|::| Rediscovered |::|
The 4th of April appeared before Draco and Hermione could even blink. She still wasn't talking to Harry. Even if it was eating her inside, she was a stubborn species. So she refused to speak with him.
Hermione knew that what Harry knew was true, but she was angry over how he thought Draco did whatever he did because he had evil intentions. Moreover, Harry assumed that Draco would hurt her. That was what ticked her off the most.
He was still coming to the wedding though. Ginny let this information slip when they were having a conversation the previous day while doing her 'trial make-up' for the wedding. In the previous years, Hermione had mastered the art of make-up. So she didn't mind doing it.
As Hermione stood in front of the mirror, looking at herself in the peachy gown that was cinched at the waist and had slits at both sides, and a goblin made rose gold flower crown on her head, she felt the wedding jiggles in her stomach for the first time.
She didn't feel unsure, or even forced by the law to marry the man who was probably lounging self-assuredly in the next room. She smiled as the thought of her to-be-husband crossed her mind.
He was a mixture of sweet and sour mangoes, drizzled with chili powder and salt. She laughed at the description she chose for him. She had the dish when she went on a trip with her parents to India. Draco was exactly that. He was extremely sweet when he wants to be. Tangy when he's feeling playful and is in a good mood, and spicy when he's with people outside his close circle.
She had started to know him better. She knew he had the best of intentions even if to onlookers things look shady. He had a reputation to maintain, as he said every so often.
Hermione touched her loose hair that was done in a beachy wave, framing her face. She looked beautiful, if she said so herself. She was deliriously happy. Still, she wanted to cry. Cry from the intensity of what she was feeling. Cry from overwhelming emotions. She wanted to cry because she awaited the impending doom. She wanted to cry because she feared all her happiness would end before she could bat an eyelash. Her breathing became shallow, her legs wobbled, and a sob escaped her lips.
She couldn't hold herself any longer. She fell on her knees, and cried.
That is how Mrs Granger found her. In front of the mirror, sitting on her knees, and wailing like a child.
Mrs Granger was unprepared for the scene in front of her. But as a doctor, she collected her wits and ran to her daughter.
"Hermione! What happened dear?" she asked, pulling her daughter in a hug.
Hermione clung to her mother tightly.
"I'm so scared mum!" she wailed, "I'm so scared that it's all gonna vanish in thin air. I'm terrified that he's gonna.. Draco.. he's gonna disappear somewhere. That he's gonna find someone and leave me! What if the informant has something? What if they put him in Azkaban?" she rambled, "Mum, I love him. I'd die if I lose him."
"Hermione, dear, listen to me. He's not going anywhere," Mrs Granger cupped Hermione's face in both her palms and continued, "Look at me. Now breathe okay? C'mon, breathe. In.. and out.. in.. and out."
Within a couple of minutes Hermione's breathing became normal. Mrs Granger wished she could give Hermione a sleeping pill and make her fall asleep for a while. So that she could rest. But the wedding ceremony would start in two hours. So, that wasn't an option.
She went, soaked a towel from the bathroom and brought it to clean Hermione's tear strained face. Gave her a glass of water, and waited for her to calm down.
"Are you feeling better?" Mrs Granger asked after a while.
Hermione nodded.
"You had a panic attack Hermione."
She nodded again.
"Have you had one before?" her mother wanted to know.
"A couple after the war ended. But I haven't had one in about a year," she replied.
"Honey, you clearly are stressed about something. It must be something big if you got a panic attack over it," Mrs Granger shook her head when Hermione opened her mouth, clearly to deny her mother's assumptions.
"But I won't ask you what it is," she added, "You're mature enough to handle your issues. There's also the fact that you don't want to share specific things about the wizarding world with us. I understand that, honey. But do know, your mommy is always there for you, even if I don't understand a lot of the things happen here."
Hermione gave a grateful smile and hugged her mother. Mrs Granger patted her back and smiled.
"Now let's get you ready for your wedding. Ginny and Luna should be here any minute now."
By the time Ginny and Luna came, Hermione was done doing her make-up, and retouching her hair.
Like every other bride, she had also done the 'smokey but natural' eyes. Her blush was a subtle peachy pink colour, and had shimmer in it so she had foregone the highlighter. Hermione wore nude lips instead of her regular cherry red one.
The wedding day she had imagined for years was just a pale shadow of the actual event itself.
She walked down the aisle with her father by her side. Draco stood on the alter looking sharp in his muggle dress suit. She saw the corner of his mouth tilting upwards seeing her. She found herself smiling back automatically.
Her friends from school, the Weasley family, Harry, Luna, Ginny and Dean were sitting in the seats assigned for the bride's side. Narcissa, Andromeda, Teddy and Draco's friends from school were seated at the other side. She briefly saw Professor McGonagall when she walked passed the guests.
When Hermione reached the aisle, Draco gave her his hand. Hermione's father gave her hand in Draco's and moved back to sit beside his wife.
The bride and groom looked at each other and gave equally radiant smiles. They turned towards the ministry official who was to marry them. The rest of the ceremony passed in blur for Hermione.
She remembered saying her vows and him saying his. A white glow engulfed the both of them when the exchanged rings. The glow slowly changed into golden when they sealed the marriage with a kiss.
The kiss was short and didn't last more than three seconds but it made Hermione's heart melt and turn into goo.
She was a married woman. Married to the man she loved, regardless if he returned the feelings or not.
Draco was caring, and attentive to her needs. They were working to make the relationship between them work with a slow and steady pace. But he probably wasn't in love with her yet, or so she thought. However, they had lifetime on their hands now. The thought made her feel better as she let her husband guide her to the middle of the grounds for their first dance.
A/N : Shoutout to my beta MargaeryB. xox
