Winning Lucius

Chapter 3 Wedding of the Decade [Somebody by Depeche Mode]

Now January, Hermione reflected on the year that had past. She had become a best-selling author, touring various academies, lecture halls and bookstores worldwide. With her fame, more wizards and witches recognized her than Draco which she found thoroughly amusing. With her relationship, she and Draco connected mentally, spiritually and definitely physically. They learned compromise and retain their sense of independence. Then the biggest hurdle to their happiness, Lucius, seemed to accept her and her Muggle family, though she still wondered about his motives. All in all, she couldn't imagine life getting any better.

As she signed a multitude of books in the small bookshop in Moscow for a line of witches and wizards, she yelped as her chair suddenly tilted back. Warm lips caught her in an impassioned kiss that sent thrills down her spine. "I love you," Draco whispered against her neck as he gave her a butterfly kiss in just the right spot. He had just joined her from London.

After an hour of signing more books while Draco busied himself buying books, they went to dinner in a small family restaurant in the underground shopping area. Once they finished dinner, they strolled through the warm shopping area catching glimpses of the bitter cold outside. Few witches and wizards attended now due to the late hour.

At the Ravkyn Fountain which featured a ten foot tall representation of a golden apple tree with an orange and yellow firebird perched on top, whose golden plumage cascaded the length of the tree, Draco held a wooden coin. "Legend has it that if you toss a wooden coin into the fountain, your fondest wish will be revealed," he said then tossed the coin in. Moments after it plunked into the water, fiery orange and yellow lettering appeared above the water, "Hermione Malfoy." She then turned towards him. On bent knee, he proposed. "Hermione, I love you with all my soul. Would you grant my fondest desire and become my wife?"

"Yes," she exclaimed with tears of joy.

"I promise that I will do everything in my power to ensure that you and our future family will always be happy." He then slipped a stunning engagement ring with a rectangular green emerald embedded in a large diamond setting on a white gold band.

As he slipped the ring on her finger, she knew her wonderful life just got better.

The engagement commenced upholding all the Malfoy traditions including the ring. The ladies of each family planned what Lucius figured to be the wedding of the decade, blending both families' traditions, with over 400 guests. Sadly, they deemed it necessary to have a contingent of Aurors since some wizards and witches strongly objected to the union while some skeptics figured it to be a hoax for publicity.

The big day came upon them. Lucius would preside over the ceremony, officially allowing a new addition to the family. He sought his son an hour before the ceremony to ensure everything was well. He sat in a small room of the cathedral, pale and nervous, amongst several newspapers and letters. "Draco," he said as he sat next to him. "Everything will be fine. Everyone gets the wedding jitters."

"It's not that," he confided. "Look at all these." He held up several letters. "They're threats. I don't care if they come after me but if they ever harm Hermione." He crumpled the letters, throwing them on the floor angrily.

He saw a flash of anger in the now catlike veela eyes of his son. Lucius picked up a few letters and read them. "They're all unsigned because these people are too afraid to do anything. They are only idle threats." He took his son's shoulders and looked him. "As head of this family, I promise you that if anyone threatens Hermione, they will know my wrath first hand."

Draco sat down with a sigh of relief. "They won't leave us alone," he stated dejectedly as he looked at several wizard newspapers. "They'll follow us on our honeymoon. I'm sure of it."

"I made arrangements," he assured him. "You will be left alone. I promise." That seemed to calm him even more. "You'll both be staying at the manor tonight and join us for breakfast tomorrow before you depart?"

"Of course, Father. It's tradition. Just make it a late breakfast. Though I don't agree with the tradition of not seeing my bride for two weeks before the wedding, I abided by it. Whoever came up with that one should be cursed."

"My son, underexposure ensures that the bride won't change her mind. Malfoy men are very difficult to live with."

Hammered dulcimer and organ music resounded within the immense gothic cathedral, later replicated in the form of the Cologne Cathedral, signaling the commencement of the wedding ceremony. The scent of Tunisian White Musk filled it along with the scent of Azaleas in a rainbow of colors that adorned the immense gothic cathedral. Warm light from a plethora of candles illuminated the interior in a soft glow. Lucius, wearing the traditional head of family robes of black and green with the Malfoy family crest etched in silver on his back, marched along the silver carpet as it unrolled one meter above the floor, followed by his son and his son's groomsmen. Guests of both sides flanked them, uttering a din of Latin and English blessings as the groom passed.

