We didn't have to cook - Blaise had left hampers in the kitchen all made up for each meal, including Nova's baby food.

"This reminds me of the day we got married," I smiled as I lifted my face up to the sun, letting the rays warm my face.

We were sat out in the little cottage garden; Draco, Nova and I on a picnic blanket which was laden with finger sandwiches and small colourful cakes.

Nova was in heaven, I had to keep holding her back as she tried to grab at everything; her eyes greedily on the cakes.

Draco watched on, chuckling in amusement. "You can't blame that one on me. I remember you being worried you wouldn't get your own cake on our fifteenth birthday."

"Blaise came to the rescue with that one too," I smiled, remembering fondly.

I managed to finally distract Nova with a set of plastic keys which amused her just long enough for Draco to lean in and brush his lips against mine before she threw them at our heads and started angrily wailing.

"I don't think she likes to share us," Draco said amusedly as he scooped her onto his lap, jiggling her about on his knee. "But Daddy loves both Mummy and you very, very much."

I laughed, as she giggled in glee, looking adoringly up into her daddy's face. A warm glow spread throughout me and I never wanted this moment to end. I could watch Draco with our daughter forever.

My heart grew heavier as the hours ticked by; going much too fast for my liking.

Together, Draco and I fed and bathed our daughter, ending with the three us snuggled up against the wall on the nursery floor whilst Draco read out loud a story from one of Nova's storybooks.

I almost didn't want to put her down, wanting our family time to never stop. But her little yawns said otherwise, and she settled down, exhausted in her cot.

"Come on," Draco whispered, wrapping an arm around me and kissing my head as I stared down at our sleeping cherub. "Let's leave her in peace. We'll still have the morning together."

We opened a bottle of wine and snuggled under a blanket on the sofa next to a roaring fire.

"You know, as much as I love Blaise for doing this," I murmured sadly as I stared at the flickering flames, "this is just going to make it harder to say goodbye."

Draco's arms tightened around me as he released an achingly heavy sigh.

"I know what you mean," he said quietly, his voice sad and solemn. "This has been all I've ever wanted for us; for you me and Nova to live happily together. But I'm so glad I got to do it, if only for a short time."

When we crawled into bed, it was with the heaviest of hearts. Our eyes never left one another as we made love; taking our time, savouring one another.

Afterwards, we both clung to one another and wept, knowing that would be the last time he would ever truly be mine.

*****

"It's time, son."

Draco looked at his father before racing to the bathroom and throwing up in the toilet.

He couldn't do this. Just the idea was making him ill. How could he go through with marrying a woman he hated? And in front of the woman he loved and their child?

The only saving grace is that he had married Aurora first. It would mean Pansy would never be his wife.

But it was a small consolation. Because he would still have to share a marital bed with her.

He thought of the honeymoon suite which was waiting across the hall ready for them. Right smack bang next to Aurora's room.

He started dry retching at the thought. It would destroy him and Aurora. He wouldn't be able to look her in the face again, and he knew that she would not be able to touch him ever again.

This was Voldemort's punishment to them. And it was cruel beyond immeasurable belief.

A loud rapping on the door made Draco look up with a start.

"Son, we cannot keep him waiting any longer." His father's voice barked. "You know how dangerous it is to displease the Dark Lord."

Shakily, Draco got to his feet. He was about to go and rinse the remaining vomit out of his mouth out, but then immediately changed his mind.

It would serve Pansy right.

*****

I paused on the stairs as we made our way down towards the drawing room where the guests were congregating for the ceremony.

"I can't do this Blaise, I just can't." I cried as my whole body trembled in a horror I had never felt before.

Blaise quickly took Nova out of my arms and, placing her on his hip, took my hand in his.

"You can, Aurora, I promise you, you can do this." He whispered furtively in my ear. "It's not real, just remember that. Remember who he loves."

I nodded as tears spilled down my face.

"Remember, I'm here with you the whole time," Blaise said, carefully leading me down the remaining steps. "It's my duty as secret best man."

Draco hadn't wanted Blaise to stand up front with him, insisting instead that he look after me and Nova. Lucius was filling the role of official best man, which Draco had rather dryly pointed out suited the theme of a marriage of lies.

I was grateful to have Blaise, grateful of the support. Anyone would think I was attending a funeral the way I sobbed into his shoulder as we took our seats.

I felt like I was at a funeral.

"He's here," Blaise murmured quietly in my ear.

I didn't need to look up to know who he was talking about.

But I did anyway, and my heart broke as I saw Draco enter the room, his pale face tinged with green, walking ever so slowly, as if he was going to his own execution.

He was dressed in his black Death Eater robes. Part of me was glad that he wasn't wearing a suit - I couldn't bear to see him wearing anything similar to what he married me in.

As he reached the front, he came to a still, Lucius standing beside him. Draco slowly turned his head to look over his shoulder, and my heart stilled as his silver grey eyes landed upon mine. The deep and utter sadness in them was rife.

I had to close mine, not being able to bear to look in his any longer. And when I opened them again, he had turned his head back to the front.

We all had to stand to our feet as Wormtail introduced Voldemort. Of course, it was him who was officiating the wedding.

"Welcome, welcome," he said in his soft yet cold voice. "Before we start officially, I would like you to all remain standing as the bride to be makes her grand entrance."

Everyone turned to the doors behind us. I kept my eyes on the ground as organ music started playing. Sensing something was up, Nova started sniffling from Blaise's embrace and reached her arms down to me. I gratefully took her and buried my face in her hair, holding her tightly to my chest as Blaise placed a comforting arm around me.

People started gasping in awe as Pansy walked up the aisle. I couldn't bring myself to look, instead tears blurred my vision as I wept into Nova's hair, knowing that another woman was walking towards the man that I loved.

"You may now all be seated." Voldemort declared, as the music came to a stop.

This time, I couldn't avoid looking.

There was Pansy, wearing a ridiculous meringue dress, with puffed up sleeves and a super long train which was held up by six little bridesmaids all dressed in purple.

Draco's head remained firmly forwards, and I wondered if he had even looked at her yet.

I could barely listen as Voldemort introduced the ceremony. It was only when he came to a particular part, did the whole room seem to hold a collective breath.

"Draco Lucius Malfoy, will you have Pansy Polly Parkinson to be your wife, to live together in pureblooded marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?"

I couldn't tear my eyes away from the back of Draco's head as he seemed to be unable to respond.

"Come on, son," Lucius hissed, just loud enough for the whole room to hear.

"Forgive me, Draco," Voldemort laughed, "But I think you may not have heard, would you like me to repeat myself?"

I saw Draco briefly shake his head, as his father urged him on yet again. "Say it, Draco, say the words."

Draco's head slowly turned and his eyes once again met mine.

With my heart breaking into a million pieces, I gave him a nod, my vision blurring before me as tears swam in my eyes.

I squeezed Nova tightly to me, buying my face once again in her hair as I listened to the unmistakable voice of my husband.

"I do."