Quick Note: We come to it at last, the great battle of our time... LOL! Just kidding! Thank you so much to EVERYONE who reviewed and read this fic. I am overwhelmed and so blown away. It was quite a ride and I loved every minute of the writing and of course, the getting of reviews. I don't think I'll be writing anything long anytime soon, but I'll still be reading a lot! Email me if you guys write something, I'll be more than happy to review!
Disclaimer: For the last time, the characters ain't mine. But this fiction IS!!!
Chapter 18: We come to it at last (LOL... sorry, can't help it!)
The next morning, as soon as Hermione appeared into her apartment, the first thing she did was plop herself on her couch and recline.
It had been a long night. Ginny was right in suggesting to go to her apartment. There, the two girls were able to talk heart to heart about Hermione's situation with Draco; without familiar things taking Hermione's concentration away from the subject. No TV, no Crookshanks, no books.
As if by fate, 30 minutes after the two girls arrived in Ginny's apartment, Ron and Harry magically appeared there too, carrying 2 gallons of Fire Whiskey.
When the boys saw Hermione looking all dreadful while talking to Ginny, they knew at once what the girls were talking about.
"I'm out of here!" Ron said while looking at Harry.
"I'm coming with you."
Harry and Ron quickly waved their wands to disapparate, but Ginny immediately stopped them.
"Hear Hermione out will you?" Ginny said, her words sounding more like a command than a request. "You guys are acting very immature."
Ron and Harry looked at each other and deliberated silently if they should listen to Ginny. Harry risked a glance at Hermione and saw fresh tears trickling down her face. He then looked at Ginny and saw the icy glare in her eyes that clearly said "Get over here."
Seeing how much the Ron and him were making the situation much harder for Hermione; plus not wanting to get on Ginny's bad side, Harry consented and resigned to listen to Hermione's story. Even if it involved one of his hated enemies, Draco Malfoy, perhaps he could just swallow it all up and sacrifice a little for a friend.
Without saying a word, Harry placed his wand inside his back pocket and then proceeded towards Ginny's couch.
Ron watched in horror as he saw Harry yield to Hermione and Ginny. 'He's gone nuts!'
Still not making a move, Ron considered leaving Ginny's apartment even without Harry. However, when Harry finally took his seat on Ginny's couch, 3 pairs of eyes immediately focused on him.
"Come on Ron," Harry said looking more tired than usual. "You know we can't avoid this forever. Besides, we can't consume all that Fire Whiskey by ourselves."
Ron looked at Harry and then to Hermione's crying figure. "Oh alright!" said Ron in resignation.
He took 4 wine glasses from Ginny's cupboard and quickly laid them on the table. "But if the conversation gets ugly and you put disturbing images of Malfoy in my head, I'm out of here."
"You mean you're not even sure if Malfoy likes you back?" Ron said as Ginny and Hermione finished telling Harry and him Hermione's side of the story. "So what's the problem there? Just let the git go and move on with your life. You don't have to force yourself on him!"
Harry looked disapprovingly at Ron. "You don't know when to shut up do you? Can't you see you're hurting Hermione even more by saying what you're saying?"
Ron blushed deep crimson and then turned sheepishly at Hermione. "I'm sorry."
"So what do you plan to do then?" said Harry not seeing the point of everything. Okay, Hermione likes Draco but Draco hasn't shown any sign of him liking Hermione back except on occasions when he loses his cool and kisses her. "I'm sure as heck that I'm not helping the two of you get together whatsoever. So why do we need to know any of this?"
Ginny rolled her eyes in disgust. She looked at her boyfriend and then at her brother. "For fairly smart people, you two are acting very dumb! Why do you need to know this? Duh! Didn't you notice your reactions when you saw Draco and Hermione kiss? All she's saying is she feels something for Draco. She wants us to accept that. That's all."
"But we don't even know if he likes you back." Ron said again.
Harry, the ever rational one of the two boys ignored Ron's comment and then said to Hermione. "Truthfully, Ron and I don't have any objections about who you fall for. That's your decision. We're just watching out for you. We don't want to see you hurt. And being with Malfoy assures that one hundred percent."
Hermione was silent and she looked at the floor. How was she supposed to answer to that?
Ginny held her hand and glared icily at Harry. "You're not helping!" she mouthed.
