THIS IS LOVE
It seemed wrong to be celebrating, Cedric thought. It had only been three years since the Final Battle where Cedric had lost so many friends including fellow members of Dumbledore's Army Terry Boot, Michael Corner, and Liam Reed…his best friend Liam had been killed at the hands of the Death Eaters, dying nobly for the cause. It seemed wrong to be celebrating. It had only been four years since the death of Albus Dumbledore at the hands of Severus Snape. The former headmaster of Hogwarts had brought so much to the Wizarding World in his 157 years. Cedric couldn't stop thinking that it seemed wrong to be celebrating.
He was jolted from his thoughts when Harry Potter entered the small room where Cedric had been changing. He was finishing tying his bowtie as Harry walked in and shut the door behind him.
"Are you okay, mate?" Harry asked Cedric concernedly.
Cedric nodded, straightening the bow and tugging on his jacket as he checked his reflection in the mirror to make sure he looked okay. His reflection reminded him of that night six years ago when he had worn almost the same dress robes to the Yule Ball. It was strange to think that tonight he would be arm in arm with the same girl…the same woman…that he had taken to the ball all those years ago.
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Hermione stood in front of the mirror at looked at her reflection. Her brown locks curled and fell around her bare shoulders, perfectly framing her face. The beaded bodice of her perfect white gown glittered in the sunlight peaking through the window and the rest of her long dress trailed behind her. Ginny Longbottom carefully stepped over her dress as she placed the crown of Hermione's veil on her head. Fleur Weasley straightened out the back of Hermione's dress and fluffed her hair up some more, preparing the bride for her big day.
"Are you ready, 'Mione?" Ginny, her maid of honour, asked her.
"You know, I thought that marrying the love of my life would make me less nervous, but I'm still bloody terrified," Hermione told her friends with a chuckle as she turned around to look at her bridesmaids.
Fleur, Luna, Cho, and Tonks were all dressed in periwinkle dresses, much like the one Hermione had worn to the Yule Ball and Ginny was wearing nearly an exact replica of the dress. She smiled at them sweetly.
Already, three of her best friends had been married during the war: Fleur had become Fleur Weasley, Ginny had married Neville after his graduation, and Tonks had married Remus Lupin shortly before the end of the war. Hermione was next. And she was ready to take on this next chapter of her life.
Elisabeth Granger entered the room and smiled proudly at her daughter as Ben Granger slipped in after her and smiled as well. Hermione carefully walked over to her dad and took his arm as the rest of the bridal party followed her out the door.
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Cedric tugged on his sleeves nervously as he stood at the altar and watched Harry, Fred, George, Ron and Neville link arms with Ginny, Fleur, Tonks, Luna, and Cho respectively. He took a deep breath as the music cued up and his parents walked down the aisle, followed by Mr. and Mrs. Granger. Next, Harry and Ginny walked down the aisle followed by Fred and Fleur, George and Tonks, Ron and Luna, and Neville and Cho.
As each of the couples split off to their respective sides, Cedric got more and more nervous. He stood up a little bit straighter as the Wedding March cued up and the crowd rose to their feet. Cedric looked up and laid eyes upon his beautiful Hermione.
Her dress sparkled in the sunlight shining into the church and a huge smile was spread across her face as she clung to her father's arm and he beamed proudly at the guests. As she reached the altar, Cedric walked toward her. Hermione kissed her father on the cheek and let go of his arm as Cedric took her arm.
"Congratulations, sweetheart," Ben Granger said to his daughter. "I love you, Mione."
"I love you too, Dad."
"Take good care of her for me, Cedric," Ben said, turning toward his son-in-law.
"Of course, sir," Cedric said nodding slightly.
The couple smiled at each other lovingly as Ben took his seat next to his wife and Cedric and Hermione took their final steps up to the altar. The minister nodded at the beaming couple and began to speak.
"It is a miracle to the Wizarding World that despite all the hard times we have endured these past few years that some of us still have that glimmer of hope. For Hermione Jane Granger and Cedric Andrew Diggory, they are each others' glimmer of hope. It is such a joy to have the honour of joining these two heroes in holy matrimony. If anyone here knows of any reason why these two should not be married, speak now or forever hold your peace."
The crowd was silent and the minister continued, "And now, if we could have the rings please."
Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out a white gold band and a roll of parchment as Ginny held out her hand containing the same things to Hermione. Cedric and Hermione held each others' rings as the minister continued, "Hermione, I believe you have prepared your own vows."
Hermione nodded as she unrolled the parchment and turned to Cedric, "Cedric, I never thought that I would find a person that I could spend the rest of my life with at eleven years old. Over the past several years, you have always been there for me and even stayed with me in the darkest of times. For this, I will forever be grateful. But it means so much more to me to have found someone that can not only understand me, but can see through all my little quirks and still find a place in your heart for me. You are one of my best friends in the world and I love you with all my heart."
Hermione was crying slightly as the minister nodded and asked Cedric to read his vows to her.
"Hermione Jane Granger. The little bookworm in the library. The smartest girl at Hogwarts. The girl with the adorably bushy hair. You have so many things that you're known for, but to me, you are only Hermione Jane Granger, the love of my life. You have been with me through everything and have stayed with me all these years. I set out to Hogwarts wanting to have an adventure and nothing more, but you, my love, have taken me on the adventure of a lifetime; one that I hope will continue in the years to come because everyday with you is such an adventure. I love you."
The minister then said to Hermione, "Hermione, place your ring on Cedric's finger and repeat after me: I, Hermione Jane Granger, take Cedric Andrew Diggory to be my husband; to love and to cherish till death parts us."
Hermione repeated the words and slipped the ring on Cedric's finger and the minister tapped the ring with his wand, binding the ring to Cedric's finger. Cedric beamed as he took the ring in his hand.
The minister turned to the groom and said, "Cedric, place your ring on Hermione's finger and repeat after me: I, Cedric Andrew Diggory, take Hermione Jane Granger to be my wife; to love and to cherish till death parts us."
Cedric repeated the words, looking deep into her eyes and slipped the ring on her finger as the minister tapped the ring with his wand, binding Hermione's ring to her finger as well.
"With the power vested in me by the Ministry of Magic, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Cedric, you may kiss the bride," the minister told him with a wink.
Cedric didn't skip a beat as he pulled Hermione into a passionate kiss.