December

The heels of her good-luck pumps clicked on the black tile of the hall leading out of the courtroom as her chest shook, trying to calm her breath. She approached the downstairs atrium, and her lips pulled into a small smile. Standing there was a small group of cheerful faces waiting for her: Harry, Gin, Ron, Arthur and of course, Malfoy.

Her face betrayed nothing as she closed the space between them and stood resolutely in front of her friends, her chin held high. Ron was the first one to break the silence, eyes bright and excitement vibrating through his limbs. "Well?"

Hermione filled her lungs almost painfully, and let out a long breath. "I think it went well…" She allowed, a sad smile gracing her lips. "But, the motion was inconclusive."

The shift between the small group was tangible and Hermione's gaze flickered to Draco. The disappointment painted across his features gutted her. She'd failed.

"They're going to review my notes and research and vote again." Her voice cracked and she shifted her weight from foot to foot.

Harry spoke next, his voice low and concerned. "When?"

Her watery eyes searched Draco's expression and her mouth tightened and turned downward. "When the next session resumes. January 7th."

Ron arrived via Floo that evening, wrapping her in his arms, holding her close as she wept. "It's not over yet, 'Mione," he murmured again and again.

She wept openly, frantically swiping at her cheeks, dragging in broken little breaths. "It's not fair, Ron. It's not. I'm in love with him, you know? How completely ridiculous is it that I fall in love with someone I want to spend the rest of my life with, and I'm forced into a marriage with someone else?"

Ron scooted over on the couch, folding his hands between his knees, staring at her with that lopsided sweet smile he always saved for her. "I'm not the only option, 'Mione. You could marry Malf—"

Her gaze darkened as her lips pulled back in a sneer. "Do not finish that sentence."

"Have you talked to him about it?"

The answer was 'no'. Hermione couldn't bring herself to bring up the idea of marriage with Malfoy, there was still much left undefined. Their relationship still existed in this beautiful little bubble where they didn't find each other too annoying; where tension could be kissed or cuddled away. But there were bigger things to consider, things like babies… or lack thereof.

If she asked Malfoy to marry her, she didn't want it to be for the sake of convenience. No, she wanted to marry him for all the reasons that mattered.

"I can't ask him to marry me before he's ready just so I can avoid the Ministry's stupid law. I'm serious about him, more serious than I've ever been. I can't ask that of him."

"So, you're saying…"

Her heart felt like a pin cushion as she nodded her agreement back at him. "Yes. If you're still offering, that is."

Ron smiled back at her before bringing her in her arms for a hug. "Just tell me when. I'll be there."

He didn't leave for a while; instead, he held her as she cried until the Floo again roared to life and Malfoy stepped through, replacing the arms that were holding her together.

"You're...you're going to marry him, then?" The words sat uncomfortably between them, even as she was cradled to his chest and a little broken cry vibrated through her.

"It won't change anything," she said, trying to convince herself more than anything else. "My motion will pass next month and by this time next year, it'll all be a horrible dream. We'll…" Hermione blinked up at Draco, trying to banish the tears sliding over her cheeks. "We'll be okay? Won't we?"

Something dark flashed behind his cloudy eyes and he swallowed once before answering. "Of course." Draco nodded, a smile spreading over his lips that didn't touch his eyes. "As long as you think this is best."

She didn't. Not in the slightest. But the man had buried a wife less than two years ago and if and when he was ready to take another, he'd ask.

She refused to be an obligation.

The weeks following the Wizengamot were complicated for Hermione. Her sadness morphed to rage and then back to sadness in an endless current of confusing and overwhelming emotions.

Christmas Eve found Hermione at Malfoy Manor.

She smiled politely throughout dinner, never once letting on the dread she felt at each passing day.

After their meal ended and they made their way to the opulent Christmas tree dripping in sparkling silver lights and emerald and crimson baubles—not to mention an almost tacky amount of gifts for young Scorpius, the majority from his Nannie.

