When the Stars Fall

FIFTEEN: A Formal Ceremony at the Insistence of Professor Snape

The big day was fast approaching. Time shot by so quickly that Hermione found herself missing the time turner she'd had during her third year. Thankfully her last detention with Snape only lasted a few hours that seemed to be over in a blink of an eye. All she had to do was make skele-gro and Veritaserum, and Snape hardly spared a glance at the sleek white ferret that accompanied her. The ferret was also present during her meetings with Professor McGonagall to discuss the upcoming ceremony. Hermione hardly recalled anything discussed in McGonagall's office, since it all seemed to pass in a blur.

She could clearly recall the meeting she had with Professor Snape a few days after her detention, though. She'd received a summons with a shaky hand and a lump forming in her throat. She descended the stairs to the dungeon with rabid butterflies twitching in her stomach. Her only source of comfort was the ferret perched on her shoulders. She'd knocked on the door and Snape had growled, "Enter!"

She jumped at the sound of Snape's voice, disturbing the ferret perched on her shoulders. Once in the room, she sat down, and the ferret crawled down her left arm to curl up comfortably in her lap.

Snape looked at the ferret, with a smirk twisting his lips, and said, "How quaint. He even accompanies you to meetings. Tell me, Mrs. Malfoy, did he help with the brewing of the skele-gro and Veritaserum, that you made last Thursday evening?"

"No," Hermione answered as she stroked the delicate spine of the creature in her lap. "He has insisted on accompanying me everywhere since..."

"The boggart? My, my, how...admirable. The adoring husband protecting his wife. Do forgive me for my lack of emotional expression," Snape's monotone dripped with sarcasm.

The fur on the ferret's back rose in anger as he looked at Snape, almost as though he were glaring at the man. Snape just glanced at the creature and sighed wearily.

"Very well, Draco, I'll drop the formality and exchange of compliments. Now calm yourself. I've never given an animal a detention. If I started now, it might be frowned upon."

Hermione raised her eyebrows noting the dry humor and then asked, "Sir, why was I summoned here?"

Snape sighed again. "I cannot overlook the ceremony; so the headmaster will overlook it. I will be standing as friend and patron for Draco. Now Hermione, who will be standing for you?"

She looked at him and furrowed her brow in thought. "Well, Harry is giving me away, but as far as someone standing for me... I suppose Ginny Weasley, if she will agree. She's really the only girl I would consider a true friend. May I ask why you can't overlook the ceremony, sir?"

"You have asked, but I am not obligated to give you the answer," Snape snapped and then looked up in annoyance. "I apologize for the outburst, but that is rather a personal matter that I have no intention of explaining with anyone, let alone you or your little pet."

The ferret's fur bristled again, but settled down when Hermione gingerly stroked him under his chin. The little creature made a pleased chirruping sound and flickered his tongue against her fingers. Hermione smiled and Snape watched in fascination. It was odd how those simple moments seemed to mean so much to the young couple before him, even with Draco in animal form they seemed to be able to read each other, almost unconsciously. Even he couldn't penetrate Draco's mind while the boy was in ferret form.

"While you continue to mollycoddle your husband, I'll get to business. Albus, as I've already mentioned will overlook the ceremony, and I assume your parents will be in attendance as well. Albus has already made those preparations. Oh, and Hermione, Minerva has volunteered to stand as your matron for the ceremony, as your mother cannot under the circumstances," Snape said and then he sighed. "And Albus has also insisted upon a ball after the ceremony. Honestly, that old man would use any occasion for a ball. I assume you will attend this, what is the muggle word for it...reception?"

Hermione's eyes widened as her body stiffened. "A ball? I suppose if it's required. Is that all?"

"Yes, that is all. You are dismissed, and is he all right? I do not have any intention of cleaning up fur balls in my office," Snape sneered.

Hermione looked at the ferret in her lap, and noticed that he indeed looked sickly. She cradled the creature in her arms and stood up.

"I'm sure he'll be fine. I'll just go now," She answered nervously.

Snape stopped her, rummaged in his desk and pulled out a small vial. "When he's in human form, give him this if he is still nauseous."

The girl took the vial with a shaky hand, put it in her pocket, and then helped the ferret settle back across her shoulders. The animal was unusually limp as though he were sick. Something had most certainly changed in the creature.

