I apologize for such the long wait! I'm not going to waste time on excuses, but I promise this won't happen again!
Hermione awoke the next morning to a slight chill and a headache. She glanced over to her window to see it wide open, the breeze flowing through it freely. Shivering and denying being awake, she pulled the blankets up to her chin, but gave up trying to fall asleep after ten minutes.
She sat up groggily and pushed the tangled hair out of her face, when she noticed a letter casually resting on her nightstand. She figured that whichever owl had dropped it off had just flown right through her stupidly-left-open window.
Hermione stretched her arm out to grab the letter, not wanting to leave the comforts of her blankets, before plopping back down on her bed and opening it.
Granger,
We need to talk. Meet me by the Three Broomsticks tomorrow at 2:00.
Draco
If she was being honest, Hermione really did not want to speak with Draco right now; she was still quite shaken from the night before. Wait a second... how long had she been referring to him as Draco, even just in thoughts?
Shaking her head, she glanced at her clock: 9:30
Hermione supposed that she could relax at the Burrow today, and just clear her head, which was currently throbbing painfully.
She quickly hopped in the shower and began to wash away all remnants of last night. She also hoped that the soothing lathering of her hair might lessen her headache, but it was to no avail.
Still, Hermione felt much more relaxed when she stepped out. Wrapping her hair in a towel, she began to get ready.
Knowing Mrs. Weasley would insist on feeding her, Hermione only ate a piece of toast with peach preserves for breakfast.
Hermione was not going to dress up today; she honestly just wanted to relax and spend time with Ginny. She opted for her black leggings and a comfortable, three-sizes-too-large blue t-shirt.
Quickly running a pointless brush through her tangled hair, Hermione disapparated with a pop, landing right in front of the Burrow. With a big yawn, she pushed open the creaky door.
Inside, there were rags flying and sponges scrubbing, but what really caught Hermione's eye were Ginny's feet sticking out from the table she was underneath scrubbing, and they were topped off with bright red slippers.
Squealing in delight, Hermione kicked off her shoes and grabbed the slippers, slipping them on her feet. Giggling like a first-year, she clicked her heels together. "There's no place like home! There's no place like home! There's no place like home!" she exclaimed.
Ginny slid out from under the table, a look of utter confusion plastered on her ridiculously freckled face.
"Muggle movie," she explained to her friend.
Ginny nodded, giving Hermione an odd look, before extending a hand out to her. "Slippers," she instructed blatantly.
After handing them over, Ginny plopped down on the couch, Hermione following suit.
"So, what's up?" Ginny asked. "Wasn't your dinner with the Malfoys last night?"
"Unfortunately," Hermione replied solemnly. When Ginny raised an eyebrow, Hermione began to elaborate. "Oh, Ginny, it was awful!"
After retelling the events of the previous night, Ginny engulfed her in a hug, which Hermione accepted without hesitance, but Ginny broke away after just a few seconds, an eager look on her face.
"Guess what!" she exclaimed excitedly. Without waiting for an answer, she continued. "Harry and I are getting married in two weeks! With the new law and everything, we kind of had to move it up, so... we did!"
Hermione's eyes widened, and she hugged her friend. "Ginny, that's wonderful!"
"I know!" Ginny responded enthusiastically. "We're making the announcement at dinner tonight. We were going to invite you to come, but, seeing as you're already here... Goodness, Mum is going to throw a fit! But oh, Hermione, I'm so nervous! I still have to find a dress, make arrangements, send invitations-"
"You'll be fine," Hermione reassured her friend, who looked like she was on the verge of hyperventilating.
"Hermione, will you be my maid of honor?" Ginny blurted out suddenly.
"I'd love to, Ginny!" Hermione cried excitedly. "I can't believe it! Thank you!" She engulfed her friend in a hug.
"Oh, and..." Ginny started after pulling away, biting her lip.
"What is it?" Hermione questioned.
"I'm pregnant!" she whispered nervously, grinning.
"Oh my god, Ginny!" Hermione exclaimed in disbelief. "How far along are you?"
"Five weeks! Oh Hermione, I'm so worried that by the time the wedding comes, I'll be huge!"
