~sixteen~
The date was Saturday 11th August 2001. A date much anticipated in the wizarding world. The Daily Prophet had been running articles tracking the timeline leading up to this historic event for most of the year. Witch Weekly had been full of speculation about venue decor, colour schemes and most importantly, the dress.
Harry and Ginny had chosen The Burrow as the venue for their nuptials in an attempt to create a feeling of closeness and intimacy around the whole event.
After the furore surrounding the announcement of their engagement, it was clear however, that the media and its hungry readers would not allow their special day to take place with the quiet privacy that they had hoped for.
Earlier in the year, their seemingly 'secluded' engagement party had ended up being infiltrated by wizarding paparazzi, with unbecoming photos splashed all over the usual rags.
Ginny and Harry had reluctantly realised that the best thing would be for them to invite the press along for some exclusive shots at their discretion, hoping to satisfy their appetite for all things wizarding celebrity. This would then allow them to shrewdly draw up contracts binding the press to their deal, and ensuring that they towed the line.
Harry was extremely bitter about the whole thing. He had never forgiven The Prophet for their treatment of him in the past and made sure that it was only The Quibbler that had exclusive access to the ceremony itself and celebrations that followed.
He allowed for the wider press to have access to a few very staged, photograph opportunities that he and Ginny had carefully selected and was prepared to rage war on any that overstepped the mark.
On their most recent date, Hermione had told Draco that the media frenzy surrounding Harry and Ginny's wedding was becoming comparable to that of a Royal Wedding in the muggle world, and had confessed that she was beginning to feel rather anxious about the whole thing.
Draco immediately felt a sense of empathy for the situation. He recalled how relentlessly those journalists had hounded him and his mother, albeit during much darker and depressing times, after his father's incarceration in Azkaban and during the trials following the war.
He had asked Hermione if she was sure that she was happy to have him there. His presence at the wedding was bound to cause something of a stir and he himself was starting to feel uncomfortable that it might be a horrible distraction from the happy event itself.
Hermione had laughed then at the realisation that Harry and Ginny's happy acceptance of Draco at their wedding might have indeed been due a secondary benefit to themselves - drawing attention away from them and onto Draco. Hermione assured Draco that she was sure that everything would be fine.
Draco quietly decided to reserve judgement and determined to call on all his Slytherin shrewdness and pureblood privilege to come up with a way to alleviate the anxiety and stress around the whole situation.
And so the morning of the big day had arrived. Draco had got up early and enjoyed a pastry in the shop before Theo had arrived. They had arranged for him and Loxey to watch the shop that day, allowing for Draco to prepare for and to attend the wedding of the year.
Draco was standing in front of the long mirror that hung on the back of his bedroom door in the flat above Vinyl Resting Place. He was dressed in a muggle suit rather than heavy wizarding robes, having spotted them in a muggle menswear shop. He found the fabric light and smart and was impressed by the look of the waistcoat and trousers with the crisp white shirt.
He slipped on the matching jacket, just as Theo stepped through the door.
"Fucking hell, Draco! Get a load of you!"
Draco smirked to himself and turned to his bed to finish checking through his overnight bag, ensuring he had everything he needed for the day and night ahead. Security at the wedding was going to be a high priority, with strict, anti - apparition wards being placed all around The Burrow well before it was announced as the venue for Harry & Ginny 's wedding.
Floo access was also being heavily monitored and limited by strict invitation, with only one exit floo allowed the following day. All guests were required to stay overnight to help manage the security more tightly and Harry had had to reluctantly employ many of his auror colleagues to police the venue on the day, rather than have them there simply as his guests.
Because of the strict rules around the wedding, Draco didn't want to risk suddenly finding himself without his toothbrush or a change of clothes with no means of quickly heading home. He made sure to be extra meticulous about his belongings.
Theo clocked the carefully packed bag and walked over to sit on the bedside.
"You got your best PJ's in there mate?" he asked with a suggestive raise of his eyebrows.
"Or… perhaps you're hoping you won't need them?"
Draco paused and gave Theo his hardest death-stare.
"Funny, Theo. Hilarious."
"Oh, come on, Draco!' Theo said, enthusiastically bouncing on the bed with glee.
