Hello Granger,
Sorry, feels odd to call you Hermione when all I hear is 'Granger this' and 'Granger that' from Draco.
(On that note, it also feels weird to call you Granger, because I think Draco uses it as a term of endearment.)
Anyways, we're having a small party tonight to celebrate our engagement. I know, short notice, but I'm hoping you can make it. I invited Potter and Weasley and their better halves, too. It'll be like a weird school reunion.
Just a nice dinner and drinks at our place, no need to bring anything. Dress code is semi-formal, just for fun. Six o'clock.
Hope to see you,
Blaise and Angelica
A last minute, semi-formal, Sunday night dinner party did not sound fun to Hermione after her previous day had been a full day of dress shopping, but she did not want to refuse Blaise and Angelica's invitation. She was flattered to have been invited, and she knew it would be important to Malfoy for her to go.
After her heart-to-heart with Pansy in the loo of the bridal store the previous day, Hermione had returned to her friends and after several exhausting hours, she had found a wedding dress. She had even had fun doing it, despite the rocky start.
It had been everything that movies and television had told her it would be. She had known the moment the dress was zipped onto her that it was right. She had known without seeing herself in the mirror, but the feeling was affirmed when she had. It had been beautiful and bittersweet.
Magic was a wonderful thing. In the Muggle world, alterations would have taken months. But Bastien was a wizard in more than just the literal sense, and she had left that day with her dress and veil in hand.
Currently, it was hanging in its garment bag outside her wardrobe, and Hermione was sitting in bed staring at the bag.
It was surreal that in six days, she'd be in that dress. Marrying Draco Malfoy.
Her conflicting emotions churned in her empty stomach. Her conversation with Pansy, seeing herself in her wedding dress, and realizing that she loved it had sparked a new sort of tentative excitement for the coming week. She had come to be fond of Draco's presence. He was clever and witty, and cared deeply for those he held closely to his heart. It was a side of him she had never seen in school.
But over all of it, like a dark cloud, were the originating circumstances of their partnership. She wasn't even sure if she should allow herself to feel excited, because it felt like she was doing herself and every other witch and wizard unwillingly marrying a stranger a disservice.
What had happened between Pansy and Dunn still plagued her mind. Pansy had been the one to bid on Dunn, and even so she had been the victim. Hermione had caught herself wondering about the safety of the other pairings. Was anyone else being hurt? It seemed likely, considering the statistics surrounding domestic violence in relationships. Was anyone looking out for them? Did anyone else have the resources Pansy had had to leave?
Unable to shake these thoughts from her mind, Hermione dressed and readied herself quickly before departing for her empty office in the Ministry. She spent her morning and afternoon in pouring over the Marriage Law records she had acquired previously, using the peace of a Sunday afternoon in an office to her advantage. No one would bother her today, on her day off, when they didn't know she'd be there.
She had no idea what she was looking for – it was a list of names, ages, and blood statuses. She began to compile data on a spare piece of parchment, things that jumped out to her like alarming age differences, old and recognizable family names, and bidding prices. What she'd use this information for she did not know, but knowledge was power.
It did not escape her notice that Draco Malfoy had spent more than any other bidder that day.
At four, she forced herself away from her desk and back to her flat to get ready. She only had a small selection of semi-formal clothing to choose from, but luckily found a dress that seemed appropriate. It was a dark pink, almost mauve, with sheer sleeves and a hem that swayed around her knees. She thought she had worn it once or twice before, probably to a Ministry Christmas party.
By six, Hermione was dressed and ready, and hesitating in front of her Floo. She barely knew Blaise, aside from what Draco had told her about him and what she had gathered from their time at school. He was Draco's best friend. It would be good to get to know him. It would also be good to be acquainted with Angelica – they were two people in similar positions. Hermione supposed it it was terrible she could make an excuse about work, or being tired from yesterday's shopping and go home early, too.
When she arrived through Blaise's Floo, she was pleased to see she was not the first person there. To her relief, Ginny and Harry had already arrived. They were standing in Blaise's quaint and well-decorated living room with a drink in hand, joined by Blaise and Angelica, and an older couple that Hermione did not recognize.