"But..." Harry said sounding very reluctant. " if it will make you happy, I promise that from now on, I will just shut up about this subject - for your sake."
"What?" shouted Ron in shock, "You'll just let her off the hook like that?"
Harry who was starting to feel very irritated looked at Ron and then said. "Yes Ronald. You heard me! And I think you should do the same too."
Ron gawked at Harry with wide eyes and looked at his friends one by one. "You're all against me!" he said in horror. "You don't see the truth."
Harry ignored Ron and then said. "Just know that if he ever hurts you, Ron and I will be the first in line to kick him in the butt. I'm letting this roll over my shoulder now, but if you ever come crying to us, you can't appeal to us for Malfoy's fate. He's going to be one busted ass."
"We'll kick him in the butt?" Ron said his face lightening up immediately.
Harry rolled his eyes at Ginny making her laugh. "Yes Ron, but only if Malfoy hurts Mione."
"That's how it would work?" Ron looked pensieve for a moment as if considering what Harry just said. He looked at Harry and then at Hermione. Ron sighed. "Then just pray I don't get my hands on him Mione. Cause Merlin knows I'll take every opportunity to beat him up anytime I can."
Hermione smiled, tears threatening to flow down her cheeks. "So it means you're okay with it already? Hermione stood up and hugged each of her friends tightly and then said, "I have the most wonderful friends in the world! Thank you. I love you guys!!!"
"We love you too." Harry, Ginny answered back without missing a beat.
Ron tried to look confused at the show of affection and then said, "I was only joking! I thought Harry was just joking too! We're still mad at you!"
Hermione just laughed and hugged Ron tighter. "Thanks Ron."
Seeing he had no way of turning back anymore, Ron put his arms around Hermione and stroked her hair lovingly. "Okay then, if that's what you want."
Though exhausted beyond normal standards, Hermione smiled in remembrance. Her best friends may be difficult to deal with sometimes but she definitely wouldn't have it any other way.
Glad that at least one of her problems was wiped away. Hermione still couldn't shake out the feeling of loneliness deep inside her. Though her friends weren't mad at her anymore and basically accepted how she felt, the very source of all her troubles was still nowhere to be found.
With fatigue finally taking its toll on Hermione's body, she started drifting into sleep right there on her couch.
Suddenly, she heard a loud sound from her window.
Immediately opening her eyes, Hermione turned her attention on whatever the cause of the noise was.
There perched outside, waiting patiently for Hermione to open the window was a red owl holding a letter in its beak.
Instantly thinking that the letter was from Draco, Hermione promptly forgot all the tiredness she felt and stood up from her couch, making her way to her window.
Releasing the latch that held the window shut, Hermione invited the red bird in. Without any delay, the bird swiftly dropped an envelope on Hermione's palm and then quickly flew away, not even waiting for a treat or some sort of payment.
Hermione watched the peculiar bird fly away in astonishment. The bird wasn't like other owls she saw in the past. It certainly didn't belong to anybody she knew. Who could the letter sender be?
Hermione read the back of the envelope and saw her name written in italics. The handwriting was familiar, but Hermione couldn't pinpoint who owned it.
Not able to contain her curiosity any longer, Hermione tore the letter open and was surprised beyond belief when she read its contents.
Dearest Her-mio-ninny,
I saw you last night on the teli. You look gorgeous. Is the blonde boy really your boyfriend? I miss you darling. Let's get together. I'll owl you when I'm available.
Viktor Krum
Hermione stared mouth agape at the letter she held in her hand. Viktor Krum owled her? After years without communication? Hermione stared at her ceiling in disbelief. He saw her on the teli? Did that mean he watched the Threshold Finale? But that was a Muggle Reality TV Show!
Hermione couldn't breathe. She felt all woozy and dizzy. She turned toward her couch with one thought in her mind, sit down and sleep.
At that exact moment, Hermione saw about 50 other letters wedged under her front door. Things suddenly started to come clear. She looked at her fireplace, and sure enough, another stack of letters lay haphazardly on the floor.
Hermione made her way to her front door in a daze and picked up all the letters strewn on the floor. She barely could hold them in one hand. Placing them on her coffee table, she then went to the fireplace and picked up the other batch of letters.
Immediately, all thoughts of sleep suddenly flew out of her brain. Hermione had dozens of letters in front of her and she'd be damned if she didn't read them all at once.
