Author's Note: Hello everyone! Have you had a good week? I must warn you, that this is not chapter ten.

A few of you mentioned that you'd like to have seen the wedding in Draco's point of view… I'm honestly an idiot for not thinking of putting it in … so any way, I decided to write chapter nine in Draco's point of view.

I would also like to add that the rating will be changed to 'M' rating. I know some of you don't want it, but honestly, you were overruled. By a lot. So the way I'm going to do it, is not write any important information in the sex scenes … that way, you can just completely skip it without missing out on anything.

Sorry to all those who didn't want it to change! J

You know, I feel like a complete Harry Potter nerd right now. I'm updating my Harry Potter Fanfiction, on my bed beside me I have the books 'Deathly Hallows' and 'Order of the Phoenix' … and I'm watching Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. (Sorcerer's Stone to some of you.)

Sorry for the extremely long A:N! ;D Like always, reviews I was unable to reply to will be at the bottom … oh, and I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed! We've got 184 reviews! Lets try and get to two hundred, yes? That would be amazing!

(Ohh my god; just got to the bit where you first see Draco! He looks so little! I forgot he used to says his 'R's like that)!

I love you all! ;D

Realize; Chapter Nine: Draco's Point of View.

(Words:3623.)

Draco was nervous. No, that was a lie. Draco was shitting himself.

He was getting married today. To Granger. The girl he had despised for so many years.

He had been up for hours now, pacing back and forth in Blaise's living room, debating with himself.

On one hand, he wanted to marry Granger. Hermione, he corrected himself. It was Hermione now.

He had become to hate her less and less over the past few weeks. He wasn't entirely sure he ever hated her, in fact.

It was more envy than anything. She always got top marks in every class they shared, whereas he was always second place, a fact his father was not happy about.

Then there was the fact of how he had been raised, and his father's beliefs.

His father. He had never despised any one more than he did his father. Not even the Dark Lord or saint Potter.

Wait until Lucius finds out, a voice in the back of his mind told him. Wait until word get's out that you, Draco Malfoy, heir of the Malfoy family, the most richest and prejudiced family in the world, is marrying Mudblood Granger.

He was definitely going to kill him, that's for sure.

"You're going to ware a hole in my carpet, Malfoy," a voice said from behind Draco, startling him. "Ginny will have you're head on a platter."

Draco turned around to see his best friend and best man, Blaise, standing at the entrance of the hallway that led to the bedroom, grinning.

"I'd like to see her try," Draco snorted. As if the Weasley girl could actually harm him.

"Oh, you'd be surprised," Blaise chuckled, shooting him a evil smirk. "She's got one mean Bat Bogy hex on her, that one."

Draco rolled his eyes. He had to admit, though… that the redheaded girl was a little intimidating - if she wasn't a redhead, then she could easily pass as a Slytherin. Slytherins knew a Weasley from a mile off.

Draco sighed, running a hand through his messy locks.

"Nervous?" Blaise said, giving him a look of understanding.

"Wouldn't you be? If you were in my position," the blond said, flumping down on the settee.

"I suppose so, yes," Blaise nodding, sitting on the sofa opposite Draco. "You need to stop worrying about you're father, Drake."

Draco looked up, frowning.

"How did you know I was -"

"Drake, I've known you since I was three years old … trust me, I know."

It shocked Draco every time Blaise said that, which was a lot. Had he really known the boy for fifteen years?

"How can I not worry, Blaise?" Draco said after a few minutes of silence. "He's a murderous raving lunatic." (Can anyone tell me what HP movie that line was from?)

"I understand, Draco, trust me, I do," Blaise said softly. "But he's in Azkaban now."

"And what's to stop him escaping?" Draco said defiantly. "He's done it once before, so why not again?"

Blaise sighed. His friend was so stubborn sometimes. He was such a paranoid little twat, as well.

"Yes, he did escape," Blaise agreed. "But that was with the help of the Dark Lord. The security in Azkaban is much stronger now."

When Draco didn't say anything, Blaise continued.

