"The Wedding"
Walking beside Lavender, they came to find Hermione's father right outside the burrow door. After a quick hug, Lavender went to find Padma and Parvati as well as Blaise, Harry, and Ron. They were the wedding party, and would be surrounding Hermione and Draco around the base of the gazebo. They all looked beautiful. The girls were all in pink dresses, each carrying a white lily, and the guys were in black tuxes with pink ties and pink and white lilies on their jackets. They gathered around the gazebo, making certain not to block the picture of Ginny that had been placed on a tall table for everyone to see.
Hermione stepped toward her father and inhaled deeply as he stuck his arm out for her to take. She heard the muggle wedding march and stepped forward after giving her father a look that meant, it's time.
She got to the beginning of the aisle and was amazed at the amount of people who showed up. Nearly every professor she had ever known was there. Everyone from the order was seated throughout the crowd; everyone from their party had shown up, plus some. Her entire family, as well as some of Draco's family that he had finally started contacting again, were present. She felt like the luckiest girl in the world just getting to be a part of such an amazing event, let alone being the reason for it.
Her eyes finally came to the front of the garden, where she seen all of her closest friends, and the picture of Ginny. Then her eyes met Draco's and she could see the love clouding his eyes, or were those tears? She couldn't be certain, but either was fine with her.
Our love is unconditional we knew it from the start
I see it in your eyes you can feel it from my heart
Draco couldn't believe his eyes when he seen Hermione appear down the aisle with her father. She looked amazing, and he knew at that moment, that there could never be a more beautiful girl, than the pregnant woman walking forward to marry him. Her eyes were sparkling and dancing over the crowd, taking in every detail of her surroundings as she so often did. When her eyes met his, he felt a lump form in his throat and tears sting his eyes. He smiled warmly and didn't take his eyes off of hers.
When they reached the front of the aisle, Mike walked Hermione up to Draco and placed her hand in his. The men nodded at each other and Mike turned to take his seat next to his crying wife.
From here on after lets stay the way we are right now and
Share all the love and laughter that a lifetime will allow
Draco's eyes, still slightly misted over, gazed lovingly into Hermione's. The blue and brown orbs silently told each other everything they always wanted to say. Hermione felt an ache in her heart when Draco turned to listen to the minister and reluctantly tore her eyes away from her soon-to-be husband. The minister was old, bald and wore glasses, but his eyes danced happily and he had that mischievous glint that Dumbledore's eyes had always shown.
Hermione had wanted a traditional muggle wedding. They were performing all of the normal customs such as the unity candle ceremony, playing their song, the vows, the rings, the throwing of the bouquet and garter, the slicing of the wedding cake, and of course the first kiss and then first dance at the reception.. Draco didn't mind, as long as Hermione was happy.
I cross my heart and promise to give all I've got to give to make all your dreams come true
In all the world you'll never find a love as true as mine
The preacher finished addressing the crowd moments later, which signaled the beginning of the unity candle ceremony. In traditional muggle ceremonies, the parents of the bride and the groom lit candles and then the bride and groom would use those candles to light one larger candle that represented the joining of the families. Due to Draco's parents fates, Hermione and Draco each lit a candle and then used them to light the larger candle.
The small flames reflected like sparkles in Hermione's eyes, which mesmerized Draco during their song, which was a muggle song named, "I Cross My Heart" which was sung by George Straight. Hermione's mother had always played this song and sung along with it. She had suggested it to the couple as a wedding song, because it signified so well what they felt for each other.
When the song was finished, Hermione laid her bouquet in front of Ginny's picture and took the platinum ring that was laying there in her hand. Draco turned to Blaise and took Hermione's platinum wedding ring from his best man.
You will always be the miracle that makes my life complete
And as long as there is a breath in me, I'll make yours just as sweet
The wind whipped around faintly, blowing everyone's hair tenderly. Hermione smiled, knowingly. It was no coincidence that it blew just as she set the flowers by her Maid of Honor's picture. She heard the laughter in the wind, she knew it was Ginny telling her she was there and was watching.
Draco and Hermione had decided to write their own vows, knowing that the traditional version could not come close to expressing the way they felt about each other. The minister stood quietly waiting for Hermione to talk. She looked over her friends and family and then came again to rest on Draco.
"I don't think," she began slowly, "there are words to describe the gifts you have given me. After years of hardship and trying to conceal the feelings we always had for each other, but never admitted to, we are standing before everyone we love, everyone we cherish, and are taking the next step to having a life together. With good times and bad times in our past, it just proves to me that we can make it through anything. You saved my life, in every way it could be saved. You have brought me happiness on so many levels, and you have provided safety and strength when my heart was breaking over everyone we have lost. Thank you for giving me the greatest gift I could ever ask for…You. Our miracle lies in the path we have chosen together. I enter this marriage with you knowing that the true magic of love is not to avoid changes, but to navigate them successfully. Let us commit to the miracle of making each day work - together. I love you Draco."
As we look into the future it's as far as we can see so let's make each tomorrow be the best that it can be
Draco, always one to be the strong man, mentally cursed himself for allowing tears to fall down his cheeks. He looked at Hermione hoping she wouldn't be ashamed that he was crying, only to find her lifting her hand to his face to wipe the tears away lovingly. Hermione took his left hand in hers and slid his wedding ring onto his long finger.
Draco smiled, feeling warmth and safety in that small metal band. Glancing over to Hermione, he seen the expectant look on her face, realizing he was now supposed to recite his vows to her. He swallowed deeply, afraid he would mess up. So far everything had been perfect, and he didn't want to be the one to ruin it.
I cross my heart and promise to give all I've got to give to make all your dreams come true
In all the world you'll never find a love as true as mine
"Hermione, you speak of me saving your life, when in reality you saved mine long ago. Had it not been for your stubbornness to not give up on the good in me, in everyone, I would have never stood against my fathers wishes. You made me the man I am today, and I will be forever grateful for that. My life, everyone's life is a bit brighter with you in it. Where there has been cold, you have brought warmth; where my life was dark, you have brought light. Hermione, I pledge before our family, our friends, and the powers that be to be your husband from this day forward. Let us make of our two lives, one life, and let us always honor and respect each other. I love you, Hermione."
Draco slowly slipped Hermione's wedding band on her finger, followed by her engagement ring, as it is custom to wear the wedding band on bottom.
And if along the way we find a day it starts to storm
You've got the promise of my love to keep you warm
By the time Draco had finished his vows, there wasn't a dry eye within the entire crowd of loved ones. Even Harry, Ron and Blaise had tears in their eyes.
The Minister had stepped slightly forward, letting everyone know it was time to continue the ceremony. Draco and Hermione turned back toward him, still holding hands.
"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
Draco was so glad Hermione hadn't worn a veil that he would have to fuss with removing. He leaned slightly forward, his hands sliding around her waist and hers around his neck. Their lips touched in a loving, but short, kiss, as they knew they would have plenty of time for that later.
In all the world you'll never find a love as true as mine
The couple turned to look out at their many friends and family members, hands intertwined. "I am glad to present for the first time Mr. Draco and Mrs. Hermione Malfoy!" Everyone stood and clapped and cheered as white doves were released into the air behind the gazebo and Hermione and Draco made their way down the aisle as husband and wife.
A love as true as mine
A/N This song is "I Cross My Heart" by George Straight. I have a few more chapters completed and will be posting them soon.
Thank you so much for reading. Please let me know what you think.
