Chapter 1

Hermione wrapped her fingers around the cold black plastic that encased the metallic silver knife. She slid the knife down the fruit cutting it in half. She tenderly picked up the yellow fruit and sliced along the edge, just enough to cut the outer skin off. She diced and chopped for a little while longer, till she had an appetizing bowl of fruit salad in front of her. "Finished." She breathed.

Hermione had always preferred muggle coking even if it took so much longer to make, it was still the way her mother taught her, plus it gave her more time to escape her thoughts. She wiped her hands on a cloth, and moved to her room to change.

She'd been invited to dinner at the Burrow. Everyone was going to be there, Harry and Ginny, Fleur and Bill, George and Angelina and most importantly, Ron and Lavender. Ron and Hermione had tried dating after the war, but after a very quick fiery couple of months they'd realized they loved each other in more a manner of brother and sister, best mates really. But Hermione always felt a little awkward around Lavender; after all she was, as Hermione always saw her as, a huge prat. Hermione tired really hard to look very appealing when Ron and Lavender were around, she didn't quite know why; she'd assumed it was because in the end, Lavender was who she'd lost Ron to.

Hermione opened her closet doors, shifting her dresses in her hands. Hermione wasn't sure what to wear. She sifted through the rest of her closet. She ended up wear a silk red blouse that buttoned up and a black pencil skirt that stopped mid thigh.

After Hermione dressed she fixed her hair a bit. It cascaded down her back in perfect ringlets. Then she applied a very thin layer of pale red lip gloss. She threw on her favourite pair of black high heels, and a thin coat. She walked back to the kitchen grabbed the fruit salad and disapperated.

Hermione apperated to the doorstep of the Burrow. Normally she would just walk right in, but since this was a formal invitation she'd decided to knock. Three quick raps on the wooden door. She waited, shifting from foot to foot. The door swung open, Ron was standing at the door way. He smiled broadly at Hermione. His hair was still a copper colour and just as untidy, but it had a sort of sensual appeal now. Hermione reminisced in the memories of nights when she got to mat her hands into that hair.

"Hermione?" Ron asked. Hermione shook herself from her daze and blushed a little. She felt rather guilty thinking about Ron that way, after all he was married and Hermione was taken as well...

"Ron." She said hugging him and smiling tightly. "I made some fruit salad." She said holding up the container. Ron's smile grew. He snatched the container from her hands.

"Oi! Give it here! I love your fruit salad." Hermione could feel the heat in her cheeks but smiled genuinely at the compliment. She pushed past Ron and into the Burrow; everyone was already there except Ginny. Hermione frowned. She'd been looking forward to seeing Ginny; they'd both been pretty busy and Hermione hadn't seen a lot of her. Hermione was busy with... Someone and Ginny with Harry.

Hermione walked over and stood in front of Harry. "Hello Harry." Harry looked up at her. His face lit up as he saw her.

"Hermione!" He said excitedly, he picked up and spun her around. He sat back down and patted the spot beside him. "Hermione I never see you anymore, Ginny talks about you and her... other friend a lot, but I never actually see you." He looked mischievously over at Hermione. "You're always too busy with the boyfriend, whom no one has yet to met or know the name of." Hermione could feel face turning into a beat. She looked pointedly at her hands on her lap. Harry laughed and clapped her on the back; bring her in for another hug. "Don't worry; I'm just messing with you. Take all the time you need."

Just then Ginny came down the stairs. She looked at Harry and nodded. "Ginny!" Hermione said. Ginny smiled and walked over to Hermione. They hugged and then Ginny sat down beside Harry.

"Hermione! I haven't seen you in so long! I've been so busy with my other friend. Bit of a high maintenance person, really." Harry snorted. Ginny smacked his arm crossly, but fought with herself not to laugh. After some more pleasant conversation Mrs. Weasley came bustling in.

"Dinner's ready, come on all of you, get into your seats." Ron groaned.

"Mum, we're not ten anymore, we've been to Hogwarts and most of us had to face a lot worse than seventh year finals! You can treat us like adults please!" Mrs. Weasley patted him on the head. He groaned again, Hermione brushed past him, trying to contain her laughter.

The meal was long and had many courses but Hermione enjoyed every one. When everyone had finished they'd moved to the yard for some fresh warm July air. Hermione always loved summer, the warm wind, the bright sun, being able to walk outside in nothing more than shorts and a t-shirt. "Everyone back inside for dessert!" Mrs. Weasley called from the kitchen. Hermione laughed lightly and moved inside. Once everyone had settled Mrs. Weasley had brought the desserts out, including Hermione's fruit salad.

Clink Clink Clink. Harry tapped his glass with a small spoon. Harry and Ginny stood. Harry wrapped his arm around her waist. "We have an announcement." Harry said. He looked over at Ginny who took a deep breath and said.

