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**** HERMIONE ****
A light gust of wind pushed against the curtains, the fabric billowed momentarily in the air and then settled back into place. It was the perfect autumn day and I could see the water from where I stood just inside the door. It was calm and serene, the sun low in the sky, bordering on setting. I would have pinched myself, but if I was in the middle of a dream, I didn't want to wake up.
This was the place I loved the most. It was the place where my life hit its lowest, the place where I had run to and hidden, where I had been so lost I never thought I would ever find myself again. It was the place where my broken heart had slowly healed, the place where the person I once so hated opened my eyes to possibilities, opened my eyes to real love.
I placed my hand on the door, and looked down at my feet. Once I stepped through the door, it was just thirty steps, probably less, to Draco and what was about to be the rest of my life.
Breathe, I told myself.
I wasn't nervous, just anxious. I had wanted to be married to him since before we had our baby, since the first time he told me he loved me, since I first realised that the boy who I thought hated me at school hadn't really hated me at all.
It never ceased to amaze me just how much Draco had changed. The man who was waiting for me on the other side of the door was not who I had pictured this happening with. But, then, I wasn't the same person either. We'd both changed, both grown, both had become the people we were meant to be.
He was still dominant and liked control, and I still liked to be right. We still argued, we butted heads, but we also talked, sometimes for hours, after which we would make loud, passionate love.
I wasn't sure what perfection was, but I had my own little piece of it with him.
"Hermione?" Harry said as he stepped up beside me, "You okay?"
I nodded and told him, "No."
He laughed, "Well, I don't think you can get out of this. He knows you're here. He's already seen you today, right?"
My cheeks grew hot and I dropped my eyes to the floor, cursing Ginny for telling him. I was certain that I didn't need my best friend knowing the state that we had been found in that morning.
He bumped his shoulder against mine, "Nothing to be embarrassed about. Ginny didn't want to sleep alone before our wedding either."
"You're kidding?" My head flew up and I stared at him, "How?"
Molly had been watching them like a hawk. She'd insisted that they not see each other before the wedding, and unlike me, she'd refused to give in. I was certain that she had guarded Ginny's door, but clearly her tactics had failed.
"Invisibility cloak," He grinned at me, "Also, she left before the sun was up, so we never got caught."
I laughed, "I'm going to slap her."
He kissed my cheek, "Nerves gone?" I nodded and glanced towards the door. He smiled taking my hand in his and squeezing it gently, "When did you first know?"
"When he first spent the night on my couch." I said without hesitation.
"Ah, excuse me? Your couch?" Harry shot me a look that said, what the hell? and I laughed.
"I'd only been here..." I thought back to my arrival at the cottage and shrugged, "Maybe two weeks, three? And you know how I feel about thunder?" Harry nodded and I continued, "Well, he cooked for me, he told me how sorry he was for how he treated me while we were at school, and then offered to sleep on my couch after he realised I was terrified when the storm kicked up. And it got so bad that I ended up downstairs, sleeping on the other couch. I don't think I loved him then, but it was when I first felt something."
"Well, I'm glad it worked out for you," He said, "The two of you are still nauseatingly in love, and just so you know, we all hate you both."
"Thanks Harry," I said with a laugh and tucked my arm into the crook of his, closing my eyes and breathing slowly.
He stood beside me patiently, and when I opened my eyes again, everything seemed to calm, to settle and be still. The circling breeze had died down and I could hear the gentle wash of the waves on the sand below.
"Ready?"
"Ready," I said and looking down as I took a step forward, from the house that had become my home, to the life that waited for me in the twilight outside.
"Hey," Harry said quietly, "Don't look down, you'll miss this moment."
My heart leapt into my throat when I lifted my head, and my feet refused to take another step. Harry was right, I didn't want to miss this. Draco was waiting for me, at the edge of the deck overlooking our beach, and he was holding our daughter.
The plan had been for Blaise to hold her so she was close to us but so we were still able to concentrate on getting married, but clearly she'd had other ideas and just wanted her daddy.
I'd been glad that I'd spent the night with him, but now, I was even more pleased that I'd not seen him since Pansy and Ginny sole me from our room. This was the picture I wanted to remember: Draco was dressed exactly how I had asked him, sleeves rolled up and all. And he was standing in front of our friends, holding our daughter in his arms, strong and protective, smiling at her, despite the fact that she was pulling on his lip with her chubby little hand.
His gaze shifted from our daughter and his eyes finally found mine. I saw his chest constrict, saw his expression change. A smile slowly spread across his face; the biggest, widest smile I'd ever seen. And everything else around me ceased to exist. I could only see the two of them. I felt the tears well in my eyes. My life was right in front of me. My whole world. My family. My everything.
"Mum!" Charlotte squealed when she saw me, her little hands clapping. She squirmed against Draco, wanting to get to me, her arms flailing urgently, "MumMumMum!"
Draco tried to quiet her, but she refused, her little face scrunching up, about to wail. I couldn't blame her. I had seen her for barely an hour that morning before Narcissa took over and kept her occupied while I had gotten ready. Shower. Hair. Make-up. Dress. Bridesmaids. Photos. I was exhausted and I still had to get married.