"This is clearly an overnight bag! Don't try to tell me that you haven't thought about what that means for you and Granger?"
Draco sighed and sat down on the armchair next to the window in his room.
"There you go again, Theo. Are you sure you're not actually a teenage girl in disguise? Does Tracey know about your strange obsession with idol gossip and other peoples' sex lives?"
"Idol gossip?!" Theo called out with mockery.
"So you're telling me that a night of passion with Granger isn't on the cards then?"
Draco threw a cushion at Theo in protest at his friend's insistence on pursuing the subject of his first time with Hermione.
"Just leave it, will you?"
"Alright, alright. I'm just happy for you, Draco. I've not seen you this happy since… well since we were at school, before seventh year, okay?" he said, making his intended meaning clear.
"I want you to be happy."
Draco looked at his old friend, uncertain how to react to his forthright statement.
"I am happy, Theo. I have zero intention of fucking this up," he said quietly.
"Good. So… maybe a double date could be on the cards. I think Tracey and Granger would get on actually. She's a big reader you know so at least they have that in common."
"Okay then, I promise we can arrange a double date as long as you agree to stop badgering me for details about my love life!"
Theo screwed up his nose at the idea of having to go easy on Draco at such a crucial time in his developing relationship with Hermione.
"Okay, deal," he agreed reluctantly, standing up and heading to the door.
"I can always badger Granger instead…" he suggested before quickly twisting and scurrying through the door, just about managing to dodge the stinging hex that Draco sent his way.
He was just about to begin his descent down the narrow staircase to the shop when he stopped in his tracks, walking backwards and calling out to Draco.
"Bloody hell, Malfoy! You taking a fucking entourage with you or what?!"
A large group of about ten dark and burly looking men made their way up the stairs. They all wore dark robes and had very serious looks on their faces.
Theo stood back against the wall as they passed him on the landing, Draco coming forward to greet them, stretching out his hand to shake that of the first man.
"Petrov?" he asked, shaking the man's hand firmly.
The man nodded curtly before briefly introducing his companions.
"So… as we agreed, we will rendezvous with the auror team at the venue and take over from them following their briefing, allowing them to partake in the wedding more fully, yes?"
"Yes, please." Draco replied, reaching inside his jacket and removing a pouch that weighed heavy with wizard gold, passing it to Petrov with confidence.
"Your deposit. The remainder will be paid tomorrow at the end of your shift, assuming a satisfactory service is received." Draco stated, firmly. "The Auror team are anticipating your arrival via my approved floo connection. And there will be extra coming your way if you could pay particular attention to the press that we discussed yesterday. I know I can expect the highest calibre of security and professionalism from your team. You did a sterling job at my mother's gala this year after all."
Petrov undid the pouch and glanced inside with an impressed quirk of his eyebrows.
"We will not let you down Mr Malfoy. Our company has been serving noble wizarding families for many years. It is an honour to continue to do business with the Malfoy family."
"Good to hear. Oh, and…" Draco continued, going back into the bedroom to shrink down his overnight bag, popping it inside his trouser pocket and heading back towards the landing.
"... Just to warn you, the wedding party knows nothing about this arrangement. It's something of a surprise wedding gift if you like, so I'd appreciate your discretion."
"Understood."
The rest of the security team briefly nodded their heads in assent before Draco turned back to Theo.
"Right, we'll be off then. Thanks for seeing to the shop for me again, Theo."
Theo was still standing back, staring openly at the mob of emotionless men before him.
"Merlin's balls, Draco. This is some impressive shit you're pulling here. And ...no worries about the shop. It's all good practice for when I'm managing the Hogsmeade branch," Theo said as Draco and his hired hands entered the living area and proceeded to floo to The Burrow.
Draco hummed in agreement. He was quietly excited and relieved that his best friend would be running his second shop for him. As much as Theo acted the fool, Draco knew he could trust him implicitly and smiled to himself as he reached the fireplace.
Draco was the last to leave and turning to face the room from the grate, he couldn't help but roll his eyes as Theo stuck his middle finger up at him in a parting gesture, just as the flames transported him to The Burrow.
He stepped from the bare brick fireplace of the Weasley residence and into a room of utter chaos.
