They exited the Hogwarts Express uneasily. The effects of the drugs used to render them unconscious for the trip to Kings Cross had a lingering effect. Ernie took Susan by the arm and steadied her as she rubbed her sore wrists from the manacles, another new, unpleasant addition to the train.
"Are you all right, Susan?" he asked, very concerned at her color. She was looking peaky, and he thought she would be sick right there on the platform.
Before she could answer, they heard a shriek and a wail. Xenophilius Lovegood was grasping at a man in Death Eater's robes, crying out for his daughter. Luna had been kidnapped.
They exchanged a worried look, and when Susan went to step away to find her parents as they had planned, Ernie wouldn't release her arm.
"Ernie," she said quietly. He looked from Mr. Lovegood to Susan, worry etched across his face. They were being approached by a tall man in a black robe, but after nodding at Ernie and looking at Susan a little too long, he moved past them. They could still hear Mr. Lovegood's cries as he said Luna's name. "Ernie, I need to meet Mr. Weasley for the Muggle papers and then talk to my parents. Have you seen your parents?"
He shook his head, but remained silent. Susan repeated his name again, and Ernie looked at her. He didn't know how Mr. Lovegood controlled himself enough to simply be upset. If it were Susan who were missing, he might be dead in the end, but there wouldn't be a Death Eater left standing on that platform. He took a deep breath through his nose, and felt Susan's hand on his arm. He looked down at her, and his rage began to subside. She smiled at him, and he knew that she could feel his tension; his fear. He rubbed a knuckle across her hand and leaned down to kiss the side of her head. "You go on, love. I'll find my parents and then we'll meet up with Neville and Hannah. I see Mr. Weasley over there," he nodded towards the cluster of quiet redheads meeting Ginny as she got off the train. "Stay away from them," he added with a tone of seriousness and authority he almost never used with Susan. She'd know he meant the Death Eaters who were milling all around them.
Susan squeezed his hand, and he gave her a small smile as she left him to approach the Weasley family. He saw her parents near them, and he knew that, despite so many Death Eaters milling about -- black-robed, some in masks, ominous in the real world -- she would be safe with so many friends around her. He did wonder if it was as bad out here as it had been this past term at Hogwarts. He had just begun to turn to look for his own parents, trying to process Luna's kidnapping from the train and what it meant for the DA, still lost in thoughts of what ifs when he heard his name shouted out.
"Ernie!" His father's bellowing voice broke through quieter conversations as strangers and friends alike grinned, turning towards both the thunderous voice and the two large men reaching each other, a forceful clap on Ernie's back as his father brought him into his arms for a rib-crushing embrace before laying into him.
Ernie knew this was not going to be your typical father-son hug and expected the explosion when it came. For starters, his father smoothed his hands over Ernie's back through shirt and robes, feeling, Ernie knew, for the scars of his flogging. Not satisfied, he pulled open Ernie's robes, unbuttoning his topmost button and moving the collar aside, running a finger along two of the scars raised and still visible over Ernie's shoulder.
"What in bloody Hell were ye thinking, lad?"
"Da –"
"Ernest. Tell me; what were ye thinking?" He waved a parchment at Ernie. Ernie recognized Snape's writing immediately. "This is from tae Headmaster. Ye've become a serious discipline problem, it says, and he didnae have verra nice things tae say about your friend Longbottom. They've reinstated corporal punishment. Did ye know that? Well, of course ye knew that. You're tae be expelled, ye know…if ye dunnae control your outbursts."
Ernie reddened, but stood his ground, toe to toe with his taller father, silently noting his father's own outburst. As his voice rose he flicked his wand, silently casting a Muffliato around them.
"My outbursts? I was thinking, Da, that it was better to be punished myself than Hannah or Luna." He nodded in Hannah's direction, but his father's eyes remained on him until he broke the contact, calling Neville over, waving his wand to let Neville into the circle within the Muffliato. "Neville, git yerself over here, ma Dad's bein' a fair dragon's arse!" He didn't even attempt to soften his burr; that was useless when he was talking to his father.
