Forbidden Fruit
Libbeh, a self-proclaimed D/H shipper specialist
Plot: Lust. Lies. Sex. Hate. Anger. Oh the joys of being a horny teenager.
Chapter Seven: West Side Snatch
Disclaimer: I claim no rights to Harry Potter & company. J. K. Rowling & etc. own the rights to Harry Potter & company. The damn wench! Who would have thought the story of a boy wizard & his many adventures would make millions?

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"HERMIONE GRANGER, ANSWER ME!"

Hermione grimaced as she saw that it was Ron who had bellowed out and was holding up a stunned Harry. She wished that Draco had kept his mouth shut and her friends wouldn't find out until after the news of her nuptials was published in the Daily Wizard the next morning after she and Draco had left for their assignment.

She had realized that Draco was the cause of her current malaises. 'You think you're going to get away with this, don't you Malfoy? I wouldn't be too confident in myself if I were you,' she mentally cursed. She glanced at Ron, who was erratically breathing and intensely red. A frenzied expression was plastered on his freckled face. Hermione knew it was insensitive and improper etiquette, but she couldn't help but to give a tiny giggle. The look on Ron's face was classic Polaroid moment.

"YOU'RE MARRIED! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU! HAVE YOU GONE DAFT!"

She knew it was a serious matter and regretted agreeing to play a part in the bizarre mission. She had to reason with the two boys before things got worse. "I am married but before you or Harry jump into worse conclusions, I need to explain the situation." Draco had caught the word "married" and gave her a bemused look. 'Bloody pervert,' she thought.

"If this is a prank, then it's one cruel and twisted joke you're playing on us. I'm confused... let's clarify things. You've got feelings for me and said yes when I asked you to be my girlfriend, yet you're married to Malfoy," inquired Harry.

"Yeah," joined Ron, "I'm every bit as confused as Harry. What's really going on, Hermione? This isn't like you. I mean, you despise Malfoy, but why are you wearing a wedding ring? You didn't get drunk and marry this pureblood bastard here on a whim, did you? Or did he hex you into marrying him? But why would he? What are you up to Malfoy?"

"As if I would marry this lowly mudblood by choice, Weasley. I've got better girls lined up before I would want to shag her."

"Don't flatter yourself asshole," Hermione said, "I wouldn't have agreed to this stupid idea, but Professor Dumbledore gave me no other choice!"

"What! Professor Dumbledore wouldn't be involved in this," Harry and Ron asked in unison.

Hermione moaned in frustration. "Look," she began, "let me explain and don't interrupt me because I've had an exhausting week. I can't tell you details, but believe me, I didn't marry this rat bastard out of my own will."

"Why can't you tell us, Hermione," asked Harry.

"I don't believe you," said Ron.

"ARGH! Harry, Ron, you have you trust me. I didn't marry Malfoy because out of love or my own will. Professor Dumbledore arranged this whole marriage. I know the whole concept sounds utterly crazy, but you have to believe me. I can't tell you why he did because it would jeopardize the situation and I can't risk that."

"You're lying Hermione," Harry replied, "Why in the world would Malfoy agree to this marriage? We all know you both loathe each other."

"This is plain madness," Ron yelled.

Hermione sighed and glanced at Draco. He still had the infamous smirk on his face. She felt like strangling him since he played a crucial part in this fiasco.

"Harry, Ron, I know it sounds absurd. I mean, I wouldn't believe it if it was the other way around, but you have to trust me. Malfoy, make use to yourself and say something. Don't stand there and act like you've got no part in this."

Draco scoffed. "What would you desire me to tell them? Good news Potter! I've went and outdone my standards and landed Granger as my wifey! Hope things won't be sour between us, seeing how you had the hots for her and I've banged her first."

"You insufferable bastard," Hermione raged.

"In all that is bloody holy, please don't imply that you two have actually fucked" Ron made a choking sound in his throat.

"Harry, Ron, he's lying out of his sadistic ass. This little bastard is only making matters worse. MALFOY, I SWEAR, AT THE END OF THIS MISSION, I AM GOING TO TAKE PLEASURE IN CHOKING YOU TO DEATH!"

"Whatever, you'll be begging like a bitch in heat before you pull a blitzkrieg on me."

"Shove it up your ass, you arrogant shit. I hope to Merlin that you'll die a slow, excruciating, painful death."

"Eat my balls, mudblood whore. Oh wait, you'll be doing that later tonight."

