A/N: And hello everybody! Thanks a lot for reviewing. There was on guest review about Harry being guilty for leaving Hermione in the first place so, he/she will get their answers in this chapter.
Also … it happens to be my beta's 18th Birthday! So I wish Fiction Recipe a very happy birthday. And let's have a huge shout out for being an amazing friend and my beta! :*
So, hope you enjoy this installment!
Hermione wondered what had gone into Harry for the past three months. He had been acting a bit awkward around her, and whenever she tried to ask him about his interrogation with Rebecca, he went silent and kissed her without hesitation. Not that she complained, she loved whenever he kissed her, however his behavior got her a bit concerned about whatever made him do it.
At the moment, she sat with him in the chapel where Draco was getting married within minutes. Harry was holding her hand and kissing it, bringing her heart overwhelming joy. She then caught Draco's eye and smiled brightly at him, while he returned the smile.
"I'm feeling really happy," She murmured as Harry gave her a questioning look. "For Draco." She further said.
"Well, I feel sad for him. Getting married and all." Harry chuckled.
"Marriage happens to be a new chapter in a person's life." Hermione stated. "It's like a new adventure."
"If you say so Miss Granger." Harry mumbled and gave her hand a kiss again. "You still want a spring wedding, don't you?" He asked.
Hermione's eyes grew in surprise. "You remember." She merely said.
Harry chuckled and gave her one of his dimpled smiles, which brought her heart to melt. "Why wouldn't I?" He asked. "So, are you still up for it?" She raised an eyebrow at his question. "I mean, there are still another five more months left and March is a perfect time for a spring wedding-"
"Harry James Potter, are you proposing me?" She asked with a giggle.
"No, I'm not." Harry said with a smile. "I just wanted to know whether you're still the same Hermione Granger I once fancied."
"Why would I ever change?" She curiously asked.
Harry sighed and started to run his thumb in circles on her palm. "I am not saying you have." He whispered softly. "Hermione did you and Draco ever have something?" He asked.
Hermione tried her best to look normal. What had brought Harry to ask her this question? Why now?
"Harry, what brought this on?" She curiously asked.
"Rebecca told me that you and Draco were an item after we separated." He said with a mumble. "She said that you used to confide everything to her."
"We weren't an item." Hermione simply said. "Draco and I were just-"she sighed.
Harry curiously looked at her softened expression and prompted, "Just what?"
Hermione sighed and looked into Harry's loving emerald eyes; they looked desperate for answers. "Harry, I really do want to tell." She said. "But it's not the right time."
"Then when Minnie?" he asked her desperately. "I want to know. Please tell me-"
"Harry, try to understand, I can't tell you now!"
"Why-?"
"The bride's here."
The audience diverted their eyes towards the beautiful bride who was entering the chapel gracefully, holding her father's arms out of nervousness. Hermione had to agree that the bride looked beautiful; much more beautiful than what she knew her as a child. Both Hermione and the bride were best friends; until the day she accused Hermione of 'stealing her man' away from her.
Ginny Weasley had everything a man wanted. She was beauty with brains and even childhood friends with Harry and Draco; their parents had known each other for a long time. Everyone knew that she had once fancied Harry as a ten year old and he fancied her back. However, that childhood crush never evolved into something more because Harry's eyes were already on his new friend Hermione. Anyone would die to get her attention and court her gorgeous self. The moment Ginny got to know about Harry and Hermione's courting, she threw a tantrum which no one could complain about (she was the youngest out of seven and the only girl in her family), and had almost broken her friendship with the brunette her crush had fallen for.
Harry briefly smiled at Ginny as she looked at him and noticed her frowning slightly at Hermione.
"You know," he whispered into Hermione's ear. "Ginny is one of the girls I courted after the war." He admitted. "Ellie set me on a blind date with her."
"Oh." Hermione murmured as she saw Ginny being given away to Draco. "How is she, as a lover I mean?"
"To be honest, I think she was trying to prove herself better than all the other girls." Harry said with a sigh. "Ginny is a nice girl Hermione, but she's more like a sister to me. I mean, I have grown up with her. I've seen Mrs. Weasley bringing her over to my place as a baby."
"Did you two kiss?"
"We did."
Hermione nodded, not wanting to look Harry into the eye. It was when she felt her hand being taken into his big one.
"However," Harry continued. "She could never replace this certain someone, who had managed to capture my heart." He smiled shyly at her.
She smiled back at him, holding onto his hand as tightly as she could. For the rest of the ceremony, the couple kept thinking of that one fine day, where they would be where their friends now stood; together, in front of family and friends, being declared as husband and wife for eternity. They wanted this, they always had, their only wish being growing old together.
'I now declare you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.'
As the newly wedded couple kissed, Harry and Hermione exchanged a knowing look. Their hold on their hands tightened and smiles at each other broadened, knowing the words running in their minds.
I love you.
I want you.
I want to spend my life with you.
I want us to just stay in our own little world and grow old.
That's all they wanted.
However, Hermione knew they had to settle some scores before they went on to the next step.
Why? Because she wanted to be the very same trustworthy and loyal Hermione he once knew.
"So, how do you feel being married?" Hermione asked her friend as he waltzed them around the dance floor. It was late in the evening and the wedding reception was running in full swing. Draco and Ginny shared first dance as husband and wife, later being outshined by Harry and Hermione.
"I feel complete." Draco replied with a smile. "It feels as if I have a new responsibility on my head. Not that I'm complaining," they laughed. "Ginny is my wife, I love her and she deserves the best."
"She sure does." Hermione said with a sigh, glancing at Harry and Ginny, who were dancing at some feet distance from them.
