A/N: Welcome to the third and final installment of Background. I know many of you guys were waiting eagerly for this chapter, so I hope it does you proud -one way or another. Responses and comments about Background at the end. Since this is the last chapter, for any reviews coming in, I'll send you guys private messages. :) Thank you everyone for your continued support on this short series, especially Mr. Benzedrine who cheered me on the entire way though. You've been the best!
Chapter 3: Know Love
Oh this I swear
I promise to myself
I'll never let you go
Give you my heart and soul
Cure - Barcelona
How long has it been?
Since the rain?
A storm had settled in London, creating a downstream of torrential rain viciously beating against the window pane. The downpour created a canvas of white noise echoing through the empty streets of London as a warning was issued for citizens to stay indoors. These past few weeks reminded Hermione all too much of when her mother passed. The dark and lonely days crawling at a pace much too slow for her. Only a short period passed since the city had last seen the sun, and just days since she last saw Blaise.
Thunder roared in the distance, and with each grumble of its foul temper, it drew nearer. She hated the thunder. Hated it since her would-have-been seventh year at Hogwarts when she, Harry, and Ron were on the run from the snatchers. The reverberation reminded her too much of their footsteps, booming in, closer and closer as they tried to escape -only to be caught and, later, sentenced to torture at the Malfoy Manor.
An involuntary shudder rolled through her body as Hermione huddled on her couch in her apartment. The curtains were drawn -her attempt at blocking out the howling gale, though it made little change. The living room was lit only by a candle, flickering ever so gently as the wax pooled around the wick.
Trembling knees were drawn to her chest as she covered herself with a blanket -her safety. It soothed her. A serenity. It reminded her of his arms, gently draped around her shoulders, comforting her, as she tried to liberate herself from the prison of her mind.
It's just a storm.
It won't do anything.
A sigh left her lips, reminding herself everything would be okay. It was a ruthless cycle. Hermione always thought she was strong enough to overcome her fear, because in the end, it was all just a mind game.
She was smart and strong and...
Post traumatic stress disorder wasn't easy. Even after ten years, she still suffered. Each time she blinked, she was reminded of the past. Every time a rainstorm passed by, or a hurricane, a tornado -her list grew longer each time. The only time she braved a storm was when her mother died. During that time, the Heavens were her closest friend, comforting her as she mourned the loss of her beloved mum.
The only solace today, and these past few days, was the familiar, snug feeling on her finger. The pad of her thumb gently traced along the edges of her engagement ring as she inhaled deeply, trying to go into a meditative state. No, this... this was her serenity now.
Hermione glanced down, staring at the elegant band.
How many weeks has it been?
Since he asked?
It was beautiful -the ring. A clear cut silhouette diamond sitting on a simple sterling silver band, embossed with tiny green diamonds. It's plain design sat well with Hermione; it was very much like herself. Except...having another engagement ring -it reminded her too much of the past, too much of when she last wore a band, too much of him.
She didn't see him. Or rather, she hadn't seen him. Not since her and Blaise's engagement. Not since they last made eye contact. The flutter in her heart long stopped. This jewel sitting on her finger said she was taken. And it was for the better.
It was time to leave the past and, eventually, move towards the future.
He had.
A gentle rap on the front door sounded and her eyes darted towards the mantel clock sitting above the sleeping fireplace. It was late evening, the hour hand almost touching ten.
Who would be visiting me at this hour?
Gone was the scared witch who nestled in the couch, and a brave front was replaced. Up she went, towards the door as another quiet knock sounded. Hermione squared her shoulders, extended her neck, and cleared her throat. In her free hand was a wand, just in case something was to happen. And with the other, she turned the doorknob and pulled the door open.
Oh -why didn't she check through the peephole first? Oh, she should have. She really-
"Draco." Her eyes widened at the man standing before her. The façade she wore -dropped.
He was drenched, from head to toe. How long had he been standing outside her door? His usual wispy blonde hair was heavy from the weight of the water; droplets of rain trickled out from the tip of his tresses. Those ice grey eyes stared at her, bloodshot and puffy. His lips, though wet from the storm, were chapped. A man she was so used to seeing dressed prim and proper was the epitome of unkempt.
Instinctively, her eyes darted down towards her hand, the one wearing Blaise's engagement ring.
His eyes followed. "Congratulations," he whispered, a scowl sitting on his face.
Her heart twisted, the pain all too familiar. As if someone was wringing it, squeezing out every last drop of blood.
It'd been so long since they last exchanged words. Hermione stopped counting, but the memory burned all too well in her mind. It was the day he almost died at the underwater aquarium. The day he last whispered her name. The day they last interacted. Her first anniversary with her fiancè.
"What are you..." Her voice cracked as she forced herself to speak. Another clear of her throat. "Uhem-What are you doing here?" Hermione continued to stare at the man before her, ignoring his toast. When was the last time she was so...so...nervous? To be near him? To be standing directly in front of him? Not once since their separation, over five and a half years ago, did they spend a single time alone. This was the first time. In a very long time. "Blaise is out of town until next week..."
A moment of silence fell between the two of them as she stood in her apartment, a hand gripping tightly onto the knob. Should she invite him in? It was awfully cold outside. But, would it be wrong? To have her former lover enter her home?
Hermione missed it. She missed the dastardly grin dancing on his lips as her brain worked in circles trying to figure out what her next steps should be. Then she heard him-
"Good." Draco took a bold step forward, pushing her backwards, a hand grabbed the frame of the door and slammed it shut behind him as he entered her apartment. The loft vibrated in protest, but it went unnoticed between the two.
The familiar scent of lavender and parchment filled his nostrils, fueling his drive. His foot slid right next to hers as she stumbled back, her eyes wide with confusion, just as much as she wore the look of surprise.
And it all happened too fast -too fast for Hermione to comprehend.
Without skipping a beat, his hand snaked behind her neck, pulling her into a forceful kiss. It was awkward -desperate. Their lips smashed onto each others all too roughly. Their teeth bumped against the other's. Their syncrasy was off -but in the heat of the moment, it didn't bother them. All that mattered, now, was the fire blazing in the pits of their stomachs.
Draco pushed forward against Hermione as her hands pressed upon his chest. Almost as if she was pushing him away, but her hands held no power when it came to his spellbinding touch. He always made her knees weak. Draco nipped at her lower lip while she pressed against his mouth, opening, inviting in the frenzy of his kisses. Their tongue danced for dominance, relishing in the roughness of their movements.
"Mmmoh..." Her fingers, finding the back of his head, combed through the damp tresses, gripping them as she tightened her hold around the wizard. Hermione pulled her head away, pulling in a breath or two before he found her swollen lips once more.
Breathing only came second to what they were doing.
Her eyes fluttered shut as her tongue traced his lips. Her mind blanked. A bitter taste of whiskey and zesty orange exploded in her mouth, and a moan escaped. It was all so nostalgic.
Oh, he yearned for her. Draco'd almost forgotten how delicious she was, how soft her skin felt, how sexy her groans were. But it all came flooding back the moment he touched her beautiful lips.
Draco kept pushing forwards as they continued snogging, both of them afraid to breathe anymore, scared they would suddenly jolt awake, and it'd all be a dream.
But it was so...real.
The tension in his muscles as her fingers caressed his arm. The urgency in his touches as he pulled at her t-shirt -over her head and discarded onto the ground. The hunger in his eyes as he broke away from their kisses, staring down at her hypnotizing figure. Her pert breasts resting snuggly in a pink bra, her taut stomach expanding and contracting to the rhythm of her breathing.
He wasted no time. Each moment he grew more and more desperate. He wanted - no, he needed her like the earth needed its sun and a hummingbird to its nectar. Without her, he was nothing. Without her, he was incomplete. Without her...
Hermione's hand grazed along the hem of his soaking shirt. "You're wet." A simple, yet profound, comment. She, quickly, bundled up the bottom of his top, her knuckles grazing against his cold skin as she pulled his shirt off.
For a moment, and just a moment, they stood still. Their eyes absorbing the other before them. And, for just a moment, a fleeting thought came to mind. Were they going to do this? Was this going to happen? Their hearts pounded, threatening to break out of the confines of their chest as the seconds crawled on by.
It was Draco who moved first. Another step forward, towards the brown-haired witch, her shoulders trembling ever so slightly. Was she cold? Scared? Nervous? The nails on his finger traced along the valley of her breasts to the dip of her stomach and rested at the waistline of her pajama bottom.
Even in her jammies, she was still a queen.
Forever a queen.
Draco looked up as his pointer finger hooked underneath the band, and he tugged gently, testing her reaction. His silvery-blue eyes stared at her warm chocolate ones, waiting for her response.
What came next couldn't have surprised him more.
A smirk danced across her lips -Merlin, was she beautiful. The kind of mischievous grin she picked up from him all those years ago. Hermione couldn't have worn it better. A light caress of her hand grazed his, and his eyes fluttered down towards the hemlines of her pants. Her thumb looped over her waistband and with a bashful sway of her hips, she slowly tugged them down. Her cheeks flushed as she turned to look away from him, revealing matching knickers.
God, she wore pink so well.
His thumb brushed against her pelvic bone, and a shiver came running down her spine. Her chest tightened as her pajama bottoms pooled onto the floor around her ankles. His eyes drank in her every dip and curve.
Her beauty unmatched.
Draco pulled her in. His arms wound around her waist as their lips met, once more, in delicate kisses. Her arms snaked around his neck in response, pulling herself in closer towards him, their chest pressed against each other, hearts pounding rapidly as their intensity grew.
Forgetting about the bundle of clothes around their feet, he stepped forward. Hermione moved back reflexively, but trapped within the pajama bottoms, she tripped, quickly falling backwards onto the carpeted floor of the hallway. His grip around her waist tightened as they both collapsed, and an arm stuck out, a makeshift beam, to soften her descent.
The back of her head thumped lightly against the rug; their concentration never breaking.
His kisses traced along her jawline, trailing down her slender neck, remembering all of her erogenous zone. He bit down on her delicate skin, careful to not leave a mark, eliciting a quiet mewl as she pushed her breast against his chest.
His wandering hands slipped underneath her pink bra, shoving it upwards, not bothering to even remove it properly as desperation settled in. Those slender fingers found her pert nipple, pinching it tenderly between the pads of his thumb and pointer. A delectable moan slipped through her lips as her hand covered her mouth in an attempt to muffle the sound. The simple ministration of her sensitive bud sent jolts all throughout her body, warmth pooling between her thighs as she squeezed them together.
