Indecent Proposal

Disclaimer: The characters held within are not mine but belong to warner brothers and jk rowling. I\'m only playing with them for a few minutes and will give them back virtually unharmed. There is also no profit being made off of this, so please don\'t sue.

*~*

“You’re not serious!” Ron bellowed.

Harry shook his head as he looked at Hermione with confusion, “I don’t understand. You’re going to marry Draco Malfoy? We’ve only been out of Hogwarts for little over a year, why would you rush into this so quickly?”

She nodded and gave a sigh, “I don’t know why you’re making a big deal about this…”

“He has you under some spell, right? I mean, you have to be. You would never really marry him unless you were under a spell, right Harry?”

Harry stood silently, just looking at Hermione as she seemed almost bored with this conversation. Hermione rolled her eyes at Ron’s accusations, “I’m not under any spell.”

“How did this happen?” Harry asked softly.

“He asked, I said yes.”

“But why!?” Ron almost screamed.

“Because I want to!”

“This doesn’t make any sense, Hermione.”

“I’m not asking for your approval. I just thought you should know.”

Ron shook his head, seething with anger, “You’ve lost your fucking mind.”

She narrowed her eyes at him, “What do you care? What do either of you care? It’s my life. Let me do with it as I please.”

“Is there something else going on? Is he blackmailing you?”

She rolled her eyes again, “No, Harry. He’s not blackmailing me.”

“I just don’t understand it, Hermione. You’ve always hated him and he’s never made any pretenses about hating you as well. You have to help us understand it.”

“Understand nothing! You’re not marrying Malfoy!”

“You can’t tell me what to do!”

“Ron! Calm down. You’re not helping matters,” Harry said turning to his friend. “Hermione, have you been seeing Malfoy?”

She shrugged, “What does it matter, Harry? You see it as me making a mistake no matter what, right?”

“Why?”

“Because he asked me.”

“What if someone else had asked you? Would you have said yes to them?”

“Doesn’t matter. I’m getting married to Mal…Draco in a week. I suggest you two get used to the idea or not come.”

She turned on her heel and left the room. Who were they to tell her she was making a mistake? She sighed knowing that if they knew the real reason she was marrying Draco, they would rip his head from his body. But she would do anything to protect her family.

She apparated out of the Weasley home and into Malfoy Manor, where just the smell was enough to make her retch. She knew where to find him. She was now convinced that if he wasn’t Satan then the demon had some serious competition. She opened the doors to the library and found him sitting behind a large desk. His feet were crossed at the ankles on the old wood as he looked up at her when she entered.

“Granger, didn’t anyone ever teach you to knock?”

“I’ve lost my manners. Deal with it.”

He raised both eyebrows at her, “I take it that things with Potty and the Weasel didn’t go well?”

“You could say that again.”

“I could, but I won’t. Let me guess. They asked you if you were under some spell, then said that I was blackmailing you, and finally that you had just lost your bloody mind.”

She sat in one of the chairs in front of his desk, “Yes. Only they don’t realize that one of those is actually true.”

“Tut, tut, Granger. Blackmail is such an ugly word.”

“And what would you call it?”

“Negotiating.”

“Negotiating? You’re threatening to kill my family unless I marry you. I wouldn’t call that negotiating.”

“Well, seems we’re at an stalemate, then.”

She sighed, “Have I told you today that I hate you?”

He smirked, “Not today, no.”

“I do. I hate you.”

He nodded, “That’s fine. Wedding will be Saturday. Found a dress yet?” he asked as he turned back to the book that was propped on his lap.

“Yes. In fact, it’s bright red…”

He looked up at her, “You want to wear red, that’s your choice. You can look like a whore, won’t keep me from marrying you.”

“Why do all of this?”

“All of what?” She raised her eyebrows at him, “Oh, the marriage thing.”

“Yes.”

“Well, you see, I had to get married to get my hands on the Malfoy fortune…and I’ve seen how miserable marriage can be, so I thought ‘why not get someone who I hate and make them suffer right along with me’.”

She stood, “I hope your dick falls off.”

He smirked, “Why, Granger, that’s hardly complimentary.” He chuckled at the distaste on her face, “Speaking of such things, I have informed you, have I not, that the marriage must be consummated.”

She closed her eyes then looked out the window, “I don’t recall having that conversation.”

“Oh, well, it must be done.”

“You can get over it. It will not happen.”

He closed his book and removed his feet from the desk, “Sorry to disappoint you, but it has to.”

“That’s not part of our agreement.”

“Not true. We never discussed this.”

“I’m not sleeping with you.”

“Who said anything about sleeping? No, Granger, this will be nothing more than fucking.\"

She crossed her arms over her chest, “It’s not going to happen.”

“It has to.”

“Why does it have to?”

“Because it does. The executor of my father’s estate made that very clear to me.”

“And how will they know if we have sex.”

He smirked, “They’ll know.”

She frowned, “There has to be some way around it.”

“I’m not thrilled about this either…”

“Really? You seemed all too happy to tell me.”

He grinned, “But of course. Anything to make you unhappy makes me happy
Sh
She stood and placed both hands on the desk, “I. Will. Not. Fuck. You.”

He stood and matched her posture, “Yes. You. Will. Afraid you don’t have much of a choice, love,” he said with enough disdain to remove any sentiment from the word love. “That’s the beauty of having this over you, Granger. You’re completely at my mercy.”

She was fuming, “There has to be…Dumbledore could help me…”

“Dumbledore? HA! Run off to him and see if he can protect your family in time.” He shook his head and narrowed his grey eyes at her, “It’s not a good idea to cross me, Granger. You have far too much to lose.”

“But nothing to gain.”

“You’ll gain some things.”

“Such as?”

“Wealth.”

“I don’t care about money.”

He shook his head, “Only people who have never had any before say that.”

“And only arrogant little sods say that.”

He sneered at her, “I was in a fairly plea moo mood today, and you’re kly kly draining my patience and civility.”

“This is you civil?”

“I can be much more hostile if you like.”

She turned, walking back towards the door, “You can rot in hell for all I care.”

“I will. And I’ll see you there,” he said softly.

