Chapter 7: Old Habits Die Hard

Hermione sighed as she watched her things get put into boxes. Ginny and Harry had come to help pack, all of her things were going to be taken to the manor that afternoon. Everything except her furniture and kitchen goods. She wouldn't be needing them in the manor. She had managed to talk her landlord into keeping the furnishings in the apartment, saying that whoever rented next could have to pay more for a pre-furnished apartment. The lease was already signed and they would be moving in as soon as Hermione left for her marriage.

"Mione?" Ginny looked up at her, concerned.

"I know its silly. I just feel so sad seeing my things packed away."

"This isn't about Malfoy."

"Actually, this week, he hasn't been terrible. He's still an annoyance. But he's been trying hard to keep me from freaking out. Mostly he's achieved this by avoiding me."

"It's going to be different, seeing you as a Malfoy." Harry muttered, then giving her a hopeful smile. "If anything goes down, just let me know and I'll have you immediately removed."

"Thanks, Harry. It means a lot." She truly meant these words. More now than ever before.

"Mione, we should go shopping. You know, get you out of this vacant place."

"It would be nice.. but I think I want to stay here and mope a bit. After all, tomorrow I won't be here anymore."

She made it sound like she was going to cease to exist. In a way, it could be true. The old Hermione Jean Granger would be no more. There would only be Hermione Jean G. Malfoy. What a mess. Hermione was just thankful that Narcissa allowed her to keep her job as an attorney. She didn't know how to live a life of luxury, and it was most likely too late to learn.

Her friends smiled sympathetically and left. Hermione sat on the floor in her empty apartment and just looked at her bare walls. She wondered what her dress would look like. She wondered what Malfoy was going to look like. She amused herself with her idea of what the scowl on Lucius's face would look like. The only things she knew for certain was that the Weasleys (minus the bastard) and Harry were invited, of course her parents would be there, and that she knew reporters would be there.

It only made sense. After all, her intended was Draco Malfoy, heir to the Malfoy estate, double agent for the order. His part in the war was probably even more important than Harry's - not that anyone would credit that to him, of course. And then there was Hermione, the brightest witch of their age, war heroin alongside Harry Potter. Two very prominent figures in the wizarding world, and they were getting married to each other. No, their presence was almost required at such an event.

What Hermione didn't like was the planning for over four hundred guests. Most of whom will be there only for the Malfoy side.

Hermione actually loved the ideas Narcissa presented. They were very classy, yet very modest. She had an infinite amount of cash to back the wedding, but that didn't mean Hermione was ok using it. What Narcissa refused to show her was the dress. Narcissa had Hermione's measurements taken, not leaving out a typical comment of "Oh my! You're so thin. We'll have to get a little meat on those bones." But Hermione felt her stomach hit her lower intestines when Narcissa continued. "After all, it's not safe to bear children at such a low weight. Well, no matter. You'll eat like a queen from now on."

Hermione now sat on her floor, ignoring the soft tears spilling down her cheeks. A baby. How she wanted hers back. Her hand absentmindedly rubbed her stomach where her previous baby had been. She would never know what little Austin Elise Granger would grow up to be, who she would resemble more. Nothing. Suddenly Hermione found herself bawling. She wanted her baby back. There was never going to be a moment where she didn't miss that child.

"Granger! What on earth happened to you?" Draco chose that exact moment to walk into her flat.

"Malfoy.. I'm not in the mood." She stood shakily and chose to walk to the kitchen to make some tea, wiping her tears as she went.

"Apparently... I didn't know moving took this much of an emotional toll on you."

"Malfoy... drop it." Her tone was warningly low.

"I just want to help make this as smooth a transition as possible."

"I still hate you."

"I wouldn't go as far as to say I hate you too, but I can definitely assure you with sincere honesty that you would be the very last person on my marriage list."

"Funny, you seemed to pick my application."

"It was anonymous and you were the only one with a brain."

"Well there's a shocker."

It was just banter. Completely random. She had no point to her arguement with Draco, but he was getting fed up and fast.

