"You can't be serious!" Hermione groaned as she dropped her head into her hands.
Tonks and Ginny both chuckled while Molly shushed Hermione and continued to peruse the rack of dressed Narcissa had managed to procure. Following their breakfast Hermione had written to Narcissa, wondering if she had any contacts with dress designers. Narcissa had written back the next day telling Hermione she would write back as soon as she made the arrangements. Except she didn't write Hermione, she wrote Molly, having correctly assumed the Weasley matriarch would be involved in the wedding planning. The two woman had made all the plans which lead to this outing where Hermione was seated in the dressing room of Narcissa's boutique. The store was closed for the day so they had the entire afternoon to see what dresses might work.
Narcissa had just left to go get another rack while Molly scoffed at Hermione's dismissal of a gown of white satin with piggy puff shoulders.
"Mione, it's not that bad."
Hermione glared at her best friend who was trying to smother her giggles behind her hand. "Then you should wear it Ginerva."
"Ah, alas I'm already married and we're here for you," Ginny smirked.
Narcissa came flouncing back into the room with not one but two charmed racks coming in behind her. "We may be able to find the one off one of these Molly!"
Tonks and Ginny erupted into giggles at the panicked look Hermione sent them.
"Please," she whispered.
In their countless exchanges Molly and Narcissa had managed to arranged everything the woman had spoken about the week prior. Narcissa was happy that the Black line was continuing with Hermione and had thrown herself into planning alongside Molly. She offered fresh roses from her gardens and even managed to import dozens of sunflowers from a friend who had a hothouse. She also volunteered a barn on one of the Malfoy properties in Italy. A short trip confirmed the location. The only thing they let Hermione, Tonks, and Ginny really help with was the invitations and guest list. Sirius had jumped at the opportunity to plan the honeymoon. Hermione had tried to tell him one was unnecessary but he persisted and secretly she was happy he had. She wanted nothing more than to go away for a while, just her and Sirius.
But dress shopping was out of Hermione's realm of patience. Especially when she had already tried on at least ten dresses already.
Taking pity on her Tonks moved to the racks in her own pursuit.
Molly and Narcissa both heard what Hermione was looking for but neither seemed to be taking it to heart. Tonks pulled two and held them up for Hermione while the two other woman were busy at their own rack. Hermione was drawn to the one on the right. It was white lace with a silk bodice underneath. It looked to be fitted but started to flare around the hips with a train and it's neckline was a deep 'v' that exposed only enough to remain modest. Tonks smiled seeing her take notice to it and put the other back before turning the gown that interested Hermione around so she could see the pearl buttons along the back.
Seeing the two mothers still occupied at one rack, Ginny grabbed Hermione's arm and thrust her into the dressing room, the dress appearing behind the curtain moments later when Tonks handed it at her. Undoing the many buttons with her wand Hermione snorted hearing Ginny tell her mom a dress was 'ghastly'.
"You alright in there Mione?"
"Kind of, can you help me?"
Tonks quickly joined her in the rather spacious dressing room and immediately gasped, "Oh Hermione, its gorgeous!"
Looking over her shoulder Hermione blushed, "Thank you. I can't button it."
Pulling out her wand Tonks moved Hermione's hair to the side and buttoned up the dress easily, "Okay turn." Hermione did as instructed and Tonks started shaking with excitement. "This is the one."
"Try convincing them that," Hermione smirked.
"One look and they'll banish all those other dresses."
Glancing back at the mirror Hermione quirked her head to the side, sucking her lip between her teeth. It fit like a glove, just like all the others but this one flattered her in all the ways she wanted a gown to flatter her. It was everything she had imagined her wedding dress would be. But still.
"Do you think Sirius will like it?"
Tonks gagged but her grin gave it away, "It's not leather but he won't be able to keep his eyes off you."
"Alright," she whispered apprehensively.
Hermione waited for Tonks to leave the dressing room and Hermione listened to Ginny instruct Narcissa and Molly to sit.