She slammed the doors behind her and he sighed to himself. He wasn’t happy about this marriage. At all. But it was written down years ago that he would have to marry her, the descendant of a muggle family. And it was specific in naming her. Lucius was livid when he’d seen what his very own father had written down for Draco in his will.

His father, who had died in the war during his final year at Hogwarts, had searched for any sort of loophole in the will. Nothing was ever found. It was binding; he had to marry her, against her will if need be. They were to produce an heir that was foretold as being the most powerful being born to wizarding kind in over two hundred years.

He was pissed off at his own misfortune. He never cared about Potter’s little gang. Just that he liked to annoy them. But annoying Granger had always been a past time he cherished. She was so easy to rile up, the only one to ever give him a decent argument. But he didn’t like her or any other woman enough to marry them. If he had his choice, he would have spent thst ost of his life a bachelor. It suited him. No commitment, no questions: just mindless fucking whenever he wanted.

But he figured that when he brought the idea to Granger she would have been a little more receptive about it. Most women in the wizarding world would kill for the chance to marry someone like him. If not for the fact that he was extremely handsome, he was also extremely rich. Or would be when Sunday rolled around and he had been married to her for at least twenty-four hours.

He often wondered if a divorce would work, but after reading through the will, it was forbidden. He hated his grandfather. If there was anyone worse than Lucius it was that old coot. If Lucius was the master at manipulation, he learned from the best.

He rubbed his forehead as he tht abt about his bride-to-be. She was far to hostile for her own good, and for his own good also. She was more likely to hex him than ever show any sort of civil emotion towards him. He sighed, wishing that she would change her mind. He wasn’t sure if it really came down to the wire that he would kill her family.

She had the type of family he’d never had. Loving parents: the concept seemed almost foreign to him. Two people who loved and cherished everything about their child. He’d never had that, even when he was a child. He felt that his mother often looked down at him as more of a burden than something she should love and protect, but she was always one to dote on him. Through the years, though, he’d come to have much respect for his mother. She’d tried to be the good little wife that she was told she should be, and when it came to being like a mother, she did succeed at times. As for his father, he was nothing more than his heir, essentially his whipping post. He hated that man more than anything.

The doors to the library opened suddenly again, only this time it was Harry Potter walking towards him instead of Hermione.

“What are you blackmailing her with?”

“Who?” he asked, trying to rile up the perfect Boy-Who-Lived.

“You know damn well who I mean. Hermione.”

He rolled his eyes and closed his book, “Is it unfathomable for you to believe that I may actually want to marry her?”

“Honestly? Yes it is.”

He shook his head, “Then that’s your problem, Potter.”

“What are you holding over her?”

“Nothing. Ask her,” he said hoping that Harry wouldn’t actually take him up on that, because she might actually tell him.

“I did, but she said you weren’t…”

“So now you’re calling your own friend a liar. Hardly what I would call friendly.”

Harry narrowed his eyes, “I don’t trust you. You’re up to something and you’re using Hermione to get you what you want…”

“What I’m doing is none of your concern. And last I checked Hermione was a grown woman capable of making her own decisions. She doesn’t need you to protect her.”

“Apparently she does. She agreed to marry you.”

“And where were you when all of this happened? Where were you when I asked her? Where were you when she said yes? Tell me, Potter,” he said as he stood, “is it really me that you’re angry with or is it yourself over the fact that you’ve been neglecting a person you claim as one of your best friends?”

“It’s directed where it should be.” He turned and re hre he could walk out the door turned back to Draco, “This wedding won’t happen.”

“Afraid it will, Potter. If you plan to crash it, be my guest, but it will still talacelace.” Harry left without another word and Draco shook his head with a sigh, “I have to be out of my bloody mind.”

*~*

Hermione, due to Draco’s insistence that she would flee with her family somewhere, had her move into Malfoy Manor. She knew it was his way of establishing that he had control over her and nothing irritated her more than losing control.

She climbed out of her bath and wrapped a robe around her body, then her hair in a towel. She walked out of her bathroom into the large bedroom that he’d given her to stay in. She sighed, knowing that he really did have control over her, that when it came down to it, he could probably get her to do anything tve hve her family.

She wanted so badly to confess everything to Harry and Ron, tell them that Draco had threatened her family had she not agreed to his proposal. She was still sketchy on the details of why he wanted this. He was lying to her about it, another thing she hated. She removed the towel from her hair and began rubbing the long tresses down, not really trying to dry her hair, just doing it as a means of giving her something to do.

She sat at the foot of the bed and looked around the large room. It really was beautiful. Ornate in every way she could think of right down to the dark green silk sheets that dressed her bed. If there was one good thing she could say about the Malfoy’s it was that they had very good taste; rich, but good.

The door to her bedroom opened and Draco walked in, a bright smile across his face, “Granger, wonderful news.”

“I don’t have to marry you?”

He shook her head, “Sorry, but you’re stuck with me. No, it seems that my mother is thrilled that I’m settling down, and with a rather good girl, that she has decided to throw a party for us.”

“And that’s good news?”

“Of course it is. More gifts.”

She shook her head, “Your greed never ceases to amaze me.”

He grinned, “Thanks. Anyway, the party is tonight at eight. I’ve even done you a favor and extended an invitation to your little friends…”

“I’m sure you enjoyed rubbing it in their noses too, right?”

“Immensely. So, I suggest you find something very nice to wear and be ready by eight.”

She sighed, “I don’t feel like going.”

He shook his head, “Afraid you don’t have a choice. It’s one night, one party. Besides, for some strange reason, my mother likes you.”

“Which is very surprising to me given that your father…”

He made a scoffing sound, “My mother is the complete opposite of my father. She hated the man, as did almost everyone who came in contact with him.”

She sighed, “Fine.”

“Good. I’ll be back in a few hours to get you.”

He turned and left her room, leaving Hermione alone again. She inwardly seethed at him. She didn’t want to go to any party. She didn’t care that his mother liked her. And she certainly didn’t care to play the nice little couple with him all night. All she really wanted to do was crawl into bed and stay there until this whole wedding thing was over. But, unfortunately, something inside of her wouldn’t let him win. It wouldn’t let him break her down to the shell of the person she used to be, which is what she felt his intentions might be. She refused to let Draco Malfoy win.

