Mastering Temptation

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE: A Magical Day





-The Middle of June –



In the Bride’s dressing chamber…….





“Hold still, Hermione!” Draco said through gritted teeth as he tugged on the tangled laces of her corset.





“Draco, I have to walk down the aisle in less than forty-five minutes, what are you doing?” She asked, trying to look over her shoulder.





“These blasted laces are tangled up! I have no idea how these things work…can’t you wear the gown without it?” He asked, cursing again when the tangle of strings slipped out of little hooks he had so patiently tried to thread them through.





“No, I can not wear the gown without it; it was designed to be worn over a corset.” Hermione said, feeling the whalebone garment fall loose once more.





“Hold on then, I’m going to need help.” Draco said, stepping away from her.





“Draco, I don’t want everyone and their brother seeing me in my knickers if you don’t mind!” Hermione called to his retreating back. “Why can’t I make any female friends?” She said to herself. Draco returned moments later with Lucius close behind him. “Bloody hell, Draco, I thought you were going after Molly or Ginny!” She exclaimed, reaching for the petticoat draped over the back of a chair and covering herself with it.





“He was just outside.” Draco said shrugging his shoulders.







“It’s bad enough that you have seen me in my underwear, did you have to bring Lucius in to see them as well?” She closed her eyes in mortification.







“Don’t worry; I have seen more than one witch in her all together.” Lucius said with a slight smirk. “What seems to be the problem?” He asked.





“She needed help with that blasted corset of hers so she called me in here but I can’t figure it out. Do you think you can?” Draco asked. Lucius removed his gloves and set them, along with his cane on a small side table and approached Hermione.





“Brace your hands on the chair, my dear.” Lucius stepped behind her and with nimble fingers threaded the laces through the hooks. “Take a deep breath.” When she did he gave the laces a sharp tug. “I must say, this is the first time I have helped a woman into one of these.” He began to pull the slack from the bottom up, one crossed string at a time. “Severus is going to have a fit later.”







“Why is that?” She asked, wincing a little when he tugged sharply once more on the laces and then tied it off.







“Not only did I assist his bride into her undergarments, but I spelled the knot.” He smirked.







Ten minutes before time to walk down the aisle….







“Draco.” Hermione whispered as she grabbed his arm before he opened the chamber door.





“What is it, darling?” He asked, smiling down at her.







“I have to go to the loo.” She said, nibbling her bottom lip.







“So go, you have a few minutes.” He said.







“I need you to come with me.” She said, blushing profusely.





“You’ve always managed quite well in the past on your own.” Draco said, giving her a horrified look.







“I don’t usually wear a dress that costs over eight thousand galleons with four layers of petticoats beneath the skirt either; I need you to hold my skirts up.” She said, taking him by the hand and dragging him into the bathroom with her.







“My gods woman, why didn’t you go before you put the bloody thing on?” Draco whined, keeping his eyes focused on the ceiling as they gathered up the layers of her skirt and he held them up so she could handle her business. “You really need to get some female friends.”









Just inside the double doors…..





“You look absolutely stunning, my dear.” Lucius said as he offered Hermione his arm.







“How is Severus?” She asked, her heart racing slightly as she clung to Lucius’s arm.







“Fussing about having to wear formal dress robes, but he is happier than I have ever seen him.” Lucius said, smiling softly at her. It amazed him that there was once a time when he had wanted her removed from existence. Funny that she had come to mean so much to him after all they had been through. “Are you ready?”







“More than ready.” She said softly as the double doors opened up to the gardens of Malfoy Manor. Lilacs and Lavender mixed with Lily of the Valley bloomed all around the family, friends, students and colleagues that filled the gardens. They all stood as the doors opened and Hermione was escorted down a long, white satin runner by Lucius. A white gazebo stood by the lake and violet wisteria climbed the lattice walls.





Severus stood there, handsome in his dress robes, watching her approach on the arm of his best friend. She could see him take a deep breath and exhale slowly as she got closer and she smiled. To her left were ‘her boys’. Harry, Ron and Draco, all dressed in formal dress robes with lavender waistcoats and ties. Ron and Harry hadn’t been too thrilled with her upcoming nuptials at first, but gradually had come to see that she was happy and that Severus loved her completely.







Severus was having a hard time catching his breath as he watched her make her way towards him on Lucius’s arm. The white silk of her gown glowed softly in the early evening light. Small, capped sleeves dropped off of her shoulders and left them bare, the bodice was fitted, her waist looking impossibly small above skirts that billowed around her and brushed the ground with every step. Elbow length gloves adorned her arms and tiny white lilies were threaded into her curls. She was without a doubt the most breathtaking thing he had ever seen.







Lucius walked her up the three steps to the gazebo platform and waited as the officiating wizard began the ceremony.





“Who gives this witch to be wed?” The tall, graying man in dark violet robes asked.







“I do.” Lucius said softly, leaning in to kiss her cheek before placing her hand in Severus’s and stepping to the right to assume his place as best man.





