AN: So….I realize that it's been over two years since I updated this story. And for that, I apologize. I got swamped with school, work, family stuff, and this story ended up in the deepest, darkest corners of my mind. But I've recently gotten a lot of requests to continue the story, so I've decided to brush off the cobwebs and give it a go! I really hope you all enjoy it 3

Chapter 11

There is only one way for me to accurately describe Malfoy Manor. WTF? It was positively the largest estate I'd ever seen, and had elegant- if not pompous- décor. I was shown to the room I would be staying in and was given a half hour to unpack. I found that there were already a few dresses in the large, dark wood armoire in the corner of my room. I felt so out of place. My room at my house was blue with green and purple, and rather modern in design. The room I now found myself in was large for my taste, with dark wood and rich burgundy. The floor was wood, with a large Persian rug covering most of it. There was an ornately carved wooden door which led to my own bathroom. It had marble flooring, marble counters, a marble sink, and the largest marble tub that I'd ever seen. I could probably use it as a swimming pool if I was so inclined. Standing in the middle of the bathroom, I was lost in thoughts of how a person could possibly afford all of this.

"Like your room?" Draco's voice came from behind me. I turned to see him leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest. He was smirking.

"It's not quite to my taste, but I am in awe. I can't believe someone can afford a place like this."

"The manor's been in the Malfoy family for hundreds of years. Most of this furniture's been here since well before my father was even born," he shrugged, taking a few steps forward.

"I see. So, is there a reason you're here?" I tried not to sound rude, but I wasn't expecting him.

"Your father's here. He's waiting in the study. I suggest you hurry." Draco led me out of my room and to the study.

I saw Voldemort sitting in a lounge chair, sipping a glass of what I guessed was brandy. He set his glass on an end table as I entered and nodded at Draco. Draco, in response, dipped his head and backed out of the room, closing the door.

"So what do you want?" I asked, crossing my arms.

"Is that any way to speak to your father?"

"I'm a teenager." Voldemort frowned. He stood with a swoosh of his cloak and took three sweeping steps toward the fireplace.

"I was not expecting Hogwarts to close. It puts a kink in my plans, to say the least."

"What plans?" I tilted my head, narrowing my eyes.

He turned, a villainous glint in his eyes. "Do you remember the mirror you saw in your dream?"

"Yeah. What of it?"

"The mirror was created by a powerful wizard. It is the Mirror of Erised. It shows you your heart's desire."

"So why do you want it?"

"The mirror has special powers. Exactly what kind I cannot tell you, but I need it to complete my plan. It will be your and Draco's job to find the mirror."

"It's at Hogwarts?"

"Yes. You are to find the mirror and alert me once you do. I will find a way to transport the mirror back here."

"And if I refuse?" I lifted my chin, narrowing my eyes at the snake man before me.

Voldemort's face flashed to a murderous expression "You may be my daughter, but blood can only protect you from so much. If I were you, I would be more cooperative," he hissed. I recoiled at his hostility, and he took notice. "You will go to the dining room now. The Malfoys are waiting." I huffed, but left the room. I turned down the hall and found my way to the dining room.

I saw Draco's father sitting, not at the head of the table, but to the right. Draco sat across the table from the woman at his father's left. Judging by her pale blond hair and haughty expression, I guessed that she was Draco's mother. I took a vacant place a few seats down from Draco, trying to distance myself from the Malfoys. But as Voldemort entered and sat at the head of the table, he snapped at me. I was puzzled by the gesture, but realized his intent when he pointed to the seat on his left, next to Draco. I stood and walked to my new seat, sliding into the chair cautiously. Food materialized before us and I stared at it. There was steak, chicken, green peas, mashed potatoes, pasta, and sauces for all of it. I waited until the others began filling their plates before selecting my food.

Lucius and Voldemort fell into discussion about something, but I wasn't paying attention. I was busying myself by pushing food around on my plate, occasionally taking a small bite. I had moved from rearranging my peas to my potatoes when I noticed that the conversation had died. I looked up to see everyone staring at me.

"Well, Hermione? What do you think?" Voldemort's fingers were steepled, his elbows resting on the table.

"Uh…The limit does not exist?" I tried. I received confused looks from the three blonds and the one bald.

"He wants to know your opinion of the arranged marriage," Draco hissed at me from the corner of his mouth.

