TO BE ALONE WITH YOU

Chapter Three: Living

.

Over the next week, Hermione didn't say a single world to Draco. Their classes were spent in stony silences, staring forward and sitting as far as possible from each other.

While the silence was uncomfortable, it was much better than speaking.

Draco was still pissed about the bedroom, Hermione was still pissed about Draco. They had meticulously planned their days around each other so that they never saw each other except for in the earliest parts of the mornings and the latest parts of the nights.

After a week and a half of silent, brooding glares, Mrs. Weasley disrupted Hermione's plan to live in silence for the rest of her life. The Marriage class, as it was now known as, was only on Mondays. Mrs Weasley was doing this as volunteer work, of course, and didn't want to spend every day at Hogwarts.

"Alright, alright, settle down!" the matronly witch yelled over the students. "Today's assignment is going to focus on the negatives, rather than the positives. On a small piece of parchment, write out three issues you have with your partner. You have three minutes before we move on."

Hermione smirked. Three minutes was plenty; she had twenty issues with Draco right off the top of her head.

Hermione quickly scribbled,

Arrogance

Living Space

Former Death Eater

The third one might not wholly be his fault, but Hermione didn't care. He had watched Bellatrix torture her; of course she still had some qualms about that.

"Time's up!" Mrs. Weasley announced. "Now, between you and your partner, pick an issue and work through it in a healthy way. No drawing wands, targeted insults, name-calling, or so on. When you have resolved the issue, you are free to go."

Hermione turned toward Draco, who was smirking darkly at her.

"It was hard to limit myself to just three issues, but I managed," Draco drawled. "First of all, you are a prudish know-it-all who always manages to find some way to kill the fun. Second, you stole the bedroom from me and I can't spend another night on the blasted couch, and third, your cat is a menace. I wake up with the beast sprawled all over me."

Hermione was secretly surprised. None of his issues related to her blood status. Of course, he had told her that he didn't use that word anymore, but he never said that he didn't believe in any of it.

"Great, I'll just change my entire personality to cater to your needs, Malfoy," said Hermione sarcastically. "Now, for my three issues. You are undeniably arrogant. Honestly, you're so full of yourself I'm surprised you haven't exploded yet. You won't stop moping about the living arrangement-"

"With good reason."

"- and finally, you are a former Death Eater who watched your aunt torture me and did nothing. Do you understand how morbid it is for the Ministry to expect me to marry you-"

Draco slammed his hand down on the desk loudly, making Hermione jump.

"Shut the fuck up!" he yelled, all of his bottled up rage exploding. The class had fallen silent as they all turned in their seats to listen in on the argument. "You have no idea what I was going through!"

How dare he make himself the victim? Furiously, Hermione quickly stood up and exclaimed in an incredulous cry, "Oh, poor you! You were a Death Eater and you want my sympathy?"

Draco rose to stand as well as he asked, "What did you want me to do? Tackle my aunt and let Voldemort kill me to save you? Really fucking smart!"

"No! But maybe if you weren't such a prejudiced arse, you wouldn't have been in that situation! You did nothing but bully me about my blood, my own blood, and now you expect me to feel bad that you ended up a Death Eater?" Hermione yelled back.

"Fuck you!" he sneered down at her.

"Fuck you!"

"Enough!" Mrs. Weasley's furious voice cut their argument off. "Everyone out. Now!"

She was using her Howler voice. Hermione and Draco started packing their bags fervently, desperate to get away from each other.

"All but Hermione and Draco."

Hermione winced and crossed her arms. Draco's position was very similar, although he already had his book bag slung over his shoulder.

Her hands on her hips, Mrs. Weasley watched the rest of the class leave before she stormed over to them. "You are seventeen years old! Adults! I have never, never-"

"Look, Profes-" Draco tried, but was silenced as the Weasley mother put a hand up.

"- seen such immaturity in all my days as I have today! Gather your things and follow me," she instructed furiously.

"Where are we-" Hermione tried timidly as they followed the short redhead out of the classroom.

"And you! Hermione, I expected better from you! You always managed to keep Harry and Ron in line, and now you're the one I have to reprimand! Honestly!" Mrs. Weasley led them down all five staircases, reprimanding them on their language, their behavior and their disrespect as they went.

By the time they reached the Headmistress's office, Draco and Hermione resembled angry puppies who had just been scolded, tail between their legs and heads down.

