Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any affiliated characters. All credit to J.K for her amazing universe that she allows us to play in.

Cursing, sexual innuendos, lemons and fluff ahead.

Grammarly is my Beta!

Music is my Muse
This chapters song: Then; Brad Paisley
Lyric of choice: Now you're my whole life, now you're my whole world.

Aftermath

Chapter 24
In The Garden

Hermione sucked in a deep breath to steady her nerves as she stared at herself in her dress and veil. Tuily had outdone herself today, her hair was in perfect ringlets down her back, she was wearing a delicate silver and sapphire headband with a large flower decal that held her veil in place and her makeup was perfection. However, unlike when Ginny used to do her hair and makeup, Hermione could still recognize herself in the mirror. She felt prettier than she ever had before, just as she imagined a bride should feel.

She turned around as the door opened and gasped in surprise. "Mrs. Weasley!"

Molly Weasley walked in her eyes wide and full of tears her face radiating joy. "Oh Hermione, look at you."

Hermione rushed forward working to not sob as she hugged the woman who was as close to a mother as she had now. Molly shushed her and held her back looking her over. Hermione gazed at her still shocked. "I thought you were in Romania?"

Molly nodded wiping at her eyes. "We were, Ginny sent us an owl with a portkey. Why did you not tell us about all this?"

Hermione sighed. "Theo was too worried it would upset you if we did, and then that it would upset me when you didn't wish to come."

Molly scoffed and then sighed. "Arthur is talking to your Theodore now. He isn't his father and he obviously loves you very much. Ginny updated us in the letter. We would never turn our backs on you, I should put you over my knee for even thinking such a thing." Molly sighed at her again and shook her head tears shining in her eyes. "That young man adores you, it's so easy to see. If we can't manage to forgive a man who never sinned against us, what kind of parents are we?" She finished her speech and gave Hermione a stern authoritarian look, "and if you won't call me mum, you better call me Molly. Hermione, you are family and I love you."

Hermione nodded wiping at her eyes. "I love you too, Molly. I didn't want to upset your vacation," she said flushing with embarrassment and pleasure at the kind words. "This all came up rather suddenly. I was going to bring him round when you returned."

Molly nodded and then hugged her again before she changed the subject. "I know you asked Harry to escort you but Arthur would be honored to do so."

Hermione nodded and then laughed wiping at the tears pouring out of her eyes. "I would like that." She said softly.

Molly smiled brightly at her and kissed her on both cheeks. "Let me go and get Arthur then, are you all set?"

Hermione looked down at herself and nodded. "Tuily took care of everything."

Molly looked over at the elf who was smiling and crying silently in a plush armchair and gave a soft laugh. "I am sure she did, and it all looks simply enchanting dear."

Hermione smiled and then laughed. "I wouldn't know, they won't let me see the garden, it's supposed to be a surprise!"

Molly laughed in surprise and shook her head. "How magical, let me go and get Arthur, just breathe dear, you look so beautiful and you are glowing with happiness."

Hermione flushed and ducked her head, not sure if Ginny had shared all of her news with her parents. She figured Ginny had not because she doubted Molly would keep quite about Hermione being pregnant. She gulped as she imagined having that conversation with Molly and Arthur, she was sure they were going to be thrilled but it was still a bit overwhelming that she had gotten pregnant before the wedding. The Weasley's were after all a bit old fashioned, not unlike her own parents in that regard.

OoOoOoOoO

When Arthur arrived moments later he was teary eyed as well looking her over his face flushed with emotion. "You look happier than I have ever seen you, Hermione."

Hermione laughed and rushed forward to hug the man. "Thank you, Mr. Weasley."

"Arthur." He said gruffly hugging her back. "I spoke with your young man; you did a good job there, I like him."

Hermione pulled out of his arms and smiled her face radiating her happiness. "I know. I love him very much."

Ginny walked in looking simply stunning in her custom made dress robes. "Hermione, we are ready for you."

