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CHAPTER 28

"You aren't allowed to leave me for more than a day ever again."

Hermione laughed as Draco curled himself around her, tucking her against his body and holding her tightly, his face pressing into her neck. He'd pounced on her the second she'd arrived home, stripping her naked and sucking on each of her glands until he turned her into a boneless pile of goo. His scent was all over her, more so than usual, and he hadn't yet stopped touching her.

"And here I thought I was the sappy fool," she remarked as his hand drifted down to the gland on the inside of her thigh. She sighed and lifted her leg, tucking her foot behind his, giving him easier access to touch her.

"You are a sappy fool, but I missed you much more than I thought I would," he admitted. "I knew where you were and that you were safe, but I felt those same feelings again. Like I'd lost you."

"Draco…" Hermione twisted in his arms, her concern outweighing her want to have his fingers sliding inside her again. His cheeks were tinged pink and his eyes were a heavy grey. He was embarrassed at his admission. "I'm not going anywhere, you know that, right?"

"I know." He shifted down the bed so their faces were level and twisted a lock of her hair around his finger. "I just don't understand why I'm feeling like this."

"Like what?"

"Like I did when I first changed. Like all of a sudden there's this one thing I can't control and it's driving me mad."

Hermione touched his cheek. "I know how that feels. I still have fits of anger that have people backing away from me."

Draco turned into her touch, kissing her palm, then smiled nervously at her. "I need to say something, but…"

Hermione waited for him to continue, but he just stared at her, a small frown on his face.

"Draco, just say whatever it is. You need to let me know if I'm doing something that's bothering you."

"No, it's not you. I think this is all me." He shook his head. "And I'm going to be a total… Alpha male in saying it."

Hermione kissed him. "Good. Be an Alpha. Follow your instincts. It doesn't matter how shitty you think it is. Tell me."

Draco touched his finger to her throat gland, but she gently circled his wrist and pulled his hand away.

"No, don't soothe me. Just tell me. It can't be that bad."

"All my life," he began, "I was taught I was above everything. I was constantly told I was a talented wizard, that I was far more intelligent than any other witch or wizard my age. Then when I was eleven years old, that all changed. I hated you. I hated how smart you were, how you seemed to know everything that I didn't and more. I hated that a girl was smarter than me. A girl who I learned very early on hadn't known she was a witch until she turned eleven. And in less than a year, she knew more about my world than I did."

"That's because she's a total nerd."

Draco smiled and kissed her forehead. "I hated you, Hermione. I hated you like… I can't even explain it. Everything about you pissed me off. I mean everything. I never once looked at you and thought, 'Oh, she's brilliant. I could learn from her.' You being so incredibly intelligent was never a positive, it just made me hate you more."

"Until the Yule Ball?"

"Yes… no… I think that just made it all worse. I realised I was in love with you but hated you at the same time. I was raised amongst strong women, but those same women all stood behind the men in their lives. And I assumed I would have a wife who did the same."

Hermione smiled at him and tapped the tip of his nose. "That's because you were looking at those women with male eyes."

"Male eyes?"

"Yes. Male eyes," Hermione repeated. "Do you honestly think your father has any say in what your mother chooses to do? Do you think he controls her? Or would dare to even stand in her way when her mind was set? Bellatrix — as crazy as she was — might have bowed down to Voldemort, but she stood amongst men and was never thought of as less than them. And your Aunt Andromeda stood up to her own father and chose the life she wanted, not the life she was expected to live. Pansy, Ginny, Molly, Daphne." Hermione smirked. "Hannah. Do you think any of them would take kindly to being treated as less than a man? Alpha or not."

Draco shook his head. "No. But… I've done nothing but act like women are beneath me. Look at my life in recent years. I've told myself I'm an Alpha and have acted like the dominant arse I assumed I was supposed to be. And I can't get it out of my head that I'm supposed to be domineering and possessive of you."

"Draco, no. You are an Alpha. But that's not the only thing you are. You are so much more than you ever let the people around you see." She placed her hand over his heart. "You are more than you ever allow yourself to see. You might think all those things about yourself — that you're a domineering arse — but all I see is you. The real you. You were the boy who realised his mistakes and you have become the man who learned from them. The man who is still learning from them. Your Alpha instinct to protect me isn't a flaw. It's who you are. Who you were taught to be."

"I was taught to be a bigot."

