Chapter 16: The Binding Day Part 1

A/N: Thank you all for sticking with me for so long, Ahhh School is hectic and I haven't had any time to update. Thanks again.

Hermione awoke to the sun on her face in a large bed at the Malfoy's manor, she smiled and stretched and then she suddenly froze, she was getting married today, twice. She slumped back into the bed, stared at the ceiling above her. How did her life get to be so hectic? She looked to right and froze again, what she saw took her breath away, there was a single yellow rose delicately placed upon the pillow next to her. Attached to it was a small note with nothing on it but, We'll make today a fairytale.

Hermione smiled as she read the small note written in beautiful handwriting, she never knew that the man could be such a romantic. She thought about the man she was soon to be married and to her surprise, she was wondering what he was doing at that moment. Was he thinking of her, was he ready for what was to come? Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door.

"Come on in!" As soon as she said it, her mother, aunt and Pansy came through the door.

"Good morning, Hermione, are you ready for your big day?" Hermione smiled sleepily in response.

"The binding is in five hours, so I do believe that you need to get up." Pansy said sarcastically.

Hermione smiled and started to get out of bed. She sat down at the vanity sitting just outside the bathroom door to the right. She sat down and leaned into her hands rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Belletrix sat down next to her daughter and looked at her reflection. She lifted her hand and started lightly rubbing it through her daughter's untamed mane.

"Are you ready?" Her daughter nodded in response, Bella reached for the brush sitting in front of the young lady and started to do her hair. Suddenly there was a knock at the door, Narcissa got up from her spot on the bed and opened the door. In walked Draco with a tray overflowing with food.

"Good Morning Hermione would you like some breakfast." Hermione smiled at her cousin and nodded, so he brought it over and transfigured a table next to her and he sat the tray on top of it. "Uncle Lucius attempted to make the breakfast so I do not guarantee it to be delicious." Hermione and Draco looked at each other and then they broke out in laughter. The two sat and talked with Pansy while Bella did her hair. When she was done, Draco explained that he had to go but he and Pansy would meet her at Hogwarts before the ceremony. He kissed her temple and he and Pansy left the room.

Narcissa helped the mother daughter pair by running a bath for the young bride. When she came out into the room, she said, "The bath is ready, all I have to do is put the charm on your hair, I trust you not to dunk you head but it is just to keep your hair in pristine condition." Narcissa performed the spell and left Hermione to get the rest done on her own. Hermione got up after the two older Witches had left the room and sat down in the bath. As she sat there in the water that was at just the right temperature, her thoughts drifted back to Severus and how nice it would be to share a moment like this with him. She smiled and sat there for about thirty minutes; she wrapped up her relaxing time and got out of the tub.

She wrapped a robe around her and went out looking for her mother, she found her sitting in the library next to her room and when Bella and Narcissa made note of her presence, they both grabbed the rest of Hermione's things for the binding and they appeared to Hogwarts gates. There they were greeted by Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore, both with a big grin on their faces.

"Hello Professors," Hermione greeted. Bother professors greeted back with the usual cheer to see the bright Gryffindor. The group turned to Narcissa when she spoke, "I should get back to the manor, and we all know that those men need help getting dressed for special occasions." Everyone laughed, Narcissa handed over the bags she was carrying to Minerva and waited for her to depart. After which, everyone went inside to Minerva's chambers to finish getting ready.

When the group entered the room, Ginny was sitting on the couch with her hair done up in a half bun and the ends of her hair that were hanging loose were curled, giving her hair perfect definition. She looked at the new arrivals and smiled her very bright smile; she got up and hugged her best friend that was almost a sister. "Are you ready for the big moment, or should I say moments?"

Hermione smiled and responded by saying, "I know I am very excited, I get to have my wedding and then renew my vows that same night, I don't think that my parents renewed their vows until after my fifth year." Hermione smiled and then as soon as the smile had appeared, it disappeared, and tears came to her eyes. She looked at her best friend and saw the concern in her eyes and she said, "I never thought that I would marry and they wouldn't be here to see it, I really wanted them to be here." She started sobbing and leaned into her friend for support and Ginny just hugged her back. She looked up at Bella and saw the hurt in her eyes and in response she said, "Hermione, the Grangers couldn't be here but you know what, You have two loving parents that are here for you now, and maybe instead of looking at the bad, you can look at what good you have right in front of you."

Hermione looked at her friend and then turned to her mother and said, "Your right," and with that she went to her mother and hugged her with all the love in her heart. As she pulled away, she said, "Besides, I'm getting married today, there will be no tears but tears of joy from here on out." She gave her mother another hug and then they all got to work.

