Life as we know it...

Chapter 11: The Malfoy Marriage

Hermione waited inside a Hogwarts corridor on the day of her wedding. She held the unlit candle in her hand. It was dusk. Ron stood beside her, telling her all the things her father would have told her had he been there. Ron was going to give her away, Draco had approved of it, surprisingly.

Her best friend told her that she was beautiful, that he was proud of her, that she would achieve a lot in life and that if Draco were ever to hurt her, not that he would, but that he would be the first one to beat him up. As Ron told her these things she started to cry, she was an emotional wreck. Between the wedding, N.E.W.T's, Rons sweet words and the surprise she had yet to tell Draco that was growing in her belly. She dried her eyes and linked arms with Ron as her maid of honour, Ginny. Told her it was time to go. Cho came over and lit the candle in her hand.

Hermione and Draco had decided against flowers as they were stressful and it was nearly the first anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts, it was hardly a time for flowers.

Every guest had been given a lit candle that was enchanted so that it would burn for the entire ceremony, no matter how much wind came their way.

In the centre where Hermione, Draco and Minister Shacklebolt, who was performing the ceremony, would stand was a ring of candles.

Hermione had decided against a veil, a complete fire hazard at this wedding. Her hair was tied back in an elegant twist, with whisps of hair framing her face. She also had an embellished comb in the side of the knot.

The music started, Blaise was up at the altar with Draco as his best-man. Fleur, although a bridesmaid was ordered to sit, by Bill, Hermione and Draco as she was heavily pregnant and couldn't stand for very long the same went for Lavender. Harry went first with Cho, then Goyle and Luna and finally Theodore Nott and Ginny. Hermione was a ball of nerves as she and Ron started to walk. Ron whispered soothing things in her ear. As they reached the aisle Ron instructed her to look up, she did so. There he was as handsome as ever,
Draco.

Draco gasped at the beauty in front of him, his beauty. She was an image of perfection. An angel sent from heaven. She came closer to him with every step and with every step he had to restrain himself from running towards her.

They had been apart since yesterday at lunch. If someone had told him nine months ago that he would have fallen for Hermione Granger, he would have slapped them, but now she was everything.

The closer she came, which seemed like forever, the more he noticed a glow coming from her. She was radiant. She reached the point at which Draco was to come forward, where Ron was to hand her to him. He came forward. Ron and Draco shook hands, Ron pulled him forward.

"Hurt her and I hurt you! Clear?"  Ron whispered threateningly.

"As day." Draco replied cooly. "I love her."

"You don't think I know that." Ron muttered pulling away.

Hermione slipped her hand into Draco's and they walked to Kingsley. For the entire ceremony they never looked anywhere but each others eyes. The whole ceremony had been lit by candle light as Draco envisioned. It was small, with the friends they knew they would have forever. It was romantic.

"Do you Draco Lucius Malfoy take Hermione Jean Granger as you lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do."

"And do you Hermione Jean Granger take Draco Lucius Malfoy as your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do."

"The vows, repeat after me. I Draco, take you Hermione, to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live."

"I Draco, take you Hermione, to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, for better,for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live."

He slid Hermione's wedding ring onto her finger.

"And you Hermione, "I Hermione, take you Draco, to be my lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live."

"I Hermione, take you Draco, as my lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live."

She slid Draco's wedding ring onto his finger, never breaking eye contact.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife."

There was an applause from the audience.

"You may now kiss the bride."

Draco had been waiting months to hear those words. He lunged for her.

The kiss was the most passionate kiss they ever shared. It left Hermione weak headed. Draco had to steady her.

Everyone stood for them, shooting champagne coloured sparks into the sky. Draco picked her up bridal style, despite her protests, and ran with her to a deserted corridor, where he pinned her up against the wall and kissed her like there was no tomorrow until Blaise came and rudely interrupted them.

The reception was being held beside the black lake, again lit with candles. The food was excellent, the music was brilliant, the drink was flowing all night. Everyone enjoyed themselves. Many left at about three o' clock in the morning.

Soon it was just Hermione on Draco's lap, Bill and Fleur, Ginny and Dean, Harry and Cho, Luna and Rolf, Seamus and Katie, Blaise , Goyle, George and Angelina and Ron, as Lavender had retired to bed along with Mr. And Mrs. Weasley and many others.

They sat at the lake, looking out into the water. Hermione lay against Draco's hard chest. He played with her hair. It was a comfortable silence, then suddenly Fleur gasped and everyone turned to look at her, a puddle of liquid had formed beneath her. What had just happened dawned on Hermione first.

Ron as thick as he was spoke first. "Did you just wet yourself?"

Hermione stood up and smacked him across the back of his head. "You idiot her waters just broke."