Hermione brought all the letters into her dining room, hoping to read all the letters while taking her breakfast. Hermione's stomach was growling like crazy and she knew the arrival of the letters was in perfect timing with her eating. She didn't need to wait for the Daily Prophet. That morning, she'd be reading her fan mail.
Putting all the letters on her dining table, Hermione prepared some toast, eggs and lemonade.
When her food was ready, she first sorted through the mail in case there was a letter from Draco that got mixed up with the others. Finding that there was none from him, Hermione took the letter at the topmost portion of the stack and opened it at once.
Dear Ms. Granger,
I am pleased to know that you and Mr. Malfoy are doing very well together. Just so you know; the show is a very big hit here in Hogwarts... I am very proud of the two of you. Best of luck.
Albus Dumbledore
P.S. Prof. Snape says he'd never thought he'd see the day Malfoy and you get together. Funny, Prof. McGonagall seems to think the same way.
Hermione nearly died in shock. What the heck? Prof. Dumbledore, sending her a letter about last night's finale? She thought only the Muggle World watched Muggle Reality TV? If everyone in Hogwarts was able to watch it, no doubt other witches and wizards watched the show as well.
Hermione hesitated in picking up the next letter. What if it came from one of the Slytherins? What if there was some curse sent to her? What if she was sent a howler?
Hermione looked at the stack of letters in front of her. She picked out the least dangerous looking envelope - which was probably impossible as all the envelopes looked the same and opened it up. It was from a Muggle named xzaire.
Hermione,
Last night's finale was the bomb! I absolutely love you and Draco. You guys are my heroes! I hope you get married in the future! You look so good together. Tell me, will you be doing any other shows, movies or anything in the future? E-mail me.
Your biggest fan, xzaire
Hermione gave out a forced laugh. The fear of getting a howler vanished from her brain. Her and Draco married? That would be the end of the world! She didn't even know where Draco was at the moment; much less marry him any time soon.
But bless that poor muggle's heart. She obviously didn't know what was behind her and Draco's relationship.
Hermione read several other letters from other muggles who wished her the best and told her how much they loved her. Her heart nearly overflowed with happiness...
Although her heart was silently breaking because the letters slightly reinforced the fact that she and Draco weren't talking, the love and support other people had for her was just overwhelming. To think they didn't have the slightest idea who she really was. If she felt anything at this moment, it was just plain thankful.
Hermione breezed through letters from frifri, Just Jett, Lillian-is-fickle, Lisi, sugar n spice 522, monkeybutt, Kethryn, SwTnDrEaMyPnAy03, English-Foxlette, firehottie, mrs w00d nd malf0y, PaintPro1000, Cassiel Oliviari, Erin, lil-ms-sneeky, citcat299, Venus725, SRAndrews, LilliannaRose, kawaii&crazy, finally-defeated and Googley-Eye (thanks for reviewing last chapter guys!)
When Hermione finished reading all their letters, she stared at the remaining ones. There were now only handfuls left.
Hermione had just reached for the nearest envelope and was starting to open it when she suddenly heard a loud pop from her living room. "Oh," she muttered feeling slightly rattled.
Not having the energy to stand up and greet Ginny, Hermione called out from the dining room loudly. "Gin, in here."
Hearing the footsteps treading towards her, Hermione grasped all her letters and proudly held them up while she looked at her approaching friend. She would be so surprised to see all these wonderful letters. It was overwhelming to just look at the lot of them, Ginny was sure to bawl. "You wouldn't belie -,"
Hermione's voice was caught in her throat. She wasn't able to finish what she was saying. All she was able to do was stare dumbly at the person standing in front of her.
Time seemed to stop and the world began to shake. Hermione's jaw dropped and then her heart started to beat wildly.
There standing in front of her was not Ginevra Weasley, but Draco Malfoy, the very person she least expected to show up inside her apartment.
"Hey!" muttered Hermione as she continued to gape at Draco who was now towering over her and her dining table. Hermione mentally slapped herself. For all those times she practiced this moment in her head, all she could come up now was hey?
For what seemed like forever, Draco and Hermione stared at each other as if they were seeing each other for the first time.
Fortunately, after a few awkward moments, Draco was able to recover into reality. "Hey!" he answered back.
