The Plan
folder
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Draco/Hermione
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
6
Views:
7,899
Reviews:
15
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Draco/Hermione
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
6
Views:
7,899
Reviews:
15
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter or anything in relation. I am not making any money off of these writings.
Chapter 5: The Conversation
AN: Hey all. This is just a quick note to everyone. I really appreciate all your reviews, first of all, and secondly, I got a lot of reviews mentioning they hoped this fic continued for a long time and so on... sadly, as I already stated at the beginning, this was written for an exchange fest and so it is only 6 parts/chapters long. :( I know, that sucks, haha. But I think it is a satisfying short fic and I hope you will enjoy it still. So yes, after this, only ONE CHAPTER LEFT! :)
Chapter 5: The Conversation
“Draco?”
Hermione was scared beyond belief as she approached him. She’d never feared a conversation more in her entire life, not even when she had her job interview with the Ministry. But no other conversation ever held as much sway over her future as this one did, and that way definitely saying something. It could change everything.
Their plan was impossible and she had realized it long ago, she just refused to admit it. How unlikely was it that they were going to get a divorce? Very; the Ministry wouldn’t ever allow them to separate. The fact that Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy had gotten married in the first place, sent the Wizarding World into a frenzy, but not in a bad way. There had been so many positive changes and, without even trying, the government had gotten them to do exactly what they wanted. Hermione and Draco were in deep. They’d done this to themselves; gotten trapped.
And she knew they’d never get out.
Slowly, she walked over to Draco as he sat in the living room, flipping through one of his law books. He looked up when she called and set the book aside as she hesitantly sat down opposite him.
“Do you want children?” She asked suddenly. The confusion visibly washed over his face and he was silent for a long moment. Hermione held her breath.
“Yes, I suppose one day.”
“Do you want to get married one day, also? For real, I mean?”
“Maybe.” That answer was much quicker and his expression didn’t exactly show enthusiasm. “Why are you asking all of this?”
She took a long breath… and began.
“I’ve been thinking and I have come to some conclusions. We’ve been together for a few months now and I realized I had to face some facts. What happens if we never get a divorce? I mean, we aren’t positive that the Ministry will ever allow it. So… maybe we can stay together.” She blurted it out quickly, casting her eyes downward. Her cheeks were red but more from the shame of what she was suggesting. Gathering her courage, she looked up at him again. “And we could have children. We don’t love each other and we both know it but we still work well together. We are good partners. We have good sex, we help each other socially and politically. And even if we never learned to get along any better, our children would tie us together. They would be our common goal. So what I’m saying is, if we can’t find a way to separate, staying together wouldn’t be so bad.”
He listened to her speech, his eyes wide and uncertain. She was proposing they stay married? And have kids? He had to admit, her points were valid, but… staying with each other permanently?
“I don’t even know why I told you all of this,” She said, immensely frustrated, “I’m not even sure if I want to be with you or if this is all because I’m panicking. I do want children and a family one day. But think about it! If we manage to get a divorce, the likelihood of finding new spouses will be extremely difficult because everyone is already married for the most part. We would have limited options. And, again, we work. So this is a possibility.”
Again, he didn’t say anything. She was pacing now and his eyes followed her steadily as his thoughts flew out of control. He was so unsure. Everything she’d said made perfect sense, and why wouldn’t it? She was Hermione Granger, a genius. But Draco had been so focused on trying to get separated from her that he never thought of how well they did together. And, more importantly, he’d never thought about how much he was going to miss her.
And he was going to miss her. The thought made his stomach plummet and he wasn’t sure if it was from disgust or surprise or something else altogether. He’d miss the sex and the arguments and the conversations and the cuddling and the fact that she accepted him just the way he was.
He was even certain he’d miss her.
“Oh mistress! Let Flitty help you with that!”
Hermione and Draco snapped to attention and stared at Narcissa’s drenched form as she came through the front door. They hadn’t even heard the storm start, too wrapped up in themselves. Flitty, the tiny House-elf, helped the older woman out of her cloak and with a flick of her wand, Narcissa cast a drying spell.
