About: A Marriage Law fic with a twist. 10 years ago by Ministry decree, Hermione and Draco were ordered to marry. 10 years ago Hermione said no, breaking the law and retreating into the muggle world. Now she's back, what will it mean for Draco? Suddenly he can't escape her, but the real question is - does he want to anymore? Dramione - M for adult themes and some lemons in later chapters.

Disclaimers: This is rated M. There will likely be smut at some point (it is me after all) as well as mature themes and language. Do not read this if you are uncomfortable with such things or complain and spoil it for others. Additionally, I do not claim to own Harry Potter and there is no copyright infringement intended. Just a fun fanfic for no profit!

The Marriage Bond

10 years ago. Ministry of Magic, 10th floor meeting room.

He sat with his head in his hands. How had it come to this? Marrying mudblood Granger because the Ministry told him to. There truly was no end to the powers that be controlling his life.

It's not as though he thought she, and people like her, should be tortured or eradicated anymore as his parents had raised him to believe. It's that she was still every bit the irritating low class woman a Malfoy man would never willingly marry. The very idea of it sickened him. What would they talk about? The rights of House Elves? That ghastly little S.P.E.W club she goes on with?

Hermione didn't seem much happier about the situation either. Presumably she had wanted to marry Weasley, not that he could work out why. She may not have been good enough for a Malfoy, but in his view she was entirely too good for a Weasley, regardless of her muggle blood.

She was staring out of the small window in the sterile room with what he would later describe to be a simmering contempt. Every few minutes she would sigh in frustration. He could practically hear the gears turning in her head. Not that it would make a difference, the stupid witch. Always thinking she could change things. Frankly, it pissed him off.

"Stop it Granger, you'll give yourself a stroke," he drawled.

"Shut it Malfoy," she snapped, turning around and staring several daggers into his head.

He smirked. He did love tormenting her. That said, he hardly fancied a lifetime of it. He imagined it would lose novelty over time.

After their outburst she resumed her position by the window, and he began brooding into his hands once more. Draco felt every tick of the clock cutting into him like a knife. This entire ordeal was excruciating.

Eventually, he felt her presence beside him. He lifted his head and looked at her. It was obvious that she had been crying. Instinctively, and without quite knowing why, he reached up and brushed the tears away.

She was going to be his wife after all. He couldn't mistreat her forever, mudblood or not.

Malfoy decided that now, in this austere Ministry room, where they had been told their own futures were no longer theirs to decide, was the time to be honest. Something he rarely was before that day, or afterwards for that matter.

"You know Granger, I never had any control over my life as a child, or a young adult. My father practically sold me off to the Dark Lord before I was born. I was just a pawn in someone else's game…but I really thought… I really thought that after the war… and after the charges against me were dropped… that finally, I would get to have a say in my own life… and now…." He trailed off, dangerously close to losing control over his cool, expertly crafted Malfoy exterior.

"Now they've taken that too," she said quietly, with a nod of understanding.

"Yes," he responded in an equally quiet tone, shocked that she seemed to empathise with him so deeply. He could see it in her eyes.

"I know what you mean Malfoy. My entire childhood I didn't fit in, because I was magical and didn't know it. How could I fit with other muggle children? When I came to Hogwarts I was on the outer again because I was made to feel 'less than' because I was a muggleborn… then along came Voldemort…" she paused as she noticed Malfoy wince at the mention of his name. It wasn't lost on her that he still wore Voldemort's brand on his forearm, which he subconsciously gripped through his shirt.

"He… he came along and I had to spend the rest of it fighting with Harry. Not that I minded. He needed to be defeated… it was worth the sacrifice…but I thought that after all of that that I might have a shot at a happy life…" she laughed bitterly, "now I am being told who to marry and procreate with like I'm a slave. Perhaps I would have been better off under Voldemort, he would have just killed me, not used me as a breeding mare," she wondered aloud.

Draco smirked. She wasn't wrong, although The Dark Lord would have played with his prey before he granted her the sweet release of death. Especially the world's most famous mudblood, Hermione Granger.

Tearing himself from his increasingly dark thoughts, he continued the conversation. "First, I was forced to take the Dark Mark. Now I'm forced to be married to someone I despise," he mused vocally.

