Draco walked through the halls of Hogwarts before any other students were up thoroughly peeved. He had been woken up at six that morning by an owl with a letter from his godfather demanding he come straight to his office as soon as he could get dressed. Not the way he pictured waking up from last night by any means.

He hated leaving Hermione before she even woke up after what had occurred between them. True, they didn't care for each other, but it was their first time together and he didn't want to give her the impression he just used her or that he couldn't even stand being in the same bed with her. It was with much annoyance that he got out of the bed and got dressed, finding a clean suit laying out for him, leaving her a hastily scrawled note letting her know his presence was requested elsewhere and not to worry.

It still shocked him how a simple run-in in the library had led to him having Hermione Granger as his wife. He had never even imagined a friendship with her much less a lifelong commitment. Now that he had it though, he was going to make the best of it if he could. He would be damned if something else tarnished the Malfoy name, although he supposed in his father's eyes being married to a mudblood did worse than tarnish it.

Tugging on his collar in agitation he knocked on Snape's door before walking in and shutting it behind him.

"You wanted to see me?" Draco didn't try to hide his annoyance at being woken so early the day after his wedding.

Snape looked up at him with a bored expression from where he was sitting at his desk. "As much as I hate to break up your post-coital bliss, Dumbledore insisted I meet with you immediately."

Draco tried to hide his confusion. He had just spoken with Dumbledore the night before. What else needed to be said? They had basically covered everything that he thought was important. How him and Hermione should act in public, how often they could see each other without seeming suspicious, the password to their rooms, not to mention how he couldn't tell her just yet about his part in this whole war.

Pulling his mind back to matters at hand, Draco kept his voice void of emotion when he spoke. "About what?"

Snape finally put down the quill he had been holding and looked at Draco solemnly. "I was summoned last night."

Fear shot through Draco. If Snape was summoned and he was being informed about it, it meant he was about to hear the thing he had been dreading since the beginning of summer. He felt his pulse quicken and swallowed before meeting Snape's eyes. Did he just see pity? He damn well hoped not, that was the last thing he needed. The only thing that had kept him sane this far was his godfather's aversion to showing any emotion.

"You take the mark in a week."

That was it then. He would be marked and have to live with the vile thing on his arm the rest of his life. Draco felt as if he was going to be sick. He kept eye contact with Snape as he licked his lips nervously.

"What will I tell Hermione when she sees it?"

"You will tell her you had no choice. She will stand by you, she is your wife."

"And if she doesn't? If she runs off and tells Potter?"

"Then she will have to explain what she was doing with you without a shirt on, won't she?" Snape smirked as the words left his lips.

Draco almost smiled at how cunning Snape could be, but was too terrified at thinking what he had coming up in the next week. Feeling as if he was dismissed he began to turn around and walk to the door before Snape's voice stopped him.

"Did you cast a contraceptive charm last night?"

Draco's hand tightened on the door. "Yes, the exact one Dumbledore told me to cast. Although, I don't see what was wrong with the one everyone else uses."

"You know it is ineffective since you two are soul mates. A child would be conceived before the month was over."

"Right, well I need to go meet with my wife and explain our rules to being married that Dumbledore so kindly assigned."

"Very well. Good day, Draco."

"Good day, professor."

As Draco walked out of the office on his way back to his and Hermione's rooms, he was completely unaware of his normally emotionless godfather slamming his fist down on his desk sending ink and parchment onto the floor.

Hermione woke to an empty bed and was shocked at the disappointment she felt. Of course he would shag and leave. That's what he had always done so why should she feel upset about it? It was with shock that she realized there was a note with her name addressed on it in his handwriting laying on the nightstand.

Hermione,

I am on my way to meet with Snape and hopefully will be back before breakfast. I need to fill you in on some rules about how we are to keep up appearances set by Dumbledore, so please try to wait for me before you leave.

Draco

So he didn't just leave her like she heard he did with everybody else. He was called away for a meeting with his head of house. Did that mean he didn't want to leave this morning?

Hermione's thoughts were interrupted when she realized she was still naked and she jerked the sheets up to cover her exposed body. Her face reddened as she remembered the night before and she bit her lip as a new, warm sensation spread through her body. Was she feeling that because they were soul mates or because of her memories?

Confused, Hermione decided to take a quick shower while he was gone that way they would have time to talk and then go down for breakfast before classes. Looking around the room she noticed it was actually really pretty and part of her wished she could stay here permanently instead of going back to her dorm with her small twin bed.

