(Here we go, December. The chapter we've been waiting for. Enjoy!)
December
The sound of the birds chirping, the white flowers, and the compliments went through perfect harmony.
The sunlight peeking through the window aroused me that morning. Leaping out of my bed I changed into my uniform and combed my hair. Once I was finished putting on my socks and shoes, I darted down the stairs. There was the familiar piece of white paper with a green border on the wall; the Important Events Calendar. I've seen it many, many times, but I had the desire to look at it again. There were red X's on each and every box that had passed, stopping at December 19th, meaning it was now the 20th. But I didn't put awareness to that.
My eyes revisited the box of December 21st. Recollecting this information tickled me pink.
December 21st
Brunch will be served duing Breakfast due to an important event.
After Breakfast, all students are to attend their next class.
Everyone is to proceed to the Great Hall immediately and take their seats.
There will be no lunch hour.
All students are required to be present at the matrimonial ceremony of Ms. Parkinson and Mr. Malfoy.
-Minverva McGonagall and Staff
I screamed and jumped up in delight; causing a few people to stare. Most of them , however, knew how excited I was. "Just look at her. She's so happy."
Because, if I thought about it, this was my final day of being Pansy Parkinson. I would be a Malfoy now, but I knew that I would still have Parkinson qualities eclipsed deep inside me. Extremely high in spirits, I had no ambition to pick on Gryffindors today.
I noticed that I wasn't hungry, either. Although the toast and scrambled eggs presented on the long tables looked enticing, I didn't eat. As I strolled towards the Slytherin table, countless pairs of eyes were deeply focused on me, as if I was never seen before. Ignoring them, I arrived at my seat, sitting cross-legged.
Millicent arrived with her mouth open, probably as speechless as I was.
"Pansy! I'm so excited!"
I arose from my seat and gave her a hug, which felt very heartwarming. Once we relased, she held a small white pouch with a pink ribbon tied at the top, similar to the Engagement Rings' cloth.
"Millie, what's that?"
She chuckled in glee. "This, Pansy? This is exactly what you need for the wedding ceremony tomorrow." She dropped it in my open palms.
I looked down at what laid in my hands, wondering how it felt with such a large shadow towering over.
"Come on, open it."
The ribbon was too dazzing that I didn't want to unwrap it. But I felt Millicent staring at me, waiting for me to hurry up, so I gently pulled on one end of the ribbon, causing it to fall down into my hand.
I looked inside the pouch and brought it out. Millicent was eager to see my response.
A silver necklace emerged from its prison, finally breaking free, and ended up in my astonishment. The peridots glistened in the sunlight and dulled into a deep green in the shadows. I longed to wrap it around my neck, but it would have to wait until tomorrow. "Thank you, Millie. Thank you so much!"
"You're welcome!" Her grin completely enlightened me. "Put it away, now, you don't want it getting lost."
Just when I put the pouch away in my bag, two hands descended upon my shoulders. "Good morning future wife," he said. "How are you?"
Future Wife. Stunning.
When I rotated towards Draco he planted a kiss on my cheek, causing me to melt. Clutching him like a doll I placed my hands on the small of his back. "Good morning Draco." His hand reverted to my waist and he pulled me down to sit next to him. With the available hand he took a pitcher of Pumpkin Juice and poured some not only into his cup, but mine as well. The luscious taste added on to my positive mood.
"Tomorrow's the day," He spoke, and I deteced a twinkle in his eye. "Excited?"
I swallowed another gulp of juice, clearing my throat. "More than you."
"Doubt it, Pans." We laughed.
Listening to Draco and taking a quick mind trip at the same time was simple. I looked over a couple of things.
I was amazed on how strong I've become ever since I've met Draco. How I could still stand under so much pressure with a heavy heart. You couldn't find the rainbow without going through the rain. And you definitely couldn't suceed in love without going through the pain.
The day shockingly passed by quickly. I would've thought the hours would pass by at a snail's pace, but when I laid down on my bed at night it only felt like a couple of minutes. Tomorrow was creeping closer.
So I let sleep and dream enchant me and take me to the impossible.
You're ready, Pansy. You know you are.
"There you go. No, don't fuss with it, you look fine."
December Twenty-First.
The privelege to miss class toned down my anxiousness.
