Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. I don't make money from this fic.
September 30, 1980 Godric's Hollow -St. Jerome's Church
Hermione looked out the window of the church, towards the graveyard. That image had set the mood for her wedding, it seemed. She smoothed a hand down her dress and sighed. This would be nothing like James and Lily's wedding.
Her dress was a hand-me-down, ironically, the same one Lily had worn to Slughorn's Christmas party back in 1976. It wasn't by any means a wedding dress, but it didn't matter. They didn't have the money right now to go all out on a wedding. The money they were going to use for the wedding had gone to paying off the house, furnishing the rest of the house, and making sure they had enough to eat. They were surviving, not thriving. And after all, they were in the middle of a war. She didn't need to waste money on a dress she'd only wear once.
Hermione jumped as she heard the door to the side room open and spun around to see Lily coming in, carrying three boxes. She was dressed in a navy blue cocktail dress with a gold ribbon around her waist. Her hair was in a quick updo- quick, because she'd been switching back and forth between helping Hermione and helping James with Harry so that James could help Sirius. Lily and James had offered to pay for the entire wedding, but Hermione had refused. They had a child, and it didn't matter how much money they had, Hermione was not going to accept money from them until one or both of them were able to earn an income.
"You look gorgeous." Lily said softly, with a small smile.
"Not as gorgeous as you did." she said, looking into a mirror.
"Stop that." Lily said, with a frown.
"It's true. Your dress, your...everything. It was beautiful. This is just-"
"Beautiful." Lily said, setting down the boxes and walking over to her. "You've got to stop comparing yourself to me, ' aren't the same person. And let me tell you, I'm glad that you aren't. You are beautiful, and in case you haven't noticed, it's not James that will be standing at the end of the aisle waiting for you, it's Sirius. If there's anything I know, it's that I've seen him stare at you when you're wearing jeans and jumper. The dress doesn't make you beautiful, Hermione. You do that on your own."
Hermione's eyes watered for a moment before she leaned forward and grabbed her best friend into a tight hug.
"Where would I be without you?" Hermione murmured into Lily's hair.
"I don't like to think about it, honestly." She said, then moved to the boxes. "So I have a couple of presents for you."
"Didn't I say no presents from you two?" Hermione huffed.
"And since when do James and I listen?" Lily asked, handing her the first box. Hermione unwrapped it, removing the lid and revealing a simple silver pendant. It was shaped like a teardrop, and a single pearl was placed in the center. She'd seen it before but she couldn't place where.
"James said that was part of his mother's collection. I figured you should have it. She was like a mother to you too. And I told James, since you already had something borrowed, and this is something old-" She said picking up the second box. "We might as well buy you something new."
Hermione opened the smaller box and nearly dropped it when she saw what was inside. A set of pearl earrings stared back at her.
"Lily, these must have cost-"
"It's no matter, Hermione. We could afford it. It didn't put us out." She said, calming the other woman.
"So that's-" Hermione said, taking inventory of all she'd received. "Something old, something new, something borrowed- so all I need is-"
"Something blue." Lily said, handing her the third box. Hermione opened it and blushed bright crimson.
"Isn't the garter thing a little- you know, dated?"she asked.
"You're worried Sirius is going to make a show of removing it, aren't you?" Lily smirked, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Of course I am. Have you met Sirius?" She said, looking up at Lily. She laughed.
"Don't worry, it'll be fine." Lily said, taking the necklace and helping her put it on.
"How's Harry handling all the people?" Hermione asked, removing her earrings and replacing them with the pearls Lily had bought her.
"He's been passed around and doted on, he's worn out. He might just sleep through the ceremony." She said.
"Remus will be holding him, right?" She asked.
"Yeah, that way he can see James at the very least if he wakes up." Lily said.
"Uncle Moony to the rescue." Remus said, opening the door just a hair. "Almost ready, ladies?"
"Sure are." Lily said, "Just a few more minutes."
"Should I have the guys head up to the front?" He asked.
"Yeah, make Sirius sweat." she giggled.
Hermione took a deep breath, pulling the garter into place as the door closed. She looked herself over in the mirror again, before turning to Lily.
"Okay. Let's do this." She said.
Hermione and Sirius had wanted a simple ceremony, and Hermione had thought she'd gotten her wish when she walked down the aisle. It was a small assembly, mostly Order members and Auror friends. The officiant was a Ministry official, and he'd wasted no time getting right down to business.
Hermione was nearly in tears at Sirius's vows, and she finally broke down when she started to read her own. She heard Lily quietly crying behind her as well, but that all stopped when the doors of the church burst open and Walburga Black in all her maliciousness burst into the room.
"Sirius Orion Black, what in the hell do you think you're doing?"
"Mother?" Sirius asked in horrified shock.
"Has it been so long since you've seen me that you don't even recognize me, you wretched boy?"
"I don't think that I could ever forget that face. Nor that voice." Sirius spat, venom dripping from each word. "But I'm not exactly clear on how you knew about this. Or why you showed up. Care to enlighten us?"
