Chapter 1

When I first saw you.

AN: I was inspired to start something new. I may also see how this works in the glee world. Review and let me know what you think. Enjoy!

PS this is AU. Check out Photobucket for pics relating to this story. Search ssteele2989 album is ame title as story.

Being a prince had its perks but this was not one of them. Draco was so tired of all of these girls from other kingdoms being paraded in front of him. They were always so dull and most were there only because their families wanted to merge with his kingdom for protection or money. It was the same thing every time, his parents would throw a ball, invite all of the eligible ladies that were acceptable to court and have Draco dance with all of them and he couldn't stand it any longer. Right now some blond duchess was talking to him and he had tuned her out long ago. All she could do was gossip and talk about the other girl's dresses and how she thought them inferior to her own. Draco sighed running a hand throw his tussled platinum locks.

"Please excuse me. I need some air." Draco said bowing before turning on his heels and walking out to the balcony that over looked the sea that his castle was near. The night was cool and clear and the stars were shinning brightly. It was a beautiful night and Draco would much rather be out here then stuffed in a ballroom full of all the hot air escaping all the pretentious people he was forced to associate with.

Draco took in the night air and looked down at the waves lapping at the shore. That's when he saw something rather odd. A woman walking to the shore line near the cliffs. The moonlight shined off of her creamy skin making her seem to glow. Draco had never been so entranced in his life. She had long brown curly locks that fell to her waist, her tiny perfect waist. She was standing at the shore line the water almost reaching her as her hand rested against the cliff side. She bent down and removed her shoes, picking up her dress and stepped into the water.

He watched her for a long time as she danced along the breaking water. He had never seen something so entrancing in his life. He continued to watch as she replaced her shoes upon her feet and climbed the stairs coming straight towards him.

"Good evening my Lady." Draco greeted the woman as she approached.

"Good evening my Lord." She replied bowing in front of him. As she rose she looked him in the eye and he was taken in by there depth and warmth. He had never seen such eyes like hers before with so much life teaming behind them. He offered his arm to her and she took it as he led them back into the ballroom.

"Shall we dance?" He asked. She looked at him but he did not wait for a response as he led her out to the dance floor and waltzed around the room with her. She felt so tiny in his arms but so right at the same time. She was so warm and soft in his arms. He could have danced the rest of the evening with her and could have cared less what others thought. He was sure that by tomorrow the rumor mill would be running that something had happened between them outside but he didn't care. All he could think about was this beauty in his arms and how he didn't want to let her go. But soon the evening came to an end and he had to bid her goodnight.

"Will I see you again?" He asked.

"I am sure we will meet again." She said standing near her carriage.

"Till then milady." He said bowing and kissing her hand as she curtsied. He helped her into her carriage and watched as it went down the drive carrying her away from him. Draco made his way back into the castle and saw his father waiting in the entrance way.

"My son, I have wonderful news. A marriage contract has been struck up with the Dowager Queen of Nysa for you to marry her daughter." His father announced. He really didn't want to have this conversation with his father again.

"I will not marry her father; I have told you I will choose my own bride." Draco replied pinching the bridge of his nose.

"You will do as you are told boy." His father replied. Draco only shook his head and walked to his chambers.

Draco fell back onto his bed rubbing his face. He thought of the woman he had seen dancing in the water tonight. She felt perfect in his arms as if she was meant to be there. He closed his eyes and saw her brown ones. He groaned and stood up from his bed as he heard a knock on his door followed by his mother's entrance.

"Draco why must you be so difficult? Your father only tries to make a better future for you and you throw it in his face." She said.

"Why must I marry someone I have never meet for father to inherit more wealth for that is the only reason he wants me to marry whom he chooses." Draco said becoming slightly louder. "Why can I not choose my own bride and choose for love. How am I to live and rule with someone I can not stand, how can I produce an heir with someone who I feel nothing for?" Draco asked.

"It has been done this way for generations, and it will continue to happen this way." His mother told him before leaving his room. Draco picked up a vase on a near by table and threw it at the door she had just closed. He didn't want this life. He wanted freedom, freedom to live his life as he saw fit to love who he wanted to love, to marry someone that loved him for himself and not for his title or money.

Not being able to stay in the stifling castle Draco made his way through the darkened corridors and out to the ocean. He walked along the beach thinking about his life and the options he had. He could run away, but he was sure his father would hunt him down and drag him back and keep him under lock and key. Making his life even more miserable than it already was. He could stay and do nothing and that was almost as bad as the first option. He could kill himself to get out of it but that was cowardice and he was not a coward.

Draco found himself standing along the same cliff line where he had first seen the mysterious woman in white. He looked out over the vast ocean wishing that she was the woman he was going to marry. But wouldn't his father let him know that it was her.

Draco sighed picking up a few rocks and skipping them across the surface of the water as he continued to think about his life until he was tired enough to retire to bed though he received very little sleep because she plagued his dreams that night and the nights that followed.

