“You look beautiful.”
Narcissa’s silver robes billowed behind her as she approached Hermione. Her hair was styled to perfection and her makeup was as natural as usual, showing off her beauty with subtlety.
Hermione stood and turned to the Malfoy matriarch, her wedding gown seeming to feel even tighter than before, as she took Narcissa’s hand.
“Thank you, Narcissa.”
She gave Hermione a gentle smile, showing her love and admiration for the woman who had helped save the wizarding world. A woman who means so much to her.
Hermione released her hand unwillingly and smoothed out the front of her dress. There were no wrinkles, the elves had seen to that, but her actions were out of her uncertainty of how today would go. She took a deep breath, holding it for six seconds, and then letting it out. That’s all she had to do today. Just breath.
And smile.
Tilly had just finished adjusting her veil and took a step down from the stool before she bowed and left Hermione’s chambers. Narcissa took the opportunity to guide Hermione to the mirror, pulling the veil slightly back so she could see the diamonds that adorned her neck.
“We’re so proud of you. You know that, don’t you darling?”
Hermione gave a slow nod. Not because she disagreed or because she was hesitant but because she didn’t want to agree. She knew how proud Narcissa is of her. How proud they both are.
She looked back in the mirror and realised how this is the second most beautiful wedding dress she’s ever seen. From the lace on her sleeves that reached her elbows, the sweetheart cut of the chest, her cinched waist where the lace slowly travels down and to the sparkling diamonds that were placed carefully around the edges of her gown. She looked beautiful and she knew that. Her hair was in a low bun, soft curls shaping her jaw. Her cheeks and lips a rosy pink, her eyes a soft brown and her cheekbones golden against the setting sun.
“Lucius wanted to see you before the ceremony.”
Hermione stilled. Her back straightened, her chin lifted higher and she clasped her hands together in front of her.
“No, thank you.”
She turned towards her bed, taking a seat at the foot of it. The layers of tulle bunched around her and she tried her best to not fidget. She kept her breathing even, her eyes downcast and her lips in a thin line.
“Hermione-“
“Please, Narcissa. Not today.” She said and the older woman looked down. Hermione instantly felt ashamed of her tone and seeing her mother figure like this. She felt the urge to reach out. To comfort, as she had once done for her.
“Very well.”
Once Narcissa had left, Hermione felt as though she could breath again. She realised then that she would feel like this for the rest of her life after today. It was as though her life was slowly coming to an end and the timer only showed three hours remaining.
There were only three hours until the ceremony.
When only half an hour remained, there was another knock. Her gaze instantly landed on the door from where she still sat on her bed. She had not moved a muscle in the time that had passed and she could feel a ache in her neck.
The door opened. She didn’t want to see him. She couldn’t face him. Not today.
“Lucius.”
The man himself took a step into her chambers and his eyes softened at the sight of her. She looked into his eyes before they trailed down to the rest of him. Silver robes to match his wife. Not a single hair out of place as they sat just below his shoulders. The Malfoy signet ring, which he had recently gotten back, glinted on his pinky finger.
Hermione was too busy gazing at the man that she didn’t realise he had walked towards her. He stood only a breathe away. The words were out before she could stop them.
“Please don’t make me do this.”
She stood, taking both of his hands in her’s. Her hair was starting to come loose from shaking her head so much. She could feel her mascara stain her face as her tears streamed down her cheeks and off of her chin.
“I don’t want to do this. Please understand, Lucius, please.”
He pulled Hermione against him and she clung to him, gripping his robes in her fists. Her tears were ruining both her dress and his robes but they paid it no mind. He held her against his chest and she could tell he was fighting his own emotions.
“My dear girl.”
Hermione broke at the sound of his voice. Her legs gave out and she fell to the floor, pulling him down with her. The man she saw as her father was here but he wasn’t. He didn’t listen. He didn’t understand and she has to pay the price.
“All will be alright-“
“N-no. I can’t do this. Don’t make me do this-“
“You can do this. You will do this, we both know it. You will do it for him.”
She wiped the lingering tears from her cheeks. She knew she had to do this. She would do it for the man that she loves but that didn’t mean that it was easy. Lucius looked at her with something akin to pity. Pity that she was in this position. Pity that she has gained and lost so much in such little time.
