AN: I have no excuse for not posting yesterday, other than Pottermore opened, and I played there for a while! It's awesomeness! I got sorted into Slytherin, which I honestly expected lol. Oh well, I give you the latest chapter, and say, plz review! While you're reading, I'm gonna head on back and play at Hogwarts for a while lol. Also, between the two sites my story is on there are over 10,000 people who have read this story, and I cannot tell you how blown away I am! So, I thank each and every one of you! Clumsy!
Graduation day dawned with birds chirping and sunny skies. Hermione quietly climbed out of bed so as not to disturb Draco. She fixed a cup of tea and went out to enjoy the morning on her balcony. She smiled happily and waved at Hagrid and Grawp, Grawp had come a long way since he was dragged here when Hagrid returned from the meeting with the giants all those years ago.
Hermione supposed that if she hadn't had that year of chasing Horcruxes, she might be more melancholy about leaving school than she actually was. In all honesty, it had been an adjustment to return to school and all the rules and restrictions when she had been free to come and go as she pleased as an adult, and she even had more freedom than the other seventh years as a teacher. She would be sad to see her Hogwarts years come to a close, but now, she was ready to move forward. She was getting married, then having her son, and hopefully she would be able to find a teaching position somewhere when she was ready.
When her tea was finished she went inside to get ready for her day. She was going to wear a pretty, pink flowery skirt with a short sleeve white top. She had the cutest pair of strappy heels for the outfit, but she was wearing white satin ballet slippers because her feet and back got too sore in the heels and with the pregnancy she was opting for comfort. She had enough to deal with; her nerves were kicking in about the one part she would be involved with during the ceremony.
Four hours later, she and Draco were standing in their places as the ceremony began. She looked into the audience and smiled. There were her parents looking so proud, seated with the Weasley's and Narcissa. Hagrid and Grawp in the back row with the other teachers not participating in the ceremony, and Harry and Ron in the front row, there to support her. She listened closely as Ginny and Neville gave their speeches as Heads, and then the headmistress called her and Draco forward for their part. She felt Draco squeeze her hand and it gave her courage to do what she was about to do.
He started, "Almost a year ago, about a month after the final battle of the war, we were asked to attend a meeting with the headmistress. We had no idea what the meeting was about, or that there were other people invited. When we showed up there were three of us, Michael Corner, Hermione, and myself. We were asked to teach a new subject at Hogwarts, and we would end up spending most of the summer together planning it."
Hermione picked up from there. "We became very close, the three of us. When Michael was diagnosed with Leukemia not long after the first meeting, we were sad and afraid for him, but continued with the class and promised to be there for his journey. During Christmas break we learned his chemotherapy treatments weren't working, and he was going to die, and it was a heartrending time for the people who loved him, and there are a bunch of us. He set his goal to live through graduation, to see his education completed after all the years dedicated to it. Sadly, he lost his fight and couldn't be with us today." Draco had put his arm around her waist to support her at this point.
"So today Hermione and I are honored to stand with Michael's brother as he accepts Michael's honorary diploma earned over seven years of hard work." Draco said, as Michael's brother Brett came forward to stand with them. There were more than a few sniffles among the students, as the three returned to their places.
As each name was called the student's stepped up to receive their certificates, and when Michael's name was called the applause was deafening onstage as Brett walked across in Michael's place, his family standing in the audience to applaud like they would have if it had been Michael. Hermione smiled happily and grabbed Draco's hand as a breeze blew across the stage, and hovering there over Brett's head were four Dragonflies, Michael was happy.
The next day they were busy once again, because the girl's combined bridal shower was about to start at the Burrow. Luna, and Hermione's cousin Monica were the maids' of honor and worked together to set it up. Luckily Hermione and Monica were close and she knew all about the wizarding world and magic. Hermione was secretly hoping that she and Charlie would actually hit it off at the wedding, because in her opinion they would be great together, and she and Ginny had decided to see if they could push that along by making sure Charlie was here today to go with Harry and Ron to Draco's stag party. Ginny had written him and used a guilt trip to get him home early to help with all the last minute details for the wedding at the Burrow next weekend.