*~*

Draco approached the doors to her room and heard a strange sound. Almost like humming. He raised an eyebrow as he opened the doors and found her sitting at her vanity pulling her large mass of hair into a bun on top of her head. Several smaller strands fell out of the knot and framed her face, giving her an almost childlike appearance.

She obviously hadn’t noticed him or she would have had some sort of scathing comment about him walking in without knocking. “It’s eight o’clock, Granger.”

She looked at him over her shoulder and shook her head, “What’s your point?”

“I said I would be in here to collect you at eight.”

“And when have you ever been on time for anything?” she asked as she stood.

Draco took in the black dress she was wearing. Her slender frame was perfection in the silk that reminded him more of a tgowtgown than an evening dress. It had two tiny straps holding it up where the neckline plunged at the swell of her breasts. The most impressive feature about it was the silk wound around her body covering anything that could be conceived as indecent, but there was a sheer part that showed off her flat stomach and legs. All in all he found the effect of the dress to be extremely sexy.

“You look fantastic,” he said, tilting his head as he continued to admire her
She
She looked down at her dress, “It’s not too much? Or too little?”

“No. Perfect.” He held out his arm for her, “Shall we?”

She grabbed her wrap from her bed and walked over to him, “If we must.”

“We must.”

*~*

When they arrived at the party it was already in full swing. She looked over at him, “We’ re arriving fashionably late I assume?”

He nodded, “I was always told that it’s best to arrive after others had so they can admire you when you walk in.”

She shook her head, “Okay, so…I guess we need to be ready to play the happy couple.”

He nodded, “Mother is the only one who knows this is a farce. As far as everyone else is concerned, let them think what they want.” He was quiet for a minute, “Oh…I may have done a nice thing.”

“What was the occasion?”

Herkedrked, “I invited your parents.”

Her eyes grew wide, “My parents are here?”

He nodded, “Yes. You see, my mother wanted to meet them and I figured they would like to share this occasion with you, so I had someone pick them up.” The carriage came to a stop in front of the large house and the doors opened. Draco climbed out first then held his hand out for Hermione. She took a deep breath as she looked up at the house where she could hear the music from inside. “Relax, you’ll be fine.”

She shook her head, “What if my parents talk to Harry and Ron and they tell them that they think you’re holding something over me?”

“Then you tell them I’m not. It’s not as difficult as you’re making this out to be.”

She bit her lip, “I can’t lie to my parents.”

“You have to.” He sighed, “Look, I did this out of courtesy for you. Don’t make me be the bastard I can be.” Her expression didn’t change, but her eyes became more worriedelaxelax. No one will know anything unless you tell them.” She took several deep breaths as they walked down the long corridor leading to the ballroom, “Smile and try to remember that you like me.”

She smirked, “That’s asking for a lot.”

He smiled, “Well, I never said you had to do it with a straight face.”

tooktook a deep breath again as the doors opened and they walked into the ballroom, people clapping for the happy couple. She caught sight of her parents and friends out of the corner of her eye. Her mother and father were smiling and clapping away as Harry and Ron both stood with their arms folded over their chests.

“Draco, darling.”

“Mother.”

He removed Hermione’s hand from his arm where her nails were digging into his skin. If it wasn’t for the protection of his coat he was sure he would have had several nice holes in his flesh. Draco embraced his mother and placed a kiss on each cheek. “You remember Hermione.”

She smiled, “Of course.” She embraced Hermione, “You look gorgeous.”

Hermione smiled, “Thank you.” She blushed slightly and looked over at Draco who was also smiling.

“Hermione,” she heard a voice behind her and turned to find her parents walking towards her. “You look so beautiful. This can’t be my baby,” her mother said with slightly misty eyes.

Hermione lowered her head, then looked back at her parents, “Are you having a good time?”

Her father nodded, “Yes,” he placed a kiss on her cheek, “Lady Malfoy has been very kind.”

Hermione nodded and jumped slightly when she felt an arm around her waist and turned to see Draco standing off to her left, “Mum, dad, this is Draco.”

Her mother smile, “I’m Regina Granger, and this is my husband Wesley.”

He nodded at them, “Very nice to meet you. You have an amazing daughter.”

Her father smiled, “I think you probably know that better than any of us.”

“Oh he would if he knew her.”

Hermione let out a frustrated sigh, “Harry, Ron, now is not the time.”

Wesley clapped Harry on the back, “It’s a party boys, enjoy yourselves.”

Draco stepped between Harry and Hermione, “Potter, I will not let you cause a scene in my mother’s party.”

“Just tell us why you’re marrying Hermione,” he said with distaste. “And the real reason.”

“I’ve had this conversation with you already, Potter,” he said softly.

“As have I,” Hermione said behind him.

“I don’t know what you’re trying to prove here, Potter. But if you’re going to insist on doing this the entire evening, then you know where the door is.” He turned to her parents, “Have you eaten yet?” They shook their heads, looking back and forth between Hermione, Draco, and Harry. Draco smiled, “Come, I’m sure my mother has several things you’ve never tasted before.”

Hermione sent him silent thanks, leaving her alone with Harry and Ron. “The hallway, now.” They followed her into the hallway and made sure the doors were closed behind her, “How could you do that?!”

“Hoping that maybe you would give your parents an honest answer.”

“Harry, I do not want to have this conversation again. I’m marrying Draco. I suggest the two of you,” she said looking over at the silent Ron, “get over it. And now. You’re my best friends. I want you to be at my wedding, but if you’re going to continue on acting this way, then I don’t want you there.”

“Just tell us the truth Hermione.”

“I am, Ron. Don’t you think I would have told you if something else were going on? You do know me that well, right?”

They both sighed, “I supposed,” Ron said softly.

“I know you’re not happy about this, but I’m not asking for you to be. I just want my friends there on the happiest day of my life.\" They both nodded, “Now, can I get back to my party before someone comes searching for me?”

They nodded again, “I’m sorry, Hermione,” Harry said with a sigh.

“I know. I just wish that the two of you could trust me to do what I know is right.”

She turned and left them. She found Draco standing with her parents, talking and laughing. He was good at playing his part. She had to give him credit for that. He knew how to push the right buttons and when to not push any buttons at all.

She joined them and gave her mother a smile, “Having a good time?”

She nodded, “We’re just telling Draco here of how you used to lock yourself in the closet with a flashlight and read because you didn’t want us to know you were the one moving the books all over the house.”

