Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any affiliated characters. I just happened to come up with the plot for this ship. All credit to J.K for her amazing universe that she allows us to play in.

All mistakes are mine. Sorry.

Warning: Rated M. Cursing, sexual innuendos, lemons and fluff ahead. Basically what you would expect from a romance novel nowadays.

Music is my Muse:

Song for this chapter: Good Day; Jewel

Lyric of choice: As long as we laugh out loud, laugh like were mad, cause this crazy messed up beauty is all that we have. Because what's love but an itch we can't scratch, a joke we can't catch...

Love of a Mate

Chapter 19

The Wedding

Hermione knew she was hyperventilating, but to be fair she was about to get married, which seemed silly when you considered she was already mated to the man who was probably waiting for her with a laugh in his eyes and smile on his face because he could feel every silly emotional rollercoaster she had gone down today.

They had already done the blood bond at the Manor in the ceremonial circle before Draco had whisked her away to this beautiful forest for the magical portion of the ceremony. To her surprise they were in France, really eloping, and Kingsley was not going to finish the ceremony.

She sat back with a sigh as she allowed Ginny to do her hair, and Ginny had really out done herself today when it came to hair and makeup, her hair was up and had two flower crowns around the back with curls escaping. She was a bohemian bride with her butterfly dress and flower-crowned hair, a very muggle bride but still somehow whimsical and magical.

Ginny shook her head as she looked her over. "You are going to start a trend with this look, Hermione."

Hermione smirked. "We aren't releasing pictures of the wedding to the Prophet."

Ginny laughed. "I think you should. You are simply so beautiful today, Hermione."

Hermione laughed but shook her head. "I guess I can consider it. We might have to prove we really did elope."

Ginny shook her head. "Did Draco ever tell you why he decided it would be just Harry and I at the magical bonding?"

Hermione shook her head. "No, something has happened that has him on edge. As we wanted to elope anyways, I didn't question it too much. He was so tense."

Ginny bit her lip. "Yeah, Harry is too. I don't know why and I hate that they think not telling us is the wise thing to do." She rolled her eyes.

Hermione shrugged. "I will battle with my new husband over it all after the weekend is over and I can relax and devote proper time to figuring out what he is up to."

Ginny laughed. "Good point. Lull him into a false sense of security with great sex and then pounce."

Hermione nodded. "Exactly.

Ginny nodded wiping at her eyes from laughter. "That's smart, plus you didn't want a huge bonding."

Hermione shook her head smiling. "No, I didn't. And we will have the reception at the Manor, which will be massive."

Ginny grinned. "I saw your gown, it's going to be incredible."

Hermione groaned. "I am absolutely terrified that Narcissa isn't letting me see this creation."

Ginny laughed. "Don't worry, she just wants to surprise you, it's rather sweet."

Hermione glared at her best friend. "Except I hate surprises."

Ginny started laughing again and the two girls fell over in giggles again.

OoOOooOOO

When it was time to go and they left still smiling with mirth heading to the clearing in the beautiful forest full of fairy lights that Draco had found for them to do the magical bond. She smiled at the French Ministry official dressed in a muggle suit who was waiting with Draco who looked older than Merlin.

Ginny and Harry stood off to the side as witnesses and there was a photographer who took wizard and muggle shots of her as she walked barefoot to meet her husband. Once she had seen the spot Draco had picked out for them to bond in, she and Ginny had agreed that the shoes just didn't work. She was walking on a magical carpet of moss and flowers barefoot with blue painted toenails.

Draco's smile was so beautiful Hermione had to catch her breath as she stopped and looked up into his loving gaze.

"You are a work of art," he said his tone hoarse.

Hermione beamed at him and turned as the old wizard starting the ceremony, which to her surprise, was in Latin. She watched stunned as ribbons of magic wrapped around hers and Draco's left wrists, gold, white, red, and blue. Fidelity, Saftey, Passion, and Family. She smiled up at him as the small runes showed up over her ring finger, white but still noticeable. He leaned down and kissed her softly as the magic finished and washed over them in a soft breeze the fairy lights flickering.

Then she laughed as her husband whisked her off her feet and carried her back up the flowered aisle as Ginny and Harry hooted, whistled and laughed. Once he made it to the end of the flower covered aisle, and outside the magical circle that had been needed for their bonding, he winked at them and spun on his heel diapering with a smiling Hermione who had barely managed to toss her bouquet at Ginny before her husband apparated away with her.

