A/N: I apologize it has taken me so long to update! Normally my updates are a lot faster than this, but I have actually been working on a couple of other fanfics (some of which have not been posted yet at all) and I started school so I have been very busy. Also, I had a bit of trouble with this chapter so I'm sorry if it's rubbish, but the next one will be a lot better! James and Leila's wedding after this!
The title of this chapter is 'A Bad Case of Nerves' because it seems like just about everyone in this chapter is nervous about something.
WARNING: Sexual content in this chapter.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Enjoy!
….
The blue bath towel covered more than most dresses did, but the way Albus was looking at her now, she would have thought she was naked. His eyes raked her body twice before he finally focused on her face.
Her damp hair was held up on top of her head with a clip as she rummaged through her closet. "I've lived in this flat less than a month and I've already made such a mess that I can't find that blasted pink shirt," she bent down to search the floor of the closet, "and stop looking at my arse, Albus. I can practically feel your eyes on it."
He gave a chuckle, "I can't help it when you put it on display like that for me. Merlin, there's just something intimate about towels, you know? They make you think of what's under them and about showers..." he tailed off.
"Intimate?" Norah turned to face him with the elusive pink shirt now in her hand, "Godric, you'd think I was wearing lingerie with the way you're looking at me!"
Albus gulped, "Do you...own any lingerie?"
Norah tapped her chin thoughtfully, as if unable to recall, "Hmm, you know, I just might." They both knew he wasn't inquiring about a simple bra and panties. He had something much more risqué in mind.
"Do I get to see it?" he requested boldly.
"Perhaps. But not today. Go take a shower, silly, we're supposed to meet your brother in half an hour!"
"Are you going to join me?"
"Why would I join you in the shower? I just got out of there."
"Looks like it's going to be a very cold shower," a dejected Albus dragged his feet all the way across the hall to the lavatory.
When they were both showered and dressed they arrived at James's house five minutes early. "Did you grab the bottle of wine?" she asked as she brought her hair over her shoulder, smoothing it down.
"Yes, although I still don't understand why James wanted us to bring it."
"I suppose we'll find out soon," Norah linked her arm through Al's and he knocked on the door.
Leila answered it with a smile and ushered them inside. To their surprise, the house was filled with people. Perhaps it was a house warming party? "Finally!" Lily snapped as she caught sight of Al and Norah, "we've all been waiting for you. You're the last to arrive."
"Hey, we're early!" Objected Albus.
"Alright everyone, listen up! Leila and I have an announcement to make!" James cupped his hands together over his mouth to yell over all of his chatting relatives. Silence fell through the house and everyone turned to look at James and Leila.
With a huge smile, Leila screamed happily, "James and I got married!"
Nobody did anymore than blink at them stupidly until James explained, "We eloped last night. No worries, though, we're still having the big wedding this weekend!"
Excited whispers broke out but Ginny's voice was raised above them, "James Sirius Potter! You couldn't wait a couple more days? You just ran out and got married without anyone else there when you were so close to your planned wedding?"
"We decided that the Ministry doesn't get to have the final say with everything. By law we had to get married, so we did. The date they give you is really more of a deadline anyway. So take that Ministry of Magic!"
Most people started laughing at that. Harry shook his head with a small smile, but Ginny still looked furious. Her first born had gotten married when she wasn't even in attendance at the wedding. "If you think we're still throwing you a big wedding after this, you are crazy!"
"Mum," James whined as he plopped down beside her, "Leila bought what I assume is a very pretty dress. Rose, Lily, and Roxy already purchased their bridesmaids dresses. You really can't disappoint them like this."
Ginny turned her head away from James but said in a defeated tone, "Oh, alright."
"Love you, Mum," James gave her a sloppy kiss on the cheek then went around the room, shaking hands and giving hugs of congratulations.
"I always knew you'd be my son-in-law," said Luna airily as she stretched up to hug James. "Ever since the first time you and Leila were intimate together all those years ago!"
Silence. You could have heard a wand drop. In a room that had previously been busting at the seams with noise, the silence was profound. "What do you mean 'all those years ago'?" inquired a curious Lysander.
"Didn't everyone else know?" asked Luna innocently, "I could tell right away. How old were you, Dear, fifteen? Anyway, I came home from shopping and they were sitting at the table playing chess. It was written all over their faces."
James ducked a curse that Lorcan flung at him and exclaimed angrily, "Thanks a lot, Aunt Luna!"