She blushed slightly, “I was a nerdy child.”

Draco shrugged, “And a slightly nerdy adult. But, you wouldn’t be as smart if you weren’t.”

She looked up at him, “I suppose you’re right.”

“Would you like a drink, love?” Draco asked as he put the arm back around her waist, pulling her closer to him.

She nodded, “Just punch is fine with me.”

He nodded and grabbed a punch off the passing tray. “Why don’t we sit?”

“Draco, Hermione, people are requesting that the happy couple give them a dance,” Narcissa said as she approached them.

Draco sighed, “I’m not in a dancing mood, mother.”

She gave him a look that told him this was not up for negotiation, “Draco…”

Hermione took his hand, “Dancing sounds marvelous, Draco,” she said looking up at him. He narrowed his eyes at her, wondering why she was being so agreeable.

“Fine,” he set his drink on the table with the Grangers and led her out to the floor. “What are you upto?”

She moved into his arms as they reached the middle of the floor, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“You’re upto something. I can see the wheels turning in your head.”

She smirked, “You’re paranoid.”

He smiled, “Of course I am. That’s why I’m still alive,” he said as he spun her away from him and then back into his arms. “Where did you learn to dance?” he asked as he brought her hand to rest over his heart.

She shrugged, “Hardly important.”

“Well, I did ask the question, so would you mind telling me?”

She sighed, “Viktor taught me.”

“Ah, Krum. You were an odd pair if I do say so.”

She chuckled, “And what are we?”

He nodded, “Point taken.”

She sighed, “My face hurts from smiling.”

“Then stop.”

“And what, scowl all night?”

“Works for me.”

Draco caught sight of Harry and Ron across the room, both watching them dance intently, “You’re friends aren’t going to kill me, arey?”
y?”

“It’s possible. I tried to tell them to be rational, but there’s no telling how long that will last.”

He sighed, “They better not try anything here. I have a horrible temper as you know, but not even Lucius could top my mother when she lost hers.”

“Really? She seems like such a nice woman.”

“She’s pleasant as long as things go her way.”

“Sounds like another Malfoy I know.”

He smiled, “I would like to think I took after her instead of my father.”

She tilted her head, “You may have traits of both.”

“And what do you think I inherited from my father?”

“His ruthlessness.”

“You think I’m ruthless?”

She sighed, “Yes.”

“Because I’m forcing you into this marriage.”

“You’re threatening my family, Draco. Don’t you find that a little cold-hearted?”

He frowned, “It has to be done.”

“Why?”

He sighed, “Because it does. You weren’t my first choice either, but…we don’t have any choice.”

“After we’re married…you won’t threaten to harm them anymore, will you?”

He shook his head, “Granger…no. No I won’t.”

She let out a sigh of relief, “Good. Because I hate to say this but I think they like you.”

He frowned, “You think so.”

“Yeah. Of course it helps that they think we’re madly in love…so…” she was quite for a minute, “Your mother has no problem with this arrangement?”

He sighed, “My mother…she just wants to see me settled down.”

“That’s it?”

“That and happy. She was never happy in her marriage to my father. It was an arranged marriage and she despised him for the most part. She avoided him at all costs.”

“Then how can you do this, Draco?”

He sighed, “I have to. We have to.”

“Why?”

He shook his head, “This is hardly the time and place to discuss it.”

“But you won’t give me an honest answer.”

“If I told you, you wouldn’t agree then.”

“What does it have to do with you and I?”

“Not the two of us…but our child.”

She furrowed her brow, “What child?”

He sighed, “Later. I’ll tell you later.”

She nodded, “Later. You promise?”

He nodded, “I promise.”

*~*

Four hours later and Hermione was leaning her head against Draco’s shoulder ready to leave. Her shoes were hurting her feet, her hair was falling out of its knot, and she could barely keep her eyes open. Draco seemed to sense her tiredness and looked down at her, “Fading fast, aren’t you?”

She stifled a yawn, “Yes.”

He nodded, “We can leave if you like.”

She nodded, “Leave.”

Draco smiled, “Are you parents gone?”

She nodded again, “Left about an hour ago. Mother was sleepy.”

He rubbed his hand over her arm, “As is her daughter.”

She yawned, this time unable to hide it, “It’s been a long day.”

“We’ll say goodbye to my mother and then we can get you into a bed.”

She was so tired she didn’t have a comment for that. They began walking towards Narcissa who was in the middle of a conversation. She turned and found them both standing behind her, “Leaving?”

“Afraid she’s fading fast.”

Narcissa smiled, “Well, I’ll see you at the wedding.”

Hermione smiled, “Only a few days.”

She sighed, “I hope you two are much happier than I ever was,” she hugged Draco then Hermione.

Draco led Hermione out by the small of her back, but she soon moved to lean against him as they walked out to their horse less carriage. He helped her in and climbed inside behind her. She leaned her aga against his shoulder and closed her eyes, needing to rest them a fea few minutes.

He had one arm wrapped around her, rubbing her bare arm as she slept silently against his shoulder. He knew that the entire night had been an act. The smiling, the closeness, but he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t effected a little. She was able to get under his skin and it unnerved him a bit.

He wasn’t used having any serious emotions concerning a woman cloud his mind, but he felt badboutbout what he was doing to her. He could just hear Lucius in his head, telling him he was weak, was letting a silly thing like compassion run over him. But it wasn’t so much compassion as it was general affection. While they had a pretty hostile existence with one another, it was hard sometimes to remember why they fought at all. They were both intelligent sophisticated people and he found himself confused often about what it wasy wey were fighting over.

He was actually happy that his mother had decided to move out of Malfoy Manor and leave it to him. He couldn’t picture ever living anywhere else, but having her around, while it would have been nice, he wanted to live on his own, in something that stood for the Malfoy family. He may not agree with everything they believed in or the like, but he was still a Malfoy. Hill ill had the same blood flowing through his veins that had run through his father’s and his grandfathers.

