Enemy, Friend, or Lover
..The Malfoy Manor..
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Hermione looked around her room. This was going to be the last time she was going to see it for a while.
"Hey, Hermione," Madison said as she came into the room.
"Hey there, Madison." Hermione walked over to the bed and sat on the foot of it. She looked over to her bathroom and let out a sign.
"Hermione, What's wrong?" Madison asked, concern in her voice.
Hermione shrugged and looked over to her friend.
"Aren't you excited to go home?" Madison asked.
"I'm not going home." Hermione told her.
Madison looked around the room and at her packed trunk. "Well it sure looks like you are." When Hermione didn't respond Madison asked, "Then where are you going?"
Hermione shrugged again. "I'm going to the Malfoy Manor."
"Why?"
"Because I have to get used to Draco." Madison looked at Hermione not getting what she was saying. "Madison, I'm betrothed to him."
"You're what?" Madison remarked, her eyes huge.
"I'm betrothed to Draco," Hermione repeated.
"Yeah, I heard you but . . . "
"Before I was adopted I was a Lanna. My parents were good friends with the Malfoy's and now, here I am."
"So you have to marry him?"
"More or less, yeah," Hermione told her.
"Ouch! That's gotta suck. I'd wanna marry somebody I love," Madison mumbled.
"So do I. Draco only wants me now. He doesn't want me long enough to have kids with. He doesn't even want kids! And I- " Hermione looked down at her hands.
"And you don't want his kids," Madison finished for her.
"Yeah," Hermione whispered. She looked up at her friend. "I want to have a good job and a good life. I'm 17, almost 18 and I'm told I have a kid within the next three years."
"Hermione, they can't make you," Madison told Hermione.
"But I'm scared Draco could," Hermione whispered. It hurt her to say it but she knew he could.
Madison knelt in front on Hermione, her hands on Hermione's knees. "Hermione, he would never make you. He isn't like that. He wont make you do anything you didn't want to do. You should know that!"
"I know, but I don't think I'd be able to stop myself if he tried anything. He knows that."
"Then don't think about stupid things like that. I went out with him before. He listened to me when I said not to touch me or he'd have to stop doing whatever he was doing. He's nice and sweet. He is nothing like his father, Hermione. You just have to get to know him"
Hermione looked into her friend eyes. "But I don't want to know him."
Madison looked at her in sorrow. "Just give him a chance. Let him show you who he is."
"I just don't want to get attached to him."
"But he does. He's been telling' me that he only wants a chance. You've been backing away from him and he doesn't know what to do. I think he really does like you, Hermione."
Hermione looked at her friend. "Fine, I'll try."
"That's all I'm asking for." Madison gave Hermione's knee a squeeze and left Hermione in her room.
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Hermione looked around the house. It was really vast, and very exquisite. But it was too . . . empty too . . . lonely. The house had a sad feeling to it even though the house was beautiful. Mrs. Malfoy showed Hermione where everything was and what room was where.
"This will be you're room," she told Hermione. Hermione knew she purposely put her room by Draco's. Hermione looked around.
It was so gorgeous. The room was mostly blue. Gasping at every little thing, Mrs. Malfoy showed Hermione her the bathroom. It had a giant tub, two sinks, a toilet of course, and a big open shower.
She left shortly after Hermione was told about where everything was. She was told that there was a gowned in the closet for the little party tonight. She told Hermione the rules to the house and what time the normal suppers are.
"I'll just take a little nap then get ready for the party." Hermione told herself.
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Hermione's watch woke her up. She crawled out of the big bed and went over to her bathroom.
Stepping into the shower, she welcomed the warm water as it ran down her naked body.
When Hermione got out, she dried off and put lotion on her body then wrapped a robe around herself. She put her hair in ringlets and put on a little bit of make up. She smiled at her reflection and went to put the dress on.
The dress was a dark blue and clung to her figure. The top of the dress went around her neck (halter top style), exposing most of her back. The bottom of the dress went to the bottom of her calves. In the closet there were a pair of shoes. They were heals and looked perfect with the dress. Hermione looked in the mirror at her dress and shoes.
There was a light knock on the door.
"Come in," Hermione called, still looking into the mirror.
The door opened and Draco stepped in. Oh my god, he looks gorgeous. Hermione decided, catching his eye in the mirror.
"Hey," he said as he walked over to her. She turned around to look at him.
"Hi."
"And I thought you couldn't get any more beautiful."
To keep him from seeing her blush, she turned and went over to her nightstand to get her small ring. She turned around to face him as she put the ring on.
"I got you something," Draco informed her.
"You did?" Hermione asked, very surprised.
"Yeah, I did." He pulled a long skinny box from his pocket. He handed it to her and she just looked at it. "You going to open it?"
Hermione swallowed and opened the tiny box. She gasped at what she saw. It was necklace with three tiny diamonds that hung from it. "Draco, I can't except this," she told him.
"Why not?" he asked.
"Because, I just can't."
Draco took the necklace from the box in her hands and told her to turn around. She did.
Hermione pulled her hair over her one shoulder and Draco did the necklace up. With his fingers, he followed the little chain down her back. The chain stopped but that didn't stop Draco from running his fingers down her spine. He heard Hermione take in a sharp breath but she didn't pull away.
"You're so beautiful," he whispered his mouth close to her shoulder.
"Draco-"
"Let's go down to the party." He grabbed her hand and walked her out of her room and down the stairs to the party. Draco introduced her to a few people then took her to the drinking bar. He got her a glass of white wine which Draco had remembered she loved from a conversation they had about a month ago.
Draco turned to her and raised her glass. "To you and me." he smiled down at her then took a sip from his glass. Hermione looked at him then she, too, took a sip.
"Hey, Draco," a pretty blond hair girl said from beside him.
