Courting Miss Granger-Chapter 23-Man and Wife

By Marmalade Fever

It was beautiful outside. The trees were blooming and the grass was green. Draco hadn't noticed any of it. It was almost like being pulled out of bed and transported elsewhere when you were only half awake. He'd put on his tuxedo style dress robes and allowed them to do his hair. They had even put a small amount of make-up on him. And now... Now he was suddenly jolted awake by the realization that he was standing at the front of the extremely garish church, about to be wed. Cold sweat ran down the back of his neck and he could feel goose-bumps on his arms. Gregory Goyle was standing, troll-like, next to him. He felt another wave of goose-bumps run through him as the sound of the wedding march began. Slowly, but altogether too quickly for Draco, the bridesmaids walked down the aisle. Then the music changed and all attention was on the door in the back of the room.

Antoine had made the best of attempts to feign illness. She had complained of a stomach-ache, cast a silencing charm, taken poison, purposely broken her big toe... everything! But nonetheless, here she was, being forced to walk down that miserable aisle, after all.

Draco watched as Antoine approached and his ears suddenly went deaf to his surroundings. He could only barely understand the voice of the wizened old wizard performing the ceremony. Antoine was given away by her father, Andre.

"Should any present know of a reason that these two should not be wed, speak now or forever hold your peace."

Draco's heart pumped as he looked around. Nothing was happening! Surely, someone must object! This was sheer lunacy! His eyes met those of his father, and suddenly he knew what he had to do. He saw his father jump to his feet in alarm before he Disapparated, with a pop, into the safest place he knew.

...

Hermione looked up from reading the daily prophet and didn't flinch as she realized who her visitor was.

Draco stood stalk-still, feeling every nerve in his body writhing at once. He opened his mouth to speak, but his tongue had decided to desert him. "Hermione," he finally managed to say.

"Yes?" she asked, setting aside her newspaper and maintaining a perfect calm.

Draco could feel his throat closing up, and, for the first time since he was very little, didn't care when the tears began sliding down his cheeks.

Hermione shifted suddenly in her seat. She had not expected him to cry! "What happened?" And then, in fear, she asked, "You aren't married, are you?"

Draco shook his head, before wiping his eyes on his sleeve. "I..." he began, slowly, "I'm sorry." Hermione nodded and waited for him to continue. Quite suddenly, the tears stopped, and he looked at her almost as if for the first time. "I love you." Then, before waiting for her reaction, he strove on. "I've been the biggest fool in the world! You're perfect. You're smart, kind, funny, not to mention drop-dead gorgeous..." He tilted his head. "I can hardly tell you how hard it is for me just to stand here rather than run up to you and kiss you like a madman."

"Well," Hermione said slowly, "why don't you?" Her heart was hammering.

"Would you... let me?" he asked, uncertainly.

"Why don't you come and find out?" Draco approached cautiously and kneeled down onto his knees and wrapped his arms around her, before kissing her with full force on her lips. He felt her run a hand through his hair before gently pushing him away. A small smile was on her lips.

And then the world came crashing down on Draco. His father... Darn him! He stood and began placing as many anti-apparation wards on the flat as possible. Then, just as suddenly, he stopped, and kneeled next to her side on one knee. He took up her hand and kissed it gently. "Marry me!"

"Of course!" Hermione said, gleefully.

"No, I meant now!" He watched her expression go through an obstacle course of emotions. "Hermione, you told me you loved me, and I rejected you. I'm now back, begging for your forgiveness. But the thing is... They can break us apart, and you know it. It's the only way. Either we wed today or else they come and take me back to Antoine and force me to marry her instead. There's no other way!" His voice softened. "I promise you, Hermione, that I will not treat you as a husband until the day that we wed a second time, in a church somewhere for all of your friends and family to see... and none of mine. I'll court you! I'll sleep on the couch! I'll get my book published! Just please, please... It's the only way."

Hermione gulped and nodded her head. "Just let me go and get dressed." Draco fell back in a slight swoon onto the floor as he waited, impatiently, for her to come back. After what felt like ages but was only about three or four minutes, she came back, wearing a simple pair of white robes and her hair tied up with a matching ribbon. "Where do we go?" she asked, as he steered her out the front door.

