The bride and groom took to the floor for their first dance as husband and wife. They were both talented dancers, and their guests watched appreciatively as they twirled majestically around the dance floor, focussed entirely on each other and yet never missing a step...
Hermione stood among the watchers, finishing her glass of champagne. A gentle tap on her arm made her look up.
"Refill?" asked Malfoy, offering her a fresh glass.
Hermione smiled. "Thank you."
They stood together for a while, watching the dancers.
Eventually Malfoy broke the silence. "That could've been us, you know."
It took Hermione a moment to respond. "If it had been us," she pointed out, watching her daughter dance with Malfoy's son, "it couldn't have been them."
"Hmm."
There was another long silence as they both pondered the past and whether or not they regretted the choices they had made.
"Do you ever wonder what it would have been like?" Malfoy said. "If we had done things differently?"
Hermione smiled. "Once in a while."
He looked down at her for a moment, then turned away. "I suppose we'll never know."
She patted him on the arm. "It's probably best that way."
"Yes. Probably."
Other dancers were joining the bridal couple on the floor now. Malfoy turned to look at Hermione again. "Would you care to dance, Mrs Weasley?" he asked, venturing a smile.
Hermione smiled back. "Yes," she said. "Yes, I think I would."
The End
