A/N: Here is the next instalment of Till Death Do Us Part.Thanks for all the reviews!Warning: there are implicit sex scenes in this story, but nothing explicit (to meet the requirement of the T rating).
Disclaimer: All rights to J.K. Rowling for content from the Harry Potter series.
Chapter 13 – Till Death Do Us Part
Hermione had just set her trunk at the foot of her bed when a timid knock disturbed her. She was not surprised. She had been back at school for all of five minutes and Moody was already summoning her.
"Hello" Hermione said to the first year trembling at her door. She did not recall being so twitchy when she was in first year.
"Professor McGonagall requests a meeting with you in her office," the girl murmured. She handed a small slip of sealed parchment, no doubt bearing the password, before taking off down the staircase. Hermione abandoned any intent of unpacking and instead made her way directly to the headmistress's office. Hermione still thought of it as Dumbeldore's office because Professor McGonagall used it so infrequently, only for these secret meetings and when she was hosting guests from the Ministry.
Moody was abrupt, as usual, but the meeting went smoothly. Hermione was glad to finally be of some use. Even if the Order could do nothing about the Death Eater training that would be taking place at Malfoy Manor at least Hermione would be able to give them an idea of the number of recruits and their capabilities.
"So," Hermione said as their meeting was coming to an end, "I guess you've already heard about the wedding." The Daily Prophet had already begun advertising the special issue for her big day. "Consider yourselves invited, even if you can't attend" Hermione joked, but it sounded weak even to her ears. As she was leaving she suddenly remembered something that Draco had told her ages ago.
"Oh and I forgot to mention," Hermione said as she turned back to them, "Draco mentioned something about another prophecy." She paused here, noticing a look that passed between them. "He doesn't think it will amount to anything. I just hope it doesn't turn out like it did for Harry."
"As a matter of fact, we have heard about that prophecy," Professor McGongall said, but Moody quickly cut in.
"And I agree with Draco Malfoy that it is of no importance," Moody snapped, "Divination is rarely accurate. If this child is born than we can deal with any threats as they arise." With that said, their meeting came to an abrupt end.
When she returned to her dormitory she was surprised to find an owl waiting on her bed with a parcel attached to its leg. She recognized Draco's owl at once and hurried over to the bed. Curious she opened the parcel first, disregarding the note attached to it. She tore off the brown paper and her fingers met a smooth leather bound book. She flipped it open and found empty pages with spots designated for pictures and captions. Being a Muggleborn Hermione had several photo albums like this at home, but she wondered where Draco would have gotten one and why. She retrieved the note from the pile of string and paper on her bed.
Since your parents can't be at our wedding I thought we could make them a photo album. I've given a Muggle camera to the photographer. Sweet Dreams.
Hermione smiled as she stored the album carefully in her trunk along with Draco's note. While they had shared a room he had not once bid her goodnight, let alone wished her sweet dreams. But Hermione understood the sentiment after she laid awake for several hours. She had already become accustomed to having Draco's warm presence and deep breathing lull her into sleep.
After a restless night Hermione was looking forward to a quiet day of school. Little did she know, early that morning several members of the DA had snuck into Carrow's office leaving a surprise there for him. When Hermione arrived at breakfast she noticed Neville, Ginny, and few others huddled together, but as soon as she arrived they returned to their breakfasts. Hermione ignored their suspicious behaviour and sat down next to Ginny. Her breakfasts with them were numbered as it was, she knew Voldemort was already suspicious that she continued her friendship with so many people connected to the Order.
"What's going on?" She asked Ginny, who gave Neville a pointed look.
"Luna and I got married over winter break," he said blushing. Hermione was completely gob smacked for a moment and sputtered over her pumpkin juice.
"Congratulations," she managed to get out. "Please don't take this the wrong way, but I thought choosing Luna meant your marriage deadline wasn't for another year?"
"It's not," Neville said and his blush somehow deepened. "But who knows how long we'll have to spend together? The war has already started, so we thought why wait?"
"Oh," was all Hermione said, as she recalled the rise in marriages during the First Wizarding War. "So how was it?" Hermione asked thinking of all the planning she had already done for her own wedding.
