Hermione did not talk to Harry for the whole night. She locked herself in the bedroom, even putting extra magic spells on the door in case Harry used spells to get inside. Lying on bed, her mind tried to organize everything that happened a few hours ago. It was horrifying that Pureblood families would put their children into marriage before birth, much like those political marriage in ancient royal families. it was even more astonishing that the Malfoys chose the Wilkes, a family that did not belong to the noble twenty eight families. There were other options, the Greengrasses, the Travers, the Averys, the amiable Aisha Shafiq, the youngest and most beautiful Obliviator in the office. If not, Pansy Parkinson and Millicent Bulstrode were next in line, though Hermione had to admit that the two were less appealing.
Finally, much against Harry and the others' will, she rented an apartment miles away from Grimmauld Place. Ron and Ginny tried to make her stay, but she was determined. While she was packing, Ginny came into her room for the last time.
"Hermione, you perfectly know this is not good for both of you."
Hermione did not answer, she kept tidying her desk even though the desk was almost cleared.
"Hermione!" yelled Ginny.
Hermione stopped and turned around. Ginny was staring into her eyes, demanding for an answer.
"You changed."
Hermione did not say a word. Surely she did not wish to change, but what could she do when their very existence was threatened?
"You are not the Hermione I know for years," Ginny went on. "You have always stood up for what is right, you never draw back and you never do anything without a reason."
"You know nothing," whispered Hermione.
"I know if you love a person, you will never give up, no matter what," snapped Ginny, crossing her arms. "And now, you are just leaving Harry here while falling into Malfoy's arms! You leave Harry because of him! Have you no consideration for Harry?"
"It's not what you think!"
"So tell me!"
"You won't understand," said Hermione with a shaking tone.
Just before Ginny could say anything, Hermione said,
"Take care of Harry, for me."
Within a week, the news of Hermione's wedding spread through the Ministry of Magic, it was not bad at first, but soon she discovered that people were not only congratulating her.
"Miss Granger, congratulations!" said Millard, a squeaky old man. His rubbing palms and nasty grin told Hermione that this man was thinking something else.
"Thank you, Millard," said Hermione politely. "I thought are you upstairs working for the Floo Powder Network."
"Oh, Miss Granger, I wish I can work with you too, but it requires your…special attention."
Hermione perfectly knew what he meant, but she still asked,
"Sspecial attention?"
"You know how diligent our department can be," explained Millard. "And for such hard work, so little in return."
Just as what she expected.
"Indeed," muttered Hermione.
"And with a recommendation and your consent, things would be a lot easier and I can assure that we will get alone well."
"Oh yes, perhaps I should really think about it."
"Thank you in advance, and wish you good marriage."
The squeaky old man apparated and Hermione let out a deep breath.
"He is sprightly, isn't he?"
Lisa Turpin walked towards her, smiling. Though they had little contact in Hogwarts, she became one of her best friends when they were apprentices at Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Not for long, Hermione went to Department of Magical Law Enforcement and got promoted as the Deputy Head, a few month later, Lisa joined the Wizengamot.
"Oh goodness, I really don't know how to cope with him."
"You know he is that type of person."
"And such type of person is common in here."
"The Wizengamot has been talking about you," said Lisa. "Our wise enchanting Hermione, engaged to the famous wealthy Draco Malfoy, son of our celebrity Lucius Malfoy."
Hermione showed a dry smile.
"Is it not ironic? I come here to change the oppressive, pro-Pureblood laws, now I get engaged to a Pureblood, a Pureblood of an influential family."
Her chuckles were so awkward that one could easily feel the underlying pain. Lisa knew Hermione must had her own unspeakable reason. She came up with a few possible reasons, and had no choice but to assume that what she thought was correct.
"Still thinking of Harry?" whispered Lisa.
"Who wouldn't?"
"I'm sorry that you need to call off your wedding—"
"No, it's okay. I have accepted the fact."
"The Aurors say Harry is bit daydreaming and out of focus recently."
"And what can one do about it?"
"Does Malfoy knows that you two—"
"It won't help if he knows or not," said Hermione. "Besides, he should have known, starting from the day that he decided to imprison me."
"Do you love him?" asked Lisa. "Or should I ask, do you not hate him?"