Draco couldn't get enough. She was his candy, his nectar, his lifeline -how he managed to go five years without her was beyond his comprehension. His tongue trailed along her collarbone, leaving cooling saliva in its wake as he continued his way towards her breast, finally shoving the bra off over her head. His lips latched onto the other bud, taking it between his teeth, gently biting down as another sigh sounded from her. He massaged the beautiful mounds, taking his precious time with her. There was no rushing when it came to satisfying his... Hermione.
Thunder and lightning crashed overhead, but Hermione heard none of it as she drowned in the sweet sensation of his mouth. His hands worked its way down her body, pressing against her stomach and resting over the mound between her legs. A finger slipped between her thighs, underneath her panties, and pushed into the wet folds of her lower lips.
"Fuck, Hermione..." he groaned against her pebbled bud, looking at her as a pink blush crawled its way up her neck and settling onto her cheeks. She looked away; her hand still covering her mouth as she panted. At the release of her breast, Draco lowered himself, spreading her thighs and propping the crook of her knees onto his shoulders.
Pushing her knickers to the side, he exhaled a hot breath which brushed against her pussy as he marveled at the sight, shudders running through her body once more as the sensation. "Oh-" she started, her hips bucking ever so slightly as his tongue pushed through her folds and flicked at her clit. Her legs quivered as he continued rubbing his skilled tongue along her sensitive button -the roughness making her squirm against his touch. "Yesss," she whispered, sighing loudly as her hips rolled along with his sensual massage.
A moan came from Draco as he fluttered his eyes opened, watching the writhing witch, watching her lose all control as he lapped at her juices. His fingers pressed against her slick opening, brushing against her sensitive region, before he roughly shoved them in, suddenly spreading her walls.
"Draco!" Hermione half-shouted while moaning out the rest of his name. Her walls clamped down on his fingers as he pumped them in and out with vigor. He curled them upwards, the tip of his digits scape along her spongy flesh. "Draco, I'm -I'm gonna-" She panted, her chest heaving up and down as she tried to catch her breath.
At her remark, Draco quickened his actions. A third finger pushed into her dripping pussy, stretching her walls further as his lips latched onto her clit, sucking at the pebble as his tongue added that extra push she needed to reach the edge. "Oh-fuck!"she shouted; her hips raised off the floor, quivering against his face as she reached her climax. Her walls squeezed his fingers as he slowed his pace, and she whimpered when he fully removed them from her twitching pussy.
He lowered her legs, removing her juice soaked panties, before propping her feet flat onto the ground. Sweat beaded at the edge of her hairline as she came down from her high.
Hermione watched Draco as he situated himself between her legs. His brows furrowed as his hands worked on the clasp of his buckle. Once the belt was undone, the rest came easily. He popped off the button and unzipped his denim, and without any hesitation, he pushed his pants down, past his hips, past his pelvic muscles, lower as his cock sprung out and past his thighs, discarded, unneeded.
For a brief moment, their eyes locked onto each others once more, his eyes softening at her beautiful expression. Her lips slightly parted as she breathed heavily. Her eyelids hooded from the wave of pleasure still coursing through her body.
A hand cupped her jaw as he leaned in, pressing his lips against hers as his body rested on top of hers. Their chest against each others as he cradled himself between her parted legs.
Her heart skipped a beat as she felt the hood of his cock press against her opening, the tip of his shaft sliding up and down along the length of her pussy. A pang of guilt struck her chest as she nipped at his lower lip. Her arm wrapped around the nap of his neck, and he slowly pushed into her, filling her insides entirely -the remorse was long forgotten. Hermione reveled in the deliciousness of his cock, mewling as he continued to inch his way in. His prick stretched her walls, giving her a moment to adjust to him before he continued to unravel inside her.
The beat of his heart rapped against the cage of his chest, excited at the familiar feeling of being inside her. He missed this. The feeling of being whole, of being complete -because of her. God, it always felt amazing. They both sighed as he buried himself to the hilt, resting for a moment as they savored in nostalgia.
"Move," she murmured, wrapping her legs around his waist, her feet resting on his backside as she applied a slight pressure.
And her wish was his command.
Pushing himself up into a kneeling position, ignoring the faint burn on his patellas from the textured floor, Draco slid his cock out, watching how it glistened with her juices. "Mmm..." She exhaled, the sensation of his dick pulling out was enough to make her legs quiver.
With his back straightened, he rested both hands on her bouncing breasts, steadying himself as he picked up the pace, pounding into her, making sure his cock was buried completely each time. He stared at her as her brows furrowed, her teeth biting into the web of her hand as she tried so hard not to scream.
A smug smirk made its way onto his lips as he made it his goal to have her screaming his name by the end of it.
His fingers pinched and rolled her nipples as she arched her back, pushing her chest harder into the palm of his hands.
Hermione found herself rolling her hips against his thrusts. Their actions growing hard and swift, their movements frantic, as if what they were doing wasn't enough. Her mouth opened in an 'o' as he continued to fuck her senseless. He always knew exactly what she needed, and right now she wanted all of him.
An ache started to develop in the pit of her stomach, and she accepted it wholeheartedly. It'd been so long since she felt this way -this feeling- she could never grow tire of.
Draco leaned in, pressing his forehead against hers as their bodies slammed against each other. The music of their moans was drowned out by the continuous roar of the storm overhead. But she welcomed it as he comforted her as he used to, sheltering her from the dangers of the outside world. His protective nature was comforting.
Beads of sweat, mixed in with what was left from the rain, trickled down his temple, falling onto her face as the room grew warmer from their elevated body heat.
A hand reached down between them, fingers quickly finding the swollen bud as he traced circles around it, forcing even more electrifying jolts to course through her body. "Draco!" Her slender hand wrapped around his wrist as he kept up with his attention on her clit. Her heart pounded uncontrollably as her body tensed from the overwhelming sensation. "Please-" she whined, her hips bucking as she squirmed underneath him.
He exhaled roughly through his nostrils as he flashed her a grin between pants, refusing to listen -determined to have her come once more. "Please..." he whispered tenderly into her ear, suckling at her earlobe. "please, you want more?" He jerked his hips against hers as his thumb continued to run circled around her clit, ecstatic as her pussy only grew wetter and wetter.
"I'm gonna come," she nearly squealed as her thighs clasped around Draco's hips. "Draco-" He pinched at her clit as his lips kissed her neck, right behind her ears where she was most sensitive, and she audibly shuddered. "Mmmgods-Draco!" Her walls clamped down on his thrusting cock, her hips withdrawing from the explosive orgasm erupting from her pussy, sending waves after waves of pleasure through her body as she quaked underneath him.
"Fuck-" he groaned as her pussy tightened, trapping his cock in her as he continued fucking her spasming core. His movements were short and rigid as he felt himself reaching his end. "Shit-" he whispered, quickly pulling himself out of her before he came, stopping himself in time. He didn't want it to end. Not just yet. Not after five years.
Confusion set over her, watching him scramble onto his feet.
He pulled the witch up, her knees almost giving out from her weakened state, but he caught her quickly. Draco's lips came crashing down onto hers with newfound fervor, their tongues clashing in a battle over dominance as he ushered her towards the end of the hallway and into her bedroom. They stumbled over over each other's feet when they entered the dark room, and Hermione fell back onto the bed, breaking the kiss.
He stood over her, his chest rising up and down as his searched for her bewitching eyes. How could he have let this woman go? After all these years -stupid Draco.
"Get on your knees." Draco commanded, and the silhouette of her body shifted, the bed creaking under the weight of her body. "That's it, good girl..." He commended, a hand rubbing her round arse, fondling it for a moment, before his palm came down on her sensitive cheeks.
Smack!
She gasped at the sudden blow; her arse stinging on contact, but the pain subsided as his lips made contact with her delicate flesh. "Mmm..." Hermione sighed, hanging her head, her silky smooth hair cascaded over like a veil. A slender finger brushed along the slit of her drenched pussy, stroking her clit.
"Do you like it when I touch you like that?" Draco leaned in, whispering into her ear. She nodded, unable to give him a verbal response. But that was fine- it was perfectly okay. "Good," he drew his fingers away and evoking a disappointed groan from her. Instead, he grabbed his cock, spreading her slickness all over himself, before pressing the tip against her opening once more. He shifted, his knees on the edge of the bed as he repositioned himself. "How about this?"
She nodded, biting at her lower lip. "Please -Draco, just...Oh-yes!" He pushed himself into her wet core, her moans drove him crazy; they always had, as it always managed to turn him on even more, every time. Begging looked so good on her.
Draco responded by peppering kisses all over her exposed neck and shoulders, trailing them down her back. At the same time, his hands found her breasts, massaging them, rolling her nipples in circles with his thumbs. His actions sparked a fire deep inside Hermione once more, and she thrust back against him, her hips rolling and her arse smacking against his pelvic muscles. A guttural growl sounded, caught off guard from his actions and he shoved forward against her when she pushed back.
Like the waltz, they built a rhythm, slowing down after three counts and speeding up after another three, over and over. Her body changed along with the tempo, tensing and moving in one direction, then relaxing and alternated with a new movement. From where Draco stood -it was an intoxicating sight that drove him on.
He reached, with one hand, down between her spread thighs, rubbing her clit, holding onto his resolve of having her fully satisfied once more. "Fuck," she panted, her elbows almost giving out at his touch. Draco quickened his pace as their tempo changed once more, his other hand gripping onto her backside as he held her. His thrusts were rapid and harsh, pounding into her quivering pussy as if there would be no more tomorrow.
The apparent change in his rhythm intensified the climatic knot in her core, eliciting an increase of volume of her moans. Draco approving of her response, fucked her with even more vigor. His cock sliding in and out of her cunt, splaying her juices all over their thighs and onto her bed. It created a cycle between the two. Her sensual, guttural cries increased as his intensity grew.
Eventually, as a result of their ever growing ecstasy, Draco began to lose self-control and it spread quickly through his entire body, losing his rhythm in a flurry of bliss. Everything around him began to fade until he could only feel the caress of her pussy, juicy and slick, engulfing his cock, and the soft sensation of her ass against him as he slammed into her. Her moans filled his head, creating a fog in his mind, unable to visualize to hear anything else but.
Everything else in the world disappeared -and there were only two things which mattered: satisfying Hermione and the relief that had brought him over in the first place.
"Mmmfuck... yes, Draco- aah!" Hermione moaned loudly at the change of his tempo.
Words wouldn't form with him anymore. It was just instinct now.
He looked down at her peach-like arse, his fingers digging into her flesh, then to the beauty who looked over her shoulders back at him. His cock twitched as their eyes met, her pupils blown to the nines as she continued to stare at him.