"We're getting married."

Draco doubled his thumbs over themselves again and again. The room was too small and stuffy. Draco hated summer. Back when he went to Hogwarts it meant time with his family, now it just meant hot weather. Draco let his mouth slip into a smirk, although the lack of clothes on women, Draco didn't mind at all.

After another moment or two Draco's smirk had faded. He let out a sigh of frustration. When was she going to come back and talk to him? Why was he sitting alone in this bloody room? He groaned again and ran his hands through his hair. He'd just have to wait and see.

"Hermione..." Ginny asked, grabbing her arm and guiding her away from the swarms of people around Harry.

"Yes, Ginny?" She asked.

"I was wondering if you'd be my maid of honour." She paused and looked at Hermione. Hermione's eyes were glazed over with tears.

"Oh, Ginny! Of course I'll be your maid of honour!" Hermione pulled Ginny in for a hug. Ginny let out a nervous laugh.

"One more thing." She said after they'd pulled out of the hug. Hermione was puzzled but said nothing. "My..." She cleared her throat. "Other friend is very dear to me... and well..." They were at the bottom of the stairs. "Well you'll see." She took her arm and dragged her upstairs. They stopped at a door.

"Hermione." She said trying to steady her voice. She closed her eyes, took another deep breath, and opened the door.

The door swung open and Draco gasped. A tall, slim, bushy haired brunette was standing at the door beside Ginny. "Granger?" He choked out. "W-what are you doing here?" He turned to Ginny. "What is going on here, Ginny?" Ginny blushed slightly.

"Hermione, this is my dear friend Draco Malfoy." She paused. "And he is my best man, sort of like another maid of honour, really." Hermione spun to face Ginny.

"What! This is who you've been spending time with instead of with me! And I have to work with him on your wedding!" Hermione said exasperatedly. Ginny's face contorted with anger. Ginny stomped her foot and glared at Hermione.

"Yes. My two best mates have to work together on my wedding!" She said; look back and forth between Draco and Hermione. Draco was speechless. Hermione was perplexed. Ginny smiled. "Brilliant, now let's go tell everyone the good news!" She said excitedly linking her arms around both of theirs.

Ginny entered the room one of her arms linked around an uncomfortable Hermione's arm, and the other linked around and even more uncomfortable Draco's arm. Everyone in the room's jaw had dropped except that of Harry Potter's. Ron was the first to recover.

"What is Malfoy doing here?" He spat.

"I just happen to be part of the wedding, weasel." Draco growled at Ron. Ginny rolled her eyes and patted Draco on the arm.

"Enough boys. Harry I'm assuming you talked to Ron about being your Best man?" Harry nodded. "Good. Hermione agreed to be my maid of honour and Draco, as you already know, agreed to be my best man." Lavender laughed. Everyone looked at her, Hermione rather pointedly.

"Oh, Ginny you always were the odd one, I expected you to do something different for your wedding." She said. Ginny smiled brightly. After the news everyone wanted to talk to Ginny and Draco. Hermione made her way outside. She was tired and she had a date tomorrow... Not that anyone knew about it. She sighed.

"Bit of a shock wasn't it?" Someone said from the doorway. Hermione spun around and found Harry leaning on the door frame. "I told you her friend was high maintenance." Hermione laughed. She hadn't been expecting Draco Malfoy though. "I'm sorry Hermione. Ginny made me promise not to tell anyone when she told me she'd become very close with Malfoy." He moved to stand beside Hermione. She smiled.

"Harry Potter, you will always be filled with secrets, won't you?" She said leaning her head down onto his shoulder. Harry chuckled.

"Merlin Hermione, I hope not." They stood outside for a while, just staring at the stars, no conversation. But the beauty of the moment was ruin by Draco.

"Potter, your fiancé wants you." He said. Hermione jumped. She hadn't heard him approach. Harry nodded and went to find Ginny. Draco sighed and ran his hands through his hairs. He hadn't changed much. His hair was a little less blinding blonde and was a little softer now, but his eyes were still a cloudy grey. He turned to face Hermione.

"So, what're we going to do, Granger?" Draco asked. Hermione swallowed.

"What do you mean?" She asked, trying to sound assertive. Draco sighed impatiently.

"About the wedding. We basically have to plan the whole thing. Ginny was telling me she wanted a winter wedding." Hermione was surprised that he'd even known that much. He took a step closer. He was close. Very close. She could feel his hot breath on her skin. His cologne over powered her senses. "Why don't we go out to dinner tomorrow and discuss... Ideas." At the mention of diner the next day Hermione remembered. She looked up at Draco.

"First of all, Malfoy. You couldn't pay me to go to dinner with you besides, I have a date tomorrow." With that she turned on her heel and walked back inside.