The Prince's Diary.
Chapter two
Draco and Hermione had been at it for a week now. The only thing they managed to accomplish was that, with a bit of detective work, the spell Narcissa used was to get some dirt off her Italian leather heel. They had also managed to agree to only talk civilly to each other, avast improvement.
"Hey Granger?" Draco asked, getting her attention.
"Yeah what is it?
"What'll happen if we can't find a way out of this?"
"Grin and bear it I suppose. But we will find a way out of this, so try and be cheerful." Hermione tried to smile but it faltered quickly enough.
After a few hours of scouring the library for any kind of book that might help, Draco rounded the book shelves and saw Hermione fast asleep at the desk; her body was slumped over the massive book she had been reading.
She had been trying for every waking hour to find a solution, she only ever ate when Harry, Ron or Draco (Yes, Draco too!) forced something down her throat.
Draco knew she hated him, but for anyone, even a Gryffindor, to hate him this much was almost laughable. ALMOST.
"Granger?" Draco walked over and prodded her. "Hermione?" he whispered a bit louder and poked a bit harder. She didn't even stir.
Sighing, he picked her up bridal-style and carried her back up to there dormitories. Not knowing the password to her room, he laid her down on the couch in front of the fire place, conjured up a blanket and placed it over the top of the dozing princess. He turned to leave but he heard a slight mumbling.
"Hermione?" He went back over to where she was waking up.
"Where am I?"
"You're in our dormitory."
"Draco, how did I get here?" her voice was little more then a whisper as she sat up allowing Draco to sit next to her.
"You fell asleep in the library and then I carried you here." he explained politely.
"Oh... well then, thank-you." Hermione said meeting his gaze. They just stared at each other for what felt like ages, heat surging through there bodies. Draco broke the eye contact, said goodnight and went to his room.
Shutting the door, he leant on the back of it and sank into the floor. Did he just have a moment with Granger? He hoped not, he would was trying to get out of this arranged marriage to her, a 'moment' could ruin it. But then again Granger's looks had improved. Draco walked over walked over to his desk, sat down, got out a quill, ink and a piece of parchment before proceeding to make a list about all the good and bad things about Hermione.
GOOD;
smart
hair is almost straight
pretty (crossed out) not ugly.
BAD;
know-it-all
bookworm/beaver
hair still a little frizzy
not the hottest girl in the world
forced to marry her
Gryffindor
Oh well, if I'm stuck with her then she will be stuck with me too... he he heee this could be fun.
Days passed, then weeks and pretty soon the new holidays had arrived. 2 days before they were free from school however, Draco and Hermione had received a letter from Narcissa telling them that they were to spend the holidays at Malfoy Manor. They grudgedly accepted (even though Draco didn't really have a choice!), little did they realise was that Narcissa had an alteria motive. Upon arrival they had been whisked apart, Hermione with Narcissa and Draco with Mr Zabini (Blaise's dad) to see his father.
-:-
"Draco, did you have a pleasant trip?" the dark lord asked, obviously not to interested.
"Pleasant enough father."
"Good. Because I have some good news for you. Your marriage to Princess Hermione has been bought forward. To tomorrow."
"WHAT!" Draco cried. He could hardly believe what he was hearing. It was ridiculous. He was seventeen, for cryin' out loud! He was too young to be married.
Lord Voldemort was watching him. What should he do? If he protested against the idea, Voldemort would punish him. Draco knew he wouldn't kill him because every dark lord needs an heir, but then again, you'd be surprised what you can live through.
"Well? Do you not have anything to say?" the dark lords voice pierced through the silence of Draco's freak-out moment. "After what your mother has said, I expected you to be ranting and raving by this point."
"I see no point in trying to change the things I cannot or arguing with one of the most feared wizards in history. I will deal with this wretched fate of mine, but I ask you, if I do kill her to not blame me."
Voldemort nodded and signalled for him to leave. Mr Zabini was waiting outside.
"I'll take you to your room now. Follow me." Draco obediently fell into step behind him. Walking up a giant staircase, Draco looked around. Nothing much had changed really, except the fact that the entire manor seemed gloomier then before. Arriving at a door Draco immediately recognized, Mr Zabini broke the eerie silence.
"Your old room Draco, your stuff is inside and so is her highness."
Watching his best friends' father walk away, Draco dreaded the thought of entering, but he was tired, it was late and he wanted to sleep.
Opening the door, he could see a dim glow coming from his desk on the far side of the room. Hermione was slumped on the desk after apparently crying herself to sleep. Sighing, Draco went and sat down in an armchair beside his fireplace and fell asleep.
Upon awaking the next morning, Draco realised where he fell asleep and tried to get up by removing the blanket on top of him… blanket?
What blanket?