Fuck, she was so beautiful, just looking at him like that. So incredible -and it drove him absolutely insane. Draco broke away from their stare down, pressing his head between her shoulder blades as he continued to push roughly into her. His, still wet, hair tickled the back of her neck while sweat rolled down their body. The room was insufferably hot from their continuous...lovemaking.
"Ah... ha..yes- Draco, I'm- I'm gonna..." She groaned, unable to form complete sentences as his fingers continued to rub, pinch, and pull at her throbbing clit. Her thighs shook violently as her body tensed, her elbow giving out, her chest slamming onto the mattress. Her walls convulsed around his cock as she came, for the third time.
"Mmmm..."
Hermione whimpered as the blonde continued to pound into her, clenching his jaw. Her pussy continued to collapse and cave in around him, pushing him over the edge of control. "Fuck, Hermione..." he groaned, furiously fucking her, losing the last bit of his mind he had managed to keep.
She continued to moan and gasp as his every thrust, rolling her hips against his.
Finally, when he could no longer hold himself back, he let go -seeing nothing but the woman before him, her face twisted in pleasure as he released himself into her. His ears heard nothing but the heavy sounds of her breath.
With one last shudder, Draco fell forward, collapsing over her, holding himself up with his elbows digging into the mattress. His chin rested on her shoulder a while as his breathing regulated before pushing himself off, his back sticky against the fabric of the bed.
Her eyes were closed as she came down from her high, but they fluttered open once more when Draco laid next to her. His chest lined with sweat as it reflected the moon's light. Her hand reached out towards his, and as if no time had passed, his palms opened, their fingers lacing around each other's.
A comfortable silence hovered over them as sleep threatened to take over. The storm, at some point, subsided into a light drizzle, grumbled from a far off distances. For once, in a very long time, Hermione's heart was calm.
"You know... it's been almost six years since we've last really interacted?" She muttered, staring at the blonde who laid in her bed, nearly asleep.
"Hm?"
Hermione sat up a little more, resting her head on the palm of her hand while the other continued to hold onto his hand. "Actually, it's been five years, eight months, and..." She paused, thinking for a moment, "eight days. If you want to be precise."
"That doesn't sound right." He frowned, turning his head towards her, their eyes meeting, again. "We talked during at the aquarium-"
"-more like argued."
"Regardless, I believe that's still considered interaction. And after that, I... saw you at my engagement party," Draco spoke slowly, a hint of sadness entering his eyes. "And then, I saw you at yours... Actually," he paused, debating his next sentence. "Actually, I saw you that night."
"That night?"
"At the club. At Bond."
Her heart skipped a beat at his comment as she stared at him wide-eyed. Her body tensed at the realization.
He saw her?
That very night she and Blaise -Oh, Merlin, no.
"I... was supposed to meet with the gang, but was held up with...work." He sighed, running his other hand through his damp tresses. "I saw you, and..." A bitter chuckle escaped his lips. "I was actually going to talk to you, but... Well, you know the rest."
There it was again. The feeling of someone reaching deep into her chest and ruthlessly squeezing her heart.
It only ever happened with him.
"Shit-fuck-shit!" She shouted at the top of her lungs as she stood in the middle of her living room. The cushions of the couch had been pulled out, and books were scattered everywhere. Cabinet doors were opened, and the drawers were pulled out of their place, all of the contents scattered onto the floor. Her usual tidy apartment looked as if a tornado blew through, destroying everything in its wake.
Hermione smacked her cheeks, running scraped up fingers through the tresses of her unusually messy hair. She hadn't the time to glamour her hair; actually, it'd been about a week since she really paid attention to anything. Her mind was focused on something else.
Something important.
It was missing.
Her engagement ring.
She looked everywhere. At work. At home. At Blaise's apartment. At Vernonia's manor. Nothing. Nothing came up. "Fuck!" She stamped her feet once more in frustration, her heart beating out of control.
Her fiancè would be coming back tomorrow from his work trip, and Hermione grew desperate. She didn't want him to come back, not seeing a ring on her finger. Not that she deserved to wear it anymore -a familiar pang of guilt jabbed at her chest as she recounted her... evening with Draco.
Wait- Draco.
The ring was still on her finger the night he came over. She remembered it clearly, but it was also around the time when the it went missing. Her brown eyes darted towards her empty hand. Could he have taken it? Would he be that low as to steal her precious engagement ring?
Fury boiled deep within her. The more she thought about it, the more it seemed like he was the culprit in all of this.
"That goddamned prat!" Hermione stormed over towards the inactive fireplace in the living room and with a quick wave of her hand, fire came to life. The red dancing embers calmly waited for her next move. A moment of hesitation passed through her as Hermione reached for the Floo powder sitting on the shelf above.
Should she really be seeing him right now? Was this a good idea? But... what if she couldn't get the ring back? Blaise would question everything -and... and she couldn't have that happen. Her heart jumped into her throat as she threw the fine powder into the pit. The fire erupted into green flames, creating a portal. "Draco Malfoy's apartment!" Her words rang loud and clear -filled with anger.
Draco had just arrived back to his apartment when the fireplace roared green. He threw his jacket onto the couch, waiting, watching to see just who would step through the pit. His wand was drawn as a precaution. He could never be too sure these days.
Oh- He lowered his wand, tucking the stick back into its holster and straightened himself for her arrival, a smirk finding its place snugly on his lips. "Hermione Gran-"
"-Where is it, Draco Malfoy?" Her words oozed with anger as she stepped out of the fireplace, dragging in coals and ashes.
"Are you-" He sighed, his hands on his hips. "Are you just going to bring in a trail of mess into my house like that?" The blonde gestured towards the mess behind her.
Ignoring his comment, the bushy haired witch stormed over towards him. Her hand reaching out, grabbing the knot of his tie, bringing him down to her eye level. "Where. Is. It?" Hermione spoke slowly, threateningly. Her eyes darkened with rage as she glared at the man, ignoring his stupid smirk.
Oh- he just... he just pissed her off sometimes.
"Whatever are you talking about, Granger?" He flashed her an innocent grin, or as innocent any Malfoy could pull off, arching a brow as he reveled at the witch's foul mood.
"My engagement ring!" She glowered, shoving him, and he stumbled back, though the smile on his face grew wider.
"Aah," he feigned a disheartened sigh. "You mean you didn't come all this way to see me? After the wonderful, wonderful evening we shared the other night?" Draco enjoyed, so much, watching the pink tint crawl up her cheek. Merlin, she wore pink so well.
He readjusted his tie, straightening and loosening it. The damned witch really did a number on the material when she yanked on it. Oh well, it's not like he had hundreds more of the similar accessory. Draco casually slipped his hands into the pocket of his slacks as he noticed his ex continued to glare daggers. If looks could kill -well, let's just say he would have been a goner years back. "Do you mean this little thing?" He pulled out a diamond engagement ring with emerald jewels embossed in the band. "It's...cute." It looped around the tip of his pointer finger as he held it up. "Not...Not very Hermione-like though, wouldn't you agree?" The smirk on his lips grew wider as she became more and more agitated. "I'd say mine was far superior. Red like the cat pendant you wear around your neck."
How dare he think it to be a game. Instead of snapping, Hermione chose to ignore his comment. She wasn't going to fall for his trickery, and so she simply demanded her possession back. "Give it here."
"No."
"Why?"
"Finder's keepers." His voice was almost too sing-songy.
Hermione gritted her teeth, inhaling deeply and exhaling as if to calm her nerves, but it did nothing. "You took it from me while I was wearing it! You stole it! And I want it back."
"Um, no." Draco dropped his smile, replacing it with a more serious expression. The ring was returned to its previous trove -his pockets. "I don't want to give it back."
"Draco, we are not five. We are adults; we're almost thirty." Hermione paused.
"No."
"Damn it, Draco!" She stomped her way over, acting much like a five year old. Her hands flexing into balls as she grabbed the hand which contained the ring. But try as she may, Hermione could never out maneuver Draco when it came down to physical strength. "Give. It. Back!"
But he didn't budge. Instead he just looked down on her, his expression blank, like the evening he announced his engagement with Astoria Greengrass.
"Why? Why won't you give me back my engagement ring?"
"It didn't seem like you missed it much, anyway."
"Don't say that, Draco."
"Spend some time with me. That's all I ask -and then I'll give you back the ring."
"Why?"
"Why, indeed. Did you wonder why I visited you that night?" With his free hand, he grasped her wrist, pulling them away from the hand which held her dear, dear belonging, and jerked her forward. Her chest slammed against his as a gasp escaped her lips. Her hand rested on his chest, as he looked down with hooded eyelids. "Why didn't you ask then? Why are you asking now? Why can't you spend time with me?"
Hermione stared at him, her breath hitched in her throat as she held it in, feeling the beat of his heart against her hand. A rapid thump, thump, thump hammered in time with her own. "I-I don't know..."
"The Hermione Granger doesn't know?" He voice grew low as Draco dipped his head in towards hers, his lips brushing against hers ever so slightly as he stared into her warm chocolate eyes. "Oh, dear... It looks like I'll have to make you understand then..."
Her eyelids fluttered at his gentle touch and whispered "Draco...we shou-mmnff!"
Draco quieted her, their lips melting onto each other's, his tongue flicking her upper lip then nibbling her lower. The stubble on his chin tickling her in all the right places. A sigh came from Hermione as she relaxed her tensed muscles.
At her reaction, he released his hold on her dainty wrists, and his hands coursed its way through her natural curls, twisting ringlets around his slender fingers. With a light pull, he broke their kiss, his eyes scanning her expressions as the other hand cupped her cheek. "You look much better with your hair this way -the Hermione I know." The pad of his thumb stroked her smooth, pink skin. "You shouldn't ever change yourself for anyone..."
Her heart skipped another beat as she stared at him, her lips swollen from his assault. Hermione could never understand Draco; one moment he acted like boy she once knew and detested from their days in school, and the next, a gentleman who could say all the right things, who could sweep her off her feet at all the right times. "I'm still the same person..."
His thumb rested over her lower lip, before he dipped his head in once more. A kiss on the tip of her nose, another on her cupid's bow, and a final one on her lower lip. Her anger over the stolen engagement ring had long subsided and forgotten.
Instead, Draco led Hermione towards the couch sitting in the center of the living room. With a wave of his wand, he turned off the Floo, disallowing any visitors, and just in case, the doors closed and the locks clicked, preventing entry. Not that he had visitors often, anyway. He seated himself onto the edge of the plush cushion, his hand still holding onto Hermione's as he tugged her closer.