She gazed at the two in the sitting room and offered a small nod.
“The Profit said the rain will go on for days. Dreadfully gloomy but it is to be expected.” Motioning for Flitty to follow her, Narcissa swept gracefully up the stairs and into her quarters, leaving Draco and Hermione behind in deafening silence.
They didn’t sit there for long, not together, not after what Hermione had just brought up. The idea of a continued alliance through marriage seemed ludicrous. Utterly, completely, insane.
So why were they both considering it?
Dinner the next night was a tense affair, though the only ones who noticed were Draco and Hermione. They’d gone out with their friends, something usually done for show. Harry and Luna sat together, recently having married. It was an unexpected match but simple and lovely still, and Hermione was happy for them. Blaise and his wife, Lisa Turpin, sat across from them. She was a Ravenclaw that they knew from school and everyone really liked her. Smart and sweet, but not overly friendly.
The couples chatted easily but Draco’s thoughts were not on the conversation. Hermione Granger never ceased to surprise him. In third year, she’d punched him. In fifth year, she’d led Umbridge, a professor, into the Forbidden Forest to get snatched by centaurs. In their last year, she’d fought right beside Potter on the frontlines, defeating the very people who hated her more than anything else in the world.
And, just one day ago, she’d suggested they stay husband and wife. For real.
There were so many ups and downs to consider. Would he really be willing to devote his life to someone he didn’t love? Would she? Obviously she would, if she asked him.
And he would too, he realized. Draco wouldn’t ever fall in love, anyway. It wasn’t something he ever imagined or wanted out of life. He figured he’d marry a nice pureblood girl, raise a family, and run a successful business. So far none of the three had panned out exactly like he’d intended but he couldn’t really say he was upset about that. He was trying for a career he loved, he was with Granger and happy about it, and now she wanted children.
He’d always wanted children and that was the only love he really needed.
So could they really do it? Could they really make it as a couple?
“What do you think, Draco?” Potter asked. He snapped out of his thoughts and stared at the man across from him, the man he’d always despised and envied. Now he was the man who was helping to restore his life.
Except for the fact that he was a complete ponce, he wasn’t so bad.
“What?”
“The Chudley Cannons? Ever since they recruited all new players, they’ve done pretty well. Only a few more matches before the cup. They might have a chance. I can’t believe Ron was right all these years.” He rolled his eyes.
Draco scoffed at him and took a swig of his wine.
“Please, they are as awful as they ever were. Luck doesn’t equal skill. They’re a bunch of bloody duffers.”
And so dinner went on. But Draco didn’t stop thinking about the woman next to him. He never stopped thinking about her. And when he met her eyes briefly, he knew she was in the same predicament.
He breathed heavily, his body slick with sweat as he pounded into her willing body. Hermione moaned out his name, Draco, over and over, her soft mewls flooding his senses.
She couldn’t feel anything but him, inside and out, and she never wanted that to change. His face was in her neck, his mouth on her pulse. He sucked it lightly as it hammered wildly through her skin.
Draco’s hands were clasped with her own and he squeezed them tightly, telling her he was close. So was she. Always.
The thrusting got more frantic, the groaning got louder. Only seconds later, Draco came, sucking in a sharp breath and tensing above her. He moved still, in and out slowly as he reached between them and gently stroked her clit. It only took one touch before she followed him over the edge, drowning in maddening passion.
Slowly they separated and lay beside each other. Hermione’s hair was fanned across the pillow, her body sated and pleasantly weak. It seemed to her that the longer they were together, the better it got. She didn’t know how or even why, but there it was.
“If we can’t get divorced, we should stay together. And one day have children.”
Draco’s words shocked her. Furrowing her brows, she stared up at the ceiling, unblinkingly, letting them sink in. She was certain that he had thought her proposition was crazy talk and she hadn’t really blamed him for that. It was crazy. But… he said yes. He agreed.
She turned to him and her breath caught when she saw his shinning silver eyes gazing at her meaningfully. Her surprise must have shown because he quickly kissed her and closed his eyes like the conversation was over.
