A/N: This is a short chapter, I know, but I come across important points. I've some visual aid this time around considering that there's a wedding dress involved. At the bottom give you guys the info for Ileana's dress. Also it occurred to me that the OCs don't have specific descriptions, so if anyone wants to know how I see the OCs, you're welcome to ask for I've cast all of them. :) Thanks to everyone who has reviewed, it means a lot. Hope you all enjoy!


Chapter Fourteen: Us & Demon Love Songs

Dawn had nearly broken when Blaise, Draco, Hermione & Ileana waited for Axel in the front of le Maison Malfoy. Originally, Galatea was supposed to escort the group, but she had left early to place more protection wards around the Swedish home after she heard the news of Ileana's pregnancy. Axel fought her over who would place the wards but, as happens with most couples, she won the argument. Axel gathered the keys to the main gate of the house and went outside to meet the two young couples. The young four were dressed appropriately for cold weather, as they had been warned that it would be chilly when they arrived due to a freak cold front.

"Alright, let's get this show on the road. But before we apparate, know that the house is isolated by a bridge. You will have access to the bridge and will be able to get out of the house, but for your safety keep these trips for moments when they are strictly necessary. The wards we've placed will only permit Galate, you and myself inside the perimeter. Anyone else tries and an alarm will go off; the wards will also shock the intruder and knock them out."

"I agree that we're not going to venture out much. All the information on the wards are definitely good to know."-Hermione commented.

Axel nodded. He grabbed on to the group and they apparated to Sweden. They appeared in the front yard. Axel was accustomed to the sight of the beautiful home, but the four young people were amazed at the simple yet beautiful abode. It lay on a small island connected to the mainland by a bridge. The home looked like a cottage out of a fairy tale except thrice as large. The lovely cream color of the exterior warmed the otherwise chilly looking scene.

"Welcome!"-Galatea said appearing at the grand entryway. "Ilia, I've summoned a dress maker for you! I've also gotten a tailor for the boys and someone to officiate the wedding. The house-elves are taking care of the catering. Come in, come in! It's an exciting day! You're getting married! Ahh!"

Galatea bounced into the house and Axel explained her erratic behavior. "My wife is perfectly calm 99% of the time, but when it comes to weddings…she bounces. Literally, the excitement takes over. Also this is the first wedding she's dealt with in a few years seeing as most of the members of the society are already married."

"She plans all the weddings of members?"-Ileana asked.

"Yes. Not because anyone is forced but because she's good at it. If we were entirely human she'd do it for a living."-Axel responded.

They all walked into the house and were happy to feel the comforting warmth of the home. The décor of the foyer and the hallway was very inviting. The walls were in a warm cream color and the carpet was a rich brown. Galatea bounced in front of them and took them into the living room where house elves brought them tea, pumpkin juice and a variety of breakfast foods.

Galatea was beaming at them as she said: "I figured you'd be hungry and I observed some of your likes so there's a lot of things prepared. Take your time and once you're all done we can start getting ready for the wedding! Oh, I remember when Axel and I got married!"-She then drifted off into dreamland.

The young couples got to have their breakfast while Galatea found her way to her husband's lap and proceeded to act like an excited girl as she thought of weddings. Because it was so uncommon to see her in this state, Ileana and Hermione watched the odd behavior intently. They eventually snapped out of it; Hermione snapped out of it when Draco nudged her and Ileana snapped out of it when Blaise whispered that it would be wise for her to eat.

Once they were finished eating, Galatea took off like a firecracker and got everyone to his or her individual fittings. Whilst the women and men were outfitted Galatea and Axel made sure to decorate the ballroom to make it fitting for a wedding. Because they set no color and it was a shotgun wedding, Galatea took it upon herself to make floral arrangements of gardenias, baby's breath and hints of light pink roses. The flowers were placed on vases made out of ice that had charms on them so they wouldn't melt. Axel had made the ballroom smaller so as to not appear empty considering the small number of people and he'd made an arch out of ice, which he also charmed to keep from melting. It was beautiful and gave the wedding a winter theme in a late summer setting.

When everything was ready, Galatea transfigured her clothes into a pale blue dress and Axel transfigured his clothes into a simple black suit with a shirt slightly matching the color of his wife's dress. They separated and went to look for the bride and groom.

Everything was ready as Blaise, Draco and Axel made their way down from one of the guest rooms into the ballroom. It was very much a quick wedding because, despite having to choose a dress, the men had to wait only a few minutes for the ladies to arrive. Hermione entered the ballroom with a slight spring on her step with a lovely bouquet of light pink roses and then stood to the left side of the arch.

The wedding officiator popped into place and just as Galatea was about to leave so everything could star and Ileana could walk down the aisle, the nervous bride asked:

"I don't want to walk the aisle alone. Could you please…?"

"I'd love to, sweetie."-Galatea said with a bright smile on her face.

And with that they walked down the aisle.

