To Love Somebody

Several hours later, Hermione Granger quietly entered the home that she shared with her fiance, Harry Potter. It was near 11 p.m. and Hermione should have been home hours ago.

She had done something terrible. She had gone out on a date with Draco Malfoy and enjoyed every minute of it. Draco Malfoy: the boy she had hated ever since she had arrived for her first year of Hogwarts, the one who had called her ‘mudblood’ for 6 years, the one who hated Harry Potter and all who associated with him.

She thought of their date: she felt giddy even thinking about it. She mentally scolded herself for thinking of another man besides Harry, but she couldn’t help herself. Draco had taken her dancing at a muggle club and while they danced he held her so close that she could hear his fast-paced heart beat. She loved to dance. To move with the rhythm of the music was her passion, a love if you will. She begged Harry hundreds of times to take her dancing. It didn’t matter what kind, as long as she got to dance.

After dancing he took her to a fancy restaurant where Hermione laughed with Draco the whole time.

She had no idea where the rest of the hours had gone, but there she was: 11 at night and she was coming home from a date with someone other than her fiancee.

“Hermione?” a groggy voice said.

Hermione spun around. She was face to face with Harry.

“Yeah, it’s me,” she said quietly.

“Where’ve you been? I thought you would have been home hours ago,” Harry said, taking her hand.

“Ummmmm,” Hermione said, trying to make up a plausible lie. She couldn’t think of any good ones. She thought of telling the truth. No, it would break Harry’s heart, and, besides, she loved him. “I was.....looking at different types of flowers and wines. I also looked for......umm........wedding dresses.”

“Did you see any good ones? I’m going to have to go to that store. I need a suit badly and so does Sirius. Who should be the best man? Ron? That’s who I thought to have,” he said, completely gullible. ‘He believed my horrible lie,’ Hermione thought. ‘He believed it.’

That following Saturday was the small party that Harry and Hermione were having to announce their engagement.

That morning Hermione took a shower and put on a baby blue tank top and a pair of flare jeans. She brushed through her hair quickly. Her hair was still bushy, but now manageable.

She ran downstairs and quickly made breakfast for herself and Harry.

Harry ran downstairs just as the pancakes Hermione was making were burning.

“Uhhh, Hermione,” Harry said gesturing to the pancakes that were turning black.

“Crap!” Hermione ran to the stove and took the pan off the heat and turned the stove off. “Second time this week,” she said to herself. “Why me?”

Laughing, Harry kissed her cheek. Hermione was relieved to see that Harry’s kisses still had that giddy, love-sick school girl effect on her. She would have beed worried if they didn’t.

“I’m marrying you for your personality, not your cooking skills, ”Harry whispered into her ear. She giggled. Harry always was able to make her feel better.

“Yes, well, I can guarantee that you’ll want a woman who can cook after a few years of putting up with my cooking,” Hermione said, kissing him on the lips. Within moments, the two ex-Hogwarts students were kissing passionately in their kitchen as though they were still in their 7th year.

Practically ten minutes later, Harry and Hermione finally regained their composure and proceded to finish up the morning’s chores.

Eleven o’clock finally rolled around. It was time for the party to start and their guests began to arrive...

*****

Hermione ran down the stairs as fast as she could. The Weasley’s were waiting at the door. She ran a little faster down the stairs and then vowed never to wear her favorite flares again. She had just tripped on the very wide flare of her jeans and went rolling down the stairs. She landed with a thud against the door. Ow.

She stood up and quickly flattened her hair. She then opened the door and tried to put a casual look on.

“Hi, everyone! Great to see you,” Hermione said cheerfully.

“Hi,” Harry said, walking down the stairs.

“Hello,” Molly said. She and the other Weasley’s walked into the house. Harry and Hermione led them to the sitting room.

“Would you like anything to drink?” Hermione asked her guests.

“I’ll have a poop,” Ron said.

“Pop? Do you mean pop, Ron?” Harry asked before opening the screen door to the patio to finish cooking on the grill.

“Yeah!” Ron said. Everyone laughed.

Hermione went into the kitchen and grabbed everyone a “poop.”

At the patio table, the Weasley’s, Harry, and Hermione sat eating the delicious food Harry cooked for them.

Harry stood up after everyone had finished eating. “Hermione and I have an announcement to make.” Hermione stood up next to Harry. “We’re engaged!” Harry and Hermione said together.

As expected, Ron fell out of his chair. “Did I hear correctly? I thought I heard you say the word engaged.”

