Disclaimer: I own none of the characters here. I just use them for my own amusement. JK Rowling and co. own them No copyright infringement intended.
Summary: When two old enemies meet up again, will they be able to look past their differences and get along? What happens if they fall for each other but he's slated to marry someone else? Will he follow his heart or his parents' wishes? Dramione.
Author's note: Lyrics by Kelly Clarkson
Wildest Dreams
'Cause we belong together now, yeah
Forever united here somehow, yeah
You got a piece of me
And honestly
My life would suck without you
The day of the wedding had arrived and Hermione still didn't know if she was going or not. Draco hadn't asked her again, and when he said goodbye last night, it almost felt like he was saying goodbye forever. She didn't like the way it felt so final. And he was going to be gone for a week on his honeymoon after that. She'd be without him for far too long. She didn't even know where he was going. She didn't ask. He just put in for the time off and she'd signed off on it wordlessly. She thought about being a bitch and not letting him go, but then she worried he'd just quit or something. Which was something she did not want happening. He may be getting married, but she still couldn't lose the opportunity to see him every day. Even if they barely talked now. It was still a comfort to see his face. But now she sat in her room lying on the bed wondering what she should do. She wanted to see him, but she also did not want to see her. She was warring with herself and finally decided she'd just go. And if she chickened out, she could always leave immediately.
She got herself dressed and knew it was slightly early for the wedding, but she figured other guests would already be there. So she apparated to Draco's family home and landed outside the gates. She could see people mingling around and she wasn't the only one to have arrived early. There was a big tent set up where she assumed the wedding would take place. And people were gathered in various spots on the lawn outside the tent and nearer to the house. She hadn't been to this place since she was tortured there by Bellatrix. It held no fond memories, that's for sure. But she'd never really seen it in the daylight. It was quite beautiful, even if the manor itself looked rather creepy and foreboding to her. She prepared herself by taking a deep breath and entering the gate. There was a very large man dressed in a tuxedo standing there and he was checking invitations. She was lucky that Draco had given her one, despite her protests that she didn't want to go, so she whipped it out of her purse and showed it to him. He scanned it momentarily then directed her inside the grounds.
"You'll find champagne and other drinks to the left of the tent. You're a little early, but do feel free to find a seat now if you want a good look. We're expecting a large crowd today," he said pleasantly.
Hermione just nodded and took her invitation back and shoved it in her purse. She walked off to where the drinks were being served and decided to order a vodka cranberry while she waited. This was probably the stupidest thing she'd ever done, by coming here. But she couldn't squash her feelings of wanting to see him one last time as a free man. Not that she thought it would make a difference, but in her fevered fantasies she'd run down the aisle and claim her man when the preacher asked if anyone objected to the union. But she knew she'd never do such a thing in real life. She'd never do that to Draco. But she wanted to. Instead she decided to wander the estate away from the other guests. She found herself up by the manor and she kept peeking in the various windows to see if maybe Draco was in there somewhere that she could see. But she figured his room was probably on the upstairs level and not the ground floor. But that didn't stop her from being nosy. She came to a window in the back of the house and noted it was open. She could hear laughter and voices coming from inside and she stopped to try and listen. She wasn't sure who was talking at first but she crept closer to the window and crouched down below it. She was eavesdropping just to see what people at the wedding were talking about. Then she heard Astoria's voice.
"If you see Draco, do not tell him I'm drinking this champagne!" she laughed heartily.
"Why not?" another female person asked.
"He doesn't think I drink. Plus, he thinks I'm with child," Astoria laughed.
"What?"
"You heard me. He thinks I'm pregnant. He'd be very cross if he saw me drinking this," Astoria giggled.
"Why does he think you're pregnant? I thought you were a virgin!" the other voice said with shock.
"I am a virgin, silly. But he thinks we slept together. It was the only way he'd agree to this marriage. He's thick headed. He thinks he's in love with some mudblood. But I put a right end to that. After all, he promised my daddy and me that he'd marry me. I just cemented that in stone. He was going to try and back out," Astoria told her friend.
"Oh my God, you're horrible, Astoria!" the friend laughed. "But I would have done it too. I mean, Draco Malfoy is a dish. And a very good catch. I'm jealous honestly."
