You and me got a whole lot of history (oh)
We could be the greatest team that the world has ever seen
You and me got a whole lot of history (oh)
So don't let it go, we can make some more, we can live forever

~ History – One Direction

Chapter 28: Holy Matrimony

The scenery for the wedding was beautiful. Draco admired Fleur's handiwork. Though it wasn't as extravagant as her and Bill's wedding—Draco would know, he helped crash it—it was still elegant as a wedding should be. The aisle had been enchanted to display various types of flowers every 20 minutes or so. The white chairs had been arranged in neat rows on each side of the aisle. Everyone had showed up for the wedding—Professor McGonagall, Hagrid, even some of his old Slytherin classmates. Draco stood inside the Burrow, watching the guests greet each other and find a seat under the pavilion. He stood arm in arm with his mother, who had arrived shortly after Percy's departure.

"Your father would be proud of you, Draco." She said softly as she brushed back her son's hair with her hand. "You have grown into a lovely young man. Hermione is a very lucky woman. Some women would have killed to be the bride of the Malfoy heir. Remember Daphne Greengrass?"

Draco laughed as his mother said the name. "Who could forget her?"

Narcissa chuckled in return. "That girl used to write to you every summer, always gave you something for Christmas, your birthday, even Halloween. Sooner or later she would've been trying to smuggle you a love potion."

"I think she would've gotten some unwanted attention from someone else- some very unwanted attention."

"I wouldn't blame Miss Granger for it." Narcissa cupped his cheek. "Malfoy men are irresistible."

Draco almost blushed at his mother's compliment when Theo grabbed his shoulder, diverting his attention to his best friend.

"Mrs. Malfoy," Theo said. "It is lovely to see you."

Narcissa smiled back. "It is lovely to see you as well, Theodore. You're beginning to look more and more like Marcas every day."

"Well my mother always said I was a spitting image of my father." Theo teased. He turned back to Draco. "It's show time, mate. Once the music begins, wait a few moments, then walk."

Draco nodded. His mouth had gone dry and he felt his palms becoming sweaty all over again. His heart picked up its pace and he had the urge to run inside and check his appearance one more time. Narcissa squeezed his arm a little.

"Nervous, sweetheart?" She asked in a motherly tone.

Draco wanted to say no, but his mother would see right through him. So he just nodded his head, scared that if he opened his mouth he might just throw up. The nervousness was dancing inside of him and he couldn't shake it.

"Your father was nervous on our wedding day, too. Do you know what I told him?" She looked at Draco, who simply had no idea that his father had been as nervous as he was. He shook his head, encouraging his mother to continue her story.

"I told him to focus on me."

"That's it?" Draco spat out in disbelief.

"That's all you need." His mother said promptly. "Focus on her, no one else. Focus on the fact that she chose you, out of everyone else. There is nothing to be nervous about. She is yours."

Draco stared at his mother, wanting to say something, but the music began. The Burrow doors opened, revealing the groom and his mother to the guests sitting before them. Draco swallowed as they took their first steps. He could feel his heart thumping against his skin as they made their way down the aisle. He smiled back at those who smiled at them, stopping every so often for those who wanted a photo, before finally reaching the altar. Draco escorted his mother to her seat on the first row. He bent down to lay a kiss on her cheek before turning around and walking up the steps to the altar. Mr. Weasley greeted him with a nod which Draco returned. They stood there as the rest of the wedding party made their way out of the Burrow.

Luna was next. She was wearing the same dress as Ginny's. She wore a floral headband around her head and held a brown basket full of pink flowers in her hand. She smiled innocently as she gracefully tossed flowers to each side of the aisle, showing the guest in a waterfall of flowers. Though he found her actions a little unorthodox, Draco was grateful she didn't have anything weird like turnips or bottle caps in her basket. Luna stopped to take her picture and then made her way to stand on the other side of Mr. Weasley. She smiled at Draco and he smiled back her, turning his view back to the aisle.

Theo and Ginny came down the aisle next. Draco had to repress his laughter as he watched his best friend escort Harry's fiancé down the aisle. He could tell that Theo was enjoying it as much as Harry hated watching it. Ginny smiled at the guests and walked with so much grace, some would have thought she was the bride. Theo put on his famous pureblood smile for the guest, and not once did his smile falter as they walked down the aisle. Once they made it to the altar, Theo escorted Ginny up the steps to her place beside Luna and then took his place beside Draco.

