Locked In

“Greengrass paid Nott in fertility potions,” Snape said flatly.

Hermione and Draco sat down hard on the desks behind them. They’d visited him immediately after Draco decided to pull a favor, more because Hermione couldn’t stand to leave it alone than anything. This news was disheartening, to be sure.

“What on earth for?” Draco sighed.

Snape shrugged. “Nott Sr. decided his son was a failure and wanted another. The Greengrasses are the leading smugglers of black market potions, including ones that ensure fertility of a certain gender.”

Hermione frowned. “But there are no male Greengrasses… are there?”

Snape smirked. “Precisely.”

“But I thought that every pureblood family wanted a male heir.”

“They do,” Draco sighed. “But if you are poor or rather, less than filthy rich, like the Greengrasses, then your best hope of becoming rich is to marry into the family.”

“But don’t the females have to pay the dowry?” Hermione frowned. “Even though it’s totally barbaric.”

“It’s archaic anyway,” Snape said. “But yes, females have to pay the dowry. However, when you have the corner on black market potions, you have the upper hand.”

Hermione bit her lip. “I can’t believe I’m asking this, but couldn’t they get rich selling those?”

“They could,” Snape drawled. “If they wanted to get caught. Instead, they move just enough to stay comfortable. However, if they were to team with a much more powerful pureblood family…”

Hermione’s eyes widened. “Then they’d have more immunity, power, money, more… everything.” Her face crumpled. “But that means that the contract can’t be voided.”

“Not that way,” Snape said with a smirk. “There are others.”

“Like?” Hermione said.

Draco started laughing and couldn’t stop. “I don’t believe it. Would Nott Sr. really be so dumb?”

Snape smirked and nodded. “He could… and was.”

Draco stopped laughing. “Wait. You mean she really was?”

Snape nodded, a frown marring his features. “I’m sure it was her most humiliating experience yet.”

Hermione had just about had enough. “Stop being so bloody cryptic and tell me.”

Draco winced, knowing she was at her limit. She could be downright scary when she was like that. But he loved that about her. Actually, he loved damned near everything about her, which was why he married her. He grinned like an idiot for a moment before he realized she was about three seconds away from slapping him. He decided he needed to start explaining… fast.

“Sorry. The oldest pureblood contracts were hinged on the bride being untouched until their wedding night. They would have a very public examination to prove it, too.”

Hermione’s mouth fell open. “You mean they made her strip and submit to an examination to prove that she was a virgin?”

“That’s about the truth of it,” Draco shifted uncomfortably. “It fell out of practice year ago though. For instance, my contract didn’t state that. Everyone knows Parkinson is a slag.”

Hermione huffed and then froze. “Is Daphne still a virgin?”

Draco shrugged. “If the contract is still in one piece? Probably.”

Hermione rubbed the bridge of her nose. “I can’t believe we’re about to encourage someone to shag so they can get out of a marriage contract.”

Draco chuckled. “I’m sure it wouldn’t be a hardship.”

“You’re forgetting,” Snape said gruffly.

“What?” Hermione asked, noticing the dawning on Draco’s face.

Draco sighed. “Once a couple is under contract, the magic binding them assumes that any consummation is a declaration of… well… marriage.”

“Merlin’s baggy underpants,” Hermione gasped. “So when do we tell them?”

Draco shrugged. “We could tell them now if you want.”

Hermione nodded and looked around, a question forming. “Professor, where is Venus?”

Snape sighed. “She decided she wanted to get to know her brother. She’s in the Gryffindor common room playing some sort of question game.”

Hermione smiled. “She’s just curious. Ron made a profound statement today.”

Snape nodded. “I’d heard. I guess I never realized how much they both are like Lily.”

Hermione patted him on the shoulder. “You’ll make a lovely family.”

Snape jerked like he’d been burned. “I’m a bloody vampire.”

Hermione cocked her head. “It didn’t stop Remus from being a father. And if there hadn’t been a war, I doubt it would have stopped you either. You’re still her father and Harry does look up to you.”

Snape sneered. “That’s bollocks and you know it.”

Hermione shrugged. “Read his mind if you must. He’s still pants at occlumency.”

Snape sighed stared down at his papers. “I might have my daughter back, and you two to thank for it, but I hardly feel whole.”

Hermione frowned. “How do you locate a vampire?”

Snape snorted. “Don’t you think I would have found her by now if I knew?”

“Well,” Draco said slowly. He pulled Hermione’s back into his chest and held his hands over her abdomen. “I know that if my daughter suddenly left, I’d tear down the heavens and earth to find her. You did. Why wouldn’t Naomi?”

Snape looked dumbstruck for a moment before he composed himself. “Venus said she hadn’t seen Naomi in weeks.”

Draco shrugged. “Doesn’t mean Naomi didn’t know exactly where she was.”

The couple left the vampire to ponder over Draco’s words and wandered the halls. It was past curfew now but they hardly cared. They were too busy marveling at the castle’s seemingly endless supply of ghosts and impressions of the past. They remembered each scene like it was yesterday. Happy but frightened couples seemed to creep along the walls. One day, they wouldn’t have to hide anymore.

Hermione sighed and leaned onto Draco’s shoulder as she watched their stories play out. One day was coming very soon. As long as she had breath, she’d fight for them. And she had a strange inkling that Draco felt the same way.

Draco put his head on top of Hermione’s, listening to her breathing. He could tell she was enraptured with the sights. They really were moving, in a tortured soul sort of way. He imagined that Shakespeare knew what he was talking about, writing all those tragedies. He briefly wondered if Edgar Allan Poe might have had a similar experience. As he thought it, the dark visage of Poe stalked across the hall, stealthily running after a dark haired beauty. Draco couldn’t imagine who it was, but he thought he knew how Poe felt, having them ripped from his fingers.

He held Hermione closer to him and guided her up to the seventh floor. He’d never admit it, but he felt like they should have a voice. It was a Gryffindor sentiment to be sure, but he didn’t think anyone should have to miss the opportunity to be with the one person that made them whole. For him, it was Hermione. Blood purity was never in the picture. He cursed the day Salazar Slytherin made it an issue.

No. From this day forward, there would be no more star crossed lovers, at least not because of pureblood prejudice. As he opened the door to the ROR, he vowed to start making the world a better place. Maybe the Gryffindors had it right all along. They’d start with Nott and Greengrass in the morning but tonight, tonight he was going to savor his wife and dream of a future without dangers lurking around every corner.

AN: I feel for everyone who has to work the night shift on the weekends. Blech. As always, thanks for everyone who reviewed this. I'm glad you are enjoying it. Keep them coming and let me know how I'm doing. Until next time... love you guys!