Chapter 3 Explanations, Tears, Acceptance

Disclaimer: For my birthday next year, the only gift I want is to own Harry Potter but I doubt that is EVER going to happen, sigh.

A/N: Okay this is for one reviewer who wondered whose POV it was. It is Hermione's POV for the whole story unless I say otherwise. Hope that cleared up some things. In addition, I promise to develop Draco and Blaise more, I just need some time and in this chapter, it clears up some things about Lucius.

"Ok, can you explain that one more time?" Draco and Blaise requested, again, for the fifth time.

"Why can't you boys understand it?" Ginny questioned.

"Like you understand it, Gin,"

"As a matter of fact, Blaise, I do. So does Hermione."

"Huh?" I looked up from my food.

My lunch consisted of Italian food from La Citta Italiano, The Italian City. My fork was half way up to my mouth full of tortellini.

"Never mind," Ginny replied shaking her head.

"No, tell me." I insisted as I set my fork down.

Draco sat next to me at the table outside La Citta Italiano. "She's talking about what Elizabeth said, Love."

"Oh! What did you say, Elizabeth? I'm sorry; it's just that I'm extremely hungry so I haven't been…paying attention." I explained sheepishly.

Elizabeth had dark brown, almost, black hair with blonde highlights scattered all over. She had warm chestnut eyes and stood at my height. In front of her she had various books and binders full of pictures, both muggle and wizard. All in all, Elizabeth was our wedding planner and a very good friend of Blaise.

"Don't worry about it, it's perfectly fine. All I was saying was that I wanted to take you four on a tour that would show you various wedding ideas. From there, you would also go to various flower shops, shops for wedding gowns, dress robes, tuxedos, catering shops, decoration shops, that kind of thing."

"How was that hard to understand?" I asked Draco as I turned to him.

He just narrowed his eyes at me playfully. Then he took a bite of my tortellini. I shook my head at him and looked at Ginny who was paying her full attention to Elizabeth, while Blaise was flipping through the binders.

"That sounds good. The shops would consist of things both wizarding and muggle, right?"

"Of course."

Draco interrupted. "Muggle shops?"

"Draco," I drawled dangerously.

"Look, Hermione. I thought we were going to have a wizarding ceremony?"

"Draco, my family is muggle, and so are my relatives. It's like I would be insulting them if I didn't invite them to my own wedding, you understand, right?" I explained innocently.

"Of course, Love." He replied somewhat forcefully.

"If it isn't the lovebirds?" Ron greeted.

"Hello Ron. Hey Harry."

"Weasley, Potter."

"Malfoy," Harry and Ron said in unison

"Hey Ginny, guess who's coming to see you?" Ron's tone was...perky.

"Who?" Ginny looked uncomfortable.

"Ginny! Why didn't you tell me?" Blaise, Ginny, Draco and I all stared wide-eyed at Mrs. Weasley.

"Mum! What are you doing here? In Hogsmeade? Where I am?" Ginny's voice was failing to be sugar-coated.

"Ginny, is that any way to greet your own mother?" I had to try so hard to keep a straight face.

"And Hermione! I thought you would have told me about both of yours and Ginny's weddings. But not to worry, Ron told me all about it."

"Ron," Ginny and I hissed.

"Bye Mum, take care," Ron said hurriedly leaving with Harry.

"Ah, guess what Hermione?" Mrs. Weasley smiled.

"What?" my voice was guarded.

"Turns out your mum didn't know," I was horrified. "and Draco, Blaise, I owled your mum's as well as Hermione's as soon as I found out!"

"You did what?" Blaise and Draco yelled.

"Did I do something wrong?" Is Mrs. Weasley just oblivious or is it just me?

"No, no, Mrs. Weasley. It's just that, we hadn't found the right time to tell our parents yet." I explained slowly.

This did not damper Mrs. Weasley's spirit. "The name's Molly, dear, you know that. Well, all three of your mum's should be here, right about…now." She clapped when she saw three women walking towards us.

One was just as tall as Mrs. Weasley, if not just a bit taller. Her hair was a dark rich, shiny black. She had rich hazel eyes that matched perfectly. She looked young and from what I could tell, her figure was young as well. I could only guess that she was Blaise's mother.

The one next to her had the hard-to-miss blonde hair that, obviously, Draco had inherited. Narcissa Malfoy was to say the least, beautiful. She had clear blue eyes like the sky, and was tall, just maybe shorter than me. Her skin looked healthy and she looked happy, something I didn't expect from her. After all, Lucius had died not that long ago, so I expected her to be a disaster, but I guess I was wrong.

