Hermione stumbled past the gargoyle and was about to make her way back to Gryffindor Tower when she noticed Draco standing at the entrance looking like he was trying to decide if he should go back in the headmaster's office or not. When he realized she was standing in front of him, he looked up quickly, appearing shocked, before turning quickly on his heel and walking away.

Hermione watched his figure disappear before leaving where she was standing to go to her room. She silently wondered what all that was about with Draco. It was a great deal to take in and for the first time she realized that in two days she would be Mrs. Malfoy. She felt her head spin a little at the thought and quickly shoved it to the back of her mind. No need to have a panic attack in the middle of the hallways. That would have to wait for the comfort of her four-poster bed, curtains drawn, and a muffliato casted.

No wonder Draco looked like he wanted to go back in there and tell Dumbledore off. His family was nothing but a line of purebloods and here he was stuck marrying a filthy mudblood. Hermione winced at the name, but she knew that was how his family saw her and putting aside the hate for prejudices she could see why Draco was so upset.

To be fair, it wasn't really his fault he viewed things the way he did. The thought shocked her but she realized it was true. He was probably told from birth not to dirty himself by dealing with muggle borns. How could he grow up without any sort of prejudice? Sure, he was old enough to form his own opinion, but she could kind of see where having a father like Lucius Malfoy and being his sole heir would make that extremely difficult.

Sighing, she pulled her bag tighter against her as an act of comfort. This was going to be highly awkward. She always imagined her first time with someone being someone she loved and who loved her back. Now it would be with someone who had been her enemy since they first met. At least he was nice to look at.

She stopped walking, shocked at the thought she just had. Since when did she find anything about Draco Malfoy attractive? Shaking her head she continued to walk. It was just because she was being forced to marry him. Her mind was just trying to find the positives. Repeating this to herself for reassurance she found herself outside the portrait to the common room.

Letting out a groan of frustration, suddenly wishing she had her own room, she gave the password and walked through the entrance. She really did not feel like talking to anyone at the moment and having to walk through the common room made that pretty much impossible.

As if fate was having another laugh in her expense the minute she stepped through the portrait hole Harry jumped up from the couch and basically attacked her grabbing her face and then inspecting her arms.

"Harry, what are you doing?" she shouted appalled at his strange behavior. Hermione's mouth was hanging open and she quickly snatched her arms back.

"I'm making sure you are alright! What were you thinking walking through the halls with Malfoy?"

"I-I," Hermione's mind raced trying to come up with a cover up for all the recent events that transpired that morning. "We were summoned to Dumbledore's office and since we were both in the library we just walked together."

"Why were you both summoned to Dumbledore's office?" Harry pulled his hand back looking at her confusedly.

Hermione bit her lip not knowing what to tell him. Obviously, she couldn't say what really went on. Professor Snape had said not to tell anyone and she had to agree with him. It would put her as a definite target to Voldemort, not that being Harry Potter's best friend and a mudblood didn't have her targeted enough.

"You know, us both being at the top of our class and competing for the lead, Dumbledore wanted to discuss what some of our responsibilities would be this year such as tutoring and all."

"Wait, that git is competing against you for the top spot in our year?"

Suddenly, Hermione felt a flash of anger that she couldn't explain at Harry being so shocked that Draco was as intelligent as she was.

"Yes, he is. He is quite bright, maybe if you quit being blinded by your own prejudices and only seeing him as a sneaky Slytherin pureblood you would know! Now, if you don't mind I'm trying to get to my room."

Shoving past an open-mouthed Harry, Hermione practically sprinted up the stairs before slamming the door to her dormitory. Jumping in her bed and snatching the drapes shut she cast a few charms to make sure nobody would hear or bother her before finally allowing the tears to escape.

How, how, could she be marrying Draco Malfoy on Sunday? She was supposed to fall madly in love and then marry. Not marry someone that had hated her since he met her simply because of her blood status. Why did they have to be soul mates? Now, if she didn't marry him Harry would more than likely lose the war and that probably wasn't even the worst of it.

She was honestly shocked he didn't react worse than he did. Sure, he jumped out of his chair and yelled for a minute but that was normal. He never once said he refused to marry her once Dumbledore explained the situation. That in itself was confusing.

Rumor had it he was going to be taking the Dark Mark any day now, if he hadn't already so wouldn't he want Harry to lose? If marrying her assured that Voldemort lost wouldn't he do anything to stop the marriage? Is that what Dumbledore meant by playing two sides? Oh well, she would be his wife after Sunday, surely he would tell her what was going on then or at least she would know if he had the mark or not.

