Chapter 4: A Wedding and a Prophecy

Now that Remus had accepted the job of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Harry was looking forward to his return to Hogwarts even more. But before he could even think of that, he needed to survive the days before Remus and Tonks' wedding, living in the same house with the bride. Three days before the big day, Remus, Harry and Jacinta were sitting in the living room when Tonks barged in, panic-stricken.

"Remus, we forgot something!"

Remus suppressed a smile and looked at his fiancée. She had come to him in this state five times in the last three days, every time worrying about something that they hadn't planned for their wedding and he had to tell her every time that they had already taken care of it.

"We don't have someone to perform the ceremony!" Tonks said.

"Honey." Remus said patiently. "Kingsley will be officiating. We asked him weeks ago, remember?"

"Oh, yeah. Right." Tonks dropped into a comfortable chair. She was only able to relax for a minute though. "But what if he can't make it? He's been so busy."

"He will be there." Remus reassured her. "Kingsley wouldn't miss our wedding for anything."

A couple of minutes later, Ginny and Hermione arrived to go with Tonks to Madam Malkin's. She had to pick up her wedding dress and the girls needed to go with her for their bridesmaid dresses. All of them were squealing with excitement as they left for Diagon Alley.

"I just can't believe how they can get so excited about clothes." Ron's voice came from the door. He entered the living room and dropped down in the chair that had been occupied by Tonks.

"Hi. I didn't know you were coming." Harry said surprised.

"Yeah, well. With the girls gone and dad at work, there's not much to do at home. And mum is going completely mental about the wedding too. I'll never understand them." Ron shook his head as to express his incomprehension of the other sex.

"Be glad you don't have to go with them." Remus said. "I'm glad that weird tradition exists about the groom and the wedding dress. I think I wouldn't survive if I had to help Tonks pick one out."

"You guys!" Jacinta sighed exasperated. "I can't believe how the three of you got such amazing girls to go out with you!"

"I know, me neither." Ron said. "Why not again?"

"Tonks is a girl. She has been dreaming about her wedding day ever since she was six." Jacinta, said as if she was explaining something to a two-year old. "She wants it to be perfect."

"Six?" Harry asked. "Who thinks about marriage when they're six?"

"Girls." Jacinta said.

Harry and Ron grinned at each other as they saw the familiar expression on the younger girl's face. "You have been hanging out with Hermione too much, Jacinta." Ron said. "You're becoming just like her."

Jacinta huffed and walked out of the room, leaving three very amused men.

(-) – (-) – (-) – (-) – (-)

Harry was feeling slightly nervous at breakfast on the day of the wedding. Not only would he be the best man in a wedding today, but this would also be the first time he would return to Hogwarts since the end of the war. The rest of the school year had been cancelled to give the teachers the chance to restore the school. O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. students had been forced to take their exams at the Ministry of Magic once everything was back to normal there. Ginny and Luna were still awaiting their results.

Harry looked up when Remus walked into the kitchen. If he was already nervous about just being in the wedding then how must Remus feel? But the werewolf seemed to be fully relaxed.

"Aren't you nervous?" Harry asked as Dobby loaded Remus' plate with eggs and bacon.

"Why would I be nervous about?" Remus asked calmly. "I'm marrying the greatest girl in the world."

"Are you ever not calm?" Harry laughed. "I would be terrified if it would be my wedding."

"Good to hear." Ron's voice came from the doorway. "I don't have to think about kicking your ass any time soon then."

"When did you get here?" Remus asked surprised, while Harry laughed.

"Just now." Ron sat down and grabbed some toast.

"He hasn't used the Floo Network ever since he got his Apparition licence." Harry said. "Wants to show off."

"It took me long enough." Ron grinned.

"What are you doing here so early anyway? We don't have to leave for another two hours."

"I had to get out of there." Ron said seriously. "I thought they were bad the last couple of days, but now they are completely off their trolley."

"Did you see Tonks?" Remus asked.

"Yeah, she's a mess." Ron said. "Not in a bad way." he added quickly when he saw Remus' face. "She's not having second thoughts or anything. She's just determined that something will come up to ruin the wedding."

Harry could kind of relate what Tonks was going through. After everything that happened over the last few years, it was rather strange to realize that it was all over. He found it hard to believe that nothing else would come up to make their lives difficult.

