DISCLAIMER: Well, if I owned Harry Potter or anything else connected to J.K. Rowling's stuff, I wouldn't be posting my precious thoughts here, now would I?

Author's note: Hm, could you send more of those reviews? I'm afraid, I'm addicted to them...and I depend on your criticism to go on  with the story....the more reviews I get, the more chapters will be posted...and to all those of you who have reviewed so far...thanksthanksthanks...I really love getting/reading your reviews...and special thanks to Dreaming One J ...and as you all know: criticism and suggestions are always welcome....

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AND THEN WE WERE DEFEATED

Chapter 9

Do you want to marry me, Granger?

***

Draco stepped into the shower in his bathroom and the hot water immediately comforted his body. He stood there with his eyes shut and tried to melt the ice cube that had formed in his body while talking to his father. Hate and anger seemed to control his mind and soul when he smashed his fist forcefully against the wall. Pain shot through his hand and arm, but he ignored it. He was too absorbed with his thoughts to notice anything as unimportant as pain.

At first his plan had been nothing more but a daring dream. Then he had taken the first steps to make this dream come true. There was still a chance that he could stop. However, he didn't want to stop it anymore. He would go to the mudblood and give her the ring and tonight at the ball he would present his fiancée to his father and the whole deatheater elite. Draco smirked as the scenario became clearer before his inner eye with every single detail he added to it. He saw himself and Granger descend the stairway. His father would gap at them open mouthed and then Lucius would go crazy and loose his temper. He would scream and shout and finally he would raise his wand and finish the mudblood off. Then it would be his turn to raise his own wand to use the death spell on his father, because he killed his beloved fiancée. Lucius wouldn't even know what had hit him. The grin on Draco's face broadened. He would be perfectly safe, to take revenge for his fianées death would be absolutely justified and there would be more than one witness at hand. Hadn't Lucius himself told him only minutes ago that with the ring and the engagement his bride would be as bound on him as he would be on her? It was his duty to execute her murderer. Eye for an eye, life for a life. No one could get him for this kind of vengeance, not even the Dark Lord. And who would be more appropriate to fill in his father's post after his death than his own son?

The water was still pouring down on him when he eventually focused on reality. Absent minded he turned it off, wrapped himself in one of the towels and stepped out of the shower. He had to get ready, there was yet something left to do before his plan could be turned into action.

***

Hermione was sitting in one of the armchairs near the fireplace when the door opened and Draco entered her room. "Granger, stand up." he snorted in his usual superior way. Hermione didn't move an inch and stayed seated.

"I don't take orders from you, Malfoy. I'm not one of your house-elf slaves that you can boss around." provoking him on purpose.

"You're right, you're no house-elf. You're one of my prisoners and that's why I can do with you whatever I want to, mudblood. You better follow my commands." his voice was icy and gave her goosebumps. When had Malfoy turned into such a dangerous and terrifying  deatheater? She didn't doubt that he was able to kill a person, maybe he had already murdered people. He really had changed since their days at Hogwarts. Hermione slowly stood up.

"That's a good girl." he said and walked towards her. Hermione looked him straight into the eye and didn't back away, although she had no clue what he played at.

Her eyes widened with surprise and her face displayed a look of total astonishment when she saw that Draco Malfoy knelt down before her and took her hand in his.

"Hermione Granger, will you marry me?"

She was rendered speechless. She had expected anything else, but certainly not him to propose to her in, well, in a decent way. Actually she hadn't even thought he would propose to her. Draco had a smug grin on his face. As much as he hated to humiliate himself in front of this mudblood like this, the look she gave him was worth all of it.

"A simple "yes" would do it, you see."

"What the hell are you playing at, Malfoy?" she finally managed to reply, but her she sounded weak and feeble.

"We have a deal, Granger. Remember?" Her puzzled sight amused him.

Hermione had never thought that it would come to this. She had imagined herself being out of the Manor before he would have the chance to realize the deal and, truly, she had never believed that he was being serious about the whole thing.

"Now, do I have to repeat my question?" slowly but certainly her silence began to annoy him. He sighed. "Do you want to marry me, Granger?"

There was nothing Hermione could do about it. "Yes." her voice sounding as faint and hoarse as before and as soon as this single, little word had left her lips, she could feel her heart ache.

Draco reached into his pocket and fished out the little velvet box his mother had given to him. He opened it and took out a delicate silver ring decorated with beautiful emeralds. Quietly he reached out for Hermione's hand once more and gently slipped the ring on her finger.

***

As soon as the metal had touched her skin Hermione turned cold. She couldn't even look at it without feeling dizzy and disgusted of herself. How could she do this to Harry and Ron? How could she betray them like this? And with Malfoy! Overwhelmed with guilt she hadn't even noticed that Draco had gone.

On the other hand...this was only to save her life. She didn't love Draco and she surely didn't intend to marry him, nevertheless she was wearing his ring, wasn't she? Hermione groaned. How could she have agreed to marry Draco Malfoy? This was her worst nightmare. She felt sick. Thousands of thoughts kept racing in her mind.

After all she was no more than engaged and it wasn't as if she had married him. Yet. What if she wasn't able to find a way out of here? What if he really wanted to make her his wife? This was too much for her, she had to sit down. She had to calm down. Draco didn't have feelings for her, well, at least none but hate and disgust. He did have something in mind, a plan...and Hermione was almost certain that he wanted to get Harry. It was a trap. She had thought of that earlier, but now she was sure. If she only could escape or send Ron and Harry a note. She had to warn them or they would be caught, or worse. Hermione shuddered. What had she gotten herself and the others into?