A/N: Here's the new chapter. There might be a few confusing things so just warn me and I'll try and fix it up.

Disclaimer: No, I do not own Harry Potter, blah, blah. JK Rowling does, ok?

Draco Malfoy heard the sound of crunching gravel as a car drove up the driveway. He groaned. It had to be the Grangers, who else would drive to the Malfoy Manor? Any other wizard would have just Apparated. But they couldn't, of course.

He smirked. They were Squibs. No better than muggles. His mother, Narcissa, poked her head into his bedroom. 'Draco, dear, come out and meet your fiancé.'

Ever since his parents and let loose the sudden news to him that he was betrothed to Granger, he had shut himself away in his room, thankful he had not dropped dead at the news.

Narcissa sensed his dangerous mood. 'Draco, we are sorry we let on she was a Mudblood, but really, it could have been worse. It could have been that ugly girl – what was her name? Oh yes, Eloise Midgeon. At least Hermione Granger has dazzling looks. Even you must admit to that.'

Draco shrugged. 'Okay, I admit that she does, but I hate her! Besides Potter, she's next in line of my worst enemy. Why me? Why me?'

Narcissa shrugged. 'Don't make things hard, Draco, come out and meet her.'

Sighing, he got up from his bed, and plodded down-the-stairs to the living room where Lucius was talking to Ted Granger. He saw Hermione, then.

Merlin, she had changed during the summer! Subtle changes, but changes nevertheless. Her face was a beautiful porcelain-like mask of anxiousness, and she had done something to her hair... it was less frizzy, and had enough body so it curled neatly and caught the light, cascading down her back like rays of sunshine. There was no other word for it, she was adorable. The way she chewed her lip and the way her suspicious eyes darted around as if someone might jump out at any minute upon her.

Something sparked deep inside Draco. A great longing to rush up to Hermione, wrap his arms around her, pull her warm, slim body close to his, to explore her mouth with his tongue, to taste her – He jerked himself out of these disturbing thoughts.

Since when was he, Draco Malfoy, interested in Mudblood Granger?

Well, ex-Mudblood Granger, at any rate. A chill settled over Draco, as he remembered something very important. Hermione Granger was his fiancé, and he was to be wed to her. Did she happen to know about the traditional things a Malfoy wife did? One example was that Hermione would not be able to work... she would hate that. Hate him. A slow, sexy smile set over Draco's features. Yes, she would probably hate him, but he would make her learn to live with him peacefully. If they were to be married, they could at least try to get along.

Hermione stood close next to her mother, soaking in the cold decorations of the Malfoy's living room. It was not just the decorations colors which made the room seem colder – it was actually the room. The temperature in it was ghastly, and it gave off an aura of being unloved.

Hermione shivered. If she ever, under any circumstances, had to live in this house, a bit of changing was in order.

Malfoy and his mother emerged from the stairs. Hermione's eyes passed over Malfoy, and another shiver crawled down her spine, but of a different sort. Why did Malfoy have to be so goddamn fine? It would be so much easier to hate him if he was ugly and disfigured.

Hermione gazed at him, drinking in his muscled body, the way his blonde hair fell in his eyes, and the gorgeous silver color of his eyes... one could get lost in them forever. She was jerked back to reality when Malfoy raised an eyebrow, and she realized she'd been caught staring. Blushing, she turned away quickly. There was one consolation she clung to in this horror betrothal. She could have been married to someone hideous, like Goyle. She shuddered. At least Malfoy was blessed with looks he sure as hell didn't deserve. Sad, really.

Nancy tapped her sharply on the shoulder, then pointed to Lucius. He wanted to speak to her.

'About this marriage,' he said softly. 'I want it understood that you will not stain the Malfoy family, and that you understand the obligations that accompany the marriage of a Malfoy.'

Hermione gulped. 'And, pray, what are they?'

Narcissa interrupted at this point. 'There are but five. Firstly; though you may not be in love, you and your husband with act in love.

'Secondly; we do not want anyone ever finding out that this marriage was not for love, therefore we will be taking some measures. You must attend all public occasions with Draco, live in the same house, share the same bedroom, etc. Clear?

'Thirdly; All Malfoy wives are housewives. You are not to work. Final.

'Fourthly; you may have already been aware of this, no divorces and you are only allowed one husband and vice versa.

'Lastly; this one is most important of all, there must be only one male heir by the time you turn twenty. I hope I made myself perfectly clear.'

Hermione felt all color drain rapidly from her face, and was dimly aware of her mouth dropping. Draco leant against the stair-rail watching her for signs of weakness.

Hermione had thought, that after all the shock she had already endured, nothing could surprise her. By God, was she mistaken.