"Oh." I turned to face Voldemort and squared my shoulders. "I think it's a bloody stupid idea! How the hell do you get off choosing other people's futures? There's not freaking way I could ever be happy with a prat like Draco! I could never be happy with someone so self-centered, narcissistic, and arrogant!"

Narcissa looked furious, Lucius looked shocked, Draco rolled his eyes, and Voldemort was smirking.

"What the bloody hell are you smirking at?" I practically roared, slamming my hands on the table and standing up so forcefully that my chair toppled over behind me.

"You and I are so alike."

I was now in my room, laying on my bed, fuming over the dinner I had just suffered through. How dare that snakey freak compare himself to me? My eyes were narrowed, glaring at the ceiling, and my arms were crossed tightly across my chest. I heard my bedroom door open and I shot off of my bed, whipping around to see the intruder.

Draco Malfoy.

"What do you want?" I spat.

"My parents are making me visit you," he whined.

"Oh, poor baby," I rolled my eyes. I climbed back onto my bed and grabbed a book off of the nightstand, purposefully ignoring the tall, muscular, attractive- I mean whiny, narcissistic, selfish blond. But that didn't seem to deter him, as he strode over and flopped down onto my bed, stretching out at my feet like some overgrown ferret. I rolled my eyes and snapped my book shut.

"Can I help you?"

"No, I'm fine for now," he sighed lazily.

"What do you want, Draco?" I sat up and crossed my arms. He glanced over and rolled onto his side, facing me in what most would call a sexy pose. And while I'll admit that yes, he was extremely attractive, on him I just found it obnoxious.

"You do realize that we're going to be married, right?"

"Not if I can help it," I scoffed. Draco pushed himself up on one arm and leaned in toward me, his body gliding smoothly over the fluffy blanket as his face came within inches of mine. I backed up as far as I could, but with my spine straight against the mahogany headboard, I was now trapped- my arms rendered near useless at my sides, pinned by Draco's arms.

"Would being married to me really be so bad?" he purred, tilting his head and sliding it next to my ear.

"Y-…Yea-…" I struggled to make sense of what I was thinking and trying to say as Draco nuzzled just under my jaw line and grazed it with his lips.

"Honestly?" he was now straddling me, his left arm slipped behind me and wrapped around my waist, guiding me closer to him. My arms, which had been limp noodles until now, took on a life of their own and wrapped around Draco's slim waist, fingers splaying across his toned back.

"I uh…I…"

"Mmm, you're cute when you aren't making snarky comments." I could feel his smirk against my neck, and it broke the spell. I slid my hands from his back to his chest and pushed hard. He hadn't been expecting it, so he flew back to the end of the bed, nearly rolling backward onto the floor.

"What the hell?" he demanded.

"You may be…experienced," I spat, "But I'm not falling for this crap. Did you honestly think you were going to seduce me?"

"Well is was working," he threw his arms to the side, eyes open wide as he tried to process that he had just been rejected.

"This may be news to you," I climbed to my knees, kneeling to make me look more imposing, "But you aren't irresistible. You're a bleach blonde, twiggy little ferret! And trust me, that is not sexy."

"Oh so what is sexy?" he mimicked my pose, which put him a couple inches higher than me, but I wasn't going to back down.

"Sexy is dark hair and blue eyes, an athletic build, and passion for making the other person happy!" I yelled in his face.

"Oh well if you already know what it is then why aren't you with him?"

"Because I was dragged into a mess of evil mystery dads and arranged marriages!"

Draco pulled back a bit, blinking. I wish I could've read his mind, because his face was completely blank. He leaned back, sitting on his heels, his arms falling limp beside him.

"What are you doing?" I demanded.

"I visited you like my parents wanted. I'm going to go out and do something enjoyable," he muttered, his eyes taking on an icy sheen. I sat back on my heels as Draco climbed off of the bed and walked toward the door. His usual strut was absent, replaced by normal steps. Had I hurt his feelings or something? I'd never imagined that anything I could say would ever get to him…

Draco opened the door and left, and I sat on my bed staring at the floor where he had just been standing. Why were guys so weird? And this one was especially strange. He was impossible to read, and if he didn't spell out what he was thinking you would never guess.

That night, I lay in bed staring at the ceiling. It was almost 2 am and I was still wide awake. My head was swarming with thoughts of my parents, my old life, the snake man who claimed to be my real father, the mysterious mirror, and the infuriating blonde. Another hour passed in quiet thought before I finally drifted off to sleep, only to be woken a few hours later…..