A/N: Hi my Blackians! I hope that you are having a good summer so far, for those of you that it is summer time. My wonderful beta, Frogster, told me that this may be her favorite chapter of this story yet. If you remember, in Hermione's last flashback she got engaged, well, what comes after engagement? Marriage, right. I found the wedding ceremony that I used, here under the name of Ann and Dana. I changed things up a bit in my formatting this time. Usually I put the memories in the middle. Well, this time I put one at the beginning. No more babbling from me.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, just the plot that deviates from the original story.
XoXo,
Elle.
Chapter 8
May 19, 2001
"Babe, are you ready to go?" Tad called up the stairs as Hermione was putting on her shoes.
"Almost!" she called back, fastening the clasp on her sandal. Hermione stopped, looking herself over in the floor-length mirror. The simple white dress she had on was one that had been left over from her teenage years-even though those weren't that far behind her. She had left her hair down in loose curls, because that was how Tad liked it. Her makeup was light as was the perfume she had put on.
Today was the biggest day of her life. She and Tad were going to get married. Granted, it wasn't her dream wedding like she had been planning since she was six. Neither of them had any family near to attend, so they had decided to just go down to the registry office with a witness and a registrar.
Hermione descended the stairs, smiling at Tad, who was waiting at the bottom. "Well, don't you look handsome?" she met his outstretched hand with hers and stepped off the last few stairs. "I'm ready if you are."
Tad led her to the front door and opened it for her. He took out his keys and slid the house key she had given him into the lock. Tad had slowly been moving his things in over the last three months since the engagement. They had decided to move into Hermione's house, seeing as it was paid for.
Hermione walked down to the car as Tad locked the front door. Hermione got into the car and buckled her seatbelt, watching as her future husband walked around the front of the car. When he got in, she smiled over at him.
An hour later they were at the registry office, waiting to be called back. Hermione was feeling a little nervous, her palms sweating; her knee was bouncing as they sat in their plastic chairs. "Wallace? Granger?"
A little squeak slid free of Hermione's lips as their names were called and she jumped up, straightening her dress. She heard Tad chuckle from behind her as he stood, his hand moving to rest on her lower back. "Relax, babe."
Tad was right, she should relax. This was supposed to be one of the happiest days in a woman's life. But she couldn't help the feelings of melancholy that washed over her. Hermione had always imagined her parents at her side, and Harry and Ron as well. That wasn't an option now. Sure, if she owled them, they would come. But they wouldn't understand and she wasn't sure she would have the energy to explain. Because she would have to explain everything, not just why she was marrying Tad.
"That'll be us." Tad said as they walked up to the woman.
"Welcome. I am Edith, I'll be your witness for today. If you'll follow me, Registrar Holland is ready for you." Edith said with a genuine smile and took off down the narrow hallway. They followed their witness, Tad's hand on Hermione's back comforting her.
Edith opened a door at the end of the hallway, a small room on the other side of the wooden panel. Hermione stepped through the doorway, her eyes taking in the room and falling on the registrar standing behind the podium. The old man was short and squat, with a bald head and big round glasses. His big bushy mustache reminded her of what Harry described his uncle to look like. "Come in, come in. Let's get started."
Edith shut the door behind Tad as he came in and the three of them walked to the front of the room. The young woman then came around and positioned Tad where she wanted him and moved to do the same to Hermione, a strand of her white blonde hair getting in Hermione's face. Hermione batted it away, making a fluttering noise with her mouth. The color of Edith's hair suddenly stirred up a memory of another person with hair that color. A tall and slender boy with an aristocratic face and perfectly pointed nose.
Hermione shook the image of Draco from her mind and brought herself back to the present when the registrar cleared his throat. "Everyone ready? Yes, Miss Granger? Yes, Mr. Wallace? Edith?"
Each of them nodded when addressed and Registrar Holland began. "Please join hands. Today we are here to celebrate the joining of these two individuals in the friendship, loyalty and love of marriage.
"Hermione, will you have Thaddeus as your husband, in times of good fortune as well as adversity, forsaking all others to be a kind and faithful wife? Do you promise to base your life with Thaddeus on love, caring and understanding? Do you pledge to speak and listen, to give and receive, and to be considerate of his wishes and desires?"
Registrar Holland looked at Hermione and she turned her eyes from him to look up at Tad, smiling brightly as she answered, "I do."
