Disclaimer: I do not own anything that you may recognise here. That includes the song.
A/N: Thanks again for the reviews. You guys are amazing. Finally we make it to the wedding, it took a long time, but we have finally made it. And that means that this story is slowly, but surely, coming to an end soon.
A couple of you have requested a sequel. Which I am open to doing, provided I can think of what direction to throw them in after I get to the ending of this one, and obviously if you all still want a sequel once I am done...Haha!
I want to apologize in advance if my wedding is crap because I am not a wedding person, and I usually have a few too many to drink at the reception and not actually remember the actual ceremony part. So please don't hate me if it does not live up to your expectations.
Warnings: Cussing and maybe a little something else. I can't remember.
Chapter 25 – Just The Way You Are
- Draco's POV -
"Draco, you look amazing" my mother gushes, pulling me against her and pressing a hard kiss to my forehead
"Thank you mother" I sigh, pulling away from her and looking myself over in the mirror one last time – any minute now I will walk back to the Great Hall and prepare to marry the love of my life; Jacob Black.
I sit down on the wooden chair in the middle of the un-used classroom and allow my mother to apply potions to my hair, helping it to sit right – something it hasn't done since I fell pregnant.
"Mother, can I ask you something?"
"Of course you can Draco, what is it?" she asks, removing her hands from my hair to walk around and face me, kneeling on the ground, her hands in mine
"Did you feel like you were going to be sick when you married father? Or is this just some stupid thing related to the pregnancy?" I ask, blushing slightly
"I did feel like that – but I am not going to lie Draco – yours will be intensified due to your pregnancy. But don't think about it darling, you are going to leave this room soon and marry the man of your dreams – all of these strange feelings will be well worth it; trust me, I know" she answers, running her hand down my cheek and smiling, her eyes watering slightly
"Thanks" I whisper, standing up from the chair and taking one final look in the mirror; I can't help but smile as I look myself up and down – the black tux coupled with the fitted dark blue shirt and black tie make the silver-grey of my eyes pop – you can see the flecks of silver, normally unnoticed, dotting my grey eyes.
My mother comes up behind me and helps me pull the blue-black robe over my outfit
"You are so beautiful" she whispers, bursting in to tears and throwing her arms around me, her light make up running a little down her pale cheeks
"Wow, you have not shown this much emotion in years" I whisper, running my hands up the length of her back, her silk robe cool on my hand
"I know, I am just so happy for you baby" she sniffs, pulling herself out to arms length from me, her small hands on my shoulders
"I am going to head in to the Hall and take my seat. Twinkle will come and get you when the time is right" she whispers, placing one final kiss to my head before sweeping from the room, leaving me alone.
I walk around the room a couple of times, going through my vows in my head – Jacob and I had decided to write our own – and I wanted to make sure that I would remember them.
"Master Draco, sir, we are ready for you" Twinkle says, bowing low before opening the door for me and leading me toward the huge golden doors of the Great Hall.
I look to my left knowing that just beyond the veil of concealment magic that my mother had insisted upon Jacob is there – waiting, hopefully just as nervous as I am.
The chatter in the Great Hall stops abruptly as a low chorus of music begins – the traditional pureblood wedding march.
My insides squirm as I feel the doors open and the magic beside me begin to lift. I turn to my left as the outline of Jacob's body slowly comes in to focus.
My eyes bulge out of my head when he comes in to view, and the sound of stifled laughter in the Hall floats toward my ears – damn, I must look like a real freak – but Jacob looks amazing. He has the same tuxedo and robe as me, but the pale blue shirt and white tie, just visible through the opening of his robes, makes his beautiful tan skin stand out. His dark eyes are glistening with happiness as he looks me up and down – his gorgeous smile firmly on his face
"Wow, you look incredible" I whisper, fighting the urge to throw my arms around him and slam my mouth in to his
"And you look amazing" he whispers, taking my hand in his and inhaling deeply before turning toward the Hall.
My mother really has outdone herself. The bewitched roof shows a continuous and beautiful splattering of snow, so white and fluffy, falling from above against a dusty blue, with a slight grey tinged sky. The four house tables have been removed, replaced with small round tables, all covered in silver satin with a gorgeous centrepiece of white and blue roses.
