Here is the next chapter. Please enjoy it and read and review love Hannah xxx
After many fittings the day was finally here. Astrid was in a Tuscan Villa the Potters owned so as not to see Blaise before they married. She was awoken by Padma, Parvati, Susan and Demelza rushing into her room squealing in joy. "Get up Astrid!" Susan chorused as Astrid waved her hands.
"Five more minutes please!" she grumbled. She was seriously not a morning person and even if it was her wedding morning that wouldn't change.
"No time for that you're getting married today. Come on Missus!" Demelza attempting to pull her duvet back but it wouldn't budge. Astrid groaned and cursed.
"I fucking hate mornings but you are right. Move please!" she instructed removing the duvet effortlessly and slipping her feet into some slippers. She was taken into a side room where a sumptuous breakfast was waiting for them all. It was very tasty indeed and came with a glass of champagne for each of them which was a good thing as it calmed her nerves at once. She had been feeling nervous with butterflies in her tummy and thought she might even vomit at one point but hadn't. After her breakfast they all put on their special bridal party silk robes and posed for photographs with the champagne in various poses. She was giddy with happiness. She went next door into her en suite bathroom which had a large bath waiting for her. It was a huge bath tub which was sunk into the floor and you just merely stepped into. There was a step up to get out again. The bath was covered in floating rose petals and smelled of citrus and lavender scents. She sunk into the water as Dobby appeared there at her side with a huge smile on his adorable face.
"You relax now Miss and I'll be washing your hair in a while. Don't you worry Dobby will do everything!" he said as she smiled at him.
"Thank you so much sweet Dobby. By the way if Blaise should ever ask you why you're my elf just tell him my father Pollux procured you for me many years ago. Ok?" she asked as she kissed his forehead and he blushed. He agreed and she moaned as his long and delicate fingers reached her scalp easily massaging it as she moaned. It was amazing. She might have to ask him to wash her again later on sometime. It was like an Indian head massage only better. He cupped the water gently in his hands and ran it over her hair. As it was her wedding day today he decided to use an amortentia infused shampoo that would make each person who hugged her smelled a little bit of what attracted them the most. It was highly romantic and she loved it. He lathered the shampoo and began aggressively scrubbing her hair which just felt like an intense massage to her. It was wonderful. As she washed her body with some sensual oil infused body wash and rinsed herself he gently rinsed her hair.
As she exited he waved his hands drying her whole body and hair in a minute which she was thankful for. Her hair was dry but did look disorganised now and she hadn't yet decided what hairstyle she wanted to have. She emerged and slipped into her wedding dress. It was ivory coloured and divine. It had a sweetheart neckline and three quarter sleeves. It went in at the waist and then out in a full a line skirt. Pandora entered and cried at the sight of her little girl all grown up.
"Oh Astrid sweetheart you look wonderful. I am so proud of you. I want to give you this Black family heirloom" she said handing over a largish jewellery box. Astrid opened it and gasped. Inside it was a tiara of all things. It was uniquely designed with two raven wings which went out at either side and were covered in diamonds. Along the base of the tiara were stars and it looked gorgeous. It truly represented the ravens and stars of the Black family crest. She had just received her handmade personalised Jewellery from Madam De Roux. It was divine. She put on her earrings and had Pandora tie the teardrop sapphire necklace behind her neck. It was so beautiful. She slipped on the bracelet and then thought about how she wanted her hair to look. She decided to have it curled and had half of it twisted and pinned up behind her head while the curls cascaded down her back like a waterfall of curls. She placed her Black family tiara on the front of her head and slipped into her high heeled t bar shoes. She picked up her flowers and was ready to go. Her dress had a slight train on it too which flowed out behind her.
She moved into the next room and all the girls were there with their makeup and dresses on. Demelza and Susan had chignon hairstyles and the Patil twins had elaborate braided bun upstyles on their heads. The florist delivered the flowers for the bridesmaids and they all prepared to leave. This was the day she would become Mrs Zabini. She was so very happy. They flooed to the location full of excitement. Elsewhere Blaise was full of nerves and excitement. He was about to marry the woman of his dreams who loved him for who he was and didn't suggest at any point that she wished him to change for her at all. He put on his tails and boudinair. He loved the teal flowers. It was like a subtle nod to Slytherin. Draco was so supportive of his best friend. Yes Astrid was divine but he valued his best friend's happiness more than his feelings for her. Besides which he had Susan now and she was already doing wonders for his image. She was truly beautiful, curvy and had the personality of an angel. He was honoured that she always somehow managed to see the best in everyone. He had not been raised that way himself and it was eye opening to say the least.
Narcissa had wanted it that way but Lucius had steadfastly refused and so he'd been raised the other way instead. Since his fathers' death though he was getting better. Even though he had inherited Malfoy Manner he didn't live there yet. He was more than happy to live in the penthouse which Sirius had left him. He'd had Susan over the evening for dinner which he had cooked. He had learned from his own house elves how to make a simple Italian meal himself as he had really wanted to impress Susan which he had. She had loved the meal and was so excited about it. It had meant all that much more that he had taken the time to make it himself. Next week was his wedding to her and people wanted their children married quickly in case something crazy and sudden should happen because of the upcoming war. Before they returned to school they'd all be married. It was just the way things needed to be.
The inside of the venue had teal and ivory silks hanging from the ceiling and swooping down before rising up and meeting in an elaborate pattern like a flower in the middle of the ceiling. Clarisse had pulled in a favour and so Celestina Warbeck was there to sing Astrid down the aisle and sing for their first dance song. It was an honour indeed and one Molly Weasley would have been most jealous of. Recording bubbles were to be used today to record some of the day. These were runic floating orbs which could play back any detail they had recorded at any time you liked in the future and could never be destroyed for safety reasons. However they were very pricey and so not many people had them at all.