Hermione just stood there crouched down and couldn't believe her ears. The whole thing was a lie? Draco said she'd shown him proof. What was that all about? Could this be true? She wasn't pregnant? And they never slept together at all? Her heart was racing and she felt like she was going to pass out. This was too good to be true. She'd overheard the lying little wench with her own ears! She had to tell Draco. He had to know this. This changed everything. She ran from the window and desperately looked for the front door. She had to get inside and talk to him. It was a matter of life and death. She found the door and knocked on it frantically. Soon Draco's mother answered it as she yelled to the back of the house that her house elves were useless making her open her own front door on her son's wedding day. But then she turned and looked to see who was standing there and she seemed aghast.
"Ms. Granger. What are you doing here?" she asked distastefully.
"I-I need to see Draco. Right now! It's very important," she said unable to contain herself.
"Yes, well, he's upstairs getting ready for his wedding. In case you didn't notice, he's marrying today. He doesn't have time to see you," Narcissa put her off.
"You don't understand. I have to talk to him. It's about work! It's incredibly time sensitive. I have to see him," she pleaded with her.
"Listen, don't think I don't know why you're here. I'm well aware that you and my son had some sort of dalliance going on. But it's over now. He's marrying Astoria. And there's nothing you could say to him that would change that," Narcissa said in a clipped tone. "Now do please leave. You're not welcome here."
And with that, she slammed the door in Hermione's face and left her reeling. What was she going to do? She had to talk to him. She could not let him go through with this wedding. But short of scaling the entire building, she had no idea how to get to him before this horrible show started. Then she got a really crazy idea. A completely crazy one. But it was better than her running up the aisle during the ceremony. She reached into her purse and pulled out her mobile phone. She noted that she had zero reception and cursed under her breath. There was too much magic around this house. Too many security charms and God only knew what else. Plus they were way out in the country. But she had to get some reception. So she ran across the yard and kept holding the phone up in the air, hoping that if she got far enough away from the house itself, she'd get some bars on the phone. She got so desperate she climbed up a small tree and held the phone up in the air.
"Aha! Bars! Oh God, please let Harry answer," she said to herself as she sat in a tree in Draco's yard. She must have looked like a raging lunatic to the people passing by her, but she didn't care. People were pointing and whispering about the crazy girl in the tree, but she just dialed Harry's number.
"Hermione? Are you alright?" Harry asked as he answered the phone.
"No, I'm not alright. Listen, I need your help!" she cried into the phone.
"Are you at the wedding? If so, I told you it was going to be too painful," he said to her quietly.
"I know. Look, I am at the wedding, but it's not started yet. I still have time. I need to speak to Draco, but his mum won't let me in. She slammed the door in my face! But I have to speak to him. I don't have time to explain, but I found some stuff out that he needs to know. You have to help me get to him," she said desperately.
"How am I supposed to help? And what did you find out?"
"I'll tell you all about it when I can. But I need you to get Draco out of that house. Then bring him to me so I can talk to him."
"How the hell am I supposed to get him out of the house? His mum will just slam the door in my face too. Plus I don't have an invitation so I probably can't even get in," he noted, assuming a wedding like that would have security posted. And he was right.
"They'll have to let you in if you're here on official Auror business. Won't they? If you tell them you're here for business you don't need an invite. And his mother can't turn you away," she rattled on feverishly.
"Official Auror business? You want me to pretend to be on a mission and then just run past them into the house?" he asked with confusion.
"No, I want you to arrest Draco. I don't care if you have to handcuff him in front of his parents. Just fucking make it look good and get him out of the house!" she said frantically.
"Arrest him? For what?"
"I don't know. Make something up! And make sure you look very official when you show up. I want them to believe this. They have to believe this. Draco can't get married until I talk to him. And then I'm hoping he won't get married at all," she said quickly.
"Will you at least tell me what you learned that will change anything?"
"I can't! There's not enough time. Just please get here and do what I asked. Please?"
"I can't believe I'm doing this. I could get in real trouble for pretending to arrest an innocent man!"
"No one's gonna say anything. Trust me. I just need this favor. Please? I'm sitting in a fucking tree and you're starting to break up. Just tell me you'll be here," she said hurriedly.