"Yes, you were. But quite clearly that's not something that has stuck with you. And I've watched your parents. I've watched how they are with you and with each other. And with me now. They have also taught you to protect the people you love. Your family and friends all know that Draco Malfoy has their backs and that he would rip the throats out of anyone who would do them harm."

"You see more than what's there."

"No. I see exactly what's in front of me. I see you. I see confidence and strength, but I also see compassion and love." Hermione moved her hand back to the base of his throat. "I'm constantly being told that I have a need to protect everyone around me, but you're the same. You may not always have been, but you are that person now."

"I don't deserve you." Draco danced his fingers along her collarbone, his eyes finally lightening as her words took hold.

"You do deserve me," Hermione said, making him laugh. "Why are you suddenly worried about all of this? You've confessed quite a lot in the last few days."

"I just wanted to be honest with you. I didn't want to have the ceremony with any of this unsaid."

"A clean start." Hermione nodded in understanding.

"A clean start," Draco agreed. "I don't want there to be any doubts in your mind as to who it is you're binding yourself to. I want this to be more than the Alphas. I want this to be us."

"I have no doubts, Draco." Hermione shifted closer to him and kissed the place over his heart. "And we're already us."

"Draco's gonna jizz in his pants when he sees you."

"Harry!" Hermione made a face in the mirror.

"It's true." Ron was grinning when his head appeared over Hermione's shoulder in the reflection. "I doubt you'll even be at the reception afterwards. He'll want you in a way that would not be suitable for public viewing when he catches a glimpse of you in that dress."

She turned to face her two best friends. "Those are the comments I expect from your wives, not from you two."

"Yeah, well they're not here so we have to fill their shoes," Harry quipped.

"And they're pissed off about this whole no bridesmaid thing," Ron added.

"I explained that already! I can't have bridesmaids who need to be in a family circle!" Hermione exclaimed angrily and jabbed her finger in the air at them both. "You two need to stop teasing me. I don't need this bullshit. Not today."

"Hey, we were just kidding around." Ron reached out and took her hand. "Sorry."

"What's happened?" Harry asked.

Hermione looked at him, biting her lip and swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat. "Nothing."

"Hermione." Harry moved to stand in front of her, his hands cupping her face in a gesture so sweet, tears welled in her eyes. "This isn't nothing. What's going on?"

Her lips trembled and tears spilled down her cheeks. "Am I making a mistake?"

Harry and Ron shared a surprised look.

"A mistake?" Ron asked cautiously, then glanced towards the windows overlooking the Manor gardens. "Getting married here?"

She shook her head. "No. This whole thing. Draco."

"Ah…" Harry's eyes darted towards Ron again.

"Do you think it's a mistake?" Ron winced as Harry punched his arm.

"That's not what you should be asking!"

"Why not?" Ron shrugged. "If she thinks it's a mistake, we need to stop it all before the ceremony happens and they're bound together forever." He returned his gaze to Hermione. "Why do you think it's a mistake? Did Malfoy do something?"

"Nothing more than be his usual dickish self."

"Hermione, tears and a tantrum are more than him just being a dick," Harry said. "We need a bit more to go on than that."

"All this week he's been a possessive arse!" Hermione pulled away from them both and turned towards the window. "He's been like my shadow. He takes me to work and is there to pick me up again when I'm done. And he's been there every day at lunch. I can't even take a breath without him right beside me. If this is what he's going to be like, I don't want any part of it!"

"Hermione—" Harry began, but Hermione ignored him.

"He's spent the last month confessing every feeling or action from our teen years, no matter how fucking insignificant it was or how many times I told him I didn't care about the past. I had to listen to all that bullshit and now this?"

"Hermione—" Ron tried, but to no avail.

"I'm not some simpering Omega who will bend to his will. I'm an Alpha. I won't let him treat me like I'm one of his possessions!"

"Hermione!" Harry shouted and she spun around to find them both grinning at her

"What!?"

"He won't be like this after today," Harry assured her.

"Excuse me?"

"Hermione, how he's acting hasn't got anything to do with him trying to own you," Ron explained. "Every second of the entire week before we were married, I thought Daph was gonna run off."

"I was the same," Harry added. "All I could think of was why Pansy would want to marry me."

"Of course she wanted to marry you," Hermione said then looked at Ron. "And Daph wasn't going anywhere."

