Bound by Fate

Chapter 29: The Day of Reckoning

The day of Draco Malfoy's wedding to Astoria Greengrass dawned with an air of tension that seemed to hang over Malfoy Manor like a thick fog. The sprawling grounds were alive with activity, pureblood families and their well-dressed entourages arriving in elegant carriages, their laughter and chatter filling the estate with a false sense of joy. The scent of freshly cut flowers and magical enchantments lingered in the air, but the beauty of it all only deepened the sense of foreboding inside the manor's walls.

Draco stood in his room, staring out of the window at the preparations unfolding below. His heart pounded in his chest, each beat a reminder of the heavy decision that loomed over him. He had always known this day would come, but now that it was here, it felt like a noose tightening around his neck.

His reflection in the mirror caught his eye—dressed in the finest black and green robes, every detail of his appearance carefully orchestrated to reflect the Malfoy name. But inside, Draco was a mess. His mind kept drifting to Hermione, the pull between them stronger than ever. The thought of her, somewhere in the manor, suffering in silence while he prepared to marry Astoria, made his chest ache.

And then, there was a knock at his door.

"Enter," Draco called, his voice strained.

The door creaked open, and a house-elf entered, carrying a long, elegant dress draped over its arms. The deep Slytherin green fabric shimmered in the dim light, the intricate silver details glinting as the elf placed the dress on a nearby chair.

Draco's heart twisted at the sight of it. He had chosen the dress for Hermione himself, knowing that she would look stunning in the color of his house. He wanted her to stand out, to be noticed by everyone, even if she wasn't the one standing at the altar with him. It was the only thing he could do to make her feel special on a day that wasn't meant for her.

"Miss Granger will wear this," the house-elf said quietly before disappearing with a soft pop.

Draco ran a hand through his hair, his mind racing. He knew Hermione would look beautiful in the dress, but he also knew that seeing her in it—seeing her at the wedding—would only make everything harder.

Meanwhile, Hermione stood in front of the mirror in her room, her fingers tracing the delicate fabric of the dress Draco had sent. The green was striking against her skin, the silver accents catching the light as she turned slightly, admiring the way the dress hugged her figure. She had never worn anything so beautiful, and yet, the weight of the day made it impossible to fully appreciate how she looked.

Her heart was heavy, the pain of what was to come gnawing at her insides. She knew that Draco had no choice—he had to marry Astoria for his family's sake, for the promise of the Unbreakable Vow—but that didn't make it any easier to bear. The pull between them had become unbearable in the days leading up to the wedding, and now, as the time approached, it felt like her heart was being torn in two.

She smoothed her hands down the front of the dress, taking a deep breath to steady herself. There was no point in dwelling on what couldn't be changed. Today, Draco had to do what was expected of him, and all she could do was stand by and watch.

But before she could leave her room, a sudden, overwhelming urge to see him took hold of her. She needed to check on him, to make sure he was okay, even if it would only make things harder. She couldn't bear the thought of him facing this day alone.

With a quiet resolve, Hermione made her way to Draco's room.

Draco hadn't moved from his spot by the window when he heard the door to his room open again. He turned slowly, his breath catching in his throat when he saw her.

Hermione stood in the doorway, her eyes wide and filled with emotion. She looked stunning in the dress he had sent, the deep green of the fabric bringing out the warmth in her skin and the brightness in her eyes. But beneath the surface, he could see the pain she was trying so hard to hide.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The air between them was thick with unspoken words, the tension palpable as they stood there, staring at each other.

"I just... I just wanted to see how you were doing," Hermione finally said, her voice soft and trembling slightly.

Draco swallowed hard, his chest tightening. "I'm... I don't know, Hermione. I don't know if I can do this."

Hermione stepped forward, her eyes filled with understanding. "You can," she whispered, her voice steady despite the tears she was holding back. "You have to."

Draco's hands trembled as she reached out, gently fixing the tie around his neck. Her touch was soft, comforting, and for a moment, he closed his eyes, letting himself savor the feeling of her so close. He wanted to hold onto this moment forever, to freeze time and stay with her in this quiet, stolen space. But he knew it couldn't last.

When Hermione finished adjusting his tie, her hands lingered on his chest, her fingers brushing lightly over the fabric of his robes. Draco opened his eyes, meeting her gaze, and in that instant, the world around them seemed to fall away. There was no wedding, no guests, no future with Astoria—just the two of them, standing together in the quiet of his room.

Draco's hands moved to her waist, pulling her closer, and Hermione didn't resist. She melted into his embrace, her head resting against his chest as he held her tightly. The pain of the day washed over them both, but in this moment, they found solace in each other.

"I love you," Draco whispered, his voice thick with emotion as he pressed his forehead against hers.

Hermione's heart skipped a beat, her eyes welling with tears as she looked up at him. "I love you too," she whispered back, her voice barely audible.

For a long moment, they stood there, their foreheads touching, their breaths mingling as they held onto each other like lifelines. The pull between them was stronger than ever, and for the first time, they let themselves acknowledge it fully.

Draco leaned down, capturing her lips in a soft, tender kiss that spoke of all the emotions they had been holding back. Hermione kissed him back, her hands clutching the front of his robes as she poured everything she had into that moment. The world outside didn't matter anymore—nothing mattered except the two of them and the love they shared.

When they finally pulled away, both of them were breathless, their foreheads still resting against each other.

"I wish things were different," Draco said, his voice filled with regret.

Hermione smiled sadly, her fingers brushing gently over his cheek. "I know. But it's okay. I understand. You have to do this—for your family."

Draco's heart broke at her words, but he knew she was right. No matter how much they loved each other, no matter how strong the pull between them, his duty to his family—and the Unbreakable Vow—couldn't be ignored.

With a heavy heart, Hermione stepped back, her hands slowly slipping away from him. "Go get ready," she whispered, her voice filled with quiet resolve. "You're going to be late."

Draco watched her leave, his chest aching as she walked out of his room. He wanted to call her back, to tell her that he couldn't go through with it, but he knew he couldn't. His fate had been sealed long ago.

Taking a deep breath, Draco turned back to the mirror, adjusting his robes one last time before steeling himself for the ceremony ahead.