Chapter 6

"So, did you find him?" Ron asked over lunch Saturday afternoon.

Hermione looked around the busy cafe, and gave an imperceptible nod. "He doesn't want anyone to know, so you can't say anything," she warned him. "You can't even tell Lavender. It's that big a secret."

Ron frowned. "How's he going to walk you down the aisle then?" he wondered. "You're a war heroine and Malfoy's one of the biggest names in England. You don't really think your wedding will be a small, private affair, do you?"

As hard as it was to admit, Hermione hadn't considered that. Ten years after the war ended, she and Draco were still hounded by photographers and reporters, and were often front page news. She had no idea how Harry could be at her wedding without the wizarding world finding out.

"Well, there's always polyjuice," Ron suggested, which earned a laugh from the witch.

"I think he would kill me if I made him ingest any more of that stuff," she replied. "No, I'll just have to figure something out. It's what I do, right?"

Her companion smiled. "So, how'd Draco handle it?" he asked. "Any repeats of the bathroom back in sixth year?"

With a relieved sigh, she shook her head. "It was chilly," she decided. "It's crazy what a man in love is willing to put up with."

Ron nodded in agreement as he ate the last bite of his sandwich. "I'm proof," he replied. "Lav wanted a family, and now we're just waiting for number four. Merlin, I remember swearing to Harry that I'd never get married and have kids. We were both going to be lifelong bachelors. I guess I never believed him, that he would want that kind of life. I just didn't think things would turn out this way."

Looking around once more, she reached into her purse and produced a photograph. "He has two kids," she shared quietly. "I'd never seen him so happy. It almost felt like I was intruding."

"Ya know, I know I'm your ex-boyfriend and all, but I'd be honored to walk you down the aisle," he said. "If, you know, Harry can't. I'm always gonna be here for you. Besides, I think I might be more receptive to the idea of you marrying Malfoy than Harry is."

Pulling out her wallet, Hermione paid the check and sat back in her seat. "Please, we both know you will never approve of my relationship with anyone," she remarked. "And I chalk that up to protectiveness. Besides, I didn't approve of Lavender in the beginning either."

He rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah, I remember the flock of birds you shot at me," he recalled. "Thanks for that lifelong fear, by the way. So, what about now? Do you approve now?"

Hermione shrugged. "That depends - are you happy?" she asked. Grinning, he nodded. "Good, then I approve. And no offense to our brief relationship, but I've never been as happy as I am with Draco."

Standing, Ron led her out of the cafe. "Hey, don't be a stranger," he murmured. "Let's not go years without talking again. I've missed you."

"I've missed you too," she admitted. They went their separate ways, and Hermione returned to work. She smiled when she saw a bouquet of a dozen white daisies on her desk. Without reading the card, she knew they were from Harry.

"Those are nice. Getting gifts from other men?" Draco asked, standing in her doorway.

Grinning, she nodded. "Yes, I didn't know how to break it to you," she replied with a sad sigh. "You're the other man. I really didn't want you to find out this way."

Rounding the desk, he plucked the card from the arrangement. "Harry Potter's sending you flowers," he comments. "Should I be concerned?"

She wrapped her arms around her fiance's neck and kissed him softly. "You never have to be concerned about me and other men. You're the only one I love."

He tightened his hold on her, pulling her flush against his body. "Will you still love me after I've told you my mother wants to host an engagement party?" he wondered. Hermione groaned and attempted to pull away. "Oh, come on. Narcissa throws a great party. Good food, nice music, people we've never met who will give us money. What more could you ask for?"

"It also means wearing a dress and heels and dancing. And dancing leads to me stepping on your toes," she countered. "Do you want to go home injured?"

He considered that for a moment. "If it means you playing nurse, then yes, toss me in front of a train," he joked. "I'm a Malfoy, so I have to go. You're a soon-to-be Malfoy, so I guess these aren't mandatory for you yet. But I don't think it's a good idea for me to go stag to our engagement party. I've even talked my mother into extending the guest list to include your friends."

Brown eyes widened. In all her years with Draco, Narcissa had never seemed open to the idea of including her friends in anything. Parties hosted in her honor included only the best of the best of Pureblood society. "How'd you manage that?" she wondered.

"I promised her our first born," he replied, earning a wry smile from her. "No, I just told her that they're important to you, and since you'll be family, she needs to make an effort to include them. I tried to convince her that they're not so bad, but then I mentioned that Ron occasionally eats with his elbows on the table, and all my hard work was undone."

She laughed softly. "Thank you, love," she murmured.

"So, you'll be my date?" he inquired.

Hermione considered his request for a moment. "Can we duck out early if it's boring?" she asked.

Draco chuckled. "That seems to be our M.O. for all Malfoy parties," he replied. "Though, as I recall, we never seem to get further than the second floor balcony. You become quite insatiable on balconies, my little exhibitionist."

Blushing, she looked down so he couldn't see the color on her cheeks. "We really have to go?" she asked. Placing his finger beneath her chin, Draco tipped her head up and nodded. "Will you promise not to leave me alone with our unauthorized wedding planner?"

"I swear I won't leave you alone with Pansy," he promised.

Reluctantly, she agreed to go to the party, but Draco could tell that something was wrong. "I wish Harry could be there," she admitted.