The Sun, In All of Its Glory
Well reader, as you can assume, I didn't go to dinner with Oliver the next day; I barely made it out of bed for the next 3 days. It seemed that once I opened up to Draco and was honest with him, things improved dramatically. We didn't have stupid arguments or disagreements…we coexisted peacefully and passionately. Oh there was teasing and poking fun of, but I don't remember saying a mean word to him in those beautiful 3 days. Life was wonderful again. We both knew that euphoric feeling wouldn't and couldn't last forever, so instead of dwelling on the past, we made plans for the future.
It was decided that he would move in with me, as I was unwilling to give up my flat, and he would hire a more permanent staff for Malfoy Manor. I remember the conversation we had when we decided this, and he told me he never really liked the old place anyway. Then he hinted at the right woman redoing the whole place . . . digging much?
The only people I told about this sudden move was Harry and Ginny. . .not that I wanted to interrupt their honeymoon, I just didn't want them to pop in one day as they were want to do, and get the surprise of their life to see Draco walking around wearing nothing but a smile. I would laugh, but I believe I was the only one who would.
I was surprised by the response: "About bloody time. Love always, Harry & Ginny". Cheeky buggers. Draco laughed when he read it, and said something like he couldn't agree more or some nonsense. He does like thinking he's always right.
We quickly apparated all of the belongings he would need to my flat, and re-arranged and moved everything about. I went through my things, getting rid of things I felt I no longer needed. I never realized how much of a pack rat I was.
As I was going through an old box marked 'Hogwarts', I stumbled upon a picture taken in 6th year. It was of Harry, Ginny, Ron and I. How young and happy we all looked. But then as I was about to put it in the keep pile, I noticed in there was the shadow of someone in the background. Do you want to know why I love wizard pictures more then muggle pictures? Because you can ask the subjects in the wizard picture to stand aside a bit, of course.
As they (we, I suppose) stepped aside, the shadow became clearer. There, stalking in the corner, was Draco Malfoy, shooting daggers at Ron, and looking longingly at me. Startled, I yell for Draco. "What's wrong love, what do you need?" he asks with a worried look on his face.
"Draco, do you remember this day?" I ask, showing him the picture. I wait for an answer. And wait. And wait. Finally, he looks up at me and stares at me. Clears his throat. "Yes, I do Hermione. That was taken on your 17th birthday. You and 'the gang' were celebrating, and asked Colin Creevey to take a group picture. I never realized I was caught though. You looked so beautiful and happy; I just wanted to pretend for a moment I was part of that day, part of your life."
At that moment, I had a revelation; I loved Draco Malfoy. I couldn't be sure how long I had felt like this, or when it had begun. The only thing I was sure about was that I was hopelessly in love with him. I looked up him, into his silver eyes, so full of love for me.
"Draco, I know I haven't always been . . . nice to you. Or even polite. I know we've had our ups and downs." At the sardonic look he gave me, I gave a sheepish smile and continued. "Ok fine. Usually downs because of me and my over-eager mouth and over-extensive vocabulary. I know I was so lucky to have Ron, to love him and have him love me the same way. After he died, I was sure I would never find that kind of love again. Nor did I feel I deserved to. I felt I would have been content wallowing in my misery for the rest of my life. And perhaps I would have; but I'll never know now. You barged into my life and took over. Whether you realize it or not, that first visit you made to me, to find out if I was alive, pushed me back into myself" I said, pausing here to take a deep breath.
He started to say something, but I knew I had to finish now I might never actually tell him how I felt. "Draco; wait. I have to finish or I'll lose the nerve to. Now, I was angry at you for awhile after that initial visit. I even told myself I hated you and that you were the same slimy git you had always been; you would never and could never change. I realize now that I was covering up my feelings even then. It was far easier to hate you then to admit that you could make me feel again. But feel I did. Powerful emotions. I was forced to deal with these emotions, so then I labled them desire. That's when I gave into said emotions and slept with you the first time. I never have regretted that night, although I'm sure it didn't appear that way. I just felt so much, so strongly, and I didn't want to. So I pushed you away. And continued to do so, until the wedding. Or after, I should say. I finally understood my feelings for you, and let myself act on them."
All this time, and it was quite a bit of time, he was just staring at me with a wary expression on his face, as if he could not bring himself to completely believe me. I knew the only way I could convince him was to say those 3 words I had learned to avoid. I stood up and walked over to him, standing close enough to feel his heat seep into me, but not close enough to be actually touching. I gently brushed a stray strand of platinum hair out of his eyes, caressing his cheek as I did so. Here goes . . . everything.
"Draco, that night, you opened my heart to you. I love how you never let me give up, love how you pushed me, challenged me, changed me. I love how you made me feel loved again. I love your strength. Oh Draco, I love . . . you." My eyes were full, but so was my heart. They wouldn't fall, and it wouldn't break.
"Hermione, my Hermione. I've often wondered what I would do, what I would say and feel if I ever heard you say those words. How wrong my wonderings were. Instead of pride or a sense of rightfulness, I feel humble. You have humbled me. I'm not sure if I am the best man for you, or if I am good enough to share your life with you. But I have ceased to care. I love you, and cannot possibly imagine my future without you. It doesn't matter to me if we chose not to label it; if we chose not to legally bind ourselves. Just knowing that I finally have you, all of you, is enough for me. All I need to hear is that you will consent to spend the rest of your days with me."
"Well, , that is a proposal I can agree too. Perhaps one day we will see the need to make it legal, but for now, I couldn't care less. As long as you're here, I'm content" I reply. Once, I had wanted it all; the fancy wedding, white dress, huge reception with all of the respected friends and family, honeymoon in Italy; the works. But that was a lifetime ago. Literally. Those dreams were laid to rest with my Ron, and like him, I would remember them often and fondly, with love. But it was time for new dreams, and new love.
Once upon a time, there was a girl so much in love with a boy, and he with her. They had a wonderful and bright future planned with each other. But life decided to interfere, and he was taken from her. The boy died, the girl withered alone. She shunned the sun, cursing it for its brightness and life. Until the sun reached out its warm beams to her. Then she basked in the suns glorious love.
Once upon a time, there was a man and a woman, so much in love with each other. They didn't plan, they didn't assume. They loved, they fought. They lived.
The End.
A/N: Many heartfelt thanks to all who have read or reviewed. I know the end has been a long time coming, and I just couldn't stop it from being written tonight. I didn't plan this ending; it came to me, and flowed out of me. It was fate for this story, for these characters. Hope you enjoyed, and until the next story, *Me*
