They arrived at the Granger residence after leaving Privet Drive. Harry had made sure there wouldn't be any reminders in the house of her parent's final moments before she arrived for the first time. Jake and Eileen had both labored to prepare Hermione's home so it looked as if her parents were out shopping or on a walk around the neighborhood. It was one of the unpleasant tasks Harry managed while she was still recovering. The only evidence left of her parents was a wizard's picture taken of them at the Burrow with the Weasleys.
She entered her childhood home cautiously, with Harry by her side for support. Even though she wouldn't show it, he knew she was crying inside, still morning the loss of her parents and more so for their loss. She held his arm tightly, for comfort and support. When they finally entered the kitchen, she noticed the table was new. And the wall had a fresh coat of paint. She knew why and simply held on to him tighter.
They managed to unpack their things, deciding to stay in her room, a place she always felt safe as a little girl. Now she had the world's greatest wizard to keep her safe. Her bedroom wasn't the typical frilly room he had imagined; the furniture was classically designed, more suitable for a young adult then a young girl. She did maintain a small menagerie of stuffed animals on her bed; one was a very worn figure of a cat, remarkable resembling Crookshanks. Her schoolbooks were all lined neatly on a bookshelf next to a roll-top desk, with a bottle of ink and several quills.
They completed unpacking in near silence with the occasional question from Harry about the placement of her things. They left her bedroom and once down stairs collapsed to the sofa, exhausted. She laid her head into his lap as he gently stroked her hair. She looked in his face, and as only she could tell, she knew he had something on his mind.
"Mione, we never discussed this," be began, "but I won't get married with the prejudices against us. I can't in good faith make my vows to you under a belief that doesn't acknowledge our existence."
"Then what, a civil ceremony? I'd be happy with that, as long as you are with me." She replied with a smile.
"Eileen told me about practices from her culture that is descended from ancient rites. There were some references in that book I translated, of 'The Elements' that honor nature as the guiding force."
"I remember reading that part too, where did you put them?"
"They're in my school trunk." He stood and retrieved the two manuscripts. Together they found the section in question, and she re-read the ceremony from both versions, noting minor corrections as she went.
"I never noticed this, but it does seem to be a ceremony of sorts." She made a few mental changes, and together they used that as the basis for their wedding vows. They spent the evening re-wording the ceremony, adding the special vows they wanted to make together.
The evening before their day of celebration marked a return of a dream nether imagined would return. A vision as dark as that day all was risked and much was lost. She alone experienced that vision, but did not reveal it to him, it was just a dream, after all; it was a return to that moment of her destiny. She never remembered much of that time, except for momentary glimpses of that time. They always began the same, soaring through the clouds into the night. Points of light bleeding into a distant glow, images rushing past. Non-descript places, never visited but long forgotten.
She began to remember, as she closed her eyes to shut them out, to forget them. The vision wouldn't fade; she again watched her body fade to a transparent form. She was again in those clothes she wore that day, event though she burned that skirt and jumper after the first time these visions returned.
She sat huddled in the fringe of light cast in a dark chamber, the black night sky pouring in through the slits that formed the windows to the outside world, a dark hooded figure and an armored clad soldier sharing a conversation.
She looked at the figure as he spoke, this time his features clearer then before. He wore dark armor, a helmet hid his face in the past, this time she could see the scars on the warrior, a slash from brow to chin left one eye empty, covered with a patch, riveted to his flesh. His hair pulled into tight plaits that trailed down his back. The chest plate glistened in the dull glow of the room, dark chain mail evident beneath. To his side, she could see for the first time, a weapon, unlike any she had ever seen, and the hilt of a sword peeked from the cloak, but no evidence of the end protruded from the back.
"My master, I have located the brother and sister. They have been recruiting others to build their ranks. We must crush them before they strike first."
He spoke to a mysterious figure, a face withered from age, but only a leathered chin and nose could be seen. He sat in his throne, a regale figure unafraid to show his air of authority. By his hand, a metallic cylinder rested within easy grasp.
"No, my loyal servant. We will wait until the time is right. We have the luxury of time. They suspect nothing of my plans. Return to your post and wait for the signal."
"As you wish."
The soldier stood, bowed deeply and exited the chamber, leaving the seated figure alone. She could sense a smile form on the withered face before the dream shifted to a forest, where another meeting was being held. She always returned at the departure of the soldier, always with a deep sense of foreboding, but this time the dream continued.