"Granger, we have to make some appearances in diagon alley."

"I don't have to do anything except marry you tomorrow."

"Aside from the publicity, we need to go and be sized your engagement ring and our wedding bands." It shocked Hermione.

"You mean.. I'm actually getting an engagement ring?" She didn't expect any formalities to a real union like this. It was a pleasant surprize.

"It wouldn't be a wedding without having the engagement."

"Well regardless I'm not in the mood today."

"We don't have a choice. The wedding is tomorrow."

"I certainly have a choice. Take this and have them size to this." Hermione slid her promise ring off her finger, handing it to Draco.

"What is this?"

"Its a promise ring. From a guy I dated for a while."

"After we wed, its going in the rubbish."

"WHAT?"

"You don't need items from previous relationships in our marriage. I understand we're not wanting this relationship, but just make it as easy as you can. We have to try and get along. And in the public eye, we have to be in love."

"I refuse."

"You can't. Unless you want everyone to know you are tarnishing your name willingly while entering a sham of a marriage." It was true. She had to protect her name if she wanted to continue being a lawyer.

It was about then that she noticed he was very close to her, just inches from her face. He cupped her chin and forced her to eye him. His eyes were not cold and angry; they were soft and understanding. A blush crept to her cheeks when his voice came out in a low, gruff and sexy, seductive whisper, "Just cooperate with us and it'll be a lot easier on you."

That moment was when a desperate Ron burst into the room once more.

"I'm sorry, Mione! Please! Don't marry him. Marry me. I can save you from having to go to him." But the facade was on. To everyone else they had to be in love. And Draco's eyes told her now was the time to start playing their shameful sham.

"Ronald. I cannot forgive you for what you took away."

"It was for your own good. Did you really want to have a child with Malfoy?"

"I loved my baby. It didn't matter who her father was. She was mine and you killed her. Even Draco reacted better to me keeping her than you." Hermione circled her arms around Draco's neck and placed a quick chaste kiss on his cheek.

"Beat it Weasel. I'm busy with her."

"Hermione, are you really going to sleep with him? Go to his bed everynight? The man that raped you several times?" The thought made Hermione involuntarily shiver. She remembered all the rapes. She remembered the pain that coursed through her as her virginity was stolen from her. "It was supposed to be me, Mione. I was supposed to be with you. I was supposed to take you that way. You promised yourself to me with that ring."

Draco held up the ring. "You mean this cheap piece of shit?" He then proceeded to toss the ring out the window. "She doesn't want to make promises with her body. She doesn't owe herself to you, and she certainly doesn't have to take your crap."

"Let her speak for herself!"

Hermione turned her eyes down, away from Ron. "I owe you nothing."

Draco smirked, took a chaste kiss from her lips then walked over to Ron. "You understand now, Weasley? Your cheap piece of shit ring, your fucked up mind, you can all take a hike. Hermione has someone who will actually take care of her now."

"You may take care of her because that's what the law requires, but you will never care for her."

"On the contrary. We are happily together. Sure, it was a rough start. But once we accepted the assignment we've come to a little.. understanding." He threw on his classic smirk but Ron was unphased. He looked at Hermione who just looked to the ground.

"Hermione.. why won't you speak for yourself? This rapist is talking for you!"

"You want me to talk? You want me to say what I think? You're disgusting, you're awful. You're stupid for thinking I would ever want to get married to you after you killed my daughter."

"That was a long time ago!"

"It doesn't change the issue."

"I've apologized!"

"Apologies won't bring back the dead. You took away my baby. The baby that kept me company, kept me alive, kept me sane. You took her away from me with your own selfish attitude!" Hermione couldn't hold back her tears as the anger filled her. "Ronald I meant it when I said I never want to see you again. And you will not be at my wedding tomorrow. Now leave before I call the authorities."

Ron became indignant. He pushed past Malfoy and slammed her into the wall. Hermione didn't see what happened but she could hear the struggle as she fought a losing battle for consciousness.

