A/N Thank you so much for those of you that reviewed. The Dramione has officially begun. Please let me know your thoughts. This story will heat up significantly from here. Love/Hate are my favorite kind of love stories. I adore the fine line. Share some of your favorites with me if you've got the time. I'm in need of new reading. I don't own this world as always. Love, Lark.

Objects of Beauty Chapter 18

Spring 1951

Draco watched as Hermione worked her way through a large book. The library was empty this time of day and his seat was mostly hidden from her view. Hermione Granger, heir of the Dagworth-Granger fortune was not a muggle born. And she was betrothed to him of all people from birth. Her slender fingers reached up to pat an errant curl back into place. He tracked her movements.

They still had not spoken, even since his mother and he had taken vows to act in the interest of the Order. The shock of his mother's plan had nearly gutted him. It had been a wrench to walk away from all his father had taught him to protect. His lips twisted in disgust, if only his father had thought to protect his son and his wife with so much care. Voldemort had spilled so much of their supposedly pure blood on the fine carpets of the manor. He wondered why his father, an intelligent man in many respects, could not see what a danger the Snake was to his way of life. Galleons were not everything, or at least, they had become significantly less important when his mother's life was on the line.

He checked his gold pocket watch and then slipped in back into his robes. Soon he would have to go and open the vanishing cabinet. It was a move that would start the war outright. He glanced again at the golden little witch, reading in the fading sunlight. She must have known what was coming yet here she sat, studying a book as if she hadn't a care in the world. They had all sat for the final NEWT that afternoon. Even dying, Dumbledore wanted to end the year right. War or not, this year's witches and wizards would need to find work after graduation. He was a wizard who took his responsibilities seriously even to the bitter end.

He had been horrified to learn of the betrothal at first. His mother had soothed him and explained that she was in fact, a high born, half-blood. Even the Malfoy line had a few fair of those hidden in their closet. That had calmed him a bit, he could now admit to feeling a mild attraction to the witch on occasion. He must have known that she wasn't as she seemed instinctively. The wedding ritual would give them the option to leave the marriage at any time after one year as long as it was mutual. His lip curled. He just bet she'd be shot of him before the last curse of this war had time to land.

He was ripped from his thoughts as his Mark burned. Draco knew it wasn't for him. Even now the Deatheaters were preparing for the attack on the school tonight. He supposed he had better go and find Snape. He cast one last look at the witch bathed in the light of the setting sun. She was staring into space deep in thought, her large hazel eyes showing almost as golden as the light around her. Peaceful, she looked peaceful, something he knew precious little about these days. Would this woman, destined to be his wife always be such a mystery to him? He left her there and went to begin a war.

...

"Severus, please!" Dumbledore looked to the door where Bellatrix's approaching cackle could be heard.

Draco stood by his side, having disarmed Dumbledore after catching him unawares in the Astronomy Tower. Snape's expression was grim as he cast the curse that would kill his one time teacher, friend and protector. Dumbledore fell from the tower.

"Expelliarmus!" Yelled a voice. The two wands in his hands were ripped from his grasp and sailed into Harry Potter's hand. He had appeared from thin air.

"Come, Draco!" Snape grabbed his hand and began to run. Harry gave chase sending hexes that exploded about them. Not once did one of his curses land. Everyone had their part to play in this farce it seemed. He looked over his shoulder and was surprised to see true grief in Potter's eyes.

The ran across the school grounds lit by moonlight. His godfather deftly accioed Draco's wand to him and threw it to Draco. When they reached the apparition point Snape pushed him forward. "Go to the Manor. Report what's been accomplished." He yelled before turning to deal with Potter. Draco looked at the castle. For seven years it had been his home and his haven. Screams and booms could be heard from the courtyard. He turned on the spot, already fearing what his father would say about his failure to kill Dumbledore. The war had begun, there was no turning back now.

...

Hermione stared into the looking glass for ages. Her hair was done up in an artful arrangement of curls and braids interwoven with precious jewels and fresh white flowers. She wore a gown of white that floated about her person, hinting at the curves beneath. A heavy goblin wrought necklace of diamonds circled her neck. Narcissa had sent it over and Hermione felt uncomfortably collared.

As a wedding "present" from the Order Lucius had been framed for imbezzling ministry funds and had been sentenced to a decade in Prision. Draco's failure to kill Dumbledore along with the discovery that Lucius had unwittingly funded a politician in opposition to Voldemort's ideals had left a bad taste in the mouths of many. Kingsley had manufactured the arrest as a protection. Lucius was apparently furious, having no knowledge of his wife's dealings or the price on his head from both sides of politics.

He had been placed in a minimum security prison without Dementors. The facility was under a Fidelious charm. Lucius had been effectively sidelined for the duration of the war. He had agreed to name all known Deatheaters and their whereabouts in exchange for a shorter sentence. This must have been a relief to both Draco and Narcissa.

Unfortunately the threat to Narcissa had grown. Rabastan Lestrange had been asking for her and Voldemort seemed inclined to grant this wish. It seemed that the Malfoy's had fallen out of favor. Draco had been cast to a lower tier of Deatheater which was probably also a relief. The Nott's were on the rise. Hermione thought it exhausting to keep up with the constant social intrigue.