The calming serene image of old growth trees, long gone from home, older then the trees in the Forbidden Forest shaded a building she approached. She felt her form pass through the solid walls into a hall; twelve seats were arranged in a circle, each occupied by figures she couldn't recognize. The image of a small familiar figure sat in this circle of twelve, all in silent meditation.
A man entered the circle, and addressed the council.
"My masters, we stand ready, my sister will dispatched her son to seek the one you spoke of."
"Good. To your family return and wait, ready they shall be soon."
"But are we too late? I sense he has embraced the dark path."
"No, my young student, he has merely learned of its existence, she has turned him from that path." One of the others spoke.
"I fear we may have been too late to help, our pleas for help may not be in time." Another added.
"It is the will and the way we have chosen. We have but to wait for the final outcome, seventeen lunar units from now."
She woke with a start in a cold sweat evident of the dream's nature, while he slept peacefully at her side. This time she remembered it all.
August 25th was Harry and Hermione's wedding day, a day to be celebrated and shared with their closest friends. Hermione had agreed to let others make the plans and arrangements; she wanted to spend the days until then with Harry. Hermione's closest girl friends all worked together to make her day special. They all, as did the entire wizard world owed a debt to Harry and to her that could never be repaid. Ginny took the bulk of the burden to make the day as perfect as she could.
On the day of the event, they had been kept apart. Ron had taken Harry into seclusion where he selfishly spent the time with his best friend and brother. Eileen, Luna and Ginny joined together to find the perfect gown for Hermione. Her closest friends and family deliberated long and hard for the perfect wedding gown for the young witch. When Madam Malkin's heard the rumors of the famous Harry Potter's pending wedding, she provided dress robes for the bride and groom. They were charmed to match the wearer's spiritual colors. Hermione's wedding gown was made of soft slippery vintage silk that molded itself to her body with sheer gossamer sleeves and a skirt that fell softly to the ground. Cording trim encrusted with tiny pearls border the scooped neckline and the same tiny pearls covered the bodice. When she wore it for the first time, the color blended into a light periwinkle-blue very similar to her gown at the Christmas Ball during their fourth year. The light blue symbolized her inner strengths of tranquility, understanding, patience, and health. Harry's dress robes were a more traditional black for strength, empowerment, wisdom/vision, success, and pure love.
Ron and Ginny rounded the wedding party, as to Hermione's wishes for a simple event. Ginny stood with her as her maid of honor, her gown was a fiery red, that showed her inner traits of strong will, love, strength, fertility, courage, health, vigor, passion.
At the appointed time, a woman entered the garden overlooking the grounds at Godric's Hollow; she was the Priestess of the Elementals, a sect of an ancient religion as old as the wizarding world itself. She stood statue still as Harry and Ron approached from the east gate. To the west gate, Albus Dumbledore stood with a young woman, her face hidden by a light blue veil, and waited for the call to the circle.
"I call upon all benign presences within the hearing of my voice and the call of my heart. I call all that bear our purpose here and this union only good will: Come! Enter the circle with me and bear witness to the miracle of love. Enter the circle and bear witness to the promises and gifts these two lovers are about to exchange." The stately woman began the ceremony.
The guests all solemnly entered the circle from the south gate, and quietly sat in the places arranged for them. The ancient wizard, with Hermione on his arm entered the circle, where they stood opposite Harry and Ron.
"Before we begin with the ceremony, I'd like you to take the hand of your neighbor or loved one, close your eyes and take a moment to think about nothing except for an over-whelming feeling of love and happiness. This will help us set the stage for what is about to happen here today."
"Join hands and think on the nature of love. Love thrills us with its passion and heat. Love enfolds us with its kindness and compassion. The law of life is love unto all beings. Without love, life is nothing, without love, our journeys are without meaning. Love creates life. Love nurtures growth and change. Love supports and guides us through all of life's cycles."
The Priestess held up a small dish and placed a small amount of soil in each of their hands. She gently rubbed the soil into their palms, leaving a smudge in each hand.
"Let the powers of the Earth bless this union. Earth; body, flesh, salt and stone; support this circle and enfold it in your nurturing hands."
The Priestess smudged Harry and Hermione's forehead with the ash of the incense from the altar behind her.
"Let the powers of the Air bless this union. Sky; your winds are the breath that gives us life; shield this circle and let your breezes fill us with inspiration."
