Our joy will be more complete if you can
Share in the marriage of our daughter
Hermione Jean
To
Harry James Potter
On Saturday April 3, 2010
At three o'clock in the afternoon
C.E. Burbage Memorial Gallery
Cambridge, United Kingdom
Reception to follow
Mr. and Mrs. Ian Granger
Hermione and the witches who would stand with her spent the night before the wedding at her parent's new home, bought two months prior. The morning found Hermione, Ginny, Luna, Katie, and Clarice all babbling happily in the dining room, the conversation turning toward naughtier matters of the wedding night. They stopped talking when Ian came into the dining room with Evie in his arms, in a dressing robe and sleeping pants adorned with footballs. The women thought it was adorable to see the older man standing there with a two year old girl in his arms. He blinked rapidly at the sight of five chatty young women in the dining room. Food and feminine frippery was everywhere.
"Morning dad," Hermione said and took the baby from him.
"Happy wedding day, pumpkin," he said and kissed her cheek.
Hermione took her seat and started feeding Evie. The others joined and lavished attention on the little girl.
"Good morning everyone," Grace said when she breezed into the dining room and saw Evie eating. "Good, she's eating. She's been so fussy lately when it comes to food."
"I know how she feels," Hermione said, wiping the baby's chin.
A much different scene in The Burrow sitting room...
Harry woke to someone calling his name and a blurred face above his. He mumbled something unintelligible. His vision cleared and he saw Arthur's smirking face.
"It's a good thing the ceremony is later in the day," Molly fussed good-naturedly from the door.
He sat up and saw Ron, Neville, Wayne, Bill, and George sprawled around the room in various states of near-consciousness. Molly and Fleur entered with tea and bottles of hang-over elixir.
"We're going to the Grangers, I assume you have this lot in hand?" Molly asked Arthur.
"Yes dear, we are to be dressed and at the gallery by two," he said.
She bussed his cheek and left with Fleur.
"Epic stag party, mate," Ron said and winced when he took a sip of the hot tea.
"What's all this?" Harry asked at all the galleons coming out of his pockets and littering the couch. He didn't even remember receiving all of it.
"All the blokes we ran into gave you honeymoon money," Wayne said.
"Why are we wearing Arsenal football shirts?" Harry asked.
The bridal party arrived at the gallery in a room sequestered from the rest of the guests. Grace was taking pictures as fast as she could. She had never seen her daughter look so beautiful and happy. Ginny and Fleur finished her hair, satisfied with the result. She opted for her hair swept back at her temples, but left rest down, flowing around her shoulders and back.
"Are you sure you don't want any more of it up?" Ginny asked.
Hermione shook her head. "Harry likes my hair down."
A tiara made of baby's breath was carefully placed on her head. "You need no blush today, it eez already zere on your cheeks, an ze gown eez very flattering," Fleur said. Of course, it eez of French design after all!
"I'm not embarrassed about it being a maternity gown, not anymore. We should feel like a pretty fairy tale princess on their wedding day, right?" Hermione asked. "I'm marrying and having a baby with a man I'm desperately in love with. Who would've thought after all these years that it would be Harry?"
"I'm so glad you didn't elope, pumpkin. I would have missed out on all of this," Grace said and blew into a handkerchief.
Today was only the second time he had ever worn his formal Auror uniform. He thought it made him look like Batman.
"I don't know who this Batman bloke is, but if Hermione thinks it makes you look especially dashing...well, Batman it is then," Ron conceded.
The music in the main gallery started.
"Come on mate, time to get you married," Ron said and clapped him on the back.
They entered the gallery to dozens of camera flashes and took their places. Arthur indicated where they should stand and made sure Ron had the ring. Harry, Ron, Neville, Wayne, George and Bill took their places. The string quartet began the chords to announce the bridal party's entrance.
"That's our cue," Ginny said and the witches lined up to proceed into the main gallery.
Grace was escorted to her seat first, glowing as the proud mother of the bride.
Hermione bounced on her toes as Clarice, Katie, Fleur, and Luna made their way down the gold-carpeted isle. Ginny turned around and gave her a quick hug.
"In case I haven't said it today, you've never looked more incredible. Harry isn't going to know what hit him! Now, let's go and get you married...just don't trip or anything," she said with a wink. The ushers opened the doors and she strolled through.
"Ready pumpkin?" Ian asked.
Hermione nodded. "Let's do this."
The world stood still for Harry when he saw his Hermione. He was awestruck at the sight of her. She had never looked so perfect. The two hundred guests stood and murmured in admiration when she walked down the aisle with her father. A sniffle was heard from Ginny, and Ron softly cleared his throat. Hermione was glad that she was clutching her dad's arms as she walked down the aisle. The way Harry looked; so handsome, so proud, so loving - it made her weak in the knees. She couldn't help but grin at Evie's squeal when she saw her big sister. She felt her Dad give her arm a quick, gentle squeeze in encouragement. When she arrived to stand in front of Arthur, she only had eyes for Harry.
