Chapter 14
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
A/N: Here is your Christmas gift!
After a week, Hermione found an owl waiting for her. Mr. Martin had sent all the necessary documents and papers to her along with a note from Narcissa Malfoy. In her note she requested both Hermione and Draco to make a guest list and send with the documents. It was weekend so they had plenty of time to themselves. Hermione and Draco sat on their bed to make guest lists.
After writing down a few names on a parchment, Draco noticed she had yet to write a name. "Granger, why aren't you writing?" Hermione sadly looked at him. "Well this whole thing just reminded me that my parents will never see me getting married."
After the war Hermione went to look for her parents in Australia. There she found another tragedy. Her parents died a few days ago due to a plague. It almost broke her down. Harry, Ron and the Weasleys gave her support and shelter during that time.
Draco found this matter really uncomfortable. He did not know what to say. "I am really sorry for your loss. I know there is nothing that can fill their place but believe this, they are always there for you. They are watching over you from wherever they are and I am sure they are very much proud of you." He said.
Draco's these unexpected soothing words brought tears to her eyes. The words filled her with so much emotions and gratitude. Overwhelmed by her emotions, she hugged Draco and slowly whispered, "Thank you"
Draco slowly put his hand around her waist and hugged her back. "It's the least I can do" He whispered back.
…...
Pansy was standing in front of a mirror wearing an emerald green dress. Last night Harry had told her that he would take her somewhere and she better dress nicely. Naturally she had asked numerous questions about this 'oh so secret outing', but Harry was tightlipped.
Harry entered the room wearing a nice shirt and a vest with a pair of black pants. "Are you ready?" He asked.
Pansy replied, "Do I have a choice?"
"You are Pansy Parkinson. Provided or not you always have a way of gaining choices" Harry chuckled.
"Potter, don't get so overconfident" She eyed him. "Now let's get this done with"
"Let's go to the quidditch field. We will apparate from there." He informed.
They started walking. Pansy smirked at him, "You know Potter, you are kind of kidnapping me." Harry smiled, "I know and I am very proud of myself right now."
…...
Morning walk with Daphne on the weekend had become a habit of Ronald Weasley. It was shocking to pretty much everyone as well as to him. After all he was never a morning person until now. This weekend was no different. The morning breeze found Ron and Daphne sitting by the lake taking break from the walk.
"I have some things to discuss with you" Daphne said. "What is it?" Ron asked.
"We have to decide about our residence after graduation. Do you have any thoughts about that?"
"Well I have not thought much. Before the marriage law, the plan was simple- get a flat in Diagon Alley and work for the ministry."
"I have a property gifted to me by my great grandfather. It is called the Castlewood House. It is situated in the west London. I think we should live there." She said.
Ron nodded. "That is a fine suggestion but I would like to live closer to my friends. We always talked about that."
"Given the circumstances, I don't think it is possible for your friends to oblige that." Daphne looked at him. "What do you mean?" Ron raised his eyebrow.
"Your friends are also bound to the marriage law. Granger has to live in a Malfoy estate, your sister in Zabini Manor. I don't know about Potter but I think Parkinson Mansion is one of his first options available." She paused. "Either way you cannot reside close to them."
He took a deep breath. He seemed to be in his thoughts. "What are you thinking?" She asked.
"I am thinking that I never gave a thought about the deeper impact of the law. It is just getting to me now. Job, residence, family so many things!"
"It is getting to everybody now, not just you. Life just gets harder." She sighed.
He nodded. "Anyway, Castlewood House sounds really posh. I think I will like that house." She smiled, "I am sure you will."
…...
Draco and Hermione were almost done with their guest lists. Hermione's list was quite short. She just wanted to invite her close ones. "Are you done?" Draco asked. "Yes, I am. Shall we see each other's lists?" said Hermione.
He nodded. Then they exchanged their lists.
