Hermione strode past her, they were still out of view of the guests of the wedding. Viktor remained in the woods, Hermione hoped he saw Astoria and decided being hidden was best. Who knows what anyone might think, let alone what a furious Astoria Greengrass might tell the newspapers.
"Hermione Granger?" Astoria stopped in disbelief at being ignored. Hermione would too in her shoes, because they had locked eyes, she registered her anger, and consciously ignored her. She hesitated mid stride then changed directions and walked away from Viktor to another part of the meadow. Away from prying eyes.
Astoria's rapid footsteps crunched the grass under her heels, so Hermione knew she was following her.
"Are you ignoring me?" Astoria's buttery voice called after her, raising a little too loudly. Hermione stopped. "You are Hermione Granger?"
"I can only assume you believe I am, otherwise why are you following me?" Hermione was exhausted and furious and her short stampede through the shadows of the meadow did nothing to calm the adrenaline that pulsed through her, both from her fight with Viktor, having to use spells on him, and finding Draco Malfoy's supposed fiance before her.
Astoria stood in a billowing dress, the wind of the meadow picking the fabric up and throwing it behind her like silver sales. The light from the twinkling lanterns above them caught the surface and she looked formidable and breathtaking.
Her dark eyebrows met in the middle as her face remained contorted in a frown. Her eyes were dark, and her skin was pale. And her wand was sparking in her hand, Hermione eyed it carefully and gripped her own.
"Do you know who I am?" Astoria's wand shot red sparks and singed the grass at her feet. Hermione raised her eyebrow and then levelled Astoria with her gaze. Astoria's straight backbone almost slumped a little at Hermione's lack of response.
"Am I supposed to?" Hermione asked. Irritating Astoria seemed the least she could do to abate her own crazy feelings that bounced inside of her. Envy? Jealousy? Anger? Irritation? She didn't know which to focus on.
"You're such an insolent little bitch." Astoria spat. "I didn't think you'd be here . And there you were, striding off through the crowd."
"Are you going to tell me who you are? Or should I just pretend I know what this is about, have you arrested for harassment, and visit you in prison when you've calmed down?" Hermione wanted to laugh at how visibly frazzled Astoria became. Her long black hair whipped behind her, Hermione's stayed in place.
"I'm Astoria Greengrass." Hermione knew as much. She had also read what she said next in The Prophet , but it knocked the wind from her all the same. "I am Draco Malfoy's fiance. "
Her chest, which had calmed since silencing Viktor, was now heaving again. What did Astoria want with her then? Hermione and Draco had not been together, ever.
"Does he know that?" Hermione felt the word slide from her mouth and it sounded mocking, sounded nothing like her.
Astoria's cheeks blotched and her mouth opened in protest. Her wand rose and pointed at Hermione. Her adrenaline spiked and she refused to raise her wand. She would defend, not attack.
"We were engaged in-"
Hermione laughed at the clouds above them drowning out her words. "Which is it? Are you currently engaged? Or you were engaged so you aren't anymore?"
Oh fuck, I've gone batshit. Hermione sobered her laughter and met Astoria's wand, her dark eyes had opened in surprise.
"You know, they said you were so clever, and brilliant. And all I see is a bitch conniving to steal my future husband." Astoria's low voice had danger edging its way in, and Hermione tightened her grip on her wand, her muscles tensing. She had to protect Lily's dress firstly, then secondly, maybe just a little stunning jinx.
"Aren't you one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight?" Hermione asked, and she knew she was egging her on, making things worse, but she couldn't help it. Because the blood pounding in her ears had begun a mantra, he said he loved you, he said he loved you. "Aren't you pureblooded idiots brought up with some kind of manners? I didn't know the word bitch was in your vocabulary."
"That's why you can never have him, Granger. Your blood is filthy. You deserve to be called worse than a bitch."
"How can I help you today," Hermione said with as much fake happiness as she could, "Miss Astoria Greengrass, the fiance of Draco Malfoy?"
"You know how!" Astoria's eyes thundered on her face, Hermione had never seen such a terrifying beauty. Hermione immediately thought of Maleficent of Sleeping Beauty. She half expected her to turn into a dragon.
"I assure you, I have no idea why you're confronting me." Hermione flexed her hand on her wand before tightening her grip again.
"You've slept with him!" Astoria's buttery voice was losing its undertone and her voice had gone shrill. The words rang through her head as the idea burrowed into her mind.
Draco pressing her into a wall, his lips to her neck, tasting the salt of her skin. Draco murmuring her name as he parted her legs with his knees, his long fingers threading through her hair as he pulled it back to reach her mouth.
She shook her head.
"I have not." Hermione said firmly. Pansy has, though .
"I don't believe you." Astoria hissed, baring her teeth, too white against her black hair. "I see how you look at him. You've been on all the papers. You both might as well had fucked for everyone to see."
