Muggle Marriage Law 51599

A/N - Story's almost over, I think. Pardon my sappiness. Thanks for reading this so far.
-------

CAP

It was as if Draco’s world was crumbling around him. What kind of sick plan had his father cooked up to embarrass her? Draco shut his eyes. Hermione watched as a tear rolled down his cheek.

Father Norris waited until the crowd gave the couple their full attention. He smiled at the anxious couple.
Dean and Ginny exchanged smiles behind them. Father Norris finally addressed the crowd.

“We’re gathered here today to witness two people reaffirm their love and commitment to each other,” the smallish Ministry official began. Hermione kept her head bowed, allowing tears to drop onto her fingers, wetting the thin gold band. Draco looked past Mr. Norris blankly.

“Draco,” Father Norris said clearing his throat to get the groom’s attention. Draco looked up to see the bespectacled old man smiling at him. “Please take your wife’s hands into yours.”

Draco’s face torqued with confusion. “Mr. . . I mean Father Norris,” Draco said as he sneaked a glance at Hermione who mirrored the same stare that he had moments ago, looking past the Ministry official. He continued softly, “Celeste . . . I don’t . . . she’s not here yet.”

Father Norris laughed a little. There was a spattering of nervous laughter from the crowd. “Draco,” Father Norris continued. “Please take Hermione’s hands into yours.”

Draco and Hermione turned to each other wide-eyed. Draco turned to look at Dean and then behind him to where his parents were standing. He turned back to Father Norris and whispered, “Does my father know about this?”

The presiding official laughed again, joined by some of the guests who were close enough to hear Draco’s comments. The older Wizard looked at the couple again, “For two of the brightest Wizarding folk to ever graduate from Hogwarts, you both can be very thick sometimes. This was his idea.”

With that even Hermione and Draco nervously laughed. Draco turned to Hermione and gently took her hands into his. They looked into each other’s eyes, synchronizing their deep breaths.

“Now, as I was saying,” Father Norris was again addressing the crowd. “We are gathered here today to witness these two young people reaffirm their wedding vows as they celebrate their third year third month wedding anniversary.

“Hermione if you will remove your ring and hand it to Mr. Thomas,” the older wizard gently issued directions.
Hermione breathed in as she looked into Draco’s grey eyes. She gingerly pulled off her muggle wedding band and took another breath. She looked at the best man and smiled as she placed the ring into his palm.

“Now Draco, if you would do the same and hand it to Mrs. Thomas,” Father Norris instructed.

Draco looked into Hermione’s eyes. He felt his breath hitch in his chest for a moment. He turned to face Father Norris. “Father Norris, I . . .” he began and then in a defeated voice, “Sir, it disappeared after I signed the . . . after the divorce papers were signed.”

Father Norris only smiled. He nodded at Draco. Draco unbuttoned the two top buttons of his shirt. He took in a deep breath as he pulled the chain out. The round gold ring twirled. Hermione blinked back tears.

Draco clumsily worked the clasp open. The chain slipped down his chest. Hermione caught it. Draco smiled at her. She placed the necklace into his palm. He pulled the ring off and shoved the necklace into his trouser pocket.

He held up the ring and shrugged at Hermione. He looked at Father Norris, who smiled and nodded towards Ginny. Draco gave the wedding band to the Matron of Honor. He took Hermione’s hands into his as he looked into her eyes.

“Draco, please repeat after me,” Father Norris said. “I, Draco, take thee, Hermione, to be my lawfully wedded wife, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or worse, to have and to hold from this day forward.”

Draco repeated after the Ministry official, not once lifting his gaze from Hermione. Father Norris directed Hermione to repeat after him. She did the same, also not lifting her gaze from Draco.

“Now, Draco,” Father Norris began. He nodded to the young wizard, “Accept the ring from Mr. Thomas and place it on your wife’s finger.”

“With this ring I thee wed,” Draco repeated after the old wizard as he replaced the muggle wedding ring on her finger. He smiled at her as he saw a tear roll down her cheek.

“Hermione,” Father Norris nodded at her. She accepted the Wizarding band from Ginny. She looked up into Draco’s eyes. Her fingers shook as she placed the ring on his left ring finger. “With this ring, I thee wed.”

The newly re-wed couple held each other’s hands. They both took a breath as they turned to face Father Norris.

“Now, if there’s anyone who feels that these two young people should not be together,” he paused looking in the direction of Mr. Malfoy. The crowd laughed collectively. Father Norris himself chuckled before he continued. “Speak now or forever hold your peace.”

Draco smiled at Hermione. He touched her face. Hermione closed her eyes for a moment. She looked up at him and mouthed the words, ‘I love you.’ Draco pulled her into his chest and kissed her.

“Okay, we’re not at that part of the ceremony yet, Draco,” Father Norris said calmly, “Hermione.”

The crowd again began to laugh and applaud. Father Norris threw his hands up in the air with mock exasperation. He smiled at the couple who were still kissing. “With the power vested in me by the Ministry of Magic, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may continue to kiss each other.”

The audience went wild. Draco and Hermione finally broke the kiss. She blushed as she heard the crowd applaud. They both looked at Father Norris.

“I present to you Mr. Draco and Mrs. Hermione Malfoy,” Father Norris said to the guests. Another cheer rang out from the guests.

“Now, if you will, Draco, Hermione, find your seats. I think the guests are a bit on the hungry side,” Father Norris said in jest.

The young couple smiled at him. Draco led Hermione to the head table. Mr. Malfoy nodded at his son and waved his wand. There were ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ from the guests as they began to dig into their dinner.

Draco placed his left hand over Hermione’s right hand. She interlaced her fingers with his. She smiled at him.

“Did you have anything to eat at all?” Draco leaned into her.

“No. We were kind of interrupted at breakfast with an invitation we couldn’t refuse,” she smiled at him. She kissed his cheek.

Draco turned to Dean and Ginny and said, “Did you guys know about this?”

“Yeah,” Ginny said grinning as she took a bite of her salad.

“When? How?” Draco asked.

“Your father owled us at the hospital,” Dean said.

“Where was I?” Draco asked.

“Looking for cigars,” Dean said. They all laughed as they tucked into their dinners.