AN: You have all been amazing to me! Thank you so much for reading my story and as always I do not own anything. Enjoy x
Chapter 4
"I've been cheated by you, and I think you know when"
Hermione looks over at herself in the mirror – running her small hands over her dress and stretching out the wrinkles that are not there. She stares skeptically at her white, off the shoulder dress that cascades down to her knees. Her hair is fairly tamed today, with bigger and smoother ringlets instead of her wild curls – she can thank the ocean water for that. Though, she doesn't understand why she is nervous for the night; it was just Draco's birthday. Yet, here she is, twiddling with her dress and an unsettling stomach.
"Get a hold of yourself girl."
She takes her bright yellow bandana and wrap it into her curls before exiting the room, because she knows if she stands there for a minute longer, Harry would have to drag her out.
With Harry and Ron each attached to her arm, she enters the gardens of Draco's estate. It is a breathtaking moment; a lily pad pond in the center, draping willow trees adorned with small fairy lights, a beautiful array of white exotic flowers and over looking the cliff into the Aegean Sea. Just by the edge of the garden is a gazebo and there stands the silver trio by a decorated table.
It never ceases to amaze Hermione just how beautiful these aristocrats are. With their sharp features, defined hair cuts and decadent outfits – literal scenes straight out of a fairytale book. Hermione and Draco for a moment catches each others' eyes, honey clashing with silver. Against the dark night sky and under the soft yellow lights, he is an embodiment of a Greek God and it takes a moment for Hermione to breathe again.
"You lot made it!" Pansy screams in joy. She snaps her fingers and three crystal flutes float in front of the three, filled with a soft pink liquid.
"It's sparkling Rose, with a little kick." Pansy states with a wink.
"What's the kick?" Hermione asks and straight after, like an answer from Merlin himself, Ron is beside her choking, "Oh Ronald." Hermione pats his back as he still tries to catch his breath.
"Fucking hell Pansy. What did you put in this?" Ron says, sufficiently as red as his hair but Pansy just smirks at him and raises her glass.
"The witch is terrifying." Ron states.
"You get used to it."
The voice behind them sends chills down Hermione's spine. She doesn't understand why his presence comes to a shock since she is the stranger here not him – not the man that has been best friends with Draco since the age of 6. She turns around and her heart contracts – he is undeniably so beautiful it hurts. Theo smiles at her like time has not past, always ever so sweet and endearing.
"Draco dear, happy birthday."
A well manicured dainty hand slides over Theo's shoulder, adorned with a large diamond ring. Daphne Greengrass exuberates grace from head to toe. Her golden hair cascades down her back adorned with crystal clips. She has piercing emerald eyes that sits symmetrically on her petit face. She is wearing a long-sleeved silver silk dress that falls over delectably her curves – she is the incarnation of Aphrodite herself and the pure source of all of Hermione's insecurities. Daphne shoots a sharp look at Hermione, almost eyeing her down with disapproval.
"Daphne darling, if I knew you were coming I would've set up an extra chair." Pansy says stepping between Hermione and Daphne, flipping her hair over her shoulder.
"Oh do not worry." Daphne says sweetly. With a swift movement of her wand, the table accommodated for an extra seat. Daphne peers over Pansy, "My, is this Hermione Granger? My name is Daphne Greengass-Nott."
Daphne extends her hands to Hermione who takes it and then Daphne pulls her in a little before squeezing her hand, "I've always wanted to see what the hype was about the Golden Girl." She says with a sweet smile – too sweet, "Rather underwhelming." Daphne whispers into her ear when she lays a kiss on Hermione's cheek.
"Likewise Greengass." Hermione says through her teeth.
"Greengass-Nott." Daphne corrects, snaking her arm around Theo's arm and placing her ringed hand on his arm.
"Let's start dinner shall we?" Blaise interrupts.
Dinner is a murderous affair.
Even in the Greek heat in the middle of summer, chills run through their bodies. For the past hour and a half, it was constant back-handed, sly comments towards Hermione, and with each comment it struck Hermione and waned at her patience. Conversation flows between the moments but it is merely not enough to diffuse the situation.
"So, what are you doing now days Hermione?" Daphne asks.
"I work with healing magical creatures." Hermione states.
"She's being modest – Hermione has spent the last two years training and researching under the best in magical beast care." Ron adds before Daphne could respond.
