The One The Got Away
Well, they’d done it.
There she was, front page of Witch Weekly, the brightest smile on her face as she showed off her new jewellery to the world.
One of the worst things was that he couldn't fault the proposal one bit.
He wished the ring was gaudy and ugly, so he could say ‘Ugh, Granger will hate something so overstated!’
Instead it was dainty, elegant, a cluster of diamonds on a simple gold band. The magazine article stated they were conflict free too, obviously.
Exactly what she'd have wanted.
He wished the location was outrageous, overly populated and flashy, so he could say ‘Well, there goes the private intimate proposal she always wanted.’
Rather, it was at a small private cove, at sunset. Somewhere they'd had their first date apparently. Just the two of them, and a local man taking a photo for them after the question had been asked.
He wished the proposal speech had been lame and embarrassing. Something not thought out, rushed and uncaring, so he could say ‘You idiot, Granger is the Brightest Witch of her Age and you didn't even think about what to say in your proposal?’
But no, a long pre-planned speech had been given, with details about how and when he'd fallen in love with her, everything she meant to him, and how much he would cherish her like the treasure she was. She'd cried tears of joy.
Mostly, he wished the man proposing wasn't the one proposing. He wished it was someone lazy, rude, and unworthy. Someone he could categorically say did not deserve Hermione Granger.
Maybe then he'd feel a little better. Maybe, if he knew that she'd left him for someone worse. Someone who didn't know her as well as he did. That she thought /he/ was the one who'd got away.
But Draco knew that when she left him for his best friend, for Theo, she was leaving him for the better man. Kind, attentive, funny Theo, who made her laugh, and knew how to play and have fun.
He could never have asked her to stay with him. Not when the war had ruined him, taken away his ability to laugh or find joy in life. He would never drag her down with him.
Draco sighed, and turned over the magazine. She was happy. She’d had the perfect proposal. She was marrying a man who adored her.
She would always be the one who got away.