Quick question from my beloved readers, if I do write the Jule story, where can I post it? I've been thinking, and I'm confused. Technically it doesn't belong on because it will take place in New York, away from Hogwarts and any Harry Potter characters. However, there may be some offhand mentions of Hogwarts related things, and besides, all my readers are readers. So, where should I post? I was thinking I might use Thoughts?

Chapter 10: Goin' to the Chapel

Hermione loved to stare at her ring. Heloise did too. She would often grab Hermione's hand, pull it close to her own tiny face, and gaze at the ring for long periods of time. Hermione couldn't blame her because that was exactly what she did from time to time.

It was an antique engagement ring, a ring that had been passed down through generations of Malfoys. The band was silver and was thicker than was usual for an engagement ring. It was rather heavy and inscribed with tiny scrawlings, sometimes shaping into little flowers and sometimes staying abstract. As with most ancient wizarding artifacts the ring frequently changed it's appearance, so the minute designs on the band were ever changing which was why it was so fun to look at. The diamond set into it was large and oval-shaped, which suited Hermione just fine. The inside of the band had originally been inscribed with the Malfoy crest alone (an ornate M with a serpent twined around and through it) but Draco had guessed that Hermione wouldn't have appreciated that very much. So he had removed the crest entirely and the band now read, quite simply, "With all my love" in very ornate script. Hermione loved the reassuring weight of it on her finer.

The reason Draco had taken so long to get the ring had been because of his mother's extreme reluctance to be parted with it. Lucius had received the Dementor's Kiss some time before and had later died without his soul, making Narcissa a widow. Since she was still married to a Malfoy, albeit a dead one, Narcissa saw no reason to give up her ring. Draco had eventually had to tell her that he needed it because he was getting married to get her to hand it over. He hadn't told Narcissa who he was marrying until she had already legally signed the ring over to his possession. When she had tried to get the ring back after learning who her daughter-in-law would be Draco had gotten a magical restraining order, making it physically impossible for Narcissa to come within thirty feet of her son or his family. A cruel punishment for any mother, but there are better mothers in the world by far than Narcissa Malfoy.

Harry was put out with Draco's proposal for a little while because it had come so close before his own, but he had eventually shrugged it off and proposed to Ginny at Christmas dinner at the Burrow. Hermione, Draco, and Heloise had all been invited that year and watched as Ginny, crying happily, had consented to becoming Mrs. Potter.

"Everyone's getting married!" Mrs. Weasley had burst into tears herself, throwing her arms around Ariel. She had always been fond of Ariel, but Ariel was now her favorite daughter-in-law because she was currently pregnant with the first of the next generation of Weasley. Mrs. Weasley was delighted with Harry marrying into the family because she had always thought of him as another son anyway.

Angelica Rosa Weasley and Arthur John Weasley Jr. were born two months later on February fourteenth, Valentine's Day. Angelic had rosy cheeks and a dusting of red, Weasley hair on her tiny head. Everyone took her birthday as a sign that she would be a heart-breaker. Arthur was bald, chubby, and ruddy-cheeked. Everyone took his birthday as a sign that he would frequently have his heart broken. Both Ron and Ariel had been slightly surprised by the birth of twins: they had only received one sonogram early on and apparently one of the baby's had been hiding. (A/N: a.k.a. me backtracking to explain something I forgot I wrote earlier :P)

In a comic twist of fate Ginny had discovered shortly after Harry's proposal that she was already two months pregnant. They had a small wedding at the Burrow on January twenty-first, amidst much celebration and a few irritated glares at Harry. Once they were married, however, the Weasleys dropped all hard feelings towards Harry at the prospect of another new baby.

Hermione and Draco's efforts were also rewarded that February on the fifteenth, the day after the twins birth, when Hermione discovered that she was pregnant too. She and Draco agreed to have the wedding on May first, before she started showing. Writing the date on their invitations Hermione could only smile at the significance of this one month in their very strange relationship.

"I think I know what you're thinking," Draco smirked from across the table. "May indeed."

"I guess it makes sense," Hermione smiled back. "May started our relationship. Why shouldn't we get married then?"

"It's a little confusing at times," Draco smiled ironically. "I can never tell if it's May the person or May the month."

"Why not both?" Hermione shrugged. "Either way, I think it's a good thing all in all."

At the news of Hermione Granger's engagement to Draco Malfoy the press had had a field-day. When they learned about Heloise and that Hermione was pregnant again the editors of the Daily Prophet nearly went into apoplectic joy. Such juicy gossip and from the top of the Ministry itself, or at least the top's assistant. There had been much speculation about Hermione giving up work to stay at home with her children, all of which she refuted as spurious. The minister himself chose to stand by Hermione, granting her time off for her honey-moon and a generous maternity leave, on the condition that she come back to work as soon as possible. Hermione had been pleasantly surprised and had agreed at once.

Hermione had managed not to gain more than five pounds by the wedding day and her stomach was still flat, but she did still seem to glow. The gown Jule had kept hidden in her work room was fitted perfectly for her, all sewn by hand the muggle way to fit extra well. It was silver velvet, draped at the bust and in the back and falling into an elegant puddle at Hermione's feet. It even had a long train that followed her as her father walked her down the aisle. Hermione's hair hung down her back in a cascade of brown curls, covered in a transparent silver veil.

