Hey everyone! I'm so sorry for the delay in bringing you this final chapter. hope it's everything you've been waiting for.Chapter 32: An Unbreakable Bond
Draco stood at the altar, a wave of anticipation and joy washing over him as he glanced around the hall. It was a beautiful blend of two worlds—friends and family from both the wizarding and Muggle realms, all gathered together under an arch of white and purple orchids. The fragrant blooms seemed to fill the room with a promise of new beginnings, symbolizing the life he and Hermione were about to embark on together.
Beside him stood Blaise and Pansy, each dressed impeccably in formal attire and visibly moved by the occasion. Blaise gave Draco an encouraging nod, a proud smile breaking his usually composed demeanor, while Pansy, watched with a warm expression, a rare softness in her usually sharp gaze. Having them by his side, friends who had seen him through so much, made Draco feel grounded and reassured.
The hall was filled with familiar faces, and Draco felt a warmth he'd rarely experienced before. The rows of seats were filled with Hermione's family, her friends from the Muggle world, and many familiar wizarding faces. The Weasleys occupied an entire row, minus Ron and Molly. Arthur Weasley looked around with fascination, clearly delighted by the Muggle décor. Next to him sat George and Angelina, sharing knowing smiles, while even Percy looked quietly carried away by the romantic atmosphere.
Intermingled among the wizards were numerous Muggle guests—friends Hermione had made over the years and friends Draco had met during his time living as a Muggle. They sat comfortably together, a testament to the way that time had healed divides and bridged their two worlds. For a moment, it felt like all the old rivalries and prejudices had been left in the past.
Soft music filled the room, and everyone turned as Hermione entered, her arm linked with her father, Richard. She was breathtaking, her gown flowing like water as she walked, her hair soft and free, framed by gentle curls. Richard squeezed her hand, a silent gesture of pride and love, and as they moved down the aisle together, Hermione's gaze remained locked on Draco, her heart pounding with happiness and anticipation. Everything else—the hall, the guests, the world itself—seemed to fade away. All she saw was Draco, waiting for her with a look of pure, undiluted love.
At the altar, her bridesmaid Ginny and her man of honor Harry, stood beside her, offering quiet, supportive smiles. Ginny gently squeezed Hermione's hand as she took her place beside Draco. Harry caught her eye with a grin, and Hermione's heart swelled, knowing that her friends were there to support her on this most important day.
Draco's eyes never left her as she approached. His heart filled to overflowing, and a sense of peace and happiness he hadn't dared to imagine enveloped him as he took her hands in his. The officiant smiled, his voice gentle but steady, and began the ceremony with a brief introduction, honoring the journey of two people who rose above their differences, finding love where there once was distance.
Draco's palms were warm as he held her hands, his gaze intense yet soft. When the time came, he took a deep breath, his voice steady yet filled with emotion as he recited his vows:
"If someone had told me 15 years ago that I'd be standing here, ready to marry you, I'd probably have punched them. But now, as I look at you, I am endlessly grateful. I never thought I deserved forgiveness until you showed me I did. I promise to love you, to cherish you, and to keep becoming the man you see in me—the man you deserve—every day, for the rest of my life."
Hermione's eyes glistened with tears as she listened to him, overwhelmed by the sincerity and devotion in his words. When it was her turn, she took a steadying breath, her voice soft but filled with conviction.
"Draco, I was lost until I found you. I never thought I'd meet someone who would understand and complete me the way you do. I had nearly given up hope when fate brought us together, and every day, I'm grateful it did. I promise to love you and to stand by your side, through every twist and turn, through thick and thin. Today, I give you my heart fully, knowing that with you, I am home."
Draco squeezed her hands as her vows touched his heart, her words reminding him of the journey they'd taken to reach this moment. Both of them blinked back tears, their gazes locked, as the officiant continued.
Finally, the officiant asked, "Do you, Draco Lucius Malfoy, take Hermione Jean Granger to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward?"
"I do," Draco replied, his voice filled with certainty and joy.
"And do you, Hermione Jean Granger, take Draco Lucius Malfoy to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward?"
"I do," Hermione answered, her voice barely a whisper, thick with emotion.
The officiant smiled warmly. "By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Draco moved forward, gently cupping her face, and kissed her with a tender reverence that left the room silent in awe. When they pulled apart, they shared a laugh, a blend of joy and relief that echoed the smiles around them. The guests erupted into cheers, the room filled with the warm energy of shared happiness.
Hand in hand, they turned to face their guests, the applause growing louder as they took their first steps down the aisle as husband and wife. Walking out into the bright, warm sunlight, they looked at each other with radiant smiles, their joy a promise of a life filled with love and peace, side by side, ready for whatever lay ahead.
Hours later, at the reception, Hermione and Draco were laughing and chatting with their guests, completely absorbed in the joy of the day. Everything felt perfect, as though this truly marked the beginning of a beautiful new chapter. But as they turned to greet another well-wisher, their smiles froze. Approaching them, much to their utter shock, were Molly Weasley—and, right beside her, Ron Weasley.