When she came to, there was an unconscious, bloody Ron and ministry cops at the door. Malfoy, who had just a few small cuts on him, was talking with them; replaying the events that happened for the cops to get a story. One cop noticed she was coming around and walked over, effectively catching Draco's attention.

"Hermione. Are you ok? How do you feel?" He was at her side, gently holding her shoulder. The cop that walked over looked at him in surprize.

"What is your relation to Miss Granger? What business were you conducting here before the intrusion?"

"I'm her fiance. We were just discussing the last bit of plans for the wedding tomorrow, then I was going to take her out for some shopping. Then that thing came bursting in. He's trying to keep her from marrying out of jealousy."

"You're claiming he's jealous of you?"

"He's an ex of Miss Granger's. He actually has a history of violence with her, including killing her unborn child a few years back." This news shocked the officer as she looked from the unconscious body to the couple as Draco helped Hermione to her feet unsteadily. "I took the tea off the stove. Would you like a glass now, love?" She knew it was just an act, and it disgusted her to no end; but she wanted some tea so she didn't complain, sheonly nodded her head softly.

When Draco left the room, the officer leaned to Hermione. "Miss Granger, we got one story from Mr. Malfoy. However, we need a statement from you."

"I was talking with Ma-Draco. We were discussing our wedding and he wanted to take me shopping. But Mr. Weasley burst in. There was a bit of a verbal arguement then I told him to leave before I called the authorities to remove him. That's when he slammed me against a wall and I don't remember anything else."

"Do you want to press charges?"

"Yes. I want him punished to the fullest extent. I also want a restraining order. I don't want him anywhere near me."

"Yes ma'am. We'll have him taken down to the ministry. You try to feel better, and I wish you luck tomorrow. You have one great guy." The cop finished in a whisper and left the shaken girl to take a cup from her now returning fiance.

"I put some relaxant in there. It'll help calm your nerves and ease your body a bit. It won't make you drowsy though."

"Thank you." She drank it down in small sips and when the cops finished, she was feeling much better and hopped off her stool. "Well, let's go!"

Draco smiled and took her hand. Suddenly she was thinking he wasn't going to be so bad.

He took her to eat, but she found it hard to take more than tiny refined bites with cameras snapping a flash at her every move.

"You're sure we can't eat at my place? I can't eat with all these cameras."

"It'll take some adjusting. Just ignore them for now." Hermione sighed and tried her best to smile.

When they finished their dinner, he signed a sheet of paper and they were out without paying.

"Malfoy.. what about the-"

"Remember, in public we're always being watched." His voice was just a whisper. "Don't call me Malfoy. You have to call me by my first name."

"Old habits die hard." She rolled her eyes. "Regardless.. why didn't we pay?"

"The Malfoy family has an account with just about any business. They automatically deduct the bill from our gringotts." He slid his eyes sideways to look at her. "Oh don't be so surprized. You knew I am rich."

"Yeah, I haven't forgotten.. but that's just insane." He chuckled a bit at her expression.

"Feeling like a celebrity yet?"

"A little..." She wasn't going to lie. Everywhere she went the past two weeks since the announcement, people have been giving her things for free; most were hoping she'd wear them and get them free advertisement. When she walked into stores, the owner would always bow and immediately a lower worker would rush to her side to see if she fancied anything to drink. A more experienced worker would always rush to her side to assist her with her shopping. It was a stunning feeling. She felt important. She knew she was famous after the war, but even war heros didn't get special priveledges. I guess when you're rich everyone bows down to you. Even when you haven't done anything spectacular.

"Welcome, welcome! I was wondering when I'd see the happy celebrity couple!" An older woman who ran the high class jewelry shop ran forward, enveloping Hermione and Draco each in a tight hug. She had a grandmotherly feel to her, warm and kind. "What can I get for the couple today?"

"We need an engagement ring for my fiance, and our wedding bands. It's a tight squeeze, but we're having the ceremony tomorrow."

"Oh my- so soon?"

"We just... can't wait to get married." Draco put on his perfect show smile, and Hermione couldn't help but play along; grudgingly, of course.

