A/N: hello there again, I hope everyone is enjoying this story as much as I am enjoying writing it. Here is part 2 of the wedding that I know you all have been waiting 3 long stories for lol. I hope you all like it! The next chapter will be getting into the start of the final battle but that doesnt mean it's the start of the end just yet! I am probably safely going to say that this is prolly about halfway through the story which means that after four long months, I'm in the home stretch and this wonderful series of mine is almost finished!
Chapter Nine: I Do…Finally! The Malfoy Wedding Part Two
The guests (all Order and D.O. members) were finally starting to file into place in the backyard, taking their seats and talking quietly amongst each other. Draco had made his way up to the front of the yard by the alter where Minerva McGonagall was waiting patiently. He was beginning to tremble now from sheer excitement; he was finally marry Hermione Granger, the woman he had been head over heels in love with since the summer before seventh year. The woman who he had thought to be dead and gone from his life forever until just a few short weeks earlier would finally be walking down that aisle towards where he was in just a few short moments time.
Upstairs, Ginny and the others had just left to head downstairs, leaving Hermione to collect her thoughts privately for a few moments. She had just begun to put on her jewelry that she was wearing for the occasion (the diamond heart pendant that Draco had given her for their six month anniversary and a pair of diamond and emerald dangling heart earrings that Bethany had loaned her, along with the diamond, emerald, and ruby bracelet that Draco had given her for her 19th birthday that matched her engagement ring which was still in place on her ring finger where it belonged) when she heard a knock at the door to the bedroom.
"Come in!" Hermione called through the door, not taking her focus off of the bracelet she was attaching to her wrist.
The door creaked open slowly and closed again with a soft click. Hermione finished clasping the bracelet and had just clasped her hand on her necklace that she was about to put on when she was startled by a voice she had only really heard once before, many years earlier at the Quidditch World Cup she had attended with the Weasleys and Harry the summer before fourth year.
"My goodness," the airy female voice sounded behind Hermione. "You truly are a beautiful sight."
Hermione whipped around in her chair quickly and came face to face with one of the last people she had ever expected to see, especially sitting in the same room as her while she was preparing for her wedding.
"Mrs. … Malfoy?" Hermione gasped out in shock. "What…I mean…well yes, what are you…"
"Please my dear," Narcissa Malfoy said politely with a small airy laugh. "Call me Narcissa. After all, it appears we are about to become family."
Narcissa sat down gracefully on the edge of the bed in the room near Hermione. Hermione stared at her soon to be mother-in-law, her necklace clasped in her hand, unsure of exactly what was going on at the moment.
"Err, yes, I suppose we are…Narcissa." Hermione replied hesitantly, still in a bit of shock. "I'm sorry if I seem rude, but seriously, what exactly are you doing here?"
Narcissa chuckled lightly again. "Oh dear, not at all. In fact please forgive me. I had forgotten that Remus had not gotten a chance to inform you and of course, Draco has been overwhelmed over the past couple weeks since your return. During the assignment you all had back during your seventh year that took you to the Department of Mysteries, the Dark Lord found that Draco was in fact working for the Order and my life, as well as his own, were put into a large amount of danger. Voldemort had already threatened Draco and I once before almost four years ago after Lucius was arrested and sent to Azkaban and Draco was forced into Voldemort's ranks. Remus learned of this and came to visit the manor to offer the Order's protection. The catch was that I had to remain under the Fidelius charm in an unknown location for a long period of time."
Narcissa paused for a moment, a look of sorrow on her pale features. "It was only within the last few months that Remus informed Draco of my whereabouts. I had been kept up to date on his life though and I can honestly say that I am overjoyed that he was able to find someone to love. But please child, do not worry for I am nothing like my husband. That whole blood purity thing was not something I believe in at all. I am just glad that Draco was able to find someone to love who loved him back just as much, it's all I've ever hoped for for my only son."
Hermione stared at Narcissa. She was shocked to hear the woman speak so pleasantly and even more shocked that she was completely accepting of the fact that Hermione was not a pureblooded witch. Hermione's tension that had swelled the moment she heard Narcissa's voice was completely gone now and replaced by compassion and even admiration for the woman for everything she must have endured through the past years that she had been with Lucius.
After she finished speaking, Narcissa rose from her seat on the bed and crossed to where Hermione was sitting at the vanity. She took the delicate necklace from Hermione's hand and motioned for the young woman to turn around.
