AN:Hello all you gorgouse people out there reviewing. I'm back. Not for long but I decided that I was being rather hypocritic by not giving my readers the chappie they wanted and at the same time badgering others to update. I hope ya'll like it. It doesn't pass the 3000 word limit. Misses it by like thirty words or so. I will be having finals for the next few weeks (my school staggers them fro nxt week to mid november I think) so the chapters won't be that often but still review. They give me inspiration. I have questions I want answers to in the end so tell me what you think OK.

Now on to the story

"I think we should get a DJ to come mix both the muggle and wizard tracks together," Parvati Patil chimed in. Malfoy wasn't paying much attention to the meeting as his mind was currently filled with the crisis on hand. He wondered how Hermione was taking it.

He really hoped that she had killed herself and spared him from doing so. How was he going to survive living with such an insufferable know it all. She was so annoying, held absolutely no class, didn't know how to hold herself with poise and grace...god she had so many faults.

Why did his father have to get them engaged and what more with an unbreakable spell! Pansy would have been better than this.

"Drakky..." a screeching voice infiltrated his senses. He glanced up to see Pansy Parkinson. The girl who thought that he was in love with her. She was supposed to be from upper society yet was so annoying, clingy and stupid. The only reason he had not cursed her to oblivion yet was because he suspected that his father had bethroed him to her.

He couldn't believe that he had once though of her as an ice queen, a beauty but now all he saw was a dim witted air head that depended on her looks that she was. God he couldn't wait to break the news that he was bethroed to someone else.

It wasn't great news to him but at the same time it would finally get her off his back. He would be free from her clinginess.

"I've been looking for you all over baby. I've missed you so much. Why didn't you owl me during the summer...oh never mind honey at least we're together now," Pansy simpered as she ran towards him, her arms outstretched.

Thankfully due to swiftness that only comes with seeker practice, Malfoy managed to step aside just as Pansy threw herself towards him.

She landed. Sprawled ungracefully on the ground while the rest of the prefects snickered both at what she had called Draco Malfoy, bad boy of the school and also at the way she had fallen oh so gracefully to the floor.

"What do you want Pansy," Draco stated more than asked coldly.

"Well...is it a crime to just say hi to my hubby to be?" Pansy said, tears coming to her eyes and her cheeks flushed from embarrassment. She wondered why Draco had never fallen under her spell. She had spoken to her parents and asked them to clinch a betrothal with him and to her extreme pleasure his father had agreed.

It seemed that Draco's bethroed from childhood had gone missing and they had given up waiting. Thus they almost everything was confirmed with only a few things left to iron out.

"Huh?" Draco replied confused. He thought that he had been bethroed to Hermione...Wait. Finally it made sense. Everything clicked together.

"So...you're the poor girl who is going to bawl her heart out when she finds out that they've found the missing Grenaldi, my future wife...and guess what both of us know her," Malfoy said smirking at her as she stared at him shell shocked.

The rest of the prefects too were staring at him. Ron was shocked too. He wondered who the 'lucky' girl was. He hoped that it wasn't someone nice as it would be torture having to live with that insufferable git. "Where's Mione'," he wondered when he realized that she had been missing so far.

It wasn't like her to miss meetings unless something important cropped up. He made a mental note to go see her later on.

"You're lying," Pansy screamed pushing herself off the ground. She dusted of her robes and stalked towards Malfoy. Pointing a finger at his chest she screamed again this time, "Prove it!"

At the very moment an extremely flustered Hermione made an entrance. "What is all the screaming about? Oh...Parkinson what are you doing here. Get back to your dorms it is past curfew!" Hermione said taking in the scene before her.

Pansy Parkinson was in a rage, she was screaming at Malfoy jabbing her finger at him. The rest of the prefects were watching with expressions of shock and amusement on their faces.

"Back off mudblood," Pansy screeched at Hermione before turning back on Malfoy and screaming and anguished, "Who is she?"

"Why don't you ask her? She's right here in the room," Malfoy drawled, glancing at Hermione and smirking at her when he realized how squeamish she was looking. At that Pansy spun on her feet and looked at the prefects eyeing every girl in the room suspiciously.

