Disclaimer: I own not HP. He belongs to J.K Rowlings. (Dumb luck on my part ~_~) Oh well. I also do not own anything that did not come from my brain....umm...right...well...I actually own the ideas and situations portrayed in this fic. They have no baring on real life that I'm aware of and if they do *bows* I'm sorry. Oh, and R&R please. ^_^

Chapter 1: The Wedding?

The crowd parted as the car came gliding up to the sheltered church entrance. The skies were sullen and heavy with rain. The storm was about to break.


The lights of the church beckoned to the girl inside the car, but she cringed and hung back, not wanting to face him. The door was opened and a white-gloved hand reached in to help her out. She sighed then accepted to proffered hand. She immerged and stepped onto the red-carpeted steps that rose before her. She began to walk forward then stopped and adjusted her billowing skirt and train. Her cheeks were white and her eyes darted uneasily as she began to walk up the red-carpeted stairs.
As she entered the church, she heard the first resounding notes of the wedding march echo through the church and out into the crisp September air. She heard the gasps that came from the audience as she made her way up the long, flower-strewn aisle.
With measured steps she made her way to the front of the chapel. It seemed interminable. Would this charade never end?
At last she reached the alter and her bridegroom stepped forward to offer his hand. She looked into his face. At that moment she realized that she could not hurt him anymore with her lies. He deserved to know the truth. She placed her hand in his and gripped it tightly. The white-robed minister came forward and opened his book.


Dearly beloved. We are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony.


At this the white-faced bride sank to the floor in a white heap beside her would-be bridegroom.


She's fainted! Someone in the crowd exclaimed. The groom knelt beside the collapsed bride and reached for her hand. The best man then picked her up and carried her into a room off to the side of the sanctuary. Someone handed the groom a glass of water to revive her. He held it to her white lips. The bride managed a few swallows of the water before turning her head away.
In the auditorium confusion reigned. The organist began to play soothing, classical songs. They went unnoticed however. The mother of the bride jumped up and ran to her daughter's aid. A physician was called.


Finally the bride opened her eyes. She looked around the room, and then turned her face to the wall. Her mother knelt by her side, trying to comfort her. She listened to the words that were meant to comfort her, and then she raised her eyes as spoke quietly.


Mother, cancan I talk to Harry alone?


Certainly, dearest. She stepped aside and motioned to the groom. He stepped forward and reached for the gloved hand that lay listlessly on the makeshift bed. He nodded to the rest of the people in the room to leave so that they might have private moment.


Yes, love. What is it? Harry asked the white-robed figure lying in front of him.


Harry, I don't know how to tell you this but Hermione raised tear-filled eyes to meet his green ones.


You can tell me anything, love. The dark-haired boy drawled in a deep, emotion-filled voice.


I don't know Hermione began.


Just try, love. Harry smiled encouragingly at her.


Harry, II'm pregnant. The groom's handsome face paled. I didn't know how to tell you before, but--


But we've neverwell, you know. The groom said helplessly.


I know. That's why I was afraid to tell you. Hermione said, trying not to show her pain. Harry's face turned red with anger.


Who is it? He demanded. Is it Ron?


Hermione answered. He'd never do that to you! You know that!


Fred? George?


No Weasley did this to me. Hermione answered his rapid-fire questions.


Then who? The exasperated groom asked.


Draco Malfoy, Hermione answered, almost in a whisper.


DRACO MALFOY?!?! YOU SLEPT WITH DRACO MALFOY? Harry rushed for the door, wand in hand.


Harry, wait! Hermione called. Please don't hurt him.


You're defending him? Harry asked incredulously.


Well, we didn't mean for it to happen. It was during exams. We were searching for stress-relief and it just sort of Hermione finished.


You used sex for stress-relief? Harry asked in disbelief. How could you? I thought you loved me! His voice went up several octaves on the last word.


I thought I did too Hermione trailed off.


So you find out that you don't love me and yet you wait until we're at the alter, about to be married, I might add, to tell me?
I didn't know how to tell you.


Does Malfoy know about the pregnancy? Harry asked.


Of course. We didn't live together in the Head Boy and Head Girl dormitories and not notice what the other was doing. Hermione said almost sarcastically. She smirked at Harry in a way that he found very familiar but he couldn't figure out where he'd seen that smirk before.


I guess you just couldn't keep your hands to yourself and neither could he, am I right? Harry asked. Then a thought struck him; he knew where he'd seen that smirk before! Draco Malfoy! Harry muttered to himself.


The tension got so awful, Harry. We both felt drawn to each other. I guess in some respects its good that it happened before we got married, right? Harry? Hermione looked at the angry faced, silver-eyed man that would have been her husband. Harry looked at the white swathed figure lying before him. He looked straight into her eyes and saw that her devotion was not in him anymore. He turned on his heel and stomped out of the room.


Hermione called out to him. I'm sorry, Harry I really am. She finished in a breathy whisper. Moments later the door flew open and Ron Weasley walked in. Hermione could tell that he was angry.


What did you say to Harry, Hermione? Ron asked in a terrible voice. He towered over her and glowered.


I told him the truth, Ron. Hermione said calmly, she showed no fear of the six-foot tall figure that would have caused anyone else in her position to cringe. She knew he'd never hurt her.


The truth? What truth? Ron asked quite puzzled.


You mean you don't know, Ron? I thought you would have figured it out by now. Hermione said.


You mean that you and Malfoy Ron asked.


Yes, Ron. I told him. Hermione stated quietly.


How could you hurt Harry like that Ron asked in a whisper. You know that he's loved you since fourth year. It took him forever to get enough courage to ask you out in fifth, and now you tell him that you're in love with someone else, and Draco Malfoy at that. How could you?


Hermione had started crying softly into her hands at Ron's question. I don't know, Ron. I just Hermione said softly. Maybe its because he's the opposite of Harry, but then again, maybe not. I wanted to tell him, Ron. I really did, but Draco convinced me that we should let Harry think the baby was his Hermione was interrupted by Ron's surprised snort.


You're pregnant? With Draco Malfoy's child and you wanted to pass it off a Harry's? Don't you think he'd have noticed if the child looked like Malfoy? With his blond hair and grey eyes? What do you take Harry for, Hermione? Ron asked disbelievingly.


I didn't want it to end this way, Ron. I really and truly didn't. Hermione cried.


Well it has. You broke Harry's heart and you've lost my friendship. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to leave. With that Ron turned on his heel and walked out of the room leaving Hermione alone.


Hermione rose quickly and looked around the room, hoping to find some escape because she couldn't very well face all the guests that had come to see the wedding. She spotted a door off in the corner of the room. She hurried over to it and wrenched it open and flung herself down the stair, slamming the door behind her. Upon reaching the bottom of the winding staircase, Hermione pulled open the door that she found there and ran through it quickly bumping into someone as she did. She fell into the person's arms.

TBC

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