"We eloped," Neville explained, "just us, Gran, and Mr. Lovegood. It was just a small ceremony overlooking this valley that is filled with these yellow flowers I've forgotten the name of. Luna says they're good luck."This similarity between and Luna and Narcissa almost made Hermione laugh, and she decided not to point out the unlikeness of any flowers bringing luck.
Hermione arrived to Defense Against the Dark Arts just in time in her best attempt to avoid Carrow, but he had yet to show up. Hermione rolled her eyes. She hated when Professors did not have the decency to attend their own class on time. As the minutes ticked by she became anxious and looked back at Draco. He merely shrugged his shoulders indicating that he had no idea where their Professor was.
The class turned to the doorway at the sound of something being dragged into the classroom. The Venomous Tentacula preceded Professor Carrow into the room and the whole class appeared to cower back from it. Hermione could not understand how Carrow thought a Venomous Tentacula could be considered Defense Against the Dark Arts. He entered the class behind the plant, looking even more menacing than usual. The students all watched him with open surprise as he casually swung his new weapon, a shiny axe that Hermione assumed he got from McNair.
Hermione pulled her wand out as discreetly as she could. She was half expecting him to run his axe through one of the students. The class collectively moved away from the arms of the Venomous Tentacula as it swayed toward them. Even it did not dare approach Carrow who had already dismembered one if its arms with his axe, sending a stream of its poison into the corridor.
"It appears that some of you have not been paying attention to our classes. For those of you who do not recognize this, it is a Venomous Tentacula. It is not usually a tool for the dark arts, however as this one took up residence in my room this morning I thought we could have a little demonstration," Carrow announced. Hermione almost groaned aloud realizing that this was the work of the DA. Neville had an apologetic grimace on his face, and Dean and Seamus looked frightened but unsurprised.
"Now since Venomous Tentacula is not a typical weapon we have already succeeded in the element of surprise. So next, you must make you victim wait. Allow their curiosity to build. Force them to wonder what horrible fate awaits them and then…" Without warningCarrow swung his axe at the base of the plant sending in spiraling into the sea of students. Hermione ducked under her desk to avoid the spray of its poisonous venom, but others were not so lucky and shrill cries filled the classroom.
Carrow was cackling like a maniac as students fled past him into the hallway. Professor Binns floated in from his classroom took one look at the scene and disappeared again. Hermione hoped he had the common sense to get help. Hermione slipped into the crowd of students at the door and managed to escape without Carrow's notice. No he was too busy hacking up the rest of the tentacula with glee.
Word about the incident spread like wildfire. Hermione, who had spent the rest of the day in the library making lists of the guests at the Christmas party for Moody, found out at dinner that five students were still in the hospital wing. Professor McGonagall looked mutinous, and Hermione was surprised when Carrow casually strolled to his seat at the head table with his axe strung behind his back. From that day forward he carried it everywhere with him. The professors were angry that the Ministry refused to remove him from the school, and the students were terrified. As soon as Carrow entered a corridor students scattered, and during his classes they trembled in fear. Hogwarts was no longer a safe haven.
As January dragged on the castle seemed to be filled with an unshakeable dreariness. The full effect of the war seemed to dawn on all the students. The looming deadline for the Matched Matrimony Law did not help matters. Neville and Luna were not the only students who had returned from the holidays as man and wife, unfortunately not all the couples were as happy as they were. Mid-January Hermione attended Seamus and Susan Bones' wedding along with the other seventh year Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs. It was a hasty ceremony performed by a haggard ministry official. Susan's parents cried and Neville's gram looked grim and thinner than Hermione remembered her. After the ceremony the couple made a quick retreat to Hogsmeade where they were to spend the weekend as a honeymoon.
The atmosphere was even more strained when Seamus and Susan did not return Monday as planned. When they were absent for their morning classes the Gryffindors endured crude comments from the Slytherins and Hermione tried not to feel alarm. But when they did not show up by the end of the day, even Professor McGonagall was worried.
The common room was quiet that evening as all the Gryffindors wondered what fate fell upon Seamus. The next morning their worries reduced somewhat when they saw both Seamus and Susan's names were added to the list of people who the Ministry was hunting down. At least they knew now that the Death Eaters had not found them yet. Hermione took pleasure in the fact that once a couple was married, the tracking spell was eliminated, although the couple was still monitored they had a better chance of remaining undetected.
