My Bittersweet Life

-Edalene

Summary- Over the summer of 6th year, Dumbledore asks Hermione Granger to marry her arch nemesis: Draco Malfoy. But the biggest problem is that he won't let her get the annulment?

Author's Note- Greetings! You can call me 'E', 'Edalene', or 'Elise'. Please read after you read my story! I know there are many fics like this, but I hope to make it the best 'marriage' one. Please don't accuse me plagiarism, because I'll make it different from the other ones. So please help me improve it by reviewing. This isn't my first fic, I've written tons before but this is a new penname. Anyways.. I hope you enjoy. Should I continue it? If not, then just flame me. I had flames before, although I had more positive reviews than flames. However that isn't important right now. so let's just grab some chips and start reading. I know this is short, but I promise more satisfying chapters later! I characterized and sorted this fic into the humour group. So please tell me how you think of it! Also, I want to thank those ten people for reviewing my story! Reviews just make my day a fine one. Toodles!

By the way, I know this is such a cynicism chapter for you, not to mention it's so damn corny, but please review. I guarantee you it will be a lot better on the way with your reviews!

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Before on Chapter 2-

"You're doing this because you're bored… right. What's the real reason?"

"I-I don't h-have one…" he stuttered.

"You're stuttering. Why?" she whispered.

Draco shut his mouth, incapable of converse. Then he pressed his lips together tightly before running a long hand over his smooth, velvety hair. "Because…"

"Because what, Draco?" she asked.

"Because… I fancy you."

~~

Rated R for many, juicy reasons. Hehe. ^-^.

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 +++ Chapter 3- Quarrels + Mm-hmm's+++

"You what?" she asked, breathlessly. Hermione stared at Draco, who was fumbling with his hands again.

"I fancy you. Ever since fourth year.. well actually third year when I received that slap. But then fourth year… you just looked like, a goddess!" he spurted out. Hermione widened her eyes.

'Me? A Goddess?' she thought to herself. 'He's just playing around…' she said the last part aloud.

"No I'm not!" he answered, raising his voice a little although he didn't mean to. Hermione locked eyes with him and this time didn't let go.

"Draco, you can't like me. I'm a Mudblood, remember?" she said quietly.

"But this is the chance that I've been waiting for!" he said.

"Oh, save it. It's pretty hard to believe that after all these years you never said anything, and now you're just so eager to marry me. I think I've had enough." Hermione stood back up and walked straight to Dumbledore's office. As soon as she got in, she screamed for him. "DUMBLEDORE!!!!"

"Miss Granger," he said, coming down the long stairs. "What is the matter?"

"I'm… I'm not doing it!" she said bravely. Dumbledore nodded approvingly.

"Alright. I did try, you know, Miss Granger." He said, with a hint of anger in his voice. "Well your parents will be arriving soon, anyways."

"M-my parents?" she said. She had totally forgot about them after she broke it off with Draco.  

"Yes. Which should be any minute…" Just then, he heard a knock at the door.

Hermione stared back at it.

"Come in," Dumbledore said. And in came the Granger's, all dressed up formally smiling eagerly at their daughter.

"Oh, Hermione! I'm so happy for you! Who is it? Someone I know?" Hermione's mother made her way over to her daughter where she embraced her in a bear-hug. Franklin Granger made his way over to her as well and wrapped his arms around his two ladies.

"Yes, someone you both know. Someone you both know very well…Malfoy," she added, trying to pry her arms away from her parents. But then they just held on tighter and the parents smiled at each other. Hermione stared at them awkwardly, before sighing.

Deciding to tell them the truth, she took in a deep breath. "Mum, Dad… I'm not getting married." Hermione said quietly. All of a sudden she felt as if a breeze had passed through her body.

"What?" remarked her parents. "You're not?"

"Yes…?" Hermione asked.

"Hermione dear, we love you very much. Our business isn't going very well." Franklin explained. Hermione's jaw dropped. Now what?

"What? Are you saying you're selling me for money?" she exclaimed, angrily. Her curls flashed about her face and Mrs. Granger clicked her teeth.

