Chapter 10: The Wedding

1st September 2002

"Only Potter could manage to have a bloody wedding at Hogwarts on the day students are to arrive. I swear to Merlin," Draco comments had Hermione laughing as they walked the path towards the school.

"Actually, this was all Pansy's idea." Hermione replied, causing Draco to slap his forehead and mutter 'of course it was.'

Harry and Pansy had been together for slightly over a year. When Harry asked Pansy to marry him just four months earlier, everything had been on a fast track since then.

At first, there had been speculation by the public as to why the couple felt the need for such speedy nuptials. Pansy, in true Pansy fashion, had gone to St. Mungo's for a full physical and then released the results to prove that she was not expecting. She even went as far to say that she was grateful to Ginny for having James, because that meant that she didn't need to give birth to sprogs.

No, Pansy and Harry were just so disgustingly in love that they couldn't wait another moment to tie the knot.

"Do you think she realises what an inconvenience she's being?" Theo asked, from Draco's other side.

"Without a doubt." Draco deadpanned, causing Hermione to laugh. Her laughter reached her daughter's ears and Ellie – who was twirling in the brush just off the path – joined in with her mother. Though they couldn't see her, they saw the movement of the tall grass being pushed aside as the little girl hunted her prey.

"What is she doing?" Theo asked, keeping his voice low to try and not disrupt the girl. Hermione looked to Draco and smiled at the man before looking over her shoulder towards the ruckus that was Eleanor.

"She's a dragon," Hermione informed him. To his credit Theo didn't say anything negative, he only nodded his head slowly as he took in the information about his daughter.

In the week since they'd confirmed Ellie's parentage, Theo had been spending more time around their home trying to get to know his daughter. She was a spitfire, and he was quickly realising that he was horribly unprepared for a life as a full-time father.

Being in her home had helped Ellie with warming up to him, quickly demanding that Theo be the princess that she was holding captive that Draco had to rescue. Despite the long hours of getting ready for school to start, Draco – perusal – couldn't tell her no.

Ellie had gotten so comfortable with Theo, in fact, that she'd even demanded that he join them for family dinners. Though, when Hermione asked if Theo could read Ellie her bedtime story, the toddler had sobbed and thrown herself in Draco's arms. Needless to say, she wasn't keen on giving her daddy up for put downs just yet.

With everything going on with Eleanor, Hermione, Draco, and Theo had decided that they'd need to slow down on the romance to try and sort through this new dynamic. Though, one night when Hermione had left to give Ellie her bath, she'd come back to Theo and Draco in a passionate snog. She knew that it was only a matter of time before the wizards escalated their relationship, something she wasn't about to get in the way of.

"So, who's ready to attend the wedding of the century?" Hermione asked, breaking the silence.

"I'd rather toss myself into the lake," Draco replied with a heavy sigh that prompted Hermione to give him a swat to his bicep.

Just then, Ellie leapt from the grass in front of Theo, showing her teeth as she growled at him. He stopped, staring down at the little girl who was stalking closer to him, her hands spread as if they were claws before she began to chase him towards the castle.

"Should we save him?" Hermione asked as she watched Theo running away from the tiny terror that was trying to attack him.

Draco wrapped an arm around her waist as he watched with a hint of amusement and admiration on his face. After just a moment of silence he shook his head and began to pull Hermione along next to him.

"Let's just enjoy a quiet walk to the castle."

ooo

"When will the boats be arriving?" Hermione asked as she swayed in Draco's arms, watching with a soft smile as she looked to her best friend and his new wife in the middle of the dance floor.

"Fairly soon, all the staff are going to go up to the castle. McGonagall said to let the wedding go for as long as Potter wanted. Thought it would be a good show for the students as they arrived to see the Chosen Prat's wedding."

"Draco, behave," Hermione scolded, but she wasn't too harsh with her boyfriend. A little whirlwind of sage tulle crashed into their legs, having just left Theo at the cake table.

"Mummy, you're here!" Ellie exclaimed, jumping up and down in enthusiasm. "Mr. Theo likes cake too!"

"Does he?" Draco asked, crouching down in front of his daughter, his eyes sparkling. "Did he listen to mummy's rule and only let Ellie have one slice?"

"No, he said it's a secret though. He gave me two pieces and then his." Ellie squealed out, jumping around.

"Excellent," Draco smiled at her, giving her a wink that only made Ellie dance around them. "How about my best girl taking me for a spin around the dance floor before I have to go up to the school?"

"I'm your best girl!" Ellie shouted, launching herself into Draco's arms. "Dance with me daddy!"

Draco didn't hesitate, setting Ellie on the tops of his feet before he began to twirl the two of them around. He was an excellent dancer, his movement smooth and pure grace. Even with Ellie as his partner, he was breathtaking to watch.

"It's all the years of dance lessons. I'm surprised Cissa hasn't gotten Eleanor started with them or with a governess yet." Hermione turned at the deep tone behind her and smiled in Theo's direction as he approached her with a glass of champagne held out towards her.