“We did say engaged and we are engaged. We’re going to get married,” Harry said.

At that moment the doorbell rang. Hermione left the dining room to answer the door. She knew that Harry could handle a few Weasley’s.

Hermione took one step on the stairs to the door and said, “Ha! Take that stairs! I have won!” In the next step she toppled down the floor for the second time that day.

She stood up, fixed her hair, then opened the door. Draco Malfoy stood in the doorway.

“What are you doing here? How did you find me?” Hermione asked softly so Harry and the other wouldn’t hear.

“It helps to have a father who is close with the ministry,” Draco replied. “You look a little flustered, Hermione.”

“Oh.” Hermione stepped outside and closed the door behind her. “I fell down the stairs.”

Draco swiftly stepped up to her. “Are you okay?” he said with urgency in his eyes and a complete look of concern.

“It’s not like it’s the first time I’ve fallen down stairs, Mr. Malfoy,” Hermione said, blushing.

“There was a first?”

“Yes. At 11 this morning. I would say that that first one hurt more,” she said looking down.

“I suppose I should heal your wounds,” he said. He tilted her face towards his and kissed her.

Hermione felt like she was being charged with electricity. It was an amazing feeling.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and fell deeper into the kiss.

Slowly, the door opened behind her....

******

Ginny stood in the doorway. A shocked look upon her face. “What the hell is going on?” she asked, horrified.

Hermione stepped away from Draco. “Ginny, I....”

“Tell me the truth,” Ginny shrieked.

“Ginny, Draco and I met up and.....”

“Is this what you meant when you said you met up with Malfoy?” Ginny demanded. “Is it?”

“Yes,” Hermione whispered. “Only this wasn’t supposed to happen.”

“What do you mean by that?” Draco asked.

“What do I mean by what?” Hermione asked Draco.

“What do you mean that this wasn’t supposed to happen?” Draco asked. “I thought you and I had something.”

“Where would you get an idea like that?” Hermione demanded. “I never asked to be one of yours!”

“But, I thought that date that we had and how much fun we had. I thought that we were, you know, a couple,” Draco said softly.

“A couple?” Ginny demanded. “I don’t understand this at all. A couple? No! Hermione, what about Harry?”

“Harry?” Draco said, staring at Hermione, wide eyed. “Harry? What about Harry?”

“Hermione and Harry are engaged,” Ginny told Draco.

“Is this true, Hermione?” Draco asked, looking hurt.

“Yes, it is,” Hermione said, holding back tears.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Draco asked.

“Why do you think I was in your sister’s office? Do you think I go to wedding planner’s for the hell of it?” Hermione yelled.

“I wouldn’t know! I don’t do that!” Draco yelled at her. He didn’t mean what he said. He just couldn’t believe how stupid he had been to not put the pieces together before. He should’ve known that it was too good to last. Everything that he loves gets taken away in the end.

“Hermione, why did you go with Malfoy in the first place?” Ginny asked calmly.

Hermione sat down on the steps. “I don’t know. I..I...I don’t know.”

“Malfoy, why did you ask Hermione to go out with you?” Ginny asked.

“Because..because I love her,” Draco answered solemnly.

“Hermione, do you love Malfoy?” Ginny asked.

Hermione looked at Draco. Sure, she was attracted to him. Who wasn’t? But this was not the sort of thing that she would give up her wonderful relationship with Harry for. So she answered the best way she could. “No, I don’t. I don’t love him..”

“Well, then, we must settle this. Malfoy, leave Hermione alone. She doesn’t love you. Hermione, marry Harry. You two should never cross paths and shouldn’t have to,” Ginny said reasonably.

Hermione nodded. This was for the best, of course.

“Fine!” Draco yelled and stomped off. He got into his car and drove off. (A/N I thought this was more classy than having him apparate)

Ginny sat down next to Hermione. “Soon you’ll see that this was for the best.”

“You know?” Hermione asked, wiping her eyes on her sleeve.

“Of course, Hermione, I know that you’re attracted to him. I’m your best friend! I can see all!” Ginny said hugging Hermione around the shoulders. “It’s for the best, you know.”

********

Life returned to normal. Harry was never the wiser of what happened that Saturday night. A week later and it was time for Hermione to do what she had been looking forward to for ages: shopping for her wedding dress.

Hermione apparated to Diagon Alley where she quickly found Ginny waiting.

“Hey, Gin,” Hermione said cheerfully, walking over to where Ginny was sitting.