The teachers table is not up their either, instead there is a slightly raised pedestal covered with white and blue rose petals, with bright, free floating fairy lights hanging around the room.
Headmistress McGonagall is standing up there, smiling down at Jacob and I as we slowly walk, hand in hand toward her on a dark blue carpet down the middle of the room, covered in white rose petals with a silver tinge.
"Wow, your mum is amazing" Jacob whispers, looking around the room and smiling brightly, causing a smile to break out on my own face.
I look around at the people in attendance. My mother had told me that a few family friends would be attending, but I didn't think that this many people would have been here – at least 60 people are seated at the small round tables, all of them staring at Jacob and I as we head toward the alter to tie ourselves together – forever.
"What is my dad and pack doing here? They know nothing about your world" Jacob whispers, his eyes fixed to two small round tables at the front of the room
"I don't know, but they don't look mad, do they?" I ask, craning my neck slightly to get a better look at them.
Sam is sitting closest to the aisle, smiling happily at the two of us, next to him is that little kid Seth, who looks like he wants to jump out of his seat and run over to Jacob. To Seth's right is Leah – the women who had caused a lot of problems for Jacob and me – she offers Jacob a weak smile as we walk past – but for the most part she looks embarrassed, and slightly ashamed.
We reach the pedestal and turn to face each other.
Jacob's dad is finally in my sight – he is smiling, and he has a slight sheen of tears forming in his eyes.
"I would like to thank you all for being here to bear witness to the official union of Mr Jacob Black and Mr Draco Malfoy, before we begin I must ask if there is anyone in attendance today who has any aversions to this union and wish to speak up, if not then forever hold your peace" McGonagall begins, bringing my attention to her
She raises her wand and looks down at the two of us, a sweet smile on her lips – her makeup helping her to look much younger then she normally does.
McGonagall flicks her wands a couple of times and a shiny silver rope, not unlike that which you see when making an unbreakable vow, slithers out the end of her wand and winds itself around mine and Jacob's hands
"Now before I can bind you two together, magically, I understand that you have both written your own vows? Jacob, would you like to go first?" she asks, turning to Jacob who looks like he might vomit any moment now
Jacob takes a deep breath before nodding slightly, his hand tightening slightly in mine
"Draco – I figured I would be honest with these, so here we go; when I first met you I thought you were the strangest person I had ever met. But now I realise you are actually the most amazing person I have ever met. I promise to love you for you, including all of the weird magic stuff. I promise to look after you, care for you and kick your ass when you need it" he says, causing everyone, including me to burst in to a silent fit of giggles – he really is amazing.
"I look forward to starting a life and a family with you" he says, his eyes flicking down to my stomach, covered by the blue-black robe I am wearing
"Draco Malfoy, I love you more than anyone in this world, and I will be honoured to call you my husband once we are bonded for life" he finishes, winking at me as the binds on our hands tighten more at the end of his vows.
"Mr Malfoy, would you like to recite your vows now?" McGonagall asks, her eyes twinkling slightly – the way Dumbledore's used to do.
I take a deep breath and hold back a bark of laughter when I look just beyond Jacob's shoulder at a portrait of a woman in white, sharing her space with a bored, but proud looking Snape and a smiling and twinkling Dumbledore.
"Jacob; you are the love of my life. I can honestly say that I have never felt this way about anyone before, and as you well know it scared me at first and I did try to run. But I realised my mistake, and now look where we are – being bonded for life – and there is nothing I want more then to be with you forever. You literally mean the world to me" I begin, my grip on his hand tightening now as well
"I promise to look after you and care for you, and to calm you down when you need it" I say, effectively causing Jacob's pack members, along with Potter, Granger and Weasley to fall in to fits of silent laughter.
"I love you Jacob Black and I can't wait to be joined with you so we can start a family and live a long and happy life together"
The silver strands on our hands, linking us together tightens again before disappearing, leaving both of us with a slight burn mark on the back of our hands. A moment later, right before my eyes, Jacob's burn fades in to a shiny silver scar – another wolf thing.