"Please, Mrs. Weasley," Hermione begged, "I can't have my record ruined over this!"

Mrs. Weasley stated the password and shook her head. "No, this isn't anything extreme. Minerva, er, the Headmistress has been asking to speak with the two of you for some time, and this will kill two stones with a bird. No, that can't be it. What's the Muggle saying?"

"Kill two birds with one stone?" Hermione supplied.

"That's it. Now," her stern voice returned, "I will not tolerate any more fighting in my class. The next time you decide to throw a temper tantrum is the last time you will be in my class, and that will be added to your permanent record. That goes for both of you."

Hermione nodded sullenly while Draco scoffed beside her.

Mrs. Weasley pushed McGonagall's office door open and clicked her tongue disappointedly. "Go on, now."

"Come in," McGonagall said from inside.

Hermione entered the circular room sheepishly, Draco trailing a fair distance behind her.

McGonagall sat in Dumbledore's old chair and watched intently as they stepped into the office. "Take a seat, please."

They did as they were told and anxiously awaited their punishment.

"I am very disappointed in the two of you. For such bright students, I would have thought you would be able to come to an agreement. What is the reason Professor Weasley escorted you to my office today?"

The pair, arms crossed and stares angrily directed at the floor, did not answer.

"I believe I asked you both a question. I expect an answer-"

"We were to find a common ground over an issue we were having, Professor," Hermione admitted as she looked up to meet McGonagall's curious gaze.

"And why have you failed to do so?" her clinical stare bored holes into Hermione, and her cheeks reddened with embarrassment.

Hermione coughed, "Well, my partner was decidedly uncooperative-"

"That's a load of Flobberworms, Granger, and you know it!" Draco quietly shot back. "Perhaps if you could get over your obvious bias-"

"My bias?!" she exclaimed. "I'm not the one who supported a genocidal madman, am I?"

Draco scoffed loudly. "Oh, that-"

"Enough," McGonagall stated coldly. "That is enough. Now, I am going to sit here until the two of you manage to pick an issue and resolve it. When you have done that, I have another conversation I need to have with the two of you."

Hermione sat back in her seat dramatically. It was immature, she knew, to act like this in front of McGonagall, but she was seriously pissed.

"I want the bed back," Draco stated.

Hermione looked over to him with raised eyebrows. "And where do you expect me to sleep? The floor?"

"Well, seeing as I've been forced into sleeping in the Common Area like a bloody cat, I think that's reasonable," he snapped.

Silence.

"What if we compromise?" Hermione pinched the bridge of her nose. She was tired of this argument. Apparently, not talking for a week only amplified the fights that followed their silent periods.

Draco sighed. Petulantly, he asked, "How do you propose?"

"I'll get the bed on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. That leaves Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for you to have it," Hermione suggested in a tired voice.

"Why do you get more days?"

"Malfoy!"

"Fine, I suppose that is better than the couch," Draco admitted. The two of them turned to McGonagall expectantly.

"Excellent, you managed to have an adult conversation," McGonagall scolded. "Now, this next topic is entirely unrelated, but I have received multiple requests to discuss this with you."

Hermione sat up in her seat. What could this be about? Was there a mistake in the pairing?

"Mrs. Narcissa Malfoy," she began, and Hermione's spirits fell. It was going to be about her blood status and how she would sully the bloodline, she guessed. "has requested to speak with the both of you about your wedding."

Both seventh years started loudly protesting.

"Professor, I don't want to draw any more attention-"

"My mother shouldn't be interfering with this-"

McGonagall placed a hand in the air to silence them. "Thank you. This is, of course, up to the two of you to decide, but Mrs. Malfoy hopes that this union can serve as a sort of press event to both show progress in the Wizarding World and clear the family name."

Hermione frowned. If the Malfoy name was seen in a new light, perhaps marriage to Draco wouldn't be as horrible should they go out in public, but the last thing she wanted was to have her and Draco kissing (gag) on the front cover of Witch Weekly.

"How big of a wedding is she aiming for?" Hermione asked. She was reserved about the whole thing, but figured she should hear the witch out.

"Knowing my mother, this will outdo any other wedding you've ever been to," Draco informed her with a roll of his eyes.

"It is unbecoming to talk of your family in such a dismissive tone, Draco," the silky and enunciated voice of Narcissa Malfoy sounded from behind them. They both jumped at her sudden appearance.

