Here's the moment that you've all been waiting for...this is the chapter that you've been reviewing so much for and this was the most difficult chapter I've ever had to write...It's so hard to do a wedding because you don't want it to be like every other wedding in the history of the world...I hope you all think it's individual...or good for that matter...anyway...here you are...enjoy...and review...
Disclaimer: you know this already...but also the wedding vows and basically the ceremony itself are not mine either...I borrowed and changed a few things from a website...
White Wedding
When the sun peaked through the curtains the next morning, the whole mansion seemed to be up. People were all moving, everyone performing some task, for if you seemed idle you were given an even heavier workload. Of course at the head of it all was Narcissa, the person who had planned the entire wedding in only four days.
Voldemort had been up since the crack of dawn making sure that Narcissa had everything that she needed to put on the event. He had her every need taken care of. When he wasn't ordering elves to retrieve something for Narcissa he was tending to other things like which plan of attack to put into place first when they started their attacks at the end of the summer.
Hermione and Draco were left alone, both still sleeping.
Hermione's night had been a rough one, something the Dark Lord had monitored. He watched her, though she had no idea, as she held her stomach and looked out the window for what seemed like ages. He smirked evilly when she laid down in her bed one hand on her stomach the other on her head.
He knew that she was hungry, not as hungry as she could be had the punishment been worst but hungry none the less. But he enjoyed the most was the mental torture that he had left her with. It was a torture that he hadn't had to put her through because she did it to herself. She worried about the punishment, dreading what it would be like to be whipped. She worried herself to tears, building it up in her mind. She didn't sleep much to say the least for she saw the lashings she would receive in her nightmares.
Draco slept soundly after going to the surprise stag party that Blaise had thrown for him. All of Draco's friends had attended because all their parents were going to be at the wedding, being Death Eaters as well. It was not as wild as it might have been but it was fitting for the Slytherin Prince as he'd come to think of himself. He enjoyed many rounds of Fire Whiskey until he could barely see straight, then had a go at Quidditch on Blaise's pitch. Their father's watched them, though barely, for they were having their own party. Draco had gotten home very late and fell right to sleep with no trouble and absolutely no thought of his quite hungry bride to be.
As the morning dwindled away and the back garden underwent rapid changes, Draco woke with a massive headache. His father had to come into his room and shake him quite hard to wake him. But when he opened his eyes and saw his father he knew exactly where he was and what day it was, something Blaise had told him the Fire Whiskey would help him forget the night before.
"Come Draco, get up and go downstairs and eat something." Lucius instructed.
"And where is Granger?"
"She's in her room sleeping still." Lucius said turning around from his position in the center of the room, a questioning look on his face.
"Won't she be eating breakfast with me."
"No. She's not permitted to eat until this evening. And if she were allowed to eat, your mother would never allow her to eat with you. She wants you two not to see each other until she comes down the aisle.
"Oh. I'll be down in a few minutes then." Draco said slumping back into the bed.
Lucius shook his head and turned to leave not wishing to bother.
Draco laid in his bed his mind moving very slow for he could feel a wicked headache coming on. But no matter how slow his mind was moving he knew one thing was for sure for he could hear the banging from his room, the wedding was today.
'I'm going to be married today.' He thought finalizing everything with that single thought.
Before there had been ideas that maybe Granger would escape, maybe she would get away and be protected by those people that loved her. And with half a heart, he believed them. But now he knew that they were not real, just illusions of things that could only happen in books. He was left with only reality and that was hard.
Never would he be able to, if one day he had chosen to, marry the person that he loved. He would instead be married to his enemy. His legitimate children would all have dirty tainted blood, something that could never be fixed. She would be stuck to him forever, whether alive or in a memory.
He wondered if Hermione was feeling the same way about it. It had to be different for her though because she didn't have her entire blood history to think about. But she did have feelings, not for him of course, but maybe for others, others she would never be with.
