A/N: I do not own any characters referenced by JK Rowling in the Harry Potter series and do not endorse her comments. This story is entirely my imagination. I do not profit from it and will not pay for any art commissions related to this story.
Together can never be close enough for me
Feel like I am close enough to you
You wear white and I'll wear out the words I love you
And you're beautiful
Now that the wait is over
And love and has finally shown her my way
Marry me
Today and every day
Marry me
~ Marry Me by Martina McBride and Pat Monahan
~*~ 27th November 2003 ~*~
"Hermione!"
Hermione sat up with a gasp, her heart racing against her ribs as she held the comforter in her parents' guest room to her chest. Seeing it was only Luna in her doorway. She groaned laying back down.
"Wait, were you still sleeping?" Luna asked, surprised.
Hermione stared at her blurry form and looked over at the clock on the bedside table to see that it was a little after nine in the morning. "Yes," she said, slightly hoarse.
"Sorry," Luna said as she walked over to her, "I figured you'd be up all night, and awake at least by five, overthinking everything."
Hermione rubbed her eyes. "I figured that too, but I guess I was that tired." She took a slow breath, realizing how rested she felt. Then her stomach growled, loudly enough that she saw Luna's eyes grow even larger than normal.
"Sounds like you might be hungry," Luna smiled as she sat beside her.
Hermione stretched, "I can't believe I slept through the night, other than getting up to pee."
Luna handed her an envelope, "Harry sent this."
Hermione took it from her and looked at the blank envelope.
Luna stood. "Go get in the shower. I'll be downstairs with your parents. I got us pastries and fruit."
Hermione smiled, "You did?"
"Strawberries, blueberries, mango. Harry said you were really into mango lately," Luna said.
Hermione looked at her, surprised, "He noticed?"
Throwing off the covers, she stood and stretched as Luna left the room. Grabbing her clothes, she walked into the bathroom and started the shower. Staring at her reflection as the mirror started to steam on the edges, she smiled. Today, she would finally be Hermione Granger-Potter.
Opening the envelope, she smiled as she saw his messy script.
My Love,
If Luna has properly delivered this, I hope you have just woken up. I told your mother to turn off all alarms, so I hope Luna didn't startle you. I want you to relax today.
Don't spend the day worrying about schedules or details. I've got it, and everything is handled. Your only job today is to relax, enjoy the day, and become Mrs. Granger-Potter.
Spend time with your parents and Luna. Make sure you eat and eat more than a few bites of mango. Just remember that I love you so much, and the most important thing about the day is that after it, we are officially married. Everything else is just extra.
I love you, and I'll see you at the altar.
Love,
Harry
Hermione wiped the tear that had fallen from her eye and smiled when she realized that there were no nerves as she expected there to be. She trusted Harry, and as long as she and he were married at the end of the day, that was all that mattered. Folding the note carefully, she kissed it and then set it on top of her clothes.
~*~
The smell of coffee greeted her as she made her way into the kitchen to find Luna at the table with her parents, with a box of pastries in the centre of the table.
Luna looked up, "Fruit is on the counter."
"Thank you," Hermione said, helping herself to sliced mango.
Briar Rose walked over to her, "How did you sleep?"
"Amazingly, actually," Hermione told her, surprised, "I figured without Harry, I wouldn't. I slept through the night, though."
"Wait, you slept?" Camillo asked, surprised.
Hermione looked over at him as she licked her fingers to get the mango juice, "Apparently, that is surprising."
"Honey, you were sleepless before most of your big tests, before you went to Hogwarts, and nearly every year after. The fact that you were able to sleep last night is just surprising." Camillo said as Hermione took her bowl of fruit to the table and sat beside Luna, who pushed a plate of cherry pastry to her.
"Thank you," Hermione said as she took a bite and moaned, "This is so good."
The rest of the early morning stretched on with breakfast and conversation until the floo spit Ginny out onto the carpet. "Well, good morning, future Mrs. Potter."
"What are you doing here? You should be resting," Hermione said as she stood up and guided Ginny to a chair.
"Well, Harry was driving me nuts when I was over there," Ginny said, rubbing her belly, "Not because he was freaking out, more like how calm he was. Mum is more nervous than he is."
"Oh, he is just pretending to be calm," Hermione told her, "Probably nitpicking internally."
Ginny sat back, "What he's done to the Burrow looks amazing. Cannot wait for you to see it. You got a good one."
Hermione smiled, "My future husband."
Ginny grinned at her, "Future baby daddy. When are you guys going to start having more of them?"
Hermione laughed, "When the time comes. We haven't even gotten married yet. Patience."
Briar Rose stood up, "Be right back."
Hermione watched her go, confused. "Mum?"
A moment later, Briar Rose returned armed with photo albums, making Hermione groan. "No!"
"Oh yes," Briar Rose stated, grinning.
Hermione looked at Camillo sitting in his chair, reading the newspaper, "Dad, make her stop."
Camillo looked at her over his paper, "Like I can make your mother stop anything."
