Chapter 36
“Hermione, where have you been?” Narcissa asked incredulously as Mione and Ginny stumbled through her floo. “It’s ten thirty, we should have started already.” Her lips were pinched and Hermione swallowed thickly at the heated expression on the older woman’s face.
“It’s my fault,” Ginny lied. “We stopped for breakfast and the place I picked had a really long wait.” Hermione sent her friend a mental ‘thank you’ as the Malfoy matriarch simply pursed her lips further and shook her head softly.
“Keep up, we’re already behind schedule.” She insisted as she ushered the girls out of the study they’d arrived in and through a maze of hallways and staircases before they stopped in front of a shut door. “We’ll be using my parlour to get ready, Mrs Potter has already arrived to assist with the preparations. At least one of your bridal party took your wedding seriously.” They trailed behind her as they entered a well-lit room full of couches, counters, shoes, and other posh things that Mione’s eyes couldn’t possibly take in in a matter of seconds. She was pushed into the loo with a silk robe and instructions to change into it quickly, which she did with a yawn and a grumble. She’d been up most of last night with Harry and Ginny, they’d rented nearly all of the available horror section at Blockbuster and made it through The Faculty, all three Scream movies, IT, and Sleepy Hollow before they’d fallen asleep. In awkward positions if the crick in her neck was to be believed. She rubbed her shoulder harshly as she opened the door to exit the loo, now garbed in a white robe with the word ‘Bride’ printed on the back of it.
“I’m changed,” she called out lamely as she suppressed another yawn.
“Good, let’s get this show on the road.” Mione yelped as two sets of hands grabbed her and pushed her into a reclining salon chair, propping her feet up on an ottoman. She didn’t recognize the women who were now slathering sticky goop onto her legs but Narcissa was barking too many orders for Hermione to be able to ask. Her eyes widened and she realized minutes too late why the substance felt familiar. Ginny held her down and Astoria said ‘Hello’ with a grimace as the strangers ripped her leg hair off. If she hadn’t been awake before she was now.
DRACO’S POV:
“Mate, why are you still asleep?” Draco groaned as someone threw open his drapes, the blasted sun hitting him square in the face.
“Fucking hell, close the bloody curtains!” He grunted, throwing his arms over his face to shield his stinging eyes.
“Draco, it’s already one o’clock, why are you still in bed?” Blaise asked him incredulously as Theo spoke under his breath (presumably some spell or another, but Draco wasn’t awake enough to care since it didn’t sound like aguamenti or a hex). “Greg, give me a hand would you?”
“Oy, bugger off!” Draco exclaimed as the two men hoisted him up off the bed. His head reeled as he became vertical, his hangover making itself known in his shaking hands and pounding brain. “Why are you lot in my bedroom anyway?” He demanded as his so-called friends tossed him into the bathroom.
“Did you forget you’re getting married today?” Theo asked him from where he stayed in the main bedroom.
“Take a shower, you reek.” Goyle gruffed.
“And hurry up about it, your Mother will have us skinned if you’re late,” Blaise grumbled, flicking a wand at the shower tap as he and Greg exited the bathroom. Draco grunted as he stumbled, attempting to divest himself of his sleep joggers without face-planting on the floor. He grumbled a bit as he stubbed his toe, off-kilter (having just woken up and spending most of the previous night downing shots of whiskey with Pansy who was busy lamenting her single life). He managed to get himself into the shower intact, the warm water helping to wake him as he rubbed at his eyelids. Fuck, it’s already here. He couldn’t believe today was the day he had to marry Granger. He rested his head on his forearm as the water beat down on his back, pounding on his skin in time to the throbbing of his headache.
“Boory!” He shouted, ears ringing in defiance at the sudden noise.
“Yes, Master, what can Boory be doing for you, sir?” The elf appeared with a pop on the other side of the room.
“Get me some hangover potion and an espresso martini,” there was a beat before he heard the elf banging into something.
“Stupid Boory. Bad Boory!” Draco grunted in annoyance.
“What is the bloody holdup?” He demanded, tilting his head back under the spray of water.
“Boory has been instructed not to give the master any alcohol. Not one drop. Boory is a bad house elf,” the thing wailed as the banging continued. Draco was glad the walls were soundproof. If they weren’t he was sure his friends would be barging in, demanding to know what was going on.
“Who gave you such orders?” Draco asked, pulling the shower curtain back enough to glare at the pitiful creature.
