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Waiting to Exhale	By : Wolfling1972 Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 13149 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: The worlds of Harry Potter, and all properties thereof, are my playgrounds. This means that I own nothing beyond my own poorly conceived plot and OC characters. In no way am I making money from this.

Chapter List
- 8
- 9
- 10
A/N: Again words came spewing out and I could not stop them. I apologize for the chapter length. Please forgive me! Luckily, I am finally working on the chapter where the wedding and wedding night takes place (The very next one, WHEE!). It was a rather long slog, but we are finally getting to the parts that I enjoy writing the most...just watch and see. As Always, please R&R
The journey to Hogsmeade did not take all that long and once there, finding access through the floo network and that damned wall to reach Diagon Alley took even less time. Soon enough, both Draco and Hermione were hurrying along the main thoroughfare on their way to the small well-appointed tea shop next to Flourish and Blotts by name of Luray's Teas and Coffees. Just as they were about to enter, Hermione paused and pulled her knitted hat from her head, deep brown eyes wide with horror.
"My hair, Malfoy! Please fix it," she begged in such a way as to sound like a demand.
"Wait a minute."
Draco pulled Hermione to the side of the entrance way and stepped behind her. His deft fingers skittered under the heavy weight of her coat collar for but a moment as he gathered the heavy weight of her messy curls and brought them up to frolic down her back. Slim fingers skidded over her nape before landing at her temples and soon enough, the young woman felt the tingle of a charm at work. Her hair lost the frizz and became smoother with riotous waves that landed just above her butt. She heard his brief intake of air, almost a gasp, and it was that sound which caused her to glance back at him.
"Do I look alright," she asked.
"Yes." He spoke only one syllable but it was enough.
"Okay, I am ready."
With that, the pair entered the upscale tea shop and aimed toward the corner table where Narcissa was waiting. Draco pulled out Hermione's chair, paused until she was seated and then dipped his head to press a kiss to his mother's cheek. His mother, in turn, graced him with a small smile before turning her wide blue eyes upon the young woman who sat across from her.
The girl was fetching, her face almost elfin in appearance with cupid bow lips and wide, doe-like eyes. The hair was glorious and nothing like she'd expected. Finally, she noticed that her son had not removed the girl's coat before seating her.
"You must be warm, Miss Granger. If you remove your coat, I can have it placed in the coat check area for you."
A quick smile graced Hermione's features even as she shook her head. "I know it's bad manners but I would much rather keep my coat on the back of my chair." With that, the girl stood up and removed her dark blue pea coat and hung it on the chair, just as she'd said. That quick movement gave the elder woman time to assess the figure before her: small, not too curvaceous but well put together, even in muggle clothes. Hermione would be quite easy to dress.
"Draco, my son," Narcissa purred, "Could you please order us tray. Make sure it's a good breakfast tea. We have a lot to discuss and even more to accomplish."
The tall, platinum-haired male turned to do as he was asked, only the heightened color of his cheeks giving away the fact that he had noted his oversight and that he had paid attention to his fiancee's frame when she'd stood to divest herself of her outer garment. All in all, Narcissa was QUITE pleased with that discovery. The way that the girl's eyes unconsciously followed her handsome son as he headed for the counter only underlined the fact that this match might not be so bad.
"So Miss Granger, I know that this wedding is not something you are prepared for and I would like to offer my assistance."
Hermione nodded, her eyes focused, once more, on the elegant woman before her.
"As you know, the joining must take place within the next few weeks. As long as we get your guest list and dress robes out of the way today, I should be able to pull something small and intimate together in about a week's time. If this is acceptable to you, I can have it all set up by the sixteenth of this month."
Just then Draco returned with the tray. Without thought, he served his mother first, fixing her tea in the exact manner she required before moving on to Hermione's. A small frown graced the young woman's features as she watched him prepare it just the way she preferred with a teaspoon of sugar and a dash of milk. Finally, he served himself and came to rest in the chair beside her.
"Thank you, Draco," Hermione practically whispered.
The young man smiled and took a sip of his own tea.
Narcissa hid her grin behind the rim of her teacup before proceeding with her list of conversational gambits.
"I have parchment and quill if you'd like to do your list now and then, if you'd allow me, I would like to take you to Madame Malkins to be sized and fitted. As the mother of the groom, it is my duty to make sure you are arrayed appropriately." Here, a winsome smile. "Might I add, that you are so gorgeously built that it would be a pleasure to help you. After all, I do love to shop!"
Delighted laughter greeted this assertation and before long, Hermione was jotting down names and sipping tea while carrying on a conversation about what flowers she liked, what colors she preferred, if the gardens at the Manor were an acceptable venue. By the time her list was completed (the Weasleys and their significant others as well as Harry and his wife) Hermione had already helped to plan at least half of her wedding day, all without ever noticing it.
No more than an hour later, after Narcissa had stashed the guest list as well as the various notes she'd taken concerning colors and the like, the trio was on their way. Hermione was worried, of course, as she'd never imagined wearing a dress robe. After all, she'd appeared in a muggle dress during fourth year's Yule Ball. And it was a fact that she'd always dreamed of being married while wearing a fitted, off-white, sheath dress with a little spray of ruffles at the bottom and delicate beading around the bodice before donning a small lace veil. To have that dream taken from her made her want to cry.
instead of giving in, the young woman explained what she wanted to wear instead of the dress robes that were a mandatory part of Wizard weddings. Narcissa, for her part, looked intrigued. "That sounds beautiful. If we can get the Madame to design it to your specifications, we will use that instead. After all, you are muggle born, why would we not incorporate something of your family?" The beautifully coiffed woman paused and then gently asked, "What of your parents. WIll they come?"
Hermione shook her head no.
"Well, I will do my best to help you then." Narcissa glanced at her son. "Hermione and I might be a while. Maybe you can go to Gringotts and access the Malfoy vault? There seems to be something missing, my son."
Draco paused and then gave a quick nod of assent. He waited until Hermione and Narcissa stepped inside the shop before he turned to head back in the direction they'd come from. Soon enough, his mind filled with a plethora of possible choices he'd have for the perfect engagement ring. The vaults were large but he knew he'd find just the right thing there, given time. After all, how hard could it be?
An hour later he had the ring and a headache. He hoped that his mother and fiancee' were finished because he wanted to go back to Hogwarts and take a nap. It was hard work searching for something that was not ostentatious in a Vault filled with all manner of jewelry and random bits and bobs, all of which amounted to cash in hand.
'Damn, I really need some sleep.'
- 8
- 9
- 10
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Waiting to Exhale