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Chapter 16: Sacred Vows
Once Draco and Hermione were dismissed from Dumbledore's office, they went straight to the Head Common Room and settled on the green couch, snuggling. Both still a little shocked that they were going to get married tomorrow.
"Really, all I want to invite is Zabini and Professor Snape." Draco told her, breaking the silence.
Hermione nodded her head, knowing that Blaize was Draco's best friend and Snape his Godfather. Hermione thought about who she wanted to invite. She wished her parents were still alive. She really wanted her father to give her away. But, before she could come to tears with the mere thought of them she pushed them to the side of her mind. "I really wish that Harry and Ron were still talking to me."
Draco looked down at her, "Would you really invite them?" He asked.
"Yes, we knew each other ever since the first year. We've done everything together and even though they've been complete gits this starting year, doesn't mean I don't still love them." She told Draco and he nodded a plan brewing.
"I think I'm going to ask Dumbledore to give me away." She said.
"He'd like that." Draco said with a small laugh.
"I also want Ginny and Luna their. They've helped me a lot and also, Kaytrina and Van and Professor McGonagall." Hermione stated and Draco nodded his agreement. He had recently started hanging out with Van and found that vampires, or well, half vampires weren't really that bad. Though he found it rather gross when Van would drink hogs blood from a goblet.
"I guess we got our eight, then." Draco said and Hermione looked up at him giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"I love you." She told him.
His silver eyes penetrated her with love, "I love you, too." He replied.
-
Later in the evening Draco tried to track down two people he really didn't want to speak to, but he wasn't thinking about himself at the moment, he was thinking about Hermione. When Draco saw the Quidditch Practice sheet he saw that the Gryffindor team was practicing that day, so he went to the Quidditch Pitch and stood in the middle of the field. Watching as Captain Potter shot off orders at his team. He saw Ginny waving down at him and he gave her a smile and waved back. She soon deserted the rest of the Gryffindor Team and landed on the ground next to Draco.
"Is Hermione ok?" She asked a little worried.
"She's just fine, she wants you to be there for the wedding." Telling her this made her squeal and give Draco a huge hug. Draco just laughed, "Also, I was wondering if you could tell Potter and Weas...you brother, if they could come down here for a minute?"
Ginny nodded and then kicked off the ground, flying up and over to Harry. Telling him and Ron to get their feet on the ground.
Once both of them landed, they both gave Draco a glare, "What do you want, Malfoy?" Asked Harry harshly.
"I know I'm not your favorite person." He said and Ron snorted, "But..." Draco said through gritted teeth, "Hermione needs you. She wants you to be there."
"Where?" The dunderheads asked in unison.
"The wedding." Draco told them.
"What?!" They both yelled.
"With, Hermione being a Muggle-Born, she has to go by the new Marriage Law and since she's already caring our child, we're getting married tomorrow." He told them.
"Tomorrow!" Ron yelled.
"Yes, tomorrow. And she really wants you two to be there. She misses you guys." Draco said seething inside, not believing that he was doing what he was doing.
Harry and Ron were both quiet and then Ron kicked back up into the air and started to practice. Harry just stood their for a moment, staring at Draco and then after a second he too was back in the air; practicing.
-
Hermione had said the password, watched as the gargoyle stepped aside, and now she was walking up the steps. She knocked on the headmasters door and waited.
"Enter." She heard his humble voice and she stepped in, closing the doors behind her and walking up to his desk. "Ms. Granger, back so soon?" The twinkly eyed headmaster said. She gave him a smile and then he said, "Please, sit." And he gestured to one of his deep purple satin chairs.
"Sir, since my father has...passed. I was wondering...hoping actually that you may give me away tomorrow?" She asked.
Albus Dumbledore's smile had tripled in size and the twinkle in his eye shone more bright than ever. "I'd love to, Hermione." He told her.
Hermione smiled and stood up rounding the desk an taking the lovable headmaster into a hug, "Thank you, Sir." She said and a single tear made it's way down her face.
Dumbledore returned the hug and patted her back, "No, thank you" He said, "And formalities are not needed, Hermione. Call me Albus." He said as they parted and Hermione nodded with a smile.
-
The next day Hermione sat in Kaytrina and Van's chambers. She sat on a black leather couch, dressed in a simple white summer dress.
"You look beautiful." Said Van with his Romanian accent as he came out of the kitchen with a tray a food and two goblets.
Hermione smiled and then looked at herself, "Sure, I don't look fat?" She asked with a laugh, as Van sat on a green leather chair across from her.
"Your with child, not fat." He said and handed her one of the goblets, "Pumpkin Juice." He said with a smile and when Hermione tried to peak at what was in his goblet he said, "You don't want to drink that." He said and picked up his goblet.
"Hogs blood?" She asked.
"Severus is right, you are a no-it-all aren't you?" He said with a smile.
Hermione laughed, "I guess you could say that." And she took a sip of her Pumpkin juice, grabbing a crumpet and taking a small bite.
"Nervous?" Van asked.
"I'm am getting married." Hermione said sarcastically and then went serious, "I'm sorry for taking the spot light."
Van gave her a weird look, "Spot light?"
"You and Kaytrina were getting married and now I am. And everyone's all got their knickers in a twist about it and forgetting about you guys." Hermione said taking another bite out of her crumpet.