Not long after that, the Gryffindors lost another student when Hermione was pulled out of school a few days before the wedding. In her head it was always the wedding not hers, it still felt so surreal to her. Hermione said a sad goodbye to Ginny and Neville before heading to Professor McGonagall's office where she would be using the floo network to travel to Malfoy Manor. Malfoy had left days ago on Death Eater business, so Hermione was left to face Narcissa on her own.
Before she left, Hermione was surprised to find Moody waiting for her in Professor McGonagall's office. "Hermione, please take a seat," Professor McGonagall said, "Alastor and I would like to go over a couple of things before you leave."
"You might be aware," interrupted Moody, "that the Minister of Magic will be attending your wedding this weekend, as will several members of foreign parliament. I have some contacts throughout Europe and there seems to be mixed reception to Voldemort's plans. Of course none of them have actually met him, so a lot of their conceptions will be based on what they see at your wedding."
"What do you want me to do?" Hermione asked, eager to help the Order.
"I need you to do is keep an eye on those who seem hesitant. If they aren't sold at the wedding then we can send representatives from the Order to meet with them," Moody explained. Hermione agreed and looked over the list of foreign diplomats Moody had prepared for her, studying it carefully.
Hermione stepped into the green flames and watched Moody and McGonagall swirl out of sight. She tumbled out into the hustle and bustle in the ballroom at Malfoy Manor. Both people and house elves were scurrying around arranging tables and linens, shining the chandeliers, and polishing the marble floors. When Hermione stumbled out of the fireplace the man closest to her upset a mop bucket and began apologizing profusely. Hermione repeatedly told him it was okay and tried to help him clean up the mess, but he just got even more terrified and almost pulled down the curtains.
Hermione did not understand his reaction, but similar expressions of terror followed her through the hall. She was wondering if they were mistaking her for some sort of crazy bridezilla. It was the same throughout the manor and Hermione found herself prowling around looking for a familiar face. A flash of blonde caught her attention.
"Malfoy!" She called. His shoes squeaked as he made an abrupt stop and turned to face her. "Why is everyone treating me like a pariah?"
"Because you are a Malfoy, or almost one anyway," Draco replied in a rush. "Plus I might have mentioned something about your mastery of that whip to some people."
"What! Why would you do that?" Hermione asked.
"Because it will keep the other Death Eaters off both of our backs," Draco replied. "Aunt Bella in particular is looking forward to seeing it in action." Hermione groaned, dreading the day she would have to see Bellatrix again. In what Hermione thought was excellent judgment, Lucius had convinced Voldemort to send Bellatrix on some mission, so she would not be attending the wedding. "I'm really sorry, but I have to run the Vice President of Bulgaria's Department of Defense has arrived and I'm off to meet him," Draco continued and jogged off before Hermione could respond. Just before he was out of sight he turned back and called, "my mother's in the parlor."
Hermione made her way to the parlor feeling slightly disappointed, but unsure why. The disappointment lingered throughout the days leading up to the wedding. Hermione expected to resume her meetings with Draco in the evenings, but he was never around. So Hermione spent the days by herself, avoiding Narcissa and trying to catch a glimpse of the foreign diplomats Draco was so busy entertaining.
Draco thought being the liaison for foreign diplomats would be far more satisfying than it was turning out to be. He was currently engaged in discussion about amendments to the Matched Matrimony Law so it could be implemented in Russia and possibly Bulgaria. The representative from France seemed opposed to the concept of arranged marriages, but Draco did note some interest in anti-Muggle and anti-Muggleborn legislation.
The current meeting was dragging on as the representatives from Bulgaria and Russia asked endless questions about the process. Monsieur Lapin, the Senior Undersecretary to the French Minister of Magic, was sneaking glances at Rita Skeeter as her Quick Quotes Quill moved rapidly across her notebook. Even though she remained silent, her green silk blouse and leather mini-skirt were receiving quite a bit of attention.
After her mysterious absence from the Prophet, she had returned to her position at the request of Pius Thickesse after he obtained the position of Minister of Magic. Draco paid little attention to her, or to the meeting around him as his gaze drifted back toward the window that overlooked the garden.