"And I am being forced to marry a man who hates me so much he watched impassively as his Aunt tortured me on his drawing room floor," she responded in a flat tone. It wasn't an argument or an attack, merely a statement of fact.

"Ah yes, your new family home Granger, perhaps you can redecorate…" he responded sarcastically.

After a meaningful pause he continued. "I would stop it if I could Granger, I really would. But I am a former Death Eater and out of the Ministry's graces - there's no way out of it, the Malfoys' are all out of favours."

Their morbid discussion was abruptly ended when the door cracked open to reveal the Minister for Magic himself, flanked by two officials carrying some parchments.

"Ah Mr. Malfoy, Ms. Granger, shall we begin?" he said cheerfully.

"Well what fucking choice do we have?" snapped Hermione with a viciousness Draco had never heard coming from her. He'd never so much as heard her swear, let alone abuse an authority figure in such a way. Wasn't she planning for a career at the Ministry?

One of the other officials piped up to scold her. "That's no way to speak to the Minister of Magic Ms. Granger!" she said defensively.

"You mean the man who is marrying me off like he owns me for his own political gain after I spent my childhood fighting to free myself and others from a psychopathic tyrant?" she hit back.

Perhaps she would make a good Malfoy wife after all, he mused quietly. Clearly, she thought she was better than the highest authority in their world, a classic Malfoy trait.

"Well Hermione, I can understand your frustration, but this is about the preservation of wizard kind. You know about magical birth-rates and…" the Minister began, before being cut off by her snort.

"This is about your political agenda," she responded, her tone dangerously low.

Draco remained quiet, observing his betrothed tearing strips from the most powerful man in wizarding Britain. No wonder she was always so high up on the Dark Lord's hit list. Beyond being an extremely talented and accomplished witch, she was making it very clear she was not one to be trifled with. Her body was positively vibrating with rage.

He had always had a grudging respect for her, when he wasn't focused so much on her blood status, but this was the first time he felt a twinge of admiration for the feisty little witch.

"Well Hermione, what's done is done. Perhaps in the fullness of time you will see this is the best thing. You and Mr. Malfoy were matched based on powerful magic which…." He was again cut off, this time by Hermione's loud scream.

"SHUT UP!" she yelled, "Let's just get this over with, I can't stand to be in the room with any of you a moment more than I have to," she finished.

"Very well," said the Minister, clearing his throat.

"Today we will form a marriage bond over the paperwork. So long as this paperwork is legal, your blood oath will mean you may only be married to each other. Divorce will not be an option after the fact. I must stress that failure to marry before the year ends in line with our agreement and this contract, will result in your imprisonment in Azkaban. Now, hands out…" he said, his voice adopting an authoritative quality.

Silently, Draco and Hermione put their hands out over the Marriage Contract. Draco felt his fingers twitch with the magic surrounding them as the Minister flicked his wand. Silently, their fingers were pricked and a small drop of blood belonging to each of the eighteen year olds dropped down onto the pages of the contract.

Hermione Granger was to be Hermione Malfoy by the end of the year, or face imprisonment in Azkaban. She was going to be his wife. For better or worse. Probably worse.

Or so he thought at the time.

7 years later – Malfoy Manor.

Draco fiddled anxiously with the piece of parchment he had held on to for seven long years.

He had never got to speak with her about her plans, or why she took extra steps to protect him. She could have simply saved herself and left him to be married to some other witch, but she didn't. She guaranteed his freedom too.

After all, it was she who insisted on the blood bond rather than an immediate marriage like so many of their classmates. She had to have planned it, manipulated the situation from the moment their fate had been announced.

As a result, at twenty five years old, life had been good to the Malfoy heir.

He was a prosperous businessman in his own right, successfully leveraging the family fortune to expand his empire, thus doubling the size of it.

Fine women, food, holidays and accommodation were a standard luxury for him. His lifestyle was opulent, and unlike the rest of the witches and wizards in his year, he wasn't forced into a premature marriage.

Instead, he dated witches that were a few years younger or a few years older that had narrowly missed out on being subjected to the same fate as he and his classmates. They were drawn to him for his exceedingly good looks and fabulous wealth. Both of which he flaunted shamelessly.

Yes, life had treated Draco Malfoy very well indeed.

But every so often, he couldn't help but get out the worn piece of parchment, and wonder where she was, what she was doing, and mostly, why she had helped him. He wouldn't have done the same for her, and she had to have known that at the time.

