A/N: Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything of the Harry Potter brand. It all belongs to J.K. Rowling.

A wedding day was supposed to be the happiest day of anyone's life. It's an idea that's ingrained into every young girl's head as she watches cartoon princesses carried away by a charming prince. There seems to be no other option for a wedding to be thought of as for girls, but as Hermione Granger stood before the make shift alter, and before God, she blocked out what the priest was rambling on about. A cold knot of dread gripped her and kept her from running as far as she could away from here. There was no big white dress instead a white party dress she had bought a couple years ago for Easter. There were no friends or family beaming with approval and there would be no flowers, elaborate cake, or anyone to save her. They were eloping.

She knew in a few short minutes she would become Mrs. Malfoy. Even thinking the words put a bad taste in her mouth. Yet, she had thought it would've been easier than this because of her strong sense of duty and loyalty. She was the strong one of the trio and she was the one who could withstand anything it seemed with flying colors. When Dumbledore had told her the news of the law she knew what he was going to ask of her. There had been plenty of reports in the paper about the Pureblood and Muggle born attacks and everyone was on pins and needles about an impending war. It didn't surprise her that the Ministry would pass a law that forced Muggle borns of a certain age to marry Purebloods. She was the perfect poster child for the law because of her notoriety. She knew that her influence would speak volumes.

There were a few candidates to consider but slowly each one got crossed off. Snape wasn't an option she wanted to think about and Ron was already engaged. Eventually it led to her having Draco Malfoy as the last candidate. While it wasn't her first choice by a long shot he was just as good a poster boy for the cause. Logically she knew he would be the best choice to smooth over tensions. He knew he needed a bride to keep up with the family tradition and he certainly didn't like the crop of available Pureblood options. Not to mention making the Mudblood's life a living hell appealed to him also. Both of them were in a tough spot and grudgingly agreed to be married.

Within days everyone knew of their engagement. He had even tossed her an engagement ring in passing when they were in the same hall while walking to class. It looked like a small country almost with a massive diamond in the center entirely surrounded by emeralds. After the shock wore off she had to laugh, not only was it very Slytherin, but representative of her groom to be: a cold center surrounded by defensive walls. She wore it for show purposes and kept a brave face up for everyone. Most people suspected it was a forced marriage, but she always made sure she had a kind comment about Malfoy ready to disprove them with. It seemed as if she had been tainted by the ring, marked by a Slytherin, and no matter how much she washed it refused to go away.

The date was set right after graduation. She purposely didn't invite Harry, Ron, or any friends or family to the elopement. It hadn't taken much to convince her parents that she was truly in love and just wanted to be marry without any frills. Her friends though, she knew the looks that would appear on their faces if they attended, and if they were there she would beg them to take her away. They, along with everyone else, would find out in the paper tomorrow. There was no other choice, and after the ceremony she would move into the Malfoy Manner and begin being a wife. It seemed to take an eternity, but the priest finally asked her if she would take Draco to be her husband. She whispered the fatal words,

"I do."

Just like that the ceremony seemed to end. Malfoy was dragging her in front of some camera and she smiled on command. It was as if this day was happening to someone else and she was just watching it from a distance. Numbness was painted over her limbs because feeling the true loss of a dream from so long ago would consume her until only ashes were left. After being pushed into some sort of Muggle transportation, probably Dumbledore's idea to allow her time to process the day, it was only then she realized she was crying.

"Stop crying Mudblood, it's not like I like this arrangement either." Malfoy ordered. She looked up, wiped her tears and glared at Draco. No one spoke to her that way. Something finally snapped in her and for the first time, in a long time, she felt the familiar spark of emotion.

"You know what Malfoy?" Hermione said, her voice surprisingly calm. "They say that cold hands means that the person has a warm heart. But you Malfoy, you are all ice." she shot back as she looked out the window. He didn't even look at her while she responded. It wasn't the best of come backs, but it was something other than just taking it lying down. Rain began to fall and a sense of irony fell over them. The Heavens seemed to cry for them.

