A/N: Thanks for the reviews guys; hopefully I can get up to 100 by the time this story finishes. Hint hint...
I realise the link I put in the last chapter doesn't work so I will put it on my profile soon, look out for it :P
By the way, is it Legimency or Legilimency? Because I have been told both and both have come up on Google...any ideas? Let me know, cheers. Cookies for those who get it right :)
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By the time they arrived at the Room of Requirement everyone was already there and waiting for them. A house elf stood guard outside the door, making sure that only those on the guest list entered. When he saw Hermione and her friends coming, he pulled open the door and bowed to Hermione. She made sure she thanked him properly.
The breath caught in her throat as she entered the Come and Go Room. Elaborately decorated, just as she had wanted it, a long marble bar ran down one side of the room and tables and chairs were dotted along the other. The space in the middle she assumed was for dancing and general mingling.
Hermione could see the house elves from the kitchen running around the floor holding mini trays of appetisers. She smiled at one of them as they came running up to her and she realised it was Dobby.
"Good evening Miss. Can I get you anything Miss? After all I'm here to serve you Miss." Dobby grinned.
"No thank you Dobby, I'm fine." She matched his grin. "You look very smart." she added, noticing his bow tie and slightly dirty jacket. He appeared to blush.
"Thank you Miss. Dobby tries his best Miss! Dobby always tries his best!"
"Well have fun Dobby, don't work too much." she smiled, patting him on the head. Beside her Ginny and Lavender looked at each other, rolling their eyes.
"Thank you Miss. Call me if you need me Miss." With that he plodded away, back into the crowd of students, professors and guests.
You look beautiful.
Hermione stifled her jump this time as Draco entered her mind. She blushed slightly, not that it could be seen beneath the pink colour she had put there earlier, and looked around the room for the source of the voice. He was nowhere to be seen.
"Where are you?" she thought.
Where do you think I am!?
She laughed out loud, realising she shouldn't have after Ginny nudged her and raised her eyebrow.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing," Hermione started, "I'm going to go...mingle. I'll see you later OK?"
"OK," Ginny said, not seeming to care whether Hermione was with her or not, "I wonder where Harry is..." she muttered to herself as she walked off.
"Nothing going on between them is there!" Lavender laughed as Ginny spotted Harry and ran up to him.
"No, nothing at all!" Hermione shook her head at the sight of two of her best friends hugging. She smirked at Lavender and Luna before walking over to the bar.
"Would you stay out of my head!" she whispered into the ear of the blonde haired Slytherin at the bar. He swivelled around on his bar stool and smiled at her.
"But I like it in there. I can understand you that way!"
"Oh haha!" she smirked, grabbing his hand and pulling him off the stool.
"Ooo Miss Granger!" he laughed as she pulled him into her arms.
"Shut up and hug me." Draco did just that.
"Hey Draco, Granger." Blaise nodded at them as he sat down. "Join me for a drink?"
"Of course!" Draco smiled and sat back down, pulling out the stool beside him for Hermione. She pushed it back in again.
"I'll come back later. Just gonna go say hi to Harry and Ron...and remind Ginny to breathe!" she sighed as she saw Ginny snogging Harry. Draco followed her gaze.
"Gotta hand it to Red, she seems to know what she's doing!" Draco said, sounding surprised.
Hermione hit him. "That doesn't concern you!"
"I never said it did, I was merely stating that... that... I'm happy for Potty."
Hermione rolled her eyes. Draco continued to stare but returned his gaze to Hermione after Blaise nudged him.
"Besides, you can do better." he smirked at her.
Hermione considered this for a moment. "Ok," she finally said, "you're forgiven!"
She walked away and crept up behind Ginny, poking her in the side so that she jumped up and headbutted Harry in the nose.
"Ow!" he cursed, rubbing his nose. Hermione withdrew her wand and flicked it at Harry, apologising as she did so.
"Sorry, I just wanted to remind Ginny that oxygen is needed for the brain to continue functioning."
Ginny scowled at her and turned back to Harry, picking up where she left off before she was interrupted. Hermione rolled her eyes and smiled at Ron.
"Having fun?" she asked.
"Oh yer, tons!" he scoffed, glancing at Harry and Ginny. Hermione patted him on the shoulder.
"Why don't you go and talk to Luna and Lavender then?" Hermione suggested. She was shocked that Ron had stayed by Harry all this time and was still alive and unhexed.
"Ok." he shrugged, stalking off to where Luna, Lavender and the Patil twins were sat.
-- At the bar --
"So, looking forward to your upcoming nuptials, mate?" Blaise prodded his friend.
"Yer, course I am!" Draco smiled at the thought.
"One problem..."
"...?"
"Your parents."
"Hmm, I was thinking about that the other day when I met Hermione's parents. She said we would tell them together but I still don't know how they are going to react. It's not exactly a secret how my father feels about Muggle borns is it!"
"Well, what's the worst that could happen eh?"
Draco didn't answer, he didn't want to think about it anymore. Instead he ordered another drink.
"And would Miss be wanting anything yet Sir?" Dobby crept up behind the bar.
