The Owl and the Pussycat
folder
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Draco/Hermione
Rating:
Adult
Chapters:
10
Views:
9,698
Reviews:
36
Recommended:
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Currently Reading:
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Category:
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Draco/Hermione
Rating:
Adult
Chapters:
10
Views:
9,698
Reviews:
36
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Vows
I have COMPLETELY MADE UP the wedding vows, requirements ect. Should it bear any resemblance to any other form of wedding, it is utterly coincidental. I do not wish to offend any person who thinks I may be making fun of or insulting their faith or style of wedding. As I’ve said previously, its all a fabrication of my rather odd mind. I know JKR wrote a wedding scene for Bill and Fleur – but I’m giving the wizarding world a more … what’s the right word?... religious? … religious outlook, and this would be the more formal and religion-based wedding.
Right… Got your hat? Got your confetti? Got your order of service? Tissues? Invitation? (check, check, check, check aaaaaand check).
13:57
Draco Malfoy entered the ballroom of Malfoy manor; as required by the sisterhood of the Lake Lady, it had been transformed completely from it’s normal appearance: for starters, the room was now a perfect circle, rather than rectangular; Different shades of blue fabric were fixed to the centre point of the ceiling and flowed down to the floor in the manor of a circus tent. A spell caused the wide ribbons to flutter and sway, impersonating the rippling of water.
Guests stood calmly around the edge of the circle, not touching the fabric designating it’s circumference. An inner circle of blue and purple flowers designated the area that the ceremony was to take place – they weren’t essential, but marked where the guests were, and were not permitted to stand. The High Priestess was already stood in the centre of the inner ring, gently clutching the carved case and smiling calmly at Draco and the guests. Draco was the only one whom didn’t have his head bowed, she had told him to be proud and hold his head high. He and his Father waited at the boundary of flowers for the final steps before the wedding could begin.
13:58
“Pwitty Wady” said Teddy Lupin from his Grandmother’s side, he’d been bribed into a similar outfit to James and Andromeda had resorted to putting a sticking charm on the bow tie to keep it on him. His hair suddenly transformed to the exact shade of blue as the suit, and then to the colour of the High Priestess’s dress.
“That is my favourite colour, what is your name?” The Priestess said, moving to kneel before the little boy and gently smoothing his hair down.
“Tweddy. Tweddy Looopin” said the little boy, suddenly going shy as he tried to stand behind his Grandmother, the words not coming out clear due to the thumb planted in his mouth – it was afternoon nap time and he was getting sleepy, his inability to control his random and often body changes; and the fact he was a very active little boy wore him out.
“And I think you have a special task for today – can you tell me what it is?”
“I hewlp wi da wings n howld dem safe for Herminonee an’ Drakie; den wen woo say so, I go give dem to woo.” He said, finding his confidence again.
“This is a very special job to do today, the rings are very important – have you been looking after them and keeping them safe?” said the High Priestess gently, the ring carrier needed to swear they hadn’t tampered with them; the chances of a four-year-old causing problems with bonding charms was extremely unlikely, but the oath had to be sworn to anyway.
“Wes! Dey in da spekal bag in my pocket.”
“Do you promise that you haven’t touched them?” said the priestess gently, tugging him toward her and sitting him in her lap; carefully she tugged his thumb free from his mouth so he could speak clearly to the gathering.
“Yes. I can’t open the bag because Grandma would be cross with me and not let me play out.” He replied, much to the amusement of the gathering. “I promise they OK.”
“Do you promise that they are nice and safe in your pocket, and that nobody else has touched them today?” she said, the spells placed on the bands had been activated at dawn.
“Yep, my pocket has a zippy on it so they don’t fall out!” he looked a little puzzled before he spoke again, “Grandma put the bag in my pocket – can she touch the special bag? She didn’t open it!”
“Yes it is alright to touch the bag – can you promise nobody touched the shiny rings in the bag for me?” prompted the priestess, the ring carrier’s oath was the last one to be sworn, the wedding couldn’t progress until it was said.
“Yes, I promise”.
“And, Teddy Lupin, do you promise that your other promises are true and not naughty.”
“Yes! Grandma makes you sit on the naughty step if you’re naughty! Always tell truth because then its not naughty!” he said, looking at his Grandmother and not understanding why all the grownups were laughing – it wasn’t funny to sit on the naughty step!
