DISCLAIMER: I don't own Harry Potter or anything else that belongs to J.K. Rowling, but believe me, if I had enough money I would try to buy anything that's hers.

Author's note: Well, thank you so much for the reviews! That really keeps me going and I'll try to post as many chapters as possible in the next two weeks. This is my first Draco/Hermione fanfic and believe me, I really work hard to make it worth reading. I'm also aware that there's not much action yet in the plot, but that is definitely going to change in the course of the story.

Someone asked me whether this is a post Hogwarts story. Well, you know, it could be, but not necessarily. Just take it as you like it and keep reviewing. Boy, I really like those reviews. J

***

And Then We Were Defeated

Chapter 4

To Stay Alive

The hand with which Hermione touched her face trembled. Draco must have used all his strength to beat her up. There were big dark blue bruises all over her body and there was definitely more blood on her robe now then before Malfoy's visit. Hermione groaned. Where to hell had she gotten herself into? She had tried to get some sleep during the past hours, but the thoughts that kept tormenting her mind wouldn't let her rest. She had to find a way to get out of this nightmare or she would be killed sooner or later that was for sure. Only a few hours ago she wouldn't have minded to be killed desperate and hopeless as she had been, but now she wanted to live. She would have to live if she wanted to take revenge and vengeance was all she could think of as her hand slowly wandered over her bruised lips and her swollen face. Hermione closed her eyes and tried to block out the pain, to think of something pleasant, but she couldn't. Yesterday something in her heart had turned cold and empty and today she wasn't the little innocent girl anymore that she used to be.

***

Draco's room was filled with bright sunlight. He hadn't moved all night and hadn't even bothered to take off his robe. Dobby cautiously tripled over to his master's bed and shyly tucked on the sleeve of Draco's robe in order to wake him.

"Master Draco," the house-elf urgently mumbled in a low voice, " Master Draco has to get up now. The Mistress wants to see Master Draco." 

The boy grunted as he turned around and didn't seem to take any notice of Dobby, he didn't even open his eyes. But the little elf didn't give up that easily.

"Master Draco must not sleep now, the Mistress wants to see him because of the engagement party."

All of a sudden Draco was brought back to earth. He had only half-heartedly listened to what Dobby had said, but as he heard the word "engagement" his eyes flew open and he was fully awake. The memories of the talk he had had with his father the night before flooded back into his mind together with all the anger, emptiness and humiliation that Lucius words had caused in him. He cursed and getting up he chased a horribly frightened Dobby out of his room.

***

"Dobby!" Hermione exclaimed gladly when the little creature apparated with a soft popping noise in front of her. The house-elf looked at Hermione and his large eyes watered as he noticed the damage that had been done to her face.

"Miss Hermione!" the little creature wailed and raced full speed towards the opposite wall and crashed into it. "Bad Dobby, very, very bad Dobby! But Miss Hermione!" he howled and started to bang his head with all his might at the jagged stones."

"Dobby! Dobby stop it, please!" Hermione begged him softly. Obviously the house-elf hadn't been permitted to come to her and was now torn between his affection and pity for Hermione and his master's orders. He must have summoned all his courage to visit her.

Sobbing Dobby turned to face her and slowly walked over to stand right in front of Hermione. The house-elf who had once been so attached to his self-made socks was clad in a white pillowcase with the Malfoy family crest clearly visible on it. For a moment Hermione didn't know what to say or do then Dobby quietly reached under his pillowcase and handed her an apple.

"Dobby thought Miss Hermione is hungry." he murmured and with a soft plop he returned to the kitchens leaving Hermione alone in the damp dungeon where she lost in thought started to nibble at the fresh fruit.

***

Angrily Draco banged the door to his room shut and tossed the little velvet box his mother had given him on his four-poster. He didn't want to marry only because this was Voldemort's plan for his life. He had to think of a way to get out of this mess, his hell of a life. Only two more days were left to think of a strategy to turn the situation to his advantage. He knew there was no chance to disobey, he had to marry some disgusting, abiding deatheater slut if he wanted to stay alive.

He thought it over and over pacing around his room. After a while out of the blue an idea formed in his mind. At first this idea seemed to be ridiculous and he was about to dismiss it without taking it into account any further, but at the same time this brainwave appealed to him. Maybe he had finally found a way to go against his father and Voldemort without setting his own life at stake. His face lightened up and a smug grin formed on his lips as he allowed himself to take this plan into closer consideration. All he had to do now was to work it out properly. It least it would be worth a try.