A/N: Thank you for the reviews duj, Adis25, Sachiko, thatssoravenclaw (awesome name!), TheRavenclawPhoenix, geowynpnn, and vani12! I'm so excited so many people are enjoying the story, favoriting it, and following. More to come, sorry for the delays. If you didn't know, I have a newborn at home. Check out how cute he is on Instagram, link in my profile.

-o-

Previously on For the Cause, For Herself:

And then he was kissing her. A slow, tender moment that shared more than Hermione could admit to herself. They were just a boy kissing a girl, not a Slytherin kissing a Gryffindor, and not a Pureblood kissing a Mudblood.

-o-

Chapter 9: The Real Lies Begin

"Okay, so we're clear on the plan?"

"Yes, Hermione. I get it." Draco murmured, as Hermione helped him straighten his tie. This familiarness between them was odd, but exciting. Hermione had never been intimate with anyone before. Sure, there had been a few rushed moments when Victor had been at Hogwarts, but those moments felt insignificant now.

"Alright. But can we go over it one more time?"

Hermione needed it more for her sake than for his. She needed every detail, so that she could relay it to Harry and Ron. Ron was going to find out shortly about Hermione's new life, and she wanted to make sure everything was as clear as it should be.

"The Dark Lord wanted me to torture you into giving up information on Potter. Instead, I convinced him I could bring you to our-sorry, his side, by getting you to love me. So, we are going to have you slowly appear as if you are becoming more and more involved with me as the school year progresses."

"Right, so I shouldn't be too comfortable with you yet since we just got married." He nods in agreement and adds "And I should also seem a bit controlling of you, since of course, the world thinks I hate you and am using you."

Hermione steps away from him "Right." And then picks up her bag from the floor. She walks towards the door, with Malfoy trailing behind her. Just as she is about to open the door, he puts a hand on her shoulder. Hermione turns around.

"I wanted to let you know, that I likely will say some hurtful things today. Know that I don't mean them."

The sincerity in Draco's voice did make it too his eyes and they seemed to trap Hermione in an unrecognizable moment. She silently nodded, and he let his hand fall.

Walking side by side, close but not touching, they made their way down towards the sounds of the buzzing Great Hall.

-o-

The effect of their entrance did not go unnoticed by the couple. Having one-third of the Golden Trio walk into the Great Hall with the student most people considered the Prince of Slytherin caused the whole hall to go quiet, amplified by the fact that neither Ron nor Harry Potter boarded the train that morning.

As they slowly made their way towards the Slytherin table, Hermione caught Ginny's eye. As the lone Weasley in attending Hogwarts this year, it was easy to catch her red hair in the sea of students at Gryffindor's table. She gave her an encouraging wave and Hermione smiled at the witch.

The silence and curiosity that filled the Slytherin table was palpable. As they sat down, Pansy Parkinson was the first of the females to reveal her claws

"Draco…" Pansy drawled. "Why is the Mudblood sitting next to you?" She perked her chest forward, looking over the table as she spoke.

Setting down his fork, Draco ignored his meal to reply. "Well, because this is my Mudblood, Pansy. We got married yesterday."

Pansy's mouth dropped open, and Draco smirked wickedly as he reached a hand forward to caress Hermione's cheek. She made an effort to noticeably flinch, moving her head away from his hand. Draco laughed maniacally, elbowed Blaise Zabini to his left, and went back to eating his food as if this were a normal day. Hermione held her breath, waiting..

Not a pin was heard in the Great Hall for five whole seconds before many of the members of Gryffindor and other houses stood up in outrage. Hermione tried to look afraid, like she thought the Death Eaters would want her to look, and the effort of it made her hands shake.

Pansy looked dumbstruck. The rest of Slytherin house stared at Draco, at Hermione, then back again, then at both of them together. Shock would be an understatement. Gregory Goyle asked simply "Why?" and Hermione tried her hardest not to look at the head table or at her friends in Gryffindor when Draco answered.

