The glade was filled with flower petals. They floated, loose, through the air, swirling on gentle breezes that were never enough to disrupt the guests. Whenever a batch began to clump together, or looked likely to settle onto a surface, Gabrielle would murmur and flick her wand, sending them back to their airy dance. As the designated flower girl, she was, for the day, exempt from controls on Underage Magic.

Fleur was, of course, absolutely radiant. She wore an enormous ballgown of white and pale blue that, with all its layers and ruffles, looked to Hermione more like a wedding cake than the actual wizarding cake did. The various bits of silken drapery were pinned up by little silver bats, and a circlet of pinks and lavenders sat over her long blond hair. A trio of fairies charmed for the occasion flew about her head, surrounding her in a constant magical glow.

If the scars on Bill's face were paining him, his smile didn't show it. He wore a shirt of dark green silk, fastened down the front with golden dragons, and a half-length black velvet cape. His pants, also black, fit nicely to the athletic lines of his legs, and appeared to have a slight sheen to them - Hermione wondered if it was a kind of leather. His boots, of course, were dragonhide. His hair was pulled back in its traditional ponytail, but ornamented with jade, and the circlet on his head was made of purple bellflowers.

They stood together, holding hands, in front of an elderly wizard - a Ministry official of some sort, friend of Arthur Weasley - who was reciting long oaths and strictures from a scroll, pausing occasionally to let the bride and groom affirm their acceptance of the marriage. Each such interruption was met with great cheers from the crowd. Hermione had never seen a wizarding marriage ceremony before and wasn't sure how much longer all this would go on.

Still, it was a lovely occasion. The weather was perfect, the flowers were lovely, the crowds of Weasleys and Delacours and goblins from Gringotts and other onlookers were mixing happily...

But Ron, at her right, kept awkwardly bumping his stony arm into her side. Ginny wouldn't stand anywhere near them and seemed to be dividing her attention between glaring at Harry and glaring at Remus Lupin... who was standing beside Tonks but not touching her. Tonks' smile looked strained, and her hair was a limp, mousy brown.

There were a great many guests, including members of the Order (and Rebekah Burke, who was apparently being escorted by both Fred and George), but Hermione found herself wishing a few more students could have been there as well. It was a family matter, of course, not a school function, but it would have been nice to spend time with friends like Neville and Luna instead of leaving Dumbledore's funeral as the last time they were all together.

And she could see Rufus Scrimgeour posing on the outskirts of the gathering with a gaggle of Ministry staff. She hoped the man wouldn't make yet another attempt at swaying Harry to his will. The newlyweds didn't deserve to have an altercation ruining their day.

---

When Draco had envisioned his wedding, he had expected a lavish affair, an Event that would disrupt business as usual for all of wizarding Britain, as anyone who was anyone would have to attend. This clandestine huddle in the dim light of an unused Muggle chapel bore no resemblance to a proper Malfoy wedding.

But then, it wasn't exactly a Malfoy wedding.

The only witnesses were family - the Greengrasses, Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange - and Wormtail, lurking in the background like a foul odor. Bellatrix had also taken the presiding role, reading out the customary vows with a manic cackle.

Daphne, the bride, wore a black gown trimmed with lace, and a pointed witch's hat with a veil falling around its brim, obscuring her features. If he hadn't spoken with her beforehand, Draco might have worried that someone was trying to pass off a ringer.

There had been a bad moment just before the ceremony when Daphne and Draco were called on to sign the Ministry certificate. Apparently no one had seen fit to inform the girl that her married name was to be Daphne Malfoy-Snape.

What would Lucius think, when he was finally freed? Would he accept the measures his family had been forced to take to ensure their survival? Or would he decide that the Malfoy name needed a new heir?

As the pointless recitation came to an end, it was finally time to remove the veil and kiss the bride.

Draco swept away the fall of translucent black and stared into Daphne's face.

It was the first time he'd seen her so close.

Even now, he couldn't tell what color her eyes were. Pale flecks of blue, brown, and green swam across a nebulous gray backdrop, red-rimmed and fringed with pale lashes that clumped together, damp with tears. Her skin was without flaw - creamy, pale and bloodless from her awkward ears to her trembling lips. Her fine, limp hair was fair, but too dull to be called blonde. There was nothing actively ugly about her, but there was nothing for Draco could fix on as truly appealing, either.

And this was to be the mother of his children.

If he didn't kiss her quickly, she was probably going to cry again.

Family meant sacrifice. Draco put a hand on her slender waist - no problems there - and pulled her into his embrace.

---

The light from the hallway illuminated a silhouette in creamy satin, standing motionless at his bedroom door.

"If there is nothing more you need, then good night," spoke a voice from the darkness.

"Severus," she breathed, her voice low. "What about your needs?"

"Good night, Narcissa," he repeated, with a bit more snap to his voice.

She took a single step across the carpet. "My son is married at last, and I am grateful. But I am not here because I am grateful." Another step. "Severus - Draco is the most precious thing in my life. But this, securing his future, our future... This was the most I could do for him. I have given him everything I can. He must be a man now."

"Narcissa..." The voice was impatient.

"That leaves you," she continued. "You, Severus Snape, are the second most precious thing in my life. You are the key to our survival, you... you saved my son. And you are my husband. You don't love me and I don't love you, but that doesn't mean we can't comfort one another."

And there was silence.

---

Author's note: Remember, if you want to support a starving artist, buy my work at Hanako Games:) And I'll try not to let the story die...