"Ernie, it's really not –"
Mr. Macmillan reached his wand out, reeling Neville in like a sad little fish from a pond. "Nae ye don', laddie! If ye are keen enough tae git ma son flogged, ye can be man enough tae stand't it!"
"Then this isn't about Susan?" Neville divulged inadvertently.
Mr. Macmillan's brow creased. "Susan?"
Ernie's hand went to his face and wondered if he could hit his Dad with a memory charm without his noticing, but it was already too late for that. His father's voice rose and his mother's hand went to his father's arm, but was immediately shrugged off as his father's voice rose with a collection of swear words that Ernie knew were only the beginning. When his father spoke, he did so slowly, as if to a small child.
"Who. Is. Susan?"
Ernie took a deep breath and stopped chewing on his lip when he tasted a bit of blood, hoping beyond reason that Susan stay away for a time longer.
"Susan Bones. I'm sure I've mentioned her."
"No, lad, ye havnae. I'd've remembered."
"Susan's my fiancée –"
"Your what?"
"We're getting married –"
"You're not –"
"We are, Da. Tomorrow," Ernie insisted.
"No, lad, ye arenae. We're your parents and we've nay een –"
"Duncan –"
"Ye arenae marrying this…this…girl –"
"Duncan –"
"Da –"
"Is she…ken me…is there a problem –"
"A what?"
"Duncan!"
For a moment there was silence, but the voices began again, rising and falling, indignant and hurt and flustered and frustrated and angry. Ernie knew his face was the mirror image of his father's reddened one and he barely noticed Neville inching away. The vein on his father's forehead was throbbing and Ernie wondered if his father felt it like he felt the blood in his own head thudding in his ears.
"Ernest," his father started, but there was such a long pause that Ernie thought his father had relented. Ernie was wrong. "Ernest," he began in a much quieter tone, putting his hand on Ernie's shoulder. "Let me tell ye sommat."
"Duncan –"
His head snapped to look at his mother. "No, Fiona. He needs tae hear what happened."
"There's no need –"
"Fiona, our son, who is barely of age, is getting married tomorrow tae a girl we've nae only nary met, we've nary heard of. He needs tae know."
There was a sudden change in his parents' demeanor as he watched them exchange a long look. Ernie had never noticed the love shared between them before; the knowing look; the way his mother sighed, not happy, but knowing what his father was about to say before he said it. Did that happen over their many years of marriage or did it happen first and it was how they knew that they belonged together? He and Susan had that – that feeling of forever, knowing that the unsaid was both important and trivial at the same time; knowing that their differences built the real foundation of their life together much more than their similarities. Who knew how they came together?
His father squeezed his mother's hand and Ernie almost chuckled through his slight smile – that was the most affectionate gesture he had ever seen his father give to his mother in public.
"Ernie, there was another woman." Ernie's startled look must have made Duncan rethink his choice of words, and he quickly added, "Before your Mum, lad. There was another girl that I was tae marry before I met your Mum." He held his son's gaze, a nervous smile on his lips, but his voice was steady. "She was a lovely girl, and I loved her; more than ye can imagine, lad, but when it came down tae planning our wedding and our marriage, her true colors came out."
"True colors?"
"Yes. It was all about the Macmillan money."
"Susan's not like that, Da."
"I didnae say she was, Ernie, but really, lad, what's the rush? You're still in school. If ye still feel this strongly at the end of the year, ye'll both be leaving Hogwarts. Ye can git yourselves married then. There's nary need tae rush off –"
"You don't understand, Da –"
"No, I dunnae. Why don't ye explain it to me then?"
"I cannae." What could he say that wasn't prohibited by the Fidelius? "Da, Hogwarts is different now. I wish I could explain it to you, but I can't. Not now. Susan and I are getting married. I want you to be happy for us, but if you can't…" His voice trailed off. He couldn't say the words. He had always been so close to both of his parents, and couldn't bear the thought of the happiest moment in his life coming between them this way.
