Hermione Malfoy?
You read right folks! Although the official name change hasn't happened as of yet, word has trickled down to our office that Hermione Granger is engaged to Draco Malfoy.
You may remember earlier reports of the pair as the wizarding world gave a simultaneous gasp once news of their relationship had gone public. We were all shocked, downright flabbergasted at the revelation and we all had the same questions. What in Merlin's name was Gryffindor's infamous Hermione Granger, one of the top pioneers in You-Know-Who's downfall, doing with the equally infamous Draco Malfoy, known supporter of the famed villain and confirmed Deatheater.
Either their love is strong or there's one powerful Imperius Curse afoot because the odd couple have been reportedly together since January of this year and nothing has slowed them down yet. Since their romance became public, Miss Granger accepted a position as a Senior Magical Researcher at the Ministry of Magic while her fiancé has been an Auror in the Dark Arts Division. Pretty fitting (if we at the Daily Prophet don't say so ourselves!).
So what does the public have to say about this unbelievable union?
"A right disaster," says Kasey, a bookshop owner in Diagon Alley. "I wouldn't want to join that family even if my life depended on it."
Others, however, aren't nearly as pessimistic.
"It's been years," says Liam Groves. "I really doubt he's the same evil guy people think he is. If he was, the Hermione Granger wouldn't be with him in the first place."
Perhaps, perhaps not, Mr. Groves. All we know for sure is that the lovers are headed down the aisle in, not a year, but just three weeks! Sources have determined that the wedding of the ages will be taking place on Christmas day on the Malfoy Manor property and Miss Granger will be getting her dress tailor-made by the one and only Antoinette Marcel (can you believe it?!).
More details to follow…
Written by Priscilla Wimbly
"What details are they planning to get?" Harry asked. "The Manor's heavily warded, isn't it?"
"Very," Hermione confirmed. "And Uriel's agreed to set up extra wards to keep reporters even further away. So, I imagine their next article will be a bunch of hearsay and them making up scenarios for what my future will be like as the next Mrs. Malfoy."
"The next Mrs. Malfoy… Hermione Malfoy… I've got to tell you, that's the oddest sound I've ever heard."
"Well, I do have to admit that this time last year I didn't think any of this would have happened. But it has and I'm grateful for it."
Harry smiled. "I'm glad, Hermione. But are you grateful for this dinner, though?
Hermione groaned. No, no she wasn't. Mrs. Weasley, the sweet woman that she was, had insisted on having a pre-wedding dinner for her and Draco. Harry and Ginny were having one as well, but not until next month. Seeing as Hermione's wedding was a lot closer, she would have hers first. This meant everyone, sans Narcissa, would be in one location. The Weasleys, her parents, Harry, and Draco. Sure everyone would all be together for the wedding, but in such a confined space like this?
"Hey, I was just teasing." Harry said, clearly reading her expression for what it was. "Besides, if anyone gets out of line Mrs. Weasley will hex us to bits."
Hermione laughed. "Oh, alright. I guess I should go grab Draco. The dinner is going to start soon."
"Right. I'll see you in a bit."
Hermione bid her farewells for the moment and headed back to her apartment. The first thing she heard was the shower running and she smiled as she headed towards the sound. Draco liked his showers to be completely on fire and so when she opened the bathroom door she was hit with nothing but hot air and a lot of steam.
"You're going to scold yourself silly one day."
Draco peaked his head from behind the shower curtain and grinned. "Not if you charm the water so you still feel the heat, but not the scalding."
Hermione's brows rose. "When did you do that?"
"Forever ago, but you hardly make the water that hot to notice it." His smile broadened then before he added, "Do you want to test it out?"
"Draco… You and I both know that if I go in there we're going to be late for Mrs. Weasley's dinner."
"Not if you quit talking and just jump in here."
Hermione rolled her eyes. However, she didn't argue and simply stripped so that she could join him in the shower. He'd been right. The water didn't burn her skin off, but that was the last thing that she was concentrating on as Draco grabbed her and pulled her close.
