Chapter 32
Happy Ever After
…
Hannah POV
Ivy and Rose screamed in my ear, waking me up.
"AH!" I shouted, falling out of bed onto my backside.
"Nice job, Pothead." Drosie smirked, leaning against the door.
"Whatever happened to Han?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Because that name's gonna be dying after tonight, I'm gonna use it as long as I can." Drosie grinned.
That's when it hit me. Today was the day! Today my life was going to permanently change. Today I was going to become Draco Malfoy's wife!
I could feel my heart fluttering at the mere thought that now it was mere hours until I stood at the altar, binding my heart forever to that man I've known since I was a baby.
Rose picked me up and squeezed me.
"R-Rose!" I choked out, hugging her back. "I need to breathe! I can't die and leave Draco at the altar!"
Rose giggled and set me down. "I know!" she giggled. "Come on, Ivy, let's go get the dresses."
Ivy got up and followed Rose, leaving me with Drosie.
Drosie tsk-tsked. "You look as if you drifted in and out all night. What are you, possessed?"
"No, I was just excited, Drosie, get it right." I told her with a huff.
"Someone's a testy bride to be. Besides, Clearwater, Yaxley and Parkinson only have a certain amount of time to make you look somewhat unlike Madge's cat."
I raised my eyebrows and made a fireball. "I can easily make you into a vampire snack. You wanna try me?"
"Shut up, Potter." Drosie sneered.
"Make me." I smirked, getting up.
"I would, but me being the wonderfully merciful woman I am, decided I didn't want you to go down the aisle with a black eye and bloody nose." Drosie grinned.
"How nice." I said sarcastically.
"I know I am." Drosie smirked as a big fluffy Persian cat entered and wrapped itself around Drosie's legs. "Maleficent!" Drosie grinned, picking the cat up.
Hellion came darting in and hopped into my arms.
"What a fluffy kitty." I said, reaching to pet Drosie's cat.
Maleficent hissed and clawed me.
"OW!" I shouted, retracting my hand as Hellion hissed at Maleficent. "That thing is named very well!"
"That thing is called Maleficent, Potter." Drosie said. "Unlike your cat that clawed me in fifth year."
"My cat was defending me from you!" I hissed, nursing my bleeding hand. "Now I'm going to have a cut on my hand during my wedding! Thanks, Drosie!"
"Well, this yelling at me won't help, will it!?" Drosie demanded.
I huffed and grabbed the Dittany on the bedside table. "You're just jealous." I told her. "You're jealous that you're not getting who you want today." I said.
"We all know that we got past that, Potter." Drosie sneered. "I'm talking about how you insulted my cat."
I dabbed the Dittany on my hand to heal the cut. "Alright, today I don't need the added stress. I have to get ready to go down the aisle, I have to pack my belongings up for the train, I don't even fucking know where Draco's taking me on our honeymoon yet!" I huffed, starting to feel the nerves.
"Ok, ok, Potter, relax. Let's forget everything that just happened, ok? We'll deal with it when there's nothing important going on. Right now, the excess stress may get to you." Drosie dropped everything that happened and grabbed Maleficent. "By the way…don't worry about packing for the train." she told me. "I handled that."
I looked to her, finally relieved a little from the stress today was going to cause up until I get to the altar. "Th-thank you." I said. "Sorry for blowing up like that. Just the nerves."
"Say no more, Han. I know nerves." Drosie laughed with a roll of her eyes.
I grinned. "Thanks for not ripping my head off." I joked.
"Hey, hey, that wouldn't be lucky of me to do, kill the bride." Drosie grinned. "And I think you've had more than enough of trying to be killed."
I laughed. "So true…so true." I joked as the door burst open and Ivy came in with garment bag after garment bag, one of which being opaque and white compared to the transparent ones.
"Ok, obviously the white bag has Hannah's dress, everyone else's dress has your name marked on it on the bag." Ivy said, handing bags out as I reached for my dress.
…
Draco's POV
"WAKE UP YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Blaise shouted into my ear.
Mel was awake and twirling around excitedly as I shot up and fell out of bed, hitting my head.
"OW! FUCKER!" I shouted.
"Watch the language, Malfoy, not polite for someone who's about to take a wife in a few short hours." Potter smirked, leaning against the door.
I shot up, rubbing my head. "Blaise! The ring! Where the fuck is the ring!?" I started to panic.
"Relax, Malfoy, I have it right here." Blaise held up the band.
I sighed in relief and stood up. "This is it, then, eh?" I asked, straightening myself.
"Yeah, the asshole of Hogwarts is gonna get the Disney Princess of Hogwarts." Potter smirked.
"Fuck you." I said angrily.
"What in the fuck's Disney?" Goyle asked.
"It's a brand of Muggle movies based off Muggle fairy tales." I explained. "Most of those Princesses are sweet, innocent, friendly, goody-two-shoes."
"So pretty much an animated version of Hannah." Crabbe started.
"Exactly!" I pointed out before standing up. "Ok, I'll need hair gel, my suit -"
"Calm down, we have time." Diamond told me. "Let's get Mel to Hogwarts first."
I nodded, picking Mel up and hugging her. "You're going to go with the girls for a bit, ok?" I told her.
Mel nodded and held onto the locket. "Yes, Dracy." Mel beamed.
I kissed her forehead. "They have Mel's dress, by the way." Potter told me.
"Alright." I said with a nod.
