Until My Dying Day
By Roni Black
Chapter Eleven
"I'm coming for you, Draco Malfoy," Bellatrix hissed. She turned into the big Anaconda again. She crept out of the Riddle house.
"Goodbye," she hissed to the house, "I may never see this house again... for I may be killed in my mission... but this is not important... as long as I succeed..."
She crawled onto the grass of the back yard and into the big river that was streaming there.
"I'm coming, Draco Malfoy," she hissed again as the flow took her and she drew far away from the house. "Just you wait, Malfoy. I'm coming. It may take a few days... or weeks... maybe months... but I'm coming."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Hermione asked for a special permission to go home and meet her parents, to tell them about her engagement. Professor McGonagall permitted her to go for three days.
"Goodbye, everyone!" cried Hermione as she left the Castle. She was going to Apparate, but she had to leave Hogwarts before that.
"Goodbye, Hermione!" cried Draco, Harry, Ron and a large group of other seventh-years.
Professor McGonagall walked Hermione out of the Hogwarts' area. Just before Hermione said goodbye and Disapparated, McGonagall wished her good luck. Then she returned to the Castle on her own. If anyone could have seen her at that moment, they would have been extremely surprised, for McGonagall's eyes were filled with happy tears.
"Do you think her parents would approve?" Draco asked Harry and Ron. "They don't know me very well, and Hermione has probably been saying some bad things about me during the last six years - I know that I deserved them - "
"Oh, don't worry," said Ron. "Hermione's parents are really nice. They would do anything their daughter asks them to."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Hermione Apparated on the back yard of her house. It was always empty, she knew no one would be there. And sure enough, it was empty. Please let them be home, she begged in her mind as she walked to the front door and knocked.
About a minute passed before the door was opened. Hermione's mother, Lauren, was standing there. She gazed at her daughter, unable to believe her eyes.
"HERMIONE!" She yelled. She grabbed Hermione and hugged her tightly. "Oh my God, Hermione! What are you doing here? It's not summer yet!" she pulled Hermione into the house and slammed the door shut. "Matthew! Matthew!" she called to Hermione's father. "It's Hermione! She's here!"
"Hi, Mom," Hermione smiled as her mother hugged her again.
Her father entered the room, and as he saw his daughter, gave a gleeful cry and ran over to hug and kiss her.
"What are you doing here, Hermione?" her mother asked excitedly.
"Well, actually, I got a special three-day vacation to tell you something," Hermione began.
"You have something to tell us?" asked Matthew.
"Yeah, I..."
"Let's sit down and relax first," Lauren suggested. The three of them sat down, and Lauren hurried to the kitchen to bring tea and cookies.
They ate and chatted and watched some television. Then Matthew asked: "Well, Hermione, what is it that you wanted to tell us?"
"Well, Mom, Dad..." Hermione held her parents' hands and smiled briefly before taking a deep breath, saying: "I'm getting married."
"WHAT?!" Lauren's jaw dropped. Matthew seemed to be too shocked to say anything.
"Listen," Hermione begged, "I know this comes as a big shock, but it's so important to me. Draco and I love each other. We really do love each other. It wasn't a rush decision. I know what this means, and..."
"No, you don't!" her mother cut her off. She seemed angry and annoyed. "You are only seventeen years old, Hermione, you're still a child. You are way too young to bind yourself to someone for the rest of your life! You have such a bright future - I will not allow you to ruin it by hasty marriage!"
"Mom, I..."
"You have so much more to do before you get married," her mother continued, almost furiously. "You should study. You should get a job. You should have a successful carreer, you should travel the world - before you get married!"
Hermione looked at her father for support. Her father stroked his chin and looked pensive; he stared at Hermione and saw the despair in her eyes. Then he said: "Look, Lauren, after all, it is Hermione's decision."
"She cannot do that! She simply can't!" cried Lauren. "She's so young... she hasn't even begun to live..."
