AN: Sorry for the delay, I was in a bit of a crisis thinking that it's going to end very soon :) well, on with the story and thanks for reading it. Last thing, I received some constructive criticism for my story and I thank everyone who gave them to me. I will try to make things better, it just takes time :)

15.

Draco and Harry were flying next to each other. They both had seen the snitch at the same time, and now, they were rushing to get it.

Harry was smiling because he had never lost again Malfoy, and now, he was going to win the bet and know the truth about him.

Draco was determined to get the snitch, it was too important that Potter would accept Hermione's choice. She loved this prat like a brother and he wanted her to be happy.

Draco reached the snitch first and triumphantly yelled "Yes!" Ha had done it, he had finally beaten Potter.

Harry was shocked, he had lost against Malfoy. He would have never guessed that the blond wizard would win against him.

They both got down from their brooms and Draco offered his hand to Potter "Thanks, it has been a truly wonderful game."

Harry smiled, still shocked but took Malfoy's hand and replied "It was really a good game. Compliments. I guess I will have to accept you as Hermione's man then."

Draco smirked "About that, I would be happy if you could be my best man."

Harry gasped "Are you insane?"

Draco grinned "I guess, I may be getting mad. After all the time I spent around your know-it-all best friend. But seriously Potter, it would mean a lot to her and you are my wedding gift to her."

Harry eyed Malfoy "It seems that you really care for her. Hurt her and you are dead."

The dark-haired wizard sighed "All right Malfoy, I'll be your best man but you will find the time to fill me in about your activity."

Draco nodded "Not now though, I need sleep. See you soon Po-Harry."

Harry sniggered "See you soon, Draco."

The days passed by very quickly and soon it arrived the time for Hermione to sign Draco's petition.

She was sitting in the Headmaster's office and she was slightly trembling when she took a quill and signed her name on the petition which disappeared with a pop.

Albus smiled "Congratulations Hermione! You are going to be Mrs. Draco Malfoy."

She smiled and then said "I just hope I did the right thing."

Albus said "Only time will tell, don't worry Hermione."

She left Dumbledore's office with joy and uncertainty. She met Draco near the Gargoyle, walking in a circle and talking with someone.

"Well, Harry do you think she had already signed it?" Draco was saying to a nervous Harry.

Harry retorted "I'm not a seer Draco. But we will know soon."

Hermione was surprised, the two were on a first name basis. When did it happen?

As soon as Draco saw her, he just asked "So?" she grinned "So what?"

He passed his hand in his hairs "Hermione! Have you signed my petition?"

Both Harry and Hermione were giggling and then she said "Yes! You silly ferret! Who else would I marry?"

He was happy, so he took her in his arms and almost crushed her. "Draco you are killing me! If you don't want to be a widower let me breathe!"

He blushed "Sorry! I just got a bit excited, I mean, I don't really get a wife every day!"

Harry laughed "Believe me Draco, Hermione is going to be more than enough." and then he started running when an angry Hermione tried to catch him.

"Harry Potter! Come here and face me, if you dare!" shouted Hermione and then the three wizards started to laugh.

When she managed to calm down enough, she asked "Since when have you two been friends?"

The two guys looked at each other and said together "Friends? I don't think so." And then smiled.

Draco spoke "Well, Hermione to make a long story short, I met Harry in the Quidditch pitch, I got the snitch before him and now we are on decent terms. And he's going to be my best man. That's my present for you."

She felt tears in her eyes "Oh Draco! I, you, oh" And she just run in his arm.

Harry smiled sadly "I guess that what she is trying to say is, that she is happy."

Hermione nodded and Draco smiled. "I'm happy too Hermione. You make me happy."

Harry felt that he wasn't needed anymore and quickly left the couple. It was still too soon to be happy for them. He had a heart to mend before the Christmas holiday and the wedding ceremony.

The Christmas holiday arrived...

Draco and Hermione had decided to marry on a Friday night and then, to spend until Monday morning in a little cottage at Hogsmead.

The wedding night was approaching and Hermione was getting seriously nervous. She was with Ginny at the moment. "Ginny, any suggestions? Merlin! I'm so nervous. I don't know if I can. I mean had anyone not be able to do it? I mean" Hermione was stopped in her rumbling by a long laugh of Ginny.

"Hermione, calm down! As far as I know, there hasn't been anyone that had failed to sleep with her husband. Maybe the first few times it won't come out quite right but it gets better with time." Said wisely the younger witch.

Hermione sighed "I don't know Ginny. I'm scared that I won't like it or that he won't like me."

Ginny smiled lightly "Don't worry, Draco Malfoy will make it worth it. You will like it and you will be happy. Believe me Hermione. Now, I need to talk to you about something serious. I know that you are getting married tomorrow night but I'll leave as soon as your marriage ends and I need to tell you something."

Hermione looked at her friend and asked "You are leaving? Were are you going?"

Ginny sat in a chair and she told Hermione of her deal with the Headmaster and her role. She was going home to meet Blaise's parents who were both Death Eaters and then, she would meet the Dark Lord.

Hermione looked at her "How do you feel about Voldemort? I know that I never asked before but I feel that it's important that you tell someone about your relationship with him."

Ginny spoke very softly "Hermione, I want you to promise that what I'm going to tell you, will never get out of this room."

Seriously Hermione said "You have my Gryffindor word."

Ginny nodded "I used to like Tom very much. When I wrote in his diary, we kind of got to talk a lot and he was witty and smart. We used to spend whole evenings together and I didn't know that he was robbing me of my life energy, but I think that if he had asked, I would have given my energy to him freely."

