Once again, endless thanks to GracefulLioness.

Deeper into the forest they trekked, Draco leading her by the hand. He seemed to know where he was going, as he hadn't yet paused. Not once.

But after an hour or so of wandering through the woods, suspicion began to creep in that perhaps, her new friend did not know the way.

"Where are we going?" she asked after a time. Her feet were growing tired, the chill in the air had grown deeper and had begun to seep into her bones. No matter how tightly she clutched her jumper, she could no longer seem to get warm. There was also a soreness in her stomach that could only mean one thing: she was hungry. "I don't mean to be a bother, but are we going to stop and eat something?"

"We're almost there!" Draco called over his shoulder. "Hang on just a bit longer."

Feeling reassured, Hermione moved her head from side to side, trying to soak in this nighttime wonder.

The forest all around them felt alive. With the wind blowing through the branches above, the trees seemed to breathe, much as she did with her own lungs. The rustle of the leaves on the ground almost sounded like someone speaking – beckoning them onward.

The voice that seemed to call her earlier came to her once again. "Follow us."

For a long while, Hermione had seen no trace of wildlife. Other than the swaying trees above them, the forest was quite still. Painted in soft, blue moonlight, everything around her looked as though it was made of magic.

Of course, now that Hermione knew magic was real… everything seemed possible.

To her front, Draco spoke again, this time in a whisper.

"We're getting close. Look!"

He pointed out into the darkness, and Hermione followed the direction of his finger. For a moment, it looked as though he wasn't pointing at anything, but then she saw something – a glimmer of sorts.

"It looks like a firefly," Hermione said, squinting. Indeed, the little spot of light in front of them was bobbing up and down in mid-air. Hermione had seen plenty of fireflies before. She wasn't quite sure why Draco felt the need to point it out.

"That's no firefly," Draco said, tightening his grip on her hand. "That's a fairy."

Hermione's jaw fell open.

"A fairy? Are you saying that fairies are real?" Her head shot back up again; she craned her neck, trying to get a better look at that little glow in the distance.

"Of course they are!" Even through the darkness, Hermione could tell he was grinning. "They're just as real as dragons or hinkypunks."

Hermione wasn't sure what a hinkypunk was, but dragons? She shook her head, as though doing so would shake out the notion of dragons existing.

"So where are we going anyway?" she asked.

"To the Land of Fairies," Draco answered. "They'll be able to marry us there."

He stopped

"The Land of Fa–?"

Hermione's voice faded away as she stared ahead. There, amongst the trees, hundreds of little lights began to appear, emerging from the darkness. The little lights traveled, flying toward them. And when they began to surround Hermione and Draco? It was like a cascade of lights streaming all around them.

Magic was definitely real, Hermione decided.

From among the fairies surrounding them, a single fairy paused before the two of them. Though tiny, she was magnificently beautiful: pale green in colour, with delicate wings sprouting from her back. She held her pointy, little chin high, and with an air of dignity. Hermione marveled at the little woman. How could such things exist in the world? It was completely wondrous.

"Shut your mouth, human girl. You look like a fish who has just been caught."

The little fairy had spoken!

Hermione hadn't realized that her mouth was hanging open. She snapped it shut.

"I–I apologize," she stammered.

"Do you know who I am?" the fairy asked.

While Hermione shook her head, Draco answered right away. "You're the Fairy Queen, aren't you?"

She inclined her head. "Precisely." Though she seemed upright and regal, there was also a benevolent air about her. Draco also seemed to sense this; he smiled as he bowed deeply.

He squeezed her hand, as if to signal her to do the same. She curtsied deeply, as her grandmother had taught her. Rising again, the fairy motioned for the two of them to follow her. Hermione shot Draco a look; he seemed almost giddy. Even in the darkness, his bright eyes and wide grin were obvious.

"This way, children. I will show you what you seek."

Through the darkness they walked together, fairies swirling around them like hundreds of little, fluttering stars. After a minute or two, they reached a great tree that stretched all the way to the canopy, its trunk thick and wide. From the moment she saw it, Hermione knew this was a special tree – a magical tree.

No words were exchanged as they walked right up to the tree. With a grand sweeping gesture, the Fairy Queen flew forward right into the tree…

…and vanished!

One moment she was there and the next, she was gone.

"Where did she go?" Hermione hissed, looking around, for surely, this was some sort of optical illusion.

"To the Land of Fairies, of course. Weren't you listening? Come on!"