"Golden Girl!" Blaise cried as she stepped over the hearth. He leaned in, kissed her cheeks, and pushed a drink into her hand. "It's nice to see you under happier circumstances! I know you've met, but this is my fiancée Angelica." He put an arm around Hermione's waist and turned them both towards Angelica, who greeted Hermione in a fashion similar to Blaise.
Hermione had only briefly interacted with Angelica on the day of the Auction, and while she had recognized her from school, she had not really remembered her and hadn't had the mental energy to dig further. But now, under less strenuous circumstances, she remembered seeing Angelica in the library and Great Hall. She had been a year or so younger than them, a Ravenclaw, and just as studious as Hermione had been.
"It's really nice to properly meet you," Hermione said. "I'm sorry about how I acted the first time, I wasn't in the best place."
Angelica laughed. "I understand," she reassured. "It wasn't the best day, was it? I really would like you to meet my parents."
The older couple were Angelica's Muggle parents, and Hermione was very happy to meet them. Their names were Simon and Lydia. Simon was a retired schoolteacher and Lydia had been a homemaker until Angelica had been accepted into Hogwarts, at which point she had worked for a nursery school during term.
The sense of comfort Hermione felt talking to them surprised her. She had spent virtually no time with Muggles since her seventh year and since sending her parents away – she had had no reason to, as all of her connections were in the Wizarding world. Angelica's parents, who were clearly uncomfortable in the room full of Wizards they barely knew, took to her just as she took to them and Hermione enjoyed too short of a time talking to them.
The Floo fired up behind them, and she turned to watch Ron and Cho step through the flames. Everyone went through another round of introductions and more drinks were poured. Hermione excused herself from Simon and Lydia to greet Ron and Cho, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione naturally gravitated towards each other. As they mingled, the topic of conversation inevitably turned to Hermione's wedding dress. Ginny was the first to bring it up, and Angelica and Cho were very interested in hearing about it.
Hermione was saved from having to explain the day in detail by the loud crack of an Apparation from what she presumed was the front of the house.
"That must be Draco," Angelica said, clapping her hands together excitedly. She picked up two glasses in anticipation.
"How nice of him to grace us with his presence," Blaise drawled. "Only twenty minutes late."
"That was my fault," Pansy said as she swept into the room. "I didn't have anything to wear."
"I was ready to leave at exactly six," Draco confirmed, entering just behind her.
He was dressed immaculately. The sleeves on his dark grey button-down shirt were cuffed to his elbows and were snug around his biceps, and for the first time Hermione noticed how much musculature Draco really had. The shirt fit perfectly, and she could see the lines of his chest where it pulled tight across. His black trousers were cut narrowly to his ankles, and his shoes gleamed with polish. His hair was slicked back, and he was smirking at Blaise as he accepted a drink from Angelica.
He looked handsome. He looked fit.
Hermione choked on the champagne she had just swallowed.
Draco's gaze flitted from Blaise to her, and her heart jumped in her chest as he smiled at her. A real, genuine smile. She gripped her glass a little tighter. What was wrong with her tonight?!
"Granger," he greeted, clapping Blaise on the shoulder as he walked away from him and towards her. "You look beautiful." He was standing so close to her that she could smell his cologne.
"Thank you," she responded, too taken aback by her general reaction to Malfoy to come up with something witty. "Your shirt is very well-tailored." She cringed, but Malfoy laughed and shook his head.
"You can say you think I'm devilishly attractive, Granger. You won't burst into flames."
The Floo fired up again, and for the second time that night Hermione was saved from responding by the arrival of another guest. It was a Wizard in black dress robes, carrying with him a leather-bound portfolio. Hermione did not recognize him, and Draco's confused expression indicated the same.
"Oh!" Blaise clapped his hands together. "Brilliant timing, just when all the guests arrived! Can I just get everyone's attention for a moment?"
The conversations around the room hushed and Draco and Hermione both turned to face Blaise, who was standing at the center of the room with Angelica by his side. Draco slipped his arm over Hermione's shoulders as he turned, movement smooth and confident. Hermione did not move away from him, and she also did not notice Ginny's small smirk in her direction.
