked aimlessly of random potions and their corresponding ingredients. Her second dream had been of her and Snape sitting together in Madam Puddifoot’s Tea Shop. Carefully, he poured Hermione’s tea for her while she told him of her academic plans for the future. The final dream showed Snape wrapping his arms around her whilst gazing up at a full moon. He spoke no words to her, only smiled at her tenderly every now and then. It was this dream which concerned Hermione the most. She smiled to herself as she remembered the way Snape stared at her in her dream. He looked so kind. So loving.



Hermione laughed quietly to herself. Loving? Snape? Yeah, right. As if he could love anything other than a cauldron.



Ignoring her thoughts for the time-being, Hermione dressed and headed down to the Great Hall for breakfast. She needed to explain to Ron and Harry about her having to marry. Hermione knew they wouldn’t take it so great, but nonetheless, they had to be informed at some point. And better it be her that tells them than Dumbledore, or even worse, Draco.



Hermione entered the Great Hall, immediately noticing that there weren’t many students awake that early on a Saturday. Glancing at the staff table, she noticed that Snape wasn’t there. It was a good thing, too. She didn’t know if she could face him after her night of eventful dreams. Hermione spotted Ron and Harry sitting at the far end of the Gryffindor table and made her way over.



“Hey, Hermione,” Harry waved her over towards them.



“‘Ello, ‘Mione,” Ron said while stuffing his mouth with scrambled eggs. “Where ‘ere you ‘esterday?” he swallowed what was once in his mouth. “You weren’t in the Common Room last night. Where’d you go?”



“Oh, well, um,” Hermione started nervously. “I had to have a meeting with Dumbledore. Sorry I didn’t say goodnight. But I was just so tired that I fell asleep right away when I got back.”



“What was your meeting about?” Harry asked.



“Oh, just that stupid new marriage law that Fudge has enacted.”



“Oh, yeah,” said Ron. “I heard about that law. Mum and Dad told me. Fudge has really gone off his rocker this time, hasn’t he?”



“But, Hermione,” Harry asked slowly, “why did Dumbledore want to talk to you? How does Fudge’s law concern you?” He looked at her carefully, feeling as if he wasn’t getting the whole story.



“Well,” she said, lowering her eyes, “apparently I’m affected by this law.”



“But how?” Ron asked. “You’re not even 18 yet. You’re not eligible to be petitioned by anyone.”



“Actually, I am.”



“How?” said Harry.



“Do you remember back in our third year, when I used that Time-Turner to get to my classes?” At seeing both boys nod, Hermione continued. “Well it seems that the Ministry has added up all of those extra hours I’ve spent using the Time-Turner. It appears that I’m currently over 18 now.”



“Bollocks!” Ron shouted. “They can’t do that to you. This is bloody madness.”



“Quiet, Ron” Harry said to him. “But wait, Hermione, that’s it? Dumbledore just wanted to tell you that you’re legally 18? So that means that no one’s petitioned for you yet…”



Hermione swallowed hard, “um, actually-”



“Perfect,” Ron interjected. “I have Dad send in a petition for me and I’ll marry you, ‘Mione.” He wore a large smile on his face, as if he had discovered the cure to a life-threatening disease. “I know I’m not your first choice, but you have to admit, I’d definitely be better than someone like Malfoy.”



“Ron,” Hermione hissed, thoroughly frustrated. “wait, listen. You can’t send in a petition for me.”



“Why not?”



“Because I’m already taken.” Her voice came out tired and strained. This conversation was wearing her down very quickly and it wasn’t even 10:00 yet.



“What,” Ron sneered, with a look of disgust. “By who?”



“Well, it seems that I’m more popular than I thought. I’ve already received three different petitions. One’s from Jordan Goodman; do you remember that Ravenclaw Prefect back when we were in our fifth year? Him. And another one is from Malfoy.” Hermione noticed that both Ron and Harry’s faces were completely masked with anger with the mention of Malfoy’s name. “Don’t worry, though,” she said quickly. “I won’t be choosing him any day.”



“Hermione,” Harry said. “Who’s the third petition?”



“Oh, that’s not important.” Hermione waved her hand as if to brush off his question. Sadly it didn’t work too well.



“Hermione,” Harry’s voice held more of a threatening tone to it. “Who is it?” His eyes narrowed, boring into her.



