Two weeks had gone by with no word from Harry. Two weeks of waiting. Two weeks of getting more acquainted with each other. Two weeks of making sweet love to each other. Two weeks of long walks, holding hands, and planning their future in the paradise they found themselves in.
Hermione never thought she'd find someone to spend her life with. She sure as Hell never thought it would be with Draco Malfoy. But, Draco? He'd always hoped. Just to have her in his life as an acquaintance would have been nice, but to find love with her? Companionship? Trust? That was something he could have only ever dreamed of.
In a way the Marriage Law, this Decree, was a blessing in disguise for him. Sure, it felt as if witches and wizards were being forced into this (and they were), but for people like Draco Malfoy, it was a chance to find true happiness.
So, that's where his head was when walking along the shoreline with Hermione Granger's hand entwined in his, when a *pop* of apparition sounded from the cottage.
"Malfoy? Hermione?" they heard Harry yell from the deck of their temporary lodgings.
They walked towards him and could see he looked anxious. He greeted Draco with a handshake then hugged his pseudo sister with a tight hug and kissed the top of her head
"Potter, we haven't heard from you in weeks. What's been happening? Not that I'm complaining. It has been nothing short of amazing here." Draco pulled Hermione into his side and stroked her arm gently as a sign of affection.
"It's been crazy. Between Ron marrying his match last week to all of the suspects that we've been following. I haven't had five minutes to breathe." To say Hermione was surprised her ex married his match was an understatement.
"Ron married?" she asked with apprehension. She knew she didn't have romantic feelings for him any longer, but he was one of her closest friends.
"Uh, yeah. Her name is Valerie. He was so stubborn at first. He hadn't wanted to even meet her, but the only other match he had was Pansy Parkinson and you know how he feels about her. No offense, Malfoy. I know she's your friend and all. Anyway, she ran into his mum in Diagon Alley and introduced herself, and Molly just fell into a fit over how beautiful and intelligent she was that she invited her to Sunday dinner. Once Ron saw her, that was it. He arranged for a quick ceremony and small reception the following Sunday. Valerie said she met you, Hermione?" He looked for her to answer.
"Yeah, she came to my office a few weeks ago. She definitely is very beautiful." Draco squeezed her hand in his making her look up at him.
"Are you okay, love?" Hermione nodded then smiled.
"I am. I just always thought I'd be there. I mean, he's still one of my best friends, you know. It's just bittersweet. I'm happy for him though." Harry smiled sadly at her. He understood completely how she was feeling. He'd also missed the wedding due to his surveillance of the prime suspect, and it had paid off.
"I missed the wedding as well, but for good reason. We think we have him. I have the request to the department head for his arrest. Auror Gallywop and I have been watching him and another suspect for the past two weeks. She cleared her suspect three days ago. Viktor Krum. Although he does still harbor feelings for you, he is too busy with his Quidditch career to have the time and energy to stalk you from Bulgaria, and he went on a date with Gallywop the other night and only mentioned you once when he found out she was from London." Hermione giggled that Auror Gallywop went on a date with Viktor.
"And did she enjoy her date with Viktor?" Harry chuckled at the humorous way she asked him.
"Very much. It was a ruse at first so that she could get some intel, but it went extremely well fir them both. She's going to be seeing him again. Said they hit it off, and she is now positive the stalker was not him. He'd only said you were his first love, but that you were only friends now. He said you'd always hold a special place in his heart. Which leads me to the prime suspect." Harry motioned for them to go inside to sit in the living room.
He sat across from them looking apprehensive. "Malfoy, when is the last time you spoke with or saw Blaise Zabini?" The question threw Draco off. When was the last time he'd spoken to his oldest friend?
"I'm not sure, Potter. At least three or four months, I guess. He's been on a special assignment with Gringott's, I believe. He's a Curse Breaker there with the Weasel's oldest brother, Bill. Why? What's any of that have to do with the case? Surely you can't think he's involved." Harry looked unnerved.
"We first thought the stalker could be Cormac McClaggen, you know? We were watching him at first, but it was a dud. He was seen numerous times meeting with the Greengrass's. Apparently, he's betrothed to their youngest daughter, Astoria. And you know, he's a pig and flirts with you unapologetically, Hermione, but he only does it to get a rise out of you. So, I began to watch your townhouse and one night last week, I saw a man in a hooded cloak hanging around until the neighbors lights went out."
He cleared his throat and began to talk again. "The man began trying to unward the house and was almost successful if it wasn't for the blood wards you put up before you left Malfoy. A gust of wind came and blew the hood off of his head. It was Zabini. Why would he want to break into your home? What other reason than trying to get to you, Hermione?"