But as he looked down at the woman asleep at his side, he felt conflicted about everything he’d been taught as a child. Everything below a pureblood wasn’t worth your time, and some purebloods were beneath you. But over the years, due a great deal to his time at Hogwarts, he’d come to find that this was very untrue. It wa a p a person’s blood that defined them but their actions. Some would say that people such as Hermione and her precious Potter were heroes, but both were from muggle descent. And then there were people like Pansy Parkinson and Gregory Goyle who were pureblood wizards but had very cowardly traits. He wondered where he fit into the mix.

The carriage came to a stop in front of Malfoy Manor and the door swung open. He shook her lightly, but got no response. He shook her again, this time a little harder and only got a grumble for his trouble. “Hermione. Wake up.”

She snuggled more into his arms and he sighed, “How am I supposed to get you inside if you’re sleeping?”

Nothing.

He leaned her back against the seat and climbed out of the carriage. With a wave of his wand he was able to make the door wider. He leaned inside and wrapped her arms around his neck and slid his other arm beneath her knees and carried her out of the carriage and up the front steps to the house. The doors opened and candles lit themselves as he walked through the house.

He shifted her weight, getting a better grip on her as he walked up the stairs. He made his way into her room and placed her on the bed, “I’ve never seen anyone sleep as sound as you, Granger.” He was amused at her. She had made it in the carriage, him lifting her and carrying her into the house all without a single peep. She was obviously more exhausted than she let on.

He removed her shoes and tossed them to the floor beside her wardrobe. He tilted his head at her, wondering if it would be indecent to remove her dress for her. He smiled, “When did I ever care about what was decent?”

He knelt on the bed behind her and slid the zipper down. He undressed her quickly and took in the strapless black bra and matching panties that she had on beneath it. He tossed the dress over the chair that sat at her vanity table, then turned back to her. She had one hand resting on her stomach and the other at her side. He reached to the end of the bed and pulled the duvet up around her body.

He had a sudden feeling of adoration for her. As she lie there asleep, looking completely innocent, he felt this great sense of pride that he would be married to her. It was an odd feeling, one that he quickly tried to shake off. He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her forehead and found himself staring into her face.

“Pull yourself together,” he chided himself softly.

He stood and left the room, hopefully leaving the strange feelings behind him.

*~*

Hermione made her way downstairs the next morning, still a little sleepy. She found Draco sitting alone in the dining room reading The Daily Profit. He didn’t look up at her as she took a seat across from him and took a sip of her coffee that appeared in front of her.

“What time did we get back?”

He looked up at her then, “Little after two.”

She rubbed her forehead and grabbed toast off the plate in front of her, “How did I geto myo my room?”

He turned the page on the paper and began reading again, “I carried you.” She said nothing, just took a bite of her toast. She mumbled something that he couldn’t hear, “What was that?”

She sighed, “Thank you.”

He nodded and continued reading the paper, “You’re a little heavier than you look, but other than that, nothing to it.”

She scowled at him, “Just had to be a jerk, didn’t you?”

“Would you expect anything less?”

She shook her head, “I shouldn’t.”

He folded the paper, obviously finished with it, and really looked at her for the first time, “We have to talk.”

“About?” she asked testily.

“You wanted to know why I was really pushing you into this and I was going to get the conversation out of the way…”

“I figured you would have backed out of the agreement.”

He shook his head, completely serious, “I don’t break my promises, Granger.”

She sighed, “Okay. Why are you pushing this?”

He sat back in his seat and toyed with his fork, “There was a prophecy around fifty years ago made about you and I.”

“Fifty years…but we weren’t born then. Not only that, our parents were only teenagers.”

“I know that.” He sighed, “Well, pro prophecy said that I, the son of Lucius Malfoy, would grow to marry a muggle born witch, one that I had a great loathing for. It even named you specifically. Well, the prophecy said that we would have a child that would be the most powerful born in the last two hundred years, I believe.”

“I thought you didn’t believe in that Divination stuff.”

“I don’t. But my grandfather did. You see, in order for me to get my full inheritance, I have to marry you.”

“You haven’t gotten it all?”

He smirked and shook his head, “No, Granger. I could throw the amount at you now that I…we stand to gain, and you would blush to your toes.”

She frowned, “It’s all for money?”

“Well…no…the heir of the Malfoy’s, which will be you and I in a few days, will be the most powerful witch or wizard the world has ever seen.”

“And you’re ready to jump all over that, right?”

He shook his head, “You lost me.”

“You want to create some new force to be reckoned with.”

He sighed, “Granger, not everything is about power, okay? Besides, we don’t yet know if this child would be for good or bad.”

She shook her head, “The thought of being mother to someone like…Voldemort or…Lucius, or you for that matter, makes my skin crawl.”

His eyes grew very cold, “You put me in the same league as my father and the Dark Lord?” She opened her mouth to say something but was at a loss for words, “We’re done here,” he said as he stood and left the room.

She sighed, figuring that she probably just made an already bad situation even worse. She stood and left the room, in search of Malfoy. She checked the parlor and the library, then went to his room and found him sitting on the edge of his bed, “Malfoy…”

“Granger, I don’t want to hear it.”

“Hear what?”

“Whatever it is you have to say. I thought we had progressed beyond you hating me as much as you did my father and the Dark Lord, but apparently I was wrong. So I would rather you not say whatever it is you’re going to say.”

“I thought you wanted to be just like them,” she said walking into the bedroom and standing in front of him.

“In case you don’t remember graduation, I was the one that killed Lucius.”

She nodded, “I remember.”

“Then why would you still think that? Have I said anything of the sort?”

“No, but actions speak louder than words.”

“Have I hurt you in some way? Have I insulted you?”

She sighed, “You threatened my parents.”

He rolled his eyes, “Oh you can’t really mean to take that seriously. Do you really think that I would hurt your parents?” She just stared at him as he went on, “Truth of the matter is, Granger, that if you left now there would probably be nothing to stand in your way.”

She furrowed her brow, “Why are you telling me this?”

He shook his head, “For a bright girl you can be really daft sometimes. I am not, in any way, shape, or form like my father. So, go pack your things, I’ll tell everyone that the wedding is off and you have nothing to worry about.”

She frowned, “I don’t believe you.”

He stood suddenly, grabbed her by her upper and pulled her to her room. “Pack. Get out.”

He released her arm and she rubbed where his hand had been, “I can leave. Nothing will happen to me or my family?”

