DISCLAIMER - THIS FAN FICTION IS RATED AS 'M'

ADULT THEMES AND SOME MILD ADULT LANGUAGE

Copyright;

Harry Potter and all related characters are the property of JK Rowling.

This story along, is my creation.

Chapter 37: The World Waits

"In a place that won't let us feel
In a life where nothing seems real
I have found you
In a world that's moving too fast
In a world where nothing can last
I will hold you
So stay with me
and hold me tight
and dance
like it's the last night of the world"

Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg.

Miss Saigon. - Last Night Of The World.

Draco stared in amazement as the large group poured through the kitchen door, the bright green light from the fire was still shimmering on the windows, people were still turning up, it was almost a steady stream of them. If he didn't know any better, Draco would have believed there was a permanent link with somewhere and they were just walking through from one hearth to another. He saw Blaise's look of wonder at the guests who were arriving, as if summoned.

Seamus walked over in a green suit with gold trimming, a Hogwarts tie and his mess of hair was, for once, combed and gelled back. He walked towards Molly, who was still hovering over Minerva. "'ello Mrs Weasley." Spotting Draco and Blaise he let out a long whistle. "Jeez, Malfoy, you scrub up well, as my mam would say." Smiling he turned to the seating behind Draco and sat in the third row.

The line seemed never ending. The loud crash made Molly turn in horror at the kitchen, it sounded like a herd of hippogriffs were having a party in there, a few moments later, the tall figure of Hagrid squeezed himself out of the door. "Small kitchen Molly." He said smiling a very awkward smile at her. By the time people had stopped leaving the kitchen, both side of seating were full, extra had to seats had to be brought out at one point.

Blaise glanced at Draco, he could see the uncomfortable look on his face. He quickly glanced round at the assembled guests and wondered if Draco was getting anxious, this was a big step for any man, never mind Draco. Blaise would never admit it, but he would never have dreamed having this kind of wedding, all those people looking at you, everyone watching you and hanging on your every word. Laying his hand on his blonde friends shoulder he gave it a little squeeze. "You ok?"

"You think this is a mistake?" Draco had been watching, what seemed like, the unending row of people arriving. He had noticed one thing about them all and he didn't think Blaise had. "There's no on here from our house."

"What?" Blaise thought his friend had gone mad, apart from the fact there was only them living at the Black Manor, it was in ashes... He then realised, watching Terry Boot and Katie Bell walk from this kitchen, what Draco was referring to. "Feels a little odd, don't it?" He suddenly felt out numbered and ran his hand over his wand, jammed in his waistband down the back of his trousers.

"You think I'm doing the right thing?" Draco looked to his friend for guidance, normally he was the brain and Blaise the muscle, but the big guy was clever and Draco liked that about him, he wasn't a mindless slave like Crabbe and Goyle... He wondered if any from Slytherin would even have been invited, but on that, most of their housemates were either dead or in hiding. "I mean... I'm a Slytherin, she's a Gryffindor..."

Blaise hadn't thought much on this until now, he had never seen the reason. When he was with Victoria it was like they were the only people in the world. Then it struck him, 'what house will the kid get into?' If it wrote a letter home, saying it was in any house but Slytherin, he might just die. He would still love it, but he couldn't imagine any child of his ending up in Gryffindor, his family were Slytherins as far back as they could document, the same as Draco. Blaise wondered if Victoria would mind the silver and green décor he had chosen for their home, well, he'd let her have red towel in her bathroom. He could see the worried look on Draco's face and wondered if it could just be nerves. Turing to Draco he looked serious. "I suppose you have a point, two of themost notorious Slytherins are marrying two of the most reputable Gryffindors..."

"Here mate, you know what everyone used to say about us?" The puzzled look from Blaise told him the big guy had no idea. "Some people used to think that we were a couple."

Blaise raised an eyebrow.. Had his friend gone over the edge? Had this wedding snapped his friends tiny hold on reality? "Okay..."

"Do you think we have time to see if they were right? You, me and a big tub of Vaseline?" Draco smirked at the look of utter horror on his friends face. It made him feel a little better to see Blaise more freaked than he was. Draco stared laughing and Blaise patted him hard on the back for his trouble. "I'm only kidding, mate. I've seen the size of the thing in your trousers, there's no way that's coming anywhere near me, even if I was gay."