Draco thought about this for a while and decided that Hermione should have a drink, whether she wanted one or not.
"What cocktails do you have Dobby?"
The house elf handed him a list, which he quickly scanned, a huge smile on his face.
"She'll have a Screaming Orgasm please Dobby."
Dobby said nothing and thought nothing of it, he just went away and made the drink.
"Isn't that supposed to come after the wedding?" Blaise smirked.
"Little preview never hurt anyone!" Draco smiled, downing his new glass of Firewhiskey and sliding it back down the bar.
The two Slytherin boys laughed and ordered another round of drinks, the conversation quickly coming back to the wedding.
"On that note, I've been thinking. Do you wanna be my best man?" Draco turned to face Blaise.
"Sure, thanks mate." He extended his hand and Draco shook it, glad that this was one part of the wedding sorted out.
-- At the tables --
Hermione smiled as Dobby came running up to her, a tray of drinks in his hand. He picked one up and passed it to her.
"From Mister Malfoy Miss, for you Miss."
Hermione took the drink and sniffed it, swirling it around in the glass. "What is it Dobby?" she questioned the elf.
Dobby shifted on his feet and beckoned for Hermione to lean down to his level. Standing on tiptoes, he whispered in her ear what the drink was.
Hermione sat back up and looked towards the bar, meeting Draco's gaze. He smiled and raised his glass to her, waiting for her to do the same. She picked up her cocktail and looked at it for a second, swirling it once or twice more.
Throwing her head back, Hermione lifted the glass to her lips and downed it in one, raising it to a shocked Draco once she had finished. A smile crept across her lips and she turned back to Ginny, continuing her conversation.
"So Gin, you're my best friend, right?"
"Right..." Ginny stated, not quite understanding where this conversation was leading.
"Will you be my maid of honour?"
Ginny squealed, jumping up and running to hug Hermione, who nearly fell off her chair at the force of her friends hug.
"Am I to take that as a yes?" Hermione tried to say through Ginny's arms.
"Yes! Of course!"
Hermione sighed as the youngest Weasley let go of her, returning to her chair and telling Harry what had just happened.
I assume Red agreed then?
Hermione smiled as Draco entered her mind for the third time that evening.
"Yes, did Blaise?"
Yup. So that's sorted out then. Did you enjoy your Orgasm?
Hermione tried to hide her smile. "Yes I did, thank you."
You're welcome. Draco smirked. Want another?
"Nope!" Hermione thought defiantly.
You'll come around. Come over here.
"I'm quite comfy here thank you."
Granger. Here. Now.
Hermione smiled and began walking towards to bar. She sat down on the stool beside him.
"Yes? Can I help you?!"
Draco just smirked and leaned forward to kiss her. After that he turned back to Blaise and continued his conversation.
"Was that it?" Hermione demanded, grabbing the bottom of Draco's stool and swivelling him around to face her. Draco raised his eyebrow at her and smiled.
"Did I come all the way over here just for a kiss?!"
"Is that a complaint about my kisses?"
"No but I - " she was cut off as Draco kissed her again.
"Good!" he said, turning back to a laughing Blaise. Hermione kissed the back of his head and walked back to her table, 'congratulations' flying at her from random students as she crossed the floor. She sat down and questioned Harry as to Ginny's whereabouts. He just smiled at her and pointed to the front of the room where a stage and a microphone had materialised.
Ginny stood before it, Blaise soon appearing by her side. Everyone on the floor turned to face them and went quiet.
"As Hermione's maid of honour, I would just like to say congratulations to the happy couple!" Ginny started before Blaise took over.
"And as Draco's best man, I would like to say the same!" he sang, raising his glass. "To Hermione and Draco!"
"Yes, to Hermione and Draco indeed..." came a snide voice from the back of the room. Every face whirled around to meet the stern gaze of Lucius Malfoy and the room went silent again. Hermione looked over to see Draco's worried face.
"It'll be alright," she thought, "don't worry!" She hoped he had heard her but she soon realised that he had left her mind by this point.
"Draco!" Lucius yelled, beckoning his son to him.
Draco stood at his father's command and began to walk towards him. Hermione also stood and walked to his side. Lucius raised his hand.
"Just Draco." he yelled in a monotone voice. Narcissa Malfoy whispered into her husband's ear and he sighed. "Fine." he ushered to them again.
As they left the Room of Requirements, Hermione turned back and prompted Ginny to continue with the party. She heard the music begin again as the door closed behind them. It was then that she noticed the House Elf that had been guarding the door was unconscious on the floor. The four of them stood in silence in the deserted corridor.
"You are not marrying a Mudblood!" Lucius suddenly said, not even bothering to acknowledge Hermione.
"I can marry whomever I want to marry!" Draco sneered at his father. "There is nothing wrong with Muggle borns, they are no worse than us and I certainly am not going to let lineage come between me and the woman I love!"
Hermione blushed and tried her best not to smile at Draco's words. Not that it mattered, no-one was looking at her anyway. Lucius and Draco were glaring at each other and Narcissa was gazing at the floor, clearly uncomfortable with her husband's reaction.
"How did you find out anyway?"