OoOoOoOoOo

They landed back at the Manor in their bedroom and Hermione smirked. "Shouldn't we go see your mother and let her know we are officially married?"

Draco snorted setting her down on the bed. "No, I might never leave this bed. You are too perfect and I am lost to you."

Hermione giggled and then sat up. "Don't ruin my dress, if we have a little girl she will want to see it and I want to show it to my mother."

He smiled at her and helped her stand up carefully taking the dress off of her and setting it carefully on a chair before he got a look at her and then he hissed. "You were wearing just knickers under this thing?"

Hermione smiled at him seductively. "Yes, I was! Ginny knows a charm that meant I didn't have to wear a bra."

"Merlin's balls, wife. I am glad I didn't know that in that clearing or I might have just ravished you there."

Hermione laughed and moved to help him out of his suit. Since they had taken pictures for her parents he had worn tails. "That might have given that old wizard who married us a heart attack."

Draco smirked leaning forward to fondle her breasts and kiss her sensuously. "What a way to go."

Hermione shook her head and worked on his trousers before she raised an eyebrow as she realized she wasn't the only one not wearing under clothing. "No pants Mr. Malfoy, how naughty."

He leaned forward and bit her lip playfully. "If you don't get on that bed I will take you right here standing up."

Hermione's breathing accelerated and she backed up with him stalking her until she fell on the bed and scooted into the middle of it with him climbing over her his eyes hungry.

"I find that I love the fact you are now not just my mate but my wife." He whispered as he kissed up her torso to her breasts sucking a nipple into his mouth.

Hermione moaned and buried her hands in his hair. "I find I like that you are my husband too."

He growled and moved to her other breast. "Good."

Hermione laughed but then groaned as he kissed up her neck to her mark and sucked. "How wet are you?"

Hermione wiggled as his hand moved down to check her. "Very," she whispered into his neck arching into his fingers as he moaned and kissed her mark again.

"Are you ready?"

"For you, always." She whispered pulling his lips to hers and sighing as he settled over her.

When he entered her it was like she was suddenly complete again and they both moaned. It was a like when he was in her there was a single-minded fascination with keeping him there. A secret place inside of her that never wanted him to stop loving her this way.

He thrust fully into her and she sank into the feeling, bliss, desire, and love. Her eyes opened and met his and smiled softly.

"I love you." She whispered touching his face.

He groaned and tipped his head back before he pulled out and pushed back into her again. "You are my heart," he said as he kissed her and started moving so that the bed shook.

Hermione wrapped her arms around his shoulders and held on, a smile on her lips and his name whispering from them.

OooOOooOOoO

She lost count of how many times they made love that night and true to his word he kept her in bed all weekend, an elf bringing them food. She might be stuck in a bed but Hermione felt so free as if she was a bird and she was flying.

Something had happened inside of her after the bonding and she knew that nothing would ever replace the feeling she felt lying next to her mate, her husband. They were holding hands and just staring at one another. Talking softy of nothing of consequence. Hermione smiled and closed her eyes, wishing that this moment could last just a little longer.

"What are you thinking?" He asked tenderly brushing her hair off her face.

"That I want this moment to just last forever." She admitted honestly.

Draco chuckled softly and leaned forward to shower kisses over her face. "Every moment with you feels like forever to me. I never imagined I would have any moments with you, so this is-bliss."

Hermione smiled and bit his finger which was rubbing her swollen lips. "We got a brand new start in a way. I remember everything from before, and I know how terrible it was to be separated from you, even if I didn't understand what I was feeling, and now here we are." She opened her eyes and they were wet with tears. "I would never have believed this was possible, but we made it, Draco."

He sighed and pulled her into his chest his arms tightening around her. "It was such a bitter sweet thing, knowing you were safe but still ignorant of me, of us. This feeling now, you are right, we got a second chance. I will never take that for granted."

She smiled into his chest. "So, does that mean you will stop being an idiot and tell me why you rushed the elopement and have been so tense?"

She felt him stiffen and then start to chuckle. "I suppose I should."

Hermione pulled away and rolled him over so she could lay on top of him resting her chin on her hands on his chest. "I would highly suggest it."

