Tomorrow is the first day of our sixth year, but right now I'm so entirely focused on something else.
Our first kiss- as a married couple, that is- steals the breath from my lips. My knees wobble and I can feel Draco's arms shaking through the sleeves of his dress robes. His lips turn warm at the contact and our mouthes open of their own accordance to let each other in to the first of many private secrets.
The ringing in my ears as all of my blood rushes through my veins blocks out the noise of our applauding audience. Too soon, we pull back to grin at each other and touch our foreheads together.
The cool breeze that comes in between us brings a shiver to my skin; Draco wraps his arm around me and leads me back down the aisle. I catch glimpses of the faces of the people I love.
My father, pride shining in his eyes as his arm rests around my mother's waist, drawing her to him. Her own eyes are tearing up as she clutches Narcissa's hand. My mother-in-law has a handkerchief underneath her eyes, covering her nose and mouth. My father-in-law, Lucius Malfoy, the king of control, smiles at the two of us; my eyes fill with tears.
Nathan and Mason are playing a game of their own imagination and don't even see us walk by. It's just as well: they're too young to truly understand what's going on. Kayla sits in the third row, tears streaming down her face, silent. I squeeze Draco's waist for comfort.
As we exit the arch in the backyard of Malfoy Manor, I look up to him for reassurance. The love in his answering gaze lets me know that we are doing just the right thing for the two of us. We're not making a mistake.
He takes my face in the palms of his hands and gives me a kiss so deep and so passionate that I feel absolutely weak. He swoops me up, my asymmetrical, diamond accented, hand-crafted designer dress fluttering at my white lace stilettos.
"I can't wait to see you in nothing but those shoes," he murmurs huskily in my ear. My pulse shoots up exponentially as I nibble up his neck and shiver in anticipation. He carries us across the threshold of Malfoy Manor, our own Malfoy Manor, that is.
I look back towards our guests, and see that Kayla's missing.
"She'll come around," he whispers as he tilts my chin up to kiss me again. He sets me down in our library, the room connected to our back door, and wraps his arms tightly around my waist.
"This year is going to be so different for both of us," he says. I bury my nose in his neck, inhaling his sweet scent as I nod my agreement.
"I need to spend it with you. I never needed anyone else," he said, kissing my temple. The overwhelming love that constricts my heart is too much to bear. I pull him towards our bedroom, teasing.
"I think they can start the reception without us, don't you think?" I steal my husband for our first act as husband and wife. Screw the cake and dancing- I'm a teenager for Merlin's sake.
