Chapter 14

It was the evening before the wedding.

The wedding, because Hermione refused to admit it was her wedding.

She refused it so much in fact, that unlike any bride to be, instead of getting her fair share of beauty sleep, or playing one last night of brisket behavior with her female friends, the young Marquise was in her family library hectically burring herself in research.

How had it even gotten to this? Just yesterday, just yesterday in her mind she'd gotten together with Malfoy… But tomorrow was somehow June first, two months later, and the two of them were set to walk down the aisle at 5pm and there was cake, a dress, over five hundred guests, and it was all a hot steaming mess!

Hermione let out a small yelp and buried her face in her palms. Una and Sara moved closer to her.

"Miss, can we do anything to help?"

"I don't know! I don't know… This doesn't feel right!" The witch burst out in tears.

They'd been here before.

First when Draco and Hermione had started dating.

"Oh-my-Merlin, oh-my-Merlin.." A hyperventilating witch had crashed into the library.

"Miss, we thought you liked the Mister Malfoy." Una had enquired concernedly back then, March 27th.

"I do, I do, I love him, it's just… isn't it too soon? I mean, him and Isobel broke up not a week ago!"

"Didn't the lady MacDougal write that letter about how you two were meant to be?" Sara had picked the topic.

"Yes… I suppose..."

"And didn't the Mister Malfoy admit he loves you as well."

"He did do that…"

"And haven't you two had fun?"

Hermione let out a sigh.

It was all okay.

But then, a month later, after they had been unsuccessfully looking for a loophole in his inheritance (Draco really didn't want to end up with the surname Spinks), and they had had perhaps a bit too much to drink, Hermione had said something about 'if all else fails' followed by 'I'll have you', Draco had kissed her until she'd said 'yes' then done other things until she was screaming it, and somehow the witch had woken up with a certain, borrowed-from-Harry, sapphire ring on her finger.

The following panic tirade in the Marquise library lasted three days.

"But you do love him?" Sara had winded in the end.

"Yes!"

"And you do want to spend the rest of your life with him?"

"Possibly, rather, yes…"

"And you did suggest it first?"

"Yes.."

"Miss, you are as betroth as you can be, there is no denying this, the only question here really is Will you marry the Mister Malfoy."

"Yes…"

The witch had sighed again.

But then there was the mother-in-law-to-be…

Hermione had grown to love Narcissa just as dearly as Andromeda or Cara, especially now her and Arthur Weasley were getting serious, but the witch's ideas for her son's wedding and the ideas Hermione had were, on the whole, in two different galaxies.

One wanted a small ceremony, 50 people tops.

The library echoed with her screams when a list of 500+ esteemed guests had been confirmed, with 50 being just the wedding party.

Then the Marquise wanted a seaside ceremony.

And Una and Sara had met her crying over the chosen location of a great open field somewhere in the midlands.

Hermione hadn't put up a fuss when quail was chosen over fish, or chocolate fudge cake was chosen over strawberry and cream. She had agreed to a colour pallet of purple and copper, she had approved of roses and hydrangeas, she agreed to dance to some pompous waltz she'd never heard of, but it was when Narcissa Malfoy showed for a surprise dress fitting that Hermione had lost it.

Heavy satin with tiny pearl detailing was wrapped all around her as six witches were nodding approvingly and discussing a tighter corset.

"I am not wearing it!" Her scream echoed again, this time at the groom-to-be.

"Don't then, just tell mother to back off." Draco had remained unfazed.

"You tell her that!"

"I do want to be alive for our wedding." He finally lifted his eyes from the healer student's book he was reading "You just wear the dress you want and she will put that thing, however you described it, away."

Hermione had sat down with a strop. "I can't wear the dress I want."

"Why not?"

"I always wanted to wear my mother's dress on my wedding." She admitted in a small voice. "But Jane is off raising another daughter somewhere away, not even knowing I exist, and well, Aurelia…"

Draco got up and hugged his witch tight.

"Whatever you wear you would be the most beautiful thing under the sun. And I would be the happiest wizard in the world. And your family would be more than proud."

He did help. And they were so in love it was magical, for the most part.

Still, after her next fitting, Hermione cried her eyes out in the Library.