Hermione nodded and moved to stand next to Arthur who took a deep breath to settle his nerves and smiled at his daughter. "Lead the way," he said with a wink.

Ginny smirked at her father and then winked back handing Hermione her bridal bouquet.

And just like that, Hermione was walking towards her future!

OoOoOoOoOoO

Theo waited at the gazebo which was covered in magical flowers in blue and white flowers of all kinds. He looked over at Draco who smirked at him.

"You look disgustingly happy," Draco said with his trademark sneer.

Theo adjusted his cuff links and snorted. "Pot, meet the kettle." Draco raised an eyebrow with a slight look of confusion and Theo laughed. "Muggle saying, it means you have no room to talk. I see you smiling stupidly at your own bride."

Draco sighed looking annoyed but then smiled widely and nodded looking smug. "Yeah, she is pretty amazing."

Theo shook his head chuckling but then sighed. "What is taking her so long?"

Draco snorted. "Your bride actually has to get dressed."

Theo looked over and then let out a bark of laughter as Draco flushed as if realizing what he had just said out loud and quickly looked around to make sure no one else had overheard him.

"Fair point," Theo said finally when he had finished laughing at his best mate.

Draco inclined his head and then stood up straighter. "She's here and she looks as disgustingly happy as you do."

Theo sucked in a breath but didn't turn around; Luna had told him that it was a Muggle tradition, not to turn around until your bride arrived, he clenched his fist as he waited what seemed like hours. Finally, he could hear her and he turned and lost his breath. "You are so beautiful," he whispered as she stopped in front of him with a soft smile and tears in her eyes.

She nodded mouthed 'I love you' and turned to look at Arthur Weasley who lifted up her veil and kissed her on the cheek before he took her hand and put it in Theo's. "Be good to her." The man said his voice stern.

Theo nodded his eyes flashing with the significance of the gesture. His heart hitched as the man stepped aside nodding at him and sat with his wife. He looked back down at his bride, Merlin she was delectable, and she looked like an angel smiling up at him. The ministry official cleared his throat and they turned so that the man could perform the bonding. He repeated his vows in a bit of a daze, unable to believe that this was actually happening, that Hermione was going to be his and he would be hers.

His family, she would be his family. His nails cut into his palm as the voice of the wizard washed over him. He would have a family. It was simply unbelievable and he thought he might die from his euphoria in this moment.

OoOoOoOoO

Hermione tried to pay attention to the binding, it was different than a Muggle wedding, it was magic. The words were very simple but it was spell work and she could feel it all washing over her, touching her magic in a way that made her shiver. She wished she could write the vows down to study them but her brain was too full soaking up the moment, and besides, she was rather lost in Theo's intense blue gaze.

She watched their wedding rings rise in the air as a bright blue light moved around the rings before they settled back on the small table in front of the ministry official who nodded at Theo to pick up her ring and put it on her. She gave a soft gasp as the metal, which was warm, moved on her finger and then took the other ring and put it on Theo who had tears in his eyes as he watched the ring slide down his finger.

The wizard waved his wand and Hermione knew her eyes went wide as magic moved over them, through them, and she saw that they were encircled in a blinding gold and silver light. She watched as runes shined in pale silver on her left wrist and smiled looking at Theo who also had runes on his wrist.

"The runes we picked. They fade over the next week." He whispered to her still holding her left hand in his.

Hermione nodded and gave a small laugh as the spell around them disappeared and Theo leaned down and kissed her softly as the guests clapped behind them. She even heard a few wolf whistles as Theo deepened the kiss and wondered who that could be.

When she turned around and finally got a good look at the garden she gasped simply stunned by what she was seeing. "Theo?"

He chuckled. "I gave Tuily access to every flower shop within a hundred mile radius, magical and muggle, and then I recruited Draco, Harry, and Blaise to help me spell the real flowers so you can't smell them."

Hermione shook her head and then looked up at him smirking. "Thank you, this is simply overwhelming."

