Chapter 10 –

Disclaimer – Not mine.

Hermoine opened her eyes and glanced about the room. A smile began to form on her face and the realization came to her. Today, she would become Mrs. Severus Snape.

"Moine, tan I come in?" sounded a squeaky little voice from outside the door.

Hermoine rose, grabbed a robe, and opened the door to find Jolie crouched outside the door. Apparently, she had been talking into the keyhole. Mrs. Weasley and Luna must have already begun getting Jolie prepared for the day because she was wearing a long white slipcover of what appeared to be a plastic poncho. Jolie's hair was pinned into glorious round ringlets, with pink roses tucked into the curls that bounced when she talked.

"Moine, looks at me. I'se is all pretty. Nannie says I'se is going to be bay-oo-tiful when I'se get all dressed. Nannie made me put on this pacco so I would not get dirty."

"Jolie," Hermoine heard a voice calling down the hall, "Jolie, where are you?"

"She's in here." Hermoine answered.

A moment later Luna walked into the room. She had already put on her makeup and her hair was done. She had pulled the length onto her head; A cascade of curls ran down her back. She was wearing a fluffy pink robe over her slip.

"I was hoping that she had not come up here to disturb you. But it's just as well. Molly has some breakfast ready for you in the kitchen. I'm going to finish getting Miss Jolie dressed while you eat and than we can start work on your makeup." Luna informed her.

Luna took Jolie by the hand and led her down the hall. Hermoine skipped down the stairs in her joy, and bounced into the kitchen.

Good morning," she called to Molly, who was placing some toast on the table.

"Good morning. I made some breakfast for you. I didn't know if you would be hungry or not so I only made toast and eggs. I was so nervous on my wedding day, I couldn't eat anything," the older woman said as she took a seat at the table.

"Oh, I'm not nervous at all," Hermoine exclaimed. "Well, I'm not nervous about getting married, but I am a little unsure about the wedding. The book had quite a few strange traditions in it, like one I was reading about that was complexity outrageous. They didn't really make the couple have sex in front of everyone did they?"

"They surely did. The practice officially ended in the 1700's however, it was carried on in some weddings until as late as the 1980's before it was outlawed, although I have been told that some Dark Wizards still carry out the practice. It ensured the bride stayed a virgin, plus virginal blood has very strong magical properties. It was a very embarrassing. I remember one wedding I attended many years ago. I was already married to Arthur." Molly shook her head in embarrassment.

"It was a Malfoy wedding. Lavitus Malfoy, Lucius' uncle, was marrying Rose Whitte, a distant cousin of mine. The wedding preceded like normal, except that at the end, where the couple is normally announced man and wife, they where directed to a large room." Molly again paused, remembering the moment.

"Go on," Hermoine said, as she ate her toast, automatically, as she listened to the story.

"You must understand, that I had never witnessed anything like that before, and Arthur was insisting that we leave the ceremony and proceed to the reception hall. Many people we knew where leaving, but I wanted to stay until the end. I had already had Bill and Charlie and wanted some time alone with my husband as my parents where watching the children that day. I took Arthur's hand and drug him into the room, right as the doors where closing.

The doors closed behind us, and locked. Arthur turned extremely red, and told me to follow along with anything that happened or we would be in great trouble. I looked around and noticed that only the worst of the Dark Wizards and witches where in the room. There were several married couples and a few single men, like Lucius who was engaged to be married. There were no single women present.

I saw that Rose and Lavitus where standing on a raised platform in the middle of the room. It appeared as though the platform was one huge bed. Rose slowly removed her clothing and lay down upon the bed. Lavitus also removed his clothing and stood before the group. A man came from the corner of the room and knelt down in front of Rose. He placed his wand on her stomach and cast a fertility spell. Then he turned to Lavitus and placed the wand on his penis and said the same spell. Lavitus grew hard immediately.

Lavitus lay on top of Rose and everyone in the crowd could see as he penetrated her. As soon as he had broken her hymen he withdrew, and the other man placed a vial to Rose's opening and collected the blood. Then the couple continued to consummate their marriage. "

"They had continued to have sex, in front of everyone?" Hermoine asked, her eyes growing wide.