"You're the one who explains why we're late." Hermione said before succumbing to the feel of one of his hands gravitated to her breasts.
Draco smirked. "Deal."
"You're late." Ginny said as she passed the fireplace in her parents' home and spotted the recently engaged couple.
"Uh, yeah," Draco stammered. "We were…caught up with something."
Ginny eyed him. He was blushing furiously while Hermione was looking everywhere that wasn't her face. The redhead threw back her head and laughed.
"Right. Well, you're here now so out to the backyard with you."
Ginny led the way with Hermione and Draco trailing behind her. They had to pass through the kitchen in order to make it to where the festivities were happening, and in that very room was the woman who was busy putting the finishing touches on the evening's meal.
"Mum, the guests of honor are here."
Mrs. Weasley turned around, clad in her apron with her wand in one hand and a dish in the other, and wearing a smile on her face. It was in this moment that it occurred to Draco that he'd never really been in such close proximity to the woman before. Her children, yes, but her? She was always this person that he'd heard of, but had never seen. The main thing that he knew about her was that she had been the one to do in his aunt. For that, he was eternally grateful.
"Oh, Hermione dear, it's lovely to see you." Molly said as she gave her a hands-free hug. She then set her eyes on Draco and he felt himself squirm a little under her gaze. "Draco," she said. It startled him, to say the least, seeing as how Hermione had been the only one to use his first name. "It's wonderful to see you too. Good to know that you've been treating out Hermione so well."
"Th-thank you," he managed to say. Molly continued to smile before she gently ushered them out of the kitchen and into the yard where the rest of the bunch were. Draco assessed the situation on first glance.
Harry and his easy-to-tolerate girlfriend were talking to a Weasley that he didn't know. Obviously an older brother –one he'd never had the "luxury" of knowing when he was still in school. There was another one (too many of them, he swore to himself) who also looked older and helping his father adjust the table. There was that veela from the Tri-Wizard Tournament with a little girl who looked just like her clinging onto her leg. Mrs. Granger (who, along with her husband, Hermione had brought to the Burrow earlier that day to assist Mrs. Weasley) looked like she was bored to death as that annoying Percy fellow talked to her. Ron was already stuffing his face with the light snacks on the table and his girlfriend, that Lavender Brown, was doing a terrible thing by encouraging him. George was busy showing off some "death trap," as Hermione would sometimes call his trinkets, to her father before the latter spotted the couple.
It seemed that with his acknowledgement of them that everything stopped. Draco had never felt more watched in his life other than his hearing and his graduation. Luckily, Mr. Granger was a lifesaver.
"Draco!" He said merrily as he left George's side and moved in to hug him. "Good to see you. Have you been catching the American football like I told you?"
Draco smiled. "I did. Do the players always do a funny little dance when they run all the way to the end?"
"Not always. It's frowned upon sometimes, but if you make a good catch, why not celebrate?"
The blond laughed. "Yeah, yeah, I guess so."
"It's time for dinner everyone!" Molly announced as she came out onto the yard. Her wand was swishing various directions as mountains upon mountains of food floated out from the kitchen and onto the massive table that lay in the middle of the yard.
"Merlin…" Draco breathed.
Hermione grinned as he stood mesmerized. She did eventually pull him along so that they could sit at the table. He seemed to be fairing alright with his five-minute exposure of everyone, but for comfortable-ness sake, Hermione made sure that her father was sitting beside him at the enormous table. Harry was sitting next to her and across from them was Ron and Lavender –still the most annoyingly affectionate couple ever in existence.
"Alright everyone," Molly addressed the motley crew. "I know that we're all ready to dig in, but let's not forget the reason that we're here. This gathering of family and friends is to celebrate the recent engagement and pending wedding of our dear Hermione and Draco."
