Author's Note:
Wow, Chapter Seven already? I remember when I first posted this story! It's certainly been a wonderful journey so far! (:
So silly me only posted half the link to my Photobucket on last chapter. I've only just realized and isn't letting me edit it, so you'll all have to go to my profile to get the link. Sorry guys.
Any way, I hope you all like this chapter! It's not as long as the other's, but oh well.
Oh, and did I forget to mention that we've now reached the hundred mark? Amazing isn't it? Keep up the good work, guys! ;D!
Chapter Seven:
Sunday 13th September 1998. (Words: 2203.)
Ginny groaned when the alarm clock rang, indicating she had to get up.
"Wake up, Ginny," Hermione's voice came from loudly beside her.
"I don't want to get up," she moaned.
Why, oh why did Ginny have to suggest that she'd stay at Hermione's flat and Draco stay at hers with Blaise the night before the wedding? Not only did she have a monstrous headache (due to the Hen party Pansy and the other girls had threw last night) but she was also nervous as hell.
Ginny had arrived at Hermione's last night with her wedding stuff, announcing to the cosy couple who were still on the sofa cuddling, that she was staying and that Draco was going to stay with Blaise, considering he was best man.
About ten minutes later, Pansy, Daphne, Astoria, Luna, Lavender, Parvati, Padma and Eloise had all turned up, telling Ginny they were having a Hen Party to celebrate Ginny's last night of freedom.
Hermione had protested at first, because she knew she'd be the one cleaning up the mess in the morning. But Ginny had convinced her that she would help to tidy up.
So, the reason Ginny was in this state, was because she didn't listen to Hermione when she said no.
"Ginny, do you or do you not want to marry Blaise today?" Hermione said. "Come on, get out of bed. I have a hangover potion ready in for you in the bathroom."
Cracking her eyes open, Ginny moaned at the sunlight streaming through the window.
"All right, all right, I'm up," she said, dragging herself out of Hermione's bed before shuffling out of the bedroom, down the hall, through the living room and into the bathroom.
After downing the steaming potion which was on the bathroom side, Ginny stripped off and jumped in the shower, letting her tight muscles relax under the hot water.
Twenty minutes later, she was out of the shower and had dried herself off, wrapping a dressing gown around her, her hangover now completely gone, thank god.
Just as she walked out of the bathroom, there was a thunderous knock at the front door.
"I'll get it, Hermione," Ginny called as Hermione came rushing out of the bedroom, her hair stuck up at all angles.
When Ginny opened it, her mother and a pregnant Fleur came bounding into the room, squealing.
"Ginny dear, how are you feeling?" Mrs. Weasley said as she ushered her daughter into the bedroom.
"I'm feeling fine, mum. A little nervous, extremely excited," she grinned.
"I'm so 'appy for you," Fleur said, smiling tightly. After all, she and Ginny had never really seen eye to eye. "He iz very 'andsome," she said in her French accent.
"I know," Ginny said, beaming. "He's so lovely too, mum. I really like him."
"That's good, dear. I'm so glad you are able to deal with this, darling, given the circumstances."
"He's not like the other Slytherin's, mum," Ginny commented as Fleur dragged Ginny into Hermione and Draco's bedroom, forcing her into the chair in front of the vanity table.
They had both agreed that Fleur was to do Ginny's hair and Hermione was to help with the make up.
By the time they'd finished, her hair was curled and pined up with glittery hair pins, and her fringe was put up in a big quiff. Her make up was simple. She had some foundation on, liquid eyeliner on top, which flicked out at the sides slightly, some mascara and blush on her cheeks.
"Oh, darling. You look wonderful," Mrs. Weasley said softly.
"We'll leave you in here and you can change into your dress," Hermione said before ushering Mrs. Weasley and Fleur out of the room.
After putting on her underwear, she slipped into the dress and used her wand to zip it up at the back.
When she had it on, she stared into the mirror, grinning at her reflection.
"Soon enough, Gin, you're going to be a Zabini. You're going to marry one of the kindest, most loveliest wizards you've ever met. Isn't it wonderful?" she whispered to herself.
Ginny then looked around the room for her shoes. She located them in her bag at the end of the bed. Once she had her shoes on, she looked at her self once more in the mirror before calling the other's back into the room.
"Oh, Ginny, you look beautiful," Mrs. Weasley cried, giving her daughter a tight hug. "I don't want to let you go," she said quietly.
"It's OK, mum; I'm always going to be here. Just because I'm getting married, doesn't mean I'm leaving you," Ginny laughed, though she could feel her eyes tearing up.