"Drake, you need to stop being afraid of him. Move on. He's dictated your life for so long now - don't let him do it again. Not when you have a chance at happiness. You deserve it."

Draco felt like crying. He didn't, of course. Malfoy's didn't cry. Not that he particularly wanted to be a Malfoy.

"If he ever escapes, Zabini, I'll have you're head," Draco warned, earning a cheesy grin from the darker skinned boy.

"Come on, mate, you've got a wedding to get ready for," Blaise said, standing up. "We need to make you look sexy."

As he said this, he pulled Draco up from the sofa and shoved him towards the bathroom.

"Blaise, are you blind?" Draco said, rolling his eyes. "I'm always sexy."

"Don't I know it," Blaise winked before pushing Draco into bathroom and slamming the door.

"Idiot," Draco muttered, chuckling slightly as he stripped off his clothes.

Over twenty minutes later, the door to the bathroom swung open, to reveal a partially wet Draco, a fluffy white towel wrapped around his waist.

"Draco mate, put some clothes on," Blaise joked, buttoning up his white dress shirt. "I don't want the Misses to come back and decide that she's leaving me for you."

"Don't worry, you can have her," Draco smirked. Noticing Blaise's raised eyebrow, Draco continued. "Redheads … mmm, not really my style, mate."

Blaise laughed as Draco walked past him and into Blaise's room.

You could barely tell that a female stayed in the same room. The only indication that Ginny lived in there was a pair of high heels by the dresser. Other than that there was Quidditch magazine's lying around, a Quaffle and some other Quidditch related items.

"I take it Ginny isn't one for nesting, then?" Draco said, eyebrows raised. He pulled down the clothing bag hung on the edge of a portrait and unzipped it, pulling out his suit.

"Mate, all of this is Gin's," Blaise said, twirling the Quaffle around in his hands. "She's not exactly the girliest girl in the Wizarding world, is she?"

"I suppose so," Draco said. "Now get out so I can change."

Chucking the Quaffle at Draco, who caught easily, Blaise glared jokingly at the boy before leaving the room, muttering 'It's not like it's my room, or anything.'

Draco put his suit on in record time and was about to go let Blaise in when his eye caught his reflection.

There was an odd look on his face. The expression was rarely aloud on his face; he didn't show emotion. He wasn't aloud, his father taught him that.

But as Draco looked at himself, his cheeks flushed slightly, a small smile tugging at his lips, and a slight twinkle in his eye, he realized Blaise was right. His father was far, far away. He couldn't stop him from being happy. Draco wouldn't let him.

"You decent?" Blaise said, rapping his knuckles on the door. "I've seen you're butt way to many times, I don't fancy seeing it again."

Rolling his eyes, Draco walked over to the door and swung it open.

"Well, don't you look handsome?" Blaise commented as Draco fiddled with his tie. When he got it knotted, Blaise slapped his hands away.

"Seven years of wearing a tie, and you can't even do it up properly?"

"My hands are shaking!" Draco protested as Blaise finished tying his tie.

"That's no excuse," Blaise teased.

Draco walked back over to the mirror and fiddle with his hair.

"It's sticking up everywhere!" he moaned, trying to get it to stay flat.

"Just leave it," Blaise said, laying down on his bed, flipping through 'Quidditch Weekly.' "It looks better when you haven't done anything to it."

Draco looked at him in disbelief.

"You're lying."

Blaise closed his eyes, sighing. He lied back on the bed, muttering to himself.

"Drake," he said after a few minutes, sitting back up. "You're one of the most …" Awkward cough. "hottest guys in school, and you're worried about how you're hair looks?"

Draco let out a deep breath, looking at Blaise doubtfully.

"It's not my fault I'm nervous," he told him. "I'm marrying Granger."

"Speaking of which," Blaise said, jumping off the bed and looking at his watch. "You'd best get down to the Room of Requirement."

"Why, what time is it?" Draco said, panicking slightly.

"Half eleven," Blaise told him. "You've got around twenty minutes till Granger turns up."

Taking a deep, shaky breath, Draco nodded.

