Ginny Lestrange (bigbadwitch) wrote in snitchers, @ 2017-10-07 13:24:00 |
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Who: Rabastan Lestrange & Ginny Weasley
When: Saturday, October 7th 2002
Where: Lestrange Manor to Catholic Church in Wales to Lestrange Manor
What: Vows, love, and marriage.
Rating: Low
Warnings: None
The day of Ginny's wedding was bittersweet. She'd spent it alone, thinking about her family, her future, and her past while pampering herself. She imagined the entire day would be tinged with the same emotion. Marrying Rabastan was a dream come true and Ginny couldn't wait to take his name and start their lives together, but the absence of those she loved the most was felt keenly. Namely, Ginny missed her mother. She'd chosen to dress alone, knowing that no one else could fill the void left by her mother and not wanting to share this moment with anyone. It belonged to Molly and Ginny honored her mother by keeping it private between them. There was no doubt in her mind that her mother was looking down on her as she slipped on the delicate white dress and carefully arranged her bright red hair into a soft braid.
There had been so many dresses, but Ginny felt wrong in the fanciest gowns.Simple, romantic, and modest seemed to fit her wedding day far more than layers of tulle and rows of crystals. As she slipped her feet in delicate silk flats and looked in the mirror, Ginny was surprised at how pretty she looked. She looked like a bride and the reality that she'd soon be marrying Rabastan hit her full force.
On her left hand was the ring Rabastan had given her to symbolize their future. On her right was the ring her father had given her mother to symbolize the same. Ginny felt surrounded by her past, present and future. Holding her right hand to her heart, she took a deep breath and smiled into the mirror one last time. It wouldn't do to keep her husband waiting.
Ginny had insisted that Rabastan remain in their bedroom. She'd even refused to go to bed with him the night before, slipping off to her room after they'd made love. Their wedding would be as traditional as possible and Ginny wanted everything to be perfect. They both needed today to be magical. Calling for one of her servants, Ginny asked the smiling witch to please give Rabastan a small box. Inside the box contained his wedding day gift, a watch that she'd had engraved with a simple message. In the hardest of times, you'll have me. Love , G. There was also a small note.
Dear Rabastan,
Please wear this watch today. It has something wonderful to show you.
Love forever, Ginny.
At exactly a quarter to six, his watch would transport him to a small Catholic church in Wales, filled with all of their guests. Upon his arrival, Ginny was waiting in the narthex, a bright and happy smile on face.
----
If you had asked Rabastan Lestrange less than 2 years ago if he ever thought he'd be married, he might have actually laughed. Even when he was younger, he never thought of himself as the marrying type. He did better on his own, and the idea of bringing someone else into his mess was just… it seemed unfair. Especially once he became a death eater, and was sent to prison. Even after, who would want him? Rabastan Lestrange was a damned man and simply could not be saved. And that was fine with him. He had dug his own grave, and now it was his responsibility to live with it. But maybe before he died and was sent into the burning hellfires, he could do some good.
When Lucius came to Rabastan with his plan, the new world vision he saw, of course Rabastan instantly jumped at it. But the longer he was involved, the more citizens he met, relationships he forged, lives he changed for the better, the man deep inside began to change. But even that was not nearly as drastic as the change that happened within once he met Ginerva Weasley. For the first time in his life, Rabastan felt alive. He felt as though he had found purpose, true purpose. Everything before he had fallen in love with her faded into background noise, and no longer mattered. She made him want to be the best man he could be, she made him want to change the world for the better with her by his side. He knew he could.
That's why it had been so difficult to be away from her, even for a night. He had slept terribly without her warm form next to him, but he also wanted to give her the perfect day. She deserved every ounce of happiness, so when she left to her room, he didn't complain. Instead, he let himself slowly drift to sleep with visions of their future together keeping him company.
When the morning came, he spent most of his day by himself, though there were brief moments where he was visited by his brother and nephew. But soon they too left to get ready for the wedding, and once again Rabastan found himself alone. He sat silently in his suit, resisting the urge to smoke a cigar if only because Ginny would smell it on him. Instead he took a few more moments in his study to reflect on his life, to say goodbye to everything he had once known. Because life was about to change, and honestly, he couldn't be more ready for it. The past would always be there, but it didn't matter anymore.