They heard the fire spark up again and a few moments later Luna walked backwards out of the kitchen hitting at thin air. She was wearing a long black dress with white lily's, her long bland hair was tied back with a strand of vine and she was carrying a small box.

"Luna." Cried Dean just before she collided with a tall plant holder full of green and gold roses.

"These imps are really terrible."

It was when she turned round Molly noticed she wasn't wearing any shoes. Molly looked perturbed but decide not to say anything in case it caused her to start waffle-ing about how they were stolen by swafrigglers or something... Noticing the box Luna carried Molly asked. "What's that my dear?"

"What?" Remembering the box she held it out to Molly. "A little something from my garden. Father said they were good for weddings." She smiled as Molly tentatively took the small red box from her.

"Where's Harry?" Hermione was getting worried. She had just heard the crashing downstairs and almost rushed form the room, wand in hand. Victoria and Ginny had to physically bar the door to stop her running out. She wished Ginny's room looked out over the back garden, she could see what was going on then, she could see if Draco was there or if he had 'chickened out'. She then realised someone would have come and told her if he had, or would they?

"Calm down, Mione. He'll be here." Victoria said, watching Hermione pace up and down the room.

"Yeah, you'll wear out my carpet." Turning to Victoria, Ginny placed the cap back on the bottle of nail varnish and admired her nails. She had realised a few months ago, there was something about doing it yourself that was a little more satisfying than waving your wand over everything. "You want to use some?" Glancing at Hermione. "Will you sit down? You're making me nervous."

"No thanks Ginny. Look, Hermione, do you really think your parents would miss the most important day of your life?" She looked at Hermione who had plonked herself down on the bed next to them two bridesmaids. Victoria could understand the feeling's Hermione must be going through. She had been so happy to marry Blaise, there had been the same friction between them when it came to houses, but both of them had remained fairly neutral during inter-house warring. Mostly because they were sleeping together, but what did difference in houses matter now? Victoria wasn't sure, but she knew it did still matter. Somewhere, deep down inside them all, what house they were in, would go with them through life.

"This is torture." Hermione stood up again, she wanted to move, she wanted to go outside , she didn't care. She knew he was stood there waiting for her. Or was he? She didn't want to think of how it would feel if he wasn't there, she didn't' want to, but she did think about it. All those eyes looking at her, the sorrow in them. Having to tell her mum and dad they had just had the most frightening experience of their lives, for nothing. "Fuck sake, I can't stay in this tiny little room, I'm going to suffocate."

"Hermione Granger." Ginny sounded both shocked and hurt. "You never had a problem with my room before, marrying Malfoy going to your head already?" Ginny didn't like her room called tiny, she knew it was, it wasn't like her family had money. "I know you're going to live in a big house with zillions of rooms, but I only have this one."

Hermione felt terrible, her stomach lurched. "Ginny, I didn't..."

"I am so sorry this room isn't to your liking... ma'am." Curtsying, Ginny winked at Victoria.

"That's not what I fucking meant and you bloody well know it." Hermione could feel her face getting flush, she was embarrassed, but was it more by the fact she had just upset one of her closest friends or the idea she was about to become the next Lady Malfoy? She suddenly felt light headed, she was petrified that this was all going to go wrong. She felt sick, this was her last few moments as Hermione Granger. How was it going to feel tomorrow morning, how was it going to feel being Mrs Draco Malfoy? She shivered, partly by the idea of being referred to by his first name and then by the thought of how daft she was being. "You're just being a bitch."

"Hermione, how could you?" Victoria looked at her, her mouth lay open. She couldn't believe Hermione had just called Ginny a bitch. "Ginny hasn't done anything."

"Of course I have, I have a tiny little room. Isn't that right... Granger." She had to force the last word out. It felt so alien on her lips and she had to bite her tongue when Hermione's face dropped. She wasn't laughing for long.

Hermione burst into tears and fell to her knees. "What am I becoming?"