"I wish I had gotten the pleasure to meet you earlier, Hermione. Everything that Draco has said about you has clearly not done you complete justice." Narcissa told her as she clasped the necklace around Hermione's neck. "It is nice to finally meet the girl who changed my son's life."
Hermione eyed Narcissa for a moment. "Well thank you Narcissa but Draco didn't change for me. He changed for himself."
Before Narcissa could respond however, another knock came on the door and Remus stuck his head through to let Hermione know that it was time for her to come downstairs.
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Finally all the guests were seated in the backyard, including Narcissa who gave Hermione a tight embrace before being led to her seat in the front row beside the rest of the Weasleys. Hermione and the rest of the small wedding party were now standing just beside the double doors leading to the backyard. The music (which was an enchanted wireless) began playing a soft but upbeat melody and the double doors opened. Hermione peaked a look into the backyard as Bethany and Jeremy (Hermione's bridesmaid and Draco's groomsman) made their way down the aisle to the front of the chairs and gasped in awe at the beautiful job the women had done.
They had charmed the backyard to feel warm because it was after all late January and otherwise everyone would probably freeze to death. The trees were filled with soft twinkling fairy lights and there were garlands of ivy and red roses laced up the aisle. The alter was surrounded by a beautiful, simple white silver archway and adorned with more ivy, roses and golden ribbons. It was very simple but elegant and Hermione loved it.
She ducked back away from the edge of the doorway as Ron and Ginny made their turn down the aisle. As soon as they reached their positions at the front of the yard, the music suddenly changed and Hermione found herself with butterflies in her stomach and her hands shaking as she realized that it was now her turn. Remus, who had volunteered to walk Hermione down the aisle, took hold of her arm and laced it through his own. He patted her hand fatherly-like and gave her an approving smile to help ease her nervousness. But nothing mattered to Hermione anymore as soon as they stepped into the threshold of the doorway and she finally locked eyes with Draco for what felt like the first time.
Draco felt the world disappear around him as the music changed and he looked up to see the most beautiful creature he'd ever seen standing in the doorway, staring right back at him. His heart fluttered as their eyes locked for what seemed like an eternity and she gave him a small but happy smile. Draco thought that Hermione seemed to be surrounded in a sparkling glow as the sunlight glistened off her. She was shrouded in a delicate, flowing gown that was made from the finest opaque, crème colored silk that money could buy (I guess sometimes it helps to be in love with one of the wealthiest guys in the country) and it seemed to hang off of every curve of her slender frame so perfectly. Thin straps of pale gold silk hung delicately from her smooth shoulders holding up a tight bodice that wrapped around her bust area. From there, the gown flowed freely and gracefully to the floor and into a short train that followed her gracefully. The gown itself was covered in tiny, delicately detailed red rosebuds and it made Hermione look like an angel who had just graced his presence from heaven itself. The back was completely open and only held together by tiny laces that came to an elegant knot just about her tailbone, accentuating her flawless back.
"My angel…." Draco muttered ecstatically to himself as he watched Hermione walk slowly and gracefully up the aisle towards him, carrying a small bouquet of red and silver rosebuds interlaced with ivy and golden ribbons.
Draco felt a strong hand on his shoulder as he watched his love, ripping him from his thoughts. He twisted his head slightly to the side to see Ron smiling as he watched Hermione as well. Draco turned his attention back to the angel walking towards him and heard Ron whisper brotherly to him.
"She's beautiful isn't she?" Ron asked and Draco nodded his head, never tearing his eyes away from Hermione who was almost to him. "I know that I've said it before but she's my best friend so I'll say it again. Malfoy, so help me gods, if you ever hurt her in any way, I swear on my soul that I'll kill you."
"Don't worry Weasley." Draco whispered back to the redhead. "I could never hurt that angel."
Ron's hand removed itself from Draco's shoulder as Hermione finally reached where they were standing in front of Minerva. Remus stopped and gave Hermione a warm fatherly hug and shook Draco's hand strongly before kissing Hermione's cheek and taking a seat beside Narcissa, who had small tears already leaking down her pale cheeks. Hermione looked up at Draco and they locked eyes, both smiling ecstatically as Draco took Hermione's hand in his own.
