A/N: Hello everyone. I want to thank everyone who reviewed with the prologue chapter. I'm glad you all liked it. You all had a lot of questions about Harry and those will start to be answered in this chapter.
Oh and I was impressed that one of the review noticed that at the very beginning of the chapter I described Hermione as a `young girl' not `young woman'. I did this because Hermione still sees herself as a `young girl'. This whole story is going to be from Hermione's PoV and she will soon no longer she herself that way. So, well done Meresger on catching that.
I hope you enjoy this chapter and please Read and Review.
Arranged to Be Yours
Chapter 1
The Wedding and Wedding Night
Hermione was woken by her overbearing Mother, who was much too excited for that time in the morning. She dressed quickly in traveling clothes and pulled her long, brown, bushy hair into a loose bun on the back of her head.
Once finished she meet her Mother and Father in the courtyard where she could see a few house servants loading the last of her trunks to the back of the carriage. The sun was barely crossing the horizon when she was helped into the carriage by her Father.
Hermione tried to lean against the side of the carriage to get maybe a bit of sleep before she was sold off to her "husband".
"Hermione dear sit up, Ladies do not slouch." Her Mother broke the silence of the traveling carriage.
"I wasn't slouching Mother, I was trying to get some sleep."
"Well you should have done that last night. Now sit up."
Hermione sat upright but not before she glared at her Mother. She hated this. It wasn't fair she wanted to be asleep in her own room, in her house in London. But no, she was stuck in a carriage on her way to God knows where to a man who wanted to do Lord knows what to her later that night.
"Father, how much longer?" Hermione asked long after the sun had risen over the horizon.
"Not much dear. Are you getting excided about your marriage?" Her father asked her hopefully.
"Something like that." She once again took to looking out the carriage window at the countryside passing by.
After what seemed liked far too long her Mother grabbed her arm.
"Hermione look, that's the Manor we used to live in!"
Hermione turned to look out the other carriage window to see the place she used to call home standing off in the distance. She did remember the house barely. She remembered many warm days she spent out in the large front yard running, playing, laughing with the girl with dark red hair and the boy with jet black hair. There were others she played with while she was there but she was unable to see them in her memories.
From what her Mother had told her the boy with black hair was the one she was to marry. But for the life of her she could not fully remember him.
She was brought from her musing by sensing the carriage slowing down and turning slightly to the right. When she looked out her window again the church door was in front of her. The butterflies in her stomach went wild when she saw the two people standing off from the church.
One was a woman with that dark red hair and the other was a tall man with dark black hair. Was this Harry? He had glasses now but he looked much older then she did. Maybe the war had aged him.
"David we're so glad to see you. It's been much too long." The man said as her Father got out of the carriage followed by her Mother.
"It's good to see you too James. Lily you are looking as lovely as ever."
"David - you good for nothing cad." Lily laughed as David kissed her cheeks. "Jane, look at you, you haven't aged a bit"
"One could say the same about you." Jane kissed James cheeks then Lily's.
Hermione sat in the carriage and watched her parent's interaction with Mr. and Mrs. Potter.
"Hermione dear, why don't you come out?" Her father reached in and helped her out of the carriage. "You both remember our daughter Hermione? Hermione, this is James and Lily Potter."
"It's lovely to meet you again." Hermione smiled slightly as she greeted them.
"Look at you." Lily started as she took both of Hermione's hands to look her over. "You've grown so much. I remember watching you and Harry running around the estate for hours on end. Well let's get you inside and ready shall we? James, why don't you take David to see Harry and your Father?"
James nodded and he David walked through the front doors of the church. While Lily and Jane whisked Hermione off to a side door.
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This was hell on Earth. She was sitting in her wedding dress which was completely shapeless. The long sleeves covered her arms, the neck was cut so it surrounded the base of her neck to the point it almost cut off her air. Then there was the dress itself, it was long and white. It barely came in at her waist and made her look bigger then she was.
"Mother could you please pull in the waist just a bit please." She begged.
"Hermione I told you that this is what you wear to get married. I wore almost the exact same thing."
"Please just a tiny bit. I'm not asking for it to hug my body just make it so I don't look like a house!"
"Lily, what do you think?" Jane asked her.
"Well I don't think a little will hurt that much."
"Oh all right, come here."
Hermione moved in front of her Mother and watched as she took in the dress so it fit her better. After she was done Hermione once again turned to the mirror to see that she now look closer to her 125lb weight, not the 200lbs it had made her look.
"Now dear let's take care of that hair." Lily said as she walked up behind her. "We're going to have to braid it then put it back in a bun so why don't you have a seat."
"Can't I just wear it in a long braid?" Hermione asked as she sat on the vanity seat.
"Oh course not! Hermione, only your husband is to let your hair down!" Her mother scolded her.
"Sorry, I didn't know."
