Disclaimer: I own nothing Harry Potter

A/N: Sorry for the wait guys! I got pretty busy for a bit there. I know this chapter is a bit shorter but I really just wanted to get it out there for you guys. Don't forget to leave a review!

"No."

"Excuse me." Voldemort was spitting fire from his eyes as Hermione stood up to meet his gaze.

"I said no, I have let you control my life as you wished against my will but this is where I put my foot down. I will not marry someone because you have decided it!" Her nostrils flared in anger as she stood up to Voldemort for the first time since she found out she was his daughter.

"YOU WILL DO AS I SAY, I AM YOUR FATHER AND MY WORD IS LAW!"

"Biologically I am your daughter but you are NOT my father, my father was the muggle who raised me. I want nothing to do with you!"

Voldemort became deadly quiet and sat down at his desk. Hermione still stood, determined not to back down even though her heart was racing in fear.

"You will marry Draco, or you shall face the consequences. I simply had those muggles memories wiped but if you do not do as I say I will make you watch as I torture and kill them and they won't even know who you are." His voice was steady yet quiet as he looked her in the eyes.

Hermione's breath caught and tears began to flow down her porcelain cheeks. "You are a monster." She turned and fled the office breaking into a run until she reached her room and threw herself onto her bed now sobbing uncontrollably.

She had no choice; she couldn't let him kill her family, not when there was a chance for her to save them. Voldemort really was a charmer. How could she have believed for even a second that he could have actually been human? She had been fooled by him just like countless before her.

She felt the bed shift as someone sat on the bed beside her she whipped around jumping on her feet ready for a fight when her eyes met those of Rudolphous. She immediately burst into tears again and he stood enveloping her in a tight hug.

She cried into his shoulder for what felt like a lifetime before she pulled away wiping the tears from her eyes. "I don't want to marry him." She whispered.

"My dear Hermione, Draco is good man, you could do much worse. Perhaps you should give the boy a chance. I was under the impression you were getting along?"

"It's a tentative friendship at best; he's still the boy who constantly made me feel like I was less than dirt. I can't marry someone I do not love, but I also can't sacrifice those I do."

"I know you won't like hearing this, but you will learn to love him, just as I learned to love Bella. But at least you will have the time to get to know one another beforehand." He looked at her sadly and pushed a stray strand of hair away from her face.

"I don't want to learn to love him, love can't be forced." She looked up at him defiantly.

"Do you have any other choice?"

Hermione considered this, did she have another choice? She certainly couldn't tell Dumbledore in hopes that he could save her parents without revealing herself. Even if she tried to find them herself and warn them to hide they wouldn't know who she was. Hermione hung her head as she realized that she really didn't have a choice. She had to marry Draco.

"It's not fair!"

"Most times you will find that life never is little one."

The next three days passed by slowly, Hermione had once again confined herself to her room refusing to come down even for meals. A few had come to visit her but she wouldn't speak to anyone. Voldemort had left the Manor the night of their argument and she hadn't heard from him since, not that she cared.

They were leaving for Kings Cross that morning and Hermione packed what few belongings she had in her trunk along with all of her school supplies. She rode in an enchanted car to the station by herself as she couldn't be seen arriving with the Malfoys.

When she reached platform 9 ¾ she looked around her for any sign of Harry and Ron. Before long she had located the Weasley Clan and headed over to the gaggle of red heads nervously holding her arm that had the concealed Dark Mark.

"Hermione!" Ginny caught sight of her first and rushed to embrace her. "How was your holiday?"

"It was….good." Hermione managed to get out giving Ginny a fake smile.

Concern flashed in Ginny's eyes but it was quickly replaced by excitement again. "Come on, Ron and Harry have been dying to see you!"

Ginny grabbed her hand and dragged her over to where the rest of the family was standing.

"Mione!" She was instantly crushed by the two boys and a genuine grin spread across her face as she embraced them back. She hadn't realized until this moment just how much she had missed these boys and it took everything she had not to cry from happiness.

They chatted for a few minutes, the boys telling her all about their summers and her telling them lies about hers. It was difficult for Hermione to lie to them but she didn't have any choice so she made up stories about her trip to Greece and they seemed to believe every word.

Soon enough the train whistle blew and they hurried to get on board waving goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. They made their way through the train looking for a compartment when someone bumped into Hermione.

She looked up into stormy grey eyes and gulped. She hadn't seen him since the day she was told that she was to marry him; she had hoped that she could just continue to avoid him but that hope was quickly dashed.

"Watch where you're going Granger." He sneered at her but it didn't quite meet his eyes. He pushed roughly past her and continued walking down the hall.

Harry and Ron looked as though they might go after him but Hermione quickly stopped them.

"Come on boys let's just go find somewhere to sit down. They nodded, although a bit begrudgingly and followed her into a compartment.

They arrived at Hogwarts shortly, they entered the great hall and watched the first years be sorted, the headmaster said his piece and the food appeared on the tables, however everyone in the hall noticed the empty seat at the heads table.

Whispers filled the hall wondering if perhaps Dumbledore had not been able to find a new Defense against the Dark Arts professor. As dinner progressed the whispers died down and people concentrated on eating and catching up with their friends.

Hermione on the other hand was watching the staff table rather closely. Dumbledore did not look happy and neither did McGonagall, in fact it look as though the two were currently having a heated yet quiet argument.

She turned her focus back on to Harry and Ron who were deep in conversation about this seasons quidditch matches. She sighed and pushed around the food on her plate not feeling all that hungry. When the food cleared Hermione looked back up to the head table as Dumbledore stood to address the school once again.

"My dear students I am sure that you have noticed the absence of our new Defense against the Dark Arts professor. Unfortunately I was not able to procure one before the deadline this year. So as per protocol the board of governors will be appointing one for us. I have been informed that he or she will be arriving tomorrow in time for breakfast. So on that note I bid you adieu, sleep tight!"

As the students stood to leave, the hall erupted into speculations as to who the new professor would be. Hermione had a sinking feeling in her gut that she knew exactly who it would be but she decided to keep this to herself as they made their way to the common room.

After making excuses to the boys that she was tired, she went to her dorm and closed the curtains around her bed. She pulled out the box of letters from her trunk and took a deep breath as she reached for the next one.

Dear Tom,

It was lovely to see you at the graduation ceremony, thank you for the necklace it really was a lovely gift. I did so enjoy our talk, although as you know I do not always agree with you I do find the conversation very stimulating which is something that most seem to lack.

My brother mentioned that you will be joining us soon for the summer? If so we really most have more of our little chats. Anyway to answer some of your questions, I am doing well and have sent my application to St. Mungo's for an apprenticeship. My brother offered to use some of his contacts to help me get in but I decided I would rather get in on my own achievements, do you think that I was foolish in doing so?

Well I suppose I should turn in, I'm meeting with Bella tomorrow morning to discuss wedding plans so I must get some sleep!

Your friend, Mira

Hermione yawned as she folded the letter and placed it in the box. She laid back into her soft pillows and contemplated the short letter. Her mother had wanted to get into an apprentice on her own, which surprised Hermione seeing as she was from a prominent pureblood family. Most would have taken the easy way, but her mother had decided to take the harder road. This made Hermione happy; perhaps her mother wasn't the pureblood elitist that she had envisioned.

Hermione slowly drifted to sleep, her thoughts circling around her mother.