Only she mattered. And the future he wanted to be proud of. And while he knew things were changing, not only in his life personally, but his life politically, for a moment, he was happy for everything to stand still.
A gentle knock at the large wood door sounded, and he waved his hand to open it. A servant smiled at him, placing a small box in front of him and he thanked her gently, advising he would be fine on his own. The note and watch tucked inside pulled a smile from the corners of his lips, his fingers tracing the delicate lines of her handwriting.
Putting it on, he waited patiently for his world to change.
The familiar tug of a portkey surprised him, but he wasn't concerned, but when he finally arrived he couldn't help but be left completely dumbfounded. A church… He had never… Why would she..
Merlin, he was luckier than he really knew, wasn't he?
"Ginny," he whispered. Her standing there was like seeing her for the first time, and she looked ravishing. He almost couldn't breathe. "How in the world did I get so lucky," he said stepping forward, his hands out towards her, but pausing for just another second, taking her in.
"You look so beautiful you don't even seem real," he whispered to her, finally pulling her close.
---
There was still one surprise left for Rabastan, but Ginny couldn't resist melting into his arms and holding him for a long moment. Since the day she moved in they had never spent this long apart and while she had hated being away from him, waiting for this morning was worth it all. He was so handsome that her heart skipped a beat and goosebumps appeared along her arms. How had she ever gotten so lucky?
"I missed you," she said and looked up at him, her face shining with happiness and love for the man holding her. "Let's never spend another night apart, okay?" She longed to kiss him, but waiting just a little longer would make their first kiss all the better.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the change," she said and pulled back. Keeping secrets from Rabastan wasn't something Ginny enjoyed doing, even when they were this special and important. She always felt compelled to share every thought she had, every emotion she felt with him. It wasn't that Rabastan forced her to be honest, but rather that she simply couldn't imagine not being open with him. Their love had been built on opening up to each other and baring their souls. Ginny hoped that connection would last for the rest of their lives.
Linking their fingers together, Ginny took a deep breath to steady her nerves. Rabastan was a man of words. His eloquence astounded her every day. He could craft the most uplifting message with a few strokes of his quill and bring people crashing down with a turn of phrase. Ginny didn't have the same ability. She showed her love through actions. And her final surprise for the day was, hopefully, better than any flowery speech she could hope to write.
"I… well. Before, when I was your Disciple, I use to read a lot. And you had all these books in your study about religion and a copy of the Bible. I started to read them and I noticed your tattoo and then once we got closer I sort of put it all together. And it made sense to me, you believing in God. Because a man who has done so much would want forgiveness. You want to believe that you are more than what you did before. And so, after my birthday, I came here and Father Garrett started to teach me and this Sunday I was baptized so we could be married here, together. So that your faith is our faith now."
Her words jumbled together from nerves. Ginny was so hesitant to tell him what she'd done, but she wasn't sure why. What if he thought it was too much? But, deep down, Ginny knew it was right. If they were going to be a family, if they were going to face the world together, what better way to do it than with shared beliefs?
---
Rabastan could tell that whatever it was Ginny wanted to say was important, and that she was nervous by it. For a moment, it put him on edge, if only because when it came to her, he felt so deeply that just the very idea of making her uncomfortable was unacceptable. As she spoke, Rabastan remained silent, his gaze fixed on her, his hands never leaving hers as the words poured from her lips. It was… surprising, to say the least. He had never known she had taken an interest in his beliefs, and he had never expected her too. Rabastan loved Ginny just the way she was, and while he was a man of faith, he wasn't the type to force those ideals onto another.
Alright, maybe he was, in some respects. To others. But not to Ginny. She was too strong, to perfect with how she was right in that moment, that the idea of forcing her to change for him in any way made him nearly ill.
But this. This had been her choice, and one that resonated deeply within him. At first, he didn't quite know what to say, if only because this single gesture was so meaningful that speech failed him. He wanted to pull her too him and kiss her, but he knew he should wait just a bit longer, but he wasn't quite sure what else to do. Nothing he could say would encompass the overwhelming emotion he was feeling at her admission. At what she had done for him, for them. It truly highlighted just how utterly ethereal she was. It was as though the woman from his dreams, one that was entirely too perfect for his flawed, human brain to even make up, stepped out of the heavens and into the mortal realm to be with him. It simply wasn't believable, and yet, here she stood.