This was a high society wedding though so the Daily Prophet, Italian Chronicle, Wizard World Paper and Witches Weekly were all present to take photos of the event. The photographer of Witch Weekly asked Astrid all about her dress and she dutily answered each and every question she'd been asked. She had wanted to get it out of the way before the ceremony started and they agreed with her that this would be best. Then they could simply take a few photos and be on their way. They had of course signed a contract first stating that no photos could be posted by them until herself and Blaise authorised it first. Padma and Parvati were thrilled to be featured in their favourite magazine for once. Lavender couldn't wait for that issue to come out so she could boast that her best friend Parvati and great friend Astrid was in it.
Stepping up to her nineteen twenties styled mic Celestina began to sing at last by her muggle alter ego Etta James. She had, had much success with it in the muggle world and had loved it so much. Pandora stepped forward and kissed her cheek wiping away a tear which had fallen there and grasped her arm in hers as they stepped forward into the beautifully lit room where all those present stood up to turn and look at her. Everyone gasped as they saw her. She was gorgeous. Blaise' throat went dry as he looked at her. His eyes filled with tears which didn't fall. They glided up the isle as Celestina sung and everyone gasped as she lowered on a platform from the ceiling which they hadn't seen at first. This was definitely a high society wedding. She took in a deep breath and exhaled the breath slowly. It calmed her down almost as soon as she'd done it. She saw Lavender and Hannah in the congregation and smiled as them as they returned her smile with a slight wave. The bridesmaids and groomsmen had walked up together before her and were now waiting at either side of Blaise for her.
She reached the end and handed her flowers off to Pandora to hold for her. Pandora took the flowers and sat down. A minister stepped to the front of the congregation raising his hands to signal that they should be seated. He stood up to the podium and raised his wand casting a sonorous charm on his throat before he continued.
"We are gathered here today in love and light to unite these two most beautiful and powerful souls in the magical union of matrimony. Blaise Leonardo Zabini and Astrid Ariel Black are here to share in the beauty of matrimony and have asked us all to witness this magical and most divine union. Now I will invite them both to come up here please and light this candle together. This is a soul candle and symbolizes their desire to be together always as one soul from this day forth" he instructed as he clasped their hands together and pressed a lit stick in between them. They both walked over to where the large purple candle was and began lighting each of the six wicks it contained before blowing out the flame on the stick which he then removed from their still clasped hands.
"I will now magically bind them to each other for all of eternity using this sacred binding chord. I now ask all those present if anyone knows of any reason why they should not be allowed to bind for eternity to speak now or forever hold his piece" he said pausing to glance around at everyone. When everyone smiled at him and no one raised their hands he continued. The purple chord was wound around their hands and he began chanting in Latin over it. Each person's experience with the eternal binding is different so this is why no one ever tells you what to expect with it. Astrid felt like she was being doused in flames all of a sudden and wanted desperately to scream out but simply couldn't. Her magic wouldn't allow it. It was in this moment that it hit her almost like a freight train and had tears freely streaming down her face. He loved her with everything he had. He really did. She could feel his feelings in her heart and they warmed her very soul. He thought she was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen in his life.
He was crying too because he tell how much she loved him. It was all here in his heart and she was sending her feelings to him. He wondered if it would remain with them always and right now he sure hoped it would. He couldn't say that he'd always feel like that but he did now and it was wonderful. He was genuinely amazed at her love and adoration of him. She truly thought he was the best person in the world she could have ever chosen to love and he was so incredibly touched by it. At the display although they didn't know what was going on most of the congregation was now crying along with them. A few minutes and some summoned tissues later they were all ready to go again.
"Now I will invite you both to say your own vows of your own choice to one another. Mr Zabini I will ask you to go first!" he said as Blaise cleared his throat.
"Astrid when you first walked into my life and wanted me it felt like I'd been run over by a freight train. The poise and elegance with which you hold yourself unparalleled. I have never seen a more beautiful and carefree woman in my life. You manage to look beautiful and elegant without getting hassled. In the while that we've spent getting to know one another and our many dates we've shared together I simply knew you were the one for me. I knew you were the better to my half. Astrid Ariel light of my life I promise to love and honour you, remain faithful to you and follow you in all things so long as I shall live. You are my reason and my hope. For you I would do anything I could. I will love you now and forever" he said as she shed another tear. Most people in the congregation were once more crying.
"Now Miss Black if you will recite your vows please!" he instructed as she nodded and turned once more to face to Blaise.
"Blaise what with things as they are now I know my father in heaven would looking down on me with such joy. He always wished for me to marry for love and love alone. We are in a war and in war one starts to think about everything which truly matters to them. Unfortunately the one who controls things won't care that we are pureblood if we do not follow him in the end and I thought of nothing but my safety and security. What do you think of when you think of those things? For me I think of a warm safe haven I can go. Somewhere that makes me feel like the most special girl in the world and as though no harm can ever come to me. Your arms are my safe haven Blaise. For me there can be no other on this earth. I promise to love, honour, cherish and adore you in all things. I will be faithful to you and patient with you in sickness and in health should we have a lot of money or only have a little of it. Right here in this moment surrounded by those who matter most to me I have never been prouder to call you my husband and I will love you eternally" she said as the minister wiped his own eye as it had been beautiful.
In the background they had some relaxing Italian guitar music playing. "In front of your many witnesses you have magically bound your souls together for eternity and given your own free vows. It is now my great pleasure to pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride and I present to you ladies and gentlemen Mr Blaise and Mrs Astrid Zabini" he said as Blaise leaned in and captured her lips in a searing kiss which caused their magic to combine and set off a few fireworks as the onlookers laughed and clapped with joy. What a ceremony it had been!