Draco rose to greet his mother with a light kiss on the cheek. "Mother, what are you doing here?"

When Narcissa spoke, each word was clearly defined and chosen. Everything she said and did was done intentionally, every hair magicked into place and every wrinkle smoothed. "Your letter detailing this arrangement left me wondering how we can see the light in this situation. Minerva, if you would not mind giving my son and I a moment of privacy?"

McGonagall raised an eyebrow but left without a word. Hermione rose from her seat to exit the room, but Narcissa stopped her. "Please, Miss Granger, stay."

It was obvious that Narcissa was trying to hide her distaste for the Muggleborn girl.

"Oh, er, are you sure?" Hermione asked, hoping she'd change her mind.

"Of course, of course. After all you are to wed my Draco by the end of the year and this conversation concerns you as well," Narcissa conjured a third chair and sat across from them. Hermione and Draco took their seats as the elder Malfoy asked, "Have you considered my offer?"

"Yes," Hermione nodded. "But I have a few questions."

"Of course you do," Draco sneered quietly at the ground.

"Draco!" Narcissa scolded him, "Don't talk down on your future, ah," her blue eyes traveled over Hermione's frizzy curls, hunched posture and fidgeting legs, "future wife."

Hermione resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Yes, well, if I agree to this, how big of a wedding are you talking?"

Narcissa folded her hands over her crossed knee and dismissively said, "No more than three hundred guests, of course. Including the ceremony, it will last about five hours. Naturally, I shall host the event at the Manor-"

Hermione did not listen to the rest of her description. She felt a wave of nausea and she fell back into her chair.

This was actually happening. She was going to marry Draco Malfoy, have sex with him, and have his tiny children! She felt like she was going to vomit.

"Miss Granger?" Narcissa's voice was coming in and out of focus, like Hermione was bobbing up and down in water. "Merlin, is she okay?"

Marriage...

Bloody hell, she was going to vomit!

"Move!" she squeaked, her throat tightening. The witch stepped back as Hermione sprinted out of the room. She made it to the hallway before her breakfast was upheaved onto the ground. Hermione had one hand holding her weight up against the wall and the other resting on her chest as she emptied her stomach.

Once done coughing, she scourgify-ed the floor of all her puke and rid her mouth of the smell and taste.

She reentered the room calmly. She had no reason to care about the opinions of the wretched Malfoy family, so Hermione feigned a smile as she asked, "Sorry about that. Where were we?"

Draco and Narcissa looked at her with a mirrored expression of terror and disgust before Narcissa regained her scenes. "Er, of course. What do you think of the wedding?"

"Okay," she succumbed to Narcissa's wishes grimly. "I suppose I'd like that."

Narcissa clasped her hands together happily. "Excellent! What do you think of October 18?"

Draco sputtered, "You've already picked a date? Don't tell me you have colors chosen as well!"

Narcissa laughed lightly, a sound akin to a twinkling bell. "Of course I have, darling. Burgundy, emerald, and gold. Gryffindor and Slytherin."

Hermione lightly exhaled in amusement. Was this how all Pureblood women spent their time?

"Bloody hell," Draco mumbled. "Fine. I'll do it, but just for you, mother."

Narcissa stood up effortlessly and smiled down at them. "Perfect. Hermione, we shall be in correspondence in regards to wedding dress shopping, guest lists and any other discussions we need to have."

Hermione managed a grimace of a smile, and rose to give the Pureblood woman her best. "It was nice to meet you again, Mrs. Malfoy."

Narcissa's smile was very forced as she nodded her goodbyes to Hermione. She gave Draco a cold hug and knowing look as she departed through the Floo channel.

"Thank Salazar, I thought she'd never leave," Draco mumbled, much to Hermione's amusement, He noticed her snickers and shot Hermione an angry glare before he stormed out of the room.

Hermione resisted the urge to break something, perhaps Draco's nose, and calmly left the room.

She needed to talk with a girl.

She needed to apologize to Ginny and figure out what to do.

.


.

"A Malfoy Wedding?!" Ginny exclaimed in an excited squeal later that night. Hermione had found her making laps on the Quidditch Pitch, apologized for her rudeness earlier that week, and rushed back to Ginny's flat with her. "I've heard about them. They're always grand and expensive. I mean, you remember Bill and Fleur's wedding, right?"