“Um…” she had been afraid of this. In all honesty, Hermione didn’t want to tell that about Professor Snape’s offer. She knew they wouldn’t take it well. “Please don’t get upset, but it’s Professor Snape.”



Ron nearly choked on his pumpkin juice when he heard what she said. “Snape? That ugly overgrown bat? Why the hell would he want to marry you?” The minute he had uttered those words, he knew it had been a mistake.



Hermione felt her face grow red with anger. “In case you haven’t noticed, Ronald, I am a girl! And just so you know, some people do consider me to be attractive.”



“Well, yes, I know but-”



“And also, who’s to say that I wouldn’t want to marry Snape. What if I find do him attractive? He is, after all, one of the smartest men I know; and to me, the mind is the most attractive part of a person. Maybe he would make a good husband, I don’t know. But either way, it is none of your business whether or not I want to marry Snape.”



“Why, Miss Granger,” drawled a silky voice from behind her. Hermione turned around only to see Snape standing above her. His lips were curled into a dangerous smile as he stared down at her. “Had I known you felt that way I would have petitioned for you sooner.”



Hermione’s face shone a deep shade of scarlet. She hastily gathered pushed away her food and stood up. Head facing the floor, she mumbled a “sorry, sir,” and raced out of the Great Hall.



Snape stood rooted to his spot, watching her leave with a smirk on his face. He turned to head towards the staff table, noting with satisfaction the shocked and confused looks on Potter’s and Weasley’s faces.



O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O



Draco sat at a table in the far corner of The Hog’s Head pub, awaiting the arrival of his father. Lucius had responded to his owl immediately, stating a time and place for where he would meet his son. Lucius hadn’t given any other details than where they would meet, but he obviously had much to tell Draco.



Not long after, Lucius entered into the pub, his face partially concealed by a thick black cloak. He immediately spotted his son, walking over to sit at the dimly lit table. “Did you have any trouble arriving here?” The words came out sharp and crisp.



“No, father,” Draco said.



“Good, good. Now explain to me, in detail, what is happening with our plan.”



Draco leaned back in his chair, allowing the back of his head to touch the wall. “Snape petitioned her, father. Why? Why would he, of all people, want her? You told me that no one would want that filthy Mudblood. Now I have contenders do deal with.”



“Contenders, you say? Who else petitioned for her?”



“Some Ravenclaw. Goodman, I think his name.” He sneered at the mental image of the boy. “He is actually my biggest worry, father. She seemed very…flustered when he spoke to her. Granger may actually like him. She could easily pick him over me.”



“You are a Malfoy, Draco,” Lucius growled. “It’s time you start acting like one. Use your charms on the girl, you foolish boy. It is obvious that we didn’t expect either Snape or this Goodman boy to interfere, but now you must actually put in some effort. I highly doubt that the girl would choose Snape, but now you must make sure that she doesn’t choose Goodman as well.”



“I know, father, I know. This is all just an irritating inconvenience, and I really don’t want to deal with it.” Draco sighed before adding, “But what if she does choose Snape? He could still pose a threat to our plan.”



Lucius laughed deep in his throat and smirked. “I’ve known the man my whole life. I highly doubt that he would give the girl a potion in order to marry her. But we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. For now, how do you plan to win the Mudblood’s affection?”



“She is to go out on a date with everyone who petitioned for her. We’re each to take her to Hogsmeade and spend the evening with her. It will give us an opportunity to ‘court’ her, and she says it’ll help her with making a decision.” Draco scoffed at the thought. “Hmph, like I’d ever even willingly want to take that filthy Gryffindor on a date. I’d rather choke on a bezoar.”



“Don’t be a fool, Draco,” Lucius snapped coldly. “This could work in our advantage.” His sinister smile curled upwards as he thought to himself about the possible opportunities.



Draco looked confused by his father’s actions. “How so, father?”



Lucius reached within his cloak and pulled out a small silk pouch. It released a soft clanging noise as he dropped it on the table in front of Draco. “Here,” he said to his son. “Use this. Take her anywhere she desires, buy her what ever her eyes fall upon, and shower her with anything she might want. It’s time for you to put that old ‘Malfoy Charm’ to a good use.”



Draco flashed his father a small smirk before taking the sack of Galleons and placing it within his robes.





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