Love Thy Enemy

CHAPTER 45: Goodbye past, Hello future









Lucius and Hermione enjoyed a rather calm morning, at least as far as the Malfoys were concerned. He took her to the Garden Café for breakfast where he threatened the waiter with any number of curses if he dared allow coffee, bacon or sausages anywhere near their table. He then sat and watched his rather adorable wife happily devour an enormous plate of hotcakes as well as the blueberries from his crepes.







Had she not been carrying his child he would have probably been offended that she was stealing from his plate, but as it was he would gladly starve if it meant fattening her up more. When breakfast was over Lucius took her to the clothier to be fitted for maternity clothes. He took that opportunity to pop in at home to make certain all was on schedule and to stop in at the jeweler to pick up the ring he had bought for her.







He was trying to keep her as happy as possible, though he could tell that she was tense and agitated as their court appointment approached. They spent over two hours in the baby boutique ordering a new ebony baby bed and gender neutral bedding and décor for the little one’s room. Hermione had framed the drawings that Lucius had done in his youth and chose a soft, cream and beige patterned print to compliment them.







The moment of truth arrived eventually and Lucius led his reluctant bride by the hand through the halls of the Ministry.







“Dawdling isn’t going to make it any easier, love. We have no choice; we have to face the court.” Lucius said, tugging gently to get her to catch up.







“This is stupid, I don’t like being made a spectacle of and I really don’t want to go.” She was pouting and being ridiculously petulant but she couldn’t help it. They had reached a wonderful point in their marriage. They had talked through their initial problem and each had come to terms with their feelings for the other. They were happily anticipating the impending birth of their first child and she just didn’t feel like sharing their happiness with the ministry.





“I know you don’t, I’m not crazy about it myself, but this is the last time and hopefully we will never step foot in this courtroom again.” Lucius and Hermione stopped outside the courtroom to sign in and be relieved of their wands and personal effects. While no one was surprised to see them, they did seem a little confused to see them together after their last visit when Hermione asked for an annulment.







The large Samoan bailiff led them into the center of the courtroom, his brows lifting a bit in surprise when he noted the softly rounded tummy of Hermione. She stared up at the dais and immediately laced her fingers with Lucius’s.





“Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy, welcome back.” Kingsley said smiling. “Let’s not waste the courts time shall we? Six months ago you were given the choice to continue or dissolve your union. At that time you were in disagreement about the future of your relationship and were granted a continuance in which to discuss your situation.” Kingsley stared pointedly at Hermione’s belly before asking her. “Mrs. Malfoy, I will ask you again, is it your wish to remain the wife of Lucius Malfoy?”







Hermione took a deep breath and clutched Lucius’s hand tighter, pressing into his side.







“Yes Minister Shacklebolt, it is my intention to remain, now and always, Lucius’s wife.” Kingsley looked very pleased with her answer and nodded his head before turning his attention to Lucius.







“Mr. Malfoy, is it your wish to remain the husband of Hermione Malfoy?” Kingsley asked.









Lucius tightened his hold on her hand and raised his chin to address the court.





“Minister Shacklebolt, I request that the marriage forced between Hermione and I be dissolved.” Hermione gasped and staggered backwards slightly. Lucius held her firmly and proceeded on. “It is my intention to remain her husband, but I would have her marry me by choice because she loves me as much as I do her and not because the court has demanded it to be so as a punishment for misbehavior.”









Lucius turned to look down into her eyes. He wiped the tears away with his thumbs and smiled softly as he gracefully fell to one knee.







“Hermione Malfoy, will you do the honor of marrying me again, this time because you love me as much as I love you?”







She didn’t know what to say for a moment. Lucius had just admitted in front of the entire court that he was in love with her. He didn’t say such things in private often, much less in public. At first she had immediately felt weak and dizzy thinking he was going to set her aside, but then she realized the importance of his actions. Lucius didn’t want to be her husband because he was forced to be; he wanted to be hers because he loved her and needed to know she felt the same.







“Lucius, I love you, I would marry you a million times over by choice. But honey, I want to be married when our baby comes, it’s important to me.” She looked down pleadingly. She hated to seem so old fashioned, especially since she prided herself on being a strong, independent woman, but she really did not want to have their baby outside the bonds of marriage.







“I wouldn’t allow our child to be born outside of wedlock, love. Are you going to marry me?”







“Of course I am, though technically we already are.” Lucius got to his feet and nodded towards Kingsley.







“As Minister of Magic I hereby declare the court ordered nuptials of Lucius and Hermione Malfoy on April the eleventh dissolved. I also issue a license for their remarriage on this, the eleventh day of December.” Kingsley banged the gavel and smiled at the Malfoys. “Shall we adjourn to your home?”





