Thursday, August 20th 1:00am.

The whole house was asleep, save for a seventeen year old girl who was sitting at her desk, reading a large book. Her head drooped forwards and she woke with a start as her forehead hit the book on her desk. She picked up a watch from the desk and glanced at it, before marking the page in the book and climbing into bed. Seconds before she fell asleep completely, a large crack sounded through the room, followed by a strangely familiar voice placing a silencing charm on the room. The girl sat up straight in her bad and reached for the wand she knew would be on her bedside table.

"Lumos…Jesus Christ what are you doing here?"

"Granger, I need your help."

Hermione stared at Draco Malfoy, positive that this must be a dream. Draco Malfoy had just apparated into her room in the middle of the night to ask for her help. It wasn't possible. She blinked a few times, pinched herself and then stared at Malfoy as she realised it wasn't a dream.

"Oh god, what is going on Malfoy?"

"It's a long story, will you marry me?"

"Uh what?"

"I just proposed to you. I can explain everything, just help me do the Privatius spell first. OK?"

Hermione was completely nonplussed, overwhelmed and half convinced it was a dream after all. Despite this, she said "Um OK Malfoy – 1-2-3 Privatius." Hermione's bedroom had become momentarily impenetrable to outsiders and completely sealed against eavesdroppers (magical or otherwise).

"Ok Malfoy, you have thirty seconds start explaining, first, why did you feel the need to apparate into my bedroom at one in the morning?"

"I needed to be sure that my father wouldn't realise I had gone anywhere. I need to be back at my house before he wakes up. I put a sensor in his room which will tell me when he is just about to wake up."

"Ok, now why did you need to see me in the first place, which warranted your sneaking out of your house in the middle of the night?"

"As I said before, we need to get married."

"Uh-huh. This leads to my biggest question. Why exactly are you proposing and why do we need to GET MARRIED?" Hermione's voice got louder and louder until she was shouting at him.

"Well, if you would be so kind as to refrain from shouting at me, I will explain. Basically, as you know, Voldemort was killed early this summer."

"Obviously." Hermione and Ron had been with Harry when he had finally defeated him.

"Well there are still tons of Death Eaters out there and they are targeting mudbl- sorry muggle borns such as yourself. My father is one of them." Lucius has managed to escape Azkaban after the dementors had joined Voldermort, and was currently hiding out in Malfoy Manor. Even though it was common knowledge as to the whereabouts of Lucius, every auror who had been sent to arrest him had disappeared.

"He sneaks out to do the general torture, rape, killings. Anyway you are top of his 'hit list'. I have yet to figure out why exactly, but its obviously got something to do with the whole helping to kill Voldemort thing. Anyway, I have been sent here by none other than Dumbledore to get you to marry me. If you marry me, you will become a Malfoy, which means that if Lucius tries to kill you it won't work. I am no more thrilled about this arrangement than you are, from the look on your face, however Dumbledore and I made a deal. You and I marry, and he will offer me a certain amount of protection from Lucius."

Hermione fell back on her bed and let the tide of information flow over her. She was in danger of being killed by her 'worst-enemy's' father, and to save her life, she would have to marry her 'worst enemy'. There was only one thing to do then…

"OK, we'll get married."

"Fabulous," Malfoy drawled, "I will inform Dumbledore and talk to you tomorrow night. Oh and don't tell anyone yet, not even Potty or Weasel".

With a crack Malfoy disappeared and the Privatius spell vanished. Hermione lay in bed, willing herself to go to sleep, hoping that she would wake up in the morning and it would all be a nightmare.

At seven the next morning, Hermione gingerly opened one eye and glanced around the room. She was looking for any clue as to whether she had really seen Malfoy the night before, and if they were really engaged. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, Hermione pulled back the covers and got out of bed. A tapping on the glass of her window made her jump with fright, before she realised it was just an owl. Hermione opened the window and the owl dropped the letter on her desk and flew off immediately. Picking up the envelope, Hermione saw it was the expected letter from Hogwarts. Opening the seal, Hermione screamed as a small gold Head Girl badge fell out of the envelope.

"Hey Dad, Mama guess what I got Head Girl!" Hermione called out as she ran downstairs.