I adjusted my necklace so that it was in view even through the Wedding Veil. Grace Edaneres, a friend of my mothers, had arrived to help me with my Wedding Dress. I wasn't rather fond with the fact that she wanted to tie my hair up in a bun. She wouldn't stop tousling with my hair.
"It's too short," I complained sourly. "The bun will fall off and my hair will-"
Grace silenced me by pointing her index finger near my nose. Her brightly painted nails, neon orange, matched with her red curly hair. "Shush. What are you talking about? You look absolutely stunning! The fairest of them all, like they say."
She couldn't prove it. Grace wasn't the one to prove if I really was that pretty. It was all the work of the mirror; magical or not. I twirled and faced it, slightly afraid of whatever the truth held.
Once I reunited with the mysterious girl in the mirror, I observed her carefully. Her veil hid most of her eyes. The lustrous, dark short hair was visible and contrasted to the fair skin. Her lipstick was a deep rose color and her cheeks were sufficiently pink. And as for her outfit - an antique white dress. Transparent sleeves partially covered her shoulders. Pale green borders flared from the edges of her long train. The silky white gloves started at the elbow and ended at the palm; revealing her perfectly chiseled fingernails. She stuck her foot out of her dress - white strappy heels.
"...Wow," I found it hard to believe that indeed, that girl was me. I've never felt so beautiful in my life. "I'm...overwhelmed."
Grace laughed in satisfaction. "I told you! Sweetie, you look amazing. That necklace of yours really does add on to everything."
I lifted the veil so that my eyes still hid behind it, but were scarcely visible. My body danced in front of the mirror, exposing every angle of my dress possible.
"Thank you, Grace. Thank you so much."
She hugged me. "No problem, sweetheart. Now you go over there in ten minutes and make your mother happy."
I nodded. "See you later."
"Wait, wait, Pansy!"
I stopped dead in my tracks. "Yes?"
"You forgot your bouquet!"
"Oh. Okay, thanks." I said, taking it from her and giving her one final wave.
As beautiful and delicate as it was - the dress was slightly hard to move in when it came to going down stairs. But I've made it to the courtyard without tripping at all. Before heading towards the Great Hall, I wanted some time outside. Well, to have my own time. To prepare.
The wind felt extraordinary. My veil swayed in the wind in the opposite direction, allowing me to experience that appeasing feeling. At a fence by Hagrid's Hut, a whole bunch of daises poked through the narrow slits to freedom on the other side. The Black Lake sparkled with the sun's love. Oddly enough, seeing this lightened me up a bit.
But I had plenty of time in my life to enjoy this scenery. Now, I had to get to the Great Hall.
Once arriving, two men guarding the doors stopped me.
"Miss Parkinson, you are late!"
I stared at them incredulously, but I was obliged to explain. "I'm sorry about that, Grace took extra time. Are we ready?"
The other man placed his ear on the door and remained for a couple of seconds. "Yes, yes, go!"
The doors opened and I closed my eyes, taking my first step in. This is it.
Everyone stood up from their seats and stared at me, enormous smiles on their faces. As I walked down the aisle - the aisle I've always wanted to go across - I spotted my mother and Draco's mother in the crowd. Even our fathers were there; I would think they would be angry at me - but they wore proud looks on their faces.
The little flower girl in front of me was Millicent's little sister dressed in pale pink. She strolled in front of me, occasionally throwing lavender and pink petals. I watched them fall on the ground so magnificentelly.
Continuing my way down and finally approaching the front - was the only person in the world I would give my life to. Draco.
He stood there with fascinating emotion. He wore a black tuxedo and shiny polished shoes. When I stepped on the platform, the organ player stopped his music, and all was silent. I stood next to him, facing the old priest.
"We are gathered here today..."
But I wasn't listening to him. Absorbed in the deepest dwellings of my mind, I thought about everything I've done with Draco that really meant something.
Met him in our third year.
Told Millicent about my crush on him.
Our first fight.
Rejected Daphne for sake of jealousy.
Slow dancing.
Had wonderful bickering fights about who loves who more. "I love you more, Draco." "No, I love you more."
My first kiss. His first kiss.
Drinking in Madam Pudifoots'.
Under the stars in January.
Slept next to him in his room.
Walked through my mothers' gardens.
And, especially, the classic feeling of his hair stroking mine.