Their fingers intertwined once more, the feeling all too familiar as it had Hermione's heart racing all over the place. His thumb grazed along the ball of her hand, his nail scratching along her slightly darker complexion. A small encouragement was all she needed as he placed her hand onto his shoulder while he rested his on her hips.
Hermione took a small step closer towards Draco, her fingers outlined his shoulders, his collarbone, his neck, and with each gentle touch, his muscles tightened as if her digits carried electricity, injecting shocks throughout his body. He clenched his jaw as her pointer scraped along the stubbles of his chin and swallowed. His usual light grey eyes darkened as they continued to gaze deeply into hers, waiting patiently for her next move. It took great restraint for him to not just take her, then and there.
Finally, she leaned in, and a gentle kiss of her lips had his eyes closed almost immediately.
Her arms now draped over his shoulders as Hermione took another small step forward, propping her knees onto the settee cradling and sitting back on his thighs. A shove to his chest with her hand and he leaned back against the slack of the sofa, his eyes flipping open once more, looking at the beautiful woman seated atop him. Her mouth hovered over his, close enough to feel the warmth breath exhaling between those luscious lips but never touching. She was, ever, a tease around him, knowing all too well that it drove him insane. Draco pushed his head forward in an attempt to seal their lips, but she was a second faster and turned her head to the side, his lips on her cheek.
A growl sounded from his throat as his fingers dug into her hips to show his disapproval of her toying around.
"Mmm..." She smirked -oh that smirk... "If we're going to be spending time together, then we play by my rules." Somehow the tides turned, giving Hermione all the control -not that she wasn't enjoying this either. And with another push from her pointer against his forehead, Draco hung his head back against the settee, defeated.
Though, as much as Hermione took pleasure in taunting Draco -which was so worth after dealing with him since they were children, she currently had her own needs and wants as well.
She gently pulled at the green satin tie she had crinkled earlier, and with a slight tug at the knot, she loosened it, slipping it off him. Then, one by one, at her own leisure pace, she unbuttoned his shirt. Draco remained still, frustrated as he watched her through slitted eyes, his patience dwindling, now. Once the final button was undone, she slipped her warm hands onto his defined abs, feeling the muscles flexing against her, pushing the unwanted fabric to the side, revealing his upper body. And slowly, she pressed her palm upwards, resting upon his chest, and his heart's beat throbbed at her touch. Her nails lightly scratched at his pectoral muscles, earning her a quiet hiss from the Slytherin.
Some things never changed, and one of those things would always be how her body reacted against the feel of his. It always started off with a glow of her cheeks, then a quickened pace of her heart, and lastly, warmth coursing through her entire body, leaving a wanton ache sitting between her legs. It was all too familiar, but at the same time, alien from its years of absence.
A coy smile danced across face as she pressed her lips to the juncture of his neck and shoulder, her teeth grazing over his skin. She planted butterfly kisses along his jaw before she finally pressed her mouth against his and, ever so slightly, rocked her hips against his. Draco breathed out harshly through his nostrils, and a delighted moan sounded from Hermione. The feeling of their bodies grinding against each other suddenly flipped a switch within the witch and the sluggish pace she worked so hard to maintain was gone in an instant. Hermione sat up, placing her palm flat on his chest, drinking in the sight of the blonde man before her.
Draco looked up at the brunette, pupils dilated and chest rising and falling quicker than normal. He worked his hands from her hips up to her waist, pushing up the satin blouse over her breast and shoulders before tossing it onto the floor. The witch slipped off her lap as she worked on her jeans, kicking them off as soon as possible before returning to the same position. He stared at the lacy knickers she'd chosen to wear, unmatched from her bra, but she was still just as gorgeous.
"You're not going to take this off?" He teased, his voice husky and low, emitting goosebumps from her skin. His thumbs hooked in the elastic of her panties, ready to rid them of their inconvenience before she grounded her hips against his once more, feeling the growing bulge in his pants. Hermione moaned as he let out a shaky breath before it was replaced with his mischievous smirk, goading, "Mmm, yeah... show me what you've got, Granger."
She shifted her weight down onto the ground, resting on her knees as her hands quickly worked at the button of his slacks. Her hand lingered over the pocket which contained her ring, and their eyes locked, frozen for a moment, before she unzipped his pants, yanking them off his hips, piling onto the ground. Draco released a breath he didn't realize he had held in, the tension between them gone. Hermione caressed his legs, her nails dragging along the sensitive inner thigh as his muscles tensed at the stimulation.
Her lips grazed along the bulge of his boxer briefs, nipping lightly at the fabric as he snarled at her taunt. Fingers danced along the length of the waistband, hooking her digits underneath, and tugged it outward, only to have it snap back against his hips with a smack. Another growl came her way, impatient towards her act of revenge against him.
There was a twinkle in her eye as she watched him fidget at her touch -being in control had never been this much fun. Another snap came from the elastic of his briefs as she grazed her teeth along his inner thighs, eliciting a frustrated groan. His hands combed through his tresses, grabbing a fistful of his blonde locks, and he inhaled deeply, expanding his chest before he released it, blowing his exhalation her way.
Mints.
He always smelled like mints.
Draco thanked his lucky stars as she got around to pulling at his boxers, though, bit by bit down his hips as if she was unveiling a priceless work of art. Hermione swallowed and bit down on her lower lip, at last revealing the glorious cock hidden behind the thin piece of fabric. It stood proudly, the tip glistened in precum, excited from its exposure. His undergarment now rested around his ankles while Hermione leaned in further, sticking out her tongue and flicked it against the sensitive hood, tasting his salty dew.
A quiet gasp slipped through his lips as her tongue rolled over his sensitive head. Her hands returned to his inner thighs, running her nails along his skin while her lips finally found their way around his prick as her pad of her tongue continued massaging his tip. He groaned, unintentionally bucking his hips against her mouth, pushing himself further into her wet orifice. "Oh, yes..." he sighed, eyes squeezed shut as he reveled in the tightness of her soft lips, pushing further and further down towards the base of his cock. Her tongue traced along the veins of his throbbing organ, her throat tightened in the back around the head as she swallowed him entirely, her lips barely grazing against his pelvic muscles. "Fuckahh..." Draco whimpered as she squeezed his cock, holding her position. His thighs tightened as he tried to maintain control, but oh her mouth was so delectable and so skilled.
With a pull of her head, she slid his slick cock out of her mouth and took a deep breath, staring up at the man, his chest rising and collapsing from her earlier ministration. A delicate hand wrapped around the base while the other massaged his balls with her dainty fingers. Hermione pulled at his prick, easily stroking his length as it was still wet with her saliva. Her lips touched the rough, cool skin of his testicles, her mouth opening slightly as she engulfed his orbs, rolling it around with her lips and tongue.
His hip jerked, surprised at her bold move but savored the dedication coming from the witch. She released her hold on his balls with a gentle pop before returning her focus on his hard cock. The skin pulled along with her soft hand as the spit dried and all was left was the glistening droplet of his precum oozing out between the slit of his prick. Once again, Hermione pushed her lips against the tip, lapping up his juices. "Merlin, Hermione-" Draco moaned, bundling her curls in his hands, pulling them back into a makeshift ponytail as he watched her bob her head up and down on his cock. "Yea, just like that..." He whispered, moaned every time she hit the base of his dick.
Fuck, if she kept on like this, he wasn't going to match last longer. Fuck, it felt so good. He didn't want it to stop, but- "Shit! Hermione," he gasped, pulling her head back as he hitched a breath, staring down at her brown eyes, glazed over in lust. Draco swallowed, gritting his teeth as he to remember how to breathe. "I need you- I..." He paused, pulling the woman up from her kneeling position, and threw her onto the couch, swapping positions.
Hermione let out a slight squeal, and her eyes widened as she was forcibly snapped out of her trance. He stood before her in full glory as he slipped off her knickers, tossing them -accidentally- into the still smouldering fireplace, but they wouldn't take notice until much later. Her bra came off just as quickly -though, it was saved from destruction as it was merely chucked behind the couch. Their clothes scattered all over the room.
Draco grabbed the back of her knees, bending her legs around his waist as he, taking no time, pushed himself into her soaking pussy. It was always his favorite part -the first push. He could feel the walls of her cunt stretching to fit his cock, twitching as it accommodated his intrusion. Fuck, she was so tight.
"Ooh-" she whimpered, arching her back as he filled her to the brim before he took a pause. They both audibly exhaled, staring down at their bodies before he pulled his hips back, slowly sliding out of her slick cunt, just half-way, before he slammed himself back inside. "Mmmah!" Hermione was so wet, practically gushing for him as he kept pounding his prick into her tight hole.
She gripped onto the back of the settee, reaching behind her shoulders as her arm caged her head. Her jaw was clenched as she gritted her teeth, her mewls dribbling from her pink lips as he thrust in and out. It didn't take her long before she felt the familiar curl in her stomach telling her what was to come next. And by the look on his face, the creases between his sweaty brows and the concentrated squeeze of his closed eyes told her he was close to finishing, too.
His hands rested on her breasts, tweaking her pebbled nipples as he sent more electrifying ripples coursing through her body. "Oh!" Hermione threw her head against the crest rail of the couch; her toes curled as he angled himself to hit that spot over and over again. It was what she needed, just enough to send her flying over the edge, swirling in bursts of bright lights as she rode the wave of her orgasm. "Draco!" she cried, her inner muscles convulsing violently around his prick, sucking him in as he tried to pull away, his thrusts becoming desperate -his need for release was evident.
Draco leaned forward, pressing his forehead against hers as he contorted her body, his hips driving into hers with vigorous fervor as she continued to squeeze him. "Aah-" he groaned, his fingers digging into her ribcage as he near exploded inside her still spasming pussy. His senses completely gone by the time he was done, and his cock twitched inside her with satisfaction.
With a kiss on her lips, he pulled himself out, falling back onto the settee, taking in a deep breath. Their hands found each other's yet again as they slumped against the soft cushions, sweat rolling down their bodies, though the room was cool and pleasant. He stared at the fireplace, noticing her half-burnt knickers and exhaled a laugh, though he chose not to say anything.
He lifted her hand, kissing the back of it, remembering his end of the deal, though it was questionable whether she did. Regardless, if she didn't mention anything, he wasn't going to be the one to bring it up. But, of course, it was Hermione -she never forgot a thing.
Hermione sat up, wistfully pulling her hand away from his and combed her messy hair over one side of her shoulder, fanning the back of her neck -using any excuse, rhyme or reason to avoid making any further contact with him. She, even, stared down at her feet, her toes digging into the rug nervously.
