Here is chapter 11 ^_^ Thank you for your reviews. I promise there will be a happy ending. I don't own any of the characters, locations or songs used in this fic.
~ * ~
Hermione's eyes opened slowly. The clock by her bed showed that it was almost midday.
As good a time to get up as any, I suppose.
She swung her legs out of bed and stared at her dress. It was covered with sticky handprints and red marks.
"Trinity Molly Longbottom! I'll kill you!"
~ * ~
An hour later, Trinity had been taken to the Burrow out of the way, whilst Ginny used every available cleaning charm on the dress. Hermione was sitting by the kitchen table, her head in her hands.
"It's not that bad. They're all coming out," said Ginny cheerfully. Hermione stared at her blankly.
"It's an omen. Something is going to go wrong. I know it."
"Don't fret. It'll be fine!" Ginny finished cleaning the dress. "And Trinity is staying with my parents, so you don't have to worry. Tonight, you enjoy! It's your last free night! After tomorrow, you'll be a married woman!"
"Don't remind me," murmured Hermione, putting her head down. "Tomorrow is my Judgement Day."
"It's not that bad. I've been through all this, remember?" Ginny dusted down the dress. "There! And Lavender will be over later. You have to relax tonight. We've noticed how stressed you are. Tonight, we relax and have one of our famous 'girly nights in'."
A smile crossed Hermione's face. That meant she could think over her decision before the actual event, while Lavender and Ginny discussed fashion.
"Oh, and we won't be alone. Some other girls from our Hogwarts days of old will be joining us," smiled Ginny casually. "So we need your full attention, if you please."
"Yes Ma'am," saluted Hermione with a smile. "Permission to drift off in a daydream?"
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Permission granted," she said sarcastically, levitating the dress upstairs. "Just make sure you're awake for tonight. Cho will be here soon, and the others are arriving later."
"Cho? Cho Chang?" Hermione stared at Ginny, who nodded.
"Yes, Cho Chang. She's an Auror with Ron. She gave up being a Seeker after she found out Harry was going professional. She gave up Quidditch altogether after the Gryffindor team reunited. In fact, all of the new England team are ex-Hogwarts Gryffindors. Harry's the Seeker, Angelina, Alicia and Katie are the Chasers, Fred and George are Beaters, they run a joke shop too. And Oliver is the Keeper and Captain. England has won every game they've played for the past five years."
Hermione stared in shock. She really hadn't paid much attention to Quidditch, and in doing so had missed part of her friends' lives.
"In fact, Alicia, Angelina and Katie will be coming over later. So will Padma and Susan, and Hannah and Pansy."
"All them?" asked Hermione faintly. "What about your brothers?"
"They're taking Draco to the Three Broomsticks. Fred and George, and Oliver, Harry, Ron, Bill and Charlie. Neville, and Seamus, and Dean." She counted on her fingers. "Percy couldn't get off work."
"Will he make it for the wedding?" asked Hermione anxiously.
"Oh, yes. He said he wouldn't miss it for the world. And don't worry; Draco will be in one healthy piece for tomorrow. Fred and George promised that if we give their wives back, they'll give Draco back."
Hermione's eyes rose. "Never thought I'd hear the day they promised to behave. How is Alicia?" Alicia Weasley, George's wife, was six months pregnant with their second child.
"She's great. All she said was that if her next one has red hair, she's giving up hope. I think she loves it, really."
"I know that Angelina does. I spoke to her a few weeks ago. She said she still can't believe how lucky she is to become a Weasley. And Fred has taken the twins under his wing. They're only two and they scare the life out of her." Fred and Angelina had twins, one boy, one girl, who were following their fathers footsteps.
"And Katie, she's very lucky. Oliver was crazy over her in school, too. Couldn't admit it, though," smiled Ginny.
"But he did, and they got married," sighed Hermione. "Everyone's had such a happy ending. Padma's done what she always wanted to do; Susan and Hannah are reporters, good ones. Pansy is very successful too."
"Makes you wish for a happy ending for yourself, doesn't it?" remarked Ginny, making a cup of tea. "Cho says she wishes she could have one too. She wants to settle down, but can't find the right person."
"Shouldn't we leave the gossiping to tonight?" asked Hermione with a small smile. Ginny saluted, this time, and they both fell about laughing, the tension becoming unbearable.
~ * ~
"Draco!" hollered Ron, letting a troop of Quidditch players into the house. "We're going to play some Quidditch!" All the men had arrived early, complete with brooms.
"Okay!" Draco came thundering down the stairs, his Phoenix in hand. "But there are eleven of us. Someone will have to referee."
"I will," said Neville, a little too quickly. "Then you can have five aside. Two Chasers, a Beater, a Keeper, a Seeker."
"Alright! Draco and Harry are captains!" called Ron, quickly trying to create order. "Fred, George, one on each team. Oliver and I will go one to each team. Charlie and Seamus on one, Bill and Dean on the other."
"Sorted," grinned Harry. "Draco gets Fred, Oliver, Bill and Dean. We want to leave him with a chance."
"Don't get so cocky, boy," said Ron as he ushered everyone out to the makeshift Quidditch pitch. "Draco's become a bloody good Seeker. Not as good as you, but almost."
"No one is as good as Harry," smiled Draco, mounting his broom. Neville strode into the middle, Firebolt 3000 in hand, and mounted.
"Let's just play?" he said weakly, realizing he had forgotten the whistle. He
kicked open the crate and they took off.
Bill instantly took the quaffle, ducking a bludger and passing it to Dean. Dean circled the pitch, shaking off Seamus, and headed for the goals.
Above them, Draco and Harry circled, watching for the tiny golden snitch. Harry's eyes drifted to Draco, and he smirked. Draco had never been able to beat him in anything.
A bludger cut off his train of thoughts, as Fred appeared before him, grinning. "Keep your eye on the game, not on Draco!" he yelled, pointing to where Bill and Dean had just scored again.
"Are they winning?" he asked, rage coursing through his veins. Draco was beating him! Draco was never going to beat him in everything! Especially in the games they were playing now, he wasn't going to get the snitch; he wasn't going to get Hermione!
Time for some diversionary tactics, he thought, pointing his broom straight down and going into a dive. Draco, predictably, followed.
Too late, Draco. Harry smirked as he pulled his broom up sharply, leaving Draco pause a few feet beneath him. Harry saw a flash of gold, and shot up, Draco following.
"Fred! Bludger! Now!" ordered Bill, as he diverted Ron's attention before quickly passing the quaffle to Dean, who scored again. Ron was an excellent keeper, but his attention kept getting diverted.
"Will do!" Fred swung his bat and flew towards a bludger, hitting it and cutting Harry off. Draco flew past, almost reaching the snitch.
With a growl, Harry flew around in a large circle, cutting Draco off. If I can't get the snitch, he won't either. This is war.
Draco smiled calmly, not realising how angry Harry was. He shrugged and looked around. The snitch had disappeared, and Neville shouted, "60-0 to Draco!"
Harry gripped the handle of his broom tightly. He would not get angry. This was merely a game.
"Come on Charlie! George! Seamus!" he hollered, noticing how Oliver calmly kept every attempt merely that; and never allowed them to score.
Charlie looked up and shrugged as Ron saved a goal attempt and passed it to Seamus. George kept close, and Harry smirked as he recognised what they were doing. Oliver prepared to save, but George hit a bludger towards him. Oliver spiralled up to dodge it, and Charlie took the quaffle and neatly threw it through.
"60-10!" called Neville cheerfully. Harry grinned and started searching for the tiny flash of gold again, his temper cooled.
"Let's try that for ourselves," muttered Dean to Bill, who nodded.
"Fred!" he hissed as he flew past, intercepting Charlie and stealing the quaffle. Fred nodded, and flew towards a bludger, aiming it for Ron.
"Oh, no. That's not going to work with us!" muttered Charlie, trying to steal the quaffle back. He failed, and unfortunately, it did work, as Bill quickly scored another goal.
"70-10!" called Neville cheerfully. So far he hadn't fallen off his broom. It was a good day.