"Okay, let's go," he said.

As they made their way to the front door, Draco stopped suddenly, a horrified look on his face as he patted his pocket.

"Merlin, I've lost the fucking rings!"

"Drake," Blaise said, but was ignored by the blond, who was frantically looking around, throwing the sofa cushions across the room. . "DRAKE!" he said once again, much louder this time.

"What?" Draco jumped, spinning around to look at his friend. He was holding a little box in his hand.

"I've got them, you great oaf!"

"Thank fuck," Draco said, relieved.

"Now come on," Blaise laughed, taking hold of Draco's hand and dragging him out of the flat.

Fifteen minutes later, Draco was once again pacing, this time at the alter.

"She's not going to show up, is she?" he said, eyes wide. "My god, she's run off with Weasley!"

"Malfoy, I'm right here!" Ron said, rolling his eyes.

"Who said I was talking about you?" Malfoy glared. "There's so many of you."

Ron was just about to come back with some snarky retort, but Harry stopped him, shaking his head.

"He's nervous enough as it is," Harry muttered, eyeing the Slytherin. "I've never seen him like this before. He's always so - so composed."

"You should see what he's like in the Common Room," Pansy said, smiling fondly at the blond. "He's a complete nut half the time."

"Blaise, what if she's decided that she'd rather have her wand snapped than marry me? She hates me, doesn't she?"

Blaise bit the inside of his cheek and held his hands clasped tightly behind his back to stop him from slapping Draco. He could be such an idiot sometimes. Blaise wondered how he even survived being a Death Eater.

"Just, chill, okay?" Blaise told him. "She'll be here."

Draco nodded and stopped pacing, instead going to stand in front of the minister. Not five minutes after Draco's meltdown, the doors opened and Ginny walked in, walking up the isle to stand next to the other Brides Maids.

She looked at Blaise and gave him a huge grin, before looking at Draco's relieved expression and rolled her eyes.

"She's outside, you idiot," Ginny mouthed to Draco, who glared.

Draco turned around just in time to see the doors open again. His heart sped up and he felt a smile tug his lips. She looked absolutely breath taking. All he wanted to do was take her in his arms and never let her go.

Jeesh, Draco, when did you become such a soppy prick?

Pushing his thoughts aside, he watched as Hermione made her way towards him, a tight smile on her face.

That made Draco frown a little. It looked forced. When Hermione finally reached him, he shot her a worried look. Maybe she was sick?

Or maybe she doesn't want to marry you, his inner voice said. You are an Ex Death Eater, after all.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the presence of these witnesses, to join Draconis Abraxas Malfoy and Hermione Jean Granger in matrimony, which is commended to be honorable among all men; and therefore - is not by any - to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly - but reverently, discreetly, advisedly and solemnly," the minister began.

Draco's heart thumped loudly in his chest and his stomach clenched. He was getting married. To the person who his father detested. To the person who he used to detest himself.

Draco had a blank expression on his face. He wouldn't let Hermione know how nervous he was. Nervous was a bit of an understatement. He was bloody petrified. But nonetheless, being nervous was showing weakness.

"Any person can show why they may not be joined together - let them speak now or forever hold their peace," the minister said, looking out expectantly at the crowd.

Draco half expected his father to burst into the room yelling 'NOOOO!'

Though, he would probably do it more gracefully. Well, if you could count storming into the room and shooting the Killing Curse at everyone in sight graceful.

However, nobody uttered a word. Draco didn't know if he should be relieved or not.

"Well then, we shall proceed," the minister said after a few minutes. "Do you, Draconis Abraxas Malfoy, take Hermione Jean Granger to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

He wanted to say no, for her sake. It would be her that his father would torture. It was her that had to spend the rest of her life tied down to a former Death Eater. Her having to feel embarrassed or shameful every time they were caught shopping together, receiving glares from people who hated Draco.

Keeping his emotions in check, Draco replied, "I do."

"Do you promise to love and cherish her, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her, for as long as you both shall live?"

