Disclaimer: In my sweetest dreams and fantasies- Draco Malfoy belongs to me. It ends there.
A/N: Sorry for the long wait- but I was visiting family for 2 weeks then I had volleyball camp for 4 days. But anyway... here is chapter 2!!
Chapter 2
Hermione apparated into her flat, breathing hard and losing her control by the second.
It wasn't extravagant in any way, but it suited her none the less. When she had first moved in, the walls had been a dull, listless white, but she had spruced them up. Like reading, a glass of wine and a paint brush was the perfect way to unwind after a stressful day. Hermione did not even care that all of her hard work was basically for nothing when she could have completed the job with a lazy flick of her wand.
Things had certainly been tense lately. With Lord Voldemort increasing in power, Harry had been frantically searching for the horcruxes. Naturally, Ron and Hermione had been with him the entire time.
And they could proudly say, that all of the horcruxes were gone. After years of discovering what the objects were that contained pieces of the bastard's soul, hunting them down, and then destroying them- they were gone.
It should have been a good thing. They all knew that.
But it sure didn't feel like it.
Because now, Harry would have to face the Dark Lord.
Not to mention there were all of the bloody Death Eaters to worry about.
Right now though, Hermione was only thinking about losing her love.
The tears she had managed to contain all night long finally fell- warm and salty on her pale face. They only agitated her more. They were a sign of weakness, which was something she could not be at a dangerous time like this.
Frustrated, she ripped the silver high heels off her tiny feet and hurled them at the wall.
She looked around her small living room. Anything that would break met the same fate as her shoes. The lovely racket of shattering glass was soothing to her ears.
Surveying the damage, she smiled, and sank down into a plush maroon armchair.
Hermione knew why Harry and Gin had gotten married. Obviously- because they loved each other. But also the chance that Harry would make it past the Final Battle was not good.
She recalled the conversation a couple weeks before.
"'Mione..." Harry had said in an almost reluctant tone. "Can we talk for a minute?"
Somehow, Hermione had known what he was going to say. She had had half a mind to yell 'no' and run screaming from the Burrow. Instead, she looked up into his glittering eyes and muttered, "Of course. Let's go outside."
They stood from the comfy sofas that littered the Weasley's living room and made their way to the front door. Ginny had given Harry a reassuring nod... one that was not lost on Hermione.
It was cold outside- one of those 'catch your death' type of colds- and it chilled her to the bone immediately. She looked up at the depressed sky. It would be raining cats and dogs in no time at all.
They walked in silence for a moment. They both knew that nothing would be the same after this.
"So?" Hermione had eventually prompted.
Harry sighed solemnly and then took a deep breath. She almost wanted to smirk at his obvious discomfort.
"Hermione, Voldemort is growing stronger. More and more are joining his ranks." Harry kicked at the frozen dirt with his trainer. "Now that the horcruxes are destroyed that leaves him." He looked up at her now. His face was twisted in sadness and pain. "We all know that- that I might not make it when I face him."
Hermione felt her heart crack. Sure, she knew that, but to hear Harry speak the words...
"Harry," she squeaked out. "You will be fine."
A flash of anger shadowed his face. "I might. But there is no guarantee. Please Hermione- you are one of the few people that must understand this."
Eventually, she nodded. "I know Harry. I understand completely. I just don't want to believe."
He smiled sadly in agreement. "Then you'll understand why I am going to marry Ginny?"
She tore her eyes away from his and looked at the sky once again. It mirrored how she felt. Stormy, angry, and hurt. Threatening to burst at any moment.
Without looking back down at him she shakily replied, "Because if you don't, you may never have the chance again."
"Exactly." he whispered back. He pulled her to him in a hug. "Thank you. I know... that this is hard, but-"
She cut him off and took a couple steps back- escaping him. "Don't worry Harry. You love her. And she loves you. Enjoy the time you have together for it may not last long." The way she said it almost came out like a threat. Her voice softened though. "You're doing the right thing."
Harry looked at her in an odd way. He turned back towards the Burrow and took a couple steps. "I'll always love you, Hermione." He took another couple steps. "No matter what."
