Over the next few days, Hermione was feeling great. Everyone seemed to be accepting the fact that she and Draco were together. Best of all, she had her best friend back. "Just answer one thing," Harry had said, "Because I need to know. What do you see in him?" She had shrugged. "He makes me happy," she said, "So I guess I see everything." Harry smiled at her. "Then that's all you need."

Things were going well. Until, of course, she was shoved against her will into an empty classroom. When she stopped spinning she realized she was surrounded by a group of Slytherin girls, with Pansy dead center. "Look, here's the thing Granger, because you really seem like a nice girl and all-"

"We just don't want you to get your hopes up, you know?"

Pansy rolled her eyes. She didn't like being interrupted.

"What are you talking about?" Hermione asked.

"Draco," Pansy said, "You can't possibly think you have a real chance with him, do you?"

"We've made it work so far." Hermione said confidently.

"That's cute, really."

"It's not you that's the problem," one of the girls chipped in, "It's his momma you gotta watch out for."

"We're working on that." Hermione said, "But I appreciate your concern."

Pansy let out a cackle. "Look. Cut your losses. He's going to dump you."

"What?"

"You didn't have to say it like that Pansy."

"Well how else is she supposed to find out?"

"What are you talking about?" Hermione's head was rushing.

"Bottom line is you're not like us. We stay with our own kind."

Hermione glared at her. "Sorry Pansy, but you're not with Draco anymore, get over it."

Again she cackled. "Me? Oh god no. That's not what this is about."

"He's engaged."

"Catherine!" Pansy growled.

"Well she obviously isn't getting the damn point."

Pansy rolled her eyes. Hermione laughed. She wasn't sure how else to react. "Engaged?"

Pansy sighed. "We all are. Have been since birth. Someone like you wouldn't understand. Point is, get over him. Because you can't have him."

"Engaged to who?" Hermione's breathing got ragged. Pansy looked around, shrugging.

"Isn't it the Greengrass girl? Her father owns nearly half the banks in London." One of the girls spoke up. Hermione's heart was pounding, the blood was rushing in her ears.

"Just watch yourself. And don't underestimate Narcissa."

They all filed out of the classroom, leaving Hermione alone with her thoughts.

He's going to dump you.

The words echoed in her head. She tried to steady herself. She sat down in one of the empty desks. She knew Draco. He wouldn't do that to her. So maybe he was engaged. It explained why Narcissa hated her so much. And she could understand why he wouldn't bring something like that up. Besides, Draco had told her himself he could date whoever he wanted. Those arranged marriages were a bunch of bogus anyway. And Draco was too stubborn to go through with something like that anyway. She knew how she felt about him, and she knew how he felt about her. So maybe this was another minor bump in the road. They could get through it. They had made it this far. She pushed all her thoughts away and made her way into Charms.

Draco's thoughts were flying in about a million different directions. Astoria had finally come of age, sealing their contract to one another. He knew what that meant, and he knew he didn't want to go through with it. But what choice did he have? He had exhausted all options. Save for one. He eyed his desk, and with a deep breath, sat down, pulling out some parchment.

Dear Mother,

I'm well aware of the circumstances, those have been made clear to me my entire life. However, my only request now is that you simply try and see things from my point of view. I saw the marriage you and father had, and while I loved you both I saw what it did to you, what it did to him. Surely you want me to be happy? I've found my happiness mother. And that happiness is with Hermione Granger. Please, mother. There must be some way to breach the contract. A spell, a potion, anything. Some sort of loophole. I know what I am asking is perhaps more than what is allowed of anyone, but I need your help.

Your son,

Draco

Draco spent the rest of the day anxiously awaiting a reply. He was unfocused all day, and nearly everyone seemed to notice. When Blaise confronted him he snapped at him. He knew shouldn't have, but he was just so tired. And he didn't know what else to do. The stress of his contract with Astoria was taking over everything, and soon Hermione noticed as well.