"That wasn't all of it either," Molly informed her. "Once Lavitus had expelled himself inside of Rose, the man who had collected the blood turned to the crowd. He said some type of spell over us, and everyone in the crowd began to disrobe as well. I looked at Arthur and saw that he was slowly removing his clothing, a pained expression on his face as he looked at me. It was then that I realized I was removing my own clothing, without even knowing I was doing it.

It felt as though I were in some type of trance. I could feel all of my emotions. I was terribly embarrassed and ashamed, yet I could not stop what I was doing. Everyone had walked up onto the platform and lay down near the couple. I found myself on my knees, in front of Lavitus. Arthur was behind me and I could feel him enter me from behind.

'Wash me' Lavitus told me. I took him inside my mouth and cleansed him. I had never done that before, not even with my own husband. In only a few seconds he was hard once more.

'Prepare her' he directed me. I bent down and against my own will, began to gratify my cousin. Lavitus watched for several minutes, before motioning me away so that he could continue his consummation. I found that even though Lavitus was finished ordering me, I could not get up from the platform. Arthur had relieved himself behind me, and I turned to find him being cleansed by Lucius. I was completly in shock. I gasped loudly and I guess this got their attention. Lucius lay down and pulled me onto of him. As much as I knew that it was wrong I could not stop myself from taking him inside. I watched as another young man came to Arthur and serviced him.

It was not long after this that the couple rose and left the platform. As soon as they left the platform, the spell that we had been placed under lifted. I climbed off of Lucius as quickly as possible. However, not before he had spilled his seed inside of me. Arthur and I dressed and left there as quickly as possible."

"Oh, Molly, what a dreadful experience," Hermoine exclaimed. "You where basically raped against your will."

"Yes, that is certainly how I felt afterwards." Molly agreed.

"Well, that explained why your husband hated Lucius Malfoy so much. He had sex with you in front of everyone," Hermoine gathered.

"Oh, there is more than just that. Arthur knew that neither Lucius nor I had any control over what we did. Just as I knew that Arthur could not have stopped what he did. The reason Arthur hated Lucius so much is due to what happened nine months later."

Hermoine stared at the woman in disbelief, "You mean that Percy?"

"Was Lucius Malfoy's son," Molly confirmed. "Thankfully, he looked like my side of the family, so no one ever suspected. No one knew but Arthur and myself and Lucius."

"Lucius knew?"

"He suspected when he learned of the birth. He showed up at the Burrow one evening and threatened Arthur to tell no one. He had just married and he did not want anyone to know he had an illagitament child by a 'blood-traitor'. Arthur agreed that he would raise the boy as his own. Percy grew up such a loving and gifted child. We thought that by raising him in a house full of love, that he could overcome his parentage. If only we had known the way he would turn out."

"But are you sure Percy is Lucius' son and not Arthur's?" Hermoine asked.

"A witch knows the very moment when a life is created inside her," Molly explained. "There is no doubt who fathered Percy."

"Well, Severus had better not be planning any type of orgy for our wedding," Hermoine stated, scowling.

At that moment the pair drew quite as a loud thumping could be heard from the stairs. A second later, Bill walked in.

"Morning, Mum, Hermoine," he nodded to the two.

"Bill, I'll take Jolie with me on the way to the wedding. We'll be riding with Hermoine," Molly informed him.

"Ok," he nodded; grabbing a piece of toast and disappearing back out the door.

As he left, Hermoine began to think about how he must have been feeling. He had been still a newly wed when Fleur had died. He had only been with her for such a little amount of time. He had loved her dearly and this wedding must have brought up painful memories for him.

"Poor Bill," she mummered.

Molly turned her head and looked sharply at Hermoine. "I won't be having none of that," she exclaimed. "Today is your day. Yes, Bill will most likely be thinking of Fleur today, as I know I will be thinking of Arthur. But today is your day, Hermoine. It is a day of joy and happiness. You must not allow the feelings of others to bring you down today."

Molly hugged Hermoine to her, "You know, I always thought I would someday watch you and Ron walking down the isle together. I also thought I would someday watch Arthur place Ginny's arm in Harry's as he gave her away. I want you to know, that even though you and Ron where not able to marry, and even though I will never see my Ginny again, I feel as though today, I am watching a daughter about to be married."

"Thank you, Molly," Hermoine whispered, as she tightened the hug. It felt so nice to know that even if her own mother would not be there; she still had someone to look over her.

