Obligations

Lucius swept his new bride around the room to the elegant waltz being played by the band, his eyes never leaving her sparkling brown ones. Again, he began to forget about all the guests around him and focused solely on the woman in his arms. She was gazing back at him in wonder. The dance ended as quickly as it had started, and the bride and groom had ceased dancing. Lucius and Ella were still transfixed on the other, until a new, lighter song began and jolted them out of their enchantment. Lucius' typical Malfoy coldness returned, and he quickly let go of Ella and, avoiding her eyes, returned to Severus and Goyle. Ella was left standing alone on the dance floor, still staring at Lucius' retreating figure. Hermione and Samantha stood on the edge, watching Ella with looks of concern. Finally, Hermione came out on the floor and gently took her arm.

"Ella? The dance is over. You can come back now," said Hermione. Ella looked at Hermione, her face still full of surprise.

"Huh? Oh yes, of course!" she giggled nervously, and followed Hermione back to where Samantha was standing, but not without a glance behind her shoulder at her husband. The three girls were walking over to the punch table, when Ginny's magnified voice boomed in their ears.

"Okay everyone, I think it's time for the bride to throw the bouquet and the groom to throw the garter!! Ella and Lucius, come back out here!" Ginny said gleefully.

Aria ran up to Ella and handed her the bouquet of white roses. She took a deep breath, and walked back out to the middle of the dance floor. A crowd of girls had gathered (including Hermione, Samantha and Ginny ) and Ella laughed to herself as she watched the girls fighting to get to the front of the group. Again, she met Lucius in the middle. He watched her, and she him, as she turned around, her back at the crowd of girls.

"One...Two...THREE!" she yelled and threw the bouquet over head and whirled around just in time to see Draco Malfoy's look of shock as the flowers sailed smoothly into his hands. Ella began to laugh uncontrollably and the guests joined her as Draco continued to look around at everyone in shock.

Ron had been sipping punch at the time, which proceeded to shoot out his nose, and Harry was torn between laughing at Draco and laughing at Ron. Hermione and Sam were gasping in between giggles and Ginny was holding her sides in hilarious pain.

But most surprising of all, Lucius had a genuine half-smile on his face, watching both his son and his wife. He realized how much he enjoyed the sound of her laugh. Ginny pulled out her wand, still gasping from laughter, and pointed it at her throat once more.

"All right, all right everyone. It's time for the groom to throw the garter. It's tradition for the best man to kneel down on the floor for the bride to rest her foot on while the groom removes the garter. As there are two best men in this case, they will have to make a decision. So, who will it be? Draco? Professor Snape?" questioned Ginny.

Severus lifted his eyebrows indignantly, but Draco, eager to get past the previous incident, came forward quickly and knelt down on all fours. Ella gingerly placed her heeled foot onto Draco's back. Lucius paused for a moment, and then knelt down as well. He carefully lifted the hem of Ella's dress and ran his hand sensually up her leg, while the men in the crowd wolf-whistled. For the third time that day, they locked eyes as Lucius gently, delicately slipped his finger under the lacy garter, and paused, listening to Ella's breath catching in her throat. Then, he slowly slipped the garter down, with one hand, leaving the other holding the back of her thigh. Finally, he reached her ankle and slipped it quickly off her foot, smirking at his wife's reaction. Ella quickly removed her foot from Draco's back, and Draco got up and joined the group of men. Lucius gracefully turned his back to the men, and flung the garter behind his head, where it proceeded to land squarely on Severus' head. His trademark scowl appeared and he yanked it off of his head. Much to everyone's surprise, he smiled slightly and pocketed the lacy garter. Most of the guests laughed again, but Hermione, Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Draco all stared at their Potions Master in shock. Ron was looking a little green in the face. Ella turned to Hermione and Sam.

"Did someone seriously spike the punch?" she asked, dumbfounded.

"I hope to goodness someone did," replied Hermione fervently.

Soon after, the reception was over. Ella stood at the door, bidding the guests farewell, as house elves began to magic the mess up. Lucius was still chatting with Severus and Draco, while Ron and Hermione were still dancing on the floor. Ella's siblings were talking and playing with Ginny. Finally, all the guests had gone, and Ella sighed a breath of relief. She removed her silk gloves and slumped into a plush chair and closed her eyes. A moment later, someone touched her on the shoulder. She opened her eyes to see Lucius standing over her.

"My dear, I believe it's time to go," he spoke. Ella's stomach jumped at his words. Oh! I forgot! The wedding night! She thought. She nodded and took the hand he offered and pulled herself to her feet.

"Well, everyone, thank you so much for being a part of the wedding. It means so much to me," Ella replied warmly to her friends and family. Her brothers and sisters came up and hugged her goodbye. They would be staying with her grandparents, who would be moving into her home, while she moved to Malfoy Manor.

Next, Ron and Harry came forward and gently hugged her goodbye. Harry looked wisely into her eyes, and whispered in her ear, "Good luck, Ella." He smiled at her as he pulled away. Ron grinned at her.

"Well, you made it through the ceremony and now I guess you're married to the git, eh?" he replied, tilting his head comically to one side, and wincing as Hermione punched him in the arm. "Good luck to you, mate. Are you coming to Hogwarts this year?" he asked.

"Yes, I'll be there for our seventh year with the gang," she replied, smiling.

"Good, we'll have a bloody good time," he grinned back. He hugged her once more, then stepped back for Hermione.

"Well, Mrs. Malfoy, I'll see you in a few days," she said, embracing her cousin. "We'll meet you in Diagon Alley."

"All right, thanks for everything. I couldn't have made it without you," Ella spoke sincerely.

"Anything for you, love," said Hermione. She smiled once more, then left on Ron's arm, with Harry in tow. Suddenly, Ron stopped dead and whipped around.

"Where's Ginny?" he demanded. Everyone looked around, but the youngest Weasley was nowhere to be found. Hermione began to giggle, covering her mouth with her hand.

"Ginny left with Draco a little while ago," she giggled.

"WHAT?????"

"Let's go, Ron," said Hermione, rolling her eyes and dragging Ron out of the room, Harry laughing as they left.

Last, but not least, came Samantha. She ran up to Ella and engulfed her in her arms. "You look gorgeous, girl! I'm going to miss you so much! I can't believe you're moving all the way to England, without me. What am I going to do?" she said.

"I'll miss you too, Sam, but witch or not, I am getting a phone line out to the manor," Ella replied. "You can call me any time, and when I go to Hogwarts, you can owl me, okay?" Samantha nodded, and tearfully squeezed her friend again, and then rushed out before she started to cry. Ella watched her leave, then turned back to Lucius and Severus. She strode over to Severus, and held out her hand.

"Severus, thank you for participating in our wedding. We hope to be invited to yours," she smiled, and winked. Severus raised his eyebrows once more, and shook her hand.

"Good day, Mrs. Malfoy. Lucius," he nodded, and in a swirl of billowing robes, he stalked out.

Lucius and Ella were now alone, for the first time since they had met.

"Well, my dear, shall we Apparate to the suite?" Lucius questioned. Ella nodded, and took his arm, as Lucius knew where the hotel was and she did not. He looked down at her, and with a 'pop' the newlyweds disapparated.