They didn't have long to wait either because all four girls were standing just outside the door when the guys were leaving, and made the introductions. The only one Monica didn't know was Charlie and when they were introduced Charlie looked quite interested, and Monica blushed prettily. Ginny and Hermione were very satisfied!
The parties were a complete success and they all had a lot of fun. Too much fun in the guy's case because the next day when everyone showed up to start preparing the Burrow for the weddings the guys showed up looking very sick with their hang over's. Mrs. Weasley was so put out with all of them that she didn't give them the hang over potion for three hours. When it was time for a break for lunch the young one's all took a picnic basket and had lunch in the orchard. Susan and Ron, Harry and Ginny, Draco and Hermione were all paired up and that left Monica and Charlie. Ginny and Hermione shared knowing looks when the two started talking and leaning into each other, oh yeah they were interested! Draco and Harry just rolled their eyes at their girls.
The week flew by and all too soon it was Friday evening, the night before the weddings would take place. Hermione was spending the night at the Burrow, but she was missing Draco so much. She'd gotten used to sleeping with him, and it was hard to sleep on her own. She sent Metis with a letter and she returned with one, this went on until the poor bird looked close to collapse and Hermione fell into a restless sleep. She was happy to be getting married, but mostly she would just be glad when the wedding was over, she was stressed and exhausted, it had been a very long week.
They were only about half an hour from the ceremony and Ginny and Hermione were ready and smiling at each other. Ginny looked amazing in her dress robes, white strapless underdress but this gorgeous flirty and daring robe over it, lacy and floor length satin, with a deep purple satin sash.
Hermione's gown was also floor length but ivory colored, it had a V-neck and was flowy. It had lace over the whole gown and it was almost a throwback to the hippy days. Her sash was a bright pink. The most dramatic thing about hers was her veil. Ginny chose to go without a veil and just had baby's breath in her hair, but Hermione's veil reached the floor and was held in place by a wreath of wildflowers.
They left the room to meet their fathers' downstairs for the walk down the aisle to Draco and Harry both girls demanding promises from their father to not let them trip! The trip down the aisle was surreal for Hermione, and the only person that existed on the planet was Draco once she saw him. The Bridesmaids in their Purple or pink dresses, the groomsmen in tuxes and robes; the guests standing in front of their chairs, even Ginny and Arthur disappeared for her. Draco never looked away from her, from her walk down the aisle, through the vows; he had eyes only for her as well. Both couples chose traditional vows and before they knew it, rings were exchanged and it was time to kiss the bride.
It was a toss-up which couple had the most passionate kiss, but Hermione didn't care, she was just so happy. She and Draco were married! She didn't know it was possible, that this much happiness could exist for one person, surely she didn't deserve it, but she was taking it! They made it back down the aisle and she and Draco finally had a few moments privacy as the wedding guests made their way over to the tent that had been set up for the reception. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him once more.
"How does it feel to be married Mr. Malfoy?" she whispered in his ear.
"Amazing, Mrs. Malfoy! I love you so much 'Mione" he said to her. "Are you happy?"
"Draco, you'd be hard pressed to find another human being on the planet happier than I am."
"Just think, we have the reception, and then we get a whole two weeks to ourselves for the honeymoon. I can't wait to get you to myself!" Draco smiled at her.
"Where exactly will we spend those two weeks?" she asked for the hundredth time.
He laughed, "Still won't work, I'm not telling. I will only say that it will be two places."
"You're not nice, Draco! I hope you at least told Monica so I have to right type of clothes, men don't think of these things!" she complained.
"I did think of it, and she's known for a week! Even if she didn't pack correctly, we would just buy you the right clothes. I wasn't going to ruin your surprise!" he said.
