Chapter 18

Finally, the day came. All the plans had been planned, all within a little less than a month and a half. It had been a whirlwind of letters, and my hand often ached at the end of the day after writing so much. Finally, on Saturday afternoon, Draco and I stepped off the Hogwarts Express, to see a tall man with fair skin, dark hair, and hazel eyes standing and waiting for us. I bolted to him, wrapping my arms around his waist. "Uncle!"

"Hello, Jack," His smile was stiff, forced. He squeezed me, them held me at arm's length. "I believe congratulations are in order."

"I believe they are." I smiled, turning to Draco and placing my hand on his shoulder. "This is my fiancé, Draco Malfoy. Draco, this is Dafydd Glyndwyr, and he is essentially my father."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir." Draco stepped forward and shook Uncle's hand.

"The pleasure is mine," he replied softly. "I am obligated to tell you that if you harm my dear Jack in any way, the torture room in Windhithe is longing to be occupied."

Draco laughed shaking his head. "I wouldn't dream of it, sir."

"Excellent. Now, shall we go? Mr. Malfoy, hold on to Jack, she knows the way." He took my arm and, with a crack, we apparated to Windhithe.

It was just as I remembered it, tall white towers on the side of a mountain. Now, pennants were flapping in the breeze, all white, and people were bustling around with carts and boxes and bundles. We followed the flagstone road up to the gates, entering the courtyard. The regent stood in the center, barking orders to the witches and wizards that bustled like an ant colony around her. "Your Highness," she said to me, out of breath. "You really are putting the staff through their paces with this wedding."

"You seem to be handling it spectacularly," I replied. She looked at Draco.

"And you are the groom?"

"I am. Draco Malfoy, ma'am," he extended his hand to her. She shook it.

"Well, you're handsome enough. The Prophet loves you already, I can tell from the engagement announcement. Good, good. Now, Jack, there are quite a few things I want to go over with you. Shall we discuss them over supper?"

"I think that would be fine."

"Good, good." She nodded to Uncle, and a house elf appeared beside him. "Show Mr. Malfoy to his rooms, if you please."

"Yes ma'am. Right this way, sir," chirped the house-elf, levitating his trunks. Another house-elf took mine, causing Fion to screech in her cage as the luggage jerked up and flew off. I turned to Draco and lightly touched him on the shoulder.

"Dinner's in an hour. Shall I let you get settled first?"

He nodded. His eyes were wide as he stared at the castle in front of him. It was larger than Malfoy Manor, more disorganized, cluttered, towers clustered together over a waterfall that fell into nothingness. I grinned at him, gesturing in front of me. "Welcome to Windhithe."

I returned to the room I had stayed in over the summer, collapsing onto the silks of the bed. My trunk was already there, and Fion was on a perch by the window. I wondered where Draco would be staying. I had warned him not to come to my room at night; I was sure someone would notice. I sighed, heaving myself off the bed and towards the bathroom. I soaked in the marble tub for a while, adding drops of lilac oil. Finally, when the sweet-smelling bubbles were all popped, I dried myself and dressed. I silently thanked and deities out there that I didn't have to wear an evening gown to dinner here.

I arrived before Draco in the dining room. It was just as I remembered, with terra-cotta tiles, raw stone, and stained glass. Uncle and Madam Cleary were already there. I sat down at the head of the table. "Obviously we'll use the Great Hall for the reception," said Cleary, just as Draco entered the room. The stained glass made blues, red and yellows play over his face. He sat at the place next to me, and the meal started with plates of little silver fish, almost perfectly round and roasted.

"And the ceremony, that will be in the observatory?" I asked. She nodded, talking about the multitude of spells it took to make what was usually a place for astronomy a place for a wedding. I nodded, sucking the fish off of its bones and occasionally picking bones out of my mouth. Draco was still trying to eat them with his fork when I nudged him with my elbow, showing him the proper way.

