Visited Upon the Son

Disclaimer: I live in Texas, not Scotland, so I am obviously not JK Rowling. I’m

just playing with the wonderful characters that she created. I promise that I will put them

back the way I found them when I’m done!

AN: Many thanks to Axellia for betaing this!

Visited Upon the Son

© SparkyCSI

6. I have to marry who?

On November 1, Hermione brushed her hair nervously. McGonagall had cancelled her and

Draco’s final class for the day, to allow them time to get to the Ministry. She had been

brushing her hair for ten minutes, trying to calm herself down.

Taking a deep breath, she put the brush down and began to pace around her room. Come on

Hermione. You know that you have no choice in this. Why are you so nervous? She

pondered that thought for a moment and decided that she was nervous because she was facing

the unknown. This wasn’t something that she could read in a book. This was going to make

her finally overcome all of her fears and loss that she had suffered at the end of the war.

Coming to this realization, she exhaled in defeat.

Taking one look around the room, she left and walked towards the Headmistress’ office. She

walked slowly, enjoying her last few minutes as a single person and noticed Draco walking

just as slowly ahead of her. “Draco!” she called out.

Draco turned around at the sound of Hermione calling his name. “Hey. Getting ready to go

to the Ministry?”

Hermione smiled. “Yeah. I don’t want to. I just don’t think that they can force us upon

someone like that. It’s frustrating.”

Draco nodded his agreement. “I understand. What if I have to marry some awful woman who

just wants my money?”

Hermione laughed and rolled her eyes. “At least you have something. What if I get saddled

with an old coot who just wants a trophy wife?” She paused and then smirked. “Or worse. A

Slytherin?”

Draco looked at her, about to defend his house, when he saw a twinkle in her eye. He

decided not comment; he just stuck his tongue out at her.

Hermione started laughing. “Merlin it feels good to laugh.” She grew contemplative. “I

haven’t laughed this hard in a long time.”

Draco smiled, happy that he had brought a little happiness to her. Their conversation had

taken them to the gargoyle in front of McGonagall’s office. Each stood there, not wanting

to go in, trying to put off the inevitable.

Finally, Hermione sighed and looked at Draco. “I’m a Gryffindor. I should be more

courageous than this.” Draco laughed as Hermione continued. She squared her shoulders and

spoke the password, “Phoenix.” The gargoyle jumped aside and both made their way up the

stairs.

McGonagall smiled at them when they walked in. “Hermione, Draco. Are you preparing to go

to the Ministry?” Both nodded sombrely. McGonagall looked at both of them. “You may use

my Floo.”

Hermione grabbed a pinch of Floo powder and soon she was standing in the midst of a bustling

Ministry reception area. She heard Draco come out behind her. She didn’t look at him; she

just made her way to the reception area. “Excuse me, my name is Hermione Granger and I have

an appointment with Isabelle Rutherford.”

The receptionist looked up and smiled. “Of course. Here is your visitor’s badge and you

will need to go to level four.” The receptionist smiled again and focused her attention on

Draco. She gave him a once over and then her smiled turned brighter. “How may I help you,

sir?”

Draco ignored the advances the woman was making. “Draco Malfoy. I also have an appointment

with Isabelle Rutherford.”

The receptionist smiled again and handing him his badge, her fingers lingering on his hand.

Draco fought down the urge to scowl and politely thanked her.

“My pleasure. If you need any help at all, just let me know.”

Hermione fought down the urge to giggle at the way the woman was blatantly throwing herself

at him. When Draco turned around, she saw the irritation in his eyes. She decided to hold

her tongue and both made their way across the floor.

Draco followed Hermione, muttering under his breath. Merlin, I hope that the woman that

I marry is not like that bint. He shuddered at the thought as he studied the back of

Hermione. Now, she is more like it. Hermione is smart, beautiful and has a wicked right

hook. She is the perfect woman. Not afraid to stand up for what she believes in and she

doesn’t treat me like a god. The more he thought of it, the more he hoped that he was

matched up with Hermione. He thought back to the dreams he had been having of her.

Don’t think about it, Draco. Nothing can come of it. She believes I’m still that little

git I was in school. There’s no way that she would voluntarily marry me.

Draco sighed at the depressing thought and tried to direct his thoughts elsewhere. He was

unsuccessful. Still thinking about Hermione, he took a seat in the waiting room.

Both waited impatiently until their names were called. Hermione went in first. She

nervously sat in the chair provided as she looked at a striking woman in her mid-forties

sitting across from her.

The woman spoke. “I am Ministress Rutherford. You must be Hermione Granger. It’s a

pleasure to meet you,” she said as she extended her hand.

Hermione took her hand and replied, “I wish I could say the same. However, I do not agree

with this new law and I am here against my free will.”

Rutherford nodded. “I understand completely. However, this was not my choice. I advised

the Minister that this policy was unnecessary and that the population would rebound on its

own.” She sighed. “Unfortunately, he did not listen to me. Now that the pleasantries are

out of the way, will you please put on the hat? I must warn you, it may not give you an

answer. It has been severely overworked today and has many names to review. It was decided

this morning that everyone will received owls in a few days, naming their betrothed.”

Hermione nodded and placed the hat on her head.

“Hum. Miss Granger, what an unexpected surprise. Let’s see now. You are very

intelligent, courageous and loyal. Oh, dear. You have had a lot of heartache. Dear me, I

don’t seem to have met the perfect person for you yet, but don’t worry dear girl, I’ll find

him.”

