Chapter Fourteen: Rectification
(Hermione)
So I blacked out, I know it was a little extreme but I was under tons of stress from work, and planning the wedding. I just freaked out a little bit when I saw his name so blatantly strewn across the clock.
When I first looked at the clock and realized what it said, a wave of happiness that I hadn't felt in a long time washed over me. Then it hit me that Ron was with Harry.
I feigned exhaustion and apologized to Mrs. Weasley about making a scene, then I flooed back to my house where I collapsed on the couch at once. Thinking about Harry had gotten me thinking. It was time I realized. I pried myself from the couch and went over the hall closet. After going through as dozen boxes I spied the one I sought.
Pulling it down I noticed my neat handwriting on the side "Hogwarts" it said. I smiled as memories flooded me. Taking up my original spot on the couch, I opened the box. A picture from my last day of school during first year lay on top. I could see how much I had changed, Ron and Harry too. We were so happy back then. That's what I wanted. I wanted our friendship back.
(Harry)
Hermione was getting married? It had come as such a shock to me. I mean of course she would get married; she was an attractive woman, with brains and a great sense of humor, who wouldn't want to marry her?
I sat at my desk mulling over these new discoveries when I heard a light tapping at my door.
"Come in" I said quietly, hoping that it was Lupin or Kingsley, as I really didn't feel like working right now.
To my surprise and dismay a certain familiar face walked in, that I was not at all pleased to see. The look on their face was enough to tell me that they knew how I felt.
"Malfoy, what is it you need?" I said scathingly.
He smirked, then walked over and took a seat in the chair across from me.
"So I heard your mudblood is getting married." He stated bluntly. My anger boiled inside of me.
"Don't call her that" I said through clenched teeth.
A look of innocence flashed across his face.
"Why, Potter, if you can call her that, then surely I can also."
I could feel outrage becoming uncontrollable.
"You know why I did say that, just like you know I didn't mean it when I said it."
Malfoy chuckled, a smiled spreading across his face showing off his perfect white teeth.
"Right Potter, just like you didn't mean to screw around with all those other girls too, right?" He sneered at me.
"Listen, do you have a reason to be here? I thought we were done dredging up old memories." I said trying to end the conversation before I got too pissed with him.
"I just wanted to go over things to make sure you didn't try anything with her again. My father is quite powerful, as you know." He had to bring his father into it. It seemed Draco Malfoy could not make deals without including his father.
"I do realize this Draco, and one day I will find him and bring him in as the Death Eater he is." That wiped the smile off his face; I felt my heart lighten slightly.
"Yes, well, watch what you say and who you talk to Potter. I'm watching you." With that he stood up, strode over to the door and let himself out, leaving the door open.
I lay my head in my hands and closed my eyes. Seeing Draco had certainly brought back old memories. Memories of a mistake I made long ago. He had no right to hold anything over me now. Again I heard a knock on my door, looking up I saw it was Lupin. I motioned for him to come in. He shut the door and sat in the chair Malfoy had occupied seconds before.
"Was that Draco Malfoy?" He asked outright.
I nodded my head, which was still in my hands.
"What business did he have with you?"
Well Lupin sure was getting straight to the point wasn't he?
"He just wanted to talk about the good old days" I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Hermione?" Man Lupin was on a roll today.
I shook my head again, this time lifting it up to look at him.
He smiled at me. "Listen Harry, I know I'm not your father, or Sirius, but I like to think of you as a son. So I'm going to give you some advice, you don't need to take it if you don't want to, but its there just incase."
I smiled and urged him to go on, knowing that I could use some advice right about now.
"It's gone on long enough. We both know what Malfoy did to you and Hermione. Its time for it to end, and you have to be the one to end it. Go talk to her. Explain everything to her before its too late." He took a breath and shifted his body. I thought he was going to go on but before I knew it he was standing up.
I stood up with him and outstretched my hand to him. He took it in his own and shook it strongly. I looked him in the eye. He truly was like a father to me, I loved him dearly and I was thankful for everything he had ever done for me.
"Thank you Remus, I'll think about everything you said to me"
He smiled at me. "Don't think too long Harry, you don't have much time." With that he winked at me and left.
I sat back down, contemplating what exactly I was going to do.
Then it hit me, he was right. I was the only one who could change things and make them better. I had always thought about doing this, but I never did. It was now time to rectify my mistakes.