Madame Coûteux's Bazaar of Haute Créations was tucked away in Plenus Place, a side street off Diagon Alley which housed Twilfitt and Tattings , Carus Auctioneers Ltd. (est. 1798) and a small assortment of over-priced stalls. Given the constant state of near poverty that Hermione had lived in since leaving Hogwarts, Plenus Place was not an area she usually frequented – until today. Standing in just her underwear behind a dressing screen, Hermione listened to the debate which raged beyond, as Ginny Weasley tried to persuade Madame Coûteux that Hermione would not want to stand in front of a large group of her friends and marry Sirius whilst wearing a dress made of sheer chiffon adorned with realistic fluttering butterflies.
'But zee booter-flies they 'ide her private parts,' Madame Coûteux protested angrily.
'Barely – they barely hide her "private parts"', Ginny's voice rose in exasperation. ' All Hermione wants is a simple elegant dress, can you please find one for her!'
A stream of French expletives followed, and Hermione poked her head around the screen to watch as the rail-thin Gallic witch sent clothes rails flying with a swish of her wand until she found a more reserved dress.
' 'Ere,' she bustled behind the screen and thrust a lace dress at Hermione,' Try zees one on.'
Hermione slipped the dress quickly over her head, and the French woman clicked her tongue in satisfaction; 'Oh oui, now I see, 'ow verrry English, you want to look virginal.' Before she could respond, Madame Coûteux shoved her out from behind the screen and onto the shop floor so that Ginny could admire her.
'Oh Hermione it's perfect,' Ginny breathed, forgetting that the dress was being purchased for a sham marriage; staring at her reflection in the mirror Hermione found she had to agree. The dress was a mini dress in the 60's style; made from antique lace it finished just above her knee with a hem of real living daisies.
'You look like a flower child,' Madame Coûteux sounded nostalgic as she stepped forward to place a simple veil which hung from a daisy-chain tiara on her head. 'But eet iz missing something. Oh!' she jumped excitedly and murmuring a charm in French transferred two of the fluttering butterflies from the chiffon "dress" to the veil, so that they hovered in mid air, supporting the veil so it floated.
'C'est Parfait!', Madame Coûteux breathed, delighted with the vision the bare footed Hermione made before her.
Realising that this was it – this was her wedding dress, Hermione thanked the dressmaker and returned behind the screen to redress. When she was clothed in her rather more practical everyday attire Hermione joined Ginny at the counter as Madame Coûteux packaged her dress and her veil.
'Oh but do you 'ave your negligée for zee wedding night?!' Madame Coûteux's head suddenly snapped up from the elaborate bow she was tying around the hat box which contained the flying veil to stare inquisitively at Hermione. Envisioning herself being paraded in front of Ginny in all manners of undress Hermione shook her head. 'I don't, but if you could just pick out something that suits the dress I'll happily take it.
Madame Coûteux gave her a saucy knowing wink and hurried into the back room, returning with what Hermione saw as ridiculously tiny paper wrapped package.
'Zere', Madme Coûteux proclaimed, dropping the package into the bag with her wedding dress, 'All done.' She came from behind the counter to embrace Hermione with a two-cheek kiss. 'And I wish you zee very best for your wedding – and your wedding night. Don't worry eet won't hurt,' she whispered the last part into Hermione's ear before releasing her, and leaving Hermione to wonder how she knew.
~o0o~
'Madame Coûteux may have completely bankrupted the House of Black' Hermione commented to Sirius as she entered the warm kitchen of Grimmauld Place.
Looking up from the parchment he was hunched over at the kitchen table Sirius gave an unconcerned,wolfish grin, 'I doubt that – I've been trying to spend all that money for years, it's impossible.' He flicked his wand so that that the chair opposite him was pulled out and indicated to it with a nod of his head. 'Sit down, relax – KREACHER' he yelled, and with a loud crack the ancient house elf was before him, rolling his eyes and muttering mutinously.
'Get a bottle of the '89 Chabblis from the cellar and some glasses,' Sirius ordered absent-mindedly adding a hasty 'Please' as he caught the disapproving look on Hermione's face.