She didn't say anything. After a moment she heard the door to the house slam shut.
His words echoed in her spinning mind. 'I'll always love you, Hermione. No matter what.'
For some reason it had felt like they had a double meaning... Like Harry knew something she didn't.
She had shaken the feeling off and gone back inside...
Hermione shook her head trying to forget the memory and flicked her wand. The flat looked perfect as usual.
She strode to the bathroom and flicked her wand again at her hair and face. The limp curls zinged back up into sultry rings and her smeared mascara vanished.
Making her way back out to the living room, she retrieved her silver heels. She loved the fact that Harry had had to put up with Slytherin colors at his precious wedding.
The bridesmaids wore brilliant, deep green dresses. Gin had insisted that green be the color they wore. 'Can you imagine the wedding pictures if I chose pink???' She had a point- it would've clashed greatly with her hair.
Hermione had not been thrilled with the colors either... until she had tried on her dress. It was a spaghetti strap that flowed down her slim body accentuating her subtle curves and stopped at the knee.
The dress was perfect. Smiling despite the horrid night, she slipped the shoes on and opened the front door.
She was in desperate need of some Muggle alcohol.
"Miss, I really do not think you should have another one."
Hermione glared at the bartender. Who the hell did he think he was to tell her what she should or shouldn't do? Stupid muggle.
"And I really don't care what you think. Now pour me another bloody shot!" she spat viciously.
The man shook his head. "No."
"Yes." She opened her purse, fumbling to find her wand.
"Miss, you're gonna have one hell of a hangover as it is-"
"I believe the lady asked you to pour her another shot," came a cold, drawling voice.
Hermione watched in amusement as the bar tender flinched slightly.
"Sir, she's had more than enough-"
"Well obviously not, if she's asking for another one," came the chilling voice again. The man threw some bills across the bar.
The bartender looked in shock from the money to the man. He poured another shot and slid it to Hermione, then scooped up the money and stalked away.
The other man smirked. This was too easy.
"Thanks for that," Hermione said, snatching the shot, and looking up at the man with the cold voice. She started, jerking her hand to a stop in midair. Some of the auburn liquid gushed over the sides of the glass.
"Draaaacoo Malfooooy?" she asked, slurring his name.
"Granger," he replied. "It's been awhile."
She scoffed. Last time she had seen him was during sixth year at Hogwarts.
"And why did you have to ruin that?" she asked.
Draco smirked again. He ignored her question... she would know soon enough. "Perfect golden girl is completely trashed. Now," he said flicking his eyes up and down her,"I've seen everything."
He was right. This wasn't something she normally did. "Harry and Ginny got married tonight," she stated simply.
Draco, of course already knew this. Most of the wizarding world did actually, but he played along. "So the boy-who-wont-fucking-die left you for the Weaselette," he asked cruely.
Hermione merely shrugged. "Yes."
Draco, being a Malfoy, was rarely at a loss of words, but this surprised him. Granger hadn't tried to defend Potty or Weasel at all. My, my, this was going to be interesting.
"Would you like to do something about it?" he asked, jumping on what was hopefully his opportunity.
She cocked an eyebrow, but said nothing. Her foggy mind was trying to process his words. She turned in the stool to eye him from head to toe.
He looked similar to the boy she had known in school, but different too. He was tall, and broad, dressed in black slacks and a black long sleeved polo. Platinum, silky blond hair framed his pale face. His full lips were pale pink- like someone had sucked most of the blood out of them. Steely, gray eyes penetrated into her chocolately ones.
Yes, he was handsome... and completely the opposite of Harry Potter.
She raised what was left of her shot to her lips and let the liquid burn down her throat. It seeped throughout her body, relaxing her. Telling her to take a risk for once in her life.
Hermione slammed the shot onto the bar and glanced up at Draco.
"Yes, I would," she said standing slowly up from her seat. "Can we get out of here?"
Smirking, for the millionth time that night, Draco closed the distance between them. His hands snaked around her small waist- and without even caring that they were standing in the middle of a muggle bar-apparated.