Draco could sense distress in Hermione's voice as she spoke. So all he did was to pull her close into a tight embrace and lovingly kiss her on the head.
"What's wrong?" He asked softly, when chose not to answer him. "Is everything alright between you and Harry?"
"Everything is more than fine." She replied. "He's completely been honest with me."
"What do you mean?"
Hermione sighed again and looked in Draco's mercuric eyes which looked at her in concern.
"He told me about his brief relationship with Ginny." She said softly. "And I didn't even have the courage to tell him whatever we shared."
Draco scoffed as his eyes grew bigger in astonishment. "What? You haven't told him?" He asked incredulously. "Knowing you Hermione, I thought you had told him long I go."
"I was scared." She mumbled.
"Of what? That he'll leave you again?"
He took her silence as a 'yes'.
"Minnie, Harry would never do that if he understands the reason." Draco said softly. "Just try to explain it to him."
"Did you tell Ginny?"
"Of course I did! She is my wife; the woman I love. Sure she made some crude comments about you 'stealing her men' but- that's not the point. "He sighed. "Every relationship is based on trust and loyalty Minnie. Just tell it to him. I'm sure he won't bite."
"Will you be there if I need help while explaining?"
Draco chuckled and hugged her tighter. "Of course, you're my friend and I love you."
And then, Hermione saw Harry walking over to her, his face bubbling with anger, his emerald orbs searching for answers.
He knew.
"They look beautiful together, don't you think?" Ginny asked Harry casually, as they waltzed in rhythm. Harry looked at Draco and Hermione who were laughing happily.
"They do." Harry said monotonously. "Friends deserve to be happy with each other." He added after the look Ginny gave him.
"But the way they are embracing doesn't look like what friends do." Ginny said innocently as the two saw Draco and Hermione in an embrace. "It's more like what lovers do."
"Ginny, how could you talk about your husband like that?" Harry seethed. "He and Hermione are just friends-"
"I trust Draco alright; I love him. But Hermione-"she sighed dramatically. "All she knows is to take away everything I love-"
"Let me get this straight Ginevra, Hermione and Draco are just close friends. I know my Hermione-"
"Then did she ever tell you about her sexual relationship with Draco after you broke up with her?"
Harry stopped the waltzed and glared into Ginny's eyes. How could she accuse Hermione of things which she wouldn't do?
The ginger merely smirked and said "Keep convincing yourself Harry. I'm just telling you the truth. I'm sure there are many secrets Hermione is keeping from you." She further leaned into his ear and added "She might've been with Draco before you ended things with her, you never know." She planted a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you for the dance."
Why on earth is everyone trying to turn me against Hermione, Harry thought to himself. Maybe the only person who can answer me is her.
And then he turned to seek answers from the girl he loved.
"Hermione, can I talk to you?"
Hermione looked worriedly at Harry and then at Draco who nodded.
"Excuse me." She said, placing a kiss on Draco's cheek and took Harry's outstretched hand.
Slowly silently, her heart started to beat faster with every step they took towards the study, when finally the fresh night breeze which entered from the window hit her face. Hermione couldn't meet her eyes with Harry's, yet she decided to take the risk and looked at him.
"What's wrong?" She asked softly, looking at his handsome face.
"Hermione, answer me honestly." Harry said seriously as she nodded. "Did you share any sort of relationship with Draco, even sexual?"
Minnie please say no, please say no, I know you wouldn't-
"Yes."
Harry's heart fell at her confession as he looked at her with pure anger, fire running through his veins. His Minnie had hidden this thing from him; his best friend. Harry hated to hate this crying woman he always loved.
"Harry, I'm so sorry I didn't tell you before-"
"Why didn't you Minnie?"
"Let me explain-"
"Why?"
"Because I thought you would leave me again!" Hermione cried in desperation. "And I loved you so much that I didn't want you to leave me again."
Her words caught Harry's voice, unable to utter anything.
Hermione sobbed and sniffled as she started her brief explanation. "A few months after you left me, my parents died in the war, they had gone to the market when-"she sobbed. "Anyway, I was all alone; so helpless. I had no one to go to. I really wanted you to be there you know, but after your father's death I didn't want to burden you with my emotions." She sniffled. "I only had Draco and he tried to help me recover. So out of desperation I kissed him one night and one things led to another."
"This went on till the day he met someone else and I got into theatre and met Jeremy. Since then, whatever Draco and I had been pure friendship and nothing else."
Harry's heart ached at her confession. He wanted to do nothing but to hold her close and kiss her; he wanted to shout out that he still loved her. He wanted to do whatever he should've done before.
"And if you think that I was with Draco when we were in a relationship, you are wrong Harry." Hermione continued coldly, wiping her tears. "I had always been committed to our relationship because I loved you, and I always have. Even today." He looked at her. "I didn't tell you about Draco because I knew you would react this way."
The two stood there in silence, contemplating what just happened. Harry was glad to hear that Hermione still loved him, however the fear of losing her scared him after this brief fight they had.
"Hermione-" Harry found it difficult to say her name. I love you, I always have.
"I think we need some time away from each other Harry," Hermione quickly said as tears started to betray her eyes again. "Goodbye."
Harry took in a huge breath as he let her go with that look of hatred in her eyes for the second time.
Hermione hated him at that moment.
He didn't get to say that he loved her with all his heart, even if she was imperfect.
And for the third time in his entire life, Harry Potter allowed his eyes to shed guilty tears of pain.
A/N: Mind you, there is going to be loads of drama in the next chapter. Don't complain that I didn't warn you :P
Keep informing me of my progress!
Until then! :)