Theo winked at her and leaned down as the small elf walked up wiping at her eyes. "Tuily, you were right, Hermione adores the garden."

Hermione nodded crouching down and hugging the elf. "It is an enchanted paradise, Tuily. Thank you."

Tuily sniffled and gestured them forward so that they could greet their guests before they went to take photos.

OoOoOoOoO

Hermione finally got a look at who had all been there to witness her binding. Draco had his arm wrapped around Luna and was speaking with Harry and Ginny Potter. Blaise stood speaking with Minister Shakelbolt who was joined by Hermione's boss, the French Ambassador, also Theo's cousin. The man looked to be strutting around like a rooster with pride and she had to shake her head at him with a small smirk. He was going to be insufferable to work with once she got back from their honeymoon. The three other Nott elves rushed around with champagne as the guest mingled in the lovely garden.

Hermione gave a gasp of shock as she saw Charlie Weasley step forward with a grin on his face, wearing dress robes and looking dashing. Theo looked at him wearily as the large man held out his hand. "Welcome to the family," Charlie said eyeing him before he turned to smile down at Hermione. "You look beautiful," he said bending down to kiss her cheek.

Hermione smiled at him and hugged him. "Thank you for coming."

Charlie grunted and then turned as George showed up. "Oi, stop monopolizing the bride."

Hermione gasped and then laughed hugging the red head cheerfully and suddenly realizing who had probably let out the wolf whistle at the end of her vows. He was in deep purple dress robes. "George! How in the world?"

George sighed. "Ginny, she came and talked to us, we came and talked to your wizard and told him he would just have to put up with us, which he very smartly has decided to do."

Hermione looked around and saw that Bill and Fleur were also there as was Percy and to her shock, Ron. Harry walked over and put an arm around her smiling at her. "Didn't think he would come, did you?"

Hermione shook her head turning to look at her oldest friend. "How did you convince him to?" Hermione had not had a chance to talk to Ron as he had been in France and she hadn't thought sending an owl about all of this was wise. Harry it would seem, had gone out of his way to make sure Ron was there and she was touched.

Harry shrugged at her answering her question with an easy smile. "I didn't have to do much convincing, 'Mione. He is pretty ticked you didn't tell him about all this but he is here to support you, they all are." She felt him turn her and then gasped as she saw Neville Longbottom, Hannah Abbot, Katie Bell, Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnagan and what looked like the rest of the Order of the Phoenix."

Theo still holding her hand leaned down to kiss her and said softly. "Each one of them has threatened my life if I hurt you and demanded to be here, I think you misjudged them kitten."

Hermione looked up at her new husband and let out a small sob nodding. "I just, I didn't expect them to understand," she had told Ginny not to tell anyone about her and Theo because she just hadn't wanted to have to defend her position or to have them harass Theo before they were married, clearly, however, she had been wrong in her assumptions. Her friends were easily mingling with everyone and looked to be perfectly content to be there. She felt her eyes well up with tears and let out another happy sob.

Luna walked up and handed her a handkerchief. "Oh, Hermione, they all love you and have known how unhappy you were. Theodore makes you happy. Why wouldn't we support that? They are all going to be at my reception too." Luna, as always got right to the heart of the matter.

Hermione shook her head and laughed helplessly as Ginny walked up and glared at her. "Why are you blubbering? We have pictures to take you silly cow. Don't you dare ruin your glamor charms!"

Hermione laughed and tossed the handkerchief at her friend. "What happened to my small wedding?"

Ginny smirked. "It got infiltrated by lions."

Theo snorted at that and then shook his head pulling Hermione into his side. "You have good friends, kitten."

She looked up at him and smiled happiness pouring out of her. "We have good friends, Theo."

She saw his eyes flash and then he looked around and nodded slowly. "Yeah, I believe we do."

