Disclaimer: Yadda blah de bah humbug, it's not mine, so la de fudge de doodle. Hee hee, random non-sensical words. Obviously since I'm not making sense, people won't take me seriously when I say that it all belongs to me, and I keep them locked up in my basement!
Chapter 19
Wedding Preliminaries
Hermione sat there for what seemed such a short time, but was really several hours. She finally moved when she heard the curfew bell ringing. Startled she jumped up, and making sure she had the pass, quickly walked, almost ran, over to the infirmary to see Draco.
"He's been out all day, and he probably won't wake up, so I don't know why you want to see him, but it's none of my business. I'll be in my office if he wakes up or if you need me. Just let me know before you leave."
Hermione nodded and made her way quietly over to Draco's bed, so as not to disturb the others who were in the room. Pulling back the curtain, she had to stifle a cry at the sight of him. He was extremely pale, and even asleep, just looked horribly weak. There was some bruising on his face, and a bandage wrapped around his head. She leaned over and planted a gentle kiss on his forehead, and sitting down picked up his hand with hers. Without even realizing it, she managed to transfer some of her energy to him. A few moments later, she felt his hand squeeze hers lightly, before he slowly opened his eyes.
"Hey, how are you feeling, love?" Hermione asked concernedly.
"Like I've been hit in the head with a quaffle, what happened?" He asked sleepily.
Hermione couldn't help but laugh lightly at that.
"I'm afraid it was worse. You were hit in the back of the head with a bludger during the quidditch match. You fell off your broom about 20 feet from the ground. You landed pretty hard, and I was so scared Draco. Never do that again!" she said, a tear running down her cheek.
"Shh, it's okay, I'm fine." He said taking his thumb and wiping away the tear. "I don't plan on doing that again."
Hermione still didn't smile.
"What's wrong? I know there's something you're not telling me."
"I'm just trying to figure out how to tell you Draco."
"Okay take your time, but I warn you. Too much longer, and I'll fall asleep on you."
"I'll just tell you, but don't interrupt till I'm done."
"All right." He said.
"During dinner, Ron was being an annoying prat, so I went to the East Tower to think, and have some quiet time. When I arrived there, Professor Snape was already there. Apparently he's not going to be here over the weekend because he is part of a group of death eaters meeting to discuss a wedding. More specifically, our wedding. You know he wants us to produce an heir, and believes matrimony will further encourage us. If we refuse, no one will hesitate to kill us, and I may not be so lucky a second time. If we say yes, we will be married right there by a minister, or someone with those qualifications. As Professor Snape also said, there is always divorce after Voldemort has fallen, should we choose."
Draco sat there with much the same reaction Hermione had at first hearing the news.
"Wow…That's, that's, hell, I don't know what to think." He said. "But I do know, I'm glad it's you Mione. I love you, never forget that. We'll be fine, and at least we'll be able to get our relationship out in the open. We can't very well be married and not see each other. I suppose after the wedding we'll have to tell Dumbledore, and he'll leave it to us to inform everyone."
"You're right. I'm glad it will be you I marry, but I hadn't imagined getting married for several more years, and I always wanted my friends and family to be there. Draco, how am I going to break this to my parents, or to Harry and Ron? They'll kill me, and then you!" she exclaimed.
"They will do nothing of the sort! Not to my wife. I like the sound of that. Hermione Malfoy, or if you wanted, Hermione Granger-Malfoy? It's up to you I guess." He said motioning for her to climb onto the bed and sit next to him.
"I like Hermione Malfoy. This feels so weird. We're sixteen and about to be married tomorrow. Professor Snape said we'd be summoned, and we'll have to apparate. If we don't, Voldemort will bring us there himself."
"Okay. Hermione, may I ask you something?" Draco asked suddenly.
"Of course, you know that."
"I love you more than life itself. You are the sun in my sky and the brightest star in the night. So, will you marry me?" he said, pulling a box out of his robe pocket and opening it to reveal a gold ring with a large emerald in the middle, and a small pearl on each side. "I had originally gotten this as a Christmas gift for you, but maybe it will do for an engagement/wedding ring?"
"Oh Draco, of course I will. It's beautiful! You didn't need to get me anything for Christmas. It's still weeks away." She as Draco took her left hand and slid the ring on her finger.
"I know. But I love you. Nothing I could ever buy would be worthy enough of you." He leaned over and brushed a light kiss on her lips. "It's late, you should get back. I'll wait here for you once we're summoned, and we'll apparate together."
"Sounds like a plan." She said standing up. Giving him one more quick, but loving kiss, she left him, told Madam Pomphrey, and headed back to the Gryffindor tower to sleep.
* * * * *
Meanwhile in the countryside far away, a meeting was taking place. Voldemort and some of his death eaters were discussing what they knew would take place the next day.
"Everything is in place for tomorrow Jeffrey, I presume?" Voldemort asked glaring at all the hooded death eaters in attendance.
"Yes my lord. I am prepared to perform the ceremony tomorrow." Came Damien Jeffrey's voice as he stepped forward. He was one of the older death eaters, and as a young man had trained to become a minister before joining the dark lord. He would be the one performing the ceremony tomorrow.
"Excellent, you will be rewarded for your services."
"You are gracious my lord." He said bowing his way back into the circle.
"Guadalupe." Voldemort called out after several minutes of silent thinking.
"Yes my lord?" he said stepping forward.
"I have been informed that you have been seeing a young woman in, Gryffindor." He said, sneering on the last word.
"Yes my lord, for several weeks now. Her name is Virginia Weasley." He said, looking calm, but inwardly wondering why Voldemort was questioning him about Ginny.
"How old is she?"
"16 my lord."
"Interesting. And do you care for this woman?"
"Yes my lord. I love her."
"Love is a sign of weakness, although maybe it will be useful in your case." He said, an evil grin appearing on his face. "I think she could threaten the anonymity of the death eaters by knowing you."
"She knows nothing about my position as a death eater. She is of no threat to you my lord." Deimos said, fear growing in the pit of his stomach.
"Maybe, but she is a very observant witch, from a good blood-line. She would be an asset to our organization, if we could convince her to join us. And I know just how to do that."
"How my lord?" asked several death eaters in the circle.
Voldemort cackled evilly.
"Tomorrow, my loyal death eaters, we have a double wedding."
A/N: Yea! Another chapter! Next chapter will be the double wedding, I'm sure everyone can guess who. I promise I'll get the next chapter out soon. Thanks for reading! Review if you like, it's cool if you don't, and flames are welcome because I need all the help that I can get!
