September drew nearer and Malfoy Manor was filled with people to the brim. Decorators joined Narcissa around the clock to determine exactly what type of flowers would be suitable for the ceremony, which was to be held outdoors, on the Malfoy property. Dressmakers came around often to take Hermione's measurements for the white gown that she was to wear on the morning of September fourth. Caterers filled the kitchen, often making it difficult to get through the house without being assaulted in the process.

In the last week of August, Hermione found time to settle down and read more of Lily's diary. Lily continued to talk about Remus, even though her words were more hollowed than before. I can't help but think that Voldemort knows the whereabouts of the Order. I can't help but worry that by angering him that night, he might turn on us all and kill us. But most of all, I worry about Harry. He's just a defenceless little boy; how could he stand up against the most feared wizard of all times? He's definitely not capable and it brings tears to my eyes what might happen if Voldemort happens to show up on the doorstep again. I shudder to think of the consequences.

On the other hand, Halloween is approaching. James and I debated on whether or not we should dress Harry up and take him out for the evening. I'm saying no, it's not safe with Voldemort on the loose. James is determined, telling me that he won't dare strike with so many people around. That's never stopped him before.

The entry ended there and a few pages were left blank. Hermione skipped ahead, hoping that wasn't going to be the last of the entries. She was spared when she noticed more of Lily's writing under the heading of October 31.

Halloween's finally here! I love this holiday so much! It's like Christmas time for the witches and wizards. I relented and James is currently dressing Harry up as a dragon. We agreed to take him out while it's still light, then get him home to bed before darkness falls. I can't wait to see the look on Mrs. Willow's face when she sees Harry's cute costume. It will be worth the entire ordeal.

Well, I should get going. James is yelling that Harry is ready to go, but he's acting rather fussy. I do hope he's going to be all right for the night. I don't want to keep him out too long, though, because my stomach is in knots already. I don't know why, but there's something looming over my head that's dark and disturbing. Oh, well, I had better ignore it and get out there with the rest of my family. It's going to be a night to remember.

With that, the diary ended. Hermione flipped through the remaining pages, finding nothing. Tears settled in the back of her eyes as she re- read the sentence, "It's going to be a night to remember." She knew from seven years as Harry's friend that his parents died on Halloween night of that year. If only Lily knew; if only she could see ahead to the future and know what was in store for her, she might have spent the time indoors, packing to get ready to leave. Voldemort wouldn't have found them if they had left that night.

What a world Hermione lived in. A world full of 'what-ifs' and doubts. What if a certain person had done this? What if a certain person had done such a thing in a different way? Would their lives had been affected? If Lily and James had been alerted to Voldemort's impending actions, and had they left, would they still be alive today or would Voldemort had found them somewhere else and killed them?

Hermione's thoughts drifted from their deaths to Lily's life. It had been an interesting journey and Hermione was glad to have seen part of it. It hurt her to think that Lily had given up the man she loved, Remus, for her own safety and for Remus' peace of mind. Could Hermione do the same? Could she give up Ron and be a Malfoy for life? Naturally, when she and Draco married, she would take on the Malfoy name, but it took more than that to make a true marriage. Could she open her soul and let it accept the fact that she was truly a Malfoy and would never be Hermione Weasley? Was it even possible for her to comprehend such an action?

Part of her didn't really believe that the wedding would ever take place. Part of her soul believed that her knight on a white horse would arrive just before the minister pronounced them husband and wife to whisk her away to a fairy tale life that she could never have dreamed of before. But there was still that part of reality that brought her back and slapped her in the face. In less than two weeks, she would walk down the makeshift aisle in the backyard of the Manor and join Draco for all eternity. What a scary thought.

"Hermione! Dad's sending post in twenty minutes! Bring down any letters you have!" Draco's voice floated up the stairs and Hermione grabbed the letter she had written to her parents and prepared to take it downstairs. On second thought, she grabbed her quill and a piece of parchment from the desk. Jotting quickly, she wrote a note to Harry, explaining that the wedding was soon and she would visit him and Ron as soon as they got settled in their new home. "Please tell Ron not to hate me," she wrote. "I'll write again soon."