Hermione thought back to the Magical wedding and nodded. Although small, it was much more interesting than any Muggle wedding she'd ever attended.

"That's probably what the bathrooms look like! Bloody hell, a wedding," Ginny sighed.

"Well," Hermione looked up at Ginny with a hopeful smile, "if you'll accept, I'd love for you to be my Maid of Honor."

Ginny gasped loudly. "You're serious? Of course I accept!"

Hermione laughed as Ginny squeezed her into a tight hug. If she could forget who her soon-to-be husband was and the reason for marrying him, perhaps she could feel excited about the wedding as well.

"Who else are you going to have as your bridesmaids?" Ginny accio-ed some spare parchment and a quill.

"Er, I haven't given too much thought to it, yet, actually. I mean, Narcissa Malfoy finished talking to me about an hour ago. Probably you, Luna, Parvati, and Fleur, if she's willing."

Ginny nodded and scribbled the information down. "And what-"

"Honestly, Ginny," Hermione admitted with a laugh, "Narcissa is going to have already planned everything. I'll let you know when she owls me about planning and then we can discuss everything, but I don't want to think about it until I absolutely have to."

"I get it," the redhead nodded. "Listen, there's only an hour left in the school day, so I'm going to hang out with Harry and Ron on the grounds by the lake. You coming?"

Hermione was about to decline the offer to skip her classes, but realized the only one left was Ancient Runes, and she didn't necessarily want to be stuck next to Draco going over things she had already read about. "Okay, fine. But just this once."

Ginny grinned widely and instructed her to meet her on the pitch in twenty minutes.

With lifted spirits, Hermione left the Potter's flat to change into some casual clothes and grab some warmer layers.

"Ferret," she mumbled and stepped into the flat to hear talking coming from the bedroom.

"You're a beast, did you know that?" It was Draco's voice, presumably talking to Crookshanks. The small meow that followed told Hermione that her hunch was right. "Oh, fine, c'mere, you bloody kneazle. Granger probably named you after a Law of Transfiguration, hm?"

Had Draco just… picked her cat up?

Well, going in the bedroom to retrieve her things was going to be awkward. She closed the door to the apartment silently and crept over to the bedroom door. She lightly rapped on the wood.

"What?" Draco's tone was much different than the one he had been using with Crookshanks.

She cleared her throat, and stiffly said, "I need to change clothes."

Footsteps drew near to the door before Draco pushed it open. "Where are you going?"

"Talking with my friends near the lake," Hermione responded defensively.

"Fine," he sneered at her and moved to the couch, a book in hand.

Hermione rolled her eyes and stepped into the bedroom but not before Crookshanks ran out of the room to sit beside Draco.

"Of course," Hermoine whispered to herself. "Even Crookshanks can't be helpful right now."

She changed into a pair of tight jeans, a warm, fuzzy jumper and threw her heavier cloak over. A scarf, a thin pair of gloves and her hat in her bag, she felt confident that the cool September day would be spent in comfort.

"Surprised you aren't in class, Granger," Draco drawled when she stepped out. "You're the only person I know who actually enjoys them."

Hermione sniffed indignantly. "I'm not as much of a stickler for rules as you might think, Malfoy. I've probably broken more school rules than you."

Draco snorted inelegantly. "Right." He looked up as she crossed the room to offer Crookshanks her goodbyes and complained, "Salazar, do you always have to dress like that?"

"What?" Hermione asked in a tone that threatened him should he continue. "Like a Muggle?"

Draco groaned loudly. "You always manage to turn this on me! No, like a prude!"

Hermione gave him an affronted glare. "These jeans are tight-"

"Never mind," Draco growled. "I hope the Giant Squid eats you."

"Shove off," Hermione said. She left the Common Room angrily and was annoyed at Draco for putting a damper in her improved mood.

A short walk later, Hermione spotted Harry, Ron and Ginny sitting on a rock near the calm lake. There was another person, a girl from the looks of it, wading in the water but it was too far to make out who it was.

As she drew nearer, she realized that it was Luna Lovegood. "Hey!" she shouted and jogged over to the group.

"Hullo, Hermione," Luna greeted in a light tone as she stared at something under the water's surface.

"Hey, 'Mione," said Ron, using the nickname he had given her. She didn't particularly like it, but she wasn't in the mood to correct him.