"Now," Molly said, blinking her eyes, "Let's go and get you ready."

The two went up the stairs and into Hermoine's room. Jolie was playing on the bed with her baby doll, already dressed and covered again in her plastic poncho. The clear plastic covered a dress of billowing fabric. White lace adorned the young girl's bodice, which ended above her waist in an empire cut. Pink roses adorned the glistening silk ribbon at the top of the skirt. Layers upon layers of lace petticoats fluffed the dress and white stockings covered her legs. Her tiny, baby feet where encased in pink ballet slippers, that matched the roses on her dress and in her hair. Hermoine noted that Luna had made Jolie's baby doll a dress to match.

Luna was just slipping into her shoes as Hermoine and Molly walked in. She was dressed in soft pink robes, which matched the roses on Jolie's gown. She directed Hermoine into a chair as Molly pulled her own set of robes from the wardrobe. While Molly dressed in a set of dark pink robes, Luna helped Hermoine with her makeup and hair. When they had finished, Hermoine looked in the mirror in wonder.

In front of the mirror stood a woman whom Hermoine had never seen before. Her makeup had been done with a light hand. Dark eyelashes curled above bright eyes, the color of caramel. Luna had applied a soft neutral shade of eye shadow. Her cheeks held a natural blush. Her mouth smiled the lips full and plump, colored in a soft rose. Hermoine's hair had been tamed Luna had pulled it back from her face, allowing a few soft trendals to fall from her temples in curls. The back was high atop her head and gathered into a twisted bun, a few more wispy curls gracing the back of her neck.

Rising from the chair, Hermoine stood still as Molly stepped forward and helped Hermoine step into two sets of lace petticoats and then her shoes. Then she and Luna carefully drew the gown over Hermoine's head. Hermoine kept her eyes away from the mirror until Luna had buttoned the last pearl button behind her. As she turned and faced the mirror, she heard Jolie exclaim, "OOOOH, Moine, You'se is so pretty."

Heroine's dress was cut exactly like Jolie's. The silk waistband of the empire cut gown pushed under her breasts, causing them to almost overflow above the white lace of her neckline. The full skirt ended just above her toes, where pale pink glass like slippers. The slippers had been purchased at a specialty shop, and while they looked like they where made of glass, they moved and stretched on Hermoine's feet comfortably.

The ladies took in the site of Hermoine a moment and then Molly stepped out into the hallway. She returned a minute later with two boxes in her hand. "I have some presents for you," she said, placing the boxes on Hermoine's bed.

"The first box is from us," Luna told her. Hermoine opened the box to find a blue lace garter. As Luna helped Hermoine slide it up her leg, she told her, "We had Bill look into it for us. He ended up purchasing it at a muggle wedding shop."

"This other box arrived this morning. Hedwig delivered them," Molly said. "It came with this note." She handed Hermoine a piece of parchment that Hermoine opened and read.

Dear Hermoine,

Your Mum sent these to you in care of my name. She left them with Tom at the Leaky Caldron. She told Tom to make sure that they where delivered to you before the wedding.

Love,

Harry

Hermoine opened the large box and found several tissue wrapped objects. She unwrapped the first bundle to discover a set of sapphire earrings. Another note was underneath.

My dearest girl,

I am so sorry that I could not be there for you on your special day. I hope that someday you will understand. I have hope that your marriage will turn out for the best. You have always been very bright and I am sure that this decion will be as true as all others you have made I wish you much love and happiness. I have included some things that I hope you will carry in your wedding. You may keep the earrings and the book, please send back the veil.

Love Always

Mum

"What beautiful earrings," Luna told her. Hermoine placed the studs in her ears and then withdrew the next package; leather bound white bible.

"It's the family bible," Hermoine informed them. She opened the front of the very old book to reveal a family tree. The tree began in the year 1510 with the words 'Sir William John Granger wed Elizabeth Catherine Asland'. While it showed the name of the children borne from each following generation, the tree only covered the paths of the firstborn son. The tree ended with the name Hermoine Jane Granger. It also shown the name 'Baby Boy Granger born Sept 8 1976 died Sept 9 1976'.

"I never knew that you had a brother," Luna remarked.

