Part II: Love Lost
By: Alice Spinnet
Spoilers: All the books
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.(Disclaimer taken from schnoogle.com)
Part II: Love Lost
Draco and Pansy were talking about colors for their wedding gowns and Pansy suggested that they have a black and white theme.
"So then, we're going to have black flowers? Because I'm not so sure people would want black flowers at a wedding. And black on the girl certainly doesn't look good. I was actually hoping for colorful one. We can have pastel roses or something," he challenged.
"Yes, but I like black and white!" Pansy continued to whine and looked longingly into Draco's eyes. They were filled with lust. She kissed him gently and gently slipped her arms around his neck. Pulling herself close to him, she worked her way down. Suddenly she stopped. Draco looked up at her, "So," she continued, "What color do you want our wedding to be?" she asked innocently.
"I really don't care anymore, as long as you don't stop whatever it is you're doing," he croaked. So she continued in this fashion until everything about the wedding went her way.
"When are you planning to get married, Pansy?" Goyle asked her.
"I'm not sure, I think sometime in late September, I'll be discussing that with Draco soon. Here, I should invite you. Give one to Goyle for me, okay? I'll see if I can talk Draco into letting you be the best man. I'm not giving you any guarantees but I'm sure we can come up with some sort of 'arrangement,' don't you think?" she concluded winking at him.
"Yeah, sure. I'll be sure to get the invitation to Crabbe. Well, so what colors are you planning.."
"Draco, I'm sure, they're not doing anything suspicious," Ginny comforted him. He had confided in her that he thinks Pansy was cheating on him.
"You know what?" Draco asked.
"What?" she answered.
"Well, now that I think about it, she's definitely cheating on me. I mean, since she's always spending time with him. They are practically best friends if I didn't know any better. And I'm quite certain they are not best friends. Should I confront her?"
"No, don't do that, you'll ruin your relationship if she isn't. Why don't you hint about it or something. You can always just try to catch her if you're that certain. And if you're 100% positive, I guess you can confront her, since if she is seeing someone else, you wouldn't want to be with her anymore, right?"
"Yeah, I guess so. I can't believe that she could do this to me though. 2 weeks before the wedding, she's already seeing other people. Should I just marry her?" he looked at her with such confusion in his eyes that she felt pity for the stunning blonde.
"Do you love her?" she quietly asked.
"Yes. Well, I'm not so sure anymore. It's well, wavering. I don't know anymore. She has me so fucked up. I can't believe all the shit she's caused." he trailed off as he started sobbing.
"Draco are you crying?" Ginny actually found the scene rather amusing but was keeping her face grim and comforting. She let out a giggle though and he looked up at her and saw her face hiding the smile.
"Weasley, I don't know what you're trying to do, but it's undoubtedly not funny. I'm leaving," and with that got up with his face completely wiped from the previous moment. It was as if it never happened. Ginny sighed and realized that he had called her "Weasley." He only does that when he's angry.
Draco's face was again emotionless and he left the door behind him open to show how unsatisfied with that conversation he was. He stormed past all the bedrooms and sat down at the top of the stairs. He suddenly remembered Pansy.
"Shit!" he yelled and ran down the stairs without looking behind him and apparated as soon as he got outside.
Draco ended up in front of his large mansion as snuck in through the back way. This secret entrance was his own, even Pansy didn't know about. He carefully walked around behind the large apple tree. He turned over the 3rd branch from the bottom and gently pulled it downwards so it faced him. He used his wand and tapped it 3 times muttering "Apolovious Clandesti" Suddenly there was a keypad and a computer screen.
The screen started flashing and the words:
"HELLO DRACO, HOW ARE YOU TODAY?" ,
flashed across the screen. "PLEASE ENTER YOU CODE AND STATE YOUR PURPOSE FOR USING THIS ENTRANCE."
"I'm trying to spy on my fianc¨¦," he pause.
The word, "ELABORATE" showed up.