The last one was inevitably my mother. We shared the same shade of brown hair but unlike me, she had piercing green eyes. My mother looked healthy as well and was dressed completely different from Narcissa and Blaise's mother, whom I have yet to know the name of.

"Mother," Draco, Blaise, and I chimed together and walked up to our respective mothers.

I walked up to my mother and hugged her while giving her a kiss on the cheek. "What brings you here, Mum?"

"You see, there I was talking with your Aunt Jackie and your cousin, Justine, when an owl swooped in and dropped a letter on my lap. Now that took a bit of stories to calm them down. Turns out Mrs. Weasley owled me about what Ron told her, which happens to be something you haven't told me, Hermione." Her voice was bittersweet and it was scary.

"You see, Mum, I was going to tell you—"

"But you failed to do so," She interrupted and that is when I noticed that everyone was looking at us, well everyone that mattered, even Elizabeth was looking at us.

"Mum, can we not talk about it right now?" I whispered.

"Hermione, dear, I think that it's all right to talk about it now, seeing as how we all know," voice was still bittersweet.

"Really?" I stalled.

"Hermione," her tone was now cold. "I want an explanation and I want it now."

"Er, um, you see, uh…" I turned and looked at Draco helplessly, turns out his mother was giving him the same look my mother had. "I'm sorry, Mum, I'm sorry that I didn't tell you, it's just that—"

"Just what?"

"What Hermione is trying to say is that while we both would have wanted to tell you right after I had…proposed, we couldn't find the right time to tell you."

"I see," Mum muttered.

"Draco, dear, can Mummy's Dragon tell her what is going on?"

Ginny snickered at Narcissa's nickname for Draco. "Ginevra!" Molly hissed at her daughter.

"It's the same story I told Mrs. Granger, Mum," he whispered.

"Draco," she repeated more sternly. "tell me what is going on. What is all this nonsense about you getting married to a muggleborn? You never even told me you were dating, why is that? Tell me Draco, I really want to know."

"You never told her?" I shrieked at him.

He turned to me with his hands up in defense. "Look, Hermione—"

"You told me that you told her!"

"Technically, I never said that. Actually we never really talked about my mother until the other day."

"Draco!" I whined.

I knew I was being childish, I really did but I couldn't help it. Tears flooded from my eyes and Ginny rushed over to comfort me. She wrapped her arms around me as I shook. I know that it wasn't the time to cry but I couldn't help it. I felt so bad, so betrayed that he hadn't told his own mother that he was, at least, dating. I told my parents the day after; I was too busy celebrating with Ginny the day of.

"Hermione, don't cry," he pleaded. "I'm sorry okay. I really wanted to tell her but you know the type of family I come from—"

"And that's supposed to be an excuse?" I shouted.

"No, it's not. It's just…I'm a fool okay?"

"Got that right." Ginny hissed.

"How could I have been so stupid?" He muttered to himself as he sat down onto the chair. "I just wanted everything to be perfect and now I've ruined it!"

I stopped sobbing, well, as best as I could. The tears finally stopped and I dried them with my hands. Ginny let me go from her embrace after a reassuring hug. I walked over to the seat next to Draco. He kept on muttering about being an idiot and ruining everything. Now that I got a closer look at him, he wasn't on the verge of tears, tears were already falling down from his eyes and the sight pained me. How could I have been so selfish? Here he was trying to make everything perfect, and I have to go and mess it all up.

"Draco, darling, its okay," I whispered soothingly as I placed my hand on his shoulder.

Though his hands were still covering his face, I heard a "no it's not."

"Look at me," when he didn't, I grabbed his face in my hands and made him turn to me. His eyes were red and his cheeks wet. "I'm the one who should be sorry. I overreacted, I should have understood, and now I do. You haven't ruined anything, I swear. Everything is as perfect as I could have ever wanted." I smiled softly at him as he smiled sadly at me. "It's okay, all of it. I understand, I really do. So let's just forget about this, okay? After all, we have a wedding plan," He chuckled at my words.

"Promise?" I didn't even have to ask what the promise was for, I already knew.

"I promise." And with that, I sealed my vow with a kiss.

I meant for the kiss to be soft, sweet, and short, but Draco wouldn't let me. His hands found their way to my hair and pulled me closer. He begged for entrance to my mouth and I granted it for him. When I heard cooing and saw flashes of light, we broke apart, startled. When Draco and I looked up, there was my mother, along with Narcissa, Molly, Ginny and Blaise's mother snapping pictures of us. Immediately I started to blush and looked at my fiancé only to see a smug smirk. I rolled my eyes at his cockiness.

