Chapter 8

Hermione was confused and she loathed it. For the first time in her life, she didn't have a decent and stable plan, and she was going to have to wing it.

Malfoy was acting a little bit different lately, even more awkward and reserved than usual. She was grateful for that beacuse she felt the same way. Only thinking about their moment three days ago made her skin crawl, and unfortunately, it wasn't in disgust. He made her depend on him, her freedom depended on him, and the worst part was that now her pleasure depended on him too. She hated him for what he had done to her, taking advantage and dismissing her wishes. But was it really that way? He was following the law, yes, he married her against her will, yes, but he didn't really make it harder than it had to be. He certainly was nice because he didn't rape her or beat her bloody. And he actually delayed their copulation for as much as the law allowed. And now she was mad at herself for not being hard enough on him. She didn't want to lie to herself- it is what it is, she would say simply whenever she felt the ache between her legs by just thinking about him. It was the only nice thing she felt in a very long time, it made her feel less a thing and more a human, and she came to peace with it.

She had bigger problems now. Her house-elf came to tell her that Malfoy requested her presence immediately while she was in the bathroom, and she quickly put on her clothes and ran down the stairs to the parlour, ignoring uncomfortable twist in her stomach.

When she saw him, he was standing by the window, looking at the bleak sky and frowning. Christmas came and went and there was no snow. Terrible winter of a terrible year.

He didn't notice her until she cleared her throat.

"You called for me?" She asked and watched his face change from gloom to some warm expression changing back to his usual lethargic state.
"Yes, I wanted to tell you that the wedding of Avery and that... friend of yours is in two days. So in case you wanted to say goodbye, go now before she leaves." Malfoy uttered those words looking very uncomfortable, probably because he actually did something nice for Hermione voluntarily. She couldn't believe he remembered. It was one of the rare acts of kindness in her life and it hit her hard.

She tried to thank him but the lump in her throat didn't let her, so she simply nodded, feeling resignation and despair for her poor friend.
When she turned to leave, Malfoy stopped her.

"If you don't want to, you don't have to go to the wedding." She halted at his words and looked at him incredously. Hermione knew their position, she assumed that every little step he took was recorded and analysed in the papers. Was he really willing to risk a blow to his reputation by going to the function all alone, only to make it easier for her?
She felt miserable for losing her only friend, and now she felt even worse knowing that this man was her only consolation. And the worst part was, he did a decent job.

"No, I'll go. But thank you." She started saying it clearly but halted and felt one tear rolling down her cheek. She wasn't even ashamed of it.
He strode to her, getting close enough to look deeply in her tortured eyes, and for a moment she saw a flick of some emotion, it could possibly have been empathy.
"Don't mention it." He whispered and reached with his hand for her face and her breath hitched, expecting his touch, almost craving it, but he changed his mind and let his hand drop by his side.

Hermione left without a word, not even wanting to think about his actions. She just knew she had to come up with some plan, fast.

She found Kate in one of the servants' rooms behind the kitchen and saw her looking paler and weaker than ever.
She tried to talk some sense into a poor girl, tried to encourage her, and all the while little folders in the back of her head were trying to remember all the information she had on magical transportation nowadays. And it clicked.

"Kate, Kate honey, I will get you out of there, you have to believe me. Actually, I will get us both out of there, we will go to Switzerland, just trust me alright?"
"But how? We don't have our wands to apparate, the floo is forbidden and easily tracked, portkeys too, there's no way, Hermione!" Kate wailed and trembled in Hermione's embrace.

"We will have to risk it. All you have to do is to disappear before the wedding, and be sure that someone sees you." Kate looked at her puzzled, probably thinking that Hermione finally became completely deranged.

"Look, you have two days before the wedding, just snoop around and see where the apparition room is and run there five minutes before the ceremony. I will meet you there just when everybody realizes you're not showing up. Got it?"
Kate nodded, too numb to give a proper answer, but it was enough for Hermione. Her plan was stupid and nearing suicide, but they had to try.

They hugged once more before all the other servants came and Hermione went back to the library, now concentrating on wandlessly summoning stuff.

