** Author's note: This is the final chapter of part 2 of the Shades of Grey series. I'm going to take a small break to work on The English Rose before I start part three of this series! I hope you all stick around to read part three. A look towards part three: Hermione's Race for minister, the dream wedding of Hermione and Bella, starting a family, a deeper look into Cissy's personal life, Luna coming to work for the ministry and so much more. Along with part three there will be a separate story containing Black Family one shots that didn't make it into the main fic.**
Two and a half months later-
It was a sunny afternoon in the middle of August but it wasn't any ordinary day, today was Draco's wedding day. Months of agonizing planning had led up to the event and Bella was certainly glad all she had to do was put on the suit her sister had sent for her to wear and show up. The dark witch stood in the mirror giving herself a once over. She wasn't entirely sure why her sister had sent a suit in lieu of her normal corset but she had a hunch that her girlfriend had some say in this outfit. She stared at herself in a form-fitted all blac three piece suit. The only pop of color came from the dark emerald tie and emerald cufflinks. She had her hair pinned up on the top of her head with a few stray stubborn curls falling around her face. Her makeup was dark as usual with a deep shade of red on her lips. Turning slightly, she did the customary ass viewing and nodded, "yeah she'll like this."
Bella looked at the grandfather clock and sighed, she started pacing. They were meant to be at the manor in 10 minutes. Cissy had requested a prompt and early arrival of all of the family members so they could help greet the guests. "Pet, come on. We are going to be late and Cissy will kill both of us on the spot. No questions asked," she called up the stairs from the entryway.
"I'll be down in a minute," her girlfriend called out from their bedroom on the second floor.
"If we are late, I'm not taking the blame. I've been ready to go for an hour!" She grumbled before shouting back up, "Andy and Teddy already left. She said and I quote 'Cissy is going to murder you. Both of you.'"
"Just a minute. The zipper is stuck." Hermione called back frustrated.
"Just come down, I'll fix it for you."
"Okay. Coming!" Hermione called and started to descend the stairs. Bella's mouth went dry looking at the angelic form of her girlfriend wearing a sleek black floor length dress. The front and back of the dress was a deep V cut leading into a banded waist with a long maxi skirt and a thigh length slit. She had on a pair of strappy black heels and her hair was down in flowing curls. Hermione walked over to where her witch was standing and turned, "just right here," she pointed to where the zipper was hidden at the top of the skirt.
Bella gulped, "right." She reached down and gently pulled on the zipper, which closed immediately without hesitation. She turned her girlfriend around to get a proper look at her. "You darling are a siren. I believe it's bad form to show up looking more beautiful than the bride." Leaning in, she placed a kiss on the side of Hermione's mouth. "A vision," she whispered in her ear. "I would love nothing more than to forget this wedding and take you to bed."
Hermione shivered under the other woman's touch and whispered back, "I've been desperate for you for days Bella. This isn't helping." She pulled back slightly to look at her girlfriend. "When you wear muggle clothes, you know I can't resist you." Grabbing Bella lightly by the collar, she dragged their lips together, causing a gasp to escape the older witch. Hermione wasted no time and gently swept her tongue against her lover's both moaning at the contact.
Allowing herself to get lost in a moment of weakness, Bella wrapped her arms around her girlfriend, touching the exposed skin of Hermione's back. It took every ounce of will power she had not to let the kiss deepen. "Pet?" She whispered against Hermione's lips. "Only a few more weeks." She felt her girlfriend deflate a little. "The doctor said by September, you'll be cleared." She pulled back just enough to kiss her on the tip of the nose. "Maybe if you are a good girl at the wedding, I'll let you feel me up later over the clothes of course."
Hermione groaned in protest, "I think I know my ownself well enough to know that I'm ready for sex."
"Oh I know but I wouldn't want anything else to happen to that pretty little brain of yours, pet." She kissed Hermione soundly on the lips before pulling back and grabbing her hand, "so we wait." She rustled through her pants pocket and pulled out her phone which earned her a grin from Hermione. "Now, we have to go. The threatening messages have started." She pushed the phone back into her pocket and they left the manor arm in arm.
"I can't believe you finally caved and let me buy you a phone," Hermione laughed as they walked to the apparition point outside of the gate.
"What part of 'not one word' did you not seem to understand?" She playfully glared at her girlfriend.
Bella and Hermione landed semi-gracefully outside of the main gates to Malfoy Manor. Bella felt Hermione's body tighten as they approached the looming wrought iron gate. She uncurled their arms and put her arm snuggly around her girlfriend's waist in an effort to reassure her that everything would be okay. The younger witch hadn't been back to the Manor since the time Bella and Andy reconciled. If it were up to Hermione, she would never have returned. The Manor didn't bring forth her favorite memories of her girlfriend. She gulped as Bella pushed open the gate, looked over and stopped their movements, "it's going to be okay." She guided her girlfriend to the front door while it was swiftly opened by a house elf they didn't recognize. "I guess Lucy enlisted the help of a new elf. Poor little guy. Maybe we can free him before we leave," that passing comment earned a giggle from her girlfriend and she finally felt Hermione relax her body.