But seeing my daughter, my anxiety instantly left me. I smiled at her, waving my fingers, but it was to no avail. She was desperate to get to me. Draco took a step forward, but Blaise stopped him, plucking Charlotte out his arms before she became frantic, and walked towards me, a huge smile on his face. He nodded at the small bouquet of flowers that I held, "I'll swap you."
I laughed and dropped Harry's arm, reaching for Charlotte and handing Blaise the flowers as I did so. "Hey, baby girl,"
She snuggled into me, and I smoothed my hand over her back, breathing in the soft scent of my little girl. I caught Draco's eyes as he watched us. He was on the verge of tears, the exact same expression on his face that I'd had on my face when I stepped out and saw him with her less than a minute ago. We may have done this the wrong way around - baby first, wedding second - but to have her here with us, to see the look on his face right now, I wouldn't change a thing.
"You don't need me for this." Harry squeezed my shoulder, "Go. Walk up there with your daughter and marry her father." He kissed my cheek and found his seat.
I took a breath and looked at my daughter. "Are you ready, baby? Will we go to daddy?"
She turned to look at Draco and her face broke into a toothy grin. "Dada."
"Yeah," I said and looked at Draco, "We love your Dada."
I walked towards him, the few steps from the doorway to the edge of the deck seeming to be a mile instead of just a few meters. His smile was wide and he only had eyes for us – his two girls.
He reached for me as soon as I was close and I took his hand. A wide smile split his face, his relief palpable as I stood next to him.
"Hi," he said.
"Hi." My voice was slightly breathless as his grey eyes flicked down to the low neckline of my gown. I'd taken Pansy's cue and kept my dress simple. A plain satin sheath, with a beaded tulle overlay. The v neckline was low, but not indecent, just enough to know that his eyes would struggle to stay focused on my face.
"Dada." Charlotte said and smiled brightly at him.
Draco brushed his hand over her head, and then held his arms out to her, but she pushed him away,
"No," she said firmly, making everyone laugh. She only said a few words but this one had become her new favourite.
The celebrant smiled at the three of us, and asked, "Are we ready?"
We both answered in the affirmative and I turned to face Draco, my daughter perched on my hip, my hand firmly planted in his. Harry's words rang in my ears - don't miss this moment – and I absorbed every word, every smile, every brush of his thumb across my hand.
I repeated the vows that the celebrant read, feeling Draco squeeze my hand when it was his turn. I watched the emotion in his eyes as he repeated the words to me. His eyes grew dark, serious, when he said, I promise to be faithful and loyal to only you. And I knew, as did he, the weight behind them.
The celebrant turned to me, "Hermione, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? To love and honour him, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish always?"
Charlotte chose that moment to fuss, and she squirmed in my arms, pushing against me. She'd had enough of being held and wanted get down. I lowered her to the deck, and in what was the perfect moment, we both said our 'I do's,' with our daughter sitting at our feet, playing with Draco's shoe laces, babbling quietly and giggling softly.
Blaise handed us our rings, and I savoured the feel of the cool platinum on my warm skin as Draco slid the ring on my finger. I did the same, and he flexed his hand, grinning at me.
The celebrant asked, "If anyone opposes the marriage of this man and this woman, please speak now, or forever hold your peace."
"No." Our daughter said from her place at our feet. We both looked down and she smiled back up at us.
"Does that count?" Draco asked and the celebrant laughed.
"I think we can ignore that one." He looked between us both, "Draco, Hermione. I now pronounce you husband and wife. Draco, you may kiss your wife."
He leaned into me, and I met him halfway. We paused just inches away from each other, smiling, and then his hands came up and cupped my face, searching my eyes. His thoughts were almost visible. This wasn't the start of our life together – we'd shared first kisses, first I love you's, our first time, our daughter - this just made it official. He was mine. I was his.
He closed the distance and covered my lips with his. I didn't want this to be a tiny kiss. I wanted something deep, something memorable, something meaningful. And as he pressed his lips harder to mine, I knew that he felt the same. He lingered, not caring about the loud hoots and clapping that had erupted around us, and kissed me for what seemed to be forever.
When we broke apart, we were both slightly breathless. The celebrant grinned at us, "Family and friends, may I introduce you all to Draco and Hermione Malfoy."
Draco bent down and picked Charlotte up, before we were engulfed by our friends. Pansy and Ginny hugged me from both sides, and Harry landed a kiss on my cheek. I watched as Narcissa hugged Draco, and then wrapped her arms around me. Blaise engulfed me, lifting me from the floor, and I laughed as I saw Katie roll her eyes at her husband's antics.
And then Draco's hand was in mine, pulling me through the small crowd and kissing me once more. I saw the flare of his nostrils, the flicker of heat in his eyes.
"Mrs. Malfoy," He whispered against my ear and my breath caught, "As soon as this party is over, I'm going to fuck you so hard, you'll forget your name was ever Granger."