"Ye cannae, Ernie, or ye willnae?" They stared at each other for what seemed like a long time. "How do ye know it's not about the Galleons? I couldn't imagine it either, but there it was. I'm glad I didnae marry that girl. I found your mother," he paused to take his wife's hand, "and we didn't rush into things. Ye can wait –"
"We're not waiting, Da," Ernie said over his father's protests with a firmness he never used directed at his parents. "I'm sorry you're upset. I love you and I love Mum, but I love Susan. We're both of age and we'll be married tomorrow. We hoped to come to the Loch before returning to Hogwarts, but if you don't want us there, then we'll just…you don't understand, Da. She's –"
"Wonderful. Yes, I know. That's what I thought as well, but I was wrong. I was lucky tae find out before the marriage; before children. It took me a long time tae be over ma hurt; the betrayal that she was only interested in me for ma Galleons. I was lucky tae've found your Mam, and if it's real, ye and this Susan can wait."
"I'm sorry, Da. We can't wait. We'll be married tomorrow. There's nae ye can say about it."
Ernie went to hug his mother, but was stopped by his father's hand. He tensed, wanting this discussion to be over, not sure where appreciative son stopped and grown man begun, but his father wasn't through arguing. His voice rose and Ernie tried to keep up with the profanity laced arguments for and against his marriage, his inheritance, his responsibility and Susan's motives.
Ernie barely noticed Neville take a step away, looking uncomfortable that he was intruding on their privacy.
By the end of it, Ernie finally just gave up and turned quietly, walking away from his parents. He tried to hide his flushed cheeks and slow his fast-beating heart, knowing his father was wrong about Susan and hoping his parents never needed to find out how little time they thought they had and the real reason they were rushing into their married lives.
Ernie was tense as Susan and Hannah approached. Susan's laughter stopped abruptly as her eyes fell on Ernie's unguarded face.
"Are you all right, Ernie?"
"Fine," he said through clenched teeth.
She frowned. "You're not fine. You're never fine. What is it? What's wrong?" She put her hand on his arm.
"Nothing's wrong, love." He knew his breathing was still labored from the argument and his face still flushed and he wasn't sure what was resolved and what was still left for another day. He forced himself to smile. "Nothing's wrong, Susan." He pulled her close and kissed her soundly. "There's really nothing wrong, and I am fine. Now that you're here." He kissed her nose. "Let's go get married before you realize what a terrible mistake you're making."
"Not likely, Mr. Macmillan."
There was something about the way she was looking at him and squeezing his hand and he felt his color return to normal and his heartbeat slow and all he wanted was to wake up tomorrow morning and marry her. He was never so certain of anything in his entire life.
***
It was nearly four o'clock as they settled into their seats aboard the train. They had given themselves plenty of time to arrive at the station after their shopping at Marks and Spenser, but as with anything involving more than one person, time slipped away and they were in a mad rush despite not having anything to check in. The sky was darkening, the blue long overtaken by the clouds of the afternoon.
The train was different than what they were used to on the Hogwarts Express, but Ernie had ridden on one of these commuter trains before with his father. They had gone into London over the summer holiday while he was taking Ernie to some business meetings. They easily could have Apparated, but Duncan had wanted to do something special with his son. Ernie was a man now, and in the future, he would be taking over the business. The trip had taken three days with two for travel back and forth by train and one for their business meetings and sample showing. Ernie smiled, remembering the fun they had also – visiting the pubs with his father, watching his embarrassed father turn down the offerings of a friendly woman at their hotel. That had been the first time he'd seen his father discomfited and not sure of himself.
Ernie was pleased that he could be part of so much that was his father's business life and these conferences were rare in his "hometown," usually held overseas and only held every two years. This was the first time that Ernie could remember that the Demiguise Regulatory Committee was meeting in London, having their meetings traditionally in Nepal, one of the natural homes of the Demiguise. The Committee gave a nod to the British community of importing and purchasing of Demiguise products, but also to the Macmillans, who had the largest flock in Europe. Ernie had rarely seen his father so proud, and he thought it was made an even more special moment because he was able to be there with him.
Ernie and Neville put their parcels overhead and under the seats as Hannah and Susan were quietly discussing tomorrow's big event. Ernie and Neville sat together for a time on one side of the aisle, talking about Puddlemere's chances this year, not to mention thinking of how to persuade Oliver Wood to send some tickets their way. At least someone was still enjoying Quidditch. Neville laughed at something Ernie had said, but Ernie soon became distracted watching Susan across the aisle.
