Chapter 27

Hermione felt uneasy the next day and the feeling just refused to budge. She wasn't exactly sure what it was but it had to do with Malfoy. It could so very easily have gone the other way last night, which meant she likely would be not waking up alone this morning. Her stomach did a full summersault.

There was no denying the attraction, her stomach flipped whenever she thought of him. But attraction was just that, a chemical reaction, it didn't mean you had to be ruled by it. The problem was that it persisted, he'd invade her head and he wouldn't budge.

She got ready and went to work. Every second thought was about him. He had suggested something last night, something that came with a 'lay the cards on the table' admission, wrapped in crudeness. But that was his way, wasn't it, couldn't so a straight forwards admission, too sappy for Draco Malfoy.

Focusing on the faults made it easier to ignore the admission. So what if he liked her, she'd been liked before, it didn't mean anything. People liked people all the time. It didn't mean she had to jump up and rejoice. The fact was, he was him and he had so many faults it wasn't even funny. First of all he was crude, he was completely directionless, pleasure seeking and vain. He was like a puppy that tore your house apart and then just was repeatedly forgiven because it was so cute.

And for the record, Draco Malfoy is not cute. He didn't do puppy eyes, he just did that staring that caught you like it pinned bug caught by a bug enthusiast. That's what she felt like, like a bug caught by an enthusiast. He had her pinned and she was squirming to get away. It made her furious.

She wasn't getting anywhere with her work, her mood swings were getting in the way, but it didn't matter what she did, he refused to get out of her head. Lunch gave her no reprieve, neither did going home. Even her favourite TV programmes seemed dull and uninteresting. Her mind seemed to have caught onto this Draco Malfoy thing like it was the only interesting thing in the world.

She refused to give into her beckoning salacious thoughts when she was lying in bed trying to get to sleep, it was like it was calling her and she was completely ignoring it. Her heart pounded and she felt like she was half out of breath. She resorted to taking a dreamless sleep potion.

The wedding day was here. She'd sent a good luck note to Ginny, but hadn't heard back. She suspected it was mayhem over there and the best thing she could do was stay out of the way. They would let her know if they needed anything.

She was wearing a red dress to the wedding. Ginny had opted for not having bridesmaids to Hermione's internal relief. It was getting complicated with sister in laws, friends, and cousins, so Ginny decided to solve the problem decisively. Besides, traditional magical weddings didn't have bridesmaids.

So she just sat and waited. She'd given Malfoy a time to pick her up days ago and he'd better be there. She would be absolutely livid if he blew her off. Although if she was completely truthful, she would be relieved if he blew her off. It would mean that this thing between them was over, and it would be the easy way out even if it cost a bit of best friend anger.

Shortly after two there was a knock on the door. Hermione closed her eyes. He'd come. She felt like she'd been teetering on the high point of a rollercoaster and it was now plunging down into freefall.

She opened the door and he was leaning against the doorway. Again, big stomach summersault. He was wearing a grey suit. Not as stark as his normal black, he looked softer, not like feminine soft, just more relaxed, but still tidy.

"You ready." He said. "Red huh? Ever the Gryffindor."

"Gryffindor wedding."

He groaned, "How exactly did you talk me into this?"

"I needed a date and you were being a gentleman." Hermione said.

"That must be it." He said sarcastically. He held out his arm and she took it. She was so used to him now, it felt normal. She was used to his scent, his touch and how his body fit next to hers. They hadn't been in each other company that long, although maybe it had been a bit of time all up.

The Burrow was tranquil although there were Weasley's making their way around with determined looks on their faces.

Molly and Arthur were greeting the guests as they were arriving. They didn't even miss a beat when it was Hermione turn and she fronted up with Malfoy. Arthur went so far as to acquire about his parents health, and then they were through.

The wedding had been organised similarly to Bill and Fleur. The seats were lined for the ceremony then after they would be magically rearranged for the reception. There was a little wait before things started and everyone just stood around waiting. A bit of chatter.

Hermione and Draco didn't speak, they just stood along one of the edges and waited. Hermione couldn't help but be distracted by her awareness of him. People spoke to them occasionally, one person even carried on full conversations with Draco, but the constant awareness wouldn't relent.

Finally the ceremony was starting. They took their seats.

"Growing up," Malfoy said quietly, "this was not a circumstance I expected to find myself in, going to Potter's wedding as your date."

"Maybe as your teenage self, you should have foreseen that I would eventually find out about your 'unwanted girl' fascination and use it to make you do all sorts of things." She said quietly back.

"That applied only to sex." He said.

"Really? Because you're here, aren't you?" She said tartly.

He didn't have an immediate comeback, but she suspected that he would sit on it until he had something to punish her with.

Potter walked down and took his place next to the celebrant. His hair was slicked down in a side part. She wondered what he'd had to do to get his hair to behave. He looked weird with nice orderly hair, it looked wrong. Ginny was coming down the aisle in her dress. She looked beautiful. Hermione was so happy for them she got a lump in her throat.

