Chapter Twelve

It was a perfect night for an intimate ceremony and candle-light dinner on the beach. Severus had an old family friend, whom he'd known well before he went to Hogwarts who owned a resort that would be the perfect Caribbean honeymoon hideaway. With the music of the ocean, palm trees and some mellow jazz, it truly was an island paradise. A candle lit table set for two was on a wooden deck next to a trellis set nearby with pots of climbing exotic flowers that were woven through the slats to make an arch that both looked and smelled like heaven. Severus insisted on her wearing the same dress that she'd worn when he had proposed. She wasn't sure how she'd look in it, she'd begun running along the shore again, as she did after healing from Ron's attempt on her life. She'd even coaxed Severus into it, and although he complained that she was obviously trying to kill him, he had proved to be in excellent shape, all over…as she'd found on the one occasion that had brought about their daughter.

A slight knock on the door broke her thoughts and she bade welcome to a small, wizened seamstress elf in the company of Luna. Instructed to put the lovely dress on, Hermione did, and nearly cried in disappointment. Her breasts were rather plain in school, however they blossomed during her time hunting the horcruxes…indeed, Ron would turn into a slobbery fool with just one glance at them. That was nothing as compared to what they were now, and she'd just pumped her breast milk before this. They practically spilled over the top, while in the middle it clung to all the unflattering places she'd rather just not even acknowledge.

Watching tears pool in the young witch's eyes, the kind elf dabbed them away without ruining the make-up that had just been done. "Now," she said to Hermione, "Don't go stressing yourself young one, this dress will sing an aria when it settles on your form. You will be the loveliest bride your young man has ever seen, because your inner and outer beauty will shine. Go and get your hair done. The dress will be waiting in your rooms."

Luna steered her away immediately set about brushing and curling her best friend's hair and telling tales of joining her father as he hunted huddle-puffs, creatures that look remarkably like garden gnomes only with one leg and a very large foot. Soon she had Hermione laughing uncontrollably at her sarcastic and dry humor. Of course, Draco took the credit for that…he took credit for most things, just so he'd be tackled by his long-suffering wife who had her own ways of torturing him.

Finally, Hermione was ready to dress, and that old familiar feeling of insecurity reared its ugly head again. Gods…what if he has unrealistic expectations about tonight? For that matter, what if I do? Luna watched as the light in Hermione's eyes began to fade and knew drastic measures needed to be taken. She grabbed her friend by the arm and twirled her to face the mirror so quickly, that Hermione didn't have the chance to close her eyes and call off the wedding due to nerves.

Looking at her reflection in the mirror, Hermione stood speechless for so long that Luna thought she'd been too hasty. Then a feeling of relief washed over her as she heard Hermione make a long sigh and they both took in the whole picture. The elderly seamstress elf was a miracle worker! The bodice of the dress was cupped her larger size comfortably and swept dramatically over one shoulder with a waterfall of lovely ivory ribbons. It plunged low in the back showing the dimple she had in the small of her back, while falling into Grecian folds in the front. Her hair was swept up in artfully 'messy' curls which were strewn with flowers, and with a couple of long curls hanging over her bare shoulder. Severus had sent up a "trinket" as he called it. Trinket didn't come close to what she wore. A delicate chain web held a virtual waterfall of the most brilliant diamonds known to man.

Little did she know that Severus had also been transformed. His hair was cut, lightened and colored, and artfully styled. Although it was different, it suited him, making him look younger and less…formidable. He was unsure how he felt about that. Dressed up in what was called a 'monkey suit' by the salesman at the store Mme. Pomfrey told him about, he looked at his own reflection in the mirror, fussing with his necktie until Draco chuckled and did the deed himself.

"I remember the day I married Luna, gods Severus…I was shaking so badly that my father thought I was having convulsions." He laughed. "It's just nervous jitters, it will pass."