Flowers and courses and plans were all I could think about. I ate breakfast with Madam Cleary, discussing the flower arrangements for the ceremony. I vetoed lobster bisque for the soup course in favor of watercress, asked that the fountains run with lilac-water, and insisted that the enchanted lanterns for the ballroom be changed from gold to silver. I was relieved when Padma and Su showed up the day before. I ran towards them, embracing both of them at once. "I am so happy to see you two!"

"Let go, I can't breathe!" gasped Padma. I released her and grinned.

"Alright, I'm not going to let you rest. You have to try on your bridesmaid's dresses." Their faces lit up immediately. Though they were both aware of my ulterior motives for the marriage, the prospect of fancy dresses was still exciting.

The seamstress had set up in one of the unused rooms. She pulled the girls behind a curtain, dressed them up as fast as she could, and pushed them out again. "I still have work to do on your dress, your highness," she grumbled. Su and Padma stepped in front of the mirror and gasped.

The dresses were a deep blue-purple, with a tightly-fitted bodice and circle skirts in layers of dupioni silk. Su spun in a circle, letting the skirts swing and flare out. "Oh, these are beautiful!" she said. Padma nodded in agreement, turning in the mirror to see every angle of the dress. I had not looked at my dress yet; it was to be a surprise. I had selected some jewelry from the treasury for them to borrow, and puzzled over shoes. It was fun just to be a girl, looking at dresses and accessories. It made it seem like more of a wedding than a plan. Even as I held earrings up to my friends and discussed the plans, my palms were sweating, and my mind was on only one thing. Not the wedding, not even the wedding night (though that was terrifying in itself), but the five days I would spend at Malfoy Manor. The five days I had to see if I could find Luna.

The day of the wedding, I woke up early. Now, a whole host of worries were in my head, on top of my worries about Luna. I spent the better half of the morning in the bath, trying to relax, until it was time for breakfast. I took my breakfast apart from Draco, of course, and Su and Padma couldn't stop talking about the wedding. I busied myself with tea, toast and honey, and strawberries. After that, the long process of hair was begun. Both Padma and Su had naturally straight hair, and so a little Sleakeazy's was all they needed. My dark curls, however, necessitated curling, twisting, and braiding, woven with silver thread and pearls and ribbons in artful designs until it clung perfectly to the back of my head, my face framed with curls. Women I didn't know fluttered around me with brushes, containers of powder and liquid and pigment floating alongside them. My eyelashes were elongated and coated with black mascara, and soft pink was glossed over my lips after I finished my lunch. Finally, it was time to get dressed.

I hadn't seen my dress before, so I didn't know what to expect. The creation before me certainly was a surprise. Of course, Su and Padma gasped again, hands over their mouths. I simply stared.

It must have been four feet in diameter, layers of ethereal cream-colored silk elegantly flowing outward from the waist. A long train scattered with pearls and amethysts in floral designs extended from the back. Where the skirt met the bodice, the seam was trimmed with more amethysts, each individual gem surrounded by seed pearls. The neckline was straight but low, with tight-fitting sleeves to the elbow. These were slashed to reveal the skin underneath, each slash held together with another amethyst. I noticed lacing in the back, and nervously asked if it was a corset. It was, and as I soon realized, it was a very tight one. The dressmaker pulled my waist to proportions I didn't know were possible. Su had to duck under my skirt to get my feet into my shoes, and she disappeared entirely for a while, and my skirt gave the impression that it was giggling. "It's like a tent!" she gasped as she emerged. I rolled my eyes at her. She and Padma stood back to look at me.

"Jack, you look gorgeous," said Padma. "Like… well, a princess." Su was fanning her eyes and trying not to cry. I was surprisingly calm, considering the circumstances.

"Thank you," I said. "Now how do I sit down in this thing?"

After some effort, I sat down, snacking on cucumber sandwiches as I tried not to mess up my makeup. A string of amethysts was hung around my throat, and a delicate silver diadem of silver and amethyst was placed on my head. I had said that I wanted purple to be my accent color. They had taken it to another level entirely.

After an extremely interesting trip to the lady's room (accompanied by Su and Padma), I was finally ready, and it was time. Uncle appeared in the dressing-room door. He smiled softly, taking my hands. "Your Highness."

I smiled up at him. "Uncle."