"Look, I don't have much time, I just want to know whether she's cheating on me or not,"
He watched the screen glow green and orange letters replaced the blue ones, it read, "TO CONTINUE, ENTER CODE NUMBER"
Draco quickly typed in "547859," and patiently waited while the computer processed the information.
"PROCEED" and against the wall, 3 doors opened. He took the one on the far right and jumped in.
Draco dived onto his bed and silently took off his shoes so he wouldn't make any noise from upstairs. He saw Pansy and Crabbe talking excitedly about something from outside his house but wasn't sure what. Slowly, he walked over to the indoor balcony that looked over the living room and laid down on his stomach. He crawled to the edge and peered his head over and tried to listen to their conversation. He could not, however, see what they were doing and could only hear the voices.
"You shouldn't do that Crabbe. Draco wouldn't be happy," Pansy hit Crabbe playfully.
"Oh come on Pansy, he's not here. He won't know a thing. I'll leave everything as it was so he won't notice a thing, okay?"
Crabbe was examining all of Draco's collectibles and vases and antiques that he has displayed in the living room. He continued mocking everything that Draco had. The masks, he would put on and imitate grunting noises and said, "I'm coming for you Pansy."
She laughed and pretended to shriek with fear while Crabbe grabbed her.
Draco swore inwardly to himself, "How could I have proposed to this bitch? God, I feel awful," he whispered. Suddenly he got up. Using his already silent walk, he continued to tread around until he was downstairs staring at the two. They were laughing together. He wondered what was so funny. He went back upstairs and out the secret passage and apparated back to the front door and walked in.
"Hi Draco! Crabbe came over and we were discussing ideas for our wedding. How about an Egyptian theme? Or do you want something traditional?" Pansy asked while batting her long eyelashes at him.
"Oh hi Crabbe," Draco said dully. He turned to Pansy and continued, "It really doesn't matter to me what type of wedding we have as long as it's not black and white. Too 1900. Seems like were in one of those oldies movies or something that muggles had. Is that alright with you, sweetie?"
"Oh of course Draco, anything you want--"
Crabbe cut her off, "Hey, I think I need to go so I'm going to take off. Bye guys! See you at your wedding!" and with that, walked to their front door and apparated away.
There wasn't anything suspicious there so Draco could do nothing but continue planning their wedding. After a few hours, Draco's brain was not only fried but he was so tired, that even Pansy's "techniques" no longer worked on him. "I'm not sure I like the Barbie idea too much, Pansy. I don't like the idea of pretending I'm Ken. Just not good. Here, let me put it this way, do you want to be G.I Jane?" he knew what her answer would be and he smirked.
"Well, no. But I know you wouldn't want a wedding that was filled with people fighting each other. And Barbie is a sweet girl. Just like me!" she batted her eyelashes at him and looked up into his tired eyes.
"Look Pansy, I don't like this idea, can we just scratch it? And Barbie isn't a girl anymore, she's a 50 year old lady and I don't need a wedding based on muggle products!" he nearly yelled the last sentence out. "Now, If you wanted to have something based on a country's traditional wedding then that'd be fine with me, or a specific color," he shot her a look, "But not pink. I think blues and purples would be okay. Or even a water theme. We could have it on a boat. Or on an island. Or a beach. Or even a field of flowers. It doesn't matter, I love you and I don't want to argue about how you don't like my idea of just going to Vegas and getting married immediately and then scratching it off without having me present my case. I just want us to be happy. Can't we find something that we're both happy with?" his voice was pleading and Pansy felt a sudden pang of guilt while having everything else go her way.
"Of course," she answered calmly. We can have a nice wedding and it can be anywhere you want, since I've already chosen everything else. I know this doesn't mean as much to you as it does to me but I want it to hold something special for you too. And if you're hating every moment of it, I wouldn't know why we got married in the first place. So, where do you want to get married?"
Draco thought, he'd have to suggest something, or else he would hurt her feelings. It really didn't matter to him as long as he wouldn't thoroughly humiliate himself in some mortifying way. He thought a bit and said, "Right here in England. It wouldn't be right if you didn't have a say in this but, I don't think very many people can come to the wedding if we have it outside of England. Wouldn't you agree?"