"Now, to confirm this union would you please repeat after me" McGonagall says, looking first at Jacob
"I, Jacob Black, take you, Draco Malfoy, to be my partner, loving what I know of you, and trusting what I do not yet know. I eagerly anticipate the chance to grow together, getting to know the man you will become, and falling in love a little more every day. I promise to love and cherish you through whatever life may bring us"
Jacob repeats McGonagall word for word, his eyes locked with mine as he slides the ring my mother had gone and brought on to my hand as he finishes
"Now, Mr Malfoy, please repeat after me" McGonagall says, handing me the ring so I can slide it on to Jacob's finger
"I, Draco Malfoy, take you, Jacob Black, to be my partner, loving what I know of you, and trusting what I do not yet know. I eagerly anticipate the chance to grow together, getting to know the man you will become, and falling in love a little more every day. I promise to love and cherish you through whatever life may bring us"
I repeat the words and slide the beautiful silver ring on to Jacob's finger, my eyes never leaving his as I do so, knowing that the ring is magical and would adjust itself automatically to the right size
"By the power vested in me under Magical Weddings and Functions decree 011 I now pronounce you officially bonded, you may now kiss each other" McGonagall says.
I press my lips in to Jacob's savouring the sweet taste of his lips as our tongues slide and dance together.
Jacob and I quickly sign the binding magical contract McGonagall hands to use before she waves her wand and the tables disappear, leaving the floor open. Two large tables appear along both side walls, covered in food and beverages
"I would like the new Mr and Mr Malfoy to make their way to the dance floor for the first dance as a married couple" McGonagall says, flicking her wand to lower the lights in the room
A band that I had seen in gossip magazines a few times take to a corner of the room, the singer using his wand to magically modify his voice louder
"This song is for you Draco – your lovely husband would have sung it himself but he really does have a terrible voice" the lead singer says, smiling over at Jacob before signalling for the members of the band to being playing the music.
"You have a song for me?" I ask curiously, wrapping my arms around Jacob's neck and swaying slightly with him in time for the music
"I do, it is a muggle song so you won't know it, but it really does describe perfectly what I think of you" he answers, pressing a light kiss to my lips.
I lean my head against Jacob's broad chest as we sway to the music. I close my eyes to listen to the lyrics of the song –
Oh his eyes, his eyes
Make the stars look like they're not shining
His hair, his hair
Falls perfectly without him trying
He's so beautiful
And I tell him every day
Yeah I know, I know
When I compliment him
He won't believe me
And it's so, it's so
Sad to think he don't see what I see
But every time he asks me do I look okay
I say
When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stare's for awhile
Cause boy you're amazing
Just the way you are
His lips, his lips
I could kiss them all day if he'd let me
His laugh, his laugh
He hates but I think it's so sexy
He's so beautiful
And I tell him every day
Oh, you know, you know, you know
I'd never ask you to change
If perfects what your searching for then just stay the same
So, don't even bother asking if you look ok
You know I'll say
There's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stare's for awhile
Cause boy you're amazing
Just the way you are
A single tear slides down my cheek at the lyrics of the song. Other couples had joined us on the dance floor and I hadn't even noticed.
"Wow Jacob – I think I just fell even more in love with you after that" I say, choking back the tears of happiness that threaten to slide down my cheeks
"Well it is all the truth. Every line of that song describes exactly what I think of you" he says, pressing his lips in to mine, sending me in to a light headed spin
As the song comes to an end we separate, smiling happily up at each other
"I am just going to run along and see what my dad has to say, I think your mum wants to dance with you anyway" Jacob says, pressing a kiss to my nose before rushing off in the direction of his father to find out why he was here and how he knew
"Would you care to dance mother?" I ask, taking her hand and walking her toward the dance floor as the band begins another song
"That was so beautiful Draco, even your father agrees" she says, nodding in my father's direction as we move gently to the music
"Well it was all you, you made it beautiful. Speaking of you, mother, how the hell is Jacob's father here? He didn't even know about the wedding, let alone the magic" I say, eyeing her curiously
"That is all on Embry. He decided to tell Mr Black what was going on, and it took a lot to get him to believe it as well, especially the magic stuff. I believe Embry ended up calling Harry over to show proof to the lot of them that it was all real, and as soon as they realised this was not a lie they had demanded they be allowed to attend the wedding" she explains
"Well, that is awesome. I can tell Jake is really happy to have his dad here" I say, pulling away from her when the song comes to an end.
