His Saving Grace

CHAPTER NINETEEN: A Magical Wedding







It was a perfect evening in early June for a wedding. Clouds had threatened that morning, but Narcissa swore she would find a spell to change the weather if it dared rain. Hermione sat on a low stool, her skirts spread around her as she dabbed at her eyes.







“Please stop crying, Hermione. Narcissa threw me in here thinking I could do or say something to help but I have no idea what to do when women cry except try and run away.” Lucius said, standing beside her with his hand on her shoulder.







“I can’t believe they didn’t come, Lucius. They are my parents! I know they weren’t happy about me having Grace, but you would think the fact that I am marrying her father would soften them a little.” She sniffed.







“Would you like me to go get them? Severus is outside, we could go get them for you and make them come.” He said. Hermione looked up at him and she could see he was serious.







“No, but thank you for offering. It’s really sweet of you but if they don’t want to be here, then there is nothing I can do.” She said, shaking her head sadly.









“You have a family here, Hermione. We are now your family and you have Potter and the Weasleys as well. You will never want in that department.” Lucius said quietly. Hermione began tearing up again and suddenly stood and wrapped her arms around him. He nearly fell over before patting her back softly. “Alright now, this shirt is silk, Hermione, don’t sob all over it.”







A soft knock at the door had Hermione pulling away with a soft laugh as Lucius handed her his handkerchief to dry her eyes.







“Who is it?” She called, checking the mirror to make sure her makeup was still perfect. Of course it was, Narcissa wasn’t about use anything other than spelled cosmetics for the bride.







“It’s me, love. Are you alright?” Draco called through the door. “Mum said you were crying and that Father was in there with you.”







“I’m fine, Draco.” Hermione said, her heart melting a little that he had come to check on her.









“Can I come in?” He asked.







“NO!” She cried, rushing to the door to stop him from opening it. “It’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding.”







“Well Father has seen you!” Draco said petulantly. Hermione laughed and pulled the door open slightly. He saw her hand and held his up against it, palm to palm. “Please don’t let them ruin our day, love. Severus is here I could send him after them.”







“Why do you want to sick Severus on my parents?” She asked, laughing.







“Because he’s the scariest wizard I know.” Draco said. Lucius started laughing and leaned against one of the columns in the corner.







“No need, Draco. Your father is right, I have family right here who are happy for us and want to see us wed.” She answered.









“Father said that?” Draco asked, sounding surprised.









“Don’t sound so shocked, Draco, I can be quite wise and soothe a lady when I want to!” Lucius said.









“Are you sure you are alright?” Draco asked again softly.







“I am, thank you.” She whispered, resting her forehead against the door.







“I have something for you.” Draco said, reaching into his pocket and pressing the barrette into her hand. Hermione opened her fist and looked at the little silver barrette covered in turquoise Dragonflies lying in her palm.







“My barrette….where did you find this?” She asked, recalling that she had lost it the night they made love beside the black lake.







“It was never lost.” He said softly. “I woke before you and it was the first thing I saw, glinting in the sunlight. I took it from your hair and I have carried it in my pocket everyday since that night.”





Hermione snatched a scarf from a nearby table and passed it through the door.



“Put it over your eyes, fast.” She said.









“Okay, covered.” He said. Hermione yanked the door open and in a blur of white satin and tulle she threw herself into his arms, hugging his shoulders as tight as she possibly could.







“I love you, I love you so much.” She said, kissing his cheeks and lips over and over and over. “You are the most amazing man.” She said, kissing him again. “I kept your handkerchief all this time too, Draco. I looked at it every night and missed you, didn’t understand why I longed for you the way I did.” She sniffed and buried her face into his throat. “I love you.”







“I love you, Hermione, so very much.” He said, rubbing her back slowly.









“Well, as fun as this is for me, it is time for this wedding to get started.” Lucius said, shaking his head, wondering if he had ever seen a couple say I love you as much as this one did. Hermione and Draco pulled apart slowly and Hermione slipped back into her dressing room. She switched out her barrette before Narcissa came in to help her adorn her veil.





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The hall was filled to nearly bursting with guests for the Malfoy-Granger wedding. Hermione didn’t know all that many of them, most were associates of Lucius and Draco or people they attended school with. While the majority of the guests were there to wish them well, there were a certain number of people there out of sheer curiosity.







The music began to play softly as the back doors opened and Narcissa, Molly and Ginny made their way down the aisle accompanied by Fred, George and Ron. Lucius was seated in the front row, somewhat stoic but for the slight smile lifting the corners of his mouth.







The doors opened again and Grace toddled out wearing a long white dress with a pink sash swinging a little basket. She didn’t bother dropping the rose petals; she was too interested in all the people staring at her. She was truly a Malfoy in her love of being the center of attention.







She made it halfway down the aisle when she saw Severus Snape sitting just behind Lucius. She squealed and took off at an awkward run. She had met him a little over a month before when he came to dinner at the Manor and immediately she had decided that he was her new favorite person.







The snarky potions master hadn’t known what to do with the little blonde crawling all over him, giving him sloppy kisses on his cheek, honking his nose and playing with his hair. No one bothered to stop her, not that it would have mattered, no one lasted long once Grace decided to charm them. Men seemed to fall especially hard for the little beauty.





Severus turned red and winced as the chunky little toddler came at him giggling like mad.





“Nake! Nake!” She said, throwing her basket to the ground and reaching up for him to take her.







“You are supposed to go up front.” He said softly. She stomped her foot and flexed her fingers.







