The Dark Mark blazed an intense jet black as Draco slapped his hand over his forearm with a pained look. Hermione scrambled to get her wand, pointing to Blaise when the door burst open with hooded figures piling into the room. They seized her arms as she began to fail, resisting her capture. She would not be taken, she would not! She wanted to survive. For Ron. For Harry.

She was dragged back into reality by Draco's booming voice.

"NO!" roared Draco, startling Blaise to a still. "Are you a bloody idiot? Can't you see I'm trying to have sex with her!"

Blaise face fell and shifted uncomfortably. "I didn't know we do that type of things now…" He shuddered.

Draco climbed off of Hermione as she felt relief washing over her, now that he was a good distance away. He stalked to Blaise, yelling in pure fury, "I'm doing anything wrong to her! It's consensual! You think I'm a bloody beast!"

Blaise's face hardened exaggeratedly. "Is that so, Draco?"

Draco's throat went dry, feeling himself under an uncomfortable amount of scrutiny. His heart began to race, skipping every few beats. He made a vow. Not just the unbreakable vow, but a vow to himself, to prove himself good even in all this mess. Draco cleared his throat and avoided the question instead by asking another irrelevant to Hermione. "What are you doing here anyway?"

Blaise cocked an eyebrow. "Draco, we're good friends. Tell me why she's in your bed."

Draco heaved with a sigh, closing his eyes, preparing himself. "She's my fiancée."

Hermione clapped her hand over her mouth. He said it. He really said it. This was the first step. She watched Blaise carefully, waiting for his reaction.

He frowned, thinking too hard, "But what about Astoria?"

She released her breath. She expected a worst reaction with threats and scolding. Relief consume her yet again.

Draco shrugged. "She never meant anything to me."

Astoria did have an unusual place in his heart, he was the only girl he ever really cared about, but that didn't mean he was solely hers, of course he still fooled around. But if anyone was going to be his wife one day, it would be her. She was pureblood. Beautiful with blonde silky hair, reaching down to her waist with bright celery-green eyes. Her image was burning into his mind, slowly falling to ashes, knowing he would not be with her ever again.

"So—"

"Blaise, I have been with Hermione shortly after Hogwarts, but because of prejudices, we thought better to keep it hidden. Yes, I've dated Astoria, but you know, Blaise, it wasn't too serious…"

"Who else knows?"

"Just you… Don't mention it to anyone."

Blaise's eyes met Hermione, boring into her until she could no longer take the burning and averted her eyes downward. She never was one to back down, but in the situation she was in, she was too close, close enough to the enemies' bite.

"What's that bed there for?"

Draco answered quickly, "For you. I figured you'll be crashing."

"Is it ok that I crash?"

Draco nodded and Blaise nodded back at him, but his eyes landed on Hermione, staring at her, not a glare, rather waiting for her approval. She was slightly taken back. Was he being respectful? Considerate?He held out his hand as she gazed at his large hand. She slid off the bed, walking warily to shake hand his hand. His grip was firm, but yet somewhat comforting. The reek scent of alcohol though made her uncomfortably nauseous. She noticed his eyes grazing her body without any constraint. She was then pulled backwards and Draco stepped in front of her.

So, he loathed Hermione and she was stupid filth, but what was his, was his. He cocked his eyebrow, questioningly. Blaise face fell in slight embarrassment and crawled into Hermione's conjured bed. Draco led her onto his bed and he threw the thin sheets to Blaise. He slithered under the quilt as Hermione did the same.

He had to admit this situation made him extremely uncomfortable. He had slept with women, but never sleptwith any woman. Right after the fun, every woman knew to leave shortly afterwards even Astoria. Her image was faint in his head, he knew one day if he was going to get married it was suppose to be her and here he was lying with his new future wife that he was so sure he could never ever love. Then quickly, without meaning to, Hermione in her silk pyjamas flashed vividly in his head, feeling unable to control his arousal. He clenched his fist and gritted his teeth, furious with him and his fucking body, reacting to her that way. Mudblood, mudblood, mudblood and continued to repeat endlessly in his head to calm his feelings down.