"Come on, Malfoy, let's get a one more fun thing in before you're shackled to that ball and chain." Crabbe smirked, slapping me across the back.
"Oh, shut up!" I growled. "She's a wonderful woman. You just agreed she was like a Disney Princess. Besides, there's one thing I want to do."
"What would that be?" Goyle asked.
"I want to visit my father. Alone." I told the boys.
"WHAT!?" Weasley shouted. "ARE YOU BLOODY MENTAL! That bastard sire of yours almost killed your love!"
"I want to come, too." Potter told me.
"HARRY!" Weasley shouted. "Are you nuts!?"
"I want to look into the eyes of the bastard that raped my Hannah." I growled.
"You took the words out of my mouth." Potter told me.
"You lot can do whatever." I told the rest of my groomsmen. "I want to visit my father."
The boys nodded and I grabbed my cloak. "Blaise, take Mel back to the girls so they can get her ready." I told him before grabbing my wand, Potter following me out the door as Blaise picked Mel up.
"Malfoy…" Blaise told me.
"What?" I asked, looking to Blaise.
"Please promise me that you'll be back in time to get ready for your wedding." Blaise pleaded. "It'd shatter Hannah if you were late. Knowing her like a sister, she'd think you'd left her at the altar."
I clapped Blaise's shoulder. "You know me. You're like a brother to me. And you know that I'd rather die than do that. I promise that I'll be here four hours before we have to go to Hogwarts. Malfoy's Honour."
Blaise grinned. "You know that if you say that I have no choice but to believe you." he laughed.
"Obviously." I grinned. "You know I am a man of my word."
"An almost married man." Blaise added, adding emphasis to my almost marital status.
I just grinned and turned on my heel, Disapparating to St. Mungo's, where my father was being treated from his fall in Scotland and his injuries from being crushed by that gargoyle.
…
I got to St. Mungo's and walked in. "Lucius Malfoy." I said.
The receptionist looked at me as if I had grown a second head. "You're Draco Malfoy, aren't you?"
I nodded. "Yes, I'm Lucius Malfoy's son."
"Shouldn't you be getting ready for your wedding?" the receptionist asked me, raising an eyebrow and popping her gum.
"I have time to kill. I wish to see my father, please." I explained.
"Right." the receptionist stood. "Fifth floor, temporary living quarters, room 4, the convicts' room. He's bound to keep from escaping."
I nodded and went up, looking into the room when I got there.
My father was indeed strapped to his bed, head in tourniquets of bandages as was his chest. Obviously he suffered broken ribs.
I opened the door and stood in the threshold, making Lucius look over.
"Draco?" he muttered, voice hoarse.
"Hello, Lucius." I said coldly.
"That's Father to you, young man -" Lucius half growled.
"You lost that right." I growled. "Being a father means to nurture and care for your children. You abused me, forced me to join the Death Eaters in your place from fucking Azkaban." I ranted. "You raped my sister…but that's not what I'm here for."
"No?" Father sat up. "Then tell me, young man, what are you here -"
"My wife." I almost spat. "You raped her. You helped to try to kill her." I growled. "You may have taken away her ability to bear children with how badly you hurt her."
"It was worth it. The Malfoy name will remain untainted with Mudblood spawn babies." Father almost smirked.
It took everything I had not to throw myself at Lucius and pound him in. I don't think anyone would like it if I was thrown in jail on my wedding day. "Can't you see what you've done? You may have taken away Hannah's fertility!"
"And you sound as if you want me to feel remorse for what I've done." Lucius smirked and I swore I saw his sheets tent.
"You should." I said. "She saved your life. She could have let you drop all that way down the turret in that bloody castle. She used her last ounces of physical strength to save you!" I ranted.
"What do you want me to do, then?" Father sneered.
"I want you to look her in the eyes the next time you see her and call her your daughter in law. Not as if she was something that is lower-class to yourself. As if someone could be lower than you after you go back to Azkaban."
"That thing's nothing more than some spawn of a Mudblood. I'll never call her a Malfoy." Father spat.
I snarled. "That thing is a woman!" I shouted. "Her name is Hannah Lillian Isabella Marie Potter...well, Hannah Lillian Isabella Marie Malfoy after today." I turned around to go. "She's much more than a Muggleborn's daughter. She's Mum's Goddaughter and if you were any sort of man you'd know she is a woman that is capable of much greater things than you assumed or that the Dark Lord assumed. The Dark Lord was wrong when he said that my children would be bastards. Should things go according to plan and Hannah will be able to get pregnant, those babies will be mine." I turned around. "I'll be a much better father than you ever were. I hope you rot in Azkaban. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to get ready for my wedding ceremony. What sort of man would I be if I wasn't on time for my own wedding?" I turned around and walked out to find my mother standing in the lobby, already dressed for the wedding in her dress robes.
"Harry told me you were here." she told me as Potter went back to talk to my father. "What were you thinking, Draco!?" she demanded.
"I just wanted to give that bastard a piece of my mind." I explained, clearing my throat. "I wanted to make sure he had guilt knowing that he probably royally fucked up his chances of having grandchildren. Hannah had always said I'd make a good father."
Mother just smiled. "I know you will." she told me. "Lest you forget, there is such a thing as magic. Don't think I didn't aid the healing process a little." she smiled at me. The beautiful smile that was inherent to the Black clan. Aunt Bellatrix didn't get this beautiful smile, but my mother and my Aunt Andromeda did.