"Hermione, are you sure this is the right thing to do?" said Matthew sternly.
"Yes, I am," replied Hermione.
"Well, I support you," said Matthew. "I trust Hermione, Lauren. If she believes in what she's doing, I believe in what she's doing. She is responsible and mature for her age. I know she is still very young, and her fiance is, too, but they can grow up together. There is nothing wrong about it."
"When do you plan to get married?" asked Lauren heavily.
"We haven't really figured that out yet," said Hermione. "I wanted to set a date with you."
Lauren wrapped her arms around her daughter; tears streamed from her eyes. "I can't believe you are so grown up," she whispered and hugged her tightly; "but I trust you, Hermione. I'm sorry for yelling. Your father is right. If you feel that is the right thing to do, then go ahead."
"Thank you so much, Mom," said Hermione and clung onto her mother. Then she kissed her father. "Thank you too, Dad."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Over the next two days, Hermione and her parents decided to set the wedding on July 14th, two weeks after Hermione and Draco's graduation. They made a guest list, and Hermione's parents promised to look for a special hall or garden for the wedding.
Hermione returned to Hogwarts and fell right into the excitement of the NEWTs; everybody was studying really hard for those exams. She and Draco had to spend most of their time studying, too; so they weren't able to spend much time together. But they comforted themselves, thinking about the days after the wedding. They would then have the rest of their lives to be together.
They both decided to begin the Auror studies after their honeymoon. They wanted to become powerful Aurors; Draco said he wanted to protect other children from his own fate. Hermione wanted the very same thing.
One week before the NEWTs, Hermione's parents sent an owl, telling the young couple that they had found a perfect place for the wedding. Hermione got another special permission to absent school for one day, and went to see the place.
She loved it. It was a big garden with a big, blue lake and many beautiful peach trees and rose bushes. The wedding itself was supposed to take place on a small island in the middle of the lake, where the bride, the groom and the priest were supposed to be standing, and the guest were supposed to be sitting around the lake and watching.
Hermione returned all excited: "This place is perfect!" and the couple sent invitations to the guests. These days were very busy, but very happy, too.
The NEWTs were OK for the two of them, as they both had studied very seriously. The results were to be sent at the beginning of July, and meanwhile, they were going home.
Leaving Hogwarts for the last time was difficult. Many of the students were crying or watching the Castle gloomily. Hermione herself nearly cried as she had to say goodbye to the teachers, although she knew she would meet them at the wedding, as they were invited too.
Draco and Hermione were going to Hermione's parents house. They said goodbye sadly to Harry and Ron, who assured them for the hundredth time they would come to the wedding; then they got off the train and went over to Hermione's parents, who were already waiting, big smiles on their faces.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Bellatrix Lestrange swam all the way to Hogwarts, but she got to there too late. The place was almost empty, but a group of teachers hurrying to the gates. Bellatrix swam in the lake, pulled her head out and listened to their coversation.
"...yes, they're getting married two weeks from now," McGonagall was saying.
"I can't believe it!" squeaked Flitwick. "Our little Hermione and Draco! I remember them as eleven year olds... and now they are getting married... it's so hard to believe."
"Where is the wedding?" asked Snape.
"Hermione told me," said McGongall and specified the name of the place. "It's supposed to be a big garden with a lake, and the bride and the groom are standing on an island in the middle of the lake."
"Sounds lovely!" said Madam Sprout. "Are all the teachers coming?"
"Yes, including Dumbledore," said McGonagall. "Hermione and Draco invited everyone."
Bellatrix pulled her head back into the lake, and if she had lips, she would be smiling broadly at that second.
Perfect, she told herself. Simply perfect! The wedding would be a perfect timing... poor Draco will be so miserable... so miserable...
"Beware, Draco Malfoy," she hissed into the cold water as she dived and began swimming out of Hogwarts. "Beware, Draco Malfoy, here I come!"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N: Reviews please!