"You… you look just like your mother." I blushed, looking down. "Though today, you would have outshined even her."

"Thank… you," I murmured. For the first time today, I felt like crying. "For everything."

He leaned forward and lightly kissed me on the forehead. I could practically hear the makeup team bristling behind me. "It was an honor, my beautiful queen." He pulled away and looped my arm through his. "Now, I believe there's a wedding to attend."

"You know, you might be right."

Up what seemed to be a thousand steps, we reached the observatory. I waited in the small room outside of it (I took up most of the room) as I heard the music start- an ensemble of harps. Su and Padma were walked out by Blaise and Theodore in turn, and all too soon, it was my turn. Uncle squeezed my hand, and we walked through the doors.

There were flowers everywhere- deep purple lilacs and delicate white freesia, tall foxglove and fluffy peonies. There was practically no green, it was hidden by the white and the purple. The observatory was chosen because of its massive size and its ceiling- delicate silver designs, flowers and scrollwork holding up a magnificent glass dome. The sun was just beginning to set around the mountains, and the sky was tinted with pink in the west. I could see the mountains, the valleys, the meadows and the farmland surrounding the castle, all touched with the golden light of the setting sun. The flagstone floor was covered with chairs, and hundreds of heads turned around to look at me. The music started up again, playing a sweet rendition of Canon in D. I began to walk down the aisle, and when I looked up, I saw Draco at the end, next to the officiate from the ministry. He was simply dressed in elegant black dress robes with a crisp white shirt. I smiled at him, taking small, delicate steps. It took an age to get down that long aisle, but finally, I stood beside Draco. Uncle kissed me on the cheek, grasped Draco's arm, and then went to his seat. The officiate smiled at both of us, spreading his arms. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to celebrate the union of two faithful souls." He looked at the two of us and smiled. "Let us begin."

"Do you, Draco Abraxas Malfoy, take this woman, to be your friend, your lover, the mother of your children, and your wife? Do you promise to stand by her, in times of plenty and in times of want, in times of sickness and times of health? Do you promise to care for and protect her, to comfort and encourage her, and to stay with her for all eternity?"

He looked into my eyes, a smile on his lips. "I do," he said.

"And do you, Jessica Artemisia Helena Ligeia Harcourt, take this man to be your friend, your lover, the father of your children, and your husband? Do you promise to stand by him, in times of joy and in times of sorrow, in times of failure and in times of triumph? Do you promise to cherish and respect him, to love and to honor him, and to stay with him for all eternity?"

"I… I do," I whispered.

"Then according to the ancient custom, let you exchange rings." He slipped a wedding band onto my finger, another silver vine that fit perfectly with my engagement ring. I slipped one onto his, a flat silver band with vine engravings. When we were finished, we clasped hands and looked at the officiate. He raised his wand hand high over his head. "I declare you bonded for life." With a crack, purple flower petals swirled around us. We leaned forward and kissed, and to my surprise, he grabbed me and dipped me before the crowd. There was clapping and cheers, and when he finally let me up, we held hands and walked down the aisle together, beaming.

Following the ceremony, everyone filtered into the great hall for the feast. There were even more flowers here, around the room, hanging from the walls, and in tall vases on the long tables. Draco I stood by the door as everyone congratulated us; Narcissa kissed me on both cheeks, and even Lucius gave me a peck on the cheek. I shook hands with the Minister, a different one that I last met with. A thousand faces, names, and hands flashed by me, and then, thankfully, it was time for dinner. I was hungry.

I tried my best to remember my manners as I plowed through portions of soup, fish, quail, and bright vegetables. When the plates were cleared, Draco took my hand and led me through the magnificent archway to the ballroom. With the train bustled, it was still quite difficult to dance, because of the diameter of the dress. Still, he managed, wrapping one arm around my waist and taking my hand, twirling me around the dance floor as the harp ensemble played in the background. After we finished, the others began to filter onto the dance floor, and the night began in earnest.