The wedding had to happen, they hadn't found any other way, but it was just not right.

So as June 1st got closer, the Marquise grew distant.

She spent every waking moment she managed working on her research.

At first it was just grasping at every attempt once and thrice trying to reverse the Obliviate on the Grangers.

Then she had started reviewing the inheritance clauses on the Malfoy family again, just in case.

And when she sought the furthest ends of her little safe haven away from wedding planning, she hid in the new gallery looking at her parents' portrait for hours.

This had gotten her through to the eve of the rehearsal dinner.

Narcissa was trying to convince her that she needed to do a photo-shoot with the dress before the ceremony but it all backlashed.

Looking back on it, the Hermione from the now, buried in piles of papers, still cringed at the exchange.

"It will be absolutely beautiful Hermione, you don't want to miss the chance of capturing the moment" Narcissa had mothered.

"Well I am not sure I will feel up for it" The younger witch protested. "It isn't the most comfortable dress to walk around in." By that she meant she found herself look ridiculous in the positively royal garment which just didn't fit her anything.

"You really should try to find some enjoyment in the day, Mia, after all the effort that's gone into it." Blaise tried to offer.

"I didn't put any effort" The Marquise snapped. "Let Narcissa enjoy it, in fact, why don't you get married!" Hermione threw her napkin and ran off from the restaurant where they had gathered.

She needed Draco, but he had been called urgently to the hospital; she needed her friends, but all the girls were absolutely gushing over being bridesmaids and what a lovely couple her and Draco were, and Harry and Blaise were still recovering from the previous evening's stag party, so she found herself alone in the library, beating herself over the scene she had caused.

Narcissa truly had been hurt, she hadn't meant anything but well, and had tried so hard to help make the day special for her son and Hermione. She could see something was troubling the young witch but Hermione hadn't been willing to share.

As the latter fled, Narcissa leaned onto Arthur's shoulder barely holding back tears.

Now that was a pair ready for marriage, Hermione thought. They were so well together, Narcissa really was a good influence on Arthur, and a new man, a man much more similar in spirit to Bill or Charlie had taken over Weasley Senior. In turn, the world now witnessed a happier, warmer Narcissa; the youngest Black daughter was a ray of sunshine and positively in love.

Hermione made a note to apologize the following day, although, only a miracle would get her through the night.

"Sara… I can't do this." Hermione tried to soothe her tears, but a full blown meltdown was not being held back. "I'm just nineteen! I don't want a mother-in-law I want my mum!"

"Miss…" The elf hated to see her lady in so much distress "There, there. Try to remember why you're doing this."

"I love Draco. I don't want him to lose his life because of me. And as much as I miss the Grangers, they have a nice calm life, and if I can't return their memories it would be too hard on them to understand this." The witch breathed out.

"Okay." Sara said "Did that not help?"

"A little bit… But Sara, you've seen the new gallery. How am I to make those families proud when they aren't even here? How am I to carry a legacy I've not even been given? I only just became a Marquise like not two years ago, how am I to become a Malfoy right now?" A sigh. "And then there is this wedding. With all these people, someone has to walk down that aisle, but I really don't want it to be me. Narcissa has put so much effort in…"

"¬Miss! Miss!" Una who had been helping Hermione with the reading jumped up to catch her and Sara's attention. "I found it, I found it! Read!" The little elf handed the Marquise a hefty tome pointing to a specific paragraph.

"Would this hold?" Hermione's eyes lit up in hope as she handed the book to Sara for confirmation.

"It would seem so. But there is this sub-clause…" She pointed to the next lines and the witch's heart sank.

She closed her eyes, took a breath and picked up a quill.

"I've to." Тhe elves looked at her with concern. "I love him too much to let him be forced into a marriage. I love myself too much to stay for anything less than true desire."

"Where will you go, Miss?"

"Is Australia far enough?"

…

When Draco got to his flat at 5 in the morning after attending to a heavy case of Dragonn pox on a four year old, he was mostly looking forward to catching some rest.

Today was the day; the day Hermione and him were meant to wed.

He wasn't looking forward to it as much as he'd hoped.

They had passion.

And they loved each other to bits.

But something in his gut felt off.

She wasn't happy.