I smiled with her. "You didn't?" I asked.
"I promised Lily that I'd make sure that she got a Malfoy grandchild. And I'm going to make sure I live up to that promise. I did it when you were sleeping, while she was recuperating after you brought her back."
I threw my arms around my mother. "Thank you." I told her. "If Hannah couldn't have children, it would have broken her heart and mine."
Mother rubbed my back. "You're quite welcome, my Dragon." Mother's smile almost split her face in half. "Now aren't you supposed to be getting ready for your wedding?" she asked.
"I have time." I said, taking Mother out in Diagon Alley.
…
Four hours until the ceremony I arrived back at Grimmauld Place to prepare.
"You showed up! Right on time!" Blaise said, starting to get clean boxers on.
"I told you, a man of my word." I said, grabbing my suit and going to get changed.
"Are you ready for this?" Blaise asked.
"I've been ready for this from the moment we locked eyes." I told Blaise as I put the cloak on.
I grabbed my hair gel and gelled it back.
"Malfoy, don't even try slicking your hair back!" Blaise called. "Mess it up a little!"
I huffed and looked to myself. There was a chance that it would look abnormal to have my hair messed up (unless I was just having coitus. But I wasn't.) but would Hannah like it?
I gave it a go and shuddered. I couldn't pull off my hair looking like a rat's nest.
Blaise grabbed my arm when I was going to fix my hair. "Calm down, Malfoy. It looks fine."
"I look like a bloody hobo!" I groaned.
"Relax." Blaise told me. "You look like a rebel."
"I feel like a fool." I muttered.
Blaise shook me. "Malfoy, you are the groom!" he shouted.
"I don't care." I said before rinsing the gel from my hair and drying it with a flick of my wand. "Much better." I said, nodding to myself before I grabbed the gel one more time, just to piss Blaise off, I slicked it back again, but messed it up just enough that it looked a little rebellious.
"God damn it, sometimes I think that you're the girl." Blaise muttered as I stepped out.
"Blaise, so help me Hades, you'd best have the ring." I told him.
"Malfoy, you gave me the ring, I'll have the…fuck! I lost it!" Blaise swore.
"WHAT!?" I shouted, shaking him. "THOSE WERE CUSTOM ORDER YOU JACKASS! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW LONG IT'LL TAKE TO GET ANOTHER ONE!?"
Blaise started laughing with Crabbe and Goyle. "Relax, Malfoy, it's right here." Blaise held up the ring.
I almost had a heart attack. "Be grateful that you are the best man, otherwise you'd be shot!" I growled.
"Come on, we have to go." Weasley said as we left Potter's house to go back to Hogwarts.
…
There wasn't a cloud in the sky that evening, the sun was just beginning to drop from the sky. I checked my watch…five o'clock.
I escorted my mother to her seat before taking my place where Hannah was going to be made my wife in mere minutes.
I stood with Hannah's old music teacher, who was holding onto the book she was going to read from.
"Don't fuck up your vows." Blaise told me.
"Fuck you!" I hissed to him. "Must you be a dick today of all days?" I asked.
"Absolutely." Blaise smirked.
"You. Are. A. Douche. Bag." I enunciated before the organist started to play.
"This is it, Malfoy. Last chance to run." Blaise whispered.
"Fuck off!" I muttered as Hannah's friends and bridesmaids walked down the aisle and stood beside the altar, ending with Duff, who had winked at Blaise.
And then came Mel. She looked completely ecstatic as both Hannah's and my family just gushed over her as she tossed petals of roses and lilies onto the red carpet.
She beamed at me and hurried to hug me quickly before settling next to Annabelle and Sheila (who again had her damned lizard, Fireball in that suit.).
"Run!" Blaise whispered.
"I will punch you!" I muttered as Hannah's teacher stepped up.
"I never thought I'd say this." she told me before turning to everyone else. "All rise for the bride."
"Malfoy, you're blowing your chance!" Blaise whispered as everyone stood.
"You want to live through today?" I growled as Wagner's Traditional rang through the grounds. "Shut up!" I whispered.
"Oh -" Crabbe whispered.
"My -" Goyle added.
"Skinner!" Blaise finished, using Hannah's word.
"Bloody hell, she's gorgeous!" Weasley muttered.
"Now I see what you see in her, Malfoy, she looks good enough to fuck!" Blake Collins muttered to me.
I was that close to punching each of them in the face before I looked up.
What I saw took was what started to blur my vision with tears.
"Dude, Malfoy's crying!" Blaise whispered.
"Fuck off!" I choked out, still staring at her.
She was a vision…no, that was an insult. She was so heartbreakingly beautiful that it took my breath away. Breathe, Draco, don't forget to breathe.
To say that she belonged in a mermaid style dress was absolutely wrong. I was wrong when I said that. Had she worn a mermaid dress, she wouldn't have graced that delicate beauty she possessed. Her skirt seemed to move along with her stride. A princess. All the Slytherins had called her Hogwarts' Disney Princess since first year and they had been right. Now, she was Hogwarts' Disney Princess inside and out.
She was my Disney Princess. My love. My best friend. My bride. My Spitfire.
Her face was draped with the damned veil, eyes glowing as I locked eyes with her.
She was mine…no one else's.
…
Hannah POV
I was sitting in the chair as my face was buffed, polished and painted.
"I still don't see the necessity in this. No matter what I'll always look plain next to him." I sighed.