Harry's eyes moved over their pitch. A flash of gold caught his eye, but as he focused, he saw it was Fred's gold watch. A distraction he did not need.
"Harry, mate! Behind you!" hollered Ron, as the game below stopped. All eyes turned to above him. He looked up to see Draco pursuing the snitch.
"Oh, no you don't!" he growled, chasing after him. The two brooms drew level, and their arms reached out for the snitch, fluttering and flying ahead of them. Below them, all players held their breath.
"I've had enough with playing fair," said Harry, annoyed. Draco looked shocked, and Harry reached out. Draco fell off his broom, falling to earth as Harry caught the snitch.
"Harry!" yelled Ron, as they all dived down to catch Draco. With a reluctant groan, Harry followed in a spectacular dive, pushing through the others and grabbing Draco before he hit the ground.
The others let out their breath as one. "Harry, I don't know what we'd do without you. That was bloody brilliant," said Ron, landing.
"Too true," said Fred. "That was better than in Hogwarts where you caught the snitch and produced a Patronus at the same time."
"Thanks," said Harry with a grin. He set Draco down. Draco dusted himself off and glared at Harry before running off to the house.
"What's with him?" asked Bill, hovering behind Ron. Harry shrugged.
"Pre-wedding nerves?" he suggested, turning so no one would see the sly smile on his face. This was playing dirty, he knew. But he was going to do his best to win Hermione.
~ * ~
Draco locked himself in his room, letting Twinkle know that nobody was to disturb him. He paced distractedly, playing what happened over and over in his head.
Harry had smiled at him, in a friendly manner, and then had reached out and pushed him, obviously intending to turn the broom off course. But he fell, and as he did, he heard what Harry had said.
"I don't lose anything. She's mine."
Was this why Hermione had left? Had Harry been pestering her, too? He had always known that Harry loved Hermione. Had he made a play for her? That night, when Hermione was crying, there were two cups. He had assumed she had created a new one when one had broken.
What if one was Harry's? Had he been there, seducing her, turning her mind away? Had Harry been harassing her, chasing her, demanding that she cancel the wedding? Was that why she had doubts?
I can't cope like this. I've got to know. But Hermione chose not to tell me. Why? If she loved me, she would have told me immediately. And I had to figure it out myself. He ran his hands through his hair, collapsing into a seat by a desk.
I'll owl her. And I'll ask Harry later. I can't get married tomorrow without knowing. And if Hermione can't choose, I won't be getting married at all.
~ * ~
Hermione was settled in the lounge, surrounded by women. All the guests had arrived, and were giggling over memories past.
"Hermione, look! You've got an owl!" Cho's shout broke through her thoughts. Hermione looked up to see Euphrates gliding to a halt next to her, offering a leg.
"Oh, yes. Ginny, can you get something for him?" asked Hermione, removing the letter. Ginny nodded and bustled off to the kitchen.
Hermione opened the letter and read it, her face paling.
Hermione.
I know that something has happened. I know what it is.
Harry is after you, isn't he? Harry doesn't want us wed, does he? He has always loved you. I foolishly thought he loved you as a sister. He loves you, Hermione, almost as much as I do, and in the same manner.
If this is indeed true, then I have a favour to ask of you. Please, ensure you marry the right one of us. Whoever it is that will bring you the most happiness, whoever will give you the greatest love. Even if you do not choose me, I want you to be happy. I will not get married tomorrow unless you choose me. You may choose who you wish. I will not force you, but I must say my piece.
Hermione, the years of knowing you have been the happiest of my life. I have always loved you, and have moved my world to suit you. I love you more than I thought it was possible to love anyone. Truly you have stolen my heart, enchanted my mind and ensnared my soul. I would give my life willingly, just to keep you happy. If you were not mine, I would do anything for just one moment of your time, just one loving smile.
Now that I have realised what has happened, I must confess I am extremely angry. Harry has no right to ruin your happiness. That is the most important thing to me. When I came home to find you crying, I felt murderous. No one has the right to make you cry. And now, no one has the right to put you through this, as Harry has. This is based on guesswork, but my guesses are usually accurate.
Please, my love, tell me I am wrong. Tell me that tomorrow we will say our vows and give each other the greatest gift possible. Tell me that we will live happily ever after.
