You Raise Me Up

Argh....writer's block...

skydancer - *titters with embarrassment* No, you didn't miss anything. Azkaban is definitely still a prison. I was just tired, and it was like six in the morning and I hadn't had any sleep. I fixed it, though! I laughed when you wrote that about Kingsley. Not that it makes dying any better....HILARIOUS.

Everyone else - Thanks for the wonderful reviews. I love you all, and I am sorry it took so long to update.
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Hermione’s eyes opened slowly, still heavy from sleep. She looked around, and recognized that she was in a room in St Mungos. She sat up gingerly, her shoulder throbbing gently. Why was her shoulder hurting? Why was she in St Mungos?

The memories hit her all at once. She had been talking to Percy about werewolf laws. She had been walking with Kingsley and Percy. The attack. She and Percy had been hit. Kingsley was dead.

She looked around the room, trying to find someone to ask some questions. She wanted to know if Percy was all right. The prat had saved her…at the risk of his own life he had saved her. Her spirits raised slightly when she saw a cloud of white blonde hair peeking above a blanketed bundle in a chair.

“D-Draco?” she croaked out, her voice broken from disuse and a dry throat. How long had she been out? The blanketed bundle didn’t move, so she called out again, just a little louder.

“Draco!”

Draco jumped, and tried to stand immediately, but his blanket caught around his feet and he struck the ground. He cursed loudly, and threw off the confounded blanket, and stood correctly.

“Hmm?” He looked around for the source of the noise, and his eyes lighted on the bed. He almost tripped over his own feet to get to her side. “Mione!” he cried, and gently drew her up into his arms. “Oh, my sweet Hermione. Oh gods…I love you so much. When I got the owl that you had been hurt…” Tears had begun to stream down his face, as he smothered her with kisses. “I thought I was going to lose you or the baby…”

“How long have I been out? Is the baby okay? What about Percy? What happened?” she asked. Draco laughed softly, and dried his eyes on the sleeve of his shirt.

“One question at a time, love. Let’s see…you’ve been out for four days. The Healers had to put you under a Healing Sleep so that they wouldn’t harm the baby. The baby is perfectly healthy. The Minister is fine. And according to all conjecture, The Forsaken allowed a small number of themselves to be caught to both introduce themselves to the world, and then to lull the Ministry into a false sense of security thinking they had all been caught. Then they went after the Minister. No one knows what they were trying to prove…” he said, and smoothed her hair behind her ears. “But that doesn’t matter. What matters is that you are okay. Do you need anything? Water? Food?” he asked. She laughed softly, and leaned into his gentle caresses.

“Yes. All of the above, please.”

~~

“I feel like I’m going to a funeral, Draco…” Hermione said gently, adjusting the clasp of her elegantly airy black robes.

“Yeah, well, can you really imagine them in anything other than black? I’d really love to see him in a nice pink, though…” Draco teased, eliciting a giggle from his wife.

“I still can’t believe that they are a couple. It’s like…weird.” She added, and began to try and twist her hair into some semblance of a style.

“They are such a strange couple. But now that they are together, it’s hard to see them with anyone else. They know each other so well, and I’d even go as far as to say they compliment each other. They’re both dark and broody, but she actually knows how to have fun. And while he’s as stuffy as an old attic, he has the capacity to not be a whiny bitch. They complete each other…” Draco said, trying to keep a steady face as Hermione snickered.

“Oh yeah, they’re a regular Yin and Yang….”

Bellatrix and Severus had finally set their date for marriage. It happened to be that very same day. Both were agreed that they would surpass a fancy ceremony, and just have the marriage done at the Ministry itself. Neither wanted the fuss of a fancy party, although they all planned to come back to the Manor and have a private party with friends and family that threatened to tear the hinges off of what polite society thought of the family.

The guest list included the Weasleys, Harry Potter, the Tonks’, and (after a very intense yelling match between Lucius and Bellatrix in which Lucius found himself outmatched) Remus Lupin.

The Tonks’ and Malfoys had been invited to watch the ceremony as witnesses, and afterwards they would join everyone at Malfoy Manor for the party.

~~

The ceremony itself wasn’t too fancy since there wasn’t a crowd with which to be impressed with it. Most of it consisted of words and vows to each other. Both Bella and Severus both whole-heartedly agreed with them, and knew they would keep them, but this was really starting to bore them. The most exciting part of the service was when the final kiss was made, and a halo of magic surrounded the newlyweds.

Orion, who had been dressed in the best baby robes money could buy, was suddenly bored as well. And he let everyone know it, too, as he fussed and struggled against Narcissa, who had been holding him through the service. Narcissa quickly retrieved his plush phoenix from its resting place in his diaper bag. She made birdie sounds, and rubbed the soft head against Orion’s cheek, something that he was quite fond of. He waved his fists happily, and gave a toothless grin. Lucius glanced over at Narcissa, and shook his head.

“You sound like a mentally retarded crow…” he whispered good-naturedly.

“You look like a mentally retarded crow.” She retorted, and then continued with her entertainment of the infant.

A few more words from the Ministry official completed the ceremony, and they were all allowed to leave.

~~

Upon arriving home, they began setting up the refreshments for the party that would be held in less than an hour. The punch had an anti-spike charm placed on it, as Hermione pointed out that Fred and George would be there. Finger foods galore graced a separate table, and yet another table was set up discreetly in the back for any presents that might arrive for the couple.

Harry was the first to arrive. He was dressed in a warm red shirt, and black slacks. He came with a gift in his arms, which was taken by a house-elf, along with his cloak.

The room that had been set up for the party was huge. It appeared to be an old ballroom, complete with a dance floor, and elegant chandelier. It was truly a sight to behold.

Hermione was on Harry as soon as he crossed the threshold of the ballroom. She wrapped her arms around him, and kissed both his cheeks.

“It’s been too long, Harry! You need to start coming over more often!” she squealed. Harry laughed, and straightened his glasses, which had been knocked askew when the pregnant witch all but tackled him.

“Sorry, Mione. I’ve been really busy with Auror training. I didn’t have time to visit too many people…” he said, trying to run his hand through his hair to produce a semblance of control.

“I’ll forgive you this time.” She said, and took his hand to lead him to where Draco and his father were talking. “Harry’s here!” she said happily. Draco took a sip of his drink.

“Great! Now the party can really start!” he teased. Harry pulled a face at him, and then the two both burst into fits of laughter.

The Weasleys arrived in one large mass. Molly and Arthur headed the group, followed by Bill and Fluer, Charlie and his ‘male acquaintance’ Dragomir, Percy, Fred and George (arm in arm), Ron and a strange blonde whom no one knew, and then Ginny.

“There’s half the guest list right there.” Lucius murmured, only to receive an elbow in the side from Narcissa, who stepped forward to welcome the Weasleys. Bellatrix was beside her sister, although most of the Weasleys seemed very intent on trying to avoid the dark-haired witch.

Remus was the last one to arrive. The robes he wore were plain, but new, and Bellatrix was pleased to see that he looked well fed. She greeted him with a hug, causing quite a stir within the crowd.

“Are you sure it’s all right for me to be here?” he asked softly.

“My dear…if anyone tells you that you shouldn’t be here, just threaten to bite them! It always works for me!”
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I know...this chappie ended kind of lamely, but I'll make up for it in the next one.

As always, be kind to the bunnies and Read and Review!!!

REVIEW!!!