Chapter eight… Vows or no vows

The next day was Ron and Pansy's wedding. Draco had apparently picked out a dress for Hermione to wear and as excited as Hermione was about the dress, she was nervous as all hell about attending the wedding. So she now sat in her bathroom on the toilet fretting about seeing Ron again for the first time since… well….you know.

"Hermione are you ready!?" Draco called out.

Hermione had been in her bathroom for over an hour which is far too long considering it only took Draco 2 seconds to flick his wand and apparate to her house dressed for the wedding.

"The ceremony is probably over by now Hermione!" He yelled at her from the other side of the door.

"Who cares I didn't want to go anyway!" Hermione called back.

"For Christs sake Hermione – "

"Oh fine!"

And Hermione unlocked the door.

Draco instantly forgot his anger when he saw her standing there in the beautiful satin black dress. It cut just above the knee and was niched in at the waist by a large black sash which tied at the back. The dress cut low at the front showing off her beautiful cleavage and had tiny frilled satin cut-off's. She wore matching heels and the pearls she received from Draco shimmered around her neck.

"I'm so nervous Draco." Hermione mumbled.

"Hermione you look magnificent. You're going to walk into the room and blow everyone away, especially the Weasel. Don't be nervous baby."

Hermione smiled and took Draco's hand as they apparated to the church.

The ceremony hadn't actually even started; Draco just said that to get Hermione out of the bathroom. They walked into the church and everyone fell silent as they turned to look in shock at the two who had just entered the church holding hands. Draco gave Hermione's little hand a squeeze and smiled widely as he walked down the church aisle to find a seat. Hermione looked up at him and saw the smile and began to beam too. Everyone had already heard the rumours of Hermione and Draco, read about it in the Daily prophet; where of course they had begun saying they had an illegitimate lovechild and such things. But still whispers were heard as what the papers said was confirmed. Not the bit about the lovechild of course… but they truly were together, and truly were in love.

They sat down next to Harry and Ginny Potter. Harry stood when he saw Draco coming and was surprised when Draco held out his hand.

"Harry" Draco nodded.

"Draco" Harry nodded in reply as he shook Malfoy's hand and sat down.

Another eruption of whispers was heard as the wedding guests began muttering about the friendship between Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy. Most of the guests went to school with the two and were stunned at their politeness to each other.

Ron soon entered the church to take his place at the altar. Guests reached out and wished him good luck, and Harry got up from his seat and joined Ron at the front of the church. 'Of course Potter is the best man.' Draco thought feeling stupid he hadn't realised earlier.

Ron was looking around smiling eagerly at all the guests when his eyes fell upon Hermione and Draco. The smile was wiped from his face as he ran down the aisle to where they were sitting.

"What do you think you are doing here! Ron yelled.

Hermione was taken aback.

"Because you invited me you git!" She yelled back.

"No not you! Him! What is he doing here!" His eyes stared ferociously at Draco who just smirked.

"Because the invitation said I was to bring a guest, and it only seemed fitting that the guest be my boyfriend!?"

"Your what! He is not!"

"I am so!" Draco stood up. He was taller than Ron but Ron didn't falter. He just looked up at Draco with disgust and hate in his eyes.

"Well I don't care if it said she could bring a guest, you weren't invited!"

Draco chuckled.

"As a matter of fact I was! Pansy invited me! I would have come regardless of whether or not I was seeing Hermione, but it just so happens that I am so deal with it Weasel!"

"You not allowed to see her! She hates you! What have you said to her!

Hermione is he threatening you!? Blackmailing you!? Don't you touch her ferret!"

Ron screamed.

Harry came running from the altar.

"Ron what the hell is wrong with you! I'm not yours anymore! I can see who ever I want to and I love Draco! I love him alright!" Ron's eyes widened.

"That's bullshit you don't really love him!" Ron screamed.

"Yes she does Ron! You were the pompous brat who cheated on her remember! She deserves to be happy and she is!" Harry yelled as he spun Ron around.

Ron was taken aback.

"You're on their side!? You're supposed to be my best man! That's it I'm stripping you of that honour!" Ron looked around agitated.

