Holding her husband's hand as they sat quietly waiting for the ceremony to begin felt right. She'd expected to feel betrayed. After all, this was supposed to be her wedding. She looked at the guests arrayed around the circle and felt no embarrassment. She'd been treated badly. The knowledge was there. The facts were what they were, but Draco's hand was warm. His magic wrapped around her like a shield. She didn't have to worry. He wouldn't allow her to be hurt.
"They aren't binding their magic." Augusta shook her head. Her disdain was made very clear. "What is the point of this exercise?"
Hermione leaned forward and looked across her new grandmother to Neville. He winked at her and shook his head. He was leaving her to handle the topic at hand.
"There's the baby to consider." Hermione sighed. "I suppose they're trying to create a good foundation."
"Without the proper binding, he won't be able to help her control the magical flares of her pregnancy." Augusta sniffed. "There is a reason we do these things. Traditions are not just quaint foibles of previous generations. A child born to a properly bonded couple is stronger."
"They were supposed to use the common binding." Hermione shrugged slightly. "I don't know why they changed it."
"He's an oath breaker." Draco frowned. "If the binding failed, this show they dragged us into would be for naught."
"They can't trust him." Neville sighed. "If the magic failed, it would embarrass them. It would be far worse if it worked. The idiot can't hold to his word."
"Oh, my goddess, I didn't consider that." Hermione paled. "The magical backlash would affect every Weasley."
"I would imagine it already has caused some minor problems." Hannah leaned closer to Neville. "They are all a little tense. Those aren't the usual Weasley smiles."
"George seems happy enough." Hermione leaned against Draco while she eyed the nearly demonic Weasley. "Don't eat or drink anything he gives you. If you can avoid touching it, do."
"Neville was rather charming with flower petals for hair." Hannah giggled.
"It took a full month to fade." Neville growled. "He hadn't figured out the bloody antidote."
"Language, Neville." Augusta tapped him on the leg. "You were a lovely geranium, but I much prefer you as you are."
"He won't bother you, Nev." Hermione smirked. "If any of his little pranks land on you, he'll activate the hex Hannah and I set on him."
"He didn't care for it." Hannah smirked.
"To be fair, most men are a bit testy about such things." Hermione pressed her lips together and held back the giggle that wanted to erupt.
"Be quiet, children." Augusta released her muffliato. "It would appear that the festivities are about to begin."
"It's almost time." Parvati flinched and pulled at her dress. "The dress keeps pinching me."
"Maybe you resized it incorrectly." Romilda grinned and tossed back a glass of elf wine. "My dress is perfect."
"You might want to sip that, Rom." Ginny shook her head at the witch. "You can't be the embarrassingly drunken bridesmaid until after the ceremony."
"So, she's here, then?" Lavender glanced toward Ginny.
"She's here." Ginny nodded. "Harry made sure she'd show up."
"I hope she doesn't cry or make a scene." Lavender sighed. "She was never good enough for my Won-Won. She doesn't understand him."
"I don't think Hermione is going to make a scene." Ginny patted Lavender's shoulder. "She's been very helpful in all this."
"She's been too helpful." Parvati frowned. "It's not very Hermione, if you know what I mean."
"She's not going to hurt an innocent baby." Ginny tossed a warning glance toward Parvati.
"I wouldn't be surprised if Ron's bits stopped working though." Romilda giggled. "I saw Marietta the other day. The poor dear is still wearing bangs."
"She has been particularly unHermione about all of this." Parvati twitched and pulled at her dress again. "Don't gloat or swan about, Lav. She's been very quiet."
"It's my wedding." Lavender fussed with the giant white bell of her gown's skirt. "I didn't get to plan it or be excited about it. The only thing I got to pick out is this dress."
"You're marrying Ron." Ginny stared at her reflection in the mirror and frowned. "Let that be enough. You get your happy ending."
Lavender nodded. She still looked sullen and a bit put out, but she was coming around.
"I can be gracious." Lavender tilted her chin up. "I am marrying the man I want to marry."
Parvati looked away from the others. The tent was elegantly appointed and looked like something from a fairy tale, but this was nothing like the dreams they'd shared as children. She slid her hand through the minuscule gap and took in the scenery outside. She spotted Arthur Weasley quickly. The man looked distracted and pale. She let the fabric close and frowned.
