Hermione touched the hem of her dress softly. She liked the lacing on it, it was so pretty and delicate. Hermione felt stiff and choked at the tight bodice of the ivory gown, but even though everyone told her to change the gown – she wouldn't.
She liked the gown's lace. To suffer for vanity is one of women's unwritten laws of the universe anyway, She had said smiling at that time.
"You look gorgeous." Ginny said suddenly, her head popping out from the numerous wedding presents.
"And choked." Hermione said grimacing slightly as she shifted the bodice.
"I told you…" Ginny started but stop when Hermione glared. She had heard that remark one too many times already.
"Well I must congratulate you." Ginny smiled as she presented a delicate silver gift box to Hermione. "You certainly have got quite a collection of wedding gifts! I have counted about 3 toasters, one oven, five antique books and an enormous teddy bear so far."
Hermione looked at the gift box. The wrapping looked familiar. She felt a strange tingle flow through her as she unwrapped it.
Hermione looked flabbergasted when she saw the "treasure" that laid inside.
"Oh what is it!" Ginny said excitedly. "Is it a diamond ring? O a gigantic pearl or a…"
Hermione picked up the gift gently. One touch… a thousand memories.
"Hermione, your crying!" Ginny exclaimed shocked.
"It's rusty…" Was all Hermione could say as she looked at the small bronze compass.
And cried.
"How does it feel to be marrying the love of your life in an hour?" Harry said grinning at Ron, whose cheeks were the exact shade of the backside of a fire engine at this moment.
"Aww… Harry." Ron said as he looked down into his palms. "I'm so nervous…" And then he stopped smiling. "Harry… do you think Hermione is marrying me… because she likes me and not…"
Harry laughed and punched Ron's arm. "Of course! If not why would she have agreed to marry you, Ron! Don't be silly."
"I guess so." Ron said, but his tone seemed unsure.
"What is bothering you?" Harry asked worriedly. It was quite a shock to him when Hermione and Ron announced they were getting married. They never gave the idea that they were actually dating!
"Nothing." Ron smiled. "I guess I'm getting the infamous pre-wedding jitters…"
"Oh don't worry too much, Ron." Harry said and winked. "I didn't forget to bring the wedding rings!"
Pansy looked at Draco. Her gaze was one of pain and sacrifice. "Draco, I need to talk to you."
Draco looked up from his work. "What is it? I'm very busy, my father needs this and…"
"You still love Hermione, don't you?" Pansy said, her voice was shaking but she carried on. "Don't lie to me, Draco… don't lie to me…"
Draco and Pansy looked at each other. Draco closed his eyes in pain. "I never wanted to fall in love with Hermione, Pansy. I often wished that."
"But you love her, don't you?" Pansy persisted.
"Pansy. You're my fiancée now. I promise to take care of you for the rest of your life. And I will." Draco said, his eyes still closed.
"Why can't you look at me in my eye and say you don't love Hermione?" Pansy asked, as tears started to stream down her face.
"Pansy… what's the matter with you?" Draco cried alarmed, as he quickly gave Pansy his handkerchief. "Stop crying…"
"I know… about you and Hermione." Pansy said as she took in a deep breath.
"No one knew…" Draco said, his face paling.
"I know that Hermione and you secretly dated during Hogwarts. I didn't believe it at first of course because how could you! You of all people, fall for Hermione? A girl you so obviously hated? Besides I was your girlfriend! Everybody knew that…" Pansy said her voice more sad than bitter.
"But then I started to see the signs. I saw photographs of Hermione and you in your room one day." Pansy said. "You should never have left evidence… of that forbidden relationship… Draco."
"And then I followed you one night… and I saw you with Hermione. I know… Draco… all along… all these 4 years. But I didn't protest… because I knew you would break up with Hermione… and then you would love me for sure!"
"Until of course… I found this." Pansy said as she place a photograph of a smiling Hermione on Draco's desk. "Then I realized… you still loved her deeply. So deeply, you dare go against your father!"
Draco looked at Pansy. She knew so much… than he thought nobody knew. He didn't really know Pansy… even after the seven years they spent together.
"What are you going to do?" Draco said, looking at Pansy.
"I want you to tell me why you broke up with Hermione and pretended to be my fiancé… for all these years." Pansy said.
It has been many years now, thought Draco, as old memories seemed to flood him. Those memories he had locked up in his heart for so long now…
"I can't tell you how Hermione and I fell in love and why." Draco said. "I promised not to tell anyone. But I will tell you why I broke up with Hermione."
"Hermione and I never really had a relationship… we loved each other but nobody knew. Nobody CAN know about it. We knew our love for each other was forbidden… we didn't dare to think of our future… all we cared was having each other now." Draco said, the more he talked… the more it felt like everything happened just yesterday.
"And then graduation came. Hermione was Head Girl, perfect, wonderful, nice… she was meant to be on the good side… the heroes or whatever you call those sickening good people. I was different. I knew my fate… since the day my father pledged allegiance to Voldemort."
"Our relationship must end. For one day, if the battle between good and evil shall begin… I knew I shall have to fight against Hermione. I cannot betray my father… even if I have done so already. I was Draco Malfoy, my destiny was to be evil… my destiny was not with Hermione."
"The last day of Hogwarts was our last day together. At the end… I told her goodbye. She didn't believe me… but of course after that day… she would never find me again. For I, Draco Malfoy, am no longer the guy she fell in love with…" Draco said and looked at Pansy. "Are you happy now?"
Pansy wiped her eyes. "I promised myself not to cry, but I still did. I'm so weak huh? I knew our ending would be like this… but still… I carried on."
"But… Pansy! We don't have to end…" Draco said.
"Draco. I don't like to think of you and Hermione together." Pansy said. "But I would like to tell you this. You may think your evil, Draco… for you are… I have seen you heartless to everyone… but me… because I feel your pity towards me… your regret… but the truth is inside… you are just like me. Human."
"You have the right to love and be loved." Pansy said. "Even if you're such a scumbag who have broken my heart."
"Now I'm only going to say this once." Pansy said as she placed an envelope in Draco's hand. "I received this a month ago… wondered very long why she sent it to me too… since we weren't really friends. I understand now."
Pansy turned and walked away. She wanted to leave Draco… her head up high and proud. She had loved Draco deeply… and perhaps he had liked her… but she was not the one he loved…
"By the way…" Pansy said before she closed the door from Draco's study… forever. "I gave HER back HER compass… if you get what I mean… it's up to you to get it back."
As Pansy closed the door… she felt like a chapter of her life closed too. She sighed and walked away… never turning back.
Draco looked at the violet envelope for the longest time. He shivered unconsciously. That violet… was Hermione's favourite shade.
It couldn't be, could it?
He opened the envelope. It was an wedding invitation.
"Your cordially invited to the wedding of Mr Ron Weasley and Ms Hermione Granger…"
Ok that's the end of my first chapter of The Wedding. ^_^ What do you think? If anybody likes it, I will continue it… if not…haha … bleak thought crosses my mind.
Draco may seem a bit out of character. And there must be a lot of questions marks in your head! Don't worry… that is the reason why you have to continue reading the story!
How Draco and Hermione met… will be written… and so on… plus why is RON and HERMIONE getting married??
^_^ And are they REALLY going to be married soon? Who will Hermione end up with? All I can say… Harry plays a big part too.
And also this chapter MIGHT be the end of Pansy… poor girl. I thought I would give her a nice character… for once. ^_^ Ha ha
Thanks for reading! Review if you liked this… (please?)
