Authors Note: I am so sorry that this took so long to publish but my sister has been diagnosed with a serve heart condition and I have been helping her get back to "normal life" I hope you understand.

It was not an hour before she was to be married yet Hermione was shaking and feeling physically sick. To be honest this wasn't exactly how she had planned her it No.1 no one was here, she didn't even know if the groom would be there. No 2. She didn't love him or even like him. No.3 she had looked through the law for a week non-stop and this marriage was not only un-divorceable but thy where also required to produce offspring. Hermione shuddered at this thought.

She stared in the mirror at her reflection, her skinny, but not un-womanly frame, her curly mass of untameable wildlife commonly known as her hair fell to the middle of her back. Her pale skin, echoed by her well rounded cheeks, that seemed to be drained of their normal rosy colour and instead placed with a dingy green. She wasn't exactly the picture of the blushing, radiant bride.

The dress was a nightmare to buy. She had been brought up a Christian and had always (since she was very young and had placed tea-towels on her head to pretend to get married) imagined herself in a long white dress with the veil and of course in a church. However upon discovering the magical world her faith had been somewhat shaken; but seeing as how in a few minutes she would literally have to dance with the devil.

White it would have to be. Anyway she should still wear white, and she knew deep down that she could never bring herself to where white again. But although she would have liked to have seen his face had she of decided to wear a veil, she choose life over it.

The shop assistant was a nightmare, she either wanted her to wear something short, tight and the kind of thing she could picture Lavender Brown wearing; or something long, plain and not dissimilar to Umbridge's style. In the end she had invoked the help of Ginny, who among all of the girls Hermione had made friends with (which in all honesty wasn't that many) was the fashion guru. Her dress fell knee length although that was just lace, underneath that she had a white slip dress that fell around three inches shorter. She had lace sleeves that fell off the shoulder and all the way down to her wrists, it had a simple cut sweetheart neckline.

Ginny had told her that the dress sent the perfect message "Not a child But not yours". Oddly enough this is the same message Hermione had requested for the Yule ball except that time it was to antagonise Ron.

Still staring in the mirror finally mustering up her Gryffindor courage to grab her bouquet. She had a small giggle at her choice of flowers, she may not be able to attack him to his face but she could have her own private laugh at him.

She had chosen White Rosebuds, which in the old language of flowers meant that the heart is absent of love (no prizes for guessing who she was referring to there). The other flower she choose was Lavender which meant distrust, which had given her more glee when she found this out because she had never trusted Lavender Brown.

Standing up she went to the door her hand shaking slightly as she stretched it out to open the door. Through the door she went, her head raised stubbornly defending the little pride she had left in her. She ascended down the short aisle, to no music, reasonably gracefully, to face the man her nightmares where made of.

The ministry official cleared his throat and began " We are gathered here to unite these two in holy matrimony, blood to blood, magic to magic, soul to soul." These words sent shivers down Hermione's spine but still she refused to face Voldemort. She hadn't yet seen him but she knew he was there his presence was impossible to miss, like a dementor except she knew that underneath those black robes lived a being far worse.

"I shall now ask each of you too proceed to the vows" the official continued.

Voldemort stepped forward in such a way that forced Hermione to look at him and he began to say in his soft tone " I Lord Voldemort take Hermione Jean Granger to be my lawful wedded wife to have and to hold, to l.." he stopped there not wanting to say the l word, having not known him you might of thought this was a casual slip up but both Hermione and himself knew that it was a stab to her that she would never be with the one she love. " In sickness and in health till death do us part"

Now it was her turn and with wild snakes in her stomach she stepped forward "I Hermione Jean Granger take Tom Marvolo Riddle aka Lord Voldemort to be my lawful wedded husband till death do us part"

She cocked her eyebrow at him and gave him a look as if to say don't push it. He however always the master of control, looked as if it had escaped him notice however Hermione knew better nothing escaped his notice.

"Blood to blood" The official said before muttering a spell making a small cut along her fist finger as well as along his. They pressed their fingers together allowing their blood to exchange. "Magic to magic" another spell that lifted the wands away from their carriers and were temporally bound together with a white vine-like light. "Soul to soul" they placed their palms against each others.

"You may kiss the bride" Said the official cheerily before disaperating quickly.

Hermione pushed her head forward a little expecting a quick peck, their hands still joined. He however pulled her in for a hard bruising kiss.

Her eyes flew open in terror as she saw the skeletal feasting on her lips like a starving man.

She pushed him away with a brutal slap. His eyes spelled amusement. His plan was working perfectly he was certain his "plaything" would turn out to be a valuable as he hoped.

…Or so he thought…

Big thanks to:

amaris12345, AshtonReid, BeNeRre, bookinspired, brookiecookie1024, cosmoGirl666, Darkshadow-lord, Em Doe, hateme101, II Lady Athena II, jamesluver4lyfe, ijskonijntje, joleneluvschris, Kessic, laintmr, LolaInAPearTree (Love the name!), Moviegirl1616, Nicole Lovely, Natsori forevaX. nikkixprincess, obsidian-fox-demon, Persenifikona, PrincessHermione1234, roseandchirs3, silver-blackwings, sweet-tang-honney, TheOneWhoNeverWrites, wakmoo, Welshteen, Dunk234, Italiana30, Jadarainbow, kae9403, kags181, lilred7213, Nightmare's dephts, PrincessYouKnow, sesshomarusmate54, teamjacob1995, Toyota18, MissDV, Cassia4u, Mimi, Partygirl4, 09sasha, becca 161995, Lisa

Ethy-Riddle - you made me laugh very much because yes Voldemort is the original bitch :P

Also I would like to make a small reply to a very detailed review I was left by Lisa yes why would Voldemort care about such a silly law -stokes imaginary beard double winks- that I promise will be shown in future chapters. And Hermione's weakness of character is not because she is a weak character or anything it is just that I thought that this was a bit bigger than house-elf liberation so I applied the crushing blow theory sorry if that is unbelievable :( I will try and slow down my pace though if that is what you want, I don't mean to rush it. I hope this chapter pleased you more, I am anxious to here your thoughts.