Chapter Text
Ring, ring, ring...
"Hello, Granger residence— Oh Hermione? It's for you, sweetie!"
...
"Granger?"
"Malfoy?"
...
"I'm sorry, I only reached out now..."
"Have you heard? Someone's getting married!— from one of the powerful pure blood heads!" A few children exclaimed, waving their wand in the air as some sort of imitation. The tip of their wands glowing as they traced the snowflakes in the air.
Yet a certain witch reading by this cafe in a cold afternoon short-circuited as she dawned to a realization that they weren't just talking about anyone... But THE high lord. Draco Malfoy. Her Draco Malfoy.
He was getting married! To who?
Still, that wasn't her business anymore. After all, they had parted their ways ever since the war had passed by after Voldemort had died.
She took a sip of her hot chocolate, her gloved hand tightening against the glass to ease herself after putting the book away. A momentary calm before sighing heavily, sought out her comfort drink.
"Hermione? Her— mione!"
Hermione turned her head to see who called for her, a familiar voice that she could recognize anywhere. There by the Diagon Alley, stood her friend, Harry Potter. The known renowned hero of the wizarding world. A smile slowly crept up in her face as she gestured for Harry to sit in front of her as he neared.
He sat in her table with a flashing smile, taking a moment to assess her with a raised brow.
"You look as if you're weighing problems. Is the ministry treating you well?"
Harry teased before calling over a waiter, almost as if he barely had any problems. Something that Hermione could tell herself to be envious of— yet, that wasn't in her nature... Because ever since the war ended? She knew what Harry had endured. She knew that he deserves everything he has now— a life with Ginny, living the happiest.
"Mahogany tea, please." Harry waved the waiter as she walked away.
"Mahogany? I never knew you were even into tea."
"Things changed, Hermione. Maybe I've taken a liking to it overtime."
Laughter suddenly filled the air as Harry remember something— in which Hermione followed as she instantly realized it, because secretly? This was a shared joke between them. Not just them, but with their other friend, Ron, too. They were once a trio not until he went to travel the world with his dearest partner, Blaise Zabini— Not that it was sad, the topic just brought a nostalgic feeling.
Most of all, the joke—? Mahogany? It wasn't just something Hermione could ever forget. It was a bloody joke that once consisted of Draco Malfoy and his obsession with scented candles.
It wasn't long before Harry broke the silence when a kid yelled about selling newspapers from the muggle world. It didn't bring much thought but it did ring a bell that made Hermione's eyes widened with surprise when Harry confirmed the new casually.
"Speaking of news, have you heard that Malfoy's getting married?"
A sharp gasp elicited before sipping the last of hot chocolate, wiping her mouth with a tissue to take a moment to collect herself. Hermione knew that Harry was aware of something she once shared with Draco, something that once lasted long without getting weak. Something that made her feel genuine for the first time in her life, while seeing past his once mean demeanor.
"Yeah, yeah, I did. Heard he's getting married, huh?"
"To Astoria Greengrass, Daphne Greengrass's sister from Slytherin."
A quiet beat from Hermione's heart... Astoria? Who was she?
"Relax Mione, I think it was just an arranged marriage. Although— Their families get along well. You know, pure-bloods and all that propaganda."
"Ah-ha-ha, it's not like I care anyway. Good for them."
"Are you seriously jealous—? Or angry at Malfoy?"
"None for Merlin's sake."
A short chuckle escaped from Harry's lips in a way that anything hadn't changed about his laugh while taking a sip of his tea, a knowing look on his face says all that he knew.
In the sense that Hermione could easily get over anything? She could never once it was etched.
Because technically? Draco made her feel the happiest she'd ever been once. Hermione could never hate someone that once made her feel experienced being loved deeply. He changed her for the better. She just didn't understand the part where they had gone wrong.
"I should go now, still need to help Ginny sort her things out— A need to go explore the muggle world, yeah?"
Hermione nodded, lost in the atmosphere as she thought about her and Harry's contrast. He was living with Ginny, a happy life while madly in love— while she? Working madly with work instead.
"Mione, I need you to listen... I'm gonna propose to Ginny at Kyoto Garden— in my homeland."
For a moment, Hermione could hear nothing except the words Harry last mutter. A blink of shock before erupting into a smile.
"You're finally thinking of marrying her now? After all these years, just now!?"
"Ha-ha, yeah. You should've used a spell on me to realize sooner, you know?"
"Want me to do it now then?"
"No, thank you, Hermione."
News was spreading fast everywhere, even at Hermione's workplace, it was overwhelming. Did the thought of Draco Malfoy getting married rich news?
She ran a hand through her messy curls, a heavy sigh filling only at her office as she tapped the desk simultaneously, the sound giving comfort she never knew she needed. It was endearing, really, even though she hasn't been paying much attention to that-rich-news, she'd been very affected. To some extent that it can be a distraction from what she was doing. Yet she can't back out now, this is what life prepared for her, she was once the brightest witch of her age, and she will still be now. So far, Draco Malfoy's been the only one doing this to her without him knowing.
What can she expect from him anyway? He was always one to run away from his problems, even if it felt like he didn't treat her a problem, he still ran.