'At least I don't have to worry about infidelity with Granger.' Draco thought as he sat up in his bed, the room taking a jolting lurch, to the left. 'She'd never cheat on me, even though she hates me she believes in morals and the like.'
He rubbed his eyes then stood untangling himself from the mess of sheets on his bed. Everything was so bright making his eyes hurt as he walked across the room to his closet.
"Oh I feel like my heads going to explode." He said as he entered the dark room and walked all the way to the rear. He couldn't focus as he walked and tried to pick out clothes at the same time.
When he had chosen a set of comfortable clothes he started for the bathroom hoping that the shower head would be what relaxed him instead of more alcohol. He needed to relax before the ceremony for his body was so tense it hurt.
Then he remembered the night before and how Granger had been punished. She was going to be hurt that evening. Well she was likely to be hurt all day, being forced to marry him, and denied of any food. Then she was to go and be whipped in the forest before he could take her to their new home.
He thought about the people that he had seen being whipped. First red marks cover their backs, looking horribly painful, but that's only after a few whips. By the end their backs are ripped apart, all bloody and just a mess. The first time he had seen it he had gotten sick. The sound of the muggle mans screams and the sights mixed with the smell of fresh blood had gotten to Draco both mentally and physically.
Now he imagined the soft skin of her back broken and torn, bleeding her dirty blood all over the floor of one of those rooms while some masked Death Eater just continued to whip her. She would scream and cry until she lost consciousness, and he would have to watch.
That tiny part of him that cared filled with guilt. He felt as though it was his fault, and in a certain way it was. He was the reason that she ran for he had been the one to cause so much emotional pain.
But why didn't the Dark Lord stop her? He was connected to her through his power that he put inside her. Why was it that he didn't sense that she was upset as he said he could? Why hadn't he known that she was escaping? Could it be that the Dark Lord had taken away his power?
Draco turned on the water and stepped into the shower these thoughts wandering through his mind. He was drenched in seconds yet for some reason he felt numb. He couldn't feel anything but the guilt and unhappiness within him about Granger. He didn't want her to be lashed. She didn't mean to run but she was so emotional she didn't realize.
"Ugh!" he cried slamming a hand against the wall. "I can't make excuses for her. I don't care that much. I shouldn't care at all."
Frustration made him want to strangle someone but the one he wanted to strangle was in her room, unable to leave, unable to eat, trapped. He couldn't stand the things he was thinking about her. He couldn't stand that he was even thinking about her. He shouldn't be, he should be thinking about Marie, or anyone, anyone with pure blood.
"Damn it." He growled as he reached for the shampoo.
When he was out of the shower he reached for a towel, wrapping it about his waist before stepping before they mirror. She was on his mind and wouldn't leave. He couldn't get her out of his head yet every thought about her made him angrier than the one before it.
After he had dried his body and pulled on his shirt pants and underclothes, Draco started from the bathroom, slipping into shoes and over to his door. He was rubbing his temples as he opened the door.
He arrived in the dinning room a few minutes later to see that he was not to be the only one dinning. His father was seated beside the Dark Lord. Peter Pettigrew sat on the Dark Lord's other side and he seemed a bit nervous as his silverware clamored against his plate.
Macnair and Nott were both seated there as well. They were deep in conversation about a Quidditch match that they had witnessed many years ago. They seemed very excited about it though Draco was sure that they had their dates or facts about the entire match mixed up, for he was also sure that both men had been completely smashed that evening.
Crabbe and Goyle's fathers were both there along with Blaise Pansy Millicent and Marie's. He was sure that they were all gathered there, for some meeting that was going to take place about Granger's beatings that evening. Draco just hoped that he wouldn't have to attend that meeting for the mere thought of having to listen to them decide who was going to be the one to beat her would make the tiny bit of guilt that he, reluctantly, had in his gut grow.
"Draco! The groom has finally woken up." Said Mr. Zabini, a man that Draco had known his entire life.
"Good morning." Draco said softly flopping into a chair and watching as an over excited house elf rushed to his side.