The king sized bed was a four poster with white sheets and a sheer white canopy draped around it tied to the posts. Each side of the bed had its own night stand with a lamp. Facing the bed was a door she guessed led to the bathroom with a large wardrobe beside it. On the wall to the right was a window overlooking the Great Lake with curtains the same material as the ones on the bed. In front of the window were two winged-back chairs, a nice beige color, with a small table in between them.

It really was lovely, even if the color scheme was very neutral. She was actually glad there was nothing representing their houses. They would constantly look like they were in the middle of Christmas with all of the red and green.

Turning back to the door, she walked over and opened it. It was small but pretty. On one side was a large bath with stone built up around it and beside it was the shower. On the other wall a grey marble counter with two sinks that went all the way down before a small partition wall stopped it, hiding what she guessed to be the toilet.

The bath really did look tempting since she was a bit sore from last night's activities, but she wanted to be done and dressed before Draco got back so she opted for the shower. She was relieved to see that her stuff had been brought here from her room. She hated using products other than her own in the shower. She quickly turned on the water when she noticed what had to be Draco's products beside her own.

After getting out of the shower, Hermione went to the wardrobe and saw that clothes in her size had been hung and put up. Not questioning it, since apparently even Hogwarts could acquire a wedding dress for her, she snatched a flowing button up yellow tank and some white shorts to wear under her school robes.

She had just finished getting dressed and drying her hair when the door to the bedroom opened up revealing a very annoyed looking Draco Malfoy.

She looked around nervously before looking back at him. When she woke up she hadn't even considered how awkward it would be to face him after last night when, for all intents and purposes, they had barely even had a conversation before. Clearing her throat and putting her hand on her arm she decided to break the silence.

"How are you this morning?" It was not a personal greeting in the least but it was the best she could come up with at the moment so it would have to do.

"I've been better." He must have noticed her shocked expression at his bluntness and realized what she thought he meant because he hurried on before she could say anything. "It's was not in my plans to be woken up so early this morning after last night."

Hermione let out a small breath she didn't realize she had been holding. It shouldn't bother her if he hated last night. In fact, it should probably bother her more that he seemed to be trying to actually be nice to her. It wasn't like him at all and not what she expected from this sham of a marriage. Actually, with that thought, it seemed she was the one being rude and not trying. Well, she couldn't have that.

"I'm sure nobody wants to be woken up that early." She made herself smile at him and was relieved when he seemed to relax a little. "You said we needed to talk?"

"Yes, Dumbledore has set some rules so I needed to make sure you knew them all where nobody will figure out what is really going on."

He walked over to the chairs and sat down. When he walked past her Hermione caught a hint of his scent in the air and found her nerves calming down. She followed him to the chairs and took the one that was left.

"So what are our rules?"

"As you know, nobody can know you are my wife," he stopped when Hermione started chewing her lip.

She raised her eyes to meet his and decided to go ahead and ask her question where he could go on. "Won't my records have been automatically changed to show my name as Malfoy the minute we…erm…consummated our marriage and the Ministry receive an alert for their records?"

He looked at her carefully, as if appraising her for questioning how nobody else would know. Slowly, he responded. "I actually asked Dumbledore the same thing. We were not married using the same bonds that are used under normal circumstances and, as I'm sure you have noticed, even our vows were…unusual. Therefore, according to Dumbledore nobody will be alerted to the fact we are married until we so choose to reveal it ourselves."

Hermione felt from the hard look on his face if he was keeping something from her. It just didn't make sense that the records wouldn't change. It was still a wedding ceremony after all. Her thoughts were interrupted as suddenly he spoke again.

"If you want my opinion, I think Dumbledore did some manipulating. He has the power to, that's for sure. Also his vows-" he was cut off by Hermione when she realized he had the same thoughts as her.

"Were pointing towards us having children. Buy why?" She fidgeted with her shirt worried that he had the same thoughts as her. If he had questioned the vows too then that meant she wasn't just being paranoid but something was up.

"I don't know. Have you found anything in your books on soul mates that mentions bearing children?"

"No, not at all. Children are never really mentioned. I just assumed it was the same as with any couple. If you decided to have them, you did and if you didn't, you didn't."

Draco nodded his head. "That's what I assumed." He looked at his watch and seemed perplexed. "If we are going to eat we are going to have to discuss this later and get on with the rules."

Hermione nodded her head for him to continue, forcing herself to focus even though her thoughts were clouded with what they had just discussed. What was Dumbledore pushing for?