"Who gives this woman in marriage?" Arthur asked.
"Her mother and I do," Ian answered and placed Hermione's hand in Harry's. "Take care of our treasure," he said, his voice wavering.
"I love you, dad," she said.
Harry fell more in love with her at the endearing scene. In his mind's eye, he could see their little girl, as sweet and pretty as her mother.
"Blessed be all who attend this joyous celebration, and blessed be the two to be united today in the bonds of love. If there be any here who can who can show just cause why this couple should not be joined in the bonds of marriage, let them speak now or forever hold their peace."
No one spoke and he continued.
"Bride, is it true that you come before this gathering and to your groom of your own free will?"
Her eyes locked with Harry's. "It is true."
"Groom, is it true that you come before this gathering and to your bride of your own free will?"
A gentle smile graced his face, his eyes still locked with hers. "It is true."
"Groom, I have not the right to bind you to your bride, only you have that right. If that is your wish, place your ring in her in her hand."
Harry took a ring from Ron and placed it in Hermione's trembling hand.
"Groom, make your vow to your bride."
Harry took a deep breath and spoke. "I, Harry James Potter, take you, Hermione Jean Granger, to my hand and my heart, to be my wife, my partner, my mate in this life and the life beyond. I vow to love you wholly and without restraint, in sickness and health, in poverty and wealth, in joy and sadness. All that I am and all that I will be I give to you, so mote it be."
"Bride, I have not the right to bind you to your groom, only you have that right. If that is your wish, place your ring in his hand."
Hermione took a ring from Ginny and placed it in Harry's hand.
"Bride, make your vow to your groom," Arthur instructed softly.
Hermione took a deep breath and spoke. "I, Hermione Jean Granger, take you, Harry James Potter, to my hand and my heart, to be my husband, my partner, my mate in this life and the life beyond. I vow to love you wholly and without restraint, in sickness and health, in poverty and wealth, in joy and sadness. All that I am and all that I will be I give to you, so mote it be."
Grace and Molly were sniffling into handkerchiefs, and Ian quickly wiped his eyes a few times. Ginny had to wipe her eyes with a handkerchief and Arthur cleared his throat before continuing.
"The rings are a symbol of love, without beginning, without end. Harry, if it is your wish to bind Hermione to you, place the ring on her finger."
"It is most definitely my wish," he said softly and slid the ring on her finger.
"Hermione, if it your wish to bind Harry to you, place the ring on his finger."
"It is absolutely my wish," she said and a sweet, loving smile graced her face when she slid the ring on his finger.
"My sweet girl!" Grace gushed.
"Honored guests, you have witnessed the vows made by Harry and Hermione, and the exchange of the symbols of their union. Harry and Hermione, in the binding of yourselves, you have created a new life, so step forth and rejoice in your new life and love. I pronounce you husband and wife. Harry, by all means kiss your lovely bride."
Harry took her face in his hands and gave her a gentle kiss.
"We did it," he whispered and kissed her again.
The crowd rose to their feet with applause and cheers.
"This is a fantastic venue," Grace remarked to Molly, watching the servers make their way around the growing throng of guests with trays of drinks.
Harry and Hermione were at the double doors of the ballroom, personally greeting everyone who was attending the reception.
"Who is C. E. Burbage?" Grace asked.
"She was a professor at Hogwarts whose life was lost at the beginning of the war," Molly said, not wanting to say too much on this glorious, happy day.
When all the guests were seated, Ron tapped his glass a little too forcefully to get everyone's attention and it shattered in his hand. People throughout the crowd chuckled at his enthusiasm, and he cleared his throat to begin. Ginny slid another glass across the table for him.
"So, here we are. Who would have thought, yeah? Me the best man, toasting my best friends Harry and Hermione, now husband and wife, with a baby on the way."
He turned to them and lifted his glass.
"I'm happy for you, mate, more than I can say. I've seen the two of you flounder with others, hoping to find the connection we all search for. So to my best friends, Harry and Hermione, congratulations on finally getting it right. You deserve it and I'm sure everyone here wishes you all the best."
He faced the guests once more. "Charge your glasses, to Harry and Hermione!"
Calls of "cheers!" and "pip-pip!" were heard throughout the crowd. Ginny stood for her toast.
"As my brother said, I'm happy for you, more than I can say. You're my very best friend, Hermione, and seeing you find love at last with another dear friend..." she had to stop and wipe her eyes with a handkerchief.
Hermione sniffed and patted Ginny's hand. "Thank you," she said, touched at how overcome Ginny was, which didn't happen often. The crowd clapped and the reception began in earnest. The band started the song for the newly wedded couple to take the floor for their first dance.