"Happy Christmas, Hermione," Narcissa said with a warm smile. "I think I'll retire for the evening and you leave you young ones to have fun without me. Scorpius? Come on now." Narcissa held out her hand for her grandson, but before he could take it, Hermione intervened.

"Oh, just one moment!" Hermione called and pulled a small— surprisingly— ill wrapped gift from her charmed bag. "Here you are, Scorpius."

The blond child teetered over to her and tore at the wrappings, revealing a small stuffed lion. The resounding happy screech caused Hermione to snicker— and Draco to snort— and she wrapped Scorpius in her arms for a goodnight hug.

"You never know, Scorp. We might make a Gryffindor of you yet," she whispered loudly into his ear and gave him a final kiss on his fine, blond hair.

"Ni-night, Minnie!" Scorpius cooed, hugging the lion to his chest and toppling over to his father. "Ni-night, Dada."

"Happy Christmas, bud. I'll see you in the morning." Draco lifted his son effortlessly into his arms before releasing him to his grandmother.

Before long, the two of them sat on opposite armchairs staring at the slow blinking lights of the twelve-foot Christmas tree. Behind it was a wall of giant pane-glass windows showcasing the slow snowfall dusting over the Malfoy gardens.

"Are you tired?" Hermione asked pleasantly, pulling the large goblet of red wine to her lips and kicking her shoes off so she might tuck them under her. Her eyes drifted to where Draco sat and she was struck by the intensity of which he stared at her. "Are you okay?"

There was a pause before he answered, one where he shifted in his seat, leaning forward until his elbows rested on his knees. "Not really."

His simple answer slammed into her, leaving her breathless and sputtering on her wine. This was it then. The moment that he decided that enough was enough and he'd rather not continue a relationship with a married woman; the moment that decided everything else.

"Something you want to talk about?" she asked after swallowing her wine.

"Yes." Malfoy was on his feet then, pacing back and forth until she was sure he was going to wear the wood thin. "The problem is, this little pesky marriage law."

Her eyes rolled of their own accord. Yes, the marriage law was quite an issue for her as well, in case he hadn't noticed.

Draco stopped in front of the tree, outlined by the blinking lights and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "You see, I have no interest in dating someone who is married to Ronald Weasley."

If she listened close enough, she could hear the pop of their perfect little bubble bursting. She sat up tall, even though her jaw quivered. "Draco, you know I don't have a choice—"

"That's where you're wrong," Draco interrupted, his brows pulled low over his grey eyes. He took a few determined steps towards her and fell to his knee in front of the wing-back chair. Her normally quick brain struggled to understand the connection between his words and his movements. It wasn't until a shocked gasp slipped past her tongue as her eyes settled on the incredible ruby nestled in a circle of diamonds that rested in the small velvet box he was presenting her with. "I'm a choice, Granger. I love you. Scorpius, somehow, might love you more than me." Draco's laugh trilled through her and tears built in the corner of her eyes. "I know it's soon, but I choose you. And I know that you're meant to be marrying someone else in a few days, but I really hope you'll reconsider. Will you, Hermione Granger, be my wife?"

Hermione's trembling fingers shot up to cover her mouth as her eyes blew wide. A hundred thoughts bounced around the spaces in her mind and she struggled to make sense of the overwhelming joy and conflict flooding her system. She blinked a few times before setting her wine glass down on the table next to her and taking his face in her hands. "Draco, I don't want you to feel like you have to do this. You aren't the one rushed into anything here and if you need more time… well, that's what I have. You don't have to make any forever decisions when it comes to me. Not yet."

For the briefest of moments, Draco rested the weight of his cheek in the palm of her hand. Then he turned his face so he could press his lips there. His fingers threaded through hers and he traced the space between her knuckles on her ring finger and a smile played on his lips.

"When we lost Astoria and it was just Scorp and I… I swore that I would be enough for him. But you… you changed everything, Hermione. I didn't think I would ever need someone again, but I was wrong. I need you. Falling in love with you—" Draco coughed into his chest as he blinked away a threatening tear.