"Is everything all right?" she asked, curling up next to him in the Room of Requirement. It had been a while since they had had some time alone. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "I'm fine," he said, kissing her cheek, "Don't worry about me." Hermione let out a shaky breath. He eyed her curiously. "Are you alright?" She closed her eyes, relaxing on his chest. "I was just thinking today," she said, "We're a strange pairing."

"Indeed."

"Do you think we'll make it?"

There was a pause. It frightened her. She looked up at him. He was staring straight ahead blankly, his eyes dull.

"I don't know."

"You don't know? What is that supposed to mean?" Suddenly everything the Slytherin girls had mentioned rushed into her head, blurring her vision and crippling her thoughts.

"It's best not to dwell in the past," he began, rather calmly, "Or to fantasize about the future. Right now, there's no where else I'd rather be Mione. And that's good enough for me."

She stared at him in awe. With a single sentence he had managed to dismiss any and all fears. She lifted her head up, brushing her lips against his, enjoying the feel of goosebumps that spread across her arms as his breath tickled her face. She smiled at him, and rested her head on his shoulder, her lips pressed on the side of his neck. "That's good enough for me too, Draco."

The next morning, Draco received an owl.

D—

If it means that much to you, I'll talk to the girl.

Draco's heart pounded in his ears. Did she mean Astoria or Hermione? Suddenly he regretted saying anything at all. He was pulled from his thoughts as Hermione kissed his cheek.

"I've got to go."

"How come?"

"I'm not sure. McGonagal just wanted me in her office. She said someone was here to see me." Draco raised an eyebrow, suddenly suspicious. "What do you think it's about?"

"I don't know," Hermione's face broke into a smile, "But I'm hoping it's about the Ministry."

Draco smiled at her, remembering her internship. "I'm sure you'll get it. They'd be crazy not to have you."

"Thanks," she said, kissing him on the cheek again, "I'll see you tonight." He wished her luck and Hermione set on her way to see McGonagal. As she entered the office, she found two women staring at her. Hermione's mouth suddenly went dry and she couldn't seem to move. "Come in, dear. Mrs. Malfoy here wanted to have a word with you." Hermione's heart caught in her throat. Mrs. Malfoy turned around in her chair and flashed her a pleasant smile. "Hello Hermione dear. I was hoping you and I could have a little chat." McGonagal offered up her study so that they could speak in private. The doors closed behind them and Mrs. Malfoy took off her white gloves.

"Sit down, I don't bite." She said. Hermione did as she was told.

"Firstly I must thank you for being such a good friend to my son. You've had quite the influence on him." She paused, but upon finding Hermione silent, continued, "However, the time has now come to end all this nonsense." She shook her hand as she said so. "You understand that my son is engaged?"

Hermione cleared her throat. "So I've been told."

"And you understand what that means, of course?"

Hermione's hands were in fists. "Draco is free to choose anyone he wants. You should know him well enough to know something as outdated as an arranged marriage won't be enough to stop him."

Narcissa gave a laugh that made Hermione's blood run cold. "Oh you poor ignorant little creature." She put her hand over her mouth and shook her head. "You really don't know, do you?" Hermione shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Draco and his betrothed are now of age. Their contract is sealed. They are a wedding planner away from being married." She explained.

Hermione's face was blank. Narcissa sighed.

"Well I can understand why he didn't tell you I suppose. Are you familiar with the idea of an unbreakable vow?"

Hermione's lips were a thin line, her face suddenly pale. "Yes."

"Then you know what happens if one is broken?"

Hermione nodded her head, feeling as though she might pass out. "Yes."

"These 'outdated' engagements as you called them fall along the same lines. Should Draco choose to stray, he'll die." The way she said it was unnervingly simple.

Hermione couldn't breathe. She just stared at Narcissa, her blood cold.

"I'm sorry to ruin this…fantasy the two of you had," she began, walking towards Hermione, "but surely you understand now. I can't let my son throw his life away. Something tells me you don't want that for him either." Hermione stood up, her body shaking, the chair scraping the ground behind her. "Fine." She said. "I understand. Good day, Mrs. Malfoy."

Hermione felt numb. And strangely cold. People pushed past her in the hallway. She didn't care. She didn't even see any of them.