By the time they were done with the bride, everything but the dress, she looked gorgeous. She had her hair done up I a half bun like Ginny but instead of curls, her hair was straightened and to everyone's' surprise, her hair came down to almost her backside. Her bun was not as tight as Ginny's either, Hers, while tight enough not to bounce around, there were strands scattered out of it that kept the natural curl of her bushy mane and it was perfect for the overall look of the dress. The final touch was the dress itself, when she put that on with the veil, she couldn't contain herself, and this was really happening, she couldn't believe it. Tears started to come to her eyes again, but she pushed them down just as a knock came to the door. Ginny grabbed the door, it was Draco. He walked into the room with his usual persona, snobbish.

No one was surprised about his initial actions, however his next, was a mind blower; He walked in and looked at his cousin, "Wow, you look amazing Hermione," he sounded sincere and he walked over to his cousin and hugged her. She hugged him back, she could get used to this new Draco in her life, and the niceness was a nice change. They bonded and talked for a while and then another knock came to the door, Ginny once again got it, and it was the older Weasley couple. Hermione turned to them and smiled; she went to them and hugged them.

Draco cleared his throat and said, "I should go."

"Draco, you don't have to go."

"Actually, I do, I'm the best man's son and he can't make it until the ceremony, so it's up to me to go make sure the groom isn't having a mental break down." He and Hermione smirked at each other and he left.

"How are you today my dear?" Molly asked.

"I'm alright, given the circumstances." Hermione had so wonderfully indulged the rest of the Weasley clan, along with everyone that was going to be affected, about the events that had so wonderfully unfolded over the summer at the order meeting last week. Everyone took it as expected, there were profanities said and things like that, there were some talks held that there was nothing going right, this wasn't right for Hermione, she was meant to be with Ron. Eventually everyone settled that the unfolding events were set in stone and neither end of the engagement was going to budge.

"Oh dear, I never thought that I would see you in a dress this early, even if it isn't to Ron. Oh dear look at me I promised myself I wouldn't do this."

"It's ok Mrs. Weasley, I understand but this needs to happen."

"Either way Hermione, We will support you, and be behind you no matter what events unfold." Arthur stated in reassurance. Hermione smiled at him and gave him a hug.

The two left shortly after and Hermione had a sudden thought that there was something that needed to be done. "Oh My lord, Severus still needs to talk to Harry and Ron, he promised." Hermione went on a rampage and started freaking out. She yelled about what he had said and how she might lose her two best friends and how she couldn't handle that. She stopped when her best friend grabbed her arms and stopped her.

"Hermione relax, I will go get the boys and I will take them to His room where they can talk." Ginny said, and with that, she left to find the other two of the trio and Hermione started to relax. The group continued to get ready; the ceremony was in an hour.

Severus had been up for about six hours and was dressed with the exception of the jacket, and ready to go, he paced for hours before Draco came knocking at his door.

"It's about time you got here I have been freaking time, this is ridiculous, I am getting married today and I needed you here!"

"I'm sorry; I went up to see Hermione before I came down. And you are going to drop when you see her."

Severus, was surprised, he knew that Draco was being nice to Hermione, and that she was already beautiful but the fact that he actually said that, he was amazed.

Draco finally took note of Severus' appearance and said, "So how long have you been up?"

"A while."

"How long is a while?"

"Five hours."

"You've been up since four?"

"Was that really six hours ago?" he said sarcastically looking at his watch.

"Ok come on, what is going on?"

Severus looked at his god son, "There is nothing going on, I am getting married today, should there be something going on."

"You're nervous aren't you?"

Severus didn't know how to respond so instead he collapsed on the couch, "What if she's right Draco?"

"She's a know it all of course she's right."

Severus glared at Draco, "That's not what I meant; I mean what if she's right about this relationship? What if it's going to be loveless?"

Draco realized what he had been saying and he sat down next to him, "Severus, do you have any feeling for her?"

"I don't know,"

"Have you kissed?"

"Yes."

"Anything?"

"I wanted to go farther but I didn't want to hurt or startle her."

"So there was something."

"What does my protection of her sexually have to do with anything?"

"If you cared for her enough to stop the situation before it got worse, then there is something there."

"What if she doesn't return the feeling?"

"Ok well I don't think that will be a problem, just look into her eyes and speak with sincerity, She'll open up to you."

Severus looked at the young wizard next to him and contemplated what had just been said. They talked about other things pertaining to the upcoming ceremony, and what they were going to do that evening in front of the Dark Lord. Draco looked at the clock and jumped up with a start.

"We have just over an hour till the wedding, here let me help you." He grabbed out his wand and smoothed the wrinkled out of his suit. After which, he transfigured a black ribbon and a comb out of thin air and pulled Severus's hair back into a slight ponytail at the base of his neck. As soon as he was done he and Severus took a shot of fire whiskey to calm the nerves and as soon as the liquid touched their lips, there was a knock at the door. Draco took it upon himself to get the door and there was a slight surprise to see who was at the door.