“Nothing. So, what are you waiting for? Leave,” he turned on his heel and left her standing in the doorway to her room as he walked down the stairs and out the front door.

*~*

“What do you mean you’re not marrying her, Draco?”

“Just what I said, mother, I’m not marrying her.”

“What happened?”

He folded his arms over his chest, “She said I was like my father.”

Narcissa made a scoffing noise, “You are anything but like your father.”

“I knew she was unhappy about it, but to compare me to him…”

She sighed, “She didn’t seem unhappy to me.”

“She’s a good actress.”

“Why did she agree to marry you if she didn’t want to?” Off Draco’s look she shook her head, “You were blackmailing her?”

“I hate that word.”

“Is that what you were doing?”

He looked into the flames coming from the fireplace, “Yes.”

“Draco. Have you learned nothing? You don’t force a woman to do anything she doesn’t want to do.”

“I’m aware of that.”

She sighed, “So the question is how do you fix this?”

“Fix what? I told her to leave.” He sat across from her in one of the large chairs she adored so much, “Besides, what makes you think I even want to fix this. The woman drives me crazy.”

“You’re my son. I know you well enough to see that you’re pouting about this whole thing.” She gave him a knowing look, “And if you didn’t care, you wouldn’t be here now talking to me.”

“I’m just frustrated. I told her the truth and she…threw Lucius in my face.”

She shrugged, “Maybe she’s afraid.”

“Oh she’s made that clear.”

“No, of marrying you. Then she would be stuck with you all the time.”

“Why would that matter?”

“Draco, darling, you’re a very smart boy. Can’t you figure it out?”

He raised an eyebrow at his mother, “Are you saying she’s attracted to me?”

Narcissa rolled her eyes, “Attracted? Darling, she’s a woman. Of course she’s attracted to you. But maybe she cares about you.”

He shook his head, “No. She has nothing but loathing for me.”

“Are you sure that she doesn’t feel more for you than loathing?”

“I’d be willing to stake my life on it.”

His mother sighed, “Are you sure she’s leaving?”

Draco nodded, “It’s all she talked about since I forced her into this.”

“You need to talk to her.”

“About what? I talk to her and she bites my head off. I’m not in the mood to fight with her anymore.”

“Maybe she’s finished fighting with you too.”

“Yeah. So she’s leaving.”

She sighed, “Why don’t you go back and see if you can talk her out of it?”

“Why bother?”

“I can’t give you all the answers. You need to figure things out on your own.”

He sighed and placed a kiss on her cheek, “I’ll do my best but I doubt that would be good enough.”

“One word of advice.”

“What’s that?”

“She’s a person, Draco, with feelings. Treat her that way. Don’t make threats or blackmail.”

He nodded, “I’ll do what I can.”

He apparated out of her house and onto the grounds of the manor, the one place he dreaded going. He didn’t want to walk inside and find her gone. So he stood and stared at the large house. It really was huge, a fact that amazed him sometimes. The house intimidated him and yet made him feel like he was where he was supposed to be. The heir to the Malfoy fortune, a fortune he would probably never see now.

He took a deep breath and walked inside, the silence of the house almost deafening. He saw a suitcase sitting at the bottom of the stairs and became hopeful that she hadn’t left. He took the stairs two at a time as he came to her open door where she was packing her clothes neatly inside, “You’re still here.”

“Sorry, I don’t pack that fast.”

He shook his head, “I just…I need to talk to you.”

She looked over at him, “I can still leave, right?”

He sighed, “If you want.”

She continued packing, glancing over at him several times, “You said you needed to talk to me?”

“Yeah,” he moved into the room, “I want to ask you…not to leave.”

She stopped moving and stared at him, “What?”

“Look, I know you were never really happy about the marriage thing, but it could help…both of us.”

“How could it help me?”

“Well…you would get half of what I get…”

“And I’ve told you I’m not interested in money.”

He sighed, “Companionship.”

“What?”

“You…get a companion.”

She furrowed her brow and looked at the ground, “Uh…we hate each other.”

“You still hate me?”

Her eyes met his for a brief second then diverted away quickly, “Well, no…”

“No?” he asked stepping into the room more.

“I did. But…I don’t really, anymore.”

“So…what do you feer mer me?”

She shrugged, “I don’t know.”

“But it’s not hatred?”

“No.”

He smirked, “I can handle that.”

She frowned, “But this doesn’t mean that I want to marry you either.”

The smile left his face, “I’m not going to force you.” He sighed, “I’m not my father.”

She sighed, “I feel really badly about that. You’re not like Lucius…”

He shook his head, “I’m aware of what you think of me, Granger.”

She frowned, “You just make me so angry.”

“The feeling is mutual.”

“I can’t trust you.”

“I’m not expecting you to. It’s just that…maybe if you think about what you could accomplish if you had the money.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Well, you’re all for elfish rights, now you would have the finances to really do something about it.”

“You’d let me work on that?”

He sighed, “I don’t think it’s a matter of letting you do anything…”

“But, I mean, you’d give me the money to work on that.”

“Look, half of it would be yours. You could do with it as you please.”

“And there would be no argument from you?”

He shook his head, “It would be your project which means no interfering from me.”

She looked into her suitcase, “This is crazy.”

“Look, I’m not willing to tell anyone that I can’t succeed at something, even at lasting out my engagement. I refuse to give up without a decent fight…”

“Why
“D
“Damn it, Granger, not everything has a solid black and white answer. I gave you my answer.”

“Money.”

“That’s one reason.”

“Even if I agree to this…what makes you think that I would sleep with you?”

He sighed and rubbed his head, “Because the marriage license won’t be valid until we do.”

“How would anyone know?”

He rolled his eyes, “You don’t really know that much about wizard customs regarding marriage do you?”

“No,” she said huffily, hating that he knew about something that she’d never even thought to research.

“Well, you can look at any marriage license and there is a small stamp in the left hand corner. If the stamp isn’t there, means the marriage was never consummated.”

“That’s…not true.”

“Afraid it is.”

“I don’t believe you.”

He sighed, “Come with me,” he said extending his hand to her.

She furrowed her brow, “What?”

“Come on. I’ll prove it.”

She put her hand in his and he led her down the stairs and into the library. He removed the marriage license that she had yet to sign and showed her the little square box in the left corner. She opened her mouth to say something, and closed it quickly.