Ron too glanced around wondering who the hell the girl was. He wanted to seek her out and give her his utmost sympathies.

Pansy's eyes held a wild surreal glint that showed that she was extremely dangerous. Malfoy noticed Hermione eyeing Pansy with extreme nervousness, knowing that she would never speak out he decided to 'help' her out.

"Who is it?" Pansy screamed, panicking as she was worried that Draco Malfoy might actually be telling the truth. What the hell, her parents had worked hard to secure her marriage to a Malfoy and she had been more than pleased when she herself learned of it.

He was the richest, most cultured, most handsome, and most hot male in almost the entire wizarding world. Even the French had been after his hand. She hoped that the girl he was bethroed to was plain and ugly.

"Well, why don't you tell her dearest," Malfoy said his voice dripping with sarcasm, looking pointedly at Hermione who was standing alone by the door. The rest of the prefects were in the middle of the room.

"Where? Who is she," Pansy asked stupidly as she followed Draco's gaze which landed on Hermione. She looked around stupidly as though the person was cloaked in an invisibility cloak. Then finally it hit her. Hermione Granger. The know-it-all mudblood was who Malfoy was hinting.

Hermione glared at Malfoy when she realized what he was trying to do. He was doing his best to humiliate her, make her life hell and torment her so much. She shut her eyes and counted to ten as Pansy stared around the room stupidly.

"Surely you jest darling, why would your parents, especially your father betroth you to a mudblood?" Pansy said smiling slightly when she assumed that Draco had been teasing her all along.

Ron was confused? Why was Malfoy calling Hermione his dearest, unless...oh no! It couldn't be. She defiantly wouldn't have fallen for that stupid ferret. He got a better look at Hermione and did a double take. She looked different. Very very different. Her hair was no longer in its bushy state but straight and sleek making her give off an elegant aura.

"Um...missing Grenaldi, Granger adopted at youth...put it together Pansy," Malfoy announced, proving to Hermione that she was in fact right to believe that he would announce it to the world. Malfoy smirked at Hermione, knowing that she was probably mortified at this.

"Hermione Granger, mudblood extraordinaire is a Grenaldi? No way. I will be writing to your father about this darling," Pansy said still wallowing in self pity and refusing to believe the facts that were glaring at her in her face.

Pansy waved coyly at Draco before storming out of the room, purposely shoving her against the door as she walked past. The rest of the prefects were awe struck at the happenings in the past few minutes.

Hermione was too shocked to even speak. Draco had just spilled her biggest secret to a room full of people. She blinked rather stupidly before finally coming to her senses. She would lie. Lie her way out of it but then on the other hand, would denial bait the students into wanting to know more?

"Well...so what has been discussed so far?" Hermione said scanning the crowd. She was trying to sound nonchalant but her voice cracked halfway out of nervousness. Tears were brimming in her eyes and she didn't want to end up crying in front of them. She knew that her eyes always turned red when she was about to cry and the tears were threatening to fall.

"Umm...I think we should adjourn for today since we've already covered most of the things like music and everything," Ron piped up once he recovered from the shock and noticed his friend's dilemma. He was feeling numb. His best friend, the girl he had thought of as his other sister was to be wed to Malfoy.

He could recognize the symptoms and it meant that Hermione was already close to tears. Suddenly he was filled with rage, why hadn't she told him? Why had he and Harry been so obsessed with their lives that they did not notice the difference in their friend? He blamed himself for not sensing something was wrong and her for hiding it from him.

Malfoy was annoyed. He could see that Granger was close to tears and wanted to jeer at her in front of the rest of the crowd. Suddenly something hit upon him, he wouldn't be allowed to. His father would defiantly punish him for any ill treatment of his fiancé. If he wanted to torment her, it would have to be sneaky and cunning so that she would feel embarrassed while he got off scot free.

The rest of the male prefects nodded nervously as they didn't want to experience an outburst of epic proportions. Malfoy rolled his eyes and muttered something incoherent under his breath before saying, "You're all dismissed."

