Summer Writing Series Challenge (August 3)
Challenge: [Musical Week] Love/Romance
Title: At the Beginning
Word Count: 1,153
Harry peeked nervously through a crack in the door he was standing behind and tried to swallow the lump that was forming in his throat.
"Harry, why are you so bloody nervous?" Ron asked as he adjusted his jacket. "How can you even stand these muggle clothes?" he grumbled in irritation.
"You were nervous!" Harry retorted as he adjusted Ron's bow tie. "Do you have the ring?"
"It's in my pocket," Ron replied dryly as he fished the elaborate, gold band from the inside pocket of his jacket. "You and Hermione have been dating for a year and known each other for nine, there's no reason to be nervous, Harry."
"Tell that to the herd of Thestrals squirming in my gut, Ron," Harry retorted irritably. "You know how I hate being the center of attention... I agreed to the big wedding because Hermione's always dreamt of one."
"Ignore the guests, Harry," Seamus said as he stepped into the entranceway.
"Everything will disappear when you see Hermione, mate," Ron said with a clap on his best friend's shoulder. "That's what happened with me when I saw Luna at the end of the aisle."
"The same with me and Ginny," Neville said with a sheepish grin as he joined his brother-in-law in an attempt to bolster Harry's nerve.
"Lavender caught my eye and everything faded away but her," Seamus said with a wistful smile. "I still can't believe she's my wife now."
"Parvati and I had a traditional Indian wedding ceremony," Dean said with a laugh as he adjusted his cufflinks. "I had no idea that Hermione was dead set on a Christian wedding."
"Why does that surprise you?" Harry asked with a grin. "You've been raised in the muggle world as well and even had a non-wizarding wedding."
"You know Hermione, always wanting to experience everything the Wizarding World has to offer..." Dean shrugged.
"Not quite," Harry retorted with a laugh. "She's curious and has a scary hunger for knowledge, but she still embraces her non-wizarding heritage."
"The music started," Ron said with a sly grin. "You're the last to leave the Gryffindor Bachelor's club, mate... time to slap on that ball and chain!"
Harry stifled a laugh as he took his place and opened the door just as they'd practiced the night before. He looked nervously at the large crowd of spectators and fought off the instinct to cringe when the flashes of cameras went off and instead smiled at everyone. After everyone was in position, the door at the far end of the church opened and the bridesmaids began their staggered walk down the aisle. Harry smiled at Ginny and Luna who were beaming at him and their husbands. Penelope's and Percy's daughter Margaret walked the path between the two rows of pews next. She was purposely placing each and every rose petal that she, as flower girl, had practiced innumerable times before. Maggie looked up at her Uncle Harry and ran to him towards the end, hugging him tightly about the waist to the laughter of those in attendance. Harry hugged her back and Penelope retrieved her daughter with a slight laugh.
The music changed and Harry tugged absently at his tuxedo jacket. He looked up to see Hermione on the arm of Albus Dumbledore, both were smiling widely. Albus looked every part the proud father as they walked towards the smiling Harry. Everything faded from his sight as Harry's and Hermione's eyes met; both of them communicating just how happy they were that this day had finally arrived.
"Who gives this woman away?" the minister asked with a soft smile.
"On behalf of her parents, I do," Albus said with a wide smile then turned to lift Hermione's veil. "Your parents would be happy to see you here today, Hermione," he said quietly as he kissed her cheek. With a clap to Harry's shoulder, he stepped back, allowing the two to join hands and the ceremony to commence.
"Harry and Hermione have prepared their vows," the minister said and motioned for Harry to begin.
Harry looked into Hermione's eyes, his smile not leaving his lips. "Hermione, nine years ago, we were strangers starting out on a journey, never dreaming what we'd have to go through. Now here we are and I'm suddenly standing at the beginning with you. No one told me I was going to find you. It was unexpected what you did to my heart. When I lost hope, you were there to remind me... This is the start." A tear trickled down his cheek at the sight of the tears welling in her eyes and her wide smile. "Life is a road and I want to keep going. Love is a river I want to keep flowing. Life is the road... Now and forever this will be a wonderful journey. I'll be there when the world stops turning. I'll be there when the storm is through, in the end I want to be standing at the beginning with you."
Hermione blinked away the tears in her eyes as he urged her to say her vows.
"Harry, before I really got to know you, we were strangers on a crazy adventure. I never dreamt how both our dreams would come true. Fear of the war and of our own feelings ruled our lives and now, here I stand unafraid of the future at the beginning with you. I knew there was somebody somewhere like me alone in the dark. Now I know my dream will live on and I've been waiting so long, Nothing's going to tear us apart because Life is a road and I want to keep going. Love is a river I want to keep flowing. In the end... I want to be standing at the beginning with you."
"Harry James Potter, do you take Hermione to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
"I do," Harry said softly as he placed a ring on her finger.
"Hermione Jane Granger, do you take Harry to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I do," Hermione said breathlessly as she slipped his ring on his finger.
"By the power vested in me by our Lord I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride," the minister said with a wide smile.
Harry gently placed his hands on Hermione's rosy cheeks and brought her in for a tender kiss to the hoots and cheers of those in attendance. They pulled apart smiling happily then turned to the crowd of friends, family, and other guests.
"Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Harry and Hermione Potter!"
Applause erupted throughout the church which echoed off the walls. The cacophony of whistles, cheers, and clapping hands fell on deaf ears as Harry and Hermione walked back down the aisle, absorbed in their happiness and the person that was joining them at the beginning of their new life together.
A/N: This was taken from the animated film: Anastaisa. There is a song performed by Richard Marx and Donna Lewis titled At the Beginning which I used as the vows Harry and Hermione shared.
At the Beginning
We were strangers
Starting out on a journey
Never dreaming
What we'd have to go through
Now here we are
And I'm suddenly standing
At the beginning with you
No one told me
I was going to find you
Unexpected
What you did to my heart
When I lost hope
You were there to remind me
This is the start
(Chorus)
Life is a road
And I want to keep going
Love is a river
I wanna keep flowing
Life is the road
Now and forever
Wonderful journey
I'll be there
When the world stops turning
I'll be there
When the storm is through
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you
We were strangers
On a crazy adventure
Never dreaming
How our dreams would come true
Now here we stand
Unafraid of the future
At the beginning with you
(Chorus)
I knew there was somebody somewhere
Like me alone in the dark
Now I know my dream will live on
I've been waiting so long
Nothing's gonna tear us apart
(Chorus)
Life is a road and I wanna keep going
Love is a river I wanna keep going on
Starting out on a journey
Life is a road and I wanna keep going
Love is a river I wanna keep flowing
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you