Susan and Hannah sat across from the men and were talking, laughing and giggling, only stopping when they saw Ernie watching. He couldn't take his eyes off Susan. From the moment he had swept her off her feet at the bottom of the escalator, and let his eyes wander over her, he couldn't help but stare at his stunning fiancée. She looked lovely in her new clothes; she was lovely and every time he got caught watching her intently, she'd smile and his cheeks darkened.
Her new Muggle clothes were a bit distracting. Her top was iridescent; a crimson to rival a Gryffindor, stopping at her waist, and her jeans fit her so well that he had a difficult time raising his eyes to her face, especially noticing the creamy bit of her stomach that was showing. The shawl collar showed off her neck without revealing anything else, and it set an anticipation in his stomach. She had been wearing a similar jacket to Hannah's leather one, except Susan's was a grey wool that she had taken off and folded over her arm when she sat down. She looked a bit different than he was used to with the well fitted clothes and the rouge on her face, her dark eyes lined in a deep grey that really showed them off. The color went with her new coat, and Ernie wondered if that was intentional, but then Susan smiled at him, and he didn't care what she was wearing.
He lost track of what Neville was saying when the food trolley came through. It was much smaller than the trolley on the school train, and Ernie didn't quite follow how much things cost, but he was able to figure out that based on the sizes of the items and the amount of paper money it cost to pay for all of it, they were way overpriced. He hadn't expected it, but he started to feel a bit like his parents as his natural frugality began to come forward. The food itself appeared bland, but the snack bags were brightly colored even if the pictures on them were unmoving. They bought a few extra to show and share with their friends back at school.
As the trolley went on its way, Hannah offered to switch seats with him, and he jumped at the chance. He cozied up to Susan and they watched the world as it passed them by outside their window. They talked for a time, but eventually fell into a comfortable silence, his arm around her shoulder pulling her closer, one hand on hers, stroking her fingers with his thumb. Every now and then he would point something out along the train tracks or press a kiss to the side of her head. He felt her sigh more than once, cuddling her way closer.
As the bustle of the city fell behind them, the green fields of the countryside took their place. Trees swept by and fields of cattle and sheep dotted the grassy pastures.
"Will there be snow?" Susan asked hopefully. She had mentioned a white wedding more than once when they made their plans in the Room of Requirement. He shook his head slowly, trying to let her down easily. "No, love. No snow in Gretna Green. It's too early in the season and too far south." She perked up when he added, "I would expect snow at the farm, though."
"Will it be very cold?"
"Yes." He tried not to grin as she raised her shoulders in an involuntary shudder. He knew she wanted the snow, but really preferred the warmer sun-filled days. December was tricky to predict in the Highlands, and it wouldn't be as cold as February, but it would undoubtedly be cold enough. He stifled a laugh as she shivered and snuggled in closer, rubbing her cheek against his warm jumper. He rested his head on hers and for a few moments managed to fall asleep in that pleasant position.
It had been a long day, and when they arrived in Gretna Green, they should have been tired. They were, but they were also excited, and in looking around the town, there was a vibrancy that lent itself to their growing excitement of what they were going to do tomorrow. Susan took Ernie's hand, smiling up at him. It was contagious.
It probably had been a sleepy little town at some point in its history, but according to Morag McDougal, whose parents had been married here, it hadn't been sleepy in over two hundred years. Ernie had been told that many Muggles came here to get married, and that the Christmas holiday and season might be a bit more popular, but he was still taken aback at the spectacle that was the town. He was certainly not ready for what greeted them. Every shop window held photographs of ecstatically happy couples in various wedding garb. Long dresses, short dresses, veils, hats, tuxedos like he and Neville had bought, long tails, short tails, waistcoats, hats, no hats and of course, the wide variety of kilts. He felt a twinge of sadness that he wasn't to be married in his own plaid, and he gave Susan a look of longing. If they survived the year at Hogwarts, they would get married again in the summer, right after school finished, and he would wear his colors.