Ginny looked at Victoria. 'Gone to far?' Was written on her face and Victoria nodded at her as she knelt down and placed her arm round Hermione. Ginny bent over and patted Hermione until Victoria looked at her. Ginny stopped, realising that Hermione wasn't a pet.

"Mione..." Victoria was almost whispering.

Hermione wanted to jump out of the window. She wanted to run and jump, screaming about how much of a bad person she was. She thought back over the last year or so and she could see how she had changed, in such a short space of time, she had changed and changed back again. She used to be so honest and true, now she was a moral-less harlot. She had cheated on her boyfriend with the man she was about to marry and now she had just insulted one of her best friends. She could feel morality slipping away, why couldn't she just jump? The last act of a disgraced creature. She couldn't stop crying, she had lost almost everything, found it again and now she was losing her friends for a man. This was meant to be the happiest day of her life, not a day to destroy friendships and rip apart lives.

"I was only joking." Ginny said quietly, her chin on her chest. She felt as if she was the colour of her hair as Hermione looked up at her, the tears staining her face and black lines where her make-up had run down her cheeks. "I'm not offended, it was just..." She shuffled her feet as if she was five again. "... you seemed so scared and tense, I thought, if I can get your mind of it all, you'd feel better..." Ginny looked up and tried to smile at her friend on the floor. "... and what better way to release tension? A good argument, even if it is fake." Ginny couldn't look at the girl on the floor, she felt so disgusting for what she had done to her. "I am sorry Hermione, I am really sorry." When she felt the arms round her she thought they were Victoria's at first. It wasn't until the thin vale brushed her cheek, did she know it was Hermione.

"You stupid girl." Hermione was laughing now, she had been so warped up in the wedding she had forgotten how to joke. "You sweet, stupid girl."

"You could have left it at sweet." Ginny complained, with mock offence. She felt the other pair of arms move round her. When she glanced up, Victoria had joined them.

The knock at the door shocked them all and the chorus of squeals turned quickly into laughter. The door opened and Hugo stepped in.

"Where's my little girl?" Looking at Hermione he could feel a tear welling up in his eye. "My God, you are beautiful. Come give your dad a hug."

Walking toward each other, they met in the centre of the room and hugged. She could smell the anti-bacterial he used at work and the scent of old spice, still hung round the suit he was wearing. After a few moments they stepped back from one and other.

"Have you got everything?" Hugo asked looking at his grown up daughter. He had known she was old before her years when he had heard the stories of her and her friends in their first year at Hogwarts, but looking at her now he could see the little bushy haired girl she had once been and now, the beautiful young lady she was now. He wanted to hold her again, he wanted one last hug from his little girl before she became a woman and went off into the big wide world. He was glad his wife had decided to join the others in the garden. He could imagine her reluctance to let go of Hermione and the tears that would ruin both their make-ups.

"Oh, no." She had just realised, she had not got everything. "I have something borrowed." She pointed to the tiara, "I have something blue." She opted not to lift her skirt in front of her father to show her azure blue garter. "I have something new, the dress but I don't have anything old.."

Ginny rushed past Hugo and into Bill's room. Throwing open the window she, looked in shock at the amount of people who where sat below. "We're missing something old." The blank faces told her they had no idea what she was talking about. Old, new, borrowed, blue." She reminded them.

Chatters ran through the crowed as they tried to stay quite. Blaise looked down at his feet. "You can have Barton if you want."

"Piss off..." Draco heard Hermione shout No from inside and smiled. "You aren't palming him off on us, the defective little git."

"Here." Shouted Molly, taking a ring from her little finger. "It was a gift from your father, almost thirty years ago now. She can have this." Throwing up the little signet ring she watched as Ginny caught it smiled, said thank you and disappeared back into the house. "Gi.." Molly stared to call but her daughter re-appeared and shut the window.

Running into the room, Ginny handed the ring to Hermione. "Mum says have it. It was gift from dad."

Looking at the little signet ring, Hermione was amazed, it was lovely and carved so simply with 'M', as Hermione put it on the ring shrank to fit and the 'M' seemed to met and reform into a 'H'. She looked at Ginny, she had heard Draco outside, he was there, her stomach did a somersault and her heart began to race. She could feel the tears coming again and tried her hardest to hold them back. "I can't keep this.. It's... It's wonderful."