The evening turns in to night time as people continue to dance and drink – genuinely enjoying themselves.
I take a seat near the table holding the beverages and cast my eyes over everyone on the dance floor – moving so freely and smiling happily, talking among one and other.
"Oh fuck" I whisper, clutching my stomach when a sharp pain shoots through my abdomen, feeling as though someone has clenched their fists around all of my muscles and squeezed really tightly.
I grab a goblet of water and down it quickly, hoping to calm myself down – that pain was nothing, it was merely my unborn child trying to make his or her presence known.
"Hey, Malfoy, are you ok?" Potter asks, raising an eyebrow at me curiously before reaching for a goblet of pumpkin juice and handing it to a slightly intoxicated Ron Weasley
"Yeah, I am fine" I respond, wincing when the same muscle contracting pain shoots through my stomach again
"No, you really are not fine. You look like you are going to be sick, and you have winced in pain twice in the last five minutes. I am going to go and look for Hermione. Stay here. Ron, go and find Jacob" Potter says, sounding very much like the Head Auror at that moment.
Granger rushes over a moment later, looking down at me seriously, her hair slightly askew from the run back in to the Great Hall – she must have been outside catching some fresh air
"What is wrong? Tell me now or I swear to Merlin I will hurt you" she says, her voice sounding very serious as she stares me down
"I don't know Granger – it just kind" but I never get the rest of the sentence out as another extreme cramp pulsates through my stomach
"Draco, honey, are you ok?" Jacob asks, beating Weasley back over by an entire room length as he leans down next to me, his hand on my back
"Oh shit, no, it fucking hurts" I cry throwing my head back as another cramp rocks my stomach.
Granger pulls her wand out and quickly transfigures a chair in to a bed – that looks oddly like a hospital bed and points toward it, hinting that I should climb on
"Hermione, what the fuck is going on?" Jacob shouts, attracting the attention of more of the guests – including my parents, who both push past a group of guests to get closer to us.
A loud crash takes the attention from me a moment later. I quickly spin around and see the red headed Ginny Weasley standing there, smiling over at everyone in the room
"I think my invite might have gotten lost in the mail. It took me a long time to get in here as well, but I remember Harry telling me something about the Shrieking Shack being a secret passage to the grounds, so I took that" she explains, striding in to the room, her wand pointed in the general direction of Jacob and me
"Ginny, leave now – you have no right to punish Jacob or Draco, regardless of your ridiculous reasons you stated in that letter" Potter says, taking a step closer to his ex.
"Draco, get in the bed now, you are seriously in labour, a month too early. So get in the fucking bed or I will make you" Granger shouts right at the moment a massive cramp rips through my body, causing me to hunch over, my arms wrapped tightly across my stomach
I take my eyes off the Weasley girl and look down at the bed in fear – labour, already, no way. I am not prepared for this. I didn't ask Granger enough about what will happen from now on.
"Harry just leave Ginny and come here, you are the only person I have taught what to do" Granger shouts, eyeing the Weasel woman with a modicum of distaste
"Wow, even you have turned on me Hermione? Now do you see Harry? Everything relates back to them two freaks" Ginny shouts, pointing in mine and Jacob's direction
"Well I have had it; I am not going to stand for this anymore. This is the last fucking straw" she shouts, raising her wand
"Crucio" she shouts – a stream of red shoots from her wand and hits me directly in the side of the head as I try and climb on to the conjured hospital bed.
The pain is instant. It feels like someone is stabbing me with a million large knives, they are twisting and turning in my skin, my muscles, and my organs. The painful contractions are going almost every minute now and I can feel them mixing – as though the two are soul mates – with the pain from the Cruciatus Curse
I scream out in pain as Weasley grabs me and almost throws me on the bed, magical anger radiating off of him in waves
"Harry get over here now" Granger shouts, running her hands up and down my arm as the pain becomes too much and I can no longer deny myself of screaming
"Harry you know what to do. Do it. Draco, I am so sorry this will take about half an hour, and there is nothing I can do about the curse, I can't perform any form of magic on you at the moment aside from what Harry knows to do and a few charms to cut you open. It is far too dangerous for your child if I do anything. And my god, can some of you come here and hold Draco down, I do not want to mess my incisions up" Granger orders, looking around at the people close by.