"And here I thought you couldn't give me anything else to make me feel more complete, and yet, you continue to surprise me every day," he finally managed, his hand going to her jawline, gently trailing down her face and neck. "Thank you. For this. For everything that you've ever done for me. I would have never truly found myself if it wasn't for you being in my life, and I hope I will continue to make you proud, to deserve you. This is… an amazing gift you've given me and it means the world. I hope you know that."
The look of pure love and tenderness he gave her then was so entirely genuine, that anyone watching from the outside would not have thought Rabastan Lestrange was capable of such pure, honest emotion. But she brought it out of him. She always would.
"Are you ready to get married then, Ginny Weasley?" He called her by her maiden name then, just so she could hear it for the last time. Because he felt that was important. Because the moment they walked through the doors to the church and promised themselves to each other, they would be different people. Tied by something deeper than just a title, but by their very souls.
---
Beaming with pride and adoration, Ginny nodded. "You go wait for me up there," she told him. "Try to look just as surprised when you see me so people know we didn't cheat," she teased. Blowing him a quick kiss, Ginny hurried off to the small dressing room where Becca and Charlie were waiting for her. She indulged in letting them ooh and ahh over her for a few minutes while she checked her hair again and made sure her makeup was still perfect. Her tears were threatening to spill over at any moment, especially when Charlie commented about how much she looked like their mother. She hugged him then, whispering how much she loved him and how much she missed her before pulling back. "I suppose it's time," Ginny said with a nervous smile. A knock on the door came and little Henry peaked his head in, looking ever so sharp and adorable in his small suit.
"Oh, Henry! You're the sweetest little ring bearer ever, did you know that?" Waffles and Butter, previously lounging on the sofa, looked up at Ginny. "Go on, Waffles. Go find Rabastan," she instructed the dog and Waffles happily bounded out of the room to find his master. Butter whined a little, not wanting to be parted from his best friend. "It's alright, love," she reassured her dog and gave him a pat on the head. "You're staying with me."
The next few minutes were a blur of getting people in line, reassuring smiles and hugs, waving Becca, Butter, and Henry through the doors and listening to the gentle laughter of their guests. Then, it was time. As the music swelled, Ginny could hear her guests rise to their feet. She looked up at her brother, smiling warmly at him before they moved through the door. At the end of the aisle was Rabastan, looking just as handsome… maybe more.. as he had a few moments ago. Ginny could only see him, her eyes locked on his as they made their way past smiling faces.
Each step she took was a step closer to her destiny. For a moment, Ginny thought of Harry and Neville. Not in a mournful or regretful way. But rather she saw them both for what they were. They were paths she could have taken in life. Undoubtedly, Ginny would've been happy with either of them. Happy and content. But the man she was walking towards didn't make her simply happy. Rabastan gave Ginny a new outlook on the world. He changed her views, her ideas, her very soul. This was a man who had the ability and the patience to help her grow into a woman, his woman, the woman who would stand by his side as they created a new world… a better world. This path, though the most unlikely and dangerous, was the right path for her.
As she reached her beloved, Ginny stopped, beaming with excitement. "Blessed family and friends, we are gathered here today to join in holy matrimony Miss Ginevra Weasley to Mister Rabastan Lestrange. These two souls have come before God to pledge their lives to each other and it is our honor to witness this blessed event. Now, who gives this woman to this man?"
Ginny smiled softly as Charlie presented her to Rabastan, pausing for a moment to kiss her brother's cheek and whisper how much she loved him in his ear. And then, her hand found Rabastan's and Ginny took a breath. This was it, this was the start of her destiny.
---
"I don't think that will be an issue," Rabastan told her with a small smile, knowing that watching her walk down the aisle towards him would be even more breathtaking a sight than her right in that moment. And that was certainly saying something. With one last glance in her direction, he made his way into the church, smiling and nodding at their guests as he took his place on the altar, next the priest as he waited for ceremony to start, and everyone to join him. They purposefully kept the wedding party incredibly small, if only because both of them had very few people in their lives right now who could be present, at least publicly. Rabastan was no fool, after all. He was well aware many faces in the crowd were that of her family and friends, the rebels who had disguised themselves to make it to their special day. He had specifically instructed security not to screen anyone's wands, just a simple spell to check for weapons… nothing more. He wouldn't have an arrest ruining their moment, and frankly, these people who made Ginny the woman she was deserved to be here. She deserved to be surrounded by family and friends even more than he did.
Taking a moment to look around once more, he smiled, clearing his throat as he waited patiently. He heard the charging of four paws to signal Waffle's appearance, smiling at his companion as he made his way right up next to Rabastan, sitting down at his side, his tail wagging happily. Giving his head a pat, Rab muttered something about him being a good boy as the music began to play. He watched with bated breath as Henry and Butters made their way down the aisle, followed by Rodolphus and Rebecca. And then the swell of music signalled the beginning of Ginny's arrival, and it felt for a moment like he couldn't breathe.
In that moment, the moment he saw her, nothing else in the world existed. He only saw her, and for a split second, it was as though they were the only two people on earth.. And then she was right in front of him, her brother smiling at Rabastan, taking his hand and Ginny's and putting them together. Clapping the older man on the back, Charlie walked away to take his seat, and both Rabastan and his beautiful bride walked up the few stairs to stand in front of their guests and join together.
The priest was speaking, but he heard none of it. He merely stared at Ginny, his eyes full of deep, burning love and adoration for her. He heard snippets of God and love and if anyone objected… For a moment his blood turned cold, and he knew if anyone so much as uttered a sound, he would strike them down before they could even finish a sentence, but there was nothing. Not until, "The bride and groom have prepared their own vows for today. Mr. Lestrange, please, after you…"
Taking another deep breath, Rabastan didn't even grab for a piece of paper. He hadn't written a single thing ahead of time, because honestly? He didn't need too.
"Ginerva Molly Weasley. Our time together has not always been easy. When we first met, I am more than aware you hated me, and I was… not entirely fond of you. But we learned to understand one another. Respect one another. And out of those feelings, eventually, came love.
I will be honest in saying I never thought myself the type to marry. The darkness that dwells within me is something I never wanted to bring another person into. My demons, the cross I bare should be my own. But you… when you came into my life, when you truly came into my life, everything changed. I realized that for you, I could be more. For you, I could be anything in the world, if only it meant you would be by my side. I know life will always be difficult, and nothing will ever be perfect, and I am certainly not a perfect man, but I know with you here, with me, supporting and believing in me, I can do anything.
Ginny… my love. I promise to cherish you, to give you everything you've ever wanted in the entire world, to make the world itself a better place, until the day I die. And even then, my love, this love, could never be extinguished by my mere mortality. I will love you until the day the world ends. I will love you into the afterlife. Nothing in this world, or the next, could ever keep me from you. I will protect you. I will do anything in my power to ensure you are always smiling. I hope that in time, I can give you even an ounce of the hope, joy, and love that you've given me. You are the perfect woman, and I love you. Thank you for choosing me, and I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with you, to start a family with you, and to make this existence a better place for not only ourselves, but for everyone."
Once he finished speaking, Rabastan maintained his composure, but Ginny could see his eyes were slightly wet, emotion swelling through him as he looked at his one true love.
---
Rabastan was able to pull words from the air and string them together into poetry. Ginny envied him. For her, words never seemed quite capable of capturing her feelings. A woman of action, Ginny had labored over her vows for weeks. The floor beneath the kitchen table had been littered with crumpled bits of parchment and she'd gone through two inkwells just to find the right words. And no matter how much she tried, she knew they would pale in comparison to the beauty Rabastan so effortlessly spoke.
Sure enough, as he vowed his love to her, Ginny's eyes had flooded with tears. There was no holding back her emotions and tears rolled down her cheeks, dropping onto the ivory lace of her dress. Thankfully, Ginny had stashed a handkerchief in her bouquet, anticipating her need for it. She plucked it out from between the roses and dabbed at her eyes. His words were ones she would carry with her for the rest of her life, etched onto her heart for all eternity. Ginny wanted nothing more than to kiss the man in front of her, but she had to speak her vows first.
