In my dream, there was a warm firelight.
Draco stood in the light and reached out his hand to her. She ran towards him crying, seemingly calling his name incessantly, as if afraid he would disappear in the blink of an eye.
It turned out that it wasn't an illusion; he had heard it all.
Even the last bit of strength to struggle vanished.
Hermione could no longer maintain her facade. She buried her face in the crook of his neck, inhaling his reassuring scent, her voice tinged with a sense of resignation.
"So what... what's the point of shouting...?"
Draco's heart skipped a beat. He tightened his grip, holding her tightly in his arms, and coaxed, "So you're finally admitting it? Admitting you can't live without me, admitting you only have me in your heart."
"You... you're not allowed to mention it! You're never allowed to mention it again!" Hermione protested sullenly in his arms.
"Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore, or we'll really get close." Draco knew when to stop, patting her back affectionately, his expression gradually becoming serious. "I've already thought about the funding; I guarantee everything will be foolproof."
Hermione immediately lifted herself from his embrace, her previously flushed face now showing a serious anticipation, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him. "Really? You've thought of a way?"
"Of course." Draco playfully flicked her nose.
"You can officially register a ' S.P.E.W. Foundation ' to legitimately receive and manage funds. Then, the Ministry of Magic can directly allocate funds to you."
Hermione paused, her brow furrowing slightly, before her reason returned quickly. " The Ministry of Magic? But the approval process is so slow and stringent now, they simply won't allocate any budget to a peripheral topic like ' House-elf' rights'..."
"Have you forgotten who your father-in-law is?"
Hermione was startled, and her cheeks instantly flushed again.
But then, reason quickly returned.
She suddenly remembered that Draco had confidently said he was sure he could bring down that mediocre Fudge.
In addition, Lucius Malfoy's activities have been frequently mentioned in the Daily Prophet recently.
He moved between various departments discreetly yet efficiently, gradually increasing his influence, voice, and support within the party.
It's obvious to everyone that the undercurrent that was once suppressed is now gathering into a torrent, Lucius is the most likely person to secure the top position in the Ministry of Magic next.
If that's really the case... then it certainly can work.
With the minister's support, approval processes and budget allocations are just a piece of cake.
After a few seconds of silence, Hermione muttered something under her breath:
"... Isn't this considered using connections? I don't like this." His voice carried a Granger- esque insistence on principle.
Seeing her conflicted little face, Draco couldn't help but chuckle and reached out to tap her forehead:
"Otherwise, what do you think power is for? To look good? Or just for decoration?"
His gaze then sharpened and became realistic. "In this world, the rules are made by the strong. If we want to change the rules, we must utilize the power behind them."
"But I don't want to rely on my family background..." Hermione bit her lower lip, her voice even softer, tinged with resentment. "I want to prove SPEW's worth through my own abilities."
"This isn't because of your connections; it's because your future husband and future father-in-law are helping you with the right things."
Draco pinched her chin, forcing her to look up and meet his earnest eyes.
" Hermione, do you really think those bills and those funding grants can be passed just because of your enthusiasm?"
"Without someone of sufficient stature supporting you, running yourself ragged won't help; you'll only end up battered and bruised."
"Accepting help doesn't mean denying your abilities; rather, it's about maximizing your potential."
Looking into his honest eyes, Hermione had to admit he was right.
Without strong support, her ideals might forever remain at the stage of "student experimentation."
"Moreover," Draco, seeing her expression soften, pressing his advantage, "Once he takes power, the first young wizarding group he'll support will definitely be your foundation."
"When the time comes, everyone will see the results, and they will say, ' Hermione Granger accomplished great things through her own abilities,'"
"No one will think you got this through connections; they'll just think you're good enough to deserve investment from the Ministry of Magic."
Hearing this logically sound and affectionate explanation, Hermione's last line of defense crumbled.
She muttered softly, her voice full of helplessness and resignation. "... After you put it that way, it seems like I have no choice but to agree, otherwise I'd seem too ungrateful."
Draco smiled contentedly and pulled her back into his arms tightly, "I should have agreed. You're my wife, and it's only right that my family helps you."
Hermione nestled against his warm chest, listening to his steady heartbeat, and pinched the soft flesh on his side, but not really hard; it was more like an affectionate teasing.
After a moment, still somewhat uneasy, she said softly:
Even so, I'm still a little worried.
She sighed softly, straightened up from Draco's embrace, sat cross-legged on the carpet, and said worriedly:
"My uncle has just taken office, and there are so many old fogies in the Ministry of Magic, and the conservatives are so powerful. He can't possibly..."
She stopped herself mid-sentence.
I almost blurted out that nickname!
The word "father-in-law" is truly shameful.
Although the words were left unsaid, the meaning was clear: even if Lucius became minister, he might not be able to control everything.
In case of opposition from parliament
Or the opposition could seize on this as grounds for attack, accusing it of being a " Pure-blood families buying people's hearts" or "abuse of power."
The foundation's funding could still be lost, or it could even become a victim of political infighting.
Seeing her thoughtful demeanor, Draco's eyes flashed with admiration, which quickly transformed into unwavering confidence.
He put his arm around Hermione's shoulder, his tone as casual as if he were discussing tomorrow's weather:
"Worried about this? Honey, you take the Ministry of Magic too seriously, and you underestimate my father."
Draco patiently explained:
Draco's tone carried a composure born of his family's heritage, even a hint of disdain, as he patiently explained:
"His rise to that position was definitely not a matter of being 'parachuted in.' It was the result of decades of cultivating connections, exchanging favors, and secretly planning, accumulating enough confidence and leverage."
"Do you think he won over those members of parliament, directors, and key personnel for nothing?"
"Pushing a bill for the S.P.E.W. Foundation will be a piece of cake; no one will dare to oppose it."
Seeing Hermione deep in thought, he continued his analysis:
"Moreover, this can be seen as a 'new trend' set by my father as the new minister for the Wizarding World."
"Use the success of a clever and upright young witch to whitewash the Malfoy family's past image and, incidentally, shut up those who accuse us of ' Pure-blood Supremacy and cold-blooded ruthlessness'."
"This deal will both earn him fame and win him hearts; there's no reason he wouldn't take it—it's a win-win situation!"