"Certainly, Prof..." At his look she said, "Severus. I really don't know if I'll ever get used to calling you that, sir."

He rolled his eyes and then pointed to the door. Hermione took that cue as her exit and left. Within a few minutes she was in the Gryffindor common room, after having taken the ferret up to her room. She'd left him there, and a few minutes later Draco had emerged to join her in the common room. Draco had taken up a game of wizard chess with Ron, who was surprised to note that Malfoy was actually a fairly decent opponent, much better than Harry or Hermione, while Hermione searched the common room for one, Ginny Weasley.

Hermione finally losing patience went over to Harry to ask if he knew about Ginny's whereabouts, and he directed her to the sixth year girls' dormitory. Hermione thanked him and then went up the stairs to see Ginny.

At the door she took a few deep breaths to steady herself and then knocked. At the sound of Ginny's voice Hermione opened the door and stepped into the room. Ginny was lying on her stomach on her bed, twirling a quill in her hand and looking over some parchment, lost in thought. Hermione cleared her throat and the girl looked up. Hermione smiled when she noticed the large lump of ginger colored fur on Ginny's pillow. It was obvious that Crookshanks was content. Hermione returned her attention to the fiery redhead that was glaring at her.

"Ginny..." Hermione began awkwardly and then sighed, "I need to ask you a favor."

Ginny looked at her snorted, "I don't think I owe you anything after what you did to Ron. Especially over some ruddy git like Malfoy."

"How can I make you understand that I care about Draco? No. That's not why I'm here," Hermione spoke softly. "Look, I need someone to stand for me during the ceremony. And you're the only girl I've ever really considered a friend. I know how you feel about Draco, but it would mean a lot to me if you would stand for me. Please, Ginny, look past him and do this for me."

The red haired girl's brown eyes widened as she looked at Hermione, "After all those things I said, you still say I'm your friend? You really want me to stand for you in your wedding?"

Hermione couldn't suppress the laugh as Ginny stared at her with her mouth gaping open like a codfish, "Honestly, you seem so surprised. Besides I couldn't stand Lavender or Parvati standing there giggling through such a very serious moment in my life, and I care for you like a sister. Things haven't changed between us that much, have they?"

Ginny tossed her quill aside, jumped off the bed, ran over to Hermione, and threw her arms around the older girl. The youngest Weasley had tears in her eyes.

"Oh, 'Mione, does he make you happy? What is it about him?"

A wicked smile spread across the older girl's lips, "Well, he does the most amazing thing with his tongue when he kisses me..."

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Down in the common room Harry went over to where Ron and Malfoy were playing chess. He looked at the two in surprise, wondering how this civility between the two had come about. He noticed the smirk on Malfoy's face as the blond said, "Checkmate."

Ron's face burned in defeat as he looked at the chessboard in shock. Malfoy had really beaten him! "Now, wait a tick! How did you do that?"

"Well if you really must know," Malfoy paused for dramatic effect, before continuing, "You shouldn't have used your bishop to save your knight. Really, it's been fun. Maybe you should stick to playing with Potty, he seems to be good at losing wizard's chess."

Suddenly Malfoy looked up, "Well, speaking of Potty, here he is. Say, do you know where Hermione is?"

"Went off to look for Ginny. I think there up in the sixth year girls' dormitory," Harry answered and then said, "Look, Malfoy, um, Draco, since we're on such friendly terms maybe we could use first names."

"And miss out on calling you Potty and him Weasel? I wouldn't dream of it!" Malfoy said with a smirk.

Ron shook his head and began to reset the chessboard, "Ferret boy, you set for a rematch?"

"Naw, you got Potty here for that. I'm off to find my wife," Malfoy answered, with little offense to the Ferret boy comment, which he'd somehow gotten used to in the past couple of weeks.

Harry grabbed Malfoy by the arm and said, "How'd it go with Snape, the big day is in two days? What he'd have to say?"

"Oh, that? Nothing really, except... Well, for some reason unknown he can't over look the ceremony, so Dumbledore will, but Snape will be standing as my friend and patron. Oh, and McGonagall is standing as Hermione's matron, and I think Hermione is going to ask Ginny to stand as her friend, and that would make Ginny one of the ring holders."

"Poor 'Mione, not having her mum as her matron, must be tough with her parents being muggles and not being able to be a part of the ceremony. They are coming though aren't they?" Ron asked.

