Chapter2 - In Black And White

In Black and White

"Oh, darling, it looks wonderful!" cried Jill Granger as she watched her daughter twirl in her wedding gown at the bridal shop in Hogsmeade one July morning, about a week after their article in the Daily Prophet was posted.

"Yes, it is beautiful. I'm so glad I picked this one…" sighed Hermione as a large grin spread across her face.

Hermione couldn't believe she was getting married, to Ron nonetheless.

"Oh my God!" came the voice of Hermione's cousin, Jenna.

"What is it, Jenna?" asked Hermione with a worried look on her face.

"I can't believe what Harry's saying here! Didn't you used to date this guy, Hermione?" asked Jenna.

"Jen, I told you, I never dated Harry…"

"No, not Harry, this guy! The one in the Prophet!" cried Jenna.

"Let me see that," said Hermione. Hermione snatched the paper out of cousin's hands, and gasped.

Hermione managed to trip off of the fitting stool, and she heard a loud tear, but wasn't very mindful of it. Hermione was too busy reading the article.

POTTER TELLS; MALFOY BIG HELP.

Potter, today, mentions to Daily Prophet reporter, Justine Smith, "If not for Draco Malfoy, I doubt I ever would've been able to figure out how to kill Volde- sorry, You-Know-Who."

Draco Malfoy, Son of critically acclaimed Death Eater, Lucius Malfoy, never seemed to be the type to aid the Ministry rather than He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named himself. Potter assures us, "Malfoy's reasoning for helping the ministry is justifiable, to the human heart."

Hermione then looked at up the large school photo of Draco. Hermione saw the glint in his eye that she had almost forgotten, and looked down at the floor, completely unaware that she was on the ground, and that there was now a large tare in her dress.

"Oh, Hermione, now it's ruined!" cried Jill Granger. Hermione looked at her mother with a sort of confusion.

"What? Oh, the dress. No problem mum, watch. Reparo!"

Draco entered his living room once again to find the Daily Prophet sitting on his coffee table. Draco had been alone the night previous, and hoped to find company in the pub on the outskirts of town a little bit later. Draco lifted the Prophet, and reddened with anger.

"What the bloody hell is this?" asked Draco to himself.

Draco read the article, and it stated how he had helped Potter defeat the Dark Lord, how Draco suggested to use a Patronus, and how he had taken a wound to the side in order to help the Ministry.

If you speak to any of their former classmates, it is likely that they will say that Potter and Malfoy hated each other, and even if that is the truth, they managed to help each other in ways that many of us would never imagine.

"Ugh, I'm going to kill that bloody Potter…" mumbled Malfoy in a slight rage.

Draco stupidly threw his half full mug of coffee on the couch, and it spilled all over.

"Shit, it's ruined, oh duh…" Draco pointed his wand at the newly formed stain, and it vanished in a flash.

Hermione,
Having lunch with parents. I'll be home in a few hours.
Love,
Ron

Hermione read the note that Ron had placed on the fridge, and slumped on to her couch. She stared at the article again, and then at the picture. Hermione couldn't believe her eyes. She had no idea that Malfoy had helped the ministry, and also couldn't believe that Harry hadn't told her in the six years he had known.

Hermione tied her hair back, and began to do the household chores. If anything could distract her from reading, it was cleaning.

Great. Now she knows. Thanks, Potter… thought Draco as he threw the paper away except for the front page, which was containing his article.

Draco read the article again, and shuddered. Draco wondered if Hermione even cared, but he decided to avoid the subject in his mind, and placed two pieces of bread into the toaster.

Draco ruffled up his hair, and looked back at the photo album he had been looking at a week previous, and decided to pick it up and look through it in the two minutes while his toast cooked.

Draco looked at all of his pictures of before his sixth year, and noticed how angry, how cold he looked.

I was a miserable lad I guess… thought Draco. Then he flipped through his sixth year picture. He avoided the photo of himself and Hermione as best as he could, but he did look at all of the others.

Draco noticed how at age sixteen, there was a certain happiness about him, and he knew why.

Hermione…

Draco then looked at age seventeen pictures, and noticed that he was even happier, if that were at all possible…

What's wrong with me? It's been seven years, Malfoy, get over it… Draco thought as he continued to stare at his photos.

When he saw photos of adult-hood, he looked just as miserable as ever.

Draco finally got the nerve to look at the Hermione photos, and realized, he needed her.

Hermione's mind began to race as she scrubbed each and every dish. Why couldn't she get her mind off of Draco lately? I mean, come on, just because he's in the paper once or twice…

There was also her constant dreaming about him. Although Hermione did indeed love Ron, she noticed her mind would leave him while she slept, and run off with Draco down memory lane. The dreams she had were not only memories though. Once in a while, a long while it would normally be, she would dream of a current romance, of engagement, and marriage, and even as far as children with her first love.

Those dreams… thought Hermione, are ludicrous.

When Hermione realized she could just magic the dishes clean, although she had a bad habit of not doing so, she stopped and sat down on her couch again. She stared at the Draco article on the table, and then decided to hide it somewhere. Something told her she couldn't throw it away, but she didn't want Ron going mad over it either.

Hermione placed it somewhere that she knew Ron would never go.

In the vegetable cabinet.

Hermione heaved out a long sigh, and sat down on the couch, and lifted up a new book she had bought in Hogsmeade, Getting married; a book about fun wedding spells and ideas.

Suddenly, about an hour into her reading, Ron came in suddenly, and whispered, "Accio Clothing!"

A suitcase that seamed to already be filled with clothes zoomed into Ron's hand, and Hermione looked at Ron quizzically.

"Where are you going, Ron?" asked Hermione.

"I have to go to Scotland. There seams to be some sort of You-Know-Who supporting nutter over there who keeps claiming he can resurrect him, and it's scarring the Scottish right. I'll be back in a few days…" said Ron. He kissed Hermione on the lips, and rushed out.

"I love you, Hermione. I'll be back soon," said Ron. Hermione waved goodbye, and was actually some what pleased about Ron's absence.

Good, thought Hermione. Then I don't have to worry about going to visit Draco on his plantation for a few days.