Later that day

Hermione, Harry, and Ron sat dully at the dinner table in the Great Hall. Nobody had an appetite, and they poked their roast duck around on their plates. Harry and Ron didn't support the marriage, but promised to stand by Hermione no matter what. She was their friend, and they were going to protect her.

Hermione wasn't feeling so good. Every time she looked at their faces or even opened her mouth, she felt like crying or barfing. She had learned that her parents were dead, had an asthma attack, and had gotten engaged on that same day. She looked over her shoulder and spotted Malfoy's shiny blond hair and felt very very cold and empty.

Then, she saw another very similar head of blond hair, but longer and silkier. She was at the doors of the Great Hall, in dark sunglasses, white satin gloves, and tan fur coat. Her lip-sticked mouth was arranged in a distasteful scowl, and she held herself in a poised, dignified way. Draco's mother.

She shot a look at her unknowing son, who was also looking down, pushing food around his plate. Then she looked around and spotted Hermione. Hermione couldn't tell whether she was looking at her because of the sunglasses shielding her face, but then the woman lowered them and looked directly at Hermione. Without motion or speaking, she somehow got the message across that she wanted Hermione to come to her.

She turned quickly and clacked away in her expensive heels. Hermione was the only one who noticed the presence of Draco's mother.

She clumsily got up, and told her friends, "I'm gonna use the bathroom, guys. Be back soon."

They nodded unemotionally, and went back to their food. Hermione struggled to get out from in between the tables, but finally made it to the doors. As she reached them, she saw a glimpse of Draco's mother turn the corner at the end of the corridor. She quickened her pace to catch up to her. Finally she stopped, and Hermione stopped walking when she was a safe distance away from her, but close enough to talk.

Mrs. Malfoy curtly took off her sunglasses and put them in her black leather bag, which hung delicately at her elbow. "So… you've decided to seduce my son and convince him to marry you." She spoke in a lazy but dangerous drawl, so much like her son.

Mrs. Malfoy stepped closer. "What I wonder is, how have you done it? Such a magical feat seeing your appearance and background."

She looked away as if she were remembering a bad memory. "Draco did this before…And he isn't even grateful that I saved him from that filthy so-called girl-friend he made.

"Marriage, Miss Granger, is taken very seriously in our family. And how can I let my son marry a girl because of this hormone-induced thing called love? A girl who is about to be wed into our family must have a proper family, background, and legacy in the magical world. Which you, Miss Granger, don't have at all."

She looked at Hermione and raised her eyebrows into an innocent, "Oh I'm so sorry, I totally had nothing to do with this" expression. I hate you. I hate you so much. Hermione thought in her mind. She gritted her teeth as her face heated up in anger.

"I know you know what I mean." She purred as she stalked closer.

Hermione almost missed it, it happened so fast. A bright flash of green collided explosively with a blinding bullet of red. Sparks flew everywhere and there was a startled shout.

Hermione stood in stunned silence. Narcissa Malfoy had her wand pointed at her, and Draco was at the end of the hall, his wand out also. Mrs. Malfoy had attempted to kill her and her son had deflected it. He strode over quickly and pulled Hermione protectively behind him. "Mother!" Draco called, scared but angry. "How could you do this?! She is my wife-to-be and you almost killed her!"

"Well how can you even call her your friend? She is a muggle-born, and she doesn't have a proper enough background to even deserve to be our servant!"

Draco grew furious at this remark at screamed at her, "Mother! You cannot control me! I can make my own choices! I will marry her and that is that! You can't change it and I will never let you ruin this!"

She puffed up in an uncharacteristic outburst. "Draco Malfoy! You will not marry that girl! You will end our family tree! You are our next in our line, and how can you produce a Malfoy heir if you marry a Muggle? You will not marry her!"

Meanwhile, Hermione was watching back and forth as if she were at a tennis match. It was now Draco's turn to strike back. But instead, his face went into a creepy and crazy smile as she reached for Hermione's arm. He was triumphant; he had the upper hand. He had made his mother angry. "You'll see what I can do, mother. Soon, this girl will be your daughter and the mother of your heirs, and there is nothing you can do then."

And with that, he strode away, Hermione in tow.