Chapter 5

Draco's point of view

The Great Hall had been refashioned into a wedding hall. White decorations hung from the walls and an alter with white flowers had been put up where the teachers table used to be. I walked up to the alter where Kingsley Shacklebolt was standing- he had preceded over all of the ceremonies today- Hermione wasn't here yet. Nerves fluttered in my stomach as I stood there in silence, I was going to be married, bound by a spell to her for the rest of my life.

Then the door creaked open, I faced forward and I listened to her hesitant steps approach the alter. I kept my face forward until I felt her presence at my side. I looked at her; her hair had been shaped into elegant curls that caressed her delicate shoulders. The dress she wore was a dark emerald green with a lighter lace covering it on the top half- I immediately liked it. She was so pretty but so nervous. I knew this as she was biting her lip and fiddling with her necklace.

"Let the ceremony begin." Our hands were placed on top of each other and we both drew our wands with our free hands and pointed them at our entwined hands.

"I Draco Malfoy pledge myself to thee Hermione Granger, soon to be my wife."

"I Hermione Granger pledge myself to thee Draco Malfoy, soon to be my husband." As we spoke our words gold twines of magic wove their ways around our hands, creating an unbreakable bond.

"With the power vested in me I hereby bound you together, for eternity, as man and wife." The gold vines faded away leaving a warm feeling that sunk deep into my skin, this bond would forever be apart of me- until my death or until hers.

I didn't drop Hermione's hand instead I held it all the way back to our rooms, she didn't pull away or try to but from the look on her face she was in shock. This was all getting to her and I saw the hysteria in her eyes. I didn't know what to do to make her feel better, I couldn't change anything now. I gently led her to the sofa and sat her down, I tried to pull my hand away but she clutched to it as if it was an anchor. Her hand pulled me down to sit next to her and then she curled up into my side, her head on my chest. For a moment we were silent, I tilted her head to look at me and she looked forlorn.

"Hey what's the matter?" She blinked as if coming out of a trance.

"I...It's all just happened so fast and I can't think. You're so different and I'm beginning to see you as a friend but I'm just confused because it's like you're two different people and I don't know what to think anymore."

"Hermione if it makes it any clearer I'm so different because before, that wasn't me. I was always trying to prove to my father that I could be like him but I was never like him. I wanted to be nice to you and be friends with you and I couldn't because you would have ended up on the wrong side of my father and I could never put you in that position. I admire your strength and bravery and I believe you can get through anything."

"Really?" I could see more clarity in her and that made me happy, the better she felt the better I felt.

"Truly." In answer she hugged me tighter and I felt her smile against me. We sat like that watching the fire crackle until the sky turned dark. It wasn't long before I realised that Hermione had fallen asleep, she didn't look too comfortable so I lifted her up and carried her up to bed.

After tucking her in I grabbed my pajamas and headed up to the bathroom where I peeled off my suit and had a quick shower. When I was done I approached the mirror and wiped the steam from it. My reflection was not one that I recognised. I had changed so much in the last year, I had become leaner and more sickly looking. A healthy glow was only starting to come back but purple shadows still clung to the skin underneath my eyes- the nightmares never stopped, every night I was met with a torrent of my worst experiences that only proved that I used to be a monster. My actions still haunted me like a rash that couldn't be rid of, I wanted to forget but I could never forget about what I had done to innocent people.

"What are you thinking about?" My breath caught in my throat as I jumped out of my skin.

"You scared me." I finally managed to say as my heart beat slowed down.

"Sorry," she smiled sheepishly at me and edged further into the bathroom.

"Can I help you with anything?"

"No I just woke up and wondered where you were."

"I'm here."

"I can see that." She laughed lightly and I laughed with her. She turned to go downstairs and I followed her. Once we were in bed she turned over and looked at me, "I really came to find you because I wanted to say thank you and that I want to be friends." In answer I just pulled her in for a hug, her hair tickled my nose and it smelt of strawberries and warm summer days. She yawned her face screwing up in the most adorable way.

"I'm so tired."

"Lets go to sleep then." She snuggled up to me, her hands icy cold. Slowly her breaths got deeper until she was fast asleep, reluctantly I closed my eyes too waiting to see what nightmare visited me today.

XXXX

Dawn descended and I watched the sun rise through the bedroom window casting a golden glow through the room. I hadn't had a nightmare.

A/N: Please review and let me know what you think.