Whisper Chapter 4: IV, a harry potter fanfic

Disclaimer: I own nothing of Harry Potter

Whisper

Chapter Four

"Ginny, will you stop fidgeting, please," Molly Weasley said through a mouthful of pins.

"If you would stop sticking me with those bloody pins every minute, mum, I wouldn't," she complained, crossing her arms at her chest.

I smiled. We were at the Burrow, Mrs. Weasley in the process of making Ginny's dress. Of course, she could've used magic, but Molly decided to go the muggle way, and try to make it original. So far, it was looking pretty good, but I'm sure, before it was over, she would magic something on the dress.

Ginny's wedding was in less than 48 hours, and she, of course, was as giddy as ever.

"Ginny, if you want me to finish this dress by the time the wedding comes, you will stand still," Molly said, pulling up a bit of material and pinning it.

Ginny sighed, and put her arms to the side. She caught me watching her stare lovingly at her engagement ring, and she blushed.

"Oh, gosh, Hermione," she said, giggling. "I'm getting married!"

I laughed. "Better you than me, Gin," I said, crossing my legs. "I'm single and loving it."

Ginny raised an eyebrow. "Not anymore, you're not, remember?"

I grinned. "Brian," I laughed again, as my face became hot. "Of course. But, he hasn't actually called me his girlfriend, has he?"

"Whatever, Hermione," she said, rolling her eyes.

"I agree with Ginny, Hermione dear," Molly said, glancing up at me. "It's wonderful that you've finally found somebody that you can stay with longer than a day."

"Hey! Every other relationships was Ginny's fault! You know she can be a heck of a matchmaker, Molly," I said, smiling.

Molly laughed. "Oh yes, of course."

"Hey mum, Sam's stopping over for a bit when she gets off work, okay?" Ron said, as he came into the kitchen (odd place to make a dress, I know, but it was a big kitchen). He was drenched in sweat from playing Quidditch with Fred and George. "Hey Hermione," he said, kissing me on the cheek.

Ronald finally accepted that we were never going to be anything more than friends after we broke up. Now, we were such good friends, we basically finished each other's sentences now.

"Ron," I said, smiling at him. "Gross! You're all wet!" I said as he hugged me.

"Ah, love my sweat," he said. "Mum, did you hear me?"

"Yes, yes, of course Ronald," she said distractedly. "You know she's welcome to come over anytime she wants."

"I still can't believe you're dating her, Ron," Ginny said, as she stared down at him. She was standing on a foot stool.

"Well, I can't believe you made friends with her after we graduated after what she said to Hermione," Ron said, picking up a slice of bread and stuffing it in his mouth.

I stood up, and rolled my eyes. "Please, Ronald. We were all mature about the matter, and once we got to know her, she was a wonderful person."

"I know, 'at's wife I'm 'ating 'her," he said, swallowing his enormous bite.

"That's disgusting Ron. Swallow your food before you speak," Ginny scolded him.

"Hey all!" a voice called as the door opened. "Ginny, you look magnificent!"

It was Sam. She greeted all of us, before walking over to Ron. He put his arm around her waist, and leaned in for a kiss.

"Don't you dare, Ronald Weasley," she said, backing away from him. "You haven't properly digested your food yet, and you're drenched in sweat."

He groaned. "Are you people saying I need to shower?" he said, wiggling his eyebrows at Sam. She laughed.

"Yes," I answered for us all.

"I'm off then," he said, marching out of the kitchen. We could hear him singing "Drunken Lullabies" up the stairs, a popular song by a muggle group. He'd been hanging out in the muggle world to much. But, sometimes, his job as an Auror made him do it.

"Oh, Hermione," Sam said, as she abandoned her finished conversation with Molly, "Your piece for our next issue is wonderful."

"Thanks Sam," I said, grinning. "I thought you might like it."

"Ginny, don't move," Molly said frustrated.

"Mum, don't poke me," Ginny retorted.

Sam grinned. "Hey, Hermione, can you come help me with something?" she said, nodding toward the door.

"Sure," I said, following her.

We walked outside, the sun at it's highest in the sky. It was cool, almost like it was Fall instead of Spring. We walked a little ways away from the house, before she said something.

"You seem quieter than usual, Hermione," she said, looking at me. "Did something happen?"

I hesitated. "Remember what I told you a couple days ago about Draco?"

"About how you think that he's back?"

"Yes, that," I said, looking down at my feet, doodling in the dirt with the toe of my shoe. "Well, it turns out, I was right."

Her eyes widented. "What? Why?"

"He told me because of me he came back, but he didn't tell me where he'd been or anything."

"That's it? Nothing else? Just that he'd come back for you?"

"Yes. Everytime I asked him where he'd been he just shrugged his shoulders and avoided my gaze. He expected me to come back to him after five years of hearing nothing from him."

