Disclaimer: Characters/settings/names/etc. belong to J.K. Rowling, and some dialogue belong to Shakespeare!

Thank yous: Roonil (you're like my favorite Fanfiction friend!), coldblueblood, Singforthemoment, and Michelle Lynn! Thanks so much for all the support, everyone, it goes appreciated! (:

With that said, on to the chapter! Keep in cool place, and enjoy! (:

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Hermione was sitting on the enormous red bed in her room in Malfoy's mansion, tears caked onto her face, silently contemplating on her bizarre state. She had just been kidnapped, locked in a room, and been forced to marry the one boy she had hoped never to see again. And to top it all off, she was starving and talking to a wrinkled, old house elf.

"Why me?" Hermione cried despairingly to Grumio, who was looking as if he would rather be anywhere but stuck watching over the Malfoy's latest prisoner. "Why did he choose to marry me? Just like that, out of the blue? Out of all the girls that he knew? Why me?... I can't help but think there's an ulterior motive… don't you think?" The elf scratched awkwardly at his big ears, saying nothing.

Taking the elf's silence as an indication to continue ranting, Hermione kept going, "Did he marry me to famish me? To get back at me since he used to hate Harry, Ron, and me?...And who's going to feed Crookshanks?... Here, I am starved for meat, giddy for lack of sleep. Malfoy says, sarcastically of course,that he does it in the name of love…codswallop! As if to say, if I sleep or eat, I shall die or something? Please, please, Grumio, get me some food!"

The elf tottered on his feet and wavered hesitantly, obviously reluctant to disobey the direct order from his master not to give the girl anything. Fortunately, for Grumio, Draco Malfoy chose that moment to storm into the room, cloak fluttering in his dramatic entrance.

"How's your stay been, Hermione?" the boy smirked in a mocking manner, pretending to bow.

"As cold as can be," was her icy reply.

Draco sneered at her, then thrust a plate holding a juicy steak at her. "Take this, then," he snapped, then muttering under his breath, "ungrateful piece of-"

Hermione looked warily at the meat, wondering if it was safe to take in something that the enemy offered.

"Well, such kindness merits thanks, doesn't it?" Draco drawled. When Hermione simply continued to stare, he snapped, "What, not a word? Fine, Grumio, then take the dish away."

Hermione jumped as the only food she'd seen in a day was lifted out of her reach. "No, no, no!" she cried desperately. "No, I thank you! Please, I thank you!"

Draco smirked as he watched her stuff herself with steak. Getting tamer by the second, he thought malevolently. "Anyway," he said aloud, "tonight we're having a pre-wedding dinner. Some of Father's, ah, friends are coming, and I think you should make an appearance." He snickered and snapped his fingers, signaling two house elves into the room.

"You," he said to the first, "let's see the ornaments. And you," he turned to the other, "lay out the gown."

The two elves stumbled in their haste to lay out their merchandise on the bed first. Draco studied them carefully, eyebrows furrowed in concentration. Finally, after a few moments silence, he yelled out, "What is this? This obviously won't fit her! And this cap is disgusting! You stupid gits! Away with these! Bring me another!" He grabbed the heap of clothing and threw the items at the elves, who squeaked as the weight toppled them over.

Hermione's heart soared with pity for the little servants and annoyance at Draco. Ever since her S.P.E.W days, she'd had a weak (and also quite strong at the same time) spot for mistreated house elves.

"No, no, it's fine, this will fit," she said quickly, attempting to pacify the irate Malfoy before he could injure the elves. "I mean, it's quite common for gentlewomen to wear these sorts of caps."

"And when you are gentle, you shall have one too," Draco said, with the maddening air of a parent explaining a difficult concept to a child. "But until then…"

He turned back, unable to hide the wide smirk that was crossing his face. Hermione, upon seeing this, felt something in her…

snap.

Who the hell does he THINK he IS? Hermione fumed to herself. He bursts into Hogwarts, kidnaps me for his wife, locks me up like an animal, starves me, and now he has the nerve to speak to me like I 'm a baby! He has no right to talk to me that way! If anything, I should be the one yelling at him!

Hermione leapt furiously off the bed, eyes burning and brown hair wildly frizzy, to the point where she looked like she had been run through with an electric shock. She stomped to Draco's turned back.

"I. Am. No. Child," she hissed to him, enunciating each word sharply and determinedly. "I have the right to speak, and speak I will. This cape and dress I will have, or I will have none. Do we…understand each other?" Her eyes burned into Draco's, and he could feel her radiating malice. Yet he stood his ground and didn't waver. He pushed her shoulder roughly and took a menacing step towards her.

"Fine," he snapped back, "then you will eat naked. I daresay that will be interesting." He smirked nastily, then continued, "Otherwise, you will wear the one I will personally pick out for you and bring to you this afternoon. In the meantime, do something about that hair of yours. At the rate it's growing, you probably won't fit through the door tomorrow evening." Draco huffed, turned, and then did a double take, yelling, 'NOW!', frightening Hermione so much that she cried out and stumbled backwards, tripping onto the bed.

Draco roared with malevolent laughter and slammed the door closed a bit louder than necessary, leaving Hermione on her own to run around the room, screaming, kicking, and destroying the furniture in frustration.

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(A/N) How was it? I hope you liked it! Please review, I would love to know how I'm doing! Also, reviews motivate me to stop procrastinating. Haha, I put the PRO in procrastination. I haven't done any homework yet…darn. Well, anyway, more to come soon! (: