Ron starred around at the little congregation that he had rounded up. The Patil Triplets stood toward the back looking sullen, and upset. Men from the bar ran around, doing last minute touch ups. A long white clothe road ran up to a white rose covered arch, where the priest stood patiently.

" Hermione's gonna get the surprise of her life, isn't she, Ron?" said Nigel coming over with the band.

" oh yes." said Ron, standing and clearing his throat. Everyone looked at him. " I want to thank you all for coming to my wedding. Now I just have to propose to the girl."

Many of the bar men invited started to laugh along with mnay of the women, except the Triplets who started to cry.

" now Nigel, when I come out the door, you....." Ron said.

" Strike up the band." with a flick of his wrist, the band began to play. The striking tones of " Here Comes The Bride" rang through the air, and Ron hit Nigel over the head.

" Not yet." Ron hissed at him.

" sorry." Nigel said, holding his head.

Ron began to move to the cottage.

Inside, Hermione sat at the kitchen table reading. It was a long story, and would take her maybe another day to finish. She was prepared for a day in. Until the knock on the door.

She sighed, stood up, marked her page, and went to the door.

Years ago, her father had installed a veiwing hole. Hermione loved it. She looked through it and saw the face of Ron.

She groaned, and opened the door.

" Hello Hermione." said Ron, muscling his way in.

" Hello Ron" said Hermione, closing the door and following him into the front room. " what a surprise."

" don't you just love surprises?" said Ron, turning on her. " I mean any woman would love to be in your shoes today."

" they would?" She said, backing away from him.

" Imagine this," he said, advancing on her. " A little cottage in the woods, My latest kill roasting on the fire. My little wife, messaging my feet. All the while, the children are playing on the floor with the dogs. We'll have six or seven."

Hermoine was in a corner with no where to go.

" Dogs?" she asked, buying time.

"Oh no." said Ron, putting an arm on either side of her head. " strapping young boys, just like me."

Hermione tried to duck under his arm, but he blocked her. " Imagine that."

" do you know who that wife will be?" Ron said, moving closer to her.

"L-Let me think..." Hermione stammered, really uncomfortable now.

" You, Hermione." said Ron, leaning down. " that wife will be you."

He ducked his head and tried to kiss her, but Hermione saw her opening and ducked under his arm.

" Ron, I'm so speechless." she said, backing away toward the front door. " I don't know what to say."

" say " Ron growled, taking the bait. " you'll marry me."

Hermione was now pressed against the door, she fumbled for the knob with one hand while not acting panicky.

Ron put his hands back on either side of her head, then said, " so what do you say?"

Hermione looked at him, saying, " I'm sorry Ron, but I really don't deserve you."

with the last word she flung the door open. Ron, having his entire wieght on the door, flew out. He landed in the pond, just as the fast paced tones of 'Here Comes the Bride.'

Hermione closed the door, and leaned against it, relieved.

Outside, Nigel looked down into the pond, only seeing Ron's rump. A pig popped up, then right underneath him, Ron did too.

" so how'd it go?" said Nigel, looking at Ron.

" how do you think?" Ron said, hitting Nigel over the head again. " but Hermione WILL marry me."

Ron walked off closely followed by nigel and the Bar patrons.

Hermione peeked out the door.

" is he gone?" she asked one of the chickens that had come onto the porch.

" can you trully believe it?" she said, to no one in perticular. " he asked me to marry him. the troll."

She walked around the house and into the barn. Hermione had forgotten to feed the barn animals, so she did it quickly.

" like I would ever awnt to be HIS WIFE?" she said, continuing with the feeding. " I want to do more then that. But does he care? NO! ERRRRR!!!"

She dropped the feed, and just ran.

A few minutes later, she dropped in the middle of a field.

Picking a dandilion, she laid on her back. She blew the little seeds, watching them float into the great beyond.

Suddenly a neigh cut through the air.

Hermione sat up and looked around. It was Phillipe.

" Phillipe!" she called, standing and running up to the horse. " where's papa?"

the horse winnied, and shook it's head.

" take me to him." She said, pulling the horse to the house. She unhooked the cart, and ran into the house. Hermione grabbed her cloak and ran back out to the horse.

With a kick, they were off.

For a few hours, Hermione rode the horse without stopping and were at the castle.

"Steady Phillipe, steady."

She looked up at the beautiful yet daunting building. Then she saw it.

A hat. Her father's hat.

" Papa." She said, looking back up to the castle.

She pulled phillipe to the castle. She tied him to a post, and went inside.

" hello?" she called, looking around. "is anyone here?"

Hermione began to explore the castle, all the time yelling to anyone.

In one room, Harry and Blasie were in a heated argument.

" this is all you fault." Harry said, glaring at Blaise. " you're the one who had to speak up, had to let him in, had to let him sit in the master's chair. Look what's happened now."

" I was trying to be hospitable." said Blaise looking the other way from Harry.