"What did you say to him?"

"I told him that if he expected me to come back to him after all these years, he was wrong. I told him I had moved on without his love," I paused. "Then he asked me if I was still in love with him."

She looked up at me. "You told him you were, didn't you?"

I sighed. "No, I didn't. I told him I wasn't in love with him."

"But you still are in love with him, aren't you, Hermione?"

"Yes."

XXX

"You never told me you were just going to show up at the Three Broomsticks, Malfoy," Harry said, as he stared at me.

"I couldn't help myself, Potter. You know how I feel about her. I saw you in that window, and I had to go talk to her," I said, scowling.

"But in the process, you ruined everything," he said, glaring at me.

"Why in the hell didn't you tell me she was seeing someone, Harry?" I asked, meeting his eyes.

He stopped glaring at me. "I didn't know what you'd do, Malfoy, if I did tell you. To tell you the truth, I didn't know this relationship was going to last this long. Every other relationship she's had, turned out bad. And it probably had something to do with you," he said, taking a swig of his drink.

It seems unusal that after everything, I had become friends with Potter. A year after I left, Potter became involved with me because of his Ministry duties, and he had found me, after I had tried to stay away from everything and anything to do with the magical world.

He had told me how much Hermione had missed me, what she was going through, and how much she needed me back. We both came to an agreement that it would be best if I returned, although I didn't have to explain anything to her if I didn't want to, and he wouldn't either unless it was alright with me.

I wasn't ready for her to know yet.

"She never took it off, you know," Harry said, eyeing me.

"Took what off?" I asked oblivious, setting my drink back on the table.

"The rind you gave her. You know, the silver one, with the crossing hearts in it."

My eyes widened as I remembered the day I presented her with the ring. It was right after we'd made love for the third time. It was a promise ring. I'd promised her everything, just as she promised me, but I had broken all the promises by abandoning her.

"You alright, Malfoy?" Harry asked, staring intently at me.

My eyes brimmed with tears, but I didn't dare let him see one fall. "Yeah, I'm alright," I said huskily.

He sighed. "You know, Malfoy, I never thought I'd ask you this, but would you be one of my groomsmen in my wedding?"

I stared at him, taken aback. Harry Potter, the guy I had been raised to hate, who I had been cruel to in school, was asking me to be a part of his wedding.

"Well, I-I don't know, Harry," I said, leaning back in my chair. "Have you thought about how Hermione will react if I accept your offer?"

He sighed again, and it looked almost as if he'd aged twenty years. "I have, Draco, but I decided that it would be a good thing if you did. I know she denied loving you, but deep inside her, I know she still does. Not only that, but you've become a great friend to me, and Ron, despite everything you've done in your past. It would be an honor to have you in my wedding."

I couldn't help but have a feeling of joy in the pit of my stomach. Harry had basically told me that I was one of his best friends, and that he respected me. I respected him for putting everything in the past, and decided what I needed to do.

I smiled. "It would be an honor to be in your wedding, Potter," I said, shaking his hand.

He grinned. "Great, Malfoy," he said. "Now will you do me another favor? Ron's supposed to be meeting us in Tuxedo Junction, and I would like it if you would help me in finding a tux for my wedding."

"Sure, Potter," I said, leaving a tip on the table as we stood up. "I might just have to pick one up myself."

"Just make sure it's not better than mine," he said, glancing at me, pushing the door open.

"Ah, sorry to tell you this Potter, but it won't be too hard to look better than you."

He punched me on the arm, as I cracked another smile.

XXX

"Damn. Mother stuck me with so many pins, I'm surprised I don't have bruises all over my body," Ginny said, as we walked down Diagon Alley. "Thank God that's over with."

I grinned. "Oh, Gin, don't be so hard on your mum," I said, "She's just trying to make you look beautiful."

"I agree with Hermione, Gin, sorry," Sam said as she walked hand and hand with Ron.

She scowled. "Oh bite me you two," she said, grinning. "Come on Hermione, we have to find you a dress for your special dinner Friday."

"Excuse me ladies," Ron said, kissing his girlfriend on the cheek, "but I believe that's my cue to leave. Besides, I'm meeting Harry."

"Bye, Ron," Sam said, squeezing his hand.

"Sam, it's crazy how much you two are in love," Ginny said, as Ron disappeared into Tuxedo Junction.

She blushed. "I know, but I can't help it, he's a great person. Two years of dating, and we haven't fought but twice. It's almost as if we're soul mates, you know?"

"Just like me and Harry."

"And Hermione and Draco."

Same made a face when she mentioned that. I looked at her, not saying anything.

"Hermione you know it's true," Ginny said, opening the door to The Glass Slipper.

Sam gave Ginny a look, shutting her up.

