Quidditch League Season 10

Round 3, What's the Connection?

Team: Wigtown Wanderers

Position: Chaser 3

Title: Wedding Plan Woes

Prompt: Mother-in-Law & Daughter-in-Law

Additional Prompts: 2. [object] blanket; 8. [character] Narcissa Black Malfoy; 13. [dialogue] "I know I should care…but I really don't."

Summary: "What do you want from our wedding?" He chuckled. "I know I should care… but I really don't. I'd be happy eloping." She grumbled at this, making him laugh louder. "But whatever makes you happy."

Warnings: background discussions of canon violence

Author's Note: AU in which the Malfoy family deflects/spies post GoF

Word Count: 2,840

"What if we just eloped? Runaway somewhere… perhaps Italy?"

Hermione threw herself on the couch next to her fiancé. His lips curled up. "You know Mother would never go for that. What happened today?"

She sighed. "I know. I'd probably break my own mother's heart, too. I just never believed planning a wedding would be so…" She searched for the word. "Prone to drama. We were working on the guest list today, and it has almost three hundred people at the moment. Many of them I've never even heard of. Then there's the list of venue tours she's set up, and food and wine and cake tastings she would like us to try, ideas for décor. She's even purchased a bunch of decorations for a bachelorette party and bridesmaids' gifts. I don't think I have enough women in my life to have more than one bridesmaid, let alone like ten. I know Narcissa means well, but she has such grand ideas, and it feels like she's going a bit over the top with plans."

"She's just excited. She only has one son to marry off. It's a big deal to her. And she's excited to have a daughter. But love, it is our wedding. You have the right to object to suggestions."

She rested her head against Draco's shoulder, pulling her favorite fuzzy weighted blanket up to her waist to cover her. "I just want something small with close friends and close family. During the war, I had enough attention. I don't need anymore. Just a small, intimate gathering, with Harry, Ron, Neville, and perhaps Ginny as my bridesmaids."

Draco laughed. Hermione would be the one to break that tradition. "Will they all wear matching dresses?" He still had a bit of lingering animosity for Hermione's Gryffindor friends, Weasley in particular. And he knew how to hit Weasley where it would hurt.

"You know Harry wouldn't mind, as long as the dress color brings out his eyes. But they can wear muggle jeans for all I care." She took his hand and looked up to meet his gaze. "What do you want from our wedding?"

He chuckled. "I know I should care… but I really don't. I'd be happy eloping." She grumbled at this, making him laugh louder. "But whatever makes you happy and comfortable is all I need. I'm overjoyed to spend life with you. I don't need all the bells and whistles. But if you get a bridal party of mostly men, I choose Pansy, Blaise, Theo, and Luna for groomsmen." He kissed her on the forehead. "You'll have some time with her tomorrow evening. Just tell her how you feel."

oOoOo

Friday morning, Draco and Hermione were up early to meet Narcissa for a venue tour. This venue had been a suggestion by Narcissa, but Hermione already felt that it was far too elaborate for her tastes, just from the pictures she'd seen so far. But she was humoring her, nonetheless.

They apparated into the heart of the city, relatively quiet on a workday. Tucked away behind Gringotts, (which she'd already toured as a potential venue), was a Victorain style building, she guessed about the size of a quidditch pitch. The inside appeared more museum-like than ballroom, with larger-than-life marble figures, taxidermied creatures—both magical and non-magical, and tapestries lining the walls. A young witch in dress robes approached them when they entered.

"You must be Narcissa?" the woman greeted the eldest of their party.

Narcissa bowed her head. "I am Narcissa Malfoy. And if I may introduce you to the bride and groom, this is my son Draco and my soon-to-be daughter-in-law Hermione Granger."

The witch greeted them each pleasantly with a handshake. "Good morning! Pleasure to meet you all, and thank you for joining me today. My name is Mary, and I'm the event specialist here at the Emerald City Ballroom. And if you're ready, we'll begin our tour."

Hermione learned that this space they first entered into would be a holding space of sorts, for wedding guests to mingle before and after the ceremony. The actual ballroom, while toned down regarding type of decorations, was still far more extravagant than she would have liked. The ceilings had crystal chandeliers hanging in each quadrant with a domed ceiling in the center. The walls were decorated with more tapestries accented with silver solid-colored panels. The floor was nothing special, a typical hardwood dance floor.