“Hi,” Ginny replied. “Listen, I’m sorry about last week and I probably shouldn’t have said anything. What you do is your business, but I don’t want to see anyone get hurt, so...”

“No, Ginny, you’re right,” Hermione said, hugging her friend. “I should pretend that Malfoy doesn’t exist. That’s what I should’ve done all along, but I was stupid.

Ginny smiled. “Come on.” She led Hermione out of Diagon Alley and into the muggle part of London. After dragging Hermione back and forth down different streets, she finally stopped.

“This is in,” Ginny shrieked, pulling Hermione into the store before she could even see the name of the store.

Inside, Hermione was amazed. The store glowed with beautiful white wedding gowns. Some had a huge skirts while others had slim ones. Hermione walked over to the rack with the gowns with wide skirts. She already had an idea what she wanted. She wanted to look like a princess. A fairy princess, maybe. Harry was to be her prince. She had to look perfect.

Searching through the racks, she was dismayed. None of the dress were in her size. They were all too small. She scowled at what the world was turning into: a world where all the women wore size 4-6 dresses.

Ginny, seeing Hermione’s scowl, asked, “What’s wrong?”

Hermione turned to her friend. “None of them are in my size. It’s like they’re only made for stick women.”

“You’re a stick,” Ginny said, smiling.

“I’m not stick-like enough, then, because these are all too small,” Hermione exclaimed. She wondered why Ginny had made that stick comment. She wasn’t a stick. She was.....a.....stump..yeah.

“Well, then you’ll have to go on a diet,” Ginny joked. This caused Hermione to scowl ever move. She hated diets and refused to be a droid like other vain women. In her mind, they were enough of them in the world without her adding to the population. “What size are you, Hermione?”

Hermione stared at Ginny. She’d never heard of sharing your clothing size with other women. It was an invasion of privacy!

Seeing Hermione’s look, Ginny said, “Hermione, you have to stop hanging out with guys.”

“What’s wrong with being friends with men?”

“Well, you’re not used to sharing your size with other women and that’s what girls do. We tell each other our sizes,” Ginny said, trying to hide a smile.

Hermione sighed. She knew she spent too many years with guys who never cared for sizes. She’d grown up never having to worry about others knowing her size. It was a hard habit to break. “10,” she whispered.

Ginny made no comment about the size, to which Hermione was grateful. She wasn’t fat, but compared to other girls who prided themselves in being a 4, she was a little plump. Ginny dove into the rack, digging around and looking at different sizes. Hermione heard the muffled noises of Ginny talking to herself.

Finally, Ginny popped out with a simply gorgeous gown in her hands. Hermione gasped. It was so beautiful.

“Ginny, please say that this dress is a size ten. Please,” Hermione said, not taking her eyes off the gown.

Ginny smiled. “It is a ten.” She handed it over to Hermione. She took it from Ginny and felt the beautiful lace fabric. It didn’t have any straps, but very lacey bodice. Hermione, praying softly, reached for the tag. The tag read: Veronique Colleccion. 6,200 pounds. Hermione gasped. There was no way that she would be able to afford a dress that expensive. She and Harry had hopped that they could at least rent the hall, get the food, the dress, the tux, and maybe something small for 6,200 pounds. They were on a low budget.

Hermione took one last look at the gown and handed it back to Ginny. “Put it back,” she said stiffly.

“What’s wrong with it?” Ginny asked. “It’s perfect.”

“It’s 6,200 pounds!” Hermione exclaimed. “Harry and I can’t afford that!”

“Eeek!” Ginny eyes widened. “You can’t be serious.” She looked at the tag on the dress. “Oh. My. God.”

“I know!” Hermione agreed.

“Give me a few minutes and I’ll find another one!” Ginny dove back into the rack. Ginny returned a few moments later with another gorgeous gown. She handed it to Hermione.

It had a full skirt like the other one had. It was made of satin and had beaded spagetti straps. It had appliques and beading of pearls, lass beads, and sequins on bodice skirt, with a basque waistline and chapel train. It even had a little lace up in the front. To put it simply, the gown was beautiful.

Careful not to excite herself too much, she glanced at the price tag. 926 pounds. Relief filled the young woman. She smiled. “I’m going to try it on.”

Ginny squealed with delight and led Hermione off to the dressing rooms. Inside, Hermione removed her clothes and picked the dress up. She slid it on and struggled while trying ot reach the blasted zipper. It took nearly ten minutes to get the zipper up.