"Ginerva, we need to find one!"
"Mum, have you noticed Hermione isn't in the room? Do you want to see the gown she has on or not?" Ginny's question was met with silence. It took thirty seconds before Ginny called out to her, "Come out Mione. Show us what you have on!"
Stealing herself with a deep breath Hermione opened the curtain and stepped out. She kept her gaze on the skirt of the dress until she was in front of the three-way mirror. Only then did she look up, nervously smoothing her hands over her stomach. Tonks was grinning, just as she had been when she first saw it. Both Molly and Narcissa had looks of awe but Molly was crying. Narcissa smiled and handed her a handkerchief that Molly graciously took.
"Is this the one?" Narcissa asked, her voice wavering slightly.
Hermione turned and looked in the mirror, twisting to and fro before smiling bright, "Yes, I think so."
"That's the one!" Molly reaffirmed excitedly, "You picked wonderfully my dear!"
Hermione, turning her attention back to the mirror, ran her hands down the front of the dress. She loved it. Ginny, Tonks, Molly, and Narcissa all seemed to be in agreement but one thing kept gnawing at her subconscious - would Sirius like it?
Ginny, being Ginny, read her mind, "Sirius has to be mad if he doesn't think this is absolutely gorgeous. But.." she drew it out making Hermione look at her with a worried expression, "He'll probably prefer what is under it to the dress itself."
"Ginerva!" Molly shrieked while Hermione snorted and Narcissa tried to hide a giggle behind her hand.
"What?" Ginny smirked, "We all know it's true. He's going to see that dress, see how beautiful she is and immediately wonder what she is wearing under it!"
Tonks laughed when Hermione blushed and ducked her head.
Molly shook her head to cover up her huff of laughter, "Still."
Narcissa stood, "I actually have just the thing." Her smirk before she walked into the back room had Hermione blushing while Ginny and Tonks burst into hysterics with Molly between them with a coy smile just shaking her head.
Sirius walked into their bedroom and paused in the doorway seeing Hermione flopped gracelessly on the bed with her arm thrown over her eyes.
As if she sensed him she groaned, "We should have eloped."
He laughed, "It's not too late."
Snorting she managed to sit up by supporting her shelf with her hands, "I found my dress."
"Oh," he perked up as he joined her on the bed, playfully jumping on the mattress behind her so she would fall back to pillow her head on his stomach. "Where is the beauty?"
"At the Burrow, Tonks said you couldn't be trusted not to peek and Molly agreed."
Sirius laughed so deeply her head bounced up and down off his stomach. "Smart women."
"How was your day?"
"I'm becoming a spinster."
"Are not," she snorted again.
"What would you think of me going back to being an Auror?" His tone was suddenly serious, almost weary, like he was worried she may dismiss the idea.
Hermione considered it. She'd be lying if she said it didn't make her nervous but if he felt like he needed something to do with his time, she wasn't going to discourage him. She often wondered how he didn't go a bit bonkers with such an open daily schedule.
"It makes sense. From what I understand you and James were great Aurors so I don't see why that would be different now. If anything you would be an asset." Shifting so she could look at him she pulled herself up his body so they were side by side, "Have you already reached out to Kingsley?"
Turning his head to face her he nodded.
"I'm not mad," she smiled, "When do you start?"
"Brilliant witch," he tucked a curl behind her ear, "After our honeymoon."
"I want to stop taking my contraceptive." He opened his mouth as if to say something and then closed it. For a moment she began to worry. Maybe he wasn't ready or he'd come to terms with the chances of never having children. His hesitation to respond had a pit forming in the bottom of her stomach. "I know the chances of getting pregnant are low but if it's something we both want, I don't see the purpose of the contraceptive."
"I think we should see muggle fertility specialists," he countered.
Hermione looked at his collarbone and he was instantly worried he'd said the wrong thing. This subject was a hard one for her and he didn't want her thinking he needed a baby again.