Draco took this opportunity to speak as loudly as he could, hoping to spread their tale to the gossipers as quickly as he could manage. With a fork inches from his face he replied, "Because He asked me too." And then started to chew his food.

There was no question over who he was. Draco had just declared to the school that he has married Hermione Granger at the orders of Lord Voldemort himself.

-o-

After the most painful, awkward, and humiliating breakfast and sorting ceremony she had ever experienced, Hermione and Draco made their way out of the Great Hall. Only seconds later Neville came out behind them, speaking in a forceful voice, hands clenched into fists at his sides.

"Hermione. I need to speak to you. Now."

Turning to Draco, she said "Can I have a moment?"

Having spoken about Neville and the DA the night before, Draco played his part in their act.

"Don't be long, Mudblood." He stalked away, his robes billowing slightly behind him. She watched him go before turning to her friend.

"Neville." She greeted, awaiting his explosion.

"What in Merlin's name is going on here Hermione?! When I got your letter I assumed I was covering for you because you were going to leave the country, be with Victor Krum for all I know! Not to marry the enemy!" He angrily gestures towards the back of Malfoy, who was slowly walking about 20 or so odd feet ahead of them.

"Neville, this is not what you think. Please, give me a chance to explain. I'll meet you in front of the Room of Requirement at 10:30 PM tonight, okay?"

Hermione turned and ran to catch up with Draco, knowing full well that Neville would be close behind her. All three of them were headed to Advanced Herbology. And the whispers were going to follow them.

-o-

This day was probably the most difficult day that Hermione had ever been through. Not only was she worried sick about the fact that her two best friends were out trying to destroy the pariah of the Wizarding World, Lord Voldemort, but she was horrified at what Ron would do once he found out about what he would perceive as a deep betrayal.

And the one place in the world where she had always felt safe, the school that taught her how to use the natural talents that always made her feel like a freak in the Muggle world, was now a haunting of it's former self. The cold mood was palpable. The Death Eater presence, unmistakable.

Many of the Muggleborn students had not returned this year and those that had were being harassed. The first years were the smallest opening class she had ever seen in her history at Hogwarts. And the Headmaster, the spy in their midst, was doing his best to keep his cover. Looking as monstrous as ever along with his Voldemort enforced lackeys, the Carrows, were a horrifyingly mad sight. Hermione pledged to herself that she would make hem pay for their deeds, at all costs. She just had to bide her time.

If all of this wasn't bad enough, it seemed to be an almost even split across the classes. Half believed Hermione was in grave danger and being tortured by her new husband, while the others thought she was under a spell, or even worse, a small portion believed had she had turned her back on Harry and Ron. Thankfully that last group was a slim margin. Hermione couldn't handle the whispers.

In Potions class that evening, Hermione whispered to Draco. "I don't know how to do this. I can't handle this." Her hands started to shake, almost spilling too much Eye of Newt into the cauldron.

He whispered back, "keep calm, Granger. Follow my lead." And then standing up in an apparent rush of anger. "What did you just say, Mudblood?!"

Thinking how annoying it was for Draco to be asking her to act when she had told him this was a difficult scenario for her, it took Hermione a moment to come up with an answer.

"I told you, I will NOT help you!" Just guessing that he was looking for her to show a sign of reluctance, Hermione went with a vague intellectual disagreement.

Shaking his head and pursing his lip, Draco retorted "Oh, I'll show you, you little trollop!" And then he forcibly grabbed her by the wrists and pulled her out of the classroom. She vaguely heard some shuffling desks and Professor Slughorn telling students not to interfere as she was pulled out by the arm. Hermione scoffed internally. Not even the teachers were the same. This school had become a dark place.