"So…Mum,"

"Hermione, baby, I'm sorry. I overreacted with you. I just felt bad that you hadn't told me and what's worse is that your father knew before I did." Her tone was somewhat bitter at the end.

"Daddy knew?" my tone was one of horror.

"Of course he did Hermione. I suspect he knew after you and Draco had left for your last date before the school year started,"

"But how did Daddy—Draco?" I turned to look at my fiancé once more.

"You remember when you were getting ready that night, and when you came out, I was still speaking with your father?" I nodded remembering. "I was asking him for his blessing."

"You did that?" I asked absentmindedly.

"Of course! I remember you saying that you always wanted the man that you were going to marry to ask for your parent's blessing. So that's what I did, well, it was your father's blessing."

"But why didn't you ask my mum?"

"About that," He rubbed his hand on his neck. "your father had thought it would be best that I didn't ask for her blessing at the moment. He told me, and I am only quoting, 'the woman couldn't keep a secret if her life depended on it'."

"Why that! Oh no matter, he was probably right. I would have gone off bragging to your aunt's Hermione, as well as your cousins. It's not like he could keep it better anyway."

"What do you mean, Mum?" I questioned.

"The man had a bounce to his step, he wore 'the smile', he had an aura about him that he knew something I didn't, and he got so happy after Draco asked. That night, directly after you two left, he wanted champagne to 'celebrate'. Didn't tell me what the celebration was of course, but after Molly sent me the letter, I confronted him. Spilled everything and insisted that I wouldn't do anything, naturally, I didn't listen to him. But, Hermione, that's not the point. I can see that you two are…happy," I smiled at this and looked Draco in the eye, he too smiled as well. "And then when you started crying, the look Draco got, and when he started crying and the look on your face. Hermione, you make him happy, and he makes you happy. And that's all your father and I have ever wanted for you, Dear, happiness."

"Mum!" I cooed as I got up and hugged her.

"Hermione," tears started build up. "I swore to myself that I wouldn't cry when I found out that you would be getting married but anyway, I love you Hermione. I want what's best for you and everyone, and I mean this literally, everyone can see that Draco is that for you, he's the best for you."

"I know," I was on the verge of tears as well.

"Hermione!" I turned around and saw Ginny hugging her mother, both having tears rolling down their cheeks. "Look what you're doing to me!" She laughed.

"Listen, Ginny," I looked at Ginny and Molly while still in my mother's embrace. "As what Hermione's mother said, I want what's best for you as well, after all, as my only daughter, I am naturally protective of you. Though, after all those dates you and Blaise had out back of the house, I saw that he was protective of you as well, even Ron admits it. Your father and I, as well as all your brothers, we just want you to be taken care of, we want you to be protected, to be cherished, to be loved, and mostly to be happy, truly happy. Not the happy that was between you and Harry, but the happy that's between you and Blaise." She paused there, then looked at Ginny's fiancé. "Blaise, I really don't know anything about you or your family but I do know one thing, and I have never been so sure in my life but that thing is that I know that Ginny loves you. My daughter adores you, and if you can capture the heart of my little spitfire," Ginny moaned. "then you are a worthy man of her heart."

"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley," Blaise smiled, which he hardly did.

"Thank you as well, Mum. You have no idea how much this means to me, you…accepting Blaise,"

"Of course, Ginny, he's a good man, not to mention handsome as well," She dried a tear from her eyes and held her arms open to hug both Blaise and Ginny.

When they pulled away from Mrs. Weasley's bear hug, did Blaise's mother finally speak.

"Blaise," She had a hint of an Italian accent. "I really have no idea what to say, I really don't except that I want you to be happy, extremely happy."

"Mum, I am happy," Blaise replied as he walked up to his mother and dried the tears falling from her eyes.

"I know, Blaise, I can see that. Ginny makes you happy and I am so proud that you could find a sensible girl who won't make the same mistakes I did, especially as a mother,"

"Mum—"

"No, listen, Blaise. I always felt that I didn't bring you up the right way, that I always made a mistake in raising you but if you could find a girl like Ginny, then I guess I must have done something right. And Ginny," now all eyes were on the redhead who looked wide-eyed and scared. I chuckled slightly at her. "I know that you'll make my son happy and I'm positive that he makes you happy, right?"

"Of course, even just hearing his name makes me happy," Ginny tried to stop crying.

Blaise's mother walked up to Ginny and hugged her. Ginny, still crying, hugged her back. Blaise stood to the side and admired, or that's what it looked like, his mother and his fiancé hugging. I guess he was happy that his mother accepted her. I saw Draco and Blaise exchanged looks.