"No one will dare call you plain when we're done with you." Monique and Ginny said together as they moulded my hair, Amelia and Lexi powdering my face.
"Only because they're afraid that Ginny will hex them." I murmured, earning a laugh from Ginny.
"Besides, you're not plain!" Pansy said, as she settled my tiara into place, feeling my hair fall slightly down my back. "You're Slytherin's Princess, beautiful inside and out."
I blushed for the first time that day as I stood up, making for the mirror.
"No!" Ivy shouted, grabbing my arm. "Not until you're in your dress and veil."
My heart started to race, blood pounding through my veins. My dress…it was so close.
"Is he back yet?" I asked, heart already hammering in my chest.
"Not that I know of." Pansy said, setting me back down. All the girls had had their hair and makeup done, and Drosie looked very abnormal with her long blonde hair up in a bun. For special occasions she always had her hair either waved or in a braid.
"Han, do you think you can relax long enough for us to get ready?" Ivy asked.
I nodded and let her go with the others, already starting to fill myself with a panic. What if the boys convinced Draco to run off and leave me at the altar? What if something happened to Draco and he didn't make it back to school? I almost started to cry during my anxiety attack.
I felt a hand grab mine and I opened my eyes, almost expecting it to be Draco to calm me down, but it wasn't him.
It was Drosie. Drosie was holding my hand, hair up in a bun, just as abnormal as Pansy wearing one. She was already ready and I almost cried. There wasn't a point of getting dolled up with Annabelle Drosie around. Secretly, I was always jealous of her beauty.
"Potter…Potter…Hannah, listen to me." Drosie cupped my lower face gently. "Relax." she massaged my shoulders. "He's here."
I almost started to panic again, already unable to handle everything going on, but then I relaxed. Draco was back.
"Han, listen." Anne lifted my eyes up to meet hers. Warm brown met glassy metallic blue. "You know that I'm not a fan of this. And you know it's a fact that I'd kill to be you right now, but as much as I hate to say it, Malfoy loves you more than anything in the world. And he wouldn't change anything for the world."
"She's got a point, surprisingly, being the little Hag from Hell she is." Sheila said, clapping my shoulder. "As odd as it is for me to imagine Draco Malfoy with feelings, he obviously proved that he is so madly in love with you that he'd kill his own mother just to save your life."
The girls came back in and Ivy got out my dress. "Are you ready for this?" she asked.
I nodded and stood up, stepping into my dress as Ivy and Rose worked together to pull it up over my dark green and silver lingerie, Sheila tucking my veil in the underside of my hair, somehow being able to sling it over my face.
I cast a look at her as I heard the door knock.
"KEEP HIM OUT OF HERE!" Drosie, Rose and Ivy screamed together.
"It's not Draco, it's Narcissa and Athena." Ginny said, opening the door.
I managed to turn around, only to find my cousin sobbing and my Godmother almost in tears.
"Hannah, oh, sweetheart, you look beautiful! Oh, I'm going to cry!" Narcissa waved her hands in front of her face, taking my hands. "You look just like your mother right now." she said with a choked sob.
I gave a shaky smile, almost crying myself.
"Narcissa, try not to make Hannah cry before she recites her vows, please." Rose said.
"I know it's a little early, but here." Narcissa said, sniffing and handing me a small box. "It's been in the Malfoy family for over a century."
I took the box and opened it, revealing an antique diamond tiara, not unlike the one that Fleur wore to her wedding before the Ministry fell.
"Something old. Not to mention goblin made." Narcissa smiled at me and handed me a larger box. "Your mother also said to give this to you when you got married if her and your father…you know."
I nodded and took the box, carefully opening it and gasping.
Inside was a shining silver and sapphire necklace.
Sheila took it and clasped it around my neck as Rose settled the tiara into my hair as I went back into a memory of a photograph of my parents' wedding.
"This was the necklace my mum wore, wasn't it?" I asked.
Narcissa nodded. "I know it's not the same as having your mum really here, but -" Narcissa started.
I threw my arms around her. "Thank you." I muttered into her chest.
"You're welcome, sweetheart." Narcissa muttered, "Be careful, don't tear anything."
I grinned and let Narcissa go.
"I'd better go." Narcissa said. "Draco will be waiting to escort me down the aisle." she laughed. "By the way, Draco told me to give you this." Narcissa kissed my forehead before she left.
"That's something old and blue…and your dress is new, so wait!"
Drosie ran out and came back, flicking something in my face.
I caught it and found a filmy white garter in my hand.
She tossed me something and I found a box in my hands, containing diamond stud earrings.
"Those earrings are my wedding gift to you." Drosie started before sneering. "But the garter's mine and I want it back." Drosie growled.
I beamed and let Drosie put the earrings on and grab my leg, hitching the garter in place almost violently. Now I really was ready for the aisle walk. Now I felt like a princess.
Harry came in already, looking very debonair in his black dress robes.
"Mei-Mei!" he broke down and started bawling, throwing his arms around me. "Mei-Mei, love, you look beautiful." he sobbed.
I grinned, almost sobbing myself as Athena held onto my arm.
"Han, get your heels on. It's time." Ivy told me, patting my shoulder.
I swallowed, slipping my heels on and standing as Ivy handed my rose and baby's breath bouquet to me.
I took it and stood shakily. "This is it." I whispered, almost in tears with excitement.
