A/N: Thanks for the reviews guys. I am glad you guys liked it.
To my friend, VBC, I was thinking the same darn thing. Guess I am just a bit rusty. I hope the next chapter is better for you….
Chapter 2
Draco watched as a band of Aurours, which included Potter, Finnegan, and Longbottom, exited the front doors of Hogwarts. Hate rose as Ron Weasley soon followed suit. Right then and there, he wanted to jump out and hex Weasley, turning him into some sort of ugly, repulsive creature. His conscience, however, held him back. He watched the group as they descended down the hill towards Hogsmeade Village.
As they disappeared from sight, Draco's eyes turned back to the castle. 'She's in there, she's so close' he thought to himself. But he knew he couldn't just waltz right in and claim her. No, the Aurours were smarter than that. The Minister of Magic, Arthur Weasley, was smarter than that. Surely, they knew he would come to this place to retrieve Hermione and take her with him.
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Hermione woke slowly as she heard a small commotion outside her door. She sat up and listened intently.
"She has to eat Arthur. She's been in there for hours."
"Molly, if she was hungry she would tell us."
At that moment, Hermione's stomach growled at the mention of food. She had barely eaten anything that day on account of her nerves. She jumped from the bed and knocked on the door, causing both Mr. and Mrs. Weasley to jump.
"I'm hungry."
Molly looked back to her husband, a triumphant smile on her face. Arthur rolled his eyes at his wife, "Fine," and with a wave of his wand, the lock on the door clicked.
Hermione stood back and watched Mrs. Weasley as she entered the room with a tray of sandwiches, "Here you go deary, you must be famished."
"Very," Hermione grabbed one of the sandwiches and took a large bite out of it.
Molly watched her with concern, "I am sorry you are locked up in here Hermione. I personally don't see the point. As long as you stay in the castle, keep someone with you.
Hermione nodded, but didn't agree with the thought of a "chaperone." She would have protested with Molly, to try to convince Arthur to at least let her be with her friends. But the sandwiches were far too enjoyable to interrupt with speaking.
But, eating too fast soon caught up with Hermione and she suddenly felt nauseous. Molly, being the great mother she was, noticed Hermione getting pale, "Dear are you feeling alright," she rubbed her back slowly, "You look like you are going to be sick."
Hermione nodded quickly and Molly grabbed her and pulled her toward the door. She knocked furiously, "Open the door!" she shouted.
Kingsley Shockbolt, was on the otherside, "Molly, I am sorry, she must stay-"
"Move it or you will be covered in whatever is about to come out of her stomach!" shouted Molly. Kingsley looked down at Hermione in horror and quickly moved out of the way.
Molly guided Hermione by her arm into the nearest bathroom. Hermione ran towards the empty stalls and proceeded to get sick. Molly stood, holding her hair and rubbed her back.
"It's alright dear, it's been a strange day. Your emotions have been up and down…shhh...its okay."
"Is everything alright, is she okay?"
Ginny entered the bathroom and watched with concern, "She will be fine dear. She just ate too fast."
After a few minutes of hanging over the toilet, Hermione wiped the sides of her mouth and stood on shaky legs. She made her way over to the sink and splashed water on her face.
"Hermione, are you okay?" asked Ginny as she watched her friend swish some water in her mouth.
She spit the water out and nodded, "Fine, my stomach is just a mess."
"Mum," said Ginny as she turned to her mother, "Can I talk to Hermione, in private, please?"
Molly looked from her daughter over to Hermione, "Alright, I will be just outside the door. Make it quick, your father will have a field day if he knew I left you two in here alone."
She smiled at both of them and left the girls alone in the bathroom.
Ginny watched the door close behind her mother and turned to Hermione, "Hermione, Draco is in the castle."
Hermione looked at her with curiousity, "What do you mean, he is in the castle?"
"Well, I am pretty sure it was him. He was in the form of his animagus."
"You saw a ferret running around?" asked Hermione with little concern.
Ginny nodded, "I did, just before you came in here with mum. It looked like he was headed for your chambers."
Hermione shook her head and smiled, "Don't be silly, Ginny. Draco is long gone. He isn't coming anywhere near here, near me."
"Hermione, you are not this naïve, are you?"
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"Well," said Ginny, "It's obvious what Draco has done."
"What's that," asked Hermione, pretending to not sound curious.
"Hermione, he's escaped on your wedding day. He knew full well, the entire clan of aurors would be here. He knew Harry and Ron would be the first to try to find him, leaving the wedding to be postponed. It's incredibly romantic."