Draco stood up and started to pace, a worried look plastered on his face. Blaise was his oldest friend. Their mothers were best friends. They grew up as brothers practically. He'd not been forced into following Voldemort like Draco had though. But why stalk Hermione? He knew how Draco felt about The Golden Girl; he'd even tried getting him to admit his feelings years ago! "No! It can't be him! It's not Blaise! It isn't!" He stormed off to the beach leaving Hermione and Harry with equal looks of shock on their faces.
"Harry, I need to tell you something. I've never told anyone. I had almost forgotten about it actually. It was one night. One drunken night in Eighth year." Hermione's stomach was in knots as she sat back down on the sofa her and Draco had been sharing before he ran off.
"We'd all been drinking, and Ron had said something rotten to me in an Owl earlier that day about not making enough time for him or something like that. You know how he was during that time." Harry nodded and urged her to continue.
"Draco was there, and I kept catching him staring at me. I had told Gin that I was going to go for a walk thinking he'd follow me. I'd started developing a crush on him because he was different than before. Kind to me. So, color me surprised when I was pulled into a dark alcove, and the person began to kiss me. Harry, it was so passionate. I really thought it was Malfoy. One thing led to another and well." She looked abashedly at Harry.
"Oh! Oh Godric, 'Mione! You cheated on Ron!" Harry looked appalled.
"I know! But that's not where I am going with this, Harry! After, I lumosed to find my knickers and," she sighed then buried her head in her hands, "It wasn't Draco. It was Blaise Zabini." She started to cry so Harry pulled her into his arms.
"The rest of the year, he kept trying to get me alone again. I told him it was a mistake, a drunken, angry mistake. He finally relented. I have only ever been friendly to him since. We've spoken at bar nights with Bill and the gang, but never brought up that night ever again. I haven't even seen him in months." Harry shushed her.
"You've got to tell Malfoy." was all he said before they heard an exclamation of "EXPELLIARMUS!" Hermione jumped as she watched their wands fly into the hands of the man of the hour.
"How did you get past the wards?" Harry put Hermione behind him protectively.
"Once I figured out you were following me, Potter, I had the knowledge to find her. I will always find her. Hello, love. Miss me?" Blaise Zabini stood tall and ready to fight his way to get what he wanted. "It's a shame really that you were matched to the only other person that I would never want to hurt, but when it comes to you Hermione? I'd destroy everything in this world to have you."
Hermione felt sick to her stomach. "Why me? It was one bloody night, Zabini! One night that only happened because I thought you were someone else! I thought you were Draco!" The words were like a knife in his heart. He stumbled back, not expecting the confession.
"You're lying! You, you knew it was me! You wanted me that night. Even Pansy said so. It's why I waited for you." Blaise pleaded with her. Hermione only shook her head.
"No, I'm sorry, but it's only ever going to be him for me. I love Draco. I am so in love with him, Blaise. I'm sorry that you've thought this all these years, but it is all in your head. I don't know what Pansy thought she saw, but I was sneaking glances at Malfoy that night. You were next to him. That must be why she thought it was you I was looking at." She watched as a horrified look crossed his face.
"I...I almost killed him. My best mate. My brother. I almost killed him because I thought someone like you would want me." Just as the words left his mouth, he went flying through the air, crashing into the wall. When they turned, they saw Draco standing there with tears streaming down his face. Hermione rushed over to him and embraced him, falling to the floor as he cried into her shoulder.
Harry got his and Hermione's wands then tied Blaise up, stunning him again for good measure. "Malfoy, I'm taking him to the Ministry. Both of you, please stay until we've finished processing him in. I will send for you in the morning." With a nod, he tossed Hermione her wand then disapparated with Blaise Zabini.
"Draco, I need to tell you about my history with him. It was during Eighth year, I." Draco put his hand up to stop her.
"I already know, Love. I remember that night. He had bragged about it to me one time when he was drunk a couple years back. I never wanted to believe that it was true, but he never brought it up again. He knew I was..am in love with you. It doesn't change a thing, Granger. Nothing could ever change the way I feel about you. Nothing." He wrapped his hand around the back of her head and pulled her mouth to his. In between kisses, he whispered how much he loves her, how long he's loved her, and promised to deserve her love in return.
"You already do, Draco. You already do. I love you today and I will love you all the days after, even after my death. I want to build a life with you and give you the family you should have always had. Our children will only know a life of love. Only ever love." They held each other and soon the only sounds in the cottage were those of pleasure.
A/N: So, I toyed around with the idea of having Blaise as a fall guy; maybe Imperioused by Cormac, but in the end I wanted to throw a curve ball. I only mentioned Blaise in an earlier chapter as having the hots for Luna, but nobody had heard from him either, so I went with it. Now that that's over, the next chapter will more than likely be the wedding or events leading up to the wedding...Peace!