Most ardently, by Swift Night Chapter 21, sleep eluded her.
Hermione's mind had not quieted since Lady Greengrass's abrupt
departure. Once the initial shock had worn
off, anxiety took its place. Hermione had no means to
investigate the source of the rumours that had made their way
into the ears of the vindictive matriarch, and her efforts to
discern the culprit would likely only result in the rumour
circulating further, an outcome she could not risk.
With Luna's wedding imminently approaching, her priority had to
be focusing on her sister so as to not bring storm clouds to
cast a darkness over such a happy day.
After a few hours of fitful rest, Hermione awoke shortly
before dawn. Rather than stay in bed, she
slipped out from between the warm blankets.
Without waking Luna from her peaceful slumber, she moved to
her vanity, working in the dark to pin the front pieces of her
hair back while leaving the remainder loose around her
shoulders. Donning a simple green dress,
she stood in the middle of the room, deciding what to do.
She could move to the sitting room to read until the rest of
the family rose for breakfast, but Hermione was uncertain she
was able to spend another meal faking a smile.
She needed to clear her head, and nothing helped her achieve
that more than a walk. Overcome by the urge to be gone
before the rest of the house stirred, Hermione cast a
silencing charm to allow her escape down the creaking stairs
and out the door into the garden unnoticed.
The sky was just beginning to lighten from the deep indigo of
the night, the last of the stars fading from view.
The heavy mist clung to the ground, limiting Hermione's
visibility as she slipped past the gate into the eastern
paddock. The festivals had yet to be
moved into the field, allowing the grasses to grow high,
leaving their budding purple flowers undisturbed.
She ran her fingers through the stalks and buds, letting them
caress her skin. The sounds of the morning birds
chirping filled her ears with the announcement of a new day.
Her eyes skimmed the horizon, waiting for the first ray of
sunlight to break and bring the dawn, when her gaze landed on a
peculiar sight peeking out from the trees along the nearby hill.
Had Hermione never seen a Patronus before, she would
easily have mistaken the luminescent Peacock for a ghost.
It had to be a male, given the noticeable plume it displayed.
It appeared unaccompanied, though she knew the caster must
be nearby, likely hidden from her sight by the woods and heavy
fog. Nevertheless, even if she could
not see him, Hermione knew exactly who had conjured it.
As the darkness and mist obscured him from her sight, so
did it shield her from his discovery.
She should turn back, as now was not the time nor place to meet a
gentleman. But he was not just any
gentleman. Removing her wand from her
pocket of her dress, she summoned her Otter as she kept
her eyes on the trees. For a moment, Hermione wondered
if he would notice, but then the Peacock vanished, the light
disappearing from the Ridge. Ha ha, it sank and her patronus
flickered out as the despair overtook her.
Of course, he had not wanted to see her.
If he had, he would have come directly to the house.
Perhaps it had not been him at all and she had imagined the
whole ordeal due to her exhausted state.
The wind shifted, blowing a cold gust past her and causing her to
shiver. She should return to the borough
and call for tea, knowing Missus Fig would be up preparing
breakfast. But her heart pleaded for her to
remain. While her head battled with her
heart over what to do, Hermione was unaware of the wizard's
approach. When the fog cleared to reveal
him, he was only a dozen paces from her.
Hermione gasped, her heart thumping loudly in her chest.
She wondered if he could hear it as he strode forward to meet
her. His hair was windswept as he
shed his usual jacket to reveal his white button up that was
hidden underneath. While she knew the garment
itself was not indecent, her mind had not failed to perceive
the way it clung to his shoulders.
The wizard had gone so far as to leave several of the top buttons
undone to reveal a hint of his chiseled chest.
It was only when he drew near enough that she could make out a
silver scar across his collarbone that she realised how
close he was. I had not expected to see you at
this hour, he voiced upon reaching her.
I could not sleep, Hermione admitted.
