Si Te Vas

A/N: HARRY POTTER, characters, names and related indicia are trademarks of Warner Brothers and the creation of J.K. Rowling. No infringement or profit is intended by my use.  The concept for this little fic is copyright Volkswagen of America, Inc and featured in their ad "Big Day."  Everything else is mine.

You are cordially invited to witness the joining in marriage of

Miss Virginia Annelle Weasley

to

Mr. Harry James Potter

On Saturday, September the 22nd

Two thousand and one

at four o'clock in the afternoon

St. Paul's Church, Ottery Saint Catchpole

Reception to Follow

          "What is this?"

        Severus Snape cocked his head to the side slightly, looking into the other room to see what 'this' could be referring to.  A grim smile passed fleetingly over his face as he saw the object in question.  "A wedding invitation."

        "Today.  They're getting married TODAY?  Why in the bloody hell didn't you say anything?

        "Because I didn't think you'd care.  Why would you give a damn as to whether the amazing Potter and the little Weasley brat are getting married?  I should have tossed that in the bin the moment I received it," he drawled, reentering the dungeon with the needed ingredients.

        Draco Malfoy furiously turned around to face his former professor, "Don't you ever, EVER call her a brat again!"

        Raising an eyebrow in interest, and not the least put off by the boy's tone, Severus looked critically at the crumpled invitation.  "I used to think nothing got by me.  Obviously I was wrong."

        "Humph," Draco responded noncommittally, shoving his hands into his pockets.

        Carefully arranging the various bottles and vials he'd removed from his storeroom, Severus shook his greasy dark hair back behind his shoulders.  "You obviously do care, don't you?  Though I can't fathom why.  You always detested Potter and your disdain for the entire Weasley family is well known."

        Draco dropped his head, his silver-blonde hair falling forward to cover his face.  "Yes, but not her…"

        "You're mumbling, Draco.  What did you say, I couldn't quite distinguish one consonant from another."

        "Not her, dammit!  I never felt disdain for her!" he screamed, slamming his hand down onto the table as he leaned across the workspace.  "I detested Potter and still do to tell you the truth, but not her!  She was…she is…"

        "She is what, Draco?" Severus asked forcefully.

        "Marrying Potter apparently."

        "Yes.  At four o'clock today, or shortly thereafter, she will become Mrs. Harry freaking Potter," Severus muttered, earning a bark of disgusted laughter from Draco.  "Maybe I should rephrase my question, though I know you understood it the first time.  What is she to you, Draco?"

        "What does it matter what she is to me?  She's getting married.  What she is to me doesn't matter anymore!"

        "Were you always this difficult?  Was I just too focused on taking as many points from Gryffindor as possible that I completely missed what a prat you are?"  Severus moved around the table so he was standing just in front of Draco.  "It matters until four o'clock this afternoon.  You still have two hours."

        Sighing, Draco stepped away, wandering slowly over to one of the students' desks where a cauldron sat bubbling.  "She's made her decision.  She made her decision a long time ago if I'm to be honest with myself."

        "Potter and the Weasley's hate me just as much as you hate them, yet they sent me an invitation to the wedding.  Think about that, Draco."

        A grudging realization crept into Draco's mind as he watched the bubbles break on the surface of the liquid.  "You don't honestly believe…"

        "It was sent in the hopes that someone other than myself would see it?"  Severus crossed the room and extinguished the fire underneath the cauldron.  "Perhaps it was."

        "She…  Wouldn't she… "

        "Stop rambling and form a coherent thought, boy.  I doubt Potter would have invited me.  And as sweet an angel as you think she is, I can't fathom her wanting me at her wedding.  I don't exactly radiate joy and glad tidings," Severus sniffed.

        "I never said that she was sweet or an angel," Draco argued petulantly.

        "But you do, don't you?"

        "No!  She's a hellion, a fiery, temperamental, explosive little minx.  She drove me absolutely crazy, made me angrier than anyone ever had or has since, and…I've never seen or met anyone that could hold a candle to her, who could make my blood boil and my knees weak at the same time."

        "And you're still very much in love with her," Severus stated dryly.

        Draco closed his eyes for a moment, picturing her dark auburn hair glowing in the sun, her freckles which were sprinkled across her nose and cheeks, her smile that lit up her face and the room, the look in her eyes the first time he kissed her by the lake at Hogwarts and the pain in those same eyes when he'd told her goodbye in the same spot.  His heart still ached when he remembered how he'd told her that he didn't' love her anymore, the lie blatantly obvious and hanging between them.  He'd left her for her own good.  The son of a Death Eater, one of Voldemort's most devoted of minions.  Draco knew he'd never be good enough for her, he'd never be accepted by her family and that, in the end, their relationship would not work, and he'd only wind up hurting her.  So he'd left her, his last day at Hogwarts he'd asked her to meet him by the lake, needing to end it sooner rather than later, hoping to minimize her pain.

        "Yes.  I still love her."

        Severus smiled, removing his pocket watch and flipping open the case.  "Then, boy, you need to hurry.  You've only got an hour and a half."