Chapter 27
Theodore splashed the cold water from the river onto his face. He had been camping out in this forest for the last few weeks, and knew it was only a matter of time before he was found here as well. He had been keeping his guard up for so long, that he had yearned to just for once sit and relax. He wanted to go into London and grab a couple of Firewhiskeys and chug them down until he lost all reasoning thoughts. He wanted to just sleep in till the sun was high in the sky and more than half the day had passed. But it wasn't possible; one false move and everything he had been trying to avoid would catch up with him.
But being on the run didn't mean he was out of the loop with current events. He knew that Dumbledore had been murdered. He knew that meant his best friend, the one Theo and Blaise had been attempting so hard to help protect, had been the one who engineered the entire scheme. Draco was dead to him, both figuratively and literally. He couldn't help but feel remorseful when the news of his former friend's death had reached him, even though they had not been close for a long time. But he had grown up with Draco. They had spent eons together as they learned about the world and their place in it. The three of them, Blaise, Theo, and Draco, had formed a pact together as a young age that they would always be there for each other.
'And look where we are now,' Theo thought bitterly. 'I'm on the run, Draco is dead, and Circe knows what's happening to Blaise.'
He heard a branch break behind him, and he instantly froze. Had he been found? He slowly turned around to see a scruffy haired man behind him. His clothes were torn and his body covered in cuts. He appeared to be in his late thirties.
"Why are you here?" Theo demanded. He still had not determined if the man was a friend or foe.
"I mean you no harm. I simply came to get a drink of water. It has been a few days since I found a body of water, and I was getting desperately thirst. Please, let me just drink some, and I'll be on my way," he said in an exhausted tone.
Theo relaxed slightly. The man appeared not to have enough physical strength to cause him any damage. He nodded and he gestured to the water with his hand.
"Take as much as you need, I was just leaving anyways," Theo said. He rose and turned away. He knew it could have been unwise to turn his back to a potential enemy, but he did not feel endangered.
"Wait! Please."
Theo turned around to see the man desperately looking at him, "What is it?"
"I-I just…I was wondering if you wanted to join up with me. I have no idea how to survive out here, and you clearly do," the man said in a pleading tone.
"And how do you know you can trust me? For all you know, I could be a Death Eater; it is them you're running from is it? Seems a bit foolish to me," Theo said as he made his way over to the man once more.
The man paled at his words. Theo shook his head, this man would probably slow him down considerably and there was a good chance that it would be because of him that he was caught. But he knew he would regret it if he left the man out here; he would surely be dead within the week. Merlin, he felt like such a bloody Gryffindor, feeling so loyal and noble. What was happening to him?
With a sigh he spoke, "Fine, you can join up with me." As he continued to see hesitancy in the man's eyes he said, "I'm not, but the way; a Death Eater. It's the whole reason I'm on the run, because I didn't want to become one." He it was better to tell him this now, for once the man learned his name, there would be immediate distrust.
Theo saw all signs of worry fade from the elder man's face.
"I'm Theo, by the way. Theodore Nott."
There was a flicker of registration in the man's eyes. Clearly, he knew Theo's father and his associations.
"I see. Well, I guess I know why you're out here then. It's nice to meet you, Theo. I'm Dirk Cresswell."
Draco watched feeling bored as the groom tied his bow. Bill's entire outfit for his wedding was in no way extravagant, as Draco had often seen in the weddings of High Society, where one's wealth and influence can be determined in something as simple as attire. But it did not appear to be such a case in the Weasley clan. To them, the wedding was about happiness and being around the ones you love. It seemed so different than what he was used to, and while he enjoyed the classiness of upper class weddings, he had to admit that there was something homely about being surrounded by ones you care about.
He thought about Hermione, who even though was a bit annoyed by being ordered around, seemed to be extremely excited about the upcoming event. She had spent the morning animatedly helping with all the last minute touch ups. Weddings had a way of making even the most sensible of women into complete saps.
But he had to admit, he was excited to see how she had dressed up. He had overheard her and the female Weasley girl talking about outfits with smiles on their faces. Of course he hadn't been paying attention to what they were saying, and even if he had, Draco had a feeling he wouldn't understand much of their rambles about their attire. Yet he could not help but smile at the way her face lit up when she talked animatedly to her friend.
