Epilogue
Six Months Later…
"Hermione!" Ginny squealed as she saw me come through her fireplace.
"Hey, Ginny soon-to-be Potter!" I tried to feign excitement. In all truthfulness, being back here was making me quite uneasy, and all I really wanted to do was head back home. I almost didn't come, but of course I couldn't miss this wedding. And I already blew off so many events…
"Bloody hell, I haven't actually seen you in forever! How's California?" she asked as she helped me with my suitcase.
"Oh, you know, perfect weather as usual, and work is good."
That's right. For the past half year, I've been in sunny California, next to the rolling waves and tall palm trees…singing. And I absolutely adored it. The laid back attitude of the people, the lazy waves full of surfers (I learned how to surf as well! It was extremely hard and embarrassing…), the absolutely divine weather…
And then, only one month ago, Harry had woken up, and from what everyone told me, it happened like this: he opened his eyes, saw Ginny reading next to his bed, and proposed. Just like that.
And she, of course, said yes.
And so now, here I am in London again, tanned, feeling completely strange, and already freezing my arse off. However, I was excited to see Harry in person again- I felt bad that I had merely sent him letters when he woke when everyone else in the entire universe went to visit him. Ginny had said there was something different about him when he'd woken up, and they wouldn't tell me what it was until I hauled my sun-kissed arse back in Europe.
I was asked to be the maid of honor and- get this- sing at the wedding. Song choice of the lovely newlyweds. And of course I agreed, though I was starting to regret it. I've seen the guest list, and everyone was coming to this thing.
Everyone. If you get my drift. And things were going to be awkward and weird enough without him coming.
And it's not like I want to see him or anything..
I mean, I haven't even spoken to him for all the time I had gone, as I've been busy in California, finding myself, and he's been busy with…whatever he was busy with in the magical community. And of course I've thought about him from time to time. Or…all the time. Ahem. But we've never even communicated by owl post or floo or apparition or any other possible form…
Not like he tried to or anything..
"So how's everyone doing?" I asked Ginny as I was led up to my room. In the first week he woke, Harry had proposed, bought an enormous house and…
"Harry's good, can't wait to see you, of course. Ron's excited for his best man duties. And me, well, let me just say…morning sickness has just kicked in."
…knocked Ginny up.
"Oh, God, I can't wait to be a godmother! And honestly, where are Harry and Ron? Their best friend comes back from the states and they're off playing Quidditch somewhere?"
"Don't have a cow, Hermione, we weren't playing Quidditch…We were flicking dung bombs at the new neighbors!"
"Oh my God, Ron!" I jumped off my bed and we crushed each other in a massive hug. "God, I've missed you! What have you done to your hair? A faux-hawk, honestly!"
"My hair? What about you?! You look amazing, Hermione! Where did these highlights come from? And your skin!"
"And you, pale as usual," I chided light heartedly.
"Hey, I wouldn't be able to stand California, I'd sunburn into a crusty tomato."
"Wonderful imagery, Ron," said a voice from behind him. "Now where's Miss America?"
"Haaarrry!" I ran into him as he lifted me up. "Merlin, we thought you'd never wake, you complete idiot!" I slapped him playfully on the arm. "Now let me take a good look at you! Hmm. What's different?"
Not much had changed except his hair was a bit shorter but still unruly, and he looked loads happier. He still wore glasses, he was still quite handsome, it couldn't be battle wounds, because he didn't have any scars on his face at all, and it couldn't be…
Oh, my God.
OH MY FUCKING GOD!
"OH, MY GOD, HARRY! YOUR SCAR! You don't have your scar anymore! You lightning bolt scar! It's gone!!" I screeched as I lunged towards him again as he laughed, a great booming laugh I've certainly never heard before.
"Yeah, I know, I couldn't believe it either," he said as I felt his forehead disbelievingly.
"Bloody hell, no one could believe it," added Ron, putting his hand to his hair. "Gosh…it looks like the gang's back together."
I smiled, finally beginning to feel a bit more at home now. "Yeah…I guess we are."
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Wedding planning. It was heinous. When I get married, well…I'm never going to get married after seeing Ginny set this horrible example. Especially with the surplus hormones that comes with being pregnant.