"Oh yeah, I hadn't thought of that. Okay, I actually like the field of flowers, what do you think? Some country farm that we've never heard of and will now be famous because we got married there? What do you think?"
"I think that's lovely," he bent down and kissed her forehead.
"Good, then it's settled," she replied and began kissing him. He nodded and pushed her onto the bed.
In the meantime, Harry and Hermione are busy planning their wedding while sitting one Hermione's bed. "Look Harry," she said, "We need to accomplish something, we're getting married a month after Draco, that doesn't give us very much time to plan, and look how hurried they are, do you want us to be that?"
"But they're still getting married, and so are we," so what's the difference?" he asked innocently knowing that she would give a thousand reasons for why they should plan ahead.
She looked at Harry with an apologetic look, "Harry, do you remember those handcuffs that I gave you for your birthday this year?"
"Yeah, why?" he was very curious and his tone was questioning her.
"Can you get them please?" Hermione looked at him longingly.
Harry took the hint and ran off to get the handcuffs. He came back a minute later and handed them to Hermione.
"Harry, I'm sorry I have to do this," and with that, she cuffed one of his hands to her bed post. "Now, I'll let you go as soon as we finish planning the entire wedding."
Harry was panicking, "But that could take days! Where will I sleep? What will I eat? What about my job?"
"Oh come on Harry, you're the best seeker the Cannons have ever had and they won't miss you if you miss a practice or two. And I'll bring you food from downstairs and you're perfectly capable of conjuring food for yourself. Plus, you can sleep on my bed with me!"
Harry groaned. "So, where do you want to get married? I was thinking some sort of church. I'd like to have traditional wedding, what about you?" he was speaking at an incredibly rapid rate.
Hermione laughed and as slow as she could, she said, "Wellllll, IIIIIIII thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiink weeeee shoooouuullld--"
"Shit, Hermione, just get it out, I'm already bored. Please, do you like my idea or not?" he pleaded to her.
"Okay, I think that's a great idea. I'll find us matching robes. What color do you like? You can wear white with silver trimming. And, I can have lace and a really long train. I've always loved those."
"Right, and what kind of flowers, music? Oh how about white roses! I love white roses!"
"Sure--"
"I don't understand why you are still after Harry Potter my Emperor," Goyle said lightly.
"Obviously, you have no clue what I am planning, that will do, I don't want too many people know find out anyway. Lucius! Come here, I must speak with you."
"Yes?" he replied in an obeying voice.
"I need to know what your son is planning to do with Miss Parkinson. Their child will be my heir. Tell him to get her pregnant as soon as they are married. Lord Voldemort chose me as his heir and I was the child of--" Nosnikrap stopped suddenly. "I guess, I should save that for another time." Nosnikrap walked around the large bonfire at the top of a hidden hill. Ten cloaked people stood around it. Nosnikrap was the one that was completely covered. No one knew the face of this person. Not even the hair color or heritage. "Now, the reason why I must kill Potter is because this is Lord Voldemort's unfinished business. We as his followers must complete this in his honor. You must realize that, can't you? You're not all that daft, are you? God, you are the saddest lot ever. How did the he ever put up with this much incompetence!" Nosnikrap yelled and caused everyone to jump. "You know what? Ignore my reasoning and just do it! Wormtail, come here," the emperor barked.
"What do you need?" he asked in a shaking voice.
"Come here," the voice was commanding and Wormtail submitted and even added a bow to it. Nosnikrap chuckled slightly.
Nosnikrap said so in a voice so thin, only Wormtail could hear, "I want you to disguise your hand so that it is no longer silver when you transform. I will provide you the spells needed." A pause ensued, most likely to let the words sink into his thick skull. Disregarding his questions to such simple instructions, Nosnikrap yelled, "SILENCE!"