“Th-the Mistress! She has instructed all house elves to not be giving the Young Master any alcohol any more.” He grit his teeth, angry that his mother would actually go so far as to demand the bloody elves keep him from drinking. Honestly, it wasn’t like he had a problem. He didn’t see the big deal about having a few glasses now and then. He could admit he’d maybe overdone it recently, but for Morgana’s sake, it wasn’t like it was unjustified given everything going on.
“Boory, either get me what I asked for or I’ll whip you and send you out the door with clothes,” he shut the curtain once more and set about washing his hair, certain the creature would comply and he was satisfied when the thing’s sob was followed by a loud POP (his ears only ringing a little bit this time).
HERMIONE’S POV:
“José, I need you to move your arm,” Hermione just wanted to enjoy her food. Narcissa had had the elves prepare a platter of fruit and cheese to munch on, but Mione’d managed to eat all of three grapes since it’d been brought out half an hour ago! Following her waxing session, she’d been massaged and buffed. She’d had her nails done (the acrylics felt weird on her hands) and now she had two different people working on her hair and makeup. She’d had her eyes closed for a while now so she wasn’t sure what all was going on.
“Is this the right shade of lipstick Ms Morris?” Astoria asked from somewhere in the room. There was a pause and Hermione chanced a glance from hooded eyes to see the nude purple makeup her friend was showing the artist.
“Eyes closed, Ms Granger,” the woman chastised. “You don’t want to crease your concealer before it’s dry. Yes, that’s the one, thank you, Mrs Potter.”
“Rae, how much longer do the bangs need to be pinned? The curls are almost set back here,” one of the only males in the room asked from behind her.
“Mr Eber, here’s the hair comb from Mrs Malfoy!” Luna called out airily.
“Ah! Perfect! Just gorgeous!”
DRACO’S POV:
“Mate, I’m telling you, it’ll look better if it’s more hair and less gel.” Draco rolled his eyes again. Theo had been nit-picking literally everything. A speck of dust on Draco’s pants. A stray thread on his shirt. A single freaking hair that the elves had missed when they’d shaved his face! Honestly, if someone else was observing them they’d think Theo was the one getting married today.
“He’s got a point. Remember what a smarmy twat you looked like when you wore it all slicked back when we were younger?” Blaise added. Draco paused, hands halfway to his head, a glob of pomade sitting on his fingers.
“Yeah. I guess you’ve got a point. I look like a nutter when I look at myself in the pictures,” Draco replied, putting most of the product back into the container.
“How about doing something like this in your hair?” Goyle brought over a magazine he’d been looking through for inspiration, pointing at a picture of a quidditch player posing with his girlfriend.
“Let’s give it a try, I guess.” He was resigned to doing whatever his friends suggested since his mother wasn’t available for fashion advice. Normally he loathed the over-attention she had on every aspect of his appearance, but today the woman was focused on Hermione. So he was on his own. Luckily, if it looked awful it’d either be a way to anger the woman or he’d just have the elves redo it for him.
HERMIONE’S POV:
“Narcissa, would you help me hold this up? I’m starting on the buttons,” Hermione watched as the gentleman moved around her adjusting the wedding gown.
“Of course, Eduard.” The older witch moved behind her - cold hands sending a shiver through Mione - as she clasped the top of the dress back, holding it snug for the designer as he set about doing up her buttons.
“Alright here’s the veil!” Ginny called as she and Stori pulled it out of the box, handing it to Mr Eber and Mr Vermeulen to put it on her. The thing was much heavier than she’d been expecting. Her friends watched teary-eyed in front of her, and she wondered if it really looked that great. The elves had removed all of the mirrors in the room before the stylists had started on her for the day, so she wasn’t sure how everything looked. Ginny, Stori, and Luna looked great. Their hair was up in perfectly smoothed buns, and the toe-length purple bridesmaid's dresses were gorgeous (she was glad the girls had found a dress they could all agree on because she loved it on them). The little flower girl (some relative of Draco’s) looked absolutely adorable as well in her white tea-length dress, a grey sash made of the same material that wrapped Mione’s own bouquet around her waist in a bow.
“Ok, something old is your ring. Something new, obviously the dress. Something borrowed,” Ginny paused, trying to figure out what it was.
“The clip in her hair is mine,” Astoria piped up.
“Yes! Old, new, borrowed; I taped a Knut to the bottom of your shoe so that it won’t bug you like it did me. All that’s left is something blue!” The grin on her friend’s face scared her a little.
“Here it is!” Luna called, floating over from the other side of the room. “Are you done?” She asked Mr Vermeulen.
