A Fated Marriage

A/N: Wow…so after all this I’m finally getting to the wedding. I don’t know how you guys put up with me. Lol This chapter was really hard for me, because I wanted to create my own version of a Wizard wedding without having to bore you wonderful readers with too much detail. I hope I did alright. This chapter is for AuntLynnie, thank you for all the help! And thanks to all the wonderful reviewers! I can’t write this story without all your wonderful support. Now, on with the story!

Getting Married

“And Bulgaria wins 740 to 310. And thus ends one of the longest games in the history of the Bulgarian team. And there they go. Sorry fans it doesn’t look they will be signing autographs today. No doubt rushing off to Seeker Viktor Krum’s wedding ceremony, which I’m told starts in less than half an hour.” The announcer said, explaining to the sparse crowd why the winning team was rushing off the field, nearly tripping over each other to get to the showers.

“I am going to be late for my own vedding! How is it possible that the game took eight days to finish?” Viktor he said yanking off his clothes and hitting the shower.

“Viktor, you are not going to be late. You still have an hour. And this little thing called magic will help you get there with time to spare.” Lev, too, was turning on the shower, “Besides it is your own fault that the game vent on as long as it did. I don’t think I can remember you ever being so distracted during a game.” Every stall was filled with players trying to wash quickly while others prepared to make a quick exit while waiting their turn. The whole team had been invited to the wedding, so everyone seemed to be in a mild state of panic.

“I have never had my own vedding so close to a game before. You try playing vith that on your mind.”

“I still do not understand vhy you just did not let a reserve Seeker take your place.”

“It vas Hermione. She insisted I play until the very last minute. She said I vould regret it if I vas not the one to end the game.”

“So she is starting to like the game more?” Lev knew what Hermione’s feelings toward Quidditch were. Still she had yet to miss a game, and she still came to many of the practices. When Viktor was off doing Seeker training some of his teammates would try to tease and coax her onto a broom. Hermione was so stubborn about the whole thing that the team actually started a betting pool on who would get her on a broom first. The prize was growing bigger and bigger every week, so much so that even the coach and assistant coaches had joined in.

“She is beginning to come around.” The groom burst out of the shower and grabbed a towel to dry off quick as one of the reserve Chasers took his place under the water. He went to his locker and smiled when he opened it up. There were his dress robes waiting for him just like he asked Dorian to do earlier that morning. He took his wand out of the pocket and muttered a few spells. In a matter of seconds the towel was wrapped around his waist, a shaving kit appeared in front of him and a mirror hung on the locker door. “I promised her I vould make sure all the men were ready. Miroslav and Valko met two of Hermione’s brothers, Fred and George. They have been making everything harder. They keep trying to turning the robes pink.” He told Lev who was shaving right next to him.

“I vill be there to help you. Just calm down and remember this is going to be the best day of your life.” Lev told him with a chuckle. Viktor put down his razor with a sigh and shook his head.

“Sometimes I vonder if this story is going to end vith happily ever after. This is happening too quickly. Vhat if she decides living in the Muggle vorld vould be better than this.” He covered his face in aftershave and tried to be as calm as the man next to him. That was a hard thing to do when the very thought of Hermione leaving tide his stomach in knots. “There is still time for her to leave all of this behind.” Lev put firm hands on his best friend’s shoulders.

“Viktor I think if she vas going to do something like that then she vould have a long time ago. Hermione is not the kind of girl to put off something until the last minute.” Lev reassured him. Viktor nodded and smiled. He pulled at his robes and looked at Lev.

“Vell? How do I look?” His robes were the traditional black. They were slightly longer than casual robes shot through with the tiniest gold and red threads the bits of color jumped out and shined when the light hit them. His hair was trimmed and his face was now clean shaven. His family crest hung on a gold chain around his neck. All in all he was rather dashing, but Lev was never going to admit that out loud.

“You vill pass I guess, but let us be honest you vould be much better looking if you vere me.” Lev smiled and shook his head. Keeping one hand on Viktor’s shoulder the older man stood on a bench. “Everyone, our little Viktor is going to be losing his freedom in less than an hour! Be sure to be there in time to see it!” With that he pulled the mildly bewildered Viktor with him to the Floo gate.

Meanwhile, Hermione was dealing with her own issues. Her robes were very much like Viktor’s though they were cut to show off her figure just a bit. Her hair tied back in an elegant French braid and her makeup was painted on with perfection. She was ready to get married, -the sooner the better. After everything was cleared up from the late-minute dress fitting the women took it upon themselves to tell her what to expect on her wedding night. She had sat through “The Talk” that Mari, Molly, and a few other women decided to give her. Hannah, Luna and Ginny were all told to sit in another room and Christy chose to join them rather than hear the older women explain to the bewildered witch about the birds and the bees.

