A/N: I've been getting a lot of reviews regarding, "why did you do this? Why did you use these characters...how can Draco be ...etc etc." Well. For starters this story was pretty OOC from the beginning. 2. I wrote this when I was sixteen and Order of the Phoenix was just coming out that summer. So a few character suggestions were not even introduced into my realm or else I'm sure I would have likely used them. 3. I was 16, young and naive and hopefully believing that even the worst people had the ability to change and be good people (which many don't by the way). 4. In all honesty, my writing was rather poor. Compared to anything else I've worked on since. Fanfic or otherwise. Sorry this is long and I digress. I just would like to have an ending to this story. To those who still like it. Thanks. Just shows I'm not completely inept at writing something that someone likes. And lastly sorry about how this format looks. I could not get to load up my docx file properly or format it with Html or any of the other dozen ways. So forgive the X'S. I've been trying to upload this chapter for two days...and to the question of the betas. They weren't that common when I started this and chapters 1-11 definitely show it. I still don't have a beta and I figured I might as well just finish this on my own. Besides, I wouldn't even have a clue how to go about finding one in the first place. I feel like a parent with an iphone in their hand.
Learning to Love
Chapter 14
By Alyssa
"I'm surprised that you asked me to be such a big part of your ceremony."
"Well, my last maid of honour is insane."
"Really how so?"
"She tried to kill my two best friends because she was in love with one of them. But he was in love with my other best friend."
"Aren't both your best friend's guys?"
"Yes."
Hermione sat patiently in the Salon getting her hair done, while talking to her cousin Daniella.
"I hope she's in St. Mungos," replied Daniella as the hair stylist fashioned her hair into ringlets.
"Oh, for a long time," replied Hermione as she wrung her hands nervously, "I'm getting married today."
"Yes you are. Again," said Daniella as she fiddled through the pages of 'Wizard Weekly'.
"Didn't count the first time as I was repulsed by the idea," Hermione looking at herself in the mirror smiling at the reflection. This day was going to be much different from the first wedding.
"And you're not today?" she asked.
"Not in the least. Not that I would have ever guessed that I would marry Draco Malfoy in the first place. I just never thought that I'd be unbelievably happy about the idea," answered Hermione she softly touched one of the ringlets of her hair, "and now I just can't wait."
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Hermione stood in front of the mirror looking over herself in her wedding gown. It was the same simple ivory gown she'd tried on with Harry. From her ears hung sapphire earrings that she had borrowed from Mrs. Weasley which were a family heirloom taking care of something borrowed, old and blue.
"He's going to faint when he see's you 'Mione," said a voice from behind her.
"Ron, I doubt that very much," she said turning around to face her best friend.
"I nearly fainted," said Ron giving her a hug, "you are the most beautiful woman in the world today."
"You don't think he's going to go running away screaming from me?" said Hermione in a small voice.
"He'd have to be a bigger idiot than I already think he is to do that," answered Ron as she swatted his arm.
"Hey, that's my husband you're talking about," said Hermione pointing at his face.
"Well you can't expect me to play nice all the time," replied Ron giving her a sassy smirk.
Hermione rolled her eyes, "I'm so nervous Ron. Standing in front of all those people, most of them surprised as hell that we have a child, let alone that I want to spend the rest of my life with him."
"'Mione. When you two stand up there and he reads his vows to you, there won't be a person left in the room who won't believe that man will spend his entire life devoted to making you happy," said Ron turning to leave, "the ceremony is going to start soon, so I have to go take my spot now. I love you Hermione."
"I love you too Ron."
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"One last thing before the wedding," said Harry startling her, standing in the same place Ron had been just moments before. He opened a black box with a simple diamond bracelet that he clasped about her wrist.
"Something new. From Ron and I," said Harry kissing her on the cheek, "we'll be in the front row smiling up at you. So don't run away."
"That's not funny!" said Hermione with a laugh as Harry retreated towards the door, "thanks. Love you Harry."
"Love you too 'Mione."
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She couldn't believe how full the church looked as she stood at the end of the aisle, her arm looped through her father's. She knew how many people would be coming, but before she had trouble visualizing it. Now she could see how many people really were there. She took a nervous breath as Canon in D started to play.
"You ready?" her father asked as he looked over at her.
"Yeah I think so," said Hermione as they descended down the aisle.
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"If anyone had told me that I would be here, standing in a room full of our family and friends marrying you, I would have told them they needed to up their dosage," said Draco nervously as he started to read his vows, "and I think you would have said the same to any of your friends. But I'm glad that we're both wrong. And even if the way we got together was less than perfect, I wouldn't trade it for the world. Because I get to marry the most beautiful person I've ever met and the mother of my daughter. There isn't much in this world I wouldn't do for you. I'd even spend a weekend with Harry and Ron if you asked. But they didn't call you the smartest witch of our class for no reason."
