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June 5th, 2015
Hermione sat at a single table at her favourite small bakery in Bath, alone. She always seemed to be all alone these days. Though, Hermione supposed that she wasn’t truly alone when she had the company of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy. But she was used to being alone now, for years she had been alone.
She sipped on her strong, however, still quite rather milky coffee. Hermione wasn’t quite what she had ended up ordering, as the smell of freshly baked bread moved around and engulfed her every sense. She loved the scent. It was a comforting smell. Hermione opened up her book, her favourite, Pride and Prejudice, and welcomed the worlds and the characters to pull her fully back into their world. It was comforting for Hermione. It was like returning home for her. And it happened to be set within one of her favourite eras too. The Victorian Era. Hermione sighed, neither happy nor sad. Rather just content with her life at that very moment.
Hermione was very well off in her job at the moment, and she had heard a rumour that she was in the lineup for a promotion to manager at the bookshop. She had relatively nice living arrangements, which were situated near the river and one of her favourite parks. It was one of her favourite spots in Bath to nuzzle down and dive into one of her books, whether that be a new or a favourite book. And Hermione has a secure — oh um, never mind. Hermione did have a pretty secure, long-term relationship.
She sighed again, heavily this time. It was on days like today when she really, really missed him. Especially on this day. June 5th. A special day, it was always classed as a special day for her. A day that she always enjoyed celebrating but then suddenly had to stop celebrating the birthday so tragically about five years ago. And if she remembered correctly, then 2009 was the last June 5th that Hermione had spent with him. Spent together, celebrating it together.
He had always hated celebrating his birthday, it had reminded him of the bad times when he was younger, but Hermione had always insisted that they should always spend his day together, celebrating his day, the way they should, in style.
Hermione bought herself a slice of cake from their favourite bakery in Bath, a completely different one, separate from the one she was sitting at. She had many, many favourite bakeries, especially the ones in Bath. They were the best here in Bath. Though, the two of them had completely different tastes. He liked the stronger-tasting sweet cakes and Hermione, in all honesty, would have rather had something that was savoury instead. Their favourite bakery reminded Hermione too much of him, it was a constant reminder for her and it constantly was hurting. She passed by it too often and consciously made her walk around longer to avoid their bakery.
Instead, Hermione had started a new tradition for herself. Ever since moving to Bath by herself, she would buy herself a slice of cake, something that she classed as his favourite. Hermione would then take it back to her place, where she would stick a candle into it and sing Happy Birthday.
For her stranger.
For her friend.
For her lover.
Hermione suddenly looked up from her book, distracted by a new smell engulfing her senses. She looked around, smelling a familiar cologne. Hermione knew that smell, she knew it like the back of her hand. It couldn’t be, could it? No. It couldn’t be him.
“Draco?” Hermione called out, standing from the chair properly, leaving her book open on the table, and staring openly at the person who smelled like her love. Her heart broke as her eyes lingered on him. It was him. It was her stranger. Her friend. Her lover.
She wanted to reach out to him but he was engaged, he was supposed to be getting married to Astoria Greengrass. Hermione should leave, she shouldn't reach out for him because he wasn't hers anymore. However, she couldn't help herself. She moved forward finally and reached her hand out, grabbing the man's coat jacket.
"Draco?" She called out again as the blond man slowly turned around and there he was. Hermione's one and only love. It was him. It was her Draco. Draco Malfoy. Recognition painted across his face as swiftly his arms wrapped around Hermione's body and he was pulling her closer towards him, hugging her close to his chest. She sighed into the hug, the solid muscle rippling underneath her head as she relaxed underneath the steady beat of his heart. "I've missed you." She sniffled as the warmth surrounded her and she never wanted to let go. Hermione was worried that if she let go then he would leave her forever. He would disappear.
"Hermione, look at me," Draco whispered, holding her out at an arm's length distance and staring into her face. His eyes were assessing her face, smiling sadly at her before they moved back towards where Hermione had been sitting. They sat down together, Hermione pushing the cake towards him, smiling warmly.
"Happy Birthday, it's your favourite." She mentioned, noticing that Draco was staring at the cake that she had bought before glancing away.
"Hermione, darling, please, look at me," Draco spoke again, reaching out and grabbing her hand. She slowly turned her head back towards him and looked into his eyes, she held back all of the pain that was trying to bubble up onto the surface. "I can't remember everything but I can remember stuff." He commented, informing Hermione of what was going on in his head.
"So—" Hermione started but she shook her head, not able to continue speaking. Everything was too much. The pain was filling her heart too much.
"So, I am willing to start over. I broke off the engagement with Astoria. It turned out my father was doing something to keep my memory issues a problem. It's difficult to explain because I don't fully understand it myself but I have cut him off. Even my mother is upset by what he had been doing. She is going to divorce him." Draco explained, leaning forward towards Hermione. "I love you, Hermione. I am so sorry for all of the pain you experienced and I wish I could take that away from you but I am willing to do anything to be back in your good books." Draco frowned, playing with Hermione's curls as she leaned closer.
"You've always been in my good books." Hermione nodded, moving forward even more as much as the table between them allowed them before her lips gently pushed against Draco's. She smiled into the kiss and sniffled as tears finally started leaking from the corners of her eyes.
"I love you, I have always loved you through everything." Draco kissed her cheek, wiping away the tears from her cheeks. "I will always bloody love you. Let's go home and celebrate my birthday." He whispered, hugging his arms around her and sighing happily into the warmth. Things were happy all again. Hermione had her lover with her all over again.
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