"Daphne!" Ron called desperately.
"Ronald Billius Weasley, what do you think you're playing at. You know it's bad luck to see the bride before the ceremony" a furious Hermione Granger and Ginny Weasley appeared wearing matching navy blue dresses. "But I need to see her, I need to know she hasn't changed her mind" Ron mumbled.
"Oh for Merlin's sake Ron. For the last time, Daphne doesn't give a damn what her father thinks, she loves you" Ginny rolled her eyes at her brother's self-deprecation. "But I can promise you she will have your wand if you are not ready and waiting for her at the top of that aisle. Go find Harry, have some Firewhiskey and get dressed" she ordered.
"Ok, ok I'm going" Ron raised his hands in defense "just, tell her I love her yeah" he looked back with a dopey grin on his face.
"Yeah, yeah" Hermione pushed him out the door. "I thought Harry was supposed to be keeping him in check!" she huffed, causing Ginny to laugh out loud.
"You knew that that wasn't going to happen Hermione, especially when he has his hands full with Teddy and James".
"Right, but there's still so much to do, Daphne's sister still isn't here, we don't even know if her dress fits, Merlin hopes she would have owled if it didn't, she hasn't even confirmed whether this mysterious plus one Is accompanying her. Molly is fretting over the table patterns because she's had to set a place just in case.
"Calm down Hermione, not everyone is as organised as you, and Astoria does live in Canada now, I'm sure she would have been more involved otherwise".
"Your right, your right, there's just so much to do. I still have to tame my hair!" Hermione suddenly realized, hurrying off in the direction of the bathroom.
"She never stops fretting that one. You look beautiful by the way Gin" George emerged, carrying a tray of pumpkin pasties. "I thought you ladies might appreciate some sustenance, they were from the Bride's room, but her mother insists her daughter cannot eat carbs right before trying on her wedding dress" he rolled his eyes.
"I'm already pregnant George there isn't much carbs can do to me" Ginny sniggered, taking two pasties, little Lily was making her eat for two these days. Plus her mother was of course over-feeding her, she couldn't contain her excitement when she found out Harry and Ginny's second born was to be a girl.
"Well, I'd better go join the lads, make sure they're not up to anything on such an important day" he winked at his sister.
"George" she warned, but he had already disappeared. She sighed, it wouldn't be a Weasley wedding without him planning something she supposed. Ever since Fred, Molly had been a lot more lenient on George's antics, they were just glad to see him being himself again.
Draco was not keen on Weddings, but Astoria had made him promise, granted he didn't think a man should be held by things he said under the influence of Firewhiskey, but he was trying to make the woman happy.
Their relationship had been something of a whirlwind. He had barely recognized Daphne's little sister when she had strolled into his office for her internship three months ago. It wasn't surprising given that he had not been in contact with anyone in Britain, bar Blaise, in over four years. He shook his head, his mind healer had done a good job of helping him forget the past and there was no use going back there, Astoria was the first women to make him laugh and smile in a very long time and while he wasn't in love with her, she had become a dear friend. He knew she felt the same and that was more than most pure-blooded children could hope for in a match. She was a fine woman, not to mention beautiful, he would grow to love her as time went on he promised himself.
"How do I look?" She asked, finally emerging in her navy gown, she was indeed a stunning young woman.
"Exquisite darling" he said, taking her arm as she straightened his tie. It was only after she had apparated them that he began to feel uneasy. He looked around the other guests: Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnegan, Luna Lovegood?! His eyes traveled to the rickety, uneven house at the top of the hill and he swallowed, hard.
"Who…who did you say Daphne was marrying?" he asked quietly.
"Ron Weasley! Honestly Draco, keep up!" she laughed. He was saved from a reply as a scarred ginger approached. Draco knew him to be the eldest Weasley, the transformation courtesy of Fenrir Greyback. Bill merely arched an eyebrow when he spotted Astoria's date, bending to kiss her on the cheek.
"Astoria! You look lovely as always, we need to get you in the back with the other bridesmaids before anyone sees your dress or Mum will have my head. Malfoy" he surprised Draco by extending a hand. "No one's heard from you in a while" he said cordially, but Draco could have sworn he heard a fraught undertone to his voice.