"Hmm," I hummed and looked at our daughter balanced on his arm, "That sounds amazing, but I don't think our baby needs to know that."
"No," Charlotte agreed, and we both laughed.
Narcissa had not disappointed me – not that I ever thought she would – and had arranged what was possibly the most perfect wedding I could have imagined. The only blight on our day was that the light breeze that had been pleasant, had picked up and turned into a gale, so remaining on the deck was impossible.
The party had moved inside, and the giddy feeling that had come over me the second the celebrant had announce our new status as husband and wife had yet to leave me. And neither had Draco. He was never more than an arm's length away from me, touching me as if ensuring I was still there. His hand was either linked with mine, or pressing gently on my lower back, or wrapped around my waist.
Even when our living room magically changed around us – our furniture disappearing to be replaced with elegant tables, flickering candles, and tiny lights shining bright above our heads – his arm was around my shoulders, his hand running over the bared skin of my neck. He dropped kisses to my shoulder and neck, making me shiver every time he did, and chuckling at my response.
After dinner, the room changed again. The space opened and Narcissa insisted that we dance. Draco held out his hand, the same giddy grin on my face reflected in his.
"Are you ready to dance with your husband?"
I slipped my hand into his, and he led me onto the dance floor, nestling me against him, and proving yet again that he could dance. My head was tucked under his chin, but I looked up when I realised what the music was that was playing.
"Debussy," I whispered and he nodded.
"Our first kiss," He said, "Seemed appropriate."
I leaned up and did just that – kissed him. "Are you always going to be this perfect?"
He shook his head, "No. This is the last impressive thing I have to do. I've got you now. You're all mine, I no longer have to do anything to impress you."
"Ha," I laughed and rolled my eyes, "You're funny."
He leaned in and slid his mouth over mine, "I love you."
"I love you too."
His eyes roamed over my face, "You're my wife."
"And you're my husband," I grinned, "I own your arse."
"That's nothing new. You've owned it for some time now." He laughed, reaching around me and pulling me tighter against him. I lifted one eyebrow. There was no way he was half hard when we were surrounded by our family and friends.
He grinned, knowing exactly what I was thinking. He leaned down, his lips close to my ear, "I've been hard since you walked through that door. And I meant what I said earlier."
I grinned back at him, "And I look forward to it."
I stood in the doorway watching as Draco tenderly laid Charlotte in her crib. He spread his hand across her tummy, holding still for a moment.
The party had wrapped up and Blaise and Katie were staying with her for the night. But I knew him, and I knew how nervous he got on the rare times that we had left her with anyone, regardless of how much we trusted them.
I crossed the room placing my hand on his back, resting my head on his shoulder, and stared down at our little girl.
Her rosebud lips were parted, and her tiny little breaths were calm and easy. She had one arm raised above her head, the other wrapped tightly around her favourite pink elephant.
"I'm certain she's the most perfect baby ever." I whispered.
He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and kissed my temple, "I think you're right. She's pretty amazing."
"And so are Blaise and Katie." I looked up at him, "She loves them both."
He pulled her blanket over her and nodded, "I know. But we've not left her all night yet."
I turned and wrapped my arms around his waist, "We can stay here. It doesn't matter where our wedding night is."
"No, I have plans for you," He said and kissed me, "I just didn't figure on little miss here breaking my heart."
"I'm sure your heart will be one of many that she does break." I laughed at the look of horror on his face. "Sorry, no mentioning boys in her future."
He sighed and I touched my hand over his heart, "You know she'll be fine. She has Blaise wrapped around her finger, he'll probably sleep on the floor by her crib. Besides, I think there's a reason they were so quick to volunteer to watch her."
He frowned, "What do you—" His eyes went wide and he lowered his voice, "Do you think?"
I shrugged, "I can only assume, but Katie has that glow about her, and Blaise had been hovering."
He chuckled, "I know the feeling."
"Are you ready?"
He looked down at Charlotte once more, let out a slow breath and then nodded. "Yeah, I'm ready."
We backed quietly out of her room, and met Blaise and Katie downstairs, and then after Draco listed off about a thousand things regarding his daughter, he led me out to the deck and held up a thin piece of cloth.
I narrowed my eyes and asked warily, "What's that for?"
"Tonight is a surprise." He stepped forward holding it towards my eyes, waiting for me to give my approval.
I stared at the thin piece of cloth for several seconds and sucked in a breath. "Okay," I nodded and gripped his wrist when the world went dark. "You're taking this off me when we get there, right?"
He laughed and ran his nose along my jaw; my lack of sight had instantly heightened my other senses and I shivered, a warm pool of heat gathering low in my stomach.
"Maybe," He whispered in my ear, "Maybe I'll leave it on and drive you to the brink of insanity."
I huffed out a nervous laugh; I wasn't sure if he was serious, and he knew that I hated to have my face covered.
"Do you trust me?" He asked, his mouth still close to my ear.
I let out a shaky breath, and I felt his hands go to the blindfold. I stopped him, "I trust you."
"I'll remove it when we get there, I promise." His warm hands cupped my face, "Ready?"
I nodded, "Ready."