"Malfoy," a voice said snapping him out of his thoughts. He looked up to see Bill waving a hand in front of him. "Seriously, if you're going to be zoning out like this, you might as well go sit by Great Aunt Muriel. She'll think you're listening and happily ramble on for hours."
Draco glanced around the room, and saw it to be empty except for the two of them. It seemed that the rest of the males who had been in here a second ago were long gone.
"Sorry, I was just thinking about things," Draco said awkwardly as he rose to leave.
"Or a certain lady you seem to have gotten quite familiar with," Bill said with a smirk, and Draco felt a slight amount of colour rise in his cheeks.
"No, I wasn't… I mean I was, but…well I was-"
Bill laughed. "Don't worry about it kid. I already know what you were probably thinking about. I was young once too. I still remember the first time I met her; it literally felt like all the air had been knocked out of me and I had been frozen in my spot. When she walked by me, she gave me a soft smile and I thought I was done for," Bill said as reminisced the moment.
"And how did you know you wanted to marry her?" Draco asked curiously.
Bill gave him a smile, "It just comes to you. There's always this moment of clarity when you realise that there is no one else in the world that you would want to spend your entire existence with. You realised that the person is one you want to make memories with, you want to hold them tight and protect them from all the dangers in the world, and you want to have them by your side through every high and low point in your life."
Bill broke from his trance and gave Draco a nudge. "Now we should go; my mother would have my head on a pike if I were late to my own wedding," he said as he ushered Draco out of the room.
As he were about to make his way down the stairs, he noticed Hermione exiting her room. When he had seen her earlier, she was still dressed casually, as she hadn't wanted to ruin her wedding clothes through all the manual labour she had been required to do.
However, now she was completely dressed up. His breath hitched as he saw her wearing a knee length dress, in an elegant royal red colour, with a matching set of heels. Her hair was half up, and her hair was in smooth curls down her back. In short, she was stunning.
He had thought she looked amazing at the Yule Ball, and had he not been the person he used to be, he would have been tempted to kiss her right there and then. But now, he settled for making his way over to his stunning date, and placed a kiss upon her lips.
"I take it you like my outfit?" she teased him with a smile.
He growled. "You have no idea just how beautiful you look at this moment. If it were up to me, I'd get us to both skip the wedding, so we can snog for hours."
She blushed at his words. "Yes well you're just going to have to settle for the one kiss for now. And maybe if you behave, I'll even save you a dance."
"Save me a dance? Granger, the only person who gets to dance with you at all will be me," Draco said, feeling oddly possessive of him.
Once she gave him a pointed look, he gave in. "Fine, other men can dance with you. But I swear if any of them try to kiss you, I'll hex them."
She stroked his cheek. "I'll take you up on that. But keep in mind if any of them try to kiss me, I get the first shot."
Draco smirked; he knew there was a reason why he liked this witch so much. He extended an arm out to her, "Ready to go downstairs?"
Hermione smiled at him, "I never knew you could be so gentleman like," she teased, as she slipped her hand through his.
He raised an eyebrow, "I am the perfect gentleman, thank you very much," he sniffed as he raised his head dignified in the air, as the two of them made their way down the stairs.
Hermione looked as if she were about to retort, but Mrs. Weasley called out for them.
"Oh Draco, there you are! I've been meaning to talk to you all morning, but one thing or the other has come up. Harry has already taken the Polyjuice potion in case someone says something to get him in trouble. Now we had initially planned for you to take some as well, but seeing how just a few days ago you used the name 'Scorpius White', I think it would be the perfect alias for today as well," She said.
Draco nodded, it was only logical that he kept his name consistent. It was easier to use the one disguise instead of having many. He took out his wand and changed his appearance to match the one he had used last on Harry's birthday.
Once Mrs. Weasley had given him her nod of approval, and left, he turned to Hermione.
"How do I look?" he asked her once he had finished his transformation.
She pretended to ponder upon it, as she gave him a once over. "Hmm, well I guess it will do. Actually, I think you look a lot better this way," she said, mirroring his traditional smirk.
He found himself glaring at her, as the two of them were escorted to their seats. Luckily enough for him, he had managed to help get himself placed beside her, while Potter and Weasley sat several feet away from them.
She laughed as she placed a kissed him gently. He would never get sick of the way her soft lips grazed his.
He couldn't help but notice Harry and Ginny each taking turns to look at each other, while the other was facing away. It had been occurring from around the time of Harry's birthday, and he was slightly curious about the interaction.
