Title: Wedding Day Blues
Rating: T
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Arabella, Harry
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em - not making any money off 'em. Dern it.
Word Count: 455
Summary: Arabella reflects on her lack of a love life when she receives an invitation to a wedding.
Notes:
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry: February Event: Singletons' Problems - 3. When you have to attend a wedding or work function alone where everyone else will be bringing a date/significant other
Arabella had been honored to be invited to Harry's wedding. She had watched the boy grow up. In fact, she liked to think she knew him better than the Dursleys. She certainly cared about him more than the Dursleys ever did.
Still, she had been cautious about going to the wedding. It wasn't that she didn't want to see him marry his one true love, but she knew when it came to weddings, everyone brought a date with them.
Unfortunately, she had never settled down with a man. She couldn't be with anyone in the magical world, unless he was a squib, because no self-respecting witch or wizard would ever lower him or herself to be with a squib. Even the ones with the biggest hearts still preferred to be with someone that had magic.
And she couldn't be with a Muggle because even if she lived in the Muggle world, she still had ties to the Wizarding world, including the fact that she worked for the Order and watched over Harry to the best of her abilities.
Marriages should be built on trust and honesty, and those were two things no Muggle man would ever have with her. So, she resigned herself to being a spinster for the rest of her life, with her many cats. And for the most part, she had been happy with her decision.
Weddings, though, tended to bring up regrets for the ones who were alone and Arabella couldn't help but wonder what might it had been like to fall in love, get married, and maybe even have a child or two.
Of course, it was too late for that now.
She sighed. No matter how she felt about going to a wedding alone, she wanted to see Harry get married. He was the closest thing she'd ever have to a son, and it didn't feel right for her to not be there and watch him take the next step in his life.
So, she went there and stayed for the reception. She plastered on a fake smile as the couples all danced. She sat alone at the table and once again, she wished she had someone to twirl around the dance floor with.
Her smile turned more genuine when Harry approached her. "Hello, Miss Figg, I'm glad you came."
"There's nowhere else I'd rather be."
He blushed slightly. "I was wondering..."
"Yes?" Arabella encouraged.
"Would you maybe like to dance?"
Her eyes softened at his heartwarming gesture. "If you don't mind..."
"Of course not," he hurried to reassure her.
He held his hand, and she took it gratefully. They danced for one song, and it might not have been a dance for lovers, but she enjoyed it nonetheless.