"Come on, you guys, we gotta get Hannah to the altar on time!" Rose squealed, running from the Heads dorm and through the school.
I looked to my brother and my cousin before looking out the window to see for myself if what I was doing was actually happening and not just a dream.
A warm breeze blew my veil around a tad as I looked down to guests and finding Draco waiting at the altar for me. The sight of Draco at the altar was assurance myself that I wasn't dreaming. That I was going to walk down that same aisle in mere moments.
I looked to my brother again and linked my arm through his. "Ready?" he whispered as we walked down through the oddly empty corridors. All the professors, the ghosts, hell, even the house elves were down at the lake for the wedding. The only sound through the corridors were the portraits, all muttering to themselves about how they had expected this from the start and that I was a glowing bride to be and that there would never be a pair so meant for each other like Draco and I.
I looked to Harry, slowly minding how fast I was going so I wouldn't step on my train or veil. "I've been ready for this since I was eleven." I muttered.
…
Finally, the moment arrived. I was standing just inside the Entrance Hall to go out to the lake, my stomach was flipping as I heard the organ start to play. Wagner's traditional march. I began to hyperventilate.
"Relax, Hannah, this is it, it's your penalty shot to take." Harry whispered, squeezing my hand through his arm as I heard Miss T.
"I never thought I'd say this, but all rise for the bride."
I let the door open and I took the first step outside as I felt everyone standing up to wait for me.
The minute I got to the aisle, I looked up and locked eyes with Draco.
Draco's eyes went glassy with tears, although his face split into a triumphant smile. Again with the looking at me as if I was a prize instead of the too-lucky-for-my-own-good winner.
But even in that brief flash of annoyance, it took Harry's and Athena's tight grips on my arms that kept me from running in my typical track star fashion the rest of the way down the aisle.
I started to empty my head to keep myself from growing impatient. After all these years, there was nothing I wanted more than to be standing there…why'd I have to wait?! DAMN IT!
And then I stood next to Narcissa and my grandparents, finally at the front row as Athena took a step forward with my brother.
"Who gives this woman to be married to this man?"
"Her cousin and I do." Harry said, stepping back next to me, taking my left hand and leading me forward.
Don't choke. Athena thought to me, almost making me laugh as Harry kissed my cheek, taking one last step forward as Draco did the same and doing what I never thought I'd live to see the day that it would happen.
Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy shook hands.
I stepped forward and muttered. "Crush his hand, I kick your ass after the wedding's over." I whispered as Harry let go of Draco's hand to take my left hand.
"Hurry it up, Potter, we're burning daylight." Draco muttered, making me blush and giggle.
Harry scowled and in a tale as old as time, placed my hand in Draco's, letting me go and letting me step up to the altar.
"Ivy!" I hissed, handing her my bouquet.
Ivy took it, already almost crying as I put my free hand in Draco's other one.
Finally, let's get this done! I thought to myself.
Good luck, Han, I hope you'll be happy.
She looks just like Lily…I hope that Malfoy boy treats her well.
I still can't believe this beautiful woman is mine.
I listened in to Athena's blessing, my grandmother's hopes that Draco would treat me as well as my father treated me and Mum and Harry…
But all I cared about was Draco's awestruck disbelief as my music teacher, my only friend and ally from the past start my wedding ceremony.
"Friends, family, reporters, others, I think we know why we're gathered here today, but if you're too drunk to remember, I'll tell you. We're here to witness and celebrate the union of Draco Malfoy and Hannah Potter in wedlock. Through their time together, they grew enough brains to learn that their personal dreams, hopes and goals are attainable and meaningful through the united effort and mutual support provided in love, commitment and family; and so they decided to live together as husband and wife.
Hannah, Draco…today you're choosing each other before your family and friends to begin a life together. For the tomorrows to come, you'll choose each other over and over again, except in the privacy of your own hearts. A single stroke of a pen is what makes a marriage legally binding, but it takes love, friendship, patience and trust to maintain it, to make it thrive through anything you could go through. Let your obvious love and friendship guide you as you learn and grow together. Experience the wonders the world has to offer as patience and wisdom calm the otherwise restless nature. The two of you, through your partnership, triumph over more of the challenges in your way. And through the comfort of loving arms, you two will always find a safe place to call home.
"Marriage is also not something to be taken into lightly. This is a lifelong commitment. So if anyone has a reason why these two should not be married, you know the score. Should anyone have a valid reason why these two should not be married, let them speak now or forever hold their peace."
I sighed. This was boring, the waiting part. All I wanted was to continue and finish this ceremony already.
But sadly, I had to wait agonizing minutes of silence before we could proceed.
At least…that was the plan.
The entire area gasped when I heard a strong voice say "I object!"
I gasped with everyone else, suddenly looking to Harry. If anyone had anything to say on the matter, I automatically assumed that Harry would object. Hell, I was marrying his former enemy and he had mixed feelings about it.
Harry shook his head.
"It wasn't him. It was me." I heard a voice say in between Blake Collins and Jason Davids.
Draco and I whipped around and saw Alvaro Diamond standing there, arm raised.
"Diamond!" Draco growled. "What's the deal!?"
"I can't let you marry her." Alvaro said, looking to me.
"And why not?!" Draco almost snarled and I knew it took everything he had not to lunge at Diamond and pound his face in. "You told me you were fine with it!"
"Because I still love Hannah!" Alvaro said, almost desperately.
Everyone gasped again as Alvaro stepped forward.
