From Venice with Love

I kept this one chapter, but it's longer than my usual ones. In case anyone is wondering, I found the wedding rituals on a few different websites for wiccan weddings and mixed them together.

The next day, Hermione was a bundle of nerves. As the ceremony would be in the afternoon, she had to attend classes all day. Particulary hard was Potions as Professor Snape seemed to glare at her even more than usual. She had Draco in that class as well, and it was hard not to look at him, knowing they would be married soon.

“Ms. Granger,” Snape’s voice grated into her brain. “I’m sure you believe that you have much better things to do with your time then be in this class, but unfortunately for both of us, here is where you are. Pay attention!” He snapped.

Hermione blushed. “Yes, sir,” She noticed he did not take any points from Gryffindor, however. She tried to focus on his words, but they rolled past her as she doodled on her parchment.

“Ms. Granger!” Her head shot up.

“Yes, sir?”

“That is the second time I’ve spoken to you. Detention this afternoon!”

“What?” she gasped. “You can’t possibly.”

“I most certainly can,” he snapped as Ron laughed. “Mr. Weasley, detention for you as well. Let’s throw in Mr. Potter for good measure.”

Harry looked up, mouth open, but no sound came out.

“Mr. Malfoy,” Snape went on. Hermione glanced around to where Draco was sitting. “Could you assist me with a project this afternoon? It would be for House Points.”

Draco stared at his Head of House without responding for a moment. “Of course, sir,” he said, finally.

“Calm down,” Harry whispered to Hermione as if sensing her panic. “I’m sure he’s just giving us all alibis for being gone this afternoon.”

“Oh, I hadn’t thought of that.” Hermione relaxed and went back to doodling.

Class ended shortly after and Hermione, Harry and Ron stayed behind. Snape motioned for them to sit, then had a word with Draco in the hallway. Hermione saw Draco nod and then Snape returned to the classroom, closing the door.

“You have one hour to meet on the edge of the forbidden forest,” he said testily. “Try and be inconspicuous. Bring Ms. Weasley with you. I will meet you there and take you to the location of this evening’s ritual.” He turned and left the room.

“An hour!” Hermione said, panicked. “I can’t possibly be ready by then.” She lept up and ran towards her room with a quick goodbye to Harry and Ron.

Once in her room, she took a quick shower and charmed her hair to dry. She pulled the dress out that she and Ginny had chosen as she heard rapping on her door.

“Hermione!” came Ginny’s muffled voice. Hermione let her in and noticed right away, even though she had on loose robes, that Ginny was dressed up.

“You look beautiful, Ginny,” she said, tearing up slightly.

“No crying!” Ginny scolded. “You’ll get puffy.” She set about fixing Hermione’s hair. With a few spells she had it curled in tendrils around her face, the rest pulled up, also in magnificent curls.

Hermione put on some light make up and Ginny helped her with her dress. It didn’t look like a Muggle bridal dress, but it was beautiful to her. It was silver, with gold woven into it. Hermione pulled on her shoes and looked back into the mirror. “Well?” she asked, smoothing the dress over her slightly rounded belly.

“You look gorgeous,” Ginny smiled at her. “You can’t tell at all. Stop fussing.” She pulled Hermione’s hand off her belly. “We should hurry, if you’re ready.”

Hermione pulled on a large loose cloak to cover herself and put the hood over her hair. Ginny did the same and they slipped off towards the castle doors. They didn’t see many people in the halls and they darted outside quickly and to the edge of the forest when Snape waited impatiently. Harry, who was waiting with him, had changed into nicer clothes as well.

“You look lovely,” he said.

“You can’t see me hardly at all,” Hermione scolded, but she was smiling. “Where’s Ron?” Dread engulfed her. “He’s not coming?”

“He went ahead with your parents,” Harry said, patting her arm reassuringly. “Calm down. We’re all upset, but there’ll be time enough for that. We still love you, Hermione, and we’re here for you.”

