Chapter 18: Prelude

When I'm feeling weak

And my pain walks down a one way street

I look above

And I know I'll always be blessed with love

Angels, Robbie Williams

From the corner of his eye he could see her watching him. Watching his every single move until he cut himself. "Shit," he swore, sucking his finger as he glared at her. "Could you stop staring?" He snapped. She shrugged and carried on, her nimble fingers moving over the chopping board swiftly. The onion she was cutting was reduced to dice cubes in a matter of minutes. He looked at his own with disgust.

"You know I can't cook and yet you refuse to let me use magic," he whined and glared at her. She smiled in reply and put her vegetables into a small pan. "You like doing this, don't you?" he asked. "Doing what?" She replied innocently. "This whole, torture thing. 'Draco, you can't expect to keep working for you', and 'men who cook are men who are smart'," he mimicked and banished his oddly chopped onion to the bin.

"We've got time anyway, most of the food is done, and once I fry these vegetables, we're finished. Except the fake cake that is. All we've got are doughnuts that you insisted on buying and icing from the fairy cakes," Hermione said over her shoulder, hoping that the doughnuts were going to disappear any moment.

Draco grunted and looked at the twenty odd pieces of ringed doughnuts in front of him. Weren't there supposed to be thirty of them? A small hand crept from underneath the table and patted the white surface. When it reached the box it deftly flipped the cover open and reached for a doughnut. Almost immediately, the hand slinked its way back down under the table.

"My, where are the doughnuts disappearing to? I hope the person doesn't find out about the ice cream in the fridge," Draco called out and walked away from the table, stopping briefly to wink at the giggling Hermione. A trickle of laughter came from under the table and there was only a slightest ruffle of cloth. In a flash, Draco leapt to the fridge and kicked his leg up, his foot landing on the chest of a blond boy with the stormiest grey eyes never seen before besides those of his uncle's.

The little boy jumped back and fell on his behind. "Uncle Draco," Ben whined. Draco ignored the whingeing, and picked the little boy up easily from the back of his shirt. "You're not supposed to be here in the first place," Draco said as severely as he could to the fidgeting boy. "You were supposed to be out there with Potter and Weasley, and trying as hard as you could to cover up for your uncle and nanny, otherwise known as Granger. You were supposed to be talking to Weasley's parents, or fooling around with their grandchildren, other wise known as the children of Bill and Fleur. Does any of the afore mentioned information state that you were allowed to sneak into the kitchen and eat doughnuts?"

Ben turned away, sulking. Hermione laughed as Draco sighed and put the boy down. "You know you get hyper when you get too much sugar. And you won't be able to sleep tonight, Ben," Hermione said kindly as she poured the sizzling contents of the pan into a large platter. "Now, bring this out for all the guests. Your uncle and I don't want to see you in here again. Do you understand? Or else you're not getting any dessert."

Ben nodded and gave a large smile to Hermione, before turning to his uncle and blowing a huge wet raspberry. Draco blew a wet raspberry at the back of the boy as he disappeared behind the swinging doors. "Don't be too hard on him, Malfoy. He's only a child," Hermione called over her shoulder as she washed her hands and set magic onto the pans to clean themselves.

"I know, but there still must be mutual respect between a child and an adult. I have to learn how to control him so that he doesn't rebuke. I was reading this book about controlling your children, and I quote 'children who are given a reign of freedom will grow up to be rebellious teenagers that—'"

"You? Malfoy reading? You surprise me, Draco. Reading a book on how to grow your children. I'm amazed. So did you read up on similar books during Hogwarts on how to woo girls?" Hermione said in jest. "Why of course," Draco replied solemnly, "Chapter one: gelling your hair."

Hermione giggled as Draco approached her, with a knowing smile playing on his lips. "Not now, Draco. It's a public place and we have to sort out the cake. With no ingredients," Hermione ducked under his outstretched arms and made her leapt to safety towards the table with the box of doughnuts.

"Come out, Granger," Draco wheedled as he walked towards the doughnut box and flipped the cover open, pulling out a plain doughnut with white icing. He bit into the soft dough and smiled, watching as she looked longingly at the box. Bending down, he faced her eye to eye. "You've got some crumbs at the corners, Draco," she said softly, her hands instinctively stretched out to wipe the crumbs. Swiftly, he grabbed her hands and kissed them gently, before his lips found his way towards hers.

