Hermione was laughing and smiling widely as was expected of her on her wedding day. The sun was shining brightly overhead and the picturesque chapel was the perfect backdrop for a romantic union. The day held no indication whatsoever about the turmoil boiling at the pit of Hermione's stomach. She had woken up today in cold sweat having dreamt of Draco Malfoy. Feelings of guilt and sadness had washed over her as she'd sat in bed, pressing the heels of her palms in her eyes and trying not to cry while she thought of him. She didn't know how long she'd sat there until Ginny had come into her room and witnessed her breakdown. Luckily for her Ginny had mistaken her condition for cold feet.
Hermione wanted desperately not to think about Draco. She had trained herself tirelessly and mercilessly not to think or even talk about him in the aftermath of his death but today…today everywhere she went she was assaulted with memories of him. And sometimes she could almost swear that she had even felt his presence here with her.
At the present moment however, Hermione posed for pictures alongside with Ron on the front steps of the chapel, a perfect practiced smile on her face.
First with her parents and a teary eyed Molly Weasley. Click click click. Arthur Weasley had died tragically in the War and Hermione squeezed Ron's hand in a show of support. She knew how hard it must be for him to be standing here on his wedding day without his father.
Then with the entire Weasley brood. Click click click. Hermione stuck out like a sore thumb amongst the sea of red and general happiness.
Next with the bridesmaid, Ginny Weasley and Ron's best man, Harry Potter. Ginny fussed with Hermione's long white dress first, taking her duties as bridesmaid very seriously before turning to the camera. Click click click.
Then just the three of them, the Golden Trio, Ron, Harry and Hermione. Harry stood between Ron and Hermione and their arms were wrapped around one another while they grinned genuinely for the camera. For a moment they were seventeen again and their picture later would be reminiscence from when they just graduated from Hogwarts. Harry then turned to Hermione and Ron and hugged them tightly in a three way embrace.
"Now don't the both of you go forgetting about me," Harry warned them, a twinkle in his green eyes.
"Never!" Hermione promised vehemently and she meant it. "It's always going to be the three of us."
And then finally just her and Ron for the pictures. Bride and groom. Man and wife. Hermione looked up at Ron to find him looking at her with such obvious love in his eyes. Sometimes it choked her when he looked at her like that. It suffocated her because she couldn't return his feelings wholly. A big ball of misery grew at the back of her throat as she swallowed back the threat of tears.
She couldn't love him the way she love Draco Malfoy. That love had died along with Draco. Hermione's heart twisted painfully as she remembered the times she'd imagine dreamily of looking into the mysterious grey eyes of Draco Malfoy on their wedding day. The vision of grey in her mind's eye faded quickly enough to the blue ones of Ron and instantly Hermione pasted a smile on her face.
She didn't want Ron to worry. She'd be a good wife to him, of that she'd make certain.
It just disturbed her that in all her little girl fantasies and later when she'd met the man she wanted to marry Hermione had always dreamt of a beachside wedding with only the people she truly loved as witnesses. Her parents, Harry, Ron and of course the groom. When she'd started substituting Draco for the groom she knew she would never live her dream wedding when Ron had proposed. She couldn't. Not with another man. Not with someone who was supposed to be the guest!
As the photographer continued to take candid shots Hermione's eyes were irresistibly drawn to the long winding path shaded by trees to the side of the Chapel and her smile faltered. If she'd been Bethany, she'd be able to see Draco standing there looking at her for the last time. His grey eyes were stormy as he took in everything he had loved and lost. When he finally turned away she'd have to watch the man she love walk away from her for the last time.
But Hermione wasn't Bethany and so she couldn't understand why a sudden weariness overtook her heart as her eyes travelled the long path he walked.