Nor I, Mr. Malfoy replied. I knew that rest would elude me
after my encounter with Lady Greengrass last night.
She informed me that she had come to call on you.
She had her eyes moved down to her feet, knowing he must be
well aware of the reason for her visit.
How may I make amends for such behaviour?
She grew flustered under the question.
After all, he had not been the one to say such unkind things.
After what Jinny had told me of your deeds, and what I suspect
you have done for Luna also, it is I who shall be making amends.
A soft smile crept upon his lips.
I should have known better than to not consider the new Missus
Potter's propensity for gossip. I thought binding Potter to
secrecy would be enough, but then I forgot your ingenuity.
My sister is an open book, Mr. Malfoy, and we both know how
much I love reading. Undoubtedly, He agreed,
releasing a small chickle before his face grew serious.
You must know, surely you must know that all my efforts were
made for you. It was your happiness that drove
me. She had not known, only
suspected, but hearing him confess it to her made it
undeniably real. He paused to let her absorb such
truth, but his silver eyes never left hers.
You are too generous to trifle with me after what I gleaned
from Lady Greengrass last night. It has led me to hope, something
I had not allowed myself the privilege of before.
The hope he spoke of was apparent in his voice.
I know enough of your character to believe that if your feelings
were the same as when we spoke last April, your heart
irrevocably decided against me, you would have acknowledged it
to Lady Greengrass without hesitation.
Hermione blushed but could not hold back a laugh.
I can say you would know it best.
I abused you so harshly to your face that you can believe I
would take no issue in repeating such things to all your
acquaintances. You said nothing to me that I
did not deserve. My actions at the time were
unpardonable and I should be grateful that you do not pull
your one to hex me for them. And as a matter of fact, you
more than anyone would have reason to do so from the time of
our introduction. Perhaps that was once true, but
I do not wish to quarrel over such things any further.
I like to believe that we have both improved in our civility to
each other since then. This time, her quip earned a
true love from the gentleman. The silence fell between them,
the pair each holding their breath as they waited to see
what would come next. Miss Granger, if I may speak so
plainly, I must profess my reason for coming here.
I flew through the night to reach you, but I had not
expected to find you so easily. Now that you are in front of me,
I cannot wait another moment to profess that my affections and
wishes have not changed since the spring.
But one word from you on the subject will silence me forever.
He paused to take a breath as she saw him searching for any
objection or hesitation. She had none to offer him, only
encouragement for him to continue if he began again after
a small stutter. If, however, your feelings have
changed, I would have to tell you that you have bewitched me,
body and soul. I have grown up knowing the
power of magic, but you have taught me the power of love.
To love you is a privilege, and one I shall honour every day
from this day until my last. As he made his proposal, the
first ray of sunlight broke over the trees, blinding them in
golden light. There was a sureness in
Hermione's movement as she stepped forward to eliminate the
space between them. One of his hands reached for
hers, bringing them up to rest against his chest, directly over
his heart, while the other cupped her cheek.
How can I find the words to respond to such poetry?
Hermione smiled. I have never been so glad to be
proven wrong by a first impression.
Is this your reply? His thumb brushed against her
skin slowly, as if he were making an effort to catalog the
feeling, to memory her eyes closed to revel in the sensation
of it. It is, and am I to hear that you
will have me, hmm? She hummed, his forehead coming
to rest against hers. Yes, Mr. Malfoy?
Draco. He pulled back and she opened
her eyes to find his silver eyes were molten.
Please. She knew it to be his name,
having heard his mother and his friends call him buy it before,
but it was not until that moment that Hermione realised she would
be awarded the privilege as his wife.
Draco. She repeated back to him,
earning a smile brighter than the rising sun.
Hermione held no doubts that this memory and the powerful
emotions she experienced in it would be strong enough to summon
her. Brutonous.
The thought reminded her of the Peacock that had alerted her to
Draco's presence this morning, and the curiosity got the best
of her. When did you learn to cast a
corporeal Petronas? I recall you telling me that you
could not when we were at Green Cross Grove.