"Hannah, I know I've done some stupid shit and almost got you killed. I took your virginity under orders of Lucius Malfoy, but I never forgave myself. You know I defected to the Light side during the war. I'm a Quinn through and through. And, Han, I really do love you. Please…I'm begging." Alvaro sank to one knee. "Please take me back."
I gasped again before swallowing. "Alvaro…no." I said. "What you did to me and to Draco is something that a normal person would find unforgivable. Out of the goodness of my heart, I found the ability to forgive you. But I can't take you back. When you took my virginity I thought you actually did love me. But…that was the past. I really appreciate you trying to console me when I thought Draco was dead. But…my heart has, had and does belong to Draco. I'm sorry. I'm grateful for what you've done for the coven during the war, but I don't feel that way for you. At least not anymore. Not after when I found your love to be a lie."
"Now it isn't a lie." Alvaro told me.
"I know." I told him. "But I don't love you. You're like a brother to me, like Ron and Blaise, Crabbe, Goyle, Blake, Jason and obviously Harry. But…I belong to Draco Malfoy, I told you this. Nothing's going to change that."
Alvaro was silent. "You love him, don't you?" he asked.
I nodded. "More than anything." I told him.
Alvaro was silent again before he nodded. "Alright." he said. "Alright. I retract my objection."
Draco looked ready to slaughter him as Alvaro hurried back into his space. I grabbed Draco's arm to keep him from punching him.
"Sorry about that." I muttered. "Go ahead, Miss T."
"Alright, now that that's been settled. Does anyone else have a reason why these two shouldn't get married?"
Finally the plan started to fall into place. There was complete silence until the Weasley twins broke it with a joke.
"Yeah! We object on the grounds that the groom's a ferrety git!" Fred shouted, earning laughs from everyone.
"Yeah, Fred?" I called back. "Draco's my ferrety git!"
Everyone shut up.
"Ok, can I please continue?" Miss T asked me.
"YES! PLEASE DO!" Draco and I said together.
"Ok!" Miss T sighed in relief and finally started to continue the ceremony. "Now that that excitement is behind us…Hannah and Draco have decided to write their own vows. Who knew that the ferrety asshole's son was a romantic? Draco, look into Hannah's eyes, the very window to her soul and tell her what's in your heart."
Draco had warned me one of us was gonna start the water works, but I hadn't expected that I was going to be the one wiping Draco's tears rather than Draco wiping mine, like the night that he proposed. His eyes just shone with tears as he recited his vows.
"Hannah Lillian Isabella Marie Potter, I'll make this, like you, short, romantic and complicated. Most people spend lifetimes looking for their soul mates and their true loves. Malfoys, however, were never given the time to look. We were put into arranged marriages, a marriage made to keep the name untainted and pure, not a marriage made for love. Malfoys could only marry pure blooded women that were destined to serve the Dark Lord. Today I change that because I found you.
You are nothing like my father's vision of an ideal Malfoy bride. But you're my vision of the ideal Malfoy bride.
My life after the Dark Lord returned was cold, darkness and things were looking bleak." Draco was almost crying now, and I almost started sobbing at the sight. "But when you came along you turned my entire world upside down. You brought warmth to areas of the world I thought arctic for so long, brought the light back into the parts of my mind that was otherwise doomed to become dark with thoughts of violence and death to all Muggleborns and blood traitors…you gave me hope of having a normal life."
Draco's voice cracked and I reached up to wipe a lingering tear that was rolling down his cheek.
At that moment, Hagrid had pulled out his tablecloth-sized handkerchief and was blowing his nose. Narcissa and Nona were crying into scraps of silk.
Draco had taken a moment to compose himself before continuing. "You changed my path forever that day on the Hogwarts Express…when you slapped me across the face."
Ace gave a slight chuckle. He obviously thought that was amusing.
"A path of darkness became a path where I'd eventually run and find you during the war. A path that was certain to end up with me in Azkaban became a path where I was given an Award for Special Services to the School. A path that was certain to turn me into a man like my father is now a path that can mould myself into my own man. And I have you and your love to thank, my little Spitfire.
The only thing I can think of to repay you for saving my mother and I is to treat you like the Princess you are for the rest of my life as your husband. To cherish, love, trust and honour you all the days of my life. I will love you faithfully through the best and the worst and I will always be there when you need me, to laugh with you and be your shoulder to cry on, at your best and at your worst. To hold you and wipe your tears of frustration and angst when your hockey team loses and go nuts with you when they win. I promise now in front of everyone we know to not be the devilishly handsome bastard you fell in love with, but that eleven year old best friend that would tomboy around with you. All because you make me love myself whenever I'm with you. I love you."
Draco was in tears when he finished with placing a barely there kiss to the back of my hand (reminding me eerily of that day I shook his hand on the Hogwarts Express when he kissed my hand in a parting gesture.), as was everyone else. Hell, Miss T was even crying. "That was touching." she told Draco before patting me across the back. "Han, look into Draco's eyes and tell him what's in your heart."
I didn't know that I myself was crying before I started to recite my vows. But sadly, no one could hear me. "OI!" I shouted, jumping up to reach the mic. "Can! Someone! Please! Lower! This! Bloody! Thing!" I grunted as I jumped for the mic.
Draco grinned and lowered it for me.