"That's fantastic sweetie, we are so proud!" Hermione's parents rarely found times when they could be proud of their daughter and understand completely why they were proud of her. It was all very well to hear that she had gotten 300 in a 'muggle studies' exam, but doesn't that just mean that she did the exam a few too many times?

Hermione opened the letter, and saw in addition to the usual book list and letter from McGonagall, there was a second letter from Dumbledore. Hermione retreated to her room to read her letters, assuming that the letter from Dumbledore had something to do with being Head Girl. She had conveniently forgotten the fact that she had been proposed to and had accepted a proposal from Draco Malfoy.

Dear Miss Granger,

I believe congratulations are in order. I am pleased to inform you that you have received the position of Head Girl. Your duties will be further explained in the Head's Compartment of the train on the way to school. I also believe congratulations are in order for your impending nuptials with Mr Malfoy. I understand that you probably did not expect to be married to Mr Malfoy at the age of seventeen, however I believe that it is necessary for the marriage to occur, for the protection of both yourself and Mr Malfoy. However I must ask you not to inform anyone of the reasons for your marriage, not even Mr Potter and Mr Weasley. The magic which will protect you from Lucius is only effective if the couple are truly in love. While I understand that your feelings are not exactly in the same range as love, as long as no-one knows that the marriage did not take place because of love, Lucius will not find out, and of course he will not try to kill you as your protection will simply make the curse rebound on himself. Mr Malfoy will be visiting at the same time this evening to inform you of the details of the marriage ceremony.

Until we next meet,

Albus Dumbledore.

Hermione sat shocked on the bed she was actually, honest to goodness, engaged to Draco Malfoy. What was wrong with the world! And to make the situation worse, Harry and Ron couldn't find out that the wedding was a sham. She would have to act like she was in love with Malfoy! Oh God this could not be happening!

Meanwhile, Draco was back at Malfoy manor, spending the day dodging his father. Although there was the 'family protection' which Draco had, this protection which his great grandfather had created only stopped Lucius from killing Draco, and using Legilimency on him. Lucius therefore had no problems in using the Imperius curse, the Cruciatus curse, as well as a variety of others on Draco. Walking in the manor grounds, Malfoy decided that it was a perfect moment for some flying. Draco spent a majority of his time out of doors, seeing as his father spent a majority of his time indoors. Lucius, paranoid that if he ventured outside he would be caught by aurors (and he actually would have been), spent all his time obsessing over Hermione Granger. It seemed that the demise of Voldemort had take its toll of Lucius' sanity, and although it had been Harry who had killed the Dark Lord, in Lucius' mind it was the mudblood Granger who should pay. The house where Hermione lived with her parents in the summer had been hidden by Dumbledore and so it was basically impossible to find her. Little did he know that Draco knew the whereabouts of the Grangers, and had even been enabled to apparate into the very room where Hermione stayed.

Draco untied the letter from the owl's leg and saw that it was from Hogwarts. There was a Head Boy badge, along with a letter from Dumbledore, informing him that the plans were complete and that he should visit 'you-know-who' (and no its not Voldemort, its Hermione of course!) at 'you know when'. Draco read the letter quickly before setting it alight with his wand and watching as the ashes blew away in the breeze. He would have to get a ring today, and give it to Hermione tonight. Then she would be halfway protected from Lucius. Dumbledore's request had been a godsend. Draco was terrified of his father, but in agreeing to marry Granger, Draco had been granted protection from his father's abuse, complete with charmed quarters at the school. He didn't mind that much anyway. Well he obviously did mind as he was actually getting married. But the whole mudblood thing didn't bother him at all. He never really bought into the whole 'purebloods are better' crap. However without any protection from Dumbledore, he couldn't afford to risk his father's and until the beginning of the summer, Voldemort's wrath. The only real problem this marriage would cause was the fact that his, ahem, social activities would have to come to a halt. There was no way Lucius would believe that he was in a loving marriage if he was still banging that Pansy Parkinson on the side. It wasn't a real loss, in fact the silver lining would be the enforced estrangement from Pansy. God she was awful, clingy, whiny, and stupid to top it all off. Draco had dated her briefly in fourth year, and then had found it impossible to get rid of her after that. And the best part was, this would probably piss off Potty and Weasel to no end. Sure Draco was in fact indebted to them for the whole killing Voldemort thing, but they were still annoying, and the whole hating each other thing had been going on for so long that he was kind of hard to break the habit.