"Mum," Hermione whined.
Briar Rose smiled, "It's your wedding day. Let me reminisce a bit."
Ginny laughed, "I love someone else being put on the spot other than myself. I'm here for it."
Briar Rose opened the first album, and Hermione saw her tiny naked body, "Really?! That's the first one?"
"You had a head of hair even back then! No wonder Rose had so much hair between you and Harry," Ginny said as her mother continued flipping through the pages, telling the stories behind each photo.
"And here is where she was six. She was telling the museum guide that he had gotten part of the dinosaur exhibit wrong," Briar Rose told them.
Hermione covered her face as Luna and Ginny laughed.
"Why am I not surprised? I heard you squared off with Snape on day one," Ginny grinned.
Hermione looked at her, "I did not. That was Harry, actually. He was singling Harry out because of his 'celebrity,' and Harry noticed that I had my hand up and knew the answer, but he was ignoring me."
Luna smiled, "He was looking out for you even back then."
"Now, as far as lighting him on fire… I did do that," Hermione stated.
Briar Rose gasped as Camillo dropped his paper in shock, "Hermione Jean! You did what?"
"I lit him on fire because I thought he was jinxing Harry's broom," Hermione told her, "Mum, he was an awful man." She flinched, "I mean, he was actually trying to save Harry, but he was awful to Harry and everyone else."
"He was, but I didn't realize you lit the man on fire," Ginny said, laughing, "That's amazing."
Luna smiled as she pointed at a picture of Hermione underneath a tree at about Rosella's age, "Your hair is different, but the expression is identical. I never realized how much Rose looked like you."
~*~
After breakfast, Luna had opened her bag and had produced little jars with unknown contents, "Neville made us a pampering kit."
Ginny frowned, "I love how my husband didn't share these with me."
Camillo had left the room laughing after the four women had applied their moisturizing, lifting, and softening mixes to their faces and hands, making them various shades of green and pink.
Ginny moved her face, and seeds fell from it. "I feel like a potted plant."
Luna laughed, "You smell botanical, too. I wonder what he made these from?"
Hermione sniffed, "I smell lavender in mine and maybe aloe."
Ginny tried to smell hers, "I smell nothing but mint," she said as she glanced at herself in a picture frame's reflection, "But I look moldy. Will he still love me when I am old and moldy?"
"That man is over the moon for you, so I don't think you'll have to worry about that," Hermione told her.
"Just think, he will be old and moldy too," Briar Rose told her as she lifted cucumbers from her eyes. "Do cucumbers actually do anything?"
Ginny popped one into her mouth. "They are delicious."
By 11:30, their masks had been washed away, and Briar Rose had pinned Hermione's hair for her as she returned from the kitchen with a large platter.
"I've made finger sandwiches," Briar Rose announced as she set them down on the table, "Tuna, turkey, and chicken salad."
"Thanks, Mum. They look lovely," Hermione said as Luna reached for one of the sandwiches.
She held it up, about to take a bite before stopping, "That… smells interesting."
Briar Rose looked at her, "That is tuna, not chicken salad."
Luna held it out to her, "Something smells… overly disposed."
Briar Rose took it, "It's just tuna," she said, smelling it.
Hermione reached over and took one, "I don't smell…" as the scent hit her and she immediately pulled the sandwich away from her face, "Mum… no."
Briar Rose frowned, "You smell it too?"
"Something is off with it," Hermione told her.
Ginny held both hands up as Briar Rose looked at her, "I'm good. Fish and I are not friends."
Briar Rose frowned, "I guess I'll throw them away then. I thought the can was in date, but I could have been mistaken."
She gathered the tuna sandwiches and carried them out of the room.
Hermione picked a chicken salad sandwich instead and took a tentative bite. Chewed and swallowed it. "Chicken salad tastes fine! I don't think it was the mayonnaise!"
"That's reassuring," Briar Rose said as she came back into the room.
The conversation started drifting from wedding plans, Harry's accidental slip on their honeymoon location, and all the places Hermione hoped they would go, and some of Harry's famous moments from Hogwarts.
Hermione laughed so hard about one of Ginny's Quidditch stories about Harry losing his pants on his broom during training that she nearly choked on her lemonade. Coughing up the liquid from her lungs, her stomach started rolling, and saliva pooled beneath her tongue. "Oh no." Hermione slowly set her sandwich down, swallowed hard, "I…"
The room was suddenly too warm, and she stood quickly, stepping over Ginny's outstretched legs as she rushed toward the downstairs loo.
The downstairs toilet's door didn't even shut before she dropped to her knees in front of it. Gripping the porcelain, she breathed slowly as the nausea got worse, then stayed that way as she squeezed her eyes shut.
Thankfully, nothing came up, but there were waves of her mouth watering and nausea until a knock sounded on the door.
"Hermione?"
Hermione swallowed back the saliva. "It's open."
Briar Rose stepped inside and knelt beside her. "Oh, sweetheart."