"It's 'Mum' now, Sweetie!" she replied with a smile.
"I can't believe you never told me!" accused an exasperated Fred.
Then it was noise and chaos once again. All of this seemed to be information overload for the Weasleys and Potters gathered there. Whenever he turned around, James caught snippets of conversations. People were saying things like, "Fifteen! That's awful young, do you think it's true?" and "I wish I could have two weddings," or "Twenty galleons says Lysander hits him with a hex before Lorcan."
Too happy to let his mood be spoiled by something as trivial as his deepest secret becoming common knowledge among his family, James pulled his new wife into his side and whispered conspiratorially, "Do you reckon they'd notice if we snuck off to the bedroom for a bit?"
Giggling, Leila shook her head, and the two disappeared down the hallway without anyone noticing their absence.
...
Rose and Scorpius left James and Leila's place shortly after the big announcement of their marriage and the fact that, apparently, they'd been having sex for years. At least that was what everyone was assuming now.
Scorpius wasn't used to all of the people that had been crowded into the house. Sensing his unease, Rose had made a graceful exit with her fiancé and they wandered up the street hand-in-hand. It had been the first time her father had properly met her fiancé, but they didn't really have the chance to say anything more to each other than a quick greeting before being distracted with other family members.
"Tomorrow's the trial," he said as he gave her hand a squeeze.
"Mmhmm. Then the day after that is James's wedding," Rose sighed.
"What's wrong?"
"How do you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Always know when something's bothering me?" she stopped walking and frowned up at him.
"I pay attention," Scorpius slid an arm around her waist and tucked it into the front pocket of her jeans. "Now what's on your mind?"
"I'm worried about the trial and I'm almost a bit jealous of James and Leila," Rose opted for honesty. If she was going to keep her promise about being open with Scorpius, honesty was the best way to start.
"What are you worried about and why are you jealous?"
"I'm worried because I don't think he'll get the time he deserves in Azkaban. I mean, normally with my uncle being Harry bloody Potter and my mum working in Magical Law Enforcement he'd get the maximum punishment, but with this marriage law in effect I have a feeling he'll be let off easy so he can attend his own wedding."
Scorpius shrugged, slowed down, and tugged her gently over to sit down on a stone ledge. "Either way I'm sure he'll have to spend some time in Azkaban. Maybe it will give him time to think about his actions. Maybe it will cause him to treat Dominique better. Now, why are you jealous?"
"For so many reasons," Rose's whole body deflated as she spoke. "They're so in love. They didn't have any of those pre-wedding-night jitters that are probably going to give me a heart attack. Not to mention they eloped before their given date, which makes me jealous because not only am I a complete wreck fretting about the wedding night, I'm also nervous about the actual wedding. I dislike being the center of attention."
Scorpius surveyed her with a very serious expression before saying quietly, "You don't have to be nervous about anything with me. I'll never hurt you or do anything you don't want me to do. Furthermore, you don't have to lie to me. I know you don't have stage fright. You gave a speech at graduation. In front of hundreds of people."
"That's different," she was quick to protest, "I was reciting words I'd written months prior to the occasion and I was stating facts. Not sharing a deeply emotional and intimate moment in front of them."
"Think of it this way. They're not witnessing a personal moment as much as sharing in your joy with you."
"My joy," Rose raked a hand through her disheveled hair. "Would you take offense if I told you that I don't know exactly how much joy I'm going to be feeling at that moment?"
"I understand," and he truly did. He just wished he didn't have to. He wished he could make her love him just as much as he loved her.
"I'm sorry," she whispered on an exhale.
"Don't be," he gave her a small smile, "I'm just glad that I can be here with you like this," he motioned to their entwined hands, "without you freaking out on me."
"Yes, well, don't get too used to it. You never know when I'm going to panic, slap you, and run away screaming."
As Scorpius laughed and let his lips press against her mess of curls, he knew that he was right where he belonged.
...
The trial was a bit of a farce and Rose was so angry about it that her face was nearly as red as her hair and her entire body was shaking. "They didn't even listen to me!"
It wasn't the first time she'd screamed that at nobody in particular. She was pacing around her flat while a random assortment of her male relatives (and her fiancé) were seated in the living room drinking tea and trying to talk about other things.
"Honestly! He's being released the day before his own wedding! That's not a punishment! It's a slap on the wrist. A slap on the wrist for impersonating my fiancé, physically assaulting me, and attempting to kidnap my soon-to-be cousin-in-law!"