"Ginny," she started with a matter-of-fact tone. "At your size, I'd be utterly shocked if you even started showing by then."
Ginny let out a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness. Harry and I decided to tell them after the wedding, because... you know..."
Hermione nodded and hugged her friend again. "I'm so happy for you!"
"Oh," Ginny said. "I almost forgot. Harry said it was ok if Malfoy wanted to come to the ceremony with you, as your date or something."
Hermione shifted in her seat uncomfortably. "I don't know about that... I don't really know where we stand after last night..."
Ginny nudged her bushy-haired friend. "You're overreacting. It'll all blow over, don't worry."
"I hope," Hermione replied.
The Weasley family was ecstatic at Ginny and Harry's big announcement, and after dinner, Hermione tried to excuse herself to go home. Ginny, however, had other ideas.
"Oh, Hermione, you HAVE to stay!" she pleaded, Hermione finally caving in.
Ginny squealed before ushering her upstairs for what she called a "girl's night", or in this case, spilling all the details regarding Draco and her marriage, plus some unwanted information regarding Ginny's sex life.
"So, are you excited?" Ginny prompted as they curled up on her bed.
"For?" Hermione asked mindlessly.
"Your wedding, dummy! Are you excited?"
Hermione looked at her friend incredulously. "Are you serious?" she starting. "I'm absolutely dreading it. I just can't imagine..."
"Doing the do with Malfoy?" Ginny finished, earning a face full of pillow. "Pleh," she spat, pushing Hermione away. "It's true, though. Have you not even thought about it? You know it's going to have to happen eventually."
"I know, Ginny," Hermione stressed. "I just... I don't want to even have to consider that right now. Oh Ginny, I'm scared! Of all people, why did I have to get matched with him?"
Ginny didn't respond, but merely hugged her bushy-haired friend as she began sobbing into her shoulder. "It'll all be okay," she cooed, rubbing Hermione's back in a soothing motion. "He's not so bad." Hermione knew she was just saying that to make her feel better, but she supposed she still needed it.
After that, Ginny made sure to avoid the topic of Malfoy and the marriage, until Hermione mentioned that she was meeting him tomorrow.
"Like a date?!" she squealed excitedly.
"No," Hermione responded. "He just wants to talk about yest-"
"We need to find you something to wear. I'm going to dress you. You are going to be my living doll," Ginny said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Ginny, no, it's not a da-" Hermione protested.
"What should we do with your hair? I'm thinking an updo of some sort," Ginny continued.
Hermione sighed and gave up as her friend rambled on. She didn't have much of a choice at this point, just as long as she wasn't forced to wear heels.
"I feel like I'm going to prom," Hermione grumbled as Ginny cast spell after spell on her hair.
Hermione knew that she probably wasn't going to wear whatever it was that Ginny had put her in, so she was merely humoring her friend.
Finally Ginny was done, and Hermione was allowed to look.
Her hair was pulled back with a series of braids that intertwined with each other, forming a knot at the back of her head, the rest of her curls flowing freely after that. Her face was adorned with light makeup that brought out her features. But it was the dress that Hermione was staring at in awe. It was red with capped sleeves, with a sweetheart neckline, and gathered at the waist with a silver embroidery on the side. It was gorgeous.
"Oh, Ginny. This dress is gorgeous!" Hermione cried.
Ginny grinned smugly. "I know," was all she replied with.
"I don't think I'm going to wear it for today, but it is truly beautiful," Hermione told her with a twirl.
Ginny raised an eyebrow. "Do you want it? I got it at a Christmas gift exchange, but I've never worn it. Not my style."
Hermione shuffled her feet. "I don't know... are you sure?"
"Take it," Ginny told her. "It was made for you."
"Oh Ginny, thank you!" Hermione exclaimed, embracing her friend.
"No problem, but what are you going to wear?" Ginny pushed.
Hermione sighed. "For the last time, it's not a date. He just wants to talk, presumably about Tuesday. It's not romantic in any way."
Ginny sighed. "Fine! But I'm still not letting you out in jeans or anything."
11:30
Two and a half hours to go. Two and a half hours to plan out what the bloody hell she was going to say to him.
Two and a half hours to figure everything out.