“Thank you, Harry,” Hermione hugged him tightly.

“As touching as this is,” Snape interrupted. “I’d like to move along.”

They began to walk into the forest as the sun began to lower in the sky. They walked mostly in silence, until the reached a clearing that Hermione sensed had a concealing charm placed on it. Snape muttered for a moment and they proceeded into a clearing they could now see. It was definitely warmer than it should be for outdoors at this time of year, so Hermione decided there was a charm placed on it for warmth as well. There was a circle of stone in the middle, with an altar. To the left of the circle, Hermione saw her parents standing with Ron, chatting amiably, and beside them were some of the Order members- Lupin, Tonks, Mrs. Weasley, Professor McGonagall, and Mad Eye Moody, who looked extremely uneasy. Behind them, Hermione could just make out Professor Dumbledore standing with Draco, talking softly. Draco was nodding, and Hermione just stared at him for a moment. He looked wonderful in his silver robes, his light hair gleaming in the lowering sun.

“Don’t drool, Hermione,” Ginny scolded lightly. “You’ll give him a bigger head than he already has,”

Hermione blushed. “What if I forget what to say?” she whispered, taking off her cloak. Ginny had helped her a little with the ritual, but she was very nervous.

“Mostly you just reply,” Ginny said. “Don’t worry.”

“Hermione, dear!” Her mother had spotted her and came rushing over. “You look so beautiful!”

“Thank you, Mum. I’m so glad you came.” Hermione hugged her and looked anxiously at her father, who had joined them. “Dad?”

Her father sighed. “I can’t say I was happy when your mother told me,” he said. “I plan to have a talk with that boy when all of this is over. But if you’re happy?”

“I am,” Hermione said, smiling. “Very happy.”

“Then that’s all I wish for you.” He hugged her tightly.

“Ms. Granger?” Professor Dumbledore called from inside the circle. “We need to begin. You’ll have time to visit when we’re through.”

Hermione took a deep breath, and entered the circle. Draco stood there, waiting for her, and smiling. “You look wonderful,” he said.

“Thank you,” Hermione smiled back.

The witnesses gathered around the circle and Dumbledore began.

“We come here today to bear witness to the union of Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy, who will be joined in marriage. Of those present today, do you know of any reason that this partnership should not be made?”

“There is none,” came the response from her friends and family.

Professor Dumbledore turned to Hermione and Draco, holding a large red cord. “Your hands, please.”

Hermione held out her hand, as did Draco. Professor Dumbledore turned to Draco.

“Will you do her harm?”

Draco answered, “I may.”

“ And if harm is done, will you seek to repair it?”

“I will.”

Dumbledore took the cord and began to wrap it around their hands. “And so the bond is made,” he said. “Will you seek to be honest with her in all things?”

“I will.”

“And so the bond is made,” Hermione heard the people behind her say as Dumbledore continued to wrap the cord, which was now beginning to glow.

“Will you support her in times of distress?”

“I will.”

“And so the bond is made,” The cord glowed still brighter.

“Will you temper your words and actions with love?”

“ I will.”

“These things you have promised to your partner and before this company. May you ever be mindful and strive to keep the vows you have spoken. And so the bond is made.” Dumbledore looked at Hermione and asked the same questions to her, all the while the wrapping the brightly glowing cord. The chanting of those behind her kept going until she was done speaking as well.

“Draco, do you come here of you own free will to take Hermione as your bride? Do you seek only to love and respect her, and wish only her well being?”

“I do,” Draco replied.

“Hermione, do you come here of your own free will to take Draco as your husband? Do you seek only to love and respect him, and wish only his well being?”

“I do,” Hermione said quietly.

“As the knots are tied, so are your lives bound.” Dumbledore said, winding the cord again. “By this cord, you are bound by your vow.” He placed his hand on the cord and said an incantation and the cord disappeared.

Dumbledore then picked up the rings in front of him. “These rings symbolize your love and lives together. They have no end, as your love will have no end.” He handed the rings to them to exchange. Hermione’s hands were shaking as she put Draco’s ring on. He smiled at her as he placed hers on her finger.