The Weasley family retreated behind a fairly stoic wall when the plans changed. Lavender claimed it would all come out right in the end, but Parvati didn't think so. She wasn't a fool. She wasn't smart like Padma, but anyone could see this was wrong.
"She would never hurt a baby." Parvati whispered the words. She knew they were true. Hermione was fundamentally good.
"She'll find some boring, bookish nobody someday and be perfectly happy." Lavender smiled and lowered her voice again.
Parvati watched Lav closely. The girl she'd been friends with had been hollowed out by the war.
"You shouldn't talk about her like that." Parvati squared her shoulders. "Not today. She saved you. She brewed potions that kept you alive after the battle. None of us could have done that. You owed her a debt and you repaid it by stealing the man she'd dreamed about since second year. You were still fantasizing about being Lady Nott or Lady Malfoy back then. You owe her your life and your happily ever after, so just be nice. Let her be gracious."
The silence stretched out as the other women stared at her, but she didn't drop her eyes or chin.
"He's an oath breaker, Lav." Parvati sighed. "I know you love him, but you can't have a proper binding because of his actions. Don't play the vapid cow. Remember that she always helped you with your essays and brought you special treats from the muggle world after every vacation. All those lip glosses and magazines meant something."
"It's still my wedding day." Lavender's eyes fell to the floor.
"Of course it is." Ginny frowned at Parvati. "You'll be married in just a few minutes, and it will be wonderful."
George fought back the urge to chortle. His mother wouldn't appreciate, and her fuse was far shorter than usual lately. Fred would have reveled in this moment with him; watching their little firecracker get her own back.
Sweet Circe's knickers, Hermione looked like every wizards' dream girl and the lady of the manor at the same bloody time. It was too amusing by far.
Ronniekin had tossed it all in the fire this time. The lummox traded in the silk purse for a sow's ear.
Bringing Malfoy as her date was by far the best two fingered salute. How she'd gotten Augusta Longbottom to play along was a mystery, but Hermione was always managing the improbable. He'd been hoping to see her hair spark, but this was so much better.
Gods, Fred would have loved this.
Susan was perched on the chair next to him. Her red hair was twisted elaborately and decorated with flowers. She looked every inch the pure blood princess. She was beautiful and a right bitch.
He was in real danger.
Blaise frowned and glanced around the crowd. The guest list would have caught his mother's attention. The bloody Minister of Magic was in attendance.
He looked at Susan again.
The witch was perfect. Damn her.
He wasn't ready for this. He'd had oats to sow. He wasn't some scion of an ancient and noble house. He was Blaise Zabini, playboy son of the most notorious witch in generations. He liked it that way.
He didn't get out much in England, but they didn't hate him everywhere. Brazil was lovely. Sweden was amusing. He grimaced. It was best not to dwell.
"Lavender doesn't understand elegant and understated." Susan whispered in his ear.
He nodded. It was all he could do. This farce of a wedding was nothing to him, but the tickle of her warm breath on his ear was a delight.
He looked up at the couple and frowned. The groom shifted from foot to foot. Was it natural to be that pale?
He glanced at the bride.
It probably was.
His eyes wandered to Draco and Hermione. They were both smiling, not forced, ugly smiles or tense, unhappy ones. There was contentment and joy.
They were holding hands. It was oddly intimate. Most of the couples he'd grown up around only showed affection when forced.
The ceremony seemed to be moving along. He ignored the droning voice of the officiant.
He glanced back at Susan. He loved the way she smiled. It was a little wicked. There were layers and masks and mysteries wrapped up in her. She was perfect, and he was buggered.
He reached out and took her hand.
Ron held Lavender's hand in his as they turned to face their guests. Her hand was warm and slick in his grasp. This was supposed to be a happy day, but he could barely plaster on the expected smile.
Hermione watched him marry another witch. How had she managed to sit through it. He'd barely managed to choke out the words. They were like ashes on his tongue.
He didn't want to see her out in the crowd. He hoped she would fade back. Seeing her now, even the possibility of it, hurt too damn much.
He caught sight of Luna with some dark haired wizard that looked vaguely familiar. Hermione was probably in that section of seats. She'd want her friends for comfort.
He took a deep breath and looked at his wife. He'd just look at her. Once they were all eating and dancing, it would be so much easier.