Her mind jumped to her wedding night. Would they be required to have sex that night? She was a virgin and had done little more than kiss a boy. She highly doubted Draco was a virgin, he was rumored to be the "Sex God of Slytherin" as everyone whispered. What would he expect from her, or would he be disgusted to even touch her that intimately?

Groaning and rolling over to tug her duvet around her head she let more tears escape wondering what she had ever done to deserve this mess. Letting more cries escape her throat she soon drifted off into a restless sleep. The last thought on her mind before she blacked out though was the most disturbing of all. Why all did she feel the need to defend Draco to Harry?

The next morning, Hermione woke up to a swollen face, a stuffy nose, and a throat that felt like she had swallowed a handful of thumbtacks. The rest of her day and night had consisted of waking up only to have her thoughts overwhelm her just to cry herself back to sleep. She found herself being extremely thankful seventh years got Friday off. There was no way she could have made it to classes.

Getting up and going to the lavatory she washed her face and did the best she could with her hair before getting dressed and leaving for breakfast. Afterwards, she planned on taking an extremely long and hot shower.

When she got to the Great Hall she looked over at the Slytherin table quickly, realizing Draco wasn't anywhere to be seen before her eyes went to the head table and met Dumbledore's. She watched as he gave her a small smile before turning to speak to Professor McGonagall. Did she know that one of her students would be married before the weekend was over?

Hermione cringed at the thought that she had little more than twenty-four hours left before she would be bound to Draco for life. Trying unsuccessfully to push the thought from her mind she sat down at the table glad that Ron and Harry normally slept through breakfast on Saturdays.

Picking up some bacon and toast she began to nibble at her food when the post came in. She rarely got anything so she continued to eat and was shocked when a large eagle owl landed on her plate. Reaching towards its leg it was holding out Hermione quickly untied the emerald green satin ribbon and gave the owl a piece of toast before letting it fly away.

Glancing at the letter she was shocked to see the seal was the Malfoy family crest. That would be her family crest soon. Ignoring the thought, she hastily broke the seal before anyone could see who it was from and read the letter. It was more of a note really as short as it was. Leave it to a Malfoy to put their crest on a simple note.

Hermione,

We need to talk. Meet me by the lake immediately after breakfast.

Draco Malfoy

She felt a bolt of electricity that she couldn't explain run through her. He called her Hermione. It made sense, they were getting married tomorrow but for some reason she still imagined him calling her Granger the rest of their lives. Maybe this meant he was planning on at least trying? He was the one approaching her about them talking.

Her hand flew to her face. For the first time, Hermione Granger was actually bothered by how she looked. She knew she looked a mess and there was no way Draco would look anything less than perfect. Great, he would take one look at her and be horrified to know he was stuck with her for a wife the rest of his life.

Internally chastising herself for even caring how she looked for him, she quickly finished the piece of toast and pumpkin juice she had left before getting up from the table and walking quickly out of the Great Hall going in the direction of the lake. As she got closer and closer she felt nerves start to take over.

What would they say to each other? There would be no undying admissions of love that was for sure. Would he be hateful and demand she find a way out of this for them? Surely not, Dumbledore had already stated there was no way around it. Draco wasn't an idiot by any means no matter what Harry thought of him.

Pulling her concentration off of her thoughts she looked up to see Draco leaning against a tree by the lake, yet still managing to keep impeccable posture. It must be a pureblood thing. How someone could look casual, yet imposing at the same time was beyond her. Her next thought caused a blush to spread across her face. She certainly wouldn't be ashamed to be seen in public with someone who looked like that.

Mentally slapping herself, she continued to walk towards him, stopping when she was close enough she could smell his cologne. She smiled slightly, he smelled divine. Not like most teenage boys who either wore too much or not enough. His scent was light yet strong enough that anyone near him didn't have to try to catch a whiff of it.

Snapping herself out of her reverie, slightly annoyed with herself she faced him before speaking. "You wanted to talk?" She crossed her arms waiting to see what he was going to do.

He looked down at her finally seeming to realize she was standing beside him before letting out a sigh.

"We are getting married tomorrow."

She looked at him confused. Why was he stating the obvious? "Yes, we are."

"You will be my wife." He stared at the lake again.

She thought she heard a tone of possessiveness in his voice and instantly felt anger surge through her. If he thought this meant he could suddenly tell her what to do. Her thoughts were cut off by him speaking again.