"Hey, Tanisha. How've you been?" he asked.
The girl smiled at him. "Oh, I've been alright, and you?"
"I'm doing good actually," he told her. "This is Hermione." Draco slipped his arm around her waist and leaned her into his side.
Hermione noticed that Tanisha's smile dropped slightly. "Hello," Hermione smiled at the girl.
"Hi."
Draco looked down at Hermione. "Do you wanna dance?" he asked her.
"U . . ."
Draco didn't even let her answer before he started to talk again. "Good." He nodded to Tanisha and said that he'll see her later. He walked Hermione over to the other side of the room and stopped to turn and face her. He pulled her closer to his front and noticed that she was hesitant before she lifted her arms and placed them around Draco's neck.
The music was playing softly and Draco rocked Hermione back and forth.
After a while, Draco felt Hermione relax in his arms. He gave her a few seconds before he tugged her body closer to his own. She was right snug against him and she let him rock her as Draco's strong fingers ran up and down her bare back.
"Lets go out to the gardens," Draco whispered into her hair.
Hermione slightly backed up and looked at him. "Okay, let's go."
Draco looked down at her, studying her beautiful face. He slowly bowed his face down and placed his lips gently on hers. A moan came form the back of her throat which made Draco only want her more.
She backed up but Draco grabbed her by the waist and hastily pulled her back to him. He cupped her chin with his right hand and kissed her once more. "So beautiful," he whispered against her mouth.
This time he was the one to pull away. Taking her hand, he headed for the doors that led out to the gardens.
"Hey, Draco!" somebody yelled form behind them.
Draco stopped and turned around and Hermione seen a tall guy that had soft looking blond hair and warm blue eyes. The two guys hugged each other. Draco pulled back with a big grin on his face.
"Sean, this is Hermione," he introduced her. "Hermione, this is Sean, my cousin."
Sean looked at Hermione then at Draco.
"Hi, there," he greeted with a smile that is so much like Draco's.
"Hi," Hermione smiled back.
"You staying here at the Manor?" he asked Hermione.
"Yeah," Draco answered for her.
Sean looked from Hermione to Draco. Then he looked at Draco's arm wrapped around Hermione's waist protectively.
"She's my girlfriend," Draco told his cousin.
Girlfriend? Hermione thought in surprise. What? She snapped her head up to look at Draco. He just pulled her closer to his body.
"Girlfriend, eh? Well it's nice to meet you."
"Yeah, you too."
Draco led Hermione away and started talking to her.
Am I his girlfriend or was he just saying that?
"Hermione? Hermione!" Draco asked, waving a hand in front of her face.
"What?"
"Are you listening to me?"
"Ummm . . ."
Draco sighed and shook his head. "Okay. Lets go out to the gardens."
Draco took her outside and showed her around the gardens. He walked up beside her and grabbed her hand. As soon as he touched her hand, she quickly pulled it back.
"Why are you always pulling away form me?" Draco asked her.
"Why are you always touching me?"
"Am I not allowed?"
"Well, why do you have to?"
"Hermione, come on!" he said irritated as she turned away from him.
"Don't, okay? You don't get it, Draco. I-" she broke off then started again. "I just don't want to get attached to you."
"But that's what you don't get, Hermione. I already am attached."
Hermione turned around, looked at him then quickly away. "I don't care. Get unattached." She took in a breath and looked in his eyes. "Draco, I worked so hard in school so I could get a good job. Then after a few years I can settle down and marry the man who I love and who loves me. I could have a couple of kids and live a happy life. But now . . ." she took in a deep breath and slowly let it back out. "Now, I have to marry a man who doesn't love me I have to had a kid within the next three years. I can't have a job because I'll have a kid to take watch 24/7. I don't wanna live with someone who doesn't love me, Draco. But when I have a child, I know I'll love it no matter what my age is. You need a child and I can't have you take the one thing I'll have to love away from me. This child will be my life, Draco."
"Hermione, I wont make you marry me." He walked over to her and reached for her hand. He waited for her to pull away but she didn't.
"Draco, I-"
"Hermione, I'm just being who I am. I'm trying to give you the chance to love me."
"I can't," Hermione told him.
"And that's why. You wont let yourself. Please just let me try." He bent his head down and looked into her eyes, his almost forehead resting on hers. Hermione knew he was going to kiss her and she decided she was going to let him.
When she didn't pull back, Draco kissed her soft mouth and let her see inside of him. Hermione kissed him back but pulled away when she felt what Draco was trying to show her.
"See Hermione, I need to be loved just as much as you do," Draco whispered.
"Draco, I have a headache, could I just go up to bed?"
"Sure. Hermione?" he asked and she looked at him. "Can I tuck you in?"
"Why?" Hermione asked.
Draco shrugged. "When I was a kid I used to love being tucked in. But it wasn't very often. It made me feel loved and wanted. And I know you don't wanna be here that much so I just want to show who I am and that I'm not the evil monster that you think I am."
"How does that show me you're nice?"
"I don't know but it shows you that I care."
"Do you? Or are you just saying that" Hermione asked him, wanting him to answer truthfully.
"I care," he told her. "I don't know how I can prove it but I do. I like you more that you think. I just need you to trust me and let me in your heart."
Draco got a approving not.
Draco kissed her soft and sweet then took her to her room to tucked her in. He lightly kissed her forehead and told her to sleep tight.
He check on her a little while after that and found her sleeping. He sat on the side of the bed and studied her. He kissed her lightly on the side of her mouth and whispered, "I think I'm falling in love, Hermione. Please try to understand." and then he got up and when to his own room only to dream about the girl in the room down the hall.
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Hi. I'm Sooooooo sorry it took so long. I hope you liked this chapter and if so please tell me what you thought. Thanks for the reviews on the last chapter.
Chebetta.