Draco squeezed her hand once more. Together, they stepped up to the tree. It seemed so solid. Perhaps a fairy could step through it, but two children? Hermione's heart gave a nervous jolt.

"Ready? On the count of three. One, two–"

She closed her eyes.

They both jumped. Hermione half-anticipated that she would simply hit the trunk and fall backward. But she didn't. When nothing came and she simply passed through the trunk, her stomach swooped as though she had missed a step.

Though her eyes remained clamped shut, she felt an immediate difference. Gone was the chill in the air; instead, she felt surrounded by a sweet warmth. It cradled her body and coaxed her eyes open.

What she saw then took her breath away.

They were still in a forest, but it was unlike any forest Hermione had ever seen. The trees grew gnarled and ancient, twisting their way upward like great vines. The ground, illuminated by a giant moon, shone in bright hues of blue.

And all around her? Fairies. Hundreds of them – perhaps even thousands. They lined tree branches and sat upon leaves, as if all awaiting their arrival.

"Welcome to the Land of Fairies, human children," called a voice from just below the biggest, most gnarled tree.

It was the Fairy Queen.

Beside her, Draco began to fidget. He had seemed so confident earlier, but now she could feel the nerves coming off of him in waves.

"Are you all right?" she whispered as they approached the waiting crowd of fairies and their queen.

"Of course," he replied, though she could hear his voice shaking. "The Fairy Queen will marry us."

When they reached the base of the great tree and bowed once more, the Fairy Queen acknowledged them with a solemn nod.

"Now, my children, what drew you to the Land of Fairies? It is not often that we see children here. Especially children as special as you two."

Hermione and Draco looked at each other briefly, the same surprised expression reflected in each of their eyes.

"S-special?" Hermione croaked.

"Oh, yes. Many children come to play in these woods. Big children. Small children. Kind children. Mean children. They all pass through here. But none of them are particularly remarkable. None of them can really sense that we are here. Though we may exist in plain sight right before their eyes, they will never see us."

The queen paused and surveyed the two children, a gentle curiosity in her tiny face. "But you are not like those many children. You not only knew of us, but sought us out. There are not many children in the human world like yourselves, powerful and clever. And that makes you special."

Hermione and Draco exchanged looks again.

"Clever," Hermione whispered in awe.

"Powerful," Draco spoke under his breath.

"So tell me, human children, what brings you into the Land of Fairies? Why did you seek us?"

The Fairy Queen moved to sit in midair, and as she did, a tiny golden throne of sorts appeared beneath her.

Having been complimented, it seemed that Draco had regained his confidence. He cleared his throat and began to speak in a way that she didn't know little boys could.

"My dear Fairy Queen, we stand before you today with a request that only you can fulfill."

Hermione concluded that he must have heard someone talk like that. Or perhaps, she thought, her heart fluttering a bit, he had read language like that in a book.

"And what is that?" the Fairy Queen asked.

"We wish to be married." Draco spoke the words plainly and without any hint of embarrassment; though his cheeks flushed, it seemed to be from a rush of excitement more than anything.

"Married?" The Fairy Queen began to laugh. "Two human children get married by fairies? Don't be ridiculous."

Though she saw Draco falter for a moment, the queen's words only made Hermione indignant. She stood up tall and spoke directly.

"It is only a game, O Fairy Queen. We only wish to play. It would be so beautiful."

Draco's eyes shifted in her direction for a moment, and she shot him a grin. Perhaps, if they switched tactics, the Fairy Queen would be more inclined to listen.

"Yes, please. I only meant that we could be married as a game," Draco corrected himself. "We do so love each other and wish to be engaged."

Hermione felt herself blush from head to toe at these words. Though the air in the Land of Fairies was sweet and warm, she felt a little shiver travel up her spine.

"My children, do you mean it? That you wish to be married one day?"

They both nodded.

"Very well. Do you have rings?"

Both children looked at each other. It seemed they had forgotten about that part.

"Do we need anything else?" Hermione asked. "Other than rings, that is."

"No, my darlings. Just the rings, a blessing from me, and a kiss. Then you shall be bonded for life by Fairy law."

"A kiss?" Hermione gasped. Being only eight years-old, she had never kissed anyone before.

"Does that bother you?" asked Draco. "Because it doesn't have to be a big, mushy kiss. It can just be something like this." He leaned forward and kissed her cheek, his lips brushing the warm spots on her cheeks.

Rather than horrible, as she had expected, the sensation of the kiss was rather pleasant. Her stomach flipped at the thought of doing it again.

"Was that all right?" Draco asked.

