Draco approached Hermione again when there was only two months of school left. Hermione had been keeping herself busy and her mind active, veering away from any thoughts that involved the Malfoys. She cringed when she noticed him approaching her deserted table in the library, fearing that he would try to curse her or something else childish. She hadn't spoken with him since last time when she spit in his face.

"Hello," he said, pulling up a chair beside her and straddling it, resting his arms on the back. Crabbe and Goyle weren't with him this time and he was once again carrying the beige jewellery box. "Can't run from me this time, can you?"

"I can try," she replied stoutly. "This table flips easier than you would think."

A deep, throaty laugh emitted from his mouth. "I'd like to see you try," he said, leaning towards her. "Anyway, Father was rather disappointed that I didn't complete my mission, if you will, last time and he made it perfectly clear that I get it done this time."

"Good luck," Hermione replied bitterly, going back to her work. "You'll need my hand in order to do that."

"Shouldn't be a problem," Malfoy said, reaching for her hand. She slapped his outstretched hand hard and he pulled back with a yelp of pain. "What'd you do that for?"

"If I wanted you to touch me, I would invite you," she told him coldly. "Seeing as there was no invitation, I would greatly appreciate it if you would keep your slimy hands off me."

"Just you wait," he snarled, standing up as Crabbe and Goyle approached his side. "Just you wait, Granger. I'll have you soon and you will wear the damn ring." He slammed the little jewellery box closed for emphasis and stormed away.

Hermione shook her head. "Just like a child," she muttered. "Maybe Lucius ought to pay me for babysitting instead." She continued to focus on her work, but not for long. Her mind was reeling and her heart was racing. There was no way she was going to be able to get anything done in this state, so she packed up her things and walked towards the doorway.

But before she exited the room, she made a quick stop in the library stacks, near her small, deserted corner. Throwing her stuff to the ground, she ran her fingers lightly over the etched initials in the wall. When J.P. had replaced R.L., his initials were done much lighter than R.L.'s giving off the impression that R.L. had been more important than J.P.

"Not possible," Hermione thought to herself, gathering her things again. "Harry's mother wouldn't be like that." Laughing quietly to herself, she stood up and left for the common room where she found her two best friends talking quietly together.

"I'll tell you later," Ron said to Harry when he saw Hermione. He got up and left quickly, leaving Hermione to sit in his chair and stick her tongue out at his departing back.

"How goes the battle?" Harry asked, leaning back in his chair, folding a piece of paper in his hands.

"Same as always," Hermione replied. "What's that?"

"This?" Harry held up the paper. "A letter from Remus. He's been writing me more since, well, you know, fifth year and all."

"Oh." Hermione lowered her head. She was happy that Harry was able to bring about the subject of Sirius' death, but she hated that he couldn't mention it. He once told her that saying it would make it final, and he wasn't ready for that yet. "What did he have to say?"

"Not much." Harry fingered the paper thoughtfully. "He met a girl somewhere in his travels. Says she's really nice and I should meet her this summer." He let out a snort of disapproval. "He's not my godfather, nor is he related to me. Why should I go meet his girlfriend, like I'm supposed to approve of her?"

"Then don't go," Hermione answered simply. "Tell him you're busy."

"I might do that." Yawning, Harry glanced at his watch. "I think I'll lie down before supper. Have fun reading." He stood up and it was only then that Hermione realized she had opened a book during their conversation.

"Get it together, Hermione," she muttered to herself, slamming the book closed. Sighing heavily, she leaned back against the chair, welcoming it's comforts. Within seconds, she was asleep.

When she opened her eyes next, Ron was staring down at her. She jumped slightly, but didn't sit up.

"You're awake," he said monotonously. "Oh."

"You startled me," she said, sitting up slowly as he moved away. She stretched her arms and noticed the darkness outside. "What time is it?"

"Close to midnight," came the uninterested reply.

"And no one woke me?"

"I had no reason to." Ron's voice was bitter and hurt and although Hermione couldn't blame him, she still felt the full sting of his words.

"Look, Ron, we need to talk." She moved to the edge of the chair she was sitting in and held her hands out to his.

"What's to talk about?" Ron moved away, staring hard at her. "I'm going up to bed. Don't follow me." He left the room, stomping his feet on every stair he passed.

"I have no reason to!" she hollered up the stairs at him and received an unfriendly gesture in return. "Idiot," she muttered to herself, feeling her stomach rumble. "No one wakes me for dinner, it's late, I've slept all night and now I won't be tired." Despite her internal protests, she yawned and found herself thinking about heading up to bed. She tried to sneak up the stairs quietly, but they creaked and she was sure she was waking everyone in the tower.

