Yay weddings! This chapter was so much fun to write; I watch a lot of Say Yes To The Dress and used to work in bridal so I hope you all enjoy how I "designed" Marie's gown (and the rest of the chapter, of course. Here we go!

The morning of the wedding went a lot calmer than expected. Draco helped Marie pack her apartment (meaning he waved his wand and everything was settled in less than ten minutes) and the two Apparated to the Zabini Estate. In keeping with tradition, Blaise and Marie would remain in different parts of the estate until the ceremony later that afternoon. The ceremony, they decided, was going to be private in the gardens of the estate and the reception would be held in a banquet hall in Muggle London that would be cloaked to ensure privacy. Marie knew that everyone was going to be buzzing about what the famed Ms. DuPonte was going to wear to her own wedding, and frankly she didn't want her wedding to be a spectacle littered with paparazzi and interviewers. Now, if the photos took of the affair just "happened" to be "leaked" to the press…well, she couldn't really control that, now could she? The weather was kind to them that day in that it wasn't too cold and the skies were clear, but a warming charm was still cast considering as the day went on it would get colder. Marie's parents had arrived a few minutes after Marie and Draco and the group enjoyed a light breakfast before going their separate directions to start preparing for the ceremony; Draco and Marie's father to where Blaise was and Marie and her mother to the bridal suite. Just as they were about to separate, Hermione arrived to the estate having been invited by Marie to get ready with them. Draco and Hermione were clearly shocked to see the other person, Hermione looking down and shuffling her feet awkwardly and Draco trying to look anywhere but at her, but they two said a cordial 'hello' before Draco rather quickly directed Marie's father to the suite where Blaise was. Marie's mother, who had an uncanny resemblance to Angela Bassett, looked at her daughter with a raised eyebrow, and Marie knew her mother experienced the exact same feelings she had a few weeks ago during the photo shoot. Both mother and daughter shared a small secretive and knowing smile before Marie hugged Hermione and the trio walked towards the bridal suite to get ready for Marie and Blaise's wedding.

….

"Help me understand what the deal is between you and Draco," Marie said as Hermione added the last detail to Marie's wedding day make-up look, a slightly dramatized natural look with wing-tipped eyeliner and complimenting red lipstick.

Hermione sighed; damn Marie and her stupid sixth sense, she pouted mentally. "There's nothing to tell, really. He was a pureblood prat who made his life goal to make me miserable. We graduated and I hadn't heard about him since. Close your eyes." Marie did as she was instructed and Hermione pulled out her wand to cast a spell that would ensure Marie's make up with hold throughout the day. It was something Hermione created to ensure her makeup wouldn't melt from the stage lights when she was performing. "And done."

Marie looked in the mirror to admire Hermione's work. It was exactly what she wanted, nothing over the top but still very glamorous. Marie's mother had straightened and pin curled her hair prior to Hermione doing her makeup, so the only thing left to do was to take the pins out and style. Mrs. DuPonte and Hermione switched places so that Hermione could finish getting dressed.

"Okay, so he was a 'pureblood prat', you were a 'self-righteous, pretentious, pain-in-the-ass…his words, not mine!..." Marie quickly added at the glare Hermione sent her way, "…I'm waiting for the day one of you tell me y'all fucked."

Hermione tripped as she tried to put on her heel at Marie's bluntness. "Marie! I can't belive…I mean…your mother is right there!"

Mrs. DuPonte laughed heartily as she took the last pin from her daughter's hair. "Chile, you act like I didn't give birth to this girl! She's brash, but there's one thing that's stayed trued about my Marie…she don't speak nothin' but the truth." The wise older DuPonte gave a pointed look at Hermione.

Hermione knew her cheeks were flushed by the two DuPonte women's comments. Quietest kept, Hermione hadn't been able to get the blond English man out of her mind since seeing him at the shoot and for the life of her she had no idea why she couldn't shake him. I mean, it wasn't as if they were anything in school and it's not like one can develop feelings for someone they hadn't seen in years, right?

Unless, of course, there were always feelings for said someone…Hermione shook her head of the intrusive thought. No…no, that wasn't it. Couldn't be. Refusing to give the idea any more attention, Hermione went back to putting on the black t-strap stilettos to compliment the emerald green sleeveless dress with a v-neck collar. The dress was a Sincerely, Marie original that Marie designed for Hermione's grand opening of Make A Pointe and Hermione never had another reason to wear it. Her best friend's wedding seemed most appropriate. After putting on her earrings and grabbing her clutch, Hermione walked over to Marie and her mother, just as Mrs. DuPonte did the final touched to the style. Hermione felt herself start to tear up as Marie looked at her through the reflection in the mirror. Marie arched an eyebrow at the girl.

"What's getting you choked up, lady?"

Hermione laughed and quickly wiped a tear that escaped. "You're getting married."

Marie took a deep breath and stood from the chair she had been sitting in for the past hour and a half. She stood in from of her friend and took her hands in her own. "Yea…yea, I'm getting married." The two women embraced tightly and Marie was the first to pull away.

"Okay, help me get in my dress before we both start crying and can't stop."

…

Draco and Blaise were standing at the bottom of the stairs in the foyer of the estate when Marie walked out. Both men looked quite dapper in their classic black tuxedos, Blaise wearing a black bowtie and Draco a satin black tie. Blaise had his back turned to the stairs so it was Draco, who had just taken a photo of the groom, who noticed Marie first before his friend took notice of his gaze a turned around. Now both Draco and Blaise had seen Marie in a number of gowns and formal attire, but walking down the stairs she looked absolutely breathtaking. Her ivory gown was a satin, strapless, mermaid cut with a sweetheart neckline; the back of the gown was as low it could be without fear of the top of the dress falling off. The train of the gown trailed behind her a significant number of steps behind her as she walked, and peaking out from the bottom of her gown were ivory stilettoes with a gold plated heel. Marie's makeup was done flawlessly with a complimenting red lipstick, but what really took the cake was her hair. Neither Draco nor Blaise had ever seen her with straight hair so they were shocked by how long her hair really was. Coming down well past her bust in soft ringlets, she had opted to pin her hair to the side with a gold pin that had been in the DuPonte family for years so the curls fell over her right shoulder. She wore very minimal jewelry, the prominent feature being a ruby and diamond ear cuff modeled after her engagement ring adorning her left ear. Marie reached to bottom of the stairs and walked towards her fiancé and best friend who still had yet to say anything.

"Well…? Say something."

Both men stood entranced for a few moments longer before Blaise walked forward, took Marie in his arms and placed a tender kiss on her lips. Draco took a quick photo of the couple in their intimate embrace, before stepping forward to hug the couple. This was it, he thought with a smile as he watched the couple walked towards the ceremony space, his best friends were really getting married.

Woohoo! So what did you all think? I knew when writing Marie's mother, I wanted to model her after Angela Bassett's character in American Horror Story: Coven (who hilariously is also named Marie...totally not done on purpose I swear lol) Hope you enjoyed the brief Hermione/Draco moment in this chapter; definitely more to come next chapter. Your reviews and support remain wonderful! xx