The ceremony along with the vows was traditional. Everyone laughed softly when Severus had to be prompted to speak up when he was reciting his vows, his voice was naturally deep and resonated clearly when he spoke, but on this occasion emotion softened his words as he pledged himself to his witch. Their guest’s funny bones were tickled once more when it came time to exchange rings and Hermione handed off her bouquet of lilacs to Harry who clutched the bundle of flowers with a red face as the couple exchanged their rings.





As the ceremony came to a close, Severus anticipated the officiant’s directive to kiss his bride and snatched her into his arms to kiss her before the words could even pass the man’s lips. And he kept right on kissing her past the point that was considered appropriate until Lucius finally tapped him on the shoulder with his cane.









At the reception….





What began as an elegant event held in the ballroom of the manor deteriorated slowly after the formal portion of the evening was over. Hermione and Severus had enjoyed the toasts, despite the fact that Draco’s started with and it all began when Severus found a witch bent over his desk....





They enjoyed an elaborate four course dinner and cut the beautifully crafted five layer cake, it was almost too perfect to take the knife to. They opened the dancing with a waltz and then made their way about the assemblage to greet their guests.







Half way through the evening, to everyone’s surprise, Dean Thomas arrived with one of his club’s DJs who happened to be a wizard and soon the walls of Malfoy Manor shook with the sounds of dance music. The beautiful cake was now half eaten, the groom on top replaced with a batman action figure complete with billowing black cape. No doubt a practical joke by one of her friends.





The champagne and ale had flowed freely all night, loosening up even the most tightly wound of magical persons. Hermione was seated on Severus’s lap watching the last of their guests meander around the room. Her friends, along with the Weasley twins and a few others were outside playing Quidditch over the gardens.





“Is it almost time to go?” Severus asked, kissing her bare shoulder softly.





“Soon.” She said, yawning softly. “It was a beautiful wedding wasn’t it?” She asked, leaning back into his arms.





“It was.” He said, wrapping his arms around her and hugging her close. “Think you will be able to stay awake for the wedding night?” He purred into her ear.





“I haven’t fallen asleep on you yet have I?” She shivered slightly as his breath tickled her ear.





“Not in front of everyone, Severus, it’s almost over; can’t you wait a little longer?” Lucius drawled as he walked up behind them with Draco, Ron and Harry close on his heels.





“I have every right to kiss my bride however I like.” Severus said.







“I can’t say I blame you, she definitely has the sweetest lips I have ever kissed.” Lucius said, pulling a chair up next to him.





“You’ve kissed Mr. Malfoy?” Ron asked, looking from the blonde wizard back to his friend.





“She’s kissed both of us in one night.” Draco said, taking another empty chair.





“Actually they kissed me trying to make this one jealous.” Hermione said tilting her head in Severus’s direction.





“Did it work?” Ron asked, smiling at Severus.







“He snatched her from the middle of our New Years Party.” Draco said, slapping Severus on the back.







“So are you two taking a wedding trip?” Harry asked, leaning against the table.







“Lucius has given us the use of his villa in Tuscany for the rest of the summer.” Hermione said, smiling over at her indulgent friend and co-employer. “On top of throwing us this lavish wedding.” Lucius shifted uncomfortably as she smiled so sweetly at him.





“It was nothing, my dear.” He was surprised when she removed herself from Severus’s lap and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing his cheek as she perched herself on his knees.





“It wasn’t nothing, you gave me my dream wedding and I will love you forever for it.” She said. “Thank you.”





“You are more than welcome, my dear.” Lucius said, smiling affectionately at her.





“That’s enough; give me back my wife, Malfoy.” Severus drawled no real irritation in his voice as he pulled his bride back into his arms.





“I think it is time for the two of you to be off.” Lucius said, gesturing towards the glass doors that were standing open. Hermione and Severus looked up to see a stunning black coach pulled by sleek, black horses pull to a stop at he bottom of the veranda steps.





“Oh my goodness! Lucius, you are too much.” Hermione said.







“You deserve it.” He said, embracing her as she and Severus bid them all goodbye and climbed into the back of the carriage. Wide, shiny wings unfurled from the horse’s sides as they trotted across the lawn and lifted the carriage into flight to carry the newlyweds towards their honeymoon.







~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~





Alright, so the wedding/reception was already written, but I changed it a bit since Utopia asked so prettily for a “helpful Lucius”. ……….Of course I will have to write the wedding night now! How could I possibly leave you wondering about the charmed knot on Hermione’s corset and Severus’s reaction to finding out that Lucius helped her into her undergarment?







Utopia – you do make me laugh…..hope the added scene makes you happy :)

Couldn’t bring myself to put Draco into a dress but the lilac waistcoat and tie were a gift for you LOL…..and having the boys stand up as Mione’s bridesmaids with Harry holding her bouquet was just too cute to ignore.





Caitlin - writing is free therapy in a sense. It keeps my mind occupied so I won’t be quite so aware of being without hubby. I have said many times that my brain is constantly at work and stories just keep unfolding in my head. Writing them calms me and makes me happy : ) Thank you for the encouragement and I am so glad you are enjoying the story.





Teenertots – I will be happy to let you know as soon as I get confirmation…..Lucky you to live so close! I live in Indiana so I have quite a ways to travel, but it will be so worth it!