DISCLAIMER: Jenneke did paraphrase a few song lyrics writing the vows for the couple.
Ginny waved her wand, settling her hair in place, than reached for her dress. She pulled it up her body, and used her wand to zip it. It was a bit snug, but not uncomfortably so. She stepped back into the bedroom, and walked over to where Hermione was putting the last touch of bronzer on Luna.
"It still fits!" She whispered into Hermione's ear. Than she sat down so Hermione could affix her veil.
"So, you've been here every night, what's the deal?"
Hermione add the finishing touches to Luna, and then moved to stand behind her friend so that she wouldn't see the blush on her face, "No deal, I was just making sure that I could be close by to help you and that I spent as much time with all of you as possible before I left," She said, finishing with Ginny's veil, hoping they hadn't heard the lies in her voice.
Ginny grinned as Luna's laugh filled the room. She looked at her friend in the mirror.
"You really are a shite liar 'Mione."
"Oh, I cant believe it took you this long to get to this point. I saw how you felt years ago." Luna piped up from where she was carefully doing up the buckles on a very tall pair of strappy shoes. Ginny gave Hermione a look in the mirror and rolled her eyes a bit. They were all used to Luna's odd proclamations.
"Luna, they hated each other." Ginny finally said.
"They only thought they did." was the blonde's counter. Luna stepped into the bathroom to check herself over. "I'm going downstairs. I really don't want to know what the twins have done with Newt." She walked across the room to the door, and pulled it open.
"Oh. Hello Draco."
"Luna, you look lovely." He smiled at the blonde. She gave him a smile in return and patted him on the shoulder.
"Thank you. Your looking rather dashing yourself." She edged by him, and left the room, heading for the stairs. Draco stepped into the room, and closed the door behind him.
"I came up to escort you to the staging area." Ginny rolled her eyes. He was obviously speaking to her, but his eyes were glued to Hermione. She was encased in golden silk, with a draped halter front. The fabric hugged the curves of her body, falling to the floor. He was frozen in place, eyes locked on her bare back.
Hermione stood still, her heart pounding at the sound of his voice. She could see him in the mirror, and it nearly took her breath away. He looked great in his tux. It was black, rather basic, with a green shirt, and a tie the same gold as her dress. She turned to say something, and then paused, noticing his shoes, and giggled slightly, "Nice shoes," She told him with a grin.
He snapped out of his stupor and grinned sheepishly. He ran a hand over his hair and looked everywhere but her.
"Their more comfortable." he mumbled, looking down at the black and white converse. He shrugged, and turned to Ginny. He offered her his hand. She took it, and stood, carefully arranging her skirts. Draco opened the door, and was nearly knocked over by the exuberant child that raced in, headed straight for Hermione.
"MIONE!" Thuban shrieked, barreling towards his favorite person. He was dressed almost exactly the same as Draco, but was wearing a gold vest and bow-tie instead of a jacket. Draco shook his head and grinned.
"I'll see the two of you downstairs." He laughed and led Ginny out of the room.
Hermione laughed as she dropped down and caught Thuban in her arms, "Well, there you are! You look very handsome! Are you going to be my date for the wedding?" She asked him as she placed a kiss upon the top of his blonde head.
The little boy nodded at her solemnly. He reached out, and patted her hair.
"We need to go down so we can walk down the carpet, listen to Harry and Ginny, and then we can eat cake." He spoke rather matter of fact. "And we need to hurry. I want the cake." He leaned forward and gave her a kiss.
"Mione?" He looked up at her with bright questioning eyes.
"Hmm?" She stood, grabbed a brush and quickly ran it through his rather unruly hair, before attempting to re-tame the few wild strands of her own hair, "What can I do for you, Darling?"
Thuban looked down at the ground then back up to her.
"You love me and Draco right? So, why are you leaving? My mommy left, I really miss her but Draco says she cant come back, not ever, cuz she had her memrie modded. What if you cant come back?" He had tears leaking out of his eyes, and running down his face as he blurted out his questions. His blonde hair was long and shaggy, and he was twisting a lock of it around his fingers as he spoke.
"I do love you Thuban, but I'm afraid that I have to go. It's for my job. I will come back to you though, I promise! I could never leave you forever!"
Thuban nodded sadly, and hugged her around the knees. He then let go, and ran over to the door.
"Lets go down now!" He wiped his nose on his sleeve, and then reached for her hand.
"I love you 'Mione"
Draco glanced up the stairs as he smoothed out Ginny's train. He handed her a bouquet as Thuban came rushing down, tugging on Hermione's hand. He smiled at her as they came to the bottom of the stairs.
"Ready kiddo?" He reached out and pulled the child towards him.
"I'm ready. Where is the pillow?" He reached out his hands. Draco picked up the small cushion from a side table, and handed it to the boy.
"Alright, I'm going to go sit down. Thuban, listen to Ginny and Hermione. I'll see you in a bit." He stood, and turned towards Hermione again. Reaching out, he took her hands, and pulled her towards him.
"You are amazing. I will miss you." he leaned forward, and kissed her on the cheek. He then turned away, and disappeared down the hall into the ballroom.
Hermione smiled after him sadly, as his words replayed through her mind. She quickly wiped away at the tears that were threatening to fall beyond her lashes, before they had a chance to ruin her carefully applied make-up. She placed a smile upon her lips and looked to Ginny and Thuban, "Are we all set then?" She asked, hoping her sadness wasn't evident in her voice, though she was almost certain that it was quaking.
"Let's Go!" The boy was bouncing up and down in excitement. Ginny grinned, and pulled her veil over her face.
"Let's do this." she laughed, and gestured towards the door as the music began. Arthur came over to the trio, and took Ginny's arm as Thuban bounced down the aisle. He paused midway, and did a rather silly dance to the music. He looked up and saw Draco and Harry beckoning him over, and dropped the cushion as he ran up to the men.
Hermione took her turn in walking down the aisle, pausing midway to pick up the small pillow that Thuban had abandoned on the floor. She smiled sadly, her eyes not seeing the people at her destination other than Draco and the little terror that had captured her heart so completely. She wasn't sure how she was going to manage this time away from them. The next six months were going to feel like an eternity to her. She sighed, and tried to fight back the tears that were threatening to come to her amber eyes.
Draco took the cushion as she stepped into place. He flashed her a smile, and turned to face the back of the ballroom as the band struck up the wedding march. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Harry stand up a little straighter and square his shoulders. The double doors opened, revealing Arthur and Ginny.
Harry watched his beautiful bride march towards him. He smiled softly at the sound of Molly wailing into her son's shoulder. Arthur and Ginny came to the end of the aisle, and the older man transferred his only daughter's hand into her soon to be husbands. The man stood for a second, and then pulled the dark haired youngster into a warm embrace. Harry grinned and hugged him back.
"You take care of her my boy." Arthur whispered warmly into the younger man's ear. He broke the embrace, and retreated to sit with his still sobbing wife and smiling children. Harry turned back to Ginny, and took her hand. He stepped up the priest, sparing a moment of sadness for the fact that Ron's stubborn idiocy had robbed him of the joy of seeing Harry officially join the family. He waited while Ginny handed her bouquet to Hermione. When she turned back to Harry, she was smiling. They joined hands once again and faced the priest.
The snowy haired man ran a hand down his beard, and smiled at the gathered crowd. He waved his wand, and a golden halo of light surrounded the happy couple. A similar light barely shimmered around the best man and maid of honor. The man tucked the wand away for the moment, and clapped his hands.
"My good people, today we are gathered her to witness the entwining of Ginevra Molly Weasley and Harry James Potter. These young people have asked all of you, the people they care about to witness the first step on their journey of life. I welcome you, and encourage you to open your heart to the celebration we hold today." He rubbed his hands together, and placed them over the couple's joined ones.
"And now we begin. You both have come before this community of magic to declare your love and intention to spend your lives together. I know ask if there is any reason that anyone would have not to see these two souls joined together?" The priest paused, but was greeted with silence. "Ah excellent. Now, this journey you both are about to embark on will be amazing, if treacherous and painful at times. You are taking your first steps towards building eternity. The love you share will be your building blocks, to be later joined by the love of your children and your children's children. May the angels protect you, trouble neglect you, may you always have plenty, your glass never empty, may your tears come from laughter, and every year passing mean more than gold." The priest once again produced his wand. He gestured to Draco, who handed him a pair of ribbons. The man waved his wands, and the ribbons swiftly wove around the couple's joined hands, tying them together. He held the wand over their bound hands.
"Now, the vows. The couple has asked to be able to speak from the heart. Harry, if you will?"
