In-Laws

Chapter Nineteen



There were only two vacant seats in the dining hall. Soon, Kingsley rejoined them, leaving only one vacant spot. Well, three if you counted the two seats left for people who were no longer alive. Hermione knew the two extra seats did not go unnoticed.



Narcissa gazed at the chairs curiously. She had checked and double checked the guest list. There was no reason why any seats, save Parkinson’s, should be vacant. Yet, those two chairs at the ends of those two tables were indeed… vacant.



And elaborate. Draco wondered briefly if they were not the same chairs from outside. The only difference between the chairs was one had the Slytherin coat of arms on the cushions while the other beheld the Gryffindor coat of arms. Perhaps, Draco mused, they were meant to symbolize the joining of both Houses? But, whose idea…



His thoughts were cut short as Hermione stood up. She closed her eyes momentarily and fought down her nerves. She could raise her hand and answer any question posed to her in a classroom. But, speeches always made her a bit nervous. She gently tapped the side of her crystal glass with her fork.



She smiled as everyone turned their attention to the bride. She took a deep breath and her smile broadened. “Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words, and they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!”



She sat back down for a moment as those words sank into the minds of everyone around her. Draco gazed at his wife as though she had completely lost her mind. Perhaps the stress of the day had finally gotten to her? It was a sentiment that was shared amongst everyone else. “Darling…” Draco started, concerned.



But, Hermione, tapping down the last bit of her nerves, stood up again and ignored him. “Those were some of the first words myself and many of my classmates had ever heard spoken from Albus Dumbledore,” she told the mass. Everyone grew quiet again, intent to hear her speech.



“I was eleven years old, as were many of my peers. Only a handful of us had learned merely a month before that we were magical,” she glanced at her aunt and uncle who looked both bemused and a bit confused. She knew she’d have some explaining to do later, though probably not as much as her father.



“My parents and I had always wondered why odd things seemed to happen when I was incredibly upset or overly excited. When Professor Minerva McGonagall came to our door and explained it all, we were thrilled. I was thrilled. I was a witch. Everything I did was magic. It was every Muggle child’s wish come true for me.



“The first time I saw Professor Dumbledore, I was both intrigued and petrified. I thought, ‘Here is a man of great power.’ Then, he said those words that made me, and many of my fellow classmates, laugh. He was an energetic man who loved teaching and loved children. He was intelligent and wise. He enjoyed reading the latest Transfiguration Today magazine while munching on lemon drops. But, most importantly, he was human.



“He knew love and loss. He knew happiness and sadness. He was courageous and caring. He did his best to never let anyone down, though he made mistakes. He questioned authority and taught his students to do the same.



“I never knew him personally, but I do know his best student, Harry Potter. So, today, I wish to honour Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. While he cannot be with us physically, he is here in spirit and mind.



“And now, I wish to speak of another, but please allow me to introduce him with a quote,” she said, glancing down at her husband.



Draco stared at her. His jaw was slightly ajar. She gave him a wary smile. She took another deep breath.



“The Dark Arts are many, varied, ever-changing, and eternal. Fighting them is like fighting a many-headed monster, which, each time a neck is severed, sprouts a head even fiercer and cleverer than before,” she said, glancing around the room. “These were the words Professor Severus Snape said to my sixth year Defense Against the Dark Arts class.



“I don’t have too many fond memories of Professor Snape. More often than not, he was chastising me for being an ‘insufferable know-it-all’ or helping Neville Longbottom. And, never mind the many times he considered his students dunderheads.”



For a long moment, not a word was said. Hermione had to stop. The sudden lump in her throat had made it difficult to talk. She flashed Draco another wary smile that did not reach her watery eyes. Swallowing, she looked up at the ceiling.



“We weren’t all dunderheads, Professor,” she spoke, thinking of him. “Some of us hung on to every word you muttered. We listened to you. We feared you. You had… powers none of us could ever dream of having.”



She gazed at her audience through unseeing eyes. “Like his predecessor, Professor Snape was a great man. He was passionate. He was complicated. He was the greatest spy the world had ever seen. A double agent who took it upon himself, risked his life everyday, to gain information from Voldemort and give it to Professor Dumbledore. He held many secrets, many truths. He loved his subject, even if he did not care for the ‘dunderheads’ he taught.



“But, he did care for us. In his own way, Snape cared. He challenged us to do our best. When we failed, he made certain to let us know. Mistakes were not allowed, because when fighting the Dark Lord, mistakes could mean death. Merlin knows, Snape had made enough mistakes on his own.



