Note: Hi folks! Thanks for the reviews... it means a lot to me! Here is the fourth chapter. Took longer to update, and I'm sorry, but it'll probably be this way from now on. What I mean is that the updates will probably be once a week, on Sunday. But, still, it's not like I'm making you wait for an entire month! (Unlike some other authors... lol just kidding here, I'm sure they have their reasons ;) ) Anyway, enough with the chit-chat... on with the story!

Chapter 4: A Letter Is a Killer

Hermione lay awake on her bed, her mind wandering outside with the wind. She sincerely wished she could fly away now. Just this instant. Not bothering about an arranged marriage that she would hopelessly contract with Malferret. Or even worse, Crabbe. How could she, in only one night, have sunken so low she was practically hoping Draco sodding Malfoy would please her parents so she could marry him?

"Please Lord, kill me. I need it now."

Aaaaargh. And aaaaargh again. She was thinking this «aaaaargh» would become her motto soon enough if everything continued as it was. She was desperate. A little more, and she would change her name (again) and flee to a foreign country. In Africa. Living with baboons. That'd be better than living with Malfoy. She even started to count all the good sides of living with monkeys (honestly... she WAS desperate) when an owl tapped lightly on a near window. Finally something to occupy her mind for a minute or two.

She slowly got up from her comfortable bed, let the owl in and took his delivery. She didn't recognise the writing on the envelope; but the signature of Malfoy at the end of the letter made her want to scream. Aaaaargh.

Granger,

Although you said you wouldn't help me to conquer the heart of your parents, I think I should help you myself. I asked some of my contacts a little bit of information I'm sure you would like to know. Maybe it'll make you understand how it would be best if you accepted my marriage proposal right now. You can propose my candidature to your parents; it's always a good point to start. Anyway, here comes the information:

-Stupid Neville Longbottom didn't ask your hand, nor did his grandmother. Instead he fell in love with a dumb and ugly creature (like himself) in the lake near your house or something.

-Crabbe asked for your hand.

-Goyle too.

-Zabini did, because I accidentally let it slip that your family was nearly as rich as mine. Let me say that he has a tendency to get violent and possessive with «his girls». Just so you know.

-A certain Michael Zouri asked for your hand, along with his three brothers and two step-brothers; fortunately for you, even if they're not as poor as the Weasel's family, they're not a good party. And your parents surely wouldn't want their daughter to marry one of these 50 years old perverts.

Talking about poor people, I heard you weren't in good terms anymore with the Weasel. I highly congratulate you for finally seeing how much he is a disgrace to this world.

Now if you say I'm not a good person, then you must admit you're not as brilliant as the gryffindorks say you are. Am I not the best future husband ever?

Consider again my proposition. I reiterate what I promised: no adultery and I'm currently searching for a way to avoid the 19th law of the marriage contract. You should, too.

Next time we meet, Granger, I hope we'll be as good as already married, I hope. If not, then you're in trouble and don't count on me to help you get out of it. I'll offer this only once. If you don't take the opportunity, I'm sure that Ginny Weasley will. She is Potty's girlfriend and marrying a poor girl would make me a generous guy to society. Don't worry about me; I have other means of persuasion than what I showed you last night.

Sincerely yours, your future husband,

Draco Malfoy

"That git!" she thought angrily as she finished reading his letter. He wasn't happy enough making her think like mad to find an escape from the situation, he had to bother her with his letters and remind her again of what a situation she was in! Stupid, egotistical, insufferable, disgusting, vile Slytherin he was!

It was even more frustrating that he was surely the only hope she had now. He must have been the only 'decent' one who had 'proposed' to her, even if she wasn't sure he would keep his promises after she had agreed. Or after their wedding, which was now even more likely to happen since the other choices weren't good at all. Curse the day her brother was born. And curse the day he thought it would be funny to introduce her to pureblood guys like she was some kind of meat. The mere thought was insulting when you considered it that way. Insulting and uncopable.

Plus, he had threatened her to go after Ginny if she didn't accept. That, she thought angrily, was the lowest thing he could have thought, she was sure. How could he? Threatening not only her pride, but her friend's too? Ginny would never accept his proposition in a normal situation and they both knew it; but she hardly wanted to know what the 'other means of persuasion' were that he had talked about. So it meant she had to agree. She had to make sure her parents would accept him as her future husband, and no one else.

She was truly disgusted by now. By him, and by herself. She couldn't think of any solution to this problem but to accept his proposal –thus admitting she was somewhat weak in front of him, even if blackmail had been used.

Such trouble for his stupid reputation. Who cares about it besides him, anyway? Stupid, stupid, stupid Malfoy, she mentally cursed. Annoyed again by her own thoughts, as she was before his letter came (maybe even more), she failed to keep her mind blank. Giving up an already lost fight with herself, she got out of her room with some socks on –she didn't want any new incident with the floor anymore– and went down the stairs to the dining room where her mother was already sitting.

"Hey," she said, still shy around her 'new mom'.

"Hello, Granger dear. Did you enjoy your sleep? You seem... bothered."

"Oh," she murmured quietly, "I can't say I enjoyed sleeping since I didn't sleep at all..."

Yeah, like lack of sleep had caused her to loose her piece of mind. Her mother wasn't even helping; Hermione was now contemplating a blatant similarity between herself and her brother, as they both hated when someone called them by their second name. Oh, well. Better make it clear now, or it'll happen again and again. No need to add something to her already annoyed mood.

"Actually, mom, before you ask any question, can I ask you a favour?"

"Sure, dear. Go ahead," softly responded her mother.

"Never call me Granger again," she blasted out.

Ouch. That seemed a little bit rough. Why did she say that, again? Oh, right. She didn't like to be called Granger. But... why was it again? Why would a single name annoy her so much? She didn't react to it when Malfoy would call her that...

Oops. Her mind drifted right back to Malfoy. Stupid, stupid, stupid. I am stupid, my brain is stupid, we are stupid. Malfoy is a heartless, selfish, annoying git. Stupid, stupid, stupid... She couldn't stop the interior monologue she had. Better to distract herself with a conversation now or she wouldn't get the chance later. Think of a subject, quick!

"So, did someone please you enough to be my future husband yesterday?"

What a moron! Couldn't she think of something else? That was downright selfish! The subject would surely backfire to Malfoy, again... Aaaaargh!

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Welll, what do you think? Is Malfoy enough... Malfoy-ish? XD Please review... always appreciated! And thanks for sticking with me!

Featherstrike

...and D and Firnoviel!