"Ginny that is crazy, I truly doubt Draco planned this all out to get me alone and take me away."
Ginny looked at her and brought her hands to her hips, "Is it Hermione, is it really that crazy?" Hermione nodded which caused Ginny to throw her hands up in frustration.
"Hermione, do you even believe in romance?"
"Of course I do, that's a stupid question Ginny."
"Well, I happened to be on hand several times when you two were together. I had never seen any two people more entranced with each other. I even recall the precise moment that you fell in love with Draco Malfoy. I was there, remember?"
Hermione considered what Ginny was saying for a moment. A smile came to her face when she thought of that day in Diagon Alley.
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The sun was starting to fall on the cobblestone streets. Hermione was getting a few last things before the new semester at Hogwart's. She was going to be teaching Potions, filling the position which was left vacant after the death of Severus Snape in the Great War.
She had found out, just the day before that she was the one chosen for the job. She didn't know who the other candidates were, but she knew Dumbledore had made the right choice.
Ginny had tagged along, hoping to take a look at some ideas for a wedding dress. Harry had proposed the previous Christmas, just after the war. They had grown closer and closer, and when Ginny and Hermione were kidnapped by the Death Eaters, Harry decided the feelings he felt were to strong to ignore.
Ginny and Hermione were of coursed saved. Just in time to be exact, for Harry, Draco and the rest of the aurors ran in just before Voldemort was to perform the killing curse.
Like a romance novel, Harry picked Ginny up and ran her to safety. As for Hermione, her rescuer was Draco Malfoy, however, it wasn't quite as romantic.
"Er, you alright?" asked Draco.
"Yes, thank you."
Draco untied the ropes around her hands and legs, unlike Harry, who dramatically blasted them off with his wand, nearly setting Ginny's hair on fire. When the ropes were off, Draco grabbed Hermione's hand and lifted her from the ground.
"Go on outside, they will look after your cuts," he said, not looking at her face.
Hermione smiled at Draco, "Thank you," she leaned up and went to kiss his cheek. But, not knowing what she was doing, Draco turned his head, causing their lips to meet.
Startled, both pulled away quickly and Hermione jogged off. What Hermione didn't see, was after she left, Draco brought his fingers to his lips and smiled.
Hermione shook from her thoughts and found herself standing outside Flourish and Blotts, Ginny waving a hand in front of her face, "Herm, you alright?"
Hermione smiled, "Yes, sorry, just daydreaming, ready to go in?"
Ginny nodded and they entered the book store. With the term starting in just a few days, the store was filled with Hogwarts students and their parents. Hermione immediately moved towards the potions section, while Ginny headed towards the wedding magazines.
Hermione was looking through a book, strongly recommended by Professor Dumbledore, when she felt a set of eyes on her. She looked up to see Draco Malfoy standing in front of her, arms across his chest.
"I knew it was you," he said with a sinister smile.
She smiled faintly at him. She hadn't seen him since the Christmas Party for the aurors. He still looked good. He was tall, with broad shoulders, his hair falling just below his ears. But, there was only one thing about him that made Hermione weak in the knees. It wasn't his broad shoulders, it was his beautiful blonde hair, it was his eyes.
She tore hers eyes from his and back to her book, "What are you talking about Malfoy?"
He laughed lightly, "You took my job from me, that's what."
Hermione looked up with amusement, "You mean, you were up for the position as well? But, you are an auror, why would you want to give that up to be a teacher?"
Draco shrugged, "I don't know, something knew. But, no worries, I will just stick to risking my life everyday for the sake of man kind."
Hermione laughed, "Alright then."
There was a short moment of uncomfortable silence, "Well," he finally said, "Good luck."
"Thanks, and good luck to you. You know, with the whole, protecting man kind thing."
He nodded and after giving her one more smile, turned and walked out of the store.
"Was that Draco?" Ginny had made her way over, a stack of magazines in her arms, "He is looking better and better everyday.
Hermione turned to her, "Now, now, what would your fiancée say if he heard you?"
"Hey, I can still make observations. And from what I could observe, he seems to fancy you."
"What? No, that's just stupid," said Hermione with a nervous laugh.
"Hey, I am a journalist. I get paid to notice those type of things. Now, are you ready, I am starving?"
Ginny and Hermione had made their way to the Leaky Cauldron and took a booth in the back. After a little small talk with the waitress, a girl they attended Hogwart's with, they began thumbing through the wedding magazines Ginny had purchased.
