Chapter 25: The Moment of Truth

Hermione sat by the window, her eyes glued to the horizon. The morning light streamed through the glass, but the warmth did little to calm her nerves. She tapped her fingers on the table, anxiously awaiting the arrival of the newspaper. The article about Draco was being published today, and she couldn't help but feel a knot of anxiety in her stomach.

Draco walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder. "Hey, don't worry," he said, his voice soft and comforting. "I'm sure Ginny's friend did a good job with the article."

Hermione turned to look at him, her brow furrowed. "Are you sure?" she asked. "I mean, she is a reporter, and her job is to sell newspapers. What if she twists things to make the story more sensational?"

Draco thought for a moment before responding. "I don't think Ginny would have recommended her if she was likely to do that."

Hermione sighed, agreeing but still unsettled. "I know, but I can't help worrying. What if we said something stupid? What if people don't believe us?"

Draco kissed the top of her head and held her tighter. "Everything will be fine, Hermione. Most people trust Harry, and besides, the article is more about me than it is about you. It shouldn't affect you too much."

Hermione pulled back slightly and looked him in the eye. "Of course, it'll affect me. We still have a wedding to plan, and this controversy is holding us back. We haven't been able to go cake tasting, buy a wedding dress, or even look at venues properly. If this blows up, It will ruin everything."

Draco gave her a reassuring smile and kissed her again. "It's going to be okay. Trust me. With Harry's support, and with Ron staying quiet, there's really nothing to worry about."

Hermione frowned. "I hope Ron isn't stupid enough to open his mouth. The only reason he's not in Azkaban is because he's keeping quiet."

"And that's exactly why he'll stay quiet," Draco added confidently. "Ron knows he's walking a fine line."

Just as Draco finished speaking, an owl swooped down and dropped the day's newspaper on the table. Hermione's heart skipped a beat as she tore open the package. The headline stared back at her:

From Dark Past to Bright Future: The Savior of the Wizarding World, Harry Potter, Defends Draco Malfoy.

Harry Potter Backs Draco Malfoy's Redemption as Hermione Granger Confirms Their Relationship

The wizarding world has been buzzing with rumors ever since a public altercation involving Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley took place. Now, it has been officially confirmed that Hermione Granger, known as the brightest witch of her age, is in a committed relationship with Draco Malfoy, a former Death Eater. While this revelation has sparked controversy, key figures close to the couple have come forward to defend Malfoy's transformation, including the Savior of the Wizarding World, Harry Potter, and his wife, former Quidditch star Ginny Weasley. Harry Potter is Ron Weasley's best friend while Ginny Weasley is his sister.

Harry Potter, who has closely investigated Malfoy's past and his rehabilitation efforts, has been vocal about his belief in Draco's change. "Draco is a changed man," Potter declared. "He's worked incredibly hard to make amends for his past. He is no longer the person we knew during the war."

The rehabilitation process that Malfoy underwent was carefully supervised by two reformation officers. Sally Whitaker, one of the officers overseeing his case, expressed her pride in Malfoy's progress. "Draco's commitment to changing was outstanding. He didn't just go through the motions—he truly embraced the process and left his old self behind."

Another reformation officer, Edward Brighton, echoed Whitaker's praise. "Draco Malfoy's rehabilitation is one of our program's greatest success stories. He faced his mistakes head-on and has actively worked to become a better person."

Malfoy himself spoke about his journey, saying, "The process wasn't easy, but it was necessary. Spending time in the Muggle world during my rehabilitation opened my eyes to so much. I never want to be the person I used to be, and I'm grateful for the second chance I've been given."

Ginny Weasley, who is not only Ron Weasley's sister but also Harry Potter's wife, voiced her support for Malfoy as well. "Draco has shown over and over that he's changed. He's been there for Hermione and has proven himself to be reliable. I fully believe in the man he's become."

Hermione Granger, who has been at the center of this media storm, also confirmed her faith in Draco and their relationship. "Draco has been nothing but supportive and kind. He's proven to me that he's changed, and I wouldn't be with him if I didn't believe that he was genuinely different now."

Even George Weasley, Ron's brother and business partner, weighed in, offering a candid perspective. "I don't know much about Malfoy personally, but if Harry trusts him, then so do I. Ron had six years to win Hermione back, and he didn't make a move. It's not fair for him to act now that she's moved on."

With the steadfast support of Harry Potter, Ginny Weasley, and his reformation officers, Draco Malfoy appears to be on a new path toward redemption. His past may be dark, but with Hermione Granger by his side and a growing list of supporters behind him, the future looks brighter for Draco than ever before.

Once they finished reading, Hermione sighed in relief, her shoulders visibly relaxing. "Well, that doesn't sound bad," Draco remarked, his tone surprised.

"No, it really doesn't," Hermione agreed. "I wasn't expecting it to be this positive. I thought it might be a little more... neutral."

"Well," Draco said, leaning back in his chair, "now we just have to wait for the public reaction."

"That's the hardest part," Hermione muttered, staring at the paper, her mind swirling with possibilities.

Draco sensed her unease and gently turned her face toward him. "Why don't we talk about something more fun? Like our wedding plans. It'll help get your mind off this."

Hermione smiled weakly. "That's actually not a bad idea."

They both settled into the couch, and Draco pulled out a file containing their wedding plans. "We've already picked the date," Draco said, flipping through the pages. "I will ask my personal assistant to send the cake samples, that way we can pick a cake without going anywhere."

Hermione chuckled. "Leave it to Draco Malfoy to have his personal assistant handle the cake tasting."

Draco grinned. "Don't tell me you want to go yourself between all this chaos?"

Hermione smiled. "No, I don't, not until things calm down a bit"

"Did you look at the File with possible locations that she sent over?"