Hermione wanted to disappear right into the bed, she was lying with Malfoy! She felt dirty, her thoughts wandering to Ron. What would he think of this? What would he think of her? She covered her face, she was so ashamed. Would Ron ever want her back after this whole thing? Her heart plummeted and a sensation irritated her throat, a feeling so close when one wanted to vomit. Ron wouldn't want her. She knew there was no reason to even hope that he would. Malfoy is Ron's nemesis and doing this, even if it was fake, was an insult to Ron, a betrayal to him. She had to kiss Ron goodbye forever. She began shaking violently whether it was because of her fear or she was cold, she needed comfort: warmth.

"Give me some of myquilt," Hermione hissed, tugging on it, as it slightly slipped off of Draco, leaving half of his body exposed.

Draco turned to her with a threat flashing in his eyes and jeered, "I suggest you stop because I have no trouble hexing you."

"Neither do I, Malfoy."

"Just do that complicated spell to warm your body up. You'll be fine," Draco growled, watching her body aggressively shake then he sneered as he ignored Blaise's snore loudly in the background. "Why would you wear those things to sleep in mid-October on a night that is well below the average, Granger."

She rolled her eyes fiercely. "Why don't you put something warm on? You're the one half-naked! Actually, please do that. You're making me uncomfortable."

He smirked, "Please, it's a blessing for someone of your disgusting looks to be next to me half-naked."

She flushed with her cheeks, burning. "No. I think you're too pale, ever heard of a tan? And not to mention, your hair is like it was badly dyed."

Did the mudblood insult him? Draco tore the quilt completely off of Hermione, exposing her beautiful thighs and legs and he felt his cheeks warm with a blush slowly creeping as he just greedily took them in. He knew he couldn't leave her exposed, she would only be a distraction and he would not be able to tame his arousal. He then pulled her closer to him roughly, pressing her chilly body next to his, engulfing her with the quilt. Hermione was taken over by surprise, but the surprise left as soon as it came, leaving guilt in its place.

"Comprise, okay? So shut up and go to sleep already, it's already three in the morning," he rumbled. "And look the other way," he added curtly as he turned, his back facing her. Show her good, Draco, he scolded himself. I comprised at least, he snapped at himself.

"Thank you," she whispered faintly.

He heard her soft voice, sounding sweet in his ear, but he pretend not to hear her, shutting his eyes. Draco was pushing her away from him mentally, but it was proving to be difficult. He ran his fingers through his hair, breathing heavily. He felt the bed shift, knowing she was turning away from him and feeling the silk brush against his bare back.

Draco, he told himself, remember where you stand.

*****

Hermione heard faint bustling out the window, knowing it must be afternoon as it was usually busy with crowds in Diagon Alley. Her eyes fluttered open and squinted at the sun's rays seeping into the room vibrantly. She felt a heavy arm and peeked behind her, clasping her hand over her mouth to stop herself from shrieking from shock. She forgot. She was expecting Ron next to her; she was used to seeing Ron next to her. The man next to her was no Ron. He was Draco Malfoy. She examined the peaceful face, with soft pale skin and long blonde eyelashes. He was even more gorgeous when he was sleeping…with his mouth shut too so no ugliness slipped past his lips. She thought of Blaise and peeked over as best as she could, to find him and the bed gone. He must have left, she thought. Draco stirred, shifting slightly and tightening his grip around her and pulled her closer. Then she felt it. She felt it poke her as her face flushed hard. Is that his…Oh, Merlin it is!

Hermione panicked and thought of the only logical thing to do without thinking how angry she could make Malfoy right now, "GOOD MORNING!" she roared. Draco snorted awake, fumbling for his wand. When it was found, he pointed it at all directions, trying to find the threat.

His wand was aiming at her when he spat, "What the fuck, Granger!"

