Disclaimer for story: I own nothing.

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Hermione stepped out of the warm shower and put her bathrobe on. Stepping into her room, she saw a beautiful dress lying on her bed. It was a deep gold colour with light golden embroidery. As she neared it, she saw a note on top of it. Picking it up, she read:

Dear Hermione,

Once again a very, very happy 17th birthday to you! I saw this dress while shopping and simply had to buy it for this wonderful occasion. Be sure to wear it tonight at the party.

Love, Mum & Dad

Hermione smiled and slipped into the dress. It fit her figure perfectly and flowed slightly at the bottom. She then got to work on her hair. Now that she had come to age, she was allowed to do magic outside of Hogwarts without getting a warning of being expelled from school. After a spell, her hair was dry and set. She looked into her mirror and felt satisfied with the way she looked.

She was no longer the bushy haired, bossy, buck-toothed Hermione Granger from first year. She was now a young women with wavy hair, normal yet white teeth (thanks to her parents) and was off to start her 7th and final year of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as Head Girl.

Over the summer, Harry had beaten Voldemort. He had found all the Horcruxes and destroyed them and finally the battered soul in Voldemort's body. He'd also gotten a new title apart from 'the boy who lived' and 'the chosen one'. It was by far the most important: 'savior of the wizarding world'. However, he couldn't have done it without the help of Dumbledore…

Hold up . . . How? After all, Dumbledore had died. Well, it turned out that when Dumbledore defeated the dark wizard Grindewald, he did it by killing him and thus he also created a Horcrux. His Horcrux was Fawkes, his loyal phoenix. When Dumbledore had died, Fawkes had flown off and somehow changed into Dumbledore. From his hiding place, Dumbledore had helped the trio find Horcruxes and finally at the time of the Final Battle, he revealed himself to the rest of the wizarding world. To say the least, it had been a huge shock but caused much relief and hope.

Looking at the clock, she saw that it was almost seven so she hurried downstairs before the guests started coming. As she walked by the living room, she heard her parents hushed voices. Apparently they were having an argument and when she went inside, they suddenly quieted, confirming that it was about her.

Jane Granger came up to embrace her daughter. "Hermione, you look wonderful," she said, when she let go.

Hermione looked over her shoulder at her father who looked cross about something.

"Dad? Is there something I should know?" she asked.

His face cleared. "As a matter of fact, there is. We have been told that in the wizarding world, when you come of age, you can get married."

"Who told you?" Hermione asked curiously.

He ignored her question and went on. "Well, you've had a proposal. And the family that sent it is magic as well."

Hermione couldn't believe it. She'd just turned 17 and already she had a proposal? She still had school! She wasn't ready for marriage yet! "Who sent the proposal?" she asked.

"Narcissa Malfoy."

"What!" she shrieked. "A Malfoy? But that's impossible! They wouldn't do that! I'm muggle-born! They only marry pure-bloods!"

"Yes, well, two things you should know. First of all, a new research has proven that inter-family marriages aren't safe anymore. Plus, there aren't that many pure-bloods left anymore so they need to marry . . . others," he explained

"I don't care about that!" she said angrily. "What's the second thing?"

This time it was her mother who spoke. "Dear, Allan isn't your biological father," she said gesturing to her husband and ignoring Hermione's shocked expression. "Your biological father was a wizard but since I wasn't magical, our relationship wasn't allowed. You know of all their pureblood pride. We didn't care though and secretly got married. Soon I found out I was pregnant with you. Just a few days after that, he died." Tears had filled Jane's eyes now but she continued to talk. "My parents didn't want you to be born without a father so they made me get married again. To Allan." she finished.

Hermione had a hard time processing this new information. She was a half-blood. Finally, she realized her situation and asked, "Who was my father?"

"His name was Henry Stebbins."

Hermione felt relieved that she didn't know of any Stebbins. But still . . . the Malfoy family - or at least Narcissa since Lucius was dead - wanted her to marry the boy who had tormented her all of her time at Hogwarts, Draco Malfoy.

"What did you tell Narcissa?" she asked almost afraid of the answer.

"We said yes," her father replied.

"How could you? You made the most important decision of my life without even consulting me? And the wrong decision at that! I hate him and he hates me!" she exclaimed.

"Hermione . . . What's done is done. We signed a magical contract on it. You two will simply have to forget about the past and accept each other because like it or not, this can't be stopped from happening," her father told her.

Hermione felt herself go weak. She was going to have to wed Draco 'ferret' Malfoy. This couldn't be happening to her. This was worse than her scariest nightmare.

"Would you look at the time?" her mother said. "By the way, they will be coming over to the party tonight and afterwards we can all sit down and discuss dates and arrangements."

Just then an owl flew in through the open window, dropped a letter onto the center table and left.

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Draco Malfoy sat on his bed, just staring at the intricate design of his ceiling, thinking.