And it was. Closing her eyes also, she smiled elatedly and told herself it was only because, now, she had a backup plan.
Secretly though, in their deepest of hearts, they both hoped they couldn’t get a divorce. They wanted to stay together.
Someone once said: all good things must come to an end. Hermione wasn’t sure who, exactly, but to her, they were the wisest person she’d ever heard of aside from Dumbledore himself.
Because all good things did, eventually, end.
“We’re allowing you a divorce.” Kingsley told them, sitting up in his chair.
They‘d been called to his office only minutes before, under the impression that the matter was urgent. Now they understood how true that was.
Hermione and Draco stared at him, wide eyed and stunned.
They hadn’t seen it coming. During their investigations on the Ministry, they’d discovered something interesting; a few of the officials, specifically ones who helped write the marriage legislation, weren’t abiding by it. They weren’t married already and they had no intention of doing so.
That made them hypocrites. If the people discovered the truth, they would hate the Ministry for it because it completely ruined the trust that had been built up.
They had known all of this but they hadn’t actually put two and two together so they never thought to use the information as leverage.
But, somehow, the officials found out that Hermione and Draco both knew. They were willing to do anything for the information not to get out, so, for their silence, they were granting a divorce, consequence free.
“There won’t be any repercussions and I will even have witnesses present so that we cannot go back on our word.” He said.
Hermione didn’t know what to do. This was what they’d wanted from the beginning. Right?
So why did she feel so sick all of the sudden?
“That’s it?” Draco cleared his throat. “What will you tell everyone? About the divorce, I mean.”
“We will simply say that, because of misinformation presented, the marriage is not legal and, therefore, automatically dissolved. It will be vague. It’s enough to convince the masses without really telling them anything.”
Draco nodded and gripped the sides of his chair. He wanted to look at Hermione and see how she was reacting but he couldn’t force his head to turn. She wasn’t saying anything but he could hear her breathing, steady and slow, not giving any of her feelings away.
Kingsley stared at them expectantly, waiting for the hurrahs and cheers. They weren’t coming, however.
“Is this not what you want?” He’d been certain that their marriage was just a ruse, a lie. But perhaps he’d gotten it wrong. Perhaps they really were in love? “You can stay married if you wish, but this is a one time offer. After this, if you refuse, you won’t be allowed a divorce and we will make sure you keep this secret to yourselves.”
The Minister stood and clasped his hands behind his back, waiting through their silence.
“So, what is your decision?”
“Draco?”
Hermione was scared beyond belief as she approached him. She’d never feared a conversation more in her entire life, not even when she had her job interview with the Ministry. But no other conversation ever held as much sway over her future as this one did, and that way definitely saying something. It could change everything.
Their plan was impossible and she had realized it long ago, she just refused to admit it. How unlikely was it that they were going to get a divorce? Very; the Ministry wouldn’t ever allow them to separate. The fact that Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy had gotten married in the first place, sent the Wizarding World into a frenzy, but not in a bad way. There had been so many positive changes and, without even trying, the government had gotten them to do exactly what they wanted. Hermione and Draco were in deep. They’d done this to themselves; gotten trapped.
And she knew they’d never get out.
Slowly, she walked over to Draco as he sat in the living room, flipping through one of his law books. He looked up when she called and set the book aside as she hesitantly sat down opposite him.
“Do you want children?” She asked suddenly. The confusion visibly washed over his face and he was silent for a long moment. Hermione held her breath.
“Yes, I suppose one day.”
“Do you want to get married one day, also? For real, I mean?”
“Maybe.” That answer was much quicker and his expression didn’t exactly show enthusiasm. “Why are you asking all of this?”
She took a long breath… and began.
“I’ve been thinking and I have come to some conclusions. We’ve been together for a few months now and I realized I had to face some facts. What happens if we never get a divorce? I mean, we aren’t positive that the Ministry will ever allow it. So… maybe we can stay together.” She blurted it out quickly, casting her eyes downward. Her cheeks were red but more from the shame of what she was suggesting. Gathering her courage, she looked up at him again. “And we could have children. We don’t love each other and we both know it but we still work well together. We are good partners. We have good sex, we help each other socially and politically. And even if we never learned to get along any better, our children would tie us together. They would be our common goal. So what I’m saying is, if we can’t find a way to separate, staying together wouldn’t be so bad.”