The grounds looked immaculate in preparation for the wedding. The gardens were enchanted with a coat of sparkling snow. Ice statues were placed sporadically through the pathways, which were spelled to stay clean and dry. He noticed the cameramen from the Daily Prophet setting up for a shoot. His mother had been handling the details of the feature for their 'Fairytale Wedding' so he was not surprised to see her following them closely and adjusting the settings on the fountain.
Draco had to do a double take when he saw a flash of brown curly hair. He shouldn't be surprised to see her, but his heart still sped up. She was wearing a white winter coat over black panty hose with black heeled boots. Even from afar he could tell she looked good. She had looked beautiful at Christmas, but now she looked sexy. Draco wanted to find a way to convince her to wear those boots again
The photographer had her try a couple poses next to the fountain, and Draco found it hard to drag his focus away from her. But a flash of green caught his eye, and he noticed Rita Skeeter's green eyes watching him intently. He quickly focused on the meeting and dreaded what he would see in the next morning's paper.
Luckily for Draco, she did not catch him on many similar occasions on the days that followed. No one noticed him watching her from the balcony above the entry way as she discussed how 'they fell in love.' He almost laughed as she convinced one of the reporters of how their childhood animosity had bloomed into something more. She even mentioned the time she slapped him in their third year. They had decided to keep the story as close to the truth as possible, and Draco had doubted that anyone could make their love story believable, but Hermione did it with apparent ease.
On the evening before the wedding, Draco finally got to see Hermione, and not from a distance. It was strange for him to admit, but he was actually anxious to see her.
They were no longer sharing a room, because Voldemort wanted to build anticipation for the 'big night.' That had been an awkward conversation for Draco, but even more so for Hermione, who Draco assumed had no experience in that area. Being her first time was something Draco was eager for, but he suspected it was something she would want to discuss. There was had been no opportunity for them to talk since she arrived. A small part of Draco wondered if his mother planned it that way, so their first joint interview would seem less awkward.
When he arrived in the formal sitting room, Rita Skeeter was already settled in an armchair next to the fireplace. Her notepad and Quick Quotes Quill were set slightly to the side, so it would not be caught on camera. The camera man was already set up, and magically adjusting the lighting so that a soft glow filled the room.
"Draco, my dear boy, come sit by the fire," Rita said the moment Draco entered. He took a seat in the loveseat across from her, where he assumed Hermione would join him.
"Hermione is just getting her makeup finished," she said, "but in the meantime, I want to get to know you Draco Malfoy. So young, and so successful. And I'm told you are quite the ladies' man. So what is it exactly that drew you to someone so ordinary?"
"Ordinary isn't a word I'd use to describe her," Draco responded easily. "She's the best in our year, and I'm not ashamed to admit that her grades top mine." Draco spoke the truth, but he knew he had to say more to convince people that Hermione was truly on his side. "She's quite feisty, so no matter what or whom she is supporting she will give it one hundred percent." Draco was saved from elaborating further, when another flash of white caught his eye.
Once again Hermione was dressed in white, probably to go with the bridal theme, Draco thought. She wore a long sleeved silk dress with a deep v-neckline and a slit up to her thigh that had Draco's eyes darting between her cleavage and exposed leg. Hermione hid her discomfort as she settled next to him, making sure that the slit did not expose her leg. The camera man came over almost instantly, instructing her to cross her legs, once again exposing her leg.
Draco smiled as she frowned, but did as instructed. Draco sat up a little straighter and cover her exposed knee with his hand, pulling the fabric slightly so she was more covered. She smiled at him in appreciation, and Draco noticed the firelight reflecting in her deep brown eyes.
'Perfect! Now that we are all cozy we can get to the juicy details of your big day tomorrow," Rita said. The interview went smoothly, and Draco felt almost calm for the first time all week. Even Hermione appeared at ease, and by the end of the interview she had clasped his hand in both of hers allowing it to rest over her knee.
Draco was looking forward to a moment alone with Hermione, but the moment the interview was over his mother rushed into the room, followed a moment later by his father. Draco felt the disapproval as his father noticed their entwined hands, but he ignored it. Draco made to lead Hermione out, but his mother intercepted them.
