A/N- Okay. First, I want to start off by thanking everyone who read and reviewed 'Mistakes'. I was just reading the last of the reviews from the end chapter and I was so elated. I'm glad so many of you really enjoyed that fic; I hope you'll feel the same way about this one too.
Okay so moving on to this story- wow! Amazing responses from the first chapter. Thank you all so much! I enjoy each and every review and love to hear from you. I'm glad I got you guys interested. I would've had this chapter posted up sooner, but I was away for a few days. But now I'm back, and so here it is! Hope you enjoy :)
And thanks g. :)
Disclaimer- You know what- I'm not doing this every chapter, I decided. So, I'm saying here and now that I don't own or have license to any characters or the Harry Potter…well things. I only own the plot.
Ch1- Hermione closed her eyes, drifting to sleep. But, not a second later, her eyes snapped open. She started wide-eyed at the door once realization hit her. She couldn't believe her ears. She'd know that voice anywhere, recognizing it on the spot. How could she not? It had tormented her since she arrived at Hogwarts. But she was speechless…and not because of the literal sense…but …but because Draco Malfoy had just saved her life.
Chapter 2- The Agreement
Hermione woke up in another dingy room, but this time, she was lying on her back, on a bed, staring up at the ceiling. Sunlight was creeping through the cracks of the boarded up windows, shining on the dust that was swirling in the air.
She recognized this room. She was in here in her 3rd year. This was the Shrieking Shack.
Hermione quickly jumped out of bed, but as soon as her feet touched the floor, her left leg gave out beneath her and she collapsed. She caught her self on the bed, and slowly tried to pull herself back up. Hermione shook and winced from the pain, and sweat was already dripping from her brow.
"Merlin Granger, you can't even stay in a bed without hurting yourself. That's really sad." Draco Malfoy stood in the door way, wearing the same black cloak from before, except the hood was down and the mask was off. He was tired and beaten, and he held an indifferent look to his face. He was holding a bowl filled with water in one hand, and a cloth in the other.
Draco walked into the room and put the things down on the nightstand on the other side of the bed. Walking back around to help her, he halted in his steps when she gave him a warning.
"Stay away from me Malfoy. Or I'll scream." She warned, still half on the floor.
"Hm. Fine with me. But, I should warn you…it probably won't be too effective since we're in the shrieking shack and people expect to hear screams." Draco said, keeping his distance.
"No, mine will be earth shattering, I promise you that. Then people will be up here before you know it, and you'll have a great seat in the cell across from your father in Azkaban." She hissed.
"Right. And that's why we have silencing spells." He said, rolling his eyes and taking a step forward.
"I said stay away!" she yelled.
"I'm just trying to help." He warned.
"I can do it myself." She spat quietly.
Draco closed his eyes and it looked like he was mentally counting to himself. He sighed, opened them, and glared. "Fine mudblood. I'll be back in fifteen minutes. I wouldn't move if I were you. Your bones are re-growing and it hurts ten times worse when you don't stay put."
He finished and marched out the door, his robes billowing behind him in true Snape-like-fashion.
With Draco gone, Hermione let her guard down and plopped on the floor, making the room shake and dirt fall from the creaks of the ceiling.
She didn't know how long she laid there in all that pain, but she noticed that the aches were a significantly less amount than the night before. If it was even the night before. She had no idea how long she'd slept here.
But that wasn't really what was bothering her; it was that she was here…by herself… with Draco Malfoy. Death Eater extraordinaire. Everyone knew it; they didn't need the proof of his Dark-mark, although no one could ever seem to find it.
Until Hermione saw it last night.
When he had saved her.
But why? Why did he save her? Did he want to kill her himself? No. That couldn't be it because he was trying to heal her a moment ago.
But maybe he wanted her well so he could duel her fair and square? No. That was just plain stupid and vicious…
….on second thought- she wouldn't put it past him.
So what was it? Surely it wasn't just to help her. Draco was no Good Samaritan. He wouldn't just save her- Hermione Granger: the Potter-loving, house elf-activist, order-member, do-gooder, and muggle-born for NO reason.
Nope. There was always a catch.
Well, maybe…wait.
Oh God…
It just fully hit her…
Draco Malfoy saved her life.
Which ultimately meant that….
…That she owed him hers.
Hermione Granger owed Draco Malfoy her life.
Yep, this definitely must have been on the top of her list of "Why Life isn't Fair". Being in debt to one's arch nemesis isn't exactly the greatest predicament in the world.
And it wasn't even like Malfoy was the type of person to let her off with a "You're Welcome. It was no problem! I save lives everyday". No, that was Harry's job. But Malfoy? No. He was going to make her pay him back. He would milk it for all it's worth…to his full advantage…
And that was enough to destroy her.
