Chapter 18
Hermione's heart pounded as she entered the reception tent on the grounds of Pucey Manor. The ceremony had gone smoothly. Marcus stood at the front by Adrian's side and Draco had taken a seat in the back. There was no chance for interaction during the ceremony, but now that the reception had begun, she feared running into them.
She spotted Marcus near the bar, and when he smiled at her, she made her way towards him.
"Can we talk?" Draco asked, stopping her in her tracks.
"No, we can't," she said, trying to maneuver around him.
He grabbed her wrist to keep her from moving. "Please, Hermione," he pleaded. "I miss you, and I want to make things right between us. What I did that night was stupid, and there's no excuse for it. Are things okay between you and Marcus?"
Wrenching her arm from his grasp, she shook her head. "No, things aren't okay," she told him angrily, glancing around him to see if Marcus was still at the bar. "We broke up."
Draco paled as he murmured an apology. "I never meant for that to happen."
"What did you think would happen when you kissed me?" she demanded. "Did you think I'd break it off with Marcus to run away with you? Did it ever occur to you that kissing me would ruin the year long relationship I was in? Did you think beyond yourself for even a second, Malfoy?"
He stepped back as if he'd been slapped. "You're right - I didn't think," he agreed. "I didn't expect you to leave him for me. I didn't think he'd break up with you."
Scoffing, she pushed past him and made her way to the bar where Marcus and Adrian stood. Adrian wrapped an arm around her, pulling her behind him. "Draco, just back off," he warned. "You ruin this party, Pansy will murder you and they will never find the body."
Draco walked away from his friends, returning to his table. "I don't know why he even bothered coming," Marcus groused, sipping his firewhiskey.
"Because he's still our friend," Adrian responded, looping his arm around Hermione's shoulders. "Hermione, if he bothers you again, let us know."
Nodding, she pulled away, ready to leave the pair when Marcus asked if they could talk. Adrian took his leave to find his new wife, leaving the pair to their conversation. "So, um, how...how are you?" he asked.
Shrugging, she ordered a club soda. "Fine. I'm staying with George for the time being," she told him. "The season's almost over, isn't it? Will you go back to the flat?"
"You could have stayed there," he said, ignoring her questions.
Taking a sip of her drink, Hermione shook her head. "It's yours. I don't belong there," she replied. "I don't really belong here either."
Marcus flagged down the bartender and ordered another drink. "Yes, you do," he told her. "You're still our friend even if we aren't together. I've, um, thought about writing, asking you to come to the final game. Couldn't work up the nerve to do it though."
She stepped closer to him and wound her arms around his waist. "I've really missed you," she murmured. He held tightly to her, kissing the top of her head.
They remained in their embrace as the newly wedded couple was introduced to their guests. Adrian and Pansy shared their first dance. By the bar, Marcus and Hermione swayed gently to the slow music. When the song ended, the guests were asked to return to their tables and Marcus was called forward for his toast.
Hermione slipped out of the ballroom when she saw Draco leave. "Hey," she called after him, causing Draco to slow down. "So, let's talk."
Sighing, he said nothing as he led her to the garden. He sat down on the fountain and laid his suit jacket down for her to sit on. "I really am sorry about that night. I never should have kissed you," he said. "For all the horrible things that I've been through, losing you was the worst."
"Worse than Azkaban?" she wondered.
A small laugh escaped him. "Well, maybe not that...or Voldemort taking over my family home, but it's close," he amended. "They felt just as lonely."
She wound her arms around his. "We'll get back there, Draco," she promised. "It's been a lonely month for me too. It was hard talking to Pansy after the breakup. I didn't want to put her or Ade in the middle. Even George told me I was an idiot to keep the kiss from Marcus. I'd never been called an idiot before. I did not like it."
"Speaking of being an idiot, I've been talking to Astoria," he shared. She stared at him, shocked by the news. "Yeah, um, her parents disowned her and Blaise split. She's got nothing. I just felt bad. Am I making a mistake?"
Hermione pulled away and sighed heavily. "I worry about you getting hurt again," she said, choosing her words carefully. "It's not really my place to tell you what you should or shouldn't do with your life. Just...do what makes you happy. If Astoria makes you happy, be with her. If you can put aside everything that she's done and forgive her, then be with her. But don't do this just because you feel bad. That feeling might fade at some point, and then you're stuck with someone you don't love raising her child. Don't resent her."
They heard a throat clear and looked up at the intrusion. Marcus stood before them, the slightest hint of a smile on his lips. "That's pretty good advice," he said. Hermione tensed as he sat down beside her. He placed his arm around her shoulders, hoping to ease her fears. "You really think you could raise Blaise's kid?"
Draco shrugged. "She's been staying with me the last couple of weeks," he explained. "I went to her last appointment with her. Hearing the heartbeat for the first time was incredible. For a second I forgot that it wasn't mine. I don't know that I'd marry Astoria, but I can see myself being a father."
Hermione kissed his cheek. "You'll be a great father," she murmured. Smiling, he thanked her and took his leave to allow the former couple some privacy. "Sorry I missed your speech," she told Marcus when they were alone.
He waved her off. "You didn't miss anything," he assured her. "You and Drake seemed to have patched things up. It gives me hope that we can work this out too."
"I wish I had a Time Turner. I'd have told you right away about the kiss if I'd known I'd lose you," she said.
Marcus sighed, staring out at the gardens. "I probably would have reacted the same way if you'd told me right away," he confessed. "It never bothered me that you two were close. Maybe in the beginning it did, but as the last year went on, it bothered me less and less. It was never a secret that he liked you, but I never thought he'd act on it. I'm sorry for blowing up like I did."
Hermione shivered despite the warming charms. "So, we've said our apologies, and we seem to be okay. Where does this leave us?" she wondered.
"I don't know," he admitted. "I've hated sleeping alone. I had to put ice packs under the blankets because I missed your frozen feet against my legs. So ya know, if there's ever a night you can't sleep, you know where I am."
She leaned closer to him for warmth. "I haven't been sleeping well," she confessed. "I considered stealing your pillow when I moved out, but I didn't want you to hate me even more."
He pulled her close. "I don't hate you," he assured her. "I didn't hate you a month ago either."
Gathering her courage, she cupped his cheek and pressed her lips to his. His free arm wound around her as he deepened the kiss. When they finally pulled apart to breathe, she was straddled across his lap. "We're going to fall in the fountain," she said with a laugh.
He held her tighter to keep from losing his balance on the ledge. "Come home with me," he murmured, kissing her neck.
"They haven't even served dinner yet," she pointed out, though she wanted to leave with him at that very moment.
"Are you really dying for some salmon and asparagus?" he wondered, revelling in the feeling of her fingers running through his hair. "Because I'll order pizza that we call eat in bed."
Hermione groaned as she attempted to move from his grasp. "What about our friends?"
"I don't want to share my pizza with them," he joked.
Frowning, she pulled back as far as his arms would allow. "So, are we just shagging and going our separate ways at the end of the night?" she asked.
"I know you hate it when I put down my intelligence, but I was an idiot to break up with you," he declared. "If you'll have me, can I be your boyfriend again?"