"I'll be there. Give me a few minutes okay?"
And with that, she hung up the phone and crawled out of the tree and smoothed her dress down. People gave her odd looks and she just smiled at them and went over to the bar again and grabbed another drink. She wasn't drinking it though. She was just trying to blend in. But she decided to head over towards the gates and wait for Harry to show up. She prayed he wouldn't take long. Thank God for magical apparition. Otherwise she'd be screwed. And thank God for trees that garnered you cell phone reception when you got desperate. About ten minutes later, she saw Harry arrive at the gates. He was dressed in his robes and had his badge out. She saw him show it to the gatekeeper and he was let through quickly. She knew that would work! She went running over to him and hugged him tightly.
"Oh thank God you're here! Now please go make this look good okay? Just capture Draco and bring him to me. I'll be waiting out behind the house where no one can see me. If his parents see me, they might get suspicious."
"You still haven't told me why I'm doing this," he noted.
"Because Astoria is a lying bitch. I overheard her telling her friends that she made up the entire pregnancy. They never even slept together! She lied! So go bring me Draco. Please?"
Harry just stood there a second and absorbed what she was saying. Then he nodded his head.
"Okay. I'll bring him to you. But if I get in trouble for this, I'm never forgiving you," he sighed as he trudged up to the house and watched Hermione disappear into some bushes in the back.
He knocked on the door and waited patiently for someone to answer. Again Narcissa came to the door and looked frazzled that people kept pounding on the door. When she saw who it was she was startled.
"Harry Potter? What on earth are you doing here?" she asked with exasperation.
"I'm afraid I'm here on business. Official Ministry business. I'm here to collect Draco Malfoy. He's been accused of magical misconduct and I have to bring him in," Harry lied convincingly.
"What? Magical misconduct? There must be some mistake. It's his wedding day! Can't you take this up with him after the ceremony?" she pleaded with him.
"No, I'm afraid not. We have reason to believe he'll flee if I don't catch him off guard. I'm sorry to ruin the wedding, but I really must see him now. Is he upstairs?" Harry pushed past Narcissa and entered the house.
"What is happening here?" Lucius asked as he rushed into the room.
"Draco is being arrested!" Narcissa cried unhappily.
"For what?" Lucius looked at Harry with a deadly glance.
"I'm afraid he's been accused of magical misconduct. He has to come with me," Harry said not giving anything away.
"Who accused him?" Lucius wanted to know.
"I'm not at liberty to discuss that. Now if you'll just show me to him, we can make this a quiet matter. Or we can fight. I'd prefer not to have to fight though," Harry told them.
"He's upstairs in his room. I'll show you the way," Lucius relented not wanting to make a scene. But he figured there had to be some mistake. His Draco would never do something illegal. Not anymore. Not now that he'd gotten his life together and Voldemort wasn't calling the shots. But perhaps Lucius had misjudged his son? Lucius was no stranger to Azkaban himself. He just hoped his son never had to go there. He'd try and buy his way out of whatever this was soon enough. He couldn't have his son in prison.
Harry just followed Lucius and kept shaking his head wondering why he got himself into this mess. But he loved Hermione and had to do something for her, if it would help. They came to Draco's door and Lucius knocked.
"Draco? Are you in there? Open up," Lucius said to his son.
Draco heard his father calling him, but he didn't feel like answering. He just stood in front of the mirror in his tux and tried to remember to keep breathing. He was so nervous and upset he couldn't even see straight. But when the knocking persisted he couldn't help but take notice of it. Especially when he heard Harry's voice beyond the door. What was Harry doing here?
"Draco Malfoy? Come out quietly with your hands up," Harry said trying to be official. This is exactly what he'd do if it were real. He just hoped no one asked too many questions.
Draco didn't understand what was going on, so he didn't move. He just stood there rooted in his spot. Until Harry just opened up the door and stormed in. He was dressed in his official Ministry robes and had his wand out and a pair of handcuffs in his hands.
"What the fuck is going on, Potter?" he asked with confusion.
"You've been accused of magical misconduct, so I'm afraid I have to take you in," Harry put on a good show. "Turn around and let me see your hands."
"What? This is nonsense. I didn't do anything!" Draco said heatedly.