Hermione smiled underneath his soft lips, taking in the sweet taste of icing and the musty smell of dough. Her hands wrapped around his neck whilst his went to finger her find hair that fell over the face, while the other held the doughnut loosely around her waist.

"You two love birds have got to get some space. This is PUBLIC, darlings," a voice travelled to their ears from the kitchen door. Blaise decked out in the most outrageous black and white robes strode across the tiled floor and broke the two of them apart.

"The guest are questioning about dessert and two missing guests. Two of you seen them?" Blaise tsked and surveyed the open box of doughnuts and the half used pipe full of icing. "I see," He said in a matter of fact way and nudged his way between Hermione and Draco. "Leave this to me, honey, you two just get dressed to impress and get out in the next five minutes. And stay apart for your own sakes," Blaise tutted and pushed the two of them to the adjacent toilet that had their clothes.

"I guess we won't be having a bath," Draco muttered under his breath.

They came out fifteen minutes later, looking absolutely resplendent. "Sorry we're late, Mrs Weasley, Draco misplaced his cufflinks, and I forgot to pick up my shoes from the store. At least we brought wine," Hermione joked and looked down at the puce coloured face of the shorter red-haired woman.

To her surprise, Draco and Hermione were pulled into a large bear hug that knocked the wind out of his lungs. "Thank God, you're okay. We thought you were in an accident," Molly Weasley heaved a sigh of relief and pulled them into another hug. "We're fine, Mrs Weasley, really," Draco gasped for air as he felt his ribcage break. "Right you are," Mrs Weasley sniffed and patted his coat. "Pull up a seat. You're just in time for dessert."

And right she was, for Blaise came out pushing a trolley with the largest 'thing' Draco had ever seen. "It's the chef's masterpiece. Crème de la Fondant. Everybody gets a piece," Blaise announced proudly before whipping out a knife and cutting the thing into pieces and dishing it out to everybody. Taking a closer look, Draco and Hermione burst out laughing.

Crème de la Fondant was made up of layers of doughnuts, artistically arranged to form a rings upon rings of an inverted cone. He had then splashed on the icing randomly and mixed in various colours with the help of his wand. As they approached Blaise, he winked and served them a large slice alongside two forks. "Not enough plates honey."

"I really have to thank you two," Ginny gushed, close to tears. She was standing next to her husband-to-be and facing Draco and Hermione. "The muggle guests really enjoyed the food and actually asked for a number, whatever a number is. I really couldn't do it without both of you. And Malfoy, I'm really sorry that I gave you a hard time. I eat my words, you're great for Hermione."

"And if you start crying, you'll ruin your makeup and Harry won't be able to face you again," Hermione cut in hurriedly and gave Ginny's hand a tight squeeze. "Now go off you two. You can't shower us with anymore praise than we've heard when we walked around the tables," Draco waved his hand and looked at Hermione, " I've got to make someone think I'm great for her."

"Get up, Draco. It's ten. Up UP UP!" Hermione yelled into Draco's ear and jumped on top of him. "Oof, I think I just heard my groin scream," Draco muttered sleepily, "I'm up, I'm up. What time is it?"

"Ten, sleepy head. Get up. I've been up for the past three hours. Even Ben's awake and having breakfast already," Hermione replied impatiently. "So it was you who opened the curtains at that ungodly hour," Draco moaned and pulled a pillow over his head, "Anyway, what's the big commotion. It's only a Saturday."

"And which Saturday do you think it is?" Hermione breathed down his neck and yanked the pillow off his head. "How should I know? Check the calendar. You, on the other hand should come back to sleep with me," Draco grinned and pulled Hermione down and gave her a peck on the cheek. "Draco, I can't breathe," Hermione's voice muffled against his chest, "It's not that I don't want to here but it's not the right time. It's the 30th of April." Hermione could almost hear his heart stop. "It's the wedding day," he croaked and shoved Hermione off his body and fell off the bed.

Hermione grinned at his heaving torso and plumped her pillows. She quickly made the bed and pulled the stunned Draco off the floor. "It's a nice sight seeing you half naked in your pants but please do get changed. I'll tidy up the bedroom and see you downstairs in half an hour okay?" Hermione kissed his cheek and pushed him towards the adjoining bathroom.

