AN: thanks for the nice reviews

Ghypscee: thanks for your compliments, I'm happy to know that you like my English but I still feel there is room for improvement. I dedicate this chapter to you.

Rupy: I think that it wasn't that short but don't worry later chapters are longer. I still have to practice with my writing. I'll try my best. Thanks for reviewing.

Openly Insane: thank you, I give you a bit of a spoiler, one of them will take it very bad and he has feelings for her.

Supreme Neo Contess: thank you, I was tired to see them marrying for love, at the end it is very difficult that the two would choose each other if given a choice

Anna15: I'm afraid I can't say that Tom Felton is cute because he is a bit too young for me I'm at least 10 years older than him, but in another life if we were the same age then I would really say he is cool. Have you heard what he wants to do when he finishes Harry Potter? He seems very fond of fishing.

Danish Girl: I like Severus/Hermione story but you're right that Draco/Hermione looks a bit more real.

Natyslack: I meant that you read all my HP stories, the GG are older ones and it's been ages since I wrote them.

Dracodolenz: the website address didn't appear, they don't let people advertise here. Thank you for reviewing.

Baldefanatic: thanks, I'll try my best to make them longer.

Reader, Elven Warrior1, Sarahamanda: thanks for reviewing, I hope this is soon enough for you.

4.

He pouted at her but it was to no use because she had already turned her head away and focused again on her parchment. He slowly turned away from her and started browsing the shelves. He found himself in front of a shelf labelled Marriage.

He took out a book and found the section on proposals, he thought that even though it was an arranged marriage he should try anyway to make it nice for her. So he had to start from the proposal. He started to read the book and it said:

Here's How To Propose:

Find the right person.

He snorted, Hermione wasn't actually his first choice, hell, she wouldn't be even in the list. But was that true? He didn't want to ponder on this now.

Fall in love.

Love, now a Malfoy wasn't supposed to love. It was a weakness, the best a Malfoy could do was care and he did care about her a bit. Not a lot though.

Know enough about your beloved so you can create a meaningful experience.

He grimaced, he didn't know anything about Hermione, he will have to ask someone that knew her well, Potter and the Weasel were out of question. Then, who? Ginny, the youngest Weasels would know.

Decide if you are going to purchase the ring before or after you propose.

Stay within your budget or financial capability.

He sighed, the ring was going to be a family heirloom and he didn't have to worry about money either. But maybe he could by her a smaller ring that he would have chosen for her and she would feel it more personal.

Pay attention to timing. Don't plan on proposing when he or she is stressed or overwhelmed.

At this he laughed out aloud and he earned a malevolent look from Madam Pince. Hermione was one of the most stressed witches he knew, he would never find her relaxed enough. She was constantly fussing about NEWT and Heads Duties. Relatively calm would have to do.

Pick a memorable place, song, or occasion such as where you first met, or first kissed, etc.

Now, he had never kissed her and he wasn't into muggle songs. Not that he wanted muggle music and muggle stuff in his life but his wife was coming from the muggle world so he would have to at least try to make an effort for her. For the music and the atmosphere he would have to ask Ginny. He hoped that she was going to help.

Set a romantic tone.

He snorted, Malfoy were not romantic so this will have to be avoided at all cost but he would try to make it decently nice. Besides she didn't strike him as a kind of girls who would appreciate a mushy night. No she definitely liked something more serious.

Then he felt a light tap on his shoulder and he almost let go of the book. He turned to see a slightly irritate Hermione "Draco shall we go? It's almost time to meet the Headmaster" he agreed and they set out to go but not before Draco checked out the book which earned a suspicious look by the librarian. Hermione was secretly smiling after seeing the title of the book he was reading. He was really taking the all thing very seriously.

They were now in Dumbledore's office. The Headmaster had tried to understand all their concerns and the different points of view but he was overwhelmed by the lack of compromise on both sides. He was sure that many times they just wanted to annoy each other. His two best student were really too stubborn and too proud.

At that moment he felt a bit too old to be involved in this predicament "Let's see if you can agree on something. You Mr. Malfoy want to have a real marriage and you Miss Granger want a fake one. Now you come from two very different worlds and traditions but in this I must agree with Mr. Malfoy, if you want to be part of the magical community you will have to understand our beliefs Miss Granger. A wizard marry for life and many marriage are arranged. You should really think about it carefully Miss Granger. Wizards don't accept very much the idea of an annulment and the witch that asks for it is still considered the wife of the wizard that she left."

The smug look on Draco and the crossed look on Hermione's face said it all so he had to try to balance things "On the other hand, Miss Granger should pursue further education, she can study at the university and apparate at the Manor every evening. I believe we need her to take her diploma as soon as possible. She is very valuable for the Order and Severus stressed the importance to have her ready."

Now Hermione looked a bit relieved and Draco was scowling "No Malfoy bride went to university. My mother will kill me if I allow her to study and the Dark Lord won't believe that I'm his loyal servant." Hermione looked worried and then grimacing "I agree with him, they will question his loyalty, I believe Professor Snape can tutor me secretly then I'll take the diploma by owl"

Draco and Albus were surprised by what she said "Well Miss Granger, thanks for understanding his risky situation." Draco was smirking again "You like me" She glared at him "I just don't want to be a widow and have to marry Snape. Plus I can always study after Voldemort is defeated" She was trying to annoy him in any way and he was surprised that she succeeded every time.

Albus smiled and with twinkling eyes dismissed them, he wasn't worried about the couple, his sixth sense told him that when they would finally see each other for who they really were they would fall madly in love. But he knew there was a long road in front of them, they were now at the denial point and they would stay there for a while.

Draco and Hermione were walking quietly together, the silence wasn't uncomfortable, both of them were thinking about their predicament and neither of them wanted to fight with each other so when they entered their common room they left for their rooms.

Hermione put on her pyjama and went straight to bed. She was very upset. The marriage, Malfoy, her studies. She didn't know what to do or what to think and she was feeling very lonely. Her parents had been killed the year before when she was at the Burrow and since then she had changed. She never let anyone get closer to her and none of her friends knew how she was feeling.

She recalled what she told Draco about not wanting a 'loveless' marriage but she was scared that she didn't know how to love anymore. She had been surprised in the library when she saw Draco with a book on marriage and she felt her heart skipping a bit thinking that he was actually trying to make it work.

She had lied when she told him that she didn't like his smell because as a matter of fact she found his perfume so sexy and masculine. Not that she would ever admit that to him. In the office when she had agreed to study at home she had been surprised that she cared for his life and she knew she would have said it for anyone, but was that really true?

The day had taken its toll on Hermione and with the image of a smirking Draco she fell into sleep.

In the other room, Draco was still reading the book laughing and frowning for some of the suggestions. He knew that he would have to ask Ginny Weasel for help because his future I-am-better-than-you-and-don't-touch-me-or-I'll-hex-you wife was not an easy witch. He was preoccupied because he had to find a good explanation for why he wanted to know those things. He would have to talk to Albus and see if he could oblivate her after receiving the information needed.

AN: Thanks for reading.