So here is the next chapter (finally)- Sorry it took me a lot longer than usual to update. The first version of this was REALLLLLLY BAD, so I ended up throwing it out and starting again.

I think this story is wrapping up, so there will at the least be one more chapter- and I'm not sure how many there will be at the most... I haven't decided whether or not to write a sequel...

Here's the chapter...

Draco sat there, pouring every ounce of energy he had into searching through the book in front of him. It was late February, almost March, and he still had not found Hermione a way out of the Binding Contract. The lawyers, whom he had paid several hundred Galleons each, had been useless in aiding him with his quest. He had been so hopeful at first, especially when the two teams of lawyers had showed up at his doorstep on the first of the year.


Flashback ***

He had been awake all night, holding Hermione's shaking body long after sleep had overcome her. As soon as they had arrived at the manor, after the party, Draco had told his mother everything. She rushed into addressing letters to the Malfoy lawyer and Mrs. Foote Crow, Hermione's lawyer. Only once she had sent the owls could Draco see the situation fully hit her. He could even pinpoint the exact second her world had broken and her visions of grandchildren had shattered.

A knock at the door, followed by Tottie announcing the lawyers, finally roused Hermione from her sleep and Draco from his daze. He wished she could go back to sleep, since fresh tears were already making their way from her eyes. It's too much for her to handle… I have to get her out of this!

"Mr. Malfoy, I'm not sure why we are all gathered here… Your mother's letters simply said to come with all information we had about Binding Contracts…" The lawyer that spoke kept looking from Draco, to Hermione's obviously upset form.

He cleared his throat and looked with determination at the half dozen or so lawyers before him. "We've been informed that Hermione is betrothed and that it is sealed by a Binding Contract. You are here to help me get her out of it."

Being advisoerrs to people with more money than common sense had prepared these lawyers for almost any request. They still gasped at Draco's statement. "B- but that's not possible…"

He sneered as Hermione began to cry harder. "MAKE it possible!"

"B- but sir…"

"I am willing to spend a great deal of money for this to be taken care of… There must be something that would have voided the contract at some point during the past fifteen years. "He looked at the shaking girl on the couch beside him. "I know we're asking for a miracle… but she's been through enough as it is."

The lawyers looked at one another with uncertainty. One woman, probably Mrs. Foote Crow, nodded her head and settled herself in front of the large collect of books Narcissa had found in the library. Following her lead, the rest picked up a book each and settled themselves into the various chairs around the room.

Hermione sniffled. "Thank you."

Draco wrapped his arm around her and kissed her forehead. "Don't worry love; we'll find something."

End flashback***


Draco cursed that memory since no one had been able to find a solution to their problem. He hated the situation and his heart ached for his girlfriend. He was now her only hope; the lawyers had finally given up two weeks previously.

He sighed and looked up from his book; it had to have been close to his seven hundredth one now. Hermione was sitting at the window seat, brows furrowed as she read yet another Rita Skeeter article. "What about your name change?"

She sighed, not bothering to look up from her paper. "We've already tried that Draco…" She sounded like she was explaining something to a toddler for the tenth time. "My name changed, but the blood holding me to the contract didn't. I think…" She looked at him and bit her lip. Hermione shook her head. "No…"

"What?"

She put down the paper and walked to where he was sitting on the couch. Kneeling down before him, a tear escaped and ran down her cheek. "I think it's time…"

He heart dropped. "No. No, you can't give up. I'll find it! I know I will! All I have to-"

She placed her hand to his mouth to stop him from continuing. "Draco… I- I don't want this, but…" Hermione stood up, afraid to look at him. "It's time that I be responsible… I may not like it, but I am engaged."

"Please…"

"No, I have to; this isn't right…"

"Don't do this." He felt his world begin to fall apart.

"I have to Draco. We've tried and nothing has worked. I have no choice. I love you, but I have to marry Adelino…"

"I- I'll try harder; I'll get you out…"

"Draco, you have tried! You aren't even bothering to do your homework anymore! If there was a way out, you would have found it for me by now!" Tears were now flowing freely down her face. "Please, don't make this harder than it already is…"

His head was throbbing and his veins felt cold. "I-" He shook his head and stood up. Draco reached out his arms, pleading with her one last time, but she shook her head. They fell to his sides like dead weights. He licked his lips and tasted salt, just then realizing that he was crying. "I-" Draco dropped his head, defeated, and retreated to his room.


He woke up to the sound of someone knocking on his door. How long have I been in here? Oh, who cares anyway…? Draco groaned and rolled over, his back now to the door.

The knocking continued for several more minutes before stopping. Finally… He groaned again as the door creaked open. "Go away…"

Instead of responding, Draco felt the bed shift as whoever it was sat down beside him. the person began to rub his shoulder in a soothing way, which reminded him of Hermione. Hell, everything reminded him of Hermione! He began to cry again.

"Malfoy…" Great, it's the Weaslette!

"What do you want?" His voice came out muffled from his pillow.

"W- well, you've been in here for almost a week… Blaise asked me to check on you…"

"Why?"

"He thought you wouldn't want to see anyone and figured, since you wouldn't want to see me under normal circumstances, you wouldn't do anything stupider than usual if I showed up here… I don't know, really; I told him to drag his own sorry hide up here, but I think he's being a typical guy… You know, he doesn't want to deal with emotions…" Draco merely shrugged his shoulders. "Hermione is worried about you too…"

He cried harder. "I failed her…"

"Draco, no, you did every-"

"No, I failed her!" He sobbed even harder, not caring that Ginny was there. "I- I was the one w- who spilled her secret! I- I didn't p- protect her! I- I couldn't f- find her a w- way out! I failed her! It- it's no wonder w- why she dumped me!"

"She didn't want to do that!" Ginny grabbed his shoulders, trying to calm him down. "You can't blame yourself Draco! There's nothing anyone could do!"

He turned and met her with steely grey eyes before burying his face in her shoulder. "S- she left me… I'm… I never d- deserved her in the f- first place…"

Poor Draco... This chapter was really hard to write.

Let me know what you think!