Molly wore a soft smile, and Ron was beside her, dressed formally and looking uncharacteristically solemn. While Molly had been invited, Ron certainly hadn't. Yet here they were. Hermione instinctively reached for Draco's hand as they approached, her heart pounding in her chest. She could feel Draco tense beside her, his fingers tightening around hers in solidarity. Across the room, Harry noticed them too and moved to intercept, but Molly whispered something to him, and he reluctantly stepped aside, letting them pass.
Ron walked up to them, looking unsteady yet determined, and paused before speaking. His face was a mixture of regret and nervousness. Clearing his throat, he began, "Hermione… Draco… I owe you both an apology. A real apology. I've spent so long convinced that I was doing what was right, convinced that I deserved things I had no right to feel entitled to. But the truth is, I was wrong. I was selfish. I took for granted that you would always be there, Hermione, and I refused to see what was right in front of me—that you deserved happiness, wherever that led you."
He took a shaky breath, his eyes wet with unshed tears. "I let my pride get in the way. I thought that if I pushed enough if I clung to the past hard enough, things would turn out how I wanted. I hurt you both, and I let my jealousy get in the way of supporting someone I called my best friend. And for that, I am so, so sorry." Ron's gaze shifted to Draco, who looked at him with guarded but open eyes. "Draco, I know I've been awful to you. I could stand here and tell you it's because of our history, but the truth is… I was scared. Scared of seeing you as anything other than my enemy, because that would mean facing everything I'd done wrong. I'm sorry for that too."
He looked back to Hermione, his voice softer. "Hermione, I don't expect your forgiveness, but I hope… I hope I can earn back your friendship, even if it takes a lifetime."
Hermione's eyes filled with tears, and she gave Ron a small nod, acknowledging his words. "Thank you, Ron," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "That means more to me than you know."
Molly stepped forward, smiling warmly as she held out a wrapped gift to Hermione. "I found the perfect wedding gift for you, Hermione, and I couldn't wait to give it to you," she said. Hermione took the gift, feeling its unexpected weight as she looked at the cover of an old, well-worn book.
"There's a big surprise for you in there," Molly said with a knowing smile. "Read Chapter 10."
Hermione raised an eyebrow, glancing at Molly in curiosity. "What is it?"
Draco gave Molly a playful look. "Come on, Molly. You know Hermione will dive into that book right here and now if you don't tell us."
Molly laughed, a spark of mischief in her eyes. "Fine," she said. "It's the biography of Reginald Thompson, the creator of the Betrothal Brew."
Draco's eyes widened. "Wait, the Betrothal Brew? The potion that started all this?"
"Yes, that one," Molly said, nodding. "Chapter 10 tells the story of how, fifty years after creating the potion, Reginald Thompson halted its sale. It turns out his own great-granddaughter fell victim to it. She was in love with a half-blood, but the potion forced her into a marriage with a pure-blood who treated her terribly. She fell into a deep depression. When Reginald realized what his potion had done, he was heartbroken. He decided that no one else would be hurt by his creation, so he stopped selling it."
Hermione listened intently, her curiosity piqued. "But… if he stopped selling it, how did it end up in the pure-blood families?"
Molly's face turned serious. "Twenty years later, the recipe was stolen, and the potion spread. In a final, desperate attempt to prevent further harm, Reginald put a protective spell on the recipe. Now, once someone drinks the potion, only a person who is at least 85% compatible can drink the second half."
Draco and Hermione exchanged a stunned look, both of them speaking at once. "What?"
Ron nodded, looking both sheepish and hopeful. "I know. I guess that means… you two are soul mates." He gave a small, rueful smile. "No wonder it felt like the universe was conspiring against me. Turns out, everything was just keeping you two together."
Hermione's eyes were wide, processing this revelation. "Soul mates?"
Draco squeezed her hand, a soft smile on his face. "It… makes sense. I've never felt this way about anyone else. Being with you feels right in a way I can't explain."
Hermione's face softened as she looked back at him, though a question lingered in her eyes. "But… does that mean we're still under some spell?"
Molly shook her head. "No, sweetheart. The effects of the potion wear off after a week. The protective spell only lasts that long, too. But when soul mates come together, there's nothing that can keep them apart. There's an old legend, actually, about the magic of soul mates. It says that when two soul mates find each other, their magic binds together to repel anything that tries to tear them apart."
Ginny's eyes were wide with amazement, and Harry, standing beside her, looked at Draco and Hermione with a newfound understanding. "Well," Harry said, smiling, "judging by everything you two have been through, maybe that legend's true."
Hermione felt a lump in her throat as she looked back at Draco. Everything they had endured, every struggle, had brought them here, to this moment of complete understanding and connection. Slowly, she realized that every hardship, every challenge had only strengthened their bond, made them more certain of each other.
Draco gently cupped her face, brushing a tear from her cheek. "So, we're soul mates," he said softly. "And no amount of fighting, misunderstandings, or meddling from old enemies can change that."
Hermione laughed, her voice filled with wonder and happiness. "Yes, we're soul mates," she whispered, her heart overflowing with gratitude and love. "And I wouldn't have it any other way."
The end
A/N: It's done. Let me know what you think, not just about this chapter but also about the story in general. Thank you for being part of this! By the way, in case you were wondering, the betrothal brew was banned after it started coupling together "the wrong" people and ruined the agenda of the elite pureblood families.