Hermione sat down heavily at her dressing table in the chapel as her fingers tapped out a nervous beat against the table. The picture taking session was over and she had withdrawn to her dressing room. She didn't think she could keep up with that happy façade any longer. Hermione had to change out of her wedding dress quickly though because she was supposed to leave for her honeymoon right about now.

Ignoring the urgency of a delayed Portkey, Hermione slowly reached out and twisted the ring on her third finger of her left hand. She watched as the diamond caught the light and flashed beautifully. She hadn't…couldn't take it off. Ron had understood her situation. He had never pressured her to remove it and for that she was eternally grateful to him.

Draco had proposed to her the night he died and she had accepted. In that godforsaken War she had been happy. It made it a thousand times worse when she'd come crashing down back to earth once she heard the horrifying news from Harry. Truth be told, Hermione didn't remember much from the days after Draco's death. It all seemed to blur together in a haze of misery, loneliness and heartache. Sometimes it got too hard to even be alive.

Hermione caught her reflection in the mirror as she stared miserably ahead. For once in her life she actually looked beautiful and he…he couldn't be here see it. Her hands itched to rip the veil away and just run and never look back. Hermione closed her eyes tightly and dug her nails into her palms. It just wouldn't do to think about him. He wasn't going to come back!

When she opened her eyes again Hermione gave a startled gasp. Reflected in the mirror was Neville Longbottom's 8 year old daughter Bethany standing in the doorway.

"Beth!"

"Aunt Hermione I've got a message for you."

"Oh right right! They want me to hurry right? I'm sorry I'll get changed at once," Hermione said feverishly as she stood up and started stuffing her makeup into a bag.

"He wants you to be happy."

"Oh your dad? Tell him I say thank you okay? I appreciate of all you coming," Hermione said, giving Bethany a quick smile as her hands worked wildly.

"Well he doesn't want you to be sad. He says he could see it in your eyes," Bethany said slowly.

Hermione stopped dead in the middle of stuffing a brush in the corner pocket of her bag.

"What?" she breathed out finally, as her shocked brown eyes met Bethany's understanding blue ones. "Your dad thinks I'm unhappy?"

She knew Neville had always been a kind and compassionate person but damn it she'd tried so hard to be happy! He wasn't supposed to see through her that easily!

To her surprise, Bethany shook her head slowly.

"Not my dad. Draco."

The brush fell from Hermione's hands, her body stiffened and her mind raced in a million different directions

"Bethany what are you talking about?" Hermione finally asked, her voice a dangerous tremulous whisper.

Bethany smiled sadly.

"I'm not making it up Aunt Hermione," Bethany said earnestly. "I can see him. My dad says it's a very rare gift."

Hermione shook her head violently.

"No…no…NO! He's dead Beth. Please don't do this to me," her broken voice contrasting sharply with her violent actions.

"I know you believe me Aunt Hermione."

And Hermione did. She really did. No matter how impossible it may be. People didn't just play cruel jokes on other people like that. Deep in the corner recesses of her heart Hermione had always hoped that he hadn't just left her like that. That he'd find a way to say goodbye, and now Bethany was telling her that he did.

"Is he here now?" Hermione asked slowly her eyes travelling wildly around the room, as her knees finally gave in and she sat heavily on a chair.

"No. He had to leave. He told me to tell you that you make a beautiful bride. And he wished that it could have been him but since it couldn't, congratulations anyway."

Hermione nodded once and that simple gesture looked painful to make.

"He wants you to know he's fine. Well, he's sorry that he's dead but he says not to worry because he'll definitely find you in the next life."

For a long moment Hermione soaked in her words.

"Did…di..did he say anything else?" Hermione whispered finally, searching Bethany's eyes desperately.

"No. But Aunt Hermione…," Bethany said coming forward and taking Hermione's trembling hands. "He didn't have to say I love you. I could see it. He knows that you know."

And she did know. Hermione's heart felt as if was breaking all over again as she bent her head low and bit hard on her lip.

"He did tell me to do one last thing though," Bethany said in a soothing voice.

Before Hermione could lift her head, Bethany gently kissed Hermione's temple and whispered in her ear, "Be happy. I'll see you soon."

The tears that Hermione had been suppressing for such a long time slipped from the corner of Hermione's eyes as she shivered involuntarily at Bethany's actions. She hadn't heard those words since Draco had left the Headquarters and never returned. Draco had whisper those very words in her ear and kiss her every time he left for a mission during those long years ago. It had been their special little mantra.

"Be safe. I'll be there," Hermione finally whispered back brokenly, her words a perfect reply for his.

Bethany who had been told to wait for that very response hugged Hermione tightly once and then respectfully she left Hermione alone.

Hermione sat there, letting her tears flow down her cheeks unchecked as she cried and cried. Heart rending sounds that showed how she really felt but could never say.

Though she had married Ron Weasley, Hermione knew that in the eyes of love she and Draco would always be man and wife.