"By the love of Merlin! Do there have to be women crying?" Draco questioned exasperatingly.

We all just laughed at him and dried our tears at our own pace while the poor boy had a confused look on his face. It was adorable really, when he got confused. But my only problem right now was if my 'acceptance' with Narcissa would be as easy as Ginny's was with Blaise's mother.

"Draco," my mother-in-law-to-be was now speaking. "I'm not your father and even though I may have heard…things about Hermione that are not the best things in the world, I want to give her a chance," She turned to me. "I want to give you a chance and I know that if you can blow away my son and make him act like a lovesick puppy," Draco moaned at this as I chuckled. "Then you are perfect for him. I always wanted someone to keep Draco in line, someone who could…challenge him, technically everything Pansy doesn't do around him. Don't get me wrong, Pansy is a…unique girl but I've always wanted someone like you for my son."

"Thank you Mrs. Malfoy—"

"Call me Narcissa, dear, besides you'll be Mrs. Malfoy soon enough." I blushed at the comment.

"Yeah you will," I heard Draco whisper into my ear as his arms slid around my waist.

"Draco," I hissed. "Not in front of our mothers."

"Ginny and Blaise are doing the same thing," He fought back.

He was right. Blaise had his arms around his fiancé's waist and she was leaning into him. His head rested on her shoulder while they talked with Mrs. Weasley and Mrs. Zabini. But I turned back to look at my mother and Narcissa.

"They look so cute! Don't they Narcissa?" My mother cooed.

"Adorable." Narcissa agreed.

"She won't mind my mother's muggle?" I asked under my breath.

I didn't really get a response from Draco except the nodding of his head and a 'nu uh'. Apparently he was to busy nuzzling my neck through my hair. Suddenly I felt his lips under my ear and I jumped with a small shriek. I placed my hand over my mouth immediately as Narcissa and my mother gave me odd looks, Draco was still too busy to notice any of this. Both of our mother's went back to talking with each other, about the wedding no doubt.

"Draco! Stop!" I hissed.

"Why?" He was turning me around.

"Does 'public display of affection' mean nothing to you?" He was looking down at me with amusement in his eyes and I couldn't help but smile.

"That has never stopped you before," His face was inching closer.

"Our mothers have never been here before," I tried to say it as sternly as I could, but I was faltering.

"Well then, Love, maybe it's time that we showed them exactly how much we love each other and want this wedding." The man didn't even give me a chance to register what he said.

His lips captured mine in a soft yet demanding manner. As before, everyone vanished from my mind and I only concentrated on kissing the man of my dreams. I slid my arms around his neck and played with the hairs on the nape of his neck but I eventually pulled him closer to me. He softly bit my bottom lip, asking for entrance and I granted it for him. His tongue caressed mine as his hands started to move in circles on my back. I wanted to groan so badly but I held it in. Eventually we broke apart, breathless. His forehead was leaning against mine as Draco held eye contact.

"They're watching us, aren't they?" He questioned with a slight frown as I couldn't help but giggle.

"As much as we'd just love to watch you two snog yourselves senseless, we have a wedding to plan," I heard Ginny complain. I just smiled as I still looked into Draco's eyes.

"She's right you know," He muttered.

"I know and that's what I am hating right now," I closed my eyes and forced myself to break apart from his warm embrace.

When I opened my eyes, I found Blaise, his mother, Ginny, Mrs. Weasley, Narcissa, my mother, and Elizabeth looking at us. Oh my gosh, Elizabeth!

"Elizabeth! I am so sorry, I forgot you were here!" I shrieked as I looked at her.

She chuckled. "Don't worry about it Hermione. Though, would you like to get started on the tour?"

"Oh yes, please."

"Oh, Elizabeth, how nice to see you!"

"It's wonderful to see you to Isabella," Elizabeth greeted Blaise's mother. "And you too, Narcissa."

"Oh, Mum, Molly, this is Elizabeth Ojeda, our wedding planner." I explained to my mother and Molly.

They greeted each other. Elizabeth took us around parts of Hogsmeade I had never seen and showed us various shops that supplied anything that had to do with weddings. We got dinner about five hours later just to make Draco and Blaise shut up. Around nine, we bid our mothers and Elizabeth good-bye and made our way up to Hogwarts.

"My feet hurt!" Ginny complained.

"I told you not to wear high-heels, Gin," I pointed out then she stuck her tongue out at me. "Oh, really mature, Ginny."

"You girls tired?" Draco asked as we got to the doors.

"I am!" Ginny declared as she yawned.

"Yeah, all that talking, walking, and everything we did has worn me out." I agreed.