"We know that now, but in the weeks leading up to the wedding, and especially that last week, it was all panic."

"But why?"

"Weddings are usually all about the bride and the groom kind of gets shoved to the side," Harry said. "But I know I was always aware of where Pansy was in the week leading up to it. I might have hidden it better than Draco, but I still thought she'd realise I wasn't good enough for her and call it all off."

"That's insane." Hermione looked between them.

"Maybe," Ron said with a shrug. "But it's how we felt. And I can guarantee Malfoy has had all those same feelings this week. More so because he's Alpha. Even more so because it's you." Ron pulled her into his arms, hugging her fiercely. "He doesn't deserve you. You're way too good for him. But I know how much he loves you and how much you love him. And it's got nothing to do with you being Alphas."

"Ron's right," Harry said, taking one of her hands in his. "I love Pansy and I know Ron loves Daph, but you two? You're in a whole other stratosphere."

"So, I'm being ridiculous again?" Hermione asked.

"A little bit." Ron released her from his embrace. "But you're marrying Malfoy today. Throwing a tantrum seems like the least ridiculous thing you could do."

Hermione punched his arm and laughed. "I'm marrying Draco Malfoy."

"Yep," Harry said and pointed at each of them in turn. "Daphne Greengrass. Pansy Parkinson. Draco Malfoy. I think we've all mastered in ridiculousness."

A loud knock startled them all. The door opened slightly and Draco's voice was full of concern when he spoke.

"Hermione?"

"Don't come in here!" Hermione cried. "You can't see me yet."

"I know. I just felt… Are you alright?"

"I'm fine now." She smiled at Ron and Harry. "I just had another crazy meltdown."

A silent pause followed her words then Draco's hand appeared around the door. "Come here."

"Draco, you're not supposed to see me—"

"I won't see you, just let me touch you."

"Draco, I don't think we can."

"Hermione. Please?"

"He never calls you Hermione," Ron whispered. "He's desperate."

"I can hear you, Weasley," Draco growled.

Hermione giggled. "Alpha hearing."

"Go to him," Harry urged and gently touched her shoulder. "Holding his hand for a few seconds won't give you bad luck."

Hermione nodded and crossed the room to stand behind the door. She reached out and held Draco's hand and an instant calm washed over her.

"Better?" Draco asked quietly.

"Much."

"Sorry for being an arse." He squeezed her hand tightly. "I should have been more thoughtful."

"No, I should have realised what was going on." Hermione found his wrist gland with her fingertip and she felt him relax. "I didn't know you thought I might change my mind."

"I always think you'll change your mind. You'll realise I'm a total twat and chase after my father."

Hermione laughed. "No, there's only one Malfoy for me." She took a breath and cast a spell to clean the mess she was sure her tears had made of her makeup, then pulled the door open. "My Alpha."

Draco's jaw dropped open.

The dress had fit perfectly. The vintage off-white satin sheath had been her dream. Simple, elegant, and absolutely zero frills. Narcissa and Hannah had both welled up when she stepped out of the dressing room, and the shop assistant flailed over her, speaking rapidly in a mixture of stilted English and Italian. The dress had apparently only been put on display that morning; it was meant to be.

And the expression on Draco's face was exactly what she had hoped for.

"I… I… wasn't… supposed..." Draco stammered.

"I don't care if you see me." She smoothed her hand over the lapel on his jacket. "Us both being calm is more important than anything else."

"You look…" His smile grew, lighting up his face and his eyes glowed a brilliant blue. "You look so beautiful."

"Thank you. And you look ready to be bound to me for eternity."

"Eternity doesn't seem long enough."

Ron chuckled in the background. "Alright you two, that's enough sappy shit. Go and wait, Malfoy. We'll bring her to you in a few."

"You're sure about this?" Draco touched her cheek.

"Absolutely. And you?"

"There's nothing I want more."

"Good. See you in a minute."

Draco nodded and gave her one last glance before closing the door. Hermione turned back to Ron and Harry, who were both grinning at her.

"That's sorted then." Ron held out his hand and she walked back over to them; they would be the ones to escort her to the ceremony.

Harry and Ron.

Her best friends.

Her chosen family.

"Bidh an ceangal seo gad cheangal ri chèile ann am beatha. Bidh thu mar aon le chèile, agus mar ann am beatha agus bàs cha tèid an ceangal a bhriseadh gu bràth."