“That should be all you need to know.” Molly said smile. The only response she received from the wide-eyed young bride was a very weak “okay”. The Weasley matriarch looked at the girl she had so long viewed as her own daughter and became very misty eyed. “I don’t think I’m ready to see you get married.” She said, snapping Hermione out of her fear and shock. The other women quietly left the room so the two could have a few moments of privacy. “You’re only a child. You’re far too young for all of this.”

Hermione hugged her adopted mother and smiled a little. “Mum, may I remind you that up until this point you’ve been one of the biggest supporters of this wedding.” She tried to laugh a little although she was a bit confused. She had heard mothers became emotional at their daughter’s wedding, but this was a completely different person she was seeing.

“Oh that was so the boys would have an example to follow. You know them, if I hadn’t put on a brave face, they would have followed suit and caused more problems. And you had enough on your plate…” She wiped her eyes. Hermione looked at the woman she now called Mum and smiled. Nobody gave Molly enough credit, it seemed, but in truth she was probably the strongest and most perceptive person in the entire family. “Now dear if you ever need a place to go you know the Burrow is always open to you.” Hermione merely nodded, too touched for words.

There was a little knock on the door. “Molly, everybody is getting in their place. We start in about fifteen minutes. Viktor and the boys are all dressed. No pink robes.” Arthur walked in. He took a look Hermione and smiled. “Look at you. All grown up. Getting married.” He gave her a hug before looking to his wife. “Did you give it to her yet?” He asked.

“Not yet, you came just in time.” Molly took out a black velvet box. “We got this for you.” She handed Hermione the gift. Hermione knew refusing the gift would be useless, so she simply opened it. Inside was a beautiful square gold locket with the Krum family crest on the front of it. She opened up to see something that made her breath stop for a moment. There was a photo of her parents in one half and a photo of Viktor and her together. She put a hand to her chest and simply stared at the thoughtful gift. Molly took her husband out by the hand and led him out of the room to give the young woman a chance to herself.

Hermione looked at herself in the mirror. She saw the perfect young witch bride. The bride in the reflection was collected, beautiful, and ready to face whatever the future held for her. If that was what her reflection showed her, why did she feel like her world was about to end? “This is stupid. Viktor is wonderful. I have an amazing family who has been supporting me every minute since this started. I should be the happiest witch in the world.” She pressed a hand to the cool glass of the mirror and closed her eyes. In a single moment she saw everything she was losing because of the Marriage Law. Hogwarts. Dating. Privacy. Even her freedom, to a certain extent. “You can run Hermione. Muggle life isn’t so bad. You grew up that way. You could run right now and leave it all behind.”

She opened up her eyes and looked into the mirror one more time, only Viktor was standing beside her in her mind’s eye. She saw them sitting in the gardens of Crystal Air smiling and laughing. She saw countless celebrations being held in that very manor. Her whole family, Weasleys and Krums, were right beside her just as they had always been. If she ran now, she would be giving them up, too. She would be completely alone in the Muggle world. And worst of all, she would not have Viktor in her life. This was probably not the choice she would have made for herself had the Marriage Law not played a part in her life, but this was the choice she was making now. She wanted to stay by his side and share a wonderful future with him. There would be good times and bad, but there was no way she was going to miss any of it.

“They do say marriage is the adventure of a lifetime.” She told her reflection with a smile. What kind of Gryffindor would she be if she missed out on an adventure?

Hermione took a deep breath in and let it out slowly. “Alright, it’s time to become Mrs. Viktor Krum.” She slipped her new locket around her neck and gave her hair one final check before opening the door where everyone was waiting. She noticed that the Weasleys looked relieved and realized that they had just given her a chance to run. They wanted to give her one last opportunity to make her own choice. “Okay everyone, let’s get this show on the road.” She took Mr. Weasley’s arm and they started making their way to where her groom was waiting.

The ceremony was being held outside so there would be a spot for everyone to see. As far as she could see, almost everyone she’d invited had made the trip, and everyone she knew from Viktor’s family dotted his side of the venue. There were dozens of familiar faces. Family, friends, team mates, officials, press, and everyone in between was present and dressed in their finest robes looking like a bright flock of parrots. Somewhere beyond her view, a band was playing music but she wasn’t paying much attention to the melody. Since she and Viktor were the only ones in black, it was easy enough to spot him standing in the Binding Circle.

He was so handsome standing there, looking excited, overjoyed and mildly nervous. She smiled at him and stopped just outside the Circle. Arthur gave her a light peck on the cheek, “Well Hermione this is where life is leading you for now. Be brave and remember you are loved no matter what you do or where you are.” All she could do was nod her head and look at her father with misty eyes.

Viktor took one of her hands and led her to join him inside the Binding Circle. Hand and hand, they faced Kingsley Shacklebolt, who had agreed to perform the ceremony. They waited for him to utter the words that would ultimately change their lives. He smiled at the couple as he tied their linked hands together with a black silk ribbon. “Ladies and gentlemen we are gathered here today to witness the joining of these two people in matrimony. They will commit themselves to one another in front of all those who love and care for them. Black is the color of an end. These two are ending their old lives. They will no longer be simply daughter, son, brother or sister. From this point on they are also going to be husband, wife, mother, and father.” He nodded to the young pair and the faced each other.