"Then we'll see you girls in the morning," Blaise replied as he kissed Ginny gently on the lips.

"You sure you'll be able to get up to Gryffindor Tower okay? You look really tired Hermione." Draco questioned.

"I'll get there, don't worry." I yawned.

"Okay then Love. This is my stop." He kissed me lightly on the lips.

"I love you Draco," I whispered as I leaned my forehead against his.

"I love you too, Hermione." His silver eyes held sincerity.

"I think I'd better get going, I have no idea how long Ginny will last." I looked at Ginny who was leaning on Blaise with her eyes closed.

"Bye Love." He pulled away.

"Bye…Dragon," I smirked as he rolled his eyes at me.

"Let's go, I'm tired!" Ginny declared again as she hooked her arm through mine.

"Okay then!" I laughed.

"Guess what Blaise called me?"

"What?"

"Spitfire!" The look on Ginny's face and the nickname just made me laugh. "It's not funny!"

"Yeah it is, but now you can call him Zucchini Zabini again." I offered.

"You're right,"

"When am I not?" I gloated playfully.

"Say, what'd you call Draco?"

"Dragon, why?"

"No reason. Dragon! Ha ha!"

"It's better than Spitfire." I shot back as she glared at me.

"You had better run, Hermione!" I laughed as Ginny chased me all the way to the portrait.

Ahead I saw Ron and Harry while I chanted "Spitfire!"

"Do I want to know?" Harry questioned as I doubled over from the laughter.

"No you don't Harry, you really don't," Ginny answered for me. "Come on, Granger. We have to look for a dress still for both of us."

"You mean Mum is still letting you go through with it?"

"As a matter of fact Ron," I answered for Ginny. "Your mother supports us both. Blaise's mother loves Ginny."

"And Narcissa loves Hermione! Get over it Ron because you're going to have accept it." Ginny bragged.

"I'm going to marry Draco this summer in July and Ginny's going to marry Blaise in August."

"Fine. You two do that."

"We will!" Ginny muttered the password and we walked in.

"Ginny, we're getting married."

"Duh?"

"I'm going to marry the wizard of my dreams! Oh my gosh Ginny! I really can't believe it!" I gushed.

"I'm really glad that you are, Hermione. I mean, after Viktor you just kind of…"

"I know," I opened the door to my dormitory. "It all seems surreal that we are going to get married and to Slytherins as well."

"I know. And there is a plus to you getting married to Draco,"

"What's that?"

"Draco is hot and you are just gorgeous Hermione. I wouldn't be surprised if your cousin's children get jealous of yours. I mean think about it, little Draco and little Hermione's running about. Some flaunting their looks, other's bragging about what they just learned."

"What about you and Blaise?"

"I'm too young to think about that," I just stared at my best friend wide-eyed. "Besides, your wedding's first, and no doubt your children will be. I think Ron will be permanently scarred when we have children." I raised an eyebrow. "I mean, he'll know that his baby sister and his best friend…got at it with two guys he hates. I think he'll be very disturbed."

"Why are you think about things like that, Ginny?"

"I'm sorry, I'm a growing girl with…raging hormones." I gaped at her before laughing at her.

I threw a pillow in her face. "Whatever you say, Spitfire, whatever you say." I dodged the pillow that was thrown at me.

"You're going to regret that!" Suddenly I was bombarded with pillows.

"This is war!" I yelled as Ginny gave an Indian war call.

I knew that I was sure to miss this: Ginny and I having sleepovers, taking about boys, and just being best friends in general. Yeah sure, when I got married, we'd still be best friends but it wouldn't be the same. I'd be married to Draco and kind of have a duty to him. I loved him, I really did but I couldn't help but want to stop time right now and just enjoy my moments were I don't have to worry about bills, cleaning houses, no 'manors', cleaning his dirty clothes, and everything a wife does. Right now I just wanted to enjoy the moments with my best friend without a care in the world. Am I having second thoughts on my wedding? No, I couldn't possibly…oh dear, I'm in trouble.

A/N: And that was chapter three! Now that was long, 4,400 words almost, well the story-story. I just didn't know where to stop, twelve pages! Miracle!

As you can see Hermione is having second thoughts on her wedding, just as everyone does. Though I wanted to make this a 'happy fic', I wanted to make it realistic, so the doubt is the realism!

Personally, I don't really like how the chapter ended because I just couldn't find a good place to stop, so I just kept on going, so if the ending sucks I know.

Okay, I'm done with my rambling! Remember to review! It might take me a while to update, so if you guys would so kindly give me ideas for the next chapter, I'd appreciate it as well as reviews!