"I know dear. It's just, you're not going to be a Weasley any more," she said, still crying.
"I'll always be a Weasley at heart, mum. Beside's, don't you think Ginervra Zabini has a ring to it?" Ginny smirked.
"Yes, I suppose it does," Mrs. Weasley cried.
After Hermione got ready, (wearing her hair up in a bun with stray bits of hair hanging down, simple make up and a simple white halter neck dress and black stiletto ankle boots) Mrs. Weasley and Fleur went to the Room of Requirement to see if every one was ready, Mrs. Weasley sent up Mr. Weasley.
"Daddy," Ginny said, beaming at him as he entered the flat.
"You look so beautiful, sweetheart," he said, tears in his eyes.
"You aren't going to start crying, too, are you?" Ginny scolded a smile on her face.
"It's just that you look so grown up," he said sadly. "I remember when you were born."
Rolling her eyes, Ginny gave him a tight hug.
"Don't cry, dad, you'll set me off," she laughed. She really didn't want to cry today.
"Ginny, we have to go now, they're all waiting for you," Hermione said, smiling softly at her best friend.
"Come on then, let's go. It's now or never," she said, laughing. Her nerves were fried, her hands were shaking, her palms all sweaty (A Weasley trait) but most of all, she was happy. Sure, she was a bit worried. She was so young! Blaise was sure to look after her, though. There was no doubt about that.
After Hermione cast several, strong dirt-repelling spells onto Ginny, they left the 'Family Wing' and made their way towards the Room of Requirement.
Hermione entered first, because she was acting as the Maid of Honor.
She saw Draco, who was stood at the front next to Blaise and grinned at him when he turned to look at her.
When she reached them, the Wedding march began and she and Draco sat down in their seats as Ginny and Mr. Weasley made their way up the isle.
"You look beautiful," Draco whispered in her ear, holding her hand.
"Thank you," she whispered back before turning around and watching her best friend become a Zabini.
Once the ceremony was over, everyone was applauding and cheering as Ginny and Blaise walked out of the Room of Requirement, holding hands, grinning widely, and led everyone to a disused classroom down the hall where they were having their reception.
After the first dance between Ginny and Blaise, Ginny then danced with Mr. Weasley, who was crying.
Hermione sat quietly, smiling as she watched all of her friends get up and join in the dancing.
"Want to dance?" a voice came from beside her.
She turned around and saw Draco sat there, holding out his hand to her.
"I'd love to," she said beaming, taking his hand in hers.
He pulled her from her seat and led her to the 'dance-floor'.
"You look absolutely delicious, you know that?" Draco whispered as they slow-danced to Ave Maria by Celine Dion, who Hermione was shocked to hear because she was, in fact, a Muggle singer.
"I don't look that nice," Hermione said, rolling her eyes as Draco spun her around in a circle before pulling her back into him, putting one hand on her hips and holding her hand with the other, swaying them both side to side.
"You do," he insisted, looking down slightly. He wasn't used to giving out compliments as often as this. What on earth was happening to him?
"Wow, Draco Malfoy is giving me another compliment," Hermione smirked. "This just keeps getting better and better, doesn't it?"
"You better get used to it, Missy," he chuckled, causing Hermione to laugh loudly, making a few of the other guest stare in wonderment. Could the ex Death Eater actually be making Miss Granger laugh?
After dancing for a while longer, and talking to their friends, and congratulating Ginny and Blaise numerous of times, Draco led Hermione out of the class room and up to the Astronomy Tower.
"What are we doing up here?" she giggled, a little tipsy, as he pulled her by the hand into the tower.
"Looking at the stars, silly," Draco said, and stood behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and leaning his chin on her shoulder so they could look out of the huge window (that had no glass) to look at the stars.
"It's so beautiful up here," Hermione whispered. "It's just a shame … what with all the memories up here."
Draco tensed slightly, remembering that fateful night Dumbledore died.
"I'm sorry, Draco," Hermione said quietly. "I didn't mean to bring up such awful things."
Draco grabbed Hermione's chin and tilted her head up so she was looking into his eyes.
"You know things are different now, though, don't you?" he whispered. "That I'd never do any of those things again? Especially not to you?"
Hermione frowned. Why especially not to her? Why was she so different?
"Of course I know, Draco," she told him. "You've changed. Everyone can see that."
"Hmmhm," Draco agreed, smiling slightly. "You know, there is another reason why I brought you up here tonight, actually."
Instantly suspicious, Hermione spun around in his arms to face him.
