Hermione stood in front of a full-length mirror as Draco watched from the door with a grin on his face. She was wearing a beautiful, white, wedding robe made out of silk. She had never looked more radiant. The silk clung perfectly to her figure and the neck of the robe dipped down, revealing just a hint of cleavage. And her smile... her smile was dazzling. It lit up her whole face and she had never looked happier. Never been happier. It was their wedding day.

He was so in love with her.

She was so in love with him.

Hermione clasped the white lilies in her slightly sweaty hands and looked in the mirror again, still beaming. She looked so grown up and serene, as if every little thing was right in her world. Draco watched her, a tender look of affection on his face. Their eyes met in the mirror and she knew what it meant to feel butterflies.

"How do I look?" she asked spinning around as the soft fabric swished around her legs.

Draco smiled, his gray eyes making her heart pound.

His breath caught in his throat as he saw her.

"You look… beautiful," he said with a grin that was shy, as if he wasn't used to saying things like that.

She smiled and wrapped her arms around him, pressing her lips to his, her heart pounding as he pulled her tightly against him.

"You look quite dashing yourself." He did, just looking at him made her heart do happy things. Draco leaned down to kiss her again but she evaded him.

"We have to save our kisses for the ceremony," she said with a laugh but he pulled her close again and kissed her anyway. She laughed again and hooked arms with him and they walked out of the room.

The dream ended and the dreamer drifted into a deeper sleep, the dream slipping out of their grasp to go unremembered.

One more day.

One more day of blissful freedom and then it was going to be all over.

Hermione laid in bed and stretched while letting out a long sigh. She didn't want to get out of bed, if she didn't move then the day couldn't pass her by. Her stomach was in knots again, a feeling that she was beginning to get very used to. With a heavy sigh she got out of bed, showered, and then got dressed and made her way to the Common Room. She sat down on the sofa by the fire, not feeling up to going down to the Great Hall for breakfast. She didn't feel up to very much at the moment.

She looked up as Harry and Ron noisily came down the stairs, saw her, and then made their way over to where she was sitting. Hermione could tell that they were worried about her but didn't exactly know what to say. She hadn't really confided in either of them about how she was feeling. She was sure that, though most of it was going unsaid, they understood in their own way, as much as they could. At the same time she wanted to talk about how she was feeling, put it into words, but they couldn't fix this, they wouldn't know what to say, so she stayed silent. If she couldn't talk to her best friends there was really no one else in the world that she could talk to.

"Are you going to class today?" asked Harry as he slung an arm around her.

"Of course," Hermione said, glad for the comfort that he was providing. Of course she was going to class. This wasn't going to disrupt her life. She was still a student at Hogwarts. Still Hermione Granger. At least Granger for the next twenty-four hours.

"Are you mental?" Ron chimed in. "Might as well get a free day off, it's the least Dumbledore can give you. I think that this whole thing is complete bullocks, making you marry someone you don't love. They should have at least made the law so that you could only marry someone you at least liked."

"Ron, I am perfectly capable of going to class. I'm not an invalid." She gave him a playful smack on the arm. "I do think that this law never should have passed but there's really nothing that can be done at this point. Come on you two, classes will be starting soon." She stood up, deciding that maybe a little bit of breakfast wasn't a bad thing after all. A one minute conversation with her friends and she felt much better. Just being around them made her happy. That was what friendship was really all about.

Hermione and her friends made their way down to the Great Hall for breakfast. As they walked through the corridors Hermione had mentally prepared herself for the day ahead. It was going to be a normal day, she wasn't going to let anything distract her or anything get in her way. She had pushed all of her worries aside and she had to admit, she felt pretty good. There was a certain amount of calm that came from accepting your fate, however horrible it was.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione entered the Great Hall and as soon as they stepped inside it went silent. Absolutely silent, as all eyes turned to her. Suddenly the center of attention, Hermione felt her face burn. She mentally told herself that she had been the center of attention before, many times throughout the years, but this time it was all her. There was no Harry taking the spotlight away from her. She didn't like this. Not one bit.

Hermione felt Harry and Ron beside her and, ignoring all of the attention, she walked over to the Gryffindor table and sat down next to Ginny. Ginny gave her an encouraging smile and then Hermione poured herself a glass of orange juice as the Hall erupted into chatter. She could just imagine how it was going to be tomorrow, and the day after… after the wedding night. This was going to be a very, very, long week.