Hermione rested her head on her hand. "I think it was the mayonnaise." She swallowed back the saliva in her mouth again, "I think…"
She exhaled as the feeling passed. "I think I'm good."
She sat back against the wall, breathing carefully through her nose, and Briar Rose brushed a curl away from her face.
"Or is it wedding jitters? You vomited before your first day at Hogwarts, too," Briar Rose told her.
Hermione gave a tired smile, "Maybe."
Briar Rose sat beside her, "Or…"
Hermione glanced at her, "Or what?"
"Could you be…?"
Hermione sighed, laying her head back against the wall. "No," she said, looking at her hands, "Honestly…" she rubbed her hands together, "Harry and I have been trying, and I am late."
"How late?" Briar Rose asked.
"Ten days," Hermione said, laying her head on Briar Rose's shoulder, "But I took a test the other day, and it was negative. Actually, I've taken two in the last week."
"And both were negative?" Briar Rose asked.
Hermione nodded.
"Well, it's still a possibility."
"A very slim one," Hermione told her. "More like the stress has finally caught up with me."
Briar Rose smiled. "Well, nerves would make anyone feel ill," she said as she stood and offered Hermione a hand. "Come on, I'll make you some tea."
"Thank you, Mum," Hermione said as her mum left.
Hermione rested her hands on the edge of the sink and looked at her reflection. One hand drifted to her belly. "What if it's not stress?" she whispered.
With Rosella, she had the exhaustion, sensitivity to smells, and the waves of nausea without getting sick. Biting the inside of her cheek, maybe she'd let Harry do the test tonight just to be safe before they enjoyed their reception.
Splashing cool water on her face, she took a slow breath before going back out of the bathroom.
~*~
The mid-afternoon sun filtered through the curtains in her parents' guest room as Hermione sat still while Ginny's hairstylist did her magic on Hermione's hair. At the same time, a makeup artist began to dab away at the circles under her eyes.
"Chin up, just a touch, please."
Hermione moved her chin up, keeping her eyes closed.
Behind her, the hairstylist was attempting to separate her curls to maintain them while still giving Hermione elegant curls.
"See, hiring professionals was the right way to go," Ginny said as she looked at her reflection once she was done.
Hermione grinned, "Thank you, Ginny."
"No need to thank me," Ginny said, "I will be off. I am going to go check on the boys and go get dressed myself."
Briar Rose looked at her, "Do you need someone to help you through the floo?"
"I'm very pregnant, but I am not that pregnant yet. Thank you for the offer," Ginny said as she left the room. "INCOMING!"
"MUMMA!" Yelled up from downstairs as little feet thundered up the stairs.
The door slammed against the wall, making Hermione flinch. "IT'S WEDDING DAY!"
Hermione opened her eyes to see Rosella standing in the doorway, still in the school uniform, her curls wild. Her cheeks were bright pink as her father came to stand behind her, carrying her backpack in his hand.
"I got her," Camillo stated.
"Thank you, Daddy," Hermione said as Rosella practically vibrated in front of him.
"Mumma! It's wedding day!"
"That it is, baby girl," Hermione laughed.
Rosella walked over, her emerald eyes wide. "Mumma… you are beautiful."
"Oh, sweetheart," Hermione said as she ran her hand through Rosella's curls, tears coming to her eyes as she pulled a piece of mulch from her daughter's hair, "How about you go get ready?"
Rosella spun around, and another piece of mulch flew from her hair as she left the room, going between Camillo's legs.
"Carefully!" Hermione yelled.
"I am!"
The hairstylist laughed, "To have that much energy."
"I swear she siphons it from me," Hermione said as she glanced at her mother. "Could you give her a quick bath?"
"I saw the mulch. I'm on it," Briar Rose said, hurrying after them.
"Thank you, Mum!" Hermione said gratefully.
"Look, Gramma! Bubbles!"
Hermione groaned, "I hope she didn't pour the whole bottle in this time."
"You have a lovely family," the makeup artist told her.
Hermione smiled, "Thank you."
~*~*~
The house had become chaotic less than an hour before the wedding start time. Garment bags were hung from the wardrobe doors that contained Hermione and Luna's dresses, with their shoes beneath.
Hermione took a sip of water after using the bathroom as she heard the floo in the sitting room.
"Hermione?"
"We're up here!"
Heavy footsteps echoed up the stairs, and Ron appeared in the doorway moments later in his suit.
He paused with a soft smile, "You look beautiful, Mione."
Hermione wrinkled her nose, "Don't call me that."
Ron shook his head as he held his chest, "You are so mean to me."
"I've told you not to call me that since we were eleven. Don't." She told him.
"And yet here we are. You're getting married to our best friend," Ron said.
Hermione looked away from him as her mother appeared in the doorway. "What is it, mum?"
Ron turned and moved so she could enter, "Go ahead, Mrs. Granger, unless you are ready for your escort," he said with a dramatic bow.
Briar Rose smiled as she looked at Hermione. "Are you sure you don't need anything else?"
