Chapter Nine

-And So We Begin-

Disclaimer - I own nothing.

A/N Well here it is. The wedding. Dunno what you guys are going to think. Possibly a lil oc Draco? I don't know. I just thought that even a heartless bastard would feel something on his wedding day.

Tell me what you think.

MerinxD

Wedding plans. Real wedding plans. It was actually happening. Hermione was going to have to go through with this twisted betrothal and it terrified her.

She had never known what it was like to be forced to follow society so closely in her entire existence. Hermione Granger was not a follower, she made up her own rules. Every move was calculated, every thing said premeditated. The young Griffindor could have almost been a Slytherin. A Slytherin with very expensive taste. Hermione laughed silently to herself as she stared at the mountain of wedding preparations that had donned the main room. The whole house was in a buzz. House elves were singing, visitors were in a continual flow and her mother actually looked like a real person.

Hermione sat in one of the chairs at the long table that lay before her. She glanced down at the guest list that had already been mailed out. Draco and herself thought that they could hide this marriage. With the amount of people on guest list she highly doubted that it was going to remain a secret too easily.

Sighing she stood, wanting to clear her head. Walking out side she saw her mother addressing a unknown house elf.

"Mother," she made herself known.

"Oh Hello Hermione," her mother smiled. "How are you feeling?"

"Honestly, a bit over whelmed. Actually there was something I wanted to talk to you about."

"Talk away then." Carol smiled at her new found daughter.

"Alone." She looked away nervously.

"I see, well then we shall go to my office."

"Office? You have an office?" The young witch was surprised.

"Contrary to popular belief my dear I do not just float about the house all day, I run a witches society." Carol told Hermione as they began to walk to the office.

Once securely inside the room, Hermione spoke.

"Mother, I have been thinking." She started, "When I go back to school, I would like to remain the person I was before…I would like to be Hermione Granger."

"I see", was all her mother gave her.

"Draco and I would like to keep our marriage a secret until graduation."

"How will you do that?" The woman before her was now sitting and held a look of patience and wisdom beyond her years. She looked no older than a woman of thirty five. Hermione could only wish that she could age so gracefully.

"Well Draco and I have been working on that." She stated. "I was just wondering if there was a way to keep our names out of the press after the wedding."

"What you are asking is virtually impossible dear". Hermione started to look disappointed, "However, being who I am I think we could figure something out. Perhaps you would not be adverse to being married under your real name. The name your father and I wanted for you before we had to give you up."

"I think that sounds genius." The young witch smiled. "Thankyou, I'm sorry that I'm not what you expected". As soon as the words left her lips Hermione realised. She was actually sorry, she really wanted to please her new mother.

"It is okay Hermione, I did not know what to expect. I just hoped that you could learn to love us even after our lack of a past."

"I think I can learn to." Hermione smiled at the woman that resembled her so much.

"Now off with you, it is only two days until you and Draco are wed. You need your rest…Liliana".

"Liliana. Is that my name?"

"Yes, yes it is…now go".

Hermione smiled and exited the room. That meeting had made things a lot easier. Her mother seemed to that the news a lot easier than expected. She supposed they had even made some head way with their new found relationship.

Draco needed to know about this new development.

……

The blond Slytherin was perched on his bed staring at the exquisite dress robes that hung before him. He had tried them on more than once and each time that fit perfectly. These robes symbolised something. Something he couldn't pin point. Perhaps it was reality.

He was pulled out of his reverie by a tapping on his window. It was Blaise's owl. How odd. Why would Blaise need to message him when they live in such close quarters?

He let the owl in and gave it a treat and a pat taking the note from around its possession.

The letter however, was not from Blaise. It was written in neat hand writing. Not over elegant and not messy, it was too the point. Much like Hermione and what the letter had to say.

I spoke to mother. She has agreed to keep our secret to an extent. Until we reach school this coming year my name it Liliana Zabini. We shall be married using this name. I will then be Liliana Malfoy to the public, no one will know that it is me. Let Rita Skeeter suck on them lemons.

You know where to find me.

The note was not signed. He folded it up and put it in his pocket. Well this certainly was a new development. The clever witch had definitely solved some of their upcoming problems.

He had to tell her about his arrangement with the head master, he should tell her in person.

So, the blonde replied.

Be at your room at eleven tonight.

D.M

He gave it to the awaiting owl and told it to return to Hermione. Then Draco went back to his bed and continued his staring. He needed a little dullness for a couple of hours. Things were certainly going to be interesting after the next two days.

…………

It was eleven. Where in merlins name was he? Maybe he forgot. No Malfoys' were known for following through. Hermione had yet to decide whether that was a good or a bad thing.

"Granger wake up!"

Hermione was startled awake by Draco's harsh voice. He was standing by her bed looking irritated. How long had she been asleep?

"You would think that you could have waited for me for fifteen minutes." Draco told her as he waited for her to sit up fully.

"So I was not asleep long." Hermione said to herself more than to him.