00000000000000000000000000000000000000
Draco came back, true to his word, fifteen minutes later. He looked down and saw Hermione lying on the floor, eyes closed. But, it was obvious she was crying. Her chest was shaking violently and tears were streaming down the sides of her face.
Draco rolled his eyes at her pathetic state and called out to her.
"Granger. I'm going to put you on the bed. If you move, kick, slap, or attempt to attack me in anyway, I will let you fall."
Hermione stopped shaking so Draco took it as the cue to pick her up. He placed his arms underneath her body and heaved her onto the bed, not really caring if it hurt her more.
"Okay, take this."
Hermione opened her eyes and took the vile Draco handed to her. She started at it and looked at him untrustingly.
Draco sighed, "Granger. If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn't take the bitch way out by poisoning you."
"Because the Avada is much more ethical." she whispered sarcastically.
Draco scoffed, shook his head, and pulled up a chair. He turned the back of it towards Hermione and straddled it, resting his arms on the top and slouching.
"Why am I here?" she asked.
"Next question." He answered in monotone, closing his eyes slowly at her ignorance.
"Why did you help me?"
"Next question Granger."
"Why aren't you answering my questions?"
"Because I'll get to them later."
"What should I be asking then?" she asked with a bite.
"Well I think before you continue to barrage me with trivial questions that a certain 'thank you' is in order." He stated simply.
"I highly doubt that since you're still holding me captive-"
"I didn't kidnap you Granger. I brought you here for your safety."
"So you could kill me by yourself." She accused.
"What? No. Sorry but don't flatter yourself."
"So then why am I still here?" she asked, temper rising.
"Next…question." He drawled.
"Damn it Malfoy! I want to see my friends! I need to know that people are alright!" she shouted.
"Not before we settle some things."
"I have nothing to settle with you!"
"On the contrary Granger. I saved your life. You owe me."
She stared at him, and then responded slowly in a know-it-all manner. "So that's what this is about. You only saved me because you need something in return. MY help?"
"No. I only saved you because I love you and we're meant to marry after the war." He said in a bored voice, examining a scar on his leg. He looked up when he didn't hear a comeback. Hermione's face looked ashen and her eyes went wide. Draco sighed being both annoyed and impatient as he awaited the outburst.
"I'm sorry…you said what?" she whispered, moving her fingers in and out of her ears to make sure she heard correctly.
"I didn't stutter."
Silence. Draco held out a hand and started counting down his fingers.
5…
4…
3…
2…
"WHAT?" Hermione screamed. "I'M…YOU…IN LOVE! WHAT MARRIAGE? ARE YOU ON SOMETHING MALFOY!"
"No. But you are. There are a lot of potions working in your body to keep you alive." He said seriously.
"SHUT UP! I'M…I'm leaving!" She said, attempting to get out of bed.
"Granger…"
"AH!" She screamed when a sharp pain exploded in her right arm.
"I told you to stop moving." He sighed.
Hermione could feel the tears coming again. Not from only the physical pain every time she tried to shift…but the emotional anger and frustration…along with a lot of confusion in her head.
She puffed heavily and sat back down, leaning against the head board resentfully as Draco gave her something new to subside the pain.
"Better?"
"NO! If you even think that I'm going to-"
"Granger. You're rambling again. And Malfoy's have more class than to ramble."
"That's why I am not a Malfoy. Never will be."
"Never say never." He sneered.
Hermione only stared blankly at him. She was still shocked and had no idea where he was going with this. But it sounded an awful lot like something she wouldn't want to do.
"Right. So, I'll take this time of your briefed silence to fill you in on what you are going to do. Are you listening?"
Hermione stared widely back at him.
"Good. So." Draco stood up from his chair and pushed it aside. He started circling her bed drumming his fingers together, looking for the right words to say. He almost resembled a college professor getting ready to start his daily lesson. While he walked around, it seemed like he shook the sleep off and brought back his normal arrogant demeanor. He stopped and turned to face her. They shared a look for the shortest of seconds, and then he turned and proceeded to circle her.
"Now. The final battle of the war was last night…well into this morning. Around…er- 1:30 A.M. it was starting to die down…and I needed to get out of there. Your side had pretty much won because I think Scarhead was dueling it out with Voldemort around that time…and Voldemort fell."
"Are you sure?" Hermione asked excitedly, although she was feeling much worse.