The old man made a grunt of acknowledgement before continuing. "Thaddeus, will you have Hermione as your wife, in times of good fortune as well as adversity, forsaking all others to be a kind and faithful husband? Do you promise to base your life with Hermione on love, caring and understanding? Do you pledge to speak and listen, to give and receive, and to be considerate of her wishes and desires?"
Tad's eyes had never left hers as he gave her hands a squeeze. "I do."
They both turned to look at the registrar then, waiting for what was next. In a very un-Hermione-like gesture, they had chosen to forego writing their own vows. "Hermione, please repeat after me."
As the pudgy man brokenly repeated the vows, Hermione followed, stringing them together seamlessly. "We have come together to make a marriage of our true friendship and love. We shall share with each other in gladness, strengthen each other in labor, minister to each other in sorrow, and be one with each other in the memories of life. We shall make a home in the place where we dwell and there we shall gather wisdom from the seasons of life.
"I, Hermione, take you Thaddeus, to be my husband. I accept you as you are, and ask that you be nobody but yourself. I promise to love you from this day forward and for all the days of our lives." Hermione's eyes were glistening with tears as she looked up at Tad. They were lost in each other, barely aware of the other two people present in the room.
Registrar Holland wiped his sweaty brow on a handkerchief and spoke again. "Thaddeus, if you will repeat after me."
Tad brought Hermione's hand up to his lips for a kiss and then began to repeat what the judge was reciting. "We have come together to make a marriage of our true friendship and love. We shall share with each other in gladness, strengthen each other in labor, minister to each other in sorrow, and be one with each other in the memories of life. We shall make a home in the place where we dwell and there we shall gather wisdom from the seasons of life.
"I, Thaddeus, take you Hermione, to be my wife. I accept you as you are, and ask that you be nobody but yourself. I promise to love you from this day forward and for all the days of our lives."
Hermione's heart was pounding in her chest. She couldn't believe she was doing this. Her cheeks were hurting from smiling so much. The registrar's voice barely registered. "The rings you are about to exchange mark the beginning of a long journey together. They are also a symbol of infinity, time without end. Let your rings be a reminder of your union, and of the love that you share. As a ring is unbroken, so will your love for each other be without end. Hermione, as you place the ring on Thaddeus' finger, please repeat after me."
Hermione pulled the ring from her thumb and took a deep breath to try and steady the nerves that had cropped up again. "The words I say to you now are words I say in friendship, respect, and love. I see in you a strong, growing partner, the person with whom I wish to share my life. I offer you all the days before me, no matter what may come our way. I freely take you as my husband. Take this ring as a symbol of my commitment."
She slid the ring onto his left ring finger, working the band over his knuckle. Hermione smoothed her thumb over the cool metal with a smile. This was it, it was almost official. "Thaddeus, if you'll repeat after me."
Tad grinned down at Hermione and repeated exactly what she had just said. As he slid the band on Hermione's finger, her breath hitched. "The words I say to you now are words I say in friendship, respect, and love. I see in you a strong, growing partner, the person with whom I wish to share my life. I offer you all the days before me, no matter what may come our way. I freely take you as my wife. Take this ring as a symbol of my commitment."
Hermione linked her fingers with Tad's, losing herself in his Pacific blue eyes as the registrar continued with the ceremony. His voice almost nothing but background noise. "Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other. Now there will be no loneliness, for each of you will be companion to the other. Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you. May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead and through all the years. May happiness be your companion and your days together be good and long upon the earth. In the years ahead, may you always apply tenderness and strength to the trials that may befall you. May your love be a shield from the unpredictability of life. May you remember to rejoice in good times and good fortune and may you always appreciate the life that you found with each other. And now, I am happy to pronounce you husband and wife. Congratulations Mr and Mrs. Wallace. You may kiss your bride." The registrar finished and began clapping Edith joining him.
Tad pulled Hermione into him, his lips crashing down onto hers and moving against her own passionately. Hermione's hands came up to cradle his head, against hers. For Heaven's sake did she love this man.
XxX
"DRACO!" George screamed at the top of his lungs from the bed next to Hermione, attempting to hold her flailing body still and keep her from seizing her way right off of the bed. "DAMMIT DRACO! GET YOUR ARSE IN HERE!"
At that moment the door slammed open and Draco ran in, "What's goi-" The question died on his lips as he saw Hermione thrashing on the bed. "Turn her on her side and support her head, but don't hold her down. That could only hurt both her and you." He made it over to the bed, his wand out and by his side, but at the ready.