"You try and tell mum that." Ginny said with a look of... 'Like she's gonna let you give it back.'

"Come on darling, let's go down." Holding out his arm he let Hermione take it and led her down the stairs.

The window closed and Ginny returned to Hermione. Molly turned back to look over the small red box as Luna walked over and sat on a tree stump at the end of one of the rows of seats. Molly decided, like the rest of the guests, not to tell Luna it was not a seat. The box had a fine 'f' etched in gold on the top and a gold clasp that had a golden, blunt ended, pin holding it closed. Suddenly the box shook and the sound of tinkling bells could be heard from inside. Molly almost dropped it, but Susan bones caught a hand under it before it fell. The sharp movement was enough to dislodge the pin, this fell to the grass, turning in the air as it fell. The lid suddenly sprang open and the air was filled with tiny tinkling bells as around twenty fairies flew out. Their shimmering wings glistened in the dying sun and the air seemed to glow. Landing on the flowers the little creatures came to rest and the soft glow that came off the flowers bathed everyone.

A few of them hung in the air, their wings beating so fast it was showering the occupants of the seats with golden dust. They hung there, tinkering as they hovered.

"I didn't know fairies tinkled?" Dean whispered to Charlie, who was stood next to him, watching the little creatures hover above them.

"They're Luna's." Charlie whispered back, trying not to be heard by anyone other than Dean.

"Explains it." Said Susan. Smiling at Luna Susan turned to Dean. "She isn't on the same page as the rest of us."

"Oh Merlin, I hope she is." Said George. "The songs 'll sound terrible if she's not."

Everyone stared to laugh until Molly clipped George around the back of the head and gave them all a look of... 'Anyone else?' Turning to find Minerva, Molly drifted down the isle, she could remember her wedding day, it had been lovely. Sitting next to the Hogwarts teacher she gave Hagrid a polite nod and then smiled at Draco, who was starting to look decidedly apprehensive. "Oh, Minerva, doesn't he look so charming stood there, you could forget everything you heard about him at school." Minerva burst into tears again. Molly put her arm round Minerva and was intending to console her, but it wasn't long before she stared crying too.

Harry opened the kitchen door and as he stepped aside the few fairies that had been flittering around above everyone, whooshed to the door and, as everyone 'ooed' and 'arr-ed' the fairies landed on Hermione.

Her snow white dress was glistening, the silver tiara shone and a fairy sat just behind the point. She could see all the faces, all her friends had turned up, she fought back the tears as she walked towards the beaming faces. She could see her old head of house, crying into a handkerchief. Molly, sat beside her, searching for her own. The line of men stood down the isle stood to attention as he reached and the flowers seemed to sing. Hermione felt her heart beat and stop... beat and stop... she thought she was going to pass out. Turning she could see Dean smiling at her, the flower glimmering with fairy dust. Susan was almost in tears as Hermione smiled at her. She felt as if she were walking on air, the grass smelt so sweet and the flowers swayed in the evening breeze as she walked with her father down toward the tall blonde man who was to be her husband. He looked so amazing in his black suit. She smiled at Blaise, who didn't seem to be looking at her, but behind her, to Victoria. Hermione could see her mum turning to face her from the front. Her care worn face covered in tears all ready. Hermione could feel her legs turning to jelly as she neared Draco. She could feel her train behind her, the two little house elves trying to keep up with her. She felt the little fairy move on her head and the silver snake on the tiara lit up, it's emerald eyes shining.

Reaching the front, Hugo let go of his daughter and stepped aside to sit with his wife. Pulling a blue paper towel from his inner pocket he saw the 'how could you' look cross his wife's face, he ignored it and wiped a tear that had just run down his cheek.

Draco's heart lurched and he thought it was going burst from his chest, the sweat was running down him as Hermione stopped beside him. The large bunch of roses and orchids in her hands were shivering. He smiled at her and as she smiled back he felt his stomach twitch. He watched her hand the bouquet to Ginny. He felt Blaise behind him a hand on the base of his spine to make sure he stepped forward at the right time. The small white haired man smiled and Draco felt the push from Blaise.