Parvati and the others were already asleep when Hermione climbed into bed and she was grateful for not having to talk to them. Every time Lavender Brown saw Hermione, she would ask how 'Mrs. Malfoy' was doing, knowing fully that it incensed Hermione terribly.

"Sorry," she had giggled once. "Are you going to make it Granger- Malfoy?" She burst into giggles, heedless of the nasty looks she was receiving from Parvati.

Although she had slept for numerous hours already, Hermione found sleep easily in her own bed. She drifted in and out of dreams, making it hard to concentrate on sleep. At one point, when she was in that awake, but asleep state, she distinctly heard Lavender whisper, "Sleeping Malfoy's back."

"Lavender, grow up! Can't you see that those childish taunts hurt her?"

"Who's childish, Parvati? That girl is lucky! She gets to marry one of the best-looking boys at Hogwarts and she's whining about it! She's the one who's being childish."

"Maybe she doesn't see it that way, Lavender. Now go back to sleep and mind your own business. It's not you marrying Draco."

"Unfortunately," Lavender muttered before silence set in once more. Hermione felt rage invade her dreams, but she smiled sleepily at Parvati's defence. It was nice to have someone that understood.

The next morning at breakfast, Hermione received an owl from her parents. "They're coming to see me on Saturday!" she cried to Harry. "I don't want to see them!" She slammed the paper down on the table, causing several people to jump.

"Where are you going with them?" Harry asked nonchalantly.

"Hogsmeade."

"I'll go with you, Hermione," offered Ginny Weasley. Although Ron was no longer talking to Hermione, his sister had been overly helpful, offered to assist Hermione in any way she could. "We'll get you through it with no problems."

Hermione smiled weakly. "Thanks, but I think this is something I have to do on my own, Ginny." She sighed again. "But you could talk to your brother for me. He's still ignoring me and treating me like it's my fault."

"He's really hurt," Ginny confessed, lowering her head. "Although he knows it's not your fault, he thinks there's something else you could have done to stop it."

"There's still time," Hermione said, eyeing Draco across the room. He was chatting with a few friends and kept glancing at Hermione, looking away when he saw that she was looking back.

"I managed to find those diaries you wanted to look through," Harry piped up causing Ginny to cast a wary glance at Hermione.

"Um, thanks Harry," Hermione muttered, looking down at her hands. She wasn't sure that she wanted Ginny to know what she was doing. With the talk of the upcoming wedding and Draco's insistent queries as to why she won't wear his ring, Hermione had almost forgotten about asking Harry for Lily's old diaries. "I'll get them from you later."

The spring weather was in full bloom and the April sunshine felt wonderful on Hermione's face as she ventured outside. All the gloom of that February day when she was betrothed to Draco was whisked away with the fluttering of butterflies and the songs of the birds. She sat down by the lake, alone and loving it, thinking about her future. What would she say to her parents who had done her so much wrong? How could she face them knowing they agreed to place her in such doom? Shaking her head, she wished that she could be a figure of someone's imagination, able to come and go as she pleased. She was not looking forward to the meeting in Hogsmeade at all.

It always amazed Hermione how when you were dreading things time hurried by, causing the trepidation to grow rapidly. Her stomach was filled with butterflies on the morning of the trip to Hogsmeade. She dressed quickly, and early, eager to avoid Lavender when she awoke. Hermione took it as a personal insult that Lavender thought she was lucky to be marrying someone like Draco Malfoy. Sure, he could be cute, but it was his personality that caused Hermione to dislike him so intently.

Hogsmeade always looked beautiful in the springtime but Hermione didn't dwell. She hurried along, her head down, her hooded cloak protecting her from the world. She knew it was insecurity but she felt everyone in the village was staring at her as she passed by. After what seemed like an eternity, she arrived at the door of the Three Broomsticks. Pulling the hood off, she went inside, searching for her parents among the crowded tables.

"Hermione! Over here!" She looked to her left and saw her father standing on his chair, waving his arms around like an idiot. "Hermione! We're over here! To your left!"

"Dad, will you sit down?" she hissed as she approached the table. She pulled at his sleeve. "You look ridiculous."

"Hello darling," her mother greeted and Hermione noticed that she looked much more tired than she had last time. Why was it that everyone around her seemed so exhausted while Hermione was so full of life and energy? Was she draining the people around her?

"Hi Mum. Dad, quit waving your hands, I'm here now."

"We're so happy to see you again," Mrs. Granger said, leaning in to kiss her daughter on the cheek. When she pulled back, she glanced at Hermione's hand in passing. "Darling, where's your ring?"