Draco opened the door and was greeted by Ginny, Her brother and the best friend. "Hello."

"Hi," Ginny said with a smile, "Hermione said that the boys and Professor Snape were to talk about some things before the binding." And as soon as she said so, Snape appeared behind Draco with his teacher persona about him.

"Miss Weasley, Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley please come in." Everyone did as told and fallowed the potions master into the sitting room.

"So what is it that is bothering you Potter?"

Harry stopped for a second, there wasn't anything wrong, "Nothing sir."

Severus gave him a look and said, "Hermione thinks that there are some things that need to be discussed, so something you said made her wonder if there was something wrong."

He caved, "Sir you should know what is bothering me." Nothing, "you are marrying my best friend, OUR best friend. Do you honestly expect us not to have a problem?"

Severus nodded and said, "I understand, I don't say I blame you," He let down his wall to say, "I really care about her, she is very bright and I respect her beyond anything that I am sure either of you could comprehend. I don't plan on hurting her, I don't want to."

Ron was the first to respond, "I do not ask that you jump in front of the killing curse for her, I am asking that you keep her from emotional pain and only physical pain if it is within your power."

Everyone looked at him in shock; no one had known that he was that deep. It was wonderful that he felt that it was very caring toward his best friend in Severus' mind.

Severus said in response, "That Mr. Weasley, I can promise you that I will do my best."

Ginny all of a sudden feeling very awkward said, "I should probably get back to Hermione the ceremony is in a half an hour." She hastily left the room and loudly shut the door behind her. He group of men she left behind were a bit shocked at the hastiness of the youngest Weasley and they continued with their conversation.

"So do you all have any other concerns for me?"

There was a slight pause and Harry had another question, "Will Hermione have to get the dark mark sir?"

"Doubtfully, the dark lord won't mark her because she is going to need to stay close to you and if she bares the mark, you will disown her and she will no longer be of use to him."

"But you wear the mark sir and we trust you."

This time Draco stepped in, "Yes but Sev…. Professor Snape doesn't spend almost every day with you and isn't someone that most people pride themselves in associating with. And wouldn't you find it a bit odd that Hermione started wearing long-sleeved shirts all the time even when it's boiling outside?"

Both boys thought about this statement and nodded in agreement. It would indeed be odd and if they hadn't known the situation they would question her actions and choices.

Ron on the other hand had a more personal question, "Will you have to have children?"

This question caught everyone in the room off guard. It was silent for a moment and Severus answered, "Well the Ministry Law states that an arranged marriage couple must have sex at least once every two weeks and must have a child with in the first year."

"I didn't ask about the law I was asking if you would."

"Well the answer would be yes, we have to obey laws assigned to us or things look suspicious, it is already awkward enough that I am to be married to a student."

"Will you hurt her?"

"Again, I will do what I can to keep her safe."

"No I meant since she is a virgin, will you be, you know," Ron paused and looked at his hands clasped in his lap before continuing, "gentle?"

Severus was once again caught off guard, he knew the girl spent a lot of time in the library but he had no idea that she had completely secluded herself from the boys that surrounded her. He pondered just long enough to finish that thought and he said, "I will try not to."

The boys had agreed that that was all they needed to know and that they should probably go and greet their friends that would be arriving momentarily for the ceremony.

There was another knock at the door soon after Ginny arrived back into the head of Gryffendor's rooms, it was Professor Dumbledore.

"Hello sir, shouldn't you be getting ready for the ceremony?"

"Please Miss Granger; it seems that you do not have any knowledge about how many ceremonies I have conducted over the years."

"No sir."

"Well needless to say that I am ready and that it is one less thing for you to worry about. However there is one thing that I wanted to propose to you before the ceremony."

"What's that sir?"

"Being a student is hard enough without juggling the duties of Head Girl and being married. I wanted to offer you a chance to take your NEWTs after the honeymoon that you and Severus WILL go on. As for your head girl duties, I feel that it is only fair to pass them on to a student." Hermione was crying again and she mentally swore. "However, I would like to propose that since you are going to be Professor McGonagall's assistant, I would like to put you in between the heads boys and girls of each house and the deputy head mistress. Each head of house would go to you with a problem before taking it to her or me. So you get to still take care of your peers and still maintain the respect of the Head Girl. And of course you would still get rounds just as if you were a Head Girl or professor."

Hermione could have collapsed, here she thought that she would be losing her goals since a first year, instead she had just been treated as an equal rather than a student, and she ran to the headmaster as best she could and hugged him out of sincere gratitude. She didn't know how long she hugged him for but there was once again another knock at the door. When Ginny answered it, it was her father, "Its time Hermione, are you ready?"