"She has become a point of contact for rare and exotic creatures. Due to her methodology and intelligence, experts deemed her best suited to care with such unique creatures." Harry says.
"Oh Merlin! I remember your crusade on elves! It was rather humorous watching your feeble attempts. I'm sure time hasn't changed at all then."
"Daphne…" Theo warns softly.
Boom.
The whole table erupts in shock when a lightening strikes just behind the dinner table, causing a rather startled Daphne to jump right out of her seat. The sound of the residing thunder strikes fear across the table, everyone but Hermione, who is sitting on her seat staring at Daphne. When Draco looks over, he sees a deadly look that gives him a hollow feeling inside of him – no one as innocent as Hermione Granger should look so murderous. The sound of a screeching chair brings everyone's attention to Daphne, who is forcibly being dragged to sit back down on her chair and stay.
"The feats I have accomplished in my lifetime as feeble as you portray them as, will forever be written in Wizarding History, will yours Mrs. Greengass-Nott?" Hermione says, "That is of course, what feats have you accomplished in your lifetime?" Despite the rage that can be seen behind Hermione's hazel eyes, her posture and voice did not waiver and remains calm and shook the table to the bones.
"I got the man you love." Daphne shouts angrily. "You see, when I heard about your affair I wasn't even worried he would leave me for you! You do not belong in our society and you will never be accepted! He would never leave me for you!" Daphne's whole body shakes with anger as she breathes heavily over the table. Hermione's glare snaps towards Daphne and a torrent of lightening strikes the ground behind them causing Daphne to scream. Then a silence falls over them, so heavy it suffocates the guests.
"Thank you for the dinner, it was truly lovely. Coconut is my favorite, so I did enjoy the cake." Hermione slowly gets up and places her table cloth on the table. She walks over to Draco and places a hand on his shoulder, "Happy birthday Draco. Here."
Hermione hands over an envelope and Draco opens up to reveal a Ministry labelled document. He looks up at Hermione with confusion and she smile sweetly at him, "It's permission for you to visit the Hippokampoi grounds with me. Any day you are ready to do so let me know. And Daphne. Theo never mentioned that he was engaged. I did love him, unrightfully so. I am sorry for the hurt it may have caused you, I truly did not know, but your hatred and anger is misplaced. I will not stand here and be your chopping block when it was him that hurt us both. Good night everyone." She gives Draco's shoulder a squeeze and a warmth erupts in Draco as he watches her walk away. He is about to get up and chase after her, but movement from his side disrupt his train of thoughts. He looks over and notices the chair that once sat Theo, is now empty.
"You're a right hag Daphne." Pansy states.
"Oh stuff it pug-face." Daphne retorts. Pansy almost leaps across the table to attack her but Ron holds her down.
"Daphne…leave." Draco says menacingly.
"I beg your pardon?" Daphne sharply says.
"Get the fuck off my property. Or I will escort you myself." Draco enunciates. Daphne grunts before exiting the premises, stomping away angrily.
"So…Granger. Wandless magic?" Blaise asks sipping on his whiskey.
"Since the war." Harry says mimicking Blaise by drinking the content of his glass.
"Should we…" Before Pansy could continue, an eruption of fire explodes in the field where Hermione walked away to and Theo followed. Pansy drinks the rest of her drink and pours another, "I guess not."
"Hermione! Bloody hell you could have burnt me alive!" Theo says throwing his inflamed jacket on the ground.
"Fucking should have a year ago! Why are you here Theo?!" Hermione screams.
"i—I wanted to see if you were oka—"
"NO!" Hermione shouts throwing her hands up to wandlessly throw Theo back.
"Hermione come on." Theo begs as he gets off the ground, wand at his hand.
"You do not get to stand there Theo; after what you did to me! And pretend to care."
"Hermione, please just listen to me." Theo takes a step forward and Hermione jumps back.
"You broke me Theo." The world seems to have crash onto Hermione and her heart is beating against her ribcage. The pain comes rushing back like it was just yesterday – she could see Daphne "surprising" Theo at his place while hiding in the closet, she could still hear their rumbustious love-making and she can still hear Theo saying I love you to Daphne. She remembers, when Theo opened the closet door that she was on the floor, hands covering her ears and tears endlessly streaming down her face. At this moment, she can feel the betrayal and hurt all over again, hazing her vision and blurring her mind.