“But he, like Dumbledore, was human. He loved deeply and lost greatly. He had been happy at one time, and he had been sad. Although he knew how to be cruel, he never seriously brought his students to harm. Even when he was headmaster and Death Eaters ran the school, he did his best to ensure his students were, for the most part, safe.



“I am honouring Professor Severus Snape. He, too, cannot be with us in body, for he, like Dumbledore, had sacrificed himself for the greater good. But, he’s here in spirit. Look, Professor,” she said, glancing at the ceiling again, “the insufferable know-it-all made a good choice. She married your most prized student. Aren’t you proud of me?”



She smiled through her tears, which were now cascading freely from her eyes. She lifted her glass, but Draco quickly stopped her. He stood as well, and tilted her chin down so that she would look him in the eye.



“Of course, he’s proud,” he told her. “But, not because you married his most prized student. But, because I married his most prized student.”



Draco lifted his own glass. “To Dumbledore and Snape. May your phoenix fly and your cauldron bubble. You will forever be in our memories.”



Hermione lifted her glass as well and said with everyone else, “To Dumbledore and Snape.”



After everyone took their sips of wine, Blaise stood up. “Well, leave it to the Gryffindor Princess to break tradition and give such a speech on her own wedding day,” he jested, smiling at her in a way to reassure her that he was, indeed, jesting. “Seriously, Hermione, did you write all of that down? How on earth did you remember those quotes?”



She smiled. “You’d be surprised what I remember, Zabini,” she coyly remarked.



His eyes widened in understanding and he chuckled nervously. “Point taken,” he commented. “Yes, onto my own speech… Never in the six years I went to school with Hermione Granger did I believe she would fall for this git. No offense, Draco,” he said as Draco glared at him. He continued, “In fact, I had never known a more odd match. The proclaimed Prince of Slytherin was dashing, handsome, and could have any girl he wanted. Next to Potter, Malfoy was the most popular guy in school. He was also a real tart. He was spoiled, selfish, and really just a git…”



“They get the point,” Draco growled, to much laughter.



Blaise waved him off. “I think it’s a Slytherin trait. I’m a spoiled, selfish git as well,” he said, throwing a wink at his blond friend. “Hermione, on the other hand, is beautiful, kind, and generous. She befriends those who have no friends and stand up for the underdogs. Even through the darkest of times, she remained true to herself and her heart.



“Mrs. Malfoy, when you were honouring Snape, you mentioned marrying his most prized student… you couldn’t be further from the truth. My bet is he’s watching this right now and calling you a dunderhead. Didn’t you know Snape’s most prized student was you? The insufferable know-it-all intrigued everyone. Believe it or not, Draco’s heart hadn’t been the only one you’ve ever stolen. That lucky bastard just managed to steal yours as well.



“So, Snape calls you a dunderhead and Draco believes he doesn’t deserve you. I can’t say I disagree. But, what I can say is this: The best years of your life are coming. I hope for all your dreams to be fulfilled. Trust me, those Professors are smiling down on both of you. To Draco and Hermione Malfoy! Cheers!”



“Cheers!” echoed the assembly.



Hermione giggled at the sour face Draco made. She glanced over the people and said, “Let’s eat!”



She threw her hands out and, at her command, the tables were magically loaded with food. A few gasps of surprise could be heard from the four Muggles present. All in all, life was good.



(II) (II)



True to her word, Luna played Elvis Presley’s song, “I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You” while Draco and Hermione opened up the dance. The Ravenclaw followed that song with the one by David Bowie and the rest of the wedding party joined in.



Next was the father/daughter dance. It was started by Hermione and Henry who were soon joined by other fathers and their daughters along with some sons and mothers.



Draco gracefully led his mother. She smiled at him and he found he was smiling back. Of course, he had not stopped smiling since he had led Hermione onto the dance floor.



“Mind if I cut in?” Amy asked, tapping Narcissa lightly on the shoulder and smiling.



“Not at all,” the pureblood said as she handed her son over to his mother-in-law.



Draco bowed to Mrs. Granger before gliding her into a slow waltz.



Hermione was losing her parent as well as her father stepped aside for Lucius. Unlike Draco, she wasn’t overly pleased with this new arrangement. But then, she knew her feelings for Lucius were mutual. Lucius only deigned to dance with Hermione to save face.



They did the customary bow and curtsey before Lucius took Hermione’s hand and guided her across the floor. For a moment, he said nothing, and Hermione prayed his silence would last the length of the song. Alas, it was not meant to be.



“What an incredible speech you gave today, Mrs. Malfoy,” he commented.



Not sure if it were a compliment or sarcasm, Hermione glance up into his icy eyes. It wasn’t a compliment. “Which speech?” she asked, unsure if he meant her vows or the speech at dinner. Either way, she was offended.