There were jewelry shops and flower shops. There were gift shops filled with wedding day necessities and a beauty shop that had model heads in the front window with different styles of hair and veil. They walked past the Old Blacksmith's Shop where couples used to go to get married. Now they had to go through the formal channels of either going to a priest or the town registrar, which is what Ernie and Susan would do tomorrow. They continued on through town, Neville and Ernie teasing the girls and making fun of the names of some of the shops and not really seeing any shop that didn't have some kind of wedding item for display in their front windows. It didn't take long to get to the hotel. Smith's was a tall modern building having a view over lush green fields of farmland.
The girls wandered around the lobby pointing out some of the artwork. They were surprised to discover that some of the plants weren't alive. They were in some kind of stasis, but they looked fully grown and healthy. It was so odd. Neville was appalled and the look on his face as he touched a few leaves in passing made Ernie and Hannah laugh, although Hannah looked like she agreed with Neville's assessment of the strangeness of Muggles, and they all made note to ask their Half-Blood friends in the DA why Muggles like plants that weren't alive, but also weren't dead.
They took the lift up to their rooms on the seventh floor. Ernie handed out everyone's keys, but they all went into the girls' room to check for any hazards or possible threats. It was better to be alert and ahead of any problems. There was no reason not to be cautious even though no one knew they were going to be here or why. Except Morag. And Colin. And probably Dennis. And the Weasleys. And the Lieutenants. Ernie paused in his name-listing to check the closets and under the beds one more time in addition to checking with his wand. He trusted Susan to set her own protective spells, but he could feel his husbandly duties moving to the forefront of his mind.
Susan took his hand. "It's safe, Ernie. We'll be fine. No one knows that we're here."
"No. No one," he agreed, but silently went over the names in his head. He took Susan in his arms, effectively changing the subject. Neville nodded at him, but he barely spared a glance for his best man as he and Hannah left them alone for the moment. "Susan."
"Ernie," she said quietly, looking up at him, her hands smoothing over his shirt. "Tomorrow."
"Yes," he answered, brushing his lips across her forehead, and moving along her cheek until their lips met. He felt the passion rising up between them and knew he needed to leave her. He also knew Neville would only give them a moment to say good night, and when he glanced at the bed behind Susan, she squeezed his hand and gave him a little push towards the door.
"Are you trying to get rid of me?" he asked with a laugh.
"Yes. I need my beauty sleep."
"No, you don't. You're already too beautiful. You take my breath away."
"As long as you have breath for your vows tomorrow."
He leaned against her and pressed her to the door, kissing her deeply. "Tomorrow you'll be my wife, Susan. Until forever."
Ernie opened his eyes. The room was still dim, the only light coming from outside. He noticed that it was still dark out as he looked through a space between the curtains, but when he went to look at his watch, he discovered he didn't know where he had left it last night. It had to be very early. He took a deep breath, listening for a moment to the deep sleep snoring coming from the next bed. He didn't want to look at Neville just now, and he sank his body deeper into the warmth of the mattress. There continued to be a dull throbbing in his head, and Ernie contemplated whether or not he should get his potions kit and make himself another hangover remedy. Neville had given him one last night when he finished the itty-bitty Muggle bottles of alcohol, but despite Neville's good intentions, he was not the best at potions and it had apparently worn off in the night. He licked his dry lips and pushed his head deeper into the soft pillow, not wanting to think of the work involved in making the potion for the hangover. He decided to remain lazy and turning his head to the side, he smiled at the empty pillow beside him and he closed his eyes again, pleased that Susan's face came so readily to his mind's eye.
His body relaxed now while his hands smoothed over the cool sheets in the empty space that she would occupy. The thought of Susan, naked, in this bed with him later tonight made his heart beat faster and his skin flush. After the lunch they had planned to celebrate, Neville and Hannah would be leaving them for Willow Creek, Neville's home. He and Susan would be alone. He smiled. He couldn't wait to make her well and truly his wife.
While he was nervous about the future and the actual wedding, he was most nervous about the wedding night. He wanted everything to be perfect for Susan. Despite the fact that there wasn't much they hadn't done, it would still be her first time. Thinking about that was bringing about a heightened state of awareness. He was beginning to feel aroused when Neville snorted, bringing Ernie's attention back to the present. Well, he'd have to marry her first.