With trembling hands, she unfolded the bit of parchment she had in her hand. Looking up at Rabastan, Ginny felt her cheeks flush a little. Never one to be shy in front of people, Ginny was suddenly very aware that everyone (or nearly everyone) she knew and loved was about to listen to her profess her innermost feelings for a man some of them actively hated.
Drawing in a deep breath, Ginny's hands trembled as she began to read. Her voice shook slightly, unable to control the torrent of emotions rushing over her. "My parents had the perfect marriage," she began with a small, wistful smile. "I grew up in the warmth of their love, their commitment to each other, and their passion for each other and for life. They didn't have much, but we never wanted for anything. And I think that's because of how much love they had for each other and for us. And I thought I understood that love before, but I was wrong. Because it wasn't until the day I realized how I felt about you that I could even comprehend the true meaning of love."
Her voice began to come a little more easily and Ginny spoke louder, confident in her words and her feelings for the man she was about to marry. "Every day with you is a day better than the one before. You give me strength when I struggle, you give me confidence to push myself. You hold me when my world is crashing down and you comfort me when I am sick. You do this all so tenderly and unconditionally and I am truly humbled by the love you have for me. So many times you've told me that I am perfect or that I have saved you, but you made me whole, Rabastan. You've healed my heart, you've restored my faith, and you've given me something so precious and magical. You've given me hope. Hope that we'll make the world a better place, hope that I will have a life as happy as my parents', hope that with you I will have a family, hope that each day will continue to be better. I promise that I will be here, right here, by your side every moment of every day until I draw my last breath. I promise that I will never waiver in my love for your or my belief in you. I promise that through all of our struggles, our pain, our triumphs and our joy I will continue to give you the love you so graciously gave to me. You are my soulmate, Rabastan. And I will thank God everyday for bringing you into my life."
----
Ginny's words were just as beautiful, if not more so than his own. At least in his eyes. Because there wasn't a single thing in the world that the woman in front of him did that was less than perfect. And while his eyes wavered with obvious emotion, he couldn't stop the tender, loving smile on his face, or the way he reached out to steady her shaking hand when she first began. When she was finished, Rabastan was flooded with the need to hold her, to kiss her, to tell her over and over how utterly beautiful she was, but he refrained, if only because that would be highly inappropriate to do in the middle of the ceremony.
So instead he held his breath, waiting for the moment that he could once again kiss her. The priest smiled at the both of them once they were finished, mentioning how each of them had such beautiful vows for each other, before he moved on to the rest of his speech.
Rabastan heard something about God looking down upon the beautiful couple, blessing them, and then there was the part about the rings. Once they each had them in hand, Rabastan stared into Ginny's eyes once more as though nothing else in the world existed, her wedding band gently sparkling against the light of the church. "Do you Rabastan Lestrange, take Ginny Weasley to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and woe, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself solely unto her for as long as you both shall live?" He asked, his eyes training on Rabastan.
"I do, and thereafter as well," he promised, smiling at his wife and slipping the ring on her finger slowly, savoring the perfect moment before he was finished.
"And do you, Ginny Weasley, take Rabastan Lestrange to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and woe, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself solely unto him for as long as you both shall live?"
----
Ginny's voice failed her at first. Her throat was thick with tears and she had to force her promise out to him, her voice nearly a squeak. Flushing, she looked up at Rabastan as she slipped a ring onto his large hand. "I do, and thereafter will," she whispered before squeezing his hand tightly and bouncing slightly on the balls of her feet. In mere moments they would be officially married and Ginny could hardly believe it was really happening.
"As these two have come together before God, their family and friends to speak their vows, pledge their love and exchange rings, I am honored to bless their union and their commitment to each other. It is with my blessing and the love of all these witnesses here today that I proclaim them to be husband and wife. What God has joined together, let no man put asunder." And then, the priest spoke the words Ginny had been dying to hear since she first laid eyes on Rabastan in his suit.
"Rabastan, you may kiss your bride."