The Priestess held up a water chalice, and had the couple before her drink.
"Let the powers of the Water bless this union. Ocean; your vast seas of the west and east, cold waters of the north and south; embrace our circle with your caressing waves and keep all dangers distant."
The Priestess turned and lit a candle on the altar before them.
"Let the powers of the Fire bless this union. Fire; our emotion, our inspiration, and our will; grow to fill this sacred space with our intent and energize this working."
The Priestess turned to the assembled party, and began the ceremony.
"We have come together here in celebration of the joining together of Hermione Jane Granger and Harry James Potter. There are many things to say about marriage. Much wisdom concerning the joining together of two souls has come our way through all paths of belief, and from many cultures. With each union, more knowledge is gained and more wisdom gathered. Though we are unable to give all this knowledge to these two, who stand before us, we can hope to leave with them the knowledge of love and its strengths and the anticipation of the wisdom that comes with time. The law of life is love unto all beings. Without love, life is nothing, without love, death has no redemption. Love is anterior to Life, posterior to Death, initial of Creation and the exponent of Earth. If we learn no more in life, let it be this."
"Marriage is a bond to be entered into only after considerable thought and reflection. As with any aspect of life, it has its cycles, its ups and its downs, its trials and its triumphs. With full understanding of this, Harry James Potter and Hermione Jane Granger have come here today to be joined as one in marriage. If any man can show any just cause, why they may not be so joined together; let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace. I require and charge you both, as you will answer at the dreadful day of judgment when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, that if either of you know any impediment, why you may not be joined together in Matrimony, that you confess it."
The gathered friends and family all sat stone silent, not a single sound was made to interrupt this union.
"Others would ask, at this time, who gives the bride in marriage, but, as a woman is not property to be bought and sold, given and taken, I ask simply if she comes of her own will and if she has her family's blessing."
"Hermione Jane Granger, is it true that you come of your own free will and accord?"
"Yes, it is true." She replied.
"In addition to the bond between these two lovers, we also recognize the loved ones who will be touched by this union. I ask representatives of each family to come forward to pledge your love and support to this couple in their life together."
"Hermione Jane Granger, with whom do you come and whose blessings accompany you."
Eileen and Sarah both approach.
"She comes with me, her cousin." Replied Eileen.
"And with me, her sister." The young girl answered.
"And she is accompanied by all of our family's blessings." The two repeated in unison.
"Harry James Potter, is it true that you come of your own free will and accord?"
"Yes, it is true."
"Harry James Potter, with whom do you come and whose blessings accompany you."
"He comes with me, his Aunt, and is accompanied by all of our family's blessings." Petunia answered.
"Hermione and Harry please join hands with your betrothed and listen to that which I am about to say for they will guide you as you step upon your united path."
"Above you are the stars, below you are the stones, as time doth pass, remember... "
"Like a stone should your love be firm, like a star should your love be constant."
"Let the powers of the mind and of the intellect guide you in your marriage, let the strength of your wills bind you together, let the power of love and desire make you happy, and the strength of your dedication make you inseparable."
"Be close, but not too close. Possess one another, yet be understanding. Have patience with one another, for storms will come, but they will pass quickly."
"Be free in giving affection and warmth. Have no fear for the Light of Love will guide you forevermore."
"Harry, I have not the right to bind thee to Hermione, only you have this right. If it be your wish, say so at this time and place your ring in her hand."
"It is my wish." He replied as he gazed into Hermione's honey brown eyes while he placed his ring in her hand.
"Hermione, if it be your wish for Harry to be bound to you, place the ring on his finger." She placed the ring on Harry's left ring finger.
"Hermione I have not the right to bind thee to Harry only you have this right. If it be your wish, say so at this time and place your ring in his hand."
"It is my wish. She replied as she gazed into Harry's emerald eyes and placed her ring in his hand.
"Harry, if it be your wish for Hermione to be bound to you, place the ring on her finger." He placed the ring on her left ring finger, as he held her hand as gently as a rose.
The Priestess took both ring hands in her hands, joining them together as she continued. "Harry, repeat after me."
