"Wake up 'Mione," a loud voice shouts, jolting Hermione awake. She sits up with a gasp, clutching the sheets to her chest. Ginny stands at the foot of the bed with a smirk on her face.
Hearing a groan next to her, Hermione glances down to see Lucius roll towards her. He wraps an arm around her waits and it's only then that Hermione realizes that neither of them are wearing any clothes. She can tell that her cheeks are turning bright red.
"I feel like, of all the people to sleep in today, it should not be you two." Ginny puts a hand on her hip as she gives Hermione an accusing look.
"Please get her out of the room," Lucius mumbles, not opening his eyes.
"That is not happening until both of you get moving. 'Mione, I was supposed to meet you at Malfoy Manor an hour ago," she exclaims. "Draco is getting everything set up right now and he has absolutely no idea what he is doing."
"I don't think Hermione would like her best friend to see her fiancé naked. So if you would like us to get up, I would recommend that you leave."
"Ten minutes and then I'm coming back in here whether you guys are dressed or not." Ginny storms out of the room, slamming the door behind her. Hermione flops back onto the bed with a groan.
"What happened last night? Why can't I remember it?" Lucius, who has finally opened his eyes, sighs as he pulls her body against his.
"After we finished some last minute details, we had a few drinks. I invited you to stay the night."
"You even offered to let me stay in a guest room," she mumbles, bits and pieces coming back to her.
"I did. When you refused, I brought you here. But you didn't want me to leave. Apparently you get very horny when you're drunk because you were really wanting me to fuck you."
"Lucius, she can probably hear you."
"She assumes that's what happened anyways."
"It's not what happened?"
"No. I'm not having sex with you unless I know that you will remember it." He sits up only to lean down over Hermione and give her a gentle kiss. "Is she likely to come back in?"
"She's definitely coming back in." Wrapping an arm around his neck, she pulls him down for another kiss.
"You need to get ready. I need to make sure everything is set up correctly."
"I guess I'll see you later then." Lucius stands up and is dressed with a snap of his fingers.
"You know where to find me."
"Just take a deep breath, okay?" Hermione nods, breathing in and out slowly at the same time that Ginny does. "Everything is going to be okay. I know this wasn't what you probably wanted, but if what I saw this morning is anything to go by, you and Lucius will be okay together."
"From what I've seen this past month he's a nice man overall. But what if it was all just a show? What if once we're married he becomes the Lucius Malfoy that we grew up seeing?"
"If that happens we'll figure it out then." Ginny looks like she wants to go on but a knock interrupts her. "You're not supposed be here," she exclaims as Lucius pushes into the room.
"Give is five minutes Mrs. Potter." Lucius's eyes never leave Hermione as he talks, first looking up and down her body then meeting her own gaze.
"I'm not... I guess I am Mrs. Potter now. Five minutes and then you both need to get downstairs." The second the door clicks shut Lucius steps close, only stopping his approach when Hermione takes a step back.
"It took two hours to get ready, I can't ruin this until after the ceremony," Hermione explains, gesturing at her face and hair. In truth, it was mostly the hair that took up the two hours. Ginny insisted that it was secure and wouldn't fall out of place, but Hermione wasn't convinced.
"There has been a small incident."
"What kind of incident?"
"Mr. Weasley is at the gate. They wouldn't open because he doesn't have an invitation, but he is talking to the press. And it does not seem to be nice."
"Of course he is," Hermione says, shaking her head. "Why are you telling me this?"
"I wanted to know how you want to deal with him. We can ignore him and deal with the articles tomorrow, or make a statement." Hermione sighs, looking down at her feet before an idea dawns on her.
"Am I going to love or hate this idea that you have?"
"How do you know I have an idea at all?"
"You have a mischievous look on your face. The only other time I've seen a look like that on your face was at the dinner a few weeks ago." Hermione can't help the grin that appears on her face.
"Fine. I do have an idea and I think the reporters will like it more than whatever nonsense Ron is telling them."
The music starts playing, the signal that it's time for Hermione to start walking down the aisle. She clutches the bouquet of flowers tightly in her hands, taking a deep breath before she starts moving. The second she becomes visible to everyone gathered in the yard flashing lights start blinding her.
She doesn't let herself waver at all as she walks past them and down the row of seats. There are a lot of families faces in the crowd, but the only person Hermione focuses on is Lucius. His gaze doesn't leave hers as she comes to stand in front of him.
Everything seems to pass by in a blur. The journalists cameras flash and click the whole time, and as much as Hermione wants to focus on the ceremony, they keep distracting her.
"Do you, Hermione Jean Granger, take Lucius Malfoy the second, as your husband?" Lucius squeezes her hand softly, bring her attention back to the moment.
"I do," she says, her voice coming out much more confident sounding then she expected.
"And do you, Lucius Malfoy the second, take Hermione Jean Granger as your wife?"
"I do."
"Then I pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride." Lucius leans down, connecting their lips in a soft kiss. Everyone in the clearing starts clapping and more cameras start flashing.
With the brief kiss finished, Lucius tucks one of Hermione's hands through his arm, slowly leading her back down the aisle.
"Still think inviting them in was a good idea?" Lucius asks lowly, just loud enough for Hermione to hear.
"We'll see how the rest of the night goes," she replies, keeping a polite but small smile on her face the whole time.
