I have come to the realization that, sadly, this story will probably not be as popular as Life in the Fast Lane was. And you know what, I'm okay with that. I'm going to keep writing, hopefully with less delay and shortness. It's hard to get this story started but I know where I want it to go. It's going to jump around a bit because the timeline for this story is one year. And I would like to finish it in less than 20 chapters again. And I'm just going to reiterate my apology for last chapter being so brief.

Chapter Three

The Wedding Ring

Hermione sat by the window in her new bedroom. She glanced out into the garden of Malfoy Manor where guests were beginning to be seated for the wedding. The wedding was to begin at four. Her mother walked up behind her, trying to hold back tears.

"Hermione, dear, it's time for the wedding to start." She said softly as she helped Hermione put the veil over her face. Hermione could not even smile. She just nodded solemnly and allowed the veil to be pulled down to cover her face. A knock at the door signaled her father's presence at the door. He walked in and Hermione heard a small gasp.

"Hermione, you look marvelous." Her father said as he took her in his arms.

"Thank you dad." She said softly, tears filling her eyes. Her mother quickly squeezed Hermione's shoulder to signal her departure. Hermione heard music begin from outside and she and her father left without a word. They stepped out into the warm summer afternoon, a gentle breeze sweeping over them. To anyone else, this would be the perfect day for a wedding. To Hermione, it was possibly the worst day of her life.

Her father walked Hermione down the aisle to the awaiting groom. Her heart was racing and her eyes filled with tears. She bit her tongue to stifle a sob as her father gave her away to the one man whom she detested most.

A ministry official conducted the ceremony. The two enemies spoke their vows, not promising eternal love and devotion. Instead, their forced vows promised eternal cohabitation. There was nothing more they could promise each other. They hated each other so deeply, yet they were going to be spending the rest of their lives together. Hermione's unshed tears raced down her cheeks as the ministry official spoke the words she dreaded the most.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife."

Hermione gasped slightly as Draco pressed his lips to hers. The kiss was cold, with no emotion or warmth. His lips, however, were soft, and much warmer than Hermione has imagined them to be. He broke away and stiffly offered her his arm. Hermione slid her hand into his arm and he led them down they aisle. As soon as they got to the door of the Manor, Hermione yanked her arm away and ran up the stairs to her room. No one followed her. There was not to be a reception since there was nothing to celebrate. The guests left quickly, Hermione's parents bid Draco a civil goodbye and then departed with the rest of the guests.

Draco lingered downstairs in the library for a bit after the last guest departed. He has loosened his tie and was idly browsing the titles in his impressive book collection. His mother never really cared for all of the books. Draco paused, his hand resting on a thick, leather bound book. He hadn't seen his mother in months. He came home for Christmas break the previous year and she had not been there. He spent the holidays alone in the large mansion.

Now that he had someone to share things with, he wished for the solitude once more. He did not want to be married so soon out of school. He did want to be married at all, to Hermione or to anyone.

Draco's nimble fingers grasped the book as he pulled it from the shelves. He glanced at the cover and his eyes widened. He sat down in a nearby armchair as his fingers ran across the brown leather cover. Of all the books in the library, he had to choose his parent's wedding album.

He lifted the cover and the faces of his parents stared back up at him. The looks on their faces resembled the ones he and Hermione had shared earlier that day. His parents' had had an arranged marriage, too. They never loved each other, and Draco was sure he would never find love in Hermione.

Draco continued to look at the album of his parents' wedding and first years of marriage. They never seemed happy, not even in the picture of the couple standing over a bassinet days after Draco was born.

Draco finally raised his head to look at the window after shutting the album in distaste. The sun had set and it was quite dark in the room. A single lamp illuminated the book in his hand. He glanced down at his watch and saw that it was nearing ten o'clock. He placed the album back on the book shelf and left the library. There were few lamps on in the manor. He made the journey up to his room in near darkness, relying on memory to lead him. He arrived at the entrance to his room. He leaned his forehead against the door and took a deep breath. He turned slowly and walked across the hall to Hermione's room. He knocked ever so softly before turning the handle and walking in.

Draco had expected to find Hermione asleep in her bed. Instead he found her sitting on the window sill with the window cracked slightly. She did not turn to look at him. He saw her wedding dress draped across the chair. He opened his mouth to say something to her, but thought twice and turned to leave. Only when she heard the door shut did Hermione turn around. When she saw there was no one in her room, she turned back to the window.

A cool breeze blew in and Hermione shivered slightly. She pulled the window closed and climbed into her very large, luxurious bed. She pulled the blankets up around her and began to cry.

She was just eighteen years old and married to her enemy. Her life was over. Her happiness was over. Draco had not required her to consummate their damnable marriage. She thanked the gods for small favors.

On Hermione's wedding night, she cried herself to sleep all alone in the house of her enemy.

Whew. Okay. Now that that's done, let me apologize IMMENSLEY for the long delay. Senior year is harder than I thought and I have been swamped with work. I'm on thanksgiving break now, and I'll have a lot more time to write in a couple of weeks when my Dual Enrollment classes end and I'll have a lot less on my mind. Thanks to all of you who have stuck around to read this. Please review, I love feedback.