“I’m scared Lucius. I’m not ready for this. Please call off the wedding.”
Lucius let out a deep sigh and she felt his emotions through his ragged breathing. He was falling apart for her. She could tell that he was willing himself to stay calm. To stay in control. He reached over and wiped away more of her never ending tears with the pad of his thumb. His ring pressed against her cheek and she leaned into his comforting touch.
“It is what he wanted Hermione. It was his last wish and it was written in your marriage documents as well as in his will.”
Her husband had asked for this, hadn’t he? He wished for her to have a fulfilling life but condemned her to something much worse. He had taken the time to write it into their marriage documents and even had time to write it into his will.
At twenty four years old.
He had enough time to do both of these things but he had no time to tell Hermione that he was leaving her. That he was withering away day by day and he knew that he wouldn’t be here to see their first anniversary.
“Draco wanted you to move on. He wants you to re-marry and find love. To build a family and grow old where one day you may have the chance to see grandchildren-“
“I-I don’t want that! I never wanted that with anyone but him. Anyone but Draco.”
“Hermione.” He sounded tired but she was exhausted. She was numb. She was empty without his love.
“I have chosen the best groom. Adrian will care for you. He will love you-“
“He only wants me because of my name!” She snapped, pulling herself out of his arms. She sat back on the floor of their bedroom and stared at her father-in-law.
The bedroom where they had read books and argued about house elves. The bedroom where they had fallen in love and spent nights together tangled in sheets, making love to one another. The bedroom where he asked her to be his for the rest of their lives.
“Adrian will come to love you. I will see to it.”
“Please don’t make me do this Lucius. Why do you hate me-“
“-It is because I love you my sweet girl. I want nothing but the best for you.”
“Then why are you giving me away?” Her voice broke with each word. With each syllable. “Why can’t I stay with you and Narcissa? Why must I leave?”
“You deserve more than to be a young widow looking after two old-“
“Please.” It was her final try. Her final chance to change their minds. She had no choice in the matter, she had signed the marriage certificate but the parents of her late husband didn’t sign anything. They could stop this. “I love him. I love Draco.”
“I’m sorry.” He whispered as he pressed his lips against her forehead. She recoiled from his touch, staggering backwards on the ground. Lucius looked hurt. Wounded. But she had been hurting for so long.
It has been three months since she had lost her husband and now she was fated to another.
Hermione stood, holding onto the pole of their four poster bed to help herself up. Lucius stood with her, holding out a hand to assist her but she merely looked away. Once she had righted herself, she took her seat back on her bed.
“I want you to remember that I didn’t want this. I would never have wanted this and I am only doing this for him. For Draco, but…”
Lucius waited a moment, allowing her the chance to continue.
“Will you walk me down the aisle?” She whispered.
Lucius gave a slow nod.
“As you wish.”
The elves returned, fixed Hermione’s makeup and hair. Fixed her veil and helped her into her heels before helping her downstairs and towards the garden of Malfoy manor.
Lucius was waiting for her next to the glass doors that led out to Draco’s favourite part of the manor. She took his arm and held onto her bouquet with her other.
Peonies. Draco’s favourite.
She held her breath until she reached the end of the aisle where her new husband waited for her. Where her new family waited for her.
Kingsley blessed their marriage and within the hour, she was standing at the threshold of Pucey manor, her husband on one side and her new mother-in-law on the other. Marrianette Pucey did not wait for her daughter-in-law to be welcomed. She simply made her way towards the stairs, complaining of a head ache.
Adrian took her hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze, reassuring her, before walking her into her new home. It was already late with her last minute touch up after her final conversation with Lucius. She couldn’t help but wonder why she had a wedding so late.
That night, as Hermione lay in bed next to her new husband, she felt happier than she had ever felt. Her dress lay forgotten near the door to their chambers and her undergarments, along with his, were left in a trail that eventually reached their bed.
She had fulfilled Draco’s dying wish and married her intended. She had played a part in consummating their marriage and she finally felt at ease. There was only one reason for it.
She took a sip of her water that Adrian had brought her and pulled the covers up to her chin. Only after tucking away the small empty vial underneath her pillow.
She would be with her husband again before the night was over.