"And I will be your husband. I did research and our only requirements are that we marry and consummate on a regular basis. It says nothing about being faithful to each other."

She felt nothing but outrage flood through her. So that was how this was going to be? He just wanted to make sure she knew he would be sleeping with whoever he wanted to.

"Malfoy, I will have you know-"he cut off her words before she could get too worked up.

"I'd rather we didn't see other people if it is all the same to you. This may not be a marriage by choice or love, but I believe asking for there to be respect within it is not asking too much." By the end he started showing the faintest signs that he was actually nervous by tugging slightly on his collar.

Hermione was standing beside him in shock. He was proposing they stay faithful to each other for the rest of their lives. Hermione was glad and appreciated it, but she also knew what the weight of this decision held. It meant they were giving some hope that maybe it would be something more than a forced arrangement. Like Draco was saying, the very least they could try for was respect.

Not knowing what else to say she muttered a small "Thank you," before looking out towards the lake.

She heard him move before she felt him grab her chin directing her to look at him. He wasn't rough; in fact she was shocked at how gentle he was and felt her heart race as he inspected her face slowly.

"You've been crying."

"Yes, well, it's been a lot to take in."

He took a step closer to her still holding onto her chin. "Don't sugar coat it, Hermione. We aren't each other's top choice by any means. It would be stupid to say the only reason you are upset is because it's a lot to take in. You will be my wife in more ways than one after tomorrow. Something I'm sure terrifies the Princess of the Golden Trio, but I promise you, I will protect, honor, and respect you as a husband should. There are some things that us Malfoys believe in that are good, surprising as that may be to hear."

Hermione let out a small gasp. He really wanted to try to make things right. He wasn't promising there would ever be love, but for all other purposes he wanted to make this a real, respectable marriage. Before she could say anything back to him, he leaned his head down and kissed her.

Hermione was torn between pushing him away and pulling him closer. All previous knowledge about him screamed at her to slap him and run away. Another part of her, that knew he would be her husband and remembering what all he had just said was elated he was kissing her.

Before she could decide what to do he pulled away from her and without another word walked away leaving her standing by the lake alone. Putting her fingers on her lips where his mouth had just been she smiled slightly. He had kissed her gently and slowly. Not rough like she would have expected.

Suddenly, she felt a small bit better about the whole situation. It still wasn't the best of circumstances, but she thought she could see herself one day at least being content. Sitting down on the rock beside the tree, she hugged her knees to her chest and for the first time since meeting with Dumbledore, allowed hope to spread within her.

After leaving Hermione, Draco went to the dungeons going up to his Godfather's office and knocking on the door. He had no idea why he had kissed Hermione, he had only meant to let her know he wasn't going to be a cheating bastard of a husband, but something about the desolate look in her eyes made him feel the need to comfort her further.

He realized after he did it a kiss from him might not be incredibly comforting, especially since it was more of a reminder of what was to come tomorrow but he meant well. The thought of her lips on his made him feel warm for unexplainable reasons and he scowled trying not to think about how he could still taste her on him.

"Enter." The sound of his Godfather interrupted his thoughts.

Stepping into the office he sat down in a chair before immediately standing back up again.

"What does he have planned? Why if mine and Hermione's marriage will win can I not just choose a side? What is he not saying?" Draco's voice got louder with each sentence until he was yelling at the end.

Severus sat at his desk looking at the young man in front of him before replying calmly.

"Do you want your parents to die, Draco?"

Draco stared at the man in front of him, feeling as if a cold bucket of water had been dumped on him.

"No."

"Then that is the only thing you need to know."

"So there is more?"

"I will see you tomorrow evening; it is my understanding I am to be witness to Miss Granger becoming Mrs. Malfoy."

With that, Severus Snape ducked his head dipping his quill in ink, effectively dismissing him. Draco left the office frustrated and angry knowing there was something his Godfather was not telling him and he had a good idea it had to do with him and Hermione.

A/N: Hope you all liked it and how I am splitting Hermione's and Draco's thoughts. I decided the main part of the story will be in Hermione's pov, but there is an important second part of this story that has only to do with Draco that will be from his pov. There we will get his thoughts on matters.

Sorry for the delay getting updated, I've had terrible headaches all week and I don't update on weekends since I've learned people don't review as much.

That being said I am so happy about the response I've gotten so far from this story and can't wait to hear more! Next up the wedding, don't forget to review