He thought back to Neville's recollection last night that his Da had come around to the idea of Ernie's marriage, but the reality of it was that his father had promised to go to Gringotts and change the terms of his inheritance if Ernie went through with this foolishness. Foolishness! Ernie had come close to striking his father at that statement. It wasn't the money, but the idea that he was being a fool for being in love with Susan and wanting to marry her straightaway. His father simply did not understand. His inheritance wouldn't matter anyway. They would both be dead before the summer.
His mother had managed to ease their frustrations with each other by inviting them back to the Loch after they visited with Susan's parents as they had already planned.
Despite thinking about the argument with his parents, the throb in Ernie's head was beginning to subside. He thought it best, though, to prepare the potion. He wanted to be clear-headed for his wedding; wanted to enjoy the day and remember it.
In preparing the ingredients, he wondered what kind of life he and Susan would have together. They hadn't really talked about that.
He began by laying out the chamomile and ginger root, as well as a tiny piece of St. John's Wort on the side. He crushed the ginger and set it in his cauldron, adding the other ingredients one by one and then the water. He continued on with his measuring and pouring and with a wave of his wand he was finished.
They would certainly live at the Loch, he thought, continuing his musings on their future. He would eventually take over for his father, and he had already taken on more responsibility this past summer. He had gone with him on business excursions while home for the holidays. That would continue next summer after he left Hogwarts if…
Was she really having the same jitters as Neville had suggested? Part of him hoped so, but part of him hoped that she was sure of her choice in him. At times, he still didn't understand it. She was beautiful. He knew she could have any man at Hogwarts--well, anywhere really--but she had chosen him. What did she see in him? He knew it wasn't the Galleons, but still, there must be some expectation in his manner of living. Surely, she would expect more than what they had. It really was a simple life. Life on a farm was a hard one at times, and his parents were careful with their money, so yes, they did have quite a bit of it, but while he cared which fork to use for salad, his parents didn't. They didn't spend so much as a knut without a good reason and it was expected that things would be repaired and not replaced. Ernie himself was far from frivolous, but they had the Galleons and he had his own since he became of age. There was no reason to wear frayed cuffs. He wanted his wife to have the best, and she would.
He smiled as he thought of their excursion yesterday to Marks and Spenser. He enjoyed handing the paper money to her, giving her what she needed when she gave him so much. He often thought back to her support when he was the leader of the DA for those two weeks. Merlin, it seemed much longer than that. He didn't think he could do it, but with Susan by his side, he could do anything. He drank the potion in one gulp. Mmm, he thought. Not bad, but it could use a bit more chamomile. That was when he had known. He had loved her before that moment, but it was the crisis that showed him her true self. And his. And his would always be with her.
He turned to clean up his potion supplies and caught sight of his bare back in the large mirror over the dresser. The scars from the flogging and faded, but were textured criss-crossing his back in an abstract pattern, curling over his shoulder. He never looked at his back, but he had after his first shower after the beating and it had nearly made him sick. How had Susan been able to take care of his back, cleaning and dressing it daily--sometimes more than once a day--without making herself sick?
She was a strong woman. She would do well on the farm as his wife.
"Are you all right, Ernie?"
He was not startled by Neville's voice, and he turned towards his friend, his grin gradually widening. "I'm getting married today, Neville."
Neville laughed. "Yes, you are. Are you better today than yesterday?"
"Much better," Ernie nodded. "Neville?"
"Yes, Ernie."
"I'm getting married." He was grinning like a five-year old on Christmas morning, but he was calm, his head was clear, and he was happy; so very happy. He was getting married.
*****
They should have known from the driver's licenses and the birth certificates, but they were still surprised by the extent of the Muggle bureaucracy. It was astounding. The mountains of paperwork. Ernie's hand was tiring from the amount of times he signed his name, not to mention the awkwardness of the Muggle quills in his large hands.
If the paperwork weren't enough for him, Ernie felt as though he had been hit with a Confundus Charm. He walked into one door and nearly knocked over a flower display. When he saw Susan for the first time in the hotel corridor, he grabbed Neville's arm. He was weak in the knees and didn't know how he remained upright. He heard Neville laugh as he steadied him, and all he could do was grin at his Best Man.