"Merlin, does he have to look like she's got him completely got him by the short and curlies?" Draco said disdainfully.

"Maybe he doesn't mind because he's not twelve." She challenged.

"Are you calling me immature?"

"And it's one of your better qualities." She pointed out matter of factly.

"Oh, I recall there were some of my other qualities that you rather enjoy." He said. "Qualities that make you go weak at the knees."

Hermione refused to acknowledge the comment and just lifted her chin in the air.

He leant closer to her ear. "At least I can be honest with myself."

"Honest, you're the most deluded person I have ever met."

"Now stop being obtuse and pay attention, you're going to miss the whole ceremony." He admonished her, which just riled her further, but she sucked it in and watched the exchange of vows between her closest friends.

It was a beautiful ceremony and it made her both happy and sad. Harry was obviously beamingly happy. He deserved it. It had always been so simple between him and Ginny. They just loved each other from the get-go, and that was that, everything just fell in place. Meanwhile, she was here with the date from hell.

The ceremony finished. They all stepped outside while the tent was being rearranged. Harry and Ginny were off doing photos in the golden light of that time of day. A tiny part of her couldn't help but feel jealous. Wedding always seemed to make you consider your path in life.

She noticed that Draco had his hand on her back. She hadn't even noticed how it got there. He was talking to someone, but he did his job as her date. At what point did they get so familiar that his hand on her back felt normal.

She noted her heavy heartbeat, the unrelenting windlessness. She felt like she'd been out of breath so long, adrenalin was her constant companion. How could he put her at ease and have her ready for fight or flight at the same time. But he looked at ease. She watched him as he talked, they were talking about some business of his fathers. He looked animated. He didn't look like a complete wastrel, he looked like he could carry a conversation perfectly. He certainly could pull it out if he needed to.

They finished the conversation as it was time to go back into the tent. She felt like she was heading back into the fray. The round tables were set up with a large dance floor. Ginny did love to dance.

They found some seats near the edge of the tent. The tables were cramped, so they had to sit close, so close they were touching. Again it was this odd mixture of familiarity and discomfort. Touching meant heat, and there was if, buts or maybes about it. It was like she was feeling safe and threatened at the same time.

Everyone ate, then the serious chatting became. Hermione wasn't in the mood to talk, so she stayed put. Draco didn't seem obliged to get up and explore the room either.

Harry and Ginny returned, there were toasts and speeches, which were lovely. Then Harry and Ginny started the dancing. They were both smiling as they took to the dance floor. It was probably the first time either of them had to themselves all day. With a great audience, but it was just the two as far as they were concerned. Hermione felt tears brick the back of her eyes.

"Now if all the young couples will join in." An older portly man who Hermione knew was Arthur's uncle.

People started to get up. Neville and Luna, Ron and Katie, other people from school.

"I think they mean us." Draco said.

Hermione opened her mouth in surprise, but she had nothing to challenge his logic. Ginny would be disappointed in her if she didn't dance.

Draco was up, holding his hand out. "Time to pay the piper." He said. She wasn't sure exactly what he meant, but it did feel like it. He led her onto the dance floor and she let him.

He pulled her to him and placed his band around her back. They were close, like we're familiar with each other close. Maybe because people who were familiar with each other couldn't be anything but. And she was familiar with him, in fact she felt like they'd been through a war. A war no one else seemed to perceive, even though she felt completely battle weary.

His mouth was by her temple. It felt nice dancing. A pretence to be close. A reprieve in the battle. He led and she just let him. If they had not been doing this activity, the activity they were socially obliged to do, she felt very uncomfortable allowing herself to just accept his direction.

Truth was there was nothing outside their little circle and the simmering heat within it. It felt a little like homage to the road they were not going to travel. The road not taken. A road, that if she was honest, potentially could include some feelings. It felt bittersweet.

She let out a shuddering breath when the dance stopped and they broke. It felt like the intensity let up, like the clouds parted and the air pressure let up. There was something there, but they were just too far apart. They might even be polar opposites.

Hermione needed to get away, needed to catch her breath. She excused herself and wandered through the tables to the dessert table.

An elderly lady leant over and put her hand on Hermione's as she went to grab a slice of cake.

"Its so heart warming to see young love. Don't you think Elsbeth, reminds me of my youth. And just like you and Montgomery." The lady said to her equally elderly companion while patting Hermione's hand. "Such a nice beau you have." She said to Hermione. "So handsome. You two look so lovely together."

"So in love." The other woman beamed with a huge smile.

We're not in love, Hermione wanted to yell, but she wasn't about to strip two elderly ladies of their deluded trip down memory lane. She just smiled and grabbed her slice of cake as quickly as she could without being overly rude.

"What's the matter with you?" Draco said when she got back to their table.

"Weddings make people insane." She stated. Draco shrugged and didn't enquire any further, which was good because she didn't want to have to explain the sentiment she'd just been assaulted with.