And in his mind nothing was worth it if it didn't bring a smile to her face.

Seeing the one you love struggle is never easy, but when all you want to do is help, and all you seem to do is, well, not that… a wedding seems like the wrong decision.

He wasn't looking for a way out.

Just hoping for a better ending.

Maybe some sleep would really do him well.

"Hi…" The witch of his thoughts met him at the living room door.

"Hi.. Hey! Hi." He didn't know what to say. She was smiling. "I'm not supposed to see you before the wedding."

Hermione shook her head.

"No, you're not. But I didn't want you to go to bed alone. And we've already had the bad luck enough for several lifetimes."

"You're right there." Draco chuckled rubbing the back of his head with one hand.

"So are you going to kiss me or just stay there?" The witch teased.

"Yes, madam!" He scooped her up in his arms. "A bit of practice." He winked carrying her to the bedroom.

Hermione's heart was tugging, but she put it aside.

There was this moment, she told herself, their moment.

The last one they had.

They end as day begins.

So what better time to love him right?

…

When Draco woke up, four short hours later, the other side of the bed was empty.

The familiar scent of his witch still lingered in the air, but all that remained behind her was a single letter.

Draco read it.

And read it again.

And then a third time.

And with every word a new line of emotion;

A quidditch game of emotion passed through him, leaving him first relieved and then thrice devastated.

…

Four hours earlier, when Narcissa awoke ready to be every bit the dotting mother-in-law, she was met with much a similar letter.

She'd let out a whelp when she'd read Hermione's words and hurriedly shook the still sleepy Arthur fully awake.

There was a "No…" for it couldn't be;

A "We have to…" for a realization;

Then an Arthur, who remembered his young days and his young heart as a Gryffindor, pulled out a small box from the pocket of his dress robes which were hung out in preparation for the day.

"This isn't the way it should be, Cissy." He said to the witch. "The children and I had this thing planned. Something with a flower bouquet, a muggle tradition… Because, I need you to know that I don't have to… But I do want to. And…" He opened the ring box to reveal a ring with a regal crown-cut of white gold and a yellow pear-shaped diamond "I've kept this since the summer of 1969 when it was given to me, a family relic, to give to my betrothed. In a final act of defiance against my father I hid it, and kept it. To give to someone truly deserving of its beauty. And that one, after all this time, has made their way into my life." Narcissa's breath hitched as Arthur continued. "You're not going to be 'lady' Weasley, and I can't offer you much more than all my love and adoration, but if you do feel the same way as I, will you do me the honor of…"

The witch's usually poised demeanor finally broke and in a manner too forward to be expected of her she held Arthur's face and pulled him for a jaw-dropping kiss.

"So.. that's a yes?" The wizard managed when he could finally speak again.

"Yes." Narcissa smiled and leaned her head on his shoulder before she sighed. "But now we have to go and sort the rest of this mess."

He squeezed her hand lightly in reassurance.

"They're young, Cissy. More wit in them than they let on. The future is theirs. They will figure it out." She held his hand appreciative of his words.

"It wouldn't be the same without her around. And Draco's been through enough as is. Both of them have." She gave another sigh. "But we let them grow into a world which wasn't as kind and as safe as it should have been. We can't stop them now when they're trying to make the old ways better."

"Right you are."

"Always." Narcissa smiled. "Now off you go, those boys will need some talking to."

"Just hope they'll be ready to listen…"

…

It was noon when all of the men in the wedding party had gathered at Grimmauld place, and all of the women at the renovated Black Manor, in the lands of which the wedding would be held in less than five hours.

"What do you mean she's gone?!" Blaise asked for what seemed the millionth time. "We can't just let her be gone!"

Draco didn't seem to have it in him to say anything and Arthur was running out of ideas on how to settle the young wizard.

"Figlio," Bernard interjected. "It is old magic. You read it in the letters, you read it in the book."

"Is there really nothing to be done?" Harry asked.

"Unfortunately not." Ted Tonks put a hand on Draco's shoulder. "The same spell is the reason why after Andy and I got married she couldn't reach Narcissa. Hermione may literally be in the room but no one who was invited to the wedding would see her. It is what anyone gets for running off on a magical wedding."