"One more thing, just because you sleep in this room does not give you the right to open the curtains as you like, so stop doing it," Draco said gruffly and patted her cheek before he closed the door to the bathroom. Soon after, steam emanated from the crack.

Hermione stared at her toes in the soft carpet. It wasn't long before she could hear snatches of 'Good Morning' coming from the bathroom. She smiled at the door and walked out of the room. The manor really was growing on her. And so were its occupants.

"You'll do great, you will, you will," Hermione prepped Ginny as she stood in front of a full length mirror, decked out in glorious white dress that shone with a tinge of lilac. It hung perfectly from Ginny's lithe frame, clinging to her figure. The dress had hardly a train, but had a slit up Ginny's right leg that stopped a few inches above her thigh. Hermione draped a long white scarf around Ginny's neck, letting the end barely touch the floor. "You look absolutely beautiful," Hermione said proudly and looked at the trembling Ginny in the mirror.

"You'll be a perfect wife for Harry. God knows how long you two have been pining for each other, it's about time," Hermione grinned and gently swept Ginny's long hair to lie on her left shoulder. After that, she sat Ginny down and passed her a glass of water. "Now you stay here, and I'll leave you in the very capable hands of Lavender. I'll just run down the corridor to see how Harry is with Dean. Ginny you will have to let go off me for me to run down the corridor and see Harry. Ginny," Hermione pried Ginny's fingers off her. She nodded at Lavender who nodded back, her makeup bag at hand. "Make her gorgeous," Hermione instructed and left.

Hermione straightened her green-gold dress once outside and walked down the corridor, stopping shortly after to rap on the closed door. "Is that Hermione?" A muffled voice came from behind. "No, it's Ginny. Of course it's me. Who else would bother coming in to check?" Hermione undid the lock with her wand, walked in, and almost fainted.

"WHY ARE YOU STILL NOT DRESSED. WHY ARE THERE CARDS ON THE TABLE. WHERE ARE THE RINGS. WHERE IS DEAN. CAN I NOT LEAVE YOU MEN ALONE FOR A MINUTE?" Hermione roared. Harry was sitting on the table with a deck in his hand; cards lay strewn on the table. Harry stunned for a moment, immediately leaped off the table and landed on the floor, hastily buttoning up his buttons. After a flush of the toilet, Dean came out hurriedly. "I heard she was here," he muttered as he did up his fly and patted Harry's jacket before passing it to him.

"Where are the rings?" Hermione said as patiently as she could. It was two and guests were filing into the church. Harry pulled it out from his breast pocket and adjusted his tie. "You aren't going to mess this up right?" Hermione nudged Harry's fingers away from the tie and straightened it herself. She dusted the invisible specks of dust off his lapel and smiled at him. Harry shook his head and placed a soft kiss on her cheek before giving her a hug. "Don't worry. I know you'd kill me then resurrect me before killing me again if I make a mistake," Harry grinned at her and she smiled back.

"Great. Now you can go back to your card playing. And learn your vows. You mess this up and really, I will," Hermione said as she moved a slim finger across her neck, " do that to you." Harry laughed and pushed her out of the door. "Get back to my fiancée. I think she needs you more than I do now." Hermione nodded and walked back.

Inside, she found Ginny reduced to a sobbing mess and Lavender watching over her helplessly. "After you left, she started talking about how Harry was sleeping around and how he would leave her before the wedding even started. And then she said that this was all a big mistake before bursting into tears. I'm really sorry, Hermione," Lavender said apologetically.

Hermione brushed Lavender aside and pulled Ginny up. "Listen Ginny, listen," Hermione shook her furiously, "You know Harry. He will never ever betray you because if he did I'd be hounding him. And you know that you want to get married to him, and you will be happy, and you especially know that this isn't a mistake. You do know that you want to have his children, and you do want to live in a large house with him where the children can play Quidditch to their hearts content on the front lawn, so why are you doing this to yourself?"

"I don't know, -hic-, I really don't. But it might happen. If it happens, then what am I doing to do?" Ginny choked out. "Look at yourself, Ginny! Look at yourself in the mirror. Is this what you want your husband-to-be to be looking at when he says 'I do' and kisses you? Is this what you really want? Splotchy eyes and a running nose, not forgetting that mascara stains. Come on; get up on your feet. The Ginny I know never backed down, and never made mistakes. So pull yourself together and Lavender will get you looking as beautiful as ever." Hermione slapped Ginny's cheek lightly and got Ginny standing. She took out some tissue and cleared up the tears. "Blow," Hermione instructed and Ginny blew her nose.

