"You look splendid."
Hermione looked at herself in the mirror, it was almost like the face years ago when she in the Yule Ball. Her bushy hair was sleek and tied into a bun, the silvery white dress was sparkling under the lights. Though she had looked like that before, she did not feel the same as before. That time was all excitement and happiness, with a mixture of pride. But this time, those feeling vanished so quickly as if they had never existed.
"Only that I am not the bride who would smile."
"Come on, Hermione," said Lisa. "It's your big day, and you should be happy."
"Happy that I marry to someone who has despised me and called me 'Mudblood' for his whole life?"
"But what has happened in the past is longer what you are now," said Lisa. "I see something different in his eyes, more affectionate and docile."
"He threatens me into this, where is this affection you see?"
"Did you send the invitation to Harry?"
"I have sent it to him, though I know he won't come. He simply will not want to come."
"What about the Weasleys? Surely they will come to support you."
"The Malfoys certainly won't allow what they call 'blood-traitors' into the manor," said Hermione with a sigh. "You can come all because you are a Pureblood."
"Is it really that important to the Malfoys?" said Lisa and she sighed. "Purebloods is no superior than others. Everyone is equal."
"To them, a definite yes. A blind and pointless purse for what so called 'perfection in bloodline'."
"Sounds so much like those silly Egyptian royalties who would...you know..."
Hermione let out a faint dark chuckle. Indeed, all Purebloods are related.
"You can't choice to frown all day," reminded Lisa. "The Daily Prophet is coming over and takes a couple of photos, you cannot just stand there like a puppet and do nothing."
"I am a puppet, as the matter of fact."
"If only you can say no to all these."
"If only everything is just a nightmare and longer exists when dawn comes."
The wedding started off with guests cheering and enjoying their lavish meal, Draco and Lucius were chatting with the ministry staff, they were of course delighted to have conversations with the Malfoys, thinking that they will provide a shield from all kinds of bad events. Hermione was left alone, staring at the empty seat. There were a few Slytherin graduates glaring at her as if she had stolen their precious treasure. Pansy Parkinson was leering at her, muttering something that Hermione knew it would not be a blessing.
"Congratulations, Mrs. Malfoy," said Daphne Greengrass with her sister Astoria standing beside her.
"Thank you," replied Hermione politely, sensing the coldness in between the words.
"Draco is indeed very lucky to find such a good wife," said Astoria, gazing at Draco.
"One day you will find your Prince Charming too."
"We will," whispered Astoria, still had her eyes on Draco.
The awkward silence was uncomfortable, and Hermione got more and more nervous. It was not an easy task to chat with Slytherin, especially when she had never liked any Slytherin during her years in Hogwarts. The Slytherins were tons of trouble, and she could still remember her forth year being cursed with Densaugeo by that person, and that day at the Great Hall when she touched the bubotuber pus in the hate mail just because of her. She had to admit that some Slytherin girls, like the Greengrass, were less troublesome, yet she had never taken a great liking towards them.
"Please be excused," said Hermione and she rushed into the garden, leaving the place that filled with furious glares and suffocating glamour.
The garden was dark and Hermione took out her wand, fearing that something might come out and attack when she was not on her guard.
"Lumos," she whispered.
It seemed to be warmer with the light illuminating the garden. Suddenly, a tall dark shadow appeared behind a tree and Hermione's mind quickly went through the spells and counter-curses.
"Hermione?" asked the shadow.
She stared at the looming shadow and gasped as the person came out from the darkness.
"Harry!"
She embraced him tightly, she had not seen him for weeks and she did not know what to say. She had waited for this moment for so long and she missed those days having his accompany.
"You look beautiful," said Harry in a bitter and painful tone.
"My beauty matters as little as my heart for tonight," said Hermione. "It does not mean anything to anyone."
"It matters to me, both your beauty and your heart. Nothing can replace them."
"How I wish it is just a nightmare," whispered Hermione as she leaned her head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. "When I wake up, everything will be back to normal and I will be in where I should belong, listening to the birds singing."
His arms wrapped around her waist.
"We can escape and live far away from them," suggested Harry. "We are capable of that, then we can do whatever we want. We can just live like Muggles, working in the Muggle world, we can do that."
"No, we can't."
"Why not?"
"Lucius Malfoy, he will find me, he certainly will."
"But Hermione—"
"Don't you see? I can't," said Hermione. "I cannot go, I don't want anyone to be harmed, just because of me."
Harry gazed into her eyes, knowing that she meant it. Then, there was a rustling noise, alerting the two.
"Someone's coming, hide!" whispered Hermione and Harry hid under his invisibility cloak.
Hermione turned off the light at the tip of her wand, pretending that everything was as normal as it should be.
"Hermione dear," said Narcissa Malfoy, coming towards her from the door.
"Mrs. Malfoy," greeted Hermione.
"What do you think about our garden?"
"…Nice and comfortable."
"The guests are waiting for you."
Narcissa signalled her to go back into the manor with her, Hermione looked at the garden helplessly, then went back inside.
After the party, Hermione lay on her bed, her breath was deep and slow. She was still thinking of the garden, wondering if he had arrived home unharmed. Just when she closed her eyes, the door swung open and Hermione sat up, staring at Draco with a mixture of fury and hatred. Draco seemed to have noticed it, he avoided looking into her eyes and tried to find something that could make himself less blamed.
"I will sleep at the chaise lounge tonight," said Draco. "I will take a bath first."
Draco went into the bathroom and Hermione sighed. Soon after bath, Draco fell asleep at the chaise lounge. Hearing the steady and deep breathing, Hermione went to the drawer and took out her old wand. An owl flew in quietly and gave Hermione a bit of parchment, she immediately recognize the handwriting.
Leaky Cauldron, tomorrow at ten.