Hermione shook her head, "No, make sure everything is okay there, please. I am just going to put my dress on, then we will leave. I just need you to make sure the boys are behaving."
Ron laughed, "You are one to talk."
"UNCLE RON!"
Rosella burst into the room already wearing her dress, "Uncle Ron, like my new dress!?"
Ron laughed. "I love it," he said, pulling on one of her curls, careful of her pale ivory lace dress with delicate flowers that almost matched the flower crown on her head.
"It spins," she said as she spun around, and halfway through the twirl, she lost her balance. "Agh!" she yelled, landing on her bottom with a squeak.
Ron scooped her up. "We can't have princesses falling."
Rosella wrapped her arms around his neck, "Do you have my flowers?"
"They are at the wedding," Ron said as he looked at Hermione, "I will take the princess, and then I'll be back."
"Thank you, Ron," Hermione said as tears tried to come to her eyes.
Ron just winked as he popped away.
Hermione looked at the garment bag hanging on the wardrobe and bit her lip. "So, I did something."
Luna looked up, "What?"
Hermione smiled sheepishly as her mother looked at her, "I got a second dress."
"You did what?" Briar Rose asked, "Miss Panic over buying one got another?"
"It was last minute. I walked past this new consignment boutique in the alley a few weeks ago," Hermione told them.
"The one with ivy on the windows?" Luna asked, "Same one where I got my dress?"
"That one. Actually, you getting a second dress gave me the idea. I wasn't looking for another dress, but I saw them placing it on the mannequin, and I had a thought: the library is so fancy, but our magical wedding is more laid back. The reception is at the Burrow. I'm terrified that something would happen to my dress between now and the big wedding… so I bought it." Hermione bit her lip, "And it miraculously fit perfectly." She ran her hand down the bag, "It's more… bohemian than my first dress. I thought it suited this wedding more."
Briar Rose squeezed her shoulders, "Whatever makes you happy."
Ron's voice echoed up the stairs, "I'm back!"
Briar Rose looked at Hermione, "Are you sure that you don't want me to stay?"
Hermione stepped forward and hugged Briar Rose, kissing her cheek, "Thank you, Mum, but let Ron get you there safely." She stepped back, "Luna and I will be shortly behind you."
Briar Rose nodded, and Ron offered his arm. "Madam."
Briar Rose slipped her arm through his, "After you, sir."
Ron grinned, "See you, ladies, there."
With a crack, he disapparated away with her mother.
Hermione let out a slow breath, "Okay, time to get my dress on and get ready to go."
Hermione carefully unzipped the garment bag, and the intricate lace spilled out, climbing over the bodice of the dress and flowing into the long, dramatic bell sleeves. Every inch of fabric had been handmade into different patterns. Some tiny blossoms, climbing vines, and lace woven together by an older woman who had made the dress for her granddaughter, who then changed her mind. The shopkeeper had told her that it had felt wrong putting it for sale on consignment, and Hermione couldn't help being in awe of the dress.
Shutting the door, Hermione removed her robe and looked at Luna. "I got this sticker bra to go under it, and my breasts are just too sensitive for it. I really hope that it is fine without one."
Luna assisted her in slipping the dress over her head, the satin lining skimming her body as she slowly slid her arms into the sleeves. As if finally laid on her body, Hermione looked at herself in the mirror. "It's perfect."
"That it is," Luna said as she tightened the slightly corseted back. "You are going to knock Harry out of his socks."
"It's knock his socks off… never mind," Hermione mumbled as she moved, "I never thought I'd love this style."
"It suits you, though," Luna told her as she went over to put her own dress on, then to get her shoes and assisted Hermione into hers.
Hermione looked at her reflection. Loose curls framed her face beneath a small headband of tiny white flowers. Her grandmother's necklace hung against her chest, which she had worn at her own wedding, which she had borrowed from her mother.
Taking a deep breath, she yelled out, "Daddy, we are ready!"
Camillo appeared in the doorway and froze. For a moment, he simply stared at her. "Oh, pumpkin." Hermione felt her eyes sting. "I cannot believe we're finally here."
"How do I look?"
Camillo looked her over from head to toe before dramatically placing his hand on his chest. "Don't tell your mum, but you are nearly as beautiful as she was on our wedding day."
Hermione laughed, "Nearly?"
"Well, I have to stay married to your mother, so I must say that," Camillo grinned.
Hermione slid her arm through his before looking at Luna, "See you there."
Luna popped away, and Hermione looked around, double-checking everything as Camillo squeezed his eyes shut, "I'll never get used to this."
The familiar tug happened as the world folded upon itself, and they landed in front of the gates.
Camillo groaned, "We're alive."
Luna laughed as she pushed open the gates for them, "Of course you are."
Camillo looked up, and he whistled, "Jesus Christ."
Hermione took in the old stone house against the late afternoon sun. Ivy was climbing on the more weathered parts of the home. Time had not been kind to it, but Harry had done enough improvements that its grandeur was still able to be seen.