She waited until Lily had finished with her hair before she looked back in the mirror. When she saw herself the realization of what was happening finally hit her. She was getting married to a man she didn't know. She was going to be leaving her family, not to see them for months, maybe years on end. Tears started to fall from her eyes as she finally realized her life as she had known it was over. She was no longer going to be a daughter but a wife. Soon, she knew, she would become a mother. A sob escaped her throat as she quick turned from the mirror.
"Hermione dear, what's wrong?" her mother asked her.
Hermione felt her mother pull her into a hug when she did not answer right away.
"Please don't make me." Hermione whispered into her mother's ear.
"Lily, would you give us a few minutes?"
Hermione clung to her Mother as Lily left the room. As soon as the door was shut Jane pushed her daughter back from her.
"What are you thinking asking me not to make you? This is your duty as a woman."
"Mother please I don't want to marry him. I don't know him. Please, please don't make me marry him!"
"Hermione Jane Granger, we made a deal with the Potters when you were born and we are not backing out of it. You need to get over this idea that this is not the way things work. This is how your Father and I married and this is how the Potters married."
"But Mother" Hermione was silenced by her mother smacking her across the face.
Her mother had never hit her. Hermione raised her hand to the place where her mother's hand had struck her.
"Now you listen to me Hermione. I will not tell you this again. You will be getting married to Harry today whether you like it or not. Do you understand me?" Hermione nodded mutely. "Good now let me heal your face. You don't need a hand print on your face when you get married."
Hermione removed her hand and let her Mother take away the red hand print on her cheek. After she was healed Hermione grabbed a handkerchief to dry her face. As she did so a knock can to the door.
"Is everything alright?" Lily asked as she stuck her head in the door.
"Yes Hermione was just having a pre wedding moment. Just going to miss being near her Mother and Father that's all."
"Well that's very understandable." Lily walked fully into the room followed by another man.
He was about the same height as James but he's hair was a salt and pepper color. "It's time to test her." He said
"Hermione this is Mr. Potter, Harry's Grandfather."
"It's lovely to meet you. What test?" Hermione asked.
"To test your purity and your fertility girl." The man barked to her.
Hermione nodded mutely as she watched the man take out is wand and point it at her.
"Castimonia."
Hermione felt the spell hit her and a bright white light engulfed her.
"She's never been touched, very good. Now for her fertility. Fertilitas."
Again a white light surrounded her body before quickly disappearing.
"Excellent, she will give Harry many children. The wedding can go on now." Mr. Potter turned briskly and left the room.
"I'll tell David to come back here so he can give Hermione away." Lily too left the room.
"Here we need to put your veil on dear." Her Mother said to her as she sat her down on the vanity seat.
As her Mother pinned the veil to her hair Hermione saw her Father enter the room. When her Mother finished Hermione stood and let her Mother kiss her cheek before she moved the veil to cover her face.
Hermione watched as her Mother left the room and her Father took her arm to lead her out of the room.
Her Father walked her into the chapel of the church where she saw her Mother sitting to her left, Lily and James Potter to her left with Mr. Potter sitting next to them.
Then standing in front of her was someone who must have been Harry. He looked much like his Father and Grandfather, but as she got closer Hermione could see that his eyes were a brilliant green unlike his Father and Grandfather's brown eyes. He looked as nervous as she was. Maybe he didn't want this too. But what could she really do about that now.
When they stopped they were standing in front of the man who would marry her and the man beside her. She forced herself to stop thinking.
Then she watched helplessly as her Father took out her wand from his pocket and handed it to Harry. Who in turn placed it in his own pocket. After that the rest of the ceremony became a blur to Hermione. She could not believe that her Father had just handed off her wand to almost a complete stranger.
She barely heard the Minister pronounce them husband and wife when the ceremony was over. Hermione watched as Harry slowly lifted her veil over her head so he could see her fully for the first time. He gave her a small smile before their family gathered around them.
"That was lovely don't you think?" Lily said to the group.
"Yes, quite." Jane responded.
"These two need to be off. They have things to take care of." Mr. Potter interjected.
Hermione felt sick but couldn't help but look over at Harry, who, she was happy to see had turned pink. He nodded wordlessly to his grandfather and took Hermione by the hand and walked out with their family to a carriage that was waiting for them.
Hermione was shocked to see that the sun was getting close to setting below the ground. Her Father kissed her cheek and her Mother gave her a brief hug.
"What about my things?" Hermione asked.
"Dobby has already taken them to our home." Harry spoke for the first time. His voice was soft but had that distinct masculine tone to it. She liked it.
"Dobby?"
"He's my…I mean our house elf. We're getting Winky from my parents too. She'll be able to help you with…um…you know." Harry said with his cheeks turning that light pink shade again.
"Oh."
Hermione felt Harry's hand come to rest on the small of her back to lead her to their carriage. He took her hand and helped her into the carriage before quickly getting in after her.
But before the carriage was able to move the door opened to reveal Mr. Potter Sr.
