Thanks to EvilFireWitch, who caught the mistake in this chapter. Much appreciated!Yes, this chapter is too sappy. It had to beput in, given the whole point of the story. Feel free to skim it and and go straight to the next chapter.
Sirius looked over at James, who was grinning so much that it looked as though the top of his head was about to fall off. He turned to see what his friend was looking at, and felt his eyes bug out. Lily looked stunning. Sirius reminded himself hastily that she was off-limits, at least if he valued his life.
The ministry wizard cleared his throat.
"We have come here today," he began in a clear, if rather quiet, voice, "To witness the beginning of a new life together, as Lily Evans and James Potter marry."
The crowd applauded, and Sirius relaxed slightly, releasing those muscles which were not actually holding him upright.
"Lily Evans, on this day, James becomes your husband. I charge you to love him, care for him, be kind to him, and keep him out of mischief, in public and private, with joy, patience, love, gentleness, and good humor. Will you do this?"
"I will."
She'll have a hard time at that, thought Sirius to himself.
"James Potter, you have heard what she promises. I charge you to remember this, with patience, honor, and kindness, making her job, not a difficult task, but a lifetime of joy. Will you do this?"
"I will."
Sirius felt all conscious thought patterns begin to drift off into the state of boredom he occupied when he had to sit still for more then ten minutes.
"James Potter, on this day, Lily becomes your wife. I charge you to love her, care for her, be kind to her, and defend her, in public and private, with joy, patience, love, gentleness, and good humor. Will you do this?"
"I will."
"Lily Evans, you heard what he said today. I charge you to remember this, with patience, honor, and kindness, making his task a lifetime's joyful work, not a burden. Will you do this?"
"I will."
"Very well," said the ministry official.
The ministry official continued the ceremony, "You have heard them speak; if any have an objection, or fear foul play on either side, testify now before the world, or forever hold your peace, knowing what you have left unsaid."
Petunia looked very uneasy, as if she was preparing to speak, but Lily gave her a Look which warranted the capital letter, and she subsided back into her seat. Sirius knew that Look of old, and he also knew that it didn't bode well for Petunia if she ignored it.
Lily's parents began the ritual that always accompanied wizarding marriages (normally, the parents of both the bride and groom would recite it together, but James' parents were long dead):
"May your life together be full of joy,
May sorrow never touch you,
May your days together be long in the land..."
Sirius let his mind wander towards the reception, for which he had been selected to give the toast. It was practically traditional for the toast to be something designed to humiliate (or at least deeply embarrass) the person or persons being toasted.
There's so much to choose from, he thought to himself, shifting his weight slightly, Nearly five years worth of his trying to get her attention, begging her on bended knee to go out with him, threatening to throw himself off Gryffindor tower if she didn't go out with him...
"And what has joined together today,
Let no-one try to part.
"May you live to see your children wed,
And your children's children too,"
I could just tell them about the day she finally agreed...That'd be hilarious enough! But if I can embarrass her too, that'd be choice. Decisions, decisions... Sirius snapped back into the present, just in time to catch his cue.
"Very well," said the official, "Do you, the gathering, pledge to aid them in their new life, knowing that they would do the same for you?"
"We do," said Sirius, along with everyone else present.
"That being so," said the official, "We are ready to complete the binding. James Potter, do you stand prepared?"
"I do."
"Lily Evans, do you stand prepared?"
"I do."
They reached out and clasped hands.
"Are you ready, Lily?" murmered James, so quietly that Sirius could barely hear him.
"I'm ready, James. And you?"
"I've been ready since Fifth year."
Saps, thought Sirius. He stretched his wand out and placed it gently on top of their clasped hands.
"Lily Evans," said the ministry official, "Do you take James to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I do," said Lily.
A bolt of golden light shot out of Sirius' wand and wrapped around their hands, gently forming a rope.
"James Potter," said the official, "Do you take Lily Evans to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
"I do,"
A second bolt of light left Sirius' wand and wrapped around the first, forming another rope.
"And do you both promise to love and be faithful to one another, for richer or poorer, better or worse, in sickness and in health, all the days of your lives, till death do you part?"
"We do."
The two ropes of golden light wrapped themselves around the ring fingers of the two hands, leaving behind two plain gold rings, then merged together into one, binding Lily and James' hands together. It climbed up their arms, then sank into them, until the only trace that it had ever been there was the two gold rings on the still interlaced hands.
"Very well," said the official, "Lily Potter, you may now kiss the groom."
Lily obliged. And went on obliging, lifting her arms around her husband's neck. He wrapped his arms around her waist, and Sirius rolled his eyes. Honestly. They're snogging at their own wedding. The various family members either smiled, sighed happily, did both, or (in the case of Sirius, who was just glad to be able to move again) whistled loudly.
"Ladies and gentleman, young and old and middle-aged, I present Lily and James Potter!"
The entire crowd rose to their feet again, laughing and cheering as the newlyweds walked down the central aisle, arm-in-arm, Lily smiling gracefully, James grinning like a pumpkin.