“And you don’t want to sit on the naughty step, do you?” smiled the Priestess.
“No – it makes you have a cold bum! I didn’t tell naughties and I promised a promise – and you have to keep promises because… because you have to.”
“Thank-you, Teddy Lupin, will you hold my hand and come and stand with me, please?” the Priestess asked, ready to start the wedding.
“Can Norbert come with me too?” asked the little boy, the toy baby dragon Hagrid had given him was his favourite and he never went anywhere without it. His Grandmother was glad of the scourgify charm, she daren’t take it off him to wash it the muggle way.
“Yes, he can come with you.”
The little boy took the ‘pretty lady’s’ hand and tucked the dragon under his free arm, he jumped over the flower circle into the inner ring and waved at his Grandma, his thumb going back into his mouth.
14:00
A small bell rang once, indicating the arrival of the bride to the circles – the ballroom’s door opened to reveal Hermione entering on the arm of Harry, he looked incredibly dashing in the fine black trousers, waistcoat and cravat; his proud smile indicated his honour at escorting one of his best friends to the inner circle – in just the same way he’d escorted a very nervous Ron to his.
Hermione glowed in the stunning muggle wedding dress, she had refused to wear witches’ wedding robes, and had opted for the fitted dress covered in beautiful silver embroidery, Ginny and Luna walking behind to carefully manage the cathedral-length train. Hermione didn’t actually need two bridesmaids, but Luna had proved to be such a wonderful friend that she couldn’t imagine her not being present as a maid. Marcus stood behind Draco, for the first time in the day he was completely still.
Draco couldn’t take his eyes from the vision that slowly walked toward him.
“Draco. Draco!” Lucius hissed at him.
“Wha?” he replied, snapping out of a haze.
“Breathe normally – you’ll end up on the floor if you don’t breathe properly.” Lucius smiled, his Father had practically told him the same thing as he’d watched Narcissa walk into the outer circle on their wedding day.
Ronald Weasley and Narcissa Malfoy stood within the inner circle, in front of both Hermione and Draco, blocking their path, Narcissa in a simple-yet-stylish dark blue silk halter neck dress that nipped her slim waist and accented her slight curves; Ron wore a similar waistcoat to Harry, but in the same colour as Narcissa’s dress. They stood as guards to the ceremony, as the people who knew the bride or groom’s heart, mind and desires. They were the only two who could stop the wedding – either as guards themselves or if a member of the congregation objected to the union.
“I, Ronald Weasley, do bar the way of the bride and her witnesses…” he said, his eyes rolling slightly as he recalled the words he had memorised. “… I demand she state her reasons for marriage before she steps into the inner circle. I do not object to the union and wish her well for her future”
“I state my reasons to the gathering, and High Priestess as simply thus: I love him with all my being, and never wish to be parted from him.”
“Does anybody dispute the declaration said by the bride, I, as her named guard do vouch for her heart and that her words are true.” Ron recited, doubting that anyone would dare go against this – he’d never seen his friend so happy or more beautiful.
Silence.
“I, Narcissa Black, do bar the way of the groom and his witnesses. I demand he state his reasons for marriage before he steps into the inner circle. I do not object to the union and wish him well for his future”
“I state my reasons to the gathering as thus: Hermione was the first person to give me hope, love, reassurance and ask nothing in return; I love her with all that I am, and aspire to be; I cannot dare to imagine a future without her as my equal and anchor; and I would not stand here today if it were not for her strength giving me strength.” Draco said, his eyes smiling as he looked at Hermione.
His words, however, were more damaging to his parents than they would ever tell him – his line ‘and ask nothing in return’ highlighted their shortfalls as parents’; his saying that he ‘would not stand here today’ reminded them that he had been suicidal after the war.” Both Lucius and Narcissa kept their heads bowed, glad of it as they didn’t want the congregation or son to see the realisation and horror on their faces.
“Does anybody dispute the declaration said by the groom, I, as his named guard do vouch for his heart and that his words are true.” ‘Too true’, she mentally added.
Silence. At this, Ron and Narcissa stepped away after briefly squeezing the hand of the person they guarded.
“You may enter the circle, your spokes-person and guardian with you.” Said the High Priestess, silently saying a small prayer that the senior Malfoys would heal and forgive their sins against each other. “Teddy, can I have the special bag from your pocket, please?”