Hermione looked at the figure at the far end of the corridor, seemingly waiting for her. It was Draco.
"I better leave," said Lisa and she hurriedly walk away.
Draco walked towards Hermione and said,
"Father's waiting for us in Diagon Alley."
"For what?"
Without explaining, Draco held her hand and apparated to Diagon Alley. Lucius was waiting in front of Ollivanders.
"Mr. Malfoy," greeted Hermione coldly.
"Ah, Miss...Wilkes," said Lucius and he signalled the two enter the shop. Mr. Ollivander staggered out from behind the shelves.
"Mr. Malfoy," said Mr. Ollivander with his soft husky voice. "Elm, dragon heartstring, eighteen inches, rather bendy."
"Unfortunately, I am not the star of today," said Lucius.
Mr. Ollivander looked at Draco, then glanced at Hermione, with a mixture of confusion and seriousness.
"Is young Mr. Malfoy seeking for his second wand?"
"No," said Lucius. "It's Miss Wilkes who is in need of a second wand."
"But the first wand always perform the best—"
"Mr. Ollivander," interjected Lucius. "We are quite in a hurry."
Mr. Ollivander looked into Hermione's eyes. For one moment, she saw the confusion in his eyes, but then, he cleared his throat and said,
"Vine wood, dragon heartstring, eleven and a half inches, I remember well..."
Hermione nodded in silence, she did not want to show her tears, but they kept welling up, making her eyes extremely uncomfortable.
"Mr. Ollivander," said Lucius, reminding him.
Mr. Ollivander looked back at Lucius and he walked into the dark corridor. Draco sat in the couch by the window, looking nonchalantly at the Daily Prophet on the table, featuring the new policy set by Gringotts. Mr. Ollivander took out a pile of wand boxes that were mostly covered in dust. He brushed the dust off and said,
"Miss…Wilkes, cedar, phoenix feather, nine and a half inches, quite supple."
Just when Hermione touched the wand, Mr. Ollivander snatched it back.
"No, alder with dragon heartstring, eleven inches, quite supple."
"No…no…what about walnut and phoenix feather, ten and three quarters inches, surprisingly whippy."
Mr. Ollivander snatched back the wand and placed them back carefully. Then slowly, he took out a wand from a shiny leathered box. He frowned and his misty eyes shone at Hermione, and he placed the wand on her palm. After a few tryout, Mr. Ollivander handed her a wand with a little hesitance,
"Cypress, unicorn hair, thirteen inches, hard, but not rigid…"
Immediately, she could feel her palm getting cooler, the amazing sensation was almost like the touched of balm and freshness of cold butterbeer, the touch of unicorn skin and the frozen ice cubes. It was different from her vine wand, she remembered the warmth it gave out, she could conjure a sparkles of fireworks and it made Mr. Ollivander delighted.
"Cypress is nobility, as I have heard," said Lucius.
"Yes, nobility, noble, very noble…" muttered Mr. Ollivander.
"Seven Galleons," said Lucius, completely ignoring the old man's words as he placed the gold coins on the counter. "Come, Draco, we have other things to do."
"Mr. Malfoy, may I have a word with Miss Wilkes?" asked Mr. Ollivander.
Lucius looked at him, then he glanced at Hermione.
"We will just…wait outside," hissed Lucius and he left the shop with Draco.
Mr. Ollivander waited until he was sure that no one could hear their conversation.
"Miss Granger, you know what cypress means, don't you?"
"No."
"My grandfather Geraint Ollivander had always honoured a cypress wand holder, for he knew the holder would have a heroic death."
Hermione shivered.
"Especially when it's matched with unicorn hair, you must have heard of the famous saying 'the innocent always die first'."
"So I will have to face it earlier than the others," said Hermione and she gave a long slow sigh. "I am prepared."
"No matter what, keep your first wand."
"It's no use. I can't use it, with them monitoring me for the whole day, I can barely take it out."
"Just remember, never let go of your vine wood wand."
"…I won't."
"Are you sure you are happy about this? With young Mr. Malfoy?"
She did not know how to answer. She could not tell him that she was threatened, with Lucius Malfoy possibly eavesdropping outside.
"When the Daily Prophet says you are engaged to young Mr. Malfoy, I was astonished," said Mr. Ollivander. "I thought the Malfoys were out of their minds. But here you are, tired and unhappy."