Once they were clear from the hallway, Draco gingerly let go of her hands and led her into an seldom used classroom. "I'm sorry Hermione. Did I hurt you?" They were now standing in a very empty room, drafty without a lit torch in sight. He put his hands onto her shoulders, trying to look into her eyes. Hermione brought her head upward, slowly. "No, they were rubbed a bit but they don't hurt."

He started moving his hands up and down her arms, sensing her chill. "Well, the good news is we don't have to go to the rest of our classes today."

She raised her left eyebrow, staring at him "What do you mean?"

He shrugged lightly, the movement moving her as well. "I do this all the time. I cause a scene, leave the room, and then no one expects to see me for the rest of the day."

She laughed. Hermione genuinely laughed for the first time in weeks. It was so simple. Such simple logic. Still chuckling to herself, "What about our classwork? We're going to miss our assignments."

Smirking a little, "Always the star pupil, Granger."

Hermione smiled, then spoke slowly. Unsure if this statement would cross an unseen line. "I like this. I like the private Draco, the one only I get to see."

Private Draco was nicer, funnier, and overall significantly less pigheaded than she thought. He was turning out to be nothing like the angry boy she'd known to yell at Harry and then run away, she'd always assumed his lack of follow-through with his threats was cowardice… When it seems now that it might have all been an act.

Interrupting her thoughts, Draco started moving his arms from Hermione's shoulders to around her back, bringing her closer as he thought for 45 long seconds before speaking.

"I meant what I said Hermione. I never imagined my future being with you..." He leaned his head forward, inching it closer to her lips.

"But now that it's here, I'm going to work my hardest to make it real. Despite what it looks like on the outside, my parents were in love once. I remember it. I remember seeing how they spoke to each other, tenderly held each other, and I saw how that fell apart when the Dark Mark reawakened on my father's arm. How that wiggly snake brought out the worst in him, and then how the Dark Lord stole him away from my mother, from his family. I won't let that monster do that to me."

A breath away from her lips, his eyes closed and his forehead leaned against her own. Hermione closed her eyes, not understanding how things could have progressed so quickly, her heart beating rapidly at the closeness of Draco. Not understanding in the slightest the ping that went off in her mind, the sharp tug on her heart.

"If this is our only chance..." Draco concluded, "Then I'm going to take it."

And then he was kissing her. Slowly, his lip moving against hers in a soft cushion of warmth and salt. His face moving to the side to make room for more, his lips engulfing every part of Hermione that she had originally believed was totally under control. His hands pulling her closer, Hermione's body felt the flush of heat that radiated off of his.

As she was really letting go, becoming part of Draco in a tangled limb, a small thought popped into Hermione's mind. She thought that Draco's speech sounded a lot like settling. That this statement of willingness to try and find love with her sounded like an only resort, as if she was not part of the plan but she would do just fine since it turned out this way. And honestly, part of her didn't care in this moment. She knew that what he just said was true for her as well. Her and Ron had never dated, but Hermione had always believed that they were an inevitability. That turned out not to be true and it didn't hurt as much as she thought it would.

Because Hermione had never been treasured before and, although a little confused and flustered, she was going to enjoy her and Draco's mutual deceptions.

-o-

"So what are you going to tell him?" Draco asked from his side of the bed.

"Well, obviously I can't tell him that you and Snape are secretly spying on You Know Who and I'm going to be the mediator between you both and Harry."

She sighed before continuing. "I think I'll say a similar version, just that you and the Headmaster aren't part of the plan. I married you to get information for the cause. They'll assume I'm a martyr." Hermione shrugged, trying to act nonchalant.

Draco stood up, walking towards the open trunk she was unpacking. "Well, don't be gone too long. You need to check in with Potter tonight." He sneered a little at Harry's surname and leaned to look into her trunk. "Geez, Granger. Do you think you have enough books?" She turned slightly to glare at him.

"Might I remind you, this isn't a vacation. I have research to do." She huffed, pulling out the small book she was looking for. "Is this it?" Draco asked, pointing towards the small leather bond book. She stood up and he followed, she dropped the diary onto the small table next to her bed. "Yes."

