Disclaimer: Same as chapter 1
Chapter 6 – Let's Get This Over With
"Ouch, you're pulling my hair….Ouch….Lavender, try and be more careful!"
"Don't blame me. I can't help it if your hair is a mass of knots." Lavender was attempting to pull the comb through while arranging her hair around the flowered halo of her veil. "Quit yanking the comb away, Hermione! Just hold on, I almost have it swept up."
Hermione cringed as the comb encountered tangle after tangle. "Have you succeeded in pulling any clumps out yet!" she asked sardonically.
"Ew, you are in a foul mood. What's the matter? Come on, you can tell me, I'm your hair stylist and people always tell their hair stylist their problems," she giggled and continued dragging the comb through her long tresses, waiting for her to share her woes.
"The problem is that I didn't want to have this ceremony!" she snapped
Lavender's eyes grew wide. "Hermione, I thought you wanted to marry Severus. You're not pregnant are you?"
Hermione fixed Lavender with a glare that would have made Severus proud. "Honestly Lavender, you can be so dense sometimes. I do want to marry him. I just don't want to do it on public display. And no, I'm not pregnant. I'm doing this strictly for mum and dad. I'm never going to forgive them for this. We wanted to go to the Ministry and have a quick ceremony, no muss no fuss, just get it over with quickly, none of the traditions or festivities. BUT NO, that wasn't good enough for my mum and dad. I have to have a traditional ceremony with all my family and friends, THEY INSISTED. Do you realize how much persuading it took to convince Severus to go through with this ceremony?"
"Uh, I probably do realize how much persuading it took. Don't forget that I was one of his many terrified students for 7 years. That reminds me, is Neville coming?" asked Lavender.
"Yes, he said he was but you should have seen his reaction when I told him who I was marrying. I didn't think his face could get any paler than it already was. I have my doubts that he'll actually show up though. When I told Harry and Ron, neither of them would speak to me for a month." Lavender placed a sympathetic hand on Hermione's shoulder and thought for a moment. "Well consider this, if you didn't have a traditional ceremony we wouldn't have had that great bachelorette party the other night."
"Yeah, and that's supposed to thrill me because…?"
"You know you had a good time Hermione. You just won't admit it."
There was a knock on the door and Hermione called for them to enter. Ginny Weasley opened the door and timidly peered around from the other side. "Hi, we just got here. Is it OK for me to come in?"
"Hi Gin. Sure, join the fun and frivolity in here." Hermione said with cynicism.
Ginny shot Lavender a questioning look. "I'll explain later," she mouthed at Ginny.
"We were just talking about the bachelorette party the other night." Lavender was attempting to guide the conversation.
Ginny took the hint and grinned. "Oh Hermione, you should have seen your face when the stripper arrived dressed as a librarian."
"And who invited you in here Ginny?" asked a sarcastic Hermione.
"Oh stop it. I took pictures and if you don't cheer up, I'm not above blackmailing you. The best part is, it was a wizard camera so the pictures move." Ginny said and grinned suggestively. "Now what was the name of that book he was holding?" she asked in a mock questioning tone
Hermione mumbled something under her breath.
"What did you say?" Ginny asked innocently, not giving in to her for a moment.
"I SAID it was The Book of Love." she grimaced
"And hmmmm, I can't remember. What was the name of the song he stripped to?" continued Ginny
Hermione looked up at her with a death glint in her eyes.
Ginny would not be dissuaded. "What was that Hermione? You're mumbling again."
"The song was Love Potion No. 9. Now will you two please drop it." She glared intensely at them.
"Oh alright, but I think he really wanted to check you out. Get it? A librarian – check you out?" she nudged Hermione who looked up at her with deadpan eyes. "Well I had a great time. It was fun meeting some of your muggle friends and family. I think mum had a little too much to drink though." Ginny laughed at the memory of her mother drunk out of her mind. "I'm trying hard not to imagine dad's reaction that night when mum told him she had sex on the beach and 5 screaming orgasms at your party."
Hermione's stunned eyes flitted up to Ginny quickly and for the first time that day she laughed out loud. "Oh Ginny, she did tell your dad that that was the name of the alcoholic shooters we were drinking, didn't she?"
"She must have because dad's still talking to her. I think he even brought her a potion the next morning to cure her hangover. But he's never going to let her live that one down. Hah, neither am I."
Hermione really hadn't wanted to have a bachelorette party; she'd clearly been strong-armed into it. The others just refused to let the chance of a girl's night out drop. In the end she did manage to have a good time but she'd never admit it to them. Well, a good time except for that annoying stripper who insisted on undulating in her face and who was wearing a gigantic library card over his…."Ugh, best not to think about that Hermione," She whispered to herself. Just how many screaming orgasms had she had herself? And each one had been followed by blowjobs. Alcoholic shooters, she reminded herself with a smile. It must have been a phenomenal amount because she had no memory of the end of the night. Somehow after the party, in a drunken stupor, she'd managed to wander to Severus' room but she had no clue as to how. She only knew that she woke up the next morning on his bed, fully clothed with her makeup now smeared over her face and her head pounding hard. He silently towered over her holding another batch of the hangover potion and glared at her while she drank it.