"Merlin, Rose, the world doesn't revolve around you. How do you think Norah feels?" Of all people, it was James who was scolding her childish behavior.
"Nathan is her brother. I'm sure that somewhere, a tiny little part of her is slightly relieved that he didn't get into too much trouble," she grumbled in response.
"Couldn't be farther from the truth," Albus corrected as he kicked off his shoes. "She hates him more than you do, Rose, and that's saying something."
"He's my cousin," interjected Scorpius, "and I'm just as angry as you are. I just have a different way of handling it." He stood, plucked her wand from her tight fist and said apologetically, "Just a precaution, Love, don't want you accidentally hexing someone's balls off in a fit of rage."
Rose huffed but didn't argue with him. "Poor Dominique! I wonder how she's taking this news."
"A right sight better than you. She's at Norah's flat right now, the two of them are probably cooking up some crazy scheme in an attempt to save Dominique from what will obviously be a hellish marriage," Albus shuddered.
"Really? Do you really think so?" Rose had her hands clasped together in excitement as she turned to face her cousin. "If that's the case I need to get over there and help them!" She quickly snatched her wand back from Scorpius and the next moment she was gone.
"Fucking hell, Scorpius, can't you control your woman?" grumbled Louis as he rubbed his eyes in exasperation.
"Nobody can control Rose. Nor would I ever want to try. She might be a bit crazy, but I happen to admire that fiery passion she has about her," Scorpius said this casually but immediately every male in the room had his hackles up.
"You like her fiery passion, do you?" Fred asked with narrowed eyes. "You wouldn't happen to be imaging that fiery passion in other situations other than anger, right, Malfoy?"
Without even a hint of shame or fear Scorpius said evenly, "Of course I am. I'm marrying the witch after all. Who hasn't contemplated shagging his bride?"
Fred gave a quick laugh and James rolled his eyes. "We know Rose is seventeen. We expected that at some point she would be with a bloke. It honestly doesn't bother us if you're strutting around all day imagining our baby cousin naked. However, we do require that you respect her," James explained.
"Who wouldn't respect her? Godric, with that temper, I'd lose my bollocks if I disrespected her in any way."
"True," Al grimaced as he spoke, "I heard that Aunt Hermione was caught in the middle of one of Rose's many emotional tornados the other day. Apparently Rose went home to talk with her parents and she found Aunt Hermione working on wedding decorations. Uncle Ron said she shredded the roses-"
"She hates roses," defended Scorpius.
"- and she threw the vases of marbles out a window-"
"The marbles were yellow and Rose despises the color yellow," Scorpius interrupted again.
"- then she incinerated the invitations-"
"Of course she did, her mum put her middle name on them and Rose isn't fond of her middle name."
Before Albus could continue the story, Louis interjected, "Blimey, you really have it bad for our little Rosie, don't you? You sound like you know more about her than her own family."
Scorpius jerked his head self-consciously as he realized he might have revealed just a bit too much. "She's important to me. When she speaks, I listen."
"Well that settles it," James slapped his hands down on his knees, "No need to try to protect your balls from her wrath, mate, she's already got them in her fist."
All of the blokes laughed except Scorpius who made a face but made no move to deny the accusation.
...
"Soooo, what are we talking about?" Rose was shifting from foot to foot obviously uncomfortable in this situation. She had been admitted entrance into Norah's flat but now didn't know what to do with herself as she wasn't used to girly talk.
"Nathan sent me a letter," Dom said in a small voice.
"What does it say?" Rose crossed the room and sat down on the sofa beside Norah. Dominique was sitting cross-legged on the floor looking thoroughly downcast.
"Just that he's sorry for what happened. He said that he wants to try be a better person and that he's really going to try to make this marriage work," Dom didn't sound very happy about this.
"He's not inherently a bad guy," Norah winced as she spoke, as if she were unsure of her own words. "He has a temper and he's rather controlling, but it's not like he enjoys inflicting pain."
"To be fair, he didn't exactly beat me. Nor did he try to touch me inappropriately. He only hit me when I wouldn't give him information he wanted," Rose sounded like the words were forced from her. "Even though he clearly wasn't opposed to attacking me, he didn't have fun doing it, either."
"So essentially I'll be a prisoner in my own home?" Dominique quirked a perfect blonde eyebrow at the girls who sat across from her. "As long as I don't talk back or do something without his permission I won't be abused?"
"If he abuses you, you call Uncle Harry," said Rose fiercely. "Spouse abuse is against the law, Dominique. He won't get away with it."