"Don't hold her down?" But what if she goes right off the bed?" George asked incredulously.
Draco raised his wand and shook his head, "I would never let her fall. We just have to let her go through it. There is no way we could hold her still enough to get an anti-seizure potion down her throat. Petrificus would only hurt her as well."
George wasn't so sure, but Draco was the Healer, so he let go of Hermione and helped Draco turn her on her side, placing a pillow under her head. "Why is she seizing?"
Those grey eyes never left Hermione, a worried look marring those handsome, aristocratic features. "I don't know, George. To be honest, she could be having a memory and it could be traumatic. Perhaps that's what's-" Draco trailed off once more and sat down on the bed, putting his finger to Hermione's exposed temple. His eyelids slid closed as he delved into her mind.
This time George could see the instant connection, as Draco's body seemed to jerk to attention, as if he had an electrical current hit him. Those eyes moving underneath closed lids, George could do nothing but switch his gaze back and forth between both of his former lovers.
After nearly ten minutes, Hermione's body jerked so violently, it left the bed in its entirety, her arms flailing and knocking Draco back from her, the blond falling off the bed onto his arse with a loud gasp. Draco jumped off the floor instantly, his breathing heavy as both he and George looked at the now still Hermione.
Draco bent double, resting his hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. It couldn't have been easy on him to have been ripped from Legilimency twice in as many days. When he had finally regained his composure, he returned to his spot on the bed next to Hermione, his hand capturing hers, toying with the wedding rings on her finger. "She was reliving her wedding."
It felt as if the air had been sucked out of the room at those five words. George was now having trouble getting his own breath. Sure, he'd known she was married, the rings were all the evidence he'd needed. But to hear it said aloud, for someone else to have witnessed it, even in a memory. Feelings he'd thought long since buried cropped up, and he didn't like it. George didn't say anything, he couldn't.
"He seemed to be a muggle. Tall, dark hair, blue eyes. Thaddeus Wallace. If he was a wizard, he'd have to be a halfblood or less. She was so happy, I could feel it." Draco was spinning her rings around her finger.
George swallowed around the lump in his throat. "Do you know when this was?"
Draco was silent for some time and George looked up. Draco had stopped spinning the rings and was lining Hermione's hand up with his, measuring the difference in the sizes. "Almost two years ago."
"So this was recent then." George said, somewhat relieved.
"Seems so." Draco replied, his voice quiet, as if he were thinking. "I think I know what she is doing." George snapped his head up, his eyes boring into Draco's temple as he waited for him to explain. Draco cleared his throat and finally looked over at George. "Whatever happened to cause her to go into this state had to have been traumatic. Otherwise, I don't think this would have happened. Which we've already discussed. But what I think she is doing is replaying certain memories. Kind of like those Muggle movies that Scorpius is so fond of. You can rewind them and watch over again. I think, when she gets to the end of whatever reel she has playing, she'll wake up."
George nodded, his gaze dropped to Hermione. "Let's hope that's soon."
"I agree. However, I think we should get Hermione into the bath, with some hot water to soothe her muscles, because they're going to be sore." Draco said, both wizards avoiding the other's gaze.
George nodded in agreement, "Should we call for Fellie then?"
Draco shook his head. "Even their magic has limitations. She wouldn't be able to hold her up in the water and bathe her as well. She's too little and she's also the only female house elf we have. Though we could call her and while you and I support Hermione in the tub, closing our eyes, Fellie could wash her."
It was the best suggestion, as Draco would feel like a pervert if he washed Hermione while she was unconscious. They didn't have the best history as it was and he hoped that when she woke up in the manor she didn't immediately try and hex him. George murmured in agreement and Draco called out for the elf, "Fellie."
"Fellie is here, Master Draco. What is you needing?" Fellie asked as she bowed, her nose touching the floor.
"Hermione had a seizure and to ease the aches in her muscles, we would like for her to soak in the tub in hot water. Could you go and draw the water?" Draco asked and he watched as the house elf's eyes widen.
The little elf began shaking in her miniature tartan dress, the material reminding him of Professor McGonagall. "But-but Master Draco. Fellie can'ts hold up Miss Hermione and wash her, too. And Fellie is the only she elf." The poor elf was becoming hysterical and Draco put his hand on her shoulder, which only added to her distress.