"Thank you." I muttered, settling myself before starting. "All my life I've dreamed that fairy tales would come true. All I wanted was someone to love me. After a few years with the Muggles I gave up, believing what Dudley's gang and Tiffany Grenville told me that I was unable to be loved. That I wasn't born to be loved. But all that changed when I met you.
Today I give myself to you as your wife. I give you my heart, my mind, my body and my soul. I feel lucky that I can consider myself one of a lucky number who have found the part of them that makes them whole and complete.
I want to be your lover, your companion and your best friend for the rest of my life. I've wanted to be yours since first year, you know that. You're everything to me and I couldn't imagine a world without you. You've given me hope that the world isn't as I thought it was as a cold, empty place, you've given me your hand to hold and in exchange I give you my heart to keep.
There's nothing that I can say that hasn't already been said. Nothing I can give that hasn't already been given. I gave you my heart, my mind, my body and my soul. They have belonged to you long before now and they shall remain yours long after this day."
Now I was crying, almost inaudible with tears. Thank God Monique had used waterproof makeup on me, or I would have been a teary, snotty mess. Thank Skinner Draco bent down and wiped my eyes for me, or I would have never been able to see until after the ceremony was over.
"Nothing can show how grateful I am for and to you. You gave me the confidence I otherwise never had. You gave me courage and strength when all seemed hopeless. You reunited me with my family. You gave me someone to fight for. You gave me hope when all seemed lost and made me smile when there was nothing to smile about. And to top it all off, you loved me. You brought light to me when there was darkness, warmth when all seemed cold. You gave me the wings that helped me to fly away from the life I thought I knew. You risked your life in the battle to carry me from that classroom to Pomfrey when Zimmerman almost killed me. You didn't have to, but you did.
I have no idea how I can thank you besides being your wife, best friend and life's mate. You'll always be welcome in my world, in the deepest part of my subconscious and I'll share my goals and ideas with you. Together we've proven there is no hurtle we can't overcome and we'll continue to prove it as the years past.
You're everything to me. My hope, my love the only one I'll want to be with. I know I'm only yours and I feel that my world's complete so long as you're in it. I'm just so glad it's me up here with you instead of Pansy. I love you."
Tears were still rolling down my face and Draco looked ready to join me in tears, eyes shining with them and few rolling down his face.
Now there wasn't a dry eye on the Hogwarts grounds. Hagrid was now bawling into his table cloth handkerchief, Narcissa was now incoherent with tears and every adult in my family was sobbing, even those who didn't like me with Draco were crying, no doubt because they knew that I was so happy and we were so in love.
Miss T was now crying. I kind of felt bad for making everyone cry but the guilt subsided when Miss T composed herself.
"Can we have the rings?"
I instantly turned around and held out my right hand to Ivy, my left hand still in Draco's as he looked to Blaise.
Ivy looked at me with glassy eyes as she handed me Draco's wedding ring.
"Is my makeup smeared?" I mouthed.
"No. You're good." she told me before I turned around.
"Wedding rings are made special by our wearing them. Your rings say that even in your uniqueness you have chosen to be bound together. Let these rings also be a sign that love has substance as well as soul, a present as well as a past, and that, despite its occasional sorrows, love is a circle of happiness, wonder and delight. May these rings remind you always of your vows that you have taken here today. Hannah, since you're warmed up, let's start with you. You know the score. So do it and repeat after me."
I nodded, holding my breath as I slipped the band on Draco's finger, repeating what Miss T told me to say:
"Draco, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love for you. Let it be a reminder that I am always by your side and that I will always be a faithful partner to you."
I had to blush. Draco's brilliant idea was to have a response to this and I (being the lovesick eighteen year old girl that I was.) couldn't say no, now could I?
"I will forever wear this ring as a sign of my commitment and the desire of my heart." Draco muttered before taking my hand.
Harry looked a little ashen at this, but I ignored him, too shocked that Draco's ring vows were completely different from mine.
"Hannah, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love. As it encircles your finger, may it remind you that you will always be surrounded by my enduring love."
I blushed a deeper pink. "I will forever wear this ring as a sign of my commitment and the desire of my heart." I announced.
Miss T looked positively proud when she got her chance to speak. "Hannah Lillian Isabella Marie, do you take Draco Lucius to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, to love, honour and cherish, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer for as long as you both shall live?"
I sighed. I really appreciated that Miss T had opted out "till death do us part." for the better suited and the much less morbid "for as long as we both shall live." I didn't even know I was crying again until I said the binding words.
"I do."
"And Draco Lucius , do you take Hannah Lillian Isabella Marie to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, to love, honour and cherish, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer for as long as you both shall live?"
Now when Draco spoke, his words rang through the Hogwarts grounds, as clear and coherent as he possibly could get. His words were powerful, triumphant, glorifying in himself. (so typical of a Malfoy, n'est ce pas?)
"Damn straight I do!"
Miss T cleared her throat. "May I have the witnesses sign the marriage certificate?"
Ivy and Blaise stepped up as Draco lead me to where our marriage certificate sat.
I almost shuddered with anticipation. I was going to sign my birth name for the last time and my married name for the first time.
Blaise signed first, handing the pen for Draco to sign before Draco handed the pen to me, pulling me into his lap to sign the certificate.
I signed the certificate with my birth name quickly, showing how eager I was to stop calling myself a Potter. (Hey, my surname almost got me killed hundreds of times before that day, don't judge me!)
However, I took my sweet time signing my new name, wanting the first time to be perfect.