"Hermione, come on, help me pick already. This pink is too pink, but this one over here has too light of a pink so that no one will even pick up on the pinkness, but I need there to be some sort of pink tinge so that the color coordinating will go better with the pink roses, which happen to be the perfect pink, but obviously those mentally incapacitated IDIOTS don't sell tablecloths in the perfect shade of…Oh. My. God. OH FUCK! BLOODY FUCK!"
Currently, I was banging my head against the aforementioned imperfect pink tablecloths, and as Ginny was scaring all the salespeople, she was oblivious to my obvious tortured state. "What is it, Ginny?"
"I CAN'T USE PINK!"
I looked up. "…What?"
"I can't use pink! Oh, this is a sheer calamity!! I can't use pink because I'm a red head! A GODDAMN REDHEAD! Pink will clash with my hair!! Oh, fuck it, fuck it, fuck it! And my whole family of red heads will clash with the roses as well!! WHY?!" she screeched.
Then she took a deep shuddering sound and said suddenly serenely, "Oh well. I guess we'll just have to start over and find a nice blue shade."
This couldn't be happening. No. We've been searching for a pink shade for over two hours now, and now…NOW, there weren't even any more salespeople in the room! They had all ran out from her fiery red-head schizophrenic tendencies! Oh, if only I was so intelligent to do so! God. Ginny didn't use to be like this. Freaking godchild. Whom I will love dearly when he or she pops out, but I'll detest him or her for any time period I'm around Ginny and her raging mood swings.
As if she wasn't temperamental enough without being pregnant. Poor Harry. Or lucky Harry. Depending how you looked at it.
After two and a half more hours and a side trip to St. Mungo's (Ginny got into a little accident with one of the only salespeople who was willing to help us- his arm got broken and one of his lungs apparently collapsed- let's not go into details), we were finally back at the Potter mansion. Ginny, once she'd calmed down quite suddenly, had been filling me in on what was going on with everything.
"Neville got married to Pavarti Patil?" I shook my head incredulously. And a bit nostalgically. "I can't believe I missed that!"
Ginny nodded, "Yes, it's true. It was a lovely wedding…You really did miss a lot, Hermione."
"I know," I said softly, looking out her window at the Harry and all the Weasley boys playing Quidditch. "But California's really terrific, Ginny- you really should come out and visit sometime."
"I most certainly will, you couldn't keep me away!" Ginny took a sip of her lemonade. Then she said almost timidly, "You know, Hermione, you've asked me about almost everyone now, except for the one person you want to know about most."
I flushed. "I must say I've no idea whom you're speaking of."
"We invited him to the wedding, of course."
"I believe I've asked about everyone I desired to know about."
"He's getting on very well."
"The Patils, Neville, Hannah, Ernie, all the old Gryffindors…"
"He started his own business, didn't go into with the Ministry like you thought. It's very successful from what I've heard."
"God it's cold in London, I don't know how I ever stood it."
"Hasn't had any girlfriend for a while, as far as I've heard."
"California's weather is perfect, it's spoiled me really, I get chilly if it just gets below 70 degrees now…"
"Not that he can come to the wedding anyways..."
"I really should grab a scarf from- wait, what?!"
She looked at me, pointedly amused. "Yes, Draco can't come to the wedding, right bastard- he had business in somewhere stupid like Jamaica or Thailand or something…I mean, he even went to Seamus and Hannah's wedding four months back! Of course, he probably went there in case you were there. Probably thinks you wouldn't come to this one either since you've been so inclined to hide out in the states, so I suppose he's not bothering. But still! Missing our wedding for business! Can you believe that?"
I knew Ginny was toying with me a bit, but I gulped. "Yes…I mean, no… No, I can't. He is a…right bastard."
"Well, anyways, I've picked out my song, so you could start learning it now." She could tell I was taken aback by her news and now felt sympathetic. "'In My Life', by the Beatles."
"Mmhmm," I accepted her CD and took a sip of my own lemonade, wishing it was a little less sweet and a LOT more alcoholic. "I'll get right on it."
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"Oh, God, I'm going to hyperventilate! Something is going to go wrong, I just know it! I'm going to walk down that aisle, and someone is going to object to the marriage, saying I'm too… too… REDHEADED for the wizarding world's hero, and I'll make his babies into GINGERS! OR- Or maybe someone will step on my train and it will rip the whole dress and my sexy black knickers meant for Harry and only Harry will be exposed to all those people, everyone I know! MY MUM WILL KNOW I WEAR SEXY BLACK SEE-THROUGH KNICKERS!"