The guys made a beeline for the exit, leaving behind the females and Ron. Ron looked at Hermione sympathetically and walked over to his friend. She was crumpled on the ground, leaning weakly against the wall and had her head in her hands. Draco Malfoy smirked at her weakness and retreated into the shadows to watch the happenings.

Ginny stepped out of the throng of girls. She was shocked. Her friend was suffering so much and she hated Malfoy making her pain worse. She rushed towards her, beating Ron. She kneeled in front of her friend and whispered a soft, "Mione?"

There was no response except a muffled sob escaping from Hermione encompassed mouth. Ginny sighed as she felt someone tap her on her back. She turned and saw her brother. She nodded understandingly and shuffled over, she gestured towards Ron saying that she would be headed towards the Gryffindor common room as Ron squatted in front of Hermione's crumpled form.

"Mione...Mione look at me," Ron whispered softly. Hermione shook her head violently but did not look up.

Her heart was aching. Malfoy was treating her like a plaything. His mosquito repellant to Pansy Parkinson. She felt tears slipping down her cheeks and she hated herself. Hated that she was so weak. So unable to cope with the tension.

Ron slipped his hand to her chin and pushed her face up to face him. Her eyes were red from crying and yet she looked so innocent and childlike. Ron felt a strange instinct, as thought to take her away and keep her safe from the world.

Hermione looked up at him slowly, "So you're not mad?" Hermione choked through her tears. Ron smiled at her sadly.

"I am but mostly at myself as I failed to notice your dilemma," Ron said running his hand through his hair. Guilt encompassed him as he looked at his best friend. "I'm sorry...I haven't been the best friend you deserve," he said trying to ease his guilt.

Hermione's mouth twitched as she heard Ron apologize. "It's okay..." she said pushing herself off the ground. Ron followed suit and both of them stood facing each other wondering what to say.

"Hermione..." Ron said just as Hermione said his name. Ron held out his hands and Hermione rushed into them, letting loose all the pent up feelings. She clutched at his shirt and cried, burying her head in his shoulder.

Her parents. Malfoy. The new powers. Everything swirled together and became a whirlwind.

Tears were soaking through his robe but Ron did not care. A strange new feeling took over his being. He wanted to keep on holding onto Hermione for eternity, never letting her go. He would have been happy if he had died on the very spot.

He closed his eyes and settled his chin on her shoulder. Together they stood and everything ceased to exist to Ron. Everything but himself and Hermione.

"Ahem..." someone cleared their throat, jerking Ron out of his trance. Hermione sprung out of Ron's arms and blushed furiously. Both of them turned to find Malfoy looking at them with fury and a little amusement.

Hermione was mortified and also frightened at what Malfoy would do after catching her and Ron hugging. She felt that the hug was purely innocent but wondered how Malfoy would interpret it. She didn't care for his feelings but more of what his revenge would be.

"Leave Weasley. I need to talk to my fiancé," Malfoy said stressing on the words fiancé and smirking at Ron. Ron looked at him adamantly but when he heard Hermione's words, he decided that it would be best that he didn't leave.

"Ron go. This is between me and my fiancé, I don't want you getting hurt," Hermione whispered. Hermione was only looking at Ron's best interests. Malfoy would most probably use a curse on him and then the small problem would get blown up and two soon the whole school would be buzzing with news of her and Malfoy's engagement.

She was ready to bet that it was already half-way around the whole school. "Well Weasley you leave me no choice..." Malfoy said trailing off as he reached for his wand. Ron too reacted quickly and was in dueling positions with his wand out.

"NO! Please don't fight. Ron as much as I hate the ferret, I will have to live with him so don't make it anymore difficult. Please just leave. This is between me and my fiancé," Hermione screamed fearing for Ron's life. She loved him like a brother and she knew that Malfoy would not hesitate to use the unforgivables which she was ready to bet he had mastered by then.

Also half of what she had said was true. She would have to live with him and she didn't want to make it even more difficult than it already was. She knew that there was no way around the binding spell upon them. She had done research on it for a paper last year and it was said that if the bind the spell created was not formed, both involved parties would slowly grow insane.