Draco paused a second for the few laughs he expected. Visibly nervous, he continued, "I just feel so lucky that even though I've been the world's biggest prat for such a long time, I get to have you. To sleep next to you every night and grow old with you. And you're not repulsed by the idea and you accept me with all my many faults. I love you and I'm going to spend the rest of my life making sure you always know that."
Hermione cleared her throat, wiping away a few tears that had escaped, as the minister nodded to her to recite her vows.
"I love you and that's all I can really say," she started, "because I knew you were going to recite yours first and say everything I wanted to say because we're in sync like that. Because even though we're the most unlikely couple, we came together and overcame obstacles neither one of us expected. I want the things you said you want and I can't wait to watch our daughter grow up together and see all our hopes and dreams for her come true. I love you and I would never make you spend a weekend with Harry and Ron alone."
Hermione smiled at her husband as a few tears fell from her face with a wide smile on her face.
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"I now pronounce you husband and wife...again."
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"I remember when Hermione told me she was married to this prat," started Harry, "well I guess I don't have you tell you as most of you read about it in the newspaper."
Harry was standing up with a mic at the head table, "I thought there wasn't anything worse I could ever hear. But I was wrong and it turned out that people can grow up. Mostly. This bloke here loves 'Mione and makes her happy. And that makes me happy. So cheers to the happy couple." He raised his glass to the sound of clinking around the room.
"You know Draco, you are not so bad as we thought. I knew from the first time we talked in a reasonable manner that you would cherish our 'Mione," said Ron taking his turn to toast, "I'm glad to call you my pseudo brother-in-law. Cheers mate. You got the best."
Ron passed the mic to Hermione as she stood up to give her toast, "I never thought I'd ever be able to stand you, let alone marry you. Twice. But I did and even though things weren't peachy. I learned that you can love anyone in the right circumstances. You can't judge a book by its cover. You have to read the first few chapters before you make up your mind."
Draco stood up taking the mic from his wife, "I'm glad you liked to read me. Now I think we should stop talking so I can kiss my wife."
He put the mic down on the table, giving his wife a passionate kiss to the whoops and cheers of their family and friends.
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Ten Years later...
"Mom," asked Anna as she was packing her trunk for Hogwarts.
"Yes love?" said Hermione as she folded her clothes on the bed.
"How did you and dad meet? I've never thought to ask," said Anna as she carefully put her textbooks in her trunk.
"Yes mommy tell us!" said Tereza bounding into the bedroom.
"Umm...Draco," yelled Hermione out the door, "can you get in here?"
"Where's the fire?" asked Draco coming into the bedroom, leaning against the wall.
"Your daughter would like to know how we met," said Hermione as she continued to fold her daughter's clothes.
"Why are you guys making this so mysterious?" asked Anna as she stuffed her clothes in the trunk.
"We met at Hogwarts," started Draco.
"And fell in love?" Anna asked.
"No," both Hermione and Draco said in unison.
"We couldn't stand each other."
"She was an insufferable know it all."
"And he was a git. Completely pretentious."
"So Dad, how did you guys ever get together?" asked Anna, her voice laced with surprise. Her parents had always seemed hopelessly in love with each other.
"When you're older we'll tell you the whole story," said Draco patting his daughter's head.
"How much older?" asked Anna, cocking her eyebrow.
"Have you heard about the birds and the bees?"
"No."
"We'll discuss it when you know and it's the last thing you ever want to discuss with your parents."
"When will that be?"
"Hopefully a long time from now."
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A/N: Sorry for having two of these. I had originally just written this one.
Well that's the end. I finally finished this story. Sorry if this seems short. I really didn't know how to write the ending for this story that no longer feels like mine. I hope you enjoyed it. I did enjoy writing every chapter, even if they do make me wish I had written them better. But we're all older now, wiser and I hope I've grown as a writer. I have another story I've had sitting on the back burner because it's darker and I wanted to finish this one before I started another story. But perhaps I'm not really cut out for HP fanfics anymore. Too many characters now (most of whom are dead) and I haven't read a HP book since GOF and half of OOTP because I get too frustrated with Umbridge. So maybe I'll see you guys again soon. Please Review, I really do enjoy everything you guys send me. It brightens up my day.
Thanks for reading my story and being patient. I know this story took a really long time. I really appreciate you guys for sticking around. Thanks for everything. You guys are why I love writing.
Alyssa