"How do we know Mi is okay?" George asked; his brothers, Harry, Blaise and Draco sharing looks, glad someone finally voiced their biggest concern.

Silence.

"Trust her?!" Ginny protested outraged when the witches had gathered for a similar discussion "I do trust her but we can't just leave her all alone!" Daphne put a comforting hand on the red-head's shoulder.

"Gin, there is nothing we can do, she made her decision fully aware of the spell and its price."

"But she will be all alone, Daph…" The witch's voice sunk defeated.

"It's not forever is it?" Luna turned to the Black sisters "After all, you're together again."

"We got 're-introduced'" Andromeda explained. "When Harry introduced Teddy to Draco, he broke the spell inviting both families to reunite…"

"But she didn't run off to marry somebody else. Practically everyone who was in her life was invited to the wedding. All her friends, all her family. Even her attorney! Even Pansy Parkinson! How is she going to be just a shadow in the lives of all who knew her?" Ginny couldn't just settle.

More silence.

…

Hermione Marquise, no, no, Hermione Granger, boarded the plane which was supposed to take her to Australia.

Her muggleborn glamour curls were already getting out of control. Not that it mattered; no one who meant anything to her would be able to see her again.

Hermione took her seat quietly, and as she leaned against the small window her heart sunk with the realization of what exactly she was leaving behind. And why.

They would all be happy, she'd made certain of it.

They would all get a better ending, she'd made certain of that as well.

Where logic hadn't been enough some felix felicis helped.

And some happy-go-get draught to bloom with the hydrangeas.

In two hours Arthur would be in his fancy robes at the altar.

In two hours Narcissa would walk down that aisle in the dress of her dreams, not too surprisingly looking better on her than it would have ever on Hermione.

In three hours they will be wed and the bond will take hold.

Narcissa Malfoy will be Narcissa Weasley and Draco Malfoy will remain the sole heir to his name and title, this rendering all other inheritance clauses invalid.

He will be free.

And he wouldn't really be alone.

Tears started rolling quietly as the plane took off.

Her friends had each other.

Right now, she had no one.

To say that she hadn't thought things through would be an overstatement. But when she had willingly broken off her engagement in the day of her wedding… that had cost more than she had anticipated.

A literal magical barrier separated her from the world of those who had been invited to attend. They couldn't hear, see or touch her. And in turn, if she got too close, or tried to interfere, try to reach out, that would send stinging hexes at her.

The only way back that she knew of, was for a third related party to reacquaint her with that old life she was leaving behind. But, even though the chances of that ever happening were very low, and although she would likely have to spend a while keeping her own company, Hermione would have made the decision again.

Her past had been erased in many ways before.

First the Grangers were no more. Then she herself was no more a Granger.

Then she'd gone seventeen years not being a Marquise, and now the Marquises hadn't been for nineteen years.

But Draco had grown up having one name to hold onto. One name to take pride in, then suffer in shame for. And he had worked too hard to make that name something to take pride in again. And she had personally seen to him to survive long enough to do that.

And, Hermione had told herself, if she didn't have it in her to marry Malfoy, and couldn't see him lose so much, she would therefore be the one to do the losing.

It didn't seem fair.

But loving someone right, sometimes does feel wrong.

The running joke between their friends was that the two of them had pulled a 'Lilly and James Potter stunt' – going form practically enemies to friends and then intending to tie the knot young.

Harry, Blaise and Draco were practically inseparable now, aiding to this air of the Marauders' second coming; but so were Luna, Ginny and Daphne, rounding their group to a nice sitcom cast outline.

They'd all survived, and healed, and grown, and it was a shame to leave all that behind.

But as she was drifting off to sleep, lulled under the swing of height and the long night, Hermione thought of the last lines of her letter to Draco.

"If it isn't a happy ending it isn't an ending at all. This isn't a 'goodbye'. Just our usual 'goodnight'. So, please, be brave and walk your mother down the aisle; celebrate love even though ours isn't there."

...

There was quick knock at the door before Draco entered.

"It's time." He announced vaguely to the witches in the room before his eyes settled on one in particular. "You look spectacular." His breath hitched slightly as he crossed the room to hold her outstretched hand. "Arthur is a lucky man."

