Here is the next chapter...sry this one took long as well...but guess what...I got a new story up...it's called All Unfolds...there's only one chapter but there will be more...it's hard to keep up with all of them but I'm gonna try...on my other story Could This Be It? I've got a little bit of writers block...but I'm about halfway done with the chapter...

Disclaimer: I'm not JK...KK?...lol

Plans Without Protection

"What in the bloody hell?" Draco said not even looking at the box. He had turned at the sound that Hermione had made. "Why do you keep doing that Granger?"

Draco was a little annoyed. She seemed to be surprised every two seconds suddenly and he couldn't understand why. He sat the box down and turned her to face him for she had been staring intently at the box. Her eyes were wide and filled with fear. Her eyes were beautiful that close up yet it was strange to see eyes that wide. They had changed from their normal brown colour to a shade much darker and more mysterious.

"Look at what's in the box Draco." She said, softly her eyes still focus directly on his own. He however couldn't pull away from her. He couldn't turn away from her eyes or let go of her shoulders. But he did.

He looked down at the box the lid sitting right in its natural place blocking out the contents. He reached out and touched the cool silver metal wondering what could possibly be inside that would freak out Granger so badly. She was shaking beside him.

The first thing he saw as he slowly lifted the lid was a cushion of black soft velvety material. He felt it when it brushed against his fingers. But when the lid had been lifted completely Draco knew why the sight might make someone a little nervous. Sitting, stuck in the black velvet cushion safely, were three rings.

"What's wrong Granger? They're just rings." Draco said looking at the rings again. Two were most definitely wedding bands. They were matching sterling silver and quite magnificent. One was slightly larger that the other one and Draco figured that must be his. The last ring in there however was one that he knew. One that he knew very well.

It was his mother's engagement ring. It was the ring that his father had given to his mother when he proposed. He had looked at it many times as a small child and heard the story from his father of how it was passed down through generations.

That was when he noticed the not attached to the lid of the box.

Dear Draco and Hermione,

It's a mothers biggest wish hope and dream for her child to be happy. I know that was my mothers dream for my sisters and me and I'm sure that it's Hermione's mothers wish for her as well. As it is mine. Therefore I want to tell you that I'm glad that the two of you will be together forever because I'm sure that at some point you will be happy.

It is my duty as a member of the Black family to pass these wedding bands on to you. They were used at each and every Black family marriage ceremony since the earliest days of magic. It is a tradition that will end with you two.

It was foreseen when the rings were forged that there would be a couple of mixed blood to marry in this family. You however were not the first. It has happened before in the black family but the way that we knew it was you was because it was said in this prediction that the couple would not be in love.

With you this tradition will die. You will be the last to wear the rings. But they aren't normal rings. Every witch and wizard who slipped these rings on gave a small bit of their power to it. When you put on these rings you will inherit that power and grow stronger. Therefore do not put on the rings until the time that you are told to at the wedding.

The last ring is a Malfoy family tradition. That ring has been given by a Malfoy to their bride to be. It is the tradition that the bride wears the ring for twenty years without removing it for any reason. I and many others before me have completed this ritual, Hermione, and I'm sure that you can too. But Draco, don't give it to her just yet. It will be presented when you come to visit me tomorrow.

I hope you both are getting along and aren't fighting too much.

Love,

Mum

Hermione was surprised by all that Draco had read. She hadn't expected Narcissa Malfoy to be so sweet sounding. But the thing that fought its way to the front was not her confusion but her fear. That was the same box that she had found the day they had kidnapped her. It was the same box that she had seen in her dream.

Draco looked at the rings for a moment longer. It was just another reminder of how close his wedding was coming. It was so near that Draco wasn't sure if he wanted to go through with it. There might have been a way out, somehow.

He closed the lid and locked the rings in. He sat the box down and put the key in his pocket. When he turned to Hermione however he saw the same frightened look on her face and her eyes staring through the bed. It was quite annoying for she wasn't speaking at all. It seemed almost as if she had mentally left the planet.

"Granger what is wrong with you." He said snapping a finger before her face.

"What?" she asked snapping out of her reverie. "I was just-"

"Why are you so afraid of the rings?" he asked before she could finish her sentence.

"I've seen them twice before. I saw them once in a dream and the second time I found them in the attic of Grimmauld Place." Hermione said softly. "I couldn't believe that they had found me again. It was so eerie in the dream and finding them the first time. Finding them again is scary."