He cast his mind back to the morning that everything changed. The morning Hermione Granger, war heroine and darling of the wizarding community, shocked the world and fell on her sword to save them both.

It was the day after the blood bond and it started like any other. He had awoken early as he never had slept well since the war.

All of the nights he spent agonizing over his involvement with the Dark Lord, fearing for his family's safety and trying to forget the twisted things he had seen and done, had taken their toll. The nightmares were relentless and he preferred the waking hours where he could get a better grip on his emotions and subconscious.

When he arrived back in his room after his shower he noticed his owl tapping lightly on his window. He opened it, took the letter and gave the owl a treat. The animal rubbed its head gently against Draco's hand, causing him to smile. He had always liked interactions like that, simple, without agenda.

He sat down to eat his breakfast, which had been neatly laid out by his devoted house elf Trixie. He remembered vividly that he had spilt tea all over the table as he read her shocking words.

Draco,

There may be no way out for you, but there is for me, and since we are bound, that means you have a way out through me. Whether we like it or not, we are partners now.

I was born in the muggle world. I can go back.

I will not stand to be exploited like this and forced into marriage against my will.

We both deserve better than this.

I suggested the blood bond as a step to be sure that they are unable to foist another witch onto you. So long as the law remains in place, our blood bond stands. They cannot make you marry another.

I checked the Marriage Act, you will not be punished if I run without your assistance.

The only negative impact to you will be you will be unable to marry another witch so long as the bond remains, but you can at least BE with who you choose. I apologise if this causes you issues with legitimate heirs for your family, but it is the best I could do.

Perhaps in time you could look at lobbying to have the law repealed? You certainly have the money, and I have faith you will regain the status to do so.

I have contacted the Ministry to make clear that you took no part in my escape and intended to comply fully with the Act and contract. I also suggested that the relentless pursuit of a beloved war heroine won't be popular, given there is already widespread public disgust over the Ministry decision to attempt to marry me to a former Death Eater. The Minister won't be so stupid as to look for me for too long.

Regardless, I have taken steps to be sure that they will never find me.

All I ask is that you take care of my family home. I don't have the heart to let it go. I have enclosed the keys. Not that a wizard such as yourself should need a key when you have magic. If you do enter, please remember I have muggle neighbours. Do not make a scene.

I hope that one day this archaic law will be repealed and I can return my family to our home.

It's time for you to live life on your own terms. Be more than the mark on your arm, and forgive yourself.

Hermione

Later that same week, now freed from the fate that befell his friends and schoolmates, he walked alone through the eerily quiet halls of Granger's family home, the image of her letter and her cursive gold handwriting burned into his brain.

It was the first muggle home he had been in and he was surprised to see how large and comfortable it was. He knew that her parents were muggle teeth doctors, and had heard that they made a large income from such a thing, but until that time he always imagined Granger lived like the Weasleys did, when in reality she lived in a large and somewhat luxurious home.

It was of course, nothing compared to Malfoy Manor, but then again, nothing really was.

Her room was neat and tidy, as he would have expected from Granger. That said, it was evident she had left in a hurry. To the naked eye, nothing looked disturbed, but Malfoy was unusually perceptive for a man of his age and was used to being on high alert for treachery and disturbances by virtue of his upbringing. She'd got out in a hurry alright.

The room itself had little personality, but he figured she spent most of her time at Hogwarts or gallivanting with the rest of the Trio anyway which might explain it. That, or she had no personality to speak of. Although, giving a stiff middle finger to the Ministry as she had gave him grounds to believe that was likely not the case.

Knowing he was totally alone and would not be interrupted, he decided to take his time nosing through the life of the woman he narrowly avoided being stuck in a loveless marriage with. After all, Malfoys had little respect for the boundaries of others at the best of times.

Nothing about the room was particularly exciting other than a small box under her bed. The box was full of photographs of her with Weasel and a number with another boy. The photos of the unknown man didn't move so he figured they must be a muggle.

He had little interest in Weasley, having observed that interaction at Hogwarts. They seemed to be in the early stages of a relationship after the war, but the Marriage Act put an abrupt end to it. Ron was betrothed to Pansy Parkinson of all people, although, strangely, Draco could see that working.

