Narcissa was awoken the next morning by someone pounding on her bedroom door. "Cissy, wake up! We need to start getting you ready!"
Narcissa stretched and shook off the sleep before she swung her legs over the side of the bed and walked to open the door. Druella was on the other side, her dark-brown hair in curlers and her face marred with both sternness and worry. "The wedding starts at noon, Mother. It's only seven."
"But there is so much to do before the ceremony. We need to style your hair, do your makeup, help you into your dress, take pre-ceremony pictures, and have time to Apparate to Malfoy Manor and queue up. Now, Bella is already here; she's getting her hair styled downstairs in the dressing room. Victoria and Eleanor will be here soon."
"Bella was on time? That's a first," said Narcissa so low Druella didn't hear her. "Let me shower, and then I'll be down." Druella nodded stiffly and scurried off, barking orders to the house-elves along the way. Narcissa looked into her vanity mirror and said, "Bloody hell; I'm getting married today."
When Narcissa arrived in the dressing room, clad in the custom lavender robe that she, Vicky, and Bella would wear while they had their hair and makeup done, Druella was doing Bellatrix's makeup while the latter had curlers in her hair, and Eleanor was placing some curlers in Victoria's hair. "There's the bride," said Victoria excitedly.
"I never believed this day would arrive," said Narcissa. "Where's Father?"
"He's at our Manor, readying himself along with Abraxas, Lucius, Evan, and Atticus," responded Eleanor.
"Now come, Cissy. It's time to start beautifying you. Your wedding portraits will be published in every newspaper and periodical across Great Britain," said Druella. The women spent the morning preparing for the nuptials, and after their hair and makeup were finished and the bridesmaids dressed themselves, Druella said, "Bella and I are going to help Cissy into her dress."
Narcissa followed her mother and older sister into a smaller room where her wedding dress hung. Druella took it off the hanger, and Narcissa stepped into it and pulled it on, while Bellatrix zipped the back. Narcissa placed the corsage on her wrist and the necklace around her neck. She also put Eleanor's earrings in her earlobes. Once Druella and Bellatrix positioned Narcissa's veil, she turned to face them and smiled. "How do I look?"
"You look beautiful, Cissy," said Druella. "Merlin, I cannot believe my last little witch is marrying Lucius Malfoy today. I don't believe your father nor I could have predicted this match."
"My baby sister will be a married woman. Merlin, that will take me some getting used to," said Bellatrix.
The three women stepped into the main dressing room, and Victoria and Eleanor gained overwhelmed looks. "Cissy, you are gorgeous," Victoria gushed.
"There is no other woman whom I'd rather have become the next Mrs. Malfoy," said Eleanor. "Now, I must go. It won't be much longer before the ceremony begins."
Eleanor Apparated out of the room, and after both Cygnus and the photographer arrived, the photographer snapped some pictures of Narcissa with her parents and the wedding party. Cygnus had been silent since he arrived. Everyone Apparated to Malfoy Manor, and Abraxas and Eleanor had made sure the men were getting ready on the opposite side of the house. Out in the gardens, guests arrived and were seated by the ushers—Glitter, Daisy, Tuffy, Dobby, and Kreacher—in white chairs with green and lavender ribbons hanging from them. Narcissa peeked through the curtain of the patio door, and she observed the scene. Orion, Walburga, Sirius, and Regulus sat in the second row on the left side behind where Cygnus and Druella would sit. The Lestranges were behind her aunt, uncle, and cousins. On the right side were most of Lucius's Death Eater mates, and other pure-blood families were scattered throughout on both sides. Toward the back, Severus and an older woman, who Narcissa assumed was his mum, were settled. Underneath the pristine white gazebo, Minister Jenkins shuffled through her notes. "Druella, Bella, Victoria: may I speak with Narcissa alone?"
"Of course, darling." Druella kissed Cygnus's cheek and escorted the other two women out of the room.
Once they were out of sight, Cygnus turned to Narcissa, and a tear threatened to escape. "Father…"
"Cissy, I never believed this day would come, but I just want to say how proud I am of you. Lucius is a lucky young wizard to be marrying a woman like you. I know I don't tell you this often, but I love you, Cissy."
"I love you too, Father." Father and daughter briefly embraced. She knew how hurt her father had been when Dromeda had robbed him the opportunity of walking her down the aisle, which was why Narcissa and Cygnus were savoring this moment even more.
Druella reappeared. "Minister Jenkins is ready."
Cygnus nodded and escorted Narcissa toward the processional line. Druella and Eleanor walked down the aisle side by side escorted by Dobby and took their seats to the left and right respectively. Narcissa watched Lucius process in next from the other side of the Manor, though his back was facing her. Atticus and Victoria were next, followed by Bellatrix and Evan, as the latter pair were the Best Man and Matron of Honor.
"Mistress Cissy is beautiful," said Glitter as she stretched out the train of Narcissa's gown.
"Thank you, Glitter."
"This is it, Cissy. Do you want to?" Cygnus joked.
"I can't believe it's time," said Narcissa.
The opening notes of the Bridal March played, and Cygnus said, "Let's do it."
Everyone stood as Narcissa stepped outside into the perfectly shining sun. Narcissa looked to the end of the aisle, and as in British tradition, Lucius's back was facing her. Still, Narcissa took the opportunity to take in what was in front of her: Lucius's blond hair flowed down his back like silk, and it covered where the Malfoy family crest adorned the back of his black dress robes. She saw Evan glance at her and whisper something to Lucius, but couldn't deduce the words he told him. As Narcissa passed Druella, the latter looked at her youngest daughter proudly. Narcissa and Cygnus climbed the steps to the gazebo, and when they stopped next to Lucius, he glanced to his left to see her. Narcissa looked up at him, and she knew he was forcing himself to neither smile nor cry, but the corners of his mouth turned up a bit, and a tear rolled down his cheek. She shifted her gaze to Bellatrix, and Bellatrix was blinking rapidly, as she was trying to hold back tears as well. "Who gives this woman to this man?" asked Minister Jenkins.