"I, Harry James Potter, in the name of the spirit of God that resides within us all, by the life that courses within my blood and the love that resides within my heart, take thee Hermione Jane Granger to my hand, my heart, and my spirit, to be my chosen one. To desire thee and be desired by thee, to possess thee, and be possessed by thee, without sin or shame, for naught can exist in the purity of my love for thee. I promise to love thee wholly and completely without restraint, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in poverty, in life and beyond, where we shall meet, remember, and love again. I shall not seek to change thee in any way. I shall respect thee, thy beliefs, thy people, and thy ways as I respect myself."
"Now Hermione, repeat after me."
"I Hermione Jane Granger, in the name of the spirit of God that resides within us all, by the life that courses within my blood, and the love that resides within my heart, take thee, Harry James Potter to my hand, my heart, and my spirit to be my chosen one. To desire and be desired by thee, to possess thee, and be possessed by thee, without sin or shame, for naught can exist in the purity of my love for thee. I promise to love thee wholly and completely without restraint, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in poverty, in life and beyond, where we shall meet, remember, and love again. I shall not seek to change thee in any way. I shall respect thee, thy beliefs, thy people, and thy ways as I respect myself."
The Priestess released them pulling them to face each other, as they continued to hold each other's hand.
"Marriage is a bond to be entered into only after considerable thought and reflection. As with any aspect of life, it has its cycles, its ups and its downs, its trials and its triumphs. With full understanding of this, Harry and Hermione have come here today to be joined as one in marriage."
"Hermione, give to Harry your pledge."
"I shall not lead you, nor shall I follow you, but I shall always stand beside you. You can trust me with your thoughts, your needs, your body, and your heart. I now and ever shall support you in the face of adversity and love you with all our shared accomplishments. I shall forever be open, honest, and loyal to you. I shall always look after your happiness, as it is the key to my own. These I vow with my very life." Hermione recited the vows she wrote from her heart.
"Harry, give to Hermione your pledge."
"Hermione, your happiness is my greatest desire, and these things I now vow to maintain it for as long as we both shall live. That you can trust me with your thoughts, your needs, your body, and your heart. That I shall forever be open, honest, and loyal to you. That I am now and ever shall be your greatest champion, defending and supporting you in the face of adversity. That I will never cease to strive for the attainment of the goals we set together and individually, as well as the security of our future together. That I do and will continue to respect your ideas and intelligence, your beliefs and needs, your boundaries and dignity- all as I do my own. And that I will look after my own happiness, knowing how much it matters to you." He watched as a single tear of happiness ran from his love's cheek.
The Priestess handed a chalice to Harry, saying, "May you drink your fill from the cup of love."
Harry held the chalice to Hermione's lips while she sipped deeply. She then took the chalice and held it to Harry's lips while he to drank deeply. The chalice was then handed back to the Priestess who set it on the altar. Next the Priestess took a plate of bread and gave a piece to Harry. She then took a second piece of bread and handed it to Hermione. After they both had a piece of bread, Harry fed his to Hermione while she fed hers to Harry.
"With these promises and gifts exchanged, we now come to the literal tying of the knot. By your will, I use these strands to bind you together, that henceforth you will be husband and wife. This bond I draw between you; that though you are parted in mind or in body, there will be a call set in the core of you, each to the other, that nothing, no one else will answer to or come between." The Priestess again joined their ring hands and placed an elegant ribbon around their hands, sealed with a knot.
"Hermione Jane Granger, do you accept this bond of marriage?"
"Yes, I do." She replied, as she let another tear escape.
"Harry James Potter, do you accept this bond of marriage?"
"Yes, I do." He answered with the fullest conviction from his heart.
"By the secrets of Earth and Water this bond is woven, by the powers of Fire and Wind, this call is set in you. In this life and beyond."
Hermione and Harry continued to face each other, keeping their ring hands tied, and took each other's free hand.
"Now we feel no rain, for each of us will be shelter to the other." Hermione began reciting.
"Now we feel no cold, for each of us will be warmth to the other." Harry replied.
"Now there is no loneliness, for each of us will be a companion to the other."
"We are two bodies, but there is one life before us and one home."
"When evening falls, I'll look up and there you all will be."
"I'll take your hand and you'll take mine and we'll turn together."
"To look at the road we traveled to reach this - the hour of our happiness."
"It stretches behind us, even as the future lies ahead."
"A long and winding road, who's every turn means discovery."
"Old hopes, new laughter, shared fears."
"The adventure has just begun." They said in unison, each sporting a grin for each other as they shared their first kiss as husband and wife.