Hermione clenched her fists and turned scarlet. She stepped closer to Draco, causing him to slightly step back. She regained her composure, tip toed to his ears and whispered maliciously, "I'll have your balls on a silverplatter before I bow down to you, Malfoy. Whatever it takes."

Harry and Ron looked at each other, not knowing what to say or do. It more than enough for either of them. Neither of them had heard what Hermione whispered into Draco's ear and they wondered what exactly she was telling him to cause him to appear taken aback. Harry was the first to speak.

"I still don't understand why can't you tell us the reason you've agreed to marry Malfoy? I'm completely baffled. I don't know what to say or believe since this is too outrageous for words."

"Harry, what was I supposed to do? It came as a shock to me as well. I'm still reeling over the idea of being married to him. It doesn't seem right or possible, but it happened. But what was I going to tell you and exactly how would I begin? I contemplated on letting you know eventually but Malfoy was the one to break it to you both first."

"But Hermione, you still should have bloody told us," Ron gritted through his teeth, "Hearing this dreadful news from Malfoy only made things worse."

Hermione stared at her two friends and wondered how could she have neglected to tell them? She felt hot tears forming in her eyes and quickly brushed them off before anyone would notice, particularly Draco. She didn't want him to make matters worse for her. Not right now. She was felt tired and miserable. She was angry at herself for neglecting to mention the matter in private with her two friends; it would have saved her face in front of Draco and saved her the agony of watching the drama unfold before her eyes, for Draco to scrutinize. Why hadn't she told them sooner? In her subliminal mind, she knew that the two boys would never forgive her for commingling with the enemy and she was terrified to face the truth.

"Harry, Ron, I'm sorry. Please don't use this against our friendship. We've endured so much the last six years. Are you willing to let our strong bonds die over this one factor," she pleaded.

Harry looked at her with melancholic emerald green eyes, and said in a solemn tone, "I don't know if I could handle this Hermione. I don't know about Ron, but I simply can't accept this marriage, even if it's a sham. I can't fathom why Dumbledore would ask you and not some other girl to be involved in this mission. Just knowing that you're now Malfoy's wife is revolting! And who knows if you two are shagging up? You hid this marriage from Ron and I, going on as if nothing happened, and now you expect us to trust you? Well tough, but I don't."

Hermione look at Ron, wondering what he was going to say, but he turned his head away. She was heartbroken. Her friendship with Harry and Ron was now ending. She couldn't believe it. She had no one to turn to, no one to talk to. A tear fell down her cheek. Draco saw this and for some reason he could not grasp, he felt sympathetic towards Hermione and spoke.

"Believe her, Potter. She's telling you the truth. Indeed, we are married," he paused for a second, letting the reality of his marriage to Hermione, his mortal enemy and forbidden desire, sink in, before continuing, "But, like Granger said and much to my relief, it is a façade so don't piss in your knickers. Nothing, and I mean nothing, physical had, has, or will occur between her and I."

He had lied. Truth is it that he wanted Granger to himself and was planning manipulative ways to get her into bed with him. 'Mrs. Malfoy. It suits her well. I wonder if Mrs. Malfoy realizes that I am going to give her the gift that any witch would kill for: the gracious gift of the aristocratic, pureblood Malfoy seed,' Draco thought, a huge smirk forming on his symmetrical face. He felt himself harden and quickly hindered his "excitement" by glancing over at Ron. 'Ugly son of a bitch,' he silently sneered, 'No bitch here at Hogwarts would consider him for a date at the ball. Not even a whore like Spread-Eagle Brown.'

His reverie of the pleasurable times he had with Lavender was broken by Ron's loud voice.

"Harry, don't we have Quidditch practice to attend?"

"Yeah, we do. Let's go. I can't bear the sight of seeing these two together as husband and wife."

Hermione watched in astonishment as her two former best friends walked away; they were willing to end their friendship over a mock marriage. She was completely speechless. She couldn't hold in her emotions longer and cried. Much to her astonishment, Draco placed an arm around her shoulders and comforted her. She dug her face into his broad shoulders and sobbed even more. He caressed her head and gave her a soft kiss on the head.

"You need to rest. It's been a stressful week for you, Granger."

She nodded and glanced up at Draco. He smiled at her and it surprised her. 'I wished he was more like this,' she suddenly thought. She gasped at her own thought but shrugged it away and headed up towards her room with Draco.