By Roni Black
Chapter Eleven
"I'm coming for you, Draco Malfoy," Bellatrix hissed. She turned into the big Anaconda again. She crept out of the Riddle house.
"Goodbye," she hissed to the house, "I may never see this house again... for I may be killed in my mission... but this is not important... as long as I succeed..."
She crawled onto the grass of the back yard and into the big river that was streaming there.
"I'm coming, Draco Malfoy," she hissed again as the flow took her and she drew far away from the house. "Just you wait, Malfoy. I'm coming. It may take a few days... or weeks... maybe months... but I'm coming."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Hermione asked for a special permission to go home and meet her parents, to tell them about her engagement. Professor McGonagall permitted her to go for three days.
"Goodbye, everyone!" cried Hermione as she left the Castle. She was going to Apparate, but she had to leave Hogwarts before that.
"Goodbye, Hermione!" cried Draco, Harry, Ron and a large group of other seventh-years.
Professor McGonagall walked Hermione out of the Hogwarts' area. Just before Hermione said goodbye and Disapparated, McGonagall wished her good luck. Then she returned to the Castle on her own. If anyone could have seen her at that moment, they would have been extremely surprised, for McGonagall's eyes were filled with happy tears.
"Do you think her parents would approve?" Draco asked Harry and Ron. "They don't know me very well, and Hermione has probably been saying some bad things about me during the last six years - I know that I deserved them - "
"Oh, don't worry," said Ron. "Hermione's parents are really nice. They would do anything their daughter asks them to."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Hermione Apparated on the back yard of her house. It was always empty, she knew no one would be there. And sure enough, it was empty. Please let them be home, she begged in her mind as she walked to the front door and knocked.
About a minute passed before the door was opened. Hermione's mother, Lauren, was standing there. She gazed at her daughter, unable to believe her eyes.
"HERMIONE!" She yelled. She grabbed Hermione and hugged her tightly. "Oh my God, Hermione! What are you doing here? It's not summer yet!" she pulled Hermione into the house and slammed the door shut. "Matthew! Matthew!" she called to Hermione's father. "It's Hermione! She's here!"
"Hi, Mom," Hermione smiled as her mother hugged her again.
Her father entered the room, and as he saw his daughter, gave a gleeful cry and ran over to hug and kiss her.
"What are you doing here, Hermione?" her mother asked excitedly.
"Well, actually, I got a special three-day vacation to tell you something," Hermione began.
"You have something to tell us?" asked Matthew.
"Yeah, I..."
"Let's sit down and relax first," Lauren suggested. The three of them sat down, and Lauren hurried to the kitchen to bring tea and cookies.
They ate and chatted and watched some television. Then Matthew asked: "Well, Hermione, what is it that you wanted to tell us?"
"Well, Mom, Dad..." Hermione held her parents' hands and smiled briefly before taking a deep breath, saying: "I'm getting married."
"WHAT?!" Lauren's jaw dropped. Matthew seemed to be too shocked to say anything.
"Listen," Hermione begged, "I know this comes as a big shock, but it's so important to me. Draco and I love each other. We really do love each other. It wasn't a rush decision. I know what this means, and..."
"No, you don't!" her mother cut her off. She seemed angry and annoyed. "You are only seventeen years old, Hermione, you're still a child. You are way too young to bind yourself to someone for the rest of your life! You have such a bright future - I will not allow you to ruin it by hasty marriage!"
"Mom, I..."
"You have so much more to do before you get married," her mother continued, almost furiously. "You should study. You should get a job. You should have a successful carreer, you should travel the world - before you get married!"
Hermione looked at her father for support. Her father stroked his chin and looked pensive; he stared at Hermione and saw the despair in her eyes. Then he said: "Look, Lauren, after all, it is Hermione's decision."
"She cannot do that! She simply can't!" cried Lauren. "She's so young... she hasn't even begun to live..."
