Author's Note: Thank you for your reviews. Those of you who have read the story before have probably noticed that I have made slight changes to the plot. This was done after evaluating the character's reactions to the situation. While I respect the character of Hermione Granger, I do not believe she would have behaved like the victim she was originally portrayed as. She's 18, and an adult, and I think her reaction to this situation would more cautiously reflect that. This may result in slower updates of these chapters, as I do rewrites to help reflect the altered characterization. Please bear with me during this time.
Chapter 3: Decisions
After her initial shock had worn off, Hermione slowly leveled her gaze on her lawyer. A part of her still registered disbelief at his words. Had he just told her to marry Harry Potter?
"This is ridiculous!" Her father shouted, waving his hands in the air like a referee settling a dispute between two Quidditch players. "You can't expect us to allow our daughter to marry ... him." He pointed a finger at Harry, emphasizing his last word. He then returned to waving his arms in the air. "She's a child...and so is he!"
He would have continued to rant had Harry's small voice not broken through the storm of emotions.
"I'll do it."
All eyes fell on Harry. Hermione felt her stomach flutter. Had Harry just said he would marry her?
John fell silent, his gaze turning to Harry, eyes narrowed. "You will, will you? And what do you know about marriage? Do you even have a career? Where would you live? How would you support my daughter? Where would you two do this ceremony? Who would do the ceremony? It's not like you'd find many wizards willing to let you do this..."
Her father continued to hammer Harry with questions, and while Harry attempted to open his mouth to answer a few of them, he eventually quit trying. It was Hermione whose voice permeated the long-winded inquiry.
"I...need to speak to Harry." Her own voice sounded foreign, as if the shock had altered the pitch of her speech.
Her father looked at her with a curious look, as if saying 'He's right here, so talk.' Hermione closed her eyes, slowly shunting a wave of nervousness that passed through her body. She prided herself in dealing logically with every situation, but the abruptness of her attorney's revelation had sent her mind reeling. She cleared her throat uncomfortably, looking at her parents, who were staring at her intently with startled expressions.
"Alone," her voice echoed with more confidence than she felt at the moment. "I need to speak to Harry alone."
Julius frowned, obviously fighting an instinct to interrupt and claim attorney privilege, but he nodded, herding John and Emma Granger out of the room before the flustered parents could muster another sound.
Hermione and Harry sat uncomfortably in silence, occasionally stealing glances at each other. A long time passed before either spoke.
"Hermione, I..."
"Harry, I..."
There was an awkward pause, and then a nervous laugh as the two felt some of the enormous pressure ease off their shoulders. Harry beckoned to Hermione, urging her to continue. Hermione briefly closed her eyes, gathering her thoughts before she spoke.
"Harry...thank you for...posting bail," Hermione said gratefully. Much to her dismay, her eyes began to water again. The loss of her two best friends had hit her harder than she wanted to admit. "But I don't understand why you would help me after Ron...after you said...you said..."
Harry sighed, leaning back in his chair; his green eyes leveled on the tears that were brightening Hermione's eyes. "I didn't mean it, Hermione. I'm sorry. I was angry ... I was upset I couldn't save him. I was the boy who lived ... who beat Voldemort ... and I couldn't save Ron..."
A tear trickled down the side of Harry's left cheek, and Hermione shunted aside her prior anger at Harry's accusations as she slid her chair next to his, wrapping her arms around his stomach. They cried together, embracing the anguish of losing one of their own. The memory was as fresh as the day it happened.
Eventually the tears stopped, leaving the two friends in silence. The silence was both comforting and unnerving, allowing their thoughts to dwell on the prospect of marriage. Hermione closed her eyes, trying to block out the sound of Julius' words. Could I marry Harry to save my life? The thought almost made her laugh. Marry Harry Potter? The notion was absurd. There was no way they could pull it off. And what would a marriage, even if it was in name only, do to their friendship, so fragile after Ron's death? She opened her eyes to Harry's lowered face. The tip of his shoe traced an invisible line across the floor.
"Harry, I don't know if I can do this," Hermione said quietly, her voice wavering slightly.
