A/n: Hey!ü
Just managed to sneak in here..ü Have to hurry though...
Anyways, here's the next chapter.ü
By: Aningme
Chapter 11
Dilemma: The Sequel
She did nothing but gape.
It made him grin as he watched her reaction of their house. The implausible fortress never failed to amaze people who set their eyes on it. The amazing combination of steel and concrete always took their favor, and the perfectly arranged gardens never failed to embed beauty in it.
Stepping out of the car, Hermione stared up at the huge mansion and goggled.
"You live here? How the hell do you live here?"
He sighed beside her and chuckled. "Ask yourself." He muttered and walked right through the door. He turned and waited for her to gather her bearings. "You're coming?"
She closed her eyes and breathed a deep breath and followed him.
"This is the parlor." Draco explained, touring her through the house. "There's the useful couch, the functioning screen, and the convenient fireplace. There's also a small bar right over here." He walked and took out two glasses of milk.
She cocked a brow and took a glass. "Milk. That's a nice bar."
"You shouldn't drink alcohol as much as now." With the baby coming. He mused. He wondered if she remembers about that.
But he doubted it.
She nodded and sipped, closing her eyes and sinking down unto the comfy sofa. "This is good."
"I'm glad you liked it." He said and watched her over the rim of his glass. "Welcome home."
She weakly smiled at that and stared at him. "Malfoy… I…"
"Sir Draco." Harvey suddenly interrupted. Then turned to Hermione. "Ma'am. May I be of service?"
"We'll be having lunch later, Harvey." Draco answered, and glanced at Hermione. "Would you like something, Hermione? Strawberry ice cream, perhaps?"
Hermione just stared at him, bewildered. How did he know I love strawberry ice cream? She just nodded. "That'd be great."
Harvey nodded. "Anything else?"
"That's all, Harvey. Thank you." Draco replied.
Harvey bowed a little and smiled, before leaving.
"Who was that?" Hermione asked.
He walked over to her and sat beside her, settling his glass on the coffee table. "He's Harvey. Our butler."
"Our butler?" She asked and glanced at the door way. "Wow."
"You happen to like him, and he's really a good assistant. Worked for me for ten years now." He said. "He'd been a great friend too."
"That's nice to hear." She thought. But all this freaked her out. She still couldn't believe she was with Draco Malfoy. A Malfoy for goodness sake.
But hell, he's so different now, like he was a different person.
He acted so nice, so gentle.
And he looked damn gorgeous too.
She just stared at him as he watched the window just across from them. It suddenly started to rain, the skies turning gray, and the surroundings turning cold.
He leaned back on his couch and stared at the ceiling.
She didn't know what to say to him. What to do. She didn't know what he was up to, or what he wanted her to do.
Damn it, she knows nothing at all.
"Do you remember Ron? Ron Weasley? Ginny? Your friends?" He asked, ever so casually.
She sat quietly first, as if thinking. "I think I heard of them before…" She muttered. Thinking hard, she suddenly remembered that shocking red head. "Ron. Of course." She mumbled, as if in a trance. "Ginny… Seamus… Neville… Yes, I remember…" She smiled. "I remember some days in Hogwarts, when we all eat in the Great Hall, stay up really late and sneak through the Fat Lady, and Filch…" She leaned back on the couch and stared at the ceiling too. "I remember quite well when Harry, Ron and I sneaked out to go to Hogsmeade and get a present for Ron's brothers. Ron had forgotten to buy them gifts, and was warned that he'll be dead if he didn't give them presents." She laughed. "Yeah. You were there too. You saw us sneak out and you told the authorities. Professor McGonagall was furious." He smiled too, hearing her chuckle. "She put us all in detention. Including you, for staying out through curfew. You were furious too. You and Harry almost had a fight then. Harry…"
She suddenly stopped. There was something she felt as he said his name.
"Harry…"
"Do you remember him?" Draco muttered, his voice turning quiet.
"Yes, of course…" She whispered. "I… I…" She suddenly sat up and turned to him. "May I know how they are? Are they still around?"