"Come on, Hermione," Narcissa said waving her towards the door. "You need your beauty sleep for tomorrow." Hermione responded and Draco felt her tug her hand away. Ignoring his parents, Rita Skeeter, and the cameraman, Draco leaned in and kissed her cheek. He felt her lean in to his kiss and smiled, hidden behind the curtain of her hair.
"Sweet dreams," she whispered, repeating the words he had written to her not too long ago.
Hermione sat perfectly still as her hair was pulled, twisted, placed, and pinned into an intricate up-do. At the same time, another witch was applying powder to her face with a large, feathery brush. Hermione watched through the mirror as she was transformed. Her hair was glossy, her skin glowed, and even though she had a sleepless night her eyes sparkled.
Hermione could hear the hustle around the manor. Much of it was coming from the guest room she was staying in. Narcissa was loudly directing the hair and makeup artists and their assistants. Hermione felt as if she was going through the motions. Everything was a blur around her as she was prepared. After hours of meticulous work Hermione was strapped into her dress and a goblin made tiara from Gringotts was secured on her head.
Hermione felt sick to her stomach. Everything felt surreal. She finally convinced Narcissa to leave her alone and go attend to the arriving guests. The house elves that had been attending them returned to the kitchen, and Hermione was finally alone. She sat at the small vanity and took deep breaths.
She tried not to think of her family, or Harry and Ron. She felt a twinge of guilt when she thought about Ron. She knew she should not feel guilty when she had no choice in her marriage. Ron had always made it clear that Malfoy was the enemy, but somehow in the past few weeks Hermione had begun to consider him a friend. And when the kissed, she knew it was more than friendship that they both felt. And that was the real cause of her guilt.
The door handle rattled and Hermione was pulled from her thoughts. She was expecting Narcissa, or a house elf. She was not prepared to see her future husband locking the door behind him.
"You're not supposed to see the bride before the wedding," were the first words that slipped out of her mouth. "If your mother finds you in here, she will kill you."
Draco looked at for the first time, and she watched as his eyes travelled over her. The corners of his mouth turned up, and if Hermione had not been in such a foul mood she would have found his expression endearing. "You look radiant," he said softly. Hermione did not want to hear that. Not now, when her emotions were in overdrive.
"Did you come here for a reason, Malfoy?" she asked, more vehemently than she intended. She had moved to the window so she could watch the guests arrive, rather than face him. But Draco wasn't having it, and he grabbed her hand and drew her to him. His grip was tight, and Hermione tried not to wince. His mood could not have changed more drastically.
"Hermione, you might have everyone fooled about your loyalty to Potter, but I know you better than that," he said abruptly. "I've known you much too long to believe you would willingly join the Dark Lord."
"I didn't have much of a choice, if you recall," she retorted, but her anger was already subsiding. She knew it was not Draco she was truly upset with.
"I know this isn't what you," Draco paused, running a hand through his slicked back hair, "what either of us wanted." Hermione immediately felt bad for snapping at him, and gave his hand an apologetic squeeze. They were all each other had right now. "But from today forward, you will be a Malfoy. Even though neither of us agreed with this arrangement, we need to make this marriage work. I want to make it work."
Hermione started at the word marriage. She realized that this was really happening. In a matter of hours, no minutes, she would be marrying Draco Malfoy. The boy who bullied her as a child was gone, replaced with the man in front of her who wanted to make the most of the crazy relationship they were thrown into.
"If we don't try to work together, we are just going to torment each other for the rest of our lives," he said.
"Which won't be very long," Hermione said, the words slipping out without her thinking.
"Will you stop interrupting?" he said. "We are both just pawns in this war, but if we want to live through it we need to work together and be honest with each other." For a moment, Hermione worried that Draco had discovered the truth about her spying for the Order. She ignored the feeling, no matter what Draco said now she knew he had his secrets too. At the end of the day, with Harry and Ron gone, Draco knew her better than almost everyone around her. She needed to rely on him. She knew Draco would make a formidable ally, and she was beginning to realize that she wanted him on her side. Not just in the war.
"You're right," Hermione said quietly.
"Something must be wrong with my hearing," he said with a smirk. "Did Hermione Granger just say I was right?"