Harry showed him the handcuffs and told him to turn around again.
"Handcuffs? Really? I'll go quietly. You don't need to cuff me. I still don't understand what you think I did. I never did any unlawful magic!"
"I have a source who says you did. And I'm afraid the handcuffs are part of procedure," Harry said, gleaning a little bit of satisfaction at handcuffing his old school nemesis. It felt kind of nice to be slapping the cuffs on Draco. But Harry would never admit that to Hermione. She loved this guy. And he was putting his job on the line for the two of them and their future. Only Draco didn't know that yet.
He cuffed Draco up and Narcissa was crying and Lucius was holding her to him.
"Don't worry son. We'll get you out of this mess as soon as possible! You won't spend a night in Azkaban if I can help it!" Lucius bellowed giving Harry a stare down as he marched their son past them with handcuffs on.
They went down the stairs and Lucius and Narcissa followed closely. Harry had to keep the show going. But Draco was just in disbelief. His entire life was a shit heap now. First he was going to be trapped in a loveless marriage and now he was going to prison for some reason? Could he not catch a break?
"I'd like to know what I did and who said I did it. Because I can assure you that I did nothing wrong," Draco told Harry.
"Just be quiet and I'll explain everything to you soon enough. We have to get away from your parents," Harry whispered to Draco.
"What?"
"I said be quiet prisoner! No your family cannot follow us to the Ministry. They can come see you later after you've been processed," Harry said loudly so that his parents would back the hell off.
Draco was just confused as fuck and kept looking at Harry like he'd sprouted a second head.
"Right. Mum? Father? You guys just stay here. Someone has to tell Astoria and her family what's happened. I'm sure you'll get me out soon," Draco told them.
"You didn't do anything wrong. Remember that! Just keep saying that! Do not speak unless you really have to," Lucius advised his son.
Then they stepped out onto the front steps and Harry apparated them out of his parents sight and landed quickly in the back yard behind the bushes he saw Hermione hiding behind. When Draco saw that they were still in his yard when they landed, he was even more confused.
"What the hell is going on, Potter?" Draco asked with confusion.
"Don't say I never did anything for you," Harry smiled at him as he indicated a smiling Hermione standing off to the side waiting for him.
"Hermione? What are you doing here? Did you just have me arrested? Is that what we've come to? Making false accusations at me? If so, that's really low," he said feeling hurt momentarily.
"I didn't accuse you of anything, you dummy. I just had Harry pretend to arrest you. I had to speak to you and your parents wouldn't let me in," she explained as quickly as she could.
"So I'm not under arrest?" he asked quizzically.
"No," she shook her head.
He looked at Harry confusedly.
"No, you're not under arrest. But it was kind of fun cuffing you up like that," Harry smirked, as he waved his wand and unlocked the cuffs. They fell to the ground and Harry looked at the two of them. "I'll just be over here while you guys talk okay?"
He then moved off towards the far part of the yard and let them have their moment. Hermione rushed up to Draco and put her arms around his neck. She hugged him tightly and he hugged her back. But he still had no idea what the hell was going on.
"Oh Draco, I've missed you so much," she said with tears in her eyes.
"Love, I've missed you too. But if you think a fake arrest is going to save me, you're wrong. I'll still have to come back another day and do this," he said sadly.
"No you won't. See that's why I had to speak to you. I overheard Astoria talking to her friends. She's not pregnant. Not even close. You never even slept with her at all. She faked all of it. None of it was true!" Hermione said gleefully.
"What? But I saw the test and the sonogram and I went to her healer with her," he said disbelieving.
"She obviously found some way to fake those things. I don't know. All I know is that she's in her little bridal room, drinking champagne and laughing over how she duped you. She's not even the slightest bit remorseful. She said she did what she had to do to get you away from me."
"Are you serious? You're sure you heard right?" he asked, finally feeling some of the weight being lifted off his shoulders but he was scared to be too happy.
"I'm dead serious. And I know I heard her right. She was laughing about it. Like it was some big joke! She's a liar and she's conniving and she's evil. You don't have to marry her," Hermione smiled at him.
It was finally sinking in to Draco and all he could do was laugh. Not because it was funny but because he was so fucking relieved he didn't know what else to do.