Before long the spark started to catch flame inside her and she damned the people who voted the law into power. She was grateful at the very least that Lucius wouldn't have to be dealt with. After the war all the Death Eaters were convicted and sentenced to death. If Malfoy was saddened by his father's recent execution he didn't show it.

She willed herself to think about the positives about this situation. Dying was not one of her life goals and the situation couldn't be changed for a long time so she had to find something worthwhile. Slowly a list emerged. She was rich beyond any reason and she could fund this money into any organization she wanted. S.P.E.W. could really get off the ground now. She could take care of her parents. She could still pursue education and a job. He would not stop her from accomplishing her goals and dreams. Maybe she could get a position at Hogwarts so she could be away for long periods of time. A small smile found itself on her face and he noticed.

"What are you smiling about Mudblood?" Shaking her head and refused to answer him. They pulled up to the manner and she was stunned into silence. It was massive, at least three stories high, with the entire structure surrounded by thick white columns. There was a brick path that seemed to lead to the front door but also veered off into places she couldn't see from where she was. The lawn was neatly cut with a few flowers carefully placed here and there. Even though she had seen pictures of the mansion plenty of times before in the paper it was an entirely different experience in person. It was a glorious mansion, but it still seemed as if it was looking down on her and blatantly telling her she wasn't good enough to live there. She ran up to keep up with Malfoy, who was almost inside, and as they entered he whipped around,

"This is the Manner as you have guessed. Outside you can find the gardens. The Kitchen is that way." he said in a bored tone while pointing left. "You can cook all to your hearts content and not have to call a house elf. The main ballroom is on the other side of where we are standing." Hermione was floored, a ballroom? "Yes a ballroom Mudblood, don't look so shocked. You read the paper last time I recalled. One of your duties as my wife include hosting these events." She was going to have to throw parties?

"Listen mudblood, I'm only saying this once." he said, snapping Hermione out of her thoughts. "The dinning room is to the right. You can find out the other rooms on this floor on your own. We're going up the stairs." When they reached the top he continued. "The library is here, along with the drawing room across from it, also my office which I am to only go into. You have a office of your own should you decide to use it and that is the fifth door to the right. The breakfast room, sun room, and tea room are on the left. You can explore the other rooms later." As they came up another set of stairs he finished. "This is where all the bedrooms are. Mine is this way." he said pointing. "Those three over there are your choices for your room." Hermione breathed a sigh of relief at the fact she wouldn't be required to be a wife in every way. "That's it, any questions go ring for a house elf." he said, stalking away. She called back,

"Thanks for the tour sweetheart!" in a voice saturated with sweetness she had heard Pansy say before, and was happy to see him cringe a bit as he walked away until he was out of sight. Taking a peek into all three rooms she settled on the third which was covered in turquoise silk wallpaper that shimmered a bit in the dimming afternoon sun. There was a window leading to a balcony overlooking the gardens. Not a mention a bookcase with plenty of room for her book collection. Some things in the room she would change in the coming weeks, but for right now she sat on the bed and sighed.

"This room will do." as she said that, her bags appeared. She smiled as the books she had packed appeared in the bookcase. Laying down she studied the wedding ring that now kept the engagement ring company, a simple silver band. It was a very pretty combination, but she couldn't bear to wear it anymore. Taking them off she realized that while in private she didn't have to wear them anymore. In public she would have to, of course, but here there was no one to judge. The past few months had confined her into being this person she wasn't, and finally now she was allowed to be herself.

While she might have the last name of a Malfoy legally she would be forever a Granger in her mind's eye. Hermione Granger had more than a couple friends that she wanted to come over. Hermione Granger had plans to make Malfoy's life a living hell. Hermione Granger was not going to let this law define her anymore, but instead let her define the law. She grinned. The anger and sadness that she once had were replaced with small feelings of hope.