“Go on,” he nodded to the blonde.
“Ready, Mione?” Astoria asked with a smirk to rival Draco’s.
“For what, exactly?” Mione questioned, eyeing the little box they had.
“This.” Ginny winked as she opened the box containing her garter. She hefted up her skirts with some help from Luna as Astoria handed the delicate, blue lace to Ginny to slide up Mione’s leg for her. While she was under the gown, she helped her step into the satin and lace heals that had been prepared. “There,” Gin exclaimed as she stood up. “Ready to see what you look like?” Mione nodded, slightly apprehensive, nerves setting in as the clock ticked 4:55. Five minutes until she needed to be down the aisle. Her friends led her over to the closet where a covered floor-length mirror sat waiting for her. They pulled the cover down and Hermione brought her hand up to cover her gasp. She hadn’t done much imagining for her wedding day. She’d been too preoccupied with all the problems going on around her to think about what she’d look like. But if she had, she didn’t think it’d compare to what stared back at her from the mirror. Her hair was sleekly curled, eyes blended to perfection with purple and grey, her lips the same purply pink as the base of her French manicure. Her gown was a cathedral-length satin. The sweetheart bodice was accentuated with an off-shoulder, floral, lace material that trailed decoratively down the dress. The whole look was gorgeous and she couldn’t believe she was looking at herself.
“You look exquisite, Hermione,” Narcissa told her from the doorway. “I have to find my seat now, but you make a very beautiful bride.” She nodded at the woman who, in moments, would be her mother-in-law.
“Wow. Just- wow.” She turned as Harry came into the room. “Mione, you look...”
“Fantastic? Babelicious?” Ginny giggled as she completed her friend’s sentence.
“I was going to say pretty.” Harry chuckled as he scratched the back of his neck, face lightly pink as he blushed.
“Thanks, Harry,” Mione smiled.
“Are you all ready? It’s time to line up.”
“Yes,” Luna declared as they started walking down to the garden entrance.
“Mione, you look fantastic!” Theo declared as he leaned in to give her a hug, Dirk Dawlish (the reporter Mione had hand-picked to be allowed to take photos before the ceremony who’d taken a few shots of them getting ready and was meeting up with them again now) snapping a picture of them. “I can’t wait to see the look on Draco’s face when you walk in looking like an angel.” She smiled at her friend and let out a small laugh.
“Thank you, Theo.” Ginny handed her her bouquet (a mix of purple and white roses, purple carnations, and dark purple orchids) and they lined up as the processional music started. Ginny took Theo’s arm, Astoria smiled back at her as she and Blaise followed them out the door, and Luna gave her a quick side hug before walking out with Goyle. Mione pulled in a shaky breath and looked up at Harry.
“Are you ready Mione?”
“No. Pinch me, to make sure this isn’t a dream please?” She asked him.
“It’s ok, Mia. You can do this,” he chuckled at her as they stood in front of the French doors that separated the bride from the guests.
DRACO’S POV:
Draco let out a breath as people settled into their seats, smirking as Theo winked at his pregnant wife when he passed her coming down the aisle. His nerves setting his hands in jitters when they came to stop at the alter, Weaslette-er... Ginny moved to the bridal side and Theo clapped him on the shoulder as he came to a stop next to him. Blaise bumped his fist as he and Tori came to a stop as well. And he held back a snort as Looney Lovegood skipped towards him, slightly dragging Greg with her as she went.
The tune changed slightly and he smiled as kindly as he could as his cousins came down the aisle next; he’d never met Edward Lupin before today but he knew the boy would be in his life a lot now that the boy’s Godmother was to be his wife. Elsbeth looked pretty in her dress as she followed him down the aisle, dropping tulip petals on the walkway.
Finally, the guests stood up. The bridal march started and Draco looked up, holding in a huff of air. He couldn’t believe this was really happening. He was more than ready for today to be over with already. He looked forward once more, counting the seconds to the end of his single life with two little words. Only, his thoughts stopped in an instant. He couldn’t breathe. Not when he saw her. The gangly, bushy girl he’d made fun of growing up. Except now she looked... wow . Her hair shone in the late afternoon sun and even from this far away he could make out the sparkle in her cinnamon, honey eyes. He wet his mouth as it dried, smoothing a hand down his face to clear some of the shock. The ethereal creature came to a stop in front of him and he did his best (probably failing) to hide the awe as he looked at her. Maybe life with her won’t be so bad.