Witch? Wizard?

Witch? Wizard?
Epilogue II

Blaise knew that Hermione would be upset with him. She had explicitly, and repeatedly, informed him that \'The bride cannot see the groom before the ceremony on the wedding day.\' Undoubtedly,
his witch would have choice words, if they were lucky; hexes, if they
were not for their intrusion. But this was important.


\"You know that you\'re not supposed to be here,\" Ginny Weasley hissed as she slipped out of the door, attempting to shut it behind her.


\"Now
is that anyway to greet the groom?\" Blaise grinned as he grasped her
upper arm and pulled her in close so that he could kiss her forehead.
\"As riveting as your conversation is Ginny, I\'m afraid that I have
something to discuss with my bride and it cannot wait.\"


Ginny looked on as Blaise strode through the door, Draco stopping her as she tried to follow.

\"Now,
now, now, I do believe it is tradition that the attendants get to know
each other Miss Weasley, perhaps we should give Blaise and Hermione
some privacy,\" Draco drawled before guiding her away from the door by
her arm.


\"What is it Blaise?\" Hermione asked nervously as
the wizards indigo eyes stared at her with an intensity that she had
not seen before. \"Are you all right?\"


Blaise strode across
the room quickly to her before taking her in his arms, tucking her head
beneath her chin. \"With you at my side, how could I not.\"


\"You\'re worrying me, Blaise. What is it?\"


Blaise
sighed deeply before looking into his bride\'s eyes. \"I need you to know
that you complete me, Hermione. When I think the depths of hell that
you have brought me from, I cannot imagine how you can stand the sight
of me.\"


Hermione melted as she put her hands over his and
pulled them to her lips. \"Because your only fault, if it can be called
that, has been to love; how could I hold loving someone against you? If
I hadn\'t seen the depths of your passion, I don\'t think that I would
have ever taken the time to see you.\"


Blaise lowered
his lips to her hair as he held her tightly against his chest. \"No
Hermione. That was not love, it was insanity. I don\'t think Draco or I
knew how to love until you saved our friendship. Until then, we were
simply using one another, both seeking completion in our own ways. I
did not know what love was until I met you Hermione, I want you to know
that.\"


Hermione smiled at Blaise, his words conveying his
love and devotion more so than any vows that she could hope he\'d
composed and kissed him, her voice but a whisper as she replied, \"I
do.\"