Malfoy nodded. "Yes, Richard and Penelope Granger will be attending our second wedding. I have to admit I'm rather fond of Hermione's parents. Rich can be somewhat intimidating at first, but Penny is absolutely divine and she loves bringing out the family albums. Why, there is the funniest picture of Hermione that her mum loves showing off. Hermione used to be quite the little exhibitionist..."

"Hermione?" Harry and Ron spoke simultaneously in shock.

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Two days later Hermione and Ginny were in Minerva McGonagall's rooms with Penelope Granger, Molly Weasley, and McGonagall herself, fussing over them. Hermione was wearing the lavender dress she'd worn for her first ceremony with Draco. Molly was looking at the dress that Minerva had transfigured for Ginny, it was identical to Hermione's except it was a pale shade of green, and the color seemed to suit Ginny.

Penelope Granger was busy fussing over arranging her daughter's unruly curls into a soft French twist with a few ringlets dangling down to frame her face, While McGonagall put the finishing touches on the wreath of white rosebuds that Esmerelda Sprout had craftily woven together for Hermione.

Soon both girls were ready in their matching gowns, with the hair swept up and Hermione's wreath in place. Molly had managed to weave in a few rose buds into Ginny's hair, but only the intended bride was meant to have a wreath on her head.

Hermione reached up and touched the moonstone pendant that hung from a delicate silver chain around her neck and then looked Ginny.

"You do have the ring don't you?" she asked anxiously.

Just then Molly smiled and handed Ginny the ring that had been sitting on the McGonagall's end table. Hermione let out a deep breath and almost laughed. Penelope Granger looked at the ring that the youngest Weasley was admiring and her breath caught. It was a ring meant for a man, the band was woven in Celtic knots and was set with a polished red-orange stone. It was a lovely piece.

"Oh, Hermione, wherever did this ring come from?" her mother asked.

Hermione blushed. "Someone reopened Draco's Gringotts' account, and he used the money to get the rings when we were in Diagon Alley. The stones are Carnelian, wishing stones. I have a ring similar to it, or at least I will after the ceremony."

"It's stunning. Oh, honey, I'm so glad I get to see this wedding. Your first one was a bit of a shock, but now that we know Draco, I couldn't imagine you with anyone else. Of course, don't tell Draco that, your father's bent on striking fear into the heart of your husband, as well you know. I only hope I don't make a spectacle of myself," Penelope said, with tears forming behind her eyes.

She pulled her daughter into a tight embrace and kissed her forehead. Hermione returned her mother's hug, and they parted with laughter as Mrs. Weasley sighed and sniffled, trying to hold back the onslaught of tears that were threatening every moment.

"Oh, I never would have imagined I would be happy to be at a Malfoy wedding, but oh, its such a glorious night, and I couldn't imagine a more blushing bride. I can't wait until my own Ginny gets on with marital bliss," and with that her tears broke through.

Even McGonagall looked a bit misty eyed before she said, "Well, honestly! We should be heading out now, its almost time. The moon has already started to rise. And soon they'll be looking for us."

Molly Weasley and Penelope Granger left to take their seats, and Minerva, dressed in pale orange robes led the way to the ceremony. The two girls followed her, out of the school and toward the lake, where rows and rows of chairs were filled with the Hogwarts staff and students, as well as Hermione's parents. The gathering was surrounded by fairy lights and everyone turned as the sound of music filled the air. Hermione noticed Albus standing before everyone, dressed in purple robes, but before she could look around for anyone else Harry took her arm. She looked at him in surprise and her eyes widened at how he was dressed. He was wearing a beige shirt made of silk with a collar that laced up and tied like tennis shoes. He was wearing a pair of dark brown suede trousers, and his feet were bare. He looked like something from a romance novel.

"Harry?" she asked.

He smiled sheepishly at her, "It wasn't my idea, but judging by your reaction and Ginny's I'd say I don't look like a silly arse in this get up."

Hermione shook her head and stifled her laughter. If she began laughing she doubted if she would be able to stop. Ginny only stared at Harry. McGonagall had to turn around and glare at Ginny, before Ginny began the walk to the platform where Albus, and more importantly the groom, waited. Ginny walked slowly across the grass. Ron looked at his sister with his mouth hanging open, wondering when she had become a girl. He was going to be beating off a lot of guys for his baby sister from then on. His mother proceeded to shut his mouth for him and shook her head.