Hermione must have put it there while he was sleeping. Anyway, getting up, Draco went about his ordinary morning routine and started on his way down to breakfast in the dining room. Half way down the stairs, he noticed Hermione sitting on the very bottom step. She appeared to once again be crying.
"Hermione?" Draco continued on his way down the stairs and sat next to the Gryffindor princess. "Hermione, what's wrong?"
"Do you really have to ask?" she managed to say in between sobs.
"Oh, right. We have to get married today…" Draco was suddenly feeling depressed.
"Why is this happening to us? Why couldn't it be to someone else?" Hermione started to dry her tears.
"Maybe we did something horrible in a past life? Maybe it's someone's idea of a cruel joke? I don't know." He replied sadly as Hermione started to cry again. If there was one thing Draco hated, it was seeing girls cry.
Draco draped his arm around Hermione and she turned and cried into his shoulder. He pulled her into a sort of hug to try and get her to stop crying. After a few moments Hermione's tear started to ease up and she started a half hearted laugh.
"You must think I'm pretty stupid. I'm sorry. I'm getting all emotional."
"And with good reason!"
Draco looked Hermione square in the eyes. For a brief few seconds Draco realized how tears really made her eyes sparkle, mind you, this was only for a moment as Draco was otherwise busy easing his lips over hers and pulling her into a passionate kiss.
After a little while a breathless Draco and Hermione parted.
"I'm sorry," Draco whispered.
"I'm not," Hermione whispered back before pulling him in for another kiss. "Maybe this wedding thing won't be so bad? Hey, if we hate it that much we could always get a divorce." She said once they had come down.
Draco just stared at her before smiling back. "You're right, we'll never know unless we give it a go,"
"Agreed, but no kids. At least not anytime soon."
"Totally agreed."
Draco and Hermione went sperate ways to get ready for the wedding. He looked like a real prince in the suit that was naturally tailored to fit him perfectly, whilst she was a vision of an angel in a long white satin gown. And it was naturally, a fairytale wedding, everything was perfect as the prince and princess exchanged their vows and dancing into the night.
-:-
Pretty soon the holidays were over and Draco and Hermione had to return to school.
"Farewell Father," Draco said bowing to Lord Voldemort then turned and hugged Narcissa. "Goodbye Mother."
Draco waited outside while Hermione said her goodbyes.
Before apparating back to school, Draco had to ask the question that had been nagging at him. "Hermione?" he started.
"Yeah? What is it?" she asked smiling.
"What we going to tell everyone at school? I mean you know Dumbledore, he'll probably make an announcement at dinner."
"Don't worry. How would he find out anyway? The only people in attendance were your parents and your father's deatheater's. Besides, he did say that he didn't want anyone to know until at least graduation if we could help it."
"True. Thanks." He smiled and kidded her temple. "You have no idea how much better you made me feel."
Picking up their luggage, they apparated to the school and acted just as they had before the holidays A.K.A. arguing, bitching and just all round nasty not niceness.
Draco headed over the Slytherin table which was conveniently located next to the Gryffindor table and Hermione and Draco sat on opposite sides so as not to lose sight of each other.
"Malfoy?" Crabbe asked through half a pumpkin pastry.
"What is it you disgusting slob?" His insult obviously didn't sink in.
"Why do you keep looking at the mudblood Granger?"
Everyone on the Slytherin table, or at least those with in hearing range, turned to look at Draco.
"What do you mean?" he began to snarl.
"I mean you keep looking at her and it's starting to creep me out."
"Shut up Crabbe, you idiot! You really don't know anything do you? Why would I be sneaking glances at a filthy little deranged mudblood, huh? Especially one like Granger? Draco half spat and half shouted at his dim-witted 'friend'.
"Hey ferret boy!" Draco couldn't help but look up. It was Hermione who had spoken. "Call me mudblood…"
He got a face full of mashed potatoes. "Bloody hell Granger!" he shouted at her whilst removing potato from his face.
"Ooooo, what'cha gonna do? I'm so scared. Ha ha ha ha haaaaa!" Hermione laughed in a mocking tone with the whole of Gryffindor table joining her.
"You're dead." Draco spied a bowl of baked beans and flung them at her.
Unfortunately for him, she ducked and it hit one of the Hufflepuff's who returned the throw with food from his own table, and so the Great Hogwarts Food Fight began!
Draco walked up to the head dormitory and saw Hermione who had not long walked in herself. They took one look at each other and burst into laughter.
"Oh my god! That was so much fun!" Draco managed to say when they had calmed enough to talk.
"I know, I mean 'filthy little deranged mudblood'? That was classic!" Hermione just smiled at her husband.
Draco had no idea that she was capable of doing something like that. It was a whole new side to Hermione, but definitely one worth getting to know better.