He dragged his eyes towards her and smiled. "I'll show you something." He answered instead.
He stood up and walked towards the counter. He took out a disk and loaded it into some machine. Hermione stared at it, impressed with the machine, thinking it might be a video player.
Seeing the television blink to life, she confirmed it was.
"I want you to watch this…"
She stared at the screen and waited.
Hi Hermy! Ron here. I know that maybe you don't know me but, I know you. We went to school together and… well, we were best buddies. Along with Harry…
"Ron…" Hermione smiled. "Still looks the same."
Herm! How are you sweetie? Well, as you may not know, I am the sister of the weirdo on the screen before. And you might know my husband, Seamus?
"Husband? Seamus?" Hermione's mouth hung open. "Seamus and Ginny?"
"Yeah. Surprising isn't it?" Draco commented.
You have your niece too, Relina. Come here sweetie. Mom's making a video for your aunt Hermy to see.
Hi Aunt Hermy. I'm Relina.
Tell her what you like about her.
I like Aunt Hermione because she's my best friend.
"I have a niece?" Hermione glanced at Draco.
He just smiled and nodded.
That's right. We miss you Hermione. Please come back…
She just sat quietly as she watched some snapshots of their picnics with her, trips to different places, parties they had attended, get wasted on, and more.
She smiled at them, but she couldn't remember them all.
Hi Dr. Granger. I'm Mrs. Dubley, here in the hospital. We're working our asses off here as always and we sure do miss you.
We'll be waiting for you to come back.
Pictures of some patients of hers filled the screen.
You savedour lives Dr. Granger.
Thank you for saving us.
We love you.
She laughed as she saw the little children waving at her.
"They look so cute." She muttered. Draco just stared at her.
Ron's face took the camera again.
Well, I should tell you, Neville is living in Nebraska right now if you're wondering where he is. He's head of his company now. The POXROX delivery company. Surprising, but that's his.
And also, you must be wondering about your good old friend Bert. Seamus interjected.
Say hello to Mr. Bert.
Hello dear Hermione. I heard about the accident.
I just hope you feel better so you'd go back here and I'd see you.
But I'm sure that will be soon. You're husband here is really a good boy.
He'll take care of you.
Well, those are the good memories. Ron narrated, his face dominating the screen again. We had some good times and some bad times.
Snap shots of the war suddenly filled the screen.
Lots of people died during the war. Along with your family, my family, and some friends…
Harry also died because of the war…
Hermione just sat there, not saying anything.
Harry's face suddenly showed up.
Hermione, stop that.
But you looked so cute in the camera.
Hermy, please, you know I hate cameras.
That's what makes it more fun.
Then, pictures of Harry's funeral flashed before her.
He died six years after the war, because of the poison He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named implanted in him… And now, he's in a peaceful place…
Harry's smile gazed at them for a while.
Draco glanced at Hermione and saw a tear slid down her cheek.
But then, another weird thing happened. Ron smiled and gestured something behind the camera. You fell in love with this idiot.
Then Draco's face showed.
I'm not an idiot, idiot. Draco and Ron sneered at each other.
Sorry about that.
Anyways, Hi Hermione. Yes I call you Hermione these days. It may sound weird to you, or you really might not know anything of our past name callings but, Hermione it is.
You may not know me as you watch this, but I want you to know, I am your husband. Since last month.
A video recording of their wedding suddenly showed.
Draco Malfoy, will you take this woman, to be you lawfully wedded wife?
I do.
And you, Hermione Granger, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?
She smiled at Draco before she said…
I do.
With all of the witnesses this day, I pronounce you, Husband and Wife. You may kiss the bride.
Draco grinned before catching Hermione in his arms and kissing her.
Suddenly, gowns and tuxedos and fancy tables dominated the screen. Beautiful music enticed the people to dance. And in the middle of the room, Draco and Hermione danced in each others arms.
They looked so happy together. She was laughing, as he seemingly whispered something in her ear.
"That's us, huh?" Hermione whispered, her face soaked in tears.
Draco smiled as he watched the video. "Yeah, that's us."