As soon as the silent spell was broken, Hermione quickly fumbled around the table gathering all her letters. She made it into a big lump and then threw it on top of the empty chair beside her. She then smiled brightly at Draco acting as if nothing happened.
Though Draco was on his wits end with nerves going into overdrive, the sight of Hermione hurriedly clearing her letters from the table amused him to no end temporarily making him forget his own nervousness. He smiled back.
A deafening silence immediately enveloped the whole of Hermione's dining room. Nobody breathed a word. All there was were Draco and Hermione giving each other pasted smiles.
"I," Draco and Hermione said simultaneously after seconds of waiting for each other to start talking.
Draco quickly examined his shoes and then summoned the courage to tell Hermione what was on his mind. He didn't go to all this trouble to make a fool out of himself. What he was going to say was well rehearsed. He replayed this scene over and over the previous night. He shouldn't go wrong.
Hermione couldn't take the silence anymore. "We got dozens of letters from people who watched last night's show. Do you want to read them? We even got one from Dumbledore! Would you believe?"
Draco looked up and focused on Hermione's face. Her brown eyes were boring into his heart and soul.
Suddenly, all the prepping he did flew out of his head. He just would say what he felt as it is. "That's really nice. But that's not the reason I'm here today... Listen, I wanted to talk about what happened in Spain," he started. "I..."
Without saying another word, Draco swiftly crossed the few feet that separated him from Hermione and then leaned over and kissed her gently on the lips.
Taken by surprise, Hermione gasped loudly. Her eyes darted from side to side and her arms flailed wildly into the air. She raised her arm to slap Draco in the face. But instead, as if having a mind of its own, her hand landed on the back of his head pulling him even closer to her.
After minutes of breathless kissing, Draco realized what they were doing and then suddenly pulled back. "I-I'm s-sor-ry." he stammered widening the space between him and Hermione. "I shouldn't have done that."
With emotions rolling through her body and mind, Hermione just nodded mutely. She had no idea how to react or what to say, she was shocked and shaken by what just took place.
Not knowing what else to do, Hermione motioned Draco to take the empty sit adjacent from her and then silently pushed the uneaten toast toward his direction.
Draco willingly took a piece of toast even though he wasn't hungry and then started munching. He focused his attention on the piece of bread as if it was the most fascinating thing in the planet.
Hermione watched Draco tear up minute pieces of bread and then slowly bringing it to his mouth. It was torture for Hermione. What was he bidding his time for? He should be talking by now!
Hermione was getting impatient. All she wanted to hear was his side on why he left her so abruptly in Spain without any explanation. Was that so hard to explain?
Not able to take it any longer, Hermione reached her breaking point. She broke the ice and muttered, "So, you finally received one of my DOZEN letters?" Hermione watched for any reaction from Draco.
Sure enough, as if he was only waiting for Hermione to start the conversation, Draco dropped the piece of toast he was holding and then turned to Hermione, his eyes full of emotion.
He started to speak but no words came out. What was happening to him? Draco speechless? Impossible!
Frustration started to creep up on Hermione and she rolled her eyes and sighed loudly. It was getting harder and harder to communicate with Draco. What was wrong with them? A few weeks back, they were like the best of friends.
Giving up, Hermione stood up from her chair and walked toward the living room leaving Draco by himself.
As soon as Hermione turned her back to leave, Draco quickly caught her hand in his and then pulled her back down towards her chair. "Don't leave." He pleaded, his voice filled with agony and apprehension.
As if possessed by an unknown entity, Hermione sat back down quietly without a fight and then waited again for Draco to start talking.
"For the record," started Draco looking directly into Hermione's chocolate brown eyes that were now lined with pain. "There is no truth in your letters. I'm not mad because we lost, I didn't leave because we lost, and I definitely didn't dish you because of a certain amount of money... I - ,"
Draco stopped and then looked hard at Hermione who had confusion written all over her face. He allowed her to speak. "So why did you leave then?" she questioned.
Hearing Hermione's question drove Draco over the edge. He wasn't ready to answer that just yet. He just couldn't do it. She should have at least let him finish what he was saying first. Now he was out of synch, he didn't know where to begin. He couldn't just say it plain out could he?
Draco straightened up his back and then cleared his throat. Why was it so hard for him to do it?