Her wand flicked at the moment Hermione saw her start to say " Flipendo! "
Hermione flicked her wand and the spell deflected. Astoria's eyes opened wider, crazed, at Hermione's wordless magic. Hermione raised her wand and pointed it firmly at Astoria now.
Hermione was reeling. This woman was so insecure. She was so spiteful and full of hate and she didn't even know Hermione. Hermione wanted no part of it. She took a calming breath. She willed herself not to further their argument.
"I do not sleep with engaged men." Hermione repeated what she said to Viktor earlier. She lowered her wand now, Astoria didn't.. "And I assure you, he and I have never slept together or will sleep together."
There was movement beside her, but she barrelled on. Astoria's expression was slowly unwarping from hatred and wrath, to more of a regular face.
"I have no interest in Draco Malfoy." The lie was absolutely bitter on her tongue, because he had become the very thing she craved. "He is all yours, Astoria Greengrass."
"I've been looking for you."
Blood throbbed audibly in Hermione's ears. No.
Was he looking for her or Astoria?
She turned to the warmth that was beside her, and he stood in black dress robes, his hair strewn in the wind and falling into his eyes, he smelled like home, and something deeper and richer like oak wood, his cologne. Hermione stared. He was there, he heard her.
And Draco wasn't looking at her. He was a foot away beside her, but she felt the pressure of him against her skin, like a shadow of a hug, physical contact, something. She wanted to fall against him and apologise, say it was all a lie.
His jaw clenched and his silver eyes remained on Astoria. Astoria.
Hermione returned her focus to the witch who had lowered her wand and her eyes remained glued to Draco. Her expression softened at the sight of him, the fury melted away. Hermione looked to Draco to see the complete opposite on his face, anger roiled off him, tensing every muscle in his body, his hands were fists in his pockets.
"You came." She said breathily to him. Draco stiffly bowed his head. His eyes flickered to Hermione and the sudden attention shot heat through her. She looked at Astoria.
"I think I should escort you home, Tori." Draco said softly, gentler than his body seemed capable of delivering. Hermione went cold. Home , she thought, he is going home with her.
Jealousy flared but it was easier than she thought to leave her face absolutely emotionless.
Because he was engaged to Astoria, it was in the articles. The articles she trusted because they were cross referenced to others and seemed true about Draco's trial and Teddy's nefarious behaviour. He was taking her home. So what if he was a cheat, going behind Astoria's back to sleep with Pansy. Hermione would never choose to be the other woman.
Bile rose in her throat. But he loves me.
Astoria had walked to Draco now and he lifted his arms stiffly so she pressed her cheek to his chest. He stroked her hair back.
"Let's go." He turned and let her link her fingers into his own, and rest her palm to his bicep where she curled her long fingers to grip him. Draco paused briefly and finally met Hermione's eyes.
What had happened to her that she was frozen when he looked at her? It was like he cast wandless magic that set her body on alert for him, for his voice, for his eyes, the movement of his mouth when he spoke.
"Hermione." Draco said it softly, a different kind of kindness he had used for Astoria. "You must know I'm sorry."
Hermione felt the pulse in her temple and the thud of her heart against her sternum. She wanted to ask him what he was sorry for.
Sorry for cheating on Astoria? Sorry for pursuing her while engaged? Sorry that she fell in love with him? Sorry for lying to her, loving her? Her throat had gone dry and her mind felt like sentences swirling together and getting tangled in a yarn ball.
She turned to ask, but he was gone.
Hey Mione,
Come to Grimmauld Place for dinner on Saturday? I think Kreacher likes you more than he likes me.
He said dinner is at 6, so don't be late. When did house elves get so bossy?
Gin
Hermione's eyes were bloodshot and red. It had been a week since the wedding and the fiascos that happened there. There were no pictures of her and Viktor, only of Cho with her smiling husband. They were a gorgeous couple.
Hermione hadn't cried, she wished she had. She wished she knew what she was feeling so she could forget it. But when it swirled inside her, a tornado of confusion, it was hard to ignore. She fell back into bed with the letter loose in her hand as the owl fluttered out the window. Dinner tomorrow with the Potters.
Ginny and Harry weren't married, but Hermione had taken to calling them the Potters in her head. It was easier, and inevitable at this point. And Ginny would definitely like the sound of it when Hermione got to say it out loud.
It also was odd, they invited her to dinner for food made by Kreacher. Hermione smelled an intervention coming. She hadn't heard from any places she had applied to, George had yet to call her in for any assignments.
And she was about to turn 25 years old in a week.
With a groan and minimum effort, she rolled off the bed and freshened up. She wrote letters, addressed them to the Ministry, the Library, and George, then swallowed her pride. She would mail it tomorrow when she turned up for dinner.
When she arrived on Grimmauld Place before Diagon Alley, Hermione groaned. She forgot. She would have to do it tomorrow.
The door swung open and Hermione was looking at Ginny's knees.
"Yea, he sent me to get the door, isn't he ridiculous?" Ginny laughed.