Draco shouldered his broom and prepared to go to Diagon Alley to find a ring for Hermione.

At ten minutes to one that morning, Hermione was sitting curled in her armchair, waiting for Malfoy to appear. If she had had sixteen espresso shots she couldn't have been more alert. Her fiancé was about to visit. Her FIANCÉ. Doesn't anyone see that it is completely psycho that I am engaged at the age of seventeen. Hello if I lived in the muggle world this would be illegal. Stupid wizards and their seventeen year old adults.

Hermione sighed and then decided to check her appearance in the mirror. Ok nothing disastrous. I know track pants aren't the most attractive clothes in the world but if I was in anything nicer I would look like a tool. Hair is o.k., not too bushy. Why do I even care anyway? Its just Malfoy. Malfoy my fiancé. Oh well I only want to look nice tonight because well, I looked like total crap last night.

It was one o'clock exactly. With a crack Malfoy appeared in her room, and immediately placed silencing charms all around, making it impossible to hear from the outside.

"Hey."

"Hey."

The tension in the room was so thick, it was like having a giant pink elephant in the corner. No-one mentions it in the hope that it will go away.

"Ok, so I bought you a ring today. Obviously tomorrow you will have to tell your parents that you are married and stuff. Its safe to tell them the truth a guess. Make sure you tell them though that whenever they mention , um, us to anyone they need to say that we are in love. That's why you can't tell you know, Potter and Weasley. They wouldn't be able to keep their mouths shut, they would talk about it not caring who heard them. They can talk about it, as long as its about how in love we are. So here's your ring." Draco said all of this very quickly, trying to get it over and done with. He took a small velvet box out of his pocket and gave it to Hermione. She opened it and saw a platinum engagement ring, with an emerald and diamond setting. It had one large emerald in the middle, with a smaller diamond on either side. (A/N: think Julie Cooper's ring from Caleb in the OC).

"Um Malfoy, I know that we are actually getting married and stuff, but why did you get me such a nice ring? It looks way too expensive."

"I would have bought the fiancé I was actually in love with the same ring, and remember we are supposed to be in love so, here's your ring."

"Then…Thanks." Hermione slipped the ring onto her left hand and was surprised when it fit perfectly. Must be magical. That's not actually that weird seeing as we are in fact magical.

"We obviously have a few things to organise. The wedding for one. Dumbledore will be marrying us. We will arrive here in two days time, we can marry in your garden with your parents as witnesses. I will take care of the wedding rings. All you need to do is arrive suitably dressed and tell your parents everything. We don't need to get any of those wedding license things, they are just a muggle thing. There is a different system of registering the marriage in the wizard world. Wehavetoconsumatethemarriagewithinamonth. Now I know that this is probably the cherry on the top of a really crap cake but…" Draco trailed off as he saw the furious look on Hermione's face.

"Sorry." Draco winced as Hermione reached for her wand, but then relaxed again as the anger left her face, and was replaced with a weary acceptance.

"Ok, whatever. I know that you are actually doing this to save my life so I'll just deal. Anything else I need to know about. We don't have to have kids or anything, by marrying you I'm not agreeing to join a cult or anything."

"No, nothing like that."

"Ok well then I have a couple of ground rules. Obviously we will have to be affectionate in public, but nothing over the top. You need to try and be nice to Harry and Ron. Also, you can't have any affairs. No sleeping around or anything like that."

"They seem fair. I just thought of another perk, this'll get Pansy off my back."

"Ok well I'll see you in two days time. And Ma- Draco, why are you different? Why are you so nice?"

"I could say its because Dumbledore is going to protect me. I could say its because deep down I've always fancied you but in actual fact, its because Voldemort was killed by three sixteen year old wizards, only one of whom was a pureblood, and I never really thought he was that great anyway."

And with a crack he disappeared.

The next morning, Hermione went downstairs nervously, and called her parents together.

"Mama, Dad I have something to tell you. I am engaged."

Her parents sat in shocked silence.

"Really dear…that's interesting." Her mother said before fainting against her father.

"Renervate" Hermione's mother awoke instantly.

"Ok I know this is sudden, weird and just making you freak out but listen. You know how at the beginning of the summer Harry, Ron and I killed Voldemort?"

"Yes he was that nasty man wasn't he?"