"Get to work, Brown. We've got to make her looking to ravishing her husband will never forget the day he married this woman."

Forty-five minutes later, Hermione was standing at the reception, smiling and saying hello to anybody who walked in. McGonagall had coming in her usual black attire, but this time with her hair in a loose chignon. Hagrid as always, came in his best suit with a yellow handkerchief, which he said would 'be put to good use'. The other professors came too. Many who were amazed by Hagrid's height was just as amazed by some who came dressed in the most absurd outfits.

"Herb!" Hermione heard a delicious scream of delight and a tug of her dress. Hermione looked down and saw Ben smiling up at her. Hermione gave a delighted scream and bent down to hug him. "Ah! I was wondering where you were. Where's your uncle?" Hermione grinned and patted Ben's head, "You're looking very handsome, young man. Seen any ladies you like?" Ben gave a small giggle, "No. I like Herb!"

"Well too bad you little brat because she's taken," A voice travelled towards the both of them. Hermione looked up and saw Draco towering over her. "Really?" she said as she stood up, " By whom may I ask?" hands at her hips. Draco feigned hurt and gave a small pout. "Fine, I'll just ask that lady over there if she wants to have a drink with me later," Draco replied and pulled Ben away from Hermione. "C'mon little man, let's go over to that lady over there. You can talk to her daughter," Draco wheeled Ben around and was about to walk when he felt a hand grabs his. "I was joking okay?" Hermione frowned. "So was I," Draco retorted and pulled Hermione into a kiss. Hermione gasped and pushed Draco away. "Not here, Malfoy. People are watching," Hermione hissed, "Go sit down and socialise." Draco shrugged and pulled the reluctant Ben into the church. "Don't throw flowers into my eyes later," Draco yelled and winked. Hermione scowled back in return.

A chord struck up somewhere inside and Hermione hurriedly walked into the church and closed the doors. The seats were filled and all the guests had arrived. She saw Lavender and the Patil twins at the corner and walked over. "Here, take these and don't throw them into anybody's eyes okay," Lavender passed a small basket to Hermione and she nodded, "Go."

In time with the chords the organ was playing, Hermione walked down the red carpet, throwing lavender and lilies to the side, smiling as much as she could, until her cheeks hurt. When she got to the priest, she tossed the basket to Draco on the right who caught it deftly and winked.

She stood to one side and watched as the rest of the bridesmaids walked down to join her. There was a collective gasp when Harry walked down the aisle, looking brilliantly handsome albeit slightly nervous and stood next to Hermione. "I'm shaking," Harry whispered. "Don't worry. Ginny will make you stop," Hermione whispered back.

A general burst of applause broke out as the bride came down the aisle, eyes downcast, hidden behind a short veil, hand in hand with her father. When the bride reached priest, she hugged her father and stood facing Harry. True to her word, Harry had fallen silent, star struck by his bride.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are here to join this young couple in holy matrimony," The priest spoke in his sonorous voice. Hermione saw McGonagall resist the temptation to cry. Hagrid had broken down already. The words flew over Hermione's head as she surveyed the crowd. It was mainly made up of wizards and witches, with a splatter of muggles here and there.

Just then, she heard a loud knock on the wooden oak doors. As the doors flung open, she was momentarily blinded by the bright light. Then she caught sight of familiar orange hair, blue eyes and freckles, just before her world fell black. Draco dived forward and caught her just before her head touched the ground.

DUM DUM DAAAAA. –Pregnant pause-. You should know whom familiar orange hair, blue eyes and freckles man is. If not, read the front chapters again :D Sorry for taking so much to update. Just checked the dates, I update about once a month, because the last time I updates was the end of march. Hope I didn't disappoint you guys on account that I actually thought this chapter turned out better than I thought it would be when I was drafting it out. Spent lots of time doing corrections here and there, so it should be better now.

If you have any comments, please do write in a review, and I'll see whether I can reply or not. For those who wished that a certain red haired man had disappeared off the face of this earth, SORRY, NO CAN DO! Other than that, just read, review and have fun (: