Courting Miss Granger-Chapter 30-Oh Sweet! Marry Me
By Marmalade Fever
Hermione shivered. Despite the fact that this wasn't her true wedding day, being married already and all, she was still desperately nervous. Cold feet? Of course not! But butterflies were still dancing the rumba in her stomach. Ginny and Luna had left her alone for a few minutes to take care of some last minute details elsewhere. She was now dressed in Narcissa's elegant bridal gown, occasionally blasting at her armpits with her wand, using an anti-perspirant spell that seemed to have an amazingly short life. Her hair had been done up properly. Her once unruly mass of frizz had been tamed so that most of it was in an elaborate knot, with a few locks hanging freely. To her subtle amazement, she also found herself wearing a sort of tiara. It was silver but was made to resemble a twisted vine with tiny buds and leaves. With the silky white veil hanging off the back, she had never felt so pretty in her entire life. She couldn't help but smile as she imagined the look on Draco's face when she would make her entrance...
"Hermione," Ginny said gently, returning with Luna used-to-be-Lovegood-Appleby, "the procession is about to start." Hermione felt herself nod and rise from her chair. She followed behind them and watched as Ginny, dressed in periwinkle, took Harry's arm and started down the aisle. Luna and Ron followed with Antoine and Neville bringing up the rear. A rush of bile filled her throat as the music altered to announce her presence. Bouquet in hand, she took her father's arm and numbly began to walk down the aisle.
Draco was frozen in his spot, feeling a rush of déjà vu. Here he was, in the Malfoy Manor, awaiting the approach of the love of his life. The start of the wedding march brought him out of his stupor as he watched Potter and Ginny Thomas march up the aisle at his own wedding. Not one of his former friends had come. In fact, the groom's side of the hall was nearly empty. His parents were sitting in the front row, his father looking murderous and his mother crying her eyes out. A number of Hogwarts professors took up a few of his rows, as it was now summer and school was out. Potter and Ginny took their places and a second head of flaming red hair appeared, accompanied by that really weird girl that had been in the class below. Looney, he recollected. Weasel and Looney also took their respective places at the front. Next came the girl that he was only too thankful to not call his bride, Antoine. She was arm in arm with Longbottom... pardon, Professor Longbottom.
And the wind caught in Draco's throat as the song changed and the most ethereal creature he had ever laid eyes upon entered the room. Hermione... Hermione... his lovely, precious, know-it-all, muggle-born Hermione! If he could have, he'd have swept her off of her feet right then. Oh, yes, she was perfect. He was positive that every ear in the room would be able to hear the sound of his heart, beating a strong tattoo against his chest. If any did, they were too absorbed in this glorious creature to notice.
At last, Hermione and Draco were left together in front of the elderly minister. "Marriage," he started, looking firmly over his spectacles, "marriage is what brings us together today. Marriage, that blessed arrangement-that dream within a dream, that is why we are here. Draco and Hermione have come to us from two very different backgrounds, now planning to join them as one. Draco has asked that I might read a short poem that he wrote for the occasion." The minister reached into his breast pocket and removed a piece of parchment. "Ode to an Angel-to Hermione, my love, my only. In the twilight of the darkness, flee, and marry Sweet-oh Sweet! marry me. Come to me and be my wife, and we shall battle through our strife. Though names and curses hold us back, I pray, my Love, rid thee of that. To none give the pleasure of your sorrow, and we shall carry out the morrow. Together one, and one we be, so marry Sweet-oh Sweet! marry me!" The poem ended and there was a trickle of applause throughout the room. Draco's heart ached. He had written that poem shortly after Valentine's Day. He took a nervous glance toward Hermione and saw that there were tears in her eyes. Oh, how he loved her...
"Who here gives this woman away?" the minister asked as the applause died. Ted Granger stood up from his place at the front row and raised his hand.
"I do," he said, looking lovingly into his daughter's eyes.
"Thank you, you may sit down. If any present can find reason that this couple should not be wed, speak now, or forever hold your peace." For a few tense moments, Draco and Hermione looked around, wondering if anyone would speak... but the moment ended, and the minister continued. "Draco and Hermione have each written their own vows. Hermione has asked to begin."
The focus left the minister and landed on Hermione. For a moment she felt herself choke, but then she looked into Draco's eyes and relaxed considerably. "Draco, I have known you since I was eleven years old. I can't say I especially liked you at first... though that might have to be the understatement of the century. Truth be told, until quite recently, I hated you. I loathed you... I would have been quite willing to go to your funeral just to cheer. For that I'm sorry. The last half a year has been quite difficult. At first, when I learned of your... pursuit of me, I didn't know what to think. The rest of my life, quite literally, flashed before my eyes. I didn't know what to do. But somehow, Draco, you managed to make it better. You..." Hermione's voice cracked, "you made an effort. You really, and truly, made an effort! It didn't matter that my options were limited and that you really didn't need to... Darn it, Draco! You actually wanted to ensure a happy marriage... a loving marriage." Hermione wiped a tear from her eye. "I love you, Draco Ludwig Malfoy. I know now that I always will. I promise you that I will remain faithfully by your side, forever and anon."
A tumultuous applause swept the room. Some of the doubters who hadn't been entirely sure of the coupling were looking confused. The crowd died down as Draco began his own speech.
"Hermione, my love, I can't tell you how sorry I am for how I treated you over the years. I was a horrid, spoiled brat. You should never have to apologize to me for anything. Apologizing is my job. Thinking back over these past few months, I can hardly believe how much I've changed just because of you. On my birthday, I thought I had a pretty good life. Things were going well... I was rich... I could be as lazy as I wanted... I thought I was going to get a present. Little did I know that present was the best thing that ever happened in my life. I really, and truly, thought at the time that I was going to die. I figured that you would reject me before I'd even gotten my entire explanation out. I thought I was going to be poor. But now I'm the richest man in the world. I have you. Hermione Christine Granger Malfoy, I love you. I will forever be your loving husband. Thank you."
Another round of applause exploded and Draco shivered. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the utterly disturbed and repulsed look in his father's eyes. Hermione's parents, on the other hand, were looking very pleased... very pleased and just a little confused... but still, very pleased.
"May I have the rings?" the minister asked. Harry handed them over and the man continued. "Place this ring on the other's finger and repeat after me: With this ring, I thee wed. I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Draco had been waiting for this moment ever since he'd learned that he was going to be marrying Hermione Granger, even before he'd decided that he liked her in the least. He lifted her veil, flitted his eyes in the direction of Potter and the Weasel, scooped her into his arms, tilted her over his knee, and kissed her passionately. She wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed. It didn't feel like the moment would ever end. As he'd hoped, once he ended the kiss, both Potter and Weasley were looking extremely uncomfortable. Ha ha ha... He held Hermione in his arms a while longer before he could let go. The applause that had shaken the room during the kiss slowly died and people began to come forward to congratulate the young couple. Tears of pure joy shone in Hermione's eyes as they slowly stepped through the room.
The End.
End Notes:
Actually, there's an epilogue. Actually, there are two epilogues. And a sequel. It takes quite awhile to end, really.
And, yes, that was a Princess Bride quote. I am obsessed.
