Italic text in the ceremony is from a Marriage Contract written by Margaret A. Keip, which was directly quoted where I got this ceremony from. (A Link is provided on my profile if you'd like to see the ceremony without the extras/ tweaks) I don't own Harry Potter, or (obviously the location of Wiltshire). I hope that you lovely readers are as excited for this sequel as I am. I will post the first chapter tomorrow. The original wedding ceremony was about 270 words, and I had borrowed it to use for Up Close, and I thought that you guys deserved a new one.
WORD COUNT WITHOUT HEADERS/FOOTERS : 773
Sequentia Cor Meum
(Continuation of My Heart)
Prologue
"Ladies and Gentlemen, we are gathered here today to celebrate the marriage of Hermione Jean Granger, and Severus Tobias Snape. Marriage is the promise between two people who love each other, who trust that love, who honor one another as individuals in that togetherness, and who wish to spend the rest of their lives together. It enables the two separate souls to share their desires, longings, dreams, and memories, their joys, and sorrows, and to help each other through all uncertainties of life." The crowd around them was quiet, awed by the beauty of the wedding between the dungeon bat, and the brightest witch of her age.
"Marriage has certain qualities of contract, in which two people take on the housekeeping tasks of living together, to enhance life's joy." He paused, looking between the bride and groom. "However, marriage is much more than a contract. Marriage is commitment to take that joy deep, deeper than happiness, deep into the discovery of who you most truly are. It is a commitment to a spiritual journey, to a life of becoming- in which joy can comprehend despair, running through rivers of pain, into joy again."
"And thus marriage is even deeper than commitment. It is a covenant – a covenant that says: I love you. I trust you. I will be there for you when you are hurting, and when I am hurting, I will not leave." He looked around at the people seated along the way. "It is a covenant intended not to provide haven from pain or from anger and sorrow. Life offers no such haven. Instead, marriage is intended to provide a sanctuary safe enough to risk loving, to risk living and sharing from the center of oneself. This is worth everything."
The officiate turned to Hermione. "Hermione, will you take Severus to be your husband? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and protect him and forsaking all others to be faithful to him until death do you part?
"I do." She replied, no hesitation at all, as she smiled brightly up at Severus.
"Then repeat after me, I Hermione, take you Severus,"
"I Hermione, take you Severus,"
"To be my lawfully wedded husband,"
"To be my lawfully wedded husband,"
"And my better. I will take care,"
"And my better. I will take care,"
"and cherish our relationship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever."
"and cherish our relationship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever."
"I will always be open, honest, and faithful to you,"
"I will always be open, honest, and faithful to you,"
"I take you for my husband, to have and to hold,"
"I take you for my husband, to have and to hold,"
"from this day on, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer,"
"from this day on, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer,
"In sickness and in health, to love and to cherish for all the days of my life and until my last breath."
"In sickness and in health, to love and to cherish for all the days of my life and until my last breath." Hermione finished her part for the moment, and gave Severus a watery smile.
The Officiate took Severus through his part of the ceremony, before getting to the exchange of rings. "Repeat after me, this ring, which has no beginning and no end,"
"This ring, which has no beginning and no end,"
"Symbolizes the love and trust between us that will never cease."
"Symbolizes the love and trust between us that will never cease."
"May its presence on your hand remind you of my love, and my vow."
"May is presence on your hand remind you of my love, and my vow."
"I now place it on your finger, as a visible sign of the promises,"
"I now place it on your finger, as a visible sign of the promises,"
"Which have made us husband and wife."
"Which have made us husband and wife."
Severus took the ring from Lucius, and slid the ring onto her finger, as a tear slid from her eye. She took his ring from Ginny after she went through the script for the exchange, before sliding his ring onto his finger as well. "Until now Hermione Jean, and Severus Tobias have spent each moment of their lives as separate individuals. But from this day on, and each day after their every moment shall be shared and spent as one. By the power enthroned in me by the Ministry of Magic, and the County of Wiltshire, I now pronounce you husband and wife." He turned to Severus. "You may now kiss your bride."