Two weeks later I arrived- Ginny was finally getting married, in approximately seven minutes. We were in the dressing room, and as I hummed the lyrics of the song I was to sing at the party after the wedding, as Luna and Hannah were fixing up their hair, Ginny was having a meltdown.
So naturally, everything was going according to plan.
With Ginny's pathetic babbling in the background, Hannah looked over at the page I was holding and furrowed her brow.
"Hermione, why are you looking at those lyrics? You don't even need to know them anymore."
"What are you talking about, Hannah, I'm performing 'In My Life' in less then three hours, and this is the only time I'll be able to practice."
Hannah looked a bit appalled now as she clasped her hands to her mouth and reprimanded Ginny, "Ginny, you forgot to tell her?!"
"Tell me what?" Now I was worried.
Since Ginny was apparently impossible to speak to, Hannah turned towards me. "Hermione, Ginny changed the song choice just yesterday! Said something about it fitting better for more than herself, a new plan, joy to the world, or something like that…"
"OH MY GOD!" I screeched. "GINNY!"
"SEE-THROUGH KNICKERS!" she simply screeched back.
I growled and settled on muttering, "Give me your iPod, Luna…Damn pregnant bride-to-be's…"
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The wedding march began to play. I walked up with Ron and we split into sides. As everyone got into place, the doors of the church opened.
Ginny was absolutely breathtaking. Her dress was long with a train with rose petals (charmed light blue ones), the corset on the dress sparkled with small diamonds, and you could see through her veil that her normally already beautiful face was shining with nervousness and joy. Her hair was loose, her long auburn curls flowing over her bare back and shoulders.
Harry was going to have a time on their honeymoon.
As she stepped shyly up to Harry, he lifted her veil and kissed her hand. My frustration dissipated and it seemed that Ginny had regained her nerve. Everything was at peace. The priest began. "We are gathered here today to witness…"
I can't believe he didn't come! I mean, he had to know I'd at least come to Harry and Ginny's wedding, regardless that I'd avoided coming back for… absolutely everything…else. But come on! This was my best friends' wedding! And even if I wasn't coming, what business trip was so important that he would miss this?
Oh, God. Oh, bloody God. I wanted him to come, didn't I? It's been bothering me so much I'm not even paying attention to the wedding vows. And I'm sure they're very sweet and romantic- oh, look, a ton of the people are crying! Okay, let's listen in now…
"…can't believe we were ever stupid enough to let each other go for so long- now I can't even imagine letting you go for a moment. In…"
I mean, I guess in the back of my mind I always thought he would be here, we'd be reunited, and…what? What would happen between us anyways? How could anything happen? We live in different countries for Merlin's sake!
I found myself looking around the church. Searching for a very blonde head, following that face…
Nope. He wasn't there. He really was a right bastard…
I can't believe I still loved him.
Hmm. Everyone was clapping. What the-?!
The wedding was over! I missed the whole thing!
GODDAMNIT!
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"Thanks to everyone for coming. Now, Ginny and I had been searching for a song for our first dance as husband and wife, and we think we've found the perfect one. I can't even express how much I love this woman- but I'd love to show her. And we thought there'd be no one better to sing us our song but our best friend, Hermione Granger; she was the one who told us, way back at the Final Battle…that once you've found love, you should never let it go." That was such a jab at me… "And now, I'm glad that at an end, I can start a new beginning, side by side with my wife. Ginny, will you please honor me with this dance?"
The music began playing. Ginny laughed her new bride laugh and said, "Well, since I've already honored you by becoming your wife, I guess I could go for once dance."
As people laughed, Harry took her hand and murmured to her, "One dance? No, you're in this for life, Mrs. Potter."
"Hmm…I wouldn't have it any other way."
As they began dancing and people began pairing off, I stepped up to my microphone and got ready to sing.
We were strangers
Starting out on a journey
Never dreaming
What we'd have to go through
You know, it's a good thing that I already knew this song. Or else both me and Ginny would be absolutely dead (I'd have killed her, you see). The song wasn't too difficult, and some of it was a bit cheesy, but it had a nice idea. Of course, it was a bit depressing for me to sing. It wasn't supposed to be sung alone like this.
Now here we are
And I'm suddenly standing
At the beginning with you
I still couldn't believe that he wasn't-
Suddenly, as I was just opening my mouth, someone else began singing.
