More Than Meets the Eye

Chapter 5

Hermione looked out of Ginny's bedroom window at the transfigured yard. McGonagall had placed a large gazebo in the middle of a flowering garden. Hermione knew that she should be grateful that it was going to be a private ceremony, but she was still feeling resentful that she was going through it at all. As she stood at the window she remembered the conversation from the evening she had gotten engaged.

-Flashback-
“Please Headmaster, must we even have the commitment ceremony? We are getting married in three weeks.”
“Yes Miss Granger. The law stipulates that couples must go through the commitment ceremony. After all that is when the fidelity charm is preformed.” Dumbledore had answered her.
“I know. That is what I don't like about it,” she responded.
Draco quirked an eyebrow at her and scowled. “What's the problem Granger? Planning on being unfaithful to me already?”
She sent him a withering look. “I'm not the one with the history of playing the field. I simply don't agree with fidelity charms. Faithfulness is meaningless if it is forced.”
Draco looked at her in surprise. “You might be right about that, but I think we might end up needing the protection that the charm will give us.”
“Listen Malfoy, I don't need a bloody charm to keep from cheating on you. I know that its the pureblood way to have affairs, but if I can't have your fidelity by choice than I'd rather not have it at all!”
“My, my, my, Granger, so full of surprises! You'd actually give me permission to have a mistress?” he questioned sarcastically. “Just to set the record straight, unlike most purebloods I believe in monogamy. Marriage is a serious commitment. If you can't faithful to that commitment, then you have no business making it.” Hermione gave him a shocked look. “What?” he mumbled. “Not all purebloods are without ethics.” He cleared his throat and continued in a stronger voice. “The reason I believe that we need the charm is that it protects the couple from manipulation. Someone who has the charm can not be fooled by someone using the polyjuice potion. It is physically impossible for them to be with someone other than their spouse.”
-End Flashback-

“ 'Mione, Hermione!” Ginny's voice broke through her thoughts. Hermione looked at her and felt a pang of regret. She knew that she had to have the fidelity charm, but she wished that she had fought to have it done with just Draco and herself. This was her friends' day, she and Draco were just crashing it. Ginny and Harry were okay with it, and Lavender thought it was terribly romantic, having convinced herself that the two of them must have been having a secret relationship, but Ron of course was not happy. He had grudgingly promised to not reveal why she was marrying him and had shut up about it after Ginny had threatened him with permanent enuchhood, but she knew he was still upset. When Ginny saw that she had finally gotten the brunette's attention she continued. “It is time to begin.”

Draco shifted lightly on his feet. He couldn't believe that he was about to promise to be faithful to a girl whom he could barely stand to be in the same room with. Although he had meant what he had said about fidelity, never in his wildest nightmares had he thought that he would end up being faithful to the bushy haired know it all of the century. He looked up as the back door opened. He felt his jaw slacken slightly when he saw her. Instead of her normal bushy mess, her hair was now laying neatly in soft curls and was she wearing make up? Draco smirked slightly. “The Weaselette and the future Mrs. Weasel must have gotten their hands and wands on her,” he thought to himself. He could almost imagine her indignation when they had pounced on her. Taking another look at her, he was surprised to see her wearing green. He wouldn't have thought she would have chosen anything in the Slytherin color even if she did look good in the dark forest green robe. “Wait!” he thought to himself. “Did I just think that Granger looks good?” he questioned himself in confusion as the girls joined them under the gazebo.

He watched as they were joined by Dumbledore and their witnesses. When Dumbledore started the ceremony with Harry and Ginny he let his mind wander. He had never felt envious before. Okay that wasn't completely true, he corrected himself. He had never felt envious before that he hadn't been able to go out, spend some money, and fix the problem, but he was jealous now. He knew from his limited conversations with Potter how the wizard felt about the redhead next to him, and he could see in her eyes that she felt as strongly about him. He wanted that. It was true that he had been in a couple of relationships and had shagged more witches than he could count, but he had never had what they did. Now it seemed that he never would. Oh it was true that he respected her intelligence, and he had heard Potter go on enough about her to know that there must be more to her than he could gather in their interactions with each other. But could he ever love her? He doubted it. Draco pulled himself out of his thoughts when Dumbledore turned to stand in front of them. Snape and McGonagall stepped forward.

“Draconis Black Malfoy is it your intention to be bound to Hermione Jane Granger?”

“Yes.”

“Do you enter this binding freely?”

“Yes.”

“Who do you present as your witness?”

“Professor Severus Snape.” Snape stepped forward and cast the revealing spell on Draco.

