'Till death do you Part?

Disclaimer: not mine

Genre: Tragedy, Romance

Warnings: A possible second read needed. It makes sense to me, obviously, but I'm not sure if the different threads of speech are a little hard to follow. Non-italics indicate present, italics indicate the past or memories, dashes indicate that the sentence or speaker carries on into the next section of that text.

Summary: 'I don't want to leave. I don't want to leave you.' AU; Draco's wedding day, and the ghost of the one person he truly wants to be with him haunts his thoughts.

A/N First thing I've written since my self-imposed hiatus; if any part of it isn't clear, please ask, and let me know what you think :) AU, set after a final battle, Draco's wedding day.


'Do you, Astoria Greengrass, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? - '

'I don't want to leave,' he whispered, arms wrapped tight around Draco's waist. 'I don't want to leave you.'

'- To have and to hold, from this day forward - '

The day before he left. The last time he held him close, and promised to look after him. The last time they were together.

'- For better, for worse- '

'Then don't.'

'- For richer, for poorer- '

'They need me.'

'- In sickness and in health- '

'I need you,' he murmured, tightening his grip around the smaller boy -

'- To love and to cherish- '

'- I love you, so much.'

'- Till death do you part?'

'Draco, I'm scared I won't come back.'

Time stopped.

A tear ran down the groom's cheek.

'I do.'

'And do you, Draco Malfoy, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife? - '

'I'm sorry Draco, I am so, so sorry - '

'- To have and to hold, from this day forward - '

Months later. An office. A ministry official, and a death certificate.

'- For better, for worse- '

'- It happened too quickly, we couldn't stop him - '

'- For richer, for poorer- '

'- He did it though, he took the bastard down with him- '

'- In sickness and in health- '

'- He made the world safe again, for all of us - '

'- To love and to cherish- '

'- He left a note for you.'

'- Till death do you part?'

"I'm sorry. They needed me. Remember, Draco, people don't always marry their first love. You always wanted a big wedding, a proper marriage, a family. Have it. Be happy, please. I love you always. Harry."

A hand reached into a pocket, gently stroking a folded piece of parchment.

I love you too, forever and ever.

'I do.'


A/N In response to hondagirl's, 'First Love Challenge.'