No one told me
I was going to find you
Unexpected
What you did to my heart
Oh, God. I'd know that voice anywhere. But it couldn't be…
An electric shiver went up and down my spine. I turned around, not wanting to squelch the new hope that had risen, like a phoenix from its ashes, in my heart.
When I lost hope
You were there to remind me
There he was. He stepped up next to me coming from behind the curtains, as I realized I was supposed to sing the next part with him.
This is the start
As I resumed my stage my stage face, all that kept running through my mind was: OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD…
And life is a road
And I want to keep going
Love is a river
I wanna keep flowing
Life is a road
Now and forever
Wonderful journey
Dear God. His voice sounded even better then I remembered. And as it mixed in with mine, it sounded even more heartbreakingly beautiful.
I'll be there
When the world stops turning
I'll be there
When the storm is through
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you.
I looked out to Ginny and Harry, seemingly off in a world of their own, but then Ginny looked up at me and smiled knowingly.
I can't believe she did this to me.
We were strangers
On a crazy adventure
Oh, goodness, his line next. I'd have to remember who sang what on the original version. WHAT THE HELL IS HE DOING HERE ANYWAY?
Never dreaming
How our dreams would come true
All of a sudden, I felt his hand slip into mine as we sang our next verse together.
Now here we stand
Unafraid of the future
At the beginning with you
This was unbelievable. It felt so strange being with him again…yet oddly, as he pulled me closer to him, all I wanted to do was just that- get closer to him and stay singing, listening to our voices blending in the most perfect way.
I guess I could forgive Ginny.
And life is a road
And I want to keep going
Love is a river
I wanna keep flowing
Life is a road
Now and forever
Wonderful journey
God I've missed him…
I'll be there
When the world stops turning
I'll be there
When the storm is through
In the end, I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you
I was right up next to him now, his eyes staring into mine, not looking away. And the love that had just barely dulled with time had sprung back again, taking over my heart and mind, so that only his image was filling up my soul, blurring my vision of his face with tears that had almost sprung up.
We sang the hook together, and as we belted our climax, I could honestly say that I had never loved singing more in my life.
I knew there was somebody somewhere
Like me, alone in the dark
Now I know my dream will live on
I've been waiting so long
Nothing's gonna tear us apart
As I sang, there with him onstage, with one of our hands linked and our other ones holding our microphones, nothing felt more natural. I felt myself break into a smile.
And love…
Life is a road
And I want to keep going
Love…
Love is a river
I wanna keep flowing
Life is a road
Now and forever
Wonderful journey
Eyes shining, we sang in perfect harmony.
I'll be there
When the world stops turning
I'll be there
When the storm is through
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you
He settled both his hands on the back of my neck gently, still clutching his microphone, now useless, so that our foreheads were pressing and we were singing into the same microphone.
"Hermione," he breathed. The music became softer, gentler.
Life is a road and I wanna keep going
Love is a river, I wanna keep going on...
Starting out on a journey
The song paced back up again, and I was almost laughing as I sang, happy as I was.
Life is a road and I wanna keep going
Love is river, I wanna keep flowing
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning
As we sang the last line of the song, I knew that something had happened in the last three and a half minutes or so, and that after our next line, everything would be different.
With you.
And I wouldn't have it any other way.
As everyone clapped, I didn't even pay them the least bit attention, I had no ears for the applause I'd come to love so much. When his lips touched mine, I felt my heart burst with joy and emotion, a huge pressure was released inside of me, and nothing else in the world had the least amount of importance anymore. We simultaneously dropped our microphones.
"Draco," I whispered, eyes still shut as we broke our kiss. I hadn't said that name in so long, I felt a tingle as I spoke it. "What are you doing here?"
He pressed his forehead to mine again. "I came back for you."
"I heard yesterday that you were coming to the wedding after all. And of course, Ginny and I hatched the perfect plan."
"Why?" I looked up at him. "I thought you had some business thing in Jamaica."
He quirked an eyebrow. "Actually, it was Thailand."
"Oh. Right. But-"
"Because. I love you." I felt myself blush. "I always have."
Before I could say it back, he smiled slightly. "…you idiot."
I really did laugh then. I heard Ginny talking in the background, but I didn't hear it. Another song began to play, but none of that mattered.
"I love you too, arsehole," I whispered, before I kissed him again.
FIN.