Chapter 8

The slow motion feeling stopped. She saw nothing, felt nothing, heard nothing that was not Draco. Happiness rang in her ears, her mind swam. Draco had clutched her shoulders, kissing her mouth fully, his hot breath in her mouth. His tongue rimmed her lower lip, she forgot there were four hundred plus people watching them. She loved Draco, and he loved her, there was no denying that, and now it was official, confirmed, she was spending the rest of her life with him. The thought made her smile under his kiss, and then she was aware that there was much snickering coming from the audience, particularly the Gryffindor and Slytherin tables. She reluctantly pushed him away gently, whispering, "Stop, love, later, yes?" He smiled, and Dumbledore laughed quietly, beholding the two young lovers. He declared Hermione and Draco husband and wife once more, and dismissed the assembly for the reception, the tables were magically cleared and then they vanished, in their place there was suddenly a dance floor, DJ equipment, and several smaller, round tables clothed in white, to which the students dispersed of their own accord. The speakers and music player were charmed, and they began playing a slow, sweet song for Draco and Hermione's first dance. He led her onto the floor, stood in the center as the song began, and held her in his strong arms. She felt safe, everyone else that was standing near the walls, watching them dance, they all faded away again, and it was just her and him once more. He looked down at her, his eyes like molten metal, soft and warm. He held her, and they danced in wide circular patterns. She vaguely noticed that he was a wonderful dancer and that he loved to lead. She let him, because she had no other choice unless she wished to humiliate herself on this perfect day. So she let him lead her in their dance, blissfully happy in his arms. And then, as the song ended, he kissed her full on the mouth once more, bringing small envious gasps and sighs from the mouths of the girls watching from the walls. She abruptly realized that virtually any girl in the room with her now would give almost anything to be in her place. This made her even happier, and she clutched her love tighter. He pulled away from their kiss, much to her dismay, and at her facial expression, he laughed lightheartedly and whispered, "Mrs. Hermione Jean Malfoy…I love the sound of that, and I love you, and I love this!" And he kissed her thoroughly again.

By this time, the first dance was well over, there were other couples on the floor now, twirling happily around the room to a more upbeat waltz. She caught Ginny's look of pure happiness as she whirled and twirled in Harry's arms. Ron, she noticed however, stood alone against the wall, drinking what appeared to be a large mug of butterbeer. His eyes were sad, she could guess why, and she pitied him. She broke away from Draco, saying "Excuse me a minute love, I have to go remedy a small problem."

"Whatever you say, 'Mione dear, but I must say, I couldn't be happier."

She headed purposefully in Ron's direction. When she arrived to face him, two feet away, he looked up and his eyes brightened slightly.

"Hi "Mione!", he said, trying too hard to appear as joyous as she was, "sick of the blonde bloke yet?" he joked, but she could see that he kind of meant it.

"No, silly." she replied, trying to keep the mood light "but I just happened to catch a look at a certain red-headed bloke", she emphasized "that appeared in desperate need of a dance partner! What d'you say? May I have this dance?" She held out her hand and he took it hesitantly. She led him quickly onto the dance floor where couples were swaying to another slow song. She placed her hands on the back of Ron's neck and he put his gingerly on her waist. They swayed, in time with the music mostly, but Ron was not as good a dancer as Draco, and she could see he was more than a bit drunk from all the butterbeer he had downed. Suddenly, he stopped dancing abruptly, grabbed her shoulders roughly, and spoke a little too loudly for the current atmosphere, the boy had terrible timing, as just then the song ended, and there was that awkward moment of silence before the beginning of the next one, in which he said "Merlin Hermione, I can't stand this! How could you marry him? Him, Draco Malfoy!" He jabbed a finger in Draco's direction, he had been standing nearby and now moved towards Hermione, taking a protective stance. "How could you do that to me?!" He almost screamed the words, he was drunkenly and angrily ranting now, and he whirled back to Hermione, and soundly slapped her across her left cheek. Draco was there instantly, his wand drawn and pointed at Ron, inches from Ron's throat. Draco, having grown up in an abusive home, still had strong emotional reactions to witnessing a woman being struck, especially one for whom he cared so deeply. He spoke through gritted teeth:

"Don't you dare touch her, Weasel, ever again, do you understand me? And if you do I'll hex you in a second, don't think I'm kidding!" Draco said, his volume gradually increasing with each word. He was angry now, and Ron turned and stumbled angrily and drunkenly away from the pair. Hermione was now crying softly from the trauma of the experience. Draco pulled her against his chest and stroked her hair and shushed her quietly as they stood among the people now dancing to an unfittingly upbeat popular song.


Later, as the reception danced on into the night, Hermione, uncharacteristically for her, had had a few more drinks than was necessary in an attempt to regain her earlier happiness. It seemed to be working for the time being. At the moment, she was dancing with Draco, to a fast, hypnotic techno song. She pressed up against his body, and ground into him hotly. She giggled and smiled alluringly when she felt something grow and harden against her touch. Draco, who had also not skimped on the firewhiskey, noticed too, smiled, and kissed Hermione's neck. The Great Hall had grown dark, except for the sudden emergence of a set of brightly colored strobe lights., so not many people saw what was going on. Draco took advantage of this situation, running his pale hands down from her neck to her hips. He kissed, his lips hot, down her neck to her chest, and kept going. His lips ran over the place where her cleavage was slightly visible due to the (lowered) V-neck cut of her dress. She loved the feel of his lips on her skin, his breath skimming over her exposed cleavage as he laughed and kissed and touched her. Her hands wound knots in his gold hair, and she kissed his mouth and stroked his chest through his suit. If the song never ended, at that moment, Hermione felt as if she wouldn't care.