"Don't worry about it. It was only a dream like you said." She merely nodded. "You know I think we should both go to sleep. It's late and we have to be up early tomorrow."

Hermione merely nodded and stood.

Draco watched her start toward the door of the room. Her dress robes trailed slightly behind her. He stared at the corseted back and thought about how much he'd like to undo it and slip it off. With the thoughts of Granger before him allowing him to remove her robes Draco rose from the bed.

He slipped off his jacket and tossed it on the bed. He closed the distance between him and her in only a few quick strides. He was thinking about what he would do when he reached her. But as he reached out and touched her shoulder a thought crossed his mind.

'But she's a Mudblood.'

Hermione turned to see Draco standing before her looking as if he'd been asked how he'd like to die. His eyes were contemplative and his stance was one of great confusion. Hermione wondered what was running through his mind. And also she wanted to know why he had stopped her.

'She may be a Mudblood but she's my fiancee so I can do what I like. It's not like it means anything at all. I don't love her and I barely even like her. My kisses mean nothing with her.' Draco reminded himself.

So with those thoughts in his mind reassuring him he moved closer. Hermione tilted her head up to continue to look into his eyes wondering why he was getting so close. He couldn't possibly be trying to kiss her again. A shiver slide through her body as his fingers touched her arms. They moved slowly from her elbows up to her shoulders.

"What are you doing Malfoy?" she asked taking a step back. It was the other night all over again.

"Shut up Granger." Draco said in the most soothing voice. It was deep and very sexy and she couldn't help but melt at the combination of his voice and his touch.

She said nothing as he leaned forward and kissed her neck right where her pulse thumbed wildly. She was sure he could feel it against his lips. A blush crept up into her cheeks as he kissed her neck again. His arms had encircled her waist pulling her body against his. Her arms were still at her sides, unsure if she really wanted to continue or push him away.

Draco kissed up to her jaw where he followed it to her mouth. Before kissing her mouth however he looked into her eyes. With that quick glance he saw something that surprised him. But could he be sure that was what it was? He stored that look in the back of his mind before caressing her lips with his own.

Hermione leaned into the kiss, leaned into him. Her feelings had completely taken over. She was no longer the rational one but instead following him blindly. She kissed him back with fervor her hands slipping around his neck. She clung to him as he slowly broke the kiss.

All the breath was taken out of Hermione as her eyes fluttered open. Draco had gone back to laying soft kisses on her neck. His hands moved up her back and were lightly caressing her skin. She was frozen there hoping the moment never ended.

She felt the corseting top begin to loosen slowly but didn't really register what was happening at first. All she could think about was his lips touching her skin and how it made her feel. But soon she realized and took a step back, bumping into the door.

"What are you doing?" Hermione asked her voice trembling.

Draco just looked at her for a moment. His eyes stayed on her face for he wasn't sure what she would do. He couldn't figure out what to tell her. He couldn't tell her the truth. She would not be very happy and probably wouldn't ever come near him again.

But at that moment the perfect excuse came into his mind. He could blame the Dark Lord. He could tell Hermione that it was the Dark Lord forcing him to in his mind.

"What were you doing Malfoy?" Hermione demanded.

"You should go Granger." He said turning away from him.

"Not until you tell me why you tried-"

"It wasn't me!" he cried trying to make it believable. He turned around to face her running a hand through his blonde hair.

Hermione stared at him wondering what it was that he meant. She realized as she looked into his eyes however that he meant Voldemort. It hadn't been him but Voldemort. Her narrowed eyes softened and Draco looked on in confusion.

"I'm sorry Draco. We need to figure out how to make him stop this. It can't be forced. Things like that just cant be forced." Hermione said softly.

"He won't stop until it's done. He won't stop trying until your pregnant." Draco said looking into her eyes. Something inside him stirred. He felt horrible lying like that for some reason. He'd never ever felt bad about lying. It must be something else; maybe it was the cake he'd had.

Hermione's eyes were sad as they looked up at him. He had never seen her look that way. She looked almost as if all the light and hope had flown away. Flown out of her body to be smashed and crush by the Dark Lord. She turned before him and started toward the door.

Draco walked back to his bed when the door closed behind her. He lay himself down wondering why Granger had gotten that look. Could he have done it to her? Could he have taken away her hope to get out of it? Had she been hoping that they would be able to get away from the fate that the Dark Lord planned for them?