Hermione's list went on like this- Harry, Ron, Neville, Luna, the Weasley family with spouses, McGonagall, Kingsley, Hagrid, Andromeda, Teddy, Made-Eye Moody.
Draco's list- Blaise, Theo, Pansy, Daphne, Adrian Pucey."
"So most of the guests in our wedding are redheads, huh?" Draco smirked.
She grinned, "Never thought the first 2 name of your bride's guests would be Harry and Ron?"
"Not even in my nightmare." He looked at her. "Our wedding, bride, groom.. all these still feel so surreal to me."
"I feel the same." She said. "Alright, then these are the people attending the wedding."
"My mother might invite a few of her friends. I hope you don't mind."
"Not at all. She has been really helpful in making things easier." She said. "By the way your mother sent me an owl asking for a date to make appointment to the designer for both of us."
"Oh I see. So when do you suggest?" Draco asked.
Hermione liked that he always asked her suggestions first. He was trying hard not to be his old arrogant self. "I think next weekend would be a suitable time. We would be done with our homework by then. So no work left for the weekends."
"Very well then, inform my mother via an owl. She will be pleased I believe."
"Sure." Hermione replied.
Draco seemed a bit hesitant. "There is a matter I would like to discuss before we meet my mother." "What matter?" She asked. She was feeling nervous with his change of tone.
"My mother said you would let her know about your career choice and try to abide by my family's rules." He paused. "I know my mother. She will bring up this topic every time you see her until you take a decision. So what are you thinking about that?"
She was taken aback by his question. "Honestly I am surprised you wanted to talk about this. Well my initial choice was working for the ministry. But now I have to find an independent career choice so I am still thinking."
"Well, what do you really want to do, Granger?" He looked at her intensely.
"I want to work for the betterment for the magical creatures. I really feel like I can make change happen in their situations if I work in the right direction. I thought before law enforcement department or regulation and control of magical creatures department could be a start. Now I am confused. I can start an organization or charity but I am not sure." She looked at him.
"As you are in interested in updating law for the magical creatures, have you thought about career in Magical law as a solicitor? He arched his eyebrow.
"I have before but not that deeply. It is quite a process. Internship and then the career starts."
Draco nodded in agreement. "Yes but it is an independent option and you can directly work in shaping the law for the creatures and wizards as well. You will mainly work in Wizengamot. Your work will include associating with the ministry as well. In that case it is totally by the rule of dukedom."
"You made some really good point. I am starting to consider this option." She stared at him. "We have still time left for this. Why do you suddenly seem impatient on this topic?"
He took a breath. "You don't deserve this marriage law, you don't deserve to be stuck with me. So I am trying so that you at least get your desired career. I don't want you to sacrifice anymore. Consider it as my repentance for what you had to go through because of me."
He was not looking at her anymore. It took him a great deal to let this confession out. He had to sometime, now or later. He was fearing how she would take it.
"Malfoy.." Hermione was so surprised she did not know what to say. She never thought that he felt so guilty for this whole situation.
He did not say anything. Hermione put her hand on his shoulder. "Please look at me, Draco." His name felt like a shiver to her tongue in a good way.
He looked at her. His face was still hard for her to read. "This situation is not your fault. We are both stuck in this unexpected situation. I really appreciate your effort in making this easier. I really do." She paused. "I promise I will look out for you the same way. Regarding our past, I have already forgiven you. So, don't let those bad memories interrupt our present."
He took a deep breath and smiled. "Thank you for being so understanding, Granger."
Hermione wanted that moment to stand still for some time. Draco's rare smile, his honesty, her acceptance made this moment so pure.
…...
Pansy looked around her surrounding. They had just apparated in front of a house with a garden beside it. The property seemed to be situated outside London, near Norfolk probably.
"Is it Norfolk?" She asked.
Harry smiled. "Yes it is. How did you recognize?"
"We have a farmhouse here. I come here often. So whose house is this?"