Draco's expression turned somewhat bashful as he stepped
back, taking her hand and tucking it into his arm so they
could begin walking together. Would you believe me if I told
you that it was this very morning, only 10 minutes before
you arrived? He said after they walked a few
paces. I have been attempting it for
months, ever since I saw your Otter floating through the
drawing room. What changed?
Hermione inquired, but she felt quite silly for asking when he
sent her a smirk. She had been the change until
this morning. He thought her indifferent
towards him at best and despising him at worst.
Lady Greengrass's meddling had backfired so spectacularly.
By forcing Hermione's affections out in the open, the matriarch
had unknowingly caused her own defeat.
Will you tell me what memory you chose?
She attempted to recover while the blush bloomed upon her
cheeks. Well, all the memories that ever
showed any promise of eventual success included you.
He kept his eyes forward as he spoke.
Now dance at the Yule Ball, witnessing you conjure your
Patronus at Green Grass Grove, The dinner we shared with the
Granges at the Manor. But ultimately, the memory that
finally did the trick was the first time I heard you genuinely
laugh after I saved you from Maximus in the hedge maze.
The vulnerability in his confession brought her nearly to
tears. She thought back to each moment
from his point of view, surprised how her perspective
had so fundamentally shifted. Not wanting him to be alone in
his confession shoffed up one of her own.
My Patronus comes from a memory with my sisters.
Hermione began when I was 14. My sisters and I decided one
warm summer day that we wanted to explore the countryside and
have a picnic. We wandered for over an hour
searching for the perfect spot. Eventually, we came across a
river not too far from Featherfield and lay out our
blanket along the shore. We splashed in the shallows and
drank the bottle of wine Jinny had nicked from under Missus
Fig's nose while Charlie distracted her.
Ah, so the youngest Weasley has always been a troublemaker.
Draco Curtain, though his words lacked any malice.
Oh, hush, may I please finish my story?
Of course, my darling. She felt another blush warm her
cheeks at the endearment but made no comment on it.
Well, after a while we all grew tired and decided to curl up for
a nap. The blanket was too small for
all of us, so we were quite close together, though we didn't
mind. It was the best sleep I have
ever had. By the time we woke up, darkness
was falling and we raced each other on the way home.
It sounds wonderful, and did you ever go back?
He asked. Unfortunately, no mummy arrived
back at the borough. Our mother was near hysterics
and we were subsequently banned from any further unsupervised
adventures. I like to believe that it only
made the memory stronger for me, knowing that it could never be
replicated. Draco grew quiet when she
finished, though she found the silence gave her time to process
the events of the morning. By the time they reached the
gate of the paddock, Hermione felt on more solid ground.
Will you return to Featherfield now?
She wintered aloud. Yes, long enough to change and
participate in an interrogation from Blaise and Pansy.
Draco answered. Then I will return to the
borough with Blaise and request an audience with Mr. Weasley.
Her stomach churned violently at the reminder that she would have
to inform her family of the engagement.
Drika sensed her discomfort and turned to face her.
My darling, we have nothing to worry about.
I will want to announce our betrothal before the wedding at
Featherfield so that no one may protest when I occupy your dance
card for the entirety of the evening.
She scoffed. I thought you did not like
dancing. I don't like dancing, but I find
I greatly enjoy dancing with you.
Would she ever grow used to hearing such honey from his
lips? Hermione found herself much more
at ease than she had been the moment before.
There was something so reassuring about finding a
partner so that you would not have to walk through challenges
alone. All right.
She conceded, releasing a sigh. I should get back before they
notice I've been gone too long and send someone looking.
I will see you soon, Hermione. Draco said her name as he
brought his lips to her forehead.
The warmth of it paled in comparison to the words that
followed as he stepped back. I love you.
Soon would not be soon enough, she thought as he disappeared
with a crack.