The Pairing Hat

Thanking my beta, Gryffindorclutz, for correcting my mistakes. (I have yet to receive a reply from my other beta.)

A/N: Thank you all for your wonderful reviews. Please continue to do so. You are my inspiration.

ENJOY!!!

Chapter Five

“Malfoy, please,” Hermione swallowed thickly, her cheeks taking a light shade of pink from embarrassment. How in the world did he get into the lavatory? The Head Girl was sure she locked the door…using three locking charms at that!

“You can relax for a moment, Granger.” Draco assured the trembling witch. “All I want to do is talk.”

Draco leaned toward the tub and as slowly as he could, so not to startle her and touched the water with the tips of his fingers. The autumn weather did nothing to keep the water warm and Hermione, in her nervous state of mind due to evening’s events, must have forgotten to charm the water to stay heated in the cooling night.

“What are you doing?” Hermione asked skeptically and pressed her back even more to the porcelain tub. She unconsciously bent her knees and crossed her arms over torso to hide her body from his gaze.

“I can add bubbles to your bath if modesty what is concerns you.” Not waiting for her to agree or disagree, Draco poured more of the scented soapy liquid into the bath and then charmed the water to heat up until he saw Hermione’s cheeks flush deeper with the rising temperature. “Warm enough?” he asked Hermione.

She nodded, thankful as the bubbly foam covered her body from his never-ending view. “Can’t this little talk of your wait for more appropriate time?”

“It can,” he answered indifferently. “But seeing as you are naked under the water ensures your undivided attention. It is highly improbable for you to simply get up and leave, nude, in the middle of our conversation, should you decide to do so.”

“Damn it, Malfoy!” She said in anger. “I want my wand, this instant. Give it back!” Her fingers just itched to send him into next week.

“No, I do not think I am going to do that.” He replied. “At least not until you have heard my proposition.”

Tired beyond belief, Hermione prodded, “Well get on with it.”

Sighing deeply, Draco leaned back and studied Hermione’s stubborn face. Her brown eyes stared right at him, challenging his own. Her chin tilted upwards, defiantly.

“When were you planning to go to the library?” He finally asked.

Startled at the unexpected question, Hermione blinked twice, before she answered, “I thought I would begin researching the Pairing Hat’s history tomorrow, during the free period.” Honest to Gods, she thought that he would start by telling her how lucky she was because of the honor bestowed on her. Becoming a Malfoy bride was every maiden’s dream after all, in his narrow-minded point of view…or so she thought. “Why?”

“Had you heard of the Pairing Hat before tonight?” He asked curiously.

Puckering her brows, Hermione answered, “No. It never came up in any of the literature that I have read.”

“I can guarantee you, Granger, that you won’t find its’ contents tomorrow either.” Draco promised. “I could, however, ask my father to send me a book from our own library, which without a doubt carries all the history and property of the hat.” Draco had to hold back his smile when Hermione’s eyes sparkled with the possibility of holding something so rare.

“What’s the catch?” Hermione asked, her eyes narrowing guardedly. Draco was a Slytherin and would never do anything that would not benefit him foremost.

“No catch,” he assured. “I just want us to do the research together. It had been years since I read about it,” Draco continued slowly, noticing how Hermione passionately swallowed the new information. “From what I remember, the Pairing Hat had been used in royal wizarding families for centuries. It was used to determine what noble house the young witches would belong to.”

“That is so barbaric!” Hermione puffed angrily. “Why do witches have to belong to someone? Why can’t a witch choose her own future?” She hated it when females were treated as property in both muggle and wizard worlds. At least the muggle world was finally recognizing women’s potential where as in the wizarding world; most of the witches were still dependent on their husbands and had no rights to any properties. “This is so unfair!”

“Be that as it may, that was and still is the way of things in our society,” Draco dismissed her rebuke.

“So what happened?” Hermione suppressed her anger and asked curiously. “Why did the hat disappear?”

“It was said that a young wizard fell in love with a witch that had yet to be paired to anyone at the time. She was the youngest of the three sisters. One must be at least sixteen before the hat placement. The maiden was only fifteen years of age. On her sixteenth birthday, carried on by tradition, the hat paired that witch with a wizard who was not her beloved. ”

“So the lover was the one who disposed of the hat?” She finished eagerly.

“Yes.” Draco chuckled at her enthusiasm. “Even though he couldn’t destroy it, because of its’ magical properties, he was able to hide it well, before going into exile, never to be heard of again.”

“And what of the witch?” Hermione asked, totally captivated by the story. “Did she marry?”

“Of course she did.” Draco answered. “There was no rebellion from females in those times. They did what their families expected of them. Anyway, that witch was the last one of our kind to have over twelve children.”

“Wow!”

“It is hard to find wizarding families that have many children today.” Draco pointed out. “The elders must be thrilled to get the Pairing Hat back. There are too many squibs in our society.” When Hermione did not say anything in return, he continued. “Having the hat properly pair the witches to the most compatible wizards, should bring up our population numbers by storm.”

After a long silent moment, Hermione asked. “Do you really think that we are compatible, Malfoy? Is that why the hat paired me with you?”

“I do.” Draco answered honestly.

Breathing deeply a couple of times, Hermione closed her eyes and prayed for tolerance. “Malfoy, we hate each other. Have done so for years. You cannot possibly believe that you and I are the perfect pair.”

“No we are not,” Draco agreed solemnly. “However, you cannot deny the intellectual compatibility between us.”

“That is not true.” She shook her head in denial. “There are plenty of Ravenclaw wizards who can stimulate…”

“No one can stimulate you like I can!” Draco interjected irritably. “There were no records of any mistakes that the Pairing Hat might have made in the past. There is no reason to believe it now either.”

“What are you saying, Malfoy?” Hermione really did not like where this conversation was going.

“I am saying that if there is a slight chance that the Malfoy line could extend its’ branches of the family tree, then I will do everything in my power to make that happen.” Draco assured the witch.

Taking a calming breath, Hermione tried to think rationally. Malfoy looked out of sorts at the moment, if the crazy glint in his eyes was anything to go by. “Look Malfoy,” she began softly. “What the hat predicted, may or may not have been completely correct. Please let me finish,” Hermione said firmly before continuing. “I am not saying that I am turning this union out cold. No. It is just the opposite.”

“Explain,” said Draco when she paused.

“Let us take one day at a time.” She explained. “You were right when you said that you are able to stimulate me mentally and I, you.” Hermione paused, carefully picking her words. “But the animosity between us had lasted for too many years to simply turn a blind eye.”

Draco looked at her thoughtfully. Of course she was right about their past. She would not be Hermione without her rational. However, if he would leave things up to her, then by the time Hermione would agree to their union, she could be pregnant with their second son.

Slowly, Draco stood up and said, “Finish your bath. Your skin is getting pruned.”

“Draco…” he cut her off.

“I will meet you in the common room and we will walk to breakfast together.” He announced as he turned his back to her and started back to his door.

“Wait!” Hermione called out. “I was planning to go with Harry and Ron.”

“Then unmake your plan.” He turned to look at her once more. “You are a Slytherin and will act accordingly. We, Slytherins, do not consort with Gryffindors.” Before her temper pricked farther, Draco added. “You may meet up with Ginny. She was paired to Blaise and is a Slytherin now.” Not waiting for her retort, Draco left Hermione to finish her bath.

TBC…

A/N: Well? Like it? Didn’t like it? Review anyway!

Next Chapter: Draco has an interesting dream/fantasy… can you blame him? He just witnessed Hermione in all her glory in the bath for crying out loud.