She shook her head, climbing out the bed and rushed, locking herself in the bathroom. He started after her. He ran both hands through his hair, calming himself down. Draco's head was not pounding like it usual did when he woke up. His body was relaxed and felt refreshed. No nightmares last night he thought happily. He rummaged in his head to find what he dreamt of last night. His cheeks became a burning hot red as he looked down to his lap, flushing harder than he had ever before at his arousal. He finally remember his dream… him and Hermione as he became more aroused by it. He ran his fingers through his hair, grumbling angrily at himself.Idiot. She's not attractive. She's a mudblood. A mudblood!

He quickly got dressed into a white button-up with sleeves rolled up, revealing his Dark Mark as he stared at it uninterestedly. He pulled his black jeans over his finally calm body and fitted into his shoes. Draco left momentarily to finish his morning routine somewhere else and to ask for a quick favor, leaving the room still, the only sound was the faint bustling. His heavy footsteps meant he was back in the room. He sat at the edge of the bed, thinking.

This is going to be alright, he nodded to himself. Everything will work out. Granger is not so bad, I guess… Draco experienced a flashback of their third-year when she had smacked him hard and he smirked at the memory. Granger was tough and even more so now. Even though there was desperation in her yesterday, it was daring of her to suggest what she did. Did it make him strong for agreeing? He genuinely smiled, for shedding some of his cowardice last night.

There was a soft knock on the door and he opened it to find a man with gray hair sleeked back in black robes, eliciting his sophistication. "Sir Malfoy, this was the best I could do in the short notice." He held out an emerald velvet box.

Draco picked it up and shot a nasty glare at the man, but opened it. He nodded with smugness. "This will do. Thank you."

"May I ask who the lucky lady is, sir?"

Draco hissed, "No, you may not. So go!"

The older man slightly bowed, taking his leave without a hint of offensive. Draco slammed the door behind him, cursing the man's nosey question. Draco took his seat again at the edge of the bed, opening and closing the box, smirking every time, wider and wider.

Hermione eventually came out in an ugly forest green jumper and slightly baggy jeans, her eyes averted to the floor awkwardly. His first thought was that the hideous jumper did her body no justice and he wanted to see her flattering curves. The next thought slipped right of his mouth, easily, "You look disgusting."

Her eyes lifted to his with an angry spark. "You should be lucky, Malfoy, you have a future wife now. No one would even dare marry a person like you especially with such an ugly mouth."

"There was someone who did," he growled, throwing a green velvet box at her feet. He watched her with his jaw tightening as she picked it up carefully and opened it to find a huge center diamond with diamonds surrounding in and emeralds glittering on the sliver band.

She clapped her hand on her mouth, gasping. "It's beautiful. It was for Astoria?"

"What? No!" he snapped. "For you!"

Her heart plummeted. First he calls you his fiancée, now he gives you a ring, thought Hermione. This Draco completely confused her. She replied weakly, "Why…?"

He snorted. "Really, Granger? Did you forget about last night? You're my fiancée now." He said this with a mixture of overwhelming feelings of actually wanting to please her and pure hate. I guess there's a fine line between hate and love, although he didn't necessarily love Granger. He started toward her, snatching the box away from her and pulled out the ring. He then threw the box behind him as Hermione furrowed her eyebrows. He gently took her hand, slipping the ring on, and both watching the ring, glistening brightly.

Hermione swallowed hard before she was able to muster her question, "Who wanted to marry you?"

His eyes shot to her face and she could see the annoyance in them. "Astoria. My parents were trying to arrange a marriage between us. She is…was my girlfriend, so everyone thought of it as appropriate. I'm too young to get married though so I naturally rejected the offer. It didn't mean that I wouldn't marry her someday, just not now. Somehow, we still maintained our relationship after her little heartbreaking espisode."

"Malfoy, so why say yes to my proposal?"

His stormy gray eyes bore into her chocolate ones as he snarled, "I have many reasons, Granger. None that you need to know."