"Charlie!" He called, distracting his brother from the latest witch he had been flirting with. He was loving abusing his power as an usher, no doubt. "Come help Astoria's date find a good seat, I'm sure he will want a nice view of the Bridesmaids" Bill shared a look with a wide-eyed Charlie.
Astoria kissed his cheek before being ushered in through the side entrance, "Ginny!" she smiled, hugging the redhead. "You look beautiful".
"As do you" Ginny smiled back politely. "I'm sure you remember Hermione from Hogwarts" she asked as the brunette entered the room.
"How could anyone forget Hermione Granger" Astoria bent to kiss her cheek in greeting, "though I'm sure you never paid much attention to the Slytherin's and their siblings back then". It was not a snide comment, merely her being modest, Hermione deduced. Before the two could get to know each other any better, a voice trilled from the rooms above.
"Where are my daughter's bridesmaids?!"
Astoria gave the other two girls an alarmed look, recognizing her mother's tone. "We better…um" she suggested hurriedly.
"Here we are mother" she called to the polished woman who hurried down the stairs.
"Astoria darling, cutting it a little close, weren't we?" Mrs Greengrass admonished. It was no secret that she didn't approve of her little girl living so far away.
"Yes mother, sorry mother" she groaned.
"Don't start squabbling on my wedding day you two" an amused voice carried along the hall. There was a collective silence as Daphne emerged. The ex-Slytherin truly was a vision. She wore a simple Grecian style gown that allowed her beauty to speak for itself. Her blonde hair traveled in elegant twists all the way down her back and was secured by the goblin made tiara that had belonged to Ron's late great Aunt Muriel. After Fleur had worn it she had bequeathed it to Molly with the stipulation that it be handed down to future Weasley brides. While it was a very kind gesture, no one would particularly miss her presence at the ceremony.
"Oh Daph" Astoria's eyes became watery.
"Do you like it?" the bride asked, and Hermione noticed that she was mainly looking at Ginny. Ever since they had started dating Daphne had been particularly eager to win the fiery redhead's approval. Maybe it was because they had only been a year apart at Hogwarts or because she was the closest to Ron out of his siblings and her only new sister-in-law. Hermione wasn't sure of her reasons, but she did think it was lovely that the two had become so close.
"My brother is going to swallow his heart when he sees you" Ginny beamed. Right on time, the sound of an organ played, and the four girls jumped into line. Mrs Greengrass took her eldest daughters' arm to walk her down the aisle in place of her unfortunately absent husband. Mr Greengrass unfortunately had never come around to the match. Thankfully Daphne and her mother didn't care.
Had Hermione known who was sitting in the audience she would undoubtedly not have volunteered to walk down the aisle first. Astoria, as the Made of Honour, walked last, closest to the bride, leaving Ginny in the middle. Her smile froze when she saw an unmistakable head of blonde hair, sitting in the front row of all places. He did not turn, but only because he knew she was there. Of course, he was not surprised to see her, he had known he was in the shit the second he realized this was a Weasley wedding. Still, he would not embarrass his fiance and her family, so he kept his eyes straight ahead. Unfortunately, the layout of the aisle with the bridesmaids to the side of the alter caused her to stand almost directly in front of him. On the other side of him, he noticed Bill smirking.
"Friends and family, we gather here today to celebrate this joyous union, where two halves become one whole…" Draco flinched at the chosen phrasing two halves of a whole…NO! he shook himself mentally. He would not go there.
Opposite him Hermione was using all her power to keep her eyes focused on Ron and Daphne. What was he doing here? Ron would never have invited him! Why had nobody warned her?
"take Daphne Elizabeth Greengrass to be your lawfully wedded wife…" focus Hermione, this is your best friend's wedding for crying out loud, don't let him ruin this!
As Ron and Daphne leaned into kiss and the bridesmaids stood to follow them, she could feel a pair of grey eyes boring into the back of her head. Charlie, who had always been the most intuitive of the Weasley brothers, grabbed her arm as soon as they were back through the double doors.
"Breathe Hermione" he pulled her into an alcove and held her balled fists together.
"What is he doing here?" she said through clenched teeth.