After Hermione had responded to the same questions and McGonagall had cast the spell, Dumbledore held out the charmed rings. Draco took one of the simple white gold bands and placed it on Hermione's middle right hand finger. “I promise to be faithful to you in word, in thought, in deed. I give you this ring as I give you my fidelity.” The ring glowed blue and shrunk to fit her finger perfectly. Now the only way for the ring to be removed was for them to break the charm. He watched Hermione take the other ring, glance up at him and repeat the vow so softly he had to strain to hear her.

Snape, McGonagall, and Dumbledore spoke in unison, “We three bear witness to your oath and bind you to it.”. Their rings glowed green and Draco felt a tingle go through his body. He looked down at Hermione, and was a little surprised to see her looking back at him. As Dumbledore moved onto Ron and Lavender he continued staring into her eyes, he just couldn't look away. He barely heard the rest of the ceremony, only realizing that it was over when Hermione looked away and started moving towards the tables that were set up.


After the meal Hermione walked back to the garden. She needed to spend some time gathering her thoughts. Everything was moving too fast. If there was one thing that she needed it was control and right now she had none. She was so deep in her thoughts that she didn't hear the blond approach her. She jumped a little when he cleared his throat.

“Didn't mean to startle you, Granger” he commented.

Hermione realized that that was as much of an apology that she was going to get, and gave him a slight nod. Suddenly it dawned on her what he had called her and she started to laugh. Draco's brow lifted at her mirth. She knew that he was probably thinking that she was starting to lose it with all of the stress, so she struggled to calm herself in order to explain. “You know you should get used to calling me Hermione unless you're planning on calling me Malfoy after the wedding.”

“Well I am so glad that you can find such joy over our relationship,” he answered snidely.

“Relationship? Mal...Draco,” she corrected herself not responding to his knowing smile. “This whole situation is so ridiculous that I must either cry or laugh, and I've never been much of a crier.” Draco chuckled slightly over her assessment. “Of course,” she continued. “There is always your favorite endearment of mudblood, but I would prefer for you to chose something else.”

Draco sighed softly. “Gra...Hermione, you know that I had to keep up the appearance of the bigoted pureblood.

“Are you trying to tell me that you think that purebloods and muggleborns are the same?”

“No, but hold on,” he continued seeing her annoyed expression. “I also don't believe that purebloods are superior to muggleborns. They are two different and unique groups.”

“Sounds like you still have the same prejudices, you've just prettied up your speech a bit.”

“I see, so because I don't agree with you, because I think that there is a difference between purebloods and muggleborns, I am labeled a bigot. Well perhaps I do have some hidden unknown prejudice, but before you judge me to harshly you should look at yourself!” he responded hotly.

“Me?! I'm not prejudice!”

“Really? Tell me Miss Granger, how many friends do you have from Slytherin? You have friends from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, why none from Slytherin?”

Hermione rolled her eyes at him. “Oh yes, with Slytherins' attitude towards non-purebloods, I'm sure they would have loved being friends with me.”

“Honestly Granger, and you call me a bigot. There are many Slytherins who don't really care about blood. Something you would know if you had ever tried to get to know us. The real question is did you avoid friendships with Slytherins because you feared rejection, or because you think that all Slytherins are evil?”

“I don't think that all Slytherins are evil.”

“Oh really? You think we don't know of the Gryfindor saying that there hasn't been a witch or wizard that went bad that wasn't from Slytherin?” he asked he intensely. When her eyes widened he continued. “First of all, that statement is false. There have been plenty of evil witches and wizards from other houses. Peter Pettigew ring a bell? And second it is inflammatory! Slytherins are unfairly regarded with suspicion. Did it ever occur to you that if it wasn't assumed that all Slytherins would follow the dark arts, that fewer would?”

Hermione caught her breath. She had never seen him so passionate about something. “Draco, as much as I would love to debate this with you, I don't think that now is the right time.”

Draco calmed himself down. She was right of course. There were too many people around for them to enjoy a really good row. He didn't know why he enjoyed rattling her so much, he just did. “Well,” he thought to himself, “if I can't argue with her, I'll try another tactic.”

“So,” he said silkily. “How does it feel knowing that the Slytherin sex god has pledged himself to only pleasure you?”

Hermione snorted. “Malfoy, let's just say that I sincerely hope that you took the opportunity to have a really good shag, because it'll be a long time before you'll have another.”

Draco quirked an eyebrow at her. “Now that's not very complimentary of yourself,” he said and then leaned down to whisper in her ear. “I'm sure you're better than you think, but don't worry about it. I'm a very good teacher.” He straighted up quickly to see her reaction, and smirked at her shocked look. His glee was short lived as she quickly regained her composure and answered him.