Everyone stopped and watched as Nosnikrap continued whispering, "Afterwards, I want you to pose as a rat and follow Draco around. Let him take a liking to you--"
Lucius, who had heard every word, swallowed hard looked up at Nosnikrap with pleading eyes. They had no effect whatsoever and with that the emperor finished the plan to Wormtail in tone so subtle that even Wormtail struggled to understand the words.
"Remember, get him to like you and follow him to Potter's house. Place this charm there. It is a port key. It matters not who touches it as long as it is not Draco. Prevent him from reaching it and we shall hold whoever it is that we have captured at ransom unless of course, we are lucky enough to have him come. And that will no longer be necessary. Do you understand your orders?" the menacing voice sliced through the night air. Wormtail nodded dumbly and "Good," and she whispered the spell which turned his amazing silver hand into a flesh colored one. It looked completely like a typical arm except for the unnatural strength it possesses. Wormtail transformed and ran off into the shadows.
"Now," Nosnikrap continued. "Goyle, what were the plans regarding the mudblood slayer?"
"I have yet to finish them, master. I apologize," he said weakly.
"You should be," Nosnikrap slid the wand around and suddenly pointed it to Goyle and whispered loud enough for everyone to hear, "Crucio." A dramatic pause followed as everyone watched while Goyle writhed and screamed in pain. "As we were saying, since, Goyle here has failed to come up with a simple plan to kill mudbloods, we will leave the curse on him until the rest of us do so."
Everyone looked at Goyle with pity in their eyes but no one dared defy the Emperor Nosnikrap.
The emperor paused lazily and waited for someone to offer a suggestion. "Anyone have any ideas?"
"I have a suggestion," Nott said slowly.
"Well, get on with it, we don't have all night. Are you trying to make Goyle suffer?" she continued to mock him but he cut her off.
"I'm sorry, umm," he stopped to see if the emperor had any contradiction with his first words. The emperor said nothing so he continued, "I think we should use one of Potter's closest friends to lead us. We can put them under the imperious curse. Or, better yet, we can completely erase their memory and then recruit them as death eaters," Nott stopped abruptly and allowed everyone time to understand his astoundingly simple plan of his.
I suppose that we could do that," and with that, Golye collapsed onto the ground completely exhausted and quite near death from the experience. "You are dismissed," and the emperor, not waiting for the others to leave, apparated behind a tree and stayed until all the death eaters had also apparated away. Then Nosnikrap changed into a brown hawk with white tail feathers and flew off into the night.
"Ginny, can you pass the biscuits?" Hermione asked impatiently.
"Oh yeah, sure," she replied in a faraway voice She was suddenly jolted as Ron shook her a bit, "Yes? What is it?"
"The biscuits? Are you even on earth?" Ron asked.
"Not really, but I am back," she chuckled a bit. It was quite obvious she had already asked me a few times. Then why is it that I can't concentrate on anything but Harry? She silently pondered this question and automatically passed the beef to Hermione. Ron shook his head and grabbed the biscuits for Hermione who looked up at Ginny and sighed. Then started to eat it. Ginny excused herself and immediately walked out the door and apparated away.
Ginny went back to the bar that she was in the other night. And all those other nights in between that night and tonight. She didn't even know how many times she's been there already but she knew she was becoming a regular customer. But she couldn't watch Harry wed Hermione. What could she do? She supposed, if worse comes to worse, she can always confess her love for him and see if it'll work. She ordered another beer and put sank her head in her arms. After what seemed like a long time someone tapped her on the shoulder.
"Ginny?" the voice said.
Ginny looked up? The tears blurred her vision but the tall boy with flaming red hair was definitely Ron. "Ron?"
"Yeah, it's me. Umm, can I ask you what you're doing in a muggle bar?" he sounded nervous
"I don't know, you know I've always loved Harry and he never liked me back. Ever. He just sat there watching me pine over him while he dated every other person on the street. It was so painful. And now, he's getting married. I know I should be happy for them, but this is the one I love, and I just want it to end. I don't want Hermione to marry him. Ron, I want to be the one that walks down the aisle with him."