"It was a onetime thing, Malfoy," Hermione said as she pulled his lips down to hers. The kiss was short, and followed by another brush of his mouth against hers. Hermione gripped the back of his neck, intending to deepen the kiss, but he pulled back.
"Could you do me a favour," he murmured against her lips.
"Mm," Hermione replied. She kissed him again, unable to resist the temptation.
"I'd like you to call me by my given name. Just once before we're married," he said softly.
"Okay, Draco," she whispered. She thought she saw the briefest smile light his face, but then he was kissing her again so she couldn't be sure.
Hermione had felt calmer when Draco visited her. More like herself. Now, the butterflies returned as she waited for the music to start. She was walking down the aisle alone, as she requested. There was no bridal party. She and Draco had decided that they wanted it to be just the two of them. A decision she appreciated now more than ever. Still, she was nervous to walk past the hundreds of guests that were attending. Mostly people Hermione had never even met. As the music started her last conscious thought was a prayer not to fall on her face.
As the doors opened, Hermione was able to take in the beauty of the decorations for about a second until she noticed all the people. As calmly as she could, she made her way slowly down the aisle just as Narcissa instructed her. In the sea of strange faces, Hermione found herself looking for Draco. It didn't take long. He was waiting for her at the base of the small staircase.
Hermione reached him, and managed a smile as he helped her up the steps to where the Ministry Official was standing. Hermione's heart was pounding as the ceremony began.
"We will now commence with the Matrimonial Vow," the Official said. Draco instantly raised his arms, crossing them at his wrists. Hermione did the same and grasped his hands tightly. Hermione was reassured by his damp palms. At least she was not the only nervous one. Like the Unbreakable Vow, the Matrimonial Vow had severe consequences if broken. Although it was possible to undo the vow, Hermione knew there was really no turning back after this point.
"Will you, Draco Lucius Malfoy, take Hermione to be your lawfully wedded wife to have and to hold, from this moment forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health until death do you part?"
"I will," Draco said. At his words, Hermione saw a flash of gold shoot from the Official's wand, and a silk ribbon wrapped around Draco and Hermione's entwined hands.
"And will you, Hermione Jean Granger, take Draco to be your lawfully wedded husband to have and to hold, from this moment forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health until death do you part?"
"I will," Hermione said. Her heart was still beating fast, and the hall was so silent she was sure someone would be able to hear it. A second golden ribbon wrapped around Hermione's hands, caressing her skin, and connecting with the first ribbon in an intricate knot.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride," the Official announced. Draco leaned forward and Hermione closed the distance between them. For the first time Hermione felt the fireworks people talked about when kissing. A moment later, her thoughts became a reality as gold and silver fireworks erupted in the hall. Hermione pulled back a little to watch the glittering display, but Draco stayed close with his lips at her temple. Their hands were still tied together. When Draco released her hands the gold ribbons dissolved into a waterfall of golden stars.
The hall echoed with chatter and Hermione was immediately approached by Narcissa and Lucius. Hermione was not surprised when Narcissa hugged them both, but when Lucius gave her a tight lipped embrace she had to conceal her shock. The gesture was immediately explained by the presence of a photographer nearby. It appeared she and Draco were not the only ones who had roles to play.
The hall was transformed before their eyes. The hundreds of chairs were replaced with tables and a dance floor. The blue orchids looked stunning. Hermione had to remember to thank Narcissa later for all the work she did. It really looked spectacular. Hermione recognized the Weird Sisters as they trooped onto the stage and started playing a ballad.
Draco led Hermione onto the empty dance floor. They had not spoken a word to each other since they were pronounced man and wife. Hermione, for once, had no desire to break the silence. It was as if the crowd, and the cameras had disappeared. It was just her and Draco, and Hermione found that when she focused on that she could almost truly believe she was some point in the dance, they had moved closer together and Draco's jaw brushed against the side of her face.
"I'm sorry for being so abrupt earlier," Draco said softly, his breath hot against her ear.
"I thought we were already past that," Hermione said, wondering why it was still bothering him.
"We are," he said, "but I found out some news that made me act irrationally, and I think it is something you ought to know." Hermione waited patiently for him to continue. Their argument that morning felt like forever ago to Hermione, so she was not too concerned with whatever it was that upset him. She was confident nothing could surprise her at this point.
