November. Of all the months in the year that Luna could have chosen to get married to Draco Malfoy, she had chosen November.
Draco really didn't mind, he actually wasn't very surprised that she had chosen one of the less popular months for weddings. He had hoped that she would choose a month that was neither February, which was her birthday month, nor June which was his.
She hadn't disappointed him.
Now here he was, staring at himself in the mirror, trying his best to keep his hands from shaking for enough time so he could manage to tie his green tie.
That was a feet he could not complete. His nerves were getting to be so bad as he continued to watch the clock and count down the minutes before his bachelor life came to an abrupt end.
There was a sudden knock on his bedroom door, one that made him jump.
"Co *clears throat* Come in!" he said, clearing his throat when the words squeaked out the first time.
Theodore's head peaked around the corner to stare at the groom, his traditional dress robes all immaculate aside from his tie.
"Need help?" Theo asked as he entered the room only to lean against the wall and cross his arms, a smirk across his face.
"Yes," Draco said, sounding far more desperate than he had wanted.
"Let me go get your father," Theo said, but before Draco could protest, his best man was gone.
Draco let out a deep sigh and continued his attempts at tying his tie.
When he was just about to give up, there was another knock on the door.
Draco thought it might be Theo again, and let out a frustrated "Go away!"
The door opened anyway, and to Draco's horror, revealed Lucius Malfoy instead, his long blonde hair tight back with a black ribbon and his dress robes as tidy as ever.
"Well if you insist," his father said, turning to leave, but Draco stopped him.
"No wait! I thought it was Theo again. Please, come in,"
Lucius inclined his head and entered the room, closing the door behind him.
He immediately began on his son's tie, undoing it first and then beginning the retying process.
"I was nervous on my wedding day as well you know. Your mother was so determined that everything would be just so, and I was more afraid than a hen in a fox's den!" Lucius chuckled at the memory, smiling as he finished his son's tie.
"There. Perfect," he said, patting his son on the shoulder and turning to face the mirror.
An awkward silence settled between them before Lucius finally spoke again.
"I'm proud of you son. And not just because Luna is a Pureblood, but because she is a breath of fresh air. A change that this family very well needed,"
Draco turned to look at his father, surprise and relief evident in his eyes. "Thanks Dad!" he said as he wrapped his arms around the slightly taller man's shoulders.
Lucius was surprised by his son calling him "Dad" firstly, and then even more baffled when he hugged him.
He couldn't help but hug back.
"You are the pride of my life Draco. You know that? You always were and always will be," Lucius said and he pulled away from his son slightly
"You, you haven't called me 'Dad' since you were a little boy," Lucius said fondly to his son.
"Is, is that alright?" Draco asked, a little apprehensive.
"Of course. In fact, I would rather have you call me Dad a little more often!"
"Oh! My little boy's all grown up!" a woman's voice said, causing both men to turn towards the source.
Narcissa stood in the door way, a lacy white handkerchief held over her mouth as tears trailed down her cheeks.
"Oh Mum! Don't cry! The ceremony hasn't even started!" Draco said approaching his mother.
"I can't help it! Seeing you in your dress robes, ready to get ma-ma-married!" she began to sob.
Draco enveloped her in a soft embrace, her arms in turn wrapping around his torso.
"I will always be your little boy Mum. Always," he said, pulling away so he could look her in the eyes.
"Oh Draco!" she cried again, burying her face in her son's chest.
"Narcissa let the boy be! He needs to finish getting ready before heading out to join the priest!" Lucius said as he moved his wife away from their son and wrapped a strong arm around her shoulders.
Draco smiled as his parents left, and then his smile left when he saw the clock.
Thirty-two minutes left to go.
"What in the world am I going to do for thirty-two minutes?" he asked himself, plopping down on his bed.
"Oh Lu Lu! You look just like your mother did on our wedding day! Well, not exactly! She had a light pink dress. She always liked pink you remember?" Xenophilius asked his little girl as she stood in front of a mirror, her white dress shimming in the lights.
It was a beautiful dress, with a full tulle skirt and a silk bodice with beautiful short sleeves. She had insisted on having color, so the blue and green silk sash around the waist of the dress was specially added just for her.
"Thank you Daddy!" she exclaimed happily as she hugged him tightly.
A knock was heard on her door, and the pair pulled away from each other as Luna said, "Come in!"
Ginny came into the room asking if she had interrupted something, and both Lovegoods insisted that she hadn't.
"I'll be waiting for you outside Luna," her father said as he kissed her on the forehead and left the room.
