Trembling Hermione hung a strand of pearls around her neck. It had been a gift from Draco, a token of his appreciation. A silly gesture obviously, but a nice one. Ever since they started dating, he had showered her with gifts. Sometimes flowers, sometimes jewellery or a box of chocolates.
Draco looked at her expectantly, a glint of insecurity in his eyes. For four months she had been his fiancé and still he was treating her like she could walk out on him at any moment.
She glanced at herself in the reflection of the window of the Golden Lotus restaurant where they were having dinner. A smile crept on her face as she turned back towards the man she was in love with.
'They're beautiful', she whispered, not trusting her voice.
Gently Draco placed his hand on her arm. 'Not half as beautiful as you are', he smiled and he leaned forward to kiss her. Blushing slightly, Hermione met his lips.
'Can I take your order Mr. Malfoy?', a drawling voice sounded.
Quickly Hermione pulled back and blushing furiously, she ran her fingers through her hair. She wasn't used to snogging in restaurants, let alone to being caught about by the waiter. What made it worse was the fact that the waiter was one of Draco's former allies.
Draco ordered and turned back to her, pretending the waiter was no more. The man bowed slightly and left them to it.
'Don't you ever feel bad?', Hermione asked Draco tentatively as she sipped her water.
'What do you mean?', Draco asked.
'Well…you're here, ordering expensive food and wine and a former Slytherin classmate is taking that order. Doesn't it make you feel…uncomfortable?'
Draco pondered the question for a moment. 'Not really', he then said. 'I always knew this was going to be the way. I had more money than most my classmates, more influence and more power. I wasn't expecting Flint to end up a waiter here, but I guess neither of us are surprised. After all, the Second War had an impact on most old Pureblood families and their wealth'.
Hermione nodded. After the Second Wizarding War, many of the Purebloods who had been supporting You-Know-Who had been imprisoned, their fame and fortune taken away and left in ruins. This to the advantage of the other Purebloods who grabbed what was now available. Draco only had his money, mansion and influence because Harry had pleaded for him.
'I guess you're right', Hermione sighed. 'But I'll never get used to it'.
'You'd better', Draco teased. 'You'll be Mrs. Malfoy soon enough. All the other women will envy you, all the men will tremble before you, and rightfully so I might add'.
Hermione grinned at him. 'I highly doubt it. Most Purebloods will hate me because I ensnared the most eligible bachelor among them. They'll want to know what kind of love potion I used to make you fall head over heels with me'.
'No need for a potion', Draco shook his head. 'Sleeping with me was enough'.
Hermione blushed once again and ran her fingers over her new necklace as she thought back to that one night, almost five years ago, when she and Draco had slept together.
It had been Harry and Ginny's wedding. Draco had been drunk on scotch and she had drowned her sorrows in many a glass of white wine. When Draco asked her to dance, she had gleefully accepted but where it lead to, she had never guessed.
One night of wild passion was enough to ruin her for other men. Even the relationship she had built with Jeffry hadn't been good enough to erase Draco from her mind. How he touched her, how he kissed her, how she had been drawn to him whenever they got within five feet of each other.
The business trip to Paris had been her downfall. She should never have gone with him, yet she was confident she could resist him. After all, she had been doing that, albeit not very well, for years.
But Paris had defeated her. Him wining and dining her had defeated her. The romantic ambiance and tantalizing atmosphere had defeated her, driving her back into the arms and bed of the man she vowed would never touch her again.
And yet, eight months later, she was engaged to this man. His proposal at Ron and Nicolette's wedding might not have been the most romantic or the way she had always imaged being proposed to, but she had accepted nevertheless.
Draco had wanted to surprise her and asked her to marry him under the pretext of breaking up with her. Claiming she was far too smart to be proposed to in any other way because she would see it coming, Draco had given a speech about needing to marry the right girl to please his parents and to have a family with.
As it turned out, Harry had been involved in the idea and as a result Hermione had hexed him dutifully the next day to sport a pair of bunny ears and tail for over a week.
'Lost in thoughts?', Draco asked as he watched his fiancé twirl her hair and stare out the window.
Hermione snapped back to reality and nodded. 'Just thinking about us. How we came to be'.
'Any doubts?', Draco asked carefully as he sipped his wine, keeping his eyes interlocked with hers.
Hermione shook her head. 'Not a single one'.
'Have your parents come round to the idea yet?' Draco was careful in asking this, he knew how close Hermione was to her parents and how they almost seemed opposed to the whole marriage thing.
'Well…', Hermione sighed as she folded her hands in front of her. 'They are starting to come round. They still think we should give it more time and not get married just yet. You know, wait a year or so before we start planning'.
'Why?'
'Because they think we're rushing into this. And I don't disagree with them'.
Draco choked on his wine and coughed loudly. His face turned slightly red as he gasped for breath and clapped himself on the chest. When he had calmed down enough he wheezed; 'Why?', in Hermione's direction.
'Because we are rushing into this Draco. But unlike my parents, I know I have waited four years to be with you. I endured your girlfriends, the gossiping and the rumours and I know that I want to be with you for the rest of my life'.
Draco smiled. 'So the wedding is still on?'
'Of course', Hermione said, placing her hand on Draco's arm. 'I love you Draco'.
'I love you too', Draco said, his whole face going soft and his eyes shone like stars. He cupped her face and pulled her towards him. Their lips met and Hermione knew for sure she had made the right choice.