Dumbledore took his wand and aimed it at their hands. Hermione gasped slightly as she felt a sting inside her hand. She could see blood running from both of their hands where they were joined.

“Giving freely what is vital, your blood, to merge together as you join to become one, so do your spirits merge.” He said a spell and Hermione could feel the blood flow stopping.

“In the binding of yourselves and the exchanging of vows, you have created a new life. It is my great happiness to pronounce that you are husband and wife.”

Hermione looked over to where her mother stood crying. Ginny was smiling as was Harry slightly. Ron was glowering at the ground. Lupin and Tonks led everyone to begin clapping.

Dumbledore escorted them out of the circle. “Congratulations, Mrs. Malfoy,” he said quietly, winking at her.

Hermione clasped Draco’s hand tightly as her mother hugged her close. “Oh, Hermione, that was beautiful!” she gushed. She grabbed Draco and hugged him as well. “Welcome to our family, Draco.”

“Thank you,” Draco said awkwardly, patting her lightly with his one free hand.

Hermione left him with her parents to hug Ginny. “It was a beautiful ceremony,” Ginny said.

“I’ve never seen a wizard wedding before,” Harry said. “It was very different.”

“I don’t get why they used blood magic,” Ron muttered. “Did you agree to that, Hermione?”

“It’s to protect the baby,” Draco said in a condescending voice. “Dumbledore explained it to me right before the ceremony. It was the best thing to do.”

“Then Hermione didn’t know?” Ron asked.

“No, I didn’t, Ron, but if Professor Dumbledore thought it best, then it’s fine.” Hermione said.

“You still should have been consulted. He doesn’t have to make all the decisions for you. It’s a powerful magic, Hermione.”

“That’s what has you all hot, isn’t it Weasley? You know it’s unbreakable.” Draco smirked at him.

“Unless you die,” Ron muttered, but Draco heard him.

“Are you threatening me?” His tone, which had been amused, changed to a menacing one. “Because if you are-”

“There’s a tea set up, you know.” Ginny broke in. “We should go eat. We won’t have much longer.”

Ron glared at Draco one last time before allowing his sister to pull him away.

“What was the blood for?” Hermione asked as soon as her friends walked away.

“Dumbledore thinks that my father couldn’t kill someone with Malfoy blood. He thought it was best. I assumed he had already talked to you about it. If there’s a problem, take it up with him,” Draco snapped at her. “What difference does it make? Unless you were planning on leaving me, it shouldn’t matter.”

“It doesn’t at all.” Hermione assured him. “I was just curious, I didn’t know it was coming, is all.” She put her hand on his arm, soothing him.

He nodded at her, but didn’t seem consoled. “Draco,” she said and he looked down at her. She smiled at him. “We’re married.” He couldn’t help but smile back at her. He kissed her lightly on the lips as Harry came back to hand Hermione a plate, cringing.

“Get used to it, Potter,” Draco said smugly. “No need to hide from you lot anymore. Just make sure not to call on Hermione too early in the morning. You never know when I’ll be there.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Harry said tersely, smiling at Hermione before leaving.

Hermione poked Draco’s stomach. “That’s not being civil.”

Draco rolled his eyes at her. “You’re too sensitive.”

“Excuse me,” Professor Dumbledore’s voice carried to them. “We’ll need to be getting back to school. It has been several hours and some students may get suspicious. Severus, will you take Mr. Malfoy back and I’ll have Minerva take back the Gryffindors.”

Snape nodded and motioned to Draco. “Let’s go,” he said.

Draco kissed Hermione and said, “I’ll meet you in your room before patrol.”

“Why?” Hermione asked as Ron, Harry and Ginny wandered over.

“Why? To consummate the marriage, of course,” He grinned wickedly at her and vanished with Snape.

Ron groaned. “I could have gone my whole life without that in my head.”