The Cruellest Dream Is Reality
Chapter Fourteen.
Leaving.
"Yes Harry, I'll marry you." Hermione said quietly, her shoulders sagged in what could have been described as defeat.
In an instant Harry's face broke into a wide, triumphant grin. "Oh Hermione I can't even begin to explain how much this means to me! I love you so much." He pulled her into a tight hug.
As he broke away he declared, "Let's do it soon!"
"Do what?"
"Get married! Let's get married soon. I don't want to hang around, let's do it at the start of next month!"
"But that's so soon." Hermione exclaimed, "You can't possibly think that a wedding can be arranged in just a couple of weeks. And what about my father's funeral that's next week, that's going to need planning. We'll need more time than two weeks."
"Of course it can. I've got the money to do it; we've got Grimmauld Place, that's big enough. And what better reason to have the wedding then? Everyone will be upset about your father so we can bring a little happiness into their lives with the wedding." He shrugged. "Look we should have been married six years ago, why should we wait any longer than we need to?"
Knowing she could argue Hermione nodded, "Alright then."
"Great! I suppose we should get started on the plans then."
Three days later Hermione returned to Azkaban Island to request a week's holiday for her honeymoon. It was granted and Hermione was just exiting her hut carrying with her a box filled with some possessions she needed.
"Hermione!" A voice called out from behind her, she turned to see Draco jogging towards her.
"I heard about your father, I'm so sorry." He said, panting slightly, as he caught up with her.
"Thank you." She said quietly.
"Is there anything you need? Anything I can do for you?" He asked with a face full of concern.
"No Draco. Thank you but I'll be fine." She smiled, "I have to get going, I'm supposed to be meeting someone in half an hour."
She began to walk and Draco followed, "What's that then?" He asked, his attention directed to the box, "Spring cleaning?"
"No." Hermione shook her head, "Just some things I'll need while I'm away."
Picking up a book that lay on top of the items Draco regarded it cover before flicking his eyes up to meet hers, "And tell me just why you'll need a copy of A Thousand and One Magical Herbs and Their Uses while you're planning a funeral? Come to think of it why would you need any of that stuff while you're away?"
Inside the box lay many other books, some photo frames filled with moving, smiling faces and a clock, an ordinary muggle one that Draco knew usually hung in Hermione's bedroom.
"In fact, why would you need any of this stuff? You're only going to be gone a week?"
Unable to come up with a plausible lie Hermione stopped and turned to him before informing him, "Actually I'm leaving. Well, I will be, I haven't handed in my notice yet but as soon as the funeral's done…" She trailed off, a small sad smile across her face as she glanced around at her now familiar surroundings. In a way she would miss this place, it had been a home to her for quite a while, and it seemed to make more sense than England did, even if her best friend on the island ended up as Draco Malfoy.
"So you're going to move back in with your mother? Waste away the rest of your life in the old family home?"
"No actually I won't be." Hermione replied tersely through tight lips, "I'll be moving in with Harry. He came to see me a few days ago, he proposed."
"And I said yes." She added several minutes later, although she knew how obvious that was, it had only been a way to fill the silence that had engulfed them.
"Why him?" Draco asked hoarsely, his voice barely above a whisper.
"What other choice do I have?" Hermione asked desperately, "I need to be close to my family again. You're right I don't want to move back in with my mother, and as I can buy my own house this looks like the only way."
"Does he make you happy?" Draco asked her after a long while of thought.
"What?" Hermione demanded, looking at him as though he was mad.
"Does he make you happy?"
"I'm sure Harry and I will be perfectly happy together." Hermione replied stiffly as though this was the last thing she believed.
"You know as well as I do that's not what I asked. Does he make you smile, make you laugh?" He asked, like I can do, he added silently in his head.
Hermione did not reply, glancing down at her belongings she muttered something about being late and began to rush off. She hadn't taken more than ten steps by the time Draco called after her. She stopped and turned back to him, he was rooting around inside an inner pocket of his cloak. Finally he produced a box, red velvet covered and handed it to her.