It was...done, right? She held her end of the bargain.
There it was, a pang of guilt gonging against her chest as reality settled in. And just like that, her wonderful, fantastical knight was just a ruse. Hermione bit down on her inner cheek, praying it was all just a dream. But, reality set in once more as she came to realization not once did she sleep with Draco -but twice.
"Can I have it back now?" Her voice was quiet, wavering.
Try as she may to will it away, silence was an old friend of theirs, showing up after their lovemaking when they were still together or even appearing between arguments. It always came whenever they least expected.
Slate grey eyes darted over towards her, but she, purposefully, turned her head in the other direction, unable to look at him. Shame ate away at her soul as she squeezed her thighs together, feeling the spreading warmth shared between her and Draco.
It wasn't right.
She knew better.
"I don't want to," he muttered, quickly slipping into his boxers then his slacks. He wanted to get to the ring before she did. If... if he gave it back, he'd never see her, again. He'd never have this moment with her, again. And Merlin, he missed it so much. He ached for her, every day. He longed for her touch. For her kisses. To hear her moan his name. He...he couldn't bear not experiencing it anymore.
If he gave it back... then it would all be real.
Then she would really be engaged to him -Blaise, his longtime friend.
Fuck.
Her eyes snapped onto his. Gone was the sad woman sitting on his settee, replaced with an angry witch with fire in her eyes. "Why?"
Draco buttoned up his shirt, refusing to look at Hermione, as he walked away from the couch and towards...anywhere else but next to her. "I.. I don't want to." What was he saying? Why was he being such an arse? Just give her back the damned ring..
It wasn't healthy.
This obsession.
"This isn't about whether you want to or not, Draco." She stood up suddenly, taking wide strides over towards the man. "This is doing what's right - and so far, nothing about what we've done has been right!" Hermione pointed at the couch, her finger trembling ever so slightly as her heart ached against her sternum.
He couldn't look at her. That damned silence.
"When have you ever known me to do anything right?" he whispered, sliding his hand into the pocket of his pants, gripping onto the ring. Why was he being so selfish? Draco couldn't look at her. He was so ashamed at his own behavior.
"Why are... just what do you want from me, Draco?" Her voice softened, realizing he wouldn't budge. The blonde could be as stubborn as a Gryffindor if he wanted. Raising her voice and yelling at him wasn't going to help the situation. "We're not..." Hermione sighed, staring down at the hand which held the jewelry hostage.
A sniffle had him glancing over towards the witch as she looked elsewhere. The back of her hand wiping away at her eyes.
Shit. Did he just make her cry?
"We're not...together anymore. You can't just expect me to tag along with your charades." She shifting, wrapping her arms around her naked body, covering herself up. Her brows furrowed as tears streamed freely from her eyes. "This isn't a game we're playing, we're not chil-"
"-Don't you think I know it's not a game?" He snapped, furrowing his brows, an obvious frown etched into his lips. "Is this what you think?"
"Isn't that what it is?"
Hs fingers combed through his messy tresses, frustrated. How could he make her see? Make her understand? None of this had ever been a game. "Hermione, I lo-"
"-Don't." Her eyes widened, realizing what he was about to say. "Don't you dare start that." Her shoulders trembled and her hands balled into fists, knuckles white from how hard she clenched. "You can't."
Fuck. He fucked up.
"I'm with Blaise. We're-We're engaged. " Hermione gestured towards the hidden ring. "And you! You're engaged to Astoria... For the love of God!" She exhaled a scoff, staring up at the ceiling, blinking away her tears. "You shouldn't have showed up that night..."
He clenched his jaw; his grip around the stupid engagement ring tightened.
Did she not know?
"I'm not actually engaged to Astoria." Draco moved around her, making his way back towards the settee and seated himself. Another wave of his wand and the fireplace came to life, lighting up the forgotten piece of cloth.
She started to pick up her wardrobe, slipping on her bra, then her blouse. Hermione searched for her knickers, though they were nowhere to be found. "What are you talking about you're not engaged? I was at your party, I listened to your announcement -I... I remember that night all too clearly." Another thump of her heart and she winced at the memory as it threatened to resurface.
"It's all fucking politics," he laughed, pinching the bridge of his nose. She, really, didn't know? "So the Malfoy family would look good. You know Mother -it's always about showing off to the press: our latest feat, our newest jewels, our luxurious summer home." Draco glanced over at Hermione as she searched for her lacy underwear. She gave up shortly, fetched her jeans, and shoved one leg at a time through each length.
A sniffle came from her stuffy nose and he glanced over briefly before he stared back at the fireplace. "But... Blaise said you moved on." Her sorrowful expression was overwritten with confusion. Hermione was having trouble comprehending the words that came out of his mouth. "He said you were in love..."
"She's been dating the same man since she was at Hogwarts." The ring was out from its confines as he spun it around his finger, counting the number of jewels sitting in the band. "He's a muggleborn, like you, and disapproved by her family." His red diamond ring still looked better.
Hermione froze in the midst of wiping away more of her tears as more metaphorical question marks popped over her head. "What?"
A bitter chuckle erupted from Draco, "I am the other man, Granger." A pause, and his eyes met hers for the first time since they started bickering. He swallowed, his brain twisting and turning as he debated on his next comment.
It would make or break everything.
Draco held the ring out towards her, "Blaise knew from the get go."
The green and white ring glistened fantastically as it sat around the fingers of its rightful owner, light from the sun creating a rainbow effect cast around the living room as it reflected through the jewels. But the glamour was merely an illusion as suspense hung heavy in the air between Blaise and Hermione.
They were quiet, but the tension amidst them was so thick, it could be cut with a knife.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she whispered, leaning forward with her elbows propped on her knees. Her hand was clasped around the other, pressed against her lips. Her eyebrows knitted together; frustration was apparent on her face. They'd been in the same room since Blaise arrived back from his business trip.
Not a hello was exchanged between the two as he noticed her grave expression, sitting in the exact same spot two hours prior.
Exhaustion pulsed through his body. He'd look forward to coming back home to his fianceè, to spend time with her but, instead, an argument erupted the moment he set down his portfolio. "Does it even matter anymore?" He just wanted it over and done with. Blaise rubbed the side of his head, feeling a migraine coming on.
"Of course it does!" She snapped, glaring at him. "Our relationship -these past two and a half years -built on lies."
Just what did he have to say to satisfy her? "I wouldn't have had a time of day with you had you known everything between Draco and Astoria had been a front," he muttered, sighing in the process. Blaise slumped further back into the love seat, kicking his legs out against the coffee table, irritated. When she didn't confirm, he continued, "I guess the answer's a no, then."
"That's not true-"
"-Are you sure about that?" It was his turn to retaliate as he noticed her resolve weakened for a moment. He stared at her from his seat, his arms hanging off the armrest. Blaise tried to sit next to her, to put an arm around her, but Hermione simply shoved him off, refusing to acknowledge his presence other than to push him away. "'Cause right now it seems like if you could go back and change things, you would change everything about us."
She bit her lower lip, the gears in her mind spinning a mile a minute.
"Speaking of," he carried on in his monologue, and their eyes locked onto each other's. It was the tone in his voice, and it had her heart threatening to jump out of her throat. "How did you find out?"
Hermione straightened her back. Shit. She didn't think everything through. Think, think, think. What could she say to cover up her story? Perhaps she could say she ran into some of his friends -no, that wouldn't work. Why would she ever just hang out and chat with him if there wasn't some sort of social obligation? Maybe she overheard it while strolling through Diagon Alley- yes, that could work, but... Did she really want to continue to add onto the deceit their foundation was built on?
But what else could she say?
The truth, for starters.
"Hermione."
"I..." She hesitated. Since when did this suddenly get turned against her? When did she become the villain in this? What could she say? "I... I ran into Draco, and-"
"You ran into Draco?" Blaise finally sat up in his seat, his expression changing, not buying the start of her excuse. "Since when do you simply run into Draco, Hermione?"
Shit. She pursed her lips, her breathing increased as her mind blanked. Of all the times for her brain to just blank, it had to be now. The worst time for any of this to happen. Fuck. Hermione fiddled with the engagement ring, twisting it around her finger, panic settling deep in the pit of her stomach.
"Hermione."
"He came over last week. And it was rain-raining -I was.. -We -we..." Her breath hitched as words vomited out of her mouth suddenly, coming out before she had the opportunity to process everything, before she had the chance to word it eloquently to lessen the blow. "...I slept with him."
Her gut wrenched, crumpling and buckling into a tight knot as the rapid beat of her heart pounded much too loudly in her ears, deafening like the thunderous roar the night Draco came over. She swallowed, immediately standing up as she completed her sentence, unable to face her fiancè. The guilt of her confession was too unbearable. Hermione didn't feel relieved at all. No -this was so much worse.
She couldn't look at his expression -the hurt that was written all over his face.
Merlin, what did she do?
"I'm... I'm sorry," she choked out between sobs, tears spilling as she unsuccessfully blinked them away. "I don't-I don't know what...uhm, what c-came over me." Hermione gasped for air, unable to form words properly. "It was just -just... It -it just happened so -so suddenly. It... it was all a blur."
The sound of the armchair squeaked much too loudly as Blaise stood, making his way behind her. Disbelief written all over his face. His chest rose in short pants as he breathed through his mouth. He reached for her arm, but she jerked it away, squaring her back towards him. Her shoulders quivered as silent tears spilled, rolling down her cheeks and dripping off her chin onto the carpeted floor.
It felt worse -saying everything out loud. It was so much more real. Like, what could have been just a dream was suddenly a terrifying reality, and their relationship was now hanging by a string.
Blaise grabbed her shoulders, spinning her around to face him. And he held her there, though she looked elsewhere. It pained him to know she wouldn't even look into his eyes during her admission. Her resistance towards him hurt worse than her admittance to her infidelity with his childhood friend. Fuck. His mouth was dry, and no matter how many times he tried to swallow, it felt like he was consuming a dry, gritty sand. "Do you still love him?" He managed to choke out, his voice cracking ever so slightly as he forced himself to speak.
Hermione didn't even know how to answer -did she still love him? The man who once saved her from her very own Hell? The man who was her best friend during her time of need? The man who would dry away her tears?
Did she still love him?
