"So," Hermione said, nearly dismissing Draco's anger, "your parents were planning on us getting married?"
Draco frowned. "I'm not sure. That's one possibility." He started pacing, so Hermione stuck her back against the wall. Again.
"Well, in the old traditions, it would have been better to keep you subservient." Draco Malfoy said, sounding frustrated. Then he caught Hermione's glimmering eye, "Let me think! I don't condone such behavior, not in the slightest, but let me think."
Draco said, "If that's the line of reasoning my parents followed, then giving you freedom is a way to allow the union to dissolve "naturally" " Draco smirked, "I think, if so, that they might be surprised." Or at least I hope so. Dare I hope so?
Hermione smirked back, and Draco relaxed some.
"More likely, it's part of a bigger scheme." Draco said, "Muggleborns are the most compatible "Inferiors" with the current Wizarding Climate - convince them to merge seamlessly enough, and you can use that as an example for werewolves and other miscegenics."
Hermione looked at him, "You really think your father -"
"My father wouldn't have insisted on me learning about his political actions if they weren't important." Draco Malfoy said. "He left this with me, for me to discover on my own." Draco Malfoy ran his hands through his heads, "I feel like an idiot. And a horse's ass."
"The later I can agree with," Hermione said, "I still find it hard to believe-"
"Believe it." Draco Malfoy said, his eyes turning to steel.
Hermione could only nod, trying (and failing) to leave her reservations at the door.
"I just don't see - " Draco Malfoy said, "I didn't need to be so vocal about... these stupid beliefs that my father hammered into my skull, despite not believing a word of, himself!"
Hermione found herself smiling softly, "What a hypocrite, right?"
Draco Malfoy was incensed, "Exactly," Suddenly, he'd turned and was pressing his lips against Hermione's, pinning her to the back of the alcove with his bodyweight.
"Hermione," Draco said softly, "I'm not going to be like that man."
In response, she kissed him back, full of anger, and fear, and delight.
[a/n: Yes, Snape told the Malfoys too. The Malfoys, being Slytherins, made plans. Slytherin-style, because obviously. Leave a review?]