"It was lovely." She beamed at him. "Let's look for rings and be married properly."

"Yes, and then we can have many more adventures!" he cried. Turning to the Fairy Queen, Draco straightened his posture. "Please, my Queen, where might we find rings?"

The Queen did not reply in words, but instead, she drew her hands in front of her and waved them about. Several nearby fairies flew toward Draco and Hermione, each hosting a different flower above its head.

"Here in the Land of Fairies," the Fairy Queen explained, "our wedding rings are not made from anything as heavy or as cavalier as gold. They are made of flower petals, mixed together and molded to your finger. Dainty and lovely, they shall serve as a reminder to the wearer that, just as one cares for a flower, one must care for love and nurture it. Do you understand, my children?"

Hermione nodded, though she was not entirely sure she understood.

"For your rings, I shall choose petals of the gardenia, calla lily, and tulip. Does this suit your needs?"

Hermione did not know much of flowers; only that her grandmother liked to grow them in her great gardens. But it seemed Draco knew much more than she, because he immediately began to voice his opinion.

"Those are lovely choices. Mother always said a proper wedding should include calla lilies. What colour tulips do you intend to use?"

"Why, red, of course."

"Excellent. I approve. Those flowers will be perfect. Hermione?"

Having never really not wholly known something, Hermione did not want to give away her ignorance. Especially since Draco really seemed to know what he was talking about.

"Yes," she mumbled. "Perfect."

The three fairies carrying those flowers flew forward, and the Fairy Queen plucked the petals from each until her arms were full. Hermione watched as she then tossed them in the air. But instead of falling to the ground, the petals stayed aloft before melding together in a circular pattern until they formed two lovely, pink rings.

Hermione appraised the rings as they floated at her waist level. They seemed to be a good size. Stretching her palm forward, Hermione held one of the rings in her palm, bringing it close to her face to inspect.

"How very curious." The ring hardly felt like anything at all in her hand, but when she pinched it between her two fingers, it felt quite solid.

"Are you ready to be married?"

Hermione looked up to see that Draco also held a ring in his palm. He seemed fascinated by it, turning the little pink thing round and round as though he couldn't look away. Something about this boy was so very different from any other boy she had met in school or otherwise. Most other boys would scoff at a pink ring made of flowers and would scarcely talk to her without teasing her, let alone want to teacher about magic and have grand adventures.

If she was going to marry someone, she supposed Draco would be a good choice.

"I am ready," she pronounced. "What do we do?"

"Please exchange rings and then kiss," the Fairy Queen explained.

"Do you know the right finger?" Draco asked as he turned to face Hermione.

Though Hermione supposed she had seen wedding rings hundreds of times in her life, she could not quite recall which finger they sat on. Besides, her memories of her parents were starting to grow a bit fuzzy.

When she didn't respond, Draco piped up, "That's all right. I'll give you this ring first, then."

He reached for her hand and slipped the ring on her fourth finger. It immediately shrunk to fit her little hands. Copying Draco, she did the same with the ring still in her palm, sliding it onto his fourth finger.

Delight was etched on every inch of his little, pointed face, his dimples on full display.

"And now the kiss," the Fairy Queen prompted.

Draco reached both his hands forward for her to take, and she did. The feel of the flower ring laced against her fingers was comforting, as though it was always meant to be there.

The two leaned toward each other and pressed their lips together in a sweet, innocent kiss.

Immediately, the fairies around them burst into cheers, flying about so the forest was alight. Hermione felt her heart flutter as Draco pulled back and beamed. He opened his mouth to speak, but before a word could escape, the Fairy Queen cried out in jubilation, "The wedding feast awaits!"

Hermione had quite forgotten how hungry she was. It had been hours since she had last eaten. When had that been? Somewhere far from here… but where?

No matter.

Before them, all manner of delicious-looking food began to appear. Jams and jellies and puddings of all kinds; pies and cakes and a veritable mountain of fruit awaited them.

It all materialized onto tiny tables for all the fairies and onto one human-sized table for Hermione and Draco. The children quickly took their seats and began to devour the feast put on in their honour. And when they finished, they drank delicious glasses of milk to settle their stomachs.

All the while as they ate, Hermione tried to smile at Draco, but each time she turned her head, she found him to be looking determinately at his plate.

When the feast had been cleared away, the fairies once more retreated to the edge of the clearing in front of the ancient tree.

"And now, human children, you shall dance."

Hermione was far too content and filled with food to protest. Draco pulled her to her feet and they made their way to the center of the fairies. From one side of the crowd, an airy sort of tune began to play. Hermione supposed it must be fairy music.