"This is it, mate." He whispered as he walked past Draco.

Inside the Burrow, Hermione, Harry and Ron were preparing to make their grand entrance, or so Ron called it. Hermione could feel her palms begin to sweat, but thanks to the anti-sweat spell Ginny put on her, Hermione's palms were still dry.

"Don't tell me you're nervous, Hermione?" Ron teased. "After everything we've been through this should be a piece of cake." Ron paused for a moment. "Wait, will there be cake?"

Hermione laughed. "Yes, Ronald, there will be cake." She sighed. "It's just, getting married is different than saving the world. If that makes sense?"

Harry kissed her forehead. "It makes perfect sense."

Hermione blushed. She looked at her two best friends. They had grown so much since their first year at Hogwarts. She bit her lip, thinking about how grateful she was to have these two men as her best friends. "I'm glad you two are escorting me."

"Well, it only seemed right." Harry said.

Ron nodded. "And it's a reminder to the ferret who he'll have to answer to if he hurts you."

Hermione laughed again. "That's if I don't kill him first." She then pulled her two best friends into a hug. "I love you, guys." She said softly, trying to hold her tears for the sake of her makeup.

Harry and Ron squeezed back. "We love you too, Hermione." They said in unison. They broke the hug and took their positions. Hermione took a deep breath as the music began again.

"Here we go." Harry whispered as the Burrow doors opened again. All the guest had risen out of their seats, their eyes locked on Hermione. As the Golden Trio took their first steps, the enchanted flowers changed from red roses to purple lilacs. She walked slowly, trying to take in the scene in front of her. She saw Professor McGonagall mouthed 'congratulations' and Hagrid give a big thumbs up, before wiping his eyes with an oversized handkerchief. She heard many people whispering about how beautiful she looked. Her eyes finally landed on the blonde man waiting at the altar for her. Draco stood there as if he was in a trance that only Hermione could break him out of. She was absolutely gorgeous. The way her dress perfectly fit her curves and the way her skin glowed from the sunlight. At that moment, he finally realized what his mother meant. All his fears and worries went away as he watched his fiancé walk towards the altar. Hermione could not remove her eyes from him, entranced in how handsome he looked. He looked as if he was an angel, her light at the end of the tunnel. She couldn't help but smile, and he smiled back at her—only she could do this to him. Only she could make him feel like he was the luckiest man in the world. It seemed as if time stopped, and it was only them. In the heaven that they made just for the two of them.

Ron and Harry escorted Hermione to her place beside Draco, each one placing a kiss on her cheek before walking to their positions beside Theo. Mr. Weasley gestured for everyone to sit down before turning back to the bride and the groom in front of him.

"May the bride and groom turn to face each other and join hands please?"

Draco and Hermione turned to each other. Hermione couldn't help her uncontrollable blushing, but she wouldn't remove her gaze from the man in front of her.

"You look beautiful."

Hermione smiled at his compliment. "You're rather handsome yourself."

Draco smirked back. Mr. Weasley then cleared his throat.

"Love," He began. "can be found in the darkest of places. And it can shine so bright, that even the darkest of days, can still be hopeful. Because of love, we are able to see past a person's flaws and accept them for who they are. For the goodness that lives inside of them." He paused, looking to the bride and groom who had not remove their gazes from each other.

"We are gathered here today to join Draco Abraxas Malfoy and Hermione Jean Granger in holy matrimony. Two people who fought against all odds to love each other. Who found love in the darkest of times, and kept their love strong to finally see a day in the light such as today."

He waved his hand and a brown wooden box appeared in thin air. Mr. Weasley opened the box to reveal two wands—Hermione's and Draco's.

"Since the beginning of time, it has been known that a wand is only as powerful as the individual who it is created for." He snapped his fingers and the wands rose out of the box. "However in marriage, a wand is only as powerful as the couple it is bonded to. May the bride and groom grab the other's wand?"

Hermione and Draco dropped their hands to reach for each other's wand. The wands felt different in each other's grip—both so accustomed to only handling their wand. They looked to Mr. Weasley, unsure about what was supposed to happen next.

"Once the wand is bonded to the owner's spouse, the wand becomes as powerful as the love between the two. May you join your wands at the tip?"