"Thanks everyone for coming tonight," Blaise said. "I was a little worried some of you wouldn't turn up and would miss the party."
"Well, more than just a party," Angelica said. Her cheeks were flushed with excitement. "We're actually getting married. Right now. It's a wedding."
The unfamiliar Wizard, who was apparently a registrar, waived his portfolio in the air as a collective gasp filled the room, punctuated by Pansy's excited squeal.
While the wedding guests were still processing the surprising announcement, Blaise waved his wand and the furniture began to rearrange itself. Two sofas slid across the room and settled beside each other, facing Blaise and Angelica. A few chairs followed suit, making a sort of semi-circle of furniture. White banners and streamers materialized over their heads where what Hermione now recognized as a clever concealment charm had been hiding them.
"Merlin," Ginny exclaimed as a chair slid past her. She looked at Hermione, clearly thrilled. "This is brilliant."
As more decorations exposed themselves and white lilies and roses bloomed in previously-empty vases, Angelica and Blaise directed their friends to their seats. The registrar opened his portfolio up and Blaise and Angelica settled on either side of him, facing each other.
Hermione took a seat on one of the sofas with Draco to her left and Ginny and Harry to her right. They barely all fit, and Hermione pressed into Draco's side to give Ginny and Harry more room.
Draco's arm once again found its way around her shoulders.
"Did you know about this?" she whispered to him.
He shook his head, and he was smiling. "I did not." He looked away from her and to his best friend, who was grinning like an idiot at his very-soon-to-be-wife. Something in Hermione's heart swelled at the obvious joy Draco had seeing his friend happy.
She leaned against him, with purpose, and lightly rested her head on his shoulder. She felt Draco freeze up under her in surprise, and then she felt the hand that had been resting across her shoulder firmly squeeze it in response. She smiled to herself.
The ceremony was short, but sweet. Blaise and Angelica had written a substituted script for the registrar, which did not mention the circumstances surrounding their union but instead touched on Angelica helping Blaise pass potions, their secret friendship, their slow-growing relationship, and how thrilled they were to be here with their closest friends and family.
Blaise gripped Angelica's hands tightly and looked at her with teary eyes. Angelica was beaming, rocking back and forth on her tiny feet in excitement. Her mother wept happily throughout the ceremony and her father smiled in pride.
Draco's thumb brushed Hermione's shoulder throughout the ceremony, and he kept her close to him. Hermione's hand, which had been planted firmly in her own lap, crept its way across to Draco's thigh, almost on its own.
"By the power vested in me through the Ministry of Magic, I am pleased to pronounce you married," the registrar concluded, closing his portfolio. "You may now kiss your bride."
Blaise cupped Angelica's face in his hands and pulled her in. As he did, his eyes welled over and a tear slipped down his face. Angelica stood on tiptoes to meet his lips.
Draco turned his head and pressed his own lips to Hermione's temple before he stood with the rest of the room and clapped for his friend.
The celebration of the marriage of Blaise and Angelica Zabini continued long into the night, despite the fact that it was Sunday. It had been universally accepted by the group that there would be a late start the next day, but work was far from the forefront of anyone's mind.
Though Harry, Ginny, Ron, Cho, and Hermione; and Draco, Blaise, Pansy, and Angelica had gone to school together for seven years, they had never spent significant amounts of time together. House divides and later the divide between good and bad had separated them from really getting to know each other.
As the ceremony led into dinner, and dinner led into drinks, and drinks led into dancing in Blaise's living room, those divides seemed far away and insignificant. They danced together in groups, traded partners with each other, drank far too much wine, and laughed more than any of them had laughed in years.
Throughout it all, Draco and Hermione continued to find their way towards each other. It was almost magnetic, how even when she had just finished dancing with Harry or Blaise or Draco had finished with Pansy or Cho they still drifted to each other.
It did not go unnoticed by the other guests, and more than once Hermione caught Ginny and Cho whispering conspiratorially with Pansy as she and Draco danced or fetched new drinks with each other. She also caught several knowing glances from Ron and Harry, who seemed pleased as punch with her.