After that especially tiring day, Hermione craved her comfortable bed more than anything. Malfoy didn't come to the bedroom after the incidents in the room and in the dining room, and she didn't really miss him. She was alone either way, no matter was he physically there for her or not. But that terrible day when she made a big decicion and plan of escape, and when she decided to possibly get herself and her now good friend unintentionally killed, she needed a comfort, and weirdly, she wanted his presence.
And by the sheer miracle, he decided to join her in bed that night.

When she came out from the bathroom, only in one of those satin night gowns, he was already in the bed, half naked and reading some letter. Hermione ignored a jolt in her belly on the sight of him and tried to control her roamy eyes when his grey ones directed their piercing look at her.
"Russians. We'll respond to that one tomorrow, I'm really not in the mood for writing and you'll do well enough." She only managed a nod when he threw a letter on the night table.

"You can come to bed, Granger, I won't bite unless you want me to." He said it with clear joking tone and Hermione rolled her eyes at the innuendo, somehow feeling more relaxed.

She laid next to him and he turned the lights off with a wave of his hand, and the nervousness crept on her because of his closeness. She wasn't in the mood for any funny business but knew that if he wanted it, it would be her responsibility to provide for him.
What surprised her for the seemingly hundredth time that weird day was his hand snaking up her body and pulling her close to him, spooning her from behind and blowing soft gentle breaths in her hair and neck.
"I expect your hair to choke me in my sleep one day." He whispered and sighed contently, Hermione easily adapted to the new situation, even enjoying it a little, not that she would admit it to herself.

"There's an idea." She whispered back and he snorted.
"Why aren't you disgusted with me anymore?" She bite the bullet. She had to know.
He was silent a couple of moments before simply responding,

"Oh, I am. You're utterly despicable and I hate you." And he pulled her even tighter against him and now it was her turn to snort.

"I hate you too, Malfoy." She yawned in the middle of her statement and was already drifting to sleep when she felt his lips kiss her shoulder blade gently.
If someone could see them in that moment, it seemed like they were in love.

The day of the wedding ceremony came and Hermione couldn't control her raging nerves as soon as she opened her eyes. Malfoy woke up just minutes after her, probably when he heard her toothbrush falling from her shaking hands and her annoyed cursing. She woke up pretty early and managed only a couple of hours of sleep and she still felt tired, but on edge. It was only a dawn, probably around six in the morning and she imagined Malfoy not being very happy if he heard her, but she didn't care. They were back in their little sleeping arrangement and Hermione couldn't lie to herself that she enjoyed his warm and firm body near her.

When she came back into the bedroom Malfoy was pouting at her, his hair all tousled and eyes swollen from broken sleep.

"Are you mental? What are you doing at this hour?" He managed to rasp and she only sighed, not in the mood to talk to him, or anyone. Adrenaline was already pumping within her and she hoped that something big was going to happen that evening.

Hermione went to the window and looked at the still nature down in the gardens. Everything was so still that she almost believe that they were the only living people in the world. And she smiled bitterly; it was almost true, since her world was reduced to the isolation. When he called her to get back to bed and stop being weird, she felt a pang of something unexplainable in her stomach.
It was the last day of her imprisonment and she almost felt sorry for the plan runni bg. Almost.

It was like she started to think of the man before her as a friend, companion in that hell and she looked at him with strange longing in her eyes. Like she would miss him. Yeah, right.

He got some unreadable expression on his face on seeing her mood and beckoned her to bed. When she wanted to lie down he stopped her with a hug and they sat there, clinging to each other while the sun slowly rose.

They had sex that morning. It was really more like love making than anything, but Hermione didn't want to label it that way. She was rocking slowly in his lap, too scared to look into his entrancing eyes. So she looked at his hair, his shoulders, his neck and collar bones, she clung to him while they were finding their sweet release snd then lingered some more in his arms. She allowed herself that much. It was her saying goodbye.

When he kissed her after it was done, it was gentle snd slow and it didn't sent hot shivers up her spine. It was too soft and feathery for that. And he looked at her oddly, which actually scared her a little. He looked like he knew.

