General Disclaimer: All characters and settings in this fic are property of J.K. Rowling. I am not making any money and no copyright infringement intended. The song Butterfly Kisses belongs to Bob Carlisle.
Please remember this, as I will only be making a further disclaimer when necessary.
A/N: Please review. Flames are welcome, provided they are not unfounded. I cannot stress how much I want to hear reader's opinions.
I first wrote this fic a long while ago, and posted it on HP Author Fics, when that was still a category. But when that was deleted, my fic was too. So I re-wrote it and edited some, had it beta-ed and now here it is again!
This fic is dedicated to my amazing beta, attackofthejello. I owe how much better this fic has gotten o her. Please go read her work.
JE T'AIME PLUS QU'HIER MOINS QUE DEMAIN
By: The Great Kelly The Great
Prologue
It was to be a combined ceremony. The altar was circular, so the priest would be walking around marrying each couple. The cathedral was one of the magic population. They had all drawn straws to see who would be married first. The order was Virginia (Ginny) Anne Weasley, marrying Draco Thomas Malfoy. Followed by Ronald Michael Weasley and Lavender Elizabeth Brown. Lastly would be Harry James Potter, marrying Hermione Vivian Rebecca Granger. That day was the thirtieth, the day immediately prior to the ceremony. The rehearsal was taking place. Everyone had a bad case of pre-wedding jitters, but none knew what they were in for.
Chapter One
"Where's Draco?" Hermione Granger wailed. "He has the rest of the wedding party!" Draco Malfoy had become her friend when he proved himself a decent person in fifth year, when Ginny had been spiraling into depression and he had been the one to stop her from hurting herself. As for Harry, Ron and Lavender's opinion of Draco, they had been much harder to convince, but eventually agreed he was a trustworthy person.
"He is coming," Ginny assured Hermione. "He said he needed to talk to his boss."
Draco worked at the Department of the Magical Games and Sports. Hermione, Ron and Harry were all Aurors while Lavender worked as a veterinarian for magical creatures. Ginny, as a dress robes designer, brought a while new meaning to the term "fashion". She herself had designed Lavender, Hermione and her own wedding dress, ready for the next night.
It was the night of the rehearsal. Harry and Ron were talking to the priest while Ginny was comforting Hermione. Hermione, unfortunately, had a knack for going ballistic when nervous or under extreme pressure. Lavender was walking around the cathedral, checking that everything was in order.
"Relax, Hermione, just breathe," Ginny said soothingly. "Draco will be here in a moment."
"So sorry to disappoint, but I'm already here."
Ginny and Hermione looked up to see Draco standing in the doorway with the rest of the wedding party. Harry, Ron and Draco were the grooms; Hermione, lavender and Ginny were brides and each couple had a different wedding party. Various Weasleys were included as well as Sirius, many of Draco's family members (all of whom looked exactly alike) and a few people who claimed to be friends of cousins of brothers of great-great aunts. The best man in Ron and Lavender's wedding was, for example, Charlie (the Weasley brothers had argues endlessly about this, finally resolving it in a heated Sickle toss). The best man in Ginny and Draco's was Bill (who was second in the Sickle toss). Hermione and Harry's Sirius, whose name had been cleared years ago.
"Right," Draco called. "Places everyone. We don't have all day!"
"I believe I am in charge," said the priest with a twinkle in his eye. The priest was Albus Dumbledore's brother, Aberforth, who had become a clergyman after practicing inappropriate charms on a goat. Now he performed weddings and mass for those of the magical community.
"Right," Aberforth called. "Places everyone. We don't have all day!"
Draco frowned. "That's exactly what I said," he said.
"I know. Which is precisely why I chose those particular words. Now, Ron and Lavender, please come over here with your wedding party." A whole slew of people followed, among them a ring bearer, flower girl, bridesmaids, best man and a few unnamed others.
"No, no, you start back there. First the flower girl, that's it. Then the ring bearer, now you three girls, lastly Lavender. That's it. Good. Now I say 'Dearly beloved, yaddah yaddah yaddah."
"I'm not sure I've ever heard a priest say 'yaddah yaddah yaddah' before," Harry whispered to Hermione. She laughed quietly in response.
They were sitting in the pews to make it look as if there were actually people sitting there. They sat in silence for a while, Harry's arm casually draped over Hermione's shoulders. Next to Hermione sat Ginny and Draco.
When Ginny came home to the Burrow one night (Harry and Hermione had been conveniently present) saying she was marrying a Malfoy, they were all shocked. Well, the rest of the Weasley clan was. The Dream Team (as Harry, Ron and Hermione were called) had expected it. Mrs. Weasley had been surprised at first, but went to great lengths to try and include him. Unfortunately, Fred and George had been much harder to convince. They eventually agreed, but not before taking Draco aside and telling him if he ever hurt Ginny they would personally hunt him down and see to his untimely demise.
But that had been a year ago. Ginny and Draco had been second to get engaged, Ron and Lavender the first. Harry had said he was waiting for the perfect moment, which Hermione believed. Thinking of the moment, Hermione remembered it perfectly…
They had gone out to dinner at their favourite restaurant, a small place on the outskirts of London. Harry had suggested a walk, so they left, hand in hand. They walked farther and farther, talking idly. Without realising it, Hermione had been led to a small grove. The stars were brighter there, away from all of London's lights.