He sighed, “I know that you don’t want to do this and I’ve told you, I’m not going to force you. I just…I think this could work out for the best. For both of us if you just gave it a chance.”

She frowned, “I don’t know.”

“You can take time to think about it.”

“How much time?”

He sat in the chair behind the desk, “Twenty-four hours. I know it’s not a lot of time, but if you’re going to agree to this then I want to know as soon as possible.”

“And if I don’t?”

He frowned, “Then you’re free to go on and live your life as you please. No interference from me.”

“And I have your word on that?”

He stared at her, his grey eyes penetrating through her, “You have my word. No coming after you, your parents, or your friends; you’ll be free to live your life as you please.”

She nodded, “Alright then.” She turned and left the library, leaving Draco alone. He bit the inside of his lip and wished he could find another way to convince her. He was willing to stake his life on her leaving tomorrow and then he would be left to inform everyone that she left him. For one, it would be humiliating that she left him, and the other would be that she dared to leave a Malfoy. He could suffer through the humiliation. He just wasn’t tha that he could handle the thought that she detested him so much that she would throw away enough money to feed small countries to get out of it.

*~*

Hermione looked around at her lavish bedroom and heaved a great sigh. She was in a bind and she didn’t know what to do. Her first instinct was to tell him to shove off then go and live her own life on her own terms. She could do what she wanted without feeling like something horrible was going to happen to her. In the past she wouldn’t have trusted his word, but she knew just from the look in his grey eyes that he was being honest when he said no harm would come to her family.

Then there was the other side of her. The side that hated to back down from a challenge, and this was the mother of all challenges. Being married to Draco Malfoy would come with its perks as well as its disadvantages. For one, she would be married to Malfoy. On the whole, she didn’t know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. He had changed over the years, but not to the point where she could see spending the rest of her life with him in holy matrimony. He was a spoiled, selfish prat and it drove her insane sometimes. But then there were times that she could see he was haunted by his past and what he’d done.

He’d sold out his father, which went against everything he’d ever believed in. He used to idolize the man and now, if you compared him to Lucius he took it as a great insult. She hadn’t meant it when she’s put him in the same category as the other two. She was just angry at his assumption that she would agree to marry him after he’d threatened her family. She still wasn’t sure if she would. But he was right. It could help her achieve some of her goals. But she also loved her job for the ministry and wasn’t sure if he would let her continue it. She loved having the freedom to roam around as she pleased and not answer to anyone. She knew how Malfoy was about his broom, she couldn’t imagine how he would treat her as a wife.

She released another sigh and lay back on her bed. She stared at the ceiling as the other part popped into her head. She’d have to sleep with him. At least once. She’d have to let him touch her and the thought made her stomach do flips. It’d been a while since she’d been with a man ahe the thought that she would have to spend the rest of her life in only Draco’s arms scared her. She’d heard of his reputation, about his abilities in bed, which frightened her. She felt like he would probably be disappointed in her skills, never having much experience except her short stint with Viktor Krum and her fling with Charlie Weasley. She always felt something lacking with both men, and she felt that it was probably her own fault.

She looked over at the clock that rested on the nightstand beside the bed and saw that it was late into the night. She wondered if he was still up. had had questions that only he could answer and maybe they could help her make this decision. She climbed out of her bed and reached for the robe to her dark blue nightgown. She walked out of her room and past his, finding the room empty. She made her way down the stairs to find him in the library, almost in the same position he’d been in when she’d left him earlier. She walked into the room, obviously startling him when she sat in the chair in front of him, “Didn’t meanscarscare you.”

He shook his head, “You’re still awake?”

“Yeah. I have questions for you.”

“Ask away.”

She bit her bottom lip as she played with the tie of her robe, “Fidelity.”

“What about it?”

“Will this be a faithful marriage?”

He furrowed his brow, “You have other lovers on the side?”

She shook her head, “No, but I need to know if you will.”

He sighed, “No. I won’t.”

“You plan…”

“If I commit myself to something, I’m not going to back out of it, which is what I feel adultery does. Proves you can’t stay faithful to one person.”

“But…what if…I mean…what if you find that…things lacklacking?”

“What kind of things?”

She sighed, “What if you find that…I’m not good?”

He raised an eyebrow at her, “Are you serious?”

“Yes I’m serious.”

“Granger, of all the problems I see for us, I never considered that one of them.”

“Why not? It’s a valid concern.”

He shrugged, “I just figured that you could hold your own.”

“What?”

He sighed, “I just always thought that you never had any complaints in that department.”

“Well…I haven’t…”

“Then what are you worried about?”

“I’m not the kind of woman you’re used to being with.”

He shook his head, “I think we’re jumping too far ahead here. You haven’t agreed to marry me yet, so why don’t we save this until after you make your decision? This whole conversation may be a moot point.”

She bit her lip, “I guess I just have concerns about what you’ll expect.”

He got out of his chair, walked around the desk to stand directly in front of her, and pulled her to her feet, “Here’s what I expect. I expect you to be faithful to me because I will be to you. I expect that eventually we’ll be able to stay in the same room together without one leaving in a huff. And I expect you you won’t disappoint me in the way you’re thinking.” He led her to the door, “Now, go to your room, and get some rest, because I have a feeling that you’ll do more thinking in the next eight hours than you have in your entire life.”

She stared up at him for a moment and frowned, “But Malfoy…”

“Draco.”

She stared into his grey eyes, “Draco…I just…I have concerns.”

“And we’ll address them all when you decide something for sure. Now, go to bed, Hermione.”

She turned and began walking away from him as he leaned back against the doorframe and stared at the floor. She turned suddenly and walked back to him, “One more thing?”

His eyes moved over her face and settled on her eyes, “What’s that?”

She took another step, pressing her body against his as she leaned up to place a soft kiss on his lips. It was just a gentle brushing at first, letting him work through his shock before he responded, reaching up to cup her face. She gasped allowing him to slip his tongue inside her mouth. Her hands clutched at his forearms as his tongue stroked over hers expertly. She sighed when she pulled away, feeling her body respond to his closeness and the way he seemed to take her breath away in just one kiss.

