Disclaimer: All characters of this story do not belong to me. All credit goes to the queen herself, JK Rowling.

Warnings: This is a Dramione fanfic. With Romione as well. Please don't hate me if you support/hate one or the other. This chapter may make you want to hate me.


CHAPTER THREE: A Confrontation and a Realization

Unknowingly, Draco flung his arms around Hermione and hugged her, not wanting to let go. He had to force himself to, in all the difficulty.

"Congratulations to you and Ron," he said stiffly. She smiled.

"Thank you!" She said over-excitedly. "I'm so glad you could make it! Where's Astoria?"

Draco twisted the ring around his finger, almost forgetting about his wife back home. "She uh, she had some Ministry business to take care of."

"Oh of course," Hermione laughed, glowing. "When's the baby due?"

It almost hurt him that she was referring to his own life, a life that he would easily give up just to be with her…

"Erm, May."

"That's wonderful!" She exclaimed. "I can't wait to meet him, do you have a name?"

"Yes, uh, Scorpius," he answered. "My mother picked it out, and Astoria loved it."

Hermione nodded. "That's great Draco! Well, I best be going – hi, Neville! Hannah! Have you two seen Ron? There are so many people here, more than I expected! Overwhelming, actually! It was nice seeing you!"

"It was nice seeing you too," he said quietly, but she was already off.

Draco sighed and took a sip of firewhiskey, and immediately placed the goblet down after the drink burned his throat.

He watched as Hermione ran from table to table, greeting everyone from Ron's rude and elderly grandmother to her old schoolmates. Ron was nowhere to be found.

He felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around to see the green eyes and crooked glasses of Harry Potter.

"Harry," Draco said awkwardly. "Hi."

"Hi," Harry replied. "Do you mind if I have a word with you?"

Looking around the table and finding no reason to stay, Draco nodded. "Sure."

Harry led him outside of the room and to the end of an empty corridor. He peered around to make sure that no one was eavesdropping.

"How are you?" Harry asked Draco, evidently concerned.

"Fine," Draco said automatically.

Harry nodded. "You all right? I couldn't help but notice that you were sort of staring at Hermione for the entire reception. And you pretty much melted when she came over and talked to you."

"Observant, you are, Potter," Draco laughed. He never regretted the day when he offered his compliments to Harry and became good friends with him. "It's just that –"

"I know," Harry said sympathetically. "No one can forget the day that you two broke up. Not even Hermione."

"Really?" Draco beamed. Harry nodded.

"She cried for hours that night, you know. No Gryffindor was able to sleep."

Draco smiled.

"Listen, you know Ron's my best mate but," Harry said, his tone of voice changed. "You can trust in me that I won't tell him about this conversation we're about to have."

Draco, although confused, nodded in agreement.

"You are, okay with Hermione marrying Ron, right?" Harry asked quietly.

Draco thought for a moment, a flicker of regret in his eyes. Harry looked at him, concerned about his hesitation.

"Draco?" Harry said.

Draco merely shook his head. "When I got the wedding invitation, I couldn't sleep the entire night. I wished that it were my name upon that parchment instead of his…"

Harry just stared at Draco, speechless.

"I can't bear to see them together," Draco said, his voice uneven. "It's almost impossible for me to even think about it. I feel so guilty for what I've done to her, for what I've done to all three of you, I feel so worthless.."

"Draco.." was all that Harry said.

"I'm so unhappy with Astoria, Harry," Draco continued, the words just coming out on their own. "But she's having the baby, and I'm almost sure that it isn't mine, but she's so convinced.. and I'm going to have to raise him on my own.. while Astoria works at the ministry"

Harry felt a pain of sorrow for Draco. Draco's life had been so damaged since he was forced by his father to follow Voldemort, and now he had to pay the price for it when everyone else around him was happy…

"Harry, I think I'm still in love with her," Draco said quietly, almost so much to himself that Harry was unsure if he had heard him correctly.

"What?"

"I'm still in love with her," Draco said conclusively. That had to be it, he wouldn't be feeling all of this pain if it weren't true.

All of a sudden he felt a strong blow to the face, so painful that it had knocked him off his feet. Harry let out a yell, astonished.

Draco, regaining his sight, looked up.

He stared into the angry, bloodshot eyes of Ron Weasley.


Sorry Draco, I had to do it D:

Please Read & Review :)

I'm off to bed, it can't be another late night for me writing chapters, I have practice early in the morning.

The next chapter will be up asap tomorrow, I promise! x