Ron stared hard at his sister. She was pouring her heart out to him. She must be awfully drunk. He sighed. He might as well tell her what's on his mind too. He ordered a beer. "Ginny, I know exactly how you feel--"
Ginny exploded, "HOW CAN YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL, YOU HAVEN'T BEEN IN LOVE WITH HARRY!"
"But I've been in love with Hermione as long as I can remember," he sighed softly. Now someone knew his secret. "Oh God, what have I done? I am soooo fucked" he thought silently. "Wait, but I can still lie about it and say that I said it to make her feel better," he quickly scanned through his plan before taking action.
Ginny looked up at him, "Really?" she had a the tiniest glimmer of hope in her eyes and he didn't want to lie to her.
He gave up his chance to cover it up and said, "Yeah--" he trailed off. How did he get himself into this shit? "Wait! Ginny!" he shouted excitedly.
"What is it?" she asked, her tone was obviously annoyed.
"Well, you like Harry, and I want Hermione. And--"
"Oh! I get it! Wow, you have an evil mind Ron. Wait, are you saying that we should sabotage Harry and Hermione's wedding so that we can get them for ourselves?" she said loudly.
Ron flushed a deep red. "Well, I wasn't rea--"
Ginny finished for him, "I think it's a great idea. But we can't tell anyone, okay?"
"Of course," he replied. "Do you have any ideas? You know, I feel really guilty about this. I mean, these are my 2 best friends and I don't want them to have the happiest life together and instead I want them to not even get married, for my own selfish reasons! Ugh, I feel horrible."
"Yes, but think about it, I mean, maybe they'll get divorced anyway. Maybe they're not meant for each other. So, consider it, us doing an unnoticed favor for them she said quietly. Her voice was alarming intimidating and Ron nodded.
"Harry! I brought you some food," Hermione said evilly. As soon as we finish the hotel reservations, we'll be completely through our honeymoon."
Harry smiled lightly and said, "Hermione, I really need to get to work, can't you do this on your own? We're going to start the cup is beginning now and I haven't gone to practice in 2 days. I really must go. I'll see you in 3 weeks, okay? I love you." And with that, he took his wand and apparated out leaving the cuff empty and dangled at the edge of her post making a clink-clink noise every few seconds.
Hermione stared into the space that was Harry seconds ago and quickly added anti-apparating charms to it before taking them out and placing them in her desk. She quietly picked up all the magazines and catalogues off her bed and placed them in a basket next to her desk. She slipped out of her room and went to the living room where she saw Ginny conversing with Ron. However, the moment she said, "Hi," they stopped talking and changed the subject. She told them she was hungry and stalked off the kitchen where Fred and George were happily discussing quidditch.
"Where's Harry?" Fred asked.
She was quite surprised to see them since they all played for the same team. "He's at quidditch. Said something about touring Europe. Or--"
George and Fred cut her off, "OH NO!" they screamed together. "Quidditch Cup!" and they ran to the door and apparated away.
Hermione was till alone and bored. She sat and watched the window for few hours before calling her job and telling them that she could return to work tomorrow. She was of course, a doctor and did lots of research trying to find new cures for almost every imaginable disease and problem that could come across life, including, self mopping mops and a potion dispenser. At the mention of the potion dispenser, she could always just play with it.
She trudged down the stone steps leading to their cellar. Potions usually come out better underground. She had no idea why but this was a true fact. Maybe it was the musty air, she thought lightly. She continued down the steps and pushed the heavy wooden door aside. She muttered the incantation for lights and walked over to her right. There was a white marbled door labeled "Potions" and she stepped in.
Inside, was much nicer. It looked very much like a normal kitchen except that the left wall was completely filled with different ingredients with a dispenser on the end of each one. Behind the wall was an intricate system of tubes that led all around to make potions. She walked over to the sink and tapped her wand to the faucet, "Water," she commanded. And with a turn of the taps, water flowed out. She dried off her hands and decided that she would make a sleeping potion to help her take a nap.