“Nake! Nake!” She said. For some reason when she said his name it came out sounding like snake. “Nake!” She stretched onto her toes, reaching for the dark wizard. The guests were laughing, Draco and Lucius snickering as he reached down and pulled her into his lap.







“You aren’t very dignified for a Malfoy.” Severus said, scowling at the smiling child. She reached up, and pressed his large nose.





“Beep!” She said, then began to giggle as she wrapped her fists in his hair and gave him a sloppy kiss on his cheek.









Severus sighed and shook his head. He would never admit it, but he adored her. The doors opened once more and Harry Potter escorted the bride down the aisle. Everyone stood; Severus shrugged when Hermione and Harry looked at him standing there with Grace while she smoothed her hands over his hair as though petting a cat.







Hermione chuckled and turned her focus to the gorgeous blonde waiting for her at the altar. Draco took a deep breath, his silvery blue eyes were clearly welling but no tears spilled free as Harry stopped beside him.







“Who gives this witch in matrimony?” The officiate asked.







“I do.” Harry said softly, kissing her cheek and placing her hand in Draco’s. “You take good care of my girls.” Draco nodded and patted Harry on the back before stepping close to Hermione’s side.







“We are gathered here today to join the wizard Draco Abraxus Malfoy and the witch Hermione Jane Granger in marriage. If there is anyone here who can present a valid reason for them not to be joined, speak now or be forever silent.”







“Nake! Nake!” Was the only thing that could be heard aside from the laughter of a few guests who were watching Grace play with the potions master.







“Do you, Draco Malfoy, accept this witch as your wife? Will you love her, honor her and keep her all the days of your life?” The officiate asked.







“I will.” Draco said softly.







“Do you, Hermione Granger, accept this wizard as your husband? Will you love him, honor him and keep him all the days of your life?”







“I will.” She replied.









“Mr. Malfoy, you have something prepared for your bride?” The officiate asked, stepping back slightly. Draco nodded and looked into Hermione’s eyes.







“We met nearly ten years ago and it wasn’t a good beginning for us.” The crowd snickered slightly. “But despite the rough start, it was you who stepped up and offered me comfort when I needed it and felt as though I had no one. You set aside the past, the wrongs I committed against you and you accepted my apology, accepted me. You made it possible for me to be happy again, you and the daughter you gave me. No other gift could ever compare to having you and Grace in my life. You are my life and I love you more than anything. So I give you this ring and with it you have my heart and my soul for all eternity.” Draco slid the ring on her finger and lifted it to his lips briefly.









“Ms. Granger?” The officiate turned to her.







“Draco, I never thought that on my wedding day I would be standing here with you.” Soft laughter followed that comment. “But standing here now I know I would not have been happy with anyone else. We have had moments in our past that some people could never get beyond, yet we did. We both changed to get here, granted you did more than I. You are the love of my life and you are a wonderful father to our daughter, I am honored, blessed and so very happy to be taking your name today. Take this ring and with it my heart and my soul for all eternity.” She said, sliding the ring onto his finger. Magic crackled and swirled around them as their oaths to each other took and their bond became sealed.





Tears spilled from her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. She pulled a folded linen handkerchief from her bouquet and dabbed her eyes. Draco gasped softly when he saw his initials monogrammed in the corner. A single tear slid from beneath his lashes and Hermione wiped it away.







“With the authority invested in my by the gods and the ministry of magic, I bless this union and pronounce this couple bonded for life in marriage. Draco, you may kiss your witch.”







Draco sighed in relief and reached for her, wrapping his arms tight around her waist and pulling her close as he closed his mouth over hers. He kissed her softly as the music played and the crowd applauded, and he kept right on kissing her until their applauding turned to laughter and wolf whistles.





They walked down the aisle hand in hand, stopping to take their daughter who refused, wrapping her arms around Snape’s neck and nearly choking him. The couple laughed and let her be as they exited the hall.









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Hermione danced the night away with her friends, her husband and her new father in law. The wedding would grace the society pages come morning as the event of the year. The bride and groom stood off to the side with Harry and Lucius talking softly as people began to peter out, the party beginning to wear them out.





“Where is Gracie?” Harry asked finally. Hermione snickered and pointed across the room. Severus Snape was slumped in a chair; his legs stretched out in front of him, crossed at the ankle with Grace sprawled over his chest sound asleep. His cheek rested on her curls as he too slept peacefully in the corner.







“How did that happen?” Harry asked, amazed to see the “big bat” being kind to anyone.









“Grace. She decided she liked him and he never stood a chance.” Draco said softly. “I hope she outgrows it.” He frowned. “My daughter seems to have a penchant for charming every wizard she sets eyes on, makes me nervous.”









“Don’t start on that again.” Hermione said. “You nearly swore a wizard’s oath to kill any man who dared come near her the last time you got on this rant.”









“Not to worry, he doesn’t have to swear an oath, her Uncle Harry is an auror, and any man who touches her will see Azkaban.” Harry said.







“And her Papa was a top deatheater…..should Harry not be able to make it stick I could easily make it so the offender was never found.” Lucius said. “And I am pretty sure Severus would be happy to poison anyone at the school who considered touching her.”







Hermione stood there, her mouth hanging open as she listened to the three of them plan the death of her daughter’s future suitors.







“I can not believe you three!” Hermione said, shaking her head. “Poor thing isn’t even out of nappies and she’s doomed to spinsterhood!”







The three wizards seemed extremely pleased by that thought. Hermione merely threw up her hands and went in search of her mother-in-law.