Van smiled, "Kaytrina and I've been friends since childhood. If we can wait for over twenty years to get engaged we can wait a couple days to get married." He told her reassuringly. "So don't think you are taking this...Spot Light." Hermione gave him a warm smile. Over the small time she'd known Van she had started to have feelings for him, not feelings like she has for Draco, but one's like she had for Harry and Ron. He was like a brotherly figure.
The chambers portrait hole opened and in walked, Albus, Ginny, Luna and Kaytrina. All giving her warm smiles. "It's time." Albus stated.
Van helped Hermione to her feet and Hermione brushed the crumpet flakes off of her dress. Resting a hand on the small bulge of her stomach.
"You look beautiful, Hermione." Ginny and Luna said together.
"Very, beautiful." Said Kaytrina, walking over to her and bringing Hermione into a hug.
"Thank you all." Hermione said on the verge of tears as her and Kaytrina parted.
Dumbledore walked over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder, "Are you ready my dear." He asked and Hermione nodded her head.
-
In Dumbledore's office Draco stood with Zabini at his side, Severus sitting in one of the eight chairs, and Minerva dusting off Draco's tuxedo like robes, soon after taking a seat herself in one of the eight chairs.
Zabini took a step closer to Draco, "Any word on Potter and Weasley?" He asked and Draco shook his head sadly, at least he tried, "Them gits." Zabini stated and then stepped back into place as Dumbledore's office doors opened and in came Ginny, Luna, Kaytrina, and Van who all took a seat. Soon followed by, Dumbledore escorting Hermione.
Draco couldn't keep his eye's off her. He could see the small bulge of her stomach and smiled at the thought of his son growing inside of her.
Dumbledore then joined Draco and Hermione's hands and then sat in a chair next to Minerva.
Fudge came up to the stand before Draco and Hermione and said, "I, Cornelius Fudge am proud to see that Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger have loved ones here today. And before I let Amyetia take over, I must say that I am proud that the both of you have put away your difference and come together here today in love." And with a smile he stepped aside and a woman with dirty blonde hair stood before them.
"We are gathered here today to unite the souls of Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger, in the presence of the Gods, family, and friends." Amyetia smiled and looking among the quests she asked, "Who gives the bride away?"
Albus stood up and said, "I, Albus Dumbledore." And then he sat back down.
Looking back to the couple she said, "Please face each other, hand in hand." And they did so. "You have both agreed upon the Sacred Vow Wedding, but you also have asked to rearrange some things and make them your own." Amyetia then whispered, so only Draco and Hermione could hear, "Hope you remembered them" she smiled and Draco and Hermione couldn't help but snort. Now, raising her voice so everyone could hear she said, "Draco?"
Draco squeezed Hermione's hands and smiled, looking deep into her eyes he started his vows, "I, Draco Malfoy, take thee, Hermione Granger, to be my wife, knowing in my heart that you will be a faithful friend, and a true and loving companion. On this wondrous day, in the presence of the Gods, our relatives, and our friends as witnesses, I give to you my sacred vow that as your husband, I will always be with you and support you in times of sickness and in times of health, in times of joy and in times of sorrow. I promise to love you completely, to console and comfort you during difficult times, to respect you and to protect you from harm, to honor you and to provide for your well-being, to be truthful and honest with you, and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live." Hermione felt the tears streaming down her face at his vows.
Minerva, Kaytrina, Ginny and Luna also, found themselves in tears.
"Hermione?" Came Amyetia's voice.
Hermione swallowed and squeezed Draco's hands as he did hers, "I, Hermione Granger, take thee, Draco Malfoy to be my husband," Hermione felt more happy tears roll down her face, " knowing in my heart that you will be a faithful friend, and a true and loving companion. On this..." She smiled, "wondrous day, in the presence of the Gods, our relatives, and our friends as witnesses, I give to you my sacred vow that as you wife, I will always be with you and support you in times of sickness and in times of health, in times of joy and in times of sorrow. I promise to love you completely, to console and comfort you during difficult times, to encourage you to achieve you full potential, to laugh with you and to grieve with you, to share with you life's simplest but most enduring pleasures, to be truthful and honest with you, and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live." She said still smiling and tears still coming down her cheeks.
Amyetia was silent for a moment as the couple gazed into each others eyes, then Fudge cleared his throat and Amyetia jumped slightly. Getting back to her senses she asked, "Are their any objections?"
Draco and Hermione looked at their little crowd, happy that no one objected. And Amyetia smiled, "Then by the power of the Gods vested in me, I pronounce you...Husband and Wife. Please place your right hands on this scroll." Draco and Hermione did so and suddenly silver bands appeared on their wedding fingers. Draco's plain silver and Hermione's silver with small diamonds all around it. Amyetia opened the scroll and saw their signatures embedded inside, from when they touched it. Looking back to the couple she said to Draco, "You may kiss the bride."
Draco smiled and put a hand on either side of her face brushing away the tears with his thumbs he brought his lips to hers and lightly kissed his wife. Hermione, returned the kiss and wrapped her arms around her husbands neck. Clapping then erupted throughout the room, but that only made Draco and Hermione kiss even more passionately.