All my love, forever and for always,
Draco.
Hermione stared at it, her heart fluttering as she read his romantic words, and then crashing as she realised what this meant.
He knows.
"Hermione? What's wrong?" asked Padma, leaning over. Hermione hid the letter.
"Nothing!" she squeaked, and left the room, pushing past Ginny who was
returning with food and water for Euphrates.
"What's her problem?" asked Ginny, setting the water down and holding out the food. The other girls shrugged.
"No idea."
~ * ~
Harry knocked politely on the door to Draco's room. He had been sent up by Ron to make sure all was well. He set his features in a relatively innocent look, and took out his wand.
"Alohamora!" The door opened, and he walked in carefully, expecting a hex to come out of the shadows.
All he saw was Draco's shadow, hunched over by the fire, staring at something. As he neared, he saw it was two gold rings.
"Draco?" he whispered quietly, guilt stealing through him as he saw the expression on Draco's face.
Without looking up, without moving, Draco whispered quietly, "Why?"
Harry stood over Draco. "Why what?" he asked innocently.
"Why are you trying to take Hermione away from me?"
"Oh, that." Harry sat down next to Draco. "It's because I love her. If she married you without me trying, I would never forgive myself."
"But, you love her too. Don't you want her to be happy? This is killing her. Why are you putting her through Hell like this?"
"I know I can make her happy, Draco. I have to try. I don't mean to hurt anyone. It's killing me too. She's my best friend. You're my best friend too. I really hate having to do this."
"You don't have to." Draco stared at the rings. "These are supposed to be a promise of love, and happiness. I won't be able to put it on her finger if I know she has been forced into making a difficult choice. But…"
"But?"
"But I have faith in Hermione. She will make the choice that is best for her. And I will accept that."
"You really do, don't you?" Harry stared at Draco disbelievingly. "You might lose the love of your life, and you're going to sit back and accept that?"
Draco sighed and leaned back against the wall. "Yes. I don't hate anyone any more. After the war, I couldn't bring myself to hate anyone. All that death, the chaos it caused. Someone who I had grown up with had been killed. After that, I hated everyone. And so I fought."
"With us," murmured Harry, fascinated. Draco had hardly ever spoken about what had made him change so much.
"I lived in the house of a Death Eater. I couldn't face it any more. I hated my
father. And that's why, that Christmas, I sparked the war. I killed him."
Draco's eyes were shining with tears as the memories flooded back.
"That is where hate takes you. I don't hate any more. I don't hate you for trying to do this. Hermione is one of a kind, and any man would be an idiot to turn down a chance like you had. So, Harry." Draco held out his hand. "We'll always be friends. Nothing can change that, and I'm pretty sure Hermione feels the same. But may the best man win."
Harry reached over and shook Draco's hand. "Of course."
~ * ~
Hermione had been dragged unwillingly back to the party of sorts. Now she kept glaring daggers at Ginny, wishing she could have some peace.
Cho, the most perceptive of the group, kept staring at her. Now she leaned over.
"What's wrong, Hermione?" she whispered as Lavender recounted the tale of an encounter with a French waiter, sending the others into fits of giggles.
"I'm just, really nervous," said Hermione carefully. "It's a big decision to make, and I want to be sure I'm doing the right thing."
Cho smiled. "Hermione, it's really not that hard. Do you love him?"
Hermione pictured both Draco and Harry in her mind. "Yes, I do."
"Do you want to spend the rest of your life with him?" asked Cho, determined to help.
"Yes," said Hermione softly.
"Do you feel like a different person around him? Does he make you feel like the only woman in the world?"
Hermione smiled and nodded. "Yes, he does. Very much so."
Cho tilted her head cheerfully. "Then you're doing the right thing. You've made the right decision."
Hermione reached over and hugged Cho. "Thanks so much!" she said happily, before tuning herself into the party again. Cho joined her, happy to have helped.
Hermione hugged a cushion, resting her head on it as she listened to Padma's tale.
I don't know, yet, who I'll choose. But I know that whoever I do choose, will be right for me.
~ * ~