I love you, Hermione Granger Malfoy.
And I love you, Draco Malfoy.
And they kissed.
I know this might confuse you for now. But I will do anything for you to remember everything.
I'll do everything to bring you back.
We miss you Herm.
We love you.
I love you.
And the screen turned black.
Draco stood up and took the cd from the player. He handed it to her, and watched her shivering hand take it.
Draco sat quietly and waited for her to say anything. He sighed and leaned back on the couch again, staring at the ceiling.
After a moment, she leaned back and stared at the ceiling too.
"I don't understand everything." She turned to him, watching him just stare at the ceiling.
The sounds of the rain pouring down the window dominated for a moment before he answered.
"I won't be able to explain everything to you." He muttered. "But I sure will try."
Harvey suddenly entered, serving two bowls of ice cream for them. Neither spoke until they were left alone again.
Draco reached out for a bowl and handed it to her.
She smiled and wiped her tears away. "You know that I love strawberry ice cream."
"Yes, I believe I do." He answered.
"How did you know?" She asked, wanting to know.
He chuckled and took a spoonful. "You really want to know?"
She nodded and looked at him intently.
He laughed. "I believe it was a time when I was trying to cheer you up. You looked so grumpy with your bad day at work and I asked you for some ice cream. And fortunately for me, it successfully cheered you up."
She laughed. "Am I really that childish?"
"You're not childish." He smiled and just stared at her. Merlin, how he longed to kiss her.
As he watched her, Hermione couldn't help it but shiver. His eyes melted her right there and then. She couldn't help her heart skip a beat when he stares at her. And Merlin, she couldn't help it but think he's gorgeous.
She looked away and smiled. "Thank you, Malfoy. I mean, Draco."
She said it so innocently, he laughed at her. "For what?"
"The video." She muttered. She took a spoonful of ice cream and sighed. "I don't remember much about some parts of the video." She admitted. After a long pause, she turned to him, her tears starting to form again. "I can't remember our wedding."
Catching the tears slipping down from her cheeks, he smiled at her and nodded. "It's alright."
"No. No it's not." She stood up and returned the bowl to the tray. "I don't know how we ended up like this. I don't know what happened to us and all… I…" She stopped and breathed deep, feeling her throat tighten. "I don't know what I feel for you…"
He stood up too and stepped closer to her. To her surprise, he wrapped his arms around her and led her into a waltz. He hummed a soft melody in her ear and closed his eyes.
There's a somebody I'm longing to see.
I hope that she turns out to be
Someone who'll watch over me…
She laughed, in the verge of tears.
I'm a little lamb who's lost in the woods…
I know I could always be good.
To one who'll watch over me…
"Draco…"
I may not be the man some girls think of as handsome.
But to your heart, I carry the key…
He twirled her and made her chuckle.
Won't you tell her please to put on some speed?
Follow my lead oh how I need
Someone to watch over me…
His eyes resting on hers, she suddenly heaved out a sob, her head resting on his shoulder.
She couldn't look at him. She just couldn't… "I'm sorry…"
"Shh…" He hissed and lifted her chin with a finger. Staring back at him, he wiped her tears away and smiled at her. "I love you Hermione Granger… And I'll make you fall in love with me again if you need me to."
He took her lips slowly, ever so gently, letting her adjust to him.
She didn't know whether to back off from him or kiss him back. She didn't know what to feel, what to say.
But as she tasted him, she kissed him back, feeling his warmth, his touch. Somehow, she felt like she knew his taste, his breath, the feel of him. She felt like she had been seeking for him after all.
But then, Harry's face suddenly flashed before her eyes, bewildering her.
Pulling back, she choked in air, staggering back.
Draco slowly stepped back, cursing himself. "I'm sorry." He whispered and walked out of the room.
Hermione watched him and melted into the couch. She buried her face in her palms and wept.
"What the hell is happening to me?"
A/n: Lol.ü I know this sucks. But I really have to get back to my work.ü
I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, though it's a little weird.ü
I'm sorry too about not being able to post messages again.ü
Until next update then!ü (I'll try to sneak in more!ü)