'Sorry force of habit,' he apologised and settled back to fondly listen to one of Hermione's S.P.E.W lectures. By the time she had finished the wizened house elf had shuffled in with the wine and shuffled back out again, leaving Hermione and Sirius alone at the kitchen table sipping comfortably from their goblin cast silver goblets.
'Is that news from Kingsley?' Hermione questioned looking at the parchment which lay between them.
'Kingsley would never put anything in writing if he could shout it at you instead,' Sirius, perhaps the most recklessly brave of all The Order smiled nostalgically with experience. 'No it's from The Ministry,' he slid the parchment across the table to her, his fingers brushing hers gently as he did so. Hermione jumped slightly as his cool skin touched hers and lifted the parchment up to conceal the slight blush on her face at her foolishness.
Since their meeting with Umbridge at The Ministry nearly a week ago she had barely seen her husband to be alone, without other members of The Order present. The memory of his warm,solid embrace and his lips brushing her cheek had crept into her head constantly – though she tried to banish the thought. It would be pathetic to have a crush on the man who was being forced to marry you, she reasoned, and thanks to The Ministry her blood status had her feeling pathetic enough all ready.
Scanning the parchment before her Hermione saw that it was a detailed list of all the powers that would be entrusted to Sirius as the 'dominant' pure-blood partner in their marriage, and a brief outline and explanation of all the charms that would be performed to bind them in Ministry approved Kinship.
'Oh,' she breathed at the explanation of The Consummation Alert Charm.
Article 3, Section 4 of Proclamation 2.0.2 : The Consummation Alert Spell is a time-constrained spell, performed by an Official Ministry Representative at The Kinship Ceremony, which will alert The Ministry if any Muggle-Born/ Pureblood marriages are not consummated within 24 hours of vows being exchanged. Such a violation of duty to the continuation of the Wizarding species will result in the wand of The Muggle Born being confiscated and destroyed, and they will be registered as persona non grata with all wand-makers (national and international).
'It's pretty horrendous,' Sirius conceded as he watched Hermione's brow furrow in concern.
Hermione looked up; 'Horrendous isn't the word Sirius – have you read the powers you'll have over me after this?"The Muggle Born may only practice magic if their pure-blood partner deems it necessary"' she quoted, disgust on her face. 'The Muggle Born must adhere to the wisdom and wishes of their Pure Blood partner,' she continued reading from the page, then angrily tossed it on the floor with a sob. Alarmed at her tears, Sirius sprang up from his chair, and circled the table so that he was standing before her then drew her up into a comforting hug.
'Hermione, the wisdom and wishes of this pure blood wizard is for you to have all the freedom in the world - always,' he whispered gently into her ear , as he held her shaking body near.
'I know,' looking fragile and young Hermione smiled up at him through her tears, and for a mad moment Sirius wanted to bend his head to kiss away the tears which stained her cheeks. Reluctantly he released her from the crushing bear hug he had enveloped her in, and Hermione stood back and steadied her breath. 'I wanted to say thank you,' her eyes still watery, locked with Sirius's. 'For taking me and all this mess on. I know that marriage was the last thing you wanted – but you're saving me from a terrible fate Sirius, and I wanted to thank you for all that your sacrificing.'
Sensing that it might be an opportune moment to confess-some of his feelings, Sirius reached and took Hermione's hand in his. 'Hermione I wanted to tell you -', he began, but halted as the door of the kitchen was flung open.
'I'm so hungry I could eat a Hippogriff,' Ronald Weasley loudly proclaimed as he strode through the door with Harry trailing behind him. 'What?' he asked indignantly at the look of dark menace on Sirius's face.
'Nothing,' dropping Hermione's hand, and bellowing for Kreacher Sirius conceded that he'd have to find another time to try and share with Hermione some of what he felt. For now he would have to sit and listen as his godson and Ron shared their tales of the latest Chudley Cannons Quiddich match, whilst the woman he loved sat three feet away, sadly unaware that he loved her at all.