"This was Harry's family's?" Camillo asked.
Hermione nodded, "His grandparents. They both died before Harry was born, and it's sat abandoned all those years. It needs repair, but Harry wants to restore it and turn it into a second wizarding hospital that specializes in children."
As they ventured up the winding stone path, hundreds of candles hovered over the sides of the walkway, their light dancing on the bare branches, which had more candles floating from them.
The November dew had already begun collecting on the grass, making the blades sparkle like tiny diamonds as a gentle breeze blew through the trees.
Somewhere up ahead, soft instrumental music drifted through the air, but not loud enough to stifle the murmuring of conversations that she could hear but not understand.
"Mumma!"
Rosella came bursting out of the house, skipping down the path in her little flower girl dress, her crown of flowers nearly falling off her curls. She threw her arms around Hermione's waist. "Mumma, you are so beautiful."
Hermione bent down and kissed the top of her head, "Thank you, baby girl."
Rosella slipped her hand into Hermione's, and a flash somewhere nearby made her jump.
Glancing around, her heart lurched into her throat, and Luna set her hand on Hermione's elbow. "It's just Dennis."
Hermione followed her gaze to see Dennis Creevy standing several yards away with his camera, and she took a breath as he waved. "I am just worried Rita finds out."
"This place is locked down. Harry put portkeys on the invitations, so if they were not invited, they couldn't get in." Luna assured her as she nodded toward Dennis, "Daddy and I will release exactly what you want people to see, and nothing more than that. Only after this weekend is over, of course."
Hermione's shoulders relaxed. "Thank you."
Together, they followed the floating candles just outside the former manor to just before the front door, where a small ivory tent stood with enchanted candles beneath its canvas roof.
Stepping inside, the sound around them dulled, and just beyond, through the now empty house, she could make out some of the silhouettes standing beyond. Their family and friends. Hagrid's form as plain as day.
As a child, she never imagined walking down the aisle. Now all she could imagine was seeing Harry as she walked down the stairs toward the love of her life.
The makeup artist came over to her as soon as the canvas flaps closed behind them, "Just a quick check, darling, and then you will be off."
A quick brush against her cheek and a pat to her forehead were all she needed, other than a quick reapplication of lipstick.
The hairstylist checked her over one last time as Luna reached for the bouquets on the nearby table.
Inhaling the scent of her flowers tied together with a simple silk ribbon, this bouquet was nothing extraordinary, just white roses and lilies. But to Hermione, it was perfect.
"Are we ready?" Luna asked as the hairstylist finished fixing her curls.
Hermione looked toward the flaps of the tent, then smiled, nodding. "I'm ready."
Luna smiled as she reached behind her and carefully withdrew her wand from her hair. With a careful flick, her silvery hare came out of her wand. "We're ready."
The patronus lit up the house as it bounded through it, disappearing inside.
The hairstylist gently arranged the back of Hermione's dress. "You look marvellous."
"Thank you for all your help today," Hermione told her as Luna walked through the tent first, with Rosella skipping happily in front of her.
Hermione smiled as Rosella twirled into the house.
Camillo offered his arm to Hermione, "Ready?"
Hermione took his arm and looked toward the former manor, "I've been ready for this for a long time."
Stepping inside the house, the curtains fluttered as if welcoming her. A slight breeze blew through, making the hundreds of floating candles that lit her way flicker.
The stone path that led down to the greenhouse was barely able to be seen as Luna stopped. When stringed instruments began playing a version of When You Wish Upon a Star, Hermione smiled at Harry's choice. During their movie nights, they had begun working through all the Disney movies, and he loved them nearly as much as she did.
Neville appeared and crouched at Rosella's side. "Here are your roses, princess." He said, handing her a tiny wicker basket.
Rosella kissed his head, "Thank you, Uncle Nevvy. I am ready!"
Neville hurried back through the doors, and Rosella soon followed, skipping down the candlelit path, throwing handfuls of petals.
Beyond Rosella, Hermione saw their guests slowly rise to their feet. She saw Hagrid, members of the Weasley family, former professors, and members of her staff who wished to come to the magical ceremony.
Luna glanced at her once more and smiled, "See you up there."
Hermione smiled back as Luna stepped down the stone stairs.
Camillo turned to Hermione and slowly lowered her lace veil over her face, "You are so beautiful. I just want you to know that."
Hermione tried not to cry, "Oh, Daddy…" She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him carefully, "I love you so much."
"I love you too, pumpkin," he said, kissing her cheek.
Camillo smiled and brushed a tear that had escaped down her cheek away through her veil. "No tears, this is a happy occasion."
Hermione laughed, "I am happy. Happier than I ever have been. I'm just leaking a bit."
Camillo laughed, "That's my girl."
Hermione took his arm as he offered it again. "I've been ready for this for a long time."
Together they stepped out the back door onto the stone steps that led to the stone path to the greenhouse that had been transformed. Ivy climbed the glass, and flowers surrounded the building. Stepping inside, the stone path was edged with ivy, and the walls were covered in a variety of different flowers. Hermione spotted roses, lavender, and different types of lilies.