She parted from the headmaster and looked at him before nodding yes. Her mother cast a quick spell to clean up her blotchy face and the group grabbed the flowers that were so necessary and they left in a parade. Everyone who wasn't part of the ceremony continued to walk past the entrance hall and into the great hall; Hermione, Ginny and Her father stayed behind and waited for their cues to go on. Almost as quickly as they arrived, the music for Ginny had started. She walked a good pace through the aisle and met Severus with a shy smile and took her place across from him and Lucius. Then the music for Hermione came echoing through the room and the doors worked their magic and opened revealing a wonderful father daughter couple.

Hermione walked next to her father tears once again threatening to pour out but she fought them and looked ahead. She noticed her fiancé and smiled at him all the way down. When they reached Dumbledore, she turned to her father and he removed her veil, she leaned over and kissed his cheek lovingly. He smiled shyly at her and handed her over to Severus before he went and joined his own wife in the first row.

Hermione and Severus were stunned with each other's appearance; Hermione liked his hair pulled back, it made him look more like the prince that she had dreamed of. He on the other hand couldn't believe his eyes. Draco was right, she was amazing, and the dress was simply perfect on her. Both were drawn from their thoughts when Dumbledore spoke:

"Welcome, Thank you all for joining us today, today we gather in notice that these two lovers are binding themselves to each other for ever. Who here gives this young woman to this man?"

"My wife Bella and I do."

"Thank you sir. Marriage is an act of faith and a personal commitment as well as a moral and physical union between two people. Marriage has been described as the best and most important relationship that can exist between them. It is the construction of their love and trust into a single growing energy of spiritual life. It is amoral commitment that requires and deserves daily attention. Marriage should be a lifelong consecration of the ideal of loving kindness – backed with the will to make it last. These two have made it clear simply by showing up today that they are ready for this. If there is anyone who doesn't wish for this union to be, please speak or forever hold your peace." At this, Hermione and Severus both turned and looked at the company present. Hermione looked at her two best friends and waited for them to say something, they didn't; they simply nodded in approval and she smiled in return. "Alright, since there is no objection, Hermione and Severus shall be joined. Will you now both turn and take each other's hands."

Hermione turned to Ginny and handed her the bouquet that she had in her hands before she turned toward her husband-to-be. She took both of his hands and looked into his eyes. "Severus would you please recite your vows to Hermione?"

Severus took a deep breath and said, "Hermione, I take you to be my wife, my constant friend, my faithful partner and my love from this day forward. In the presence of our family and friends, I promise to treat you as an equal and I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, to honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live" Hermione smiled at his words and waited for what Dumbledore would say next.

"Hermione would you please state your vows."

Hermione swallowed and found deep inside her Gryffindor courage. She spoke from the heart when she said, "Severus, I take you to be my husband. Before these witnesses I vow to love you and care for you as long as we both shall live. I take you with all your faults and your strengths as I offer myself to you with my faults and strengths. I will help you when you need help, and I will turn to you when I need help without question. I say sincerely that I choose you as the person with whom I will spend my life."

"You may both now reveal your rings." Both took out their rings and held them in their right palms. Both revealed a simple silver platinum Band with the other's initials in it, Severus's however had an inscription in it that said Love Forever S/H. Hermione smiled at his thoughtfulness once again and she listened for Dumbledore's next words.

"Severus would you please repeat after me: Hermione, with this ring, you are now consecrated to me as my wife from this day forward and I give you this ring as the pledge of my love and as the symbol of our unity and with this ring, I thee wed." Severus repeated exactly what was said placed the ring on Hermione's finger.

"Hermione, would you repeat after me: Severus, with this ring, you are now consecrated to me as my husband from this day forward and I give you this ring as the pledge of my love and as the symbol of our unity and with this ring, I thee wed." Hermione too repeated what was said and placed the ring upon the correct finger.

"Both have said their vows to each other and so by the power invested in me, Severs, you may kiss the bride." Albus took out his wand as did Lucius, Ginny, the Lestrange couple and Minerva, who was standing in as Severus' representative; the group cast the required binding spells to bind the two together forever. Severus leaned into the young lady in front of him and gently kissed her. Hermione closed her eyes, completely oblivious to the spells being cast around them. They eventually parted and turned toward the company they had brought together. They walked out of the room fallowed by their friends and family. As soon as everyone cleared out, it was up to Dumbledore and Minerva to transfigure the room into a reception area.

A/N: Ok everyone, this is a really long chapter and so I broke up the binding day chapter into 2 parts. Read this and then I will post the second part as soon as I can. I also want to thank everyone that has reviewed so far and adder this story to their story alert, and the favorite story. And of course thanks for adding me as a fav author. Ya'll are the best, thanks always Pup.