The couple cooperated while Mr. Weasley waved his own wand, causing an aura of gold and pink to appear around Draco's and Hermione's arm and extending to the tip where their wands connected. The couple felt as if their magic had be amplified, feeling a magical urge stronger than anything they've ever felt flow through them. Draco looked down at the aura and then to Hermione, who became entranced with the magic happening before them.

"The bride and groom will now say their vows to activate the bonding enchantment. We will start with the groom." Mr. Weasley looked to Draco, who straightened himself up in preparation to say his vows. Hermione had finally turned her attention back to him, and he felt his breath catch in his throat. She looked so beautiful standing in front of him, her eyes seemed to shine ten times brighter than usual and her smile made butterflies erupt in his stomach.

"Repeat after me, Draco." Mr. Weasley began. "With this wand, I, Draco Abraxas Malfoy."

"With this wand, I, Draco Abraxas Malfoy."

"Take you, Hermione Jean Granger."

Draco smiled at the mention of her name. "Take you, Hermione Jean Granger."

"As my wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part. This is my solemn vow."

"As my wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part. This is my solemn vow."

There was a flash of gold and suddenly Hermione's wand felt comfortable in Draco's hand—it felt as if it belonged to him. Mr. Weasley watched the flash of gold fade back into its previous glow and then turned to Hermione.

"Now you will repeat after me, Hermione. With this wand, I, Hermione Jean Granger."

Hermione kept her eyes on Draco, she could feel the tears about to fall down her cheeks. She couldn't remember the last time she had been this happy. She had no idea why she had been nervous before. Standing here with Draco now felt so right. It felt natural.

"With this wand, I, Hermione Jean Granger."

"Take you, Draco Abraxas Malfoy."

"Take you, Draco Abraxas Malfoy." She felt the tears fall down her cheeks, she couldn't even stop them. Draco reached over with his other free hand, and wiped the tears with his thumb. The crowd let out an "aww" and Hermione felt herself crying even more. She took a deep breath, regaining her composure to finish her vows.

"As my husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part. This is my solemn vow."

"As my husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part. This is my solemn vow."

There was another flash of light, this time pink instead of gold. There was another surge of magical energy and then Draco's wand suddenly felt right in her hand—as if it was hers. She looked at Draco, who smiled at her again.

"Draco Abraxas Malfoy, do you promise to uphold these vows throughout the duration of your marriage?"

Draco tightened his grip on Hermione's hand before answering. "Always."

"Hermione Jean Granger, do you promise to also uphold these vows throughout the duration of your marriage?"

"Always."

Mr. Weasley snapped his fingers again and the aura of light disappeared. He took each wand and returned it to the box in front of him, allowing Draco and Hermione to rejoin hands again.

"By the power invested in me," Mr. Weasley said as closed the box. "I now pronounce you, Hermione and Draco, husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

"About time." Draco said with a smirk. He pulled his wife towards and planted a kiss upon her lips. Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck as she deepened their kiss.

"I now present to you," Mr. Weasley yelled over them. "Mr. and Mrs. Draco Malfoy!"

All the wedding guest stood up to cheer, but Draco and Hermione barely heard them. They were lost inside each other's touch. Everything they had been through was leading to this moment. For them to finally live in a world were blood status did not matter. Where there was no dark wizard or faithful followers hanging over their head. Where they could just be them—and they could just be together. This was the moment they had been looking forward to since that night in the Forest of Dean.

"OY!" Theo called out, causing the newlyweds to break their kiss. "Some of us would like to still have our appetites for later!"

Draco rolled his eyes at Theo's comment while Hermione let out a small giggle. They turned to the crowd who was still standing up, watching the couple in awe. Draco held out his hand for Hermione to take.

"Shall we, Mrs. Malfoy?" He said with his infamous Malfoy smirk.

Hermione returned his smirk with one as well. "After you, Mr. Malfoy."

She reached to take his hand, but was startled as Draco lifted her up in his arms. She let out a giggle as Draco held her in his arms and carried her down the aisle. There were cheers and whistles heard from each side of the aisle, flowers being thrown from every direction. Draco looked down at his wife, who had her hands wrapped around his neck.

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

Thank you for all the follows, favorites, and reviews. I would like to say I have really enjoyed writting this story. There will be an Epilogue chapter coming soon. But in the meantime, please take a look at my newest fan fiction story "Taken."

~TheeStoryTeller