"The firstborn in the Granger family has always been a boy," Hermoine said. "My brother was born early and muggle medicine was not prepared for preemie births at that time. His lungs where not developed and he lasted only a few hours. My parents rarely spoke of him."

Molly, in an attempt to change the subject, peered into the box. "What's this?" she asked, pulling a last tissue wrapped object from the box.

Hermoine pulled a long white piece of lace from the tissue. Attached to the top was a gleaming diamond tiara. Set in the very middle of the tiara, was a large blue sapphire. "My grandmother's veil," Hermoine whispered.

"It's lovely," Molly said as she gently placed the crown over Hermoine's head, allowing the lace to fall down Hermoine's back.

Hermoine looked up as the clock on table next to the bedside chimed 11:00. "How are we getting to the wedding?" she asked.

"You'll see," Luna smiled. "Come downstairs, it should be arriving anytime now."

Hermoine followed the rest of the group down the stairs, and out the door. The day was dreary, with a hint of rain in the air, and the down trodden look of the neighborhood did not help in the appearance.

"Won't people think something is strange, seeing us standing out here like this?" Hermoine questioned.

"Bill charmed everyone's houses before he left," Luna answered. "All the muggles should have just become entirely engrossed in their television sets about now."

As Luna spoke, Hermoine looked down the street and saw a set of gleaming white horses pulling a Cinderella carriage behind it. The carriage was large and round, with gold accents.

"Climb in, climb in," Molly told her as the carriage came to a halt right in front of her. Hermoine stepped onto the golden step and seated herself on the plush white velvet seating.

"Here, take Bug," Luna said, handing over Jolie, who was squealing about the 'pretty horsies'. Luna helped Molly step up into the carriage and then stepped in behind her. As Luna took her seat, a gold door, with a large window appeared to cover the opening.

Within seconds the horses began to move. Looking through the front window of the carriage, it seemed as though the horses where moving at a nice canter, yet the scenery sped by.

"Won't somebody see us?" Hermoine asked.

"No, the carriage is much like the Knight Bus," Molly said. "Muggles don't pay much attention to it. The ride is allot smoother isn't it?"

Luna agreed with Molly and soon the pair was carrying on a nice conversation. The gently lull of the carriage had rocked Jolie into a sound nap. Hermoine continued to look out the window at the passing countryside. She was surprised when after almost two hours of traveling that they where crossing water. The horses glided over the deep currants, their hooves making not one splash in the waves.

"Where are we going? How long until we get there?" she questioned the other two women.

"I don't know," Molly answered. "Severus insisted on keeping the location a secret. He did tell me that we should reach the spot after a few hours. He said we would be eating lunch in the carriage."

As soon as Molly said this, a basket appeared on the seat next to her. Luna woke Jolie, and helped her cover herself with napkins, and they all began to eat. The basket was full of small cucumber sandwiches and cheese and other delicate fair, like cream filled pastry. There were flagons of pumpkin juice and wine. The women ate their fill and sat back to enjoy the rest of the ride.

"Nannie, I got to go potty," Jolie informed the group. Indeed after lunch all of the women needed to go as well. As Hermoine was worrying over their predicament, the seat between Molly and Jolie widened and a door appeared, opening into the back of the carriage. Molly opened the door and they looked into a full size rest room, complete with toilet, sink and a lighted vanity mirror. Molly helped Jolie and then each of the women took their own turns in the room, in order to relieve themselves and freshen their makeup. The door vanished after the last woman, Luna, stepped back into the carriage.

Finally, after another hour, the horses began to slow. The water beneath their feet had begun to clear into a brilliant blue. The water grew still, the currents subsiding into gentle waves. On the horizon, Hermoine could see land. Slowly they approached a magnificent island. A large mountain seemed to grow from the very middle of it. The sands of the beach glared in the sunlight and the lush vegetation covering the lands was a brilliant emerald green.

The horses pulled the carriage onto the beach and began to follow a path into the trees. As they traveled into the island foliage, Hermoine could see huge colorful birds, with bright, brilliant colored plumage. Small creatures swung on the branches, chattering away to each other as they watched the wagon's progress. Hermoine, at first taking them for monkey's, open better inspection, saw that they had human like faces and indeed looked much like small, humans wearing fur clothing who also happened to have very long, thin tails.