She bent down and opened the cupboard of the elaborate sink, the gold handles on the doors were quite lovely and she mumbled the spell that caused the bright blue fire to appear under the sink. And she closed it quickly. "Now," she breathed. "I need, seaweed grains, crushed mint, dragon saliva, beetle eyes, and a single snidget feather. She said the ingredients but a bright light flashed, she quickly scanned the wall with the ingredients on them and noticed there were no more beetle eyes. "I guess I'll have to go to Diagon Alley," she sighed. "Well, at least it will keep me busy."
It was raining outside and even the umbrella Hermione was holding didn't do much. She was quite wet when she arrive but walked briskly to the apothecary. She took one of the baskets they offered and quickly filled it with 5 scoops of beetle eyes. She hastily walked to the cashier .
"That'll be 25 knuts," the saleswoman said. "Hey, aren't you Hermione Granger? The famous medi-witch and assisted in the downfall of You-know-who?"
Hermione shook her head and said, "No, a lot of people say I look like her though." The woman's face fell as she paid the salesperson a sickle and received 4 knuts in change. She left quickly and walked into the Leaky Cauldron.
"A cappuccino please," she said faintly. One of the servers nodded at her and acknowledged the fact that she was Hermione Granger but did not do anything that exposed her identity. She sipped quietly while the pouring rain pounded on the windows and suddenly turned around when she heard her name. "Who is it?" she asked in a sharp voice. She turned around, spilling coffee on the front of her robes. "Shit," but she muttered the clean up spell that cleaned and dried it. (another one of her famous inventions) She quickly looked up to the mysterious speaker and saw that it was Draco Malfoy. "Draco! What are you doing here?"
"Well, I could easily ask you the same thing but I'm here to buy some drinks, I'm assuming you're doing the same since you have a coffee in your hand?"
"Oh," she nodded. "Of course," she laughed dryly and quickly changed the subject. "So how are you wedding plans coming with Pansy? I hear you're getting married next week. Haven't you already sent invitations?"
"Oh yeah, we sent only one to the Gargantuan inviting all of you, you didn't read it? Oh well. You will when you get back. It's supposed to be in Harry's bedroom," he said matter-of-factly.
"Really? Oh! I locked him in my room," she glanced up at him, "Don't ask. Anyway, yeah, so I'll be sure to look in his room. He's off to quidditch now. Oh no! He'll miss your wedding. I'll owl him immediately to tell him to come to your wedding, is that alright?" she was concerned now.
"It's okay, really. I don't mind. As long as he comes. I mean, he is the best man, you know," he was joking, she knew it.
"Isn't it amazing how far you two have come along? I mean, before 6th year, the both of you loathed each other beyond any type of hope at all. It's just astonishing," she glanced up at him and smiled. When was the last time you called me 'mudblood?' Do you even remember?"
"Of course, January 17th, 6th year. 2 days before it happened. God, it was the worst situation ever. The teachers all looked grim when Trelawny was killed after predicting her own death. She was shocked for a week and suddenly, she was gone."
"She was actually quite old," Hermione added, "I remember her telling us that when she was younger, she made an aging charm that actually made you older, not your appearance, but you. She told me that she used it several times, always thinking that it was reversible but evidently it was not, by the time she started teaching at Hogwarts, she was technically, only 27, but in actuality, she was already 94. She still died quite young though."
"Then the unthinkable happened, Dumbledore was taken. We were so sure that he was gone. We even held a memorial service for him. It must have been quite a shock when he came back though. The death eaters did so much more than torture him. I don't think he was quite the same after that experience. I know I wasn't. It was so daunting, and frightening. I had nightmares for months afterwards." Draco paused. "And to this day, we still don't know why he was released. He won't tell us. I wonder what it is?"
"I know what it is.--," Hermione began but trailed off.
"What?" Draco was indeed curious. He had always wanted to know what happened to Dumbledore that horrifying week he was missing.