The time for a wedding ceremony came quickly and Hermione didn't even pay attention to how she looked. She didn't want to tire herself even one bit about it so she simply called for the elves to do whatever they wanted. She reconned they did a good job, because Malfoy was looking at her silver long dress with open hunger, like he wanted to rip it off her. She knew that look, she induced it a couple of times before.

When he started towards the fireplace she stopped him, trying to ask him gently and lovingly to apparate, not sounding like her usual spunky self at all. He frowned a little at her tone.

"Why apparate when we can floo there?"

"I don't want to ruin my dress." Great quick thinking, she praised herself.

He looked at her strangely again, as if he wanted to ask her something more, but gave up, took her hand and his wand and spun them around.

So this is it, this is the room. Hermione thought to herself when they arrived and there were already people saying hello.

They led them through the manor to the big ballroom and the usual chatter before the wedding was boring as always, Hermione knew all the people and hated them with great intensity. She ignored Bellatrix' sinister glares across the room and even managed not to punch ugly-faced Parkinson when she sneered at her. Draco was talking something to her and their fellow Slytherins and Hermione tuned it all out, waiting for it to happen.

And it really did happen, moments later.

Avery was standing at the altar, ugly as ever and everyone waited for the bride to come... except she wasn't going to. Everyone started to murmur quietly and after a few minutes people started to get up from their seats. Hermione glanced at her husband who was talking to Zabini but casted frequent looks at her and when he got up from his chair and turned to say hello to some stranger, she used the opportunity to get up too and run.

She didn't know where did she find strength and speed, but she pushed people standing confused around her and sprinted, not turning around but knowing for a fact that someone, probably Malfoy was following her.

One hallway, one staircase, another hallway and she was there. She burst into a room where they apparated and saw Kate in a wedding gown, pale and trembling waiting for her.

"Hermione. I- watch out!" She screamed and Hermione ducked just in time for a spell to miss her. And on the other side of a wand was... Bellatrix Lestrange.

"Well well well, isn't it a runaway bride and her mudblood little friend" She cooed sickly , twirling her wand.

"Draco honey, they're here!" The bitch called behind her and Hermione knew this was the moment.
She stood still and concentrated. And just in time when Draco's footsteps were heard in that hallway, Hermione grinned at Bellatrix, who turned just in time and started to rise her wand.

Hermione did a little movement with her hand, as if she was beckoning something, and the wand flew from Bellatrix' hand, leaving her gaping.

Hermione jumped and caught it quickly and she knew she had to be fast, but she couldn't resist it. Just when Malfoy showed up on the doorframe and froze in shock on the scene awaiting him, Hermione turned Bellatrix' wand at the loathed bitch and shouted "Avada Kedavra!"

Bellatrix died at the hand of the Mudblood, scared of her and with shock written over her face. And that was Hermione's victory. She stood there just for a second, watching her dead body hit the floor but when she heard more footsteps, she woke up from her little trance.
She tried to reach Kate who ran to her, but Malfoy was quicker. In that daze and mess he forgot his magic and simply jumped on Hermione, pulling her backwards and not letting her touch Kate.

"No, Kate! Get off me! Kate!" Hermione screamed but she heard shouts around her and even saw some spells barely missing Kate, so she did the only thing she could. She threw the wand and Kate caught it in her trembling hands.

"No! Hermione, I can't leave you!" Kate screamed but Hermione interrupted her, all the while trying to get free from Malfoy's grasp.

"Just go!" Hermione screamed and three more spells flew in Kate's direction. But it was too late. A fraction of a second later, and Kate was gone. She escaped.

Hermione couldn't breathe and Malfoy was not letting her go, while the shouts and panic were rising around them when they saw Bellatrix' corpse.

"Who killed Lestrange?"

"It was Master's wife!"

"Oh my...!" Everything was so loud and chaotic until Malfoy barked and shut them all up.

"My aunt, Bellatrix Lestrange was killed. Kate Johnson, the mudblood girl and my ex servant killed her. Do try to find her."

"But master, I saw your wife-"

"You saw wrong. Call the Aurors and inspect the crime scene. The wedding is cancelled." He barked with impeccable authority in his voice, took his wife's hand and apparated home.