The ceremony for the most popular and unexpected couples to come after the war was a beautiful affair. The wedding between Harry Potter and Pansy Parkinson was a small gathering of friends and family but it spared no expense. Pansy was still a girl with expensive taste but her and Harry craved a more interment gathering. Their wedding date was just shy of five years after the battle of Hogwarts. The couple reconnected in a muggle pub three years prior trying to get away from their names. Somewhere where he wasn't the boy who lives and she wasn't the girl who tried to give him up.
They ended up meeting in this muggle pub every friday night until Harry finally used that Gryffindor courage to ask her out on a proper date. After dating roughly six months, the pair decided it would be best to break the news of their relationship to their respective groups together in a public place. Maybe if they were in public there would be a less likely chance for someone to get hexed. That assumption was incorrect.
And that was how a new Friday night tradition was born. Now instead of just the two of them gathering for drinks there were ten. And instead of meeting in a muggle pub they decided to meet in a wizard one. Only because when certain friends became inebriated they were a danger to the statute of secrecy. Cough Theo and Luna cough.
What was even more strange were the couples that formed due to their forced proximity. Ginny and Blaise initially bonded over their shared love for quidditch but came to find out they have a similar spicy type of passion. Theo and Luna turned out to be the most compatible match out there. Always whispering about inventions Theo was tinkering with or insane theories Luna had about magical creatures that did or did not truly exist. Contrary to popular belief Ron turned out to be the social ice breaker for the group. He was always challenging Theo to a match of wizard chess and debating quidditch league stats with Draco and Blaise.
The start for Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy was a tad bit more rocky. It started as glares across high top tables, confined into snide comments under one's breath, the direct arguments and insults, before it turned into a bantering type of flirting. Though neither would admit first they had feelings for each other, neither one dated anyone during their time as “just friends”.
The reception was in full swing. Witches and wizards alike were dancing and drinking to celebrate the newlyweds. This was how no one noticed a stoic blonde man sneaking outside. All except for one Hermione Granger.
“What are you doing out here?” Hermione gently closed the glass doors. She found Malfoy on the balcony staring out into the night sky.
“You know Pansy and I were supposed to marry.” He twirled the amber liquid in his glass contemplating.
“What do you mean?” She stood next to him and looked up at the stars, trying to see what he was seeing.
“When we were kids, our parents signed a betrothal contract. We were supposed to be the next up and coming pureblood couple. My father wanted me to become exactly like him.” Malfoy was looking anywhere but her, like he was ashamed of his words.
“In some ways I am, aren't I? I'm head of Malfoy house, I still run our estate money, manage our properties, keep an eye on our investments. But what am I doing? Is this it?” He drank the rest of his fire whiskey in one gulp.
“Malfoy, where is this coming from?” She placed a cautious hand on his shoulder.
“When people get married, it makes you look at your life. Especially when the person who's getting married to is your ex girlfriend and ex betrothed.” He let out a cold and short laugh.
“Is this you admitting to me you still have feelings for Pansy…”
“Oh Salazar no. I applaud Potter for what he's doing, more power to him. And good luck honestly. This is just me contemplating where I've come in life. After the war, after making amends, what am I doing now?” He finally looked at her with his sparkly grey eyes. She could see where he had wiped away stray tears before.
“I guess I truly don't understand? You can do anything you want. It's not like you've done nothing with your time. You have single handley backed many rebuilding efforts at the ministry without asking for favors in return. You even have helped me with my werewolf and elves rights legislation” Hermione decided at this moment that she would lay it all on the table. Everything they have been dancing around for years.
“You helped Ron train before his keeper tryouts for the Cannons. You let Theo use two separate wings at the manor for whatever experiments peak his interest. You are currently the Quiblers biggest sponsor. Ginny and Blaise wouldn't even be together if you hadn't pushed them together, we would still be watching them eye fuck eachother across the table. You helped me through some of the worst times in my life just by being there for me and listening and holding me when I needed it. Hell you even helped Harry plan his proposal.” She started talking so fast she forgot how to breathe.
“You are strong. You carry people. You carry me. You're becoming a man in a way your father never was.” She has tears rolling down her face. She couldn't understand why he couldn't see how much he meant to her. How he really held the whole group together. Harry and Pansy brought them together but Malfoy pulls them through.
Malfoy places his palm on her cheek. Silently wiping away the tears tracks on her face.
“I think what this wedding has made me realize most is I have wasted so much time. And I don't want to do that anymore.” He swiped the pad of his thumb over her lips.
“And what are you going to do about it?” She breathed.
He placed his other hand on her hip. He slowly lowered his head and brushed his nose over hers.
“I think, no actually I know I'm going to take you to dinner tomorrow night. But right now I'm going to kiss you.”
“It's about time.”
Draco placed his lips on hers kissing her passionately and deeply. His hand slid from her cheek to the back of her neck, from her hip to the dip in her lower back. Pulling her closer to him, drinking her in.
Finally she pulled away breathlessly with swollen lips and tinted cheeks.
“Let's go back inside before anyone notices we're missing. And I know if you keep kissing me like that you're coming home with me tonight.” Hermione grabbed his hand and dragged him back inside not only to celebrate their friends but also to celebrate themselves.