Hermione gasped and Ginny went on "Don't take me wrong, Tom and Voldemort were two separate entities at that time. I fell for Tom not for the Dark Lord. I need to see Tom again or at least what it's left of Tom. Only after confronting him again, I will be free."

Hermione now understood her friend. "Oh Ginny! I wish I could have helped you more! I haven't been a good friend for you or you wouldn't be so torn at the moment."

Ginny shook her head "No, Hermione. No one could do anything for me. I need to do it and please, if something happens to me, tell everyone that I love them."

Hermione embraced the younger witch "Ginny! Nothing will happen to you. Blaise will protect you and you will be back. I will wait for you! So don't you dare disappoint me."

Ginny smiled "I will try to come back. I love you Hermione."

The older witch smiled back "I love you too, Ginny."

The Wedding's day...

Hermione was a wreck. In an hour she would become Mrs. Draco Malfoy and she was scared.

It wasn't that she didn't like him enough but marrying him... that was a different story. She didn't want to be married so young. She had so many dreams!

She sighed, she still didn't know whether she could live with Draco Malfoy for the rest of her life. What if he switched sides again?

She shook her head. It wasn't the right time to start doubting her boyfriend, beside Severus and Albus believed in Draco.

Still, she was scared of how her life would change. All the people that loved her had already started to treat her differently.

Harry was starting to forgive her but still wasn't as open with her as they had been.

Ron was absolutely angry with her. He could not understand how she would rather marry Malfoy than him. He didn't love her in that way, but he couldn't live with the thought of her being Malfoy's wife.

Ginny after the talk that they had yesterday, had started to be withdrawn from everyone. It was part of the plan for her to look estranged from the people she loved.

She sighed again, it was time to wear her wedding gown and marrying Draco. She prayed Merlin that she was doing the right thing.

Draco was nervous as well. His mother has made her appearance and had basically offended Hermione in every way.

He had been angered by his mother words, but he had to pretend that he was feeling in the same way.

He had been physically sick when he had heard his mother telling him, that tonight he could get revenge on the light side by basically hurting the 'filthy Mudblood'.

After that phrase, he had nodded and then excused himself. He was in crisis at the moment. He liked Hermione a lot but he has been such a cruel monster and a murderer. He didn't feel he deserved her.

He really wanted to make her happy but he was doubting that he would be enough. He was a Malfoy a 'dragon of bad faith'. What could he give to such a wonderful and perfect woman?

So he decided that if Hermione would ask for an annulment, he would accept. It was a hard choice to make, but it was the best he could offer her. He would set her free if she asked.

He sighed, it was time for the ceremony. He started to wear his wizard wedding clothes and then exited for the Great Hall where the ceremony would take place.

Ron was having a fight with Harry just minutes before the ceremony. "I can't believe that you are going to be his best man! What the hell were you thinking when you accepted?"

Harry sighed and said again "Ron, I believe I told you already twice that he is on our side and he is not going to hurt her. I accepted his offer because Hermione should be happy today."

Ron was still angry "I don't believe it! Even if he is on our side, he can't marry her!"

Harry looked at his best friend "All right Ron, out with it!"

Ron started to feel his ears getting red. "What are you talking about?"

Harry sighed "It's not just Hermione marrying Malfoy. You would have reacted in this way even if the groom had been anyone else. I don't think you would have accepted even if it was me marrying her."

Ron looked embarrassed "Well, mate, maybe if it had been you, I could have kind of accepted it. I knew you liked her a lot, more than as a friend, since last year. But you are right, I can't accept that she is going to be someone else's wife."

Harry got closer to Ron "Do you want to talk about it? Do you love her more that as a friend too?"

Ron looked down, tears were forming in his eyes "I thought I would never be good enough for her. When I saw how clever and powerful she was, I just gave up on her. I thought that I could live with the idea that she would never be mine but still... part of me was still hoping that she would choose me."

Harry sat on the sofa in their common room "I'm sorry Ron. I should have seen through your lies. I should have known how you felt about her. I guess, I'm such a bad friend."

Ron sat near Harry "No mate, I really fooled myself too. I guess the thing that I hate most in this moment, is that I never really took a chance with her. Maybe, if I had said it before. Maybe, if I had tried and being rejected, now I would feel better."

Harry put his face in his hands "Believe me Ron, it doesn't change anything. I confessed to Hermione my feelings and she rejected me. Now I still feel bad and I don't think that letting her know how I felt, was good for our friendship. That's why I will be the ferret's best man. To try and win back her friendship."

Ron watched his best friend. "I didn't know that you talked to her. I guess, I had been a bad friend too. Seriously Harry, what can I do?"

Harry looked again at Ron "I guess we have to let her go. Please, Ron, I need you there. I don't think I can face all of this alone."

Ron was trying to fight back tears but when he saw Harry's ones, he couldn't stop himself.

The two wizards let out all their desperation and after a while, Ron cleared his throat. He stood up and offered his hand to Harry.

"Come on, Harry. We have our best friend's wedding to attend. I will be there and we will get through it, together." Said a very serious looking Ron.

Harry nodded and took Ron's hand "Thank you. Ron, I really appreciate your friendship. Now, more than ever."

The two friends left the common room with heavy hearts, they were going to watch the woman they loved to be married with the guy that both hated more than anything.

AN: Thanks for reading. Next chapter The Marriage! Don't miss it.