"I know of two places for a witch and wizard to elope. The first is the Ministry of Magic... That wouldn't be my first choice. The second is Hogwarts. Professor Dumbledore could do it." He watched as a light came into her eyes. "Hogwarts it is, then." He took her hand and they double-Apparated to Hogsmeade.

Hogsmeade was sleepy this time on Sunday mornings. They arrived in a small clearing in front of the Shrieking Shack. Carefully, they climbed over a small fence and Draco took her hand in his once more. He loved her. Now that he had finally realized it, he couldn't imagine how he had managed to suppress the thought for this long. Her hand felt so small in his, so petite and delicate. She was delicate. They were risking a lot by doing this. He reminded himself, gradually, that she wasn't helpless. She could out-duel him any day, no doubt. They walked in silence for a long time, just two lovers taking comfort in one another's presence. They bypassed the main street and continued down a beaten road that led them directly toward their old school. Over the treetops they could make out a few students on broomsticks and what looked like a quaffle. Most of the grounds were fairly vacant. They walked past Hagrid's hut and the whomping willow. The giant squid rolled over in the lake and a few early risers looked up from their activities to marvel at the two strange adults wearing such odd attire. Finally, Draco held the door to the castle open for his bride and they entered, feeling safer than they had ever felt before.

They walked, unnoticed, for a while, up the stairs. "Where's a teacher when you need one?" Draco asked at last, breaking the silence.

"We could try the teacher's lounge." Hermione led the way, keeping a firm hold on his hand until they approached the proper door, and she knocked. They heard a slight rustle and the door opened, revealing Professor Snape, nose hooked down, as custom called for. He eyed them, slowly.

"Draco?" he asked, at long last. It suddenly struck as odd that Snape hadn't been invited to the wedding. Draco shrugged it off.

"Where's Professor Dumbledore?" he asked.

"He's in his office. Shall I inform him of your presence?" He raised an eyebrow, as if daring them to admit that they had come uninvited. Almost suddenly, his eyes struck upon Hermione and swiftly connected to their hands.

"If you would," Hermione replied, feeling a bit peeved by his examination of the situation.

"Of course." She couldn't be entirely certain, but it looked as if a small smirk had alighted on the sallow, old professor's face. Perhaps he felt even less remorse about disobeying Lucius Malfoy's wishes than they did.

"Who are you talking to, Severus?" The door to the teacher's lounge widened and Professor McGonagall's face appeared. It lighted up when she realized who they were and what exactly they were wearing.

"Mr. Malfoy and Miss Granger wish to speak to Professor Dumbledore. If my presumption is correct, then we may as well come with them. We might be needed as... witnesses." The two professors swept through the door and led the way while the happy couple followed at a distance. The portraits on the walls watched them in silence as they came to the stone gargoyles and waited as Professor Snape pronounced the password, "cauldron cake." The row of stairs revealed themselves seamlessly and they climbed.

"Come in, come in," the cheery voice of Dumbledore called from within his office. They obliged and the party entered the oh-so familiar office. Dumbledore's chair made a three-sixty and he smiled up at them. "Ah! Draco, Hermione, so good to see you again!" He swept towards them and took their free hands in his. There was a twinkle in his eye as he asked, "What can I do for you, that is, if I haven't already guessed?"

"Would you..." Draco began, slowly, feeling suddenly a little foolish, "would you marry us?"

Dumbledore clapped his hands together. "Excellent! I would be honored. If you'll give me a moment, I just need to consult my reference books and make sure that I still remember how." He conjured up four squashy armchairs for them and went into an antechamber to find his books.

Draco and Hermione exchanged a small grin of both relief and embarrassment. Neither had ever given a thought to elopement before, never mind to one another. Draco let his arm wrap around her shoulders and Hermione rested her head on his as the minutes began to drag on. Professors McGonagall and Snape both preferred to avert their attention, though the occasional glance in their direction did happen. At long last, Dumbledore emerged, a book grasped in his left hand and raised over his head. "Here we are," he said, smiling. "If you would stand and get out your wands, we can start." Draco frowned slightly... wand? He did have his with him but couldn't remember any previous need for one in the ceremony. They did as they were told and Dumbledore began. "Should I skip the formalities?" he asked, looking up over his half-moon spectacles.