Not allowed to work? What absolute rubbish!

She planned to get outstanding Newts, and carry on and get a high-paid job and live in luxury that she herself had had to earn. It was the most awful thing to see one's dreams crumble in a minute.

This fucked up marriage was sure as hell going to have a detrimental effect on her life forever. And have to sleep in the same bedroom as Malfoy and produce an heir by twenty? What a load of bullshit!!

'Do I make myself clear?' repeated Narcissa impatiently.

Hermione nodded. 'Inescapably.' (A/N: sorry, I had to take that from Pirates of the Caribbean, couldn't help myself. I love that movie too much for my own good!)

Narcissa and Lucius smiled, satisfied. Lucius turned to the Grangers. 'So, when should the wedding take place?'

Gloom settled on her like an infectious disease as she heard them discussing various dates. Gone from her head was the dream of having a traditional wedding; with rice, flower petals, declaring the vows under a radiant sun, kissing the man of her dreams, she looking stunning in a white silk dress –

She jumped as she felt a hand on her shoulder. It was Malfoy. He was also standing close to her – too close, so close that her back was pressed up against his chest, sending waves of pleasure and shock down her spine. Bad. Very bad.

'What?' Hermione snapped. The grip of the hand on her shoulder tightened.

'We have to talk, in private.'

Hermione bit her lip. 'We do indeed– '

'Mother, Father,' spoke up Malfoy, cutting me off. 'I will just be talking to my fiancé in my bedroom, okay?'

'Don't be too long,' said Lucius and Narcissa gave her son a loving smile. Malfoy's hand grabbed my wrist and pulled me along behind him until we got to what I assumed was his bedroom.

He shut the door.

'I'm not happy about this,' Hermione started.

He grimaced. 'The feeling is mutual.'

'At least I didn't bully you all through Hogwarts, Malfoy!' Hermione cried.

He sent her a teasing smile. 'Hermione, darling – ' she hissed angrily. ' – lets all be mature about this whole marriage thing. You're my fiancé, you know. I'm not just Malfoy to you anymore, I'm Draco.' The teasing smile deepened. 'Or, if you're feeling sexy, Draco darling, sweetheart, be creative.'

Hermione lifted a hand to slap him, her eyes blazing, but Malfoy had expected this and grabbed her wrist halfway there. 'Calm down, Hermione, I was just teasing.'

Still fuming, she sat herself down on the end of the bed. 'You're right Mal – Draco. We must be mature about this whole thing. Now as I was saying, I'm willing to forget all of our past and start fresh if you swear to stop with the name-calling and start acting sensible.'

'I did not choose to marry you, Granger!' he hissed, eyes glaring. 'But I am willing to forget all of the past, and start fresh. But just remember that I've never liked you and I probably never will. If I have to act like we're in love, it's an act, okay?'

Hermione stared hard at him, breathing deeply. 'The same goes for me. Your bloody idiot of a father has screwed up my life – and those damned Malfoy rules! Arhggg!' she made a loud disparaging noise.

Malfoy's eyes glowed dangerously at the insults of his father but had softened by the end of her declaration. 'Sorry about all that, but it's not my fault,' he said, shrugging. 'But Gran – Hermione, if we have to be married for the rest of our lives, we could at least try and get along.'

'Yes,' agreed Hermione. 'Let us go back down now.'

Meanwhile, back in the living room, Lucius, Narcissa, Nancy and Ted were discussing where the wedding should take place. They had finally come to a conclusion.

Ted told Hermione and Draco so when they came back into the living room. 'The wedding will be held at the Pasiscere – '

Hermione let out a delighted shriek. 'The old church?! That's amazing! It was build back in the 19th century by a priest called Jacob A. Peterson, and it is said to have some of the best stained glass windows in the world – '

'Oh, shut up!' snapped Draco at her, and she glared back. Honestly, so like Hermione! 'Like we even care about its history! So, where is it?'

Narcissa explained the location and that they would be taking a day off school for the wedding. Hermione was heartbroken.

'But school's important!' she claimed.

'Here,' said Narcissa, ignoring her, and passing them each a piece of paper and a pen. 'We want you to write a list of everyone you want invited to the wedding. We'll do the rest.'

The four adults ventured into the dining room for a bite to eat. Draco started to write on his paper. Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle were his first three people.

He glanced up at Hermione and saw her staring wide-eyed with excitement at a spot on the sofa. He smirked.

'Granger, it's only a church.'

She shook her head, a smile blooming on her face. 'It's not that,' she said, her voice shaking with excitement. 'No... Malfoy, I think I know a way out of this mess!'

Draco blinked at her.

'Take me to your library.'

A/N: Hoped you enjoyed that chapter! As always, review!