Harry looked at Hermione, and she found herself knocked off-balance from the intense look in his eyes.
"I will not let you go to Azkaban. I will not lose you like I lost my parents and like I lost Sirius and like I lost Ron. I won't do it."
Hermione's cheeks reddened in frustration. It was true she didn't want to go to Azkaban, but marrying someone for the sake of getting out of prison was not the romantic notion she harbored of finding her soul mate.
"But Harry...we're talking about marriage. This is serious."
"Yes, it is serious," Harry responded. "Do you want to go to Azkaban?"
Hermione frowned. She didn't want to go to Azkaban. The logic behind her refusal was quickly diminishing. But this was the man who had left her alone in the weeks after Ron's death. He had abandoned her when she needed him most. And the uproar from the impromptu ceremony would be considerable. Harry would go from savior to villain in less than a week. Hermione stared at Harry, whose eyes had never left her features. As if he could read her thoughts, he reached out, taking her hand in his. His expression was stubborn.
"I won't testify, Hermione. I'd disappear first."
Her gaze narrowed. "You'd go to Azkaban if you disappeared."
"Please..." Harry whispered, and Hermione could sense the desperation in his voice.
She closed her eyes. Could they pull this fake marriage off? Would they be able to convince the wizard world of their union was real?
They'd have to behave like a married couple.
Hermione's eyes snapped open, her face flushing. Her boyfriend had died two months earlier and she was thinking about marrying his best friend? What kind of person am I? Hermione berated herself. There was no way she and Harry would be able to get married. And if they were married, that brought up the subject of intimacy.
Nonsense, we're both adults. We can handle this in a mature manner.
Harry flushed, as if sensing her train of thoughts. His gaze drifted to the ground for a moment before pleading emerald eyes met her gaze. "It's just in name only."
It's just in name only.
Hermione saw the look in his eyes and felt a fluttering in her stomach. He doesn't want to lose you, her mind reasoned. She closed her eyes, trying to sort through her lingering anger and despair. There was no doubt in her mind that if she refused, Harry would disappear. He'd never escape Azkaban if he were caught.
I can't lose him like I lost Ron. Her anger began to fade, replaced by the deep sense of love and friendship that had grown over the past seven years.
She gave a slight nod, stifling a grin at Harry's surprised expression. The raven-haired wizard stood abruptly, running his hands through his unruly hair. Suddenly, he dropped to his left knee and took Hermione's hand. She stared at him in shock, wondering precisely what had come over her best friend.
"Hermione Granger, will you marry me?"
Hermione's heart jumped at the simple request, her eyes tearing. She knew Harry had offered the proposal for her benefit. He knew her hopes for a romantic courtship and fairytale wedding. Tears welled in her eyes, but she slowly met Harry's gaze.
"Yes," she whispered softly, fighting back the emotions that had threatened to overflow. Harry smiled, and drew her into a hug, holding her awkwardly. There was no mistake in either mind that this was a marriage of convenience only. But perhaps that's what these things were intended to be.
The thought did nothing to assuage the fears gnawing in her stomach.
***
The next few weeks seemed to pass by in a rush. Julius was thrilled when Hermione and Harry made the announcement about their engagement. Her parents much less so. But even they gave their begrudging approval after a careful examination of the different alternatives.
Julius arranged for the ceremony to take place the morning of the trial. It would be small, with only her family present, along a few friends and Dumbledore, who'd officiate the ceremony. Against their wishes, Julius had invited a photographer to take pictures, so as to provide some visible proof of this union.
"Now now...don't forget," the nervous attorney said. "This has to be a real marriage. If Fudge thinks for even a moment you're doing this to get out of testifying..."
Harry rolled his eyes. "We know, Julius." He stared at Hermione, who returned his look with a pair of rolled eyes. They'd received the admonition at least a dozen times already.
The nerves had been building in Hermione's stomach steadily for the past week. She tried to avoid Harry's curious stares, convincing herself that this was a marriage of convenience only. But why did that thought send icy tendrils of nervousness through her body?