The little boy removed his thumb from his mouth and sleepily undid the zip on his trousers and pulled out the white silk bag that contained the rings.
“Thank-you, do you want to go and stand with your Grandmother again? You look a little bit sleepy.” She said, dropping to his height and stroking his now brilliant white hair as he yawned. He nodded, Narcissa stepped forward to pick up her great-nephew (and dragon) and take him to her sister. They had managed to forgive each other once Hermione told them to move on and not forget they were sisters because of blood. Teddy was asleep in minutes as Auntie Cissa gently rocked from side to side with him in her arms, James was being held by Arthur, who performed a similar rocking motion to Narcissa, but less gracefully.
“Draco and Hermione, I have blessed and charmed your wedding rings in the same manor as the Lake Lady did when she performed the first bonding and united witch and wizard. This binding is not to be taken lightly and is only broken by death. You both have sworn the oaths stating your ability to wed, now I ask your spokes-persons and guardians to witness this union and guide you in your futures.” She opened the wooden case to reveal Excalibur – a sword with the power to bind the spirits of two people, a relic from an age before writing could give a date, an age before time-turners could go back to.
To Draco and Hermione, there was no one else in the room, save themselves, the High Priestess, Lucius, Harry, Marcus and Ginny. At that precise moment nobody else mattered, and the past was long forgotten as the gate to their future opened wide.
“I hold with pride the blade presented by the Lake Lady, and on it I balance the rings that signify your bond for life.” The High Priestess’s had was steady as she balanced Hermione’s rose gold band and Draco’s Platinum one on the edge of the blade. “The blade represents the balance that your lives now take as you join together, you must learn to keep the equilibrium steady through honesty, trust and compromise… I ask that your guardians repeat after me:
“I do bear witness to this moment…”
“I do bear witness to this moment” Harry and Lucius replied firmly.
“…and shall do all in my power…”
“…and shall do all in my power…”
“… to guide this union and maintain its balance...”
“… to guide this union and maintain its balance.
“… May my actions be seen and acted upon.”
“May my actions be seen and acted upon.”
Harry and Lucius stood proud as they spoke their vows to protect the marriage between Hermione and Draco from imbalance – they were bound to step in and act should they see anything going wrong. Lucius had been devastated when his ‘guardian’ had broken his nose when relations between him and Narcissa were damaged by the demands of he who shall not be named. Severus had a very firm left hook.
“I now ask the spokes-persons to repeat after me:
“I shall speak clearly my opinions…”
“I shall speak clearly my opinions.”
“… In effort to steady the balance of the union before me…”
“In effort to steady the balance of the union before me.”
“… And may my words be heard and acted upon.”
“And may my words be heard and acted upon.”
Ginny and Marcus said their vow, promising to speak up should anything strike them as amiss with their friends’ marriage. They both hoped that it never came to that, and highly doubted it would.
The High-Priestess smiled as she looked upon the two people before her dressed in white, their spirits were already so closely woven together that they hardly needed the great power of Excalibur to bind them. This union was strong and would gain strength as time passed, it truly was an honour to perform a ceremony with a bride and groom such as this.
“Do you both swear to maintain the balance of the equality of your spirits?”
“We swear.” Hermione and Draco replied, their voices soft and only for each other’s ears.
“Do you both swear to protect the other from harm, and in doing so protect yourself so grief does not befall your partner?”
“We swear.” The couple repeated, the words once again stabbing through Lucius – he had failed countless times with the second bonding oath! Offering a silent prayer, he vowed he would never consciously put Narcissa in such pain or remorse again.
“Do you swear to respond to the actions of your guardians and to heed the words of your spokes-persons?”
“We swear.”
With the last oath sworn, the High Priestess took Draco and Hermione’s left hands and pressed them over the blade above the other’s ring, then gently pressed them down so the edge bit into flesh and blood of the other marked the ring.
“You will take the ring of your partner, that now holds a small share of your essence within it, and place it onto their hand as a mark of completion of your oaths.”
Carefully Hermione and Draco exchanged rings, both dripping blood onto their white outfits. As the rings settled themselves, the spell took hold and made their interwoven spirits into a permanent blanket of hope, love, security and trust around them both.
“I implore that you step from the circle as Husband and Wife: May I present Draco and Hermione Malfoy!”