He listened to her speech, his eyes wide and uncertain. She was proposing they stay married? And have kids? He had to admit, her points were valid, but… staying with each other permanently?
“I don’t even know why I told you all of this,” She said, immensely frustrated, “I’m not even sure if I want to be with you or if this is all because I’m panicking. I do want children and a family one day. But think about it! If we manage to get a divorce, the likelihood of finding new spouses will be extremely difficult because everyone is already married for the most part. We would have limited options. And, again, we work. So this is a possibility.”
Again, he didn’t say anything. She was pacing now and his eyes followed her steadily as his thoughts flew out of control. He was so unsure. Everything she’d said made perfect sense, and why wouldn’t it? She was Hermione Granger, a genius. But Draco had been so focused on trying to get separated from her that he never thought of how well they did together. And, more importantly, he’d never thought about how much he was going to miss her.
And he was going to miss her. The thought made his stomach plummet and he wasn’t sure if it was from disgust or surprise or something else altogether. He’d miss the sex and the arguments and the conversations and the cuddling and the fact that she accepted him just the way he was.
He was even certain he’d miss her.
“Oh mistress! Let Flitty help you with that!”
Hermione and Draco snapped to attention and stared at Narcissa’s drenched form as she came through the front door. They hadn’t even heard the storm start, too wrapped up in themselves. Flitty, the tiny House-elf, helped the older woman out of her cloak and with a flick of her wand, Narcissa cast a drying spell.
She gazed at the two in the sitting room and offered a small nod.
“The Profit said the rain will go on for days. Dreadfully gloomy but it is to be expected.” Motioning for Flitty to follow her, Narcissa swept gracefully up the stairs and into her quarters, leaving Draco and Hermione behind in deafening silence.
They didn’t sit there for long, not together, not after what Hermione had just brought up. The idea of a continued alliance through marriage seemed ludicrous. Utterly, completely, insane.
So why were they both considering it?
Dinner the next night was a tense affair, though the only ones who noticed were Draco and Hermione. They’d gone out with their friends, something usually done for show. Harry and Luna sat together, recently having married. It was an unexpected match but simple and lovely still, and Hermione was happy for them. Blaise and his wife, Lisa Turpin, sat across from them. She was a Ravenclaw that they knew from school and everyone really liked her. Smart and sweet, but not overly friendly.
The couples chatted easily but Draco’s thoughts were not on the conversation. Hermione Granger never ceased to surprise him. In third year, she’d punched him. In fifth year, she’d led Umbridge, a professor, into the Forbidden Forest to get snatched by centaurs. In their last year, she’d fought right beside Potter on the frontlines, defeating the very people who hated her more than anything else in the world.
And, just one day ago, she’d suggested they stay husband and wife. For real.
There were so many ups and downs to consider. Would he really be willing to devote his life to someone he didn’t love? Would she? Obviously she would, if she asked him.
And he would too, he realized. Draco wouldn’t ever fall in love, anyway. It wasn’t something he ever imagined or wanted out of life. He figured he’d marry a nice pureblood girl, raise a family, and run a successful business. So far none of the three had panned out exactly like he’d intended but he couldn’t really say he was upset about that. He was trying for a career he loved, he was with Granger and happy about it, and now she wanted children.
He’d always wanted children and that was the only love he really needed.
So could they really do it? Could they really make it as a couple?
“What do you think, Draco?” Potter asked. He snapped out of his thoughts and stared at the man across from him, the man he’d always despised and envied. Now he was the man who was helping to restore his life.
Except for the fact that he was a complete ponce, he wasn’t so bad.
“What?”
“The Chudley Cannons? Ever since they recruited all new players, they’ve done pretty well. Only a few more matches before the cup. They might have a chance. I can’t believe Ron was right all these years.” He rolled his eyes.
Draco scoffed at him and took a swig of his wine.