'She hates elf labour.' Draco thought immediately. Then he remembered what he was thinking about and whom he was thinking about.
"How was your evening Draco?" asked the Dark Lord a smirk appearing on his face. Everyone at the table laughed and Draco couldn't help but get caught up in it. He was laughing as joyously as the others were though deep within him he felt tired and wanted nothing more than to disappear.
The hours leading up to the wedding time were spent that way. Draco had been right, there was a meeting regarding Granger's beating that evening, and Draco had attended it. He had to sit there and listen while they formally wrote out that Hermione Malfoy, as she would be by then, was to be lashed fifty times in room three. The person that was going to be lashing her however was someone that Draco had not expected. The man that was to lash her was the Dark Lord himself.
He listened as they had described the instrument that he was going to use. Instead of the usual whip, he was going to use something new. He was going to use a leather strap that was about the length of a belt. It was attached to a thick handle. It was flat and wide and was sure to do some damage on its own, but it wasn't to be on it's own the entire time.
After twenty-five hits, the Dark Lord would switch instruments. He would change to a different type of whip. This one would also be shorter but it would be rounder and thicker. After the first one tenderized the skin, making even the slightest touch immensely painful, the second would rip her apart. It would cause gashes in her back, not deep but so painful she was liable to faint.
But Draco realized that was what he wanted. The Dark Lord had thought that he had control over her. He thought that he had broken her that she would obey him but she had proved him wrong. He was trying to break her spirit and rid her of the disobedience.
After the meeting had ended Draco left the older men to go and find Blaise and the others. He found them in the billiard room where Blaise was beating Goyle at a game.
"Hey mate how are you feeling?" Blaise asked smiling wide.
"Very funny." Draco said as he sat back in a comfy chair.
The four of them played pool for hours, joking about the night before and discussing the odds that their teams would make it to the World Cup in Quidditch. It was like old times again. Draco was so caught up in everything that he forgot about the wedding. He forgot his thoughts on the event that would take place after the wedding and he forgot about Hermione.
It was late afternoon, three o' clock to be precise when Lucius found the boys arguing about whom would be on the Slytherin house team that year. He walked into the room looking around at all of them, his eyes looking stern and hard.
"Oh hello father." Draco said noticing his father standing behind Goyle's chair.
"It's time for you all to prepare. You must go up and put on your attire."
Draco's stomach fell to his toes. It was there. It was finally there. The time was near and soon enough she would be his wife and he her husband. They would be united and stuck together forever.
Draco stood, his friends following his lead. They all followed Lucius up the stairs to a room that wasn't Draco's own. They walked inside and noticed that the room looked much like a sitting room but there were dress clothes hanging all around.
"Sit down while I explain everything to you."
All four guys sat as instructed and Lucius stood before them; much like Snape would in class. He had his hands behind his back, his eyes looking at each boy in turn. Draco could feel his father's eyes linger however just a little longer on him.
"The back garden and the entire back of the house has been changed for this wedding. That door, just back their leads to a small balcony. The balcony has a stone staircase that curves like and s, the landing being a small patio."
Draco turned around and looked at the door. His mother really had a vision of this wedding and was going to do everything in her power to make it come out right.
"The girl has a balcony and staircase just as you do. When the wedding begins, you three will come out before Draco. You will walk down the stairs and up the aisle. There will be a white carpet on the stairs, leading right to the aisle so just follow it. You will wait at the altar. Draco that is when you will come out. You will follow their path. Do you all understand?"
"Yes father. But what about Granger? What shall I expect? The same thing?"
"You will see what your mother has planned for the girl. She wishes everything having to do with Granger to remain a secret to you. Merlin knows why." Lucius said as he turned and left the room.
After Lucius left the room Draco looked at his friends and saw that they all looked just as nervous as he was. He couldn't understand why he was so nervous. Normally you only got nervous about things you cared about, plus, Malfoy's never got nervous.
"Well let's get the clothes on then." Blaise said standing.
"What are they anyway? I mean what do you where to a wedding?" Goyle asked.
"Their tuxedo robes. They're modeled after muggle clothes called tuxedos, but they are nicer and made for a wizard." Draco said.
"How do you know that?"
"I asked the tailor the same question."
They walked over to their specific robes and pulled them on. Draco couldn't believe that he was actually preparing to be married. His friends were right there beside him, as if it were their burden as well. But he hated the fact that any of them had to be there.
After Draco had on his tuxedo, he walked to the bathroom and fixed his hair and made sure he looked all right. When he emerged he saw his mother entering the room looking around with the largest smile he'd ever seen on her face.
"You boys all look so handsome." She said softly as she approached where they had gathered.
"Are guests arriving yet mother?" Draco asked.
"Yes. If you look out the window you can see them being seated."
The four boys rushed over and looked out. There were little white chairs set up in nice neat rows and Draco was surprised to see that they were already starting to fill. All the people below were dressed in elegant dress robes, only this time there were no covers.
"When will it all begin?" Blaise asked Narcissa.
"Very soon. Lucius will be downstairs and will give the word for the conductor to come out. Then the music will start. We will send you a signal and then you do what it was you were instructed to." She said still peering out the window.
"It sounds simple enough. Do we just stand there until it's over?" Crabbe asked picking up a pumpkin pastry.
"You Blaise and Gregory will stand on Draco's side. You stand in a line yes until it's over."
She let the curtains fall back into place before she turned and looked at all the boys. She looked at her watch and her eyes widened. She hurried past them and toward the door.
"I have to go down to the guests now boys. Wait here until you receive the signal. You'll know it." And with that said she was gone.
Many minutes passed in anxious waiting. They could now hear the massive crowd below sitting, talking amongst themselves. The low hum reached their ears and made them fidget in their robes. All of them wanted things to begin, for the sooner they began the sooner they would be over.
Crabbe was standing by the window looking out when he noticed that everyone was sitting still no longer walking about shaking hands and leaning forward in their seats to talk to the person before them. He noticed that it seemed to have grown quieter as well.
"Draco I think it's beginning." Crabbe said softly turning to look at the others.
"Are you sure Crabbe." Blaise said. It wasn't really a question, but more of a hopeful statement.
Draco however, didn't need to hear the answer to that for just as Blaise finished he saw his father's signal. It was hard not to for the door that led to the balcony had opened.
"Time to go then." Blaise said standing and straightening himself.
They all stood in order, Crabbe first Goyle behind him. Blaise was behind Goyle. Draco stood by the window and watched as his friends started out the door. Everyone below was turned to watch the three descend the stairs. Their heads followed along, something that would have been a little humorous, had things not been so incredibly serious. They watched his friends until they reached the altar and took their place on the side. He knew then that it was his turn.
He stood at the door and took a deep breath. He felt numb as he walked from the room to the balcony. His face couldn't feel the warm sun's rays or the slight wind that carried a few strands of hair across his face. He looked down and saw everyone watching him.
He stopped for a moment at the top of the stairs to gaze back. Then he slowly descended the stairs his feet following the white carpet. He came up the aisle between the rows of hundreds. He felt all eyes upon him, but he never turned his head. He had to get to the altar and turn to face them before he could look again.
When he reached the small wooden stand where the man who would perform the ceremony would stand, he stopped and turned. He saw everyone that he'd known since he was young sitting before him. They were dressed in their finest robes all watching him. They sat in the little white chairs every single eye upon him. There were flowers everywhere and everything seemed to be expensive and fancy.
But in a moment their eyes were not focused on him. They weren't even looking in his direction any longer. They turned and focused on the other staircase as the music began. He watched the guests all rise as one and turn to get a better look.
Draco turned his eyes upon the balcony door as the others had. The door was open and two figures dressed in lovely pale pink dresses were walking in a line out the door.
