Players And Pawns
CHAPTER TWO
It had come out before Harry knew it. It was meant to stay in his head, but he'd managed to share it with the entire room. He could almost hear the heads of the wedding guests snap, turning to see who had dared to disrupt the wedding.
"Excuse me? Who said that?" The priest looked over the crowd.
Harry had faced Lord Voldemort numerous times, gone through several years of potions class with Professor Snape, and watched the ground come at him when he'd fallen off his broom at breakneck speed while playing Quidditch, but this was without a doubt, the scariest moment of his twenty-one year existence.
"That would be me." He had the good grace to blush at what he had just done but stood tall.
"What in the hell Potter?" Draco Malfoy's polished voice rang through the church, laced with disgust. Hermione stood beside him, her face registered pure confusion. The Maid of Honor reached down to pick up the bouquet she had dropped, while Malfoy's old housemates, Crabbe and Goyle eyed him menacingly, cracking their knuckles. In the front row, Hermione's father fanned her mother, trying to wake her from her swoon.
"We…We're not at that p..point of the ceremony yet son." The old priest stuttered, not sure of what to make of the situation. There were a few uncomfortable laughs scattered through the hall that echoed hollowly. Rogue flashes went off in all different points of the hall. This would be all over the Daily Prophet the next day. He could see it now:
HARRY POTTER: THE BOY WHO LIVED… TO STOP A WEDDING
HARRY HAULTS MALFOY MARRIAGE
"Harry?" Hermione's small voice cut through the silence. He looked at her standing at the altar, her doe brown eyes asking questions she couldn't ask out loud. She looked so beautiful, yet so hurt at the same time. He had hurt her. Where was the invisibility cloak when he really needed it? He wanted nothing more than to disappear.
So he did.
He ran as if his life depended on it, trying to ignore the flashes going off in front of him.
HARRY RUNS FROM HUMILIATION
POTTER LOSES HIS NERVE
Snow crunched under his feet as rose petals were crushed and candles went out. The aisle was only a few feet in length, but it seemed like miles to Harry.
He couldn't get out fast enough.
With each step it was getting harder for him to breathe. Hermione's questioning eyes and Malfoy's angry stare. He could hear the gasping crowd, see the surprised priest. The entire scene replayed in his head until he felt the sharp pain of the crisp air burn his lungs as he inhaled. He fell to his knees, hiding his face in his hands. He had just ruined his best friend's wedding.
*****
Hermione went through the rest of the ceremony robotically, not fully able to get a hold of herself. What had he just done? Where was he now? What was she supposed to do? Should she go to him? She could faintly hear Draco's voice in the background of her thoughts and feel a ring getting slipped on her finger.
"Hermione." The priest nodded in her direction, handing her a ring. Her eyes went from Draco to the ring and back to Draco. He would be her husband once this ring went on. Years ago, she would never have expected this to happen, but here she was marrying Draco Malfoy.
Harry and Ron were wrong about him. He wasn't the obnoxious prat they'd grown up with in Hogwarts; he even looked a bit different. He towered over her by a few inches, the awkward, skinny body he once had, had filled out, leaving a lean frame of muscle. His silvery blonde hair had been cut shorter, spiked rather than slicked back. He said it was to keep up with times, although others said it was to keep from resembling his father. His facial features weren't as angular as they once were, making him look a bit softer… kinder, even. Which he was. The fact that he didn't sneer as much helped a lot more than he realized. His smoky gray eyes looked at her with love. And he did love her.
Yes, she could do worse than Draco Malfoy…
But could she do better?
"I, Hermione Granger, take you, Draco Malfoy, as my husband." Her words were shaky as she recited her vows. "With this ring, I pledge my heart, my soul, and my love to you this day and for all the days of my life." Her lip quivered, seeing a tear fall from Draco's eye. This was it. She was married.
"I love you." He mouthed as the priest addressed the crowd.
"I love you too."
"I now pronounce you, man and wife… You may now kiss the bride." Cheers and applause rippled through the crowd as Draco kissed her, dipping her in the heat of the moment. "Ladies and Gentleman. It is my great honor to present to you, Mr. And Mrs. Draco Malfoy!" The cheers rang through the halls again. The groomsmen and bridesmaids raised their wands, shooting out colorful sparks over the couple.
"Mrs. Malfoy." Draco turned to her smiling, extending his arm towards her.
"Mr. Malfoy." She linked her arm in his, standing on her tip toes to give him a quick kiss on the lips, before the two descended down the aisle.
*****
It was a short trip to their reception. A large tent had been erected in the back yard of the Malfoy compound. The garden paths, now lit by candlelight, had been covered by red carpets to keep people from having to tread on the freshly fallen snow. Hermione couldn't help but catch her breath when she entered. The tent itself was as large as the hall the wedding had been held in, made of a white gauze material, allowing everyone a view of the night sky and surrounding Rose gardens. From the center of the white canopy sprouted numerous strands of white Christmas lights that reached to every corner of the tent. Half of the space had been set up with beautifully decorated round tables; covered in crimson cloths and large red and white floral arrangements, crystal goblets and platinum rimmed china. A dance floor had been set up on the remaining half, a band of wizards waiting in the front as an enchanted harp played a soft tune. Waiters lined a wall, waiting to serve the guests. Behind them stood a table holding the six tiered wedding cake, along with two smaller versions on either side of it, to ensure there would be enough for all. The three cakes towered over plates of various snack foods for the guests and at the ends of the tables rested silver fountains pouring out streams of red and white wine as well as sparkling cider.
He watched her as she took in her surroundings; her eyes sparkling with excitement, like a child on Christmas morning. He never would have guessed that this is where he'd be. Ten years ago, he didn't see fit to talk to this girl, now, years later, after all the foul names and dirty looks; he loved her more than life itself. They were married. She was his.
But, then there was Potter.
They only put up with each other for her sake, putting aside the snide remarks and dirty looks in her presence. She wanted so badly for them to get along. Although they weren't friends and it was likely that they never would be, he never expected this. When the other one hated him so much he didn't show up, he thought that as bad as it could get. Hadn't Potter gotten enough attention in his life without interrupting his wedding? Did he hate him so much that he would go so far as to try and stop his wedding? Even if it hurt Hermione?
Hermione Malfoy. His wife. His.
"Draco, come on. If we don't go in, no one will be able to eat." She tugged at his arm, breaking his train of thought. Looking in, he could see their guests had streamed in and were now seated.
"Well, lets not keep everyone waiting." He raised his arm and the band began to play, the front man stepping up to the mike.
"Ladies and Gentleman… THE MALFOYS!" An arch over the entrance of the tent lit up with hundreds of small white lights and again, the crowd cheered as the couple entered, pausing for a quick kiss.
"Eat, drink, and party!" Draco called out; the waiters began to disperse themselves among the crowd, as he led Hermione to their spot at the head of the wedding party's table. He pulled out her chair as she maneuvered her dress to sit. Sitting, she smiled up at him, and he laid a soft kiss on her nose, standing back he took a few seconds to stare at her. Hermione Malfoy. His beautiful wife, now and forever.
But there was Potter…
.
Extra A/N: I know this was short and pretty uneventful, so I'll get chapter three up soon for you.