Suddenly the couple realised they were not alone – infact they were stood within a room of approximately a hundred people; but that did not matter to them. They were together, forever and always : always and forever.
The kiss Hermione and Draco shared was healing, firstly for the still open wounds on their hands; secondly for their tattered spirits that had both been damaged by war.
The cheer that went up around them was deafening, yet unheard by either Draco or Hermione.
Right… Got your hat? Got your confetti? Got your order of service? Tissues? Invitation? (check, check, check, check aaaaaand check).
13:57
Draco Malfoy entered the ballroom of Malfoy manor; as required by the sisterhood of the Lake Lady, it had been transformed completely from it’s normal appearance: for starters, the room was now a perfect circle, rather than rectangular; Different shades of blue fabric were fixed to the centre point of the ceiling and flowed down to the floor in the manor of a circus tent. A spell caused the wide ribbons to flutter and sway, impersonating the rippling of water.
Guests stood calmly around the edge of the circle, not touching the fabric designating it’s circumference. An inner circle of blue and purple flowers designated the area that the ceremony was to take place – they weren’t essential, but marked where the guests were, and were not permitted to stand. The High Priestess was already stood in the centre of the inner ring, gently clutching the carved case and smiling calmly at Draco and the guests. Draco was the only one whom didn’t have his head bowed, she had told him to be proud and hold his head high. He and his Father waited at the boundary of flowers for the final steps before the wedding could begin.
13:58
“Pwitty Wady” said Teddy Lupin from his Grandmother’s side, he’d been bribed into a similar outfit to James and Andromeda had resorted to putting a sticking charm on the bow tie to keep it on him. His hair suddenly transformed to the exact shade of blue as the suit, and then to the colour of the High Priestess’s dress.
“That is my favourite colour, what is your name?” The Priestess said, moving to kneel before the little boy and gently smoothing his hair down.
“Tweddy. Tweddy Looopin” said the little boy, suddenly going shy as he tried to stand behind his Grandmother, the words not coming out clear due to the thumb planted in his mouth – it was afternoon nap time and he was getting sleepy, his inability to control his random and often body changes; and the fact he was a very active little boy wore him out.
“And I think you have a special task for today – can you tell me what it is?”
“I hewlp wi da wings n howld dem safe for Herminonee an’ Drakie; den wen woo say so, I go give dem to woo.” He said, finding his confidence again.
“This is a very special job to do today, the rings are very important – have you been looking after them and keeping them safe?” said the High Priestess gently, the ring carrier needed to swear they hadn’t tampered with them; the chances of a four-year-old causing problems with bonding charms was extremely unlikely, but the oath had to be sworn to anyway.
“Wes! Dey in da spekal bag in my pocket.”
“Do you promise that you haven’t touched them?” said the priestess gently, tugging him toward her and sitting him in her lap; carefully she tugged his thumb free from his mouth so he could speak clearly to the gathering.
“Yes. I can’t open the bag because Grandma would be cross with me and not let me play out.” He replied, much to the amusement of the gathering. “I promise they OK.”
“Do you promise that they are nice and safe in your pocket, and that nobody else has touched them today?” she said, the spells placed on the bands had been activated at dawn.
“Yep, my pocket has a zippy on it so they don’t fall out!” he looked a little puzzled before he spoke again, “Grandma put the bag in my pocket – can she touch the special bag? She didn’t open it!”
“Yes it is alright to touch the bag – can you promise nobody touched the shiny rings in the bag for me?” prompted the priestess, the ring carrier’s oath was the last one to be sworn, the wedding couldn’t progress until it was said.
“Yes, I promise”.
“And, Teddy Lupin, do you promise that your other promises are true and not naughty.”
“Yes! Grandma makes you sit on the naughty step if you’re naughty! Always tell truth because then its not naughty!” he said, looking at his Grandmother and not understanding why all the grownups were laughing – it wasn’t funny to sit on the naughty step!
“And you don’t want to sit on the naughty step, do you?” smiled the Priestess.
“No – it makes you have a cold bum! I didn’t tell naughties and I promised a promise – and you have to keep promises because… because you have to.”
“Thank-you, Teddy Lupin, will you hold my hand and come and stand with me, please?” the Priestess asked, ready to start the wedding.