"Cut the shit." Hermione walked into a hug and allowed herself to be held for the little comfort it gave her.
"Yea, was I obvious?" Ginny pulled away and took Hermione by the hand, tugging her to the kitchen where roast chicken filled the air with its garlic and butteriness mingling with herbs and spices.
"Kreacher." Hermione greeted him with a wide smile and his eyes met hers, he inclined his head slightly, but his expression didn't change.
"Harry's on his way down, he was finishing a report or something." Ginny explained as Hermione's eyes scanned the dining room and saw only dishes and cups, but no Harry.
"Okay…" Hermione sat and Ginny planted herself beside her on the bench.
"Okay, okay. So, you left last week without saying what happened and Viktor was weird for the rest of the night." Ginny let it rush out of her in one breath.
"And?" Hermione raised her eyebrow, waiting for her to go on.
"Did you have super dirty mistress sex on his wedding day?" Ginny grinned. Hermione knew that because she was grinning she couldn't have believed Hermione would do that. Because Ginny knew Hermione better than Harry sometimes.
"I did not have super dirty mistress sex on his wedding day. No." Hermione bit back a laugh.
"Aw, I thought I was getting some juicy intel." Ginny sighed and deflated into the bench.
"He thought I wanted to though." Ginny's draw dropped open. "I think."
"Oh, he's nasty." Ginny winced as Hermione saw the situation play out in her mind. Then she settled and looked at Hermione. "Are you gonna tell me what happened?"
"I-" Hermione felt the familiar pressure in her chest and her eyes burned like they were drying out. "I told him off, for sleeping with me while he was engaged. I told him I'd be his worst nightmare if he hurt Cho. And I told him I- and Cho- deserve better."
Ginny clapped gleefully, palms pressed together but fingertips making the sound, a proud grin on her face. "Please tell me you hexed him."
"I wish. I only used the silencing charm." Hermione rubbed her forehead and mirrored Ginny's grin. "He wouldn't shut up."
"But then, you looked upset when you were leaving." Ginny's eyes unfocused as she remembered Hermione hustling up to her, the dress in his fists so she could walk faster. She was sure she wasn't crying, but she must have looked in shock, or something. Because Ginny immediately told her to go and don't worry about it.
"Astoria Greengrass cornered me." Hermione heard a door open upstairs and Kreacher began noisily mashing potatoes with wet splashes at every smush.
"Who?" Ginny screwed up her face.
"I think her sister was in our year, but I never interacted with her." Hermione realised now why Greengrass was so familiar, beyond just being one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight.
"Yea, but why the fuck was she cornering you?" Ginny turned to face Hemione, folding her leg under her and pressing her hand onto her ankle. Harry walked in, saw them and smiled.
He walked over to Hermione and kissed the top of her head and squeezed her shoulder.
"Why was who cornering you?" Harry asked as he sat opposite them and his eyes filled with fondness.
"Astoria Greengrass." Hermione lifted her eyebrows and shrugged.
"Didn't we go to potions at some point with a girl called Greengrass?" Harry leaned into the tabletop and propped his chin on his hand.
"I think so-"
"Forget the sister! Why was she cornering you?" Ginny butted in impatiently, looking between Harry and Hermione with her hands out exasperatedly for completely missing the point.
"Right. She thought I was trying to marry Draco." Hermione said it quietly, and then all sound dropped away. A beat of silence. Then Ginny was doubled over laughing.
Harry peered at her thoughtfully.
"What's she got to do with him?" He asked, his fingers now wrapping onto his chin.
"She's his fiance."
Ginny choked and started coughing.
"Yea, I don't believe that." Harry said simply and he shrugged and leaned back. Hermione looked at him in confusion.
"I saw the engagement announcement in the paper." Hermione explained, she didn't know why she wanted Harry to believe her, but she was going to try.
"And how old was that article?" Harry tilted his head.
"Um, I think they got engaged after his trial." Hermione purposefully tried to be vague.
"Hermione, that was years ago." Harry looked at her patiently.
"I already slept with Viktor and he was engaged. Draco is too, and I won't do that again." Hermione said in a rush.
"Nobody's saying you have to sleep with the guy." Harry leaned back as the prepped food began to float to the table top.
"Well, he lied to me." Hermione said it like that was the end of the matter. Ginny was wiping remnant tears of laughter from her eyes and Harry looked at her sadly.
"Well, we're going on a tour, or whatever." Harry's voice immediately was chipper and when Hermione looked at him, his eyes were wide with panic and begging Ginny for help.
"A tour?" Hermione looked at Ginny who was rolling her eyes at Harry.
"Yea, non refundable tour to all the magical places in the United Kingdom with some magical history." The chicken made its landing and immediately filled the air with its smell, denser than before. Hermione's mouth watered.
"Okay, that sounds like fun." She had whiplash from the random direction of the conversation.
"Good, 'cause we have one extra ticket and you're coming with." Ginny squeezed her hand and then dug into the food.