Swallowing hard as she saw Harry at the end of the aisle in his suit, she smiled at him, and he stared at her in disbelief.
Above their heads, what seemed to be hundreds of floating candles were above their heads similar to the Great Hall.
The string band shifted to So This is Love, and Hermione bit her lip as Ron elbowed Harry to bring him back to earth. But Hermione's eyes never left Harry's.
She barely remembered walking past Hagrid, Flitwick, Regina, or even Vivian. All she knew was that each step she took over the cobblestones brought her closer to Harry.
Smiling through the tears that had already started gathering, she watched Rosella sprinkle petals at Harry and Ron's feet.
Harry briefly leaned down and kissed Rosella. "Go sit with Gramma. I love you."
Rosella skipped off to sit beside her mother as Luna took her place beside where Hermione would stand, and Harry walked over to them.
Camillo squeezed her arm before placing her hand within Harry's, "I took care of her for these last 24 years, now it's your turn."
Harry visibly swallowed, "I will until my dying day."
Camillo kissed Hermione's forehead before stepping back over to Briar Rose as Harry and Hermione took their places.
Arthur smiled at them, wearing a deep burgundy ceremonial robe embroidered with tiny golden stars. "My friends, family, and other citizens, we gather here this evening beneath this protective greenhouse as the sun prepares to set upon one chapter of Harry and Hermione's lives, and the moon will soon rise to start the next chapter as they become one." He smiled at them, "Please have a seat."
Hermione squeezed Harry's hand as their guests sat on log benches. "This looks wonderful." She whispered.
"Not as wonderful as you look," Harry told her.
"I have officiated a few weddings now since becoming Minister, mostly my own children. So it is only fitting that I officiate the wedding of Harry and Hermione, as I have come to see them as two of my own," Arthur told them with a warm smile. "I first heard about Harry from almost my entire family after a chance meeting at Platform 9 3/4s. My wife talked about how polite he was, my daughter was starstruck, and then we received a letter from our son, who spoke of his humbleness on their train ride when Harry purchased one of each item for them to try from the trolley. When we received letters, Harry was usually mentioned, then a name after Halloween was more casually mentioned, which was Hermione's. Later found out their harrowing tale of defeating a troll, and when you defeat a troll at the age of 11 together, you are friends obviously for life."
Everyone laughed.
"Of the two, I met Harry first. He… frankly didn't have the best upbringing, and my sons went to rescue him. When I returned home from work, there he was in a sea of red hair, a head of black hair, sitting so unassumingly. I then proceeded to annoy him with questions about Muggle plugs and rubber ducks. Which I still don't understand," Arthur confessed. "I met Hermione a short time later, and she was an ever inquisitive child who had as many questions for me about wizarding culture as I did about her Muggle culture. I watched these two grow into remarkable young adults who found the courage to stand against atrocities that they should never have had to encounter and sacrifice their childhoods. I had the privilege of standing beside them in our darkest days that our world has known." Arthur paused a moment, looking at them, "I watched them not only fight for one another, but fight for all of us, long before they even realized what they were doing."
Harry ran his thumb over the back of her hand.
"The funny thing about love is that it rarely arrives with fanfare. It doesn't always announce itself. Sometimes it begins with a girl refusing to let the quiet boy fail his classes," Arthur stated as he looked between them and over to Molly, "I have knowledge on that myself."
Harry and Hermione laughed.
"And as I've heard it, also love begins with a boy noticing when that same girl hasn't eaten when she is distracted by her studies."
Harry smiled at her.
"Sometimes it slowly grows with years of friendship, through heartbreak and distance," Arthur stated, "The day Harry returned home, he thought he was simply returning home after finding himself again, but he was finding his way back to Hermione."
Hermione swallowed back the lump in her throat as she intertwined their fingers.
"This love story didn't begin after he returned home. Anyone who knew them saw the signs from the beginning. They just needed time," Arthur said as he looked at Luna. "May we have the rope, please?"
Luna stepped forward, handing the hand-braided rope that was braided together with ribbons of gold and emerald.
Hermione handed her bouquet to Luna and took Harry's hands, crossing them across each other.
Slowly, Arthur wrapped them carefully around their wrists. "These cords don't bind you together. They remind you that you choose one another today," he said, making one loop, "Tomorrow," another loop, "And every day after." Arthur tied a loose knot. "Hands joined as well as hearts and lives forever entwined."
He stepped back, "They now have vows written."
Harry looked into Hermione's eyes. "Hermione, I used to think home was a place that I'd never have, until Hogwarts was home. But I was wrong. Instead, home is a person. You challenged me when I needed it, believed in me when no one else did, including myself. You take up my slack when I fall flat, have given me a family before I even knew I was searching for one." Harry grinned, "You make me laugh and make even the worst days brighter. I promise that I will keep choosing you, do my best to listen and be patient."
