A/N: I'm only borrowing the characters from the books to play with; everything else is my own world
The lyrics are from 'Broken' by Seether ft. Amy Lee, 'I Sing For You' from the Camp soundtrack
I know it's really short and really crap but I had to get this bit out of the way then I could get on with the ending which I think shall be completed in the next chapter and there is a SNEAK PEAK at the end of the reviews on this chapter...
Chapter Ten - Vows
The worst is over now and we can breathe again
I wanna hold you high, you steal my pain away
There's so much left to learn, and no one left to fight
I wanna hold you high and steal your pain
'Cause I'm broken when I'm open
And I don't feel like I am strong enough
'Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone away
"Are you ready for this?"
Appleby watched Shari's reflection in the mirror as Cecy finished fluffing out the bottom of her dress. She nodded and took a deep breath that made the body glitter sprinkled down her cleavage glisten in the light as Cecy straightened up and smoothed down the back of her dress where it gathered just below her shoulder blades in a curving dip.
"I still think you should tell your parents about all this, Aunt Ginny will be devastated when she finds out."
Appleby's huge made-up fever-bright eyes met Viridian's in the floor length mirror as she took in his words. She did want her parents to be there very much, but she couldn't risk the fact that they might try and stop it from happening.
"And I still think is a bad idea; you've only known the guy six months!"
Appleby sighed and turned around, sweeping her dress out and around her as she did so until she was facing her friends and cousins scattered around her room with varying looks of emotion on their faces.
"Look I love you guys, I always will but I'm going through with this and if you don't like it then fuck you."
Crysta and Stevie blinked in unison at Appleby's words but the older members of the group hardly acknowledged her last words as they watched her determined face, shades of her mother's stubbornness shining through her typical Malfoy arrogance.
"Alright then let's get going I better go check Dante's not ripped the place apart yet."
Viridian grinned when Appleby scowled and threw a nearby cushion at his departing back before turning back to the mirror and nervously going over a stupid Muggle tradition in her head. Ok she had something old; the beautiful butterfly shaped diamond encrusted clip of her mother's holding up half of her silvery-blonde curls while the rest cascaded down her neck, something new was obviously her dress; something borrowed was the necklace of silver strands at different lengths holding tiny elegantly glowing pearls and diamonds of Shari's around her neck and something blue was the delicately stitched pale blue and white lace garter around her right upper thigh.
"I'm proud of you, you know."
Appleby jumped and turned to Matt who had managed to rid the room of everyone and was standing behind her smoothing his large brown hands over her pale trembling shoulders rising out of the clinging off-the-shoulder ivory dress.
"You are?"
Maybe if Matt was proud of her it wasn't so bad what she was doing? She really did want to be doing this at Malfoy Manor with her entire family surrounding her and supporting her but that wasn't a choice now.
"I am and you know..." He trailed off and dropped a kiss in the hollow of her neck. "It's not too late to tell them."
Appleby watched his reflection straighten up and close the door silently behind his back, leaving her alone in her room facing the dilemma of both sides of her heart fighting each other beneath her chest. Taking a deep breath she pushed such thoughts to the back of her mind and headed towards the door, meeting Matt on the other side with a smile of calm she didn't quite feel.
Allowing him to lead her down numerous staircases until they reached the chapel attached to the back of the Great Hall Appleby felt a bolt of fear she had never experienced even before a key Quidditch match and she hesitated.
"Appleby?"
She forced a smile at Matt as Shari and Cecy bustled over, smoothing down her dress and instructing Crysta and Stevie on exactly how they should hold up the long heavy ivory coloured train that glittered with crystals and pearls sewn into it in beautiful intricate designs as they thrust a bunch of roses, lilies, and various other magical and Muggle white flowers into her trembling hands.
Making last minute checks that the train was securely held up off the floor and away from Appleby's feet; her hair was still perfect with every strand in place and the intricately embroidered bodice covered in individual pearl-beads wasn't too tight or the semi-transparent white sleeves that fell from a dip below her shoulder down her smooth white arm to just above her elbow weren't going to get in the way, Shari and Cecy finally let Appleby take Matt's outstretched arm.
As Appleby set off down the aisle with Matt, accompanied by proudly beaming Crysta and Stevie in their long black dresses sleeveless with the small white bow tied around their waists at the back, and the Wedding March which she had insisted on being played by Isaac today in tight black trousers and fluorescent pink shirt, Shari and Cecy wiped away their stray tears and grabbed their own much smaller bouquets.
They bustled down the aisle after Appleby in their own much sexier versions of the black bridesmaids dresses; theirs was gathered at the front over their breasts and fell into their own miniature trains behind them in clinging black silk.
