Thank you for your kind reviews and a big thank you to Ren for her excellent beta work on this story!

After her bathing, Hermione returned to her bedroom to find that Tuffy had indeed laid clothes out for her. They weren't formal as she had feared, so she put them on in relief and wandered her way back downstairs. Glancing at a large grandfather clock that stood halfway down the hallway, she noticed that she had half an hour until dinner so she decided to find the library again and research the bonding ceremony, and all it entailed. It wasn't long before she noticed that the portraits of past Malfoys which lined the hall eyed her suspiciously as she walked, thus she did her best to try to ignore them. Two wrong doors later, which she discovered led to yet another bathroom and a sort of club room; she finally found the library. She walked over to the shelves and saw most of the books looked brand new, as though they'd never been touched. She guessed Lucius Malfoy had just put up the library for show; from the looks of it, she didn't imagine he had read much.

"May I help Missus find something?" another elf asked, popping into view.

"Well, I suppose. I'm looking for something on wizard wedding ceremonies; specifically bonding rites," Hermione told the elf.

"One moment, Missus." The elf bounded away into the shelves and came back almost immediately with a book entitled, 'Wizarding Weddings'.

"Thank you," Hermione said, taking the tome. She made her way over to a large overstuffed leather armchair and began to flip through the index until she found a chapter titled, 'Binding Rites'. Skimming the chapter, she found a picture of a cord that looked exactly like the one the officiator had used. "In arranged marriages, the bond must be particularly strong as usually there are no feelings of love to keep the marriage together", she read. "In order to produce a successful arranged marriage, the bond contains a fidelity charm to prevent either partner from straying as well as a lust spell, that as the hours after the wedding go by, will become more potent until the marriage is consummated." Hermione gaped at the words in horror, before slamming the book shut; not wanting to read anymore. She felt ill just thinking about it; trying to imagine herself having any feelings at all for Malfoy other than hatred or anger, much less lust.

"Missus, it is time for dinner, it is," the elf told her. Giving the elf back the book, Hermione made her way slowly to the dining room. Malfoy was already there, eating. He looked up when she entered the room but didn't say anything; instead choosing to turn away and read the Prophet.

She sat down across from him where there was a place setting laid for her, and Pokey immediately brought her a plate of food. She began to eat in silence, glancing up from time to time to see what Malfoy was doing.

After a bit, he sighed and put down his paper. "What do you want?"

"It's just – the bonding," Hermione stuttered.

"What about it?"

"I read about it in the library," Hermione stopped talking.

Malfoy raised his eyebrows. "And?"

"It's just… do you feel anything, yet?" She looked down, blushing. After a moment without an answer from him, she looked back up. He was staring at her intently.

"No," he replied, almost a minute later. "Do you?"

"No," she said, relieved. "According to the book, it should have started right away."

"I think the book is under the assumption that the couple in question don't know each other," Malfoy told her. "When you have a history like ours, I bet it takes a bit longer."

"Oh," Hermione said, disappointed. "I was hoping they left it out."

"No, they didn't. I heard them chant it into the bonding," Malfoy told her. "Sorry." He went back to his paper. They ate in silence for a moment until Malfoy stood up. "I'm going out for a bit," he said, not saying where, so Hermione didn't ask. If she wanted her own freedoms, she would have to let him have his own, as well.

As soon as he left the room, she went over to the study and opened the floo. Taking a pinch of the shimmery green powder, she threw it in the fireplace, opening a port.

"Potter house, Surrey," she said and disappeared into the flames.

"Hermione?" Hermione heard Harry's voice, as she brushed ash from her clothes. "Where did you come from? Malfoy Manor doesn't have a floo connection."

"Obviously, it does," Hermione snapped, stepping out of the fireplace. "Did you, or did you not, know about the bonding?"

"What about it?" Harry evaded, shifting uncomfortably.

Ginny stood from her seat. "What about the bonding? What's going on, Harry?"

"I told you about the fidelity charm," he said.

"I'm not talking about that," Hermione said angrily. "I'm talking about the lust charm, you two-faced prat!"

Ginny gasped. "Harry!"

"What would have been gained by my telling you?" Harry asked defensively. "You still had to go through with the marriage."

"At least I would have been prepared!" Hermione yelled. "But no, it was Malfoy who told me to go look it up. Do you know how utterly stupid I felt?"

Ginny smacked Harry's arm. "That was a horrible thing to do!" she said. "Poor Hermione!"

"Look, I'm sorry Hermione; I should have told you, and I should have known Malfoy would tell you," Harry said, rubbing his arm.

"How's it going, by the way; what with the lust charm and all?" Ginny asked. "Are you wanting to shag him yet?"

"No," Hermione said, calming down slightly. "He thinks it's because we hate each other so much; it may take longer."

"You discussed it with him?" Harry asked.

Hermione glared at him. "For a moment. I was hoping they had left it out, but he said he heard it."

"I did too," Harry said. "You should have felt it as soon as the bond was done. It would have felt like a shock."

"Well that confirms it; I felt it," Hermione said miserably. She sat down on the sofa unhappily. "Will it be sudden?" she asked. "I'm not going to wake up one morning and just want to jump on him, am I?"

"I honestly don't know," Harry said, sitting down beside her. "Once again, it's because the Ministry wants these marriages to work. It's not to upset, or hurt you."

"It made me look stupid," Hermione said, glaring at him. "Arguing about sex with him, when he knew all along what would happen, and I didn't."

"I don't think he knew then, if it makes you feel better," Harry said. "He came up to the offices early this morning and talked to Mewes for about an hour. I think he found out then. I can ask Mewes, if you like."

"No, I suppose it doesn't matter now," Hermione sighed. "I like to be in control. I'm scared that I won't be able to control this."

"You won't," Harry said. "It will continue to get stronger until its purpose is accomplished. From what I've been told it's best not to let it get too bad. A few of the couples married Saturday are having… issues."

"That was only forty-eight hours ago," Hermione said, panicked.

"I think Malfoy's right though; regarding your past. It might take longer because of that. Most of the couples didn't know each other very well. We're going to be having meetings with everyone as well, to see how everything's going. We're doing it six couples at a time. You and Malfoy will be sometime next week. You'll get an owl about it soon," Harry told her.

Hermione nodded, and slowly got to her feet. "I guess I should get back, I'm pretty tired."

Ginny came over and hugged her. "I'll have a long talk with Harry, don't worry," she whispered.

"Sorry for barging in," Hermione told Ginny. Glaring at Harry one more time, she stepped back into the fireplace and disappeared.