It wasn't until Susan touched him, taking his hand in hers and bringing it up to her lips to kiss his thumb that his heartbeat slowed and he felt the pure joy and calm of knowing that what he was doing was right and their life would be perfect for however long they shared it.
Rational thought left Ernie. His brain was mush. Susan was beautiful. There was no other word to describe her. If there was something to describe her that was beyond the scope of beautiful, that word hadn't been invented yet. The white satin dress showed off Susan's narrow waist, her shoulders bare, but her arms covered. He smiled, spying the tartan sash at her waist and recognizing it as the scarf he had given her the day he had proposed atop the Astronomy Tower, slightly changed by her perfectly executed Transfiguration. He was touched that she would wear his tartan for both of them on their wedding day, knowing that he was unable to retrieve his kilt from home.
He leaned down to kiss her when Hannah abruptly stepped between them, effectively separately the two of them. "Not until the wedding! You shouldn't even see her yet," she scolded.
Ernie looked offended, but Susan laughed as Neville pulled him away after a stern look from Hannah as she took Susan by the arm, leading her in the other direction.
He continued to watch her, her long hair unplaited and flowing freely down her back, one or two flowered clips pulling it back from her face. She was breathtaking.
When next they met again, it was across the desk from a dark-haired man with a sweet face. His broad grin told everyone present that he loved coming to work each day, and his voice wobbled with the pure pleasure of what he was about to do; what he did every day by joining couples in marriage.
He smiled at the four of them, but soon his focus was only on Ernie and Susan as he reached across the desk and took each of their hands in his own. He held them for a moment, then gave them each a squeeze, the joy radiating from his face that made both Ernie and Susan smile at him and then at each other. He spoke in a clear, confident voice, obviously pleased with his role. Save the signed forms that he had already looked over, he had no papers in front of him, his words long ago memorized. Ernie saw the man's own wedding ring and wondered if he had been married like this, in the small, quiet office with only his closest friends.
Susan was standing very close to him, and Ernie could feel her presence, although he wasn't looking at her. Her elbow brushed against his leg, and he could smell the rose petals he always smelled when she was near.
"For hundreds of years, the town of Gretna Green has born witness to love of every kind, in her churches, her forges, on her bridges and hills, and here in the halls of her courthouse. She is a safe haven for those whom would be held apart by family, class, fortune, or fate, and has come to symbolize the strength of marriage and the bonds of true love for untold many.
"We are here today to bring another couple into that fellowship of faith to one another, and to begin a single new life in partnership where once there were two alone. The legal requirements have been filled, but it remains for the two of you to make your own promises to one another for your life ahead, and to finalize the vows."
As their hands were released, Ernie turned to Susan, taking her left hand in his. He barely took his eyes from her as Neville handed him the small gold ring. His breath hitched in his throat, the thrum of his heartbeat in his ears as he spoke his part of the vows to Susan. He looked at her dark eyes and her perfect creamy skin, relishing in the softness of her fingertips as he slid the ring over on her hand.
"Susan, we cannot know what lies ahead for us, but we can know our own hearts, and mine belongs to you. With this ring, I swear to you on my most solemn oath, and by all that is magic, that I will be true to you and faithful, in heart and body, that I will love you, care for you, provide for you, protect you, cherish you and keep you, as long as there is breath in my body."
Ernie's hands had begun to shake as he pushed the ring to where it would forever remain. He looked into her eyes as she began to cry. She reached around to Hannah and took the larger ring, taking Ernie's rougher hand in her own, beginning to slide it along his much larger finger. Ernie barely noticed that his hands steadied as she held them and spoke her vows.
"Ernest, no matter what tomorrow has for us in darkness or light, life or death, hope or despair, I know that I have loved you for as long as I can remember, and will love you until I know no more. With this ring, I swear to you on my most solemn oath, and by all that is magic, that I will be true to you and faithful, in heart and in body, that I will love you, care for you, abide by you, tend you, cherish you, and keep you, as long as there is breath in my body."
Ernie heard every word, letting it descend deep into his soul, staring at different parts of Susan – her eyes, her hands, her collarbone, a stray hair, the curve of her neck, her lips as they moved - letting the words and the vision of her imprint itself on his brain.