"I am lucky to have his love." Narcissa smiled gently. Her eyes searched her son's face with worry. "You know you don't have to do this. Everyone would understand…"

"Mother, I've no place else to be." Draco braved "Plenty of time to mope around later. If it makes you feel better I wholeheartedly promise to get drunk and do something stupid when the time comes. But this was meant to be a day for celebration and we could yet have it be exactly that." The witch's eyes were glazed with tears. "Now, now," Draco held her shoulders. "Ginny will have my head if you mess up your make up." They shared smiles.

"Were you really in on the proposal plans?" She asked as they left the dressing room.

"I was."

"And you approve?"

"As long as you promise to be happy."

"I really am, Draco." Narcissa stopped, guilt written on her face. "But I feel selfish, what mother can be happy if her child isn't."

"You are doing this for me as well." Draco reminded. "And… Knowing Hermione, I have to trust she has a greater plan laid out. You've read her letter, the witch wouldn't leave us without making sure everything is good."

"He has a point there." Andromeda stepped forward handing her little sister a flower bouquet. "Now, the music will start in five. Everyone take places."

Ushers and bridesmaids coupled at the end of a long aisle, followed by Andromeda and Ted as Maid of Honour and Best man. Then Draco held out his arm for Narcissa.

The music started.

Hydrangeas bloomed on both sides of a long marbled path to the altar. The guests, just getting over the last minute change of couple-to-wed, smiled at the sight of a witch and a wizard to whom the world didn't exist, for they had laid eyes on each other.

Draco felt his mother relax as she held him underarm, and her walk became calm, confident, flowing as one with the music. He then turned his attention to Arthur Weasley, who was waiting at the end of the altar waiting. His face was beaming with happiness; he stood a proud man, and Draco couldn't find any semblance between this figure and the man Lucius had mocked so many times.

When he had been but a little boy, Draco Malfoy, had thought that there could be no love greater than that shared between his parents. He had then grown up to realise that it was nothing but a line of lies held together under fear and manipulation. Even at that he had refused to believe it to be true.

But now, these last months, seeing his mother happier that he could remember, there was no denying it.

So his thoughts instead turned from the happy couple back to the reality of what this day should have been. He tried to imagine himself standing at the altar waiting for Hermione.

For some reason the image didn't seem to stick.

The wizard, sadly, had to admit that he hadn't been looking forward to this.

Spending his life with her? Merlin, yes!

Having to tie the knot now? … that was a more difficult matter.

Their relationship had come so easily. After all the years, the rivalry, them being on opposing sides, it was extraordinary to see how smoothly and seamlessly their lives fell together.

Under the surface the two had more in common than one would assume. They were both smart and driven, more talent for magic between them than it should be fair; they were fiercely protective of their loved ones; both had grown up defined by their family, yet found a way to break out of following somebody else's footsteps. They respected and honoured traditions, but wanted to build a better future; they had fought a war, on opposite sides, but when it came down to it, they had both fought for the same thing - to keep everyone safe.

Two young magical children more similar in their core than anyone but them realised.

Perhaps too similar.

"¬ Who gives this witch to wed?" Kingsley, who was officiating, interrupted his thoughts.

"I, Draco Lucius Malfoy, give Narcissa Nymphadora Malfoy, with the right as head of her bloodline, to, if she so wishes, wed on this day. With all my blessings and to the honour of our house."

Draco held out his mother's hand and kissed it lightly before placing it in Arthur's waiting hand, then stepping to the side as Kingsley continued with the ceremony.

Vows were exchanged and bonds were tied, but the Malfoy heir had zoned out her mind buzzing with thoughts.

Draco sighed under breath as more images flooded his mind of him and Hermione.

This time not sweet moments of when they came together, but the occasions on which they came apart.

Like any young couple they had fought. And even though Draco insisted it had been too much, too loud, too unnecessary, in hindsight, none of their arguments had been particularly bad.

Hermione wasn't like any witch or woman he knew. She didn't keep quiet. If she saw a problem she marched right over to him with bullet points, twelve and a half steps to an action plan and a pie chart; on occasion even an actual pie.

He on the other hand, like many a wizard and most men, always did the same thing and met her with dismissal and closing up.

And then she'd get upset. And he'd feel guilty.