"Still in the jewellery box," Hermione said, signalling for the waitress. "I haven't worn it yet."

"Hasn't Draco presented it to you yet?"

"Just a Butterbeer, thanks. Yes, Mum, he tried, but he kept getting hurt." Hermione smiled at the memories. "I don't really want it anyway."

"But Hermione, you're going to marry him!"

"I'm aware of that, Mum, trust me I'm aware of that. I just don't need a material item to remind me of that."

Mrs. Granger shook her head. "I don't understand you sometimes, Hermione. You're going to marry one of the most well-known names in the wizarding world and you can't even embrace the chance!"

"Maybe she's not ready to get married," piped up Mr. Granger and his wife shot him a dirty look. "Well, she's only seventeen, Krystal."

"Edward, it's not as if the wedding is tomorrow. The actual date won't be for probably another three or four years!"

"Then why was this all arranged now?"

"Edward, I don't think we should discuss this right now."

Hermione was watching her parents with hawk-like eyes, intent on why her father was so set against the marriage. Whatever the reason, she felt an immediate rush of gratitude towards him for it.

"Krystal, I just don't understand. Whatever you can tell me, you can tell my little girl." Mr. Granger sat up with a great deal of pride and Mrs. Granger bristled.

"Fine. It was so she didn't get too attached to that Weasley boy." Mrs. Granger's face was stone cold but her eyes were relenting.

"That Weasley boy? Mum, I like Ron! I don't like Draco! Ron's been one of my best friends for seven years! I care about him! Don't sink to the Malfoys' level when you start going on about proper families and such."

"Really, Krystal, I don't see the problem with little Ryan."

"Ron, Dad."

"Right, Ron. He's a sweet boy and he seems to like our daughter."

"No, Edward. Now shush, here comes Lucius." Mrs. Granger stood to greet the slick haired man and his wormy son. "Lucius! Draco! How nice of you to meet us here today!"

"Pleasure, Krystal, the pleasure's all mine. Draco, I'm sure you remember Hermione."

Draco gave his father a scathing look. "Of course, Dad, I'm not dumb."

"That's debatable," Lucius muttered under his breath but Hermione heard and gave a short chuckle. "Draco has failed to give Hermione the ring, as we previously discussed," Lucius continued, turning his full attention to Mr. and Mrs. Granger. "So we decided that now would be the time."

"Oh, no," Hermione began but Draco got down on one knee and proceeded to repeat himself from before.

"HermioneGrangerwillyoumarryme?"

"Just say yes, sweetheart," Mrs. Granger prompted, looking around at all the faces staring at them.

"This is a bad dream," Hermione told herself. "I'll wake up soon and go downstairs and find the boys and find out that this was all a dream."

"Hurry up, Hermione," urged Mrs. Granger. Hermione's father looked like he wanted to say something, but was determined to keep quiet.

"Yes," Hermione finally whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks. There was no way she could change their minds. This was ridiculous. Draco slipped the ring on her finger and she gave one final loud sob and ran from the tavern, shaking all the way. She ran down the steps towards the pathway that led back to the school. Tripping over a branch along the way, she began to sob even harder.

"Why?" she screamed, pounding the dirt with her fists. "Why me? What's so special about me? I hate you," she cursed at the thoughts of her parents and Lucius Malfoy. "I hate you and I will never forgive you!"

"You think I like it any better than you?" came a voice from behind her. "Well, you're wrong because I don't."

"What are you doing here?" Hermione snarled as Draco appeared from the shadows. She scrambled to stand up and brush the dirt from her clothes.

"Seeing as we're going to be married, Father thought it would be proper if I came after you," he said, leaning against a sole gatepost. "Personally, I don't really care one way or another, but I just wanted to let you know that I don't fancy marrying you, either."

"Good to know," Hermione told him, her face set with determination. She glared at him for a few more moments before he left her alone. She turned back towards the castle and began trudging slowly.

"By the way," came Draco's voice from behind her, "Father's moving the wedding date up. It's going to be just before Christmas this year. See you back at the castle."

Hermione's jaw dropped but she wouldn't give Malfoy the satisfaction of turning around. Instead, she plodded back to the castle, her heavy heart weighing her down. It was as if she didn't have enough with her life changing as it was. Leaving school was going to be one of the hardest things she had ever had to do. Hogwarts had been her life for the past seven years; she would be lost without it. Now she had to move into Malfoy Manor and marrying the slime she had felt such extreme hatred for in seven years. Things just seemed to get better and better.