"They'll just let him out again! The damn Ministry wants so badly for this law to be successful that they're going to give him lenient sentences so that we can work harder at making a marriage work. My father said I might be better off just fighting back. I may look delicate but I'm not some helpless little flower!" She tossed her golden hair back over her shoulder and tilted her head up defiantly.
"What about your mother? Has she given you any advice?"
"Yes," Dom rolled her large blue eyes. "She suggested that I move in with my aunt Gabrielle and become a French citizen. Can you believe that? She wants me to run away and hide! Like I would ever do such a cowardly thing! How could I leave Britain? It's my home."
"Maybe she has a point," when Norah said this, both Dominique and Rose turned to look at her in surprise.
"Clearly she's not a Gryffindor," said Dom lightly. All three girls giggled at this but the atmosphere was too fraught with tension and sadness for them to appreciate any real joke.
"My point is that you could do this until the law is repealed. It wouldn't be running away, it would be more like rebelling against the Ministry," Norah explained.
"No, rebelling against the Ministry would be to defiantly protest this law. Rebelling would be to refuse to attend your own wedding. Running to France would be running and Dom would never do it."
"You know me too well, cousin," Dominique smiled at Rose.
"You never know how many other couples might have problems like yours," said Rose thoughtfully. "Or other problems in general. It's possible that the more problems that arise, the more quickly this law will be repealed. The most any of us can do is hope for the best."
...
Rose released the quill and stretched her fingers. They ached from all of the writing she'd done. Before her was her completed wedding plans. It was almost a disappointment to recall that she should, probably, go over everything with Scorpius to make sure he didn't have any objections to her decisions.
Picking up the discarded quill once more, she penned a short note to him and sent it off with her owl. Not a long while later, he popped directly into her bedroom. "You said it was urgent?"
"Look this over and tell me what you think," without further explanation she thrust the parchment toward him and moved to sit on her bed. His eyes widened the more he read. Some of this was quite surprising. She wanted her wedding to be like this?
"Rose, are you sure…"
"Yes. I am sure about everything in there. I wouldn't have put it in writing if it wasn't what I wanted."
Gingerly, he lowered himself to sit beside her, keeping his eyes on the wedding plans. "I love it. I don't think I could've planned it better myself."
"Of course not," she bristled cockily. He reached a hand up to place on her cheek and gave her a fleeting kiss on the forehead.
His eyes were then caught by a bright shade of yellow fluttering from the open closet. Rose's bridesmaid dress was hanging up, ready for her to put on the following morning. "Is that for James and Leila's wedding?"
"Sure is," she grumbled. "Yellow looks ruddy awful on me, but Roxanne looks like a bloody model in hers. When I pick out the dresses for my bridesmaids…" she trailed off.
"Who are your bridesmaids going to be, Rose? It says here that you want six of them?" he consulted the parchment in his hands to confirm the number.
"Seven is the most powerfully magical number. Six bridesmaids plus me makes seven. Unfortunately, I have only picked a few bridesmaids so far. Roxanne, of course, was my first choice. Then I thought I'd like to ask Lily and…Norah."
"Norah? Any particular reason why? I didn't think you two really knew each other well."
"We don't, but she's close to you and I hope to be close to her eventually. So now I just need to choose three more. I debated on asking Leila, Heather, and Verity because they are marrying three of my best friends, but I have never even spoken to Heather or Verity before. Leila's a definite fourth. I haven't decided yet. Who will be your groomsmen?"
Scorpius sighed, "I feel like my options are even more limited than yours. Let's see…I'll ask Liam and Albus. Probably Louis as well. I'll definitely have to ask Hugo as he's your brother."
Rose wandered over to the frilly yellow dress and held it up to her person. "It's so short I'll probably be showing off my knickers while walking up the aisle."
Scorpius chuckled in appreciation, "I'll have a hard time keeping my hands off of you."
Her cheeks were crimson at his words but the next words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. "Will you stay with me tonight? Al is already at Norah's and I hate being here by myself."
"Aw, is the big brave Gryffindor afraid?" he teased.
"No," she all but growled. "It's just that I haven't slept well lately and, er, the last time that I did sleep well was the night I spent with you."
"You mean the night you were drunk? That's probably why you slept so well, Darling, you passed out."
"You know, when we first got engaged you were a perfect gentleman but lately you've been quite forward with me. Like you're not trying as hard to please me," she accused.