He was a pureblooded war hero on the rise and she was a blood purist with a social agenda. She could certainly get behind the idea of being attached to him. He smirked when he thought about his teenage interactions with Pansy. She was a rather boring witch, but loyal to those closest to her.

Perhaps they would be happy and this entire mess might not be a disaster for everyone involved. He found the thought comforting – even if he would have preferred Weasley get stuck with Millicent Bulstrode, if only for the comedic value.

Predictably, Potter was put with Weasley's little sister. Of course, the 'Boy Who Lived' was one of the special few that got to be with the partner he desired. Typical, thought Draco darkly.

Returning to the task at hand, namely violating Hermione's privacy, he began to thumb through the items in the box, paying close attention to Hermione and the mysterious muggle. They appeared to have attended a number of events as well as having taken, what looked to Draco, like some type of holiday together. It looked serious. He wondered where he went and if it was over when she had become betrothed to himself. Did she run away with him?

In addition to the pictures, there were a few modest pieces of jewelry and some letters.

Taking a deep breath, he made himself comfortable on her bed and began to read, hoping for something juicy.

"Dear Hermione,

I loathe that we have to be apart while you are at school. It's unfair your parents send you so far away for your education! I know I probably should not be writing this, but I miss you in my bed and when I think about you I struggle to focus on anything else….."

Draco smirked. "Well, well, Miss Granger, what do we have here?" He asked her empty room.

Since that time, The Daily Prophet often ran articles, speculating about what may have become of Hermione Granger. They would insinuate that Draco knew where she was (he didn't) and that Potter and Weasley were somehow hiding her (possible, in his mind).

He read them with a morbid curiosity, wondering how it was that she cashed out all of her war reward funds without being noticed. Who she bribed to get the currency changed. Where she went after that. What on Earth did she do as a muggle?

It was a miracle she pulled it off at all.

Most of all, he wondered how it was that she knew he couldn't forgive himself. It was the strangest way to end a letter to someone you barely knew. Hated even.

It's not like he had ever shown much of his internal moral struggles related to the war to anyone, let alone her. The entire thing was curious.

The mystery of her, whilst not a huge component of his life, was never too far from his mind, and it certainly didn't help that the wizarding public were relentlessly obsessed with the ill-fated betrothal.

What became of Hermione Granger was a constant talking point in the wizarding world. Whether you were in a bar, café, or bookshop, her name was never far from someone's lips. The whispers never ceased when he was on the street or at an event.

She was the greatest mystery since Potter rebuffing The Dark Lord's killing curse as a baby and the public could never seem to let it go.

Flourish and Blotts was particularly quiet on the rainy Tuesday Draco decided to go inside. He had been shopping with his current girlfriend, Astoria Greengrass, and was fed up with the whole process.

That was the thing about dating these beautiful witches of fine breeding. They were all the same, and they all bored him out of his mind. She was one of the better ones, but there was only so much shopping and mindless gossip he could endure before he suggested she continue to buy whatever she liked while he took a peek at the bookstore over the street.

Sliding to the back of the store to an alcove he knew contained exciting, rare, and at times, dark, books, he let out a small hum of pleasure. He loved books, particularly engaging material like this. He pulled out a particularly interesting book on Rudimentary Body Potions from the shelf and slunk back against it to read a few pages before making the commitment to buy it.

He had enough money to buy whatever he wanted, but the rule in his mind was that one should not commit to a book one did not intend to read.

The library at Malfoy Manor was extensive due to years of family members building it up as yet another display of wealth. He liked the space but spent little time in there. He preferred his personal library, full of well-loved books on a variety of topics personal to him. It was a point of pride that he had read each of them at least once.

Completely engrossed in the specifics of such dark magic, he was caught off guard when he felt a hand grab him and pull him further back into the nook.

Instinctively, he reached for his wand, but the unknown assailant had already summoned it and placed it quite out of reach. Now, firmly placed in the darkest section of the store, the shadows were obscuring the face of the culprit.

"What the bloody hell is the meaning of this? Don't you know who I am?" he asked indignantly.

Draco heard a feminine giggle before a small voice uttered "Lumos" in order to provide light to the small area.

Draco blinked to adjust to the light and was promptly met by a sight of a face that was familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.