The security mob was being whisked away by the auror team, just as Draco had arranged. Percy Weasley had clocked the alarming looking bunch of men but had quickly been assured by Harry's aurors that they were with them and not to worry. He was standing with the auror who had remained on Floo duty and was questioning him relentlessly about who the men were and if they had the correct credentials.
Draco nodded at the auror and flashed his wedding invitation that Hermione had had owled over to him that week. The auror nodded back and gave him a pained expression in response as Percy continued his barrage of questions.
There were people moving around and talking loudly everywhere. Flowers and trays of glassware were being levitated across the room and outside. Draco noted a red headed man who looked alot like a broader and stockier version of Ron Weasley, walking along with the little girl toddling along between his legs as he bent awkwardly to hold her hands to steady her. Draco suddenly recognised the little girl from the photo in Grimmauld Place that he had sent crashing to the floor.
"Yeah! That's it Vicky! Uncle Charlie will have you walking in no time."
Draco heard the floo firing up behind him and quickly stepped away from it, looking behind him to make sure he got out of the new arrivals' way, but in doing so, unexpectedly ended up bumping into someone who was just entering from upstairs.
"Oh, do excuse me madam…" he said, trailing off as his eyes widened at the sight of Molly Weasley before him. She was taking in his appearance with serious study.
"Well!" she exclaimed looking him up and down. "Draco Malfoy, as I live and breathe!"
"Ah, um, yes. Hello, Mrs Weasley," he stammered in greeting to the matriarch.
She was wearing a purple gown with pearls and a simple feather accessory in her unmistakable auburn hair.
"Now, come with me, come with me. Let me take a look at you," she announced, grasping him by the shoulders and dragging him over to the nearby window.
Draco could feel his face reddening and his composure faltering as she grasped his chin and turned his face to the light.
"Merlin's beard, if you aren't the image of your father at your age!" she declared. "And yes he was a very handsome young wizard too!" she continued with a knowing smirk.
"Bloody hell mum," came the familiar retort of Ron Weasley from the doorway. "Please don't tell me you had a crush on Malfoy's dad?"
"Oh do be quiet, Ron!" she chided before turning back to Draco, eying his smart suit and dusting off the traces of floo powder that had gathered on his shoulders.
"What a silly thing to say," she added as she continued to dust before pausing to look Draco directly in his eyes. "..everyone had a crush on Lucius back in the day," she added with a wink.
"Gross." Ron added before rescuing Draco from his mothers' clutches.
"Come on, Malfoy. Let's get you away from my slightly inebriated mother and find you a buttonhole."
"Oh um, thanks I guess, Mrs Weasley. And might I say, you… you're looking very lovely!"
Ron hurriedly steered Draco towards the kitchen making a face of nausea as his mother blushed and giggled at Draco's compliments.
"For fuck's sake, Malfoy. Never mention that conversation to me ever again!" he declared as he reached inside a basket on the kitchen table and retrieved a simple yellow rose buttonhole.
The pair spent an awkward few moments as Ron tried to help Draco to attach it to the lapel of his jacket, the pair cursing and fiddling as it kept sagging downwards, checking it frequently in the mirror.
Draco hadn't noticed that a pair of amber eyes were watching them both with a sparkle of amusement from the stairwell.
"Sod this," Ron muttered, drawing his wand and pointing it at Draco's chest with a huff.
Draco instinctively withdrew a step and threw his hands up in submission.
"Woah, woah, woah, Weaselbee!" he warned. "Just watch it will you?"
"Yes Ronald, watch it," came a familiar female voice. "Last time you pointed your wand at Draco at such close range, you ended up burping up slugs for the next few hours. I really don't think that's a quality that Harry was looking for in his best man, do you?"
Both men turned to the direction of Hermione's voice, and stood stock-still as they took in the beautiful sight before them.
The bridesmaid dress that Ginny had chosen for her was a creamy yellow, strapless gown, with a fitted bodice that showed off her petite figure perfectly. The fabric had been magically embroidered with images and symbols of magical folklore, all associated with love, family, fertility and the promises of forever. The sparkling silks shimmered with enchantment with even the slightest movement.