"Not that we need to. We can do it naturally if you'd like. I just, I thought maybe the muggle healers might offer another perspective than our mediwitches. Alternative medicine if you will." Still she was quiet so he continued nervously. "It was just a thought, we don't have to if you think it's silly. It's probably silly. Just-"
She cut him off suddenly smirking at his rambling, "Sirius."
"Yes, love," he sighed, happy she'd finally spoken and was looking at him again.
"I agree."
"You do?"
She nodded.
"You had me going there for a minute."
"I was just shocked you'd thought of it and I hadn't," she teased with a grin.
With a playful growl he rolled over her, moving down just enough that his face was hovering over hers. Hermione spread her legs to accommodate him so she wasn't awkwardly pinned to the bed.
"Are you sure this is what you want to do love? It may be a painful road."
Bringing her hand up to brush his curtain of hair from his face she smiled, "I want those babies every one thinks of when they see us together or we think of when Teddy morphs into us. The ones I dream of. Whether it's one, three, or none I want to at least try."
"Three? Oh now you're asking a lot!"
She giggled under him at his tease as he put his face in her neck.
"We'll make an appointment."
"Sirius.."
"Mhmmm."
"Thank you."
Reemerging from her hair Sirius frowned down at her. "For what?"
"For not giving up on me," she whispered. Before he could respond she continued, "After I ran and almost ruined us, when I tried to push you away. For forgiving me. For loving me."
"Sweet sweet Kitten," he kissed her gently while swiping his thumbs over her cheeks to wipe away the tears, "It's I who should be thanking you. You've given me everything I didn't know I needed. You entrapped the perpetual bachelor that was Sirius Black, love," she giggled, "that is no small fleet. You rescued me from a life of mindless tarts and-oof kitten, not nice!"
Hermione lobbed a pillow at his head, rolling over him in his dazed state.
"You ridiculous man," she laughed.
"And all yours love," he gripped aimed for the soft tissue of her ribs and attacked sending her into a fit of laughter. A wide smirk on his face as she collapsed onto him in hysterics.
"Stop nibbling that lip," Ginny reprimanded, "You'll ruin your makeup."
Instantly Hermione released her lip. She hadn't even realized she'd been doing it. She didn't know why we was so petrified. She was marrying the man she loved today. Her and Sirius would spend the rest of their lives together, officially, today. So why were her nerves shot? She couldn't fathom it.
Tonks and Ginny had shown up the night before and stolen her from Grimmuald with Harry and Remus playfully playing body guard keeping Sirius from following them. Of all the muggle traditions her friends had latched onto, this was the one they were strict on. They ignored both of their protests and sequestered her in the Burrow for the night. That morning the woman had had a lite brunch with some mimosas before ushering Hermione upstairs to get ready only to lead her through the floo to the villa Narcissa had offered them an hour before the ceremony.
Now she was standing facing a window overlooking the barn where guests were already arriving. Despite the snow, there was a weather control charm over the area that would keep them and their guests warm.
She swallowed the lump in her throat.
"What's wrong Mione?"
"I-", she faltered, "I just want to see Sirius."
"Too bad," Tonks chuckled. "What are you going to do when he officially starts back as an Auror?"
"It's not that," Hermione closed her eyes, "I just, he steadies me."
Molly came up behind her and put a hand on her elbow, "That's what makes him perfect for you."
Hermione smiled at her. "I feel like something is wrong," she whispered.
"What do you mean?"
She could tell Molly was trying not to frown and it made her give her a sad smile. "I don't know but something," she pointed at her diaphragm, "feels off."
As if somehow he'd heard heard her or had been feeling the same, all four witches turned to the door hearing Sirius's irritated protest. "Come on, she doesn't believe in that silly superstition! Neither do I! Let me see my girl!"
Hermione spun to face the door but Tonks stepped stubbornly in front of her and shook her head. At the same moment, whoever was intercepting Sirius spoke.
"It's tradition, Pads."