But if Hermione wasn't thrilled at the venue, she was even less ecstatic about the price tag. The venue alone, without factoring any other vendors, was almost thirty-three hundred galleons. Emerald City would provide music and lighting for a fee, but the wedding party would still have to provide table covers, catering, cake, alcohol, and other entertainment outside of the typical dancing. Oh, and there was a ceremony fee. The ballroom wouldn't flip itself of course. It did feel a bit like setting money on fire in a world where an entire room could be arranged with a wave of a wand.

During the meeting, she kept her mental calculations to herself. That was a topic to bring up in a private conversation, not in front of the sales representative. But it did leave her feeling even more anxious than she had before. It'd be one thing to pay such a high price if it was her dream venue. But it wasn't. Not even close.

As soon as the meeting was over, Draco had to rush off to the hospital for his shift, leaving Hermione with his mother. Hermione had taken an extended weekend from work, so with nothing else to do, the two women found themselves in a tea shop. "It's a bit too pink for my taste, but the food and drink are wonderful," Narcissa commented as they opened the door.

Hermione shrugged at the décor. "Madam Puddiffoot's is far worse on the color scheme. You'd almost think Umbridge decorated the place," she countered as she took a seat across for Narcissa.

"I haven't frequented Hogsmeade since my school days, but I would imagine there aren't enough felines for it to be the work of Umbridge. I must say, I don't miss doing business with her. I imagine quite a few people find my family unpleasant; however, Dolores is not only unpleasant but lacks grace and tact."

Hermione giggled. "I can only imagine."

After placing their order, the two ladies made small talk, discussing Hermione's work, what Narcissa had been up to, and eventually coming back around to impressions of the most recent venue tour. By the time their food arrived, Hermione was noticeably hungry.

"Something on your mind, darling?" Narcissa finally asked as she began sipping at the tea she'd just been served. Hermione sometimes forgot that her mother-in-law was far more observant than most of the people she kept in her inner circle. While her mood could go undetected around her Gryffindor peers, the Slytherins in her new family circle were more attuned to details.

Hermione sighed, picking up a piece of toast from her plate and slathering it with marmalade. "I don't know about wixen culture, but in Muggle culture, it's typically the bride's family's responsibility to pay for the wedding. And I just don't think I could afford the venue we looked at today. Nor do I particularly want to…" Her nerves bubbled up like an improperly mixed potion.

"We do share the same general expectations regarding marriage traditions. But I don't believe your family intends to pay Lucius and I for taking you into our family with a house elf, or I believe it's a goat in your culture?" Hermione giggled. "The point is, some traditions are worth breaking. Draco is my only son. I want to see him happy. But sometimes I forget your collective tastes are far more simplistic than mine. What would you like from your wedding, Hermione?"

"To not make it into the Prophet."

Narcissa eyed her sharply. "How about we start with some more realistic expectations? I can pull a lot of strings, but I'm not a miracle worker."

Hermione laughed out loud, letting go of a tension she didn't even realize she'd been holding. She didn't even care that some of the other patrons were now staring at her quizzically. She took in a deep breath, feeling relieved. "You're right; that is hoping for a bit much." Narcissa smiled at her fondly while Hermione calmed herself. "I guess I just want it to be something special. I'm so used to being the center of attention. For once, I'd like a special day for just friends and family. And I'm sure that's not helpful in terms of sorting out a venue and vendors. But that's my priority. And handfasting. Handfasting is a priority."

Narcissa fingered the edge of her cup in thought. "Perhaps I might have a place that will suit your tastes. When we've finished here, if you don't mind, we can go take a look."

Hermione's nerves bubbled up again. It wasn't like she had anything else to do today while Draco was at work. But at the same time, she worried that perhaps her mother-in-law's new idea would still be too far off base. Nonetheless she agreed, so after they'd finished dining, Narcissa covered the bill, and the two women left the tea shop.

"Shall we?" Narcissa asked, offering her arm to Hermione. She took her arm in hers, and Narcissa apparated, whisking them both away.

They landed in a perfectly manicured garden with lush green hedges and speckles of flowers throughout. Through the winding paths, there were places to sit and rest, statues to admire, and a fountain of water flowing over a bed of pebbles, which added an almost musical ambiance. At one end of the garden was a small lake and at the other was a black Gothic style mansion. The property looked familiar, but Hermione couldn't put a finger on why.

"The back gardens would be a lovely choice, and we can reshape the hedges to fit any layout you'd like," Narcissa advertised as she led Hermione through the gardens. "We have this small lake here that would make a lovely backdrop. We can create an arch with your flora of choice to place in front, and you could marry in front of the archway. But I realize the weather here is always questionable, so I have another idea, if you'll follow me inside."