"Draco, there are other things to consider… I don't think—" Hermione paused then, knowing that in this moment she needed to be completely honest. "I don't want to have biological children. I don't know that's ever really been a part of my plan. But I know I love Scorpius and will love him every day you let me be his life. I just don't know if that will be enough for you."

With a small shake of his head, Draco studied her. His eyes tightened, trying to convey the seriousness of his following words. "I'm so sorry if I ever let on that I expected you to bear children, Hermione. I only needed to know the rest of it. As long as you love Scorpius as much as I know you do, nothing else matters."

Hermione laughed out loud at that and brought her hands to the back of his neck so she might tug him closer. "I love you," she said, her voice barely a whisper.

Draco pressed his lips against hers and she let out a quiet, happy sob against his lips. "You know... you still have to answer me," Draco pointed out after their lips had parted.

Hermione sat back in a huff and rolled her eyes playfully. "Well, of course, I'll marry you."

"Fucking, finally!" Draco nearly shouted, grabbing her around the waist, yanking her to her feet, and crushing her to his body.

Sitting in Draco's study as he thumbed through a potions anthology, Hermione was struck with the surrealness of it all. In asking her to be his bride, Draco had broken generations of traditions. She would someday be the lady of this house, in title, if in nothing else and surely there were expectations with that.

"Draco?"

He hummed in an absent response and flipped a page.

"How do you think things will change? After the wedding that is… are there things I'll be required to do?"

At that, Draco's eyes flickered up over the edge of his book and he sat up slightly straighter. "What do you mean?"

"Well, your mum… she does things, right? Are there things that pure-blooded girls do when they get married? Things I ought to do?" Hermione felt genuinely curious. There was no animosity or judgment colouring her voice and her head lulled to the side as the spoke.

Draco, however, tossed his book on the table and immediately strolled to her side, collapsing on his knees in front of her, much like he did when he proposed. "I wouldn't have married you if I simply wanted someone to run the Manor, Hermione." The use of her given name made her cheeks flush. "Come with me," Draco said, holding his hand out to her.

As soon as their palms touched they were Apparated to a small room she'd never been to before. On the wall was a similar tapestry to the one hanging in Grimmauld Place. Dozens and dozens of small portraits adorned the wall with interlocking vines showing the different branches of their Malfoy family.

Hermione's fingers skimmed the wall as her eyes roamed the images in front of her and quickly, her focus fell on her fiance's face near the corner and she stepped forward to study both his, and the stunning portrait of Astoria Malfoy. Under the pair of them, was Scorpius, the boy who had stolen her heart over the past year and she felt an unfamiliar pain as she once again stared at his mother.

There would be a lifetime of memories for Hermione and Scorpius; she would be there for all the memories that he would remember. For all intents and purposes, she would be his mother. What an incredible and important honor that was being bestowed upon her and she wasn't sure how in the world she was going to live up to it.

Curling around both Scorpius and Draco's portraits was another vine, leading off towards the bottom right and when Hermione realised it was her image there. Her head snapped to Draco and she gasped.

"Mother had it added on Boxing Day," Draco said, taking a few more steps into the room. "And this?" He pointed to the intertwining vines around their portraits. "That's all that matters moving forward. I don't care about lineages or other such nonsense. You and I are going to build something new going forward and I don't care how things happened before." Draco's arm wound around her belly and he rested his chin on the top of her curly hair. "Yeah?"

Hermione looked again to Astoria's image on the wall and she felt her heart wring out like a wet towel. "I don't know how to be a mum, Draco. I'm not sure I'll be as good as she would have been." Her voice was quiet in the small room as she settled into his arms.

"You'll be brilliant, Granger. Just like you always are."

January

She strategically planned their intimate wedding ceremony for the day after the Ministry's little due date, as a final 'fuck you' to the Minister himself.

Regardless of the reason for the expedited wedding ceremony, Narcissa was overjoyed to plan a party in a matter of days. No detail was overlooked and Hermione was given countless options to peruse, from flowers to hors-d'œuvres to wedding night negligees.