Narcissa came sweeping into the room in a floor length black evening gown embellished with jewels. "You are late." She announced in a tone that was dripping with annoyance. "And you didn't respond to any of my texts."
"We are right on time and you and I both know that I don't respond to threats from my baby sister. Now, where's my nephew? I need to give him pre wedding night advice on how to properly please his witch." Bella cackled, pulling Hermione past a pissed off looking Narcissa.
They exited the Manor through the back door finding everyone already starting to take their seats in the overly large tented area in the backyard on the cusp of the garden. The turnout was insane and Hermione was sure she only knew a handful of people. "I'm going to go fuck with Draco, try to get him all flustered before the wedding starts. Want to come?" Bella asked almost giddy when she spotted the blonde head amongst the crowd.
"No, go on. I'm going to go try to find Harry and Luna." She kissed her witch on the cheek before she hurried over to her nephew. Hermione swore his cheeks turned pink almost immediately. She looked around the crowd for her friends but was met with an unwelcome hello.
"Ms. Granger. How lovely of you to make it," came the voice of the patron of the house.
That voice was enough to elicit a fear response in the brunette. She put on a neutral face and turned to look at the longhaired blonde man she grew to resent over the years, "Mr. Malfoy, I wouldn't dream of missing Draco's big day. He is a good friend of mine after all."
Lucius raised an eyebrow and smiled, "funny how those things worked out."
"Funny. Indeed." Hermione deadpanned, not releasing the tension her body was holding. She felt pain rippling through her sectumsempra scars.
"I suppose a round of congratulations are in order for you as well," he turned to face her more squarely. "I heard you officially put your name in for the minister of magic campaign." Hermione narrowed her eyes as he continued to speak, "imagine my surprise when I found out my good friend would be running against a woman." Hermione opened her mouth but was cut off, "a mudblood woman."
"Everything all right over here?" Hermione felt a strong arm wrap around her waist and relaxed a little. "Lucy I'd say it's a pleasure but we both know that would be a fucking lie." Lucius rolled his eyes but kept silent. "I hope you weren't antagonizing my girlfriend. I'd sure hate for Draco's big day to end with your murder."
"I was only offering my congratulations to Ms. Granger for putting her name in for Minister." He turned slightly back towards the brunette, "I wish you all the luck you will need." He smirked and left the two women behind him.
Bella noticed how Hermione had her arm wrapped around her abdomen which was her telltale sign that her wounds were hurting. "Are you okay? Do you need to sit down?"
"I'll be okay," she smiled softly at the warm concern coming from her girlfriend. "He just makes me tense. Always so sleazy."
"Do you want me to kill him? Say the word and he's dead. Nobody will link it to me. I'll kill him the muggle way," an evil grin spreading across Bella's face.
"No. Not yet. I'll let you know if I change my mind," Hermione let out a small laugh. "How did he know I was running anyway? He also said my opponent was a close personal friend of his. I can only imagine. I'm going to be so screwed, aren't I?"
"Anyone who runs against you is a fool. You are the best candidate."
"I'm just a mudblood."
"Hey," Bella said with a firm tone, "don't call yourself that. You are the most capable witch I've ever met and you will be the best minister wizarding Britain has ever had. He only knew that you were running because the old pureblood families have their ways of finding out shit like this early."
"Aren't you from one of those old pureblood families?"
"Precisely why I will be finding out your competition as soon as we go back into the office next month." She kissed her girlfriend on the cheek. "Now, let's find our seats before I kill the next person who checks you out in this dress."
The ceremony was absolutely beautiful. Everything was perfect even when Bella and Andy got into a silent fight over who was going to object to Draco marrying the bride. With a few stern looks from Narcissa and Hermione, the pair dropped it quickly and no objections were made.
Night had fallen and Bella was sitting at a table illuminated by actual fairies watching the sea of friends of family swirl around the dance floor. Smiling, she watched as Teddy clumsily whisked his grandmother around the dance floor, giggling the entire time. Draco was sharing a dance with his mother. The smile Cissy was boasting would be a sight Bella would never forget. Things sure have changed for the group over the course of the year. Everyone was moving forward yet Bella found herself in a static state unmoving sitting there 50 years old with an 8 month old engagement ring in her pocket. George and his wife were expecting their first baby, Harry proposed to Luna, Cissy was finally divorced, Andy and Teddy were happy together and now Draco was married. "Nope. This is happening now," Bella said as she grabbed her glass of fire whiskey and downed it like a shot. Bella stood and marched over to where Harry was dancing with her girlfriend. "May I cut in, Potter?"