"I'm still a gentleman, Love, I just really enjoy flirting with you because you get so flustered." As he spoke he began to strip. His lithe fingers slid under the hem of his shirt, pulling it over his head and dropping it to the ground.
"Um, what are you doing?"
"Didn't you just invite me to sleep over? I'm not going to sleep in my clothes. Oh, don't give me that face, I promise your virtue isn't in danger, I'll keep my boxers on."
When his hands skillfully undid his belt Rose quickly spun around so she wouldn't be wantonly staring at him. She heard the rustling of his jeans sliding down his legs, the light squeak of her bedsprings, and knew that he was now in her bed. Her tiny twin sized bed. Blimey, she hadn't thought this through at all. How was she expected to sleep in a twin-sized bed with an almost-naked Scorpius?
"I'm going to the toilet. I'll change into my pajamas there," she still hadn't looked at him. Instead she kept her face turned away as she grabbed an old Quidditch jersey and pair of shorts from her drawer and ran out of the room.
Scorpius sighed, folded his hands behind his head, and gazed up at the ceiling. How long would it be until she was comfortable with him? At times she was but more often than not she was still so reserved. When she reappeared Scorpius's eyebrows rose until they disappeared into his shaggy blonde hair. The Quidditch jersey was a replica of one worn by Oliver Wood when he was a Keeper for Puddlemere and it hugged the curves of Rose's body as if it had been made for her. The shorts were so short that he felt himself stiffen as his eyes traveled from her ankles to her thighs.
"You're trying to kill me, aren't you?" He hadn't meant to ask this question aloud, but now that it was out there he couldn't take it back. Rose looked at him curiously before realization dawned.
"Maybe I should sleep on the couch," she took a retreating step that had him shaking his head in objection.
"No, this is fine," he was lying. He hadn't even been able to masturbate ever since he'd fallen in love with her. There was just something lacking in his sex life now. He wanted Rose and if he couldn't have her, then he would deny himself until he she wanted him as well.
Tentatively she turned off the light, closed her bedroom door, and climbed under the blankets, sidling up to Scorpius. "Thank you for staying," she whispered.
"How could I refuse?" he mused as he wrapped his arms around her. "Bloody hell, you're freezing." He vigorously rubbed her arms with his and Rose's resulting shiver wasn't caused by her body temperature.
Scorpius's entire body froze. Did she just do what he thought she did? He waited, not even daring to breathe, wondering if she would do it again. And she did. Her lips were so soft and delicate against his chest that he thought he'd imagined it the first time.
When her tongue darted out to taste his pectoral muscle, he let out an involuntary moan and flexed his arms around her. In the darkness, without words, she was more confident. Her hands ran up and down his bare torso, enjoying the feeling of his body against hers.
Not wanting to risk scaring her away, he stayed still and let her continue her exploration of his body. He let her push his shoulders until he was flat on his back, with her beside him. She had one leg thrown over his hips and was stroking his face as she kissed his neck.
"That feels amazing," he whispered, his fingers stroking the exposed skin of her thigh. She didn't reply, just kept on doing what she was doing, skimming her lips and tongue all the way to his shoulder then back up to his ear, nipping at it gently. This action caused him to squirm and grip her thigh a little tighter.
Words ran through her mind. Advice. Working up to shagging. When would she have a better opportunity? Bravely, she said in a shaking voice, "Scorpius, I want you to touch me. Please."
His body jerked under hers. "Where?" The word was a moan.
She took his hand in hers and guided it down to cup her sex. Instantly she stopped her ministrations on him, tensed, and closed her eyes shut tightly. Her whole body was trembling with nerves. Firmly, but slowly, Scorpius pressed his fingers against her and to her surprise it felt good.
"Rose, Sweetie, you're quivering. Are you sure you want this?" His voice was stronger now; determined. He refused to do anything that she didn't want him to do.
"No," she said quietly, "I'm not sure I want this. It's your job to make me sure. Damn it, Scorpius, make me want it," in addition to her statement she rotated her hips, pressing herself against his hand and gasping at the friction it caused.
"I have a better idea," he kissed her lips roughly, rolled over on top her, nestled himself between her legs, and ground his length against her.
Rose mewled and shuddered. She was still scared shitless. After all, Scorpius could so easily move aside her shorts and knickers and take her by force. He was stronger than her, her wand was far out of her reach, and he was currently pressing every inch of his masculine form against her feminine one as much as he could.