"What's going on between the two of them?" He asked her as he gestured to the two he was thinking of.
She looked over and once she saw her two friends, she shook her head. "The two dated for the last few months, but then Harry being as noble as he is, broke up with her to keep her safe. She kissed him on his birthday, and while they both understand why they can't be together, it's obviously killing them both," she finished.
"And you don't think he should have?" he prompted her gently.
"I know where he's coming from," she said with a distant look in her eyes. He wanted to ask her what she meant, but knew that it was probably best to wait until she was ready to talk about whatever it was.
"But both of them have the notion that they are still going to have each other once this is all over, if they both make it. And I guess it makes me sad because I know how much it's clearly hurting them both, and there's nothing I can say or do to help either of them," she finished softly.
He squeezed her shoulder. "You can't always help everyone. And if some misfortune happens during the war, then at least they will be able to remember all the time they had before all of this," he said gently.
She nodded. "You're right, of course you are. I've just spent the last seven years worrying over Harry and Ron and I just feel like they are both my responsibility somehow, and when something bad happens to them, I get hurt by it."
"Well they are both very lucky to have you caring for them."
Hermione looked as if she was going to say something, but for the second time today, she was cut off. This time, it was because the music began to play, as Fleur Delacour made her way down the isle.
Hermione sighed as she watched Bill and Fleur be pronounced as husband and wife. The traditions were obviously different from the ones she had grown up with in the muggle world, but there was no less love involved with the wedding. Draco had quickly explained to her what would happen during the different sections of the wedding, so she was no caught by surprise by the traditions of the wizarding world.
After the couple had made their way to the end of the isle, Mrs. Weasley had stood up and waved away the scene with her wand. In the place of all the chairs and the wedding isle, was now an area set up for the reception.
After every one had eaten the intricate meal that Mrs. Weasley and others had spent a countless number of hours on, music began to play. She watched as Bill and Fleur had their first dance, and their eyes never left one another. What Bill and Fleur had was true love, and not a single person in the room could suspect otherwise.
"Care to dance?" Draco whispered in her ear, and broke her from her thoughts. She looked up to see that several couples had already joined the newlyweds on the floor.
"I thought you said you hate dancing," she said with a small smile, but could not deny that she wanted to go out and join the other couples.
He laced his fingers in hers as he led her onto the floor. "I do, but I know you don't," he said as he placed one hand on her waist, and kept the other intertwined with her own hand.
"I don't know how to do formal dances," she warned him. It was rare for her to say she hadn't known how to do something, but she never learned as she never needed to know how.
He laughed softly, "Don't worry, I'll lead," he said, as he placed her free hand on his shoulder. He pulled her in tightly so she could smell his sweet cologne. She felt her heart flutter rapidly, but she wasn't quite sure why.
This was Draco, the person whom she had already admitted she had feelings for, and whom had reciprocated those feelings as well. But despite all of that, she couldn't help but feel slightly nervous around him.
They danced in circles for a while, with Draco leading and her following, with their eyes never leaving each other. He was an extremely good dancer, and she suspected it must have been one of the Pureblood traditions he had learned in his childhood.
"Hermione?" Draco said gently, and she melted softly, as she gave him a smile.
"Yes?"
"I wanted to talk to you about something. About what you said earlier, about us being at war and how sacrifices need to be made. And while I completely agree with that, we are at a wedding in the middle of a war, and if that doesn't show that there can be happiness happen while darkness surrounds us, I don't know what does," he said, as he twirled her around.
"Of course; it's wonderful that Bill and Fleur have decided to get married," she said, as her eyes met his once more. She honestly had no idea where he was going with this.
He cleared his throat. "Hermione, these last few weeks with you have been great, and I want to have that same happiness with you. I'm not saying we get married or anything," he said quickly when her eyes widened. "I know what we have to do to bring Him down, and I'm glad you guys want me to join you, because I don't want to have to be away from you for that long. But through all of the fighting and planning, I want to have you by my side. I guess what I'm trying to say is, Hermione will you be my girlfriend? I know we haven't defined what we have, and I'm okay if you want to keep it that wa-"
She cut him off by pressing her lips to his. When she pulled away, she gave him a smile, "I'd love to Draco."
He smiled. As she leaned in for another kiss, they found themselves being interrupted for the umpteenth time that day.
"The Ministry has fallen. Scrimegeour is dead. They are coming"