"It is rumored that Potter was spotted in London," he said. Hermione froze and had to make a conscious effort to keep dancing. The overflow of emotions she was suppressing surged to the surface. Hermione turned her face into the crook of Draco's neck to hide her emotions from the watching crowd.
"Hermione?" he said.
"Thank you for telling me," she said. She knew she should say something else to make him believe that she no longer cared, but the words would not pass her lips. The song ended, and more couples joined them as another slow song came on. Hermione was slightly disappointed when Draco pulled away, but reminded herself that they could not spend the entire evening dancing. Instead, she tried to talk to as many of the diplomats as possible and was quite satisfied with the information she gathered for the Order.
By the end of the night Hermione was almost happy to see the last of the guests leave. Unfortunately, her only escape was in Draco's room which they were once again sharing. She was feeling conflicted. Her thoughts jumped between worrying about Harry and Ron and panicking about her quickly-approaching wedding night. Practically Hermione knew that intercourse was necessary to seal their marriage vow, but it was difficult to think of getting intimate with anyone when she blushed at the mere thought.
The news about Harry had shocked Hermione too and just when she thought she was prepared for anything. She was grateful to Draco for telling her. It meant that he trusted her with the information, and she could trust him. If she did not love her husband, at least she could rely on him. Hermione was drawn from her thoughts with the turn of the door handle. She immediately started fidgeting with her bracelet.
"Hermione," Draco said quietly. He closed the door behind him and she heard the lock click. Hermione's heart was already pounding. She was not ready for this. She began fussing with her hair, trying to get the tiara untangled. Draco approached from behind her and moved her hands away, replacing them with his own. Within moments he had her hair down. Hermione half expected him to start unzipping her dress next, but instead he leant down and kissed her neck. Hermione hoped he could not hear her rapid breaths.
He went on kissing her slowly. His hands wandering down her arms, around her waist and hips making her heart stutter. Eventually Hermione turned around giving him access to her mouth. At some point Hermione found herself relaxing into the kiss. As always, when he kissed her Hermione was able to forget about the real world at least for a little while. Later, Hermione could not say how long they kissed for, but it felt like hours. She knew Draco was making a conscious effort not to rush her and that made her want him more.
So when Draco pulled her to her feet and stood behind her, silently asking permission, she nodded her head. He slowly unbuttoned the back of her dress. Hermione held her breath as the fabric pooled at her feet.
Draco skimmed his hand over Hermione's bare shoulder. He felt her muscles tense beneath his touch, and for a moment guilt washed over him. He was almost positive Hermione was a virgin, unless she and Weasley had...he shoved the thought from his mind. He knew it wasn't fair that they had been put in this situation, but it had to be done, so he wanted to make it as enjoyable for both of them as possible. Not that he doubted he would enjoy it, but he knew he needed to make Hermione more comfortable.
He brushed a tendril of her curly hair away from her neck and massaged her shoulders. He heard her slight intake of breath and took that as a positive sign. After a couple of moments, her muscles softened. Draco strayed one hand from her shoulder, running it down the length of her spine. He saw goose bumps break out across her flesh and smiled into her hair. His hands continued to roam her naked body, purposely missing the spots he wanted to touch most. He moved closer to her, but not close enough that she would feel his arousal pressing into her. He slid his arm around her waist and stroked the satiny skin of her abdomen. He could hear her heavy breathing. She leant back against him, aligning their bodies and allowing her head to loll back on his shoulder. Suddenly, her hand landed on top of his and moved it lower, causing his own breath to hitch. His hips thrust forward slightly without his consent, longing to be closer to her body.
Draco nuzzled into her curly hair, inhaling the incredible scent of her shampoo. He kissed her neck, and then behind ear. She turned towards him and, keeping her body close, kissed his jaw line. Draco could barely suppress a groan. His heart pounded as she started unfastening his dress robes slowly and deliberately. So when they tumbled onto the bed and Draco could wait no longer, he gave in to his desire and succumbed to the pleasure he had imagined so often since their engagement.
Coming up inTill Death Do Us Part:
Draco saw a flash of curly brown hair and stood up quickly. His face fell when she turned the corner and he saw Viktor Krum next to her talking animatedly. She was laughing, Draco noted with a scowl.