OooOooOooO

They ate out in the garden at beautiful tables that appeared out of thin air once they had returned from taking photographs. Theo made sure that Tuily sat at the main table with them, as well as Molly and Arthur Weasley. Hermione had been shocked to see that Theo's Uncle had shown up for the wedding although he didn't stay for the reception. Theo had spoken with him before bringing her over to meet the old wizard. The man had looked distinctly out of place but was perfectly respectful to her. She told him that he was welcome to come to dinner any night he wished, just to inform Tuily to expect him. He looked a bit surprised by the offer and softened his features before he nodded a bit stiffly and left.

Draco and Luna sat at the main table with them as did Ginny and Harry since they had been apart of the wedding party. Wine and Champagne flowed freely as everyone sat around telling war stories; the entire wedding party, after all, was a group of war survivors. What shocked her was how relaxed Draco was; Luna's doing she supposed. Blaise was sitting with Neville and Hannah and also looked at ease. She was surprised to see that Daphne Greengrass had stayed for the reception as had Marcus Flint who looked to be enraptured by Katie Bell. Minerva McGonagall held court at the table with the older order members, she was wearing Gryffindor red dress robes and had spent a good five minutes hugging Hermione gushing over how powerful the ceremony had been. Hagrid had also cried all over her causing a bit of scene; Hermione could tell that her new husband was a bit overwhelmed by the giant of a man, but Theo was very respectful, which just had Hargid blubbering more.

Ginny gave her a knowing look when they had taken their seats. "Think you will stop avoiding us now?"

Hermione flushed and ducked her head before she nodded. "I didn't mean to be so reclusive."

Ginny gave her a sigh. "We know, but we missed you."

Hermione bit her lip and then said softly. "I lost a part of me, I just couldn't stand that I had lived when so many others hadn't."

Ginny gave her a long look and shook her head her face sad. "I know, we all feel the same way. But you shouldn't have been dealing with that all on your own."

Hermione nodded and wiped at her eyes, she was crying again. "Theo saved me, I can't imagine I would have survived another year if he hadn't found me on that park bench."

Ginny wiped at her own eyes which had gone misty and smiled brightly. "You have someone to lean on now."

Hermione smiled thinking of how much Theo and she seemed to calm one another, it was something she couldn't explain properly but knew to be true. They needed each other like they needed air to breathe. If she had to put it into words she would say they completed one another. To Ginny, she said simply, "We both have someone to lean on now."

Luna chimed in her face serene. "You were destined."

Hermione turned and laughed at her eccentric friend. "Not Nargles then?"

Luna grinned and shrugged. "Oh no, you and Theo were fated."

Theo smiled at that, having tuned back into the girl's conversation, and raised his glass. "I can drink to that."

Everyone within hearing distance laughed and raised a toast.

When they were all back to talking among themselves Ginny leaned over and whispered. "What are you drinking?"

Hermione smirked and whispered back. "Apple Cider, Theo gave strict instructions to the elves not to pour me champagne."

Ginny's eyes twinkled as she passed over her glass. "I think you can have one glass of champagne on your wedding day."

Theo, however, was quicker, and without even breaking from his discussion with Harry, he took the glass away from his bride and passed it to over to Draco, who drank it in one gulp with a wink in the girl's direction. This caused Ginny to glare at the blond which in turn caused Harry, who had followed the whole exchange with a small grin, to burst out into laughter.

"Slytherin, ladies. You have to be two steps ahead of them." Harry said looking over at the two Slytherins sitting at the table.

Draco snorted at that and pointed at Ginny with his own glass of champagne. "Your wife is more Slytherin than half my house, Potter."

Ginny sat up bristling as Harry let out a bark of a laugh and George who had overheard this came over to laugh at his sisters affronted look as well.

OooOooOooO

It was gone past ten by the time Hermione and Theo arrived at their posh hotel in Paris and she laughed as he carried her over the threshold and into the room which she saw had a balcony with a gorgeous view of the Eifel Tower. Theo set her down carefully and stood just looking at her. She had taken off the veil for the reception but was still in her dress. He sighed deeply and pulled her hands up to kiss her palms. "My wife."