That was all the time they had to themselves because both couples had been told to proceed to the reception tent. It was beautiful when they walked in. Full of big round tables filled to capacity, and flowers and ribbon everywhere. Each table had a flowered centerpiece with three glass candleholders. Champagne flowed freely as everyone dined on Lobster, steak, or chicken parmesan. The band played softly, and the two wedding parties shared a table at the front, and laughed together as the stressful week with all the hard work paid off. Both couples were grateful for all the help and had personalized little gifts sitting in each person's place setting.
Soon after dinner was served, both couples were called to the dance floor for the first dance. Ginny and Harry had agreed to the song Hermione had picked, so the song Always by Bon Jovi began playing and Hermione wrapped her arms around Draco's neck as he leaned down and kissed her. Honestly, it was just like the ceremony, everybody disappeared for her in that moment, and it was just she and Draco. She loved him so much and was so in awe of who he'd become from where he started out.
After the cake was cut and smushed into the guys' faces, Draco and Harry retaliated by kissing Ginny and Hermione thereby sharing the mess, they noticed some of the other couples dancing. Ginny and Hermione proudly watched as Charlie walked over to Monica and asked her to dance, and then held her hand all the way to the dance floor. They were pretty confident that they had done a good job setting those two up and it made both of them happy.
When they tossed the bouquets, Ginny's was caught by Monica and Hermione's was caught by Susan. After all the single girls picked themselves up from the scramble on the floor good naturedly, it was time for the garter. Hermione was beet red as Draco removed hers with his teeth, while Ginny laughed carefree as Harry did the same. Those were tossed and Neville caught Ginny's while Charlie caught Hermione's with a rakish grin. It was so much fun and it had been a long time since they had all been able to gather as a group this large and it be carefree. They had all earned it.
Draco watched as his bride danced first with Harry, then Ron and then a bunch of others. He couldn't believe he was so lucky. It wasn't that long ago that he accepted that he wouldn't marry, let alone be able to love due to circumstances. That was before he met back up with Hermione though, and was blessed with her forgiveness. He watched his mother dancing next to Hermione and chatting with her and their partners, laughing, and the laughter reached her eyes, Narcissa was very happy. Watching the two women in his life, his chest ached a bit from the happiness he felt, and his eyes got a little scratchy as they teared up.
He put his foot down when Blaise went for a third dance with Hermione, "Blaise that's my wife, go find a girl of your own." Blaise and Hermione laughed and Blaise took off for a group of girls gathered at the end of the tent.
All in all, as the couples prepared to run through the bird seed and bubbles for the cars that would take them away, Hermione reflected on the day, that it was the best of her life. She had great friends who had gathered to help celebrate, she had an amazing family that included the Weasley's and now the Malfoy's, and she had her husband. She loved that word! A husband and a child on the way, her very own family to grow and love. She was sad earlier that Michael was missing along with so many others, but she knew they were there in spirit. It turned out to be a very wonderful day and she was happy.
They climbed into the car that was theirs, and drove off for London where they would spend their first night as husband and wife in a very elegant hotel, before being whisked off for a two week honeymoon. They were finally happy. And somewhere far away looking down on the day and keeping watch was a group of people who looked amused. James and Lily Potter, Sirius Black, Fred Weasley, and Michael Corner were making sure nothing spoiled the day by keeping guard. Fred was upset because George hadn't pulled any kind of prank during a prime opportunity, but reasoned that he, Fred, always was the brains of their operation, to much eye rolling!
AN: So, one chapter left and the story is over. It will be an epilogue, but the epilogue will set up the sequel that most of you asked for. The new story will take place in a school that Hermione and Draco will open for all younger children in the magical world, until the age of 11 when the magical kids head to Hogwarts and the squib children become full time boarding school students at their school for squibs. Hopefully, the story I am writing before that will be done soon so we can return and see how Hermione, Draco and their son are faring. Please Read and review! Clumsy!