Not going to have a long authors note, just stating that I'm sorry once again for this chapter taking so long, same usual stuff. I'm writing this really late, and I'm like exhausted but I told myself I wouldn't sleep until I wrote the next chapter.
Oh and I just want to thank all of my readers for the support you have showed me throughout this past year, I love you all, and this chapter is written in your honor. (I made that sound like this was the last chapter. Not even close lol)
Oh yeah, One more thing, an anonymous reviewer asked me if I was portraying Hermione as myself in this story, and honestly the answer to that is not really, she's portraying who I'd like to be, she's much stronger than I am.
One more thing (apologies) This is a short chapter and you're going to hate me when it's finished.
Okay NOW on with the chapter after this """short""" authors note. -_-
Draco's eyes suddenly shot open, and with a quick glance around he realized he was in the Hospital Wing, again.
And he had a pounding headache.
"Oh holy mother of Merlin." He winced, grasping his skull and squeezing with all of his might.
"Oh good you're up." He heard a voice from beside him, and glanced over to see Pansy sitting there next to Blaise, her arms crossed.
"What happened?" He asked, talking quietly due to his current sensitivity to every bloody sound in the world.
"You being a self centered prick is what happened!" She shrieked, and he moaned in pain, gripping his head tighter.
"Due to the massive hangover and my lack of memory of the night before I'm going to assume I had a bit too much to drink." He said massaging his temples.
"A. Bit. Too. Much. To. Drink?" She put emphasis on every word, her voice coming out in a hiss that would make Voldemort jealous.
"I didn't mean to Pans, I promise, I was just going to have a little, to take the edge off of the constant sadness, and the less I felt, the more I wanted to drink so I could forget more and more." He groaned again, as a wave of nausea rushed through him, and Blaise barely had time to shove a trashcan in his hands before he was vomiting violently.
"I'm never drinking again." He groaned, wiping his mouth and laying back in bed.
"Yeah, we've heard that one before." Blaise said, rolling his eyes.
"How long was I out?" Draco asked, looking over to see that it was still dark out.
"A little over 24 hours." Pansy said, and Draco shot up in bed, not caring about the pain that resounded throughout his skull.
"What?! Did I miss anything, did anything happen? Is Snape almost done? Have they already left to save Hermione?!" The questions shot out of his mouth so fast that even he couldn't understand, but luckily Pansy knew him well enough to know what he was getting at.
"You haven't missed anything, but Snape said that when you woke up have you go to his office immediately, something to do with the potion." Before Pansy had even fully finished her sentence Draco was jumping out of bed, running out of the room as quickly as possible despite his protesting head.
He reached Snape's office in record time, thanking the gods that he had a hangover potion ready for him.
He downed it quickly, not even taking the time to enjoy the lack of pain before he turned to Snape, waiting for answers.
"I hear your mother found you fully clothed in the prefects bathtub, pretending you were a boat." Snape said offhandedly, purposely avoiding the subject he knew Draco craved to know about.
"I wouldn't know." He said impatiently, literally rocking on the balls of his feet in anticipation.
"Patience Draco." Snape said, dropping in what looked to be crushed dragon eggs, a very illegal ingredient.
"I have no patience when it comes to the woman I love." Draco snapped, growing annoyed.
Snape tsk'ed slightly, and as the potion suddenly turned a bright blue he let out a happy 'aha!'
"Well?.." Draco asked, leaning over to look at the potion to see if anything else would happen.
"The potion will be ready very soon, it just needs time for the last ingredients to dissolve and that shouldn't take more than a few hours." He said, and then suddenly he felt Draco's arms wrap around him tightly.
Snape tensed up, affection was definitely not his forte. He awkwardly patted him on the back before pushing him away gently.
"Don't get all mushy on me, save it for Miss Granger." He said, his cheeks coloring very slightly, no one but Draco would have noticed.
"Thank you Uncle Sev, you have no idea how much this truly means to me." He said, before running off to go tell his mother the great news.
"Anything for you." Snape said quietly, a rare smile lighting up his crooked features.
Hermione stared at her reflection disdainfully once more, she'd been doing that a lot lately, but now it wasn't her features, no she was back to her normal self thank Merlin, but this time it was the wedding dress.
Seeing herself in this dress, instead of the glamoured barbie she'd been when she had put it on the first time, it made it all more real.
Her breathing was slightly ragged, and she squeezed her eyes shut tightly.
"You're doing this for your mum and dad Hermione, remember that." She whispered to herself, strengthening her resolve slightly.
When she opened her eyes once more and looked into the mirror again she had her mask in place.
"You can do this." She all but commanded herself.
"It's time ma'am." She heard Cilia's sad voice, and she jumped slightly.
"Okay." She said, feeling bile rise in her throat but forcing it down.
"I can do this, I can do this." She whispered repeatedly to herself, as Cilia took her hand and led her out of the room.
She heard 'Here Comes the Bride' begin to play on an organ, and refrained from rolling her eyes.
As she stepped into the ballroom her whole body froze, the room was decorated perfectly.
"Just like how I described my dream wedding to Ronald when we were together." She felt herself grow angry, how dare he ruin her dream wedding for her.
As she finally caught sight of him she felt her stomach turn in disgust, he was staring at her as if this were a real wedding, a huge smile on his face, and love in his eyes.
The walk down the aisle was much shorter than she'd prefer.
"You look beautiful." He whispered in her ear, placing his hand on her arm gently.
She shook it off roughly and sent a glare in his direction, but he continue smiling at her.
And then Professor Klaus began speaking.
"Dearly Beloved, we are gathered together here in the sign of God – and in the face of this company – to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony, which is commended to be honorable among all men; and therefore – is not by any – to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly – but reverently, discreetly, advisedly and solemnly. Into this holy estate these two persons present now come to be joined." He spoke, purposely skipping over the 'speak now or forever hold your peace' part.
She felt the bile rise in her throat once more.
"Marriage is the union of husband and wife in heart, body and mind. It is intended for their mutual joy – and for the help and comfort given on another in prosperity and adversity. But more importantly – it is a means through which a stable and loving environment may be attained. Through marriage, Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger make a commitment together to face their disappointments – embrace their dreams – realize their hopes – and accept each other's failures. Ronald and Hermione will promise one another to aspire to these ideals throughout their lives together – through mutual understanding – openness – and sensitivity to each other." He paused, and turned to face Ron.
"Do you, Ronald Bilius Weasley, take Hermione Jean Granger to be your wife – to live together after God's ordinance – in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sadness and in joy, to cherish and continually bestow upon her your heart's deepest devotion, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her as long as you both shall live?"
"I will." Ron said, a wide smile on his face as he stared at her.
"Do you Hermione Jean Granger take Ronald Bilius Weasley to be your husband – to live together after God's ordinance – in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sadness and in joy, to cherish and continually bestow upon him your heart's deepest devotion, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him as long as you both shall live?"
Hermione felt her throat suddenly close up as she stared at Ron, unable to make herself say the words.
"Well?" Ron asked, looking like he was growing very angry very quickly.
"I.. I.." She tried picturing her parents, what danger they'd be in if she didn't say these words.
"I w-"
"I OBJECT!"
Don't kill me! If you kill me I can't update the next chapter!
I know, ultra short chapter, and I ended it THAT WAY?! Heck, even I'm mad at myself for keeping me in suspense, even though I know what's going to happen next. ;)
If there are any mistakes I apologize, I am extremely tired and going to bed right after I post this, it is currently 4:00 am here.
Reviews make me write faster darlings!