Hermione admired herself in the mirror. The dress looked nice, but it wasn’t what she had wanted. She wanted to feel like a princess and this was not a princess dress.

Stepping out, she heard Ginny shriek. “It’s beautiful, Hermione! Simply gorgeous!”

Hermione smiled. “It’s nice, but it’s not right. It’s not glamous enough.”

“Hermione, you’re not going to find glamorous with your budget,”

Ginny pointed out.

“I know, but I can still dream, can’t I?”

“Go on. Get that dress off whilst I go find another!” Ginny dashed off to the rack and dove in. Hermione walked in the dressing room and removed the gown and put her old clothes on.

When she stepped out another dress was flung at her. “This one is beautiful!” Ginny exclaimed.

This gown didn’t have the same full skirt as the other had had, but it had it’s own flare that Hermione liked. The neckline in the front and back was beaded with rocaille beads. It had a beaded trim and had a chapel train. It wasn’t as princess-like as the others had been, but was rather cute.

Hermione checked the price tag. It was becoming a bigger part of the shopping that she had thought or wanted it to be. 1,220 pounds. Ack! A little too much, but if she liked it enough, she’d get it.

In the dressing room, she slipped the dress on. It was comfortable and it fit her well. But her mother had said that you should never buy a wedding dress unless you know it’s the perfect one and that there’s nothing better out in the world. Hermione intended on following that piece of adice.

She undressed and put her normal clothes on. She stepped out, looking for Ginny.

Ginny ran up once again, with a squeal, threw a dress in Hermione hands, took the other dress, and shoved her back into the dressing room.

Back in the dressing room, Hermione took a long look at the dress in her hands. It was white, naturally, covered with lace. It didn’t have any straps. It had the full skirt like Hermione had wanted and the skirt was long enough to give in a small little train at the end. It was perfect. There was no doubt about it. Hermione slid in over her naked body, zipped it up, and turned to face the mirror. It looked as though it were made on Hermione’s body for it fit perfectly. When Hermione turned, she heard the swish of the skirts. She had to have this gown.

She forgot one thing, though. The price of the dress. She checked the tag, secretly praying for a cheap price. Or something at least affordable. 1,996 pounds. She stared into space for a little while, trying to understand why she couldn’t have this dress. Soft tears slid down her face. Scolding herself, she

wiped the tears away with her arm. She shouldn’t get so hung over about a dress. You only wear it one day, she told herself. Why spend so much money on a dress you’ll only wear once? the logical part of her brain said. But, it’s perfect. A wedding is one of the most important parts of a girl’s life and the dress is just as important. This is not just any day. It is THE day, her girlish side pointed out. She hated the way her head for itself. It annoyed the hell out of her.

She took the dress off, trying to pretend that it didn’t exist. She put her regular clothes back on and stepped out of the dressing room, longing to have that dress in her hands.

With her head down, she didn’t see the man standing in front of her. They collided, both going down.

“Sorry about that,” Hermione mumbled. She reached for the dress, but the man picked it up for her and gave her a hand.

“No, it’s my fault,” the man said. He took a look at the dress in his hands. “This is a beautiful dress. I’m sure you’ll gorgeous wearing it down the aisle when you go to marry Potter, huh?”

Hermione looked up. Draco Malfoy stood holding the gown in his hands. She took a deep breath and said, “I would, but I can’t afford that gown.”

Draco, uh, Malfoy, (he is called so because he is not Herm’s lover. If he was, then he’d be Draco) looked stunned. “You’re marrying Harry Potter, a pretty darn good Quidditch star. I would’ve thought you’d be able to afford this dress.”

“We’re on a budget,” Hermione said flatly.

“Oh, I see.” Malfoy paused for a second, then said, “Hermione, I’ve caused you a lot of trouble in the past and I know a way that I can make up for it.”

“What?” Hermione asked, startled.

“I’ll buy this dress for you so that you can look like an angel down the aisle. It’ll make up for all the hurt I’ve caused you,” Malfoy, uh, Draco (He’s Draco now because he’s doing something nice) said sincerely.

“You don’t have to,” Hermione said quickly.

Draco cut her off, “Yes, I do. Will you let me?”

“Yes, but this is no way means that we are....” Hermione trailed off, not knowing what she meant.

“I’m just going to buy the dress and then never be part of your life again,” Draco said.

Hermione nodded. Where is Ginny? she thought.

Draco walked up to the register and laid the dress on the counter. He took out a charge card. The clerk starting totaling it up.

