Chapter 3

Draco apperated home. He sighed before he opened the door. He already knew what sight awaited him. He already knew Hermione would have nothing to do with him and there was much work to be done to make the manor fully functioning again. He smiled as he recalled the days of his youth when he would wander out in the gardens and pretend he was lord of the manor. He laughed gently as he recalled his mother's fussing at him and his father insisting that he leave the dream world. Draco opened the door and silently closed it behind him. He needed a nice stiff drink before he dealt with Granger.

Hermione sat at the vanity willing herself not to cry. She looked at her reflection and tired to not release the tears that were once again starting to form. Ron was dead. Ron was her everything; her best friend and the love of her life. She chided herself for thinking of Ron. She had more important things to think of, like getting out of this marriage. She stood up and glanced around the room, while it was not the most spectacular and ornate room, it was very clean and comfortable. She sat on the bed and buried face in the pillow and let the sobs escape. There really was no way out.

"Mistress?" a voice asked.

Hermione looked up in shock as she saw Gippy standing in her door way. "Yes?" she choked out.

"Master wishes to see you in his study," Gippy replied.

Hermione nodded and followed Gippy out the door and down the hall. She entered the study and saw Draco posed elegantly in a high back chair with a glass of brandy.

"Would you care for a drink?" Draco asked politely.

Hermione shrugged, "Got anything stronger? How about some poison?"

Draco clucked his tongue, "I do not approve. Have a seat."

"I prefer to stand," Hermione replied. Before she could say another word a chair came up and forced her to sit. "I told you I would stand," she snapped.

Draco shook his head, "My home, my rules."

"You really are a pratt aren't you?" she snapped.

"Enough!" Draco growled. "We are husband and wife. You will treat me civilly and I will treat you civilly as well. Understood?"

"Crystal," Hermione replied. "Meaning you can sleep around while I'm locked in my room."

Draco resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Would she ever see him for what he really was? "Not that it any business of yours," Draco informed her coolly. "But I did not see Pansy for a sexual reason. We are friends. Besides," Draco smirked. "Are you interested in sharing my bed?"

Hermione gasped, "Of course not! I have never had and never will have a desire to go there."

Draco smirked, "Your loss. Anyways we need to discuss this marriage of ours."

"What's there to discus?" she snapped. "I don't want to be married to you any more than you want to be married to me. Why don't we end this charade before someone gets hurt?"

Draco sighed, "You know one of these days you will have to come to me. You do know that kids are expected right?"

Her jaw dropped in shock. Children? No one ever told her she had to mate with this beast!

Draco laughed gently, "Obviously that part was omitted when you were brought here by the Dark Lord. We have two years to get you pregnant."

"Isn't there another way?" Hermione whispered. She knew there wasn't. How she wished she could come up with a spell to take care of that. She couldn't give herself to this…this death eater! She had never even given herself to Ron. They had promised to wait until the war was over in case she got pregnant.

Draco moved his chair closer to hers and reached out let his hand linger just above hers, "I'm not the monster you make me out to be," he told he quietly.

Hermione snatched her hand away, "Don't touch me," she hissed.

Draco Stood up, "I must bid you good night," he informed her. "Gippy will escort you to your room." He stole a lingering glance over her face and tenderly touched her cheek, "Pleasant dreams." He whispered.

Hermione shot out of the chair and ran for her room. Draco had touched her twice and hadn't even tried hexing her. There were many holes in the story. Now all she had to was fill them.

Draco collapsed in after Hermione fled. This was not going to be easy. He wanted nothing more than to spend his life with this woman, but she was making it so difficult. Maybe he needed to call upon his mother in the morning. Maybe she would help him worm his way into the heart of this woman.