“Please, they are as awful as they ever were. Luck doesn’t equal skill. They’re a bunch of bloody duffers.”
And so dinner went on. But Draco didn’t stop thinking about the woman next to him. He never stopped thinking about her. And when he met her eyes briefly, he knew she was in the same predicament.
He breathed heavily, his body slick with sweat as he pounded into her willing body. Hermione moaned out his name, Draco, over and over, her soft mewls flooding his senses.
She couldn’t feel anything but him, inside and out, and she never wanted that to change. His face was in her neck, his mouth on her pulse. He sucked it lightly as it hammered wildly through her skin.
Draco’s hands were clasped with her own and he squeezed them tightly, telling her he was close. So was she. Always.
The thrusting got more frantic, the groaning got louder. Only seconds later, Draco came, sucking in a sharp breath and tensing above her. He moved still, in and out slowly as he reached between them and gently stroked her clit. It only took one touch before she followed him over the edge, drowning in maddening passion.
Slowly they separated and lay beside each other. Hermione’s hair was fanned across the pillow, her body sated and pleasantly weak. It seemed to her that the longer they were together, the better it got. She didn’t know how or even why, but there it was.
“If we can’t get divorced, we should stay together. And one day have children.”
Draco’s words shocked her. Furrowing her brows, she stared up at the ceiling, unblinkingly, letting them sink in. She was certain that he had thought her proposition was crazy talk and she hadn’t really blamed him for that. It was crazy. But… he said yes. He agreed.
She turned to him and her breath caught when she saw his shinning silver eyes gazing at her meaningfully. Her surprise must have shown because he quickly kissed her and closed his eyes like the conversation was over.
And it was. Closing her eyes also, she smiled elatedly and told herself it was only because, now, she had a backup plan.
Secretly though, in their deepest of hearts, they both hoped they couldn’t get a divorce. They wanted to stay together.
Someone once said: all good things must come to an end. Hermione wasn’t sure who, exactly, but to her, they were the wisest person she’d ever heard of aside from Dumbledore himself.
Because all good things did, eventually, end.
“We’re allowing you a divorce.” Kingsley told them, sitting up in his chair.
They‘d been called to his office only minutes before, under the impression that the matter was urgent. Now they understood how true that was.
Hermione and Draco stared at him, wide eyed and stunned.
They hadn’t seen it coming. During their investigations on the Ministry, they’d discovered something interesting; a few of the officials, specifically ones who helped write the marriage legislation, weren’t abiding by it. They weren’t married already and they had no intention of doing so.
That made them hypocrites. If the people discovered the truth, they would hate the Ministry for it because it completely ruined the trust that had been built up.
They had known all of this but they hadn’t actually put two and two together so they never thought to use the information as leverage.
But, somehow, the officials found out that Hermione and Draco both knew. They were willing to do anything for the information not to get out, so, for their silence, they were granting a divorce, consequence free.
“There won’t be any repercussions and I will even have witnesses present so that we cannot go back on our word.” He said.
Hermione didn’t know what to do. This was what they’d wanted from the beginning. Right?
So why did she feel so sick all of the sudden?
“That’s it?” Draco cleared his throat. “What will you tell everyone? About the divorce, I mean.”
“We will simply say that, because of misinformation presented, the marriage is not legal and, therefore, automatically dissolved. It will be vague. It’s enough to convince the masses without really telling them anything.”
Draco nodded and gripped the sides of his chair. He wanted to look at Hermione and see how she was reacting but he couldn’t force his head to turn. She wasn’t saying anything but he could hear her breathing, steady and slow, not giving any of her feelings away.
Kingsley stared at them expectantly, waiting for the hurrahs and cheers. They weren’t coming, however.
“Is this not what you want?” He’d been certain that their marriage was just a ruse, a lie. But perhaps he’d gotten it wrong. Perhaps they really were in love? “You can stay married if you wish, but this is a one time offer. After this, if you refuse, you won’t be allowed a divorce and we will make sure you keep this secret to yourselves.”
The Minister stood and clasped his hands behind his back, waiting through their silence.
“So, what is your decision?”