Who: Draco and Pansy Malfoy! And Narcissa Malfoy, Kaleigh Nott, and Andromeda Tonks What: Getting married! When: Christmas Day Where: Malfoy Manor Status: Complete Rating: PG
Standing in the bedroom she was about to move into, Pansy looked into the mirror for what was probably the last time as a single woman. In just a short while, she'd be married. She'd walk down the huge staircase of the Malfoy Manor and to her wonderful Draco's side. And her mother would probably cry a little, but whether it was for her daughter's marriage or the bump in her simple white gown was uncertain. Her father would sit stone-faced, not even giving her away in the traditional manner but allowing her to walk the aisle herself. Which was really for the better, she supposed. She had no urge to be associated with him if she could help it. At least the Malfoys were honest about their involvement in the war. He was still trying to slither his way out. Which was the exact reason Darren hadn't even been invited.
Using pins she'd bought at her store, she pulled each curl she'd glamoured her hair into on top of her head and clipped it into place. Sure, the evidence of her pregnancy was now impossible to miss, potruding out of her dress the way the baby was. But she thought she looked nice, at least. Maybe even beautiful. For all the teasing she'd given other girls while growing up, Pansy was as insecure as anyone else and terribly nervous about her appearance at that moment. And about the huge step in life she was about to take.
Her eyes started to well with anxious tears, but she fought them off when there was a knock out the door. She'd end up having to redo every charm she'd already done at this rate. "Come in," she called, then thought better of it. "But if it's Draco, I've already told you, it's bad luck to see me before the wedding, so just go away now before I have to hex your dress robes pink."
Narcissa stepped through the door, closing it quietly behind her. She looked gorgeous in her simple champagne gown though she still hated that some lines were starting to resist glamours. Lucius had commented on her beauty and kissed her like he was seeing her for the first time, but Narcissa still worried she had grown older without accomplishing anything worth speaking about. Perhaps that is why she was so into the underground news. It was something no one expected from Mrs. Malfoy and she ate it up.
"I would never allow that boy through here," she commented with a small smile. She silently thought they had enough going against their young marriage without adding bad luck to the mix, but kept it to herself. She loved Pansy and had always planned for a wedding between she and Draco, but seeing how young they were and with a baby on the way...well, it made Narcissa fear not only for her only child, but for a girl that reminded Narcissa of herself. She didn't want Pansy making all the sacrifices she had even if Lucius, and later, Draco were worth it. Narcissa wanted Pansy to experience everything life had to offer. For that, she would do her best to help the couple.
She stepped in front of Pansy and took a long breath. "You look magnificent, darling. Such a gorgeous bride." She beamed proudly as she cupped Pansy's chin.
Sometimes, Pansy wished Narcissa Malfoy had been her mother. Of course, that couldn't be, because then she couldn't be marrying her son, obviously. But she hoped now that she was making this big step in all of their lives, that Narcissa would at least be like a mother to her. In many ways, she already was. Now they'd legally be family, but Pansy knew she'd disappointed them all. That didn't stop her from desperately wanting to be accepted. Her baby needed all the family it could get.
"You think so?" she asked nervously as she ran her hand anxiously down the front of her dress. The baby was resting, but she'd still made sure the dress had plenty of room in it. The mediwitch had said it'd take a lot more than just a snug fitting dress to hurt the baby, but Pansy didn't want to take the chance of anything going wrong on her wedding day. "Merry Christmas, Mrs. Malfoy. Thank you...really. I know it was a lot, asking for all of this to happen today."
However, Narcissa shook her head. She would have done anything for her son and the girl he loved. Besides, Pansy was carrying a future Malfoy. Narcissa had hopes that baby would have everything her own little boy had not. Mostly, a choice. "It was my pleasure. It thrilled Kaleigh and Andromeda too." Her hand fell to where Pansy had brushed her dress. "You are perfect, the dress is perfect, and the baby is perfect." She did her best to sound soothing and reassuring. "Everything will be splendid, darling, you'll see."
Pansy smiled, but the expression was shaky as she turned back to the mirror, examining herself from another angle. "I just want everything to be perfect, you know? This... This isn't how it was supposed to go," she mumbled with a hesitant breath. "But it's our wedding just the same and I want to be enough for him and for all of you and..." She realized only several moment later that she hadn't meant to blurt all of that.
Oh could Narcissa relate. Hadn't she felt the same way when she married Lucius? Naturally, she hadn't been pregnant then, but the fears had still be present. "Listen to me, love." Narcissa pressed gentle hands to Pansy's face. "This might not have been ideal or how we thought it would happen, but Draco has never been this happy. I've never seen him smile like he does now." Her eyes glistened with tears as she thought about his last years. "For awhile, I thought he'd never even smile again. I should thank you really." She sniffled and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe her face. "Oh, look me. Good thing it's expected for the mother of the groom to cry!"
"You're going to ruin all those charms," Pansy murmured up to the woman who was going to be her mother-in-law in a few short hours. "I'm afraid he expects everything to be so perfect. It won't be. It can't be. Nothing in life is perfect. What if I don't make him happy? What if it's not what he expects it to be and he gets angry?"