"He was,--" She paused, "He was negotiating with them. He told them that they could have whatever it is they wanted, and he offered his life in exchange that they release all the muggles and half-bloods. And take his life instead. They obviously declined and because he had made that offer, they could not kill him. So out of complete nobility, they freed him. He was quite grim that they hadn't just killed him and then save all the half-bloods and muggles but nonetheless he was still quite happy that he made it out. I'm sorry. I wasn't supposed to tell anyone. Please, don't ever repeat that to anyone. Promise me you won't."
"Yeah, sure," he drawled. "And then, then I saw you. And you seemed so different. You wanted to be friends with me. You didn't want to kill me. I owe you everything. You were the one who offered the friendship that I so badly ached for. I could never thank you enough, Hermione."
"I still can't believe I went through with it. I mean, Minerva had asked me to approach you with kindness and friendship and all that but never in a million years would I dream that you would have returned the gesture. And, you are a great wizard, surely you must have known that in your Hogwarts years, didn't you? You were second best in every subject. Even Harry had to admit you were smart. And you barely even studied."
"I don't really think so, but I still can't comprehend the fact that Potter wanted me to assist him in defeating Voldemort. I had been dreaming of the day, I could avenge my father's death. I guess I was wrong. But anyway, by then, I was the richest person in all of Britain. It was great and I used a lot of the money on alcohol," he laughed dryly. It was more like a smirk and then he turned to Hermione. "And then you guys showed up and I had my chance to kill him. It was amazing! I'm sure they've told you all about it but,--"
"Actually, I've never heard this story, Ron and Harry wanted to spare me the supposed "details" so I actually don't know much about what happened that night," she stopped for him to continue the story. She actually knew exactly what happened since she was under Harry's invisibility cloak the entire time on his broomstick. No one ever knew she had snuck out.
"Well, it was horrible, at first Voldemort told all the death eaters to back up but since it was 3 to one, and Harry's wand made his wand function improperly. And then somehow, all the death eaters turned on us and the 3 of us were fighting over 15 death eaters. That's when Dumbledore and all the other teachers came out and helped us. Ron was particularly good at the body-binding curse. He had someone add a charm that could only be undone with a certain incantation and without it, it was impossible to break, do you remember? I think you were the one who made that one up actually."
"Yeah, that was me, but continue," she was quite eager to hear he story from a different point of view.
"Well, after that half of the death eaters were in a body bind while I was yelling out unforgivable curses right and left. It was awful. Potter kept telling me to use legal hexes but I already told him that 'Since I did one, then it doesn't really matter anymore. I'm still going to azkaban and why not just help while I'm at it.' He was shocked to hear me say that but nodded and then he did something. I'm not sure what it was, he said some strange curse that made his wand stop working completely. The 2 of them were talking to each other in Parseltongue so I didn't understand very much of what they were saying. He had this snake he kept calling 'Nagaini' and he struck out at Harry but Harry yelled something and it shrank back. It was actually quite exciting. And then Ron collapsed and I ran to him and it was all over. We left and somehow, Voldemort didn't survive. It's not really that much of a story. Probably more compelling if I knew some of the reasons why all this happened," Draco sighed.
Hermione looked up at Draco and realized she had understood every word that Harry and Voldemort had spoken. Why could she? She wasn't a Parseltongue. She let her thoughts wander. She didn't anything to Draco but she thought he seemed a bit distressed, "Draco? Are you okay?" she asked cautiously.
"Well sort of--" He waited for her to say something but she didn't so he continued. "I think Pansy's not exactly the right type of person. Not marriage material. Like umm, I don't think that she's been--"
Hermione interrupted him, "What in the world are you talking about Draco?" she asked incredulously.
"I don't think she's been the most faithful girlfriend," he quickly answered. "There, I said it."
"So you think she's cheating on you?" Hermione's eyes opened wide.
"Well, if you put it that way, umm, yeah," he averted his eyes and looked around the room, finally settling on staring at his shoes. He felt so ashamed.
Draco looked so lost to Hermione, "Are you sure? Don't you think you're being a bit paranoid?"
"No." he answered quietly.
"Then go home and ask her. Don't sit here and sulk while complaining. At least do something about it. I mean, go home and spy on her if you have to--"
"How did you--" he looked at her and realized she had made that up, "Never mind," he said softly.