He answered anyway. "No, I was late is all. Now I'm not here for us to swap girly stories and do each others hair, I am here for a reason."

Hermione smirked much like the blonde boy that stood before her. "I dare say that you take longer to do your hair then I take to do mine."

"It shows," Draco's face was blank. He was all business. "I spoke to Dumbledore when we went to Hogwarts."

"I knew that something must have happened. It took you long enough to tell me." She huffed slightly moving towards the edge of the bed as he took a seat opposite her on the lounge chair.

"Well if you had not noticed Granger there seems to be a wedding going on in this house. You know very well that we have both been off our feet with plans for our ultimate down fall".

She laughed, that was one way of putting it.

"Well don't make me wait any longer. What happened?" She leaned forward in anticipation and he gave her a once over. He smirked at the Pyjamas that she seemed to be wearing. They were green with little teddy bears all over them. On the front of her shirt it said 'Love me'. They were so hideous yet endearing at the same time. Maybe he could love her…one day.

Shaking the absurd thoughts from his head he began.

"Well you were asleep and instead of waking you…."

………..

She could not believe that two days had passed so quickly. Here she stood in her bed room both mothers at her side fluffing about with the final touches on her out fit.

"There, you look beautiful." Mrs. Granger told Hermione smiling warmly.

"Thanks mum, I'm absolutely terrified." The bride to be admitted.

"Don't be. Carol and I are terrified enough for you. Just enjoy the moment. You only get married once".

"Or six times if you are Lady Parkinson" Carol chimed in smiling at her own joke.

All three women laughed momentarily before setting themselves back on the task at hand.

Hermione's wedding.

She looked beautiful that was for sure. She was wearing white dress robes that resembled a muggle wedding dress. It was made of satin and chiffon, something simple yet completely Hermione. The material clung to her body perfectly. She looked at herself in the long mirror and smiled a bitter sweet smile.

'This should be the best day of my life.' She thought to herself. 'No one said it couldn't be,' a voice in her head sounded.

Watching a tear escape down her cheek she wiped it away finally speaking out loud. "I should make the most of this, I won't be able to do this again."

Sighing in resignation, Hermione straightened her veil and walked to her bed room door where her brides maids were waiting.

It was time.

………………….

Draco was nervous. He had no idea why considering this was a forced arrangement. Yet he still felt the unmistakable need to look good for his bride.

And look good he did. Draco was the picture of perfection standing at the alter looking slightly confused and nervous. Blaise stood beside him looking more confident than ever. Smarmy bastard was actually enjoying seeing his undoing.

"What kind of best friend would enjoy his counter parts pain?" Draco asked Blaise quietly.

"The normal kind", his brother in law to be replied, looking down to the end of the aisle as the music began.

Draco was minutes away from being married, and he was still terrified.

…….

Hermione reached the platform that Draco stood upon waiting for her. He looked absolutely beautiful. If a man could look beautiful. She smiled as both her biological father and her father kissed her on each cheek and led her toward her husband to be.

She could see Draco's breath hitch in his throat momentarily as a look of appreciation crossed his face. It was only briefly as his face returned to its regular unreadable state. She took his hands as the ministry official told her to and it was then that Hermione caught Draco's eyes. They were so icy blue she felt as if she was going to fall in and catch a chill. She could not look away, he looked as if he was having the same problem.

"Hi." She mouthed to him as the official spoke very formal words about binding and eternal love. He smirked and replied, "Hey."

Both Draco and Hermione could have scoffed at what the official was saying however, both teens remained silent until the crucial part of the ceremony.

"Do you Liliana Zabini take Draconis Lucius Algernon Malfoy to be your lawfully wedded husband and wizarding counter part for as long as you shall both live?" The official questioned.

Hermione listened to his words knowing that there was only one answer that she was able to give. So looking at Draco, she spoke. "I will, I do." Hermione smiled slightly.

The official repeated the same to Draco and he replied the same as the girl standing before him. "Yes. I do." He did not realise that he was shaking slightly until he breathed out slowly.

The ministry official said the final binding spell that would keep Hermione and Draco locked together forever and then presented them both with two rings. Hermione stared at the ring tat was obviously for Draco before picking it up apprehensively. She took the ring between her shaking fingers and slipped it on his ring finger. He did the same taking her hand in his and slipping her ring on. His face grew slightly paler. It was almost over, It was final.

Hermione saw this and instinctively stroked of thumb over his palm in comfort.

It was then the ministry official said it, "I now pronounce you bound as wizard and witch, male and female, husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Draco almost laughed out loud. He could not believe that he forgot about this part. Slowly he looked down at his new wife and shrugged, he would have to get used to her at some point.

Hermione could not read his face. What was he thinking? What if he doesn't want to kiss me?

Her thoughts were silenced by Draco's lips upon hers.

'And so we begin.' The newly wed couple thought before losing themselves to the kiss.

A/N There. Finally finished this chappie. XD

What did you think? Rnr. 333

Merin