A/N: Hello readers, I apologize for the lack of updates. I'm afraid I might have set high standards posting twice in one day. I am going on break and am going to be enjoying time with family. So I hope this sustains you until after Thanksgiving ends. On another note, I was asked about Severus hitting Hermione. That is because she insulted him using the only thing that truly bothers him other than Lily. And I was asked about the place Hermione was leaving. Unfortunately I can't explain that to its full extent without revealing important plot points. Thank you for following and reading and reviewing. I can't wait to see what you guys think is going on, as there will be some mention of things in this chapter, where Hermione and Narcissa bond while planning the wedding, Hermione has to begin facing a problem she's afraid of.

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I do not own the rights to the Harry Potter, if I did…Hermione and Ron would never have been together.

Chapter 2

Hermione stood completely still, her feet ached, and she wanted nothing more than to go and sit down. However, every time she asked, Narcissa looked like she was about to cry. Hermione couldn't stand it. She appreciated everything the woman was doing to make her wedding special despite the circumstances behind it. Instead Hermione chose to think about the trip to the Ministry.

Hermione and Severus stepped into the small phone booth and he dialed a number. Immediately they were taken into the ministry. Severus had removed his charm on Hermione's face, and when she saw it in the mirror she grimaced. She didn't think it would look that bad. She still couldn't believe she had to say her father did it. But Severus had charmed the mark to the exact impression of her fathers hand some how. Magic, it seemed, could do just about anything.

Slowly the Severus led Hermione towards their destination. She wondered if maybe he had been in the position before, maybe he loved someone, but then what could have happened. Who could he have almost married? Hermione shook her head of those thoughts. This was Severus, he was cold hearted and incapable of love. He might like some people, but she felt it was more respect. Or he was more than likely acting. Eventually they reached the Head of Nuptials' door.

"Should I knock?" Hermione offered in a quiet voice. Now that they were here, she was frightened. Now that they were here, it was becoming real that she was being forced to marry someone she didn't love, and someone who probably couldn't love her.

Severus nodded slightly, so Hermione raised her knuckles to the door and knocked gently enough to not cause any pain, but hard enough so it sounded determined and happy.

"Come in," came a very feminine voice from inside

Hermione looked to Severus, and smiled. He returned her smile with a warm one of his own, he opened the door and together they walked into the bright pink, heart-filled room. At a huge heart shaped desk sat someone who Hermione couldn't identify as a male or female. Their brown hair was a medium length cut; their eyes were just as brown. The clothing prevented any real body shape from being seen. Hermione didn't think of herself as judgmental like several other girls, not unless the person warranted it, but with this witch or wizard, she wondered who they were since it was so hard to discern.

"Oh my, what have we here? Are you alright, miss?"

"Yes my-," Hermione started

"Her father does not approve of our love," Severus spoke with a heavy tone, almost as if every word he said was true. "We hid our relationship for a long time, knowing that no one would approve or understand. The secret began taking its toll, and Hermione begged me to tell her family. And so we did. Her mother, poor dear went into a state of complete shock and just stood there, her father though-,"

"My father went into a fit of rage," Hermione interjected, knowing she needed to say something before it seemed like he was trying to keep her from speaking, so it didn't seem like he had hit her, "At first he screamed. He yelled at me, called me a slag, threatened to have him arrested. When Severus told him that it was not illegal for a student and a professor to be together, and that nothing sexual had happened, my father blew up. He actually went to slap Severus, but I stepped in the way and took my father's blow. I think he went into shock at the fact he had just hit his daughter, and by then my mother had started crying. We left in a hurry. Severus apparated us to a little jewelry store and proposed. But we knew without even applying for a license our engagement would not be official and I would have no where to live."

"Oh, you poor dear. Well, at least you thought it out and came here. I am Ashley, but for now you two may call me Mr. Weats. Now, I do have a long interview that we need to get through. So let's start shall we? How did you meet?"

"And finally, have you set a date?"

Hermione thought this was a curious question, they were only just engaged. Then she realized, some couples try to get married immediately, and when it fails, they are miserable.

It was Severus who spoke, "September 1st of this year. It might seem soon, but we have thought about this for a long time anyway. Even though Hermione will be in school, she also wishes to begin an apprenticeship in potions, and it would be easier if we were able to share living quarters at school since many potions are particular about timing."

"Well, you two certainly seem to be a perfect fit. If I didn't know any better, I'd this was all a ruse, but I see the love in your eyes. I can't find a reason why you two should not be wed. However I feel because of how soon the wedding is, I should do pop-in inspections, make sure you two are right for each other."

"Of course," Hermione welcomingly stated, "We can understand."

Severus nodded in agreement. Mr. Weats spoke again, "Fantastic! I will come surprise you at Spinners end sometime soon."

"Shall we Hermione?" Severus asked, taking her hand in his.

"Hermione? Hermione!"

Hermione looked at Narcissa, who was now standing in front of her. "Hermione, please turn around and look at the dress. You can move again."