His eyes closed slowly as thoughts of his future with Granger drifted in and out of his mind. It was a strange but in every scene that his mind produced he and Granger were smiling. They looked happy.

He fell asleep there atop his covers in his clothes.

Hermione opened the door cautiously for the Malfoy hadn't responded to the knock. She peeked her head in and saw him lying there on the bed. She walked over and looked down on his sleeping form. He looked like a child, so peaceful and serene.

Carefully Hermione pulled the blankets down. She moved him up only a little so that his head rested on a pillow. His angelic face was tilted toward her as she stopped to look at him. After a moment she returned to the task at hand. She took off his dress shoes and laid them by the bedside. Then she took off his belt and laid it on a chair. She unbuttoned his shirt one button so he could breathe better. Then she pulled the blankets up around him using a finger to push a few bits of hair out of his eyes.

She leaned in and placed a soft kiss on his forehead. She hadn't been able to stop herself because he was so handsome asleep. She turned away and walked to the chair where she had left the cover. She picked it up and left the room.

The night continued on. Owls hooted softly in their trees catching mice for their nightly feast. The moon hung over head only halfway full. The other half was concealed by the thick darkness of space. Stars shimmered and glowed above almost watching over the mansion and the pair within. The wind blew making the trees sway and leaves rustle in that wonderful yet eerie swish noise.

The mansion was absolutely silent. There wasn't a sound to be heard at all except the breathing of the sleepers and the rustling of sheets. It was dark in the halls until the sun started to come up. At that point the pink sunlight began creeping up the hall and into the windows falling across sleeping peoples eyes.

Voldemort was up at dawn as always and the day began for the many servants and house elves in the house. They hurried to prepare him breakfast and ready the house for the meetings that were to take place that day. It was the day before his plans were to begin and he had to be sure that everything was as he wished it.

He sat in his large king sized bed propped up against the headboard staring out at the room. He was waiting for the tray to be delivered. The black covers were pulled up about him the hangings closed on the sides of the beds but open at the end. He was hidden in shadow when Lucius entered.

"Lucius. I'm glad you've come to me early. How is the boy?"

"He still sleeps my Lord." Lucius said bowing to his master.

"Good and the girl."

"She sleeps as well."

"Is Narcissa ready to receive her guests?" Voldemort asked Lucius.

"Of course my Lord." Lucius said after taking a few steps forward.

"At nine o' clock send a house elf to wake them both. It will give them their instructions to dress and make their way together to the living room. Draco, will then Floo with the girl to your manor. There are guards there, surrounding the house in case she tries to escape?"

"Yes my Lord."

"Good. They will chose attire and have a visit with Narcissa. When all that is finished they will come back here and have dinner with me. After that they girl is to be sent to her room for the night and Draco is to attend the rest of the meetings with the other young men." Lucius nodded at his master's command. "You may go Lucius."

Watching the long blond headed man leave his private chambers Voldemort smiled a wicked smile. Things would be perfect. The wedding would go perfectly and after that everything was up to Draco. The girl wouldn't resist for Voldemort could sense the change in her. She held no contempt for Draco, no true hatred. In fact it seemed that she was beginning to have feelings for the youngest Malfoy.

Voldemort thought that Granger might have been more of a challenge. Actually he'd been hoping for her to be more of a challenge. He wanted to have to force her, to see the fear and the loathing in her eyes. But now she didn't even flinch when he entered the room. She seemed almost as if she were growing accustomed to seeing him. But he would shake things up.

He reached for the wand on the side of the table. He waved it speaking the same complicated string of words he had that day when Hermione had been dying.

In Hermione's room she began to glow. The colors of her clothes were glowing around her body as she rose slightly off the bed. Suddenly like it was being sucked up out of her with a muggle vacuum, the glowing bits gathered into a ball above her leaving not even the tiniest bit with her. It soared through the wall and away from her leaving her to sink back down to the bed.

He had taken away the power that he had given her to protect her. She would have to do that herself, and so would Draco. She would be susceptible to being hurt or even killed now, and he would never know. He would care however and would keep a watch on her, but he would let Draco know that he was responsible for her health and her safety from now on.

Hermione slept on peacefully not even aware that she was now in great danger again, for the person who had tried to kill her before was still at large. She stayed in her slumber, dreaming of things unknown, unaware that everything around her was changing more than ever before and would never ever go back.

well...that's it for now...check out my other story...if u want...lol

Starry