Recap:

"Stay away from me, Malfoy," she whispered. He smirked.

"Want to keep yourself pure for our wedding night, Granger? Or do you want to do it right now?" She tried to get away from him, but he was almost 6'7" and she was only 5'5". His grip was much stronger than hers. He leaned closer, his lips to her ear. "Are you scared Granger? After all, I am the one whose going to be taking away the most sacred thing a girl holds." He heard her sob and he grinned.

"Draco Lucius!" He pulled away from her swifty, as if she had bitten him. Narcissa stood in the doorway, glaring at her son. Draco glanced at Hermione, who was holding herself and crying. He walked away from her, no longer interested. Narcissa came out and sat down beside Hermione. "Shhh," she whispered, stroking the girl's hair. "Don't pay attention to him. He doesn't want this as much as you don't."

"Then why are we doing this?" Hermione sobbed. Narcissa sighed.

"Because there isn't anything else we can do for you dear. I'm so sorry, child. I really am truly sorry for this."

Hermione woke up the next morning and began sobbing even harder than the night before. It was supposed to be a nightmare. It wasn't.

Narcissa opened the door and found the poor girl on the bed, face burried in her pillow. The three housemaids followed her, closing the door behind them. Narcissa sat down on the edge of the bed.

"My dear, you must get up. You have a big day ahead of you and it's almost noon. The wedding begins in four hours."

"Is there a way that you could kill me?" Hermione whispered, sitting up and staring at the blonde woman. "I can't do this. He's my enemy! We hate each other! I can't lose myself to him!!!" Narcissa hugged the young woman and stood.

"Come dear, a nice bath, a manicure, pedicure and a facial will set all to right. Or some, anyway."

Draco stood on a stool, watching as several house elves tended to his robes. A few housemaids were fixing his hair and his shoes. Lucius stood in the shadows, leaning against the wall.

"You remember the arrangement," he drawled. "After the ceremony, there will be the reception. And then the wedding night." Draco shot a nasty look at the man.

"Are my relatives to be expected?" Lucius shook his head.

"No relatives. Just family friends. Attendance is at 200."

"Remarkable."

"Just remember your vows."

"What vows? To love and protect that wench? I don't think so."

"You will say what I had written for you." Draco stepped down from the stool and looked at himself in the mirror.

"This is going to be the worst day of my life." Lucius smiled.

"That's what I said when I married your mother."

"Do my relatives know that she's a-"

"No. And we prefer it to stay that way for the time being." Draco glanced at his watch and sighed.

"Where's Blaise?"

"Here." The black boy walked in, wearing dark dress robes. "Ready?"

"No."

"Good."

The last guest was escorted into their seats and the music began to play. Draco stood by the altar, Blaise, Crabbe and a boy named Cory behind him. Goyle couldn't make it. The door swung open and even Draco stopped breathing.

Hermione stood in the doorway, dressed in an ivory, sleeveless dress that fit her snugly around the torso and flowed around her at the skirt. Her hair was made up intricately, with white roses in them. A silver band held the veil that draped in front of her face.

She was beautiful.

She began down the aisle and it was immediately apparent to Blaise that she was crying, though nobody else noticed. He leaned forward towards Draco.

"She's not happy about this," he whispered. Draco glared at him.

"I would expect as much, Blaise," he snapped.

Tears streamed down her face as she arrived at the altar and the music stopped. For what seemed like an eternity, the pastor spoke and then there came the vows.

Draco took a deep breath, turning to her.

"There is no vow that I can give that would be the truth," he began. "All that I can promise you is the protection I owe you and the devotion to you and only you. No other woman shall pass through me." Hermione bit her lip, staring at her dress skirt.

"I have no vow to make," she whispered. "I can only promise..." She couldn't continue. Draco leaned forward so that only she could hear.

"Finish it, Granger," he hissed and she looked up into his eyes.

"I can only promise my innocence and my devotion," she murmured. Their eyes were locked and neither could look away. The pastor nodded.

"By the power invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

Draco glanced at him and then back at Hermione. He leaned in, their lips a hair's breadth apart.

"Know this, mudblood," he murmured. "I own you now. But my feeling about you have not changed." Their lips met and Hermione let out a sob.

Hermione hid in the courtyard for the remainder of the evening. She found comfort in a wedding present that had been given. A kitten she had named Jesiphire.

Sitting by the fountain, she stroked the purring thing, letting tears run down her eyes. On her hand, glimmering in the darkness, was the wedding band.

"Hermione, dear." She looked up to see Narcissa before her, a sad look on her face. "You must come now, dear." Sobbing, she put down the kitten and followed her mother-in-law into the house. They went up a flight of stairs and down a corridor Hermione didn't recognise. Stopping before a door, Narcissa knocked and opened the door.

Blaise stood from his seat, glancing at Hermione.

"We'll talk tomorrow," he said and swept out. Draco glanced at Hermione and sat down at his desk, pulling out quill and parchment. Narcissa pushed the girl into the room and closed it. Hermione bit her lip at hearing the ominous click of the lock. Moving towards the window, she kept her eyes on Draco. He made no effort in acknowledging her as he wrote his letter. Turning out the window, she stared out onto the expansive, dark grounds.

"God keep me," she prayed, eyes closed.

"I hope he does." Her breath caught and her eyes snapped open. His breath was on her neck and his hands ran up and down her bare ones. She was shaking again as his lips touched her neck. "I love uncharted territory," he whispered huskily and she turned around, backing up. Unfortunately, she backed up right into the bed and he pushed her onto it. She squeaked and tried to get away but he grabbed her, holding her arms above her head. He placed a burning trail of kisses down her neck as he listened to her ragged breathing.

"Don't be afraid," he whispered.

"Why not?" she gasped, tears pouring down her face. "You'll hurt me." He smirked at her.

"Only if you struggle."

Hermione gasped, her nails digging into his arms. He growled and bit down on her neck.

"Draco, stop!!" she screamed and he bit down harder.

"What the hell is it?" he snarled. He wasn't used to being stopped.

"I can barely breathe," she gasped out.

"That's the point," he growled.

Several minutes more and then he moved off of her. She was shaking as he continued kissing her shoulders and neck. She bit her lip.

"Tha...that wa..."

"Don't speak, Hermione," he hissed. She turned to him, frightened.

"You felt it?" He glared at her.

"I told you not to," he snarled.

"But you felt it!!" she insisted and he grabbed her roughly, straddling her.

"Nothing changes, Hermione," he snarled into her ear. "Nothing."

"Nothing?" she whispered into his ear and he turned to look at her. What was going on here? What were they doing? This wasn't supposed to happen, especially not with a mudblood.

"Are you up for another go, mudblood?"