After what seemed like an eternity, Hermione picked out the most gorgeous engagement ring and the couple had found their wedding bands. After they properly thanked the woman and promised to send her photos from the wedding to display as sales promotion, they stepped out.

"So, dearest. Shall we find you some suitable clothing for the manor?"

"What's wrong with my clothes?" She sounded offended.

"Don't make me go into that. Come on." He took her and made her try on about 50 evening gowns and cocktail dresses. Surely they wouldn't make her dress up in her own home. "You never know when company will arrive." He had a point. "You must always look your best. Weekends you are free to dress in whatever lazy clothing you'd like, weekends are days for rest after all. But weekdays are days for business and as such you must look nice until after 7 PM which is when dinner is cleared and we have retired to our own activities for the night." He was busy pulling dresses from the rack while Hermione was on the other side of the curtain trying to get into one of the dresses he had picked out.

"That one is nice. Wear that for the reception."

"What? I have to wear another dress?"

"Hermione, you're going to have the pre-wedding dress, the wedding dress, the reception dress, and the after-party dress. The after party will be more relaxed and be people our age. It's pretty much for you and me; unlike the reception which is for our guests. At any rate, these three work so let's go."

They purchased the dresses, but much to Hermione's liking, he allowed her to choose her pre-wedding dress in Red. She would have a little Gryffindor spirit for herself, much to her soon-to-be husband's disapproval.

0~0~0~0

The morning came too fast for Hermione's liking. She got ready, wearing her red dress with the diamond straps. She let her hair fall in loose ringlets spiraling down her back, pulling up just one side to add a flirty white flower clip. She wore her heels with the black ribbon straps (the ones she'd be wearing all day with the exception of her wedding shoes). She did a light touch of make up and allowed her overnight bag to be stuffed with her clothes from the previous day. With this, the final of her belongings were removed from the apartment and she apparated to Malfoy Manor.

Draco grimmaced at the bright red of ehr silk dress and Mrs. Malfoy beamed. Lucius simply averted his eyes back to his Daily Prophet, merely ignoring the Gryffindor colors.

"Hermione, dear, so lovely to see you. I am so happy to be welcoming you to our home. Though, I guess now.. it'll be your home too, won't it dear?" Narcissa hugged the young witch warmly, starting a light blush on Hermione's cheeks and a rude click of Draco's tongue as he turned his eyes away from his fiance.

"Couldn't avoid your house colors, Granger?"

"Old habits die hard." She replied cheekily, hoping it pissed him off.

"Well, let's not waste anymore time!" Narcissa intervened abruptly, attempting to stop any bickering that was sure to start up. "Let us head to the old castle to put the final arrangements in order." She grabbed Hermione and apparated her out, leaving the two men to come when they felt like it.

"Father.. Do I REALLY have to marry her? She's so Gryffindor it hurts."

"I'll admit the red was an eyesore. But this makes your mother happy so do it."

Draco rolled his eyes and exited the sitting room. Its not like you ever cared about mother, why start now, Lucius.

A/N::

Jaa, I hope you all enjoyed this? I was kind of wanting to add in the wedding in, but I decided the chapter was pretty long and I wanted to leave that for the next chapter. At that, it is now almost 5am and I am getting pretty tired.

My exams went well. and though now my summer classes are in full swing, they don't take much of my time. So hopefully after next wednesday I'll have another chapter up... that is if I can get another chapter up in each of my other stories.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE CURIOUS! I have hermione's pre-wedding dress found online. I really like it, it's exquisite and very flirty. the image is in the purple fabric, but there is a red fabric sample, go off that one~

Remove the spaces and copy to your url bar!

Front - http : // ep . yimg . com / ca / I / yhst-81261434853532 _ 2103 _ 3486694

Back - http : // site . pacificplex . com / ebay / cr-4750b . jpg

Strap Detail - http : // site . pacificplex . com / ebay / cr-4750a . jpg

Enjoy! COMMENT PLEASE!