Ginny settled by McGonagall and a few minutes later Harry began to walk Hermione to the platform. Hermione looked at the platform and her eyes immediately strayed to Draco. He was dressed similarly to Harry with a white shirt and black suede trousers instead of the beige and brown of Harry's attire, and then Hermione chanced a glance and Snape and did a double take. He was wearing a green silk shirt like Harry's and Draco's and black suede trousers. They were all barefoot, as the ceremony required. Hermione quickly returned her gaze to Draco and he was watching her with a look of awe.

Finally Harry and Hermione reached the platform, and Albus asked, "And who gives this lovely young woman away?"

Harry took a deep breath and said, "Her family and I do, sir."

Albus' eyes twinkled as Harry kissed Hermione's cheek, presented her before everyone, and then took his seat. Albus' eyes continued to twinkle as he noticed how the groom was looking at the blushing bride. It was so lovely to see two young people come together. Severus Snape, having little patience cleared his throat and Albus shook his head, and began the ceremony.

"All are gathered this wondrous night to witness a most special occasion. The joining of two people is a most joyous occasion and is not to be entered into lightly, as I am sure our young couple know. So, under the light of this full moon we bear witness to the joining of Draco Severus Marvolo Malfoy and Hermione Jane Granger Malfoy. As there are no objections to this joining, we shall proceed."

There was a stir where the Slytherins sat, but at the glare that Snape sent in that direction the stir died down immediately.

Albus twinkled even more as he turned to Draco. "Do you, Draco, take this woman, in times of mirth and sorrow, illness and in health, wealth and in poverty?"

Draco looked at Hermione and taking the ring that Severus Snape held out to him, took her left hand, slipped the ring onto her ring finger and said, "I do."

Albus nodded and then turned to Hermione. "Do you, Hermione, take this man, in times of mirth and sorrow, illness and in health, wealth and in poverty?"

Hermione looked at Draco and took the ring that Ginny pressed into her right hand, then took the ring and slipped it on the left ring finger of Draco's hand and said softly, "I do."

Albus smiled and then said, "I believe you have vows that you wish to repeat."

Hermione looked at Albus Dumbledore in confusion and then to Draco, as Snape handed him a white handled dagger and Draco began to speak:

"By light and witness of the moon this night, I promise to you my blood, my heart, my life. I bind myself to you and you alone, and to you and you alone, all my grievances I atone. Beneath this moon I give myself fully unto you."

With that he brought the blade of the dagger across his left palm and then handed the dagger to Hermione. She looked at him, tears forming behind her eyes as she smiled and then spoke, "By light and witness of the moon this night, I promise to you my blood, my heart, my life. I bind myself to you and you alone, and to you and you alone, all my grievances I atone. Beneath this moon I give myself fully unto you."

She took the dagger stained with his blood and brought the blade across her left palm. She hardly winced at the pain. The young couple then joined their left hands the wounds joined and their blood mingled. Three drops of the mingled blood dripped from their hands to the ground and then Albus took a long white ribbon that Minerva held out to him. Hermione looked at the ribbon and recognized it immediately. It was the ribbon from their first ceremony. Albus wrapped it thrice around Hermione's arm and then thrice around Draco's arm, his eyes twinkling brighter than all the stars in the sky.

Hermione and Draco looked into each other's eyes and then spoke together, "By light and witness of the moon this night, see this now, our blood joins, our hearts beat with the same power, and our souls entwine. Let us fight the shadows and live to find happiness in the cleansing light of sun, stars, and moon and we pray this to be divine."

The ribbon began to glow silver again, as it did before. The couple drew closer until their lips met and then in a flash of light the ribbon began to dissolve into a thick rich silver liquid that flowed to the couple's joined hands, and then disappeared into the wounds. As the couple parted they looked at their left palms and noticed the wounds was gone and in its place was a silver scar.

The couple was disturbed from their confused reverie by the sobs of one Mrs. Weasley. They turned to see Arthur Weasley trying to console his happily crying wife, and then the couple's eyes fell on Hermione's parents. Hermione smiled at her mother, noticing the tears in her eyes, and then looked at her father who seemed to beam with pride.

Suddenly Dumbledore clapped his hands and got everyone's attention. "All first, second, and third years are to return to their respected common rooms, and as for the rest of you, I believe there is a reception that awaits us in Great Hall."