“What is going on Lucius?” Hermione asked as the bailiff entered with their things.







“It’s a surprise, love.” Lucius stepped back and withdrew his wand from the end of his walking stick. Within seconds, the plain black pants and white shirt she had been wearing was transfigured into a gorgeous, silvery gown, empire waisted with capped sleeves and a red velvet sash beneath her breasts.







“What?” Hermione looked down in amazement, then back up to Lucius who was standing beside her in black dress robes, one silver brow arched high.







“We wouldn’t want to keep our wedding guests waiting, love, it would be rude.” Lucius slipped his arms around her waist.







“Our wedding guests?” She asked rather stupidly. She was completely befuddled as he swept her away and they apparated at the top of their foyer stairs. Hermione looked down into the expansive main hall of their home and gasped.





There were about fifty people sitting in red velvet Queen Anne chairs. The large round table had been removed and a red velvet runner ran down the stairs and through the middle of the hall. Several small, lighted trees lined the perimeter of the room. Everywhere you looked you could see holly, red and white poinsettias and evergreen garland and candlelight flickered softly.







“What is this Lucius?” She asked in amazement as all the people stood and looked up the stairs at them.







“Our wedding.” He said softly.







“You planned a wedding? A real wedding? For me?” Her eyes began to fill when she realized what he had done. Harry and Ron stood to the right of the altar and Ginny was to the left. Draco smiled up at them from his portrait and Kingsley stood at the altar and waited for them to come down so he could wed them properly. He had gone to so much trouble, so much planning had gone into this ceremony and she was floored by his thoughtfulness.







“For us. For a new beginning, a better beginning.” Lucius took her hand and tucked it into his elbow.







“I don’t know what to say.” Hermione whispered.







“Just remember to say I do.” He winked at her as he led her slowly down the stairs. The familiar faces of the Weasley family, Neville Longbottom, and even Minerva McGonagall smiled at them along with a few of Lucius business associates, as they made their way across the foyer to the altar.







“So, welcome one and all to the CONSENSUAL marriage of Lucius and Hermione.” Kingsley began the service. “In the beginning these two people were brought together without a choice, without their consent. However, it seemed that it was fated to be as they found themselves wed to their other half. They come before you now of their own free will. It is their choice to wed with their friends and family present, and it is my honor to unite them with their consent. Hermione Jane Granger, do you take Lucius Abraxas Malfoy as your husband? Do you promise to love him, honor him and keep yourself only unto him for all the rest of your days?”







“I do.” Hermione said softly.







“Lucius Abraxas Malfoy, do you take Hermione Jane Granger as your wife? Do you promise to love her, honor her and keep yourself only unto her for all the rest of your days?”





“I do.” Lucius smiled.







“It is my understanding that you have new rings?” Ginny and Harry each handed rings to Kingsley. He handed the thick, carved band to Hermione. “Place the ring on his finger and repeat after me. With the blessings of the gods and goddesses, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and fidelity.” Hermione repeated the vows and slid the ring onto his finger. Lucius repeated the practice and replaced her ugly platinum band with a delicate circlet of white diamonds and platinum. “With the authority granted to me by the Ministry of Magic and the blessings of the Gods and Goddesses of old, I pronounce you husband and wife. Lucius Malfoy, kiss your bride.”







“With pleasure.” Lucius said quietly as he lowered his lips to hers. The small crowd erupted into cheers as Lucius thoroughly kissed his bride. “I love you.” He whispered against her lips.







“I love you too. Thank you, for this.” She buried her face into the side of his neck as he embraced her.







“I was a bit worried that you would be angry.”







“No, stunned yes, angry no. I can’t believe you went to all this trouble.” She sniffed, reaching into the pocket inside his robes for the handkerchief she knew she would find.





Lucius cupped her cheeks in his hands and smiled down at her.

“Let us get something straight. I would do anything for you, love, and it will never be any trouble as long as you are happy.”





“I am so happy at this moment I feel like I could burst with it.” She laughed.







“Well, there is more to come. Shall we invite our guests to the dining room for dinner and maybe even a little dancing?” He kissed her again before inviting their guests to join them in the dining room where an elaborate dinner was laid out for them and a small, string quartet played in the corner. The room had been decorated much like the foyer with evergreens and poinsettias and romantic candlelight. He had gotten it perfect. She couldn’t have planned a wedding more suited to her. Small, intimate and elegant, it was the perfect beginning to their new life together.







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My goodness, thank you all so much for the get well wishes. I am feeling better with each day and thank goodness my mom lives just around the corner to help me with my little ones. It kicked my butt, thats for certain! But I look forward to finishing this story and moving on to the next tale as soon as I feel better. Dont fret...still a little more to go on this one.......