"What are you thinking about Herm?" Ginny asked. Then her eyes settled on Hermione and she cooed, "Ooooh, I just noticed how gorgeous you look." Ginny bent down and placed a quick kiss on her cheek. "I have to get back to the hall. I finally managed to get a date with Harry but I think your friend Sarah has designs on him so it's probably not a good idea to leave him out there all by his lonesome. I just might have to cast the Furnunculus curse on her."
Hermione grinned at her and Ginny replied, "Kidding, I'm just kidding. At least I got you smiling again."
Mary Granger popped the door open. "Honey, its time to start the service. Are you ready?"
Hermione looked questioningly at Lavender who smiled and nodded her head. "Take a look at yourself in the mirror. You're a beautiful bride."
The reflection that stared back at her from the mirror was stunning. The bodice of her white dress was encrusted in beads and the off-the-shoulder sleeves showed off the creamy skin of her shoulders. The halo of her veil rested on her head, her upswept hair mingling with the tiny flowers. Lavender had done a wonderful job keeping the makeup light but complimentary. Overwhelmed, she simply gave Lavender a light hug and looked at her mother. "I guess I'm as ready as I'll ever be. Let go get this over with." And she grabbed her bouquet and walked off as if she were being thrown to the lions.
Hermione felt a bit dizzy as she approached the church hall. She quickly scanned the room and was assaulted by a mass of familiar faces, both wizard and muggle, ohing and ahing at her. "I can't do this," she thought with a mounting fear. For a split second she wanted to turn around and run but by now her father, who was looking slightly more sober if not green around the gills, blocked her way. He offered her his elbow and she took his arm. The wedding march started and her father began to lead her down the aisle, however the effects of his drinking binge hadn't fully worn off yet. Hermione was dragged from one side of the aisle to the other as he staggered serpentine style, crashing from one row of pews to the next. With disgust, she stopped her father, changed positions so he was now leaning on her arm and continued the march straight down the aisle. When they approached the front pew, Hermione roughly walked him over to her mother. A sickening sound assaulted her ears. He was gagging and in the next second he lurched to the side and vomited on Hermione's shoes, then fell on the bench. As if in slow motion, Hermione looked down at her shoes, then over to her father, then back down to her shoes. "Dad!" she whined.
"Oh, I feel much better now," sighed her father.
"I'm SO glad dad," she said, acid dripping from her voice.
The hall was quiet, too quiet. All eyes were on her. She sighed heavily and kicked off her shoes then snatched up her bouquet and flounced over to the altar. She glanced quickly at Severus, which helped to lighten her mood. She thought he had never seemed more handsome than right at this very moment. He glanced at her in awe then leaned over and whispered "The wedding night!" She smiled and relaxing slightly, thought that maybe, just maybe things would start looking up. But the trouble was not quite over yet. The moment the rector began to speak, a flash of lightening tore through the sky followed by a loud crack of thunder and the electricity cut off. She wondered if it was an omen and jokingly made a mental note to confer with Sybil Trelawny when she got back to Hogwarts. Her mother jumped up and quickly arranged for some candles, which shed a soft glow over the church. Used to candlelight, the wizarding guests seemed to relax however the rest of the guests stayed a bit nervous and edgy.
"Just start the ceremony!" Hermione snapped at the rector.
"This has got to be the strangest wedding I've ever presided over," he muttered.
"That doesn't surprise me one bit," sighed Hermione
"Friends, family, we are gathered here today…." he began.
The ceremony was long and drawn out. "He certainly is impressed with himself. What an old windbag!" thought Hermione. While she half listened to the sermon her mind wandered to more pleasant memories. She thought about her friends and loved ones who had come here today to help them celebrate and her mother and father who really did mean well, even if they were meddling in her life. She thought about Severus and how much she loved him. It touched her that he was willing to submit to this circus show in order to be with her for the rest of his life. And suddenly in that moment, her mood did a complete turnaround. She was overcome with love, not just for Severus but also for her parents and all the guests in attendance, to think that they all cared that much for her. The muscles in Hermione's face relaxed and she took on a shining new light as they exchanged their vows. The ceremony was coming to an end and the rector obligingly asked, "If anyone has just cause why these two should not be joined in holy matrimony, let him speak now or forever hold your peace."
From behind her, Hermione heard Molly and Arthur Weasley angrily whisper in unison, "Oh no you don't." She glanced behind her and briefly saw Molly holding Fred down, her hand over his mouth and Arthur had ahold of George. "Hah, foiled by your parents," she thought with triumph.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
A/N: Well, how am I doing guys. If you liked it, please take the time to drop me a review. I live for the reviews. As usual, my undying thanks to all who have already commented especially those that have been with me through the whole story, you know who you are and so do I!