Ivy took the pen and helped me stand up so she could sign the certificate next to Blaise's signature.
Draco led me back to the altar after Ivy handed me back my bouquet, triumphant in smirk, but love shining in his eyes as we locked eyes once more as Mr Malfoy and Ms Potter.
"Love should have no other desire but to fulfill itself. But if your love and needs must have desires, let these be your desires: to melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night. To know the pain of too much tenderness. To be wounded by your own understanding of love and to bleed willingly and joyfully. To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving; to rest at noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy; to return home at eventide with gratitude; then to sleep with a vision of your beloved in your heart and a song of love on your lips.
Hannah, Draco, the time has come for you to stop thinking about the stress of planning this day and now is the time to come to celebrate with your friends and family the joyful occasion of your wedding. So without further ado, in case my student wants to kill me; by the power invested in me by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth; I now pronounce you husband and wife. Draco, you may kiss your bride."
Draco lifted the veil from my face carefully, hands almost shaking.
I barely managed to smile tearfully at him after throwing my arms, bouquet and all around his neck before Draco cupped my face as if it was as fragile and delicate as the roses that were in my bouquet.
His kiss was adoring, gentle, yet passionate. I couldn't help but melt into my husband as cameras flashed.
I still couldn't wrap my head around it. Draco Malfoy was my husband. My husband. The thought was exotic. Sweet and wonderful and amazing and earthshattering and perfect and beautiful and right and everything that I had ever hoped, dreamed and prayed for, but it almost sounded too good to be true.
All I could do was look at him afterward. He was almost amused with himself. Eyes a glinting blue grey…my favourite colour (well, besides midnight blue).
His hair was both gelled back and messed, taking in the reds and pinks and gold of the setting sun, taking in the pale moonlight that was just starting to creep over the castle.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I now present to you Mr and Mrs Draco Malfoy."
I blushed further and felt Harry crushing me to his chest, almost making my back crack.
And that's when I knew I wasn't just dreaming of the wedding. This was actually happening. I was now a married woman. Draco Malfoy's wife.
It sounded so wrong. To some it would have been madness. But it was such a sweet madness I couldn't help but find it feeling so right.
I couldn't help the triumphant, exulted beam that almost split my face in half at the thought.
Draco was my husband. The Death Eaters were in Azkaban, Voldemort was gone forever…but Draco was my husband and nothing could make me happier.
Finally. I thought as I was passed from person to person, hugged, kissed and passed around from family I never knew existed to my new family, my friends.
And finally I was in Narcissa's arms, and all I saw was her face glowing with pride as she hugged me.
I swore as I looked over her shoulder that I saw my mother standing there, dressed in Sunday best with her hair done up as she looked at me with tear filled eyes.
I saw my dad with her, dressed in black dress robes like Harry, but Harry had a stain of lip gloss on his cheek, smudged with the tears that had rolled down his face.
The funny thing was, my dad had the exact same image on his cheek.
I almost burst into tears as I squeezed Narcissa tighter. I had always wanted my parents at my wedding and my daddy to give me away. The fact that even in death they were there in spirit took a huge weight of disappointment off my shoulders.
Now everyone I loved was there. My parents, my second mother in Narcissa and Molly Weasley, my aunts, uncles (that weren't Uncle Vernon.), cousins, grandparents and friends had banded together to make this day wonderful.
But they didn't make the day perfect. Who made the day absolutely perfect was the one who pulled me away from Narcissa to wrap his arms around me and kiss the nape of my neck.
I sighed as I felt Draco's well toned chest pressing against my back as he kissed my neck, right where my scar sat.
As Draco took me back up the aisle, I just grinned at nothing in particular. Everything was perfect.
Before I knew what was going on, Draco had pulled me away from the guests, my family, my brother and was leading me into the Forest, into the clearing I knew so well and had fallen in love with. The same clearing that held the location of my first kiss, my first date, the first time I had fallen asleep in the arms of this wonderful man that was now my husband, rendezvouses when our love was forbidden, and the exact place Draco had proposed to me.
Draco pulled something out of his blazer pocket. "I think we should make this official, don't you?" he asked me.
I grinned and took the dagger in hand, going to the stump where I had engraved everything that happened as it happened and engraved on the top of the stump the following message for my future children should they find that clearing:
On this spot on June 31st, 2013
Hannah Potter and Draco Malfoy made their love official and legally binding. This stump stands as a reminder to the Malfoy newlyweds as a reminder of the milestones of the love that kept them together during the darkest times.
Hannah Lillian Isabella Marie & Draco Lucius Malfoy
Draco took my dagger back and tucked it in his pocket after I finished engraving on the stump.
Draco reached out and stroked my cheek, the cold silver from his wedding ring almost making me shiver against my skin. "I still can't believe that you're all mine."
I sighed deeply and wrapped my arms around his neck, pressing my mouth to my husband's for the first time as man and wife in peaceful seclusion. No cameras, no nosy family and friends. Perfect silence, perfect solitude.
If only it stayed that way. A camera flashed.
"FOUND THEM!" Sheila giggled. "Hi!"
I groaned, breaking away from Draco and finding my bridesmaids standing there.
Draco grumbled something about "Can't believe they followed us." and "wanted to consummate."
"Come on, you two, there's time on the train ride back to make love." Ivy rolled her eyes. "In the meantime…" a camera flashed. "Let's get some pictures."
Draco and I groaned.