"How I found out is none of your business. I'm here because you're marrying a filthy blood traitor. The least I can do is stop it before you tarnish our good name further."
Hermione barked laugh, stepping down from the altar towards her soon-to-be mother-in-law.
"If I recall correctly, he was cast out of the House of Black. His name was burned off the tapestry. You don't claim him as a son. Why on Earth would you think you have any say in this? It's no longer your family name, Walburga." She said, noticing a figure racing up to the doors outside the sanctuary. "It's his. And he can do with it what he damn well pleases!"
"Because I'm still his mother, burned or not. I. Have. Say. Frankly, I'm disgusted that he would pick you. A Potter. He could have at least chosen someone actually on the Sacred 28."
"You are aware, aren't you, that Dorea Black is my grandmother?" Hermione said cooly. The figure had caught up to Walburga, but he lingered at the door. It was Regulus. Hermione suddenly knew that the invitation she'd sent to him had been intercepted.
"I know, darling. It's your only saving grace, but as far as I'm concerned - you're no better than that filthy mudblood you call a friend." That was the last straw for Hermione. She pulled her wand from the holster she wore on her arm, under the sleeve of her dress, pointing it at Walburga.
"You are not welcome here. I suggest you leave." She said, her voice barely containing her rage.
"I was never welcome, sweet girl and yet I came anyway. Your wand - nor your threats - scare me."
The entire assembly rose as one, drawing their wands as well. Walburga looked shocked as she was met by no less than thirty wands pointed her way. She fumbled for her wand, but Sirius was quicker.
"Expelliarmus." He shouted. "Now, dearest Mother, I believe you were asked to leave. I suggest you do so before one of the Aurors in the room, myself included, decides that you belong in Azkaban."
"You and your pretty little bride better watch your backs." she huffed, turning and coming face to face with Regulus. She looked back over her shoulder with a smirk, and stalked past him.
"Be a good boy, Regulus, and grab my wand, would you?" She asked, not bothering to look back to see if he would obey. Regulus stepped further into the room, staring at the drawn wands of the assembly. Hermione's face softened as she saw his frightened expression, and she lowered her wand, Sirius, James, Lily, and the rest of the gathering quickly following suit.
"I- I'm sorry. She grabbed the owl before I could stop her." Regulus spluttered.
"It's okay, Reg." Sirius said on a sigh. "She would have found out eventually, any how."
"Still- she ruined your wedding day." he said, not meeting his eye.
"She didn't ruin it." Hermione said. His eyes snapped up to her. "She just showed me that I have friends who have my back through everything." she smiled. "I saw you draw your wand, Reg. I know you had our backs too." Regulus smiled shyly at her, then strode down the aisle a bit, collecting his mother's wand.
"You're more than welcome to st, Reggie. Or come to the reception after." Sirius said, softly, though with the silence in the room, it could have been a shout. He smiled sadly at his brother.
"I'd better get this back to her."He said, holding up her wand. "But I'll come visit soon." he nodded at them and turned, walking quickly away. He paused at the door, looking back over his shoulder.
"Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Black. Welcome to the family, Hermione." Then he was gone, shutting the doors behind him.
"Well, that was interesting." James said to break the tension. Sirius grabbed Hermione's hand and led her back to the altar.
"Let's finish what we started, love." Sirius said with a smile. Hermione nodded, and the officiant picked up where he left off, as though nothing had ever happened.
October 21, 1980 Rye, England - Black Cottage
"That is the last time I do any dangerous-ass mission for Dumbledore with no backup save a house elf." Regulus said, pacing back and forth.
"You got the locket, though, right?" Sirius asked.
"Yeah, I got the damned locket." Regulus said, throwing it on the coffee table. Hermione caught it before it could skid off the table and disappear under the couch.
"What happened that pissed you off this much, Reg?" Sirius asked, standing and leaning over the edge of Hermione's chair to examine the locket.
"Inferi, that's what happened." He said, "I barely made it out of there alive. Luckily Kreature was able to get me out before those things had a chance to grab me."
"The Dark Lord has access to inferi?" Hermione gasped. "I thought that was just a horrible rumor?"
"Apparently not." Regulus spat, plopping down on the couch across from her. "So how do we destroy this thing?" He asked.
"I'm not sure." Hermione said. "We need to talk to Dumbledore." Hermione said, glancing to Sirius.
"You mean to tell me," Regulus said, "That old bat sent me after a Dark object that we're not even sure how to destroy?"
"Well, we may not know how to destroy it, Reg." Hermione said, "But something tells me Dumbledore might have a bit firmer grasp on what we're dealing with here."
"I hope so." he said, darkly.
"What've you gathered on your end? Any other possible horcruxes?" Sirius asked.
"There's a book. He keeps it locked away. I saw it the other day and he looked like he wanted to kill me." Regulus said.
"What sort of book?" Hermione asked.
"It was just black. Small. Looked like a journal of some sort." he shrugged. Hermione paled.
"We really need to talk to Dumbledore." She said. "He needs to know about the Chamber of Secrets."