Chapter 7 Floating Down the Aisle
With not a hair out of place nor a speck of lint to be seen, the groom's party lined up. The scent of Tunisian White Musk filled Draco's lungs along with the scent of flowers, as he inhaled the calm and exhaled the nervousness. His father gave him the once over and smiled. "I'll be with you the entire time."
"Thank you, Father." Knowing his father supported him, eased his tension. Indeed, his father followed every one of the Malfoy traditions, fully showing his support even wearing the traditional head of family robes of black and green with the Malfoy family crest etched in silver on his back. This is it. I'm marrying my soulmate who accepts everything about me even my faults: for once, someone who loves Draco and not the Malfoy heir.
Hammered dulcimer and organ music resounded within the immense gothic cathedral, later replicated in the form of the Cologne Cathedral, signaling the commencement of the wedding ceremony. Azaleas in a rainbow of colors adorned the immense gothic cathedral. Warm light from a plethora of candles illuminated the interior in a soft glow. Lucius marched along the silver carpet as it unrolled one meter above the floor, followed by Draco and his groomsmen. As Draco passed, he noticed the Muggles seemed completely oblivious to the magical happenings, as planned. Wizards and witches flanked his left, uttering a din of Latin and English blessings as he passed.
At the altar, his father stood to the right of the priestess, while Draco stood in front of him, one step below. The shadows of the Aurors who flew overhead reflected through the stained glass windows. Then the candles glowed peach, signaling that the bride would soon approach. When his father whispered, "Breathe," in his ear, he realized he had been holding his breath.
Soon the bridal music commenced. The bridesmaids preceded down the aisle in satin & chiffon silver, off the shoulder, medieval style gowns, followed by the flower girl and ring bearer wearing off white outfits. Guests remarked at how beautiful Hermione looked in her wedding dress: a white medieval styled, off the shoulder, satin-based dress, inlaid in light silvery gauzy chiffon and long handkerchief sleeves, cuffed with peach macramé cord which also laced the corset. Silver and peach inlays adorned the dress in its entirety along with her veil.
As Hermione glided gracefully along the carpet, she looked into her soulmate's eyes, which smoldered with love and tenderness without his usual cynicism: the look reserved soley for her. At that moment, no one else existed.
Gazing down the isle, Draco saw his gorgeous medieval fairy princess floating towards him. Awakening to the moment, her father lifted her veil and placed her hand his. As he clasped her hand, her eyes twinkled with a light reserved only for him: the look that said he was a hero: her hero.
Then they both turned to his father. "Father, I present to you, Hermione Granger, the woman that I love with all my soul. As head of this family, please allow her to become my wife."
"Miss Granger, do you wish to marry my son?"
"Yes," she answered.
"Do you love my son?"
"With all my soul," she replied.
"Do you promise to be a loyal member of the Malfoy family and swear to uphold its traditions?"
"Yes," she answered.
"The Malfoy family welcomes you." Lucius kissed Hermione's forehead and turned to Draco. "My son, you may take Miss Granger as your bride." Then Lucius slipped a silver silken cord over their clenched hands and secured it loosely with a clasp bearing the family crest.
The priestess then continued the ceremony. "The couple would like to thank their honored guests for joining them on this day celebrating their love. They have written their own vows." She smiled warmly to them. "You may pledge yourselves to each other." She motioned for him to begin.
"I, Draco Malfoy, will love you, Hermione Granger, and you alone as my wife. I will fill your heart with strength and courage: this is my commitment and my pledge to you. My devotion to you is pure and you are my joy. Together we will share the responsibility of the home and hearth, together always."
"I, Hermione Granger, will love you, Draco Malfoy, and you alone as my husband. I will fill your heart with strength and courage: this is my commitment and my pledge to you. My devotion to you is pure and you are my joy. Together we will share the responsibility of the home and hearth, together always."
The preistess clasped their joined hands in hers. "Treat yourselves and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together. Give the highest priority to the love your connection deserves. When difficulties assail your relationship, as they threaten all relationships, remember to focus on what is right between you, not only the part which seems wrong. In this way, you can ride out the storms when clouds hide the face of the sun in your lives. Remember that even if you lose sight of it for a moment, the sun is still there. And if each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your life together, it will be marked by abundance and delight." Atop a black pillow bearing the Malfoy crest, the ring bearer presented the rings. "These rings are symbolic of the never ending love you have for each other." She presented the white gold band with a dragon engraved on it to Draco. "Place this ring on her finger as a symbol of your love."
He did. She presented the larger white gold band with a fairy and caduceus engraved on it to Hermione. "Place this ring on his finger as a symbol of your love." She did. "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
With a light but sensous kiss, that each wanted to last much longer, they commenced their marriage. Afterwards, when the couple retreated down the aisle, the guests threw Açaí seeds, which symbolized happiness, prosperity and fertility.
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Before they entered the reception hall, in a private vestibule, Draco picked Hermione up and hugged her tightly. She wrapped her arms around his neck. Tears of joy streamed from her eyes now that she was in his arms. As her cheek rested against his silky silver hair, she inhaled his scent. "I love you so much and I've missed you terribly."
"You're my wife now and I love you so much." Reluctantly, he set her down and took a lasting look at her. "You're so breathtakingly beautiful." Like her, his eyes had tears of joy in them. Gently, with her blue handkerchief she dabbed them. Embarassed, he looked away. "This has never happened before: only for you, Hermione."
"You're not the only one," she replied as she dabbed her own eyes. "This is the happiest day of my life and it's only the first of many with you."
They hugged and hugged. Then he kissed her that made her more anxious for her wedding night. Until a light tap brought her back to the real world, she only thought of him. After he whisked his wand, making them wrinkle free, arm in arm they journeyed to the banquet hall.
