A/N thanks for the reviews!

A special thanks goes to padfootsgrl79 for the suggestion made. Nice one!

So, enjoy another chapter - getting closer to the crunch...

And please keep reviewing!

He had taken her out for a romantic diner. They were sitting in a small secluded area of the restaurant and she enjoyed every moment of it. He had presented her with half a dozen red roses and made sure, he looked extra smart tonight.

"Hermione?"

She looked up. Ron was smiling at her from across the table.

"Yes?"

"I know, I shouldn't ask, but do you have a dress yet? Ginny said something about you being a bit weird in the shop the other day."

"Oh, that was when I had some weird thoughts and it was the morning, that I found that pattern in my palm."

She put her hand on the table, palm up. The silver and gold threats were clearly visible. He took her hand and was about to kiss her palm, when he sensed something strange. It was, as if something was warning him, not to touch the pattern. Somewhere deep inside him was the knowledge that it would be rather painful, if he did. He lowered her hand a bit and looked at it. There was a slightly green tinge behind the pattern.

"Does it hurt?" He asked carefully.

She looked puzzled.

"No. Why should it hurt?"

"I don't want to frighten you, but your skin has started to go green around the pattern."

She pulled her hand out off his and stared at her own palm. He was right! There was a clearly visible discolouration in a green hue. What was that all about now?

"Ron, I have no idea, what that is all about. It doesn't hurt or anything. I wasn't even aware of it, before you mentioned it."

They looked at each other. Hermione smiled warmly at him.

"Let's just forget about it, shall we?"

He smiled back.

"Yeah."

They continued eating.

"So, did you buy a dress yet?"

"No. I was going to do that tomorrow. I know, which one I want, so it's just a case of picking it up really."

"And tomorrow week, you'll be my wife." He grinned.

"And you will be my husband."

"Hannah, I am going to leave early today. I need to pick up one or two things in Diagon Alley."

"Okay. Have a nice weekend."

"You, too."

It was about half an hour later that a rather flustered looking Nickel Tinsel appeared at Hannah's desk.

"Hi, Mr. Tinsel. How can I help you?"

"I need to speak to Miss Granger. It is urgent."

"I am sorry, she has left."

He looked horrified.

"What? She can't have! I need to talk to her!"

"I am sorry, she is not in."

"When will she be back?"

"Monday."

"Argh!"

His face was twisting into different rather frightening shapes.

"Are you okay, Mr. Tinsel?"

"He is going to tell Shaklebolt! He will. I know, he will!"

"Who will tell the minister what, Mr Tinsel?"

"That pureblood maniac!"

Hannah just looked at him. She wasn't totally convinced, that he had finally gone round the bent, but he seemed pretty close.

"Let me call a healer for you."

"No! I need to find her! I need to..."

He stormed down the corridor, She frowned. What had that all been about?

"Hi Hannah."

"Oh, hi."

It was Harry that was standing before her desk now.

"Something the matter?"

"Mr. Tinsel was just here, asking for Hermione. When I told him, she had left for the weekend, he went all manic and was babbling that he would be telling the Minister. That he really needed to find her and then he just run off. It was really weird."

The auror followed her gaze down the corridor.

"Shall I inform the watch wizards?"

She nodded.

"It might be better."

"Okay, I'll do that and then I need your help with a file."

"Okay."

He went back to his own office and send notification to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, which was responsible for the security at the ministry, to apprehend Nickel Tinsel, as he seemed to have become a danger, if not to others than surely to himself.

Half an hour later he was back at Hannah's desk.

"Hi again."

She smiled at him.

"Hermione has borrowed a file and I need it back."

"Oh, sure."

"Is it okay, if I look in her office or do you know where she keeps her borrowed files?"

"You just go and look for yourself. If you can't be trusted, you can?"

She smiled, oblivious how glad he was, that he could look for the file himself. He smiled at the girl and then went to his friend's office. He wasn't quite sure, why she had taken his background check result on Malfoy, but he had a shrewd idea. He had been her binding partner, so she was curious. It was to be expected. That was one of the reasons he hadn't said anything when he discovered the file had vanished from his office. Hermione was his best friend and the feeling that something was going to happen, and soon, had never left him since he had seen that strange pattern in her palm for the first time.

He glanced around the room. Now, where would she hide it? He went over to the desk. No. The filling cabinet? No. He saw a somewhat dried bunch of heather in a pot on the small table in the back corner. There was small tablecloth underneath the pot. He went over, removed the pot, the tablecloth and voilà! He grinned. Did she know, that she was a bit obvious at times, when it came to Malfoy? Hopefully not.

He took the file, put the tablecloth and pot back and then left.

"I found it." He waved the file.

Hannah smiled at him.

"Have a nice weekend."

"You, too, Hannah."

Hermione flooed to the bridal shop, she had been at with Ginny and it took her only minutes to find the dress she wanted. She put it on and smiled as she saw herself in the full length mirror. Yes, this was just perfect.

It didn't quite reach the floor, so she wouldn't need to worry about tripping. The arms were reaching just below the elbow, the bodice was cut not too deep, but showed just the right amount of skin. It was a whitish-cream colour. For the fraction of a moment she had the same thought again, that it would be matching the colour of his hair. She shook her head. The thought was gone.

There was a long veil, that reached to her waist at the back and just over her collarbone at the front. The gold tiara, that held the veil, had small strands of silver in it as well.

The lady assisting her was bringing three pairs of shoes, the first ones were quite flat, the second ones had just the hint of heel, whereas the last one was a pair of stilettos. She discounted them straight away. She wanted to be able to move and dance with Ron. She was thinking about the left pairs and decided for the one with a slight heel.

