Chapter 37

Draco and Hermione returned to the coast the next day. It had been lovely to be away from the others. Hermione still felt a bit shell shocked from the previous night. It hadn't quite sunk in. She really couldn't conceptualise the implications of it either. But he held her hand and it made her feel like everything was right.

They got back around lunch time and everyone was down by the pool, sitting around the table waiting for lunch to appear. Hermione sat down next to Adrian. Adrian always felt like a safe harbour in the stormy seas of Slytherin social life.

"How were the pyramids, still there I hope,"

"Yes, surprisingly, they hadn't moved." Hermione said. "It was gorgeous. We had a lovely time."

"I'm surprised. I would have bet that Draco kept you confined to the room. So you got to walk around them?"

"No, we saw them from the balcony," she said with wry amusement. Adrian laughed. She liked Adrian, he was intelligent and funny, and he didn't really judge her on being different or not a Slytherin pureblood.

"Can't blame him," Adrian said.

"I have an announcement," Draco said to the entire group. He was sitting further down the table. Hermione felt her heart speed up and a lump on nervousness was building in her throat. "Hermione has agreed to be mine."

There were gasps around the table. Hermione felt all eyes descend on her and she didn't know what to do with herself. She decided to keep her eyes on her wringing hands. She hadn't been prepared for it to be announced. She would have quite happily sat on the news for a while, just their little secret. Draco obviously had other ideas.

"Oh Merlin," Daphne said. "That is absolutely fantastic. Did he give you a ring?"

"Not yet."

"He has to pry it out of Lucius Malfoy's cold, dead fingers first," Adrian said. Daphne waved him away dismissively.

"I'm sure it's not like that," Daphne said. "Although they are rather particular. I am sure Draco knows how to deal with them. He would never have asked you if he didn't know he could manage it."

Wouldn't he? Hermione wanted to ask. She wasn't entirely sure. Her one and only introduction to the Malfoys, in connection with their only son, had been rather cold and unwelcoming.

"Oh Merlin, this is so exciting, now there is someone else planning a wedding," Daphne said, and Hermione clenched her fists. She didn't want to think that her relationship with Draco was anything like Daphne and Theo's. This was extremely uncomfortable. "Although not the same perhaps. I am planning a wedding, you are planning a Malfoy wedding."

Hermione's eyebrows drew together as Daphne continued, "That is something else entirely."

"How exactly?"

"The Malfoy's will probably invite every wizard in the country, and probably half of France as well. Not to mention their extensive business contacts," Adrian said. "This will be the event of the year."

"I'm sure Narcissa Malfoy will do much of it," Daphne said. Adrian pursed his lips like he was saying he hoped she knew what she'd gotten herself in for. Hermione hadn't actually given a single though to the wedding, now it sat in her mind like a monolith. This immovable obstacle that loomed over her.

"Don't think he'd consider eloping?" she asked tentatively. Adrian laughed.

"He probably shouldn't alienate his parents at this point. They really could make his life a living hell," Daphne said. "But let's not talk about that, this is so exciting. I can't believe it."

Hermione looked around. Pansy didn't look quite as exciting. She was swirling her drink around in her glass. Actually she looked murderous. Pansy was looking more at Draco than at her. Hermione didn't dare look down in the other direction towards where Blaise was.

Lunch finally arrived and Hermione took the opportunity to withdraw into her own mind. This whole wedding idea was freaking her out, particularly as this was supposed to be some spectacular wedding in front of everyone. She was not one who craved attention, particularly not on that scale. Growing up, she had always imagined her wedding day being at the Burrow, just like Harry. At the time, she had always assumed it would be Ron. Never in a million years had she considered Draco. Draco had always been the forbidden thing. The one she was not allowed to look at, to think about, to fantasise about.

Not only would there be a wedding day, it would be a massive one. This would send Rita Skeeter into a complete frenzy, for months, maybe even years. Rita had been fairly quiet for a bit and Hermione had harboured the hopes that her time in the spotlight might be over. Now there was a fantasy what was being shattered.