Jacob rushes over, his body shaking with wild anger as he places his hands on my shoulders, effectively pinning me to the makeshift bed
"Shit. I am going to kill that fucking bitch" Jacob hisses
"No, you are not, you do not want to spend the rest of your life in Azkaban" my father says, placing his hand on my arm as my mother cries in to his shoulder
"Do you really think I give a fuck about this Azkaban shit? Look what she did to my fucking husband" Jacob shouts, scrunching his eyes closed in an effort to calm himself down.
I look to the side, screaming in pain – Ginny Weasley is bound on the floor with magical binds.
The pain is becoming too much. I can feel the contractions as though they are a back up vocal for the torture curse. The two lots of pain together are causing my eyes to water and unwanted, loud and ear splitting screams to escape my mouth.
"I think you need to be with Draco, and your child, not in Azkaban, leave that to someone who has been there and done it all before" my father replies suspiciously, pressing a kiss to mothers head and briefly gripping my hand before walking toward the front of the room where the Weasley bitch is writhing, desperate to break the binds.
My mother rushes after him a moment later.
A sharp pain shoots through my body and I instantly know that Granger has made the first incision
"Baby, you are doing great" Jacob encourages, his anger slightly subsiding in favour of his need to be here for me
"Ja – Ja – Jake, it hurts to bad" I cry, allowing the tears to fall freely from my eyes when a major contraction rips through my stomach as Granger continues to slice and hack away at my midriff
"I know Draco. I know" he breaths, leaning down to press a soft kiss to my lips in a desperate effort to comfort me, or take my mind off the pain – I don't know.
The feeling of knives ripping through me is constant, and I feel my mind starting to wander – the walls are slowly fading in to a blur of colours – pink, blue, purple
"Fucking hell, Malfoy do not let this curse beat you. Fight it. I am not going to allow you to lose your mind, understood?" Ronald Weasley shouts, slapping me hard across the face – just what I needed - more pain on top of the rest I was already feeling.
The pain becomes too much and I close my eyes, allowing my body to feel like it is floating on air – flying on its own. The voices around me are muffled and static, as though the WWN is having broadcasting trouble.
A bright, blinding flash of green light fills the room, breaking me from my partial insanity and bringing the pain back, almost as though it has been magnified by ten – I throw my head back and notice the surprised, slightly happy look on Jacob's face. Potter is resolutely staring at my chest, where his wand is resting, sending a lot of his magical energy through me.
"What the hell was that?" I whisper, unable to shout, scream or even talk anymore
"How do you feel? Is it just the labour pains now?" Potter asks, finally looking up to meet my eyes
"Ah – yeah – I mean, it still feels like the Cruciatus Curse is still on me, but I can tell it is gone. Just the pain of being cut open and the contractions now" I respond, scrunching my eyes as a particularly nasty cramp assaults me
"So, it was – was – um – sorry – it was Ginny who just got hit with the killing curse then?" Potter asks, looking up at Jacob for an answer
"If the killing curse is a blinding green light that causes you to look like you died peacefully when it hits you then yes" he answers, looking over in the general direction that Ginny Weasley was in before
"We are almost done Draco" Granger says, poking her head up from my stomach and looking around at Harry
"I am sorry about Ginny, but you know what to do Harry, so please concentrate. Draco this is going to hurt. This is the make it or break it moment. You will probably pass out from magical exhaustion" she adds, her eyes slightly filled with tears as she speaks of the youngest Weasley girl
"W – w – who killed W- W – Weasley?" I choke out, looking up at Jacob through slightly closed eyes as my body slowly begins to shut down as though I am ready for sleep
"Your Mother did it. Your father went over there to do it, but she stopped him and then, well, you know what happened" Jacob answered just as my eyes finally closed and my energy was almost completely drained.
Ok, so that is the end of that chapter. I hope it was ok, I liked it a lot more than I thought I would to be honest.
So will everything work out and Draco and the baby be fine? What will happen to Mrs Malfoy? How will everyone react to Ginny's death, which was nowhere near as dramatic as I bet you all wanted it to be...But I couldn't have Jacob do it, or Draco, and Harry, Ron and Hermione, regardless of what she has done, wouldn't do it either.
Stay tuned for more and I hope you all find it in your hearts to review.