"Mione, I," Dozens of thoughts and words were rushing toward Draco's brain, but for some reason, words just wouldn't come out of his mouth. He just didn't know where to start. For some reason, he had this awful feeling that things might not come out right and he would blow everything into bits and pieces.
"Look, I was wrong," stammered Draco. "I should have left a note. I should have written back. I shouldn't have done what I did. You don't know how guilty I -,"
Hermione couldn't take it anymore. This is not what she wanted to hear! She didn't want to hear Draco blabbering! Sure she wanted him to say he was sorry, but all she wanted to know right now was the reason why he left. Did she do something wrong? Was it something she said?
"Goodness, Draco!" interrupted Hermione dismayed. "Stop apologizing and just answer my question. Why did you leave!?"
Hermione had every intention to scream her head off while she said what she said. But being weakened by all the emotions of the day and having Draco in her apartment, what came out of her mouth was too soft to even show authority.
But that weakness didn't change how she felt deep inside. She was still very frustrated and at the end of her rope. She didn't understand a thing that was happening. Sure she loved Draco but the hurt she was feeling right now was doing a good job at blotting all that she felt for him. "Was it something I did? Was it something I said? Don't you like me? Am I not good enough for you? Just tell me..."
Draco sighed. It had come to this. He didn't want to break it to her this way but he had no choice.
"I love you okay. I didn't want to fall but I did. I didn't want to be your boyfriend wannabe but I was. The truth is I'm crazy about you and it just kills me to think that I will never measure up to you. It pains me to know that I'm from a whole different world from you, pining for just one touch of your hand, one kiss from your lips. It's eating me up inside, Mione... I may not know much, but I know what I want. I know what I need... Do you know what that is, Mione?" Draco paused and then with all sincerity in his eyes and in his voice, he said, "You."
Hermione was floored. She didn't know what to say. "Draco, I - ,"
Draco waited patiently for her answer... Just tell me you love me too... his head screamed.
Hermione was still too stunned to say anything. "I'm sorry."
Draco's face immediately transformed from hope to anguish. Not exactly the words he wanted to hear at the moment. "You're sorry? What for? I don't want your pity. Heck, what am I doing here? I'm so stupid! I really thought there was something between us... I guess I was wrong."
Draco quickly stood up and paced the room in circles hitting and mumbling incoherently to himself.
Hermione watched Draco helplessly. She was speechless, shocked, and basically out of her mind. She knew she just made a fool out of herself. Draco just spilled out everything he was feeling for her and all she did was sit there and say the wrong things. He obviously took her apology the wrong way. He probably thought that she didn't want his love or something.
Hermione sat frozen on her chair. Words flowed freely through her brain but her mouth just wouldn't spit them out.
Suddenly, Draco stopped walking and then turned to Hermione with a disgruntled look on his face. "I think I should go. This was a mistake. I'm sorry too."
Draco quickly turned around and headed out the door.
Hermione watched helplessly as Draco walked away from the dining room – away from her life.
"Wait!" Hermione called so quietly it was barely audible to the human ear.
Draco heard Hermione but continued to walk away. He made a fool out of himself by coming to her place uninvited and he wasn't about to be humiliated again.
His original plan was just have a casual conversation with Hermione, invite her to Scotland for a short vacation – to meet his mother. And then probably there in the new Manor he'd tell her how he really felt about her.
But everything just came out very wrong! He wasn't able to control his feelings; he wasn't able to stick to his plan. Damn Hermione! Why did she have to be her?
"Draco, wait!" repeated Hermione when Draco didn't stop walking away.
For all he was worth, Draco forced himself to stop. Though he wanted to continue walking away and heal his broken heart in solitude, he also needed to listen to what Hermione had to say, no matter how painful it might be. Yes, he was a sucker for pain.
"I -," started Hermione unsure of what to say.
For some weird reason, Draco's heart skipped a beat. Was she going to reciprocate his feelings? Was she going to say she loved him too?
"I don't know what to say."
At fast as his heart soared into the air, immediately, it came plummeting to the ground. He was expecting too much. What was he thinking? Did he really think that Hermione loved him too? He said it himself; she was too good for him. They were from different worlds.
Hermione mentally slapped herself for her stupidity. Real charming! Now he would really love you.
