Chapter 14 - Conjugation
The summer passed slowly. Headmaster Dippet had started transitioning his duties to McGonagall and Thomas took full advantage during the Summer Board of Governors meetings. His first goal had been the introduction of Wizarding Culture class, an idea he had been mentioning on and off for months now to all the board members and various people he met at social events. The idea was well received, except for the little pocket of Dumbledore fanatics left of the pureblood supremacists who wanted to kill all muggleborn and did not care for any other ideas since their issues came down to pure hatred and no rational logical arguments would even come close to touching them.
Thankfully, the members of the Board were more rational than some, and with the elimination of both Abraxas Malfoy and Cantankerous Nott, the seats had been replaced with Charlotte Bones for the Malfoy seat and Thaddeus Nott had taken over from his father. The youngest Nott had been very quiet so far, both in the Wizengamot and the Board, Thomas was quite frustrated to not be able to read him but also relieved he didn't seem to be as hateful and unstable as his late father.
"I believe Lord Gaunt has a proposal for us today." Headmaster Dippet said once everyone was seated for the meeting following the end of the school year, in early July.
Thomas nodded and stood up, "Yes, thank you Headmaster. I would like Hogwarts to offer Wizarding Culture classes to all muggle-raised students. Ideally it would be mandatory the first three years to ease assimilation into the Wizarding world, then be an elective."
Murmurs broke out, finally Charlotte Bones raised a hand, "Lord Gaunt, I do believe the idea has merits but I assume if you are proposing this today, it would mean you wish to implement it this coming September. Do you have a potential professor in mind?"
Thomas had a small smile, "Yes, I do have a professor in mind. Alphard Black of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black has agreed should the motion passes, I believe he would be most suited to teach about Wizarding Culture."
From then on, the conversation centered about agreeing on the Professor, how it would fit into the schedules, offering it as an elective to Wizarding-raised students just in case, the budget for the Professor's salary and so on.
Eventually, they voted and the motion passed for the Wizarding Culture class and its Professor.
Thomas left the meeting feeling quite smug, already planning the next classes he wanted the Board to agree to.
The rest of the Summer disappeared into various meetings for the Board of Governors, the Wizengamot and his research for his mastery, while also wedding planning with Hermione. Thomas was exhausted by the time September rolled around but the wedding preparations were mostly done. He had asked Alphard to be his best man, to which the wizard agreed and Hermione had asked Dorea Potter to be her maid of honour. Usually, the Head of the family the bride was marrying into would be the one presiding over the ceremony but as Thomas was the only Gaunt out of Azkaban at the moment, he had eventually asked Master Sharpe to conduct the ceremony, and the aging wizard had heartily agreed.
Saturday 21 October 1950 found Hermione waking up alone in McDermott's Castle in Ireland. The choice of wedding location had been rather easy for the couple, they had both enjoyed their short trip to Ireland and wanted to relive those memories, Thomas had insisted on a castle and Hermione had fallen in love with the medieval castle nicknamed The Rock that sat on the small island on lake Key, somewhere in-between Donegal and Galway. The view was magical and with a few wards they were able to hide the festivities from Muggle eyes, especially as most guests were coming in via Portkey or apparition. Thankfully, late October was not the most touristic season.
She got up and immediately went to the ensuite bathroom to soak in a warm bath, enjoying the old fashioned copper bathtub. She added some herbs and a muscle relaxant potion to the water before getting in. Dobby came in quickly to give her a morning cup of tea then popped immediately as his day was quite busy. She enjoyed her tea and bath until her skin was pruning so much she was afraid it wouldn't go back. She got out and wrapped herself in a fluffy white bathrobe and got to work. Depilatory charms, smoothing lotions, long-lasting glamours on her scars and magical nail polish, a simple black on her toes and black with golden tips on her hands.
Dorea came in right before noon, and immediately started on her hair. She used both charms and potions to smooth out her hair into soft shiny curls and added a few highlights to catch the lights better. Once they were both satisfied they had a light lunch, where Dorea attempted to give Hermione the talk. Of course, Alphard was the only one to know the couple already lived together and the rest of the Wizarding World assumed Hermione lived with Alphard in Black Cottage near Brighton, which neither Hermione nor Alphard tried to dissuade them from. Living with Thomas was such an absurd improper idea of course. Dorea gave up quite quickly once she understood Hermione was not the blushing virgin she expected and pretended that conversation had not happened. In the early afternoon, Dorea helped Hermione put on her wedding clothes. The bride had chosen to have a custom gown design according to her own vision and a matching set of robes, her designer was a witch in Wizarding Paris who often reminded Hermione of Pansy Parkinson with a French accent but the works were exquisite.
The dress was a princess-line cut reaching the floor, the bodice itself was a pure black but a layer of lace with golden threads went over the bodice. The robes were a light black satin with golden edges and the end result was striking.
Dorea added a golden tiara with black diamonds on top of Hermione curls. The tiara had been found by Alphard in the Black vaults.
Hermione was wearing her courtship cage cuff bracelet, her engagement ring and the tiara. She added black pearl earrings and a simple golden chain as a necklace. She had never felt more beautiful.
A knock disturbed the two witches, "It's almost time, the sun will set soon." the gruff voice of Alastor Moody warned them.
Hermione had been able to meet Alastor months ago after Alphard finally introduced his now-boyfriend to his sister and her intended. Alphard had probed him subtly beforehand to check whether the man would freak out if he stumbled on their less than legal activities. Eventually the Auror recognised Hermione was hiding something, his paranoia was already quite strong and she came clean on her entire history, and Thomas and her came clean on what they had done so far, with Alphard chiming in a few times while holding his wand close in case he had to obliviate his boyfriend. To their surprise and great relief, Moody took everything in stride and then started making suggestions to improve their plans. The trio became a quartet quite fast and a few weeks ago Hermione had asked the Auror if he would walk her down the aisle, he had accepted while hugging her so tight she couldn't breath.
She walked downstairs and Alastor offered her his arm, "Thank you for doing this Alastor", "It's my pleasure lass."
Hermione walked down the aisle with Alastor and as soon as she saw Thomas the entire world faded away. He was dressed in Black satin robes with gold edges that matched hers perfectly, his hair was combed neatly but a curl escaped right above his right eye and his gaze held so many emotions she wanted to run towards him.
Eventually they were joined at the altar, and Master Sharpe started the traditional speech and asked them to recite the ancient vows.
They spoke at the same time in perfect synchronisation:
"Coram magica et amore, te accipio ut meum conjugem.
Promitto te amare, fidus esse, te protegere et animam meam tuam coniungere.
In prosperis et adversis, in sanitate et infirmitate, te amabo et honorem tibi dabo omnibus diebus vitae nostrae.
Coniuramus animas nostras in aeternum."
As they finished their vows, Master Sharpe recited the binding and from their joined forearms a brilliant golden light emanated and engulfed the couple entirely.
The crowd cheered for the couple and after a breathtaking kiss, Master Sharpe spoke again, "May I introduce you to Lord and Lady Gaunt!"
A/N - Translation of the Latin vows:
"In the presence of magic and love, I take you as my spouse.
I promise to love you, to be faithful, to protect you, and to join my soul with yours.
In good times and bad, in sickness and health, I will love and honor you all the days of our lives.
We bind our souls together forever."