"It's so beautiful," Hermione breathed. "Like one of those perfect nights you always hear about, with so many more stars than back in the city."
"I know," Harry agreed, hardly aware of what he was agreeing to. He was incredibly nervous. He had been carrying the ring around for weeks, waiting for the perfect moment. He was nervous that she didn't love him enough, though after he wondered why he had been scared.
"Harry? What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Hermione?"
"Hmm?"
"Will you…?" No, wait you fool! He chastised himself. You have to get down on your knee. Oh this is complicated.
"What Harry?" Hermione asked, her eyes inquiring.
He slipped the soft, velvet-covered box out of his pocket without her noticing.
Bending down, Harry said, "Hermione Vivian Rebecca Granger, I love you so much. I ask you to marry me."
She stared down at him and the open ring box in his hand.
"Please say something," he said, his anxiety increasing.
"Yes," she whispered. "Yes, I will marry you. I would be a fool to say no."
He stood and slipped the ring onto her finger. It was a gold band, with a diamond in the centre.
"Look on the band," Harry said. Hermione slid the ring off her finger and stared at it. Engraved on the gold were the words: To Hermione Granger, From Harry Potter, with all his love.
"I…don't know what to say," Hermione said. "Except that I love you so much. Je T'aime Plus Qu'hier Moins Que Demain."
"What does that mean?" Harry asked, as he pulled her into and embrace.
"I love you more than yesterday, less than tomorrow."
Hermione whispered that to him again, there in the church, watching Ginny and Draco's rehearsal (while she remembered and reminisced, Ron's and Lavender's had been completed). It had become a sort of ritual for them, one would whisper the French, the other would whisper the translation.
"All right, Harry and Hermione," Aberforth called. They both stood.
"Actually, no," Aberforth continued. "Hermione, do you want to go through your song first?"
"Sure." Hermione had a beautiful voice, as Harry had discovered in their fifth year, and she was singing Butterfly Kisses while Lavender and Ginny danced with their fathers at the reception.
"Hermione, go ahead and start when you're ready." She began to sing, her voice filling all the corners of the cathedral.
There are two things I know for sure
She was sent here from heaven, and she's Daddy's little girl.
As I drop to my knees by her bed at night
She talks to Jesus and I close my eyes
And I thank God for all of the joy in my life, oh but most of all...
For butterfly kisses after bedtime prayer
Sticking little white flowers all up in her hair
Walk beside the pony Daddy, it's my first ride
I know the cake looks funny Daddy, but I sure tried
Oh, with all that I've done wrong, I must have done something right
To deserve a hug every morning, and butterfly kisses at night.
Sweet sixteen today
She's looking like her Mama, a little more everyday.
One part woman, the other part girl
To perfume and makeup, from ribbons and curls.
Trying her wings out in a great big world
But I remember...
Butterfly kisses after bedtime prayer
Sticking little white flowers all up in her hair.
You know how much I love you Daddy, but if you don't mind
I'm only gonna kiss you on the cheek this time.
With all that I've done wrong, I must of done something right
To deserve her love every morning, and butterfly kisses at night.
All the precious time,
Oh, like the wind the years go by.
Precious butterfly,
Spread your wings and fly.
She'll change her name today.
She'll make a promise, and I'll give her away.
Standing in the bride's room just staring at her
She asks me what I'm thinking, and I said I'm not sure.
I just feel like I'm losing my baby girl,
And she leaned over...
Gave me butterfly kisses with her Mama's air,
Sticking little white flowers all up in her hair.
Walk me down the aisle Daddy, it's just about time.
Does my wedding gown look pretty Daddy?
Daddy, don't cry.
Oh, with all that I've done wrong, I must of done something right.
To deserve her love every morning, and butterfly kisses at night.
To deserve her love every morning, and butterfly kisses at night.
"That was beautiful," Draco said, having never heard Hermione sing before. The rest had heard her sing on numerous occasions.
"Thanks," she said, embarrassed.
"All right, now we'll rehearse Harry and Hermione," Aberforth said. "Harry, you stand up here. Hermione, go back." They obeyed. "Okay, enter in the order I have been repeating for the last half hour."
Ron and Ginny began chanting the wedding march as the flower girl, Melissa (Sirius and his wife, Ella's daughter) walked down the aisle, pretending to be scattering petals. She was followed by the bridesmaids, Alice, Jessa and Darcy (all of whom were Hermione's cousins). Darcy had been paired to walk down the aisle with Sirius and she looked very pleased about this, despite the fact Sirius was married and had a child.
Then Hermione entered. The other people in the pews stood like they would in the real wedding, as Hermione walked, almost glided down the aisle, managing to look elegant without a bridal dress.
"Once you get down here, I say 'Dearly beloved etc.," Aberforth started. "You know the drill. Then I say 'Do you, Hermione Vivian Rebecca Granger take this man etc. And you say?"
"I do," Hermione replied promptly.
"And then I say 'Do you Harry James Potter take this woman etc. And you say?"
"I do."
The instant Harry said 'I do', the candles all flashed out as one. There was pitch black as Hermione screamed because she could no longer feel Harry's hands in hers. He was gone.