As the night began to wear down, the guests left in groups. Harry and Ginny were the first to go, stumbling through the Floo and giggling. Ron and Cho left shortly after. Angelica's parents left after the newlyweds promised to come for dinner the next day. Pansy left on her own, back to the Manor.
"Could I see you home?" Draco asked as they finished watching Pansy step through the Floo. Hermione nodded, and her heart hammering in her chest at the idea of being properly alone with Malfoy for the first time that night. The electricity that had been crackling through her at the sight of him had not dulled with the wine and dancing.
They said goodnight and goodbye to the Zabinis, and Draco held out his arm for Hermione to hold as he Apparated them to the hallway outside her flat.
"You really had no idea?" she asked as they gathered their bearings. She leaned against her door, facing him.
"I really had no idea," Draco confirmed. He took a step closer to her, careful to maintain a respectful distance.
"We should have done that," she said, leaning her head back against her door. "Could've saved a lot of headaches yesterday. I wouldn't have even needed a dress."
"You'd deprive me of the opportunity to see you in a wedding dress?" Draco asked, teasing. "Pansy said you found yours yesterday. She said you looked stunning."
Hermione's cheeks flushed. "I did find one. Stunning is a subjective descriptor."
"Granger," he murmured, moving in closer. "It's not subjective. You are stunning. Incredibly so."
Hermione looked up at Draco. He was looking down at her, face open and unguarded, soft and wanting.
"More than that, though," he continued. "You're brilliant. I cannot begin to fathom the depths of your intelligence. You astound me. You've always astounded me."
Her breath caught in her throat as Draco reached up and brushed his fingertips along her hairline. He captured one wild curl and twisted it around his finger carefully, staring at it for a moment before he looked back into her eyes. He dropped the curl and brushed his fingers down her cheek. She could feel his fingertips trembling their way to her chin, where he traced her jawline.
He was nervous. Draco Malfoy was nervous. Hermione could not remember how to exhale.
Draco took a deep breath and cupped her face in his hand. "Granger, I am falling in love with you, and I would very much like to kiss you. Please."
All the air left her body in a shaky exhaled "oh," and his confession hit her in the chest in a way that made her feel unsteady on her feet. She could not find the words to answer him, and instead she pulled him down by the front of his shirt.
Hermione Granger kissed Draco Malfoy, and if she had had any breath left in her body she would have lost it again when he kissed her back.
The hand that was not cupping her face grabbed her waist and pulled her in. Her free hand gripped Draco's arm. She could hear her heart pounding in her own ears and she could feel Draco's equally frantic heartbeat under her hand on his chest.
He kissed her like he had been waiting his whole life to kiss her, like he had been dying to kiss her, like it would be the last thing he ever did. She could feel the tingling of magic, coursing and arcing between them. It was intoxicating. It was invigorating. It felt good. It felt right.
When they finally broke apart, it was Draco who took the first step back. His face was flushed red and his chest was heaving. Hermione fell back against her door and stared at him, dazed and panting.
They stared at each other, trying to catch their breath and gauge how the other would react.
Hermione broke first, and burst into uncontrollable laughter. After a moment of sheer confusion, Draco started laughing, too. He doubled over, hands on his knees, giggling.
"Merlin," he gasped when he could. "Granger."
"I know," she wheezed, wiping her eyes. "I know."
"You need to go inside and leave me out here before I invite myself in," Draco joked, straightening up.
"Not a bloody chance, Malfoy," Hermione answered, voice completely devoid of malice.
They fell silent again, and then started giggling for a second time. Hermione shook her head and covered her mouth with her hands, trying to stifle her laughter. She was still laughing when she turned and unlocked her door, very aware of Draco moving to follow her into her flat.
He walked ahead as she closed the door behind them, and he had no chance to protect himself from the stunning charm that hit him squarely in the chest.
He hit the ground with a thud and Hermione whirled around with a startled shout, ripping her wand from her pocket.
"Expelliarmus!" Her wand flew from her hand, clattering against the wall to her right and falling to the floor between where she stood and where Draco had collapsed. Before she could dive for it, she was hit again.
"Immobulus. Not so fast, Hermione Granger."
Frozen where she was, Hermione had no choice but to stare directly into the face of Fenrir Greyback.