"Her mother and I do," said Cygnus. He lifted Narcissa's veil and kissed her cheek before taking his seat next to Druella.
Narcissa handed her bouquet of white roses to Bellatrix, and Lucius took Narcissa's hand and said, "You look beautiful. I'm the luckiest wizard in the world."
Narcissa smiled, and the couple nodded toward Minister Jenkins to continue. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union of Narcissa Gwyneth Black, daughter of Cygnus Armand Black III and Druella Rosalind Black, and Lucius Abraxas Malfoy II, son of Abraxas Nicholas Malfoy and Eleanor Anastasia Malfoy. The bond of Matrimony is an unbreakable one. Today, Lucius and Narcissa will pledge to love, honor, and protect each other for the rest of their lives. At this time, Lucius and Narcissa have written vows they would like to recite to each other."
Lucius pulled a piece of parchment out of his dress robe pocket, and he took a deep breath before he began, "Narcissa, my beautiful daffodil, I truly believe there is a reason why I decided to stop and help you with your trunk on the Hogwarts Express that September morning in 1966. Growing up, I always knew it would be my duty to marry a pure-blood witch, but whenever I tried to imagine who my future wife could be, you never crossed my mind. The only criterion I knew I needed to fulfill was making sure my future wife was a pure-blood. But you are so much more to me. After today, I'll have both the honor and the privilege of being married to a witch who is so smart and powerful, who loves her family and mates more than anything, and who will do anything to protect the people she loves. I don't know what joys or challenges life will bring us, but I will do everything I can to guide you and protect you through it all, and we'll face life's triumphs and tragedies the way we always do: together."
Narcissa chuckled and sniffled a little, doing her best to maintain her composure. Bellatrix handed Narcissa the parchment with the latter's vows. "Lucius, my light in shining armor," she began, emphasizing her play on words in the metaphor, "I always dreamt about my wedding as a little girl, and when I pictured it, I honestly believed it would be for nothing more than to maintain blood purity. I was told my entire life pure-blood witches don't marry for love; we marry out of duty and preservation. But then, on 1 September, 1966, someone came into my life who would prove that notion incorrect. And that someone was you: a handsome wizard with blond hair as bright as the sun, with gray eyes so alluring I couldn't help but take notice, and with such confidence, I couldn't help but feel drawn to him. As I came to know you better, I came to know a brilliant, capable, and poised wizard who stands up for his beliefs, who embodies nobility and strength, and who will dedicate every fiber of his being to those people for whom he cares. And I know that no matter what life brings us, with you by my side, I can handle anything."
Minister Jenkins said, "I would like to invite Mrs. Bellatrix Druella Lestrange and Mr. Evan Sebastian Rosier to join me." Bellatrix and Evan joined Minister Jenkins, and the three of them pulled out their wands. "Lucius, Narcissa, please join hands." Narcissa took Lucius's hands in hers, and both witches along with Evan waved their wands over her and Lucius's entwined hands, creating a magical seal over them. Narcissa looked into Lucius's eyes as Minister Jenkins asked, "Do you, Lucius Malfoy, take Narcissa to be your wife for better or for worse, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live, till death do you part?"
"I do," Lucius responded confidently.
"Do you, Narcissa Black, take Lucius to be your husband for better or for worse, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live, till death do you part?"
"I do," Narcissa stated, doing her best not to cry in front of everyone.
The seal dissipated, and Bellatrix and Evan returned to their places. "May I have the rings please?" Victoria and Atticus handed Minister Jenkins the two pieces of jewelry. "A wedding ring symbolizes the never-ending love in a marriage since a circle never ends, and it is worn on the left ring finger because it is believed the left ring finger has an artery which travels straight to the heart: a classic symbol of love." She handed Lucius Narcissa's gold, diamond-covered wedding ring. "Lucius, repeat after me: I give you this ring as a symbol of my unending love and devotion. With this ring, I thee wed."
"I give you this ring as a symbol of my unending love and devotion. With this ring, I thee wed." Lucius placed Narcissa's wedding band next to her engagement ring.
Minister Jenkins handed Narcissa Lucius's wedding band, also gold and covered with diamonds, and said, "Narcissa, repeat after me: I give you this ring as a symbol of my unending love and devotion. With this ring, I thee wed."
"I give you this ring as a symbol of my unending love and devotion. With this ring, I thee wed." Narcissa secured Lucius's ring on his finger.
"By the power vested in me by the Ministry of Magic of the United Kingdom, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Lucius, you may kiss your bride."
Narcissa smiled broadly, and so did Lucius, the newly declared husband and wife not caring about showing their love for each other in front of everyone. Lucius pulled Narcissa closer to him, and he cupped her face in his hands before passionately kissing her. Somehow, this kiss felt different from their previous ones. This kiss signaled the beginning of a new chapter, a new adventure, and a new level in their relationship. After a few moments, they pulled apart; Narcissa had to admit it was a pretty good, though brief, snog. Narcissa took her flowers from Bellatrix and grabbed Lucius's hand. "Wizards and witches, it is my honor to present to you for the very first time, Mr. and Mrs. Lucius Abraxas Malfoy."
Lucius and Narcissa strolled up the aisle, Narcissa doing her best to keep up with his longer stride. This trip up the aisle signified the start of their official journey through life together.