When the little man spoke he sounded like Hagrid, a deep booming voice, no one was sure if it was his own voice or a spell.

"The rings?"

Draco held his hand out behind him and Blaise placed them in his hand. Turning to Hermione Draco held the ring to her palm, holding her soft hand, feeling the heat rising from it. He smiled at her and he saw a tear, threatening to fall from her eye as she smiled at him.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered her today to bond Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger"

Tearful sniff could be heard from the crowd. Hermione wanted to cry herself and from the look on Draco's face, she was sure he was going to burst into tears, either that or he had gas.

"This is a blessed union, undertaken by two people who wish to spend their eternities together." He smiled sweetly at the bride and groom. "The flame of love is a wonderful thing. It can brighten the darkest corners and warm the coldest roads that we must travel. For two people to find love, that is truly a blessed thing."

Blaise smiled at Victoria and Bill took Fleur's hand in his and squeezed.

"Now, Draco, repeat after me... I, Draco Malfoy, promise here, that I take Hermione as my wife, bonded in union until parted by death."

Draco swallowed. He could feel everyone watching him. "I, Draco Malfoy, promise here, that I take Hermione as my wife, bonded in union, until parted by death."

Turing to Hermione, the white haired official could see the smile of her face. "Hermione, do you accept Draco's promise?"

"I do." She felt the hot band of gold slid onto her finger, she didn't dare look at it in case she burst into tears. Instead, she turned and faced the Minister.

"Hermione, please repeat after me... I, Hermione Granger, promise here, that I take Draco as my husband, bonded in union until parted by death."

"I, Hermione..." Her heart jumped into her throat, she couldn't speak. She breathed, deeply. "Promise here, that I take Draco as my husband, bonded in union, Until parted by death."

"Draco.." The minister could feel the sun falling as he turned to the blonde groom. "Do you accept Hermione's promise?"

He could feel a heat rising in his gut, a heat so intense he thought his stomach was burning. "I do." He could hear the low crying and the odd sniffle from behind him. He felt the warm ring slide up his finger, her touch so soft he didn't even notice it. But as he looked up he could see the smile on her face. Smiling back he watched, unable to move, as she started to cry softly. If she was like this now, he wondered what she would be like in a moment.

"Draco.." The little man turned to him. "I believe you have something to say to Hermione."

"Yes..." He saw the look of fear cross her face as he turned to her. "Hermione, we sat at opposite tables in the great hall, we laughed with different people in the corridors, but we have laid under the same stars all out lives.." Swallowing Draco watched as more tears fell from Hermione's face. "can we now sit at the same table, laugh with the same friends, and sleep as one, under those stars?"

She didn't know what to say, so she said what she felt. "Yes."

Taking her hand he felt her shaking, he could hear louder cries from the group assembled behind him. He knew it was Molly and Professor McGonagall who were crying the most, closely followed by Hermione's mum. He felt her hold tight and he squeezed her hands as she wrapped them inside him.

"Draco and Hermione have spoken their love before us all, should anyone know of any reason these two should not be together, let them speak now, or forever hold his peace."

Blaise slipped his hand under the back of his jacket and took hold of his wand, he would gladly stupefy anyone that dared make a noise. But al he could here was the snivelling from the crowd. Glancing at Victoria he could see her cuddled into Ginny, both of them tearful. Turing back to the Minister, Blaise let go of wand.

"By the power vested in me, by the Ministry for Magic, I declare that you are bonded by marriage and are now man and wife." A blue light shot from the end of his wand and wove like a ribbon around their hands, glowing for a little before it died away. "You may kiss the bride."

Draco pulled Hermione to him and pressed his lips to hers. There was a passion in there touching that had not been their before. The crowd erupted.. Cries and screams from most of the women, the men hollered and cheered. Suddenly the last of the suns rays lit the horizon, the little house elves stood either side of the arch clicked their fingers and golden leaves fell from the sky and the fairies took off, sending golden dust falling over the couple, kissing in the dying light of the day.

Author's Notes;

I fell like doing a JRR Tolkin and ending here... I shall await my beta before I make a final decision on that. (Don't wish to lose a limb – she's vicious)

Well, R&R, the truth – what did you think, did you like it or hate it?