"There're too many things happening at one time, one can hardly take them all."
"And it occurred to me that you and him might be madly in love..."
"Perhaps it's true."
"Do you know what I find strange? That your husband should never look at you. He looks at the walls, the floor, the newspaper, his shoes. "
"He has a great deal on his mind."
Mr. Ollivander gave a wry smile.
"I must ask again, Miss Granger. Are you sure that you are making the right choice?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"The time will come, sooner or later. It's the matter of your patience."
"I understand."
"Wish you good luck, Miss Granger."
He nodded at her and disappeared behind the shelves. Hermione went outside and met Lucius and Draco, who was waiting for her impatiently.
"What did he say?" asked Lucius.
"A few reminders and words of blessing," replied Hermione.
Lucius eyed on Hermione, and he knew what he was up to, her Occlumency had finally come to use. After a while, Lucius said,
"Very well, I will just head down to Knockturn Alley and have a good chat. You two go to Leaky Cauldron and wait for me."
He headed into the dark alley, leaving Draco and Hermione alone. She walked to the Flourish and Blotts, looking at the new book in the window. Then, she noticed his boredom, so she gave up and continued walking down to the Leaky Cauldron. Everything looked just like years ago when she was a Year One, excited to see the world in front of her. She loved the Apothecary's potion ingredients, the pets from Magical Menagerie, the smell of fresh parchment in the Stationary shop, most importantly, the Quidditch Supplies Shop.
"Look Mommy, it's the new Nimbus Two Thousand and Five!"
"No nonsense, Derek. You are just a Year Two."
"But I can apply for being the Team's Seeker, just like Harry Potter, I am in a Gryffindor and I can also do it."
"But we have got a Cleansweep Thirteen!"
"Not fast enough, Jeremy says that Harry Potter used a Firebolt in Quidditch."
"Firebolt! Derek—"
"I know it's expensive, Mommy, but can I get a a Nimbus Two Thousand and Five, please!"
"Only after you have got onto the team—"
Hermione could still remember those days when Harry was riding his Firebolt, soaring through the sky. It was breathtaking and she was proud of having such a friend. Ron was funny and helpful, and Harry was bold, she could share her secrets with him. She still kept the photo of her and Harry, smiling brightly on his birthday.
As she settled down in the Leaky Cauldron, she looked at the stairs, where she had been with him. It was all joyful and she never imagined what would happen if life was without him. What if her parents did not get her into the Muggle family, and she was taught to hate the others just like Draco? What if she was a Slytherin and everyone hated her for being with Draco?
"Hermione," said a voice.
"Huh?" Hermione watched Draco sat opposite to her.
"Got you this."
He showed her a thick leathered book, Hermione glanced at him and she took the book, then gasped.
"The book…it's the one at the window."
"A gift for you," said Draco, trying to sound nonchalant. "Or you can say, compensation."
"Compensation?"
"I suppose it is not all just responsibility, there's still love."
"Has it ever existed, between us?"
"Well it can be nurtured."
"But there was never anything existed between us."
"Everything's going fine?" asked a voice.
They turned around, Lucius was standing behind Hermione, eyeing on her curiously. Knowing that he might have caught her words, she avoided looking at him. Draco said,
"Just having a little chat."
"Oh, really? That's good…"
Hermione saw Lucius quickly putting a small bottle with dark blood red liquid, she frowned yet there were a few possibilities, if only she could sense out the smell.
Late at night, she put her vine wood wand on her desk with huge emotion, the wand had been following her since Year 1. It had bravely protected her from harm and helped her getting full marks in exams, but now she had to put it aside. Then, she gazed at the parchment in her palm, feeling bitter, she headed to Draco's room. The cold corridor was silent and moonlight peered through the windows. She could feel the corridor getting darker and colder, which urged her to enter Draco's room quicker. As soon as she opened the door, she went to his bed and examined his face. He was sound asleep and moonlight shone onto his pale face, so white that could almost reflect light. She stared at his pale face for a while, then she headed towards the window. The eagle owl looked at her and nibbled her fingers.
"Hawks, bring this to him," whispered Hermione.
Hawks clicked its beak and nodded as if it understood, its large wings spread and took flight , disappeared into the dark sky.