At last, the time had come. Under a full moon, with balmy breezes caressing their skin, a parson stood under the arbor and Severus was at the front, watching a love-struck Draco escort his wife down to stand at their places. Draco heard Snape give an audible swallow and heard his breath coming in short bursts. Draco put a hand on his shoulder and whispered 'you're going to be completely passed out from hyperventilating before you even bed her. Calm the fuck down'

An enchanted piano began to play one of Hermione's favorite piece, Moonlight Sonata, and suddenly…there she was. A vision in peaches and cream, she practically floated down the aisle on her father's arm, her mother on the other side of her, weeping genteelly into an embroidered hand kerchief. By the time Hermione finally took his arm and they turned to face the Parson, Severus felt his world settle. He had always felt that he didn't deserve happiness, he didn't deserve her, the actions he'd participated in during his younger years had been shady at best and downright hideous at worst. His mind focused on the present now, the words of the parson calmed him somehow. They had chosen to write their vows themselves, when that part of the ceremony came, the parson stood aside and a tall wizard took his place.

Severus and Hermione stood facing one another, hands held and fingers entwined, content to just gaze into the other's eyes. The wizard began their hand-fasting, speaking an unbreakable spell that would bind them together as husband and wife. A light blue, shimmering thread began to encircle their adjoined hands, then it split into three to represent their tiny family. It then began to braid itself, to strengthen their bond. When it was at its thickest, Hermione began her vows.

She smiled that girl-sweet smile that Severus remembered before Ron had wiped it nearly clean away. "Severus…we may not have had the memories of first dates, of loving among tangled sheets, or of sitting together on a porch swing and communicating with each other without saying one word. But we have our opportunity now, for all those firsts…and I can't wait to start. I found a rare book in a Muggle antique store and inside there is something I wish to read to you. It describes our love so well." She conjured up a piece of parchment and began to read a William Shakespeare Sonnet,

"Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Admit impediments. Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds,

Or bends with the remover to remove.

O no! it is an ever-fixed mark

That looks on tempests and is never shaken;

It is the star to every wand'ring bark,

Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.

Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks

Within his bending sickle's compass come;

Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,

But bears it out even to the edge of doom.

If this be error and upon me prov'd,

I never writ, nor no man ever lov'd."

**William Shakespeare**

Tears sparkled in more than one set of eyes during her vows. Severus wiped tears away unabashedly, caring not if anyone saw him express emotion. Hermione had taught him that it was so much better to let things out than to bottle them up, and he never wanted to become that person again. Realizing he was indeed getting light-headed, he concentrated on breathing in through his nose and out through his mouth as she spoke. Slowly his mind and body relaxed, and, listening to Hermione read the poem, the beauty of it caused tears of happiness to run down his cheeks.

When his turn came, he didn't know if he could speak at first as he struggled to contain his emotions. Even after finding his equilibrium, his voice remained hoarse as he recited his vows. "Hermione, you have taught me how to stand firm in the midst of the maelstrom, to take responsibility for my own actions…and that I deserve happiness no matter what I have done or how I was raised. You and Gracie have centered me and given me the chance to love you with all I am…all I have. This gift I will never take for granted, but will cherish for the rest of my life. You have a beauty, my love, that is not just on the outside, but on the inside as well."

Here he recited from memory this Lord Byron poem,

She walks in beauty, like the night

Of cloudless climes and starry skies;

And all that's best of dark and bright

Meet in her aspect and her eyes;

Thus mellowed to that tender light

Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,

Had half impaired the nameless grace

Which waves in every raven tress,

Or softly lightens o'er her face;

Where thoughts serenely sweet express,

How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,

So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,

The smiles that win, the tints that glow,

But tell of days in goodness spent,

A mind at peace with all below,

A heart whose love is innocent

*Lord Byron*

By this time there wasn't a dry eye among the group. The rings were exchanged and finally…finally…they were pronounced Husband and Wife and he pulled her into his arms and held her tight for his fiery and insistent kisses, fisting a hand in her curls and making love to her mouth. To his delight, he heard her give an animalistic growl as she kissed him right back.

***Author's Note: Whew! Finally, the wedding! Hopefully it was romantic enough...and next...the wedding night! Well, my dear friends, the plot bunnies are hungry, do me a favor and REVIEW!

Thank you so much!