CHAPTER EIGHTEEN- The Rehearsal
"Does it fit?" Narcissa asked for the fifth time. Hermione was in her bathroom changing into her outfit for the rehearsal dinner and Narcissa was waiting impatiently in her bedroom.
The dress fit just fine even if it was not Hermione's style. It was a deep champagne color and made entirely out of lace. The slip underneath the dress was emerald green and Hermione thought she looked somewhat like a Christmas ornament.
"Thank Merlin it fits. Concetta always gets it right," Narcissa said with relief. She handed Hermione a pair of green shoes that were much to high tried to walk in them.
"Like we have practiced!" Narcissa instructed. "Slow, delicate steps. Now sit while I do your makeup," said Narcissa. Within thirty minuets Hermione was transformed into a glittering doll. Her eyes were itchy from all the makeup and her hair felt like it was heavy and stiff.
"Concetta will do a much better job tomorrow, I did the best with what I could work with," said Narcissa. Slowly and delicately the witches walked downstairs to find Lucius, Draco and Snape already at the table.
All of the men instantly noticed Hermione's apperance. While Draco thought it was a slight improvement, Severus was put off by it. "Why does she have all of that goo on her face?" Snape asked.
"To make her more attractive," Narcissa replied while rolling her eyes. "Who else are we expecting?" Lucius asked, growing bored of talking about the girl. "They will arrive later, we should start now," his wife replied.
Neither Hermione nor Draco could touch their food. They had barely spent any time together since they arrived at the manor. Knowing that tomorrow they would be married drastically killed their appetites.
While Narcissa reviewed the plans for tomorrow's big day, Hermione sat and tuned her out until the bit about who would be walking her down the aisle. "Severus, you will walk her as soon as the music starts and-" Mrs. Malfoy said before she was cut off.
"Snape? Snape is walking me?" Hermione said astounded. "My father should be the one to do it!" Hermione screamed at the table. "Too bad poor daddy is in really no condition to be doing any walking," screeched a voice from behind her.
Standing in the archway of the dining room was Bellatrix Lestrange. "I simply couldn't miss your big day, Drakey," she said while planting a kiss on her nephew's head.
Everything in Hermione's body went into shock. This was the woman everyone feared. This was the woman who had her parents. "Bellatrix, we weren't expecting you till much later," drawled Lucius.
"And miss all of this fun family time? Not for the world!" Bellatrix giggled, seating herself next to her nephew. "So this is the lucky girl?" Bellatrix said looking Hermione up and down.
"I bet under all that gunk my sister has put on her she resembles her parents… Maybe if her eyes were all black and blue I'd see it!" Bellatrix laughed hysterically. Snape, who had his eyes on Hermione all night, knew what would happen as soon as she reached down.
Hermione concealed her wand in her silky slip and drew it out to curse Bellatrix Lestrange. Seeing her movements, Severus was quick enough to disarm Hermione before she could get a curse out.
This transgression only made Bellatrix laugh more. "What a spitfire you have Draco! You better stomp out that flame before it grows any bigger," she warned. "Bellatrix, please! This isn't the time!" Narcissa begged of her older sister.
"Then when is, Cissy? She must learn her place," she spat. "Bellatrix you will either eat peacefully with us or word of how unhappy you have made the young couple will reach very angry ears," Severus threatened.
Snape's words were enough to make Bellatrix leave the room. If Voldemort found out that she was bullying Hermione, who is supposed to be kept happy at all costs, Bellatrix would be punished.
Everyone pretending like Bellatrix had never disrupted their dinner made Hermione's blood boil. She rushed outside into the cold snow to get away from them all. She had barely made it to her favorite fountain when Severus was behind her.
"You promised they would be safe if I cooperated!" Hermione shouted. She was freezing from the cold but stood her ground. "They are safe! Bellatrix has been removed from watching them for… insubordination," he said.
"I would have let You Know Who Kill me rather than marry Draco if I thought they were still in danger!" Hermione said. Severus knew that she was serious and would have rather accepted death.
Hermione was clearly shivering with her nose growing red when he tried to wrap an arm around her and keep her warm. He had tried his best for years to protect this bright, Muggle-born girl.
Instantly she flinched at his touch and pushed him away. Her distaste for him made Severus' heart deep with sadness. "Tomrrow, do your duty and let Draco do his… This will all be over soon," he said.
"No, it won't," she said as tears froze to her cheeks. Leaving Snape out in the cold she returned to the manor and shut herself away in her room. Tomorrow would be the worst day of her life.