"Yes because I felt weak. And, I looked down at my arm, and the mark was gone. So. My side lost. And, I knew the rest of the school and your people were going to track each of us down if they could, so I needed a plan to get out safely. But, I realized that even if I did, I couldn't show my face back at school again next year unless I had proof that I wasn't involved. I mean, of course everyone knew I wasn't on the light side…that's a little far-fetched…but, I thought I could get away with not 'being in it at all'. And, I just so happened to step on your hand at the exact same time-"
"You selfish pig." Hermione started, eyes burning with hate in every way…probably formulating different ways she could send Draco six feet under without getting caught.
"Wait, not done." He smirked. Oh how she hated that smirk. "So, as I was saying. I stumbled across you and thought of the perfect plan. You are my ticket out of Azkaban."
"No, no, no, no, no, no, NO! I am NOT helping you Malfoy. You are a Death Eater. You probably killed many innocent people last night and I refuse to take part in any of this! I can't even believe you think I would help you stay out of a well deserved place." she spat.
"First of all. You ARE helping me. Secondly, I'm not a death eater. And even if I was…there is no reason saying that any longer seeing as it won't help my case none. And third, there weren't even that many causalities at all. Potter defeated Voldemort relatively quickly, and the Death Eaters were commanded not to kill, but only make people suffer-"
Hermione scoffed, "Only…"
Ignoring her, he continued "-like, with the Cruciatus and things. He thought just incase we ended up in jail that at least he could get us out with a minor unforgivable, but with an Avada it'd be a death ticket for sure…and he wanted to keep all the followers he could when he 'rose again'."
"I can't believe you're saying this. And you don't know that. Any unforgivable can get you a kiss."
"AND in any case, if it means anything, I didn't kill anyone- in or outside of the war. Death Eaters still in Hogwarts 'were too young.' I hurt some last night, but it was only in self defense."
Hermione glared.
"Besides, I saved your life Granger. Do you really want to be in debt to me for longer than you have to?"
"I don't want to be in debt at all! And I'm not- I didn't ask you to help me."
"Yes, you did."
"Well, if I had known it was you, I wouldn't have." She murmured, but he caught it.
"Fine. You want to die? Because that's how you would have ended up if I didn't find you." Draco shouted, pulling out his wand.
"No!"
He smirked, and placed it back down.
"I mean…no. But, I don't even understand what you're asking me to do."
Draco sighed. Not from boredom this time, but it looked like he was trying to find a way to say these painful words. "Marry me."
"What!"
"Ma-r-ry. Me. You know, it's that thing, where two people get together-"
"Don't patronize me." She hissed.
"C'mon Granger. You scratch my back I scratch yours?" he smirked.
Silence.
Hermione was speechless. It seemed all she was capable to do was send spiteful death glares.
Draco grinned. "No? Okay, here's the deal Granger. We get married. For one year. Our final year at Hogwarts. We get divorced right after the summers over and go on with our lives, separately."
"Why?"
"Urgh! Put the pieces together Granger! If we say we're married, you can lie. Say I wasn't involved. Say we were together last night and then you ran off to fight. Or…or say we were together the whole time. I don't know…Say anything. You know that if it comes off of your 'pure' lips then the whole wizarding world will deem your word as law."
"No one will believe us."
"Who cares? They might not want to but they will have to. You'll be their evidence."
"But I fought in the war! People knew I did. I'm a faithful order member… They would have noticed me." She reasoned.
"Yeah for like… a second. And then it was everyone for themselves. Do you remember seeing your precious Potter or Weasley once?" Draco said using his arms for emphasis; he was really into making this plan work. He had too, his life depended on it.
She didn't answer and started playing with the sheets.
"You could have been anywhere. Like with me. It all fits." He said smirking, raising his arms around him.
"And why should I say yes?" she asked folding her arms across her chest, eyes narrowed.
"For many reasons. Mainly it goes for everything your side stands for. With this war over, you know our marriage will be the center of the wizarding community for a while. It promotes unity in just about every aspect…especially to your precious Dumbledore. You know, mudblood…pureblood, Gryffindor…Slytherin, good…bad, and so on and so forth. AND the world will love it. 'Draco Malfoy willing to taint his bloodline for his one true love.' The people are obsessed with happy endings. It's actually quite nauseating." He added as an afterthought.
"But I don't stand for it. I'd be living a lie and…I don't live lies."
"Oh come off your high horse Granger, the world doesn't revolve around you. The only real problem is those stupid Gryffindor twits you call friends and your stupid Order members…who should all be happy for you when you think about it."
"That's not a good enough reason. And I can't believe you of all people are judging my friends."
Draco glared because he lost that argument. "Well fine…unity…Dumbledore…and I saved your life."
"Still…that's a bit extreme! Actually, it's ridiculous! I refuse."
"Granger you aren't making this any easier for me. I really hate asking you of all people this…one of the persons I despise most. But, desperate times call for desperate measures."