Ron laughed, then covered his mouth, "Sorry."
"I promise to always have coffee ready in the morning, to hold you when the words don't come, and to spend every day making you never doubt how much you are loved by me," Harry told her. "I love you and I always will."
Hermione took a slow breath. "Harry, you've spent almost all your life believing you have to save others. But somewhere along the way, you saved me first and taught me so much about strength of character, and having true strength isn't carrying it alone, but allowing someone else to carry it with you." She swallowed. "I promise to stand beside you in joy and grief, in the quiet times and the impossible days. I promise to remind you that you're enough when you doubt yourself, to laugh with you, and scale back my arguments when I think I am right."
Harry barked a laugh.
"I promise to keep filling our home with books that you pretend not to read, but secretly do," Hermione told him.
"I don't think any more will fit!" Sirius yelled from the front row.
Harry and Hermione both rolled their eyes, making each other laugh.
"I promise to love Rosella and our family every day as fiercely as I love you, and if life blesses us with more children," she took a slow breath, "They'll be so lucky to have the kindest man I've ever met as their father. I choose you above all else, and I'll keep choosing you for every lifetime that we get to share."
Arthur blew his nose, making them look at him. "Excuse me," he said as he pocketed his handkerchief, then took out his wand. "By the authority entrusted to me as Minister of Magic, I now witness the Bond of Magic to enter between these two souls." He waved his wand in a complicated motion, and gold sparkling bands seemed to leap from their bodies, dancing around them brighter than Hermione remembered being at Bill and Fleur's bonding ceremony. Wind whipped her curls around her face as Arthur brought his wand down to their joined hands. "Magic responds not to power, but truth that two souls can work in tandem."
He looked at Harry, "Harry James Potter, do you freely and willingly bind your magic, your life, and your heart to Hermione Jean Granger?"
"I swear it be," Harry said, looking at Hermione as the green ribbon tightened around their hands.
"Hermione Jean Granger, do you freely and willingly bind your magic, your life, and your heart to Harry James Potter?"
"I swear it be," Hermione said as the gold ribbon tightened around their hands.
"Then let magic bear witness," Arthur said, pressing his wand to the knot in the rope. "Conjunctionemin aeternum."
Bright golden light wrapped around their joined hands, then spread upward over their guests in ribbons before returning to them and sinking into their skin.
For a brief instant, a golden rune of mannaz glowed where their rings would be after their muggle ceremony before fading.
Every candle around them was vividly bright, but suddenly dimmed back to normal.
"It is my profound honour," Arthur said as the rope fell to the ground, "To present you for the first time as husband and wife, Harry and Hermione Granger-Potter."
Harry didn't wait another second and lifted Hermione's veil, cupping her face as he kissed her.
Cheers erupted, and Hermione vaguely heard George wolf-whistle as she threw her arms around Harry's neck, as she suddenly felt an extra surge of magic within her that wasn't there before.
"I have a quick announcement! Everyone is invited to continue this celebration at the Burrow," Arthur announced as they separated, and Harry rested his forehead against hers. "Where my wife has informed me there is enough food to feed three Quidditch teams, but with my sons, I highly doubt that."
"Please raise your wands and congratulate Mr. and Mrs. Granger-Potter!"
Harry gave her a chaste kiss as she squeezed his hand, and they walked down the aisle of sparks as they rained down on them.
The cheers followed them as they made their way down the candlelit aisle.
As they walked up the stairs into the old manor, the warmth of the fire inside wrapped around them, welcoming them, along with the ancient floorboards that creaked beneath their feet as if congratulating them.
Rosella ran around Ron and Luna and spun around in front of them. "WE DID IT!"
Harry laughed, scooping her up into his arms as she jumped toward them. "Yes, we did!"
She wrapped both her little arms around his neck. "You married Mumma!"
"I certainly did, and your Mumma married me!" Harry told her.
Ron stepped forward and pulled Hermione into a tight hug. "Congratulations."
She hugged him back, "Thank you for being there every step of the way."
Ron stepped back and looked at her, "You all right?"
Hermione laughed, "I'm just so happy. I am just so glad that it's finally over and done with," she let out a breath that she felt as if she had been holding since their engagement happened, "Whatever happens on Saturday doesn't matter." She looked at Harry, "Because it's official, we're already married."
Harry leaned down and kissed her again, resting his forehead against hers, "I'm so glad to hear you say that."
She swallowed back the lump in her throat, "Honestly… this wedding was better than anything I could have imagined. It was beautiful. I know my dream wedding was at Signet," she laughed through her tears, "But I cannot imagine it being more perfect than this."
Harry slid his arm around her waist. "I have to say… I love this dress too."
Hermione wrapped her arms around him, resting her head against his chest. "And this isn't THE dress."
"It isn't?"
Hermione shook her head. "It was a spur-of-the-moment purchase. I walked past a little consignment boutique and saw it."
"Well, I love it," Harry said as he leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Do you feel it?"
Her eyes met Harry's.
"The extra magic in your veins?" Harry asked.