"Well, just do something about it, alright? But remember, you're engaged. Don't be so rash. I have to go back and finish my potion. Bye Draco!" and with that she apparated out and went back to the cellar in the Gargantuan.
Hermione started to push the heavy door open when she suddenly remembered to owl Harry, she called to her owl, "Cleo" and wrote him a short message:
Harry,
I ran into Draco this afternoon and we realized that their wedding would occur while you were away, could you, George and Fred come back this Saturday to attend? Reply with Cleo. Thanks.
Miss you,
Hermione
When she finished though, Cleo had flown off and she left the message on her desk. She walked back downstairs and proceeded towards the cellar.
Hermione put the beetle eyes into the empty jar labeled "Beetle Eyes" and quickly opened the mirror cupboard over the sink. She saw the cauldron boiling and when she saw that it was finished, she closed the cupboard and opened the drawer under the sink. She blew out the flame and quickly turned to her right and took a small glass bottle from the large shelf. With a pop, the cork was pulled off and Hermione turned on the taps, allowing the potion to fill the bottle. Gently she tilted it downwards and turned off the taps. She cleaned the place up with a nifty cleansing spell and hurriedly walked back up the stairs to her room once more. She took half the bottle and was soon dreaming of angels coming down and taker her up in the sky to sit on clouds and stare at stars.
Draco apparated back and strode over to the apple tree. After a few minutes, he jumped into the far left hole and landed in the kitchen. He quietly walked to the living room where Pansy and Crabbe were discussing something that appeared to be ridiculously funny.
He listened intently and watched Pansy get up and say, "Come on Crabbe, Draco will be back any minute now and we don't him to find us like this now do you?" she smiled sweetly at him.
"Maybe I do," he sneered but then saw the startled look on Pansy's face and said, "Aww, it's okay, I was just joking," and walked up to her. He hugged her tightly and kissed her on the lips. That was all Draco was going to take.
"What" he asked hotly, "exactly are you doing with my fianc¨¦?" He stood and pointed his wand to the both of them.
Crabbe backed off and stared in horror as Pansy looked downwards in shame. "Draco." Pansy began. "Draco darling, I was--"
"I don't care what that was. It was obviously a form of 'cheating' I don't know what to say. Just get out of my sight," he glanced at Crabbe. "Both of you," and with that, he ran to the door and apparated away.
"Oh dear," said Crabbe, "You should go explain to him that we always did that, even in our Hogwarts years. It was the goodbye thing, right?"
"Yes, I know," Pansy began to cry and Crabbe comforted her.
Draco didn't know where was going until he found himself crying in Hermione's room. She was the only person in the house and it hated him to wake her up but he was just in too awful of a mood to care. They hadn't even bothered to close the door before Draco started sobbing and she patiently waited until he was ready to talk.
"I saw her--" he accepted the tissue Hermione offered him, "She was with, Crabbe," suddenly with more self control than anyone would have dreamed of, he wiped the tears away and sat there looking grim.
He resumed his usually composure of not doing anything and sat while Hermione offered soothing words. "Maybe, it's not true, it could have been an accident. Maybe, he kissed her or something. You barely gave her a chance to back away."
Draco nodded dimly and looked out the window. Hermione gave him a big hug and told him it would be alright then kissed him on the cheek.
A sudden voice shouted at them. "And you accused me of cheating? When you yourself was here with her? Draco felt himself ripping to pieces as Pansy continued yelling.
"Pansy, I," he couldn't get the words out, "I--" but she cut him off.
"Draco Malfoy, I never want to see you again," she stopped suddenly. "The wedding is off!"
Do you like the second chapter? It's a bit slow right now but tell me what you think. By the way, this *is* going to be a long story, so if you're a fan of novel length fics, keep reading! Thanks so much for the reviews!~ I edited the first chapter and this one too, so not as many grammar problems. I'll upload the first one again sometime later. Don't forget to review!Thank you so much for all the support!
Love, Alice Spinnet