Harry, the traitor, figures it would be him.
"Who is supposed to dictate tradition in our wedding if not us?"
Hermione put her hands on her hips, "Exactly."
Still Tonks shook her head, "Nice try."
On the other side of the door Harry retorted, "You'll see her in an hour."
"You," she could picture him pointing at Harry, "I'll hex you."
Even Tonks heard the tremor in Sirius's voice. This time when Hermione moved towards the door she didn't stop her. Hermione opened the door a crack and stuck her hand out. In the midst of their verbal spar neither Sirius nor Harry notice.
"Sirius."
No response.
"Sirius!"
He abruptly stopped lecturing Harry.
"Take my hand."
She heard a shuffle of steps and a thud on the door as his calloused hand enveloped hers.
"What's wrong?" she asked through the crack.
He squeezed her hand tightly, "Are you sure you want this Kitten?"
Hermione gasped, "What?"
"Are you sure you want this Hermione?" His voice was rough like upturned gravel, it immediately made her chest ache.
Not releasing his hand but turning to Ginny she motioned for her, "Give me something."
Ginny looked around her a bit frantically before grabbed her mothers offered hankie and passing it to Hermione. Wandlessly Hermione transfigured it into a black blindfold and put it through the crack in the door.
"Put it on."
"Kitten, you know I don't mind this sort of thing, especially not when you use ice cream, but time and place love.."
Blushing like mad she ignored the laughter behind her. "Just put it on Sirius!"
His hand left her grip and she just waited until he called out to her, "Okay."
Looking to Tonks, Ginny, and Molly she accepted their nods as she opened the door.
Sirius's black muggle suit fit him perfectly. He had the coat open exposing the maroon waistcoat underneath. He'd had the suit made with gold buttons and seeing it all together, Hermione loved the man before her even more. He was the embodiment of Gryffindor, always had been, so his color choices didn't surprise her. And coincidently they matched their flowers brilliantly. His hair was a mess, her second sign something was off.
Behind him were Harry looking sheepish. He shrugged when she looked at him and Remus just smirked as he continued leaning against the doorway.
"This is why we eloped."
Behind her Tonks chuckled.
Hermione smirked at him but rolled her eyes. Taking Sirius's hands in hers she squeezed his hands.
"Sirius Black, I've never been as sure as something in my life. What about you? You're trembling."
"Kitten I asked you to marry me in our bath tub after dragging you back to Grimmuald," Hermione squeezed his hand tighter but despite wanting to interrupt him let him continue, "I don't want you to feel obligated, like you have to do this if it's not what you want. I never want to force you into something-"
"Enough," she leaned up and kissed him putting a hand on the side of his face. On her tip toes she did her best to put her forehead on his and only succeeding when he somehow understood and leaned down to meet her. "We've had this discussion love. I'm not leaving. I'm not doing it out of obligation. I'm marrying you because I love you. And your tattoo's are ridiculously sexy," she whispered.
He chuckled, his voice horse, "You are something else witch."
"I'm yours," he sobered, "Do you want me?"
His hands came to rest on her hips, although there was a bit of fumbling as he attempted to find them.
"Gods Hermione, more than anything."
"Good," reaching up she kissed him again but kept it short before withdrawing from his grip and pushing him towards Harry, giggling when he stumbled a bit, "Now go. You'll see me in an hour."
While he kept the blindfold on Sirius pointedly looked at her, "Then you're mine forever."
"And you mine," she confirmed around a chuckle, "That's the whole point. Now Harry take him and Remus stop antagonizing him."
Harry chucked but did just that while Remus held his hands up, "What makes you think I'm doing it?"
"You're a Marauder too."
Sirius, as if reminded just who he was by her words, ripped off his blindfold but only got saw a bit of white lace as she went back into room she'd previously been sequestered in. "Come on!"
Safely behind the door Hermione laughed alongside Ginny and Tonks leaving Molly to playfully roll her eyes at the three of them.