Her hair was swept delicately back at the nape of her neck with a few loose curls framing her face as she giggled at the sight of her ex and now current boyfriend gawping at her in unison.
"Well," she continued stepping forward and effortlessly fixing Draco's buttonhole with precision. "It's nice to see you two getting on. Who would have ever thought it possible?"
"I told you, 'Mione," Ron replied with a scowl at how easily she had arranged the rose in place. "My opinion of Malfoy changed dramatically after what he did to old Chinny No Dick."
Hermione gave a snort of laughter at Ron's funny nickname for Justin, but Draco… Draco it seemed hadn't heard a word. He remained utterly transfixed by Hermione and continued to stare at her intently as she patted and smoothed down his lapels. Clocking his expression, she paused, resting her hands on his chest.
"What?" she asked, leaning back slightly with a puzzled expression.
"You're beautiful," he stated intently, before leaning down and crushing her with a searing kiss.
"Hey, Malfoy. I can always change my mind back again; you know?" Ron grumbled.
But neither Draco nor Hermione had heard him it seemed. Ron sullenly walked off in the direction of the pantry to find a snack to help him forget everything that his eyes and ears had witnessed in the last five minutes.
Breaking apart with a sigh, Hermione took Draco by the hand and assertively began to lead him out of The Burrow door and along a little path that led down to a great field beyond. Draco was stunned to see that it was filled with colourful tents with people mingling and chatting animatedly, in a scene reminiscent of The Quidditch World Cup.
"Come on," she said as they neared. "I'll show you to the sleeping quarters. You've got your bag?"
He patted his trouser pocket with a nod. "Yep. Right here."
Hermione side-eyed his trousers with a smirk.
"Ohhhh, so that's what was pressing into me when we were kissing. I did wonder…" she teased, watching his reaction carefully.
Draco's heart skipped a beat at her open flirtation. She was in a playful mood. Draco was starting to feel that he was really going to enjoy this wedding, despite the fact that he would be surrounded by Weasleys and likely to be snapped by the wizarding press.
The promise of a night spent with Hermione was worth it all, and he had to admit that the whole event and venue had a charged atmosphere that even Lord Voldemort himself might find hard to resist being swept along by.
Hermione led the way over to a smart looking tent.
"Here we are," she announced as she swept through the doorway and inside the magically extended interior. Draco ducked his head and followed her eagerly inside.
The interior was reminiscent of a very comfortable hotel room, with a sort of seating area and even a bathroom leading off to the side. Through a voile panel, Draco could make out the second space beyond that undoubtedly housed a very large and comfortable looking king size bed.
Draco took a breath to steady himself at the thought of what that bed represented.
"Yes, it's really lovely, isn't it?' Hermione said quietly, taking Draco's silence as a sign of him being impressed.
"Harry really has pulled out all the stops for his guests. He was just so sad that he couldn't afford to beef up the security so his auror friends could attend as guests rather than employees," she explained.
"Of course, we all told him that we didn't need all this,' she continued gesturing around at the tent'sopulence. "But he wouldn't listen. Our comfort and enjoyment took precedence over his feelings about unwanted guests."
Draco nodded with a wry smile, even more satisfied with his decision to bring in the security firm from the Malfoy employ.
"Oh, good!" Hermione suddenly stated, walking over to the chaise and picking up a smart leather holdall. "They had my bag brought over for me."
She unzipped it and began to take out a few items to place on the desk-come-dressing table, before confidently going into the bedroom area and hanging up a couple of items of clothes on the simple rail.
"Right. That's that done. I'm just going to go and find someone," she announced before turning and exiting the bedroom. "Meet me outside in five?"
Draco nodded and she gave him a quick peck on the lips before disappearing through the tent's doorway. Draco watched her go, taking the moment to admire how beautiful she looked, even from behind, or rather - especially from behind.
He turned back to the room and swallowed thickly again at the sight of the bed and the way that Hermione had just so matter-of-factly gone about unpacking her overnight bag as though spending the night together was quite the normal thing for them to do.
Feeling buoyed by her confidence, he made light work of unpacking his own few belongings, and after checking his appearance quickly in the mirror, made his way back outside into the bright sunshine.