"We're on a very tight budget… I hope you understand." Mr. Granger added.

"Mm-hmm," responded Mrs. Granger. "So please.. just get married to whoever you are. We'll ask for money. A lot of money. You can come to visit us if you want."

Hermione blinked uncontrollably, shifting her gazes at one of her parents.

"There comes a time in life when sacrifices have to be made!" Mr. Granger said.

"Mm-hmm," said Mrs. Granger. "Yupyup."

"You know we love you very much…" said Mr. Granger.

"Mm-hmm," again replied Mrs. Granger.

Hermione's eyes started to flush with tears as she took a seat. Dumbledore stared at her sadly before pointing to his box of candies.

"Lemon drop?" he offered.

"No, thank you." Hermione replied. Then she looked back at her parents, who were staring at his office in admiration, pointing to little objects here and there. "Mum, Dad… did you talk to Mrs. Malfoy yet?"

"Oh yes. Let me do that right now! Phoebe, wait here." He told his wife.

"Mm-hmm," Mrs. Granger said again, before sitting down next to Hermione, who was now crossing her arms and legs.

After a few seconds, Mrs. Malfoy and Mr. Granger appeared in the room.

"We've made a decision," the both said in unison.

"Hermione, you are to be married to Draco and produce a healthy heir and then we'll get 10,000 galleons! In Muggle money it's more than a thousand pounds!" Mr. Granger smiled, showing all his straight white teeth hiding behind those thin lips.

"Mm-hmm…" said Mrs. Granger, eyeing Narcissa Malfoy in her expensive clothes spitefully.

"But why in the bloody hell does it have to be him?" Hermione hissed. Narcissa shot her a dirty look, but then she smiled.

"Look, dear child. One way or another, you're producing me an heir, whether you like it or not! So just shut your trap and listen to your parents, you naughty girl!"

"Darling, you know the Malfoys are very wealthy. They can buy you everything, love. So just… go with the flow and marry Draco. He seems pretty nice."

"Let me go get him, if you will excuse me." Said Narcissa Malfoy, leaving the room.

"Oh, so you want to be rich, and in exchange let's give him your daughter! Is that how it is, dad?" Hermione said, beyond herself. She then took a deep breath and sat back down. She put her hands over her face, soothing herself as her parents looked at her carefully. "Fine," she finally said softly after a while. "I'll marry him because I love you, but that's all." Rubbed at her eyes, Hermione tried to prevent herself from crying. But it was no use. Tears splattered all over the place, and if it weren't for Dumbledore's handkerchief levitating to the couch next to her, there was sure going to be a puddle of tears drenched near Hermione's feet.

"Exactly. And now you can have a better life than us, Hermione! Think about it!" Mr. Granger said.

"Mm-hmm…" replied Mrs. Granger.
  

~~

So Hermione finally agreed to do it. Draco of course was more than willingly happy to accept her proposal. However, on the day of their wedding Hermione was very aggravated.

Hermione stared at her reflection in the full-length mirror. She looked resplendently pretty, but not happy. Hermione was wearing a long wedding dress, with clear adornments. It was strapless, not to mention form fitting up until the waist from which it fell loosely (bell-shaped) onto the hard surface. She put on a bit of makeup, and her lips were full and pink, making it look incredibly sexy. Her untamable hair was tied up in a fancy French twist much to her parents' relief, and loose curls fell down her ears, where two small pearls lay neatly on the sides of her earlobe. For the first time, Hermione sprayed on a dab of perfume, and tried to smile confidently. There was nothing to be nervous about. But the only feeling she had inside of her was anger and betrayal. She couldn't believe her parents would act so old-fashioned, as if selling their daughter for a cow.

There weren't that many people in the wedding. Only the Hogwarts staff and their parents knew about the marriage. As for their friends, they'd have to wait later.

Just then, Mr. Granger entered the room in a black tuxedo. He smiled as he saw his beautiful daughter staring at her reflection from the mirror. "Hermione, you look lovely."'

"Save it, Father!" she spat at him, before dragging him out of the room. "Let's just get this over with."  

~End of chapter 3~