He picked it up, looking at the blank pages. "How does it work?"

"It's a modified version of the Protean charm I put on the coins for the DA group...Oh wait, you weren't in the DA." She adds, forgetting for a moment she didn't always know that Draco was on their side of the way.

"Basically I write in the diary and the text disappears on my end and appears in Harry's journal. Then whatever he writes back will show up in my version. That's how we'll share information without owls."

"Clever." He remarked, dropping it back onto the end-table. Hermione looks at him silently. "What?" Draco asks, noticing her stare.

"I'm just not used to you complimenting me yet." She remarks.

Draco looks away, towards the analog clock on the wall and dismissing the subject. "You should probably get going."

She looks at the clock and silently agrees, picking up her wand from where it sat by her trunk.

"Okay, I'll be back in half an hour." And she leaves the room. Draco stares at the empty diary on her bedside table, thinking.

-o-

When she reached the Room of Requirement that night, Neville pulled her to a corner and brought her into a bone crushing hug without even a word. After a moment, Hermione cleared her throat. "Neville? Um, you're holding me a bit too tightly."

"Oh shite, sorry Hermione." He lets her go, then holds her in place with his hands to inspect her at a close distance. "Where has he hurt you? Should we go to Madam Pomfrey?"

Swatting his hands away, Hermione tried to reassure him. "Don't worry, Neville. Yes, Malfoy is a mean bastard but he isn't abusive. He hasn't laid a hand on me."

And although Hermione knew this was part of the plan, that everyone had to believe that Malfoy was a bad guy, it hurt her to say so. She added some hesitation to her voice, trying to play the part of the brave Gryffindor martyr.

Neville looked at her skeptically and then with a sadness that confused her. "Why did you do this Hermione? You know you could have actually married me if you needed help."

While a few weeks ago Hermione may have found his words flattering, at the moment it didn't help her mood. She huffed, exasperated already by this conversation. "I am tired of everyone acting like I am a delicate flower. I don't need help! I have this completely under control!"

Pushing his hair from his face, Neville started to anxiously pace. "You married a Death Eater! This is not under control!"

Hermione tried not to notice the other occupants of the room, staring from a distance. The Room of Requirement was a lot fuller than she expected.

"Neville, I know what I have gotten myself into. I'm doing this for a good reason. I'm feeding information to help Harry and Ron."

Neville stopped mid turn-about. "You can reach them?" He spoke excitedly.

"Yes, I've modified the Protean charm from DA so that we can communicate while I'm at Hogwarts."

"Do they know yet what you've done?"

"Harry knows, Ron will know soon."

Neville nervously looks down, "He probably already knows."

Startled, "What do you mean?"

"Lee and I reported your wedding on Potterwatch. The whole resistance knows."

Hermione paled.

-o-

Dearest Ron,

By now you both know about my marriage to Draco Malfoy. Ron, I am very sorry for having deceived you. I'm sure Harry has explained everything to you by now, but I want to stress that I am okay. Malfoy has been nothing but kind to me. He really is different than he seems. He doesn't want You Know Who to win. You may never believe him, but please believe in me.

Neville is very upset as well but he knows now that I am in contact with you both so if any of the DA group find any relevant information, they will give it to me to pass along.

Ginny is doing well. I'll keep an eye out on her for the both of you.

Please let me know how you guys are. Did you go to the Forests of Dean like I suggested? I doubt anyone would think to look for you there.

I'm starting my research with Headmaster Snape and Malfoy tomorrow. I'll write down all of my findings for you both.

I miss you both, so very much. It's not the same being here without you all.

I'm sorry, Ron. Please forgive me.

Your faithful friend,
Hermione Granger

-o-

Next time on For the Cause, For Herself:

Hermione turned and walked away from the room before anyone else could speak. Her life with Draco was isolating her, and as much as it pained her, she did not regret it.