As his hips moved, grinding their clothed crotches against each other, she found herself moving in rhythm with him. With a shiver of apprehension she realized that they were going through all of the motions of shagging, just with their clothes on.
He moaned into her ear before biting her neck. His lips sucked lightly on her pulse point and she reacted so violently to it, thrashing under him, arching into him, increasing the pressure of his cock against her center, that he sucked harder. Rose gave a sharp cry and she heard herself say, "Fuck, that feels, brilliant. Oh, Scorp, that feels wonderful."
Encouraged by this response, he upped the tempo of his thrusts and slid a hand under the Quidditch jersey she was wearing. To his shock and delight he discovered that she wasn't wearing a bra. His hand closed over her breast and his mind barely registered the fact that her breasts were fucking perfect. They fit perfectly into his large hands and they were so bloody soft.
When noises began spilling out of her throat rapidly and her hands dug into his hips, spurring him on, Scorpius knew she was close to her climax. His mouth left her neck and he kissed her deeply, passionately, on the lips, groaning into her mouth as he felt his peak approaching as well.
She tore her mouth away from his in a gasp as she came undone. Her body was raked with tremors as she experienced the most pleasurable thing she'd ever felt in her short seventeen years of life. Her wide blue eyes were so filled with lust that all Scorpius had to do was gaze into them, feeling her orgasm beneath him, and he followed.
Not wanting to collapse on top of her, he supported himself on his forearms, raised slightly above her as he rode out the residual waves of his own pleasure, soaking the front of his boxers. When he came down from his high, he rolled onto his side and reached for his wand. He muttered hasty cleansing spell, drying his boxers as well as her drenched knickers.
"Rose…" he was watching her warily as her unfocused gaze was aimed pointedly upward, away from him. "I'm sorry if that's not what you wanted…I didn't mean to be so aggressive…"
After a few deep breaths to calm her racing heart, Rose turned toward him with a soft smile. "Thank you," she whispered, "that was incredible." She snuggled up to him, kissed his jaw, yawned, and fell asleep.
Shocked by this reaction, Scorpius found himself reveling in this sated cuddly version of Rose. Smugly, a smirk settled onto his lips. She thought that what he had made her feel was incredible. It might not be love, but it was enough to send him into blissful oblivion with a smile on his face.
….
"Argghhhh!" Leila screamed as James tackled her, the two of them rolling on the floor in a tangle of limbs. They had been chasing each other around the house, wrestling, attempting to pin each other.
Leila wasn't stupid; she knew that James wasn't even really trying. In reality he was bigger than her, stronger than her, and could have had her at his mercy at any moment he chose to.
Tasting an easy victory as the woman in his arms giggled, James licked the side of her face from her jaw to her hairline. "Do I win?" he asked breathlessly.
"Never!" she cried as she squirmed in his grasp. James locked his arms and legs around her. Finally, with a 'hmph!' she stilled her movements and said with a pout, "Okay, you win."
He grinned at her, "You bet your arse I did," he gave her ass a light slap for emphasis before getting off of her and straightening his clothes. "Are you ready to get married tomorrow?"
"We're already married, Stupid."
"Aren't you just a charming little wifey?" he said sarcastically. "I meant, are you ready to get all dolled up, wear a pretty dress, walk down the aisle, and declare to all and sundry that you are bound to me for the rest of your existence?"
"Bloody hell, you make it sound so serious!" she joked.
"It is serious," he reminded her. "Even though we've already said the vows, tomorrow the Ministry wizard is going to do the official binding and magical incantations and maybe he'll even throw in some voodoo. Perhaps we should have a few headless chickens prepared?"
He was laughing but Leila wasn't. The look on her face was very stern as she sat up from the floor, brushed off her jeans, and looked away from him. "Uh oh," he clucked his tongue, "You're not having second thoughts, are you?"
"No, James, of course not," her words weren't very convincing.
"Leila, if something's wrong, please tell me."
Leila's head spun to face him so quickly that her blonde hair hit him in the face. "I chose you."
He tilted his head as he gazed at her. "What?"
"With this new marriage law, purebloods were allowed to choose which muggle-born or half-blood they wanted to marry, and I chose you." Leila kept her eyes locked firmly on his as she waited for his reaction.
….
A/N: Don't be mad at me! Also, if you guys want to see the dresses I picked out for Leila's wedding dress and her bridesmaid dresses, the links are on my profile page! I will do my best to have the next chapter up as soon as I can! I have a big assignment that I need to work on tomorrow, but I'll try to have the next chapter up before the weekend is over.