Hermione stood for a moment, looking out over the water. It would certainly make a gorgeous backdrop during golden hour. She noticed intricately carved stone benches throughout the walkways and figured they could be moved into rows for guests. But as Narcissa had said, the weather was always a concern. When Bill and Fleur had been married, the Weasleys had brought out a massive tent to create a covering. But if they did that, it would defeat the purpose of having a garden wedding. Still, it fit her tastes far more than any of the ballrooms and repurposed vaults she'd seen thus far. And hedges could be grown for increased privacy.

"Hermione, dear?"

Hermione turned to see her mother-in-law waiting patiently for her. She followed. "The garden is truly beautiful, Narcissa. But whose garden is it?" she asked, as the two of them entered through a back door. It looked like… but it couldn't be. It was too… She'd been to Malfoy Manor and had horrid memories of it. None of what she was seeing now looked like what she remembered. Her face must have shown her confused recognition, because Narcissa nodded.

"Lucius and I decided the only way we could possibly stay here and eventually pass it on to Draco was if we rid the property of all traces of dark magic. The shell is the same, but that's about the only thing of it that remains.

"We've all been hesitant to bring you here, darling, because I know it holds particularly dark memories for you. And I hope I haven't been too reckless in bringing you here now. I only wished to show you a particular feature of the manor."

Hermione stepped away from Narcissa, walking deeper into the room. What had been furnished primarily in black, silver, and emerald, had been replaced with lighter shades of gray, gold, and sapphire, still regal in appearance but without the literal and figurative darkness that had loomed in the house before. Window curtains were tied back to let in the natural light from the outdoors, making it bigger in appearance as well.

"It's almost unrecognizable," Hermione commented, practically a whisper, though it carried through the currently unfinished space.

"I thought, since it is tradition for the family heir to take over the manor when the head of house passes, you might want to have some input in furnishing it. Also, you have an eye for design I could never have, growing up in the muggle world."

Hermione turned around to face her. "I know we can never take back who we were at the start of this war. But I promise to you, Hermione. We are all trying. From the moment we turned, we have been."

Hermione felt moisture in her eyes. It had been her family's and friends' biggest concern when she'd become engaged to Draco. Had they really changed, or had they just deflected to save their own skins? But this was all the proof Hermione needed. Nobody gutted their entire house to such an extreme without having a fundamental change in life. And to include her in the process…

"It's beautiful. And I'd love to be part of it."

Narcissa beamed. "There's still one more room I need to show you upstairs."

Hermione knew better than to ask, instead simply following. They ascended the stairs to the third floor, coming face to face with a set of dark wood French doors. Narcissa glanced back at her with a smile before turning the handle of one door and pushing it open.

Hermione walked into a library like one straight from a fairy tale. It had to be at least the size of the Hogwarts library, if not larger. "I know you and Draco share an affinity for reading, so I thought we might be able to rearrange it…" she trailed off, waving her wand in the direction of the center conference table. Before their eyes, the table split down the center into two, then moved across the center of the room, leaving a piece behind about every 2 feet, creating makeshift seating. With another wave, three stacks of books flew from an out-of-sight shelf, stacking themselves up into the shape of an archway in front of the library's crescent-shaped window, which was now open, looking over the garden they'd just left. A royal blue carpet unrolled itself from the arch to the double doors, now spread open.

Hermione wiped away tears. "Cissa! It's perfect."

oOoOo

Narcissa and Lucius invited Draco and Hermione to stay for dinner and overnight. To which Hermione agreed on one condition: she'd be allowed to sleep in the library.

Hermione had shown off his mother's handiwork to her fiancé as soon as he'd joined them for the evening and he had agreed that the space would be perfect, pointing out that it would also alleviate much of their financial concerns. After Draco's parents had retired for the evening, Hermione and Draco had returned to the library, which had since been reset, aside from the table she had transfigured into a bed.

"You know, we do have our own suite in the manor that's far more fitting to sleeping in than the library," Draco murmured, wrapping her up in her favorite fuzzy weighted blanket, cuddling in bed next to her. She continued to read despite his comment, until she came to a sufficient stopping point.

"And I know I should care… but I really don't. Not when you have a palace-worthy library."

"Still thinking of eloping?"

"Your mother has me sold on a fairytale wedding. Surrounded by fairy tales. But ask me again in a week. I could change my mind again."

He chuckled. "I hear Budapest is lovely this time of year, if you'd like to run away tomorrow."

She batted him lightly before leaning up to kiss him. "I love you, Draco."

"And I love you."