Did he want to? Spend the rest of his life with her? He had to admit, it would be an interesting life. But could he deal with the pain of her hating him for ever? Because he knew, deep down that she could never love him.

Did he even want her to love him? He had no idea how he felt about her. One minute, he could tell that he cared about her, that he wanted to be with her, protect her and comfort her … but then sometimes she was just so infuriating that he couldn't bare to be in the same room as her. It was like a relationship with Bi Polar.

"I do," Draco found himself saying. No going back now, Malfoy.

"Do you promise to welcome her into your home and family without a second thought?"

Draco frowned. No, he didn't. He didn't want her in his home because it was not a nice place to be. The Manor held to many bad memories, even for her. She was, in fact, tortured in his very own living room.

She would have to face that every time she entered the room.

Though, they didn't have to live in the Manor. They could find themselves a nice little country home. It wasn't like he didn't have the money.

"I do."

Draco let out a silent breath when the minister turned to Hermione to repeat the vowels.

"Do you, Hermione Jean Granger, take Draconis Abraxas Malfoy to be you're lawfully wedded husband?"

Draco tensed, waiting for her answer. He expected her to say, 'Hell no, who on earth would want to marry him?"

But she didn't. Instead, she whispered an "I do."

Why did she whisper? Does she have something wrong with her throat? Maybe she was ill. There's a possibility. Or she could have a raging hang over. She had been pretty drunk the previous night when he'd seen her.

"Do you promise to love and cherish him, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him, for as long as you both shall live?"

Draco held his breath, unable to even string two thoughts together.

"I do."

Draco let out the breath, his heart so loud it could pass as the beat of Dragon's wings.

"Do you promise to welcome him into your home and family without a second thought?"

She didn't say anything. Not for several minutes …in fact, the Minister had to repeat himself.

What on earth was she doing? She was just stood there like she'd been stunned! Maybe it was his father! He could be hidden in the back somewhere.

"Hermione," Draco hissed at her, looking at her out of the corner of his eye. Did she really not want to marry him? For some odd reason, Draco felt hurt by that thought.

It's because you have feelings for her, you dolt, his inner voice said. When are you going to accept that?

Never, if he could help it. He didn't want to have feelings for Granger. He was supposed to hate her! She was a mud- a mud- a mu-, oh for Merlin's sake, he couldn't even think the word any more.

You've gone soft, Draco.

"I - I do," Hermione stuttered finally, her voice cracking. Draco felt like the weight of the world had just been lifted from his shoulders.

"Now, the giving of the rings!" the minister said, relieved. Blaise walked forward, pulling out the ring box.

As he handed the box over, he winked at Draco before walking back to his place.

The minister gave Draco one of the rings, and he turned to face Hermione just as she was turning towards him.

She gave him a small, timid smile as he reached for her left hand. Returning her smile, he slid the silver ring onto her ring finger, his hands shaking like mad.

Not once did his eyes leave her face. It was like he was entranced by her beauty. He never really thought of Granger as beautiful. Well, not up until their 'eighth year' of course.

It was an odd feeling. She had always been the bushy haired bookworm to him. But now, she was so much more. The bushy hair had been tamed, somewhat, and was now just curly. She had filled out, as well.

Draco watched as Hermione took the ring from the minister, reached for Draco's hand and slid the ring onto his finger.

"By the power of Merlin, I now pronounce you husband and wife … you may now kiss the bride."

Wow. He was married. Granger was no longer Granger. That was going to take some time getting used to. He may call her Hermione out loud, but 80% of the time, he referred to her as Granger in his head.

Gulping slightly, Draco leant forward and rested his lips on Hermione's. The guests applauded and cheered.

"Happy Birthday, beautiful," Draco whispered against Hermione's mouth.

He wasn't sure what had made him say it. It was just an instinct.

Everything happened so fast then. Countless of people approached them, offering their congratulations. They then had hundreds upon hundreds of photographs taken of them.

Nearly twenty minutes after the end of the ceremony, they were ushered, by McGonagall, into the disused classroom which was being used for the wedding reception.

After five seconds of being in the room, Hermione and Draco were shoved into the middle of the dance floor for their first dance.