I just smiled. "No, it's okay you guys. I'm not bothered with what you think, but we were never soul mates, or he wouldn't have left me. And I don't believe I'll ever hear from him again, no matter if he stays here or not."

"Don't be so sure of yourself, Hermione," Sam muttered as a sales women came up to us.

"Welcome to The Glass Slipper, can I help you with anything?" she asked, a bit to perky.

"No, thank you, we're just browsing," Ginny said, heading to a rack.

"Let me know if you need anything," she said, going to another customer.

"Come on Hermione," Ginny said, looking through a rack of dresses.

I walked over to her, and looked through the rack. She handed me the first load of dresses, and I went to the changing room, to try them all on.

I looked at myself in the mirror, staring at my reflection. I put a hand to my hair, and face wondering what Draco saw in me. I wasn't pretty, at all, event though people always told me I was. I turned away and pulled off my clothes, as the song switched on the radio in the store.

Wondering the streets, in a world underneath it all
Nothing seems to be, nothing tastes as sweet
As what I can't have
Like you and the way that you're twisting your hair
round your finger
Tonight I'm not afraid to tell you
What I feel about you.

I listened carefully to the lyrics, racking my braing to where I'd heard them before. Slowly, very slowly, the memory came back to me in a rush.

I'm gonna muster every ounce of confidence I have
and cannon ball into the water
I'm gonna muster every ounce of confidence I have
For you I will
For you I will

I remembered that day at the masked ball, when I found out it was him who'd been kissing me. I remembered that this was the song we danced to that night. We danced together like we were the only two people in the room. I closed my eyes, remembering the way he touched me, softly, how he held me in his arms, afraid that I would leave forever.

Forgive me if I stutter
From all of the clutter in my head
Cuz I could fall asleep in those eyes
Like a water bed
Do I seem familiar, I've crossed you in hallways
a thousand times, no more camouflage
I want to be exposed, and not be afraid to fall.

I couldn't help but feel tears in my eyes. I opened my eyes, pulling on the dress, sobbing, as I remembered everything about him. I hadn't cried like this since he left. I never should have let him go. I never should've told him I hated him. I didn't. I loved him. I loved him with all my heart.

"Hermione? Are you okay?" came the voice of Sam outside my dressing room.

I sniffed, wiping my face with the back of my hand. "Yeah, I'm fine, Sam," I said, my voice cracking.

Her feet disappeared from my dressing room.

I'm gonna muster every ounce of confidence I have
And cannon ball into the water
I'm gonna muster every ounce of confidence I have
For you I will
You always want what you can't have
But I've got to try
I'm gonna muster every ounce of confidence I have
For you I will
For you I will
For you I will
For you

If I could dim the lights in the mall
And create a mood I would
Shout out your name so it echoes in every room
I would

That's what I'd do,
That's what I'd do
That's what I'd do
To get through to you

The song ended just as I put back on my clothes. I looked at myself in the mirror, my eyes red and swollen. I muttered a spell, curing my face. It looked liked I hadn't cried at all now. I didn't want Ginny and Sam to know I'd been crying.

"Did you like any of them?" Ginny's cheery face greeted me as I walked out. I shook my head, and we looked again.

We finally found a dress after an hour more of looking. I had tried on about a million dresses, and we all agreed that this was my dress.

"Hermione, you look wonderful in it," Sam said, as she stared at me.

I blushed. "I think I should too."

We left the store thirty minutes later.

"Well, I think that's enough shopping for today," Sam said, linking her arm with mine. "I think it's time for some ice cream."

Ginny grinned, walking ahead of us. "Maybe you're right Sam."

We walked to the ice cream shoppe, about a block from The Glass Slipper. Conversation was slow, not that any of us cared. I couldn't wait to wrap my lips around a double chocolate fudge sundae.

"Hey Gin, there's your future husband," Sam pointed out, as we walked into the shoppe.

Ginny smiled. "So it is..." she proceeded to his table, but stopped suddenly. "What the hell?" she muttered, a look of confusion on her face. "Why the hell is he with-"

"Draco," I said, staring at him.

There you go guys.

It may seem confusing to a lot of people, and you may not even like it, but Hermione's just very confused right now. She doesn't hate Draco (obviously) and she did break up with him, but all of us know she didn't want to. I'm just now setting up the story to where she's longing for Draco more and more. As for Draco, some of you seem to think he wouldn't wait around for somebody after they said they hated him, but he's in love and some of you may not understand that. But, you do have to understand that he will do anything and everything to get back the one he's in love with, even if it seems not like Draco Malfoy. But you always do crazy things when you're in love!

If you're confused, I'm terribly sorry. I'm just that type of person. I right my stories with somewhat of reality, because not everything can flow smoothly. So please, just bear with me.

As for this chapter. I thought it was better than my last, but not even as good as my future ones are going to be. And all of you are going to be in for a BIG surprise later to come! Toodles!