“Whether I am good or not really doesn't matter since I don't see us shagging in the foreseeable future.”

Draco frowned slightly. “Granger, we're getting married in three weeks.”

“So? There is nothing in the law that says the marriage must be consummated right away.”

Draco grinned wickedly. “This is too perfect,” he thought to himself. He couldn't wait to see her expression when he told her the next piece of news. “Of course there isn't anything in the law. A wizarding marriage isn't finalized until the unification spell is cast after the couple has had sex for the first time as husband and wife. So unless you want us to die, you'd better get used to the idea that we will be shagging in the foreseeable future.”

“Oh Blast!” she groaned rubbing her eyes with one hand.

Draco rolled his eyes. “Stop being so dramatic Granger, it doesn't suit you. So we have to fuck, what's the big deal?”

She raised her eyes to his. “Damn you Malfoy!” She looked away from him. “I can't believe that I saved myself for this,” she said so softly he almost missed it.

Draco knew his mouth was open. She couldn't mean what he thought she meant. “Hermione, do you mean to say...I mean are you saying that you're a virgin?” he stumbled.

“Yes, and I can't believe I waited just to be a warm body and convenient hole for you to use for your release!”

Draco winced. “Granger, I know that we have said some pretty cold things to each other, but that takes the prize.” He held up a hand to stop her from speaking. “Now I know that you wouldn't have chosen me to be your first, and I never thought that we would end up lovers, but that doesn't mean that I intend to use you.”

“Oh please Malfoy, don't try to tell me that you have discovered a deep respect and love for me in the past three days!” she scoffed.

Draco smiled softly. “ I have respected you for awhile now Hermione.” His smile grew at her wary look. “I am serious. Do you know that you are one of only two people who has ever stood up to me? I respect you for several reasons, but your not putting up with my shit was the start of it. It is true that I don't love you any more than you love me, but you don't have to be in love for sex to be pleasurable.”

“That's just it Draco,” she replied looking down at the ground. “I don't want it to simply be pleasurable. I want it to be meaningful as well.”

He was glad that she wasn't looking at him as she certainly would have misinterpreted his grin as one of mockery. “Who would have guessed,” he thought to himself, “that the logical, always in control, know it all, was a hopeless romantic?” He reached out a hand to cup her chin. Raising it he looked into her eyes. “Hermione, you don't have to be in love to make love. I promise you, it will have meaning.” Seeing the guarded hope in her eyes, he decided to be completely honest with her. “It will have meaning for me as well. I may not be a virgin, but I have never been with a virgin before, so it will be a first for me as well.” Just as before he felt himself being drawn into her eyes, a small part of him melting. He wouldn't be able to explain it afterwards, but he suddenly stepped forward, leaned down, and captured her lips with his.

Draco thought her kiss was one of the sweetest things he had ever experienced. It was obvious from her hesitance that she hadn't spent a whole lot of time snogging. He gently massaged her neck, deepening the kiss when she relaxed into him. He lightly stroked her jaw and used his arm to pull her closer. He was surprised when she responded by plunging her hands into his hair. He moaned softly when she caressed one of his ears with a finger tip.

A loud clearing of the throat interrupted them. Jerking apart Draco noticed that they had an audience of five. He narrowed his eyes dangerously at the group. Even though he was slightly embarrassed to be caught snogging someone whom he supposedly despised, he wanted to kill the person who had caused it to end.

“Hey don't kill the messengers,” Fred spoke up when Draco's glare leveled on him.

“Yeah it was Mum who sent us. She wanted to know if you were planning on spending the night,” George finished.

Draco smirked when he saw Ron's expression. While the twins were grinning widely at their friend's discomfort, and Ginny's was a mixture of surprise and glee, there was rage in the eyes of the youngest male. Draco flicked his eyes at Harry. The raven haired wizard gave him a slight shrug. Draco turned back to the now red faced brunette next to him. “Although I would love to take Molly up on her offer, I think that I should go before the Weasel explodes,” he softly whispered in her ear, grinning at her annoyed look. “I'll owl you tomorrow.” Turning to the twins he told them that he had things that he needed to attend to and asked them to thank their mother for him. Then, both because he wanted to, and because he wanted to annoy Ron further, he soundly kissed Hermione before walking to apperation spot.

“So Hermione, it seems like you and Malfoy are getting along better,” George commented with a laugh.

“Yeah, sorry to have interrupted, but we would have hated for you two to be rolling around on the ground when there are some perfectly good beds in the house!” Fred continued the teasing.

“Well, I suppose that I won't have to ask you later if he's a good kisser since we've seen enough evidence that you enjoy it,” Ginny said with mirth in her eyes.