"Hermione!"

Someone was calling out to her. But it sounded faded. She kept going, pushing through the crowd. She needed air. She needed air now. Before she could even realize it her feet began to jog and then run. Yes. She was running. And she was going fast. She ran all the way out to the lake before she finally stopped. Her lungs were burning and her mouth was dry. She didn't know if the water in her eyes was from the wind whipping her face or if she was crying. She heard footsteps in the grass. No. God. She just wanted to be alone. She wiped her eyes.

"Hermione." Draco was out of breath. "I didn't know you could run so fast," he chuckled to himself. "I heard my mother was here. Did she talk to you about anything?"

Hermione turned around, the tears falling freely now from her face.

"Whoa hey!" He ran up to her, grabbing her shoulders, "Whatever it is I'm here. We'll get through it." She shrugged him away.

"What…" her voice was shaking, "Why would you do this to me?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You're engaged! You- you knew we wouldn't- just why-there was no chance! I don't understand-"

"Whoawhoawhoa. Ok, slow down. I can explain."

"You can't though!"

"Hermione."

"What." She spat out.

He took a deep breath. "Yes, I'm technically engaged."

"We're done Draco."

"Hey! That's not fair." He grabbed her arm. She looked down at his hand. His dark mark looked so prominent somehow. As though she had only been semi-seeing it before. As though she hadn't fully been seeing Draco until now. She felt like throwing up.

"I've been engaged since birth. It wasn't up to me. And it means nothing to me. You're all that matters."

"It's not up to you. It's not up to anyone. If you don't marry her, you'll die."

Draco cringed. "So she told you that part, did she?"

"Draco," Hermione was choking on her words, unable to control her tears. "What did you think was going to happen?"

"I don't know." He pulled her close to him, hugging her tightly, like he was afraid she would disappear. He buried his face in her hair. "I don't know." The words were muffled.

Hermione pulled away, and wiped her face. "Well," she said, "I guess that's it then." Draco shook his head. "No, Hermione, don't do this. We can fight it."

"What's there to fight, Draco? You either die or you live. It's the ultimate ultimatum."

"There's gotta be some way around this."

Hermione shook her head, smiling sadly. "I'll miss you. Please know that."

"Stop it."

"Truly. We had a good run, while it lasted."

"Hermione. Stop."

"We can still be friends." She gave another weak smile and sniffled.

"Don't." he shook his head, "Just don't."

She put her hand on his cheek and kissed him lightly on the lips before turning around and walking away.

"So that's it then? You won't fight for us?" he shouted at her.

She faced him once more. Her voice stayed steady and even. "This is me fighting for us. I don't know what I would do if you were gone." The more she looked at him the more her eyes began to sting. "You know, when this all started I thought of us as Romeo and Juliet, you know? I just wasn't counting on the death thing to actually happen." She tried to laugh but it came out sounding distorted.

"Hermione…" He walked back up to her, wiping the stray tears that had fallen from her eyes. "We can figure something out." He hugged her tight.

"So maybe I have to marry her. There's nothing that says I can't be with you too."

She looked up to him, her face painted with sadness, "A long standing affair? Draco. No one would respect that. I wouldn't respect that."

Draco held onto her with shaking hands, feeling the hope slip through his fingers.

"Marry her Draco. Just promise you won't leave me alone." She buried her face in his chest.

He guided her chin with his knuckles so that she was forced to look at him. "I'll do whatever you say Hermione," his eyes were clear, just then, still grey but with more light in them than she had ever seen before, "I love you."

Hermione could physically feel her heart shattering into a million pieces, and she couldn't hold back the tears any longer. "Please just never stop being my friend," she said, "No matter what. I can't lose you." Her voice cracked and her arms trembled as she hugged him tightly. Draco sighed and pressed his lips against her forehead. "Alright. If that's what will make you happy." She hugged him tightly. "It will."

"Then that's what we'll be," he said, "Just friends."

A:N/ My heart...it breaks...let me know what you all think ;) Don't panic this isn't the end. Scared ya though, didn't I? Thanks for reading~