Hermione bit her lip. "I really like the venue in Muggle London. It's beautiful, but... the one by the lake was nice, too."

Draco nodded thoughtfully. "The lake was picturesque. It had that magical feel without being too extravagant."

"I agree," Hermione said. "But... what about a beach wedding? I've always thought those were beautiful."

Draco raised an eyebrow. "A beach wedding? I like the beach, but I'd prefer to be wearing shoes at my wedding."

Hermione laughed, shaking her head. "Of course. I wouldn't expect anything less from Draco Malfoy."

The two of them laughed together, and for the first time that morning, Hermione felt the tension in her body ease. Draco always had a way of making her feel better, even in the most stressful of times.

"Well, let's decide soon. We've only got three weeks left to pull this off." Draco said with a smile. "Maybe your parents will feel more comfortable if we had the wedding in muggle London"

Hermione's smile faltered as her thoughts shifted to her parents. The anxiety that had temporarily disappeared crept back in, tightening her chest.

Draco, always attuned to her emotions, noticed immediately. "Hey," he said gently, leaning forward to take her hand. "What's wrong? What's going on between you and your parents? Are you worried they won't accept me?"

Hermione let out a long sigh. "It's much more serious than that," she said softly, looking down at their joined hands.

Draco's brow furrowed in concern. "What do you mean?"

She took a deep breath, bracing herself for the conversation she'd avoided for so long. "During the war, I was terrified that Voldemort would use my parents to get to Harry. So, I erased their memories and sent them to Australia."

Draco's eyes widened in shock. "You... erased their memories?" he repeated, his voice hushed. "Merlin, Hermione, that must have been so hard for you."

Hermione's lips trembled as she nodded. "It was the hardest decision I've ever made in my life. I convinced myself it was the only way to keep them safe."

Draco reached out and gently cupped her face, his expression filled with sympathy. "And what happened after? When you brought them back?"

Hermione swallowed hard, feeling the familiar ache in her chest. "That's where the real consequences came in. When they realized what I had done... they were furious. They felt betrayed. Things got so bad that I started to wonder if I had made the right choice. They hated me, Draco. They hated my magic. Our relationship was never the same after that. They don't trust me. They don't feel safe around me anymore. It makes being around them difficult for me as well."

Draco's arms tightened around her, pulling her close as he whispered, "You did the right thing, Hermione. I can promise you that. I remember Voldemort ordering Death Eaters to capture your parents. But they were never found, thanks to what you did. You saved them."

Hermione looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears. "Thank you, Draco. I... I needed to hear that. Sometimes I still doubt myself. I've made peace with the fact that our relationship will never go back to what it was, but..."

"But now that you're marrying me, a pureblood and a reformed Death Eater, you're afraid it's going to make things worse," Draco finished for her, his tone soft.

She nodded, wiping her tears. "Yeah. They've never been comfortable with magic since I brought them back. They don't want to talk about it, they don't like seeing my wand, and they avoid anything remotely connected to the magical world. I've come to terms with it, but this... this marriage, Draco, might just push them further away."

Draco stayed silent for a moment, unsure of what to say. He knew how complicated family dynamics could be, especially when it came to the magical world. But he also knew how deeply Hermione's parents meant to her.

"Do you think," he began slowly, "knowing the truth about why you're with me—about Ron's involvement—would help? I mean, you didn't choose this. It wasn't your decision, Hermione. This entire situation is... well, it's because of Ron."

Hermione shook her head. "I don't think it'll help. If anything, it might make things worse. Knowing that they can't even trust Ron, They'll ask me to cut ties with the magical world. They asked me before but this time... this time, I don't think I'd be able to fix things."

Draco was quiet for a moment, absorbing her words. Finally, he spoke, "What if... what if we introduce me to them without bringing up my blood status or my past? Let them get to know me first, just as... Draco. Then, once they see who I am now, maybe we can tell them about my past later."

Hermione's eyes widened slightly. "You think that would work?"

Draco offered her a small, hopeful smile. "I think it's worth a shot. If we give them a chance to see me without all the baggage, maybe they'll be more accepting when the full truth comes out."

Hermione's expression softened as she considered the idea. For the first time in days, a glimmer of hope sparked in her chest. "That... that could work. Yes, maybe that's exactly what we need to do."

Draco nodded. "We can take it slow. Let them meet me, spend time with me, and see for themselves that I'm not the person I used to be."

Hermione smiled, feeling a small wave of optimism wash over her. "Yes, and... maybe we could invite them on a vacation. Somewhere neutral, without any magic. That way, they can get to know you properly, without all the pressure. Can you manage without magic for a few days?"

Draco's eyes lit up. "of course I can. I've had plenty of practice living like a muggle, thanks to the rehabilitation program."

Hermione let out a relieved laugh, the tension in her chest easing for the first time in what felt like forever. "I forgot about that. You probably know how to be a muggle better than I do at this point."

"Well, let's not get carried away," Draco teased, his signature smirk playing on his lips. "But I can definitely manage."

Hermione hugged him tightly, feeling a surge of gratitude for the man she was about to marry. "Thank you, Draco. For understanding. For being willing to do this."

Draco kissed her temple. "You don't need to thank me, Hermione. After everything this is the least I can do."

Hermione's heart swelled at his words, and for the first time in a long while, she felt a sense of peace when thinking about her parents. There would still be challenges, but she knew she could face them with Draco by her side.

Together, they began to make plans, talking about where they could take her parents, how to approach the subject of their relationship, and what to do if things didn't go as smoothly as they hoped. But no matter what lay ahead, Hermione knew that she and Draco were in this together.

For the first time, she felt optimistic about telling her parents the truth.