The Bad Life

It took a full year to plan the wedding, much to the consternation of some; but the couple wanted to be married in the summer and there just wasn't enough time left before autumn would arrive to properly execute one this year. It was to be the end all social event of the year; anyone who was anyone in wizarding Britain was invited, as well as dignitaries from mainland Europe as a tactical political move for The Minister, who had been chosen to give the bride away.

The morning bloomed early, it seemed to Hermione. Brides are supposed to get enough sleep on the eve of their vows, but Hermione could barely close her eyes for more than a half hour at a time, her brain was so overflowing with exuberance. Draco was staying the night at the Manor, as she insisted on the muggle custom of not seeing each other for the 24 hours previous to the ceremony. She had gotten used to not sleeping next to Draco every night, what with his 'business trips' and all, but she found that she missed him all the more because she knew that she would soon be bonded heart and soul to him until her dying day.

When she could hear the birds start to chirp she left the sanctuary of their bedroom to the adjoining deck outside. She sighed contentedly as the sky first lightened from the almost black of the night through a myriad of purples, pinks and oranges when the ball of glowing fire and gas made its appearance, starting off gigantic but becoming smaller and smaller as it made its way up the sky. She thought to herself how the sun always seemed to move faster through the sky when it was rising and setting, though she knew it was all just a matter of perspective.

When the sky was a light blue with wispy white clouds playing hide-and-seek with the sun she decided to go back inside to take a nice long, relaxing bath. Normally she showered in the morning, but this was her wedding day and she decided that a little pampering was in order. The bath was so soothing that she did actually fall asleep for a short while and awoke with a start glancing at the clock. She reluctantly left the warm water, wrapping a fluffy white towel around her body and another on her head in a turban.

Stepping over to her bureau she pulled out her laciest white knicker and bra set and put them on her now dry body. She rummaged through her cupboard to find the perfect outfit to wear before she put on her dress later, deciding on a red tank top and long black skirt. Minutes after she was dressed and her hair dried a knock sounded on her door.

She opened it to find her soon-to-be mother-in-law on her doorstep. She followed Hermione into the flat and waited for the young woman to grab the few things she wanted to bring with her; as most everything that would be needed was already at the Manor, where the wedding was going to take place. Once she was ready Hermione allowed Lady Malfoy to side-apparate her to a specific room within the Manor.

She looked around to see that the overly large room was bustling with people. Three hours later her nails had been done into a french manicure, she had received the best pedicure/foot massage ever in the history of the world, and her make-up and hair had been done. Her matron of honor, Alison Zabini (formerly one of Pansy's groupies who married Blaise three years previous) had shown up in that time and had also gone through the pre-wedding beautification ritual. Alex was her only bridesmaid, chosen not only for the greater plan of the Minister but also because Hermione had started to become attached to the precocious girl who was not only at the top of her class, but held a natural flare for the Dark Arts, according to Professor Zabini.

Finally it was time for Hermione to put on her dress, as she had hands down refused to wear dress robes. Also, no matter where she stood within wizarding society, this wedding was such a big deal because it was the first of its kind in six or seven years, and the first since the regime change, she thought she should keep some muggle traditions involved.

Once the dress was on she looked in the mirrored wall that her back had previously been facing for the first time in hours. She gasped in shock as she looked at her reflection. She was gorgeous, even to herself. If she had thought that she cleaned up nicely in fourth year at the Yule Ball, she had been mistaken. That night she had been a complete dog compared to today.

A glamour had been put over all of her scars to hide them from the pictures, no matter how proud she was of them. The only blemish left on her skin was the Mark, which had been moved from her breast to her left arm after the death of the saviour. Her dress greatly resembled the nightie she had worn all those years ago for Harry; it was rather hippie-esque. It was a white spaghetti strap babydoll made out of so many layers of gauze that there was no chance of seeing through the material in the sunlight in addition to making it fun to swirl around in. There were no adornments to it; no beading, no embroidery, no lace. Just the gauze falling so that it ended skimming the tops of her bare feet.

Her hair had been tamed into soft curls falling down her back, a ring of daisies pinned to the crown of her head. Her makeup was done in a way to make her skin look positively dewey, with her shiny pink full lips and pale shaded eyes. The jewelry she wore came directly from the Malfoy vault in Gringott's; a tear shaped diamond silver necklace with matching earrings.

Alison was also beautiful in her dress robes and done up hair and make-up, but as she was six months pregnant, she held no candle to the bride (except for her husband as well as those who go for that sort of thing).

It seemed forever before an attendant arrived to tell them that if they were ready, the wedding could start. Narcissa kissed Hermione on both cheeks before leaving the room with her sister, who had appeared an hour ago to watch the progress of making the mudblood beautiful. When they left, the bride and her matron of honor hugged each other in anticipation before waiting five or so minutes to give the older women time to get to their seats.

When Alison started the walk down the long aisle in the Malfoy gardens with her husband at her side it was to the serene sounds of a harp playing, the sound emanating from everywhere, yet nowhere. When the pair finally made their way up to the platform with Draco at the front of the dias Hermione and The Minister appeared, her right arm slipped through his left, her Mark a source of pride.

Bulbs flashed as pictures were taken the entire way up the long grassy walk, but Hermione didn't notice. Her eyes were locked with those of her love's, the irises dancing with their excitement, as neither could smile as broad as they would have chosen, him being a Malfoy and her marrying a Malfoy. It would be improper and unbecoming, Narcissa had warned her so at least ten times in just the past hour and a half.

When they reached the dias, The Minister helped her up the three small stairs. The wizard officiating the ceremony cast a sonorous over the entire platform before asking who was to give the bride away. The Minister responded, looking down at the young woman on his arm with a sort of fatherly affection; he would never doubt her loyalty to him as he was fully aware that she was practically the sole reason that he had remained alive and would do so for an extremely long time. He put her small hands into those of the groom and stepped down to his chair in the first row amongst another great many flashes.

They had chosen to go with standard vows rather than write their own. Hermione thought that they were a bit archaic, but Draco and his family had insisted and eventually she had caved. The only part they had left out was the words 'forsaking all others', just to be safe with the fine print.

"Do you, Draco Lucius Malfoy take Hermione Jane Granger to be your wife; to cherish her, honor her, love her, and shield her from harm until the day you die?"

"I so swear to do."

"Do you, Hermione Jane Granger take Draco Lucius Malfoy to be your husband; to cherish him, to honor him, love him, and obey him until the day you die?"

"I so swear to do."

The air around the couple fizzled and crackled white for a few seconds as the vows and bond took hold before returning to the normal air state.

"You may now kiss the bride."

They both leaned forward, catching in a sweet, slow kiss that burned from the outside in, despite that neither's mouth ever opened as the bond took hold. When they pulled away they stood gazing into each other's eyes, their bodies suffoused with their love.