Kingsley muttered a small incantation and the Circle began to glow white around them. “Please repeat after me: This is the beginning of a new life.”

“This is the beginning of a new life.” They both repeated. Hermione was looking up into Viktor’s eyes as calm as ever. As soon as they started repeating the words, Viktor had taken her other hand in his. He was staring back at her with a soft seriousness that Hermione had only ever seen when they were first matched up together and when he proposed to her the second time.

“Though times may be black and uncertain….”

“Though times may be black and uncertain…”

“I shall stand by your side.”

“I shall stand by your side.” In the back of her mind she could hear sniffling and few sighs. But she didn’t bother to look and see who it was. Her entire focus was on the man in front of her and the words they were speaking.

“For now I am yours as you are mine.”
“For now I am yours as you are mine.” There was a small commotion coming from behind her, but she paid it no mind. She could feel Viktor’s hands become warmer and warmer with each passing moment. At least she thought the warmth was coming from him, it was hard for her to tell.

“Now be sealed together through magic and love. Now let your new lives begin as husband and wife.” Kingsley said with a small smile. In flash of color the black robes the newly married couple were wearing turned bright white and the small bits of gold and red bloomed like flowers into beautiful patterns. Viktor leaned in to kiss his new wife when there was some loud screaming coming from behind him. Instinctively he pulled Hermione to him as the light of spellfire were being aimed at them.

“Hold on tight to me.” The groom whispered into her ear. The now white ribbon that still bound them together glowed and they disappeared from the Binding Circle. Hermione clung to Viktor as they were transported to the empty Bulgarian Qudditch practice fields. As soon as she felt the ground firmly under her feet, the bride dared to open her eyes a little. Seeing they were alone she relaxed and looked up at her husband.

“Do you mind explaining to me what just happened?” She asked quietly. The weather was still reasonably warm and sunny, which helped make the atmosphere feel all the more calming. Viktor took her hand and started walking at a leisurely pace.

“Dorian and a few others felt it necessary to make sure ve had a Portkey available just in case ve vere to get attacked during the ceremony. It’ll glow vhen it is safe for us to return for the reception.” Hermione nodded, but stopped short looking freezing in midstep.

“Reception? But what about the rest of the ceremony?”

“Vhat do you mean? That vas all there vas to the ceremony.”


“I mean we have been planning the wedding for months. Countless hours going over the smallest details. All of that for a five minute ceremony?” Hermione couldn’t help feeling more than a little cheated somehow. “I didn’t even get a chance to take a look at everyone’s robes, or look at the flowers, or greet any of the guests.” Her expression was that of a child who had been handed a long awaited Christmas present only to have in taken away. Viktor couldn’t help laughing. He picked her up and spun her around in circles.

“I promise that our next vedding vill be much smaller and you can take all the time you vant to talk to the guests and look at robes.” He told her setting her down before she got too dizzy. “However there is something I am disappointed ve missed.” He said with great seriousness. Hermione looked at him a little worried.

“And what would that be?” A smile broke out on his face and he pulled her close.

“Our first kiss as husband and vife.” He bent down and kisses his wife with as much passion and love as he could possibly fit into a kiss. Without any hesitation Hermione returned the kiss and for that one moment everything was perfect. It seemed like an eternity passed before either was willing to break that first kiss. Viktor was the one to pull away. Gently he rested his chin on top of her head as he continued to hold the love his life. He closed his eyes so he could engrave the day into his memory. Lev had been right when he said it was the best day of his life.

“Viktor.” Hermione softly pulled him out of his thoughts.

“Hmmm.”

“Viktor.”

“Vhat?”

“Vhat?”

“The ribbon is glowing.” The ribbon was indeed glowing giving them the signal that it was safe to return to chaos that was their wedding day.

“Just a few more moments.”

“Why? You know the longer we’re here they more they’ll get anxious.” The last thing she wanted was to face a worry stricken wedding party.
“But I still vant more!” He almost sounded like a whining child. The bride shook her head looking her groom in the eye.

“More of what?”

“More of this.” And his lips were pressed against hers once more.

However, somewhere far away from this kissing couple, someone was seething in anger. “What did I do wrong? Everything should have fallen into place!” He slammed his fist on the table using language that would turn even the most hardened sailor pale. “Fine…fine. There will be plenty more chances in the future. Good things come to those who wait.” A hand ran through dark hair as he took a few calming breaths. He picked up an older photo of Hermione off of the table that had been taken when she received her Order of Merlin. One of his fingers caressed her image affectionately, “I can wait. Just a little longer.”

A/N: Cliffy! . . . So the upcoming chapter will be about the reception. If anyone has any ideas I’m more than happy to hear them. Thanks for reading Fated! See you in the next chapter. :)