Chapter 8
The Second Proposal
The Sunday weather was bittersweet for Hermione's liking. It was gloomy and the clouds where threatening to give a heavy downpour on the Hogwarts ground. It was as if the weather was depicting what she was feeling inside. She sighed while looking out the window inside the library that was her current haven.
She and Harry have planned to talk with Ron and Ginny today to tell them the news of her impending wedding with Malfoy. She was nervous, that she can confirm. Why has her life suddenly became so difficult? One moment, she was happy and all that mattered were her studies and friends, now she had to worry about a wedding. Not just any wedding but a royal wedding.
She sighed once again and collected her books –placing them neatly inside her book bag- and stood up before leaving the confines of the library to meet with her friends. They had planned to go to the Three Broomsticks to drink some butterbeer and that's where she was going to tell them. Come to think of it, telling them in a public place is such a bad thing for Ron will certainly create a scene with the news she was going to relay to them.
She went to the direction of the Great Hall where everyone was currently having their breakfast. As she opened the double door, the whole hall became quiet and everyone just stared at her as if it was the first time they were seeing her.
'What is happening?' her mind screeched and as if answering her question, Ginny marched towards her and shoved the Daily Prophet in her face.
"Please explain this 'Mione? Is it true?" Asked a furious Ginny who was followed by her equally furious brother and a concerned Harry.
Confused, she looked at the prophet and read the headline. She gasped and her eyes widened at the news.
Draco Abraxas Malfoy, Prince of Wiltshire, to be wed this coming December to Hermione Jean Granger, granddaughter of Sir George Duoquene XI.
"I, I…" Hermione trailed off. She was lost for words. This was not the way she planned for her friends and the whole castle to find it out. She looked around and saw that everyone were whispering and pointing at her and were sporting various facial expression.
"It's a lie, right Hermione? You wouldn't marry that ferret? The prophet is probably making it up." Asked Ron hopefully.
Hermione couldn't look at him and turned her attention to Harry who was looking away from her. She felt so helpless all of a sudden.
"Of course it's true Weasel! Not everything in the bloody prophet is a lie." Someone sneered and suddenly hung an arm over Hermione's shoulder which earned a gasp from everyone.
"Get your bloody hands off her, you ferret!" Hermione gasped as she finally realised that it was Malfoy who has hung his arms over her shoulder. He looked at her with a smug smirk before he removed his arms and shoved his hands in his pockets.
"Are you going to deny me, 'my princess'?" asked Malfoy mockingly to Hermione with a smirk plastered on his face. Hermione on the other hand blushed involuntarily from shame and looked down once again for loss of words.
"Hermione?" she heard Ginny's voice as if asking for confirmation.
Hesitantly, she nodded weakly. "Yes," she finally said in a meek voice, verifying the news written on the Prophet and Malfoy's words.
The whole hall fell silent as that simple word left her lips that the whole crowd heard. No amount of exploding snaps or dung bombs would compete to the impact of that one word.
Hermione left immediately before anyone could react and found refuge to a place that presents itself to those who needs it the most, the Room of Requirements.
'Why is everything going wrong? Why is it not going according to plan? Why am I caught in this damn situation? Why must I be the unfortunate one? Why is fate toying with me? Why me?' She thought as she sat dejectedly on the floor and stared blankly at nothing, her book knowledge could not answer these questions nor give her any hint.
She just sat there for the rest of the day while trying her damnest to dry her eyes but it seems futile. Hermione was not one for crying yet everything that just happened just suddenly hit her hard, everything sinking in causing her to break down.
The door of the Room of Requirements opened which the brunette witch did not notice. Slowly, someone approached her and gently wiped the tears on her cheeks which startled her.
"De-Devin? How did you find me?" Hermione asked as she once again wiped her tear stained face.
Devin smiled meekly and sat next to her. "The room presented itself while I was walking around looking for you. Harry and the others are worried you know?" He explained.
"I thought they were mad at me?"
"Yeah, well they were shocked but Harry and I explained the situation." Devin said which confused Hermione.
"Wait, you know? I know you and Mal- er Draco are cousins but how did you know?"
Devin smirked, which made him look like his cousin. "Well, I kind of got the gist of the whole fiasco. Drake told me that he was marrying you and I know that the current King is planning to step down in a couple of years. It's not hard to put them all together. But you know, I should be the one that you're supposed to be wedded and not Drake." At this, Devin ran his hand through his hair.
Hermione stared at him. "I kind of know that. I kind of wish that it was you though." Said Hermione whilst looking away, trying to hide her blush.
"Eh? You do?" Devin asked, shock evident on his handsome face.
"Uh, yeah. I mean, you're much more bearable to be with and we're friends." Replied Hermione with a small smile.
"Then marry me instead. I'm your real fiancé after all." Proposed Devin which shocked Hermione causing her to snap her head towards him.
"What?!"
-End of Chapter 8-
AN: Hello! Hi! I wrote a new chapter after 2 years! Omegosh I'm such a sloth, haha. Anyway, I'm sorry that I have semi-abandoned this story. Life happens. I, for some reason, just can't get a normal life and I always find a reason to make my life complicated. I entered law school that's why I have so little time. I hoped that this chapter, although short, is of your liking and satiated you. Thank you and advance Merry Christmas!