“Can Norbert come with me too?” asked the little boy, the toy baby dragon Hagrid had given him was his favourite and he never went anywhere without it. His Grandmother was glad of the scourgify charm, she daren’t take it off him to wash it the muggle way.
“Yes, he can come with you.”
The little boy took the ‘pretty lady’s’ hand and tucked the dragon under his free arm, he jumped over the flower circle into the inner ring and waved at his Grandma, his thumb going back into his mouth.
14:00
A small bell rang once, indicating the arrival of the bride to the circles – the ballroom’s door opened to reveal Hermione entering on the arm of Harry, he looked incredibly dashing in the fine black trousers, waistcoat and cravat; his proud smile indicated his honour at escorting one of his best friends to the inner circle – in just the same way he’d escorted a very nervous Ron to his.
Hermione glowed in the stunning muggle wedding dress, she had refused to wear witches’ wedding robes, and had opted for the fitted dress covered in beautiful silver embroidery, Ginny and Luna walking behind to carefully manage the cathedral-length train. Hermione didn’t actually need two bridesmaids, but Luna had proved to be such a wonderful friend that she couldn’t imagine her not being present as a maid. Marcus stood behind Draco, for the first time in the day he was completely still.
Draco couldn’t take his eyes from the vision that slowly walked toward him.
“Draco. Draco!” Lucius hissed at him.
“Wha?” he replied, snapping out of a haze.
“Breathe normally – you’ll end up on the floor if you don’t breathe properly.” Lucius smiled, his Father had practically told him the same thing as he’d watched Narcissa walk into the outer circle on their wedding day.
Ronald Weasley and Narcissa Malfoy stood within the inner circle, in front of both Hermione and Draco, blocking their path, Narcissa in a simple-yet-stylish dark blue silk halter neck dress that nipped her slim waist and accented her slight curves; Ron wore a similar waistcoat to Harry, but in the same colour as Narcissa’s dress. They stood as guards to the ceremony, as the people who knew the bride or groom’s heart, mind and desires. They were the only two who could stop the wedding – either as guards themselves or if a member of the congregation objected to the union.
“I, Ronald Weasley, do bar the way of the bride and her witnesses…” he said, his eyes rolling slightly as he recalled the words he had memorised. “… I demand she state her reasons for marriage before she steps into the inner circle. I do not object to the union and wish her well for her future”
“I state my reasons to the gathering, and High Priestess as simply thus: I love him with all my being, and never wish to be parted from him.”
“Does anybody dispute the declaration said by the bride, I, as her named guard do vouch for her heart and that her words are true.” Ron recited, doubting that anyone would dare go against this – he’d never seen his friend so happy or more beautiful.
Silence.
“I, Narcissa Black, do bar the way of the groom and his witnesses. I demand he state his reasons for marriage before he steps into the inner circle. I do not object to the union and wish him well for his future”
“I state my reasons to the gathering as thus: Hermione was the first person to give me hope, love, reassurance and ask nothing in return; I love her with all that I am, and aspire to be; I cannot dare to imagine a future without her as my equal and anchor; and I would not stand here today if it were not for her strength giving me strength.” Draco said, his eyes smiling as he looked at Hermione.
His words, however, were more damaging to his parents than they would ever tell him – his line ‘and ask nothing in return’ highlighted their shortfalls as parents’; his saying that he ‘would not stand here today’ reminded them that he had been suicidal after the war.” Both Lucius and Narcissa kept their heads bowed, glad of it as they didn’t want the congregation or son to see the realisation and horror on their faces.
“Does anybody dispute the declaration said by the groom, I, as his named guard do vouch for his heart and that his words are true.” ‘Too true’, she mentally added.
Silence. At this, Ron and Narcissa stepped away after briefly squeezing the hand of the person they guarded.
“You may enter the circle, your spokes-person and guardian with you.” Said the High Priestess, silently saying a small prayer that the senior Malfoys would heal and forgive their sins against each other. “Teddy, can I have the special bag from your pocket, please?”
The little boy removed his thumb from his mouth and sleepily undid the zip on his trousers and pulled out the white silk bag that contained the rings.