So he would offer an apology, then butcher it by saying they needn't have had such conversations to begin with, and the vicious circle would drag until someone broke down laughing, because the two of them bickered as it they were 12. Or until they'd touch and suddenly snap out of it, because, for the love of Circe, there was nothing else they'd wanted but to be in each other's arms.

What kind of problems could they even have? Besides being workaholics with stubborn tendencies.

They missed each other, too often, feeling like they don't see each other. As per the original plans, of being just roommates, this was counted as a benefit, but to a new couple - excessive trainings, all nighters, separate research facilities, etc. - weren't such a good thing.

The time they had together was also often spent in similar research, and then when they did cut a little bit loose, they'd found each other betrothed.

If they had to be honest, with where they were in life, they were just getting some balance back, just working on themselves; they did not live too well together.

But they simply could not live without each other.

Because, when, at the end of the day, they were just a witch and a wizard finding solace in each other's embrace, nothing else mattered.

A gutting feeling settled in Draco's throat.

A million times he had told himself that he simply cannot live without her.

That he was the luckiest man alive.

But now it seemed that to her he had only spoken about work, and how he couldn't live as a Spinks.

And she had gone above and beyond to deliver him from all worries, and to ensure that everyone got what they needed.

The lump in his throat grew bigger and heavier.

Now he would simply have to live without her.

Yet that wasn't what truly worried him.

She'd have to live on her own, all alone.

Even Lux and Nox remained behind.

She'd given up everything she had.

He had no idea where she was, if she was safe.

And, even though, her letter urged him, to not dwell on it, for 'life moves on' and if it was meant they'd 'meet again'; even though, he knew there was nothing to be done, no way to cheat the system of the spell, he couldn't imagine returning to life quite so simply.

Earlier that day he had went to every location he could think her to be. He'd spoken to the house elves, to her attorney, to Olivander;

He had dragged every bit of information he could about the spell from Andromeda, and only after being reassured by all the adults, and tomes of research, he had had to give up.

A family member, who was not listed as a wedding guest, and is close enough to both Hermione and the rest of the family can only re-introduce her.

In Andromeda's case, it was the fact that Harry brought Teddy to meet Draco, which broke the spell. Teddy was related to both families, but hadn't been born at the time of the wedding, therefore, had never been invited nor affected, and as a child he was so loving and excited to meet his family, that he could breach the gap between Andromeda and Narcissa.

But who would do that, for Hermione?

Her entire family had been invited to the wedding. Safe from the Grangers, but they didn't even remember she existed, or that the wizarding world existed.

All loose threads, which he, or anyone else, could come up with, seemed to lead to a screeching halt.

So his life now seemed dim, and hazy.

In the blur of it, the wedding ceremony had passed, the sun had set and the stars had welcomed a new Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, while Draco had found himself with a newfound abundance of step-siblings.

Nowadays he lived in a strange surreal world where, as soon as Arthur had come to, very old fashionedly, ask for Draco's blessing to marry Narcissa, Draco and the rest of the Weasley brood, alongside Harry, Hermione, Luna, Blaise and Daphne, had gathered to plot the perfect proposal.

Then he himself had sat one Blaise Zabini and given him the same talk about Ginny, which he had received a month prior from the dark-skinned wizard, about Hermione.

Blaise had been thrilled as all of the actual Weasley sons had just wished him 'good luck' when they'd found out about the relationship he shared with their little sister. George even joked they would draw him a prayer circle if he ever crossed her.

Yet, Draco's gesture still stood as a shining example of how much times had changed.

…

At the wedding reception friends and family, old and new, swirled in pleasant conversations. Draco stood at the open bar staring at his drink. He too felt light and easy, even if something in him tried to tell that his emotions did not match the weight of the day.

"It's all because of the flowers." Harry joined the wizard with a smile, although his eyes too were dimmed. "She must have drenched them in some peppy potion."

"Great!" Draco responded cheerfully with a sigh, although it was definitely the potion speaking.

"It will wear off" Harry reassured him.

"Yeah, everything will be fine."

Their conversation felt hollow so with a look saying "we'll talk when it does" Harry went back to join Luna who was dancing on her own under the lights of a cherry tree.