"Baize, Blaize come here!" Ron yelled out to Blaize Zabini, a former Slytherin who walked up to all the commotion.

"You're now my best man!"

"I am bloody not!" Blaize said. Ron looked at him in shock.

"I thought we were friends Blaize!" Ron said, losing his voice.

"We are! But my friendship with Draco Malfoy extends far past ours, and I know he has been in love with Hermione since the Yule ball in fourth year; even though he wouldn't admit it." Zabini laughed. Draco grinned at him and shrugged his shoulders.

The desperation in Ron's voice was edging on pathetic.

"Hermione can't you see he doesn't love you! How could he possibly love you! He's using you for something. A piece of arse to add on his wall of conquers!"

Draco saw only red as the words left Ron's mouth. At first he just found Ron's display pathetic. But what he just said cut him deeply. He punched him fair in the mouth knocking him to the ground.

"Don't talk about Hermione that way you worthless scumbag! How could I possibly not love her! Where do you get off!!? In case you have forgotten I shall by remind you that you chose that Pug-faced slut over Hermione! You don't deserve her!

"You don't deserve her either Malfoy!" Ron seethed, spitting blood from his mouth.

Draco leaned in close so he didn't have to yell.

"I may not deserve Hermione after all I've done to her, but I have never broken her heart like you have. And I never will."

Ron's eyes went wide. Draco was right. Ron had tore Hermione's heart to shreds.

"I'm going to fucking kill you, you slimy git!" Ron clambered to his feet wand drawn and pointed it at Draco who stood still with no emotion drawn on his face. Next thing Ron had been stunned from behind by Harry and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thanks Harry." Draco said

"It's alright. The pompous bastard had it coming. I just wish I had lobbed him one myself."

Draco grinned then looked around for Hermione in time to see her disappear out the church doors.

"Hermione!" Draco yelled and began to run after her. Pansy walked into the church in her wedding dress and the wedding music began to play. She had no idea what had just happened and when she saw Draco running in her direction she squeaked in excitement and ran towards him.

"Oh Draky come here! I forgive you I never wanted to marry that stupid weasel I always wanted you!" She said hands outstretched.

"What the fuck are you on about!? Get away from me!!" Draco yelled as he pushed her away and ran out the door.

Pansy stood there dumbfounded. Ron had just come out from the stunning spell.

"You never wanted me!" Ron yelled.

"What! Oh Ron what happened you're bleeding!" She said running towards him.

"Drop the act Pansy! What was I thinking!?" Ron screamed as he ran out of the church in the same direction as Draco had gone.

Uproar could be heard from inside the church, but Draco couldn't care less. He ran across the field to where Hermione sat beneath a large oak tree, stopping in front of her and kneeling at her feet.

"Hermione are you okay?"

She looked up and Draco could see she had been crying. Hermione couldn't believe all that Ron had said…

"How could he possibly love you?"

The words taunted her. 'Did Ron ever really love me?' She thought.

Draco sat down next to her and took her hand in his.

"Ron wasn't right Hermione don't listen to him. I'm not using you for a piece of arse. I love you baby. With all I've got I love you."

Hermione looked into his silvery-grey eyes as he spoke. She knew he was telling the truth. She just couldn't see how it could be true?

"But how could you love me. Just like Ron said, how could you possibly love me?" Hermione said softly, her voice breaking as tears glazed over her large hazel eyes.

Draco felt anger boil inside of him for Ron. Ron had made Hermione doubt how much she could mean to someone and it killed Draco to see her like this.

"Hermione how can you not see how fantastic you are! How could I possibly not be in love with you!?" Draco got up and was pacing in front of her agitated.

Draco stopped and once again kneeled down in front of her. He pulled a slip of parchment from his pocket.

"I wanted to wait until I thought you were ready to read this to you, but I guessed now is as good a time as any. Just… just don't feel pressured to do anything; I just need you to understand how I feel." Draco whispered softly stroking her arm.

Hermione nodded confused and watched his beautiful grey-silvery eyes, lost in them as he read from the parchment…

In the blink of an eye, all that makes us who we are could disappear.

Our heart, and soul, and mind, can be ripped from us.