Now that all was said and done, she sat at a long table dripping with winter white roses and tall golden candelabras. Her husband, which something was certain she'd never get tired of saying, looked at her with starry eyes and kissed her every chance he got.

The dress she had chosen was a mix of ivory and blush with a scalloped lace neckline that faded around her waist into the elegant flair of the chiffon. Her hair had been twisted back into a chignon and she'd even allowed Ginny to add more than her normal minimalist makeup.

Even if had she had not felt beautiful, which she had, the way Draco stared at her as she'd approached him in the middle of the garden would have convinced her otherwise. His jaw trembled as he fought through his tears to smile brightly at her and as their hands touched under a canopy of fairy lights, two fat tears slid down his cheek.

It was the most perfect day.

And later, as she twirled in his arms with all the attention of their loved ones, Hermione felt— for perhaps the first time in more than a decade— lucky.

The hot sun kissed their skin as they laid out on the deck of their private bungalow. The clear blue water surrounded them on nearly every side and in the distance they had spotted some playful dolphins just an hour or so ago.

Hermione loved the crisp feeling of the sun on her skin and every time she looked over at her husband shaded by a large umbrella and reapplying sun repellant charms, she couldn't help but giggle.

When his fingers slid the buttons of his white linen shirt open and the planes of his chest were exposed, Hermione gaze darkened. Sure, she'd heard of the honeymoon phase before… but this... This was an unquenchable need to taste his skin whenever he was near.

He shrugged from his shirt, still under the steady shade of his large umbrella and leaned back with one arm resting over his pale hair, his sunglasses hiding his gaze.

Hermione wasted no time in throwing her legs over the sun chair and tiptoeing the few steps to where he lay. She startled him by straddling his lap and both hands came down on her hips as he laughed.

"You're insatiable, witch," he murmured as his hands brushed over the ridges of her ribs, shifting her slightly on his lap.

"I can't help it…" Hermione purred, as she leaned over him, brushing her lips softly against his lips. "You're all pasty and glowing in the sunlight, how's a girl to resist?"

Draco smirked as one of his hands came down on her rear with a playful swat that made her yelp, before grinding down on him as she felt him grow beneath her.

Draco's hands slid back up her front, palming her breasts and tugging at thin black material of her bikini until her nipples were exposed to the sun and he captured one between his lips as his thumb glided over the other. Despite the heat, gooseflesh covered her skin and she nearly collapsed on top of him, both of her breasts pressing into his face as his free hand tugged at the thin string of her bikini bottom.

One side freed quickly and he groped the flesh of her bum as his mouth left wet open-mouthed kisses over to her other breast and then up her neck where he sucked and nipped at her until she was sure there'd be a love bite.

When she let out a moan as his tongue soothed the spot on her neck he'd been nearly assaulting, Draco's hands eagerly roamed the bare expanse of her back as he pulled the small bit of fabric from her arse. Both his hands came down to the curve of her arse and he dug his fingers deep into her soft flesh, slipping two fingesr into her, the thin fabric of his swim trunks as their only barrier.

Hermione whimpered and lifted up onto her knees and Draco's hands cupped her sex as he stared up at her. She pushed the sunglasses from his face and braced her hands on his shoulder as his thumb gave a few firm swipes at her clit before slipping two fingers in her wet folds. Hermione whined as he curled his fingers inside her and she couldn't stop the snapping of her hips as he teased the spot just inside that made her keen.

"I'm ready, Draco," Hermione whimpered as she fucked his hand, knowing that his cock was inches away.

"I like watching you like this," Draco said, his voice husky as his dark eyes studied her. "Love watching you come undone by just my touch."

His free hand gripped her hip bone and then slid up to her breast, plucking at her nipple until her fingers were cutting into his skin and she was moaning her way through her orgasm. "Dr-Draco…" she managed as her head fell back and the walls of her sex clenched on his fingers.