"It is Andromeda Tonks' house. She lives with her grandson, Teddy Lupin. Teddy is my godson." Harry looked at her curious face. "What you are thinking is right. She is Narcissa Malfoy's sister."
At that moment Andromeda came out of the house and greeted them. "I thought I heard your voice Harry."
He smiled. "Hello Andromeda. Let me introduce you to Pansy Parkinson."
Pansy offered her hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Tonks." Andromeda shook her hand and said, "Pleasure is all mine dear. Please call me Andromeda. You are family now." Pansy nodded.
They went inside the house and found little Teddy playing with toys. When the little boy saw Harry, his eyes beamed. "Harry is here!" Teddy literary ran to him. Harry picked him up and gave a hug. "How is my favourite Teddy doing?"
"I was waiting for you. Gran-ma said you would come with your new friend." He carefully eyed Pansy.
"That's right. This is my new friend Pansy. Say hello."
"Hi Pansy" Teddy waved at her. "Hello Teddy" Pansy smiled at him.
"Are you fun like Harry and his friends Ron and Mione?" Teddy asked.
Andromeda laughed. "I don't know about his friends but I am more fun than him" Pansy replied.
"Then I like you already!" Teddy exclaimed.
Andromeda left them to sort out lunch. Teddy played with Pansy and Harry till afternoon. She was a different person with Teddy. There was more laugh, more emotions, more mischief, more of herself than Harry had ever observed. She and Teddy even painted a picture together. This was the first time she painted anything in front of Harry.
Then Andromeda fed Teddy and Harry put him to sleep. After that three of them sat for lunch at the dining table.
"I believe I am here to help with the wedding plans." Andromeda smiled. Pansy smiled back. Harry nodded, "Yes"
"Others have set a date yet?" She asked.
"Yeah. Hermione on 28 December, Ron on 5 January, Ginny on December 20." He replied.
"That's good. So which date do you think is suitable?"
Harry and Pansy looked at each other. "We have yet to talk about that." Pansy said.
"I think November is too early and February is too late. So what about after the New Year's? In the new year, you two will have a fresh new start." Andromeda said. "I like the idea. What do you say?" Harry looked at Pansy.
"It is fine by me but January 1st seems too cliché for a wedding. I think January 2nd would be more suitable" Pansy replied.
"Well then 2nd January it is" Andromeda said. "Now the place. Tell me your thoughts on that"
"I think we want a simple small wedding. So the place must be simple and private, not extravagant at all." Harry said.
"My family has a property in Yorkshire. It is called the Highgrove Cottage. This place is really beautiful, cozy and very private." Pansy hesitantly said. "Then we get married there. It sounds absolutely perfect." Harry said.
Pansy looked into Harry's eyes and smiled lovingly. Andromeda happily observed this exchange between them and said, "Alright then, place and date are set. Now left are your wedding attires, guests, decoration of venue. You two can slowly sort out your wedding attires and guest list. Kingsley and I will help you in the other departments." Harry and Pansy nodded in agrrement.
It was evening when they left Andromeda's house. Teddy was sad that they had to leave. "Pansy, you must come again. Harry please bring her with you every time." Pansy and Harry hugged him and bade goodbye. They apparated straight to the quidditch field in Hogwarts. They could see the sun setting standing there.
Pansy turned to Harry, "Thank you. Thank you for today."
"For kidnapping you?" He teased. Pansy laughed, "That too."
"Well I just wanted to maintain the custom. I consider them my family beside the Weasleys." He took a step towards her. "So don't ever say you don't have a family. As long as I am with you, you always have a family."
Pansy felt something shift in her heart hearing his words. Their eyes were locked at each other. She cupped his face and her lips slowly touched his. Harry put his hand around her waist and deepened the kiss. This kiss was like an electricity that flowed through both of their body like a river.
The sun was setting and the dusk found two souls who had found solace in each other.
A/N: Please Review and let me know your thoughts.