“Thank-you, do you want to go and stand with your Grandmother again? You look a little bit sleepy.” She said, dropping to his height and stroking his now brilliant white hair as he yawned. He nodded, Narcissa stepped forward to pick up her great-nephew (and dragon) and take him to her sister. They had managed to forgive each other once Hermione told them to move on and not forget they were sisters because of blood. Teddy was asleep in minutes as Auntie Cissa gently rocked from side to side with him in her arms, James was being held by Arthur, who performed a similar rocking motion to Narcissa, but less gracefully.
“Draco and Hermione, I have blessed and charmed your wedding rings in the same manor as the Lake Lady did when she performed the first bonding and united witch and wizard. This binding is not to be taken lightly and is only broken by death. You both have sworn the oaths stating your ability to wed, now I ask your spokes-persons and guardians to witness this union and guide you in your futures.” She opened the wooden case to reveal Excalibur – a sword with the power to bind the spirits of two people, a relic from an age before writing could give a date, an age before time-turners could go back to.
To Draco and Hermione, there was no one else in the room, save themselves, the High Priestess, Lucius, Harry, Marcus and Ginny. At that precise moment nobody else mattered, and the past was long forgotten as the gate to their future opened wide.
“I hold with pride the blade presented by the Lake Lady, and on it I balance the rings that signify your bond for life.” The High Priestess’s had was steady as she balanced Hermione’s rose gold band and Draco’s Platinum one on the edge of the blade. “The blade represents the balance that your lives now take as you join together, you must learn to keep the equilibrium steady through honesty, trust and compromise… I ask that your guardians repeat after me:
“I do bear witness to this moment…”
“I do bear witness to this moment” Harry and Lucius replied firmly.
“…and shall do all in my power…”
“…and shall do all in my power…”
“… to guide this union and maintain its balance...”
“… to guide this union and maintain its balance.
“… May my actions be seen and acted upon.”
“May my actions be seen and acted upon.”
Harry and Lucius stood proud as they spoke their vows to protect the marriage between Hermione and Draco from imbalance – they were bound to step in and act should they see anything going wrong. Lucius had been devastated when his ‘guardian’ had broken his nose when relations between him and Narcissa were damaged by the demands of he who shall not be named. Severus had a very firm left hook.
“I now ask the spokes-persons to repeat after me:
“I shall speak clearly my opinions…”
“I shall speak clearly my opinions.”
“… In effort to steady the balance of the union before me…”
“In effort to steady the balance of the union before me.”
“… And may my words be heard and acted upon.”
“And may my words be heard and acted upon.”
Ginny and Marcus said their vow, promising to speak up should anything strike them as amiss with their friends’ marriage. They both hoped that it never came to that, and highly doubted it would.
The High-Priestess smiled as she looked upon the two people before her dressed in white, their spirits were already so closely woven together that they hardly needed the great power of Excalibur to bind them. This union was strong and would gain strength as time passed, it truly was an honour to perform a ceremony with a bride and groom such as this.
“Do you both swear to maintain the balance of the equality of your spirits?”
“We swear.” Hermione and Draco replied, their voices soft and only for each other’s ears.
“Do you both swear to protect the other from harm, and in doing so protect yourself so grief does not befall your partner?”
“We swear.” The couple repeated, the words once again stabbing through Lucius – he had failed countless times with the second bonding oath! Offering a silent prayer, he vowed he would never consciously put Narcissa in such pain or remorse again.
“Do you swear to respond to the actions of your guardians and to heed the words of your spokes-persons?”
“We swear.”
With the last oath sworn, the High Priestess took Draco and Hermione’s left hands and pressed them over the blade above the other’s ring, then gently pressed them down so the edge bit into flesh and blood of the other marked the ring.
“You will take the ring of your partner, that now holds a small share of your essence within it, and place it onto their hand as a mark of completion of your oaths.”
Carefully Hermione and Draco exchanged rings, both dripping blood onto their white outfits. As the rings settled themselves, the spell took hold and made their interwoven spirits into a permanent blanket of hope, love, security and trust around them both.
“I implore that you step from the circle as Husband and Wife: May I present Draco and Hermione Malfoy!”
Suddenly the couple realised they were not alone – infact they were stood within a room of approximately a hundred people; but that did not matter to them. They were together, forever and always : always and forever.
The kiss Hermione and Draco shared was healing, firstly for the still open wounds on their hands; secondly for their tattered spirits that had both been damaged by war.
The cheer that went up around them was deafening, yet unheard by either Draco or Hermione.