Draco slid his hand from her after her tremors had passed, letting his two soaked fingers slide purposefully over her clit once more, causing her to shiver as she helped free him of his trunks.

She wasted no time in settling on his cock, releasing a gasp at the sensation gliding over her sensitive bud. His hands settled on her thighs and helped her set a hard, almost tortuous pace. With each buck of her hips, she elicited a pleasured little noise and her back arched as Draco gave a few more hard thrusts up into her, letting out a low rumble as he emptied into her.

Hermione collapsed on her husband's chest as he pulled the remaining strings of her bathing suit top and slid it from between them. Her lips found his cheek and then slowly moved towards his mouth, pillowing his bottom lip between hers and curling her fingers in his hair. She pulled back, resting her forehead on his and smiled. "Did I mention how much I love Fiji?"

Draco smirked and filled his hands with her arse once more. "Once or twice, love."

The portkey delivered the grinning couple into a few inches of snow on the lawns of Malfoy Manor and both of their cheery dispositions turned to scowls as they trudged towards the path. Scorpius bounded out in nothing more than a jumper a pair of denims and Draco flew forward to capture the boy in his arms.

"Dada! Miss you, Dada," Scorp said as he buried his face in his father's neck.

"We missed you too buddy, but it's freezing… Let's get you in."

Draco led them back in the giant garden doors and into the parlour where they were surprised to see their friends and family waiting for them. A tacky little 'Welcome Home' banner, that could not have been the work of Narcissa Malfoy, hung from two columns. They were greeted by shouts and hooting and even a waggling of eyebrows from a few of them and Hermione as passed around in celebratory hugs.

"What on earth are you all doing here?" She grinned as she stared bright-eyed at all of them.

Harry was the one to step forward, his eyes bright and a wide smile on his thin lips. "We wanted to be with you when you opened this."

A thick envelope was offered to her and Hermione's mouth ran dry as her eyes focused on the wax seal of the Wizengamot. "Is this what I think it is?" She barely recognised her own shaking voice.

"Open it," Harry urged, his eyebrows raising about the frame of his glasses.

Her fingers trembled as she tore hastily at the seal and pulled the thick parchment from its confines.

Dear Mrs. Granger-Malfoy,

We want to first congratulate you on your recent nuptials and have been notified that your wedding license was indeed received by the clerk's office.

In the following pages, you will find the results of our investigation and the final vote conducted just this morning on January 7th in the lower chambers of the Wizengamot.

Your motion has passed.

Congratulations and please let our offices know if we can be in any further assistance.

Signed,

Margo Peabody

Undersecretary to the Ministry of Magic

Hermione's eyes filled with tears as she re-read the cover letter again and again.

Passed.

Her motion had passed.

"I did it," she finally breathed, as the room erupted into more joyous cheers and Draco wrapped her in a crushing hug.

"I knew you'd pull it off, Granger."

Ron found her next, sweeping her up in one of his too-big embraces and she laughed as her feet touched the tile once more.

"So what's this mean, 'Mione? No more marriage law?" Ron asked, his hands clapping together as he spoke.

"Well not officially…"

Ron's normally clear gaze darkened and she laughed. "I swear, Ronald. Do you never listen to me? The petition had nothing to do with the Marriage Law. Even if by some mercy Shacklebolt repelled the stupid law, there is still a lot more work that needs to be done and to be honest, I don't trust him to do it. I can't trust a leader who would enact that law in the first place." Hermione finished with a tight jaw.

"So, what? You've had him kicked out of office?" Ron's jaw dropped in disbelief and Hermione rolled her eyes. How in the world could he have missed everything she'd been working on for the last few months?

"Absolutely not. I've simply petitioned to change the minimum age requirement to RUN for the Minister of Magic." When Ron's brows continued to hitch further and further together, she threw her hands up in the air in frustration. "You now only to be thirty years old to run for office, Ronald. Which I turned in September, in case you forgot."

Realisation made a slow appearance over Ron's features and Hermione's lips curled up into a wicked smile.