Later that day, Hermione was sitting in Potions cleaning up her work station. Thankfully Snape had not decided to partner her with Malfoy again but Neville Longbottom instead. She had to admit that she was a bit thankful for that. Neville wasn't a bad partner for all of his fumbling. He had learned to take a more silent role in Potion's projects while staying as still as possible to lessen the chance of spilling something. He usually just did exactly what she told him to do which worked out well. Hermione looked up across the dungeon towards Malfoy, who was partnered with Zabini. He had also finished his potion and was in the process of cleaning up. He looked as if he hadn't slept very well. She didn't blame him.

"Malfoy. Granger." Hermione looked up to see Snape motioning for both she and Draco to come up to his desk. With a heavy sigh and a ton of bricks landing in the pit of her stomach she got up and walked over to his desk. Whatever Snape wanted, she was dreading it. She still hadn't forgiven him for partnering her with Malfoy last week. As far as she was concerned that had just been for his own malicious satisfaction.

"The Headmaster has requested to see both of you in his office immediately." He then turned his attention back to the class. "Longbottom, Zabini, finish cleaning up."

Hermione shared a look with Draco as they walked out into the hall and made their way to the Headmaster's office. Another trip to the Headmaster's office. She wondered what bad news she was going to get to hear next. All in all it couldn't really be worse. She quickly amended that thought, no, it could be worse. Perhaps Lucius was waiting up in Dumbledore's office ready to welcome her to the family. She suppressed a shiver.

What if she was getting pulled out of school right away and spirited away to Malfoy Manor? She made her breathing slow down, Dumbledore wouldn't let that happen. She told herself to stop thinking the worse, but at this point it was very hard to think of things in a positive way.

"I wonder what he wants this time," Hermione said to Draco, breaking the silence. Talking kept her mind from coming up with other horrible outcomes to this meeting. They had just rounded the corner and were on the way down the corridor leading to Dumbledore's office. They could see that the wall that was the door to his office was opened so that they wouldn't need the password.

"Maybe he wants to tell us about the birds and the bees."

Hermione couldn't stop herself from smiling. "The birds and the bees? I'm not sure I want to have that talk with him." Just the thought of Dumbledore trying to talk to them about sex amused her greatly.

"Can you imagine him explaining it? Merlin, I think I'd be mortified if he tried. He'd probably try to use hand puppets or something," Draco said with a wry grin. Hermione laughed.

"I would obliterate myself right there. I really hope that isn't the case. If he even starts in on that give me the deafening charm please, and just to be safe, one to make me go blind as well."

"Only if you promise to do the same," Draco said.

"Deal." They reached the opening and got onto the stairs as they started to spiral upwards. Hermione again wondered what this was all about. As far as she was concerned the wedding had been planned, there was nothing else that needed to be said about it. She didn't care about decorations or parties or vows. All of it was meaningless to her.

As they entered the office she saw that Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk, thankfully alone, and looking at them from above his half-moon spectacles as they sat down in the chairs in front of him.

"Lemon drop?" Both Draco and Hermione shook their heads so Dumbledore popped one in his mouth. Hermione heard the crunch, crunch, crunch, as he chewed and swallowed it. That was the only sound in the room. It was just a little bit unnerving. She really just wanted to know why the both of them were there. Finally he spoke.

"It seems I have procured you a stay of execution."

"What?" Hermione asked, trying not to jump to the wrong conclusions. A thousand thoughts instantly started running through her head. Could he really mean...

"Your impending nuptials have been temporarily put on hold," Dumbledore said with a smile.

"As in I don't have to marry her?" Draco asked hopefully. Hermione resisted the urge to begin jumping up and down. As long as she didn't have to marry him tomorrow, or the next day, or the next... she would be happy. That was all that she really wanted.

"No, Mr. Malfoy, you do not have to marry her. At least not tomorrow."

"How long is this put on hold?" Hermione asked. She wanted it to be weeks, months, years would be best. Forever was what she had her fingers crossed for. Either way, a surge of happiness and relief was flowing through her. She had a little bit more time. A little more freedom. Everything was going to be okay.

"Until the end of the school year, precisely one week after you both graduate. However, there are certain conditions."

Hermione didn't care what the conditions were, she'd take 'conditions' over vows any day of the week. Maybe this was all going to work out for the best. Maybe she just might have time to find a way out of this whole thing. The law would be appealed in three in a half months, it just had to be, the contract would be invalid and she would be free.

Free to be Hermione Granger, free to fall in love, free to get married when and to whom she wanted. This was the best news that she'd ever heard. She couldn't wait to tell Ron and Harry, couldn't wait to tell everyone.