"Just something so you can remember our day together, I had such a good time." He said with a shrug as he began to walk away, and then as a after thought he added, "consider it a wedding present." And then left her standing alone.
Watching him for several seconds she then turned her attention to the box, opening she gasped as she saw its contents. Atop a silken cushion lay the very same necklace that she had exclaimed over on their trip to London. The very same one she had watched in the window as it beat its wing lazily. The very same one that she had decided to leave behind after looking at the price tag. It cost fortunes!
It was true that Draco's family had once sat on top of a great amount of money, but Hermione was sure, after switching sides he would not have seen the faintest glimmer of that gold upon his parents' deaths. And if her salary were anything to go by Draco would be living off a very small amount for the next several months just to cover the amount he had just splurged on her.
Turning around Hermione left, her head full to the brim with thoughts she left the Island knowing that it was the very thing she shouldn't do. There was more to the necklace than a simple gift, no friend, no matter how close, would simply spend that much on a whim, especially if they no longer had a hefty inheritance to fall back on. But she was getting married, she told herself firmly as she grabbed hold of the Portkey. It would do to be exploring feelings like that at such a time, she added as her feet hit English soil.
It wasn't until after her father's funeral that she saw Draco again, she return to the island to hand in her resignation and after much talk it was agreed that she could use up the rest of her holiday time, unpaid of course, and she would not have to return back to work. With this agreed all Hermione had left to do was clear out the rest of her hut. It wouldn't take long to do, she thought, may as well do it now and get it out the way with. She was half way through packing up the third box when he appeared as the door.
"So you're doing it then?" He asked.
"Yes Draco I am." Hermione replied grimly.
"Well whoop-dee-doo!" He said with a voice filled to the brim with sarcasm.
"Don't be like that Draco." She pleaded.
"Like what? Worried that my friend is making a huge mistake?"
"I am not making a huge mistake, I like Harry I really do, and I don't blame him for leaving me. I was upset at first of course but I understand now."
"Like him? You're going to marry him because you like him? You don't even know him Hermione!"
"It's Harry of course I know him."
"No Hermione you knew him, you know me. You have no idea what's happened in his life, his hope and fears, I'm the one you know. I'm the one who's been there for you. And I'm the one who saved you life, not Potter! He was too busy with that little tart!"
"Well then I'll learn to know him again, and I'm not asking for someone to save my life, not right now. All I'm asking for is security, somewhere to live close to my friends and family. I loved Harry once, I can learn to do it again." Hermione said firmly, trying to convince herself just as much as she were him.
"You're going to marry him just because you know he'll take care of you? Lots of people could look after you Hermione."
"Oh yeah? Like who?"
"Like me." He whispered.
Before Hermione had the chance to answer the pair heard footsteps coming up behind them and they turned to see Harry approaching them.
"There you are!" He smiled happily, "I thought maybe you'd like some help shifting all this stuff."
He entered the room completely unaware of how bad his timing had been and grinned at Hermione before turning to Draco. "No point in you hanging around any more Malfoy, I'm here now." He said in tone that clearly stated he wanted the man to leave.
"I don't need you to tell me when to go." Draco snarled at Harry, fist clenched.
Hermione, sensing the tension clapped her hands together, "Well it doesn't matter now I'm done anyway. Harry you take these boxes and I'll follow you down with these ones."
Harry picked up the boxes as instructed and after throwing one last glare over Hermione's shoulder at Draco left.
"Hermione…" Draco started but was stopped.
"Stop Draco, just stop. Don't say anything. Look, I may not love Harry but it's the only choice I have ok? So don't you go telling me you know what's best for me, because I already know I shouldn't be doing this." She picked up the last box and walked through the door.
Pausing at his side she held the box in one hand, balanced against her hip and with the other she reached up and cupped his cheek kissing him softly on the lips. "Goodbye Draco." She whispered softly before turning to leave.
"Bloody, bloody Potter!" He whispered when he was alone once more.