"So I'll be needing some help on a campaign, it seems. I'll be running for office in the next term. We've got a lot of work to do." Her nose scrunched up and her eyes gleamed down at the paper once more.

"Holy shite, 'Mione." A shocked little gasp of air escaped Ron's mouth.

"Granger-Malfoy for Minister 2010!" Harry shouted above the chatter of the crowd and in a slow, almost embarrassing chant, they all joined in.

Scorpius held her hands out for her and she took him happily, placing a kiss on his cheek and tickling his bloated little belly.

"Granger-Malfoy for Minister?" Draco grinned. "I like the sound of that. Say, will I get perks for sleeping with the Minister?"

"You're incorrigible," she scolded, nudging him with her elbow before stealing a kiss.

Standing with her new child beaming back at her and her husband pressing a kiss against her temple, not to mention a passed motion in her hands, Hermione couldn't help but think of how incredibly, indisputably perfect her life was.

February

A sea of too-bright and offensive flashes blinded the small family as they stood in solidarity in front of the fountain in the Ministry Atrium. Scorpius burrowed his face into his father's chest just to avoid it and Hermione lifted a palm in an attempt to block it out.

"All right, all right!" Hermione called, stepping up to the podium and gripping it's sides tightly. "I've called this press conference for a very important reason."

Her gaze floated over the dozen reporters, photographers and other attendee's that were curious to see what she might have to say. Her focus locked on a stoic and tight-jawed Kingsley Shacklebolt and she gulped, tilting her chin up slightly.

"As some of you are aware, the Wizengamot has recently passed a motion I filed in December. This motion allows for anyone the age of thirty or above to run for office." Hermione shifted her weight back and forth and looked over her shoulder at her Draco who was offering her an encouraging smile. "Without any further ado, I would like to announce my candidacy for Minister of Magic for the upcoming term."

The atrium fell silent for two heartbeats before a cacophony of questions and shocked responses echoed off the walls and the crowd pushed closer to her.

Draco was suddenly standing just a step behind her and brought his lips close to her ear so he might whisper. "No going back now, Granger. Now it's time to kick some arse."

Four Months Later

From the desk of Hermione Granger-Malfoy, Minister of Magic

June 12th, 2010

The Minister hereby decrees that the previously known "Marriage Law" is now overturned. No persons living under Wizarding law in the United Kingdom and its districts will be required to marry by a certain date, year, or give reasonable proof that they have tried to conceive of their own accord.

Signed,

H. Granger-Malfoy

Minister of Magic

THE END

A/N: I had so much fun writing this little short story for BiscuitsforPotter! I have read maybe one Marriage Law story before and have never attempted a write of one, so although it's not your normal take on the trope, I hope you enjoyed it! Your aestethic was so much fun to build a story around! I also hope it was fluffy enough and I didn't sneak too much angst in... I just can't help myself!

To MCal, my constant support, my sane place and safe place: Thank you for all your help with this story! Everytime we collaborate I feel better about the words I'm writing.

To all the lovely readers who follow me along on adventure to adventure: I adore you. Thank you. You keep me writing and I love hearing your thoughts!

To the guest reviewer Marge who called me a privileged white woman (I am biracial, by the way. The first generation on my mothers side born in the US.), who said I didn't understand feminism or wanting to challenge the patriarchy: I hope you finished the story. Stories don't end half way through and laws aren't changed quickly. It was important to me that Hermione always had a "safe" choice in Ron, that he offered her something she needed and that she CHOSE to marry Draco for all the right reasons, and not because of the law. It was also important to me that she not only changed the law, but also will be apart of the laws going forward. Sometimes the foundation is cracked and everything built on it is crooked. This is how I view a lot of what's going on in our world today, and I thought I could pump that into a little short story. I will continue writing my "trash", as you so sweetly put it, and if you follow along for another story, I hope you will remember that a real person put hours into crafting this little hobby story. I have feelings too. Wishing you all the best, Marge.