Bound by Fate

Chapter 30: The Breaking Point

Narcissa Malfoy stood in the shadow of the hallway, her hand resting on the doorframe as she listened to the muffled voices from within Draco's room. She had come to check on her son, to ensure that everything was proceeding as planned for the wedding. But what she had heard—what she had witnessed—had shaken her to her core.

Draco and Hermione, confessing their love for each other. The tenderness, the pain in their voices... it was unmistakable. They loved each other deeply, and it wasn't just some fleeting attraction. It was the kind of love that ran deep, that threatened to tear apart everything she had meticulously arranged.

Narcissa had been the one to orchestrate Draco's marriage to Astoria. She had been the one to seal the Unbreakable Vow, believing that the alliance would secure the Malfoy family's future. But deep down, she had hoped it would do more than that. She had hoped it would rid Draco of the distraction that was Hermione Granger.

But now, as she stood there, her heart heavy with regret, Narcissa realized she had been wrong. She had underestimated the bond between Draco and Hermione. And now, it was too late to undo the damage she had caused.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Narcissa stepped back into the shadows as Hermione left Draco's room. The girl's face was etched with heartbreak, but there was a quiet strength in her eyes that made Narcissa's chest tighten with guilt. She had wanted to protect her son, but in doing so, she had only driven him further into the arms of the one person she had tried to keep him away from.

There was no turning back now. The wedding had to proceed, and Draco would be expected to fulfill his part of the vow.

The grand hall of Malfoy Manor was filled with the glittering elite of the wizarding world, the pureblood families gathered in their finest robes, their conversations a murmur of anticipation as they waited for the ceremony to begin. Flowers adorned every surface, enchanted to glisten and sparkle under the soft light of the chandeliers. It was a beautiful sight, a perfect setting for the union of two powerful families.

Draco stood at the altar, his heart pounding in his chest as he waited for Astoria to make her way down the aisle. His black robes were immaculate, every detail of his appearance carefully attended to. But inside, Draco was far from composed. The weight of what was about to happen was suffocating, and all he could think about was Hermione.

He couldn't see her from where he stood, but he knew she was there—tucked away in the back of the hall, far from the gaze of the other purebloods who would never accept her. He had insisted she come, but as he scanned the crowd, he knew exactly why she had kept her distance. Hermione was an outsider here, just as she had always been in this world.

Draco's eyes darted to the far end of the hall, searching for her. When he finally caught sight of her, his breath hitched.

She was breathtaking.

The dress he had sent her, the deep Slytherin green that matched the color of his house, fit her perfectly. The silver accents glinted softly in the light, making her look regal, powerful, and more beautiful than anyone else in the room. But what struck him most was the sadness in her eyes, the way she stood alone, apart from everyone else.

And then, the music began.

Astoria Greengrass, the bride, appeared at the end of the aisle, her arm linked with her father's as they made their way toward Draco. She was beautiful, of course—graceful, elegant, every inch the pureblood daughter she had been raised to be. But as Draco watched her approach, he felt nothing. His heart didn't race, his palms didn't sweat. She was perfect, and yet, she wasn't Hermione.

As Astoria reached the altar, Draco's gaze drifted back to the figure in the distance. He couldn't tear his eyes away from Hermione, couldn't ignore the pull that had drawn him to her time and time again. His hands clenched at his sides, the realization hitting him like a blow.

He couldn't do this.

The priest cleared his throat, his voice echoing through the hall as he began the ceremony. Draco barely registered the words, his mind too consumed with the sight of Hermione standing in the back, her eyes fixed on him with a mixture of pain and resignation.

"Draco Lucius Malfoy," the priest said, his voice steady. "Do you take Astoria Greengrass to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?"

Astoria turned to Draco, her eyes filled with hope and expectation. This was the moment she had been waiting for, the moment that would bind them together forever.

But Draco couldn't speak. His throat tightened, the weight of the vow pressing down on him like a suffocating fog. He looked at Astoria, then back at Hermione. The room seemed to blur around him, the sounds of the wedding fading into the background as his mind screamed at him to do something—anything—to stop this.

"I..." Draco's voice faltered, his gaze darting back to Hermione. Her expression was unreadable, but he could see the pain in her eyes, the silent plea for him to say the words that would end it all.

But he couldn't.

"I can't," Draco whispered, his voice barely audible.

The hall fell silent. Astoria's face drained of color, her eyes wide with shock as she stared at him in disbelief. The priest looked confused, the guests murmuring in confusion as Draco took a step back from the altar.

"I'm sorry," Draco said, his voice louder now, trembling with emotion. "I can't do this."

Astoria's lips parted, but no words came out. She stood frozen, her heart clearly breaking in front of him, but Draco couldn't stop now. He turned, his eyes locking onto Hermione's across the room, and without another word, he moved.

He ran.

The crowd gasped as Draco bolted from the altar, weaving through the rows of guests, his eyes never leaving Hermione. She stood there, stunned, her heart pounding in her chest as she realized what was happening.

Draco reached her in an instant, his hand grabbing hers with a desperate urgency. Without hesitation, he pulled her close, his voice a breathless whisper.

"Let's go," he said.

Hermione barely had time to respond before they Disapparated, the world around them vanishing in a whirl of wind and magic.