"Go ahead," Hermione replied, hand snugly inside of Draco's.

Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Do you, Draco Ludwig Malfoy, take Miss Hermione Christine Granger to be your lawfully and magically wedded wife? To have and to hold, through sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, as long as you both may live?"

"I do," Draco said, without hesitation. And a feeling of sudden release went through his chest.

"And do you, Hermione Christine Granger, take Mr. Draco Ludwig Malfoy to be your lawfully and magically wedded husband? To have and to hold, through sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, as long as you both may live?"

Hermione's voice choked with emotion as she responded, "I do." Hermione's eyes stayed on Dumbledore, despite her sudden impulse to look at her near-to-present husband.

"Do you have the rings?" Hermione slipped her engagement ring off of her finger and Draco removed his own, which he had nearly forgotten that he still wore. They were placed in the aged wizard's hand and he took up his wand. "Point your wand at the rings with me and repeat as I do, 'Man and wife, bind us now, Unum.'" A faint silver haze surrounded the rings and slowly dissipated. "Now place this ring upon the finger of your spouse." They did. "With the power invested within me, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Draco felt teary-eyed as he bent his wife toward him and delivered the first kiss of their marriage. A magical surge passed through them, emanating from their rings.

"Now, if you'll wait just a moment longer, I'll draw up a marriage license for you and we can all sign it." He ducked behind his desk and began scribbling in pearly green ink. He then handed the quill to Professor Snape, who then offered it to Professor McGonagall, followed by Draco and Hermione Malfoy. Dumbledore then tapped the parchment with his wand, placing wards on it to prevent it from being destroyed.

"We'll be having a larger ceremony later on. You'll come, won't you?" Hermione asked, beaming at her aging professors. They nodded, and she noted a tear threatening to exit from Professor McGonagall's eye. Draco led his wife from the room and down the flight of stairs. It must have been lunch time. The Great Hall was as noisy as it ever was as they walked by it. "How about that!" Hermione said abruptly, stopping to peer through the door toward the staff table. Neville Longbottom had just sat down alongside Hagrid.

"Yes, apparently he's a substitute for Sprout," Draco replied, staring a little more scathingly at his old school-mate than was called for, considering his current situation.

"I wish I could get his attention!" Hermione whimpered, staring avidly at Neville.

"What for?"

"I thought we might be able to set up a double-date with him and Antoine." Draco's brow unfurrowed and he smiled.

"In that case... HO! NEVILLE!" Draco waved his hand and brought many pairs of eyes toward him, including the very frightened ones of the substitute professor. He cautiously stood and left his place at the table and approached, gripping something in his pocket very hard.

"Malfoy?" he asked, looking just as nervous as he had on Valentine's Day.

"Call me Draco!" Draco said, clapping him on the shoulder.

"Uh..." Neville replied, looking more frightened than he would have if Draco were scowling rather than grinning.

"I believe you know my wife?" Draco asked, gesturing.

"Oh! Your..." Neville's eyes landed on Hermione and he jumped, clearly having expected someone else, namely Antoine. "But... I thought..."

Hermione smiled. "Good to see you, too, Neville." She stooped over and gave him a hug.

"Beg your pardon?" he said at last, blinking.

"We just eloped... Anyway, we were wondering if you'd like to join us for a double date, some time-"

"-with Antoine," Draco interrupted, realizing that Hermione didn't know that the two had already met. Which brought him to the very good question of how she had known that they would make a good couple. She'd never met Antoine, or had she?

"You two are... married?" Neville asked, looking close to fainting. "And Antoine..."

"Is as free as a bird," Draco responded.

"Sure," Neville said, finally. "Sure, that'd be... swell." They left Neville and went out of doors again.

"Hermione," Draco repeated, for what he could hardly believe was only the second time, "I love you."

"I love you, too, Draco." They walked together in silence to Hogsmeade before Disapparating to their flat.

End Notes:

Oh, the fluffiness...