Narcissa chuckled at the charm comment, but her face turned serious again as she listened to Pansy rattle off her fears. "No, darling. He might not realize how much work is involved, but he won't get angry. He has always loved you. I always knew it. It wasn't only about a good match, love. You must believe me."
Pansy flicked her tongue nervously across her lips as she nodded. "I think I know that now," she confessed. "When we were younger... I think we both simply thought it was the money. The prestige. All those things that make a proper pureblood match. But..." Despite her worries and the butterflies in her stomach, the young woman smiled. "But he really does love me, doesn't he? And I know I could never love anyone like I do him. And believe me, Blaise Zabini tried," she added with a tiny giggle. The Italian black man was incredibly good looking, yes, and he'd been kind to her. But he wasn't her Draco and she'd finally had to break that to him. Even when Draco was in the darkest of places, she'd loved him intensely.
"Oh, the Zabini boy has nothing on my son," Narcissa said with a slight chortle. Narcissa found Pansy's hand to squeeze lightly. "All those things might have been the icing, but I'd never want my son in a loveless marriage. I think you're good for him and..." She paused. "If you don't mind me saying so, I think he's good for you too."
Blushing prettily, Pansy ducked her head and nodded. "I think so, too. He's good to me. A lot of men...they might have just walked away. We weren't very serious at the time, but Draco stepped up. And he knew he loved me and I know he loves the baby, too. I just hope it works out all around."
Knocking lightly on the door, Andromeda poked her head inside. She'd already cried twice that day, Kaleigh was sniffling off and on, it was definitely time to get this going. "You two about ready in here?" she asked with a quiet smile. "Oh, look at the two of you," she breathed a beat later. "That's a lovely picture right there." And, as if on cue, she pulled out the camera she'd been carrying and snapped a photo of the bride and the mother-of-the-groom.
"Nice, sneaking up on them like that," Kaleigh teased as she stepped out from behind Andromeda. "She's right though. You two look grand." Her eyes were a little watery, but, for the moment, she was bravely holding them back. "I remember when you were just born..."
"Now, now, don't!" Narcissa held her hands up. "We all look too gorgeous to ruin our glamours!"
Andromeda smirked. "See? There are times that muggle makeup pays off. This waterproof mascara isn't going anywhere. Trust me, I planned in advance." She rested a hand on Kaleigh's arm. "Don't let her kid you. I've already snapped about a dozen pictures of her blubbering herself silly."
Pansy's smile was shy as she listened to the banter between the older women. With any luck at all, that would be herself and Daphne and Tracey in a few years. The little baby she was going to have would make things different for all of them, but hopefully for the better. He or she would certainly be surrounded by plenty of love. "I'm sure I was just an ugly, wrinkly, smelly, crying baby like all of the rest of them," she protested to Kaleigh, though she couldn't help beaming. If only her own mother were a part of all of this. But she'd done everything she could to distance herself from the Malfoys. Never mind that her own husband had been nearly as involved.
"Oh, you didn't," Narcissa chided her sister. "I'm going to have to hide the evidence."
"You'd look beautiful with a sack over your head," Kaleigh responded before pulling Pansy into a big hug. "Oh, my darling, I wish you all the happiness in the world."
Accepting the hug, Pansy closed her eyes, breathing in the love in the room. "I'm just glad you could all be here," she said honestly, and found she meant it. Where once she would've called Draco's aunt a mudblood loving fool, she knew he was growing closer with that side of the family. And neither of them could turn away any additional support. The way she'd been living for the last twenty years hadn't proved to be very helpful. Working around muggles every day had helped her accept this new part of her life, and she was okay with that. Maybe it really was time for a new start.
Andromeda stepped forward to take her turn hugging the young bride. She hadn't known her as a child the way the other women in the room had, but she was determined to be a part of it all now. "Wouldn't have missed it for the world. After all," she added, stepping back and smiling at her sister, "no one throws a party like your mother-in-law."
"A skill I hope to learn!" Pansy commented with a giggle.
"Oh, she can teach you, that's for certain." Kaleigh stepped closer to the group again, that time entwining her arm in Andromeda's. "I can never throw one without her help." Her smile melted into a wistful expression. "When I threw them that is."
Catching the change in tone, Narcissa waved one perfectly manicured hand in dismissal of all the praise. "She sells herself short though, honestly, what is all this talk about me and parties? I'm starting to think that's all I'm good for you." She giggled almost like a schoolgirl would when recalling a new crush. "Andi, your daughter actually mentioned I should do it for a living!"
"As, I believe," Andromeda added, "the rest of us have all done a time or two. And I fully believe Kaleigh here should be joining you." Wrapping her arm around her friend, Andromeda sighed. "I'd miss her, though. You'd have to promise to take good care of her and feed her and let her go to the loo."
"Aw, I sound like a kitten." Kaleigh kissed Andromeda's cheek. "First, we need to test out today's event, of course." She looked back over at the young brunette wife to be. "Are you ready, darling?"