They slowly made their way down the stairs and up the aisle until they stood far to Draco's right. It was Millicent and Marie. They were Granger's bridesmaids. Both looked wonderful. Their hair had been pulled up in twists with small pink rosebuds fixed in them. They held bouquets of pale pink roses in their hands and wonderful smiles on their faces.
The music changed to the wedding march and Draco knew it was time. His eyes scanned the crowd and he saw that everyone looked excited. Maybe they were all glad that everything would finally fall into place, or maybe they were curious to see what Granger would look like. He wondered as he looked at his mother and father what they were thinking. His eyes searched for the Dark Lord, for he was wondering if he would have a huge smile on his face for his plans were finally going to be partially complete, but he couldn't find him.
Draco turned his attention to the balcony again and was surprised to see the Dark Lord standing at the top. Then he saw Hermione step out of the room and start down the stairs.
Draco was so blown away at the fact that the Dark Lord was walking the aisle with Granger, his arm locked with hers, that he didn't even notice what Hermione looked like. It wasn't until she was at the end of the aisle that his mind switched tracks and he realized.
She was wearing a strapless white gown as all brides did but for some reason Draco knew that there had been no one in the world to look more stunning in white than her. It was tight at the top hugging to her every curve until it reached her hips. That's where it slowly widened the smooth material spread out about her. There was a train in the back that followed her. Her silky smooth skin glistened in the sun. Her hair was pulled up and fastened atop her head, spiraling pieces falling forward dangling before her face. Her head was lowered so he couldn't see her face.
When they reached the altar Hermione raised her head and looked up at the Dark Lord. He merely smiled that evil smile that Draco knew so well. He was pleased to see her so weak.
The Dark Lord took her hand in his two larger paler ones. He then offered it to Draco.
"I Voldemort, give this woman to this man to be wed." Voldemort said to everyone, and Draco tried hard not to flinch as he said his name. Hermione however remained still.
Draco took her hand in his stepping up to take Voldemort's place beside her. Her grip was weak and he knew that she was probably exhausted, not to mention starving. He held her hand in a soft grip hoping that she understood that he didn't enjoy seeing her this way.
Draco watched as Voldemort took the spot behind the alter. He was performing the ceremony. This had not been told to him and he was a little surprised. But he said absolutely nothing as the ceremony began.
"Followers, we are gathered here to witness the joining of two houses as one, two lives as one, two people as one. The ceremony about to take place must not be interrupted, therefore if anyone has cause why these two should not be joined speak now."
He paused and there was total silence. Draco wondered if someone had put Pansy under a silencing spell.
"Turn and face one another." Draco turned and faced Hermione and looked at her as she raised her head.
Her face looked so beautiful before him that he felt something, deep within him, scream to stroke her cheek, gaze into her eyes and kiss her. He forced those feelings away not understanding their origin. He cleared his head and focused on the Dark Lord's words. "Join hands."
"The joining of hands symbolizes the willingness of the union. Both Draco and Hermione have entered into it willingly by joining their hands and understand that this marriage is unbreakable."
Draco inwardly smirked at this. Neither of them had entered into this marriage willingly and everyone there knew it. But Draco knew that for the marriage to be official they had to do everything by the book so to speak.
"Do you seek to begin this ceremony?" Voldemort asked them.
"Yes we do." Draco heard them both say. It was as if they were merely prerecorded answers. But Draco knew that Voldemort had to force them to answer that way, for Granger might decided to be rebellious again and not answer at all.
"Let us offer a magical blessing on this union. Blessed be this union with the powers of the East: communication of the heart, mind, and body. Blessed be this union with the powers of the South: warmth of hearth and home, the heat of the heart's passion and the light created by both to lighten the darkest of times. Blessed be this union with the powers of the West: Commitment to one another absolutely, swift excitement, and passion. Blessed be this union with the powers of the North: firm foundation on which to build a family and a stable home to which you may always return. And now I ask you to look into each others eyes."
Draco stared into the chocolate brown orbs before him. The little spiral curls that had gotten loose from the gathering atop her head were hanging beside her face adding to the already amazing and unparalleled beauty.