"You look so beautiful, Mia." Draco told her softly as he stared into her bright honey colored eyes.
The couple turned towards Minerva who smiled at them both warmly and began to address everyone.
"Beloved friends and family," the elderly witch began. "It is a great honor and blessed occasion that we are all here today to see the magical union of these two souls. These two have fought through many terrible obstacles and have survived them all only to have their love grow stronger with every passing day. They have both grown in many ways and I am truly honored to be allowed to join them in the bonds of this blessed union and see them into their future together."
Draco and Hermione exchanged a quick glance at each other and smiled lovingly, Draco grasping Hermione's hand a little tighter. Minerva continued through the ceremony and then asked that the couple face each other and join their left hands. Draco and Hermione did as was asked and Minerva pulled out a long white ribbon and stepped around the alter to stand in front of the loving couple and asked them to recite their vows.
"While I cannot say that I have loved you from the moment we met, I can say completely honestly now that I love you with every breath that is in my being." Draco said as he gazed into Hermione's eyes. "We have triumphed through many obstacles but the one thing that has never changed from the moment I first kissed you in this very house the summer before our final year at Hogwarts is my love for you Hermione. You have given me the strength I needed to stand up against those who I was raised to follow and become my own person. You have shown me what it is like to truly be loved unconditionally no matter what may have happened between us in our past and for that, Hermione my love, I thank you every day and I pledge to love you more with every passing moment until the day our souls are taken from this earth and I vow to you to protect you with every fiber of my being. I love you, Hermione Granger, and nothing or no one will ever change that. You have shown me where I truly belong."
Hermione felt her eyes swell up and release the tears that she had been holding back since the moment she looked at herself in the mirror in the room upstairs that morning. She smiled lovingly at Draco and gazed into his icy blue eyes to see that they too were starting to brim with unshed tears. She reached up her right hand and caressed his cheek lovingly and took a deep breath before stating her vows.
"Draco, you and I have not always seen eye to eye. We have fought and fought with each other almost since the first moment we met those many years ago. I must admit that when you first came back and were asking for help, I was skeptical as to your true purpose. But as I put down my walls and finally got to know you, I found myself falling in love with the man that you had become. There were times in the beginning that I was confused about my feelings but you stayed true and allowed me to sort things out and for that I thank you because without that time, I may never have truly realized what was standing right in front of me. I give you my heart, my body, and my soul from now till eternity and I swear that no one nor anything will ever make me question my love for you. I know now where I truly belong and that is right here, with you, forever. You are my one true love, my soul mate, Draco Malfoy, and without you, I would be lost."
There were quiet sobs heard throughout the backyard as Hermione finished her vows and Draco, who was now crying himself, reached up and wiped a stray tear from Hermione's cheek. Even Minerva, the usually collected and stern woman, could not contain the couple of silent tears that fell from her eyes. After a few almost silent moments (silent aside from the occasional sigh or sob emitting from the audience) Minerva collected herself and continued on. She reached out and began loosely wrapping the ribbon around the couple's joined hands and then placed her hands atop of them.
"Here before witnesses, and have sworn vows to each other. With this cord, I bind them to the vows that they each have made. However this binding is not tied, so that neither is restricted by the other, and the binding is only enforced by both their wills. This ribbon is magically binding these two souls together from now till death takes them from each other. Never shall anyone be able to break this powerful bound that the two have. It will stand strong against all that opposes it. Now, Draco, Hermione, please repeat after me."
The couple nodded, never breaking their eye contact as they repeated the words their former headmistress recited, as Minerva took out her wand and placed the tip of it on their joined hands.
"Heart to thee…" Minerva said.
"Heart to thee…" They repeated in unison.
"Soul to thee…"
"Soul to thee…"
"Body to thee…"
"Body to thee…"
"Forever and always…"
"Forever and always…"
"So shall it be."
"So shall it be." They finished, both fighting back the tears that were falling and smiling at each other with loving affection.
Minerva tapped her wand twice and the ribbon magically vanished. They finished the ceremony, exchanging their wedding rings (two serpents, one gold and one platinum, twisted together with their heads lying aside each other…..they were Malfoy family wedding bands.) The ceremony concluded with a passionate kiss between the two lovers as everyone in audience stood and clapped for the happy couple. Narcissa was a puddle of tears as she watched her baby boy marry his true love. Ginny and Bethany were crying almost hysterically, wiping their eyes on silk handkerchiefs, and even Ron was tearing up a little at the sight of his best friend getting married.