"There are plenty other muggle-born witches in the school who'd love to do this for you. Why me?"
"Because you're the most fitting for the job and you know it. Face it, Granger-" she shot another glare. He knew he needed to add something in this to win her over. "-okay… maybe I'll put some money in there too."
"I don't want your blood money!"
"It'll help you. Get an apartment after school…get your ridiculous spew off the ground…"
"S.P.E.W!"
"Same thing-" he ignored her huffing. "…though that needs to be buried. Honestly, it's the dumbest idea I've ever heard. Freeing house elves. And you're supposed to be brilliant."
"Excuse me! But how do you know they don't long to be saved!" she fumed, insulted.
"I have eyes, Granger."
"But-"
"Anyway- who knows what you'll do with it. But, you can't say a little money isn't helpful."
"Malfoy isn't there anything else you want from me?" she begged. "I'll do anything else. I just can't…ugh it hurts to say it… marry you. That means I would have to be your wife…"
"Wow Granger. Nothing gets past you."
"I'd have to touch you, and act like I like you…"
"Worse, you'll have to act like you…l-…love me. And that's much harder for me than you, trust me."
"Oh I know Malfoy. Because I actually have what you need to love. It's called a soul."
"Shut it. And it's only in public. NOT behind closed doors. The thought of spending the night with you is repulsive."
"The feeling is mutual. Though, I'm not one for a public display of affection."
"If you're my wife…then you are."
"Ew. Maybe. But what about Harry and Ron?"
"I don't know. They're you friends. Deal with it. But you can't tell them. Not a word breathed to anyone. Understand?"
"NO! I have to tell someone the truth, I'll go crazy!"
"No." he growled dangerously.
"Well what about you? I know you won't be able to refrain yourself from…partaking in distasteful activities." She said with a disgusted look like she ate something sour.
He rolled his eyes. "You are such a prude. I think you'd make my great grandmother worry about how uneventful your sex life is…or lack thereof."
"Better to be reserved than promiscuous." She folded her arms across her chest.
Draco scoffed, "No it's not."
"Still, it won't work if everyone knows your cheating on me!"
"Fine. Just stop yelling…Your voice is so irritating. I'll think of some other way."
"Don't get caught. Because then your money and time will go wasted if you ruin this."
"But if you agree, you better be the best damned actress I've ever seen, or else, it's my arse. And if I'm going down, I'm bringing you with me."
Hermione glared.
"Now, I was thinking around 5,000 galleons." Draco said simply. "Is that enough?"
Hermione gasped. That was a lot of money just to pretend. But, it was Malfoy, and it was a whole year.
"15." Hermione sneered.
"No." Draco spat.
"Hm. Fine then. Thanks for healing me but I'm leaving. Hope the dementors aren't too hungry for soul-"
"Okay 15." He growled. "You galleon-digging little bi-"
"No. I will not have you speaking to me like that anymore."
"Fine, just shake on it. And no it's not a regular handshake. Magic's involved and there will be consequences for either who breaks it."
Hermione thought to herself. Did she really want to do this? There would be a lot of explaining…and very unhappy friends…but it was a lot of money. And she did owe him. She figured if she didn't do this, he'd make her life a living hell….And, well- Dumbledore would be elated…and if Dumbledore's happy then everyone else would learn to accept it. 'Ugh- I'm going to regret this' She thought as she slowly held out her hand.
Draco took her hand and tapped her palm once with his wand, and did the same to his hand. Then they grabbed hands and made the deal.
"Marriage for one year. To help me stay out of Azkaban. Can each tell one person, and neither can have any sex partners…………………inside of school."
"Malfoy!"
He squeezed her hand hard and she didn't object any further.
"At the end of the next summer, marriage is annulled and I receive 15,000 galleons for my services….and you cannot use the excuse of 'saving my life' anymore because my debt will be repaid…so…anything else?"
Draco shook his head and they let go of each others hands, not feeling much of a difference except for the simple yet tasteful gold band that appeared around each of their left ring fingers. Hermione stared at it angrily while Draco was more than pleased for getting his way.
"Malfoy get me out of here. I need to see my friends."
"It's Draco. Surnames won't go over well with the people. And no. Not till I finish healing you."
"It's called St. Mungo's, Mal- Dra-co!"
"No Hermione. It can't look like you were in the war."
"Oh this is absurd! I can't believe I agreed to this! What was I thinking?" she said more to herself than him.
"Maybe the 15,000 galleons made you feel better. Now lay back down."
Hermione angrily complied as Draco put the warm cloth over her head and made her drink more potions. As she glared at him while taking deep, calming breaths, she new this would be one long year.