"He was Astoria's plus one, I'm sorry, I don't think anybody knew or we would have warned you. By the time they got here it was too late" Charlie explained. "Hermione, I, I didn't want to say anything as its Daphne's day, but I think you should know sooner rather than later. Astoria was wearing an engagement ring" he told her quietly.
Hermione took a very very deep breath. "It's fine Charlie, honestly, it's been years, it just took me by surprise that's all. You know I don't like sudden bombshells" she laughed nervously." Charlie didn't look convinced.
"Hermione" he pulled her into a tight hug. All the Weasley's had noticed the change in Hermione after she left the hospital wing at Hogwarts. It had been as if a part of her had died. Of course, being Hermione, she had thrown herself into her studies and got outstanding NEWTS, but she had never stopped to mourn her break up like other girls did. Personally, Charlie wasn't sure she had ever fully accepted it at all and Malfoy's disappearing act hadn't helped. He hadn't been seen in years, the press had had a field day when the heir to one of the largest estates in Britain had withdrawn from school and disappeared. Apparently, he had hired Blaise Zabini to manage the Malfoy accounts and estates and then dropped off the face of the planet. They all knew Hermione had tried to find him, even though she insisted otherwise. But no one, not even Zabini seemed to know where he had been, the Italian claimed that when Draco needed something he showed up in his floo out of the blue, but he always used different networks. His best friend had eventually accepted that if he knew Malfoy was safe there was no point trying to trace him.
Their hug was interrupted by a high-pitched giggle and a gasp, "Oh sorry Hermione, Charlie, I didn't know you two were…" Astoria blushed, a shell-shocked Draco behind her. Hermione deduced that she had been about to pull Draco into the alcove herself, no doubt so they could do whatever they had assumed her and Charlie to be doing. She was about to correct Astoria when a very George like smirk appeared on his face.
"Sorry Astoria" he slung an arm around Hermione's shoulder "do you mind keeping it a secret though, we haven't told the families yet, what with the focus being on Ron and Daphne and all" he explained, smiling as Draco's jaw clenched. "I guess I was playing with fire by trying it on at the wedding sweetheart, the ceremony was so romantic I just couldn't help it." He gazed at Hermione convincingly and she smirked at him, knowing that he had perfected that look with a hundred other witches. She loved Charlie Weasley, but when it came to women, he was a cad.
"Right" she said awkwardly, looking anywhere but Draco. "I assume it's the same reason you haven't mentioned your engagement Astoria" she winked at Daphne's sister, who immediately tried to hide her left hand. "Congratulations" she whispered, squeezing the girl's shoulder and dragging Charlie away.
"Really Char?" she glared "are you trying to ruin my reputation? I dated your brother!" she couldn't help but laugh.
"But it made you smile" he gave her the classic Weasley smirk. "See you on the dance floor, sweetheart"
Hermione shook her head, how Ginny had managed all the Weasley boys growing up she would never know. Collecting herself once more, she joined the rest of the ceremony, determined to make Ron's day one she would remember forever.
The land around the burrow had been transformed. Molly really was magical when it came to decorate, even Mrs Greengrass looked impressed. The reception was open air, with weather repelling charms in place, a whitewashed decking with rose covered archways finished off the look beautifully. It was subtle but like a fairy-tale.
"And now ladies and gentlemen, if the bridal party would please take their positions for the couples first dance."
Hermione rapidly looked around for George who was supposed to be her escort, but he was nowhere to be seen. With dread she overheard a panicked Mrs Greengrass. "Where is that girl?" The next thing she new Her and Draco were shoved roughly together onto the dance floor as a pair, both looking stricken.
Finally having no choice but to look at her, he extended his hand, though his expression remained guarded and cold. It was a clear "we have no choice so let's get on with it" invitation. Hermione looked staunchly over his shoulder as his hand clasped her waist, burning deliciously into her flesh. How dare he still affect me like this she thought furiously, reigning in her desire to press her face into him when she smelt his delicious, familiar cologne.
I can't do this. I can't hold her like this. How is she so calm? Oh right, she never cared to begin with. Draco thought bitterly. Her warmth was pressed against him as the music played and Draco could swear that the feel of them swaying together was more torture than anything he had ever endured.