"I'm not getting married today? She's not pregnant? We never slept together?"
"No, no, and no. You're a free man!" she cried happily as she threw her arms around his neck again and hugged him tightly.
"God, I love you. I love you for being a nosy little thing. If not for that quality I'd never know this. I'd be stuck with her forever," he said with a smile.
"I love you too. And it's a great thing I'm nosy because it changes everything. Right?" she asked hopefully, wondering if his money and his family still mattered to him enough to go through with it.
But that was crazy. Draco nodded his head and smiled widely at her.
"It does change everything. I'm not marrying her. She can't make me. And I might be poor from now on, but I've got you, right?" he said optimistically.
"You never really lost me. I never stopped loving you," she said with tears in her eyes.
"I never stopped loving you either," he got teary himself.
Then he kissed her. He kissed her until they both lost sight of everything around them and could feel only each other's lips. It was a glorious feeling. One they both thought they'd never have again. But this time no one was going to keep them apart.
"What do you say we confront that bitch huh? Tell her we're on to her? I wanna see her face when she realizes she's been caught out," Draco said finally, after they came up for air.
"I like that plan. Do I get to watch?" she asked deviously.
"Yes, you do. After all it was your sleuthing that uncovered the truth. And with any luck we'll at least catch her red-handed drinking champagne and hurting our supposed baby."
"Let's go."
"Let me just say something to Harry first," Draco said, pausing their trip back to the manor.
He walked over to where Harry was standing and he reached out his hand for him to shake it. Harry took his hand and they shook, about thirteen years too late, Draco thought. But at least it was something.
"I can't thank you enough for arresting me today. You must love Hermione a lot to do this for her, because I know damn well you didn't do it for me," Draco laughed wryly.
"You got that right. It was a lot of fun arresting you, I must say. But don't ever make me have to do it for real," he said with a raised eyebrow.
"I won't. Thank you so much for what you did," Draco said sincerely.
"Don't mention it. Just tell Hermione I love her and I'm gonna leave now. You guys got this covered right?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, we got it covered. Draco is not getting married today. Someday, yes. But not today. And not to that shrew of a woman."
"Congratulations on your non-wedding."
"Thank you."
And with that, Harry apparated away and Draco went back over to Hermione.
"Harry sends his love. But he was ready to go home. I think he's warming up to me a little, but he enjoyed slapping those cuffs on me a little too much," Draco laughed.
"I wager he's fantasized about throwing you in jail ever since you broke my heart," she said in a small voice.
"Yeah."
"Except you really didn't break my heart. You never touched her. I knew you never would!"
"I knew I never would either, but what else was I to think?"
"She's going to be very angry today and that's gonna give me a huge happy. I can't wait to see her face," Hermione said delightedly.
They took off hand in hand across the grounds and people were staring at them and wondering why the groom was holding hands with another woman. Also some of the guests saw Draco getting arrested too. Everything was in chaos around them, but Draco and Hermione didn't really pay attention to it. They just marched up the front steps and back into the house. They were met quickly by Draco's parents who were busily talking to Astoria's parents about Draco's arrest. When they saw him walk in, they were so relived at first.
"Draco! You got away! Did you explain away this nonsense or did you escape?" Narcissa wondered worriedly.
"I didn't escape. But I did get a few things worked out. And I need to see Astoria. Now."
"You can't see her now. It's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding!" Astoria's mum chimed in, relieved to see her son in law back at the house. She was worried how she'd break the news to her daughter that her fiancé had been arrested.
"There's not going to be any wedding, I'm afraid," Draco said to everyone.
Just then, Lucius and Narcissa noticed Hermione standing next to Draco. She had been overlooked in the clamor for Draco's return.
"What is she doing in here? I sent her away once already!" Narcissa said angrily.
"She's with me. And she's always going to be with me. And if you two don't like it? Well then you can blow it out your ass," Draco said to his parents, who stood there aghast at their son's behavior.
"You're with another woman? What about my daughter?" Astoria's father growled at him menacingly.
"Your daughter is a lying cow. I'm sorry to break it to you, but she tricked me into this marriage. And now it's not happening. You can try and kill me, but Mr. Potter will just come back and arrest you next time. So I suggest you just deal with it," Draco said sternly, finally standing up for himself against all his oppressors. "Now where is Astoria?"