Draco was being congratulated by some of the boys. He looked pleased. He was taking this all in his stride, then again, he'd had all his life to get used and prepared for it. His expectations had been reinforced into him since he learnt to talk. Hermione watched him for a minute. He locked eyes with her and she felt her stomach flip. She did love him. Everything was fine when they had that connection between them. She would do a frickin wedding, for him, whatever he needed. She would just grin and bear it, eventually come out the other side, she hoped. If he could take on his parents, she could take on a stupid wedding. She smiled at him and he winked at her.

"I certainly didn't expect this," Blaise said behind her later that evening. Hermione recognised his voice and didn't need to turn around to see him.

"It is rather sudden, I admit," she said. "I guess we just feel strongly about each other."

"Quite a sensation," he continued. "People will be curious about the girl that tamed the wild Draco Malfoy. Don't forget, just a few months ago he was a drunk womaniser with nothing on his mind but his own diversion, and how many women he could fit in one bed."

"Guess he had enough of that life." Hermione wished she could finish this conversation and just walk away, but she felt like she had to let Blaise say his peace. Might as well deal with it now.

"Maybe you're right. Maybe he is ready to trade that in for domestic bliss."

"I'm sure he is," she said.

"Are you?"

"Am I what?"

"Ready for domestic bliss?" She didn't answer him. She wasn't ready, she hadn't even had time to properly consider it. Blaise continued, "You'd have to give up your life, your job and your flat to become a Malfoy wife. I wonder who is taming who here. Personally, I think you're both diminished by this situation, but then I guess you realise that I was never going to be happy with this outcome."

"Honestly Blaise, your happiness was not a consideration at the time."

"Ouch," he said jokingly. "I wasn't suggesting that it was, I just hope you know what you're getting yourself in for. You need to be sure that he is worth such a large sacrifice. You could always ask my opinion, but I think you already know what I think."

"I appreciate your concern Blaise," she said. Not that she trusted his motives. "It's the right step for us." She sounded a lot more convinced than she felt, but she was not going to let Blaise think she even had a doubt. She wasn't entirely sure why that was important, but she knew it was. God, she swore to herself, she was even starting to think like them now, managing perceptions and ammunition for future skirmishes. She also knew that Blaise hadn't said his peace yet, there would be more from him.

Draco came and rescued her; he placed his arm around her shoulder.

"Not trying to scare my fiancé off, are you?" he said. Hermione adored how Draco seemed to know exactly what was going on. That way she didn't have to hide it. It was a good thing if they could be completely honest; she didn't want to have to be Slytherin sneaky around him too. That would be a step too far. As long as they were alright between them, then everything on the outside didn't matter.

"Of course not," Blaise said with mock offense. "If anyone can keep you on the straight and narrow, it would be her." Hermione recognised the secret jab in there. Blaise wanted her to think that Draco could and would fall back into his old ways at the drop of a hat. It was a cruel tactic, aimed to pray on her mind and her peace. And she hadn't even gotten Pansy's bitter bile yet.

She had a look around, but couldn't see Pansy anywhere. She dreaded to think what Pansy would bring. It could go really badly with Pansy, Hermione realised. Pansy didn't always hold back her feelings.

Draco still held her to his side and she loved the feeling of him there, solid and warm.

"You alright?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Adrian seemed to think you need to tackle your father to get the ring."

"Something like that," Draco said. Hermione pulled back, she thought Adrian had been joking, but Draco had just confirmed that there was some truth in that.

"They're going to have problems with this," she stated.

"They aren't going to be over the moon. You know the background they come from. They have views on things like blood status. You know this. It's going to take them some time to come around."

Hermione nodded, she didn't mind time, she needed time too. Maybe his parents' qualms about her blood status would be to her favour, unless it would sink the whole thing. She didn't want to think about that. She wasn't sure she could handle losing him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and just stayed there for a couple of minutes. As long as she kept him close, she kept all the threatening whirling thoughts away.