"Hi," she sighed as she took a seat on the ground. "I'm not having a good day."

"Ginny told us," Harry explained with a pitying grimace. "Listen, if Malfoy tries anything-"

"It's fine, Harry. I just have to accept that I'm going to be married to him in a month."

"You shouldn't have to!" Ron exclaimed angrily. "And neither should I, for that matter. Parkinson is a living nightmare. She never shuts up about anything and always manages to find some reason to be furious with me."

"Blaise is rather nice, actually," Luna announced, her hands now pawing at the sand. "He's even been helping me with editing the Quibbler- aha, gotcha!"

Luna held a small clump of squirming seaweed in her hand. "Neville's told me that this plant will help me keep the Nargles away."

Hermione shook her head lightly. "Right. Oh, er, before I forget, Luna, would you like to be one of my bridesmaids?"

Luna smiled at Hermione and released the magical weed. "I'd be happy to. There won't be any Dabberblimps in attendance, though, will there?"

"What are-ah, no. No dapperflimps," Hermione said with a roll of her eyes.

"Dabberblimps, Hermione," Luna corrected her.

"Apologies." She turned to look hopefully at Harry and Ron. "Look, I know this is a huge thing to ask, but I need to know. Will you two be willing to walk me down the aisle? Seeing as my dad is…" she trailed off sadly.

"Are you mental?" Ron asked, causing Hermione to look up in alarm. "You don't have to ask us! You know we'd do anything for you. Even if it means giving you away to Malfoy, the wanker."

"Yes, well I'm not particularly happy about that part either," Hermione sighed. "Thanks, boys. You know I love you both, right?"

"We love you, too, Hermione," Harry confessed with a smile. "And I'd be happy to."

Hermione grinned at her friends, dreading the wedding she was to help plan.

.


.

Later that night, around nine, Hermione and Draco were relaxing in their flat. As it was Monday, Draco had the bedroom, and Hermione found herself reading in a pile of blankets on the couch.

Draco exited the bedroom wearing his pyjamas and muttering some nonsensical insult beneath his breath at her as he placed a kettle on the oven.

"Malfoy," Hermione said, placing her book on the end table and turning over her shoulder to look into the kitchen behind her.

He looked up from staring at the kettle expectantly. "What?" he bit out.

Resisting the urge to scold him for his snappish tone, Hermione reminded him, "We need to figure out planning for the…" -saying 'Wedding' would make it too real- "for our ceremony."

Draco winced dramatically at the mention of the event, and replied sharply, "I'm positive my mother will take care of all of that. Typical of you not to think of the most obvious things."

Three deep, calming breaths later, she sneered, "Well, you need to pick groomsmen to accompany my bridesmaids. And as I don't have your mum's address, I will have to give you a guest-"

"Merlin, can we not fucking talk about this," he hastily gestured between the two of them, "like it's the most normal goddamn thing in the world?"

Hermione's blood started to boil angrily. "Well, seeing as there's no out of this," she mimicked his gesture, "I thought I'd try and act like a responsible adult. I should've known that you wouldn't recognize maturity and courtesy if it slapped you in the face!"

"You're one to talk!" he shot back. The kettle began whistling, but both Hermione and Draco ignored it, now deep into their heated argument. "All week, 'Malfoy, you're an arsehole' and 'Fuck you!'. You're looking for problems when I'm not making any!"

"You're full of shit!" she threw her blankets to the ground and stood up. "Sorry that I don't trust the man who ruined my life from ages eleven on, but it's kind of difficult to believe a word you say when you used to constantly bully and hex me!"

Draco glared at her. "Like you were such a saint-"

"I'm done. Figure out who your groomsmen are and tell your mum yourself," Hermione spat and stepped into the bathroom.

A long, hot shower was exactly the sort of uninterrupted silence she needed to cool down from their latest spat.

.


.

Once more, Hermione and Draco found themselves living in silence. September was nearly through now, and Hermione was not looking forward to October. Especially after Narcissa sent her an owl requesting her presence over the weekend to look into Wedding dresses.

Miss Granger,

I hope our owl reaches you well. Draco tells me that there is a Hogsmeade trip at Hogwarts tomorrow. I am owling to request your presence at Gladrags Wizardwear at approximately twelve p.m. to be fitted into your wedding dress options that I have sent to the store. You may bring a friend to offer an opinion if you wish.