"Hermione, are you sure this is the right thing to do?" said Matthew sternly.
"Yes, I am," replied Hermione.
"Well, I support you," said Matthew. "I trust Hermione, Lauren. If she believes in what she's doing, I believe in what she's doing. She is responsible and mature for her age. I know she is still very young, and her fiance is, too, but they can grow up together. There is nothing wrong about it."
"When do you plan to get married?" asked Lauren heavily.
"We haven't really figured that out yet," said Hermione. "I wanted to set a date with you."
Lauren wrapped her arms around her daughter; tears streamed from her eyes. "I can't believe you are so grown up," she whispered and hugged her tightly; "but I trust you, Hermione. I'm sorry for yelling. Your father is right. If you feel that is the right thing to do, then go ahead."
"Thank you so much, Mom," said Hermione and clung onto her mother. Then she kissed her father. "Thank you too, Dad."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Over the next two days, Hermione and her parents decided to set the wedding on July 14th, two weeks after Hermione and Draco's graduation. They made a guest list, and Hermione's parents promised to look for a special hall or garden for the wedding.
Hermione returned to Hogwarts and fell right into the excitement of the NEWTs; everybody was studying really hard for those exams. She and Draco had to spend most of their time studying, too; so they weren't able to spend much time together. But they comforted themselves, thinking about the days after the wedding. They would then have the rest of their lives to be together.
They both decided to begin the Auror studies after their honeymoon. They wanted to become powerful Aurors; Draco said he wanted to protect other children from his own fate. Hermione wanted the very same thing.
One week before the NEWTs, Hermione's parents sent an owl, telling the young couple that they had found a perfect place for the wedding. Hermione got another special permission to absent school for one day, and went to see the place.
She loved it. It was a big garden with a big, blue lake and many beautiful peach trees and rose bushes. The wedding itself was supposed to take place on a small island in the middle of the lake, where the bride, the groom and the priest were supposed to be standing, and the guest were supposed to be sitting around the lake and watching.
Hermione returned all excited: "This place is perfect!" and the couple sent invitations to the guests. These days were very busy, but very happy, too.
The NEWTs were OK for the two of them, as they both had studied very seriously. The results were to be sent at the beginning of July, and meanwhile, they were going home.
Leaving Hogwarts for the last time was difficult. Many of the students were crying or watching the Castle gloomily. Hermione herself nearly cried as she had to say goodbye to the teachers, although she knew she would meet them at the wedding, as they were invited too.
Draco and Hermione were going to Hermione's parents house. They said goodbye sadly to Harry and Ron, who assured them for the hundredth time they would come to the wedding; then they got off the train and went over to Hermione's parents, who were already waiting, big smiles on their faces.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Bellatrix Lestrange swam all the way to Hogwarts, but she got to there too late. The place was almost empty, but a group of teachers hurrying to the gates. Bellatrix swam in the lake, pulled her head out and listened to their coversation.
"...yes, they're getting married two weeks from now," McGonagall was saying.
"I can't believe it!" squeaked Flitwick. "Our little Hermione and Draco! I remember them as eleven year olds... and now they are getting married... it's so hard to believe."
"Where is the wedding?" asked Snape.
"Hermione told me," said McGongall and specified the name of the place. "It's supposed to be a big garden with a lake, and the bride and the groom are standing on an island in the middle of the lake."
"Sounds lovely!" said Madam Sprout. "Are all the teachers coming?"
"Yes, including Dumbledore," said McGonagall. "Hermione and Draco invited everyone."
Bellatrix pulled her head back into the lake, and if she had lips, she would be smiling broadly at that second.
Perfect, she told herself. Simply perfect! The wedding would be a perfect timing... poor Draco will be so miserable... so miserable...
"Beware, Draco Malfoy," she hissed into the cold water as she dived and began swimming out of Hogwarts. "Beware, Draco Malfoy, here I come!"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N: Reviews please!