"We received an owl from someone telling us of your plans for...marriage..." he said, struggling with the last word.
"Who was it from?" Draco pondered.
"That is not important! What I want to know is, are you under some kind of spell?!"
At this Narcissa raised her head and looked at her husband, slightly annoyed at what he had said.
"Just ignore your father dear, what I really want to know is why didn't you tell us yourself?" Narcissa asked in a calm and somewhat caring voice. Draco just looked from his mother, to his father and back again.
"Because I knew this would happen!" Draco cried. Narcissa simply nodded.
"Well what did you expect!? I will not have my son staining our perfect blood line with the likes of a Mudblood!"
"Stop talking about Hermione as if she is a piece of dirt!" Hermione looked at the ground, avoiding the gaze that Lucius now aimed at her.
"She is a piece of dirt Draco and if you marry her then you can stop calling yourself a Malfoy. We will take away your inheritance and you can find somewhere else to live! You will never ever hear from us again, do you understand me?!" Lucius screamed. Hermione was sure this would be heard inside the Room of Requirements but she couldn't care less. She was worried about Draco.
His grip on her hand had tightened.
Lucius growled as he noticed this and spat at his son's feet. "We're through here!"
With that, he stalked off around the corner, Narcissa following him at her own pace. His curses and profanities could still be heard as he rounded the corner and began to descend the stairs.
Beside her, Draco sank to the floor and Hermione suddenly felt ashamed. She had done nothing wrong but her stupid heritage was causing problems once again.
"Draco, I'm sorry..." she began, pausing to see if he was listening to her, "...you don't have to marry me."
This caused him to look up at her, a mixture of shock and panic in his eyes. "No, no don't say that. This doesn't change anything!" he tried to put on a brave face but Hermione could see he was hurting.
"It changes everything!" she struggled to say, a lump forming in her throat. "Your family means a lot to you."
"But you mean more!" he said before she had even finished. "I can lose my family, I can live without them and my inheritance..." The last part she knew was hard for him to say. "But you...I can't live without you Hermione!"
She slid down beside him and put her arm around him.
"You won't have to live without me. But maybe we just shouldn't get married yet..." she stifled a sob, trying to stay strong for him.
"No! We have to get married. Unless... do you not want to marry me if I have no money?"
Hermione let out a small laugh. "That's ridiculous. I don't want your money Draco, I want you!"
"Good," he smiled, finally, "because that's all you've got!"
"That's all I need." she whispered, kissing his forehead. They sat there for a while in silence, Hermione stroking Draco's hair, her arm around him as he stared blankly at the wall opposite.
All of a sudden, footsteps filled the silence and Narcissa Malfoy turned the corner, walking over to them again. She leaned against the wall opposite and smiled.
"You two look very cute together."
"Thanks..." Draco muttered, slightly confused.
"I have spoken to your father and he's come around slightly." Draco sat up straighter. "He still doesn't want to see you, but he won't disinherit you. I won't let him." She looked at the floor and her tone changed. "I told him I would leave him if he did..."
Draco stood up and went to hug his mother.
"Why would you leave him?" he whispered.
"Because I want you to be happy. And I refuse to be with someone who doesn't want that as well. It isn't right."
"Thank you mother." He hugged her once again, before she turned to Hermione.
"Take care of him for me!" she smiled at her.
"I will." Hermione replied. Narcissa nodded to her and turned to walk away. She got about halfway down the corridor when Hermione caught up with her.
"Mrs Malfoy!" she cried, touching her arm.
"Please, call me Narcissa."
"Ok," Hermione smiled, "Narcissa, I was wondering, would you like to come wedding dress shopping with me and my mother next week?"
"Would you really want me there?"
"I would love it if you came." Hermione smiled, she wasn't lying.
"It'd be my pleasure then. Owl me the times and dates."
"I will." Narcissa hugged her as she left and she felt touched. That was two Malfoys she knew who weren't afraid to hug a Mudblood. She skipped back to Draco.
"Right, shall we continue with the party?"
"Sure. What did you ask my mother?" he asked as they walked back to the Come and Go room.
"If she wanted to come dress shopping."
Draco stopped walking and pulled a puzzled Hermione back to him.
"You are amazing!" he whispered before kissing her. Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck and kept her face close to his once the kiss had ended.
"Draco..." she whispered into his ear, "I love you..."
She felt her heart beat faster as she said it properly for the first time. Draco wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer, allowing her to feel that his pulse was also racing.
"I love you too!" he smiled, kissing her again, more passionately this time. He bent her backwards, moving her into a Hollywood style kiss. (A/N: Oh you all know the kind I mean!)
When she rose to her normal level again she giggled.
"What?" he asked, wondering why she was laughing. She shrugged.
"I don't know. I'm just...happy!"
He smiled. "I'm happy too."
Hand in hand, they walked back to the party, thinking about their future.
...
A/N: Long chapter. Hope you liked it, sorry if you didn't, ending was a bit sucky but never mind.
Anyway, next chapter, wedding dress shopping, yay! :D Update may be a little longer this time. Sorry. D:
Some smiley reviews may cheer me up and make me update quicker though xD
God Bless You
Holli x