(-) – (-) - (-) – (-) – (-)

Harry and Remus were standing side by side in the Gryffindor common room. They were standing in front of the window, looking down on all the guests that were being led to their seats by various members of the Weasley family. Tonks was getting ready with her bridesmaids in the Hufflepuff common room downstairs.

"Are you ready?" Harry asked after a long silence.

"More than ever."

Harry looked at his guardian and smiled when he saw the man's face. He looked happier than Harry had ever seen him. He realized what a long way Remus had come when he compared the man next to him to the man he was one year ago, just after Sirius died. He silently thanked Tonks for that.

"I'm so happy for you." Harry said softly as they left the common room.

Remus put an arm around his shoulder as they made their way down the marble staircases. "I know, Harry. And I'm happy that you are standing up there with me."

"We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of a very remarkable witch and wizard." Kingsley's deep, calm voice was carrying away over the grounds. Tonks and Remus were holding each other's hands in front of him, beaming at each other. "There is nothing in this world that is more beautiful than the love between two people. Any two people."

"Do you, Nymphadora Tonks, take Remus Lupin to be your partner in life, equal in love, promising to honour and cherish, through good times and bad, until death do you part?"

"I do."

"Do you, Remus Lupin, take Nymphadora Tonks to be your partner in life, equal in love, promising to honour and cherish, through good times and bad, until death do you part?"

"I do."

"As Minister for Magic, it is my greatest pleasure to pronounce you husband and wife." Kingsley waved his wand over the heads of the happy couple and a shower of red and purple stars fell upon their entwined fingers. "You may kiss the bride." he added, smiling at least as widely as Remus and Tonks.

Remus and Tonks kissed each other softly, receiving a deafening applause from the guests. Harry looked at Ginny, who was standing behind Tonks. Her eyes were filled with tears, but she too was smiling widely. When Remus and Tonks had finally let go of each other, they both hugged the newlyweds.

"Congratulations." Harry muttered while he was firmly embracing Remus. "You couldn't have picked someone better."

They were quickly engulfed by a crowd of guests who wanted to congratulate the happy couple.

"Let's get out of here before we get trampled." Harry said. He grabbed Ginny's hand and pulled her away from the commotion.

"We'll see you guys later!" Ginny quickly said, but it would be a miracle if Remus and Tonks would have heard her. They were forced to shake hands with every single person in front of them.

Harry and Ginny finally found Ron and Hermione and they sat down at one of the tables by the lake. They were immediately offered a glass of champagne by one of the waiters.

"Mum would better not catch you drinking." Ron said warningly as Ginny accepted her champagne.

"Look who's suddenly holier than Merlin." Ginny grumbled.

Ron ignored her and watched all the guests scurry around. "I really hate weddings." he said. "What's all the fuss about anyway?"

"You don't want to get married then?" Harry asked surprised.

"Well, yes." Ron answered. Hermione raised her eyebrows. "No! I mean – "

Harry and Ginny laughed at Ron's uneasiness.

"Would you relax." Hermione said. She was holding back her laughter herself. "I'm not expecting anything soon. Don't worry."

They were quickly joined by Neville Longbottom, who apparently had found the courage to ask someone to be his date to the wedding, as he was accompanied by a pretty girl who seemed to be a couple of years younger than him.

"Hi guys." he said, looking happy to see them again. "This is Astoria. She'll be starting her fifth year in September."

"Hi." Astoria said softly. Although she wasn't normally a very shy person, she was quite nervous being introduced to four of the most legendary students of Hogwarts.

"Hi." Harry said. "Aren't you Daphne's sister? She's in our year, isn't she?"

Astoria nodded.

"You're a Slytherin, aren't you?" Ron asked with raised eyebrows.

"I am." Astoria admitted. "But don't hold it against me."

"We'll try." Ginny laughed.

Astoria smiled at her. She looked extremely relieved that Neville's friends weren't judging her because of the fact she was sorted into Slytherin.

"Did you see, Luna?" Harry asked Neville. "She was invited, wasn't she? It'll be great to see her again."

"I have actually." Neville smirked. "But I think she's a little preoccupied at the moment." He gestured towards the dancing guests and they saw Luna and Fred bouncing between them, hurting several people in the process.

