Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. If I did, one- I would not be here writing about it, and two- I would not have includedthe epilogue to completely screw up people's dreams of DMHG.
Setting: After Hogwarts and the war.
Summary: What might have happened after the war, if Draco and Hermione had chanced to meet. The epilogue in the 7th book is completely disregarded, and the characters are a bit OC.
Chapter 4: Stranger Things Have Happened
Throughout the next couple of weeks, they continued meeting each other, until Draco finally made it into something a little bit more. "Hermione, I know that we've only been able to stand being in close proximity to each other for a little while," he mentally reprimanded himself with the knowledge that it was his fault they had not had years of pleasant memories already, and continued, "but, in this short time I have gotten to know the most amazing person I have ever met." He flashed her a breathtaking smile that he was beginning to use more and more often before continuing, "I know it is too early to discuss marriage, but I want to make you a promise."
Marriage, she thought awed, I… wow… if it had been Ron, I would be trying to come up with dozens of excuses, but with Draco, I can't think of any objections. Maybe…. just maybe, I really do like him. Maybe enough to spend the rest of my life with him. She sighed contently with a smile and looked up to see Draco holding out a rose to her. This was definitely not an ordinary rose, you could tell that at a glance. It had the richest color she had ever seen, and it seemed to almost glow from within; immediately Hermione's mind brought up images of the rose from Beauty and the Beast.
He interrupted her musing, "This rose is enchanted," Go figure, she thought, while he continued, "right now, as you can see, it is red. It represents," he coughed, not sure how she would take this, "the love between us." Draco looked at her, and saw her smiling. Encouraged, he continued with the rest of his speech, "The color ranges from white to the deep red you see here, and it will change according to our relationship. This is a token of my love for you, a promise that it will never change…" he continued talking, but by this point Hermione was not paying attention. All she could think about was one little fact, HE LOVES ME! HE LOVES ME! HE LOVES ME! she chanted over and over again in her head. Sure, she had hoped for this, and even suspected as much, but proof, real physical proof that she was not just a passing toy was still music to her ears. Eventually, he stopped talking and she threw her arms around him and kissed him. He responded passionately, and both pulled away gasping for air.
When Hermione got home from her lovely evening with Draco, her happy mood ended harshly. Waiting for her was none other than Harry Potter. He smiled at her from her couch and asked politely if she had had a nice evening. She answered in the affirmative, and Harry continued, "I'm very glad you had a nice night, but someone who you once called one of your best friends is completely miserable." She grimaced know that he was trying to guilt her into taking, a now to late, Ron back. Of course, he continued, "Ron has been a good sport, trying to get through this, and believe me when I say he's tried everything. But, all he has accomplished is digging himself deeper and deeper into his hole of depression."
Hermione could not take much more of this and interrupted, "Look Harry, I know you really care for Ron and his happiness, and so do I. The only problem with that is if I was with Ron I would be completely miserable. Yes, I would," she glared as he made to put in his two sense, "And now I know that more than ever. I have found someone who I love. Granted, it was a bit unexpected, but stranger things have happened..." Her train of thought trailed off as she tried to find something stranger.
Harry took this opportunity in an attempt to clear up so of his bewilderment, "And who might that be?"
An internal conflict roared within Hermione. Sure, they had both known that the time would come to tell other people about their relationship, but they were hoping to wait a while and do it together. Oh well, Hermione thought bitterly, I guess now's as good a time as any to get this lovely experience over with. "Draco Malfoy." She said simply and walked into the other room. She sighed when the sound of pounding footsteps reached her ears, and slowly turned around to face her friend.
Her "friend" screamed, "WHAT THE HELL?! Hermione! I trusted you, and he's MALFOY! The FERRET! You know, the one who was inhumanly hideous to you for seven plus years?!" He ranted on as Hermione rubbed her temples, wondering whether or not she should have just lied to him.
Finally she shouted, "But he was there for me! When neither you nor Ron was. Of course, I haven't forgotten the past, but he has changed. Grown up, so to speak. And you should too." All Harry could do was glare at her, with betrayal shouting from his eyes louder than his words ever could. After he left her flat, Hermione broke down sobbing on her bed, welcoming oblivion when sleep finally chose to grace her.