"Calm down, Fellie. We know that you are unable to complete this task on your own and will require help. And as you are the only female elf, George and I are going to help you." Draco hadn't thought it was possible for Fellie's eyes to get any wider, but they did at the mention of her master and his guest helping Fellie in the duty tasked to her. "I know it is uncommon for a master to help his elf, but in this case, it is necessary. If your mistress knew of Miss Hermione's presence here, I would have her help you, but as she does not, we have no other choice."
The elf was still trembling, but gave a nod as she left the bedside and disappeared into the bathroom. The sound of running water filtered into the bedroom and Draco looked over at George. But when Draco made a move to pick Hermione up from the bed, George made a noise in the back of his throat. They both looked at each other awkwardly, before George cleared his throat. "It would be best to undress her here. It will be much more difficult in the tub. Assuming you want to keep Astoria's gown."
Draco nodded, he hadn't thought of that. He chewed on his bottom lip and lifted his wand, silently summoning one of the large towels from the bathroom. George caught it as it came flying past him, unfolding it and holding it at the ready, his hazel eyes fixed on some distant point over Draco's head.
Draco waved his wand once more, this time pointing it at Hermione's body, levitating her a few inches from the bed. He swallowed thickly, which was extremely difficult, considering his mouth was as dry as a desert. Draco's fingers caught the hem of the gown, drifting it up Hermione's legs. The moment his fingers came into contact with the skin of her thighs, Draco's breath caught in his chest and he lifted his eyes from his task.
He was beginning to feel like a pervert already, undressing his former childhood nemesis in her unconscious state. But it had to be done. Draco kept moving the light pink gown up Hermione's body without looking. When he got past her hips, George jumped in with the towel to begin giving Hermione her modesty.
Draco carefully pulled one of her arms free of the garment, gently lowering the limp limb down to hang, the hand resting on the bed. Then he took over the towel from George, who removed the gown from Hermione's neck and other arm. Draco then picked up his wand again and slowly began to levitate Hermione into the bathroom.
When they walked into the vast marble expanse, Fellie was perched on the edge of the deep tub, wringing her hands in worry. Draco lowered Hermione over the tub, only reaching out to remove the towel when she was about to reach the water. George grabbed the towel and rolled it up. Once Draco had Hermione fully lowered into the water and both he and George had averted their eyes to Hermione's head only. George propped her head up with the towel and Draco supported her shoulders.
"Fellie begin now?" The elf asked, her voice warbling with her nerves. Draco looked up at her and shook his head lightly.
"No, Fellie. Let's allow her to soak for about fifteen minutes to let the heat penetrate her muscles." Draco watched as George piled Hermione's mahogany curls on top of her head. Fellie nodded, lifting her hands to worry her ears, twisting the golden hoops that dangled there. "You know, I've always had a thing for her." Draco admitted quietly, just as the water cut off. He hoped the sound had masked what he had said.
But George's head lifted from looking into Hermione's curls to look at Draco. "What?"
Draco avoided his stare, he'd never admitted this to anyone, so he wasn't comfortable making eye contact to talk about it. "I've always had a thing for Gran-Hermione. Ever since our first year, when she bumped into me on the platform. Or knocked me on my arse, rather. Then apologized profusely. We even rode together on the train for a while. Until Crabbe and Goyle finally found me. Then she went off and found Harry and your brother."
George kept his stare level on Draco's profile, tilting his head to the side as he contemplated what Draco had just said, "Then why were you such a twat to her?"
A snort burned Draco's nose as he readjusted Hermione's shoulders in the tub. "Because when I got to the school, I heard her talking with Longbottom about how her parents were muggles. Even then, I was prepared to still be her friend. But then she was sorted into Gryffindor and I into Slytherin and she became best friends with Harry and Ron, who both hated me. She bested me in every class, even potions. You know what my father was like and how I was raised, he was livid that I was being beaten by a muggleborn, though he didn't use that word. I was a right little shite back then, always trying to make my father proud.
"So I was awful to her, just like my dad would have wanted me to be. I definitely deserved that punch in third year." Draco chuckled and looked up at Fellie, pulled from his reminiscing. "Alright, Fellie, you can wash her up now."
Hermione breathed a soft sigh, her head lolling on the towel. She must have felt the tenderness in her muscles and the water had indeed helped. Draco would have to give her a pain potion once they got her back into the bed after this, just to help her rest. "I never knew that you and Hermione had met on the platform. Or that you fancied her."
