Hermione Granger had always loved her life after the war. She had the perfect job, the best of all friends and a man who loved her endlessly and gave her her own space. Then why does she have second thoughts as she walks down the aisle to her fiancé of her own wedding? Had she always been mistaken about her life?

~Enchanted~

Prologue

Hermione Granger liked odd numbers.

In Arithmancy, she noticed, the odd numbers would give rise to problems unsolvable. While many would pull their hair out and curse their brain endlessly whilst trying in vain to solve these problems, Hermione Granger would put on a smug smile, scribble down on her parchment and hand it to her teacher who would smile at her surprisingly for submitting all the correct answers in a matter of few minutes. No doubt as to the fact that she was given the title of Best Arithmetic Student ever in Hogwarts for centuries. And she owed it all to her brains.

Life, she knew, was exactly the same. It was filled with odd numbers. Even numbers were too perfect. They just made things simpler. Well if everything would have always been even, why have brains then? For all she knew, Hermione Granger worshipped her brains. And every complicated task would need the aid of her brains resulting in an expectantly successful outcome. Although what she did not expect was to receive numerous of such complications in one single life. Not that she's complaining. Ever since her First Year in Hogwarts, she knew her life would never be simple from then onwards. Each year invited a new challenge not only for her, but even for Harry and Ron. But she was the Brains of the Golden Trio. Half the pressure rested on her shoulders. And yet she failed none. She proved herself capable of facing any challenge. She knew her brain was far superior to any of them. She could easily defeat them.

That was, until she faced Draco Malfoy.

And Draco Malfoy liked even numbers.

There were times when Hermione Granger would be in for shock. Because it were those times when her brain remained mum. No matter how much she screamed, shouted or rather yelled for help, her brain would remain silent. And it was at those times when she would opt for something what normally people did. She followed her heart. It surprised her for the first time when she realised that she also had a heart that could speak. A heart that could suggest her something that the brain would've have normally opposed to. Yet she trusted her heart. Another surprise. In the case of her brain, she would rethink her intentions at least twice before acting upon them. But in the case of her heart, she knew nothing could go wrong. She just knew. Something told her that there was low possibility of her actions to bring wrong results when she followed her heart. And she trusted these instincts more than she trusted her brain. However, surprisingly, her heart would speak in only rare cases. And all these rare cases revolved around one person only.

Draco Malfoy.

And Draco Malfoy liked even numbers.

To the world, Draco Malfoy remains an arrogantly indifferent, insufferable git who surprisingly earned some amount of respect and fear from others in his work. His employees hate his guts and wish to strangle him. But they are not only stopped by their fear but also by the fact that Draco Malfoy is an ingenious man who had brought the whole Auror Department to a height of popularity ever to be brought by an individual. Yet he does not boast of it. He minds his own business, which includes making everyday a hell for the ones working under him.

But to Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy is a mystery. Not because of the complexity of his character but because she has seen shades of him that perhaps no one had ever witnessed.

He hates liars, detests them; yet he smirks when she lies to him. He hexes those who speak back to him; yet he remains silent when she snaps at him. He hates opening his mouth too much; yet he doesn't hesitate to lecture her. He silences talkative people; yet he listens to her attentively when she rants on. Although being an observant fellow, he rarely watches the person in front of him for more than two whole seconds; yet he gazes at her for Merlin knows how long. But above all, to everyone he is a dangerous man whose only alternative expression other than the indifferent face is his famous smirk which notifies the person of being hexed the next moment. But in front Hermione Granger, he has eyebrow raising, genuine smirking, smiling, tutting, laughter stifling, snorting, concern, affection and raw desire all return over his face at a particular timing.

He also knows her inside out. He knows when she is lying; he understands that he must listen silently when she is ranting non-stop out of either anger or frustration because even she is aware of hundred different hexes that can be produced to a random victim. He allows her to do whatever she wants when not around him but secretly, without her knowing, watches over her personally because there is always less chance of her avoiding trouble (A magnet for trouble, he calls her). He has not yet hexed or hurt either Harry, Ron or any of the Weasleys for he knows she would be hurt herself, but that does not mean he does not wish to. He does not go out with her in public places for the fear of publicity unless it is a business assignment (The unlikely pair is still a puzzle for many). He does not flatter or say a word of compliment to her but he knows she would like to be complimented so he smiles at her when he feels he requires one. He knows that when she looks down while talking she desperately wants to share something with him. He also knows that when she is scared she puts on the bravest face so as to hide her fear. And he knows that the moment she feels either grateful or deeply happy for or because of him she gives him the simplest of all smiles with a touch of redness in her eyes. He is also aware that she sometimes feels confused of what both of them share between them, so it is rare that he touches her affectionately lest she gets more confused.

There was that mutual understanding. Yet both of them were so different from the other.

She was a Healer; she saved lives. He was an Auror; he condemned lives. She was loved almost by everyone in her workplace. He was disliked and feared nearly by everyone in his Department. She smiled often and cheered others up. He wore an indifferent mask and made everyone feel as if they would be Avada Kedavra'd just by his eyes. She loved daytime for she got to meet everyone and do her job too. He preferred the night when he is liberated from his Department men. She loves the spring. He favours autumn. She loves a family. He prefers isolation. She liked odd numbers.

And Draco Malfoy liked even numbers.

Even numbers personified him. Perfect. Without complications. But not for others eyes. For others, he is a man full of complications. But for himself, he was a man without any problems. Hand him a situation and he'll smart his way out of it in no time. He knows what he wants and he gets it. Nothing ever happens to him which he never expected. He knows what he'll face and he is prepared to face it without thinking twice. He never let's anything problematic or complicated come his way. He prefers normal life over an unexpectedly adventurous one.

