The Ceremony

It was finally time to get Hermione up and ready to leave the room. Ginny glared over at Amber, who was looking at her manicured fingernails, and Amber took that as cue to help Hermione get into her shoes. Luna and Lavender were staying put at the back by the dress-train and as soon as Hermione was tied into her lavish shoes, Ginny did a quick hair and makeup check on her and made sure the dress was perfect. She then handed Hermione the bouquet of calla lilies.

"Okay. Let's head out," Ginny told them, grinning.

She stayed off by Hermione's side while Luna, Lavender and Amber did the heavy lifting of the dress. They walked down the hall and all was quiet. Evidently, everybody was waiting for the ceremony to start. The five women stopped at the designated point, and one of the wedding coordinators ushered them to the side of a red curtain. They could hear the voices of the guests on the other side, though it was all a mumble with how many people were there. Hermione didn't have any family at her wedding. With the memories of her parents being erased, she had to come up with an excuse for the rest of her distant relatives who she had talked to once or twice, that she was moving far away to Kariega, South Africa, and that visiting was not an option. The attendees at Draco and Hermione's wedding were Hogwarts friends, the Weasley's and a portion of Draco's family who was able to slightly accept the marriage of a Pureblood to a Muggleborn. Altogether there were about 100 guests.

The wedding music began to play, and Hermione's stomach formed knots. Lavender hooked arms with Harry and started her way down the aisle. Luna hooked arms with Neville. Dean and Seamus next, Amber and Theo....

"Who's going to walk me down the aisle? I have no parents! I have no siblings! We never planned this out! What is traditional in my situation? Do I want to be traditional? Why did Theo go without Ginny?"

Before she could freak out any longer, Ginny took her arm and smirked. "What, you think you're just going to leave me here?" Hermione let out the breath she didn't realise she was holding.

The curtains were pulled aside by some helpers, and they were completely in the open now. Hermione scanned the room and saw her old school friends in the crowd. Among them were all of the Weasley's, except Ron, along with a few people who were dressed in dark green and silver. Some of the women wore brooches and other heavy jewellery. It was easy to see that they were Malfoys, and it made her want to chuckle thinking that they probably never thought they would attend a Pureblood-Muggleborn wedding in their lives. They weren't scowling or anything and it seemed clear that they came of their own free will.

Halfway down the aisle, Hermione peeked up and saw Draco at the end, looking even more beautiful than usual, if that was even possible. Next to him were Harry, Dean, Seamus, Neville, and Theo. Across the way, Luna, Lavender and Amber were waiting. Amber's eyes darted to the other side every few seconds as if she'd rather be clinging to Theo instead, which Ginny noticed as well. She slightly turned to Hermione and they chuckled. Draco's eyes stayed on Hermione like they never had in the past. It was as if she was that piece of happiness he was born without, and he never knew about it until her. She turned pink when she noticed.

At the altar, Ginny let go of Hermione's arm and took the bouquet from Hermione's hands. It was then that Hermione's surroundings became a blur, and all she could see was Draco facing her. Even the wedding officiator's words were drowned out. She knew she could stand there and watch Draco forever.

"--want to say?" A voice said.

Hermione didn't realise the officiator had asked her a question.

"Uh, what?" She asked, feeling stupid. The audience chuckled at her response. "Sorry...."

The officiator laughed. "I wanted to know if there was anything you wished to say to each other before the exchange of the rings?"

Hermione wasn't told they were doing this, but she felt she should say something anyway, whether it be cheesy or not. She peeked at the crowd, where Narcissa Malfoy was sitting in the front row, a small, genuine smile on her face. In fact, there may have been a few tears running down her cheeks, but Hermione could have been imagining it. Instead, she turned back to Draco again.

"Well," she started, "you'd think I would be good at something like this, seeing how much I talk." The crowd laughed, though she felt extraordinarily stupid and knew those words weren't original. She heard them at weddings before.

"Anyway, Draco and I met when we were 11 years old. It was a...rocky start to be frank." Draco and all of the people from Hogwarts laughed. The Malfoys who came didn't show emotion at all. In fact, there was no hint of a smile to their faces. Narcissa was the exception.

"I guess it took us fighting over the years to finally get to know each other and as crazy as it sounds, love each other." She smiled at Draco. "Because I am in love with this man, and I'll shout it to the world."

She thought that was a ridiculous speech, but it was the best she could think of.

"That was lovely," the wedding officiator said. The woman gestured for Draco to go if he wanted to take a turn.

When he smiled, it just about made Hermione's heart melt.

"Well, Granger, here-Hermione, I mean..." Most of the audience chuckled. "Force of habit...This woman has put up with a lot from me over the years. And, just like her, I never would have believed we would end up together." He took Hermione's hands in his and gazed into her eyes. "She's so forgiving and loving and I don't deserve her, but I will show her every day just how much I love her." The audience was quiet. "Uh...that's it." He looked at them, scratching his neck.

The officiator stood in front of them. "Who has the rings?" She looked over at Hermione's side and then at Draco's.

"I have them!" Ginny raised her hand from behind Hermione and walked to the front. She placed the ring meant for Draco into Hermione's hand and the ring for Hermione in Draco's hand. She looked at them both and grinned before she waddled back to her spot.

Hermione took the black wedding band from her palm and looked at Draco. "This ring is a token of my love for you. I am yours, today and forever." She slid the ring onto his ring finger.

Draco took the ring out of his own hand and stared into Hermione's brown eyes. "This ring is a token of my love for you. I am yours, today and forever." He slid the ring onto her finger. It had a black band with a giant ruby in the middle.

"By the power vested in me, it is my honour to declare you married," the officiator told them, smiling. "You may now kiss!"

"Damn right, we may!" Draco scooped his arm around Hermione's waist and caught her close to the floor. He leaned down to kiss her.

"Mr and Mrs Malfoy!" The officiator gestured to Draco and Hermione, and everyone started clapping and cheering. Hermione whispered into the woman's ear.

"Oh, my mistake! Mr Malfoy and Mrs Granger-Malfoy!" The crowd laughed and continued clapping. Their friends behind them ran up and hugged them both.

"Hermione! You're married!" Ginny hit her in the side, scowling. "I told you you would get back with Malfoy!"

Hermione chuckled. "I'll give it to you, Ginny. You were right."