It wasn't terribly uncommon for alumni to come back to Hogwarts for large functions. But the seventeen year olds hardly left. School let out and the castle was scrubbed in preparation. As the day arrived, white roses and ribbons began appearing all over. Soon, all of the wedding decorations were set, the house elves were busily working on food for the reception, and the photographer and wedding planner were making their rounds of the grounds to choose the prime locations for the pictures.
The day arrived. In the bridal chambers, Claire was being primped by her entire Italian family. She positively glowed in her white robes and veil. Alina continuously mooned over the well cut style of these expensive robes, including her own pink set in the process. As the bride started to feel nervous, her top notch maid of honor began to casually mull over the bachelorette party she had thrown the week before. She soon had Claire easily alternating from laughter to embarrassment in the presence of her mother. Aya and one of Claire's closer cousins were to be her bridesmaids and were being decked out in baby blue. Aya seemed a bit young, but Claire's response was "So am I."
The groom's chambers were similarly busy. Robin wasn't even visible among the multitude of Irish women, vacillating between crying and readying him for his big day. Finally, Akir snuck him out of the chamber to get him to the Great Hall. JB and Eli, standing up as his groomsmen, followed them. As they awaited the start of the ceremony, Akir and Robin talked about the bachelor party. It had been a bit different than it would have been if he was older. Robin and all of his friends couldn't have anything stronger than butterbeer. So instead of getting smashed, as was typical, the boys watched Robin's relatives get drunk, which was almost more entertaining.
Once everyone was in place, Dumbledore walked up to the front. He flicked his wand and strains of the wedding march floated across the hall, drowning out the varied murmurs of "too young" throughout the guests. I kept to a corner in the back. When Claire and her father started down the aisle, the look in Robin's eyes was so torn between tears and shouts of joy I feared for a moment that he might just pass out. We have all been to weddings, and while this one was exceptionally beautiful and sweet, very little was different from a regular one. Dumbledore presided and everyone knows the vows they wrote for each other. Not an eye was dry and not another "too young" was spoken.
Everyone went outside for the pictures while the Hall was converted for the reception. The photographer and wedding planner had chosen certain places for the shots, but the newly wed Killinghams insisted on some in places that were special to them, like the lake. When the whole party came back inside, there were tables for everyone. The wedding party was seated at that high table. The toasts are famous, especially Akir's, a memorable speech about cooperation and friendship. The couple danced all night and was given the Head Boy's room for their honeymoon. They disappeared up there as the evening closed, and Claire's parents saw the guests out.