The Valar witch smiled at them as she wrapped their joined hands in the silk tie that once belonged to Hermione's father. The witch had asked that the binding cloth be something of significance and Hermione had instantly known what it would be — the tie her father was wearing on the last day he remembered her. She wasn't sure why she remembered which tie he had been wearing that day, but she did. And when her parents had been moved away for their safety, she'd found the tie in a draw in her old home and kept it.

And now it was as if her father's own hand was holding hers while her life was entwined with the only other man she'd found on the planet she loved more than her dad..

"A-nis tha thu ceangailte aon ris an fhear eile. Le tie chan eil e furasta a bhriseadh. Gabh an ùine ceangailteach, mus tèid na bòidean deireannach a dhèanamh, gus ionnsachadh na dh 'fheumas tu a bhith eòlach - Gus fàs ann an gliocas agus ann an gaol. Gum bi do cheangal làidir. Gum mair do ghaol."

The entire ceremony had been in Gaelic; a Valar tradition, the witch had explained. A tradition that ensured an eternal bond. And while neither of them understood a single word, the sentiment delivered by the witch was clear.

The only words that would be in English would be their pledge and the official binding.

The Valar witch glanced around at the people surrounding them. Three circles of their family and friends. Friends who — as a part of the ceremony — had also vowed to be bound as family to the pair.

"Hermione, Draco. If you would share your pledge together."

They both nodded and locked eyes, their words in perfect harmony.

"You cannot possess me, for I belong to myself. But while we both wish it, I give you that which is mine to give. You cannot command me, for I am a free person. But I shall serve you in those ways you require. You are the star of each night. You are the brightness of every morning, the face of my sun, the harp of my music. I promise to honour you above all others. Our love is never-ending, and we will remain, forevermore, equals."

The Valar witch placed her hand over their joined ones, slowly unravelling the handfast. "May the gentle breeze bear witness to this ritual, and carry its message to all lands. May the sun warm their hearts, and its ever-burning fire fuel their desire for each other. May the water provide for them from its bounty, and comfort their souls with its sounds. Your bond is sealed."

Draco didn't wait for the announcement of husband and wife. Not caring that they were surrounded by their family, he pulled Hermione to him and kissed her as if he hadn't done so for an age. It was heat and passion and hunger. The true Alpha male was seeking dominance, and this one time, she would allow it.

Magic burst around them in the night sky, twisting and curling, becoming one. They both looked up, smiling at the glow of the bronze of her magic and the cerulean of his. The entwined colours exploded in a sudden burst and floated down, spreading across the three circles of family that surrounded them. It wasn't the bolts of magic Hermione had learned about in Alpha-Omega bondings, but it felt like she was finally where she should be. Her own Alpha was quiet for the first time since it reared its head, and the sense of family protecting her seemed to curl around her and hold tightly.

Draco's arm tightened around her and a quiet growl rumbled in his throat. Hermione's breath caught; his eyes were the bluest she'd ever seen. And those eyes were fighting tears.

She touched his cheek, and without caring that everyone still surrounded them, she kissed him. She kissed him without caring about expectations of a sweet, small wedding-appropriate kiss. He was her mate, her husband, her Alpha, and she would kiss him however she wanted.

She slid her tongue against his the second his lips parted... once, twice, diving deeper with a tiny growl of her own. Draco pulled her flush against him, his mouth as needy and urgent as hers.

"How long do we have to stand here and watch this?" Ron grumbled good naturedly and Hermione laughed into Draco's mouth.

"We're done." Hermione pulled back and smiled at Draco. It was a smile that said they were only temporarily done and Draco winked knowingly at her.

"Finally," Harry said and swooped in and hugged her. Then there was chaos as everyone followed suit.

Hermione glanced quickly at the witch who had just bound them and she was nodding and smiling.

The family circles weren't broken as the pair were converged upon.

They were only made stronger.

*Bonding Ceremony words taken and combined from various traditional Celtic and Gaelic vows and pledges.

i. This tie will bind you together in life. You will be one with each other, and as in both life and death the bond shall never be broken

ii. Now you are bound one to the other

With a tie not easy to break.

Take the time of binding

Before the final vows are made

To learn what you need to know -

To grow in wisdom and love.

That your marriage will be strong

That your love will last

A/N

Apologies if I got the translations wrong, I had them checked but I'm sure there's some loss in translation.

Thanks, as always, for reading xx