"Which is what?" she asked, hands resting palm down on his chest. She didn't like surprises.
"Well, since we're getting married…" he trailed off, and before Hermione knew what he was doing, he'd got down on one knee and pulled a ring box out of his pocket.
"Draco Malfoy, what are you doing?" Hermione gasped, eyes wide.
"Well, you need an engagement ring, do you not?" he smirked.
"Well, yes, but -" she started but he cut her off.
"Hermione Granger will you marry me?" he said suddenly.
"Well, I can't exactly say no, now can I?" she said sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
"Just answer the question," he huffed, frowning at her playfulness. This was a serious matter!
"Yes, I will, you bloody-fool. Now get up off the floor, I'm the one who has to wash those trousers," she scolded and he rose to his feet before placing an abnormally large rock on her ring finger. It had a silver band, with three stones. Two of them were diamonds, with a huge, green emerald sat in between them both. Engraved on the band was 'My love' in elegant writing.
"Merlin, how much did this cost?" she said, her jaw hitting the floor.
"Absolutely nothing. It was my mothers. Her true love, Xavier Nott gave it to her. But because she was betrothed to my father, she couldn't accept. He insisted that she take the ring. She gave it to me when she found out I was marrying you," Draco explained, smiling down at her.
"Nott? As in -?" Hermione said.
"Theo's dad, yes. They were in the same year together at Hogwarts. They had been best friends their whole lives," Draco said.
"It's so sad that they couldn't be together. It's kind of like Romeo and Juliet," Hermione said softly, smiling up at him.
"Who and who?" he asked, frowning. What on earth was she jabbering on about?
"Oh, it's a Muggle play that was wrote hundreds and hundreds of years ago by William Shakespeare," Hermione explained.
"Oh, right," Draco nodded, not having clue what she was talking about. They stood there in silence for a little while, just looking into each other's eyes, as much as that sounded like a Cliché.
"There was one last thing I wanted to do," Draco finally whispered.
"Which is what?" Hermione said, taking her eyes away from the gorgeous ring, looking up into his sparkling grey eyes.
. She realized it then, as he proposed to her, and as she looked into his eyes, that she definitely had feelings for Draco Malfoy. How much? She didn't have a clue. But there was certainly something there.
"This," he said quietly before leaning down, with her still in his arms, and placing a kiss gently on her lips.
Sighing , she leant into his kiss, gasping as he flicked his tongue out, letting it swipe against her bottom lip. His mouth tasted like honey.
It was then that she realized that what she'd been searching for, for all these years, to try and fill that hole inside her, the feeling of emptiness, she'd finally found it. And now that she'd found it, she wasn't letting go in a hurry.
End Author's note:
So I hope you all liked this chapter. As I said, not as long as the other's, but not every chapter can be as long, right?
I would like to mention that I have added pictures of Hermione's outfit for Ginny's wedding and the Engagement ring Draco gave her to my Photobucket sight. Go check it out, leave a comment, you know! J
Reviews:
DarkAngel: Thank you so much? Aww, really? Thank you! I'm not entirely sure. I was aiming to only have it around 10-12 chapter's long, but there is no way that is happening. I love this story too much! Yes, I think you might have mentioned it, dear ;)
TheCuteVamp: Thank you! They are, aren't they? I know, I wanted to make Pansy a little nicer than she's portrayed in the books. I know, but don't you think they would have become a little richer, what with helping win the war and everything?
I know, I would have never thought of that pairing either! But I wanted it to be different, you know? There's been so many takes on the Marriage law thing, and I wanted to make sure mine was different. Yes, you should! Don't forget to comment! You should indeed, they are very handy, especially if you are an author.
Nope, if people are already married, then the law doesn't affect them in the slightest(: Thank you so much! J
Spikeecat: Thank you! It's not a problem!
Hpluver4ever: Thank you for all you're reviews! They made me smile. Not to worry, you'll hear more about Ginny and Blaise in the future. I know Ron and Luna is kind of an odd pairing, but I wanted to make it different, you know? By not placing certain people with the people their always paired with. I thought it might be a nice change. Thank you so much! I was thinking about changing the rating to M, but I'm not to sure just yet. We'll see (: Thank you! (:
Vampgirl94: Thank you!(: And thank you for the information … I'll try and change it. J
So that's all for reviews, like always, if there are any mistakes, questions and whatnot, feel free to drop me a review, P.M or email. And please go check out the pictures on Photobucket? The link is on my profile(: Drop a comment! (: Thank you all!