“Ginny!” Hermione exclaimed. “You're not supposed to be encouraging them!”

“Yeah Ginny, it was bad enough that I had to see it, I don't want to continue to think about the fact that she is going to snogging him!” Ron spoke up.

Ginny rolled her eyes. “Honestly Ron, they're getting married in three weeks. She's going to be doing a lot more then snogging him!”

“Oh yew,” he replied turning green.

“Hey Hermione,” George started, ignoring his brother. “Isn't there are muggle expression that says with enemies like these who needs friends?”

Hermione rubbed her forehead slightly. “It's with friends like these who needs enemies, and you're right the saying does seem to apply to this situation.”

Harry laughed at her comment. “Alright guys, let's cut her some slack. She IS getting married in three weeks. Somehow I doubt you two will be so well behaved three weeks before your wedding. Why don't you go find your better halves?” Hermione sent him a grateful look as the twins left with a final grin.

“Aren't you and Lavender having dinner with her parents tonight?” Ginny asked her brother. At his nod she pointed out that it was getting late and he left to change. “I am sorry that I teased you. It was such a surprise when we came around the corner and saw you two,” she finished with a giggle.

“I guess that's as much of an apology as I'll get,” she groused with a smile to show Ginny that she wasn't really angry. “I really don't know what happened. One minute we were arguing and the next thing I know he was kissing me!” Remembering what is was they had been talking about she continued. “Ginny I need to sit down with you and go over everything that a wizard wedding entails. Every time I learn something about it I am shocked.”

“Sure 'Mione. What did you find out about that shocked you?”

“I didn't realize that a wizard marriage wasn't considered valid until it was consummated.”

“You didn't?”

“No! Do you really think I would have been as calm as I've been if I had known that I had to shag Malfoy right away?!”

“Um I almost hate to ask, but what did you think was going to happen?”

“I thought that we would wait awhile and get to know each other. Then when we were both comfortable with each other, it would just happen. When I told Draco my idea, he took great joy at correcting me and letting me know that if I didn't want to die I would have to shag him right away.” Hermione blanched as the truth of the situation hit her. “Oh great Merlin. GREAT MERLIN! I have to shag him. I have to shag Draco Malfoy! How am I suppose to do that?”

“Hermione calm down,” Ginny began in a soothing voice, knowing that her friend was going into full panic mode.

“Calm down? Calm down?! How in the name of all that is magical am I suppose to calm down? I don't know how that kiss happened. Like I said one minute we were talking and the next he was snogging me!”

“Well maybe shagging will be the same way,” Ginny tried again.

“Ginny, there is a big difference between snogging and shagging. For one thing, shagging requires a lot less clothing! I was hoping that it would just happen. But having sex with someone who despises you, just to keep from dying doesn't just happen. It is going to be forced and I won't know what I am doing! Oh, its going to be awkward and awful! I am going to die! No matter what I choose, I am going to die. Either from embarrassment and humiliation, or from breaking my oath. Merlin help me, do either of you two know if dying from a broken oath is painful?”

Harry quickly transfigured a chair behind her. “Sit,” he ordered his hyperventilating friend. “Now breathe,” he told her after she obeyed. “First of all you are NOT going to die. You are too brave to wimp out on your oath, and nobody dies of embarrassment. About your other concern, well...err,” he trailed off as he blushed to the tips of his ears. “Well you're a very resourceful witch and I am sure it won't be as bad as you think it will be and if it is then you can go back to your original plan,” he spilled out in one breath.

Hermione smiled as she looked at her throughly embarrassed friend. At the age of seventeen he had stood up against Voldermort and his minions countless times, but the mere thought of having to have a conversation about sex with a girl was enough to make him speechless. The fact that he was willing to try just to calm her down, made her love him even more. “Thanks Harry.”

“Hermione you're one of my best friends, and you know that I would do anything for you. But do me a favor okay? If you ever need to talk about your and Malfoy's more intimate relationship, please find someone else.”

Hermione laughed. “Don't worry Harry I wasn't planning on sharing any details with you.” Her laugh grew when she saw the relief spread across his face.

Ginny started to giggle. At their questioning looks she replied, “They have a conversation about shagging, and she's confused as to why they started snogging? And some people say she's the brightest witch of the century!”

A/N: I want to thank everyone for their reviews. Also want to let everyone know that it may be a couple of weeks before I update again. After rereading what I have written so far and everyone's reviews, I realized that there was a scene that I wanted to write between this one and the next one that I have written, so I am in the midst of writting it. I wanted to ask if anyone could tell me how to make the text italic or bold. I am new to writing online and don't know the codes. Thanks again for your reviews. Ryz