It is as if Merlin had shaped both of their fates together. True, their history is a bit fiasco since none could stand the sight of the other. But if an onlooker watched them, he would mistake them to be a perfect made-for-each-other couple. They had the patience, the trust, the understanding that most other pair would envy. And added to that, there was this special aura between them when they were together. She was in her truest form in front of him and he let thirty percent of his indifference fade away when around her.

Yet none of them had admitted as close to anything romantic to each other. That field was kept untouched by either of them. Call it fear or unacceptability; they both lost their composure when anything as such was complimented to them. They just couldn't imagine themselves as a couple. But somewhere along the line, some actions of theirs cannot be neglected which in someway or the other indicated the touch of love that they both carried for each other. And they both tried to ignore it.

While he tried to ignore the fact that he was strangely protective of her, she tried to ignore that she would always feel safe with him. He tried overlooking the contentment that he felt when around her, while she tried to pay no heed to her feeling whole when she would be with him. He tried wiping the raw desire away from his face when she looked stunning in those stupid boring grand parties that they attended, whereas she tried to convince herself that he saw something else in his eyes other than that cold grey tinge. He tried not to stare at her and let his eyes smile when she looked adorable while laughing or doing something she loved. While she tried not to admit to herself that she was happiest when around him. He tried not to think of her before sleeping while she tried not to dream of him.

Such was their situation.

And Hermione Granger had not yet comprehended what she was doing looking at herself in the mirror wearing her bridal dress and pondering about her and him when she would become someone's wife in a few minutes.

This was the first time she had turned deaf to her heart's suggestions and she did not know whether it was the right thing that she did or not. She was following her mind, which she had long ignored. She did not know how huge the impact would be on her life after acting upon her mind. She did not know what it would to be ignore the past six months as if they never happened and move on to a life unknown.

She tried to ignore that her life seemed more colourful when Draco Malfoy was around. She tried to forget those moments they had when she would almost promise herself never to leave his side. She tried to remove every memory that reminded her of him. It not only pained her but also made her feel as if she had decided on the wrong thing. Worst of all, it made her realise something horrible.

As if she had betrayed Draco Malfoy.

But there was never anything between them. They were never in a relationship. They never admitted loving each other. They never shared anything romantic. And they weren't meant for each other.

Or were they?

Hermione sighed. This is getting more difficult than she had expected. Anyway, there was no time to turn back now. There is absolutely no hope now.

"Hermione, everyone is ready. The groom had reached the altar. You get only five minutes more in this room."

Hermione did not even have turn back to confirm that the source of the voice was Ginny Weasley. The soft click of the door told her that she had gone already.

She looked herself in the mirror once again. She looked really gorgeous. But the face gave the feeling that she was going to face ten Death Eaters alone. She tried to smile. No use. Her lips just won't twitch upwards.

A white bouquet was lying in the Dressing table. She picked it up and glanced at her reflection one last time before throwing the white netted veil on the face. Slowly, she turned back and moved towards the door. She opened it and that was the last memory she had before she found herself standing on the entrance point of the Wedding Hall. She realised Harry was holding her right hand while Ginny drifted towards the Hall as the Bridesmaid. The door opened and the altar came into view. Standing there was her would-be husband.

At once her heart stopped. A tear flowed from her left eye. Thankfully for the veil, her sad expression remained oblivious to the audience who stared at her with smiles plastered on their faces. Their lips moved. May be they were appreciating her. But she had become stone deaf.

She is getting married.

And there is no way back now.

Simultaneously, both Harry and she stepped forward.

Her fiance looked at her, smiling with anticipation as she and Harry slowly walked towards the altar. Everyone had got up from their seats. There were sighs and murmurs from the audience.

Yet Hermione Granger remained stone deaf.

Six months with Draco Malfoy.

Six months of contentment with Draco Malfoy.

Six months of happiness with Draco Malfoy.

Six months of Draco Malfoy.

And here she was, marrying someone else.

Hermione looked down as she walked forward. She had reached the altar and Harry left her side. The groom looked at her as if on trance and slowly replaced Harry's arm with his. Hermione looked at him through the veil. He looked happy. He smiled back at her.

He thinks I am happy, she thought. But was she? Would she be happy with him? Would he keep her happy like Draco did?

But there was never anything between them. They were never in a relationship. They never admitted loving each other. They never shared anything romantic. And they weren't meant for each other.

Or were they?

What if they were?

Tears started flowing from her eyes.

I am sorry Draco. I really am.

"I Love you." She whispered without even looking at him, her to be husband.

A/N: A new fanfic with a new story. Unlike my other fanfic, this one is against the storyline of Deathly Hallows although the reason of Voldemort's death and the death of some characters would remain same. Also this one was a prologue and the following chapters would be a flashback of the six months that Hermione and Draco had spent together. But they would not be in italics as it becomes difficult for some readers to read (including me. And if they writer can't read her story, what a fiasco the Fic would be, right?)

Also, this prologue was basically how I imagine the Dramione pair would look perfect in. I once posted in the Dramione Team's Wall in FB that I like Draco's character as grey and complex with indifferent attitude towards everyone except Hermione in front of whom he reveals a range of emotions. I described their relationship in the prologue itself so please try not to get confused later.

Anyway, enough nonsense from me. To those who think the other fanfic was not up to the mark, try out this one. And to those who don't think that way, try this out anyway. In fact, unless this chapter surpasses atleast 7 reviews I don't think It would be easy to convince me to post the next chapter. I shall know then that I had not done well.

(As if I would stay without posting the next chapter! Huh! But it would help me if you do review and recommend it to others)

*DESPERATE NEED OF BETA. ANYONE ABOUT? PLEASE PM ME!*

Of course the famous Author's Drill: REVIEW!

And

#DRAMIONE FOREVER!