Julius Mockridge was more nervous than even Hermione, having spent all his waking hours pouring over scrolls as if to reassure himself that he could not be indicted because of this. He kept glancing over the marriage license, which Remus had "convinced" a good friend at the Ministry of Magic to procure.
An hour before the trial, Hermione and Harry stood nervously in front of Albus Dumbledore. They were both in dress robes, and Harry had to admit that Hermione looked absolutely gorgeous. Of course they couldn't have a full wedding … no use alerting everyone to their plot.
Hermione closed her eyes. In her mind's eye, she shelved her romantic illusions, resigning herself to the grim reality of the situation. Julius had said the two would have to remain married for several years before they'd be able to file for a divorce. Eventually she opened her gaze, allowing her eyes to settle on Harry. She knew Harry wanted a family. She didn't blame him, knowing how the Dursley's had treated him. What kind of dreams was he giving up for the sake of her freedom?
Well, not giving up, necessarily. But postponing for a long while.
With a nervous chuckle she shelved her reservations and buried the negative thoughts in the back of her mind, focusing her gaze on Harry. She admired how Harry had cleaned up. At least he was trying to make this special. She knew, deep down, that they could never love each other like a real married couple, but he'd at least made the effort to try to make the occasion memorable. And with that thought she quickly averted her gaze. Nothing could erase the fact that this was not how she wanted her wedding day to be. She blinked back an errant tear and felt a slight squeeze at her hands. Harry was looking at her with a curious expression on his face. Whether it was sadness or confusion she couldn't tell.
She turned and faced Dumbledore, who gave the two a gentle smile.
"I thought I'd see you two here today," he started. Hermione and Harry gave each other a confused look. "Of course," Dumbledore continued. "I had hoped it to be under more pleasant of circumstances. Do you have the rings?"
Harry reached into his pocket and withdrew a small gold ring. Almost by instinct, Hermione held out her left hand as Harry slid the ring onto her finger.
"Now Harry, repeat after me…"
Hermione felt the distractions fade away as her mind focused on Harry. She willed away all her worries, all of her fears as she watched him repeat the words. Everything faded away except his sincere expression as he repeated his vows to Hermione. She felt a flush when she realized she had been staring, an odd feeling coursing through her stomach. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Dumbledore turn to her.
"Hermione Granger, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband…"
Dumbledore's words tuned out as she contemplated this strange turn of events. Her husband. Harry Potter was going to be her husband. She blinked as she sensed all eyes fall upon her. Blushing furiously, she looked to the ground momentarily before shifting her gaze back to Harry's. His smile was almost unnerving.
"I do." Hermione said, hoping she wasn't making a mistake.
Dumbledore smiled. "You might want to put the ring on his finger then, Miss Granger."
Hermione felt her face flush as she reached into the pocket of her robes, pulling out the gold wedding band that had been sitting there. A slight sniffling was heard in the crowd and Hermione caught Minerva McGonagall wiping her eyes as she slid the ring onto Harry's hand.
"I now pronounce you man and wife. Mr. Potter, would you like to kiss the bride?"
Kiss…
Hermione felt a momentary flush of panic come over her body, and she glanced at Harry. How could she have forgotten this part of the ceremony? Hermione was relieved to see he was blushing at least as much as she was and she glanced at Julius, who gave them a slight nod. She turned and faced Harry, noticing that her hand was trembling. Or was it his hand? She wasn't sure. He looked positively terrified. She felt her eyes flutter shut as his lips descended to hers.
And then they touched.
A surge of energy flooded her body, and voice in the back of her mind that sounded distinctively like her attorney's said, "Make them believe it."
So she deepened the kiss, her hands sliding around Harry's waist and drawing him close. She felt his momentary surprise, but was shocked when he reciprocated, as if he instinctively knew how much was riding on this kiss.
Just when Hermione thought the heat might become unbearable, she drew back, her face flushed. There was a smattering of applause in the courtroom.
Hermione glanced back at Dumbledore. Was that a tear in his eye? She couldn't tell. She felt her mind trying process the fact that she had just kissed her best friend.
Dumbledore's quiet voice penetrated the courtroom. "I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Harry James Potter…"