The evening was a blur. I talked, laughed, danced, and cried a little. I danced with Uncle, with the Minister, and with men I had never met before in my life. The cake had been spectacular, purple roses blooming all over it as the cake was cut. And then, after what seemed like both an age and a second, the night was almost over, but for one more ceremony.

When the dancing was dying down, Terry Boot, a Ravenclaw my age, rounded up some of the other young men. With great effort, most of which was dedicated to preserving my dignity, they hoisted me onto their shoulders. The young women had Draco on their shoulders, and another tune was struck up, a lively one. They carried us, followed by the rest of the guests, through the castle, a violin and hand-harps following them with music. Draco was laughing and trying to get down, and I simply tried not to fall over. Everyone was calling out advice and suggestions, not all of which was entirely polite. Finally, we reached the honeymoon suite. They let us down and pushed us in, closing the doors before we could even attempt to get out. Laughter erupted as the doors closed, and more suggestions were shouted from the more intoxicated guests. Draco chuckled to himself, looking at the doors. I stood off to the side, hesitant. He turned to me.

"When you said you wanted to 'do it right', I didn't know this was what you imagined."

"It's a very old tradition. They used to strip the bride and groom before tossing them into bed. Obviously, that wouldn't work for me," I said, gesturing at my skirts. He smiled, moving towards me and kissing me deeply on the lips. I nervously kissed him back.

"Here, sit down," he said, sitting me onto a stool. I sat very still as he moved around me, and very carefully began taking all the pearls and ribbons out of my hair, letting the curls come loose and fall down my back. He gently ran his hand through it, and then pulled at the bow on the back of my dress. Immediately, the bodice expanded, and I could breathe properly. Moving around, he pulled me up and helped me out of my sleeves. I stepped out of my dress and shoes, wearing nothing but a thin cream-colored slip. He smiled, and took off his shoes and robes as well. Finally, he slipped that last scrap of fabric off my body, and pulled me onto the bed. "Just lie down," he said, pushing me gently back onto the pillows. He kissed me on the lips, the neck, then down onto my collarbone and shoulders. He kissed my breasts and my stomach and my thighs, the insides of my elbows, and after he had kissed every inch of me, the lips of my labia. He began to lick and suck, stimulating my clit like I was used to him doing.

"Oh, Draco," I gasped as his fingers started rubbing my clit. He kept up a steady rhythm for who knows how long, until I was finally shaking and gasping from orgasm, my muscles contracting and relaxing. I looked down at him. He was hard, and I could feel his cock against my thigh as he slid up to meet my lips.

"I've been waiting for this, Jack," he said, kissing me gently. "You have no idea how much I've wanted… for so long…" His kisses became more intense, moving around my lips and my neck and my jawline, until he moved upwards and held onto my hip, guiding himself into me.

He caressed me and touched me lightly, kissing me the entire time. Still, it hurt. Not as much as I thought it would, but it hurt. He moaned as he entered me, clutching me and holding me close. I clutched onto his back, digging my nails in and gasping, and he must have thought it was pleasure, not pain. He wrapped his arms around me, burying his face in the crook of my neck. "Oh my god, Draco," I whispered in his ear. I wasn't exactly sure what to do, to be honest. I just held onto him, moving my hips in tandem with his, running my hands all over his body and kissing him. He pulled me forward, so my legs were wrapped around his waist. He was gentle, and began to move, moaning into my ear with each thrust. He quickened his pace, grabbing my hips and pulling me against him. I held onto him, pulling him deeper inside me, whispering in his ear. He rolled his hips against me and leaned back, his eyes closed in ecstasy. I watched him, and when he opened his eyes, it was apparent that he loved watching me. His eyes lingered on my breasts, and how they bounced with each thrust, and fell on my face. He bit his lip, thrusting faster, until he finally came inside of me, gasping and moaning. He rolled onto his back, breathing heavily.

"Jack..."

"Mhm?"

"You..." He turned onto his side, tracing a finger lightly along my side. "You're beautiful."

I smiled at him, saying nothing, scooting closer to him to snuggle. I was sore. There was an ache in my loins I had never felt before. It got better after the first time. And the second time. By the fourth time, I was exhausted, sore, and satisfied.