Ron shot her a confused look before slowly walking towards the exit of the hall. Once he had walked out, Malfoy fingered his wand. Then he muttered a soft spell and all the doors slammed shut and locked themselves. He looked lazily at Hermione and saw her glaring at him.

"What the hell do you want Malfoy?" Hermione asked seating herself on a chair. She glared at him coldly. She had hated him for so many reasons but today, today he had crossed the limit. He had hurt her, more than she thought anyone could hurt her.

"Do not take that tone with me and stand up! Don't you know it is rude to sit when one's husband or fiancé is standing?" he said maliciously. It was an age old tradition, carried out by only the oldest of pureblood families like his and most probably the Grenaldis.

Hermione looked at him with mild interest and then returned to examining her nails knowing that it would incense him. "I don't have to do anything for you Malfoy. I will find a way out of the contract. I rather go crazy than marry you," Hermione stated as she looked up at him.

"That might be your choice but, I don't think your parents will approve. They will force you into marriage and you know it," Malfoy said smirking as he realized that the know-it-all witch had not thought of it at all.

"Well do you know any way out of it?" Hermione asked accepting defeat as she was already on the loosing end. Malfoy smirked at her and cocked and eyebrow.

"Didn't you know that you can't break the bond? And I thought you were a know-it-all," Malfoy retorted sarcastically.

Hermione rolled her eyes and choose not to respond. She hated him and the fact that he had not hurled and curse at her surprised her.

"Do not ever hug Ron, Harry or any other boy!" Malfoy said trying to sound calm. At this Hermione's head shot up and her hazel eyes met his cold gray ones. They just glared at each other for what seemed eons.

This was his reputation she was messing with. She knew nothing of what it was like to be pureblood, to be the envy of every person and also she knew nothing of respect. Nothing that she had read would steel her for the weeks of intensive training she would be put through...

He felt a twinge of guilt for making her cry the second time in the row but brushed over it blaming her for her own weakness.

Hermione felt extremely unsettled by looking into Malfoy's eyes but at the same time they seemed to pull her in deeper, she realized that she was having great difficulty in pulling her gaze away.

Draco looked at her eyes. He had never really looked at them in the six years he

had known her. They had flecks of amber and gold in the ability to scare him as it seemed as though she was looking into him.

Past everything, into his deepest secrets, darkest moments. He found himself unable to look away from her eyes so he leveled his gaze and glared at her defiantly.

"You have no right to rule my life," Hermione stated arrogantly, not breaking eye contact. She hated him. Who was he to dictate what she could or could not do? Why was he such an arrogant idiot?

She got off the chair and walked towards the door but Malfoy caught her elbow and pulled her towards him. She lost her balance and fell, he palms landing on his chest. His grip on her elbow kept her from moving. She tried her best to pull away but to no avail. "I have a right to do anything I want to do to you," Malfoy whispered maliciously.

Hermione chanced a look at his eyes and winced. They held a glint to them that scared her. It was true, he was obviously stronger than her and since the doors were locked...Hermione's mind kicked into motion imagining worst possible scenarios. Seeing that she had no choice, she closed her eyes and kneed him in the groin.

It connected hard. Malfoy loosened his grip on her elbow when he felt pain sear through his lower body. Hermione seeing her chance, fled to one of the doors. She muttered, "Finite incantem," and the door flew open.

She rushed out and towards the head common room. It was a school day the next day and she wanted to get at least some sleep. No that was just an excuse. She wanted to avoid Malfoy. After what had happened today, she realized that she would have to marry the idiot and didn't want to spend more time with him than she needed to.

Alrighty now for my questions:

(1) do you think Hermione should be pulled out of school by her parents

(2) How do you think her sisters should react to her

Also there are many others. Please give me suggestions. I feel rather confused cuz I'm not getting much suggestions. Ok guess what? I will only post the chapters that I write up every few weeks. Let your reviews motivate me to work faster.

Also I am losing touch with the humor so anyone out there who can give me some funny instances that i can add please do. Ok that's about all. Ya'll rawk. Everyone of ya'll!

Sapphire out