Chapter Text
Hermione Granger sat in the corner of the noisy crowded pub. She listened to the people yelling overtop each other, laughing and pints of beer slamming down on tables. Many of them her friends gathered together to celebrate her and him. Numb and nauseated, the conversation between Neville and Luna in front of her was a dull faraway noise.
“Hemione!” Ron screamed.
Hermione jerked herself to awareness and slowly turned to the grinning ginger. Ron enveloped Hermione in a warm hug with both arms and laughing. His ruby sweater tickled her nose and cheek. Hermione breathed in deeply and basked in the familiar warmth of his arms.
“I can’t believe the wedding is finally here! I’m so happy for you and Viktor!”
The temporary warmth Hermione felt from his body turned to numbness as she painted on a small smile. She could feel pinpricks of tears behind her eyes threatening to fall.
“Yes. It’ll be great,” she voiced with all her strength.
She kept her arms tucked alongside her to stop the trembling threatening to overcome her. Her stomach continued to churn at an intense rate – almost ready to expel what little she’d been able to force herself to eat today.
Ron’s smile turned to a frown as he looked at her face.
“Why do you look almost green?”
Another wave of red jumped from Hermione’s peripheral. Ginny, also smiling from ear to ear, took one arm around each of them in a half hug.
“Well of course it’s the wedding jitters! Hermione is finally marrying the greatest quidditch player ever! I mean….other than me of course!”
After two years of engagement, the wedding day was finally set and ready for tomorrow. Hermione remembered the very public and exposed proposal with a mix of fear and anger. It was perfectly planned so that Hermione had no choice but to say yes. It was the sort of thing Viktor did - playing the role of the caring boyfriend.
Their family and friends were in attendance for the celebration of Viktor’s win. His team had just won the World Cup and the crowd was elated. Viktor must have tipped off the journalists - they were ready. Hermione had joined the party in a pale yellow dress - one that Viktor of course had approved. Ginny, her beautiful and loving friend, guided her into a room under the pretense of using the loo. Viktor had decorated the room with an array of tulips. Gold balloons and streamers were pilled high on the walls and floor. In the centre - surrounded by candles - stood Viktor with a golden box in his hand. Hermione stood beside Ginny who was almost jumping up and down with glee. Harry and Ron came forward and gently guided her to stand in front of Viktor. Hermione immediately likened him to the Devil.
He stood there with snide smirk on his face, illuminated by the flickering of the candles. As Viktor knelt down on one knee, as per muggle custom, the press went ecstatic and shoved their cameras forward, blinding Hermione. Hermione could barely hear Viktor ask her to marry him, as the reality of the situation began to take hold. She had taken a moment to look at the crowd of surrounding her and saw only hope and happiness in each face. With tears pricking her eyes, a mumbled yes was all she could manage.
The cheers were deafening.
Hermione had tried to smile and play the role of a new fiance, but it wasn't enough. Viktor had let her know he was not satisfied with her performance later that night.
The photos of the engagement may have been puzzling at first, but the press illustrated it as an overwhelmed now bride-to-be caught up in the moment.
Ron, Harry and Ginny were overcome with joy that their best friend had found the one.
They had no idea what type of person they had chained her to.