"Hermione Granger?" he breathed quietly, "What on Earth are you doing here? That bastard Marriage Act is yet to be repealed. You could get yourself thrown into Azkaban or WORSE, married to me!" he snapped.

She looked at him impassively for a moment before responding. "Pleasure to see you as always Malfoy…I see you've not changed. Arrogant and bossy as always. If you must know, I am simply here for a conference. Don't worry, I keep myself glamoured when in the wizarding public. No one has the faintest who I am, hilarious really," she rambled.

"The Ministry will have your magic tracked…" he reasoned, shaking his head.

He was shocked to hear her snort. "Don't worry about that Malfoy," she said, as though he was an idiot.

He took the moments of uncomfortable silence that followed to have a quick look at her.

It had been seven years since he had set eyes on her and she had changed a lot. Gone was the bushy unkempt hair, instead replaced by luscious golden brown waves cascading down past her chest.

She wore a high wasted pencil skirt and a deep purple blouse, both of which he knew to be of fine quality due to the many hours he had spent shopping with witches who loved his generosity with his ever expanding Gringotts vaults.

As she absentmindedly brushed some hair that had fallen into her face, he couldn't help but notice her bracelets and rings were all of equally fine quality. Her nails were manicured and when he looked to her feet he saw her heels were tall and obscenely expensive.

Did Granger have money now? How?

"What kind of conference?" he asked, wanting to break up the awkward silence and also to distract himself from dwelling too much on the fact that her hourglass figure and her mysterious appearance was making him feel hot under the collar.

"The less you know the better Malfoy. I just pulled you back here because I happened to see you and couldn't resist my curiosity," she said earnestly.

"More like an excuse to molest me between these dusty old bookshelves Granger… then again, you always did like libraries didn't you? If you wanted it you could have just asked... This is probably making you…." his lewd goading was cut off as she cast a silencing charm on him.

'"Really Malfoy? We're twenty five years old now, I would have thought you could behave yourself for five minutes, but clearly not," she said in a bored tone, rolling her eyes.

He shot her a threatening glare. Nobody ever silenced him when he spoke. Who the hell did she think she was? Just because she had some fancy clothes and a nice arse. The nerve of the woman!

She looked away for a while, clearly thinking about what to say. He noticed her blood red lips and immaculate cheekbones. Had she always been this attractive?

"I just wanted to see if you were happy… if you got to do what you wanted finally, not what you were forced into… after… you know…" she said quietly, casting her eyes up to look at him. Now a man, he towered over the petite witch.

Draco softened slightly. Somehow, no matter how badly he treated this witch, she managed to be kind. Annoying little goody two shoes, he thought to himself without any malice.

She waved her hand and removed the charm so he could respond. He narrowed his eyes.

"Life has been good to me Granger… now, are you going to tell me how the hell you are performing magic in wizarding London without any Ministry knowledge of it?" he asked bluntly.

Draco swore he saw her eyes sparkle as she responded.

"Well, you were meant to be almost as bright as me in school Malfoy, I would have thought you'd have worked it out by now," she began in a familiarly haughty tone, "they never could track Voldemort or the Death Eaters could they? Why was that I wonder?" she asked, smirking.

He felt her hand leave his arm abruptly as there was a sharp crack and she disappeared. As quickly as she had arrived, Hermione Granger was gone. Stunned, he became aware of his wand having returned itself to his pocket.

He barely had time to register the fact that she had just alluded to the use of dark magic before he was called by a familiar voice. Hermione must have heard her coming and made a quick getaway.

"Goodness Draco! I have been looking for you everywhere. Honestly! I have no idea why you come into this horrid shop with all of these dirty old books when you have a perfectly good library at home.." rambled Astoria as she pulled him along, Rudimentary Body Potions book still in hand.

He kicked himself mentally for not suggesting they conceal themselves. Hermione's appearance was the most interesting thing that had happened to him in years. Against his better judgement, he would have liked to have talked to her some more.

It would be two more years before he would get the chance to see her again, under entirely different circumstances all together.

What has Hermione been up to all of these years? Could it be that she and Draco are going to cross paths professionally?

Is she going to come back for good? What will that mean for Draco? What happened to the rest of their classmates? Is this muggle boy still in the picture? SO MANY QUESTIONS…. I may have some answers *wink*

That is it for now. Let me know what you think guys!