A knock sounded at the door. "Come in?" The door swung open to reveal Harry with a somber expression on his face. "Harry!" She crossed over to him and threw her arms about him.

"Just came to check on things. You look beautiful." His green eyes were sad. Are you sure about this?

Hermione nodded. "In a way I've been trained my whole life to be on the side of the Light. Hepzibah taught me well. I'll be able to guard my heart. If you think about all we've lost and could continue to lose or how many innocent lives we can save, being married to a prat for one or two years isn't such a sacrifice. We've lived through the muggle war as well as Grindlewald's. You know how awful it can get."

Harry nodded. "Ron will never forgive you. He still thinks you might be his one true love."

Hermione shrugged. "He never would have noticed me in that way without all of this." She gestured to her hair and dress. "We would never have suited though we make excellent friends. He will see that in time."

Harry laughed. "You haven't a very high opinion of men do you?"

"With the exception of you and few others? Not so much, but then, I was raised by Hepzibah." Hermione turned and grabbed a green and gold shawl embroidered with sheafs of wheat.

"I wonder what she would say about this." He said thoughtfully.

Hermione snorted. "She clap her hands and say that it was the marriage of the century and that she had planned for it all along. And then she'd say something about his unfortunate pointy face." They laughed. Then Hermione sobered. "I think she knew what was in store for me to some degree. I think she guessed from the prophecy."

Harry snorted. "She would. It's a mystery that she came from the Hufflepuff line with all her intrigues and strategies. Are you ready then?"

Hermione took one last look in the mirror. She turned and put her hand on his proffered arm. "Not the wedding day a girl dreams of. Hopefully there will be time for that."

Harry hugged her. "One day there will be and you will find someone worthy of you."

She hugged him back. "For both of us. I'll stay safe if you will." She told him.

"It's a deal." They apparated to the Granger estate with a pop.

...

Hermione observed Malfoy from beneath her lashes. They were waiting as Narcissa, Kingsley, Molly and Lupin prepared the circle between their two estates. Malfoy's features were still a bit pointed and his complexion was so pale it was almost otherworldly. He was tall now, and all of the quidditch training had filled him out. Somehow it all came together to make a handsome wizard.

Feeling her eyes on him he turned to her and forced a guarded smile. "I understand that we will stay in your chambers for three days on the estate."

"Yes, we've only just got the rooms cleaned and prepared." Hermione told him without making eye contact. She didn't really want to think about it.

"Mother says the house is quite something. She told me you've been most accommodating in her requests for her quarters." Draco said and then he seemed to run out of things to talk about. Deep purple bags ringed his eyes. Because almost no one knew of the existence or location of the Granger estate and the fact that it was cleverly warded, Narcissa had agreed to stay there until she was out of danger. Malfoy Manor was no longer safe. It was being used as headquarters by Voldemort. He had extracted permission from Lucius before he had been carted off to prison in exchange for the promise to keep Draco and Narcissa alive if not safe.

"I hope she enjoys staying there." Hermione shrugged. "It wasn't as if it was ever my home in the past so it is no inconvenience for me."

Draco huffed our a laugh. "I still can't believe it. All this time we thought you muggleborn. What a relief it was to find out that you are actually a Granger." He smiled openly at her.

Hermione stiffened. "That makes me more acceptable to you does it?" She said in a careful voice.

Draco looked up at the trees above them, silhouetted by the setting sun. He nodded approvingly at the pink sky. "Well, it certainly helped make the situation more tenable. Even as desperate as mother is to extricate us from our current state, I doubt even she would have stooped so low."

Hermione seethed with anger. "Have you learned nothing in your time living with that monster? It isn't about muggleborn versus Pureblood. It never was. It's just an invisible line for us to fight over so that a few greedy wizards can benefit. Your father knows this I'm sure. Muggles bleed the same as you. Muggleborn magic is every bit as powerful as Pureblood. The only difference is that you were born into it and had that trait nurtured while a muggleborn must learn it all starting at age eleven. It doesn't make your lot more intelligent, of that I'm sure. I hear you were there when Charity Burbage was murdered. I know Voldemort tortured you and your mother when you failed him. He is loyal to no one, you know this, that's why you're here with me."

"Yes, we did side with you as a safety measure. Do you really expect that I would have rejoiced at tying myself to a common muggleborn?" Malfoy looked appalled. "I agree that perhaps they aren't as bad as all that but I'm still a Malfoy. The war will end one way or another and so will this union. All the same, it is better to be joined with someone approaching my equal, that's all." His tone was factual and even. If he noticed Hermione's anger tinged cheeks he chose not to notice.

"You disgust me." She hissed just as Molly gestured at them to come and join the circle.

Draco looked angry and then confused before smoothing his features into a bland expression. "Like it or not we are here and this farce of a union will happen. I look forward to the day when the arrangement ends as I am sure you do. In regard to your opinion of me, the feeling is quite mutual, I assure you. Shall we then?" He offered his arm, daring her to refuse. Knowing all that was a at stake if she refused, she placed her hand grudgingly on him and they walked together into the circle.