“You know, sir, you shouldn’t be here when your fiancee is shopping for her wedding gown. It’s bad luck,” the clerk said.

“She’s not my fiancee. She’s my....uh..sister. She’s my sister,” Draco said nervously.

The clerk nodded. She didn’t believe him, Hermione could tell. They looked nothin alike. Period. End of discussion.

The clerk wrapped the dress into a bag and handed it to Hermione. Draco nodded to Hermione and rushed off.

Hermione stood in a daze for a flew minutes till Ginny flew at her.

“What did you think of the dress?” she asked impatiently.

“I bought it,” Hermione said.

“You did??”

“Yes.”

“Cool! Now what?”

“Bridesmaid gowns,” Hermione said, grinny evilly.

Ginny paled. “Oh no.” She broke out running down the streets of London, Hermione following her.

“Come back, dear Ginny! It won’t hurt a bit! Well, maybe a little. But it’s all for the cause!”

********

After much fighting and arguing, Hermione and Ginny finally settled on a maid of honor gown. It was light purple, close fitting until the knees, where it fans out. It was the one gown that Ginny would wear.

Hermione unlocked the door to her small home. Harry wasn’t home yet. McManal called for extra long practice today.

She walked into the kitchen and grabbed something to drink. She popped open a can of Dr. Pepper.

Something walked down the hall. Hermione saw the shadow and grabbed her wand. She crept down the hall. Someone tapped her shoulder.

She swiftly turned around, and, forgetting her wand, leaped upon the stranger, beating him to pulp.

When she realized who it was, she slapped him hard. “How dare you?! I thought you were never coming back here!”

Suddenly, a click sounded and the world went black. (A.N I thought this would be more interesting in the dark. Forgive me.)

“Well, Hermione, I need to talk to you,” Draco Malfoy said, wiping his bloody nose on the sleeve of his shirt.

“’You need to talk to me’? What the hell?” She was mad. How dare he enter her home!

“Aren’t you going to give me a tissue or something?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“You broke into my house. The house where I live with Harry.”

“Technically, I didn’t break in. Nothing’s broken.”

She slapped him for that remark.

“Ow!

“Serves you right.”

“What was that for?”

“For being you.”

“That wasn’t very nice.”

“Who said I was nice?”

“Listen, Hermione, I need to tell you something.”

She hit him again.

“Will you stop with the hitting??”

“Fine.”

“I need to tell you something.”

She smacked him.

“I said quit it!”

“Whatever.”

“I want to tell you that I love you.”

“......”

“Well?”

“.......”

“Hermione?”

“You can’t be serious?”

“But I am!”

“Liar!”

“I am not a liar!”

She hit him on the cheek, hard.

“What was that for?”

“Lying.”

“I am not lying!”

“You..you’re not?”

“NO!!!!”

“Oh gosh, oh gosh, oh gosh, oh no...”

“Hermione...” He had an idea for where she was and took advantage of the darkness. He kissed her.

At the moment the light flicked back on. There stood Harry Potter, Hermione’s fiance.

She pushed Draco away, hard, and ran to Harry. He had a look of complete astonishment on his face.

“Harry, listen to me! It’s not what you think! He broke in and the power went out. He kissed me, then the lights came on! Harry, listen to me!”

Harry put a hand on Hermione’s shoulder. He looked towards Draco, and glared. “Get..out.”

Malfoy (called so for he is now un-good) stood up and left the home, slamming the door behind him.

“What happened?” Harry asked, taking the shaky Hermione to the sofa.

Hermione explained, through flowing tears. Harry wrapped her arm around her.

“Harry, there’s something that I didn’t tell you.”

“What is it?” Harry asked, looking at her.

“I went on a date with Malfoy after I saw the wedding planner,” she admitted. Harry didn’t say anything. “I had..fun.”

Harry looked sad. “Do you love him, then?”

“What?”

“Do you love him?”

“No, of course not.”

“You’re sure? Look inside yourself and decide. What does your heart tell you?” (A.N Sorry for the Disney lines.)

Hermione thought for a moment. It didn’t take much for her to decide want she wanted. It was simple. It was what she’d wanted from the beginning.

“I want you, if you’ll have me,” she said softly, looking into his emerald green eyes.

“Then, that’s what you’ll have.” He kissed her sweetly, then said, “Now, did you order the cake?”

Hermione smiled. “Depends what cake you’re talking about.”

He grinned and met her in a kiss.

*****

THE END!