Evelyn and Heloise skipped ahead of Hermione, scattering rose petals as Hermione and Mr. Granger marched down the long white carpet towards the alter. Evelyn and Heloise then took places on either side of the alter, Heloise holding Draco's ring and Evelyn holding Hermione's. Hermione took her place at the alter across from Draco, handing her bouquet of lilies to Jule who stood behind her as her maid of honor. After Jule stood Ginny, Ariel, and Felice all dressed in pale yellow silk gowns. Behind Draco Harry and Ron had been pressed into service as somewhat reluctant groomsmen. Heloise stood next to Hermione and Evelyn beside Draco.

The ceremony was short and sweet, presided over by, of all people, Professor Dumbledore.

"Family and friends, we are gathered here today to witness the joyous union of Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy. Today, Beltane, is a most special day for a wedding. Our ancestors saw today as the time to plant their crops, nurturing the seeds to grow into tall, strong plants. So too today we see Hermione and Draco planting this seed of love, to be nurtured and grown through their life together. The Blessings of Mayday be upon both of you," he smiled at his former students. "Now for the vows. Hermione, do you vow to honor, love, and protect Draco for as long as you both shall live?"

Smiling radiantly at Draco, Hermione took the plain silver band that Heloise handed her. "I do," she said as she slid it onto Draco's left ring finger.

"And Draco, do you vow to honor, love, and protect Hermione for as long as you both shall live?" Dumbledore repeated.

Draco cleared his throat. "I do." He slid the thin silver band from Evelyn onto Hermione's ring finger, right next to her engagement ring.

Grinning broadly, Dumbledore threw his hands in the air. "With the power vested in me I now pronounce the two of you husband and wife. You may kiss." Amidst much clapping Draco kissed Hermione deeply. They broke apart as they heard giggles coming from Heloise and Evelyn.

"Hey, we're not the only ones," Hermione jerked her head towards Jule and Felice, who were sharing an equally passionate kiss only a few feet away. The little girls giggled again. By that time Jule had officially moved in with Felice and Evelyn and they were living in their equivalent of matrimonial harmony.

A few of the more traditional witches and wizards in the audience stiffened at the sight of the two women at the altar, but they were eventually won over at the reception.

Hermione and Draco went to the reception long enough to dance the first dance, cut the wedding cake, exchange sips of champagne and sparkling apple cider, and be congratulated by all their guests. They then left Jule in charge of the party, retiring to their apartment to put Heloise to bed and enjoy their first night as a married couple.

"It doesn't feel any different," Hermione confessed to Draco as they lay in bed. "You look the same, you feel the same. The only difference is now we have matching jewelry."

"That and we're forever bound together by un breakable chains of love," Draco joked.

"Oh yeah, that," Hermione joked back. "But I don't know, I thought the change would be more drastic. Like we would be married and suddenly, I don't know, transformed into younger versions of my parents or something. I feel like I should be more mature, more responsible."

"You've always been mature and responsible," Draco pointed out.

Hermione thought for a moment. "Does it make me sound ridiculous if I say I don't feel like an adult? I feel like I'm an imposter or something."

"I don't think there's some drastic change that suddenly makes us more adult," Draco said eventually. "Maybe we're just people. No matter how old we get, we'll still be the same."

"I think there's something oddly comforting in that," Hermione smiling, snuggling closer to Draco. After another moment of silence she spoke again. "Does it bother you that I kept my name? Would you prefer that I was Hermione Malfoy?"

"I think that I like Hermione Granger just fine," Draco kissed Hermione's forehead. "I've never met this Hermione Malfoy person and I don't much want to. Besides, there's already a Mrs. Narcissa Malfoy and we really don't need another one like her."

"But you're glad that we've changed Heloise's name to Malfoy?"

Draco sighed and rolled his eyes in exasperation. "That was your decision, remember. I don't care what you mad people call yourselves as long as I get to hang around you for a while."

"Only a while?" Hermione teased.

"Well, unless you would prefer I stayed longer..." Hermione answered his question with a kiss.

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Damien Felix Malfoy was born several weeks early on October thirty-first. Hermione joked that this, and the name Draco had chosen, meant that their child was secretly the son of Satan. Damien, however, proved her wrong by having the sweetest, sunniest disposition of any baby she had ever known. He had brown eyes and pale brown hair, but his features seemed to be identical to those of Draco in baby pictures. Draco joked that they're children were now little clones of each of them who had decided to trade complexions.

Harry and Ginny's daughter, Lily Virginia Potter, was born earlier that fall on August twenty-third. She had Harry's green eyes and Ginny's red hair, but it was a darker shade of red, tinged, perhaps, by her father's dark coloring. He joked that, with Ron's children, they had the Golden Trio reformed, but once Damien was born he relented to allow for a new Golden Quartet, even if it's youngest member happened to be a Malfoy.

Hermione returned to work several months after Damien was born. She had always thought that she would be happiest when working, striving for perfection and reaching the top of her career. She was very much surprised, however, to find herself happiest at home, with all her friends and many screaming infants and toddlers, leaning against Draco's shoulder and watching over her children.

This is Kind of The End, but there is an Epilogue coming.