Blaise was simply amazed by the beauty he was witnessing. Ileana looked glowing and positively stunning carrying herself down the aisle, wedding dress and bouquet in tow. Her copper curls were contained in a stylish bun and she wore no veil but instead a diamond encrusted headband and two simple diamond stud earrings as jewelry. Her gown was a long white sheath with lace cap sleeves and some lace detailing in the top*. One of the most beautiful details of the dress, however, was one Blaise wouldn't see until later. The most beautiful detail was the keyhole back, making the lovely bride's back give off a hint of sensuality.

Ileana's eyes sparkled as she looked at Blaise who was dapper as ever in his tuxedo. She was incredibly happy that she would be getting married to the man she loved and they would be starting a family together. As hard and as much as she worked and though she tried to hide it, she really did want to start a family and she was glad that she was starting it with her soul mate.

Galatea let Ileana go as they reached the arch and took the bride's romantic bouquet. Ileana took Blaise's hands in hers as the ceremony began:

"Friends, we are here to celebrate the joining of Ms. Ileana Swanson and Mr. Blaise Zabini. Love is such a beautiful bond that in the Wizarding World it is near permanent. In fact, love creates bonds itself and is one of the most astonishing and powerful devices of good. That this wizard and this witch have decided to enter into a permanent bond, into this contract of loyalty and fidelity means that they have thought seriously of being there for each other until the very end. Mr. Zabini repeat after me…"-He continued to recite what Blaise would remember always.

"I, Blaise Zabini take you, Ileana Swanson to be my wife. To have and to hold, for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish from this day forward until death do us part."

Blaise confidently repeated the most traditional of all vows to his glowing bride and then it was her turn to recite her vows to him. With a nervously girlish voice she repeated:

"I, Ileana Swanson take you, Blaise Zabini to be my husband. To have and to hold, for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish from this day forward until death do us part."

The wizard smiled and then continued the ceremony: "If anyone should find just cause why these two should not wed, speak now or forever hold your peace."

There was a riotous silence and the couple beamed as the officiator finally said:

"Then by the power vested in me by the Ministry of Magic, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

And as if he had but a moment of life left, Blaise pulled his wife into him and gave her, the sweetest yet most passionate kiss he could muster. They completely dazzled each other and in that moment, as cliché as it sounded, they felt like they were the only two people in the world. They broke the kiss and looked into each other's eyes as they smiled brightly.

As the couple went on to have their first dance to music provided for them**, Draco and Hermione looked sadly at the newlyweds and then at each other. The wedding had been beautiful but, in a way, it only served to remind them that because of their own faults and fears and arguments, they had missed out on having an experience like the one their friends were having. They would be happy and likely with a child in their arms. But now they had to live with the consequences of their actions and they had long accepted that they had to rebuild bridges. It seemed like they were on a long road but they were conquering it together.

Draco walked over to the love of his life and wrapped his arms around her. "That's going to be us one day. I promise."-He said softly into her ear and then kissed her cheek.


Back in England, Parvati began a rage at the very moment Blaise and Ileana kissed and became man and wife. It was as if something inside her knew that Blaise would never be hers now and so she snapped. The healers in St. Mungo's were slightly frightened, but nevertheless determined to calm her down. It took five male healers to set her over the bed and bind her to it, after which she was given a sedative potion. Once she had fallen asleep, she received a visitor.

Dean Thomas was simultaneously afraid and in love with Parvati Patil. He was very well aware that she was only using him and that she would never love him like she loved Blaise. She frightened him when she told him the extent of her plan to ruin the person she loved the most: not only did she want to expose them and send them to jail, but she wanted to personally, in her words: "flay them alive."

Yet, he couldn't stop himself. He would do anything she requested. This time, however, she couldn't tell him what it was that she wanted because she was locked up. In fact, unless you were a St. Mungo's staff member it would be impossible to break her out. He would've asked for Lavender's help considering she was as crazy as Parvati, but Lavender was currently in a work exchange program with a hospital in Egypt and wouldn't be back for months. Dean didn't want to waste valuable time waiting for Lavender to return.

He got closer to Parvati and planted a chaste kiss on her forehead. In the months that he would have to wait for Lavender to return, he would execute his beloved's plan so that when she was awake and released, she would start to love him. She would be ever so grateful that she no longer needed to be haunted by her desire to kill and maim and cause pain. He left the hospital room and apparated back to his apartment.

He hadn't slept all night because he had kept vigil over his deranged lover, so he took a nap. But once he woke, he knew the first thing he needed to do. It wasn't going to be easy, but if he remained very calm about it and put on his best sad face, he would get what he was aiming for; the one thing Parvati had never told him that was essential right now. The very next day he was going to fool Harry Potter into giving up the location of the headquarters of the Inked.


Ileana's dress: David's Bridal website. Style: T3342

Blaise and Ileana's song: Us by Regina Spektor.

Also, I'd like all of you to keep in mind that Harry and Padma are going to become actively involved in the story.