"She's in the bedroom down the left hall. The one with the yellow bedspreads," Narcissa said quietly, pointing the way.
Draco just smiled and took Hermione's hand and marched off down the hallway. They came to the door and before they knocked or opened it up, Draco pressed his ear against the door in hopes of overhearing something more. Something he could use against her. Even if he already had enough ammunition to end this atrocity. But he wanted more. So he listened intently and Hermione just crouched down and pressed her ear next to the door too. They could hear muffled voices.
"Is it almost time for this wedding to happen? I feel like it's running late," Astoria said to one of her chums.
"It is running late. We were supposed to be called out twenty minutes ago. Do you suppose Draco backed out?" the friend asked.
"No way. He knows my father would murder him slowly for getting me pregnant. Believe me, I put the fear of God into him over that."
"I still can't believe you told him that you were pregnant. What were you planning to do when no baby showed up?" the friend wanted to know.
"I was hoping to get pregnant on the honeymoon. But otherwise I was just going to tell him that I lost it. No big deal. He'd already be married to me and it'd be too late," Astoria said with a wicked laugh.
"You're incorrigible!" the friend laughed back.
Draco had heard enough. Not only was she lying, but she was telling all her friends what an idiot he was for believing her. His blood was boiling. So much so, he didn't even knock. He just threw the door open and caught Astoria lounging in a chair in her wedding gown with a glass of champagne in her hand. She quickly put the champagne down and stood up.
"Draco! What on earth are you doing in here? It's bad luck!" she said nervously.
"Bad luck eh? I don't think my luck could get any worse than being betrothed to a shrew like you," he said venomously.
"What?"
"I overheard you talking. About the non-baby. You're a fucking liar. And I also saw you downing the champagne so don't try to tell me you didn't drink it. Would a pregnant woman drink that?" he asked.
"Draco, it's not what it looks like. The healers said it was okay to have one glass. And I don't know what you mean about the non-baby. Of course there's a baby! I don't know what you thought you overheard," she shook her head and tried to play dumb.
Hermione then walked into the room and faced down her nemesis.
"Hello Astoria. Lovely to see you again. Did you know that the window over there is open? And someone who was inclined to snoop might have overheard your entire conversation earlier. You never slept with Draco. And you're not pregnant. The second part, we both just heard you say not one minute ago. We were listening at the door! The jig is up, bitch. Draco isn't your puppet anymore. You lost this one," Hermione said angrily.
"Draco, don't listen to her! She has every reason to lie to you. She wants you for herself!" Astoria stammered and tried to save face.
"Did you not hear her say we both overheard you a minute ago? Are you very brain damaged that you don't remember what you said a minute ago?" Draco shot back at her.
"I don't know what you mean," she denied everything still.
Draco then looked towards her two friends that were sitting there.
"Is Astoria pregnant? Do tell, because I'd like to hear your thoughts on it," he asked them.
"Um, I don't know," one of the girls said.
"I don't know either," the other one said.
Why were they all hell bent on lying? Draco and Hermione had overheard them talking! Did they really think they'd believe these lies?
"Alright, if you're pregnant then let's go to my healer right now. If my healer says you're pregnant, then we'll come back and get married. But if he says you're not, and that worse yet, you're still a virgin, then all bets are off. Do you really want me to drag you to a healer right now? Because I fucking will!" he shouted at her.
"I-I'm not going to another healer. Mine suits me just fine," she said with her nose in the air.
"What did you do huh? Pay him off? Is that why he said you were pregnant? Don't even think about lying to me anymore. I already know the truth!"
Astoria just seethed and stared at Hermione and Draco both. She was livid. How come that trollop was snooping outside her window? What was she even doing at the wedding at all? And Draco? What possessed him to believe that girl and then eavesdrop on her private conversations? They were clearly made for one another. Both of them trash. She just looked at Draco with a hardened expression.
"Fine. I did lie. But I only did it for your own good! You were going to waste your life with this, this, mudblood! And I came along and saved you! My father was going to make you wealthy and powerful in your own right. And you've now ruined it all!" she cried.
