Hermione Granger was the only daughter to Helena and Hugo Granger.
Her oldest brother Hugh had moved out when she attended her first year of Hogwarts. He worked in construction, went to church every Sunday even though he no longer dated the girl who used to bring him, and he thought magic was a joke.
Hugh and Hermione didn't get along. For as long as Hermione could remember, the two had always been at odds. It was only as Hermione grew older that she was able to understand the resentment her eldest brother probably held for her. He had been the oldest, it was his job to do things first and be impressive - to pave the way.
Hermione had destroyed all of that. She was a genius. She was kind-hearted and passionate. And apparently, she could even do fucking magic. Hugh and Hermione didn't get along.
Eddie and Hermione had a completely different relationship. Only three years younger than Hugh, Eddie was a musician and an artist. He was easy going, playful, and an all-around bum. Hermione was his little good-luck charm and he'd sneak her into his gigs every chance he got. One memorable night, he had snuck the two of them into a Led Zeppelin concert. Hermione didn't care for the music but she loved the experience. Her parents had not thought it to be the cultural exposure their ten-year-old daughter needed.
Eddie had later given her his shirt from the concert when he moved out. It was given with the strict instructions that Hermione was not to wear it unless she really wanted to piss off their parents. Needless to say, it was still safely tucked away in her closet.
Despite her differences with her older brothers, they still loved her. And despite Hugh's jealousies and annoyances, both her brothers supported her as much as she always supported the both of them.
When Hermione was fifteen, she began applying for early acceptance to universities. There had been a tidal wave of acceptance letters from all across the world. Representatives from schools flew across the continent to speak with her personally about the benefits of their school. She was offered full paid scholarships. All of this, of course, was contingent on her graduating next summer.
No one was worried that it wouldn't happen. Everyone knew Hermione was destined for great things. If one asked her younger brother Tommy, he would tell them that Hermione was going to be the queen of the world and instead of a crown she would wear a witch's hat. At which point, his parents would drag him away before he got too chatty about the magical world.
So, it was more than a surprise that Hermione Granger did not graduate from her muggle schooling. It must have been a mistake that Hermione Granger would not attend a single one of these muggle universities that had sought after her so avidly.
No, Hermione Granger would never fulfill the dreams she had once insisted upon to a stunned Professor McGonagall at the tender age of eleven.
Hermione Black, on the other hand, had a very good chance of completing these goals.
"Hermione," Sirius called and his voice echoed across the church.
She spun around and quickly wiped at her cheeks to hide her tears. Sirius was standing at the back of the church with the priest. He gestured for her to join them and Hermione's heart nearly beat out of her chest.
She raced down the aisle and took Sirius' hand tightly in her own. "You'll do it?" she asked the priest quickly. The hope in her voice was undeniable.
The priest looked sad and worried but he nodded. "It will just be a ceremony though. You will need to fill out the papers and get it all processed legally." He gave her a long look. "But they will still need consent from your parents or a guardian. You understand?"
Hermione nodded quickly. "Of course. Thank you, thank you so much." She couldn't stop the tears from leaking down her cheeks. He'd agreed. She didn't know what Sirius had said to the older man but she was eternally grateful.
"Your names?"
"Sirius Black."
"Hermione Granger."
"Take each other's hands," the priest commanded. Sirius took Hermione's other hand as they stood before one another. He stared deeply into her watery eyes as the priest began the brief ceremony. He breezed through the prescripted words that he had performed for dozens of couples before them, a fact both Sirius and Hermione were grateful for.
"Repeat after me…"
Sirius took a deep breath "I Sirius Black, take thee, Hermione Granger, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish… 'til death does us part," he nearly breathed the last part.
Hermione's tears fell as she repeated the vows back to him. It was not lost on either of them how true their vows were, or how brief their marriage might be. Sirius raised a hand to cup Hermione's cheek as she finished her vows. His thumb gently wiped away her tears.
"Do you have a ring?" the priest questioned quietly.
Sirius glanced towards the sombre looking man and nodded shortly. He stuffed his hand into his trouser pocket and pulled out the biggest ring Hermione had ever seen. It was a massive deep blue sapphire surrounded by glittering diamonds. It looked like a star.
"Sirius," Hermione choked out.
He grinned at her. "My uncle gave it to me a month ago."
She let out a hoarse laugh. Uncle Al did love Hermione.
"This next part, as you place the ring on her finger," the priest instructed.
"With this ring," Sirius repeated after the priest, "I thee wed."
"And you?" Hermione shook her head. She didn't have anything to give Sirius. The priest nodded. "By the power vested in me by our Lord and Saviour, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Sirius stepped forward immediately. He wrapped an arm around Hermione's waist and pressed a soft, chaste kiss to her lips. As they kissed, the vows sealed their bond. Hermione felt her magical core grow warm within her chest. She could even feel Sirius' core tingling with magic along the golden thread that slowly stretched out between their chests. The warmth of the magical bond turned outward, creating a heavenly glow around their heads.