"No..." She whispered, shaking her head, weeping. Hermione couldn't look at him. She couldn't witness his heartbreak. "No, I don't. I -I love you." Her head still shook from side to side, her straightened hair flowing along and single strands getting stuck on her wet cheeks. "I-I-I'm s-sorry, I didn't...I didn't mean it. It meant no-nothing." The sobbing witch took a tentative step towards her fiancè, waiting for his reaction, and when he stood his ground, she pressed her face into his sternum, his suit blotted with her tears. In a muffled bawl, she stuttered, "Plea-please don't h-hate me..."
His strong arms wrapped possessively around her trembling frame, his face buried in her hair as he inhaled briefly and exhaled a distinct sigh. A pull yanked at his heartstrings; the pain an unfamiliar stranger to his soul. "I could never hate you, Hermione..." he whispered gently into her ears as she sniveled. Even if she chose to love him, instead, Blaise could never find a reason to hate the witch he idolized since their adolescent years.
And for the first time in their relationship, he finally realized the woman crying before him was just that -a human.
Imperfect and capable of making mistakes.
Not the goddess he was so sure she was.
They stood there, wrapped in each other's embrace for some time. He rocked her gently from side to side as her sobs subsided into sniffles. When Hermione finally looked up at him, her eyes were puffy and red; instinctively, Blaise brushed away the remaining tears, kissing her tear-stained cheeks.
"I'm sorry," she muttered through hiccups.
While forgiveness was the natural next step, he couldn't find the words to actually say it. He couldn't simply pardon it. No, it hurt him too much for him to just simply brush it aside and ignore it. "I..." Another sigh escaped his lips, "I can't forgive you."
"Oh..." Hermione looked away once more, tears threatening to spill again.
"Not yet-" he added, quickly dabbing away the tears with the sleeve of his buttondown. "I need time..."
His hand traced her jawline, and he gently brought chin up, their eyes meeting.
"You can't see him again."
The ceiling was covered in pink and red balloons bouncing off one another as Hermione entered the room. Her eyes twinkled at the sight; it was the first time she'd seen the room so decorated -so cute and different from the usual bland and boring beige. The walls had paper hearts stickered all over it with big bubbly "Happy Valentine's" text floating around. The nightstand and table were adorned with red and yellow snapdragons, more than the usual single bouquet she'd see each year.
February fourteenth rolled by again, but this year was extra special -well, if special was the right word. This year marked the ten years since she last tried to restore her parents' memory -what sent them to the recovery ward in the first place.
It wasn't worth celebrating, but rather, the 'anniversary' was just another excuse for Hermione to take the day off from work to visit her father. Plus, it was her parents would-have-been thirty-first anniversary today.
"Happy Valentine's, Daddy," she smiled, setting the picnic basket onto the desk. "What wonderful decorations you have here today! The nurses must be so sweet to have added this." Hermione gave him a quick peck on his cheek.
Save from the hodgepodge decorations in the room, nothing much else has changed. The beds were still in the far back corner of the wall, while the desk sat at the center left side with the ever more depressing box they called a window situated just above. But -it was a good change -these cute Hallmark decorations- even if her father didn't notice it. Maybe his psyche did. Maybe it'll help boost his morale. Hermione made a mental note to thank the nurses later.
"So-Daddy, I've some exciting news for you," she smiled as she unloaded the basket.
Blaise couldn't make it today, much to her disappointment. He didn't say why -but whether it was because of his busy work schedule or because he was still trying to...figure out how to forgive her, she didn't know. They barely spoke the past two months and exchanged words only when necessary. Just like Hermione, he buried himself in his work, leaving home early and staying late. There had even been a few times where he didn't come back home until the next day, wearing a cologne of noxious of alcohol. Yet, Hermione couldn't bring herself to talk to him about it -in her mind, he had every right to drink the night away and figure things out his own way. It's...what she did when her heart was broken into hundreds of pieces.
Things would...fix themselves, eventually.
Hopefully.
"Do you remember my boyfriend, Blaise?" She knelt down in front of the man, who continued to stare at the wall across from him. He swayed back and forth in the rocking chair with his mouth slightly ajar as he breathed in and out. "Well-" Hermione continued with a faint, sad smile. "We're engaged!"
She held out her hand, showing her father the green and white diamond encrusted ring. "He asked me on our second year anniversary. We haven't planned a date yet, but we were thinking maybe sometime next year." Her words barely whispered through her lips. "I promise I'll get you out of here by then -so you can walk me down the aisle."
Hermione gave her father a kiss on his hand before she went back over towards the table, pulling out all the usual snacks she'd bring every year. "What would you like first? Foie gras? Or some strawberries?"
"Thank you again, Nurse Jenkins, for always looking after him so well." She stood outside with the attending, holding onto the basket to her side. "He's been looking a little healthier. I'm glad things have improved, even if a little."
The older woman smiled, patting Hermione against the arm. "Of course -we do whatever we can do, Miss Granger. Have a good evening, now." She bid the younger witch farewell, and just as she was about to walk off and visit other patients, Hermione stopped her.
"Oh-"
Jenkins turned around. "Yes?"
"And thank you for decorating the room in there. It was a quite pleasant."
The woman furrowed her brows, peering into the dimly lit room of her father's. "We didn't decorate any of that."
"What do you mean?"
"He comes in every year, as soon as the door opened-" The nurse snapped her fingers, trying to remember the mysterious man. Hermione's heart thumped at the realization it wasn't the nurses all these years. "With the snapdragons, oh- a pretty blonde boy." Jenkin's expression changed into a smile. "He used to come with you all those years back."
Draco?
Hermione looked back into the room as her father slept. He decorated this? He was the one who brought in the snapdragons -Oh, Merlin's beard, how did she not notice it until now? Snapdragons. That snake. The corner of her lip twitched at the thought, watching the flowers dance ever so slightly to the moving air.
Draco Malfoy -a man of many surprises.
The nurse must have said something at some point, but Hermione was too busy lost in her own thoughts to pay attention, and when she turned back around, the woman was gone. Well, it wasn't like she didn't know her way out.
Her heart pounded against her chest. All these years and it'd always been him.
And there it was, the all too familiar ache in her chest.
It's funny how time passed.
When the sun is shining and everyone is having a merry time, the time breezed by so quickly. But when the nights are cold and loneliness was the only friend, time dragged on endlessly.
Eventually, though, everyone moves on.
Blaise did with Hermione, about four months after her heart wrenching confession, and they were back on track with life. The wedding plans continued on, and they were set to marry in less than two months, on their fourth anniversary.
But, until then, Hermione worked hard at the Ministry, focusing on her research on how to restore botched memories -a project she worked on tirelessly for the past decade. Towers of books from ancient history to new experimental trials were stacked all over her room -all of them memorized from cover to cover. And on top of her personal task, she also worked on Obliviating others, mostly muggles, who accidentally discovered the wizarding world or even wizards who slipped up in front of a muggle. From time to time, she was also tasked to restore memories, which of course, she had no problem doing.
She's dealt with everything in between, and she was superb at her job. Many times she'd been promoted, but every time she declined. Taking on more responsibilities, while Hermione believed she would enjoy to no end, would not give her the time to work on her own project of finding a cure for her parents.
Twenty-four hours in a day just wasn't enough. Plenty of times, she'd wish she could get her hands on a time turner.
Today was an office day. No outside work needed to be done, so Hermione spent most of her time writing up reports and sending them through the proper channels. Working at the Ministry wasn't always fun and games, unfortunately. Many a days were spent behind closed doors writing statements after statements on wizarding incidents in muggle London. It happened more often than one would image. Especially when it came to magical folks and technology -often times these modern machines would just, simply, go haywire.
"Thank you for lunch, Harry," Hermione waved to Harry as he made his way back towards the elevator after having walked his best friend to her office.
"See you tomorrow, 'Mione."
Luckily, for Hermione, she had Harry Potter to save her from endless boredom (yes, work got dull sometimes) since he, also, worked in the Ministry as an Auror. Often times, he was out and about doing field work, tracking down criminals, but when he wasn't off being a superhero, he, too, was filling out written statements.
Writing paperwork was just second nature to Ministry officials -the way of life, as one called it.
When Harry turned the corner, she greeted her administrative assistant, who sat behind a large wooden desk with paper scattered everywhere. It drove Hermione nuts to see her chaotic organization, but she was the best secretary Hermione's ever had. "Did you have a good lunch, Lizzy?"
"As usual, Miss Granger." The younger woman smiled faintly, scooting up her spectacles with the scrunch of her nose as she glanced up towards her superior. "Oh -and here's a package." Lizzy held it out to her boss.
"Thank you-" she accepted the parcel, tearing the wrapping open. She blinked a few times, oh... This, this book. She tossed the discarded paper into the bin. The Tales of Beedle the Bard. It was old and yellowed. Oh. It was the book she placed a bid a few years back during the night of Draco's 'engagement.' Did she win it? But it'd been several years... "Um-Is there, is there anything else?"
Lizzy shook her head, and Hermione nodded, entering her office and shutting the door quietly behind her.
A sigh escaped her lips as she watched the ever growing pile of paperwork sitting on her desk. Hermione glanced down, carefully flipping through the pages of her favorite book. It didn't make sense. If she'd won the book, she should have received it sooner...
She wasn't even in her room for a minute before she started hearing muffled arguments outside her studio.
Then, the door slammed open and she heard Lizzy's voice, "Mister Malfoy, you can't just barge in there!" Hermione whipped her head towards the entryway, her eyes wide in bewilderment as a disheveled blonde stood in front of her. Her eyes darted to her secretary, and the younger woman merely shrugged, mouthing an apology.
He looked at the book in her hand and pointed to it. "I see you got the book, yeah?"
Hermione looked down then back up. "You can't be here, Draco." He got the book, then? For her?
But he ignored her, shutting the door behind him as he stepped further into the room. "I put a tracking gadget on the wrapping paper -so I would know when you're in the office." He sounded much too proud of his accomplishment.
With a wave of his wand, he silenced the room and locked the door. His brows were furrowed as he breathed heavily, staring at the confused witch in front of him. "You blocked me."
"I'm not to see you anymore." Her heart pounded out of control. This was the last place she expected him to show up. In fact, Hermione didn't think she'd be seeing him ever again, given how things ended between the two of them -since her confession to Blaise.
Actually, it'd been well over a year since they've last spoken. Hermione had avoided him, and it was so much harder than she originally thought it to be. They always attended similar functions, and even shared mutual friends. As much as Blaise loathed Draco, in the eyes of the public, they were best friends. Purebloods and their ridiculous politics. Plus, the bright blonde hair of his always caught her eyes, no matter how hard she tried to look elsewhere. He was always there when she didn't want him to be.
Always.