They traveled through the jungle, passing through the center of the mountain for a few minutes, before coming out onto the other side. As they came through the opening under the mountain, Hermoine could see they had entered a large clearing. Off to one side of the passageway was a beautiful waterfall, which fell for hundreds of feet from a cliff at the very top of the mountain peak. It gently splashed down into a shimmering pool, which then formed a small stream, which wound it's way through the clearing. Standing a few feet away from the pool, just far enough away to stay dry, was a stone arch. White folding chairs where set around the archway. Hermoine watched as people stepped out from the trees and took their seats.

Behind the chairs, tucked underneath a canopy of trees was a small tent made of white gauze. It was next to the tent that the carriage parked.

Molly led the way from the carriage into the tent. Inside the tent was an enormous room. The walls looked out onto the grounds and caught the beginning of the evening sun through the trees. The floor was made of wood and was cleared of tables on one side where a raised platform indicated a dance floor. The tables themselves where covered in white tablecloths, with white dishes and place settings which appeared to be made of shell. The glass drinkware held the only color, as each glass was rimmed in gold.

A bustle of house elves, dressed in white togas, flittered here and there, adjusting the place settings and preparing for the guests. One of the house-elves ran towards Hermoine as she stood in awe of her surroundings.

"Miss, Dobby is so happy for you on your most splendid of days!" squeaked the friendly house-elf that had befriended Harry and pals several years ago. "Professor Snape wanted Dobby to assure you that all of the house-elves here tonight are receiving paying. They all are receiving one galleon for their services tonight, although the professor offered much more than that. Everyone is getting wages tonight, except for Dobby. Dobby is an invited guest, and will be party-harding tonight!"

Hermoine gapped speechless at the little creature, which took off out the front as Luna led her into a room off to the side of the entrance. This room did not have see through walls and wooden floors. The room was a pale ocean blue, with soft white carpeting. A door was shut against the far wall. Luna gently pushed Hermoine down onto a comfortable couch covered in pale green suede.

"I can't believe he did all this," Hermoine whispered.

"He wanted today to be special for you," Molly stated. Just then, from outside the tent, they could hear flutes playing. "That is our queue."

She handed Hermoine a bouquet of flowers, which had been lying on a table near the couch. The large tropical flowers were the same color pink as the roses on her dress.

Hermoine wrapped one hand around the bouquet and clutched the other hand around her bible. With hands pressed together she made her way back into the other room and stopped in the entranceway to the tent. She looked out across the crowd and saw the faces of those she loved.

She watched as Bill took his seat next to Fred. Minerva and Lupin where seated in the front row. Hermoine looked to the side of the trees and was surprised when Hagrid appeared, dressed in white dress-robes. He walked towards the archway and stood beneath it, turning to face the crowd. Next to appear from the woods was Harry. He, too, made his way to the archway and turned to watch the crowd. He was wearing white dress robes/ He glanced towards the tent and his draw dropped as he caught site of Hermoine. A crooked grin slid across his face and he sent her a wink.

The music changed tempo and Hermoine watch as the waterfall split open and Severus walked through. The spray from the water did not touch him. He simply took her breath away as she watched him approach the archway. He was dressed in white as well; however, he was not in dress robes. He wore a loose flowing shirt of white cotton that glowed against the darkness of his hair. He must have spent the week on the island recuperating, because his skin held a healthy tan. The relaxation was good for him, or maybe it was just the special quality of the day, for his face held no worries and he looked ten years younger. His shirt was tucked into white pants, which caressed his thighs and hung loosely around his feet, which where encased in rope sandals.

Hermoine watched the man she loved as he took his place and turned to face her. Their eyes met and the entire crowd could see the fire that burned between the two. Severus smiled and raised his hand to her, beckoning her forward. Her own face glowing, Hermoine stepped outside the tent and began to walk towards him and towards her future.

A/N: I am so sorry that I left you guys hanging. I had completed the story and thought I had posted the last chapter but it seems as though something went haywire. I had not saved the last chapter on disk and when a reviewer pointed out my error, I could not find the original ending I had written. So you guys get the new and improved version. The original ending was only half this long and covered everything including the wedding. For some reason as I was re-writing from memory, the last chapter took on a life of it's own, and now I am going to have to split it into one more chapter. So the eleventh chapter is really going to be the completion of the story, with maybe a short epilogue as chapter twelve.