"Mum," George piped up with a mischievous grin on his face. "Are you really calling Malfoy here, 'dear?' His integrity has probably already dropped sitting here with all of us."
Molly placed her hands on hips and flicked her wand once. George laughed, but his voice had been effectively silenced which only made him laugh (silently) a little harder.
"Now, as I was saying. This is a celebration. So, is there anything anyone wants to say to the happy couple before we're too full and too tired to say anything at all?"
Mrs. Granger was the first on her feet and she cleared her throat. "I think my husband would agree with me in saying that we adore Draco. He has proven himself to be a wonderful young man and he has treated Hermione with the utmost care. I wish them both the best of luck."
Mrs. Granger sat down and Draco's brow rose as well as a soft smirk when Ginny stood up next.
"Taken from someone who knows Malfoy well enough –by the way none of us will ever call you by your first name-"
"Understood,-"
"-You have evolved into someone who…I never thought I'd hate a little less-"
"Is this a happy speech?" Mr. Granger whispered to Draco so only he could hear. Draco nodded and tried his hardest not to let his smirk turn into a full-blown smile.
"Hermione loves you terribly." Ginny continued. "And I know that you love her too. Regardless of all of that, if you ever hurt her I fully intend on castrating you."
"Ginny!" Molly scolded.
Draco only laughed before directing his words to Ginny. "Oh, loosen your knickers and sit down you cheeky witch."
"Only when you come up with better comebacks." She huffed, however she did sit down. Harry was on the verge of getting up when Lavender of all people beat him to the punch.
"The both of you are such an inspiration." Lavender said. Her words perhaps startled no one more than Ron who stopped mid-chew of a dinner roll to glance up at her. "You two have been through so much and yet here you are! About to get married and it's so beautiful! I know that you can make it through and be just as happy as me and my Won-Won."
"Ugh, please," both Hermione and Draco muttered simultaneously as they lifted their glasses. They both looked at each other, smiles on their lips.
"Who do you think will vomit first?" Draco leaned over and whispered. "Me or you?"
"Well, I'm used to this monstrosity." Hermione whispered back. "So, I'll say you."
"Hmm, not much of a bet then. Because I think you're right."
The dinner went surprisingly well. Small talk was had. Laughs in between. Molly only had to send a Stinging Jinx once and it was directed at George for asking if, as an Auror, Draco had arrested any former Deatheaters yet. Once the dinner was over, Molly and Arthur cleared away any extra food and got rid of the table. Soon after that there was music playing in the air. Hermione had been trying to get Draco to dance for the past ten minutes when he felt a tug on his pants. When he looked down his brows very nearly disappeared as he saw the little girl from earlier.
"Can you dance with me?"
Draco was completely at a loss for words. "Uh, well…"
Hermione giggled. "Of course, he'll dance with you Victoire." She then added to Draco, "She likes to stand on people's feet when she dances with them. Go on."
Draco was ready to protest, but what was he supposed to do when a child (a cute child, despite how much he didn't want to admit it to himself) was staring up at him with wide, happy eyes, and a smile to match.
"Okay. Sure."
Hermione watched as Victoire excitedly took Draco's hand and led him away. She couldn't help but stare in awe with a stomach full of butterflies at the sight of Draco helping Victoire to stand on his feet, hold her hands, and then move gently to the music.
"I'm shocked he's not brooding that his shoes will get scuffed." Came Bill's voice from beside her. Hermione chuckled.
"He's probably brooding about it on the inside, but there's nothing about kids that should sour a person."
"Either that or the Malfoy we all know has gone soft."
"The Malfoy you know has changed drastically." Hermione said as she looked at Bill. "You can't deny that."
Bill sighed and nodded. "I know. Besides," he added as he continued to stare at his daughter dancing with Draco. She was laughing and so was he, and Bill couldn't help but grin. "Victoire's a good judge of character."
Author's note: Victoire is adorable! And I just love Mr. Granger. "Is this a happy speech?"
Wedding next!
-WP