She looked around, forgetting where she had been. Slowly she turned to face the mirror. Narcissa was beyond amazing. The dress was white as snow, and seemed to bring out the color in her skin. It clung to her frame and then released at the waist into a gorgeous full skirt with intricate bead work all around. Hermione had only felt beautiful one other time, and that was when she had attended the Yule Ball with Viktor Krum. She never thought she would have anything nice to say to or about a Malfoy, and it seemed she was wrong.

"It's beautiful Mrs. Malfoy. It truly is beautiful, I-uh-thank you."

"Oh, please, call me Narcissa." The woman said. "I don't know how my husband or son may have treated you, but, no matter the circumstances, you are becoming family."

Hermione just nodded, and continued looking at her wedding dress. And it was then she remembered that she was getting married. She was getting married and she was still in a relationship, one that was not ending well at all. And she would have to actually tell her parents, she wished Severus was the kind of man to ask her father's permission, but their circumstances were different too.

"Alright, let's get you out of that and into some comfortable clothes. Then we can do some planning."

Hermione sat next to Narcissa as they looked at a floral magazine. Hermione had always wanted a bouquet of crimson red roses and snow white baby's breath. All of the bouquets in the magazine seemed to consist of magical and strange wizarding plants. But finally on the last page, she found what she was searching for.

"That's the bouquet I want," Hermione stated.

Narcissa let out a gentle laugh before speaking, "That's the same bouquet I had. It has certain elegance to its simplicity."

Hermione smiled. She might not be able to share this moment with her own mother, but she did have someone who seemed to be trying to make her feel better about the whole messed up situation.

"That's actually how I want my wedding. A small and simple, yet extravagant wedding."

Narcissa smiled and spoke, "I think we could use my wedding as inspiration, elegant yes, but we can change it so it seems a little simpler."

"Alright," Hermione agreed. She began to wonder if maybe Narcissa could help with her break up with Ron. She loved him, but she really had no choice now. If she was forcing Severus into this, she was going to be the best wife she possibly could.

Narcissa returned with her wedding album, and about three other albums. The girls went through them together, Narcissa pointing out her favorite parts and memories, Hermione pointing out the things she thought would fit. They spent days finding everything they could to make Hermione happy, and occasionally calling Severus in for his opinion. By the end of June, they had planned the entire wedding and Hermione was glad they only had to place the orders. But her job was done. She still had to break up with Ron, and tell him about what had happened. Finding herself with a free day, Hermione decided to return home. Even though she was marrying into the circle, she would never trust Voldemort. At least she wouldn't have to tell them, since she had decided to obliviate them.

She walked into the door of the house that she grew up in. Her home, only it wasn't home any more. She could hear her parents talking in the kitchen, so she silently walked upstairs. Her room was exactly as she had left it. She began placing everything in a cardboard box that she had charmed so that she could fit everything. Then she went out to the lenin closet and put a set of grey sheets on her old bed. Hermione closed her box and shrunk it to fit I her bag, then walked downstairs gripping her wand and trying not to think about what she was doing. She walked towards the kitchen, her wand at the ready.

She looked at her family, her mother whom helped her face her crush on Ron. Her father had been so angry that his little girl had a boyfriend. He threatened to kill Ron at least three times every time he visited. She held back a laugh, and held back her tears.

Hermione pointed her wand towards her parents, "Obliviate."

"Severus, I need to go see my friends," Hermione stated simply.

"And why couldn't you, Miss Granger?"

Hermione stopped. Mr. Weats' first inspection and so she spoke up, "Mr. Weats, how lovely to see you again. I was simply telling Severus, so he wouldn't worry. These are troubling times, and my blood status being what it is, Severus is worried I'll be snatched up at any moment."

"Ah, I can understand that. Severus was just pointing out all of his belongings, and it is obvious none are yours, why?"

"I simply hadn't collected them yet," Hermione started, "I just got back from my parents' home. They were gone, so I didn't have to worry about running into them. It's as if they never had a daughter."

"Well, things seem fine, and so my work is done, I will be back."

And with that, Mr. Weats walked right out the door.

"Miss Granger, what did that comment of yours mean? What did you do with your parents?"

Hermione couldn't help it, the tears broke out and she fell to the ground, curling up on herself. Her whole body shook with the pain of everything that was happening. Severus stared, unsure of what to do. The last time he saw her cry, He only made it worse by commenting on her teeth. He had to admit, he was a horrible person and a horrible professor. He knelt on the ground and slowly placed a hand on her shoulder.

Through her sobs she managed to tell him what had happened, "I…I…obl-bl-viated…my par-rents."

Severus was shocked she had been able to bring herself to do that. He felt sorry for the girl. He had admired her smarts, even if she was a bit too enthusiastic about it. He moved closer to his student, and merely ran his hand over her hair gently as she continued to sob until she fell asleep. Severus picked her up and carried her to his room, since he had yet to prepare a room for her.

As he lay her down on his black satin sheets, he whispered into her ear, "I swear to you, Hermione Granger, I will do everything I can to protect you."

A/N: I hope you enjoy this chapter, since I will not be posting again until after thanksgiving weekend, unless I get enough inspiration for another chapter today. Happy thanksgiving all.