"Dearest friends and family-" Professor McGonagall began which made our whole congregation go quiet as they took to their seats. "We've come here together to show these two beautiful people our love and support together" she added happily as she looked over to our congregation. "We are here to celebrate them as individuals and as a couple as they join their lives together in marriage" she added. "Marriage isn't something to be entered into lightly, the uniting of two paths into a single journey asks us to be thoughtful, intentional and honest" she continued. "Marriage brings with it a deep realisation of our responsibility and commitment to our partner, and the understanding that love, loyalty, compromise and compassion becomes the foundations of a happy and enduring live together" she added with a warm smile before looking back at both me and Cedric. "Cedric, do you come here today to marry Hermione, and to join your path with hers?" she asked him.
"I do" Cedric answered with a very proud grin.
"Hermione, do you come here today to marry Cedric, and to join your path with his?" I heard Professor McGonagall say, which made me look over to her.
"I do" I replied with the same proud grin.
"Before we move on I must ask-" Professor McGonagall started. "If there is anyone here know of any lawful impediment in which these two people can not join their lives together must speak now or forever hold their peace" she called out to the congregation and my stomach started to flutter as the whole courtyard went silent. I had had enough dramatics today, the last thing me and Cedric needed right now was to Cormac to make one last appearance – I had had quite enough of him for one day, in fact a lifetime!
"Well that is the awkward part over" Professor McGonagall said made both me and Cedric nervously chuckle. "Cedric and Hermione will now exchange vows" she told our congregation. "These words are promises they make to each other, to keep each day of their loves together" she added. "Cedric first" she instructed, and I watched as Cedric smiled at this. "Repeat after me-" she advised. "Miss Hermione Jean Grainger-" she added.
"Miss Hermione Jean Grainer" Cedric repeated with a smile.
"I promise to cherish you always, to honour and sustain you-" Professor McGonagall said.
"I promise to cherish you always, to honour and sustain you-" Cedric continued.
"In sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth" Professor McGonagall stated.
"In sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth" Cedric continued to repeat.
"And to be true to you in all things until death alone shall part us" Professor McGonagall added.
"And to be true to you in all things until death alone shall part us" Cedric copied.
"Thank you" Professor McGonagall smiled at him. "Now Hermione" she said, and we both warmly smiled at each other.
"Mr Cedric Diggory-" Professor McGonagall began.
"Mr Cedric Diggory" I started.
"I promise to cherish you always, to honour and sustain you-" Professor McGonagall stated.
"I promise to cherish you always, to honour and sustain you-" I copied.
"In sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth" Professor McGonagall added.
"In sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth" I concluded.
"And to be true to you in all things until death alone shall part us" Professor McGonagall continued.
"And to be true to you in all things until death alone shall part us" I repeated with a warm smile.
"Cedric and Hermione will now exchange rings" Professor McGonagall advised our congregation. "The rings they exchange will be a symbol of their everlasting commitment to each other for the rest of their lives" she explained as Harry stepped forward with both our rings on a dark red velvet cushion. We both then picked up each other's rings, which made Harry then spin around and go and sit back with my parents.
"First of all Cedric-" Professor McGonagall began once more. "Repeat after me" she instructed again. "With this ring I, Cedric, take you Hermione, to be no other than yourself" she advised.
"With this ring I, Cedric, take you Hermione, to be no other than yourself" Cedric promised with my favourite crooked smile as he took my left hand, and he slid the ring onto my left index finger.
"Loving what I know of you, and trusting what I do not yet know" Professor McGonagall stated.
"Loving what I know of you, and trusting what I do not yet know" Cedric repeated with a warm look in his eyes.
"I will respect your integrity and have faith in your abiding love for me" Professor McGonagall continued.
"I will respect your integrity and have faith in your abiding love for me" Cedric repeated.
"Through all our years, and in all that life may bring us" Professor McGonagall added.
"Through all our years, and in all that life may bring us" Cedric finished.
"Very good" Professor McGonagall smiled as she nodded. "Now Hermione" she advised as she nodded at me. "Repeat after me" she advised. "With this ring I, Hermione, take you Cedric, to be no other than yourself" she added.
"With this ring I, Hermione, take you Cedric, to be no other than yourself" I repeated as I took Cedric's left hand in my right, and I slid his ring onto his left index finger.
"Loving what I know of you, and trusting what I do not yet know" Professor McGonagall continued.
"Loving what I know of you, and trusting what I do not yet know" I copied her.
"I will respect your integrity and have faith in your abiding love for me" Professor McGonagall stated.
"I will respect your integrity and have faith in your abiding love for me" I repeated.
"Through all our years, and in all that life may bring us" Professor McGonagall stated.
"Through all our years, and in all that life may bring us" I repeated once more.
"We now move onto the handfasting portion of this wedding ceremony" Professor McGonagall advised everyone. "And this is to solidify their commitments together to symbolise that their union takes place on a spiritual level as well as a physical level" she explained as she gestured to me, and Cedric and we both dropped our arms and hands from each other, and we interlocked our left arms together. Professor McGonagall then pulled her wand out and flicked it and a gold rope wrapped around the pair of our wrists.
"Handfasting is a very old tradition-" Professor McGonagall started. "With each wrap of the rope Cedric and Hermione deepen their commitment to each other-" she continued as the rope wrapped itself around our wrists further. "Vowing to respect and support one another, to grow with each other" she added. "And to offer each other understanding and compassion, and to take each new challenge and adventure as they both come together" she continued. "Let this bond be strong and loving" she finished, and the rope shone brightly before it disappeared.
"By the power vested in me by the Ministry of Magic, I now pronounce you husband and wife" she declared proudly. "Mr Diggory" she grinned as she looked over to Cedric. "You may now kiss your bride" she smiled happily. We both then stepped closer together, Cedric then slowly and carefully lifted my veil up and threw it backwards. I then grinned at him as he wrapped his left arm around my waist, and he cupped the left-hand side of my face with his right hand before he pressed a long and loving kiss against my lips. Cedric quickly deepened the kiss however before we could get lost into it, we heard someone cough and we broke apart and look at our congregation to see a sea of very happy faces. I then turned and looked over to my husband and we both grinned at each other, we had finally done it! We were finally husband and wife, and quite frankly there was no other better feeling in the world.