Breathing became a tremendous effort for her and it is like cement is filling up in her body. She cannot stop the tears from falling from her eyes or the whimper that escapes from her mouth – the pain is overwhelming, "I loved you so much and you just…you tore me apart Theo. I am not the same person anymore…every time I am happy, you come around in my mind and you make me feel…unworthy, disgusting and not enough. Your presence in my head is a constant reminder of how I am never enough."
"I meant to tell you…it's just that— "
"Was it even real for you?" Hermione asks and Theo pauses to look at her. To really stare back into those deep honey eyes and the surrounding freckles on her soft face. He used to count them when she slept in his arm as he tried to wrestle with her hair.
"Of course it was. I just…I want you to know. It is not anymore. Not like that. I need you to know that, please." Theo confesses and Hermione's eyes widen like a deer in headlights. Yes, she should have known, of course she knew this, but to hear it as a confirmation…it is the final nail that was needed to properly break her.
Theo tries to take a step towards the shaking, wrecked Hermione but a hand grabs his shoulder to hold him back. He turns over his shoulders and is met with glaring silver eyes, "Daphne has gone home. I think you should go home too."
"Not now Draco, mind your own business." Theo tries to advance forward but Draco's hold tightens on his shoulder to the point of pain.
"I was not asking Nott." Draco pulls him back so that he is now standing in front of Theo, "Leave."
With a deep glare and a grunt, Theo decides to leave. A pregnant silence falls over them as Draco watches Theo leave into the distance being watched by the others at the edge of the field. A wrecked sob escapes Hermione's mouth and breaks the silence, reminding Draco why he came out to begin with. He turns to look at her and it is hard not to pity the poor girl. She looks like dementors have came and gone with her soul already.
Draco walks over towards Hermione and throws his suit jacket over her head. He takes his hand and grab the back of her head and laying it on his shoulder, to let her cry in peace. Her whole body is shaking with despair, and Draco can feel the vibrations of her sob on his chest. He runs circles with his thumb over his head until her crying drowns out into just a soft whimpering. Her body stops shaking at one point, but the grasp she has on his shirt remains tight. With the hold on his now ruined white shirt, Hermione pushes herself off of Draco's chest, letting his suit jacket to fall onto her shoulders. Her mascara is smudged under her eye, her nose is red and eyes are puffy…yet, Draco cannot help but find the beauty in this disaster.
"Thank you." She says softly, unravelling her fists to lay her palms flat against his wet shirt.
Before Draco could respond to her though, a loud thundering roar breaks through the night sky. Draco immediately looks to Hermione for blame since she has previously used her wandless magic to summon thunder, but she looks at him shaking her head. A large ball of fire explodes in the sky above them causing the guests of this house to fall back in shock. In the distance past the smoke and clouds, is a winged figure slightly lit by the moon.
"Is that a…"
"Herald!" Hermione shouts with a wide smile.
Hermione moves herself around Draco to move towards to the unknown beast but he holds her back, "Are you mental Granger?! That's a god damn— "
The beast lands on the edge of the land, causing tremors on the ground, shaking the occupants of the land. Its wings spread out longer than the width of the manor and snout still smoking from the flames. The front legs land harshly onto the ground and lets out one last deafening roar. The sheer power of the roar shakes the very core of the remaining dinner guests, leaving them to shake in fear. The beast collapses right in front Draco and Hermione, eyes fluttering shut.
"Dragon…" Draco breathes out.
Following suit, on top of the dragon, a man walks down the scaly neck and jumps off to the ground. He advances towards Hermione and Draco, all beaten and bloodied looking like he just fought the dragon himself. A large claw mark stretches across the span of his chest, ripping his shirt and drenching it with blood.
"Hermione!" He says weakly. He throws his arms up and around Hermione's shoulder before planting a smouldering kiss on her lips. His hands move up her neck, gripping her hair by the hand full and then stops at her cheeks. His calloused, slightly burnt fingers stroke her cheek bone before resting at the nape of her neck. His whole body smells like a burnt toast but feeling his hard form against Hermione, made her feel warmer than him. Hermione's whole body lights on fire and her face is inflamed as she feels his tongue dominate hers. He effectively drops to the ground in Hermione's arms seconds after leaving streaks of blood down her cheeks.
"This is Charlie Weasley. That's his dragon, Herald." Hermione explains breathlessly to an utterly bewildered Draco.
AN: Apologies, I know there was no song in this chapter - did not think it would have fit well. Regardless, I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
