AN: Apologies for being gone again so long! I won't bore you with excuse, so please enjoy this chapter.
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Song suggestion: The power of love, Céline Dion.
Chapter Thirty Eight: The Middle.
The doors opened and Pansy and Ron walked down the aisle as family and friends of Hermione and Draco watched.
"Beautiful." Blaise smiled from the front.
"What is it?" Draco demanded-his back to everything as commanded by Hermione.
"Pansy, Hermione chose the perfect dress for her, she's absolutely beautiful."
"Bloody hell Blaise; tell me when Hermione's coming." He hissed impatiently as Ginny and Harry walked down the aisle next-really all he wanted was to get married and go to their room, his Veela getting restless in him knowing it will soon be sated.
"Ginny and Harry are here." Blaise announced to him enjoying his best friend's annoyance more than he really should.
"Just tell me when she's here." Draco sighed petulantly. Wedding marches are so slow! He thought, whoever wrote them definitely had patience of steel. Then he knew exactly when Hermione walked in and he had to use all his will power not to turn around to see her.
"Your bride has good taste in clothes." Blaise teased. Draco's mouth opened to reply but Hermione had just stepped up next to him and was now holding his hands in hers.
He feasted his eyes on her. From her ringlet bun with diamond pins on the crown of her head and Malfoy tiara with a veil covering her slight make-up, to the Malfoy jewellery hanging off her and the Weasley bracelet. Finally her dress. It was white with diamonds on the lace sleeves and covered her to her toes so he couldn't see what was underneath to his Veela's regret. A traditional Witch dress for a Wizard/Veela ceremony. Then he looked into her golden brown eyes and melted like chocolate.
"Beautiful." He whispered and she blushed.
"Thank you."
"Now, Draco if you've finally done ogling your bride." Blaise muttered.
"Go on Blaise." Hermione told him while still looking at Draco.
"I welcome all here to this Veela Wedding Ceremony." He smiled, "First, Hermione are you here of your own freewill?"
"Yes." She smiled never take her eyes away from her Veela.
"And are you Draco here of your own freewill?"
"Yes." He smiled too.
"Does anyone object to this?" The ten seconds were the longest in Hermione's and Draco's life before Blaise muttered, "Good because you'd all dead." Before returning to normal volume, "Now Hermione Jean Granger do you take Draco Lucius Malfoy to be your lawfully wedded Husband and Veela?"
"I do." She watched the Marks appear as they made their vows.
"And do you Draco Lucius Malfoy take Hermione Jean Granger as your lawfully wedded Wife and Mate?"
"I do." Matching Marks appeared.
"Please say your vows to each other. Hermione?"
"Draco Lucius Malfoy." She sighed, "Where do I begin? Just a summary I guess. I summarise I've known you for seven years now and I hated you for most of it basically but today I can stand here and say I don't, just the opposite." She paused before saying the new truth she felt in her heart truly, "I love you. For better or worse, for richer or poor, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish for as long as we both shall live and beyond."
"And Draco?"
"Hermione Jean Granger. I also hated you for most of our time, something that I regret deeply. When I found out you were my Mate I was happy, because you are my equal, something I didn't see before. I no longer hate you. I love you. For better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish for as long as we both shall live and beyond."
"The rings?" Pansy stepped forward and handed us the gold bands that mean so much to us.
"I, Hermione Jean Granger/Draco Lucius Malfoy give you, Draco Lucius Malfoy/Hermione Jean Granger, this ring as a sign of my eternal love and commitment to you." They recited together.
"You may now kiss the bride…remember this is a PG rating area."
"Who cares?" Draco chuckled before lifting the veil and smothering her lips with his.
"Not me." Hermione surprised herself by saying between kisses.
"Good." He smirked and nudged his tongue into her mouth.
"Draco…" She hissed pulling away, "People are watching." She blushed and giggled.
"Then they should look away." He raised an eyebrow.
"Now, now, Draco." Hermione sighed.
"I present to you Mr and Mrs Malfoy." Blaise announced as the red light they barely noticed dimmed away.
"Mrs Malfoy?" Draco offered his arm.
"Mr Malfoy." She smirked his smirk and slipped her arm through his.
"Did I mention you look stunning today?"
"Thank you, you look rather handsome yourself."
"So you went Witch?"
"Nope." She laughed, pulled her wand out of its hidden pocket and swished it over her. Her dress turned into a strapless ball gown, with a triangle of diamonds on the bust and layers of material.
"Flip me." His eyes ghosted over her-hovering at her chest.
"Control your eyes honey."
"That bloody dress…" He said gruffly.
"Is pretty yes but it doesn't mean you ignore the face above it."
"Yes love."
"Come here." She kissed him quickly, teasingly.
"Minx."
"You know my name." She smiled with her new confidence.
"How am I supposed to deal with you for the next couple of hours without having my way with you?"
"Good luck." She giggled.
The walked into the room reserved for the reception and everyone applauded. They cut the cake, had their first dance and talked to everyone. Hermione and Draco loved every minute of it but for Hermione as the seconds crept into minutes and minutes into hours her nerves returned as the night loomed.