"You look absolutely wonderful, dear."

She smiled.

"Thank you."

"Shall I fold and pack it for you?"

"Yes, please."

Hermione went back into the changing room and was about to unzip the dress, when the room was plunged into utter darkness. She couldn't see her hand right in front of her eyes any longer. Though she felt two warm hands touching her. She nearly shrieked, but before any sound ever left her mouth somebody had already sealed it with his own.

She felt warm lips pressing onto hers. One arm was holding her waist, the other cupped the back of her head. A slender body was touching hers. He was about half a head taller than her. She felt suddenly alive, like she had never done before. Ever. Her nerve endings were on fire. She slowly reach up and found his silken hair as she tried to circle his neck with her own arms.

She sighed against his mouth and felt him slowly brushing the tip of his tongue against her lips. Her head was spinning. Ron had never kissed her like this before! It was just divine! She hesitantly parted her lips and felt him gently deepening the kiss. She just went along. What ever he would be doing would be just fine by her.

He was pressing her against his body now. He felt slender, but with muscles all over. Warmth was spreading from him and seemed to ignite something deep within her. He was plundering her mouth, letting her feel his desire for her. Hermione reciprocated with a passion she wouldn't have thought was within her. She bit his bottom lip and heard him groan in response.

He tore his lips away from hers and trailed hot kisses along her jaw, down her throat and then she felt him burrow his head into the crook of her neck. She stifled a moan. How come she had never realised how sensual Ron was? The thought fled her the moment both his hands held onto her hips and she felt him slowly grating his body against hers. There was no denying that he wanted her!

"Hermione!" She heard him moan into her ear with a husky, needing voice.

Before she could do or say anything, his hands and body suddenly vanished and so did the darkness. Somebody apparated behind her. She spun around, but the sudden light blinded her.

"Are you alright in there?" Called the assistant.

It took her a moment to realise, where she was and then she called with a hoarse voice.

"Yes, I'm fine. Just lost in thoughts."

She slowly started to undress. Her head was still spinning. What had just happened? Ron had kissed her like she never would have thought possible to be kissed. She couldn't find any words to describe it. She sighed happily.

When she was dressed again in her own clothes, she carefully took the dress, veil, shoes and tiara and went to the counter. She felt herself smiling. Her lips were tingling where he had touched them.

She smiled at the assistant as she was packing the dress into a neat bundle with a flick of her wand. Hermione knew, that it wasn't cheap, but it wasn't extortionate either. She smiled happily and looked into her right palm. Her eyes widened in surprise. The green, that had just been a tinge yesterday, was halfway to become a deep emerald green. She wasn't quite sure, what she should think about it any longer. It had become more pronounced and visible every day over the last three weeks. Ever since the Reversal.

"Here you go, dear."

The assistant handed her two bags and a large parcel.

"Just tap it with your wand and it will unfold."

"Thank you."

"You are welcome. That will be 250 Galleons."

She counted out the money and then, feeling happy beyond words, she left the shop. Never noticing the slender figure, that had been watching through the shop window.

"Mother?"

"Yes, dear?"

Draco found his mother in the rose garden.

"It will be only a week now."

"Yes, dear."

He hesitated. Narcissa Malfoy could see that he wanted to say something. She smiled at him encouragingly.

"I have seen her. In a bridal shop in Diagon Alley."

She was still smiling at him.

"Mother, she looked so beautiful in that wedding dress." He whispered.

He sat next to her on the cushions his mother had spread on the stone bench. She gently caressed his cheek.

"Are you still saying, that you don't want to talk to her, Draco?"

He looked at her. His expression pained.

"I don't want to talk to her any more, mother... I want to hold her in my arms. I want to feel her body..."

He blushed. She pretended not to notice.

"It is not going to get better, dear."

"I know! Mother, I don't dare go to sleep any longer most nights."

"Oh, dear!"

"And then there is this."

He held up his left hand. In his palm was the silver and gold pattern, the skin around it had turned a pale shade of crimson.

"When did this happened?"

"I am not sure. It just seems to evolve as time goes on."

"Draco, the longer you two are separate the worse it will be getting. For both of you. You need to tell her."

"I have taken care of that."

She looked at him.

"Didn't you say, that you didn't want to speak to her? I assumed, you hadn't done it yet."

"I haven't. I had a quiet word with that Mr. Tinsel. I gave him until today to tell her. Otherwise I would inform the Minister about what he has done."

"Oh. Do you think, he has done it?"

"I don't know, but the moment she knows that she is not free, she'll be finding me."

His mother crooked her head every so slightly.

"Are you sure about that?"

He looked at her.

"What do you mean?"

"If she has the same dreams and desires you are feeling, she will be thinking of the man she presumes she will marry. She will not be fighting them. On the contrary, she will probably enjoy them."

He looked at his mother. Horrified. Her dreaming about Weasley made his stomach churn. That was simply gross!

"See, Draco, next Friday she is going to be all made up and happy. She will be dreaming about the ceremony, the reception and what comes after..."

He tried his best NOT to think about that one last bit.

"It will turn into her worst nightmare, when they are being told, that the Reversal was a farce and that it was all for nothing. Do you want to make her miserable?"

"You know, I don't want that.

"Then you know, what you have to do!"

"I can't!" He wailed.

She looked at him. Her face sporting a rather stern look now.

"Draco Malfoy! I haven't brought you up to just pass off your duties with the sentiment of I don't want to do that!"

He looked at her. It had been a long time, since he had got something even resembling a scolding from her. She had always been the one comforting him.

"Mother, please!"

Her stern face told him, that it would be futile to try and reason with her. He sighed.