Life was never the same. Love was like a war - easy to start, hard to end, and impossible to forget. I would never forget my years at Hogwarts. Today was when I would finally move on; finally live my own life. But was I really ready for this? I knew I was a strong, tough girl - bad to the bone and good to the core. Both. That's another reason why being with Draco was so special - he still loved me even if I did have a calmer side.
Meeting him was fate, becoming his friend was a choice, but falling in love with him was completely out of my control. Everyone knew that no one was perfect - but love was all about accepting someone even with their imperfections. There were sides of Draco that only I, could ever see.
You would think he was this bitter. Only I really saw his sweet side.
You would think he was always this thoughtless. To me, he was forgiving.
He was the one.
Nostalgia wrapped its arms around me and kept me there for a while. Out of nowhere I remembered something my mother had told me.
"Pansy, dear, the best things in life are left unseen. That's why we close our eyes when we kiss, cry, and dream."
Something I had to remember.
It made perfect sense but it also didn't.
"Do you, Draco Malfoy, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
I snapped back into reality and my thoughts faded off to daydream about some other time. The priest and I turned to Draco, who I just noticed was holding my hand.
The moment of truth. The words escaped his lips.
"I do."
My heart skipped a beat and tears were coming their way. I tightened my grip on Draco's hand as in saying, Thanks.
It was now my turn.
"And do you, Pansy Parkinson, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
Before I made my statement - with my one gasping breath I put the regrets of the past behind me. I was going to cherish the present, now and forever.
"I do."
I felt Draco's hand say 'Thank you', too.
The ring bearer, an adorable little boy I didn't recognize, stepped up onto the raised platform. Rested in his hand was a velvet purple pillow, and a glistening golden ring in the middle; one diamond in the middle. The wedding ring.
Draco smiled at the child and steadily took the ring. He gave the boy a little nod and the child paced off the platform.
My eyes found his and I blinked slowly. I reached out my hand, allowing him to grasp it. His fingers touched my ring finger, raised it up, and let the ring slip down in place.
"I now announce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
The only thing better than the kiss itself is the moment before it; when the look in his eyes left me completely breathless. This wasn't just an ordinary kiss from Draco, this was the kiss. The kiss that would change everything. Hands on my shoulders, noses barely touching, lips firmly together.
And from that moment, I was known as Pansy Malfoy.
The audience arose from their seats and applauded. Our family cried and clapped more than anyone else. Once our lips let go and he picked me up - sweeping me off my feet. I laughed until my stomach started to hurt, but I enjoyed the feeling.
Millicent and Theodore were whistling and screaming in bliss.
Wondering what lucky individual would catch the bouquet, I threw it in the air, watching the tulips and petunias soar their way through screaming girls.
And it found its destination.
Daphne Greengrass. That lucky girl.
She was standing next to Miles, with a very happy expression on her face. She smiled at me and I could see her eyes radiant with tears. I smiled back. Although it was Daphne, there was a room for everyone in my heart, wasn't there?. I gave her the "thumbs-up" gesture and synced, Good Luck!
Draco, still carrying me, walked swiftly down the aisle through the crowds of "Congratulations!".He too, was laughing himself.
Once outside at the main entrance of the school, the crowds trailing behind, a white roofless carriage with pink flowers awaited us. Two majestic horses and a horseman led it. The classic 'Just Married' banner hung at the back, written in deep red.
I got in the carriage first, instantly comfortable on the plush white seats. Draco followed, wrapping his arm around me, waving goodbye to the crowd.
I waved farewell to my parents; hot tears streaming down my eyes. I've never been more happier in my life. This was a miracle.
The horses started to move, and the carriage was slowly drifting away from Hogwarts. Taking one look back, I swung my arm in the air one last time, to my friends, to my family, to the world I knew so well.
We didn't speak the whole way, and that was fine with me. I was sitting on his lap and his hands were wrapped around my body, and we swung side to side every so often, like a boat at the open sea. The carriage had reached the plains of Hogsmeade, and we signaled the horseman to stop at a hill for a while. We walked up and sat on the top.
He spoke.
"Promises could last forever, darling. I didn't break mine."
So that was the end of the story of me, Pansy Parkinson - and the story of Pansy Malfoy was just about the begin. I hope that someday, if you haven't already, you will find your own happily ever after.
Trust me, you will.
(Thanks for reading. The story is not done yet, there IS an epilogue coming up! Please review and tell me what you think!)