“I was not aware you made more than one,” he answered. “Personally, I believe that one was not particularly necessary. Your first honouree was nothing more that a foolish old coot. The other hated you and would have sneered at your mention of him.”



Hermione glared at him. Thank Merlin he wasn’t talking about her wedding vows. But, still. “Do not pretend to know what Severus Snape thought about me. As for Dumbledore, he may have been a bit foolhardy at times, but even your precious Dark Lord feared him.”



“I know more about Severus Snape that you think, Mrs. Malfoy,” Lucius hissed. “For years he pined over a little Mudblood, and in the end, it cost him his life.”



“It wasn’t the Mudblood,” she argued, softly, careful to not let their conversation be overheard. “It was a wand. Snape died over a wand. Surely you were able to figure that out.”



His grip on her tightened ever-so-slightly and she stifled a cry. She refused to show this man any fear or pain. “He died over a wand because of her,” he ground out. “His love for that Mudblood caused him to follow the stupid fool you honour.”



“He died with honour,” she hissed.



“He was bitten by a snake,” he returned. “I was not there, but even I know that. I saw the marks on his neck the day they buried him. Even I can recognize the wounds of a snake bite. And no one survives a bite from Nagini.”



She rolled her eyes as he turned her in time to the music. “I’m not going to argue with you on the nature of his death. I saw it happen. I won’t even argue with you about whether or not Snape liked me. I have my reasons for honoring him, part of which includes the man I just married. Draco and Snape were close. Even you cannot argue that point.”



He growled, “I did not bring up your asinine speech to talk of Snape. I understood your reasoning behind including him and the old coot.”



She raised an eyebrow. “Really? Do tell.”



He twirled her around again and caught her in a vice-like grip. She grimaced slighting at the knowledge that he would probably leave marks which she would have to explain to Draco later.



“Your words were meant to bring unity amongst Slytherin and Gryffindor,” he growled. “You believe that if Dumbledore and Snape could work together, if you and Draco could have a happy life, then the two Houses can finally unite.”



“And you disagree,” she surmised.



“Without a doubt,” he sneered.



A tap on Lucius’ shoulder brought an abrupt end to their conversation. “May I cut in?” Ronald Weasley asked, politely.



“No, you may not, Weasley,” Lucius scowled.



“Lucius!” Hermione hissed as she jerked out of his hold and grabbed Ron’s hand. “You do not control my life! I will dance with whomever I choose.”



“This conversation is not over,” he snarled.



“It is for now,” she said, curtseying to him before turning her attention to Ron. She pulled the red head away from the blond snob.



“What was that about?” Ron asked once they were a safe distance away.



Hermione shook her head. “Just in-law trouble,” she answered.



“You’ll probably get that a lot,” he commented.



As they danced, he seemed uncomfortable. “Ron?” she inquired, concerned.



“I don’t know how to say this, so I’m just going to say it,” he told her, looking downcast. “I’m sorry, Hermione. I’m sorry for everything. I realized that the only person I was really hurting was you and I didn’t want to. You’re my friend and I hurt you. I’m sorry.”



Hermione smiled. “We’ve been through a lot. You, Harry, and me. And the three of us can be bull-headed and stubborn about things. But, through it all, we remain friends,” she assured him.



Harry came over to them at that moment. Without a word, the three of them shared a group hug, silently protecting one another from the demons that existed in the world. “We’ll always be the best of friends,” Hermione quietly promised the young men. “No matter where our roads lead us.”



“And we’ll always be there for one another, no matter what,” Harry said, holding his friends tightly.



“And we’ll never let the small things draw us apart again,” Ron concluded. And in that moment, the three felt the pact and knew each person was sincere.



(III) (III)



“What was that about?” Draco asked a little later as he led her through another dance.



Hermione shrugged. “Your father is an arse, that’s all.”



“Yes, I know that,” he told her in amusement. His frowned. “That’s not what I meant. You, Potter, and Weasley. What was that about?”



She gazed up into his stormy eyes and smiled. “Honestly? I don’t believe you will ever truly understand. It’s complicated, but suffice it to say that for a year, we only had one another. A lot of things happened that year that only we know and will never speak of. I hope you understand when I ask you not to ask. Just know that you are the one who holds my heart. But the bond the three of us created is not something that can be broken.”



Draco nodded. He didn’t understand it, but he was willing to accept it. A couple of hours later, the newlyweds bid everyone a fond farewell and headed off to Cancun. There they spent three glorious weeks on a tropical beach drinking tequilas and planning their future…

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Author's Note: This is the last chapter, guys. So sad. No fear, though! There's still an epilogue!