Chapter 24- Happily Ever After
The air was thick with the perfume of flowers. There must have been fields full of them, white and green blooms graced every surface, every vestibule. The debris of fallen petals was like a snow storm in summer.
Draco smirked to himself as he watched his Tiggy, like a campaigning general, directing the legions of house elves and other staff. He knew that she was in her element but he was unsure how well his soon to be wife was fairing. Hermione had grown increasing nervous as the wedding had approached. He knew it was the grandeur of it all, they had at first considered a quiet, small wedding even though he knew Tiggy would have felt cheated and never have forgiven them but a small wedding made it appear that they were ashamed of their match and damn it Draco would not have the world believe he was ashamed to have Hermione as his wife.
In a few hours she would be his wife. Draco could hardly hold his excitement a bay. He was sure he was grinning like a lune.
"Tiggy," he acknowledge as he bound up the stairs towards his room intent on taking a very long shower. His house elf gave him a perfunctory wave and carried on with her work. Although Draco was brimming with joy there was one thing he had promised himself he would do before he married Hermione. One thing he promised himself he would let go. Draco steeled himself as he prepared to enter the room that had remained closed for almost five years. He pushed the handle prepared now for the specter he knew he had to face. He could not ask Hermione to live with the ghosts of his dead wife though he knew he would never forget Astoria he was ready now to finally say goodbye. The room was spotlessly clean, the house elves had faithfully done as he had requested. The room looked just as it always had whilst she lived. He could see her now exiting the dressing room, smiling broadly at him radiant with the bloom of pregnancy. He had been so happy, so oblivious to the knowledge she had carried that she would die. He would never forgive old Greengrass for what he had done, and though he would never regret that he had Scorpius he knew that Astoria had deserved better. It had been this thought, more than any other, that had lead him to have her mausoleum built-you deserved better he told her shade.
Draco knew, however, that she would not wish for him to live in the past. She had told him so;
"I have no regrets Draco," she had told him at the last, "my only regret would be for you to mourn me too long. Don't be alone in my memory. Promise me," she had begged him, "that you will not lose another chance at love on my account, promise!"
"He couldn't," he had told her, "I don't think I will ever love again."
"Not even her?" she had challenged him.
Draco had been about to deny it but she had held up a trembling finger to his lips.
"Don't lie to me Draco," she had pleaded, "I know I was not your first love, I know there was another and although I know you do not love me any less there will always be a small piece of your love that belonged to her."
Draco was distraught, drowning in guilt at the thought that his wife had known that he was in love with someone else.
"I do not blame you Draco," she reassured him as she tried to assuage his guilt, "that love was never possible and I know you loved me. Do not blame yourself; a man is capable of loving more than one woman. I only ask of you that you do not forget me, mourn me but not forever and do not deny your own heart."
He hadn't been able to respond. He reflected now that he intuition was one of the reasons he had loved her. She had understood him more than anyone even his mother. In truth he suspected she had understood him too well.
Beyond coherent speech he had lifted her frail hand to his lips in worship and supplication. Astoria had simply smiled.
"I have mourned you long enough," he told her, "but now I will do as you asked of me. Tiggy!"
There was a pop as his faithful house elf appeared;
"Master is not ready," she began to fuss, Draco ignored her.
"Tiggy tomorrow I want you to clear Mistress Astoria's room." He stated simply, "It has been long enough." He concluded more to himself than anyone as he made to leave the room. Draco did not look back he knew it was the right thing to do and that Astoria would not blame him.
Draco made his way down the aisle. The rows of seats were packed with the great and good of Wizarding Society, there was even a whole row red headed of Weasleys. As they reached the front, where the Minster of Magic himself waited to perform the ceremony, Draco had a moment of panic.
"What if she changes her mind?" he whispered to Blaise urgently. I will never show my face in public again, he silently concluded fearful for a moment that this could be her final revenge.
"She won't," Blaise said simply with great assurance.
Normally calm and self-assured Draco fidgeted with his cuffs and collar. But then there was a sudden hush. Draco looked up to see his son, Rose and Hugo scattering the aisle with white rose petals. Scorpius was transfixed as always by Rose. Draco idle thought that he pitied any man in the future who tried to get between Scorpius and Rose. He knew the boy would guard her jealously. His musing was broken by the whisper of voices and he felt, with blessed relief that she had arrived.
She stood there like the Queen of Sheba, alone and magnificent, she had needed no one to support her. She had been adamant that if it could not be her father to escort her then no one would. They had broken so many traditions just to be here as she glided towards him in all her gory he could not begrudge her one more. He smiled at her and her face brightened like sunbeams on water.
Finally she stood before him and he couldn't breathe. Words were not adequate to describe what this moment meant. He was afraid it was a dream, that in a moment he would wake and it wouldn't be real. Then he took her hand, it was warm and soft and she trembled slightly as she said her vows. Draco was transfixed as the golden light of the marriage spell wrapped their joined hands. He had never felt awe like he did in that moment. He could not believe that he was here, he could not believe that he deserved her and yet finally some deity had chosen to forgive him.
Draco Malfoy leaned forward to kiss his new bride and he knew himself to be well and truly blessed.
The End