"Actually," Hermione accepted the flute and took a sip. "Narcissa has fully taken control of all her schooling. Draco and I offered to interview a few and she threatened to toss us out and remove our access through the wards. The wild one you see is nearly all her grandmother's doing. If you thought Draco was a spoiled child, I can only fear how bad her granddaughter will be."

Theo stared at her for a moment, his face completely in shock before he threw his head back and a booming laugh fell from his chest. Hermione's body warmed at the sound, and she knew she could get used to this. Being around Theo was easy. He was quiet, but not closed off. He'd been open with her about his intentions thus far, and the love he clearly already had for Draco and Ellie just made him that much more endearing to her.

"So, Cissa has played a large role in her upbringing then?" He used the back of his hand to wipe away the tears that had formed in the corners of his eyes.

"She has. Narcissa has taken care of Ellie since I started working for the ministry straight out of Hogwarts. I was worried how involved she would have the house elves, but she does nearly all of it. Truly, Draco and Narcissa have made the perfect family for Eleanor."

Theo didn't say anything, only nodding his head to acknowledge that he'd even heard Hermione's words. They stood side by side watching as Draco continued to dance with their daughter through every song that came on. It didn't seem to matter what was playing as he moved across the dancefloor with his girl. At one point they even neared Harry and Pansy and Hermione had to laugh when she saw Ellie scowl in Harry's direction when he tried to trade partners. The girl clung to her father and the love she had for Draco was evident to anyone who saw them.

"I fear, I must ask more of you," Theo finally said as they watched Ellie reach up to Draco. As soon as she was in his arms, she curled into his chest and her body began to sag with exhaustion. "I'd like to spend more time with Eleanor, I'd like to get to know her better. But not necessarily as another father figure." He confessed, not looking towards Hermione.

"You see, my father, well, to put it lightly I didn't have the best example of what a father ought to be."

"Theo, you don't have to–."

"No, I do. Please," he turned towards her, his eyes pleading. She softened at the look he gave her and Hermione nodded for him to continue.

"He was abusive, horribly so. He actually killed my mother in front of me when I was thirteen. It wasn't until the Dark Lord came back that I was finally given some sort of freedom from the man." Hermione's heart was pounding in her chest, but she didn't dare stop him from telling his story. She knew that it was well known what a monster Thoros Nott was, but the horrors that Theo carried with him were rarely disclosed to even those closest to him according to Pansy.

"That's why I left, after his trial and he was sentenced to the kiss, all the pressure felt like it was suffocating me. With him still freed, there was at least someone for the public to hate and I was just the poor sod who had to live with him. Once he was gone, everything he left behind all landed on my shoulders. The sin of the father and whatnot.

"I had to make myself into something that he couldn't take from me. That his reputation couldn't tarnish. And coming back here, getting to know you, rekindling with Draco, and meeting Eleanor, I finally feel like I'm where I'm supposed to be. I'm not ready to be a father yet, but, if you're willing to give me the chance, I'd still like to be a part of her life."

Hermione didn't know what to say, she just looked up towards him and the mask he'd had carefully constructed and wore in front of her fell away a bit. His blue eyes, the same dark shade that her daughter had, held a pain behind them that she could only hope to help soothe away. In the short amount of time that she'd taken to get to know him, she knew that he was a good man and that he'd be a wonderful father.

"I think that would be wonderful," Hermione told him, not able to tear her eyes away from him.

Theo dipped his head, not having expected such an easy acceptance from her. When he turned to meet her gaze, Theo's eyes darted between hers and Hermione felt as if she were in a trance and she couldn't look away. Not that she wanted to.

"Could I ask for something else?" He said, moving ever so slightly towards her. Hermione's tongue darted out, wetting her lips as she anticipated what other thing he might have in mind. "If it's alright with you," he leaned in so that his breath was warm against her ear. "I'd very much like to kiss you."

Hermione turned her head so that she was looking up towards him. There was a new storm raging there that had nothing to do with his fears of fatherhood. The nervous Theo, the one fearful of failure, was gone. Replaced with the man who knew exactly what he wanted and right now, he wanted her.

Hermione wrapped her arms around the back of his neck and pulled him towards her lips. His long hair was pulled into a bun and Merlin was it a good look.

Their mouths met and Hermione couldn't stop the sigh that slipped from her at the need she felt for him. Theo swallowed her sounds and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her flush against his chest. He was good. He was very, very good at this.

His tongue pressed against her lips, as if asking for entry and she happily allowed it. Her mouth fell open and instantly he was there, taking all she could give him. Where Draco was soft and accepted whatever she offered, Theo was demanding and greedy. They were so different, but she craved them each equally.

As Theo pulled away, cupping her face with his strong hands, she knew that whatever fears she'd once held in regards to this wizard were gone.

Their life wouldn't be easy, but it was a life she would cherish nonetheless.