"Harry I need a word with you before you and your bride leave."
"Yes sir."
Harry stepped out of the carriage and walked over to talk to his Grandfather. Hermione watched has the older man spoke in hushed tones to his Grandson. After he said one thing she saw Harry's eyes cut over to her as he nodded mutely to him. That seemed to be enough because Mr. Potter clapped the young man on the shoulder and stood back as Harry once again returned to the carriage.
No sooner had Harry sat down did the carriage start moving. They had been riding for a few minutes before Hermione broke the tense silence.
"How long will it take us to get there?"
Harry looked out the window before looking at her. "A little over half an hour. My parents and grandfather live another half an hour past our home."
Hermione nodded wordlessly before she turned her gaze outside.
"I hope you like it." Hermione turned back to him. "The house I mean. It's where I was born. My parents moved to the main estate house with my Grandfather when I was ten. So no one has lived there since. I only got a chance to clean up some of the rooms in the house. If you don't like them feel free to change them. I don't have much of an eye for decorating. We have horses if you like to ride and lots of land to ride them on. That's the main way I use to get to the main house. It doesn't take as long to get there by the trails as on the road by carriage. Am I talking too much?"
"No you're fine. It's nice to hear about where I'll be living."
"I'm sorry that we won't be living close to your parents. We'll try and visit when we can. I don't know how often that will be but we will make time."
A silence fell around the couple as the carriage continued to their home. After a short while longer Harry again spoke up.
"We're here."
The carriage turned to the right and Hermione was able to see a mansion coming into view. The large gray stone mansion had many windows that lined the front of the home and there was a light in the front room of the house.
"Looks like Dobby left a light on for us before he left."
"Why did he leave?" Hermione asked as the carriage stopped.
"My grandfather thought it was best that we had the house to ourselves this evening." Harry said softly as he stepped out of the carriage.
Hermione nodded once again as Harry helped her out of the carriage. He led her into the foyer and quickly lit the rest of the candles that lighted the stairs with a swish of his wand.
"You must be tired from your day. I'll show you to the master bedroom." Harry let his hand come to rest on the small of her back as they walked up the large wooden staircase to the second floor.
After walking down the hallway Harry stopped them at the door at the end wall of the hall. He opened the door to reveal a large room that was in done in red and gold. There were dressers on either side of the room and in the center of the back wall was a large bed.
Hermione gulped at the sight of it. She slowly moved into the room and aloud her hand to touch the softer fabric of the comforter.
"I hope Dobby put your things on the side of the room you like."
"Th-they are fine."
"I'll leave you to sleep. Have a goodnight." Harry turned and started to leave the room.
"You're leaving?" Hermione asked slightly confused.
"Yes I thought you'd like to sleep."
"But I thought we…" Hermione broke off unsure how to continue.
"I didn't think you would want to. I mean we haven't seen each other since we were children. I thought you'd be more comfortable this way." The blush on Harry's cheeks returned.
"Is this what you and your Grandfather were talking about?"
"Uh no quite the opposite."
"Oh. Well thank you Harry."
"You're welcome, have a goodnight." Harry turned and walked to the door.
"You too Harry."
Harry nodded before walking out the door and closing it behind him. Hermione was getting ready to try and take off her dress when a knock came to the door. She walked over and opened it slightly.
"I forgot to give this back to you."
In Harry's outstretch hand was Hermione's wand.
"I could run away with that if I wanted to." She said.
"You could run away whether or not I gave this back to you if you really wanted too." Harry said with a slight smirk on his lips.
"Thank you." Hermione pick up her wand and watched as Harry nodded before turning and walking into the open door down the hall and to the left.
She closed her door and returned to get changed into her night clothes. Once she was in bed she lifted her left hand to look at the new ring that adorn her finger. It was a very pretty ring, she had to admit. The lone diamond was sitting in-between to two deep red rubies. Hermione started to wonder if Harry picked it out himself or if it had been in his family and had no choice then to use it. She let her thumb absentmindedly rub the ring as she let herself go into deep thought about what had happened today.
"I'm married. I got married today." No matter how she thought of it, it still sounded odd.
Then a new thought popped into her head. One she thought she'd never have. "Why didn't he stay with me tonight. I thought that that's what a husband would want. He did say that he thought this is what I would want. But what if he doesn't find me pretty enough. Maybe that's why."
A dark cloud came over Hermione's thoughts at that point. A few tears leaked from her eyes as she rolled over to her side. She needed to sleep. It was late and she would have to get up in the morning and try to figure where she stood in her new life.
Slowly the travel and events of the day took over and Hermione feel into an uneasy sleep.
A/N2: The next chapter I am still working on so it may be a bit before I get it posted. The spells that were used in this chapter were Latin words that I looked up so if they are not right please forgive me. I'm sure you all think that this chapter is also way to short but they will hopefully get long as I go. As always thanks to my beta Ken and Read and Review please!
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