He honestly had no idea what was going on with his life right now. Ever since the war had ended, he had been feeling like this. His father had died in Azkaban from what he'd heard – good riddance. His mother didn't seem affected by it at. As for himself . . .

After the death of Dumbledore, he'd gone to the Dark Lord with Snape. The Dark Lord had punished him (cruciatus curse) for failing on his task yet he didn't kill him. He preferred that Draco suffer.

Finally, one day a letter came to him. It was quite peculiar seeing as it was signed Albus Dumbledore since he had witnessed the death of his headmaster himself. Soon he discovered that Dumbledore was indeed alive and seeked his refugee. He told Dumbledore of all that he knew and secretly changed sides. Only in the final battle was he able to show where his loyalties really were.

"Draco!" his mother called from downstairs.

Sighing, he went to see what his mother wanted now. She was most probably in her study as she was often nowadays and it was confirmed when he walked in.

"Yes, mother?"

"Sit, sit. There is something important I need to talk to you about. I will need you to hold your tongue until I'm finished though. Am I understood?" he nodded. "Good. Now I know that you have become somewhat lost in life and I am willing to help you. I said no interruptions." His ready to protest open mouth closed instantly. "I have sent a proposal to a girl to whom you shall marry. She's-"

"But I thought I was set to marry Pansy!" he said, forgetting that he wasn't supposed to interrupt.

"No dear. That was just silly promise that Lucius made to the Parkinsons' but now that he's gone, we are no longer obliged to follow through. Besides, I thought you would be delighted that you wouldn't have to marry that wretched girl anymore."

Draco couldn't believe it. His mother had always fawned over Pansy before and now she was calling her a wretched girl? And he didn't have to marry her now. This was all too good to be true. "I am glad, mother. Who's this girl that you've sent a proposal on my behalf to?"

"I do believe you are well acquainted."

That was good, he thought.

"She studies at Hogwarts as well."

Hopefully she'll be a Ravenclaw. The Slytherin girls' were just plain ugly and stupid. Gryffindor and Hufflepuff are out of reason.

"Her name is Hermione Granger."

He was right. It was too good to be true. "WHAT? The mudblood?"

"That is no way to speak about your future wife Draco! For your information, she is not a mudblood, but a half-blood. I found out that although her mother may be muggle, her father came from one of the purest of bloodlines. I personally knew the fellow," Narcissa reasoned.

"Still, she's not pureblood. How can you let her into our family?"

"Honestly, Draco. Lucius is gone and along with him, all that prejudice should be gone as well. I'm not saying that I like mudbloods' now, seeing as it will go against my upbringing as well, but half bloods are accepted by all purebloods. Just look at the Dark Lord! He was a half blood and we purebloods followed him!" Narcissa's voice had become very high by now.

A silence followed.

"I don't think I have a choice in this matter, right?" Draco asked breaking the silence.

"Quite. We shall be going over to the birthday party of Hermione tonight. Go get dressed."

Draco stood up but instead of obediently saying yes and leaving, he said, "I'm sorry, mother but I can't go tonight. I still have to grasp this whole situation. I think I'll go to bed. Good Night."

"But you haven't had dinner yet."

"Good night, Mother"

"Fine, but we are meeting at lunch tomorrow whether you have finally grasped the situation or not by then."

"Good night, Mother," he said one final time before striding out of the room.

"Good night," Narcissa mumbled getting a piece of parchment. "As if it isn't easy enough having the muggles under the imperius curse to agree that now you, dear son, are also being difficult," she mumbled while she writing. When she done, she attached it to an owl and saw it fly out the window.

-!-!-!-

Hermione cautiously opened the piece of parchment that had been dropped by the unfamiliar owl. Inside, in neat cursive writing, it said:

Grangers',

I'm am sorry to say that we will be unable to attend Hermione's birthday party tonight due to the fact that something came up unexpectedly. Howeve,r the lunch date tomorrow when we will pick up Hermione is still going to happen. Hoping to see you soon.

Narcissa Malfoy

"What is it, dear?" her mother asked.

"They can't come to my party tonight-"

"What a shame."

"-But they'll be here to pick me up tomorrow. Why didn't you tell me you were sending me away?" she demanded angrily.

"It must have slipped my mind. Terribly sorry, dear. Time for the party now."

Hermione sighed resignedly, thanking the gods that they weren't coming tonight yet still angry at the fact that they were coming to take her away tomorrow. Still, it would have been a disaster if Harry or Ron had found out about it tonight. She was planning her very best to get out of this situation at whatever means possible.

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A/N: Hermione's biological father is not a completely original character. In the fifth book, when Harry is in the pensive, seeing his father in the examination room, there's a person called 'Stebbins'. I merely turned the person into a guy and gave him the first name of Henry. If you're still confused about the guy go to:

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 28: Snape's Worst Memory, page: 566, paragraph 3.

Reviews will be appreciated!