Disclaimer: Not mine.

Noticed an oops, I first said both kids had Lily's hair and then last chap said Luke had Potter so they both have her hair colour but Luke has the untameable mess of the Potter's.

Chapter 7

Harry lay on the couch absently spinning his wand between his fingers. It still felt strange to have one again, and one so different to the first. He wondered if anyone had been chosen by the holly and Phoenix wand but since he had gotten his just before leaving America he had no way of knowing. Instead of looking through already made wands in America you looked through the materials and then the wand was made to suite the barer. His new wand was twelve inches, made of Willow with a core of Thestral mane hair, something that had shocked the wand maker to the core. Apparently only one wand had ever used Thestral hair, though of the tail and not the mane, and that was the legendary and probably mythical Elder Wand. Willow felt appropriate as Lily Potter's wand had been Willow as well, plus according to the Celts and Druids it was the wood of psychics and Sam's birthday, tying it to the two people he loved most. As for the Thestral hair and link to death…that he wasn't sure about since he seemed to have a hard time meeting death. This wand was his match and it felt so right. It was odd using a wand again after so long but it did make many magic's a lot easier to control and it was expected he carry one, even if he still did a lot of wandless magic.

The house felt so empty and silent, even with the elves working to update the place to modern standards. He would have had actual workmen do it but for now it was safer that no one knew where the place was. Not even the Greengrass' knew, he'd met them at their house for a discussion on the wedding. He had been given specifications for his wedding robes and those of the people who would stand with him. That had been a problem since he didn't know anyone really so he had asked Luke and Rose who had happily agreed. Well Luke was being a typical young boy about it while Rose was excited to be going to a wedding. Thankfully the colours chosen would complement all three of them, black, gold and dark green. Rose was wearing gold and green while he and Luke would be in black and green. To his surprise he was actually enjoying the wedding preparations. He had never expected to get married, it wasn't exactly legal for him to marry the person he wanted to after all. It was turning out to not be as bad as he had imagined it would be.

His big worry now was the wedding night. He had been doing a lot of reading on wizarding customs since arriving and the marriage had to be consummated that night. The thought of being with anyone but Sam made him feel sick but he had to do his duty to his wife. He had promised her he would honour their vows and even give her children. He had to find some way to make it more palatable, he didn't want Daphne to be miserable for the rest of their lives.

There was just so much for him to learn he felt like he was drowning half the time. So much was different and all because Harry Potter hadn't been the Boy-Who-Lived. Was James and Lily's lives worth such a sacrifice? As much as it pained him to admit two lives weren't worth the many that had been lost since. And even those who lived were different, there was a reason he hadn't approached Sirius after all. For some reason it seemed he had never befriended James in this world, the Marauders had never formed and poor Remus had never attended Hogwarts, proving the changes went even further back than that Halloween. This Sirius had never endured over a decade in Azkaban, he was happily married even with no children. He had married a pureblood woman and seemed to follow the Black family dogma far more than Harry felt comfortable with. It hurt to not be able to go to him and explain everything. But he had sent out feelers through the Goblins for Remus, praying he was still the same man and not one of Fenrir's wolves. There was so much he wanted and needed to do that he didn't know where to start. Hogwarts needed fixing, Voldemort had to be dealt with as did those who believed in him, even Dumbledore seemed to be an issue here, not to mention the utterly ridiculous Ministry. Then he had to try and find his parents, raise his cousins until they were found and able to take custody again plus marry Daphne, find a way to tell her the truth and give her at least one child. This life was not going to be easy, he almost wished for a demon to deal with instead.

Tracey watched her best friend as she brushed her hair. While many of her fears had been put to rest by Lord Gryffindor's sudden appearance at the school last month she still worried for her friend going into a loveless marriage. It just wasn't fair. Daphne deserved love, all women did. But with the registration act and the limits placed on half-bloods as well love was becoming a harder and harder dream to achieve. Tracey was terrified of her own wedding as if a Pureblood wanted her she had no legal way to refuse him, even if it was as a mistress and not as his wife. Mundane born had it even worse, they were basically property, almost slaves. Few were attending Hogwarts anymore, most were snatched up when they were found and she hated to think what happened to them. A small part of her hoped that with a new Founders Heir found there was a chance for changed. But could one man really change their society when he had so many against him? and what would happen to Daphne should he fail?

Daphne walked across the stage to accept her award and graduation certificate, catching sight of her betrothed at the back of the room. She smiled and saw him smile back before she re-joined her classmates. Once the ceremony was done she joined her parents, accepting her mother's hug and then one from her father and Astoria. "We are so proud of you Daphne."

"Thank you father."

"I had thought he may be here to see you." Cyrus commented and she smiled.

"He is; I saw him from the stage."

"I would not dream of missing your graduation Daphne." Came a familiar voice from behind her. She turned and found Harry smiling at her. He took her hand and kissed it. "Congratulations M 'Lady."

"Thank you." She blushed slightly at his praise. Graduation meant her wedding to this man was even closer and while she was nervous she was also excited. He was everything she could ever want…. other than loving another. But when he was with her he always focused on her and never his missing love.

"Will you join us for a celebratory dinner Harry?"

"Thank you Cyrus, I would enjoy that."

"The Davis' will also be there." Emily warned and he nodded.

"It will be nice to meet them since your families are close." Cyrus took his wife's arm and they left. Harry offered an arm each to the siblings and followed. In the morning he would pick his cousins up from the station but tonight was for his betrothed.

TBC…

I have 7th years graduating and leaving the evening before everyone else.