She grinned at him and stepped forward moving her hands to cup his face. "My husband."

Theo's eyes flashed and he pulled her into him kissing her softly. "How do I get this dress off you, kitten?"

Hermione laughed and turned around so that he could get a better look at the back of her dress. "Buttons, lots of them, and if you ruin the dress Tuily will never forgive you."

She heard his annoyed sigh and then felt his hands carefully undo the long row of buttons down her back. The dress parted and she caught it shivering as his fingers ran down the line of her spine and unhooked her bra. He turned her around and took the dress, pulling it down gently and allowing her to step out of it before he placed it over a chair. Hermione watched him as he turned and looked at her his eyes hooded with desire. She was in a garter belt and lace knickers. She saw his eyes flare as he stared at the lace covering her core.

"Ginny pick out your knickers again, kitten?"

She giggled. "Of course."

"I think I will need to send her a thank you note."

Hermione flushed and then asked. "Why am are you still dressed?"

Theo grinned at that and took off his cufflinks tossing them on her dress before he took off clothing until he was standing in Slytherin green silk boxers.

She raised an eyebrow at him and he shrugged. "Draco."

Her smile widened at that, knowing that Theo probably was just as annoyed at Draco buying him silk boxers as she had been when Ginny showed up with her white lace knickers and garter belt this morning. "Our friends have issues, why are they so obsessed with our under garments?"

Theo chuckled at that and walked forward sweeping her into his body, lifting her up and marching them over to the bed. "No idea, kitten."

Hermione sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck kissing his jaw as he lowered them onto the soft bed.

"Have I told you today how much I adore you?" He asked huskily against her collar bone.

Hermione shivered and tugged at his hair pulling his mouth up to hers. "Not in the last hour."

He smirked right back at her and started whispering to her in French, telling her how much he loved her, adored her, how long he had been waiting for her to be only his, how he couldn't wait to be a father, how thankful he was he found her. He also spoke lovingly to their child nestled in her womb. All of this was said between slow drugging kisses that caused her toes to curl.

He took off her stockings and garter belt slowly, kissing down her legs as he did. When she pulled at his silk boxers he grunted and helped her before he ripped right through her delicate silk knickers groaning as he buried his face in her hot slick core. "So wet, so hot," he said as he licked up her slit.

Hermione moaned and pulled him up her body kissing him desperately. "So ready," she whispered as she nipped his ear.

He let out a small groan and move into her tight core, his eyes closing as pure ecstasy shone on his face. "You feel so fantastic, so perfect, every time." He whispered kissing her as he settled into her.

"You don't feel so bad yourself," Hermione said on a small gasp as he bottomed out. "So deep," she moaned arching into him.

Theo grunted and moved back out slowly watching her as he did. "I keep thinking this is all a dream," he said as he stroked back in.

Hermione gripped his arms and leaned her head back as pleasure washed over her. "It's not. I never dream things this wonderful. I see your eyes when I close mine and when I am not with you, it is hard to breathe. I couldn't even begin to describe how much you make me feel when you touch me."

He chuckled and sucked at her pulse point in her neck and then he started to move at a quicker pace that made Hermione tighten around him and bath his cock in her cream and they both lost the ability to speak. When she had clenched around him for the third time Theo was unable to keep his climax back and roared as he orgasmed inside of her, panting her name and then quickly rolling over to the side so that he didn't crush her; although he moved her with him so he stayed inside her warm sheath.

Hermione was sobbing quietly into his chest from the emotion of it all.

"Did I hurt you?" He asked worriedly.

She shook her head kissing his chest. "No, it's just hormones I think. This is all so extraordinary. I never knew I could be this happy."

Theo sighed and picked up her left hand kissing the runes still shining on her wrist before he settled her hand over his heart.

"Sleep."

She sighed and wrapped up in his arms, with him still inside of her, she fell asleep. And for the first time since the war, she could remember her dreams were filled with peace and hope. The terror she had been keeping at bay for so long was gone, washed away by love.