Hermione closed her eyes and took a moment to feel. Warmer. As if something was making her glow from the inside out.
She nodded, "It's honestly intoxicating."
Harry smiled, "I know."
They looked up as Dennis Creevey stepped inside. "How about we get some pictures now that the guests have left?"
Hermione looked at Harry, then back toward Dennis. "Can we have a moment to ourselves?"
Ron raised an eyebrow, grinning, "A moment to yourselves, huh?"
Hermione glared at him, "Not like that. Honestly!"
Briar Rose stepped in, "Let's give them some space."
"Thank you," Hermione mouthed as her mother ushered everyone toward the greenhouse.
Rosella waved as she nearly fell down the steps.
"Ron, watch her," Hermione sighed.
"I'm okay!"
Hermione took a breath as the silence stretched around them. For the first time all day, it was just the two of them.
Harry pulled her into his arms, "We're alone."
Hermione reached down and took his hand, "Come with me."
Harry allowed himself to be led without question, up the staircase, past the landing, all the way down to the study that had once belonged to his grandparents.
Harry pulled her close as she shut the door, its old hinges creaking behind them, "Do you want to have your way with me already?"
Hermione rolled her eyes, "You are impossible. That is absolutely NOT what we're up here to do."
The golden sunset illuminated the dust particles floating lazily through the golden evening light as Harry looked around.
Hermione turned to face him, "Do the test."
Harry looked at her, surprised, "The test?"
She nodded, "I nearly got sick earlier smelling fish, just like when we were on the hunt. I nearly got sick apparating here, and if you remember…"
"They're both things that happened when you were pregnant, and we didn't know it," Harry breathed.
Hermione took his hand, "What if those tests were bad? They were kind of on clearance."
Harry laughed, "You bought pregnancy tests on clearance?!"
"Why pay too much to just throw them away? Plus, it was a good deal," Hermione said with a grin as she took his hand and rested it on her stomach. "Do the test."
Harry nodded, "Okay," he said, removing his wand from his holster. She noticed his hand tremble ever so slightly as he placed the tip gently on her lower abdomen. "Revelior Conceptius." He whispered.
Golden light spread outward beneath his wand, and Hermione reached for Harry's free hand.
Together they held their breath for a heartbeat when nothing happened. Then, a sphere of pale golden light formed, hovering between them. Within it, a brilliant point of white light pulsed.
Harry's eyes grew large as he looked at her. "It's…" his voice cracked, "It's positive."
Neither of them moved until the realization hit them, and Harry dropped his wand on the floor as he laughed.
He wrapped his arms around Hermione's waist and lifted her off the floor, spinning her around in his grandparents' study. "We did it!"
Hermione burst into laughter, burying her face into his neck as tears streamed from her eyes. "I love you so much."
Harry set her down long enough to cradle her face, to kiss her forehead, and each tear-streaked cheek. Finally, he kissed her lips, his own eyes full of tears. "Thank you." He kissed her again, "Thank you." Hermione giggled as he kissed her again. "Thank you." She looked at him as he beamed down at her. "Thank you for giving me the family I never thought I'd ever have."
Hermione cupped his face, "You gave me one too."
"Congratulations!"
Both of them jumped and looked across the room to the two portraits hanging above the fireplace to find Fleamont and Euphemia Potter beaming. "Congratulations to another Potter! You've done brilliantly, both of you," Fleamont said.
Harry reached for Hermione's hand and pulled it up to kiss it. "I cannot wait."
Together they left the study and walked back out to the greenhouse. Briar Rose saw both their faces. "Everything okay?"
Harry kissed the side of her head, "Never better."
A/N: They are married, and a baby is on its way! Things are going to happen fast from here. I am currently writing the last chapter, and then I will do an epilogue. Chapter 58 will be the final chapter. I'm sad, but excited at the same time because new ideas are on the horizon with a Reluctant Love Story (check it out on my profile if you haven't already). Just a quick reminder: there will be NO new chapter next week.
Preview of Chapter 54 – I Do
"Pays to marry a healer, I suppose," Hermione said.
Harry raised an eyebrow, "Oh?"
"Well, free prenatal care," Hermione stated.
Harry gasped, "So that's how it is," he said, pulling her closer, "You married me for healthcare?"
Hermione laughed as he brushed another kiss against her neck. "It's just a perk."
"I knew there had to be an ulterior motive," Harry mumbled against her skin.
Before she could answer, tiny feet pouting against the ground echoed, and she instinctively braced herself.
"DADDY!"
Harry caught her with ease. "There you are," he said as he kissed Rosella's cheek. "Thought you abandoned us for Teddy and Victoire."
Rosella looked between them, "Do I get another ring?"
"Another ring? Mumma and I didn't even get rings," Harry told her, "That's on Saturday."
"Well, I wants candy," Rosella told him.
Harry burst out laughing, "Does everything have to be candy?"
"Yes," she said honestly.
Hermione wiped the tears from her eyes as she laughed.