Draco rolled his eyes and settled his hands on her back rubbing circles and causing her nipples to harden. "I can't shake this feeling that I am missing something. I don't know if it's a Veela thing or a Malfoy thing. My mother told me that my father was also very worried until he bonded with her and then an absolute bear for the first few months. You are an appealing target."

Hermione sighed heavily. "Draco, I am a war hero. Order of Merlin, remember? If someone comes for me they will severely regret it. I never forget that I am a target. You saw what we did to the trained wizards the Ministry sent to protect us, that was just child's play. If someone truly threatened me or mine, I can promise it wouldn't be wise of them."

Draco shivered a bit and pulled her up to kiss her. "You're a terrifying witch, I don't doubt that, but I can't help but worry."

Hermione sighed and kissed him wiggling so that she could get him in the position she wanted before she let him sink into her.

"You would know in an instant if I needed you," she whispered as she lifted up and sank back down onto him.

Draco groaned and tangled his hands in her hair bringing her down for a long kiss.

"A lot can happen in an instant, my heart."

Hermione moaned into his mouth and kissed him deeply. "I guess you will have to trust that your wild terrifying witch can wait for that instant for you to get to her."

Draco closed his eyes as she circled her hips with him deep inside of her and moaned.

Hermione grinned and nibbled at his lips. "Trust me as I trust you. Together, bonded, mated, married, we will be fine."

A low growl and then he flipped her over kissing her passionately and they didn't talk anymore after that, well not about anything of consequence.

OoOOOoOOoooOOOooOoOoOOooOoOooOooOOoO

A dark room full of smoke. "A male Veela you say?"

"Yes."

The older wizard rubbed his dirty hands along his jaw and looked around his eyes unfocused. "His blood, that's a rare potion ingredient. If you can get him, we can bleed him. Ya can get a lot of gold for that blood."

"I know."

The older wizard snorted. "But getting him, that's the tough part. Veela ain't easy to catch and this one is a wizard people will look for."

Theo smiled at the man. "Not at my house, you see I happen to be close to the family, no one will think to look in my dungeons for my best mate. You know how to get the blood, if I provide the Veela, you drain him over the few weeks, and we split the profits."

The old wizard looked at him his eyes narrowed. "I want a vow to that, boy."

Theo shrugged. "That's fine. I will be leading the hunt for him while you do the work. I think an even split is reasonable."

The old wizard regarding him coldly. "You're a cold one, you are."

Theodore's eyes were rather maniacal. "Oh no, I just learned that I had to take care of myself. He abandoned me to rebuild his reputation. I have no problem abandoning him to refill my empty vaults."

The wizard nodded after a bit and shrugged. "I will see what buyers I can drag up. Do you happen to know if that wife he took is his mate? He won't last more than a week if she is."

Theodore snorted. "No. She is a mudblood. He had to just tell his father that to calm the man down."

The older wizard shrugged. "Well, we can keep him alive longer. They don't do well without their mate, but if they just bonded and didn't mate," the old man thought on it. "Three months probably before he dies on us."

Theo rubbed his palms together greedily. "Wonderful, absolutely wonderful."

The older wizard stood up. "I ain't doing nothing without that vow, and I ain't going down with you if you fuck this up."

Theo snorted but nodded and stood up as well. "Let's meet in a week, he is not going to really leave the bitches side until after the reception. After that, I will just tell him I want to have lunch with him and it will be as easy as slipping something into his firewhisky."

"How you gonna explain how he went missin just after lunchin with you boy?" The older wizard asked gruffly.

Theo shrugged. "Polyjuice myself as him and be seen later that afternoon, simple."

The old wizard wheezed out a laugh and then shrugged. "A week then, we will need someone to do the vow, someone you don't mind me killing. Can't have people talking about such things."

Theo shrugged. "Easy enough." He turned and left, whistling as he did.

Three months' worth of blood? That was millions of galleons even with the split he needed to do with the greasy old bastard who would bleed Draco dry. The grin wouldn't leave his face. It was too perfect and so simple. Damn, luck was finally rolling his way!

Author Notes:


I am so sorry for the evil Theo, blame my muse. She just went there and I follow her...
I posted a picture of Hermione's dress on my Instagram: CrystalJeanRed
I hope you enjoyed this chapter, sorry for the delay. I want to end this story properly and that means waiting for the time and my muse to work it all out. We are however coming to an end to this tale, sorry.

Cheers,
Cjean