Draco stood by his father as he waited for his betrothed and her party to arrive at his castle. Soon the trumpets sounded and Draco stood a little straighter. He had a scowl upon his face but he would be damned if he was seen with bad posture. His face softened as she saw a woman approach in a soft purple dress, it was her. She was walking right towards him surrounded by ladies in waiting. She was to be his intended. His father stood and held out his hands as the woman approached him.

"My Lord." She said with a bow.

"Princess Hermione, thank you for coming, where is your sister?" The king asked looking past her. He finally knew her name. Hermione. His heart started to pound faster as she looked over at him with a said smile on her face.

"I am sorry my Lord, my stepsister has fallen ill and was unable to travel at this time. My father, the king, sends his deepest apologizes and hopes that my presence, and the presence of my sister's ladies will put your mind at ease that the contract still holds." She explained.

"I am sorry to hear of her misfortune and look forward to seeing her soon. You are welcome still to your rooms and anything in this castle is at your disposal." The king said giving her leave.

"Thank you my Lord. I am truly grateful to you for your kindness." She said bowing and being led from the reception room and led to her chambers.

Draco stood dumbfounded. He wasn't to marry the woman that was just standing before him; he was to marry her sister.

"Wonderful girl." His father commented.

"Yes she is, is she the older of the two sisters?" Draco asked.

"Yes she is but she is already betrothed. Unfortunate really." His mother said. She was engaged.

"To whom is she to marry?" Draco asked.

"Lord McLaggen's son. She would be married to a prince or king if it wasn't for her mother." His father said.

"What about her mother?" Draco asked.

"She was not of noble blood. Still she was born in wedlock and that is the only saving grace really. Pity she is such a smart girl. She would have made a fine ruler if her father's second wife hadn't bore him a son." His mother replied. "You seem interested in her Draco. If only you asked so many questions about your own fiancée." His mother said. Draco did not reply but thought over the information he had just taken in.

"Excuse me, father, mother." He said to each parent bowing slightly and leaving the room. He had to think. He was rushing down the hall trying to get to his own chamber when he ran straight into someone.

"Forgive me my Lord; I did not see you there." The woman said.

"It's all right." He said taking in the woman before him. She had the face of a doll and flaming red hair. Red hair, where had he seen red hair before, he wondered and then it dawn on him. "You were with the princess earlier, were you not?" He asked her.

"Lady Ginerva sire, Ginny really." She said bowing. "Personal Lady in waiting to the princess." She finished.

"Tell me where may I find your mistress?" He asked.

"In her chambers I would think." She replied eyeing the prince before her.

"Where had my father put her?' He asked trying not to sound urgent or needy.

"In the east wing sire, near the library." Ginny replied.

"Thank you my Lady." Draco replied taking off towards the east wing. As he grew closer to the library he saw her standing in the hall helping a girl who had dropped a basket of linens.

"Princess." He greeted her. She stood and turned around bowing and greeting him in return.

"How may I help you my Lord?" She asked feeling her heart leap into her throat at the sight of him. He was even more handsome than she remembered from her dreams.

"May I speak with you?" He asked following her into her chambers.

"Of course my Lord." She replied with a smile.

"Alone." He said and he smile faltered.

"Is something wrong?" She asked worried. Draco did not answer but dismissed her ladies. "How dare you dismiss my ladies. They are not yours to command." Hermione said to him not believing he would take such liberties.

" I am to marry your sister." Draco said nearly shouting at her.

"Yes you are." She replied simply.

"Why, why didn't my father choose you?" He asked.

"Though your father may allow me to stay here and treat me as my station dictates I am not what he wants for his son's wife. I am only half noble, or haven't you heard that?' She asked.

"What does blood have to do with it. In your mind and manner, you are nobler than any woman that I have ever seen. I have thought about you every night since I last saw you. Have you not felt the same way?" Draco asked becoming frustrated.

"You are my sisters' intended. It would be inappropriate for me to think any thoughts otherwise." Hermione replied trying to stay calm but she couldn't lie to her heart. She had thought of him every moment since she last saw him and begged her father to go back on his agreement with the family. She couldn't bear the thought of her stepsister being his wife, his lover, while she married someone she couldn't stand to be in the same country with let alone the same room.

"Do not lie to me Hermione." He said. She stopped where she stood and stared at him. He had used her name. Not a title, not my Lady, but her name. She knew then that she was in for it.

"What do you want to hear? Yes I have thought of you every waking moment and when I slept you plagued my dreams, I begged my father to break the contract. The thought of you and her together makes my heart break. Do you think I want to see you marry another woman. I may have only met you once but you made an impression on my heart that I fear will never leave." She admitted tears springing to her eyes. Draco reacted to her in a way that he has never reacted to a woman before. He took her face in his hands and crashed his lips to hers. Hermione couldn't believe what was happening, he was kissing her and quite passionately too. His lips felt so wonderful against hers and she felt her knees buckling under her pushing her further into Draco's body as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. She had finally stopped fighting the kiss and her lips pushed more into his. Draco had never felt anything like this in his life and he never wanted the feeling to go away. There was no doubt in his mind that this was the woman for him and he would make her his no matter the cost.