Ginny, never known for her patience, didn't wait for Rabastan to lean towards her. She flung her arms around her husband and lifted her feet from the ground, never doubted for a moment that he would support her. Their lips met and Ginny kissed Rabastan with every shred of love and happiness she felt for him. To help with appropriate or chaste. Ginny kissed her husband as though she'd been without him for weeks, her fingers running through his dark hair, her silk slippers falling off her feet as they dangled above the floor. Though she (barely) resisted from teasing his tongue with hers, Ginny paid no mind to the dozens of people watching them. Instead she kissed the man she could now call her husband, her lips moving with his and her heart practically pounding in her chest.
It was real. She was married! And to the most incredible man, a true and honest gift from God. "I love you, husband," she whispered against his lips as they broke apart. "I love you so much."
----
Rabastan could hear the crowd chuckle as Ginny jumped into his arms, and he wasted no time in pulling her close, kissing her with just as much excitement, joy, and passion as she was showing him. And though he made sure to keep it appropriate, he couldn't help but want to deepen their kiss. But he stopped himself, just enjoying the moment between himself, and his wife. His wife. Merlin, he would never get tired of calling her that for as long as he lived, he knew that as well as he knew his own name.
Her words caused a smile to break out on his face, running a hand through her hair with the free arm that wasn't currently holding her up. "I love you more than anything, wife," he whispered to her as he finally set her down, chuckling a bit as she put her shoes back on.
The priest himself chuckled at their display, a smile gracing his elderly features as he cleared his throat. "Friend and family, it is my honor to introduce you to the newly married couple, Mr. and Mrs. Rabastan Lestrange!"
There were whistles and claps coming from the crowd as they turned to look at their guests, Rabastan taking her hand as the pups hopped up, taking their places at either side of them as the music swelled. Rabastan didn't even bother to look at everyone else though, his eyes glued to Ginny as they walked down the aisle, finally married.
He heard the priest talking behind them, advising of the reception immediately to follow and providing them with the location. The bride and groom would meet them all there. But for the time being, they had a moment just to spend with each other until they had to socialize. It was brief, but as they moved off into a small room as their guests began to exit, heading for their next destination, Rabastan pulled her close once more, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.
"Ginny Lestrange," he finally said, running his hands down her chin, her neck as he stared into her eyes. "I will never get tired of saying that."
---
The applause and cheers that followed them down the aisle only made Ginny smile brighter. She was practically skipping as they hurried off for a private moment. The dogs followed them inside and once the door shut behind the wedding, Ginny let out a long breath. It happened and it was perfect and the slight worry she had that someone would ruin their special day was put to rest. Now they could start their life together as husband and wife.
Pressing close to her husband, Ginny smiled happily. She doubted she would ever stop smiling, not when being married made her this happy. Hearing her new name fall from Rabastan's lips made Ginny giggle, going up on her tip toes to press a kiss to his lips.
"I hope not," she said with a soft laugh. "Because I'm going to be Ginny Lestrange for the rest of my life," she promised. Being Rabastan's wife was all she could ever see herself being. Well… that wasn't quite true. Because that morning before she started to get ready Ginny and poured every birth control potion down the drain. With any luck, soon she'd not only be his wife, but the mother of Rabastan's children. She didn't tell him though. Ginny wanted it to be a surprise when it happened, wanted to make his dreams come true one more time.
Kissing him again, she closed her eyes. "I've never been happier than I am right this second," she whispered. She wanted to remember it all. The feel of his bread against her cheek, the warmth from his hands on her, the quietness and peace in their private moment, the love they had for each other. No one would ever see this, but Ginny knew it would be the moment she cherished the most from their wedding.
"You owe me some dances though," she said with a smirk. "Come on, husband…"
OOC Information: The wedding is held at sunset. Guests arrived at Lestrange Manor and all guests were checked for weapons, but no further screening was done. Just about twenty minutes before the start of the ceremony, all guests were instructed to apparate to the church. After the ceremony they all returned to the Lestrange Manor.
Comment threads will be posted for various points during the wedding. If you're going to smut, please take it to a separate thread. If you have any questions about things, please ping Maggie or Katy before you post. We'll do our best to answer you.