Swallowing hard, Pansy looked towards the door, as if it were going to come bursting open and the entire wedding was going to move into the little room where she'd gotten ready. Daphne would be right outside, ready and waiting. She could do this. At the end of it all would be a life with Draco and their baby son or daughter. And that was all that really mattered, right? Setting her shoulders and lifting her chin in that way that had let all of Slytherin know that Pansy was one to be respected, she nodded. "I'm ready."
***
Andromeda tipped her champagne glass to those around her, toasting the young couple who looked pleased and relieved if nothing else. It was a small affair, only the families and closest friends were in attendance, but as always, Narcissa had made it absolutely lovely. She circled the room, pausing now and then to talk to those in attendance who would still give her the time of day. When she noticed a blond young man standing alone in the corner with a drink in his hand, she paused. She'd talked to Draco alone so few times she could count on one hand. But his wedding day seemed as good a time as any. "Congratulations, sweetheart," she said quietly, coming up beside him with a smile.
Draco could hardly believe he was a married man. Yet, as surreal as it seemed, he felt calmer than he had in ages. It was ironic given he was becoming a husband and father at once, but it felt like a completion Draco had been searching for his entire life. Pansy made him feel better; he didn't know how, but simply being close to her made him feel warm and secure. Even though he knew he had to provide for her and be the "man of the manor," he still felt like he won the lottery.
When Andromeda walked up to him, Draco turned, glass in hand. He had been watching his bride making the rounds with a proud smile. Somehow she felt it suitable to marry him, even after all he had done. He would never mess that up again so help him.
"Thank you, Aunt." Draco set down the glass to kiss her cheek. "Thank you for your help as well."
Beaming slightly at the slight kiss, Andromeda shook her head. "Oh, no, don't thank me. I'm a mess when it comes to things like this, this was entirely your mother's doing, with a hand from your aunt." Giggling like a little girl, she shook her head, red curls bobbing around her face. "I'm on for clean-up. Household charms were always much more to my ability."
"I wonder why," Draco joked. His eyes flicked toward where his mother and father sat. They were making small talk with Severus and Kaleigh, but Draco knew how hard the day was for both of them. For that, he did feel guilty, but he couldn't help his happiness at the way things were turning out. "Mum and Aunt Kaleigh don't exactly favor such matters."
"Your mother never did," Andromeda said softly, remembering the spoiled girls the Black sisters had been. "We weren't raised to, after all. But someone had to at my house. Your uncle's rubbish at them. A right slob, really, but don't tell him I told you." Great. Probably the dumbest thing she could have said to the young pureblood. He probably thought all muggleborns were sloppy now.
Draco didn't though. He really had started to care for his crazy Uncle Ted. So, instead of snickering, he merely smiled in the way any nephew would on hearing a "secret" about his uncle. "Oh, I won't," he vowed. "I wouldn't want him withholding his brilliant breakfast from the messenger!"
Smiling proudly, Andromeda smiled, then turned to face her nephew more fully. "You'll have to bring your bride over one day for one of his breakfasts," she told him, reaching out to adjust his tie. "She's eating for two now, after all."
"Thank you," Draco said as he automatically glanced down as she fiddled with his collar. "Don't remind her, Aunt." He snuck a peek around and seeing no one was listening, he whispered, "I think she thinks she's getting...you know."
"Fat," Andromeda supplied for him, a small smile on her face. "It's the way of women during pregnancy. One moment she'll think she's glowing with maternal weight and the next she's turned into a bloated cow who has to be carrying quadruplets she's so big. You just keep reassuring her she's beautiful and she'll be just fine." She paused with her hand lingering on his shirt for a brief moment, again wishing she'd been around to see the tiny child he must have been. "You look so handsome."
Draco's chuckle melted into a wistful expression as her hand paused and she spoke. Gently, his hand reached to cover hers as he leaned in to kiss her cheek. "You look lovely as well, Aunt."
Her smile was bashful as she ducked her head, then glanced in his mother's direction. "It's genetic, I think. Your baby's going to be absolutely beautiful, I know it."
"And healthy, I hope." Draco couldn't bear if his child faced any challenges. He was determined to give his baby everything. "I just hope I can give her what she needs. Or he needs." It felt odd to call the baby "it," but it felt just as wrong to assume it was one sex or the other.
Andromeda smiled knowingly and nodded. "I'm sure they will be. You didn't want to know, then? What it's going to be, I mean?"
"Well, it might be nice, but we agreed surprise will make it more special." He shrugged his slender shoulders as his eyes wandered over to his beautiful bride again. "Did you? Know with Tonks I mean?"
Where Draco turned to eye his new wife, Andromeda's eyes were immediately drawn to her own daughter. Maybe someday, they'd be having this same sort of celebration for her. Maybe. "No," she said with a soft laugh. Some people wanted us to, to know which colour to buy. I said just buy every sort of colour." A slight smirk crossed her face and she giggled like a child. "Look what it did to her."
"Made her a regular old rainbow," Draco teased, laughing though the smile melted into a wistful expression. "Life might have been different, hmm?"
Andromeda reached over, resting a hand lightly on her nephew's arm. "It might have been. But we can't dwell on that now. You two are going to have wonderful families that you can raise together and make things right from here on out. We can't go back, but we can make going forward really, really beautiful."