"What the hell are they doing?" Ron mumbled.

"I think they're dancing." Harry said slowly.

"If those two ever have a kid, that will be the weirdest toddler this world has ever seen."

"Hey, there's Hagrid!" Ginny said excitedly. Indeed they saw Hagrid apologizing elaborately to Remus and Tonks for destroying one of the tables by bumping against it with his knee. "Let's go say hi."

"So how's it going with Neville?" Hermione asked Astoria as they followed their friends.

"It's going well." the younger girl smiled. "I really like him. Thanks for setting it up."

"I knew you would." Hermione said proudly. "And it's the least I could do."

After talking with Hagrid for a while and retrieving old memories together about their earlier years at Hogwarts, they were approached by Kingsley Shacklebolt.

"I'm sorry to interrupt." Kingsley smiled at them. Today was the first time they had seen him since he had been appointed as new Minister for Magic. "But I won't make it long. Harry, there are a few matters that I wanted to discuss with you. I know tomorrow's your birthday, but would it be alright if I stayed a while longer after dinner?"

"Yeah sure. No problem." Harry said quickly.

"Great." Kingsley said. "Oh and I think it would be wise if you guys would also be there." he added, looking at Ginny, Ron, Hermione and Neville. "And ask Luna to stay too." They all agreed and Kingsley left them alone again.

"What was that all about?" Ron asked.

"No idea." Harry said truthfully. "I reckon we'll hear tomorrow."

Ron and Hermione and Neville and Astoria soon got to their feet to dance and Hagrid had gone off to talk to Charlie Weasley. Harry smiled at Ginny. "I'd ask you to dance too, but I think I recall you saying you hate dancing."

Ginny smirked at him. "Hate is such a strong word."

"Oh, right. It was just an act of rebellion against your mum, because she wanted to make you do girl stuff."

Ginny laughed. "You remembered that for an awfully long time."

"How I could I forget?" Harry said.

They both looked towards the lake. They were only a couple of yards away from the spot where they had sat down after the Yule Ball and talked for hours, now already two and a half years ago. Harry smiled as he remembered that night and how nervous he had been, sitting next to Ginny.

"We've come a long time, haven't we?" Ginny asked softly.

"Yes. We have."

"You know." Ginny said, smiling again. "Dancing isn't quite that bad, if you're with the right person."

Harry smiled too, got to his feet and took her hand. "Let's go."

(-) – (-) – (-) – (-) – (-)

Minerva McGonagall felt rather sad and even guilty about leaving Remus and Tonks' wedding early, but she had no choice. She had made an appointment for this evening weeks ago, not considering the date and she always was someone to keep her appointments. She apparated to Diagon Alley and entered the Leaky Cauldron were she would be meeting a possible new colleague. Although Remus had agreed to come back to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts and Severus had finally decided to stay, there were still two positions at the school that needed to be filled. Both Madam Hooch and Firenze had sadly been killed during the Battle of Hogwarts. Minerva would have preferred to cut Divination from the curriculum, but the school board would have nothing of it. Therefore she had grudgingly agreed to allow an interview with Cordelia Trelawney, daughter of her deceased colleague Sybill.

Minerva had been highly sceptic when she learned the name of the woman who wanted to apply for the job of Divination teacher. Although Albus had told her Sybill truly possessed the gift of Sight – she had in fact been the one to make the Prophecy about Harry and Voldemort – Minerva still thought she was a fraud, simulating everything. Therefore, she was quite surprised when Cordelia showed actual knowledge about the subject and could even talk to her in detail about Ovomancy and Heptomology. Telling Cordelia to look for her owl, Minerva got to her feet, said goodbye and walked towards the door of the private room Tom had provided for them. It happened right before she wanted to grab the door handle.

"Before the next summer, three powerful objects will finally be reunited. He who has preserved our entire world from a terrible disaster will be the one to carry them. Descending from the third one and mentored by the one who tamed the first one, he will be the only person able to carry them all. For he is the only person able to resist the temptation of immortality. The objects will come to him, without him looking for them, for he has not the intention to use them to increase his powers, but to serve and protect the people of his world. Three powerful objects will be reunited before the next summer."

"Marriage is not the beginning of the journey, nor the end. It is the journey." – Jarod Kintz