Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed & Something Blue

Thanks go to Madbrilliant for beta-ing yet again.

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Chapter 4 - Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed & Something Blue

The dressing room was quite cluttered and there were noises coming from things that surely had no right to be making any noise at all. Hermione was a bundle of nerves, just waiting to be unraveled. She pitied the person who would suffer her wrath. It was only one hour until she would be walking arm-in-arm with her father to meet her husband-to-be at the centre stone for their binding. That in and of itself was a daunting prospect.

It was odd how women were rarely nervous about their marriage while they were planning for it and making all of the preparations but suddenly became nervous on the day of their wedding. And Hermione was no exception to this.

“Calm down, Hermione,” her mother cooed softly. “You look beautiful and everything will be fine.”

And it was true. Hermione was indeed a vision, with her hair softly pulled back from her face in a knot with curly tendrils framing her face gently and the smallest white flowers adorning it. Her wedding robes were exceptionally beautiful, accentuating her curves in all of the right places and falling nicely around her ankles, hugging her ample cleavage. She would be going in without shoes, as was the Wizarding tradition, but it didn't seem to make any difference to her appearance. She was truly radiant.

“You should try being the bride then, Mum,” Hermione said ruefully.

“I was, once, and I know exactly how you feel. Just try and forget about that for now and come with the girls and me to the couch. You are nearly ready but there are just a few things left to complete your outfit,” the older woman said calmly.

Hermione nodded and sat with Ginny, Molly, Minerva, and her mother around a small coffee table on the other side of the room. Her mother pulled out a few boxes and set them down on the table and smiled.

“I know you're a witch and all, Hermione, but I thought it would be nice to have a few Muggle customs in your wedding too,” she explained. “So, the girls and I got together and collected what you would need.”

Ginny picked up the first box and handed it to her. Hermione opened it and found a small brooch that looked like it was an antique. It was a beautifully shaped rose that sparkled with tiny diamonds in the centre. “This is what Muggles like to call your something old. It was my Great Grandmother's brooch that she wore on her wedding day and every other woman in our family has as well,” Ginny said with a mischievous smile.

Hermione laughed. “Thank you, Ginny,” she said, and she pinned it just above her breast on the outer robe.

Next was Minerva's turn, and she handed her a small box that had a ribbon adorning it. “Severus asked me to give this to you. It is your something new,” Minerva said, smiling. “It’s a very nice something new, might I add.”

Hermione opened the box and felt her eyes widen. They were the most beautiful teardrop earrings that were made out of the same platinum setting as her ring and necklace were with a similar design. Ginny helped her put them into her ears, cooing over them and making suggestive faces. Hermione swatted her away and pressed on, waiting for Molly to give her the next box.

After Ginny took her seat again, Hermione thanked Minerva and took the next box from Molly Weasley. “This will be your something borrowed. It is a platinum hairpin that I got from my mother when she passed away,” Molly explained as she took the rose-shaped setting away from Hermione and pinned it into her hair.

“Thank you, Molly,” Hermione said as she hugged her best friend’s mum, on the brink of tears already.

“And now for the final piece,” Jane Granger announced brightly. She pulled out the blue garter and handed it to her daughter, who examined it curiously. “It's a garter, dear. You wear it around your leg.”

Hermione nodded and let them help her slip it up to the middle of her right thigh. She folded her robes down again and they all sat there in silence. Before too long, a knock sounded at the door, and Hermione's stomach gave that familiar twist again and she felt as if she was going to be ill.

“I'm going to be sick,” she announced and ran into the bathroom.

After vomiting the little food she had eaten that day into the toilet bowl, she brushed her teeth again and walked out with more composure. Perhaps she was not that nervous at all. It must have just been the morning sickness.

She caught sight of her father, Philip, as soon as she arrived.

“Are you ready, darling?” Philip Granger asked warmly.

Hermione nodded and went to her dad, who gave her a light peck on the cheek before holding out his arm to her and leading her out of the room. Minerva and Ginny walked ahead of them, and her mother and Molly had already joined the guests. She could hear the guests gasp when they saw her two bridesmaids enter and could see the doors.

She smiled at her dad just as the doors opened. She was getting married...