Draco took hold of her waist and hand, and began to lead them in a gentle circle.

She thought she might ask him where he learned to dance, but the moment she looked at his moonstruck face, she forgot all her thoughts. How quickly she had come to love this boy! Though silly he seemed to be, there was a sweetness about him that she couldn't ignore, no matter how many frogs he turned blue.

He grinned at her, and Hermione swore she was floating.

Except…

She really was floating!

Hermione's first inclination was to panic; her heart began palpitating and her hands began to shake. But Draco squeezed her waist and smiled at her reassuringly. And though she had never flown in her life, in this moment, she felt that was all she was born to do, safe in Draco's arms.

High, high toward the branches they climbed until they broke through the canopy, leaving the fairies behind. From this vantage point, they could see the moon, globed and glowing above them.

"Oh, how lovely!" Hermione cried, soaking in its blue light.

"Not as lovely as you, my little wife," Draco said, twirling her about.

And Hermione was delighted to be twirled, but as she turned, she saw something funny in the distance. It was glittering in the dark. Familiar, somehow.

"What is that place?" she asked as Draco spun her back toward him.

"I'm not sure," he answered. "I think I might know it."

They danced in silence for a few minutes, simply enjoying each other's presence. But Hermione couldn't shake the feeling that those lights were somehow important to her.

"I think someone might live there," she said after a while as they continued to dance. "Someone I care dearly about." Hermione could not explain how she knew this, but something inside told her what she was saying was correct.

"But aren't I the person you care dearly about?" Draco asked, worry shining in his eyes.

"Oh, I do care about you," Hermione reassured him. "But I can't help feeling that there's something more. Like I'm forgetting something terribly important. Don't you feel it?"

Draco shook his head. "I don't know what you mean. I thought we were going to have lots of grand adventures now that we're married. I'll teach you all about magic! We ran away together, didn't we?"

As soon as the last words crossed Draco's lips, Hermione's memory came drifting back. She remembered it all: her parents and her school; her cruel classmates and her lovely walk through the woods.

She remembered that her mum and dad were expecting her for dinner.

"Oh dear!" she cried and burst into tears.

The two began to float back toward the ground as Hermione's heart grew heavy. "What shall I do? I want to learn about magic and go on grand adventures with you, Draco! I want to play being married to you and stay with you always, but I also want to go home. What to do?"

Hermione fretted as she sat down on the ground. Draco patted her back.

By now, the fairies had all retreated to their little homes, all except the Fairy Queen. The clearing that had been once so full of golden light now stood still and blue in the moonlight.

"I don't know what to do," Hermione admitted between sniffs. "I don't want to forget my family and my old life. But there's so much to know about the world – so much about magic and fairies and all the wonderful things I only thought existed in dreams."

Hermione turned to face Draco, who looked at her with sadness and affection. "And what about you? If you should go home, your parents will try to arrange your marriage."

Draco offered her a sad smile. "If you return, I wish I could come with you," he admitted.

"You would never be happy living with me – going to my school. Magic is far too wondrous for you to live without. You're a wizard, and I'm just a plain girl."

Hermione lamented each word as it crossed her lips.

"Oh, my children," said the Fairy Queen, who now approached the sad couple. "Do not be so upset. This game of yours – it does not have to end once you leave the Land of Fairies."

Both Hermione and Draco looked up, hope in their eyes.

"It doesn't?" Hermione asked through her tears.

"Oh no. Certainly it doesn't. The rings you exchanged and the love you share remain ever as real as you wish them to be. Even if you leave this place and return to your old lives, you shall be forever entwined if you both wish it."

Draco grasped Hermione's hand – the left one with the flower ring on the fourth finger.

"I wish it," Draco said. "I wish for many more adventures with Hermione."

"And I wish for more adventures and a kiss with Draco," said Hermione, blushing.

"So it shall be," said the Fairy Queen. "But for now, you should rest, my children. It is very late, and you must be exhausted."

The Fairy Queen raised her arms. In front of the ancient, gnarled tree, a bed of leaves swirled into a soft-looking bed.

"That does look comfortable," suggested Hermione. "Perhaps we could just nap for a bit. We can decide what to do when we wake up."

Draco nodded, and the two settled side by side on the ground, pillowed by the softest leaves they had ever felt. Lying side-by-side, Hermione felt safe, as though nothing could ever harm her if she only stayed just like this.