This gave her a new reason to fight, a new reason to hope. She wasn't going to be Hermione Malfoy. Ever. If the worst happened after graduation she'd run. What were they going to do? Send the whole Auror department after her?

Draco didn't care what the conditions were. He was just happy that his whole life wasn't coming to an abrupt end tomorrow. He'd spent the last week getting used to the idea of her being his… wife thing… and he wanted nothing more than to just let go of it. He could let go of the inner conflict and the stress that had been consuming him these last six days. The end of the school year? That was still nearly three months away. Three long, wonderful, relaxing, months.

"What are the conditions?" asked Granger. Draco turned his attention away from his inner happiness and back towards the Headmaster. He supposed that it was important to hear what was going to be expected of him. He didn't really care at this point, he was sure that none of it would be as bad as marrying her.

"Firstly, and most unpleasantly I'm sure, is that the two of you will still be required to share living quarters for the remainder of the school year."

Part of Draco was annoyed by this and the other part of him was a little bit relieved. While he was going to have to share a little Common Room with her, at the moment it would be better than sharing with the Slytherin. They were truly becoming annoying. He was tired of the snickers and the innuendo and the snide comments. He was positive that he would not be able to take it for another three and a half months. He couldn't say that he was entirely upset about having to live with her. She would leave him alone and that was what he wanted. She could have the bedroom if she wanted and he'd take the couch for all he cared. Which was saying a lot for his ability to compromise because he'd never slept on a couch, after all, he was a Malfoy.

"However, your living quarters have been modified to add another bedroom. Secondly, since the marriage will not actually take place until June, that is the date that will be used to gauge the duration of your marriage. Lastly, you are both required to visit Malfoy Manor during the Spring holiday."

Draco felt all of the joy vanish as he broke out in a cold sweat. Go home, with her? This was not good. This was really not good. Obviously his father had put up a fight against this new arrangement. Whatever he had planned was bound to end badly. Draco wanted nothing to do with them. He wanted her to have nothing to do with them. There was no way he could let her go home with him. Absolutely no way at all.

He remembered something that it had taken every ounce of his will power to block out. The letter that his father had sent him last week. Telling him that at some point she would be 'taken care of'.

Granger had asked exactly why they'd decided to postpone the wedding and Draco listened as Dumbledore explained.

"I threatened to expel you both," he said simply with a wide grin.

"What?" Hermione asked with a gasp that was probably equal parts horror and outrage. Draco could hear the panic in her voice. Threatened to expel them? Dumbledore couldn't expel them, they hadn't done anything.

"Calm down Miss Granger, I was bluffing. I've been trying, every day for the past six in fact, to get you both released from this contract. However, that is not within my power. I did, however, appeal to Mr. Malfoy's concern that you both get a full education. Since he is the one that petitioned for Miss Granger's hand he had the authority to amend the contract. It has brought you some time to adjust. I do not believe that a marriage so soon would be wise."

Draco thought that Hermione was going to get up from her seat and hug the Headmaster. He was feeling much the same way. He'd never even liked Dumbledore but what he had done for them, more for Hermione he supposed, made him feel quite grateful. This was almost like a dream come true to him. Having the marriage postpone indefinitely would have been better, but right now three months still felt like forever to him.

"I would like you both to move into your new living quarters tonight if at all possible. You can pack up your belongings and I will have the house elves move them for you. I would like you both to think of this as a transition period. Sometimes all we can do is attempt to understand each other, and in doing so, come to a greater understanding of ourselves. You are dismissed."

Draco got up and Hermione followed him as the stairs moved down to the entrance of the office. They walked out into the corridor and the wall shut behind them. Before he knew what was happening Draco felt Hermione fling her arms around him in a tight hug. He stood there in shock, unable to move. Hermione Granger was hugging him. He had to admit that it felt kind of nice, in a strange way. No one had ever just come up to him and hugged him. He wasn't even sure that Pansy had ever hugged him, her tastes usually went towards groping. This was very odd.

Hermione pulled away and Draco looked at her wondering what had gotten into her... a part of his brain reminded him that he should be disgusted by the fact that a Mudblood was hugging him. However, he really couldn't muster up much disgust. She took several steps back with a sheepish smile on her face.

"I'm sorry. I am just so glad that I'm not going to wake up a day from now and be Mrs. Malfoy."

He was glad too. Very, very, glad.

Review and I will bake you cookies? Let's pretend I can bake shall we?