Draco returned from his trip to the manor with a heavy heart and two additional people. They flooed into Hermione's flat with Draco arriving first. Hermione ran to him to hug him but stopped short as she saw the crestfallen look on his face.

'What is it? What's wrong darling?' Hermione approached him to grab his hands but he pulled away. Before Hermione could question him further the fireplace flared and two more people arrived in her flat.

She looked up to see Narcissa Malfoy and Astoria Greengrass. Hermione was surprised to see both witches coming in after her fiancé.

'Tori?' Hermione looked at the young woman standing near the fireplace. 'What are you doing here? Did we have plans for today? I have totally forgotten to put it in my calendar if we did.'

'No!' Astoria sneered at Hermione. 'Why on earth would I have made plans with you?'

Hermione stared at the witch standing opposite her for in shock. She was very confused. She had just seen the younger witch the other day when she went for lunch with her and her sister, Daphne. She looked over at Narcissa Malfoy to see that she was eyeing Hermione's flat with an air of disdain.

'Is this where you have been hiding for the past year Draco?' Narcissa addressed her son, who stood off to the side looking like someone had just Avada'd his familiar.

'Yes, mother' was the only answer the blonde gave. He would not look Hermione in the eye, and she was starting to notice the tension in the room.

'Well go and gather your belongings, although I can't possible imagine what you could have here that is of any value.' With the last part, Narcissa looked directly at Hermione.

'Look here Mrs. Malfoy, you have no right to speak to me in such a rude manner!'

'I wasn't speaking to you, you filthy...'

Hermione had her wand drawn before Narcissa Malfoy could finish her sentence. She turned to her fiancé with questioning eyes 'Draco, what is going on here?'

'Nothing you need trifle yourself with Miss Granger. Draco has just come to remove his things for his return to the manor and preparation for his wedding.' Narcissa answered before Draco could even think of what to tell Hermione.

'I am sure that Draco can stay here while we make plans for our wedding.' She looked at the older witch with indignation.

'Well you see that wouldn't be appropriate for Draco to reside with anyone that is not his fiancé, don't you think?'

'Excuse me?' Hermione looked between Narcissa and Draco with wide eyes, the latter still not able to make eye contact with her. 'I am fairly certain that this ring says otherwise!' Hermione held up her left hand to show Narcissa.

'Yes, there is the matter of that.' Narcissa handed Hermione a scroll of parchment. 'I think you will find all of your answers in here.'

Hermione unrolled the parchment and began to read through what was appearing to be a marriage contract between Draco and Astoria. Her eyes grew wide as she looked up part way through at Draco. 'Did you know about this?'

'I swear to you I did not.' It was the first words the blonde had spoken since arriving at the flat and it took everything to contain his anger and sadness over what was transpiring.

Hermione continued to read and as she did she felt her finger tingle, as she got the bottom a flash of blinding pain hit her. She dropped the parchment and cried out before dropping to her knees clutching her left hand.

Draco ran to Hermione. 'What have you done, Mother?'

'I have done nothing. The contract is embedded with a quid mei curse.'

'Are you fucking kidding me? That's dark blood magic you crazy bitch.'

Narcissa drew her wand and pointed it at her son. 'Do not speak to me in that manner. Do not think I will hesitate to punish you for this, this ridiculous charade you've been playing at!' Narcissa gestured at the flat and Hermione. 'We have obtained what we came for. Let's go home, now!' With that Narcissa turned to Astoria, who had been spending the last few minutes ogling the ring that was now on her left hand. Narcissa's loud announcement of their exit startled the girl, but she nodded and followed the older witch.

Narcissa turned back to Draco. 'If I don't see you come through that fireplace in 10 minutes, I will return for you and you will be punished for your insubordination.' With that she called out the manor and walked through the floo. Astoria gave Hermione a sneer before also calling out the manor and making her exit.

Draco turned back to Hermione who was still clutching her hand to her chest.

'Hermione, I...I..I'm so sorry.'

'Don't.'

'No, please let me look at your hand.' Draco tried to pry her hand from her chest, but she was stronger than she looked.

'Just go Draco.' She looked up into his eyes, those beautiful mercury eyes. She could see the pain reflected in them, both for her physical injury and for the details outlined in the contract. She had never seen one so thorough before, but then again she didn't have a lot of experience with marriage contracts. This one seemed to cover everything from infidelity, proximity and the production of an heir. She knew the first thought in his head was to run away, but if he had read the contract, he knew that prolonged absence from his betrothed would bring death.

Draco didn't even know where to begin explaining to Hermione what had transpired at the manor. He had been on cloud nine when he had flooed to his parents' house this morning to speak with them and deliver his news. He was met, on his entrance by his mother and Mrs Greengrass, along with Astoria. His mother hadn't even let him explain himself before forcing him to read the contract and therefore activating the betrothal. He had cursed a number of objects in the room before turning to his mother who just stood by with smirk on her face as she explained she had heard he had removed his grandmother's ring from the family vaults and wanted to ensure it was put on the correct witch's finger. Draco was furious and wanted to know where his father was, to which his mother explained that he was away on business until later that afternoon, and that these arrangements were always looked after by the matriarch. He read and re-read the contract and its specific intricacies and could find no way out of it. He would have to marry the Greengrass twit or literally suffer death. What the fuck, what century were they living in? Had they not just spent seven years in a war to abolish this very thing?

Draco looked at the beautiful witch in front of him, wincing in pain. All he wanted to do was comfort her and take away all of her heartache, but he knew that could never be now, thanks to his prejudiced mother and the dreams of a young witch too stupid to realize what this all meant.

'Please Hermione, just know that I will always love you, no matter what, even through this ridiculous contract. You have made me a better person and opened my eyes to things I could only imagine before. I will do everything in my power to reverse this fucking garbage.'

'I love you too Draco, but please, just go, I just, please.' Hermione looked up to watch the love of her life walk out. Her heart shattering into tiny pieces as he made his way to her floo. Just before he called out the manor, Draco summoned his patronus, an eagle, and sent it off.

Ron was roused from his post coital bliss by the appearance of an eagle patronus. All it said to him was 'Go to Hermione.' Ron sat straight up and nudged the man sleeping next to him before throwing his legs over the side of the bed to begin dressing.

'Merlin Ron, are you seriously ready for more? You are insatiable!'

'Shut it Nott! Draco's patronus just burst in here telling me to go to Hermione, get dressed!'

Theo shot up and began to dress. They were both at Hermione's flat within minutes.