Hermione closed her eyes, unable to look at him as Gabrielle Delacour began to sing:
At last….my love has come along
My lonely days are over, and life is like a song
At last…. the skies are blue
My heart was wrapped up clover, the night I looked at you
Draco really wished she wouldn't have closed her eyes, it made her look serene, almost as though she wanted to be in his arms.
She blinked her eyes open briefly and could have sworn Draco had been staring at her during the last lyric. Wishful thinking Hermione.
I found a dream that I could speak to
A dream I can call my own
I found a thrill to press my cheek to
A thrill I've never known, oh yeah... Hermione blanched as Draco suddenly spun her, she had been the one to practice the dance and yet she had completely forgotten about the turns. But then she had always known him to be an excellent dancer. He had taught her after all, she held back tears as she remembered their yule ball dance, when he had broken out of the hospital wing and played her favorite song, a muggle song. Where did that man go? she thought mournfully.
You smiled, oh, you smiled and then the spell was cast,
And now we are in heaven,
For you are mine at last … the dip was the worst part, as her eyes opened, and she was forced to meet his for the final line of the song. But it didn't last, she berated herself as he up righted her and she took a meaningful step away from him and towards her friends, who were waiting anxiously.
"Hermione I.." George looked stricken.
"Save it, I need a drink" she snapped, heading for the back table and downing a glass of champagne.
Meanwhile, Daphne seemed to have only just noticed that her old classmate was present.
"Draco?! Oh Merlin, where have you been?" she threw her arms around him. Ron's gaze however, was not nearly as excited to see him. Daphne fussed with his tie and swatted at him "I can't believe you're here at my wedding, no one has seen you in…" she seemed to be trying to count.
"four years?" he sighed. "I was…"
"In Canada" Astoria smiled, touching his arm. Daphne's eyes widened and she suddenly looked irritated.
"My little sister Draco, and without my permission?! You little Slytherin! I cant believe you dated her but didn't bother to keep in touch with me. Well at least father will be relieved" she huffed playfully.
"I'm sorry Daph, it only happened recently, and I hadn't had a chance to say it yet but you're stunning, you're a very lucky man Weasley, though I don't think anyone would have predicted this".
Ron accepted Draco's civility but could not refrain from eyeing Hermione as he stated "well, a lot has changed since Hogwarts".
As the bride and groom moved away, Astoria pulled him to one side. "Are you going to tell me what that was about?" she eyed him, though her tone was gentle.
"What?" he looked away from her.
She snorted "Please don't dismiss me as a fool Draco, you and Hermione were practically having sex on the dance floor, the way you were looking at each other".
"I..we…" he stuttered.
"You dated at Hogwarts didn't you" she guessed. It was as accurate as any other assumption. Draco sighed.
"Astoria…"
"It's fine, Draco, we all have pasts and I know it was partially my fault you had to dance with her. I would just appreciate a little more subtlety when we're in public." He nodded an apology to her, feeling guilty. Astoria knew he wasn't in love with her, but she didn't know he was in love with someone else either. He wasn't cruel enough to let her spend the rest of her life comparing herself to Hermione.
"ONE, TWO, THREE" They heard Daphne yell, before something came soaring at the side of Draco's head, his seeker reflexes being what they were he immediately brought up his arm to catch the intrusion. There was a roar of laughter as Draco realized what had just happened.
He looked back and accidentally made eye contact with Hermione. To his surprise, she was looking at him, amused.
He had just caught the bouquet.
Draco soon found himself inundated with gratitude from the men "you saved us, Malfoy!" and complaints from the women "not fair" and "there should have been a re-toss". He and Astoria quickly made their excuses to escape the unwanted attention as the Bride and Groom departed for their honeymoon.
Awkwardly Astoria had to say goodbye to the other bridesmaids, meaning he was forced to stand there while she and Hermione hugged and promised to get together soon.
Merlin have mercy don't let them become friends he prayed.
Author Note:
For those of you who read the predecessor to this story "LoveMeNot" you will remember that I promised him a happy ending too. I also dont believe in tarnishing characters just to make your story fit so Astoria will be a genuinely nice person in this fic, unfortunately for Hermione.
What did you think of Ron's wedding and George and Charlie's mischief. I just had to have them dance again, I love picturing it too much.
Please review. You know I love to hear from you.