"Draco, will you cause her pain?"
"I may." Draco heard himself answer.
"Is that your intention?"
'Of course.' Draco thought but said "No."
"Hermione, will you cause him pain?"
"I may."
"Is that your intention?"
"No."
"Will you share each other's pain and seek to ease it?"
"Yes."
"And so the binding spell is made." Voldemort said as he used his wand to tap their joined hands.
Draco watched as his and Granger's hands began to glow gold.
"Draco, will you share her laughter?"
"Yes."
"Hermione, will you share his laughter?"
"Yes."
"And so the binding spell is made." Again he tapped their hands. Draco watched their hands turn green then.
"Draco, will you burden her?"
"I may."
"Is that your intention?"
"No."
"Hermione, will you burden him?"
"I may."
"Is that your intention?"
"No."
"Will you share the burdens of each so that your magic may grow in this union?"
"Yes."
"And so the binding spell is made."
"Draco, will you cause her anger?"
"I may."
"Is that your intention?"
"No."
"Hermione, will you cause him anger?"
"I may."
"Is that your intention?"
"No."
"Will you take the heat of anger and use it to strengthen your union?'
"Yes."
"And so the binding spell is made."
Draco wondered how long these questions were going to last. He thought it was a bit ridiculous for the Dark Lord to have to ask the same questions twice. But he could do nothing about it. But that was when the Dark Lord asked a question that Draco hadn't really expected.
"Draco, will you promise to love and cherish her forever?"
"Yes." He heard himself say.
"Hermione, will you promise to love and cherish him forever?"
Draco waited for the automatic answer, but it never came. Hermione said nothing. She continued to stare at him and Draco wondered what was happening. Had she decided to fight Voldemort?
Then her answer came, and it was vastly different from her other answer. The others had been quick and simple as if there was no question, but they had also been fake. He could tell by her tone. But this answer was soft, barely even audible. It was said in a defeated way, as if she felt she could fight it no longer. But what could she be fighting. Was she giving in to Voldemort and deciding that she would willingly go along with everything, giving up the fight she'd once told him she would fight?
"Yes."
"And so the binding spell is made."
There was a pause. Voldemort stopped to look at the couple, examining their joined hands, which were now a deep red color.
"The spells of binding used in this union will fade as all magic does, but with the aid of the rings you will be reminded of them and their meanings. The magic used today is sacred and should never be broken. Draco, place this ring on Hermione's finger and repeat after me."
Draco took the ring and took her the hand he would put it on. It shook slightly in his hand and he looked up at her for just a second. Then he slipped the ring on her finger and repeated the Dark Lord.
"With this ring I thee wed. Wear it as a symbol of our love and commitment."
"Now Hermione, place this ring on Draco's finger and repeat after me."
Hermione took Draco's hand and slipped the ring on, repeating the very words Draco had uttered only now her voice shook and he saw tiny tears gliding down her cheeks.
"You may now seal the promises you've made here with a kiss." Voldemort said as both Hermione and Draco looked up at him.
Draco turned back to Hermione and saw she was already staring at him. Her eyes flickered to the guests; slight fear slipping into them but Draco only smirked a little. He leaned forward his hand, now with a new ring on it, reaching out and touching her cheek. Their lips connected in a kiss like no other they had ever shared.
They could both feel the power coursing through them. They could feel the magic that they now shared. Every part of his body tingled and Hermione shivered slightly before him. He didn't want to break the kiss for it was the most exhilarating feeling to be touching her at that moment.
But when he did break the kiss he heard Voldemort call, "Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the new Mr. and Mrs. Draco Malfoy!"
The guests clapped and Draco even saw some women crying as Draco and Hermione walked down the aisle toward the stairs. When he reached the back door Draco hurried inside pulling his new bride in behind him.
There it is...it's finally happened and it only took...twenty five chapters to do it...lol...let me know how you like it so far...and theres more to come I promise...lol
Starry