Title: The Other Man
Inspiration/Prompt: The Other Man, by Sloan.
Words: 366
A/N: Hello, readers, if you like, review! Also, you can send in prompts if you want. Enjoy!
Categories: Angst, Romance
Characters: Draco, Hermione, Ron
I sit in silent agony, as Hermione walks down the aisle, dressed in white. Her fiancé, Ron, looks the happiest man alive. I wonder again why I came, am I a masochist? I must be. I remember, when we both redid our seventh year at Hogwarts. One night in particular.
"Hermione?" I whispered. I had found her on a forgotten balcony. "W-what do you want, Draco?" she stuttered. "What's wrong?" I asked. She was crying. I sat down next to her, awaiting her response. "I-it's nothing. I'm b-being stupid," she said. I put an arm around her, and said, "No. tell me what's wrong, so I can make it better," I was shocked by the words that came out of my mouth. No one had ever seen this side of me before. "Its just, Ron is training to become an Auror, with Harry, but neither have written in weeks. What if something happened to them?" she said quietly. "I'm sure someone would have contacted you, Hermione. They've probably been busy," I said gently. "Why are you being so nice to me, Draco?" she asked. Instead of answering, I lean in and kiss her.
Hermione has reached the altar where the binding words will be spoken. The minister drones, and I remember back to a few hours ago.
"Draco, I just wanted to apologize," she said. I fixed my eyes on her white rose bouquet. "For what?" I said, putting on a brave face. "For everything, for all the pain I've caused you," she whispered. I stood, and put my arms around her. "I love you Hermione, enough to let you go, because I want you to be happy," I said. "Thank-you," and she was gone.
Weasley says his vows. They are hand-written, beautiful. Hermione says hers, and they say the words: 'I Do'. I clap with the other guests. Hermione casts a pained look in my direction, but her pity makes it worse. She belongs to someone else now, but she will always love me, and I will always love her. It doesn't matter though, because I'm the other man. No one roots for me. I'm the other man.