"I still can't believe you're marrying Malfoy!" Ginny muttered as she helped Luna adjust her veil.
"I love him Ginny. He makes me feel things that I never thought I could. He makes me feel like I'm the most important person in the world! Isn't this what you wanted for me? To be happy?"
"Of course Luna, it's just that I never thought that your happiness would come from Malfoy of all people! But if he makes you happy, then who am I to argue," Ginny replied as she completed the finishing touches to Luna's outfit.
"You look beautiful," Ginny said, and Luna turned around to hug her Maid of Honor.
"Thank you! So do you! I have to say, you look quite nice in green! You should where it more often!" Luna said happily.
"Not a chance!"
"May we have the rings?" the priest asked in the backyard of the Malfoy Manor.
Theo handed Draco Luna's ring while Ginny gave Luna Draco's.
They were a matching set, Luna's with alternating sapphires and emeralds on a thin, bronze colored band, and Draco's with one emerald inlaid into the middle of his wide silver band and two sapphires inlaid on either side of it.
Luna had insisted that they have unique wedding bands, and Draco was happy to oblige.
"Draco, would you please repeat after me," the priest said, Draco nodding.
"This ring I give you,"
"This ring I give you," Draco repeated.
"Is a symbol of my love."
"I pledge to share with you my heart,"
"I pledge to share with you my heart,"
"My home, and all of my worldly goods"
"My home, and all of my worldly goods"
"I take you now as my wife,"
"I take you now as my wife,"
"To have and to hold,"
"To have and to hold,"
"in sickness and in health,"
"in sickness and in health,"
"for richer or for poorer,"
"for richer or for poorer,"
"in joy and sorrow,"
"in joy and sorrow,"
"and I promise my love to you."
"and I promise my love to you."
"And with this ring,"
"And with this ring,"
"I take you as my Wife,"
"I take you as my Wife,"
"for as long as we both shall live."
"for as long as we both shall live."
And with that, Draco placed the ring on Luna's ring finger. She was hopelessly glowing.
"Now Luna, would you please repeat after me," the priest said, Luna nodding in response.
"This ring I give you,"
"This ring I give you," Luna repeated.
"Is a symbol of my love."
"I pledge to share with you my heart,"
"I pledge to share with you my heart,"
"My home, and all of my worldly goods"
"My home, and all of my worldly goods"
"I take you now as my husband,"
"I take you now as my husband,"
"To have and to hold,"
"To have and to hold,"
"in sickness and in health,"
"in sickness and in health,"
"for richer or for poorer,"
"for richer or for poorer,"
"in joy and sorrow,"
"in joy and sorrow,"
"and I promise my love to you."
"and I promise my love to you."
"And with this ring,"
"And with this ring,"
"I take you as my Husband,"
"I take you as my Husband,"
"for as long as we both shall live."
"for as long as we both shall live."
"Now that couple would like to incorporate their own personal vows into the ceremony," and with that, the priest stepped back slightly.
"Draco, I remember the first time that we ever met, you were in your silk, green pajamas, and I was in my favorite duck pajama trousers, which I am still upset I grew out of!" Draco chuckled at her innocence here. "You always seemed so lost to me, and it filled me with hope when I saw you find your way. Your smile could always light up a room, as could your hair, and I hope that I can always be there whenever you smile. You have become the one person that I cannot go through this life living without. You will always have the most precious part of me, my heart, and I know for certain that you will never break it. I love you so very much, and am so thankful that you listened to me and kept mistletoe away from our wedding today,"
Draco grinned at her confession to him. He took a deep breath, knowing that it was now his turn.
"Luna, when I first met you in the astronomy tower that night, I had no idea that I would be standing up here one day saying these words to you. You make me smile, more than anyone else in this world. You helped me to discover my Patronus, as well as realized that I was an Animagus. You have been my light in the dark, my one sliver of hope will all seemed lost. The day that you agreed to marry me used to be the happiest of my life. But now, now this is my happiest day. You make me a better me, and I never want that to change. I love you with my whole heart, and know that you feel the same way. I will always love knowing that I will forever be yours, and you mine,"
The priest then stepped forward and announced. "Let what God has joined together, no man put asunder. You may kiss your bride,"
Draco didn't need be told twice, and gladly kissed his new wife, their lips moving in perfect unison.
When they pulled away, they turned to look at the crowd. Draco noticed that his mother was in tears and his father was smiling at them.
"May I be the first to proudly present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Draco Malfoy!" said the priest happily as cheers erupted from the crowd and the people stood.
They were all smiling, but the biggest smiles that day were worn by the newlyweds, a perfect pair in looks, and in heart.