The officiate nodded towards them. "Just what I told you, and it will be done."
Ernie took both of Susan's hands in his, rubbing his thumbs across her knuckles until he reached the metal ring she now wore – his promise, his vow to her. He rubbed his thumb across the ring, and began to speak again. "I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I, Ernest Ian Macmillan, may not be joined in matrimony to Susan Circe Amelia Bones, and I do call upon these persons here present to witness that I do take thee to be my lawful wedded wife. May it thus be known, and thus be done."
And then it was Susan's turn. "I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I, Susan Circe Amelia Bones, may not be joined in matrimony to Ernest Ian Macmillan, and I do call upon these persons here present to witness that I do take thee to be my lawful wedded husband. May it thus be known, and thus be done."
"Then in the sight of all those here present, and under the law of the land and mercy of the Crown, I do declare you to be bound in the legal and civil state of matrimony."
Ernie hadn't realized that the clerk had stopped speaking; hadn't realized that he was staring at his beautiful bride until he heard the man raise his voice slightly, waving his hand in their direction.
"Go on, man, kiss her. She's your wife!"
Ernie let out a laugh when Susan threw her arms around his neck as he took his new wife into his arms and pressed his lips to hers, lifting her completely off the ground and turning her around, breathing in only her. His head swam from the wonder of it. He heard murmurings around him – he assumed it was Hannah or Neville or the clerk wishing them well, but all he heard were his vows that he had just spoken to Susan: we cannot know what lies ahead for us, but we can know our own hearts, and mine belongs to you. With this ring, I swear to you on my most solemn oath, and by all that is magic, that I will be true to you and faithful, in heart and body, that I will love you, care for you, provide for you, protect you, cherish you and keep you, as long as there is breath in my body. He felt Susan's lips vibrate against his skin as she told him that she loved him and any of his reservations from the night before went the way of the miniature potion bottles that he had drained.
He gently let her down and knew that the grin on his face would not leave as he led her from the clerk's office and outside to look for a place to have their celebratory lunch. Ernie knew that Susan must have been starving – she had been afraid to eat anything before the ceremony in case nerves got the better of her. He stood, watching her for a moment while Neville and Hannah talk over the various food places they had seen in town, keeping in mind Susan's direction that red sauce was not acceptable. Susan's eye caught his and he knew her jitters were gone by the long look she gave him; as were his.
His smile deepened when she took his hand, entwining her fingers through his. He gave a little tug, and she was in his arms again. He lifted her easily and spun her in a circle; setting her feet on the ground again as his lips met hers with a passionate eagerness he wasn't sure he could contain. His hand rested in the small of her back, drawing her as close as he could, not caring about the public display, but relishing in the feel of his new wife in his arms, as if Susan felt any different in this moment than in the last, but somehow, she was different to him now. He barely heard Neville, but he was surprised when he heard Colin's voice and turned towards it, seeing the silvery outline of the young man's Patronus.
He clung to Susan around her waist, their eyes meeting again. He signed a deep breath, knowing their plans had changed, and he was disheartened for only a moment before the DA training automatically kicked in and he and Susan stood back to back, wands up, Hannah and Neville in the same stance, ignoring the openmouthed stares of the Muggle passers-by. He had no time to wonder about Colin's parents in a tangible way, but knew that they needed to get to Colin right away. With no time for any of them to think, Neville gave his orders.
"Apparate to Colin!" he snapped. "Be ready for anything, the Death Eaters might have gotten there already. Now go, and I'll cover you!"
Ernie didn't think. He concentrated on his Apparation, pushing other thoughts out of his head. Susan and Hannah kept intruding into his thoughts, and it was finally the thought of a possible splinching that kept him on the mission at hand. He needed to arrive at Colin's in whole body to protect both the young man and his brother, but also his best friend and new wife. His new wife. He knew the great responsibility of being a husband, but hadn't thought that it would come so soon upon their vows. He closed his eyes and the last thing he heard as the magic pulled him away from Gretna Green and towards Colin was Neville beginning the Obliviate, and an owl. He heard an owl, and then he was gone.