Here is chapter two. Again, I don't own anything.
~ * ~
Harry paced his room at the Leaky Cauldron. Every now and then his foot would lash out at something. Hedwig, and her young chick Sarah, were perched on top of the wardrobe, Hedwig clicking her beak and scolding Harry.
"Don't click at me!" he yelled angrily, knocking her cage to the floor. "Hermione's with Malfoy! They're getting married!" He paced for a while more. "She shouldn't be with him! She should be with me! What has he got, what can he give her, that I can't?" His tired legs finally gave out, but his anger continued, and he dropped to the floor, beating repeatedly on the floorboards. "I came back for her and she's with someone else!"
Hedwig and Sarah fluttered down beside their master. Hedwig pecked at his hands gently until he stopped, and Harry shuddered and pulled himself together.
"Sorry." He gave the birds a thin-lipped smile. "Hedwig, will you take a letter to Hermione for me?" He reached out for some parchment and a quill, and scribbled a quick note. As soon as it was attached to the owls leg, she hooted softly and flew off. Harry sat down and stared at Hedwig's chick intently.
"Sarah, come here," he ordered, holding his hand out. The tiny white bird hopped into his hand, and he held her up to eye level. The bird, named Sarah, from a Muggle word meaning Princess, although she looked more like a snowball than royalty. But soon, he knew, she would grow and gain the magnificent plumage of snowy owls everwhere.
"What do you think?" he asked the tiny bird. "Should I give up on here? I've loved her for much longer than Draco has. I could give her so much more. What do you think?"
Sarah hooted loudly and was put back on the floor. Harry shook his hair out of his eyes and stood determinedly, laughing as Sarah tried to fly up to him.
"You're too small to fly yet." His temper diminished, he picked her up and righted the cage, sitting her on the perch. "But, now I know what to do. I won't let Hermione get away from me this time."
~ * ~
Hermione relaxed as Draco massaged her shoulders. It had been a rough day. Severus Snape was just as demanding as ever, and all her potions had to be perfect, as did the theory, research, and potions lab.
And then to meet up with Harry again and explain what had happened, what Draco meant to me. She shivered as the tension was released from her muscles.
"Draco?"
"Mmhmm?" He leaned her back to stare into her eyes.
"Do you think we're doing the right thing?" She noticed a flicker of
worry pass through his eyes.
"Why do you ask that?" He took her hand and smiled. "You've never had doubts before."
"But, Harry was so angry with us. What if the others react the same? What if Ron refuses to be your best man? What if Ginny and Lavender refuse to be my bridesmaids?" She chewed her bottom lip, worried. "I couldn't cope if they refused. I want them to be there when I become Mrs. Malfoy."
"Harry will come round," smiled Draco gently, kissing her. "And Ginny will be delighted. She's always telling you to get yourself a man," he teased. "As for Ron, well, he's my best mate. Now he'll be my best man. But if it makes you happy, you can go and ask them tomorrow, and take Ginny when you choose your dress."
"Thank you!" Hermione hugged him and they kissed again.
We are doing the right thing.
~ * ~
Hedwig soared through the open window and landed next to Hermione's sleeping form. She had fallen asleep after the stress of the day, and Draco had gently covered her with a blanket and had gone to continue making arrangements for the wedding.
Hedwig, not knowing any of this, gently nipped her wrist until she woke up.
"Ah!" Hermione sprung upwards and started searching for her wand. When she saw Hedwig, sitting there patiently, she smiled.
"Sorry Hedwig." Hermione felt a little strange apologising to the owl, but still was polite. Taking the letter, she yawned as she opened it.
Hermione,
I'm sorry for my reaction earlier. It just came as a big shock. I would love to come to your wedding. Please could we meet tomorrow? I need to apologise.
Love,
Harry.
Hermione smiled again, this time in relief. Harry was okay with it. She reached for the quill next to the bed, where she always kept it in case a potion theory became clear, and turned the parchement over.
Harry,
I would love to. I am so happy to hear you say that. Tomorrow I am meeting Ginny and Lavender for lunch. Could we meet in Diagon Alley at about four?
Love,
Hermione.
She attached the letter to Hedwigs leg and gave her an owl treat. Hermione always kept some handy. Wizarding post never came at the same time.
She wandered downstairs and found Draco on the telephone. She had insisted on having one installed, so that she could contact her parents, and also order her muggle-style wedding dress.
"Yes. Yes, thats fine." Draco put his finger to his lips as she entered the room. "Tomorrow? Wonderful. Thank you so much. Goodbye." He put the phone down and walked over to her.
"That was that Muggle-style shop in Diagon Alley, the dress one. If you take Ginny and Lavender with you, they'll be able to give you the dresses within an hour."
"That's good." She sat down and pointed her wand at the kitchen.
"Accio Pepsi!" A can of Pepsi flew through the air to her outstretched hand. She opened it and took a sip with a pleased smirk.
"You grow more and more like a Slytherin," smiled Draco, sitting next to her and wrapping his arm around her waist. She leaned back against him.
"Any more doubts?" he asked in concern as she fell silent. Hermione shook her head vehemently.
"No." She fell silent for a moment, satisfying her thirst.
"Harry sent me an owl. He apologised for his reaction, and we're meeting tomorrow. He wants to apologise. So, Ginny, Lavender and I could get fitted up for the dresses, Ginny could go for her interview and Lavender to her meeting while I meet with Harry, and then we pick the dresses up." She finished her drink and banished the empty can to the bin.
"Sounds great. Alright then, Ron and I will get our suits at the same time." He smiled down into her face, taking in every detail as he already had done a million times, and wondered again how he ended up with her. His fingers traced her face, circled her laughing brown eyes, wandered across her lips, and then ended up in her hair, gently stroking it.
Hermione fell silent, watching Draco's face as his fingers outlined her face. An expression of wonder was on his face, and his eyes were filled with love and happiness.
I can't believe nobody has noticed our relationship yet. His face tells everyone that he's in love. She had already committed every aspect of his face to memory, and her eyes fell from his perfect blonde hair, to his deep grey eyes, to his strong arms and broad chest that she was now nestled against.
"How did I end up with you?" they both asked at the same time. Hermione met Draco's eyes again and they both started laughing hysterically, as they always did when they shared a thought like that.
"Draco, I love you," Hermione sighed as she calmed down a few minutes later. Draco took her hand and kissed it.
"I love you too."
~ * ~
Harry was pacing by the window, waiting for Hedwigs return. When her familiar form flew over the streets of London and glided through the window, he ran to her with food and water.
"Thanks Hedwig." He stroked her glossy feathers in a dream, taking the letter off her foot. It had been scribbled on the other side of his. Hedwig hopped to her cage and settled down to sleep, the fluffy form of Sarah already whistling softly as she slept in the bottom of the cage.
Harry smiled as he read the letter.
"Tomorrow it is, then." He leaned back on his bed and settled to taking care of his broom, planning how to steal Hermione's heart