Raise Me Up
Hermione packed up a bag, stealthily pushing in the white negligée that she and Ginny had ordered while they were drunk. Draco had told his mother about their plans and she had promptly declared that the bride-to-be couldn't possible spend the night in the same house as the groom for it was bad luck and so Narcissa had come to pick Hermione up.
She walked out to where Draco and his mother were conversing in the living room, smiled at Narcissa she asked her to excuse Hermione and Draco for just a bit. As soon as his mother was out of hearing range, Draco looked anxiously into Hermione's eyes.
"So we're doing this? We are really doing this?" he said holding her dainty hands in his own large, warm ones.
"We are!" she said with conviction.
"Because if you do have reservations or doubts we can wait, just say something now. Because I don't think I could live with it if you got cold feet tomorrow and ditched me."
"Are you sure? I mean clearly I am not exactly in perfect condition Draco; it's going to take me time … to.. to.. be intimate with you. You understand all that right?"
"I do." He replied.
"Well then know this so do I, I won't get cold feet and I would never –never abandon you or leave without telling you. We are doing this, remember just you and me no one else to please, just you and just me together."
"Together…" he repeated looking into her eyes.
Hermione reached up and kissed him gently and then picking up her bag she walked to where Narcissa was waiting for her near the fireplace.
….
Narcissa let Hermione into the Mansion, Hermione had bad memories of this place yet the inside was transformed, changed beyond her recognition. All the dark tapestries and paintings had been taken down along with most the heavy light suppressing fabrics. In place of the dark velvet curtains hung translucent gossamer, flowy and light it danced to the night's breeze. The rest of the house was warm with light coming from tastefully placed vintage lamps.
"You have done up your home beautifully Mrs. Malfoy." Hermione said feeling at ease.
"Narcissa please Hermione, come we have much to discuss." She said leading her into the kitchen.
The warm scent of muffins wafted towards Hermione appreciative nose, it was dream of a kitchen …large and warm, smelling of cinnamon and brown sugar mixed with bites of honey and cloves. The roughhewn table at the center of it was far more inviting than the rather imposing table set out for formal functions that resided in the main room. Right at the center of the table was a clear glass bowl filled with floating carnations.
"This big house is so lonely if you don't have someone to share it with." Said Narcissa sadly, "So I take refuge here, it's one of my favorite rooms in the house. In the mornings you must see it, it has sunshine streaming through it from all corners and you can fair smell the bread baking all the way over from the village baker's house. I used to spend hour upon hour in the room when I was a young bride, I would look out and dream that one day I would actually be able to marry someone I loved. Believe me I adore my Draco but his father… I was scared of Lucius for most of my marriage. That man had a temper… and woes betide the man or woman who arouses it." She said whilst removing the hot muffins from the old-fashioned cavernous oven.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that…" Hermione said sympathetically.
"It was a long time ago." She snorted, "We should talk about something else, not my childish dreams of prince charming."
"Oh but you mustn't give up now Narcissa! I found mine, I'm sure you can find him too." Hermione protested.
"You're sweet darling, but I'm just an old woman now." She said patting Hermione cheek and Hermione dropped it…. For now…
Hermione smiled as the scent of butter-nut and banana muffins, they took her back to the times she spent summers with her Nana in Devon, "Those smell divine Narcissa!"
"Thank you darling, Choco-chip, butter-nut and banana muffins, I have been baking them for as long as I can remember. There is just something special about cooking the muggle way isn't there? That can never quite be achieved by just flicking a wand or saying an incantation. Something almost sensual and seductive…" she grinned putting the cooling muffins into a basket and pushing it towards Hermione. "Have a bite…" she urged mischievously, her blue eyes glittering with wicked amusement.
"Oh what the hell, I'm going to get fat when I'm married anyway." Hermione muttered under her breath, giggling as she and Narcissa burned their finger breaking apart the soft doughy treat.
It was absolutely divine… Hermione moaned softly as a delicious piece of the fluffy muffin melted into her tongue and exploded on her taste buds. For a few minutes the two women were silent, just enjoying the tantalizing, wickedly sinful taste of the desert.
"Are you sure you want to marry Draco, Hermione?" asked Narcissa as she wiped her sticky fingers on a napkin.
"I know you're concerned Narcissa but…"
"Don't get me wrong, I don't doubt the strength of your love for him or for Scorpius but spare his old mum for wanting to protect him. And you sweetie, I like you …. So much, you are an excellent mother to Scorpius and a joy to have in the family but what about what you went through with that Weasley boy… I'm truly sorry for asking but will you be able to manage being intimate?"
Hermione felt a warm glow, this was not an overprotective mother who was attacking her wands blazing, no… it was clear that Narcissa was as concerned about Hermione's welfare as she was of Draco and Scorpius's.
"I love him…" Hermione replied simply, "And what is to happen will happen and I think we are strong enough to handle whatever is thrown towards us and if we ever do break apart then rest assured Narcissa I will never and I mean never abandon my little boy."
Narcissa nodded satisfied and got up, "Well then, there is only one more thing left to do. Follow me…" she grinned.
Hermione followed her future mother- in- law up the steps and into a room that was barred with a massive old iron lock.
"This is the Malfoy's traditional 'wedding' room, when I was to marry Lucius my mother-in-law brought me here. Though trust me I didn't have half as much fun as you are going too. Cecile was a nightmare on the best of days…" she shuddered delicately as she walked in.
It was like Hermione had been transported back a century, when they entered the entire room lit up with small tree fairies who had been let in when the room was being cleaned earlier in the day.
Full length mirrors adored the rooms high walls and yet gentle sweeping arches made it seem small… cozy, intimate. Swaths of light fabrics trailed down to the floors… from the lightest egg shell to the palest of pinks and the lightest cerulean's.
The softest of silks that begged to be touched, caressed, the smoothest satins that rippled like water between Hermione's clumsy fingers. All she could do was gape in awe; this had to be one of the most beautiful rooms Hermione had ever seen. Racks and racks were filled with shoes, all kinds of shoes.
But they were here for something else….
"Come Hermione…" Narcissa whispered leading her further into the room. "This is what I wanted to show you…"
Incased in glass was the most beautiful wedding gown Hermione had ever seen, virgin white. It glittered iridescent, as if thousands and thousands of small jewels were sown into the bell of the skirt, long sleeves swept down to curl into large petals made entirely of lace. The sweetheart neckline displayed just collar bones demurely and the skirt fell in layers and layers of the softest tulle shimmering and glittering.
"This gown has been worn by generations of Malfoy brides and it would be an honor to the house of Malfoy, if you wore it on your and Draco's wedding." Narcissa said hesitantly, gauging the younger girl's reaction. "It changes to fit the type of person wearing it, not size but appearance. I remember when I wore it, it had turned the most beautiful golden… that would break your heart…" she said wistfully.
"Yes…. Definitely, it would be my honor to wear this…. This… piece of art." Hermione said softly tears filling down her face like a cascade.
Narcissa embraced the girl and said "Welcome to the family then…" her own tears dampening her face.
(I wonder what it looked like if Bellatrix wore this gown?) :D
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A/N - Next Chapter: Morning of the Wedding, all those who review will get a sneak peak of it P.M'd to them and it has a few okay a lot of surprises, so you wanna review…