Pretences
Hermione sighed. It was her wedding day, she should be happy, shouldn't she? But she wasn't. It was just all a facade. Tucking a white flower back in her hair, she sat down, and sighing again, she let all her emotions loose. Everything came rushing back to her. His soft touch, his warm, persistent lips, that were the main reason on their "study nights" not much studying happened. His silky hair that she loved to run her hands through, his little smirk that drove her crazy... She missed him. A sharp pang echoed through her body, every part missing him. But he was engaged now. A Pureblood to a Pureblood. Not a Mud blood like her. Their match would have never been approved. Their love for each other would always be there. But they both had responsibilities now. It wasn't like 6th year, where they could just escape everything to be together. They had to put up the facade all the time now. His family expected it; the entire wizarding world expected it. She was the golden girl, him the slytherin snake. They had to put up these pretences.
She stood outside the church, shaking, and pale. Was she doing the right thing? Were these pretences worth Draco? Her sly, sweet, blonde haired slytherin?
She stepped in the church, only to be met with stunned looks and hushed whispering. She looked around her. What was happening? What had she done wrong? A warm hand fell upon her forearm, and Arthur Weasley was by her side. "It's because you're so beautiful. Now come on. Let's get you up to the groom." As the music swelled, she began her long, incredibly nervous walk up to the altar. What if her Dad was giving her away, instead of Arthur? But he couldn't. He didn't even know she existed. A large tear situated itself in her eye, and was about to threaten the hours of work Ginny had put, into perfecting her makeup. Familiar faces looked up at her in awe, as she tried desperately not to stumble. As she tried desperately not to remember the cold, long legs tangled in hers, the feeling of his soft, insistent hands on her body that made her weak at the knees, the feeling of being loved, and loving. The feeling of pure, pure enjoyment, the rush of sneaking together after curfew, her heart beating faster after the few stolen kisses before class. She pushed all of that at the back of her mind. The furthest, darkest area. The area she vowed never, ever to recall. Her silk shoes tapped against the floor as she glided forward, an empty feeling inside of her. Looking up, a happy sight met her, bright colours of dress robes, smiles that stretched people's faces... And Ron. The person she least expected to want to marry her. But he did. And he asked. Of course she said yes. How could she not? He had been her best friend for so many years, one of the shoulders she had to cry on, but one shoulder that she never accepted. She never accepted any. But he was only a friend. Until now. Now they were going to be husband and wife. She should stop being so selfish. But then again, she never missed the longing looks he had shot at Lavender. She never missed the discreet smirks they would pass to each other, after the "runs" he had gone for, coming back with ruffled hair, robes askew and cheeks bright red. She never missed the look of constant pain and hurt he had in his eyes since Lavender had died. It was a messed up world they were living in. But it was their world. A world they had to accept. Standing on the altar, it was the end of her old life and loves. The start of her new one had begun. The life where she would have to pretend her love for the man in front of her... For that was only what life was... Wasn't it? Just pretences. All of it.