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Narcissa Malfoy’s annual New Year’s gala was definitely the event of the season.
Every year, on December 31, people would excitedly gather at the Malfoy Manor to celebrate the approach of a new era.
The event was grand, luxurious, extravagant, nothing less was ever expected, it was Narcissa Malfoy after all.
It wasn’t the type of celebration that Hermione Granger would normally attend, but, given her new situation, was obliged to.
—/—
She remembered her first time at the gala as if it was the day before.
She remembered throwing all of her clothes on the floor, freaking out for not having what to wear for the occasion, while Draco sat comfortably on their bed, just enjoying as his wife lost her mind.
She remembered waking up the next day to a big black box with a note sitting on their desk.
‘For the most beautiful woman I have ever laid my eyes on’
She remembered how all those curious eyes stared at her, as she walked down the main stairs of the manor, on her gorgeous white sparkly dress.
She remembered the way he tenderly kissed the top of her hand, once she had reached the bottom of the staircase.
She remembered just how gracefully he led her through the waltz, rocking them from left to right according to the slow rhythm of the music.
She remembered the loving words he would whisper in her ear as they swayed around the ballroom.
She remembered stepping on his toes countless times, but instead of getting mad, he would simply smile and place a reassuring kiss on her lips.
She remembered the sound of the applause that roared through the room, as he spinned her for the last time.
She remembered as he quickly led her to the deserted balcony, just in time for the next waltz to start, and bowed for her.
‘May I have this dance, Mrs. Malfoy’
‘You may, Mr. Malfoy’
She remembered as the sound of their wedding song filled their ears and he smiled brightly at her, while recreating the steps of their first married dance.
She remembered the way they would sweep through the balcony as if they were the last two souls in the world.
The two most alluring souls anyone had ever seen.
She remembered being engulfed in his tight embrace as they gazed up at the sky, as the last notes of the melody were heard.
She remembered the light touch of his fingers on her lower back and his lips pressing a tender kiss on the top of her head.
She remembered his cologne, the way his smell would clutch her, his scent leaving her numb and disoriented.
She remembered how home felt like.
—/—
Hermione clapped as Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy finished their waltz.
Once the room quieted down once again, Hermione heard the beginning of the next song.
Their song.
She felt the soft touch of Draco’s hand on her waist, motioning for her to follow his lead, although, instead of guiding them towards the middle of the dance floor, her husband changed their route, taking his wife to the empty balcony.
Their balcony.
The platinum-blond haired boy placed his left hand on her waist and intertwined her left fingers with his right ones.
And just like that, without even a second to waist, they felt themselves being dragged by the enchanting melody.
They were so deeply lost in one another, that they didn’t even notice Draco’s mother making her way, alongside with her husband, silently towards the balcony’s door.
The older couple watched as Hermione spun to the sound of her wedding song, illuminated by the bright of the stars, the stars which seemed to shine just for her.
Just for them .
The bushy haired girl looked divine. Almost ethereal . Her satin white dress hugged her body more than perfectly.
And the grace in which she moved could captivate anyone
Narcissa hugged her husband tightly and buried her face in his chest.
Lucius wrapped his arms around his wife, placing a light kiss on her head.
“They didn’t deserve this Lucius.” She cried in his warm embrace “They had so much to live.”
“None of us did my love.” His voice was barely a whisper “Draco was too young for all of this, if only we had known sooner.”
“I can’t watch this.” She motioned to her daughter-in-law “It’s too much for me.”
Narcissa unraveled herself from her husband’s arms and made her way back inside the manor, Lucius quickly behind her.
And as the couple left, Hermione was left to enjoy the faint touch of Draco’s fingers lingering on her skin.
As the music faded away, so did her husband’s embrace, and soon the girl found herself standing alone in the middle of their balcony.
Without even realizing, Hermione felt her feet dragging her away from their place and towards the Manor’s garden.
Her legs seemed to know exactly where to take her, stopping right where she needed.
“Happy New Year love,
I hope you enjoyed our dance, sorry for messing a up a few steps, hope you’re not too mad, I promise I’ll get it right next time.”
She caressed the top of the stone and took a deep breath before she continued
“How have you been baby?”
Hermione felt the pool of tears forming in her eyes.
“I miss talking to you, you always knew what to say at times like this, I was never one to deal well with pain, but you were always here to help me get through it.”
The wet drops started to stream down her face
“And without you here, I just don’t know what to do.”
A strangled sob echoed from her throat.
“I never thought I’d have to learn to live without you my love.
Learn how to wake up embraced by the cold sheets of our bed, that one day used to be your arms.
Learn to take strolls along our lovely garden, the one in which we spent precious and delicate seconds dreaming about, the one that used to be gray and doom, but has now frowned to be the most beautiful place on earth.
Learn to go on with my day without receiving your little surprise unexpected notes - who would’ve thought that a tiny piece of parchment containing a simple sentence could transform my day.
Learn to not have your scent on my clothes as I went on with my day, the scent that used to linger on me, replacing my own, bringing the most bittersweet feelings and sensations.
Learn to not have you whisper me sweet nothings throughout the night, whispers that made me feel safe and warm and loved.
Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night, screaming from the top of my lungs and spreading my arms through every single inch of our bed, praying that this was all I dream and that you’ll hold me and reaffirm all of your infamous promises.
“I’ll always be here for you my love”
You broke it.
The one promise I hoped you would never touch is now destroyed.
Shattered.
And if you look closely enough you can still see how the pieces lay still, scattered all over my foolish heart.
Why did you go away love?
I’m still your girl.
I’m still here waiting for you.
I’ll always be here.
Come back Draco, please. That’s everything I’ll ever ask you.
Come back
Come back and hold me tighter than you ever did.
Come back and kiss all my miserable pain away.
Come back and fight with me, fight for me, fight against me.
Just please, please, come back to me my love.”