"Ginny... when I first met you, you were this tiny little thing tagging along to the train station to see your brother's off to school. Even then, you looked at me like I was the dashing prince in your personal fairy tale. I proved myself to be such your first year, when I saved you from the Chamber of Secrets. Even though it took me a couple of years to catch on, but I eventually realized what was staring me in the face. I had a wonderfully kind, beautiful, caring, perfect woman who had all the love in the world for me. I thank you for being everything I needed, and will ever need." Harry trailed off as a tear snaked it's way down his face.
"Ah, beautiful words my boy." The priest spoke again. He turned to Ginny. "And you my dear?"
Ginny took a deep breath, trying to settle her rebellious stomach. She gave Harry a small smile.
"Harry Potter, I loved you before I met you. At first, I was enamored with the idea of you, but when I started to get to know you, first through my brothers, and then on my own, I got to know the real you. I fell even harder." She gave a small laugh. "And now I'm terrified. I'm in love for the first time, and the last time in my life. Your my only light. I love you Harry. I only say it because I mean it, I only mean it because its true. I am honored to stand before our friends and family today, and pledge my everything to you." She took a deep breath and looked back to the priest.
"More beautiful words, from a beautiful woman. Now, on to the best part. Do you Harry James Potter, take Ginevra Weasley as your lawfully wedded wife, and all that entails?"
"I do."
"And do you Ginevra Molly Weasley take Harry Potter as your lawfully wedded husband and all that entails?"
"I do." The priest smiled, and tapped the ribbons. The ribbons glowed with a brilliant, blinding light. When the light cleared, the ribbons were gone. In their place were two sparkling wedding bands, the color of captured sunlight.
"So, with the power vested in me by the Ministry of Magic, and the Church of Merlin, I now pronounce you husband and wife." The priest waved his wand, and the soft glow that surrounded the couple brightened, letting off sparks. Harry flipped the veil over Ginny's head, and pulled her into his arms. He brought his lips crashing down onto hers, and kissed the daylights out of her. He released her after Draco quietly cleared his throat. Ginny gave him a soft smile, and then abruptly turned green. Her hand flew to her mouth, and she turned, dashing for the nearest door. Molly, Harry and the bridal party were right on her heels. Ginny disappeared into the nearest bathroom, her mother and Harry right behind her. The sound of retching, and Harry's quiet voice floated out of the room.
"Is Ginny sick?" Thuban asked his brother, pulling on the tail of his tux jacket.
"She'll be okay little man." Draco responded. They all jumped at the sudden shout that came from behind the closed door. "Thuban, go tell Mr. Weasley that we will all be in in a moment, and that Ginny is fine?" The little boy nodded, and ran back into the ballroom, shouting the message at the top of his lungs. Draco smiled at Hermione.
"Well, I guess Harry knows. Are you going to stay long enough to see the reaction to the announcement I'm sure will be made at dinner?"
Hermione studied him sadly for a moment, pondering over his question, "I…." She shook her head and walked away quickly. The need to leave before it became even harder to do so, the front and foremost thought in her mind at that moment. She got to the stairs and had climbed half way before she stopped and wondered just what she was going to do. It didn't make any sense for her to go into Draco's room. Though, the room of the once Slytherin is exactly where she found herself mere moments later. Sitting on the bed, Hermione looked at the wall and unerringly found the picture of him on the Black family tree. It was going to be rather difficult for her to tell him goodbye now. Especially after all that had happened in the past few days. She knew deep down that she would not be able to look at things the same while she was away. So many things were going to remind her of Draco and young Thuban. The two guys that had become so important to her. Standing once more, she quickly changed out of her dress, hanging it very carefully in Draco's closet so that he would have something of hers while she was gone, and back into her everyday clothes. She started for the door then turned around, going to his pad of paper and pen, having decided to leave him a letter behind, that he would find later.
My Darling Draco,
I am sorry to leave you this way, but I cannot bear to tell you goodbye. I have had to say goodbye to people that I care about too many times, and I do not think that I would be able to say goodbye to you or to Thuban. It would make leaving all that more difficult for me. Please give him a hug and tell him I love him. That I promise I will come to see him after I have returned from my travels. Give Ginny and Harry my best wishes, and that I am happy for them with the new baby that they have coming. As for you my darling…Please know that I am sorry that things worked out like this. Though if I could go back and change them I would not want to. For if I did, we may never have gotten to where we are now. You are in my heart and you shall be what keeps me strong when I feel my own strength waning. I love you, Draco. Please do not forget that nor me, for I will be coming back to you as soon as I am able to.
Love,
Hermione