Approaching Dante Appleby forced a smile from her numb lips and turned to Matt who kissed her gold-dusted cheek and gently pulled the front half of her veil over her face so it just touched her chest before heading over to sit next to Gabriella who Viridian had managed to talk Appleby into having as a witness. Furious to admit that she was slightly tearful herself, Gabriella was currently scowling down at the floor as she jiggled her foot dangling in the air from her crossed legs impatiently and sank back in the chair with her arms folded.
"Appleby Alexis Malfoy, I give you this ring, wear it with love and joy. I choose you to be my wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward. For better, for worse, for richer for poorer; in sickness and in health; to have and to cherish as long as we both shall live."
Appleby felt ears prick her eyelids as she watched Dante slip the single silver band, inscribed with a spell that connected the wearer to the giver in Elvish, onto her wedding finger neatly.
"Dante Curtis, I give you this ring, wear it with love and joy. I choose you to be my husband: to have and to hold, from this day forward. For better, for worse, for richer for poorer; in sickness and in health; to have and to cherish, as long as we both shall live."
As his ring was pushed up his finger Dante and Appleby both experienced a flash of something they couldn't name as their rings both glowed a vibrant silver and Dumbledore smiled down at them both, praying like he had never prayed before that this marriage may change the future.
"You may now kiss the bride."
Dante gently lifted the veil back to find Appleby smirking seductively at him as he brushed her lips carefully with his own, his tongue edging along the satiny smooth cushion of her lower lip.
Shari promptly burst into noisy sobs on Matt's shoulder as the couple by the alter broke away and turned grinning to the minute gathering that witnessed their marriage.
As amazing as it was both the Gryffindor and Slytherin houses were partying together in the Great Hall, admittedly they didn't know what the celebration was for but champagne and music were flowing so why should they care? The room was packed to the brim with students from both houses and various others from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff who had been specially invited.
Telling everyone it was a fancy dress party was a perfect way for Appleby to get away with keeping on her dress all night without having to answer endless questions and queries. Right now the train was thrown over her arm as she engaged in an exuberant version of the Macarena with nearly all her cousins and friends in spiraling rows behind and around her. With the introduction of alcohol the volume had swung right up to the point where most of the students from every year of every house had crashed the party and were descending on what was left of the buffet like locusts in their various pajamas and night-clothes.
"Alright alright listen up!"
Shari's bellows were drowned out by the cheers and shouts of the crowd surrounding those spilling off the dance floor still loudly dancing but now to 'Saturday Night'.
"Sonora! ALRIGHT SHUT UP YOU BUNCH OF IGNORANT LITTLE KNEAZLES!"
The music was turned down to a minimum but a bunch of defiant Gryffindors remained chatting loudly at the back of the hall as everyone else turned to Shari to hear what she had to say.
"IT BEING SUCH A GREAT EVENT WE DECIDED TO BREAK TRADITION AND ENGAGE THE HELP OF SOME MUDBLOO... AHEM SOME MUGGLEBORNS WHO BROUGHT US THIS WONDERFUL TOTALLY ODD FASCINATING THING I'M SURE."
Raising an amused eyebrow at the incredulous look on Shari's face Appleby grinned to herself, wondering what it was Shari had 'borrowed'.
"SO WITHOUT FURTEHR ADO HERE WE HAVE A KAROKEKEKEE MACHINE!"
Shari glared at the room as it burst into fits of giggles from those familiar with karaoke machines as she whipped her wand at the table drenched in a silver silk cloth to reveal a karaoke machine bewitched to run on magic and hooked up to a small television screen before a microphone. Crysta was working the machine and propped a thumbs up at Shari who beamed and dived into the crowd, emerging with a furiously struggling, biting, scratching and swearing Stevie. Shoving her into the spotlight Shari nodded at Crysta and leaped off the stage out of the way as music pounded through the hall and its occupants returned to their food and drink while those on the dance-floor began swaying to the music already.
"I sing for you and only you
Wherever I go I find you
You're in the sound of every hello
In everything I do
You're the song I was destined to know
And I only sing for you
You leave so many dreams behind you
Thought I'd be fine just being alone
I didn't have a clue
But my heart had a mind of its own
And would only sing for you
You're in the sound of the rain
Clouds in a winter sky
In a thousand unsaid words
In a thousand crazy reasons why
You were meant to fly
So fly for me and day by day
I'll keep hoping your heart reminds you
Nothing but love can stand in our way
But love can see us through
Maybe that's all I wanted to say
I will always sing for you
I will always sing for you"
Stevie's piercingly sweet voice soared over the crowds' heads as they danced to the music and Appleby, locked into Dante's arms with her head nestled against his shoulder, was feeling faint as much from happiness as from her fever.
valentines-hater – I thank you muchly!
Alicandra Black – killing will be coming very soon and the outcome probably won't shock any of my reader's lol I kind of got carried away there should have been more Draco/Ginny I suppose and there will be soon thanx for reading even though its not what you like ï