…

Hermione was awoken by a stewardess' voice. They were nearing the layover airport.

The way to Australia was long and tiring, but muggle transportation was much easier to navigate than the wizarding one. Especially when a giant chunk of your society can't even see you.

The Marquise was generally against tempering with muggles, but given the circumstances, a few confundus charms to distract the authorities from her lack of a visa, came in handy.

She was sat at the airport looking through the pamphlet of a nice apartment complex while waiting for her next flight, when a thought occurred to her.

There was no reason why this should be the end of the world. With her chained portkey she would still be able to do her work and research at the Marquise library, and with so much time on her hands she could actually figure a way to reverse the Obliviate on the Grangers, and then they could reintroduce her to the Zabini's, and soon enough life would be back to normal.

Maybe living in Australia wouldn't be that bad after all.

She liked winter. Even in June.

And maybe, just maybe, he would wait for her.

Maybe there was hope.

…

"Mind if I join you?" A witch smiled at the glum looking wizard sitting at the bar.

"Isobel? No, no, have a seat."

"I was very sorry to hear about what happened." She said and he nodded.

"I appreciate that. I know you two were good friends."

"She's actually the one who convinced me to go into healing; I just passed my state exam."

"Really? Congratulations!" His voice sounded peppier under the potion still blooming.

"Well, my parents aren't too excited, but I've always wanted to use my knowledge to do good." Isobel smiled again.

"I suppose that's what you two had in common." The voice remained cheerful, but a tear ran down his cheek.

She placed a hand on his shoulder.

"It's perfectly normal to miss her, you know, nobody is expecting you to be strong."

"I think I did wrong by her. I was too selfish." The wizard mumbled. "If I had loved her better, sooner, then maybe this could have been avoided. But what could have one done with a practically arranged marriage? And now all I have is regrets."

"You can't force love." Isobel spoke, her hand still offering comfort. "You can just learn from it."

Their eyes met.

He had felt like his life had ended and now, all of a sudden, this witch, who he saw in a new light, brought a genuine smile to his face.

He had admired people with the passion to learn even in the face of hardships for a very long time.

And Hermione had actually been the first to inspire that admiration in him.

But she was never truly his, and she was gone.

And Helena had been the one to teach him so much about life, the one to make an honest man out of him.

But he was never truly hers, and she was gone.

Yet something in the kind eyes of Isobel, melted away his sadness, like the first spring sun melts snow.

No wildfire of a passion would spark right then and there.

But it was enough warmth to sprout little seedlings of desire in his heart.

So he offered her a drink, she had giggle water, and they talked through the night.

There was hope.

…

Draco watched the exchange from the other end of the bar, and in turn smiled a small smirk.

Weeks ago Hermione had told him that she would match Isobel with Victor and he had thought the witch mad.

But as he downed his drink and readied to quietly leave the wedding reception, he had to admit, Hermione had been right again, as always.

He was now certain; she would somehow make this work.

There was hope.

…

"¬And you are certain in the choice?" A woman's voice came rather suspicious of the young girl in front of her.

"Yes, absolutely." Hermione smiled confidently at the realtor.

"You could still see the place first."

"No need, it's exactly what I wanted."

"Well, I will need a ten present deposit to start drafting the documents…"

"I can pay full upfront, and I would like them finished by today, that of course would come with a bonus for your hard work, on top of the commission." The woman was now gawking. "I just came off from a long-haul flight, so ideally, I would like to have a rest and come back in the afternoon to sign the documents and pick up the keys." The witch took out a check book and scribbled in it the asking number "I assume check is fine for the deposit, the rest I will transfer in the afternoon, since of course I will need to ring up my bank."

"Very well, Miss." Was all the realtor managed as Hermione handed her a check for 35 thousand.

Later that same day she would unlock the door of apartment 1A and move in with her one suitcase.

But before Hermione closed the door she threw a glance at 1B across the hall, and the nice blue door, with its little red door bell ring, and the silver name plate underneath it stating that 'Dr Wendell and Dr Monica Wilkins' lived there with little 'Miss Aurelia Wilkins'. Just like their door once in England looked very much the same.

Hermione transfigured a matching silver name plate for 'Miss Hermione Granger', sighed with a tired smile and walked in.

There was hope.