CHAPTER 02

He was not coming.

I looked at the clock hanging in my living room; it was already seven. I must have really been dreaming desperate dreams for a man in my life. But here I sat in my living room couch, waiting for someone who was not coming. I sighed and took off my shoes, sitting back into the armchair.

"So much for hoping," I said to myself with a pathetic laugh. It was Malfoy for Merlin-sakes. Like he or anyone would want to marry me anyways.

Just when I was about to close my eyes a knock came at the door. I wondered who it was as I hurried to go open it. I almost tripped on my feet when I opened the door and stared up at him.

"Sorry I'm late. The meeting took longer than I should.." He stopped mid-sentence and stared at me, seeing me for the first time.

I was shocked to hear him say sorry; especially to me. But I was angry and disappointed in myself for believing him and it must have shown on my face, because the next thing I knew, his lips were touching mine. I froze, I could hardly breathe. My heart was beating a mile a minute and I swear I could hear music somewhere in the background.

When I finally worked up the strength to push him away he was grinning down at me with that light of amusement in his eyes. I decided then and there that I did not give a damn about the stupid agreement we had made earlier. Who cared if I was single all my life? I did not need a man for me to worry about, or for me to have headaches over if it was going to Draco Malfoy.

"Get out of my apartment," I all but shouted at him, wiping the grin off his handsome face.

"Hermione," He reached out a hand to me, but I slapped it away.

"I did not give you permission to touch me." I snapped.

He stared at me for a long second and then burst out laughing. My blood raced and my face burned with anger and embarrassment.

"Get out!" This time I did shout it, drawing curious stares from my neighbors in the apartment building, as they watched us from where we stood in the doorway.

"Hermione," He reached out again, and this time I could not slap his hands away. His grip on my arm almost hurt and the amusement in his eyes were replaces with cold ice.

"I change my mind." I told him tight lipped.

A frown formed on his forehead.

"Are you okay Hermione?"

We both turned to look at the small crowd gathered outside of my apartment door. I blinked, my anger forgotten. I opened my mouth to answer, but before I could get a word out..

"Hermione and I are having our first fight. She's very sensitive these days."

"What?" I must have said it at about the same time everyone else that gathered outside the apartment said the one word.

"I'm Draco, Hermione's husband."

There was a long silence and then the small crowd burst out with excitement, throwing hugs and congratulations at us. And all the while I could only watch in a silent daze. After the crowd disappeared and I was ushered into my apartment with the door firmly closed behind us, I heard him curse under his breath and then felt his stare.

"You told them that we—that I- ?" I blinked at him and then frowned, "I need to lay down."

I left him standing by the door to go and sit on the couch. He followed me and came to stand by my side.

"We need to talk Hermione."

I nodded, we definitely needed to talk. "I'm sorry about yelling, but the whole day has been-?"

He nodded in understanding, taking a seat next to me.

"I don't know anything about you. I don't know why you're here." I said in a quiet voice.

He chuckled, "I'm twenty six. I own my own business. I went to Hogwarts with you for seven years. I was a rightful ass back then but I've changed. I've been living in the Muggle world for the past 5 years. I've never been married before. I like to travel. I love art and appreciate beauty. I dislike people who budge into my business and people who interrupt me."

I stared at him again; it seemed I was always staring at him for one reason or another. Did he really change?

He had stopped to look at me, "What about you? What have you been up to after Hogwarts?"

"Well I'm twenty five. Unemployed at the moment and I've also never been married before. I would love to travel, but have never had the opportunity. I do like art, but I prefer the history of it. I like to read and like late night movies and slow music. I dislike eating mushrooms, and I dislike people who show off."

He smiled, holding back a laugh.

"What?"

He shook his head, "Now we plan out a story about how we met, fell in love, and married."

My mind went blank.

"Let's keep things as close to the truth as possible, agreed?"

I nodded. Would anyone believe us?

"We met in the park, the one across from your apartment building were we talked yesterday."

The park. I nodded.

"We bumped into each other and began to talk. We hit it off right away and were attracted to one another. We had a whirlwind romance and decided to get married because we believed we were both in love."

I nodded, seeing everything happening within my head. Would people really believe this?

"We've been dating for a month been married for a week, April 5th, Saturday. We got a special license and was married by the judge in a small ceremony. The Muggle way. Our witnesses being the judge himself, a police officer, and a friend of mine."

"What did I wear?" I asked.

He grinned, "What did you wear?"

I smiled, "A neat white dress, with a small bouquet of white lilies."

"You like lilies." He said.

"How did you know?"

"You smell like them and you just mentioned lilies at our wedding."

"Why did we secretly get married?"

"Why did we?"

"Because we knew we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together and couldn't wait but I was scared of what others would think of us since we were enemies?"

"I think that would work."

"Can I ask a question?" I asked after we both became silent with thought.

He raised an eyebrow.

"Are we really getting married?" I whispered, afraid someone would overhear us.

He smirked his smirk of amusement, "I've already called for a special license that dates back to the 5th of this month, and I've already asked my friend to witness the wedding. All we have to do is sign the papers."

"Well," I said as I sat back on the couch, "You don't do anything by half measures, do you?"

"No. I'm a Malfoy. If I want something done, it will be done."

"Tell me, what company do you own?"

I saw the mischief in his eyes when he answered, "I thought you would have already known or at least gone and looked me up after I left you this morning."

I frowned at him, "I was too busy trying to get over the fact that Draco Malfoy was going to be my husband. And I haven't been in the Wizarding world for quite some time now."

He grinned, a lopsided grin, "Its Star Incorporations in the Muggle world, a branch or Malfoy Inc. I hope you've heard of it."

I stared at him, my mouth gaping open. Wasn't Star Inc. one of the largest shipping investment? When did he become so successful in the Muggle world? Why didn't I know it was his?

My mind was running. I laughed; I could not help it, and laughed. Either in hysteria or in mirth, I could not tell. I shook my head, "You must be joking, right?" I added when he made no change in his somber expression. I shook my head again, faster this time, getting onto my feet to pace around my living room floor.

"No, you can't be the owner of Star Inc. It's a Muggle company. You don't like muggles. And why are you here in the Muggle world? You shouldn't be here. You don't need to marry me. You have dozens, hundreds, of women that aren't Mudbloods who would love to fall at your feet if you asked them to." I stopped to look at him; nothing in his facial expression gave anything away. "This is a joke isn't it. I thought you said you changed. Is this for revenge?" I laughed once more, "Why would you want to get married to me?"

"I could ask you the same thing. Why are you in the Muggle world jobless? Shouldn't you be running for Minister of Magic?"

"I've lost part of my magic after the war."

There was a dead silence.

Was it worry or shock or even pity that was etched on his face for a mere second before it was expressionless again. "My mother remarried to a Muggle-born after the war and brought me to the Muggle world with her. I became adapt to this world and enjoy it so I go back and forth. My family has been pressuring me for a couple of years now. Saying I need to get married and have a wife help out at home etc."

"But, why did you.."

"I needed someone to marry me for a certain amount of time, and then get a divorce without any hassle. I figured, 'why not hire one?' So I answered an ad I saw, and then got a call with your name and address. I really didn't know it was you when I was answering the ad."

I blinked at him.

"That's it? You didn't even know how I looked like, what personality I had, and you just decided you were going to come here and marry me?"

He shrugged his shoulders, "What about you? You put your name in an ad looking for a husband; would you have hired the first guy that answered the ad?" He smiled at me, making me want to frown again.

His smile faded as he stared at me, "I hope you aren't going to change your mind just because I'm Draco Malfoy."

I sighed, what had my lie grown into?

AN: Thanks for reading! Please review!