She added, "There's a letter in here for Harry; could you forward it to him?" to her parents' letter and resealed the envelope. Smiling to herself as she walked downstairs, she thought, "At least when I marry Draco, we'll be in our own place, away from Lucius' prying eyes."

The morning of September 4th, Hermione awoke with a massive headache and severe nausea. Holding her stomach and her head, she hurriedly jumped in the shower, heeding to Lucius' impatient calls. "You'll be late for your own wedding!" he called up the stairs.

"They can't start without me!" Hermione yelled back. Lucius hadn't mentioned that day when Hermione destroyed part of the house since the incident, and Hermione was thankful. She felt much more relaxed in the Manor since her little outburst and she knew that she just had to let off a little steam at the time.

After her shower, she styled her hair the way she wanted, only to be made up again by the makeup artist waiting downstairs. Butterflies flitted impatiently in the pit of her stomach as she stood, stone-faced, while the matrons made last minute alterations to her dress. When she finally got to put the dress on, she smiled at her reflection, despite the situation. The long, pure white gown drifted gently to the floor where it lay around her feet, which sported white high-heeled slippers. Her long hair had been tamed for the day and lay in soft curls around her shoulders. The veil fell nicely in front of her face and Hermione fought back the tears.

For as long as she had been their friend, Hermione had dreamt of having Harry and Ron at her wedding. Even more so, she had dreamt of Ron being at her side at the altar and Harry as their best man. Instead, Draco was waiting at the end of the aisle in the backyard and Crabbe and Goyle were waiting as best men. There had been a huge squabble over which of Draco's goonies were going to be best man, so when they resorted to violence, hexing each other rapidly, Draco interfered and announced that both Crabbe and Goyle were going to be best men. Hermione thought it was rather childish of the both of them, but seeing as she didn't get to pick her wedding party, and the bridesmaids and maid of honour were all friends and family of the Malfoys, Hermione didn't see much fairness in the entire wedding.

Mr. Granger approached his daughter, looking bashful. "You look beautiful," he whispered to her as he held his arm out. "I just wish this day could have been brought about by better circumstances."

"Me, too," Hermione whispered back, not being entirely truthful. She had grown fond of Draco Malfoy in the past few weeks, but she felt she was still a long way from loving him. She joined her father's side, gripping his arm tightly, and left the safety of her tent, stepping into the sunshine of September. Draco was waiting for her at the altar, smiling self-consciously. Crabbe and Goyle were waiting patiently beside each other, often giving one another a sharp shove, both receiving dirty looks from Draco. Lucius was beside the minister, giving snide looks to anyone who dared to glance his way. Narcissa was at his side, looking as dotty and spacey as ever before.

The minister began with a few words after Hermione's father had left her, with tears in his eyes, at the side of Draco. Then he began the ceremony, leaving Hermione's imagination to roam. When it came time for her to take Draco as her husband, she hesitated, causing both Mrs. Granger and Lucius to cast looks of panic at one another. "I do," she finally said and the two of them released their tense breaths in a long whoosh. Draco repeated her actions while Hermione began searching desperately for her knight in shining armour. Where was he? Why wasn't he rescuing her? Maybe the wedding really was going to take place. Her breath began to come in quick gasps and she felt that she was suffocating.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife," said the minister, smiling at them. "You may kiss the bride." Hermione's breath caught in her throat as Draco leaned towards her. She closed her eyes and gritted her teeth but the kiss was quick and painless. She followed Draco down the aisle again, watching in a dream world as the guests threw flower petals in front of their path.

She had done it. She had survived the wedding. Now she had to survive the rest of her life as Mrs. Draco Malfoy.

A/N: That's the end of this story, but I'm doing a sequel called "Sounds of a Breaking Heart" that will be up soon. Hope you all enjoy!