" well that's no excuse." said Harry, turning his back on Blaise.

Then Hermione walked by, saying, " Papa?"

Blaise, and Harry spun toward the doorway, and said together, " there's a girl in the castle!"

Blasie jumped down and yelled back, " she's the one to break the spell."

with those final words, he ran out of the room after her.

" papa?" she yelled down the hall again.

Suddenly a door behind her creaked open, and Hermione jumped.

Then ran to the open door, she heard a voice from further up the stairs. She took the stairs two at a time.

" Hello?" she said, at the top stairs. But looking around, saw no one. " but I thought I heard someone. Is anyone there? Can you help me find my father?"

"Hermione?" came a response, somewhere from the back of the room.

" Papa?" she called again, grabbing a torch, and beginning through the room.

" Here." came the voice again.

In the last cell was Arthur. He was pale, and drawn. His hands and cheeks were freezing cold, and his eyes were beginning to take on a sickly glow.

" Oh Papa." said Hermione, dropping to her knees, and taking his hands through the bars. " you're like ice. I have to get you out of here."

" NO!" said Arthur, pushing her away. " you have to get out of here. There's something here, I don't know when it's going to come back. You have to leave."

" I'm not leaving you." she said, trying to pull open the door.

At that moment, Draco ran up and grabbed her shoulder. The torch fell from her hands and sputtered out.

" who's there?" She said, turning to face Draco.

" The master of this castle." said Draco, staying to the shadows. He had recognized the girl he had been watching through the mirror for years.

" Please let me take my father. He's sick. He needs help." Hermione said, looking into the shadows for him.

" he shouldn't have been here in the first place." said Draco. " he's my prisoner. There's nothing you can do."

" there must be something." Hermione looked behind her at Arthur. He looked so helpless. Then an idea floated to the front of her mind.

" take me instead."

" You – you would take his place?" said Draco looking at her in a new light.

" if you promise to let my father go, then yes." Hermione said, standing to face him.

" you must promise to stay here forever." Draco said, looking at her.

" I will." she said, standing strong. " but please come into the light."

he took the final step forward, and Hermione gasped. It was like the big bad wolf out of little red riding hood. His lower jaw pushed forward, the two canines prodominatly large. He was covered from head to foot in thick silky brown fur. His legs were like that of a dog's. Everything about him was terrifying. Then Hermione looked into his eyes. His bright blue eyes had a look of deep sadness, and of deep loneliness.

" so will you stay now?" Draco said, in his fiercest voice. " now that you know what I am?"

She stood strong.

" I will stay." she said, then dropped to her knees.

He moved past her and wrenched open the cell. Arthur ran out and fell next to his daughter.

" Hermione." he said, talking fast. ' you don't have to do this. I'm old. I'm -erch."

Draco grabbed him by the collar and began draging him through the castle. Even as Hermione screamed after them, " Wait."

Draco didn't stop.

He dragged Arthur to an old Pallenquin. Then thrust him in it.

Arthur stuck his arm out the window and said, " Please spare my Daughter."

Draco moved his face to the window and said, " she is no longer your concern."

then he said to the Pallenquin, " take him to the village."

with that Arthur was forcibly taken from his daughter, even as she watched and heard his protests from the tower window.

" Master."

" what?" said Draco, looking at Blaise.

" well I was just thinking since she is staying with us for a long time, then she should have adiquiate comfortable rooms."

" yes you're right." said Draco, and he continued up the stairs.

At the top he saw hermione at the window in her father's cell.

" you didn't even let me say goodbye." Hermione said, through silent tears. " i'm never going to see him again and you didn't let me say goodbye."

Draco stood uncomfortable in the doorway for a moment, then said " i'll show you to your rooms."

" but I thought, " said Hermione, looking shocked.

" do you want to stay here?" Draco said, indicating the room.

" no." she said.

" then follow me." He said and walked out.

They walked for a while. Hermione looked around, and was surprised with how creepy it was. Now that she could see everything.

She followed him silently, tears still streamed down his face.

" Say something." Blasie said to draco.

" I hope you like it here." said Draco, looking over his shoulder at her. " this is your home now so you can wander whereever you like. Except the west wing."

" why can't I go in the west wing?" Hermione asked, looking up at him.

" because it's forbidden." Draco yelled at her.

They continued for a few more minutes, then came to a door with a beautiful carved sword entwined with a rose vine on it.

Draco opened it and said, " these are you rooms now."

There were carved roses in the walls, on the bed, and in the floor and ceiling. But Hermione barely saw.

" if you need anything, my servants will attend to you." said Draco, looking down at her.

"dinner, dinner." Blaisse urged, " invite her to dinner."

" you are invited to dinner." said Draco, standing taller. " that's not a request."

with that he slammed the door. Hermione panicked at the sudden darkness and ran to the bed.

Falling on it, Hermione began to cry, and eventually she fell into a light sleep.

Hope everyone liked this chapter.

Ttyl

jen