"Since nobody is to know we are married, our attitude towards each other must not change in public from what it was. Anything less than hatred for each other will be questioned, especially with my family and your blood status."

Hermione nodded her head. That was an obvious rule. Draco's father would be at Hogwarts in a second if he thought his son was showing anything but outright disgust towards her.

"Secondly, Dumbledore said we are to sleep in our own dorms four nights out of the week. Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday night we are allowed and expected to stay in here. If people ask, we are involved in special private lessons since we are at the top of our class."

Hermione nodded her head again. She assumed they would be expected to stay in here together during some part of the week. Maybe this would give them a chance to get to know each other better, at least. She realized with a shock she didn't know even the smallest things about her husband.

"What's your favorite color?" She realized he was looking at her like she had grown two heads at her random question but slowly answered her anyway.

"Blue." He smirked at her when her eyebrows rose in shock. "For all outward appearances, it is green though. Can't have people thinking a Malfoy isn't anything but the most devoted Slytherin."

She smirked back at his comment. "And your birthday?"

"June 1st. What is your favorite color and birthday?"

"My favorite color is Maize Yellow and my birthday is September 19th, which if my memory serves me correct, actually puts me almost a year older than you," she finished matter of factly.

"Yes, well, I'm still in the same class as you and a good bit taller so it all evens out."

Hermione laughed at the annoyed look on his face and was shocked when he smiled back at her. Her watch caught her eyes and was shocked at how quickly time had passed. They had to get to breakfast now if they had any chance of eating. Looking at him with a hint of disappointment on her face she signaled to her watch.

He looked back at her before standing up and holding his hand out for her to take. As she hesitantly reached up and grasped it for him to pull her up he looked as if he was resigning himself to the day ahead. "Well, those are the basic rules. I will cover the rest later. They aren't as important."

She nodded and was about to pull her hand from his when he continued, his grip tightening. "Hermione, no matter how I may act, please remember that is all it is. Just an act. You are my wife and, as appalling as my family can be, if I had the choice I wouldn't treat you with any disrespect whatsoever."

She felt that annoying warmth that was happening so often lately, spread throughout her at his words and flashed him a small smile. "Thank you for reminding me. The same goes towards you. You are my husband, whether we were friends before or not, and I would like to get to know you more so please don't hold anything I say against me as well."

He scoffed. "I believe I will be the one having to throw more hurtful words around than you to keep up appearances, but thank you as well."

Suddenly, he pulled her closer and looked at her nervously before putting his hand in her hair. "Last night, please don't think it didn't mean anything to me." With that he kissed her gently before pulling her towards the door. "You first, we can't leave at the same time in case someone is outside."

She glanced down at their still entwined hands and looked up at him shyly before giving him a kiss on the cheek and fleeing through the portrait before she could see his reaction. She had no idea what was going on with them or why he was being so nice, but if she admitted it to herself, she really liked it.

Who knew Draco Malfoy could be so kind and caring? Maybe, he was just never given a chance by anyone because of his family name. It was then that a disturbing thought hit her. People held prejudices against her for her blood, but they did the same to Draco for his. Because he was a Malfoy, everyone expected him to be cold, ruthless, and dark. Nobody ever gave him a chance otherwise.

Even Harry had said in first year he had offered to be his friend, even if it was offered in a very haughty way, but Ron's own prejudice against his family and Harry's naivety to the wizarding world had caused him not to accept. So he was snobbish as a kid, and if she was honest even now to a point, that was how he was raised to act. Who wouldn't be with the kind of money and blood line his family held?

Disgruntled by this revelation, Hermione suddenly was saddened that it took a forced marriage for her to look through her own blindness and see what had always been there if people had only took time to look. Maybe this was the reason they were soul mates. Not only would he learn to look past blood, but so would she and together maybe they could bring the two sides in the war together.

With that thought, she found herself humming a happy tune as she walked into the Great Hall and flashed a smile at Harry and Ron as she sat down to help herself to the food in front of her.

A/N: So sorry this took so long to post. I have been battling migraines these past two weeks and didn't want to type something that wasn't up to par with the rest of the story just to get an update out.

Shaymars: I didn't lie about having this ready to post last night, but my internet went out so, unfortunately I had no choice in the matter.

Lastly, please review. They really do make my day and encourage me to write more. I have an incredible amount of followers to this story, but barely received any reviews for the last chapter. I do consider what you guys want to see in the story so let me know what you think!