"Of course," he quickly kissed Hermione on the cheek before going over to where Luna and her father were dancing.
"Take a walk with me?" Hermione noticed the twinkle in her girlfriend's eyes and couldn't help feel the contagious happiness coming from the dark witch. "Are you up for it? Just through the gardens. Down by the lake." Hermione nodded her head and they set off hand in hand away from the reception. Andy caught Bella's eyes as they were exiting and winked at her as if she knew what was about to happen. They walked quietly through the gardens as the older witch led them out through the clearing to the small lakefront. She brought her out to the edge of the dock where they sat down both simultaneously removing their heels to let their feet brush the water. "Are you having a nice time?" Bella finally spoke, breaking the silence.
Hermione nodded, taking in the view of the stars shining off the water. "It's been lovely. Astoria looked beautiful and I can honestly say I've never seen Draco smile so much. The ceremony was perfect. Narcissa out did herself."
"Don't let her hear you say that. Merlin knows her ego will never deflate with such a compliment." Bella let out a deep chuckle.
"Big egos do run in the family." Hermione rested her head on Bella's shoulder, sighing happily.
The older witch was more nervous than she could ever remember in her 50 years of life. She wanted this. It was time to take the next step with her girlfriend and start their family. She was reaching for the box in her pocket when Hermione shifted to ask, "are you okay love? You are acting a little strange."
"Me?" Bella remarked. "I'm fine, pet. Just thinking."
"Oh anything you want to share?"
"Actually yes. Something I've been thinking about for 9 months now." Bella let out a breath when Hermione sat up and turned slightly to face her girlfriend.
"What is it? Are you okay?" Hermione searched her face for signs of discomfort but relaxed when she saw a smile on Bella's face.
"No, love. Nothing bad. I wanted this to be perfect but I don't know if perfect will ever be written in the stars for us but seeing you hurt and the possibility that you wouldn't make it made me realize that I don't want to waste any more time. So…" Bella took a breath, reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind Hermione's ear. "You are the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. Everyday I wake up thankful that you chose me to be the one you walk through life with. I'm not sure I deserve you but I try hard everyday to make you as happy as you've made me. I thought I knew what love was in the past but I was wrong. Love is coming home to you everyday. Love is reading together in the library at night. Love is walking in on you dancing in the kitchen. Love is playing together with Teddy. Love is the look you give me before you say something you think I might not want to hear. Love is your patience and understanding. You have taught me more about myself than I ever thought possible." Bella stopped to wipe the stray tear that fell down Hermione's cheek. "Words were never my speciality, love. You know that. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I want to be with you for as long as you'll have me," she reached down and opened the ring box holding it out for her girlfriend to see. "Hermione Jean Granger, will you do me the greatest honor and marry me?"
Bella looked expectantly at her girlfriend who had tears flowing down her cheeks. Hermione simply nodded and said, "forever then."
The older witch smiled brighter than all the stars in the sky as she took the ring out of the box and slid it on to Hermione's finger echoing the words, "forever then." The younger witch leaned forever, closing the distance and her fiancé's breath hitched. Hermione kissed her with a reverence reminiscent of their first kiss. Their lips moved together in a slow and steady rhythm until Bella cupped Hermione's cheek, pulling back slightly to rest gently against her forehead. Hermione reached up holding onto her witch's wrist before softly saying, "I love you too, Bella."
They sat and watched the stars twinkling off the water just content to be in each other's presence when Hermione stopped to examine her ring in close detail. "This ring is beautiful, Bella."
"I thought it would suit you. Luna agreed."
"You took Luna with you ring shopping?" Hermione laughed. "And neither of your sisters killed you? Now this is a story I need to hear."
"I managed to keep it from my sisters until your accident. I was quite pleased with myself. I meant to give that to you on Valentine's Day." Bella pulled Hermione into her side while she told the story of how this particular ring came to be and the failed proposal attempt. She even went on to talk about how everyone found out. "But let's not tell everyone when we get back to the reception. I'd like to keep this between us for just a little while," she said quietly as a blush was forming on her cheeks. "I don't want to steal Draco's day or have everyone make a big fuss."
Hermione nodded as Bella stood up, pulling her up as well. They started to make their way back through the gardens before a wide smile
overtook Hermione's face, "you honestly think there's any chance that Andy doesn't know that this already happened?"
"Not a chance in hell." Bella stopped them at the end of the garden before heading back into the reception tent and quietly spoke up, "You were right, you know." Hermione turned to look at her with a confused expression. "I showed you that ring when you were in your coma and I told you I was ready for our life to start and our future children."
"Children? As in more than one." Hermione asked with a tone of surprise.
"I think two would do nicely. You'll carry them of course." Bella smirked and kissed her fiancé on the tip of her nose. "And we will all pray to Merlin that they turn out just like you."