"We were some of the first ones there. Father nothing if not punctual and we both know how Hermione is about being on time for things. If you're not early you're late." Draco chuckled drily and shifted Hermione higher in the tub. George chuckled too, his breath stirring Hermione's hair. "I feel guilty though, admitting this now."
George rested his head on his hand as he measured Hermione's facial expression, making sure she was okay. "Why is that?"
Draco sighed softly, his gaze falling on the freckles that dusted Hermione's cheeks and nose. "Because I feel as if I am betraying Astoria's memory. Betraying our love." Draco brought a hand up to his chest and began to rub over his heart, where the ache had begun to form in his chest. "It's not fair to Astoria to pine after another woman. A woman I tormented in our childhood."
His ex-lover leaned across the distance and lifted Draco's chin, connecting their gazes. "I never met Astoria, but can you honestly tell me that she would have wanted you to wallow in misery and be alone the rest of your days? And you never had these misgivings when we were together. At least you never voiced them to me."
Draco sat in silence, his eyes still locked with George's as realization dawned in those hazel eyes, the color dulling as he realized why Draco wouldn't have had those reservations about their own relationship. "You never saw us together in the long run. Never saw a future for us."
"George…" Draco began, but George just shook his head sadly.
"Draco, it's fine, honestly. I'm not saying I had gone all girly on you and had our future all planned out, but I did like what we had. Even if it was a relationship I never would have seen myself in. Percy, maybe. But never myself." George scooted a little farther away from Draco and that only made Draco's chest ache more.
Fellie cleared her throat, "Master Draco, Fellie is done now. Should Fellie wash Miss Hermione's pretty hair?"
George and Draco exchanged glances and shrugs, "Sure Fellie, we'll hold her up so that you can, okay?" The elf nodded and both of the wizards moved to opposite sides of the deep tub, lifting Hermione into a fully seated position with Draco carefully supporting her neck.
Fellie quickly washed her hair, using the same shampoo that Draco himself used and it gave Draco an odd feeling in his chest. Almost a sense of pride that she would smell like him. He shook it away and focused on the feel of the water running over his hand as he supported her head. Draco found his fingers gently massaging her neck.
George's voice broke the silence again, "If she ever forgave you and gave you a chance, would you take it?"
Wasn't that the question of the millennium? Draco found himself chewing on his bottom lip. "I'd like to say yes, I would in a heartbeat. But I can't just make a rash decision like that. I have Scorp to think about. Besides, we have no idea what she's been through. She may never want to be in another relationship. But if she did, I would consider it, provided it wouldn't affect Scorpius in any negative way."
What Draco had seen in her memories earlier played through his mind once more. Hermione had seemed so happy and he hoped that had always been the case. Draco hoped and prayed to whomever would listen that the man she had married hadn't raised a hand to her. Because so help him Merlin, if that man had, Draco would track him down and kill him. If Hermione hadn't already, that is, Draco thought to himself.
"Fellie is finished." The elf stated right next to Draco, causing him to jump.
"Thank you, Fellie. Go and gather another of Mistress Astoria's gowns and return here at once to finish. George and I will dry Miss Hermione and get her back to the bed so you can finish." The elf bowed and disappeared with a pop, Draco and George gently eased Hermione back against the tub once more. Draco then pulled his wand from his pocket and levitated Hermione from the water, both men keeping their eyes averted.
George grabbed another towel and draped it blindly over her body, using his own wand to cast a hot-air charm to dry Hermione's body quickly. Draco then floated her out of the bathroom and back to the bed. Once she was settled, Draco made sure the towel was well in place and he gave a jerk of his head to the door. "I'll have Kopper bring us some lunch. Give Fellie time to finish up with Hermione. Then we'll get her to fetch some more broth for her. Actually, I think we'll maybe try her on some potato soup. Come on, I think we both need some Firewhiskey after that."
Draco knew he needed something that would tone down his raw emotions and his overworked system. He hated to admit it, but he had wanted to sneak a peek. He hadn't dared, though. It would have been an invasion of Hermione's privacy. Sure, old Draco probably would have been the pervert and done the entire bath himself. But Astoria had changed him for the better and he hadn't had the time to thank her enough. Could he find it in his heart to ever love another witch like he'd loved Tori?