And now, she had no choice but to stare at him square in the eyes as he forced them to interact. "I've been trying for months to get in touch with you. You blocked me from the Floo. You're always conveniently 'out' whenever I show up at your office -why won't you see me?"
"...I'm not allowed to."
"You're not allowed to? What are you five?" He sneered. "Since when did you start listening to such stupid demands?"
"Since you almost ruined my relationship with Blaise!" Hermione threw down her satchel, angry at Draco's accusations. "Can't you take a hint, Draco?"
He always knew how to just rub her the wrong way. "It takes two to tango, Granger."
Ignoring her comment, she stomped her way behind her desk - a safe place and a makeshift barrier between her and the wretched Malfoy. "What do you want?" The query nearly oozed out with distaste. If he had some sort of reason to be here, then perhaps it was best to just listen so he could leave.
Guilt throbbed painfully against her sternum as her promise to Blaise was broken -though, through no fault of her own.
He got it. He knew perfectly clear he wasn't welcomed, not from her tone just now, but from all the other times she kept clear of him. From all the times she turned her head away at the sight of his eyes or the letters returned unopened.
Draco knew all too well what it felt like to be unwanted.
"You'll hear me out, then?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"No."
"Then get with it." The witch gestured towards the seat in front of her desk as she sat at her own. Her eyes darting everywhere in the room, looking everywhere but at the man who could still make her heart beat uncontrollably.
Draco pulled out the seat, plopped down, and leaned onto the desk. "I... found a cure -for your father. I know how to restore his memories." He waited, but she stayed silent, unsure how to take the news. "I...I've been working on some potions..." He fiddled around with his fingers, digging at his nail though they were spotless. A nervous habit he picked up from Hermione all those years ago. "It's... It's why I planted a seed in Mother's head -how this whole engagement with Astoria started."
Her heart lodged itself in her throat as she heard his fianceè's name.
"I chose to be with Astoria...because her family company monopolizes the potion manufacturing businesses," he picked his words carefully, knowing what he had done all these years were scheming and deceitful, especially to the beautiful woman sitting in front of him.
But how else could he say it? To make it sound better, to make him come off good willed -because he potentially discovered a cure for her father. Would she see it that way? Or would she just see it as him trying to get in her good graces again? Or even trying to end her relationship with her and Blaise once more? "I needed access to...certain ingredients that aren't...easily obtained through normal means. Being with Astoria made things a lot easier for me. It was a mutual..." he paused, swallowing, "...relationship. I could get the much needed supplies and she...well, she would take the Malfoy name and appease her parents."
He ran his fingers through his hair, sighing loudly. "It took me so long -to figure it out. I...I had to seek help from muggle doctors. Can you believe it? And learn this weird science thing they've got going on-" Draco paused, noticing the curve of her lips twitching upwards as her eyes fluttered down onto the clean table -quite opposite of her secretary's. A wave of relief washed away the tension and nervousness resting in the pit of his stomach.
She could still smile around him, even if it was just a little bit. That was enough.
Her happiness would always be enough for him.
"It took a while -a lot longer than what I had originally anticipated." Draco pushing himself back against the slack of the chair, his hand slipping into his jeans and pulled out a vial filled with a wispy air-like liquid. "This...This is it." He, carefully, placed it on the desk, pushing it over to Hermione. "Almost nine years worth of work..."
With trembling fingers, Hermione picked up the tiny bottle, terrified to destroy the only thing that might cure her father. "But -how do you know it works?"
"With a little bit of Felix Felicis." For a split second, a smirk danced across his lips as he quipped, but it faltered as she sent him a glare. Okay, so no joking around. Perhaps it wasn't the smartest time to do it, anyway. "I, um, I don't?"
"But you just said-"
"-I'm aware of that. I can't make it work, but you can." His fingers tapped quietly on the wooden desk as he crossed his legs. "I was trying all these things, potions after potions after potions -nothing really worked, nothing made sense. So, I...Well, Astoria suggested I get in touch with some doctors in London and explain to them what happened, without exposing our world, but don't worry, I Obliviated their memories-"
"-Draco!"
"I was careful!" He threw his hands up in defense as she snapped at him. Obliviating a person's memory was dangerous. One wrong flick of the wand and everything could be ruined. Hermione was a prime example. "I learned the cerebral cortex plays the primary role in one's memory, but it also plays a part in another's attention, though, language...consciousness."
Hermione sat the vial down as the airy liquid inside spun around in circles, like a small hurricane in a bottle. She stared down at the potion then back at the man sitting in front of her as he explained away.
Nine years? He's been working on this potion?
"Why...didn't you tell me sooner?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, but it was loud enough for Draco to stop in the middle of his sentence.
He swallowed once more, his mouth dry. "You were with Blaise, and for once in a really long time, you were happy. I didn't want to ruin what you two had."
"But you tried to all those months ago."
"My mind wasn't in the right place," Draco tried to justify his actions. "You... getting engaged was the last thing I'd expected." He stared at the ring on her finger. "My heart broke -I... shouldn't have done what I did, but I'm not going to apologize for it." He would never apologize for loving Hermione, even after all these years. Even if she'd moved on or hated him. Her happiness meant the world to him.
It's why he was here today.
"Let's go visit your father."
Her eyes darted back onto his, and for the first time in a very long time, she watched him smile. She gave him a hasty nod while she grabbed the vial and made her way over towards the inactive fireplace.
"This potion should repair all the damages on the brain from when you, initially, tried to reverse the spell." Draco opened the door slowly to her father's room, allowing her to enter.
Hermione's eyes darted towards the bundle of snapdragons. "You were always the one leaving the flowers here. I don't know why I never caught on to it." She watched Draco saunter over towards the flowers, petting their red petals as they shimmied to his touch. They never danced for her. Only ever for Draco.
"You were too busy taking care of your parents-" he smiled. "I never expected you to figure it out."
"So-" She cleared her throat, "tell me more about what I should do." Hermione greeted her father and pulled a chair out to sit next to him. Her hand grasped his as he rocked in his chair.
"Get him to drink the potion." He turned to her, watching her closely as she examined her father's condition. "Wait a minute for the potion to take on; it's a temporary fix, but it'll heighten the spell. And with your magic, with your love and power -you can fix him and restore everything."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because a certain bookworm once taught me love can change the world."
She turned to face him, eyes brimming with tears as her lips trembled. "I'm scared, Draco... What if I screw up again? What if I lose him permanently?" Her voice quivered as she inhaled deeply, "I can't lose my dad -with Mum gone -I... I can't." Her forehead rested on her hand as she tightened her grip on her father's hand, sniffling.
"You won't." Draco placed his hand on her shoulder, giving her a reassuring squeeze. "I'll be here to help you every step of the way."
Tears poured from her eyes as she looked up at the man. Her heart pained to look at him. Nine years of his life he spent researching a cure for her father. Nine years without saying a single word. And here they were, together, about to make one final attempt to restore her father's memories.
Even after all this time, after all the things she's said to him -he was still happily standing next to her.
Hermione swallowed back a sob as she pulled out the vial and popped the cork. A whiff of lavender-scented aroma filled the air, calming her restless heart. "Okay..." She sighed, holding the potion up to her father's lips. Instinctively, his mouth opened, and she poured the concoction down his throat as mist-like substances spilled out from the corner of his lips.
When the bottle was emptied, Hermione stood up, readying her wand with a trembling hand. One minute, She reminded herself, waiting for the potion take effect. His eyes closed as his head hung forward, almost as if he'd fallen asleep in his chair, but when nothing else happened, she looked to Draco, panicking.
"It's all in the mind, Hermione. You're not going to see any physical changes." He watched her father, his hand reaching out for hers. Their fingers intertwined as he held tightly onto her. As much as he was confident on the outside, his heart was beating a mile a minute, anxious and scared.
They couldn't afford to muck up.
Fifty-eight...Hermione lifted her wand and glanced over towards Draco. He nodded in encouragement. Fifty-nine... She turned to her father who continued to sleep in his chair, no longer rocking it back and forth. Sixty. She pointed her wand at the older man. "Memoriam Revoca!"
A thin, feathery substance floated out from the tip of her wand and traveled towards the man the spell was pointed at. The restoring incantation looked very much like the potion Draco created, light blue and twirling in a spiral almost like a tornado. When it reached its destination, the matter seeped through his nostrils as he inhaled, disappearing in almost an instant.
All they could do was wait. Neither of them knowing how long it would take -but her presence was necessary. For when he woke up, he needed to see her face -the ultimate symbol of love.
They stood there, their hands clasped around each other's, staring at the man before them. For Hermione, what felt like an hour was only a few minutes.
Funny, how time passed.
Her heart nearly jumped out of her chest when the older man stirred. He lifted his head slowly, his hand reaching behind, massaging his neck, and a groan! Hermione shot a look over towards Draco as he nudged her forward; his hand loosening its grasp around hers.
Tears filled to the brim of her eyes as she knelt forward in front of the man -too scared to say anything. She didn't want to ruin the moment -that hope.
His eyes opened slowly, and Hermione's heart hammered against her sternum -his irises were foggy, blue like the substance from her incantation, but for just a moment before it disappeared again. They were hazel like hers, though his had flecks of green.
When his vision cleared, it would mark the first time in ten years he'd seen his daughter. And for a moment, he'd hardly recognized her. The young teenager, he last remembered, grown to a beautiful woman with giant tears trickling out of her doe-like eyes.
"Hermione?" He cleared his throat. It was dry -dry from years of not being able to utter a word.
Draco appeared next to the older man, holding out a glass of water, and he gratefully accepted it, gulping down the fine liquid. It was just what he needed, a cool lubricant to his parched throat.
"D-D-Daddy?" She stuttered, grabbing his hands as he nearly spilled the contents of his drink. "Daddy -do you -do you remember me?"
They stood in the hallway; the light in her father's room was turned off as he'd gone to bed, exhausted from the past several hours of catching up. And there was so much to catch up on -they weren't even closed to finishing.
As much as Hermione wanted to stay with him, he needed his rest. He needed to recuperate. The nurses and doctors tended to him now.
She'd come back tomorrow.
"We could use someone like you at the Ministry, you know." She smiled, staring down at interlocked hands. "I'll even put in a good word for you."
The pad of his thumb grazed over her soft skin as he stared at the ceiling, noticing the soft flicker of the dying light above. "What would Blaise think of that?"
Silence.
"...Thank you, Draco." Tears threatened to spill once more. She'd cried enough for a lifetime tonight. But they were tears of joy. To have her father back in her life -it was a dream come true. Hermione could live the rest of her days without worry, without having to fret over his condition, and now, there would be no more endless hours of research, wasting her life away. Because of him. "I owe you the rest of my life."