At the altar, Lucius stood to the right of the priestess, while his son stood in front of him, one step below. The groom's black velvet, green satin lined cape that Draco wore, bore in silver thread, the symbols of all the Malfoy brides since the establishment of the Malfoy line centuries prior while the Malfoy family crest, stitched in green, adorned its lapels. The shadows of the Aurors who flew overhead reflected through the stained glass windows. Then the candles glowed peach, signaling that the bride would soon approach. Lucius quietly imparted the wisdom his son desperately needed to hear, "Breathe."

Soon the bridal music commenced. The bridesmaids preceded down the aisle in satin & chiffon silver, off the shoulder, medieval style gowns, followed by the flower girl and ring bearer wearing off white outfits. Draco gasped when he saw Hermione in her wedding dress: a white medieval styled, off the shoulder, satin based dress, inlaid in light silvery gauzy chiffon and long handkerchief sleeves, cuffed with peach macramé cord which also laced the corset. Silver and peach inlays adorned the dress in its entirety along with her veil.

At the altar, her father lifted her veil and placed her hand in Draco's. Then the couple turned to Lucius. "Father, I present to you, Hermione Granger, the woman that I love with all my soul. As head of this family, please allow her to become my wife."

"Miss Granger, do you wish to marry my son?"

"Yes," she answered.

"Do you love my son?"

"With all my soul," she replied.

"Do you promise to be a loyal member of the Malfoy family and swear to uphold its traditions?"

"Yes," she answered.

"The Malfoy family welcomes you," he said as he kissed her forehead. "My son," he turned to Draco, "you may take Miss Granger as your bride." Then he slipped a silver silken cord over their clenched hands and secured it loosely with a clasp bearing the family crest.

The priestess then continued the ceremony with traditional Muggle wedding vows. Afterwards, when the couple retreated down the aisle, the guests threw Açaí seeds, which symbolized happiness, prosperity and fertility. A lively reception with food and dance followed.

Early in the morning after the big day, Lucius reflected on recent events. At first, during the end of his prison sentence, he accepted Hermione as a friend due to her devotion and simply for the fact that he had none. Later, he accepted Hermione as an even closer acquaintance because he had to, knowing his son's love for her and Narcissa's feelings as well. Further, he knew their children would be powerful wizards thus increasing the prominence of the Malfoy name. During their engagement, Hermione expressed an interest in cataloging all the old forgotten spells, potions, books and other magical items, once she found out that practically a warehouse of such had been unceremoniously dumped into one of the chambers beneath Malfoy Manor. Fearing what she might do with them, Lucius helped. A couple of months later, after several hours of cataloging and conversion each week, a most startling thing happened. In his heart, he fully accepted her as part of the family, his new daughter.

At brunch, he and Narcissa welcomed their new daughter. They presented the couple a portkey with a card noting their destination of Tahiti. They beamed with excitement. "Thank you so much. This is wonderful."

"You will not be disturbed," he assured them. "Enjoy your two weeks." They enjoyed a few bites of breakfast. "Hermione, you may not be aware of this, but the Board of Governors enjoys a luncheon each month on the 15^th. The even months are for father and son as Draco can attest." He nodded. "The odd months are father and daughter. Since this coming month is an odd one, I expect you to join me at noon," he firmly stated, "please."

The couple looked at each other and then him in astonishment. "Of course," she answered, "Mr. Malfoy."

"Thank you," he replied. "This is not to be disrespectful to your real father, but I wish you to call me father as well. If you are uncomfortable with that because we are not blood related," he stated with a slightly perturbed feeling, "then maybe you may call me Father Malfoy and likewise for your new mother." The entire family stopped mid bite and looked at him in astonishment.

"Thank you. I prefer father and mother." She smiled at his acceptance of her.

"Excellent," he stated with gratitude. "Furthermore, please extend an invite to your parents to dine with us on Sundays since our families are now united."

They bade the couple farewell. Narcissa then thanked him profusely for being so wonderful. Lucius knew the inevitable uniting of the families and accepted it. However, he ensured that all knew he was in charge and he ran things as he saw fit. They would be united, successful and highly prominent.

Next enjoy Tahitian Treat - a naughty little honeymoon ditty

1