"Hey Hermione," Draco whispered. She turned to face him, the leaves rustling under her as she moved. He looked so very sweet, his face just inches from her own. His blonde hair fell in his face as he yawned.

"Yes?"

"If we do go home, will you promise not to forget me?"

Hermione smiled and reached for his hand.

"I promise."

"And I'll promise you that I'll come find you one day. It may be years, but I'll do my best to stop my marriage to Astoria. Just please wait for me, Hermione. I don't think I could bear it if you don't wait."

"I'll wait. I swear it."

The two children fell asleep, their foreheads touching and their fingers intertwined.

When Hermione woke to sunlight streaming past her eyelids, she did not immediately open her eyes.

Last night had been so lovely. She simply did not want to wake – she wanted to stay here next to Draco in the Land of Fairies just a bit longer before she set out on a new adventure.

Hermione rolled to her side to snuggle into Draco. But where she thought she might find another warm body to cuddle, instead, she found nothing. Eyes still closed, she felt for the leaves that had cushioned her the night before.

But to her surprise, it was not leaves she felt under her, but instead, a soft, plush mattress.

Hermione's eyes flew open.

The sunlight streaming in wasn't coming from the canopy at all, but instead, from behind the soft blue curtains of her bedroom window. The ancient, gnarled tree had gone, as had all the fairies and… and…

And Draco.

Hermione sat up, her heart racing as she crawled over her bed in search of the world she had left behind as she slept. But as she frantically looked around, it became perfectly clear to her that this place was not the Land of Fairies or even the forest.

It was simply her bedroom.

A knock at the door interrupted Hermione before the heartache could really set in.

Mum cracked the door open and stuck her head in. "Darling, are you awake? It's nearly breakfast time."

Hermione rubbed her eyes and blinked. Why wasn't her mum angry? She had been gone late into the night, surely.

"How long have I been asleep, Mum?"

"Since rather early last night. You came home from school rather worn out yesterday and went straight to sleep without supper. Don't you remember?"

Hermione knitted her eyebrows together in confusion. "So… so I was in bed all last night?"

Mum moved to sit on her bed, pushing her hair off her forehead and placing the back of her hand there.

"Are you sure you're feeling all right, darling?"

"I feel fine, Mum."

So if she had been here all night, had it all been a dream, then? The heartache that she had held at bay for a moment took hold with tenacity, and she couldn't stop the melancholy that took hold of her heart.

There had been no adventure, no fairies, no magical boy…

Her mum studied her for a moment more before standing up. "Well come downstairs when you're ready. I'll get you a nice piece of toast. You can even have some marmalade if you like. It'll be a special treat."

Hermione thought back to the great feast from last night, with all its delicious pies and cakes and puddings… she would have much preferred that to a bit of marmalade.

But, Hermione reminded herself, none of that had been real at all.

It was best to forget it and prepare for school, then.

Hermione pulled on her school uniform. After taking a peek at the blustery weather outside, she decided to wear a thick jumper.

As she tugged the sleeves over her hands, though, she spotted something strange on one of her fingers. It was some sort of odd mark. She pulled her hair out of the neck of the jumper and brought the finger up to her eye level.

Yes, if she looked – there, on her fourth finger of her left hand, there was a little pink circle that stretched all the way around the skin.

It couldn't be… could it?

The colour of the markings matched the beautiful flower ring that the Fairy Queen had made for her and Draco the night before.

"Gardenia, calla lily, and tulip."

Hermione whispered the flower names to herself and felt body tingle a bit. If she still had the ring markings, did that mean… had it really happened? Her mind flew to the little magical boy, Draco. Had he woken up this morning with the markings still on his finger?

She hoped so.

For years, Hermione held onto hope that there really was a magical boy out there somewhere who had a matching mark on his fourth finger. But she could never find him. Eventually, his face became fuzzy, as did his voice. Many of the details from that night faded from her memory. It all faded until one day, she woke to find she couldn't quite recall where she had gotten the pink ring on her finger from.

Had it been an accident? Or perhaps a birthmark? She simply wasn't sure.

But not everything faded. Even as she finished primary school and began to feel grown up, she held onto one memory. And to her, it was really a funny memory. She had been flying – floating in the air with a boy. And sometimes – just sometimes – there was a green squirrel watching them from the ground below.

It was a silly memory, but it visited her so often in dreams that somehow she knew it had to be true. It had to be real.

There had to be magic in the world.

Kind of a bittersweet ending, isn't it?

Let me know what you think 3

Thank you to TheMourningMadam for running this delightful fest!