The hat magically removed itself from her head. Rutherford sighed. “I see that the hat has

not found a match yet. What we will do is continue to see candidates and when the suitable

person if found, we will send owls to both of you.” She stood and Hermione followed her.

“Have a pleasant day, Ms. Granger.”

Hermione nodded and quickly left the room. She sighed in a combination of relief and dread.

She was relieved to have the decision pushed back, but was dreading hearing the news. She

sat back down and smiled wanly at Draco as he made his way into the room.

Draco sat down and looked at Rutherford. “Can we get this over with?” he asked.

Rutherford raised her eyebrows at his rudeness, but just gestured to the hat, which he

placed on his head.

“Aw, Mr. Malfoy. I’m not surprised to find you here. Let’s see. You are very

intelligent and have overcome many obstacles in your life. I see that you ended up taking a

path of light, which I am happy to see. Hum. I do believe I have found your soul mate,

however, she has yet to be informed.” The hat then fluttered down.

Rutherford looked at Draco. “The hat has found your soul mate. You will be informed, by

owl post, in a couple of days of who you’re betrothed is. Have a pleasant day.”

Draco just nodded to her and left the room without a word. When he got back into the

waiting area, he nodded to Hermione. “Are you ready to go?”

Hermione nodded and together they made their way back to Hogwarts.

-------------------------------

Over the next day, Hermione was extremely nervous. She barely ate, usually only at the

request of Neville, and sat in her room, lost in thought.

Most of her thoughts centred on Ron, on the love that they shared. Oh, Ron. I miss you so

much. Even when we were fighting, you made me feel alive. Ever since you died, I feel like

half a person. I hope that wherever you are, you’re happy. It was in this train of

melancholy thought that McGonagall found her on Sunday morning.

Hermione heard the knock on her door and sighed. She thought that it was Neville, trying to

get her to come out of her room. She slowly made her way to the door and opened it. To her

surprise, McGonagall was standing outside. “Minerva? Are you here to drag me out of my

room?”

McGonagall smiled a smile that did not reach her eyes. “No, Mia. I’m here because you got

an owl from the Ministry. I thought that you would like to open it in private.”

Hermione sucked in breath and looked at the letter with trepidation. With shaking fingers,

she took it from McGonagall and sat back down in her chair. McGonagall sat across from

her.

Slowly, Hermione opened the letter and began to read.

“Dear Ms. Granger,

The sorting hat has found your perfect match. This person is the one man with whom the hat

has found to be your soul mate. Your new fiancé is Draco Malfoy.”

Hermione read the name and felt all the blood drain out of her face. In shock, she dropped

the letter and passed out.

----------------------------------

Down in the dungeons, Draco was reading his letter as well.

“Dear Mr. Malfoy,

The sorting hat has found your perfect match. This person is the one woman with whom the

hat has found to be your soul mate. Your new fiancée is Hermione Granger.

While, it was the intent with the policy to have all witches and wizards married by June, we

at the ministry do understand that since both of you have teaching positions at Hogwarts

School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, this will be impossible for you. So we are extending the

timeframe for your consideration. You must be married by 1 September, 2005.

Have a pleasant day and congratulations on your upcoming nuptials.

Sincerely,

Isabelle Rutherford

Ministress of Marriage”

Draco finished reading the letter and smiled in surprise. This is a pleasant surprise.

I like Hermione. She’s not some silly bint who will just get excited about marrying a

Malfoy. She will challenge my mind. Draco smiled. Not to mention that she is

gorgeous. He thought about how much Hermione had grown up and felt his body’s natural

reaction. Smiling, he decided to go see his betrothed and quickly made his way to his

bathroom, to get ready.

Back in Hermione’s room, McGonagall withdrew a Pepper-up Potion from her robes. She had

anticipated this reaction and slowly poured the potion down her throat. Slowly, Hermione

awoke, blinking slowly. When her brain finally began working, she looked up at her mentor,

tears forming in her eyes.

“Minerva, why? Why him?” She began to sob uncontrollably, as McGonagall wrapped her in her

arms.

McGonagall thought for a moment before deciding to answer her. “My dear,” she began.

“Draco is not his father. He is a handsome, intelligent man, whom with you can have a

wonderful life. Maybe he is the one person that can help you overcome your fears.”

Hermione got angry at that point and pulled herself out of the older woman’s arms.

“Overcome my fears? Minerva, we are not talking about a fear of heights. His father

brutally raped me. Repeatedly. He beat me until I couldn’t see. Not only that, but he

used Legilimency to brutally rape my mind. How in the bloody hell am I supposed to overcome

that with his son?”

“Dear, he is a good man. He will help you.”

Hermione just stared at her mentor in disbelief. She felt iciness settle around her heart.

“I think you should leave, now.” She walked to the door and held it open for her mentor,

who walked through without a word.

McGonagall turned to say something, but Hermione just shut the door.

----------------------------------

AN: Thanks for the reviews!!!

Ses – I actually debated on that point weather it would be ministress or mistress and

finally chose ministress. I might go back and change that.

Jldcat – Thanks! No there’s not a limit to what you can upload, but I started writing this

story before the 7th book came out and then I completely got writers block for four months.

So I try to keep a good amount of chapters prewritten so that if my muse goes away again,

I’ll still be able to upload chapters and not keep my readers waiting.