"And of you, Hermione's and Harry's friends, we ask continuing support. We ask you to provide perspective when it is needed, to remember that they are individuals as well as a couple, to help them grow and move forward. That you are here is a sign of their love for you, and of your love for them. Know that your support, help, and love are extremely important and vastly appreciated. Those of you who would add tangible affirmation of your support may come forward and add knots to the strands."
One by one, every member in attendance approached the altar and added a knot to the strands binding their hands.
"Thank you all for your support of this union." The Priestess addressed the audience after they returned to their seats.
"All assembled here, and by the power vested in me by God, by the Elements of Life and the State, see now Hermione and Harry before you, still the same people, but also changed. They who have been friends, sweethearts, companions and lovers are now husband and wife. May your love so endure that its flame remains a guiding light unto you. We give thanks to all here that have borne witness. Thanks to all who have gifted this gathering with their love."
"I give thanks to all the benign presences within the hearing of my voice and the call of my heart, for bearing witness to this union with good will. And to you, Hermione and Harry's friends, I give thanks for your presence, your blessings and your ongoing support."
"Let the boundaries of this place between the worlds be opened and this circle be returned to its source. Blessed Be!"
Their first night together as husband and wife was spent in their home in Godric Hollow, and even though it was what they decided, she felt a little uneasy making love to her new husband in his parent's home, in their bedroom. It was his love for her that broke her nervous feeling and his touch that turned her into the tigress within. Their wedding night was spent with very little actual sleep. He fell asleep first, a few hours before dawn; she laid in their bed her head across his chest and smiled.
They lay in their bed, entwined in each other's arms. It was late in the morning the day after their wedding and they had nothing but time. He gently ran his fingers over a now familiar scar she earned that nearly cost him more then he wanted to ever lose. His fingers lightly traced the jagged line, and continued down to her breast, stopping to playfully trace the summit. She replied to his playful advances in kind, her fingers traced fresh new wounds in his back and side, making a mental note she needed to dull her nails before they attempt another night like they recently enjoyed. When her fingers ran over the fresh tender lines, he winced slightly at the touch, and smiled, knowing they would soon vanish. She closed her eyes and thought about the scratches; she felt a warmth radiate from her fingers erase the physical evidence of last night's passion.
"Sorry, I'll trim them today. You really should have stopped me last night, didn't it hurt?"
"Mione, I had, umm… something else on my mind at the time." She grinned at the meaning, pushed his hand from her chest and rolled him to his back. In the same fluid motion, she straddled him as he eagerly anticipated what her grin meant.
Their lovemaking had become comfortable and familiar; they playfully learned all they could about each other in the few weeks since his fear for her safety had vanished. They found this position was the most pleasurable, since it didn't require putting additional pressure on her wound from the Ministry Battle. Although it had healed, it still hurt her whenever he pressed on it. She never complained, but he knew her so well.
She also learned this way she could better control their mutual timing and prolong the physical act longer. This morning was no exception, She alternated from a slow methodic rhythm to a quickened pace creating waves of pleasure through them both.
After she allowed him to finalize the act, she slumped on his sweat-covered chest and rested her cheek to his chest, listen to the beating of his heart. She loved this part the most, their moist bodies clinging to each other, still coupled in the afterglow. She listened to the soft thump-thump inside his chest and felt her heart slow to match his. She stayed there, tracing little hearts on his skin with her finger.
He thought back, to the first time he woke with her in his arms. That was a lifetime ago, a distant dream nearly forgotten of the night in the Astronomy Tower, but what he remembered most was how comfortable she felt in his arms. His next greatest memory of their life together was of the morning on Privet Drive, the first time he woke in her arms when he finally realized what he longed for his entire life had been by his side for seven years. He looked down to the top of her head, and gently kissed her.
"Harry."
"Mmm"
"We don't have to get up, do we?"
He released a sigh, more to the thought and need for food. "Yeah, we do. I do have a date later today," he grinned.
"And who is this wench?" she inquired.
"Just someone I've been shagging on the side," he replied while trying to hide a smirk.
She sat up, still straddling him and stared in his face, "You'd better not let me catch you with anyone else, or so help me, Harry, James Potter…"
She noticed his grin widen at her protective outburst, she playfully slapped his arm as his hands drifted to her waist, softly caressing her down to her hips. She eagerly responded to his fresh attacks.
Beginning Forever…