Hermione tried again. "Draco Malfoy, you have no idea how happy I am to hear what you just said coming straight from your mouth."
Draco turned around and he found himself face to face with Hermione. He didn't hear her stand up from her chair. He didn't hear her following him. But there she was, walking towards him with tears all over her cheeks. Oh gosh! What did I do again? Why is she crying?
"I've wanted to hear those words for so long! I thought I'd never hear it coming from you! I don't know exactly where you got the idea that we're not fit to be together. Don't you see? The barriers don't matter to me. Because in reality Draco, it wouldn't change what I feel for you - I'm in love with you too."
It was Draco's turn to be speechless and shocked. Hermione was telling him she loved him! After all this time? After all the sleepless nights he had to endure? After all the torturing he did to his mind? Why didn't he just tell her before? It could have been much easier. He could have saved them both from heartache.
Instantly, as if blood drained from his brain, Draco felt woozy inside and he thought he would faint. His knees buckled beneath his weight and he desperately tried to hang on to something.
Quick as lightning, Hermione was by his side helping him support his weight and leading him towards the chairs. She took a glass of water and gave it to Draco. "Are you alright? I'm sorry, I didn't know what I said would be such news for you." said Hermione while wiping Draco's brow with a wet paper towel she conjured out of thin air.
Though still feeling nauseous, Draco managed to laugh and soon enough, laughter filled the room. "Are you kidding? I knew you loved me all the time... It's just that I didn't have any breakfast..."
Hermione snickered. "Yeah right." She dismissed what Draco said and then continued wiping his forehead.
Draco blushed bright red and he placed the glass of water Hermione gave him on his cheeks. "I'm bloody embarrassed fainting in front of a girl, much more because that girl is you! What must you be thinking right now?"
Sensing Draco's discomfort of falling apart in front of her, Hermione smiled sweetly and said "Don't worry, if it did anything, it just reinforced how attracted I am to you."
For some reason, this made Draco blush even more. He suddenly remembered his original plan and then carefully chose his words in his brain. "If I invited you to go to Scotland with me to meet my mother, would you agree?"
Hermione was taken aback at such a plain question. Draco said it like it was nothing, but she sure knew that her decision to this question would mean a different turn into her life's direction.
She instantly weighed the pros and cons of going to Scotland with Draco and then finally decided that the pros way outweighed the cons.
Without batting an eyelash, Hermione nodded vigorously and said "Of course!"
Draco and Hermione spent the next hours catching up on each other's recent businesses. Draco told Hermione about the Malfoy Manor, how he could be able to redeem it with the prize money he would be receiving; how his mother told him about the new manor in Scotland; how he agonized about not being able to let Hermione know how he felt; the pain he felt when he thought how unworthy he was of her.
Hermione in turn also poured out her heart to Draco. She told him how she and Ginny talked for hours about him, forever analyzing why he did what he did; how she run out of parchment writing and rewriting the letters she sent to him; how she cried when he left; and how painful it was to think that she was nothing to him.
Tears overflowed in Hermione's dining room and when finally they poured all they felt out to each other, they were exhausted and decided to watch television – anything but a reality TV show.
A ring from Hermione's doorbell jolted Draco and Hermione out of sleep. For some weird reason, both of them dozed off while watching TV.
Hermione quickly turned the TV off and then shouted. "Just a minute!"
After quickly running around and fixing her place up, Hermione opened the door and almost immediately let out a loud gasp.
Argus-Filch-look-alike, the person she and Draco talked to at the Couples Threshold audition was standing right outside her door, right in front of her, with a big smile on his face.
"Hello dearie, so nice it is to see you! I missed you!" Argus-look-alike said trying to be charming.
"Hey!" said Draco smiling as he came up from behind Hermione to look Argus-look-alike face to face. "I never thought the day would come that I'd see you again. You look great by the way!"
Not knowing Hermione had company, Argus-look-alike looked confused for a moment. As he remembered who Draco was in Hermione's life, he acknowledged him with a scowl. "So, you're still together? I was expecting that you two broke up, considering the number of complaints and comments we had about the two of you – how you really are not a couple; how you sleep in different beds; how you treat each other worse than enemies... In fact, because of that, the Threshold Staff asked me to check up on both of you since I was the one who interviewed you guys. They wanted me to see for myself if you two were lying, then I could hold your prizes and probably file a lawsuit for perjury."