"I ruined it all? You're the one who ruined my life. I was doing fine without you! I never wanted your daddy's money or his job. I wanted my life. The one I already had. So don't do me any favors. I'm fine without you," he said heatedly.
"So you're really not going to marry me? I mean, there could be a baby! Soon! I was thinking on our honeymoon it would be a perfect time to conceive. I bet I'm fertile. We could still have the life I dreamed of," she said desperately.
"Yeah, that's not gonna happen. It's the life you dreamed, and not me. Besides, I was never planning to touch you on the honeymoon anyway. So good luck getting pregnant immaculately," he shot back at her.
"What am I supposed to tell my parents?" she asked with genuine tears in her eyes now.
"Tell them you lied to me. Tell them you duped me into thinking I got you pregnant when I never even touched you."
"I can't tell them that! I cannot tell them the truth or they'd be horrified with me," she said aghast.
"Well then tell them I'm in love with someone else. They already know that part anyway because I told them. I just wanted to hear you say it again that you duped me," he said satisfactorily.
"Draco I loved you," she said trying her best to get him back.
But it was no use. He just laughed at her.
"You don't even know what love is."
And with that, he grabbed Hermione's hand and marched out of the bridal room and left Astoria screaming after him, but he ignored her. They both ignored her and just walked back into the foyer of the house intending to go outside. But they were stopped by Draco's parents.
"Where do you think you're going?" Lucius grabbed Draco's arm.
"I'm leaving."
"No you're not. Not until you explain yourself properly. What the hell has been going on here today? First you were arrested, then you come back with this girl on your arm and saying your fiancée is a cow," Lucius said upset with his son.
"I said lying cow. There's a difference. She lied to me about everything. She told me she was pregnant. But I never even touched her! That was the only reason I was marrying her," Draco told his father.
"Pregnant? She's pregnant?" Narcissa asked with confusion.
"No Mum, she's not. She lied to me. That's why I'm leaving," he said. "Oh an I'm in love with Hermione. So there's also that."
"Draco we already talked about this together. It's not love. It's lust. And you'll grow out of it," Lucius assured his son.
"No Father, it is love. I've loved her for a long time. So much longer than either of us would admit. But I'm never losing her again," he said looking at Hermione who was beaming that he'd tell his parents about them like this.
"Draco don't do this," Lucius warned him.
"Too late. It's done. And we're leaving now."
And with that, he took Hermione's hand and waltzed out the front door. People were everywhere outside and wondered what was going on. Some people heard that Draco had been arrested and other people heard he ran off with another girl. No one knew what to believe, but when they saw Draco emerge from the house with Hermione on his arm, they figured it was the latter.
"Wait, before we go, there's something I wanna do," he said with an evil little smirk on his face.
"What's that?" Hermione asked laughing at him.
"Just come with me," he said pulling her along with him.
They were almost running towards the wedding tent and people were taking pictures and some of them were press photographers but neither one of them cared. They just kept going until Draco found the wedding cake. It was four tiers and incredibly gorgeous. He snatched off the little bride and groom people and threw them on the ground. Then he took off the top layer of the cake and handed it to Hermione. She didn't know what he was doing, but she held the cake and watched as he tipped the table over and smashed the rest of the cake to bits. Then he grabbed a bottle of champagne off the table and put his arm around Hermione. To the onlookers he just waved and smiled and posed for a picture that some reporter was taking. Then he and Hermione walked to the gates and took one last look at the land.
"I wager I'm saying goodbye to this forever. Good riddance eh?" he said with a wistful sigh.
"Maybe? Maybe they'll forgive you?" she offered, still holding the top layer of the wedding cake.
"I reckon I'll find out eventually. But for now? My place, shall we? I wanna eat that cake," he smiled at her.
"Your place it is," she smiled back.
And they disappeared from Malfoy Manor possibly to never return again. Draco was okay with that now. He had to be. Any life that wasn't on his terms, wasn't a life he wanted to lead. Not anymore. And not ever really. But he'd seen just how bad it could get and he'd rather be poor and disowned than to live like he was living. It was torturous. But he was a free man now. No one could tell him what to do. And he couldn't be happier.
To be continued…. Thanks for all the reviews! I love them. So keep them coming! It helps me write even faster…. One more chapter to go! Thank you all for reading!