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Later that night after a short reception with some of the Order and D.O. members who had stayed on after the ceremony, Ginny and Bethany retreated with Ron to the Burrow taking Alexis with them so that the newlyweds could have some private time in light of the upcoming battles that were scheduled to take place in only two short days time. Hermione and Draco said goodbye to the final guest and began to make their way upstairs to their room. Before they could start up the stairs, however, Draco surprised Hermione by sweeping her off her feet-- literally-- and carrying her in his arms up the stairs to the room.
Draco laid her lovingly on their bed after kicking the door shut behind them and laid down beside her, covering her lips with tender kisses.
"I love you, Mrs. Malfoy." He said sweetly, kissing her lips tenderly.
"I love you too, Draco, more than you will ever know." Hermione responded and pulled his face back to hers, locking him in a deep and passionate kiss.
The newly married couple began shedding each other's clothes from their bodies as they kissed everywhere they could. It was as if they were together for the first time. Every touch was electric and every kiss set each other on fire. Hermione pulled off Draco's jacket as he unbuttoned his shirt and within seconds both items were thrown to the floor. She pulled at his pants, tugging the zipper down and pushing them off his hips as she kissed his chest heatedly, as if she would burn alive if she didn't have him all soon. Very quickly, Draco was pushing his shoes and socks off and sliding off the bed, letting his pants fall to the floor leaving him in only his black silk boxers, Hermione staring at him hungrily, a heated passionate fire burning in her eyes. Draco pulled her off the bed with him and kissed her so passionately and heatedly, Hermione almost orgasmed from the sheer sensation of his tongue against her own.
Draco broke from her mouth and began trailing a line of kisses down her jawbone to her neck and collarbone and his hands slid themselves behind her back and began to slowly untying and loosening her gown. After it was fully untied and loosened enough, he wrapped one arm around her waist tightly, his hand resting on her lower back and the other slid one of the straps from her shoulder and replaced it with his lips, kissing it tenderly. Hermione's hands found their way up his shoulders and into his pale blonde locks, gripping them tightly as she leaned her head back in ecstasy at the feeling of his lips on her skin. She was so inticed by the sensation that she barely registered her gown sliding from her slender frame and pooling at her feet. Realizing this, Hermione kicked off her heels and stepped out of the gown, kneeling on the bed and pulling Draco towards her.
Draco hungrily obeyed and began to devour Hermione's mouth with his own again as the two leaned backwards to fall on to the bed, Draco over Hermione, his hands caressing her skin up and down the length of her body. Hermione's leg found it's way up his and locked itself behind his rear, pulling him into her body so closely that she could feel his hardness against her and it made her ache for him. Their tongues battled for dominance as their hands roamed each other's bodies, barely registering the fact that they were pulling each other's undergarments from each other's bodies as they embraced.
Before long, both were lying entangled under the new green and gold silk sheets that Bethany had bought for them and placed on their bed during the reception as a wedding gift. Their bodies were already glistening with each other's sweat but at this moment in time, nothing mattered to either of them except for the person who they were with. They finally broke away from each other for a moment and laid staring into each other's eyes, both feeling like somehow it was like looking into the other's eyes for the very first time. And in a way it was for now they were no longer just dating, or engaged but a fully married couple…..something that had taken way too long to happen and both were in heaven at the fact that it finally had.
"I love you Draco Malfoy." Hermione said softly, staring once again into his icy blue eyes that were filled with passion and love for only her.
"I love you too, Hermione Malfoy." Draco responded, sharing her gaze. "And I promise I will love you forever."
The two locked lips again as their bodies were joined, consummating the marriage that was heaven sent. They made love long through the night, reaching climax after climax together, grasping and feeling everything that the other had to offer as if it was their last night on earth. They moved together time and time again in perfect sync as if their bodies were truly made for each other. The newly wed couple finally drifted off to sleep as the dawning sun began to peak over the horizon, both completely and utterly spent and wholly content wound tightly in each other's arms. As the sun peaked through the light weight curtains in the room, it glistened lightly off the sleeping couple and reflected it's glow in the matching rings that were now glowing a bright green-- an unknown magic in the rings that glowed to show true love.