"Well he was the greatest dark wizard of all time. Anyway he had these followers called death eaters. One of them is called Lucius Malfoy. You remember I've talked about his son Draco before, he's in my grade. Well this is the interesting part. After we killed Voldemort he lost his mind, decided it was all my fault and is currently on a campaign to kill me, however he wont be able to kill me if I marry Draco because I will be part of the family and then the curse will rebound against him due to this protection that Draco's ancestors created for the Malfoy family, and he will end up killing himself which is why tomorrow I am marrying Draco here with you two as witnesses."

"Anything else dear…no angry hoards of dementoids after you, we aren't going to be trampled by raging hippo watsits."

"Dementors and hippogriffs and no you aren't. You just need to make sure that from this moment on you act as though this marriage is taking place because Draco and I are in love. This is the most important part. If Lucius thinks we aren't in love then he can kill me no problems."

Hermione's parents were quiet for a few minutes while they processed the information, and then her mother said "Well dear I suppose there's nothing we can do about it. Let's go and buy you a wedding dress".

The dress Hermione picked out was perfect. It was a white silk sleeveless gown, with a v-neck which reached the floor. It was tight too the knee where it flared out a little and had a fish tail train. It was simple and elegant. Flowers were easy, they just stopped at a florist on the way home and picked up a bunch of white lilies which would be kept in water in the fridge until the next morning. Hermione forced herself to sleep that night, knowing that she had to look gorgeous for her wedding day. Sure the groom was Draco Malfoy, but it was still her wedding and she wanted to look hot.

The next morning, Hermione woke to an owl tapping on the window. It was from Draco, with a note saying Be ready at 11:00 – DM. Hermione looked at her watch, she had just under an hour. Thank god she was a witch and thank god she was finally seventeen and could use magic outside of school. After a shower, Hermione dried, straightened and put her hair in a high bun with three flicks of her wand, and another flick did her makeup perfectly. She looked completely fresh and beautiful, the make up was muted in all the right places and natural looking. She got dressed, put on her shoes (silver stilettos) and went downstairs. Her parents were there waiting for her to appear. As she came down stairs, her mother cried and her father said gruffly that she looked beautiful. It was eleven o'clock exactly, and the doorbell rang, announcing the arrival of Dumbledore and Draco. Hermione's mother hurried to answer the door, while she ran and hid in the kitchen. "Hello you must be Mr Malfoy, and must be Mr Dumbledore. I am Hermione's mother Helen."

"Please call me Albus."

"And I'm Draco."

"Pleased to meet you. Thank you so much for doing this for Hermione. I don't quite understand the situation, its all a bit over my head really but I know you are doing this to help her, so thank you."

"It's no problem, it is my father who is threatening to kill her so I'm part of the reason I guess."

"This isn't really appropriate wedding day conversation. Remember, Draco and Hermione are in love for all intents and purposes," Dumbledore interrupted. "Let's proceed to the garden where Hermione and her father can meet us in a few minutes."

As the trio walked through the garden, Dumbledore flicked his wand at various plants which moved to create a small aisle for Hermione to walk down. He stood at the end of the plants, with Draco and Helen, who was at the moment fixing the collar of Draco's suit.

Hermione appeared from around the house and her eyes grew wide at the beautiful garden. She took her father's arm and let him lead her towards the others. Draco looked up the aisle and saw Hermione, looking more beautiful than he had ever seen her. My god she's hot. It is her wedding day so I guess she put in some effort but still, she is looking good.

The rest of the wedding passed in a blur for Hermione. It still seemed completely surreal that she was getting married to Draco Malfoy of all people. She was jolted back to reality when Dumbledore said, "I now pronounce you man and wife, you may kiss the bride."

Hermione's heart skipped a beat, she leant forward and waited for Draco's lips to meet her own. Hmm she's a good kisser, thought Draco. Hmm it's a little weird kissing in front of your parents, Hermione thought.

"Ok Draco," Dumbledore said, startling the two out of the kiss, "lets go and visit your father. I trust you are all packed and ready for school. Where will you be staying until term starts?"

"Um at Blaise's house I guess I hadn't really thought about it."

"Excellent. Draco will see you in a few days on the train. Mr and Mrs Granger, it has been a pleasure."

"See you Hermoine."

And with a crack, they disapperated.