She turned and headed back up the stairs, wondering what had possessed her to kiss him. But she had to know. She had to know if she decided not to. Some part of her, the part that appreciated a beautiful man, had to know before she made her choice. She wanted to know what it would feel like for his lips to be against hers, and now she knew. Oh, did she know. She could still taste him, still feel his fingers, his hands on her skin.

She a d a deep breath when she entered her room. She closed the door behind her and leaned against it. She shook her head, trying to get her body back under control. It had just been too long. That’s what it was. She’d gone so long without the touch of a man that even one as repulsive as Draco Malfoy could elicit such a reaction out of her. She groaned, wishing she could believe that.

*~*

He’d spent the entire night tossing and turning, trying to get the thoughts of her coming to him out of his head. But they eventually morphed into more lurid fantasies of him taking her there in the hall, her body writhing beneath his as he plunged into her willing body over and over again. He knew that was what threw him off more than anything, the fact that she had kissed him. There was no warning, no hint that she was even going to do so. He just knew that one minute she was leaving him to go back to her bedroom and the next, her lips were on his and his tongue was in her mouth.

And it had been divine. He honestly didn’t know what she’d been worried about. If she was as skillful at everything else the way she was at kissing, they honestly had nothing to worry about. That was if she even decided to marry him. He hoped that her willingness to kiss him was a good sign, that maybe she was getting over her disgust with him and would be able to marry him.

He rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling. He was trying to think of anything but her. He was hard as granite and it didn’t seem like the problem was going away anytime soon. He threw off his blankets and removed his boxers. He closed his eyes, imagining the feel of her hands, her very soft hands moving over his body as he gripped his hard cock and began stroking over the heated flesh. He wondered if the rest of her tasted as sweet as her mouth. He could imagine himself nibbling along her neck as she silently urged him to bury himself inside of her. He could picture her writhing beneath him as he devoured her with his mouth, licking and biting at the soft flesh between her thighs. Then, he would slide up her body after she was so close to her orgasm she was trembling, and bury his cock so far inside of her he would almost come from the sensation of her heat encompassing him.

He wondered what her face would look like as she came. Did she moan? Did she squeeze her eyes tightly shut? Did she bite her lip? The thought of her head tossed back, his name escaping from her lips, and her arms wrapped tightly around him was enough for him to come. He sighed out her name, shaking as his release washed over him, his thoughts purely on her. He could almost imagine that it was her tiny hand that had brought him to his climax as her face appeared behind his closed eyes. It took several minutes for his breathing to get back to normal. He reached over to his bedside table for his wand and cast a quick cleansing charm on his body and sheets as he settled back against the mattress. He felt tired and knew that he should probably not have any problem falling to sleep now. He just hoped that he could force himself not to have any more lurid dreams about her or he could wake up in another hour with the same problem.

*~*

She’d had no luck sleeping that night. She’d just laid in the bed, thinking about him. She’d never really thought of him in a sexual way before. She thought he was attractive somewhere in the back of her mind, but there was something about the way she’d seen him sitting in that chair, just staring off into space that had made her kiss him. She’d made the decision to do so when he’d walked her to the door and she watched him lean against the doorframe, looking just as confused as she was. And that was it. She’d gathered up her courage, turned, and kissed him.

It would have been so easy to disregard it all as being crazy had the kiss not completely blown her away. She’d heard the stories, women saying that he was the best lover they’d ever had. Even back at Hogwarts, she would sometimes hear the girls saying that if you wanted it done right you went to Draco. But she just chalked it up to teenage girls not really having much to compare it to. So he was the best in the school, that didn’t mean he was the only one that could perform well. But even after graduation, she would come upon a random woman bragging about being his bedmate. She wasn’t sure if this bothered her now or not.

She wasn’t his keeper then and she didn’t want to be now. She didn’t really see herself ever falling in love with him, she knew that was hardly possible, but she could see being in lust with him. It would drive certain women batty to know that the pristine little Gryffindor that he’d spent most of his life hating was the one to drag him into marriage. She almost wished she could tell Pansy Parkinson herself. But she hadn’t decided if she would marry him.

Marriage was a big step. A very big step. One she wasn’t sure she would be willing to take even if she had more time. But the benefits of the marriage did occur to her. She would, as he said, have a companion. They might not have gotten along swimmingly, but she wouldn’t be alone for the rest of her life. Harry and Ron would eventually find someone of their own and they would more than likely forget about their friend. And for all of Malfoy’s faults, he was rather smart. He understood her thirst for knowledge like no one else because the same need to know all one could was something he also possessed. He was attractive, she wasn’t as oblivious to that as she would like to claim all the time. But was being attracted to someone reason enough for getting married?

She frowned, wishing that she could talk rationally to Harry or Ron about what she was going through, but she knew that if either of them knew that he’d initially threatened her they would warn her off even considering it. But she wasn’t one to give up on something, even if it was the prospect of being married to a man who, in his youth, despised everything about her kind. But he’d changed. Maybe not to the degree that one could hope for, but he had changed.

She rolled onto her side, staring at the clock beside her bed, making it only five minutes since the last time she looked. Maybe she should say yes. Sure they fought, but all married couples fought. But there was still the whole sex issue. She was terrified that he was giving her far too much credit. She wasn’t like the other women he’d been with in the past. She didn’t know all the right things to do, or what he would want of her. She didn’t know exactly what it was that he was going to expect of her. She realized that it often took time for couples to become accustomed to one another’s likes and dislikes, but she wasn’t sure she could be put under that much pressure. She sighed, knowing that he wasn’t really putting any pressure on her.

She could say no. She could turn down his offer and live her life away from him and never hear about or talk to him again. She could go back to her apartment, live in the muggle world if she so chose to do so, she could do exactly what she wanted with no regard to what he or anyone else thought. But she would be alone. No one to talk to, no one asking her opinion on things. She could just spend her days working at the ministry and living from day to day. After having lived with Malfoy for six months, she’d grown accustomed to seeing him all the time. She’d walk into a room and there he’d be. Their conversations may not have always been pleasant, but she wasn’t alone.

She sighed and closed her eyes, wishing she could get some sleep. All this thinking was causing her head to hurt. But she knew that she wouldn’t be sleeping that night. The only thing she was going to do was think. Weigh the pros and cons in her head until her brain exploded. She wished that would happen sooner than later.

*~*