OooOooOooOooO

Theo held onto the sleeping woman in his arms and felt a peace move through him he had never experienced before. Happiness wasn't a strong enough word for what he felt as he watched Hermione sleep so peacefully in his arms. The tension she had carried was gone, her lips were turned up in a smile, and he could just feel that something had shifted within them; as if the demons that had haunted them both for so long no longer had a hold over either of them.

He flexed his wrist and studied the runes before he closed his eyes. For the first time, Theo had no regrets, not even the dark mark on his arm that looked almost gray now as if it too was fading. His life had been hard, full of baggage and pain, but it was all worth it somehow because it had led him to this moment. This incredible moment made his past seem so small, and he would do it all again, as long as he knew that at the end of that road he got to hold this woman in his arms. He smiled and pulling her as close as he could he finally drifted off to sleep, no longer a broken man. The aftermath of his childhood and the war was no longer a bleak existence. It was his idea of heaven.

Love, her love, had made him whole

OooOooOooOooO

As the years passed Theo and Hermione raised their three children. When the day came that the two passed they did so within hours of each other and their children would remark that must have been destined; because none of them could imagine one parent without the other. The love they had seen growing up had left an impression on the children that created stories which would be passed down for generations. Without even realizing it the two lovers had passed on a legacy that would never be forgotten. The aftermath being that every Nott from that point on refused to settle for anything but a destined love like Theodore and Hermione's in their lives and would search the world to find it. Everyone wanted a love that made them feel like time stood still for it. And the portrait of the two lovers that hung at the entryway of the Nott residence in Normandy was sighed over by many a young woman and even a few of the young men who saw it. It did not matter that the painting did not move as the wizarding ones did, somehow the emotion of the two locked in an embrace with the ocean behind them seeped through the canvas and left you breathless.

Everyone wanted a love that made them feel like time stood still for it. And the portrait of the two lovers that hung at the entryway of the Nott residence in Normandy was sighed over by many a young woman and even a few of the young men who saw it. It did not matter that the painting did not move as the wizarding ones did, somehow the emotion of the two locked in an embrace with the ocean behind them seeped through the canvas and left you breathless.

Bethany Nott, looking at the portrait of her great-great grandparents told her father that if you could see happiness it was in the two lovers faces.

"I think I will give her the diary this weekend. She should enjoy reading their love story since she likes the painting so much." Henrietta Nott smiled at her husband. "That is if you can bear to part with it." Was said teasingly by the witch standing next to the man.

Henrietta Nott smiled at her husband. "That is if you can bear to part with it," Was said teasingly by the witch standing next to the man.

Samson Nott bristled at his wife but knew it was all for not. Hermione's diary was passed down to every Nott child at some point or another. Not the original, of course, the family made copies and kept the original under wards, no the children all got copies and he had treasured his. He had even gifted a copy of the diary to his wife on their wedding day.

"I can make her a copy," Samson said with a twinkle in his eye. "I am a wizard."

And so it passed that after dinner another Nott child learned how Theodore Nott had stopped to sit with a broken hearted Hermione Granger on a park bench in Muggle London, and the world had never been the same.

Bethany Nott declared the next day at breakfast that she was not going to settle for anything but a love that completed her to the amusement of her parents.

Sixteen years later she proved them right when she married her soul mate, Jasper Weasley.

The End

Notes:

Thank you all so much for going on this journey with me and my muse. I have to say that I am a huge fan of this fic, Theo is my idea of heaven for sure.

I wish to thank you all for the reviews, they really kept me going and were so inspirational. If you have finished this fic I would be very much obliged if you could leave a review to let me know if you enjoyed it. Nothing makes me happier than to receive a notification that someone read this little theomione fic.

I think eventually I will add a bonus chapter exploring Draco and Luna's reception. So if that interests you feel free to follow the fic.

Thank you again for all your support.

Cheers,
CJean