"Hermione... You don't owe me anything." He pulled her hand up to his lips, gently kissing the back of it.
Their eyes met.
And he couldn't help himself.
Draco leaned in, dipping his head to hers, his lips hovering over hers for a moment before he placed a gentle kiss. Her eyes fluttered shut as the tears trailed down her rosy cheeks. Their lips parted as he nibbled at her upper lip, and it ended all too soon. He broke the kiss, blinking rapidly as he planted another kiss on her forehead, tugged her into a warm embrace.
His face buried in her hair as he inhaled deeply, the sweet scent of lavender and parchment filled his nostrils. With a shaky exhale, he pulled away, brushing away the tears.
A deep pain vibrated in his chest as his heart wept.
"It's my wedding gift to you."
The sound of laughter filled the air as women in beautiful gowns ran about in the dressing room. Though they still had several hours, the clock continued to tick away, and none of them were close to ready.
Hermione sat in front of a large vanity mirror. Her eyes were closed as Ginny painted her face with make-up, cracking jokes at the witch, then scolding her friend whenever she giggled and messed up her concentration. Molly stood behind Hermione, brushing her hair, twisting and turning each lock into a beautiful work of art. Luna, on the other than, thought she was helping by spritzing lemon water around the three other women. "A fresh air of luck," she said.
"I'm so excited!" Ginny laughed, nearly breaking out into a song as she wrapped up her finishing touches on her best friend. "You're so beautiful, Hermione." The younger redhead smiled widely, patting Hermione's manicured hand.
"You're saying that only because I'm the bride," she laughed.
"I'm saying it because you're the bride!" Ginny huffed, standing up as she readjusted her scarlet dress. The maid of honor had a lot of work cut out for her, especially in the last couple weeks of preparing for the wedding. In the end, it was all worth it, especially the news of her father. Holy crap, did that put a lot of weight off Ginny.
Because truth be told, she had no idea what she was going to do for Hermione if her father was still in the recovery ward. But now that he was out, it didn't matter what she did -Hermione was as happy as they come. Well, she did put some effort in the bachelorette party, so there was that.
There's no way she would be going down in history as the worst maid of honor, ever.
Once her hair and makeup was completed, Hermione slipped into her dress. Molly gasped, covering her mouth; it was the first time she saw her in the gown. "My adopted daughter," the older woman let out a sob as tears came pouring out of her face. "-Getting married!"
"Mum!" Ginny frowned, pointing at herself. "Hello? Me? Your actual daughter? Married to Harry Potter?" But Molly paid no mind as she continued to gush over Hermione.
Hermione was dressed in a gorgeous wedding dress. She wore a backless bustier with sheer long sleeves embellished with white floral appliques down to a form fitting mermaid satin train. She stared at the woman reflected in the mirror, standing before her. Her heart skipped several beats, for a moment, she was unable to recognize herself. Her trembling hands hand down her stomach, feeling every bump of the flowery patterns.
Today was the day.
This was it.
"'Mione?" A knock came from the entrance of the dressing room as it just barely cracked open. She tore away from the mirror to see Harry's head peeking through.
"Harry Potter!" Ginny rushed towards the door, nearly pushing him out. "You know it's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding!"
"Gin -that only applies to the groom!"
"Oh- Is that how it works?" She looked over towards the bridge as she chuckled and nodded. "Okay, then." Ginny released her hold on the doorknob as she allowed her husband to enter the room.
"Your father wants to see you." Her best friend smiled as Hermione made her way over towards them. They exchanged brief hugs as he light laid a peck on her cheek.
She looked at the older man standing just outside the bride's room, and a warm glow spread through her cheeks. Hermione couldn't get enough of seeing her father. After ten years of him being confined to a single, lonesome room and to finally have him standing before her -she couldn't have asked for a better gift.
"Daddy," Hermione held her arms wide opened for the man as he sniffled, wiping away a tear.
"Your mum would have been so happy." He managed to choke out as he wrapped his strong arms around her. Being in his arms always made her feel like a child again, a feeling she knew she'd never grow tired of. It was full of love -and there wasn't enough of it.
"Are you ready?" Her father looked down at the beautiful bridge as they stood right outside the giant wooden doors that led to the auditorium full of guests and her groom.
Hermione laughed, whispering, "As ready as I'll ever be, Daddy." She looped her arm around his as the wedding planner handed her a beautiful bouquet of white lilies. "Let's pray that I don't trip over my ridiculous dress."
The man chuckled and nodded in agreement.
The two of them straightened out as the doors opened on cue. The Bridal Chorus played in the background as the sounds of feet shuffling echoed the room. Everyone stood from their benches and faced the aisle. Hundreds of eyes staring at her and her father.
Nerves shook her every being as she tried her best not to stumble and remain poised. Her father gave her a reassuring pat on her hand.
Everything's going to be okay.
Cameras flashed from every which way, documenting the moment. She could hear whispers, and she saw all the smiles from her honored guests.
At the end of the aisle was her soon-to-be-husband, just as handsome and confident as he'd always been. Their eyes locked and his smile widened into an excited grin. Her cheeks flushed in response, coyly returning his smile and looked towards her bridesmaids.
Ginny was already crying, dabbing away the tears with a handkerchief as her eldest son, James, no more than five years of age, held onto her hand, staring at his mother with a dumbfounded expression.
So much love filled the room today. Whether it was from old friends or from family, Hermione would feel every single one of their affection towards her and her groom.
As they reached the end, he stepped forward, shaking her father's hand. The two of them whispered inaudible exchanges before they swapped places, and her father made his way towards his seat.
"You're absolutely stunning, Hermione." he whispered, staring lovingly down at his bride. His thumb caressed the web of her hand.
"And you're quite handsome yourself, Blaise." Another shy smile danced across her lips as they moved towards the officiary, who, as it turned out, was Harry Potter.
The music subsided as everyone took their seat once more. With a clear of his throat, the speech began, and there was talk of friendship, of love, of family... For a moment, both Hermione and Blaise concentrated on Harry. But, she couldn't help herself, and Hermione leaned a little towards the side, noticing the men standing behind Blaise.
There were three groomsmen: Theodore Nott, Gregory Goyle, and... Draco Malfoy.
He noticed her -of course he would. He would never, for the rest of his life, be able to take his eyes off her. And she looked so...beautiful in her wedding dress. And when their eyes locked, time stood still. A pang of sadness reverberated much too loudly in her chest.
The voice of her best friend warped into indistinguishable garble. "Hermione Jean Granger, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
The corner of his lips twitched, curving upwards into a faint smile, but Hermione didn't believe him, not for a moment, the heartbreak in his watery eyes said it all.
And, after all this time, he was still the only man to ever make her feel the ache in her heart.
"Hermione?"
FIN.
Responses first, then detailed explanation of the series after. :)
surugasasa: Thank you! Truth be told, I didn't do her all myself. Mr. Benzedrine was very helpful when it came to increasing the bitchiness factor, haha. And thank you -I don't really know how to respond to your heart almost breaking? but it's really flattering that it did -because then I know I wrote it right. Hopefully you enjoyed this last chapter.
Draconian666: I'm really glad you picked that up -I think I tried to make it really obvious, but haha, sometimes people don't pick these clues up! It's hard loving two people at once.
Sam Wallflower: I know you've been nervous about this, Iris! I know you've been giving Blaise a chance, and I super appreciate you doing so -it means a lot to me. If it helps you, I'll always be #teamDraco. And that's SUPER cute, XD You're so committed to #Dramione that you even shouted "NO!" in real life. XD Hope you enjoy chapter 3 -and hopefully it'd satisfy you a little bit knowing I did throw in Dramione. :)
LightofEvolution: Physical attraction won't always last in the long run. It's the honeymoon stage, when that dies, you gotta live with the person beyond that. I personally think Blaise and Hermione are capable, but no pairing will ever be better than Draco and Hermione. And yes! A lot of Easter eggs -a subtle shoutout to all those who supported me.
Vivienne Stark: Thank you for the compliment! It was a really fun / sad love triangle to write -and top 10 favorite fanfics?! You flatter me TOO much.
Jelibean323: Feel all the feels! I would love me some Blaise or Draco, any day. XD
Broadside: Whooo! I'm glad you listened to them! And they ARE amazing aren't they? :)
My Inspiration:
I haven't written a lot of fanfics, considering that I'm relatively new in this field, but Background has been the more emotional writings that I've done in all my life, in general. I started off this story as a one-shot, and it was definitely going to circle around love, being loved, and loving (and of course, heartbreak). Of course, as all of you guys know, it turned into a three part series. And I think it was better this way, too. A lot of heart, tears, and laughter went into this and I hope all of you guys were able to feel it, too.
Barcelona, the band that shows up over and over in this series, was, I think what pushed me into this mindset. I rediscovered them about a week or two before I started writing Background, so it ended up planting a seed in my mind which eventually blossomed into this story. I highly encourage you guys to all give them a listen -even if it's not your kind of music, because their songs touch up on the truth of love and relationships.
I've been going through tough times in my own relationship. My boyfriend and I have been having a lot more downs than we have ups these past several months, and at one point, it got me thinking about my past loves and what went wrong with the 'us' then. I had a boyfriend in college, and after we broke up, he was able to find a new girlfriend while I was stuck in the past, comparing all the boys I've dated to him, unable to move on. And, even with this current boyfriend, I've had to find closure with my past before moving forward. It sucks when you idealize a relationship. Your memories always focuses on the good things, making it seem like the relationship was perfect, even though it was far from it.
In the end, Draco, ultimately, represents her past and he's the 'what could have been' had she chose him over her ideal of having a family. Blaise symbolizes the present, the now, someone who she should pour her heart and soul into but can't because she's stuck in the past, always wondering 'what if.'
I wrote a very imperfect Hermione, mainly because many of the fanfictions I've read -she's been near perfect. She has her life in order; she's satisfied with the now. I wanted to write a Hermione who was filled with flaws. Someone who couldn't figure out all the answers, whether it was because of work, her family, or her past. I wanted to write someone who was capable of making mistakes and acting on impulse, because in the end, we all strive to be that perfect Hermione. And in the end, sometimes we can't choose our heart's desires, because it's not always going to make the right choices.
PS: I was supposed to add something in here about adding a prequel to Background. ;)
PPS: I've received some comments about the open ended-ness of the story, and here's my interpretation as to why I chose to do what I did: you are in control of your own happiness. Whether it's creating a solidified ending to this story or finding contentment in your life -you are in control. Don't ever let anyone else make you think otherwise.
