"Ralph spoke to me today and said he doesn't want us performing the song we've been practicing at tonight's dinner, as it's supposed to be a surprise for the actual wedding day." Draco explains, quickly bringing me back to reality. "But he said it'd be wonderful if we could find another song to perform for tonight."

My eyes widen a bit with panic. "He just told you this?"

"Well- yes," He responds hesitantly. I instantly huff with frustration and stress. "But hey don't panic, I've got this all planned out."

"You've got a whole other song planned out?" I quirk an eyebrow, my arms crossing over my chest with suspicion.

He scoffs in return to my suspicion, eyeing me up and down. "What, you don't believe me?

"Should I?"

"Yes," he replies, his gaze slowly falling down my lips and neck before he gently picks up the necklace laying on my chest. "You should." He says in barely a whisper, his eyes once again meeting mine as he plays with the necklace he gifted me.

My jaw tenses at the action as I attempt to push away my quickly rising heartbeat.

He lets go soon after, taking a step back. "You know the words to Beauty and the Beast, correct?"

I swallow thickly, blinking a few times as I try to bring my mind back to reality. "Yeah, I think so."

"Good." He gives me a polite smile, his hands sliding into his pockets.

I nod slowly, chewing the inside of my cheek for a moment. "I've got to go start getting ready now,"

"See you soon then."

"Sounds good," I mumble, turning around and walking out of the room.

I try not to stress over the change of plans as I get ready for tonight's dinner, though that doesn't seem to be the only thing on my mind. Because interactions with Draco similar to this one happened pretty often, my mind didn't replay them over and over, though something about my interactions with him recently felt different. They felt stronger in a way and part of me wanted to know if he was thinking the same thing, but another part of me could feel that he was.

After about an hour of getting ready while gossiping and laughing together, Pansy and I make our way downstairs. The boys are already ready, sitting on the couches as they wait for us.

We were told to wear formal attire, though obviously not the outfits we'd be wearing to the actual wedding. I picked out a simple black sheath dress that went down to my knees and had spaghetti straps to hold it up. Although I wanted to wear it with my black boots, I decided on some simple black heels instead.

Because the necklace I always had on was silver, I picked out some silver earrings and bracelets to match. When Draco had told me he wanted me to start wearing the necklace again there was no said amount of time I needed to wear it, but something in me chose to ignore that. Honestly I didn't really want to take it off.

The group soon walks out to the garden where the wedding service would be held. They find themselves some seats to sit in while waiting for me, before I walk away from them and toward the other bridesmaids and groomsmen.

I smile politely at all of them, though feel no need to try and hold a conversation with any of them as we walk through what the wedding service will be like.

The practice run goes well and under an hour later we're all now seated in the large greenhouse that the wedding reception was to be held in. Different people give different speeches, all mentioning how they didn't want to 'spoil' their speech for the actual wedding. You'd think only one or two people would have to say that before everyone else realized it wasn't necessary. Apparently not.

Our whole group has a table to ourselves luckily, all of us beginning to whisper to each other when the speeches start to get boring. I don't whisper to anyone much, my brain too focused on the short performance I'd soon have to give. Draco seems to be doing the same.

Ralph walks to the front of the room once the speeches are done, speaking into the microphone as he gives our table a small glance. My heartbeat begins to quicken at this action, anticipating what was about to happen.

"Without further ado I would like to welcome the soon-to-be bride's own daughter to come up here and perform a song for us!" The man grins as he announces.

My jaw tenses as I stand up, Draco following my action. He was wearing a black button down long-sleeved shirt with black slacks. I had been trying the whole night to ignore how well fitted his shirt looked, but boy was it difficult.

We both begin walking up to the front as the small crowd of family members and friends cheer for us.

"No credit for me, huh?" Draco whispers in my ear, following behind me.

A smile forms on my lips at his comment, a bit of nerves seeming to disappear from my body.

I don't respond to him as we've now arrived at the front of the room. I stand next to Ralph, hoping my smile seems real enough to fool the audience. Draco walks back to the piano which is placed a few feet behind me.

"And don't worry folks, this is once again not a spoiler for tomorrow," Ralph speaks into the microphone again, earning laughter throughout the small crowd.

It takes everything in me not the show the pure annoyance I felt at the repetition of this joke. Draco would've been much better at this job than I am.

Once Ralph leaves the microphone, I take his place in front of it. I give everyone a small smile before clearing my throat away from the mic.

Before the silence can be considered awkward, Draco begins playing the piano, the melody immediately bringing a sense of deja vu. The feeling was comforting though. This song had so many happy memories attached to it that I couldn't help but smile as I sang.

I avoid my mother's eyes throughout the whole song, wanting to make sure I stay focused. Sure the crowd thought I was singing to her and her fiancé but truthfully that couldn't be more false. I wasn't here to support their marriage, I was here for my own closure. And reminding myself of that as I sing seems to help.

I wasn't gonna let this moment be my new memory of this song, I was going to keep it as it's current memory. It was memories of my friends and I laughing. It was memories of watching Blaise and Pansy falling in love. It was memories of realizing I myself was falling for someone as well. And I was not going to let my mother take that away from me.

She had taken much of my happiness for awhile and I was so done with dealing with that.

I admire the way my friends smile at me while I sing, reminding myself of just how much happiness they were able to give me.

As I sing the last note, I take a small glance back at Draco, watching him as he continues to play the last part of the song. I watch as his eyes focus on the keys, knowing in my heart that although he had caused me anger, sadness, and pain, that he would always be the boy that brought me the most joy. The one who made me the happiest.

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heyyyy;)

ok so that was a lot what do we thinkkk 😜

i would say y'all aren't ready for the next chapter but neither am i 🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭

anyways i hope you enjoyed and know that i love all of you so so much, you guys mean the world to me <333 mwah mwah mwah!!! 💋💋💋