"Ooh! Look at this dress Herm! It's absolutely hideous. And this one, who in their right mind would wear that on their wedding day!"
Hermione watched as Ginny grimaced at the pages of gowns and laughed, "Ginny, you are way too picky."
"Please Hermione. I hardly feel a woman would want to walk down the aisle in this," she lifted the magazine up to show Hermione, "And in front of all her relatives! Who wants to look like a slut in front of their grandparents?"
Hermione laughed, "Well, you really need to find a dress Ginny. The wedding is in two months. I am sure you are sick and tired of your mother nagging you about it."
"Well, if you think I am picky, go shopping for a wedding gown with her."
"I could probably help."
Ginny and Hermione jumped and looked up to see Draco standing at their table.
"Oh, hi, Malfoy," said Hermione sheepishly.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but I couldn't help hearing," he took his eyes from Hermione to Ginny, "you still need to find a dress, right?"
Ginny nodded, "Yeah, I guess I am picky."
Hermione huffed, "That's an understatement."
After shooting Hermione a death glare she turned back to Draco, "You said you could help?"
"Yes, well, my tailor's wife is a fairly well known designer. I could probably arrange a meeting."
Ginny squealed in glee, "Oh, that would be wonderful, who is it?"
"Harris, Gwendolyn Harris."
At this, Ginny practically jumped out of her skin, "Gwendolyn Harris? Malfoy! She is wonderful," but her mood soon fell, "Oh, she is way too expensive. Thank you anyways."
Draco smiled, "Well, I don't think that would be a problem. I think I owe Potter after all those years of me being a complete jackass."
"What are you saying, you'll pay for it," asked Hermione, somewhat in shock.
Draco nodded, "Yes, completely pro-bono, what do you say?"
He looked at the girls and tried to hide his amusement at the expressions on their faces.
After a few more moments, Ginny jumped up and wrapped her arms around him, "Oh, you are the best! Hermione," she looked over to her friend, "isn't he the best?"
Hermione smiled, "Yeah, Ginny, he is."
Hermione and Draco's eyes met. Neither said a word, they just smiled. Ginny watched on with suspicion, and soon, her observations from the bookstore were clear. But, not only was Hermione smitten with Draco, she was in love. After all, she had been for sometime.
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"Hermione? Are you alright? Wake up!"
Hermione's eyes shot open and looked around her. She looked at the worried faces that surrounded her bed.
She sat up slowly and put her hand to her head, "Wha-what happened?"
"You fainted in the bathroom. Just blacked out," said Ginny.
"Dear, just lie back down and rest. It's been a stressful day," fussed Molly, "Now, everyone out and let her be."
"Mrs. Weasley, do you mind if Ginny stays in here with me?" asked Hermione.
Molly looked at her with concern and over to Arthur, "Oh, I suppose that would be alright, don't you think Arthur?"
Arthur looked from his wife, to Ginny and then down to Hermione, "I suppose, just stay out of trouble you two."
"And what trouble do you suppose we could get into locked up?" said Hermione with a sarcastic tone.
Arthur didn't answer. He just gave her a half smile and guided his wife out the door.
When the door shut, Hermione fell back to the bed, "Ginny, it was so wonderful."
"What?"
"Well, I sorta had a dream, but, I mean, it was like a flashback. It just seemed so real," she sighed.
Ginny sat next to her on her bed and took her hand into hers, "Were you with Draco?" she asked sweetly.
"Yes, well, kind of. It was that day, in Diagon Alley. You know what I am talking about?"
Ginny nodded, "How can I forget," she said dreamily, "the day Malfoy told me that Gwendolyn Harris would make my wedding dress. Oh, and the day you fell madly in love with him."
She looked back at Hermione, who looked to have a straining look to her, "What? Did you see something?"
Hermione shook her head from what she must have imagined seeing, "No, just my-"
"Shhh!!" Ginny put her hand over Hermione's mouth, "Listen," she whispered.
They sat there like that for about thirty seconds. Just as Ginny was about to release her hand from Hermione's mouth, they both heard it. It was coming from a corner of the room halfway hidden in shadows.
Ginny whispered to Hermione, "Something is squeaking."
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A/N: hmmmm, what or who is squeaking????
That is probably the longest chapter I have ever written in ANY of my stories! Whew!
I really hope it makes sense and I didn't confuse you to much with the jumping back and forth. Please enjoy and let me know! Thanks! R&R