I look forward to our next meeting.

Cordially,

Mrs. Narcissa Malfoy

Hermione set the letter down on the table, having read it so many times it was practically memorized by now.

Ginny was standing beside her, wearing a casual outfit and a warm robe. "Are you ready to go?"

Hermione sighed loudly and slung her outdoor robe over her jeans and jumper. "No. C'mon."

The two girls chatted about Harry and Ron, safe subjects, and ignored the fact that Hermione was heading to Hogsmeade to be fitted for a wedding dress. To marry Draco Malfoy.

"Are you nervous?" Ginny asked her seriously. "I mean, Narcissa Malfoy seems kind of…"

"Intense?" Hermione supplied sadly. "I know. And last time I saw her, I almost threw up all over her thousand galleon outfit."

"You know what I think?" Ginny said with a devilish smile. "Make her pay for what she did to you all these years. Choose the most expensive dress, pick the most Muggle songs and rub it in her face that you are now above her on the social ladder."

Hermione blushed. "I don't know if I'm above her-"

"You're a bloody war hero, Hermione! Her husband is in Azkaban and her son is Draco Malfoy; of course you're higher up."

"You're right, Gin. About rubbing it in," Hermione nodded. "How extravagant do you suppose the dresses will be?"

They kept talking about the dresses and Mrs. Malfoy as they entered Hogsmeade. It was 11:50 when Hermione checked her watch, making them perfectly prompt to their meeting in Gladrags.

"Can I help you ladies with anything?" the store clerk asked them as they entered the small, crowded store. "We have a 30 percent sale on all Dragonscale right now."

"Er, I'm here to meet Narcissa Malfoy," Hermione said with uncertainty. "I believe she had some wedding dresses shipped here for me to try on?"

The small woman nodded quickly. "Yes, yes, yes. Follow me to our changing rooms; Mrs. Malfoy is waiting for you."

Hermione and Ginny shared an uncertain look, both at the odd Wizard clothing styles that were scattered throughout the store and at the prospect of spending the rest of the afternoon in a dressing room with Narcissa Malfoy.

The clerk led them into a small room where Narcissa sat on a small bench, reading the Prophet. She looked up as they walked in and stood gracefully. "Miss Granger, I am so glad you could join me. And you brought," she sniffed at the obvious Weasley, "a friend, I see."

Hermione nodded once. "I don't mean to be rude, Mrs. Malfoy, but I would like to get this over with as quickly as possible. How many dresses do you think I'll have to try on?"

Narcissa looked affronted, but answered in a prim voice, "No more than fifteen."

"Fifteen bloody dresses?" Ginny loudly exclaimed, earning a glare from Narcissa. While Ginny was supportive and didn't mind dressing herself up, she wouldn't consider herself a 'girly' kind of woman who wanted to spend the rest of her day watching Hermione try on dresses.

"Okay," Hermione sighed. "Let's start, then."

"Helaina," Narcissa ordered the clerk, "please lead Hermione into the dressing room and try on the first gown."

The clerk, Helaina, nodded fervently and gently led Hermione through a door. Inside, Hermione found herself surrounded by racks of dresses in varying styles, shades and lengths. Some poofed out wide, others had trains that reached far behind her.

"The first dress," Helaina grabbed a simple, white, strapless dress off the rack, "is very modern. It ranked first place in Witch Weekly's 1998 Wedding Gown editorial. I will grab the cape for you while you get dressed."

Hermione raised an eyebrow at the mention of a cape, and switched into the tight dress. The fabric flared out softly at the bottom as Hermione waited for Helaina to return. When she did, she held what looked to be feet upon feet of sheer tulle that was bordered by a very fluffy sort of fabric.

After the veil-like cape was added to the dress, Hermione felt positively ridiculous. "This is not going to work."

"Well, we should show Mrs. Malfoy, nonetheless," Helaina instructed.

Gathering the train in her hands, Helaina helped Hermione into the 'runway' like room, where Ginny and Narcissa sat in awkward silence.

"Merlin's saggy-"

"That certainly does not compliment your figure," Narcissa told Hermione as though that wasn't hurtful. "Dress two. And we can magic the dresses on out here now that she's in one, can we not?"

Helaina nodded and babbled cheerily about what an honor it was to help prepare a Malfoy wedding as she removed the cape. With a flick of her wand, she replaced the silky dress with a lacy gown that had puffy sleeves larger than Hermione's head.

