It had been two years since Hermione left Hogwarts, and she missed everything terribly. Especially Ron and Harry. She hadnt seen Ron since the summer after they graduated, when they had finally ended their 3 year relationship, and he left for Egypt with his brother. As for Harry? He was currently training with The Bulgarian National Quidditch team, and rarely had time to send any letters. Thankfully Hermione still had Ginny, that was until summer ended and she went back to school. The one thing she didnt miss was Draco Malfoy. The instigator to so many years of pain, had finally vanished from her life.

Currently staying with her parents for a visit, Hermione was enjoying another beautiful day out by the pool. She had really developed quite the figure. Standing five foot four, Hermione still had long beautiful locks, that framed her face with long, loose curls. Her body had finally filled out, giving her the hour glass shape, she had always wanted. She had been sun bathing for three hours when her mother beckoned her into the house for lunch.

"So how do you like being out of school, Hermione?" Her mother asked, softly from the other side of the kitchen table.

"It's great. I wake up when i want, eat when i want, and sleep when i want. Well mostly." Hermione smiled teasingly at her mother.

"But dont you miss all your friends? I mean you've been here two weeks and all you've done is laid by the pool." Her mother looked at her with concern.

"I'll tell you one thing i dont miss, Draco Malfoy. Ugh he was such a git. Always teasing me and calling me 'Mudblood', im just glad he's gone." Hermione noticed her mother flinched, but decided it wasnt relevent to their conversation.

"I wouldnt criticize, you were almost a Malfoy." Hermione's father walked in from the other room carry-
a newspaper.

"What?" Hermione said, choking on a chip.

"Hon. Dont say that." Hermione's mother pleaded from across the table.

"Rubbish. She deserve's to know after all her twentieth birthday's coming up." her father peered at her mother from over the rim of his glasses.

"Mother? What is he talking about?" Hermione was growing angry, that her parents had kept something from her. They had always had such an open relationship.

"Oh all right. But your not getting out of this one. You opened this can of worms." Her mother scolded from across the table.

"Hermione. Your not a Muggle born wizard. Your mother and i, we're purebloods." Her father said setting his paper aside.

"What?" Hermione looked at them in utter shock, they couldnt be saying this.

"When i was just 4 months pregnant with you, your father witnessed the murder of Jacquesse Vernardi.a French rebel. This put our family in danger, and Jacquesse's killer was out to get us. There was only one man who could help us, Lucious." Hermione's mother took a deep breath then continued, " I was best friends with Narcissa as a young girl. So one night we went to the Malfoy's and asked for their help. Lucious could get your father and i out of danger due to his line of work..." Her mother trailed off and her father quickly filled in the rest.

"But for Lucious, everything came at a price. He said he could get us into the muggle world, all he had to do was forge some papers, but in return, they wanted our baby." Her father stopped looking kindly at Hermione. "I... we ... your mother and i... we couldnt give you up. You meant too much to us, so we made another arrangement." At that point her father looked away, and Hermione felt an odd pressure rise in her throat.

"We arranged for a marriage. Between you and Narcissa's baby, Draco. And in turn, we were out of harm's way." Her mother said hopefully.

"I think i'm going to be sick." Hermione raised a pale hand to her mouth and ran for the bathroom. Several minutes later, Hermione reappeared in the kitchen, interrupting her parents conversation.

"When?" Hermione said quietly.

"Beg your pardon?" Her father said looking up from his conversation.

"When?" Hermione said louder, the anger growing inside of her.

"When what dear?" Her mother asked innocently.

"Dont play dumb mother." Hermione ordered, ignoring the look on her fathers face.

"Your 20th birthday." Her mother looked at her hands that rested in her lap.
Hermione let out what was an attempt at a scream, as her back slid down the wall. She was holding her head in disbelief. There was no way she could marry Draco.

"Ohh this cant be happening." Hermione started to cry, as her mother came to her side.

"Oh Hermione. I'm so sorry to have done this to you." Her mother put a timid hand on her shoulder as her daughter started to shake. "But there's more." Her mother looked down at her daughter's small, humped over figure.

"What else could there be? I have to marry the worst person ever, how could there be anything wor..." There was a look of new found disgust as Hermione realized there was something, indeed, worse. "Dont say it. mother. Dont tell me i have to.... ohhh god." Hermione grabbed at her stomach.