Draco didn't know the song that they were dancing too. It had been Hermione's choice, but as he listened to the lyrics, he could tell that it just … fit with the way he was feeling.

After doing a few twirls, Draco spoke.

"So what was with you just now?" he asked. He was just about dying to know.

She shot him a curious look.

"What do you mean?"

For a smart person, she could really be dense sometimes.

"You looked -" What was the word he was looking for? "Reluctant … to say yes, I mean."

That was it … she was reluctant! That meant she didn't want to marry him! Draco felt his heart drop slightly, and then swore mentally at himself for being such a sappy git. Again.

Hermione's mouth opened slightly and she had a slight frown on her face.

"It wasn't reluctance, per say," she said finally, looking up into his eyes.

"Then what was it, Hermione? I thought we had gotten over the hostility?"

He was sure they had passed that point in their relationship. After just a week or so, they had began to be more civil towards one another, maybe even friends. He didn't understand it.

"We have!" Hermione said, a shocked look on her face. "It was more … fright, really."

Draco shot her a confused look. Fright? Was she really afraid of him?

"Fright? What could you possibly be frightened of?"

He hoped to Merlin that she didn't say him.

Hermione looked down, unable to answer.

Draco feared the worst.

"Hey, look at me," Draco said softly. He hated to see her like this. He couldn't stand to see her upset. It almost… tore him apart. He almost cringed at that thought. He sounded like such a girl. A Gryffindor girl. Dosed up on three litres of the Weasleys love potions.

"You can tell me anything, Hermione," Draco whispered. Apart from that you hate me, he thought bitterly. "Never be frightened to tell me anything," he added.

"It's just …" Hermione started. "I'm only eighteen - nineteen, sorry," she corrected. "I never expected to be married so young. Especially to a -"

"A Death Eater?" Draco said bitterly. She hated that she was married to a Death Eater, he just knew it. How could she not? He was then when she was tortured by his deranged Aunt. He just stood there and did nothing. Like a coward.

"An ex Death Eater," Hermione said forcefully. "I admit, it worried me a lot at first …but then I got to know you. You're nothing like I once thought you was. I now know I'm in no danger of you."

But you are in danger of my father, he thought. He didn't want to subject her to that. She was in danger because of him. But yet, she didn't even know it.

Draco hadn't realized the song had finished until the crowd applauded once more.

"We'll talk about this later," Draco said, giving her a tight smile. Hermione surprised him by tiptoeing to kiss him gently on the mouth.

"I'm glad I said 'I do', Draco," she whispered against his mouth. Draco's heart bet a million miles a minutes and he felt a weird tingling sensation in the pit of his stomach. What was that?

"So am I beautiful, so am I," Draco told her, a smirk rising onto his mouth.

End Authors Note: So I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! I enjoyed writing it, trust me. J

Remember, don't forget to review M'little Chickens!

Reviews I was unable to reply to:

Tale: Thank you dear! I hope you liked this one, too! I really was stupid for not thinking about adding Draco's thoughts. I honestly didn't even think about it! But here you are! I hope you like hearing Draco's paranoid thoughts! J Thank you, dear! J

Blank: Ahaa, don't worry, M'love, I am! J

Lemonwuv: Yes, Lemon's! ;D! Aww, thank you so much! Reviews like these make me grin! ;D

Arwen: Thank you! I honestly try to keep it as real life as possible, as hard as it may be sometimes. ;D Ahh, yes, there is definitely another chapter! ;) Thanks for the review, sweetheart!

Christy86: I hope you like this chapter! J

Heartandsoul: Thank you! Aha, don't worry, it isJ

So that's all for now… if things go to plan, the next update will be up on Monday. That's right, Monday. This Monday! As in, the 6th. ;D! Thought I should update early, considering this isn't an official chapter. Well, according to my spreadsheet with all the chapters and their dates on it, it isn't.

Review, and I will send you a naked Draco. Actually… I won't … I'll keep him and send you a picture of a naked Draco. ;)

ILOVEYOU!