"Hermione, I'm going to be honest," Ginny said in a serious tone. "That dress might be in the same style as my Great Aunt Muriel's wedding dress."

Narcissa looked like she was struggling to keep from scolding the youngest Weasley. "I have to agree that this draws far too much attention to her arms, which should be hidden."

Hermione glanced self-consciously at herself in the mirror. She knew that her body wasn't on par with models, but it wasn't as though she cared much. She had hips and a relatively nice figure, which was plenty for Hermione.

"Next one," Narcissa instructed. Hermione continued trying on dresses in this manner, finding the Wizard styles to be very different from Muggles. She would've preferred a simple white dress, yet the gowns Narcissa had brought for her flared out in awkward places, had twenty-foot trains and were made of odd materials.

About an hour in and ten dresses later, Hermione had a whole slew of new insecurities. Her arms, her knees, her midriff, the shape of her shoulders and oddly enough, her ears.

Wearing another strapless dress, Hermione stood uncomfortably in the champagne colored mermaid-style dress that poofed out below her knees so far that no one could stand within ten feet of her if they tried.

"Mother?" Draco's voice rang through the shop.

Hermione and Ginny made uncertain eye contact before they looked down at her dress and laughed it off.

"Mother- Salazar, Granger, what the hell are you wearing?" Draco stepped through the curtain with wide eyes directed at the overly-fluffy, oddly-shaped dress.

Ginny loudly sniggered at the comment, causing Hermione to start giggling again as well. How odd was this situation, she thought.

Narcissa scolded, "Language, Draco. Perhaps my son is correct, though. I believe this dress is simply too much. That leaves us with one left before we have to choose."

Hermione sighed in relief and watched as Helaina switched her dress a final time. Surprisingly, this gown wasn't made of an odd material or longer than Hermione. It had a tulle skirt in a warm shade of white connected to a laced bodice, also almost sheer. Thin straps rounded over Hermione's shoulders, and attached to the straps were see-through, long, puffy sleeves that hung off her shoulders and down to her wrists.

"Merlin, Hermione," Ginny breathed in awe. "That's a seriously gorgeous dress."

Hermione nodded absent-mindedly, staring at her reflection with a clear frown.

"I agree," Narcissa nodded. She stood up to inspect the flowy dress and noted Hermione's grimace. "Is there an issue with the dress, Miss Granger?"

"Not the dress," Hermione's focus shifted from the reflection of her body to the reflection of the man leaning against the wall behind her, a bored expression on his face. "Just… thinking."

"Surprise, surprise." Draco snarked quietly.

Hermione turned to glare at the blonde, before remembering Ginny's words. She was going to make Narcissa Malfoy's ideal pureblood wedding into a Muggle celebration. "I think we should go with this one. How much?"

Narcissa waved her hand. "I will pay for it."

"Er, are you sure?" Hermione walked over to Ginny to retrieve her purse. "I can-"

Ginny inspected the tag hanging off the dress and loudly cursed, "Shit! Hermione that's a 700 galleon dress!"

Hermione's eyes widened. "I can't let you pay for this, Mrs. Malfoy."

Mrs. Malfoy laughed, as did Draco, before she cleared her throat. "I apologize. I wasn't laughing at you; it's just that 700 galleons is no large sum to me. Allow me. After all, you and Draco will soon be married, and you will be my Daughter-In-Law-"

Draco cursed quietly and announced to his mother, "Mother, I will wait for you outside to discuss," he glanced at Hermione and Ginny, "ah, things."

Narcissa nodded once and Draco left, but not without an odd look toward Hermione.

"We should get me out of this dress before I ruin it," Hermione mumbled. Helaina switched Hermione back into her regular clothes, bagged the dress, and Hermione and Ginny left the shop to find Harry and Ron to tell them of the odd dresses and styles Narcissa Malfoy had.

.


.

A/N: This was a long chapter. I wasn't sure how much to add, so I cut myself off at about 5.5k words, haha. I'm not entirely sure how long this story will be-probably around 17-23 chapters (90-110k words-ish). Of course, that could all change; I'm keeping the story coming naturally to see where it takes me.

Thanks for reading, let me know what you think! I appreciate all of the follows, favorites and reviews I've gotten so far! I wish there was a way to respond to all of you:)

Gracie