If I was to lose my soul, I once would not have cared; for that soul I have lost to find it only helped with the pain of living.

If I was to lose my heart I once would not have cared, for my heart was useless, and empty.

If I was to lose my mind I once would not have cared, for it caused only suffering to those ill-fated enough to cross my path.

In the blink of an eye, all that makes us who we are could disappear.

Our heart, and soul, and mind, can be ripped from us… and we can be saved

If I were to lose my soul, I once would not have cared; but you are now my soul and to lose you is a fate worse than death.

If I were to lose my heart, I once would not have cared, but my heart now overflows with love so real it hurts, but to no longer feel the pain of my love for you would be a fate worse than death.

If I was to lose my mind, I once would not have cared, but now you are all I can ever think about and to never be able to think of how lucky I am to have you, Hermione, would be a fate worse than death.

You are my heart, and soul, and mind, and in the blink of an eye, you could be ripped from me.

To lose you would be a fate worse than death.

If you were to give me the chance I would treat you the way an angel deserves to be treated. Like a goddess.

If you were to give me the chance I would place your hand in mine where it yearns to be. As my saviour.

If you were to give me the chance I would take you as my own for all eternity. As my wife.

Hermione sat in silence staring at Draco who was trembling. He was kneeled in front of her pouring his heart out to her trembling. Tears that stained her face from the pain Ron had caused her were replaced with tears of bliss. She threw her arms around his neck and Draco lost his balance. He placed his hand against the tree so not squash Hermione and she laughed through her tears. She kissed him passionately on the lips while whispering softly 'I love you, I love you so much baby.' Draco felt his heart pounding in his chest harder than he had ever felt it before. He laughed too in the bliss they shared and he showered kisses on her face.

"Yes Draco I want to be your wife." Hermione said as she threw her arms around his neck. Draco's eyes welled with tears.

"Hermione I told you, you don't have to say anything. You can wait to tell me your answer if you want."

"No Draco I don't want to wait to answer you! There is nobody else in this entire universe that I would rather spend the rest of my life with. I love you baby."

Hermione said softly, staring into his teary eyes. He kissed her vigorously on the lips and she let out a whimper. Not of pain, but of joy. Hermione Granger had never felt such love and happiness well inside of her as she did at this moment.

Ron stood just metres away where he had watched the whole exchange. He heard Hermione's pain from Ron's harsh words. He heard Draco's poem that came from a place so deep in the heart that Ron couldn't ever remember feeling that deeply for anybody. Ron thought he loved Hermione. But just by watching this split second of what Hermione and Draco felt for each other made him realise that he knew nothing.

Hermione looked up and her eyes met Ron's. 'What was he doing?' She thought. Draco looked around noticing Hermione's sudden unease to see Ron blankly staring at the two of them.

"Weasel aren't you supposed to be getting me married right about now?" Draco said spitefully.

Ron looked down at his shoes and put his hands in his pockets.

"I'm sorry Hermione." Ron said

Hermione was stunned. Ron hadn't apologised for anything he had ever done to her. Not when he forgot her birthday or even when she found him screaming Pansy's name at climax.

"I'm sorry for what I did. For what I have been doing to you for the past few years. I ran up here hoping you'd take me back…"

Draco felt his blood rise at hearing that.

"But you really aren't a stupid witch. Even though I love you, it will never match the love you and Draco clearly share. It obviously doesn't even come close."

Hermione smiled and squeezed Draco's hand.

"I hope you two are very happy together" Ron said smiling meekly. He looked up at Draco and gave him a nod.

"Sorry Malfoy." Draco was stunned.

He turned to leave when Hermione let go of Draco's hand and ran up to Ron.

"Ron I missed you. It's good you came back."

She hugged him tightly.

"Hermione I was never gone, just a tad lost. It's very easy to get lost in my mind because it is extremely large!"

Hermione laughed. "You're such an idiot Ron."

"Aha, Yeh, yeh I know."

A/N: Okay that was the wedding!! Did you like it? No really did you? Sorry I can't seem to hear you maybe you should leave a review so I can find out!!! Next is Narcissa Malfoy's trial!! Wooht. hehe. xoxo