Hermione looked uncomfortably at Draco. Boy, they were in big trouble!
Draco however didn't seem bothered by what Argus just said at all. He rolled his eyes and then said "You can't stop us from getting what is rightfully ours. We won those prizes fair and square! Besides, you know very well that we are a couple... Otherwise, what would that say about you? Letting un-couples enter a couple reality TV show. What do you like? Another proof of how Mione and I are indeed together?"
Hermione had to fight with all her might to keep a straight face as she watched Argus-look-alike's expression change from smugness to pure horror. He obviously still remembered the thing Draco said about their "abnormal" traits.
"Oh no, it's not what you think." Draco said sounding very amused. "We wouldn't show you our bodily secrets... I would be embarrassed like heck. I just wanted to tell you that we're expecting... If that isn't a proof that we're a couple, I don't know what is."
Behind Hermione, away from Argus' eyes, Draco took his wand out of his pocket and muttered beneath his breath.
Immediately, Hermione felt all warm inside and she felt her belly moving.
"See, see." Draco said sounding very excited. "Our baby is moving. Won't you like to touch him? Or her?"
Argus skeptically looked at Draco and then at Hermione's fairly flat belly. He cautiously allowed Draco to grasp his hand and guide it across Hermione's stomach.
Sure enough, after a few moments, there seemed to be a strong kick coming from within Hermione. Hermione thought to herself, if her belly was as flat as it is, the baby should be around 2 months, at the most 3... It couldn't move that well yet!
Argus-look-alike though was unfazed, he nodded and then smiled. "Congratulations! I'm sure the Threshold Staff would be happy to hear about this! I'm sorry for doubting the two of you. It's just that there was this girl Fiona who pestered us all at Threshold telling us about you not being a real couple and that you weren't even real humans. But I guess that girl is off her rocker."
Argus-look-alike nodded again in approval and then without another word, he handed over the checks named after Hermione and Draco and the blank plane tickets that would take them to places they could spend their vacations. He gave them a number to call if they had any questions and then quickly went away humming to himself.
After Argus-look-alike was out the door, Draco and Hermione looked at each other and then all of a sudden just burst out laughing.
"That was a wonderful trick! Where did you learn to make a baby?" Hermione said putting her hand to her belly. She still felt the slight movement inside her stomach and she blushed. If this is how if felt to be the mother of Draco's child, she'd do it without any hesitation.
"I know how to make a baby but not through magic." Draco said teasingly making Hermione blush even more. "The spell is a snake displacement spell. I would tell you how to do it, but maybe next time..."
Hermione stared in horror as the gravity of Draco's words made an impact on her. "Y-y-you m-mean there's a s-s-snake inside me?"
Realizing what he just did, Draco immediately took out his wand and muttered the counter curse to his spell... "Nope, there's no snake inside of you."
"You idiot!" Hermione blasted at Draco feeling very irritated, scared and silly at the same time. "You placed a snake inside me for the amusement of Argus?"
"Yes, I'm an idiot. You're with an idiot now. Good luck to you. We are having problems because I'm an idiot, I'm sorry." stammered Draco sensing traces of a would-be upcoming fight. They were just recently a real couple and now they were fighting again!
Instead of getting even angrier, as Draco expected, Hermione burst out laughing. "Yes, you are an idiot, but a bloody brilliant idiot. You definitely need to teach me that snake displacement spell, or else I'll have to let you eat cockroaches."
Draco smiled in relief as he saw Hermione in a good mood again. He wrapped his arms tightly around her and whispered in her ear.
"It's funny don't you think? How your life could turn upside down in just a span of several weeks? It's crazy! We have plane tickets, checks worth thousands in our names... We didn't win the million pounds but it sure as heck was a wild wild ride. The ultimate adventure... Wasn't that what you wanted when we first met in the Leaky Cauldron? It seemed so long ago!"
Hermione wrapped her arms around Draco's waist and all love she felt for him overflowed. She pulled him close and then kissed him on the lips lightly. "Yeah, isn't it funny?" said Hermione when she pulled back from Draco. "But my greatest adventure is just unfolding before my eyes." Hermione placed her head on Draco's chest and peacefully listened to his heart beating loudly. "And I'm glad I'll be spending that adventure right here... with you."
-THE END-