Chapter 10
The Wedding
"The scars on our minds and hearts are never far below the surface."
General (ret.) Jigme Dorji Wengshuk
Harriet was back in her bed. It was well past midnight. Her mind was still reeling with everything that had happened.
After returning to the house, she'd sat with Mum and Daddy for a while. They let her say everything she'd told Castillon. Mum and Daddy said nothing. They just kept looking at each other, as though having a conversation entirely with their eyes.
After Harriet was done, Daddy walked her upstairs to her room. She changed in to her nightclothes and got into bed. Daddy gently pulled the covers up over her. She snuggled down under them, hugging one of her pillows tight.
"Try and sleep, honey," Daddy said softly, stroking her hair.
Harriet nodded, looking up at him as he took off her glasses for her.
"Daddy…" Harriet asked.
"Yes, sweetie?"
"Why aren't your parents here…?"
Daddy grimaced. "They're gone, honey… have been for some time."
"You were an orphan too…?"
"No. Not the same way. I was grown when they passed."
Harriet put a hand on his arm. She kept looking in his eyes. She thought she could see his pain, even if she could barely make out his face. He wasn't telling her everything.
"They were killed…" Harriet said. "You were away…"
Harriet was taken aback by herself. She wasn't asking, she was declaring. How do I know that? Harriet thought. Is that my Legilimency? Am I doing it now?
Daddy didn't move, nor speak. Silence fell over the room, full and heavy.
"Yes, sweetie," Daddy finally spoke up. "That's right. I was away… on assignment."
"Was it the time you went away after that Hallowe'en?" Harriet asked. "The time you were talking about with Remus and Sirius after Sirius was released?"
Daddy chuckled. "You are such a little sneak…"
Harriet's face fell. "Well if people ever just told me stuff I wouldn't have to sneak around all the time."
The sound Daddy made was somewhere between a laugh and a sigh.
"That's fair," he said softly. "Yes, they were killed while I was away. We think the Death Eaters wanted to get information on me out of them. I was going on a secret mission for the Auror office, working with the Finnish Defence Force."
"Oh, Daddy…"
"It was a long time ago now," Daddy said. "Nothing to worry yourself about."
"Is that why you get on with Gramma and Grampa so well?"
Daddy looked away as he pondered Harriet's words. "Yeah, I guess so. I guess we're both getting new parents out of this."
Harriet sat up, hugging Daddy tight. He held her again, rocking her gently.
"We're going to be okay, Harriet," he said softly. "We're going to be okay. Rora and I will marry in two days, and then we'll file for adoption, and we'll be okay."
Harriet felt so content in that moment that she fell asleep in his arms. She never felt Daddy lay her back down, tuck her back in, and quietly stroll from the room.
It was the morning of the wedding. It had finally arrived. As a treat, Harriet and her friends were escorted into Paris itself so Harriet and the twins could get their hair styled at an authentic salon and they could do some sight-seeing.
Eight Aurors were with them, Hercule included. Daddy and Mum were still back in Avalon. Mum needed extra time to have her hair done right, and to get into her dress. Harriet had to admire the Aurors's dedication. If Harriet hadn't known Hercule, she never would have guessed they were Aurors. They wore convincing Muggle clothes, and it was four men and four women, walking along with the teens as though they were parents.
Firstly, they met up with Camille, who was coming to the wedding too. She led them on a tour of Paris with Dora, showing their favourite Muggle shops. They weren't going to enter the magical quarter of Paris. Hercule thought that would be too risky. There was too great a chance that Harriet would be recognized.
After shopping, they went to the Eiffel Tower. Harriet was so excited, she was the first one off the lift at the top. Finally, she was adventuring, seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time. She didn't think the Dursleys had ever been here.
The view was amazing. She could see the whole city from here. Harriet had been high in the air on her broomsticks, but somehow the feeling wasn't the same. Somehow, the sensation of looking down on a city like this put her altitude into far greater perspective. She grinned at the tiny cars bustling by down below, and the little dots of people on the mall before the tower.
Hermione didn't seem as excited as the rest. She had already visited the tower before, which wore off a bit of the novelty. There was also her dislike of heights in general.
Marcus and Camille hung back to stay with Hermione. Kieran and Fern moved off on their own, chatting softly. So did Dora and Ronnie. This left only Scott and Harriet standing together.
"Heh, seems we're the only two," Scott said, with a fake laugh.
"Yeah…" Harriet sighed. "Least you'll have Colm at Hogwarts…"
Scott bumped her shoulder. "We'll find Finn."
"How are you so sure?"
Scott smiled. "I guess I have to be, otherwise I'd go insane."
Harriet pondered that. "I guess you're right…"
"I often am—ack!"
Scott grunted as Harriet nudged him hard with her elbow.
He laughed. "Okay, okay. But I mean… haven't you been doing the same? You never talk about what happened…"
Harriet grimaced. "Yeah, I guess I have…"
Scott was right. Harriet had been forcing herself to not think about the attack.
"If I were you… I wouldn't do that too much," Scott warned. "I used to. Just try and forget bad things, I mean."
"What do you do instead?"
Scott shrugged. "Just try and keep focusing on the positive things in life."
"How'd you get so wise?"
Scott shrugged. "Spent my whole life hiding in books, the woods, and pretending to be what I'm not?"
Harriet put a hand on Scott's shoulder. It happened in an instant. She had an image of two young boys, much too young to go to Hogwarts. One had black hair and the other copper. The copper haired boy had a walking stick and was sitting with his leg outstretched as he doodled out a map on parchment. The black-haired boy wasn't watching the map, however. His eyes were lingering on the copper-haired boy's face.
"Oh, Scott…" Harriet said softly.
"Hm?"
Harriet shook her head as if chasing off a fly. "Nothing," she said quickly. "Just… everyone's life kinda sucks, huh?"
"Heh, nothing's ever perfect… but ugh, how boring would a perfect life be?"
Harriet snorted. "Would we even recognize one?"
"Probably not," Scott chuckled.
They fell silent, looking out on the city. Harriet wasn't paying attention. Her mind was now full of something more worrying. She must have used her Legilimency again without meaning to. She didn't know how the future of her Occlumency lessons was going to go after the incident with Professor Snape. She had to learn how to shut that off, for her friends' sakes as well as her own.
From the Eiffel Tower, they went to see the real Notre Dame Cathedral. As the group walked along the Seine, they were stopped by a commotion as they passed Rue de la Legion d'Honneur.
There was a large crowd of haggard looking people gathered around a man standing on a soapbox. The man's back was to them, and he was speaking loudly, but not loud enough for Harriet to hear. Harriet grimaced as the man spread his arms. He was missing his left arm.
The crowd themselves were quite woebegone as well. Some of the crowd looked sceptical, but most seemed hopeful as the man crowed at them. Harriet felt herself shiver, despite the summer heat.
"Must be a soldier," Dora observed. "This is Legion of Honour Street."
The Aurors became edgy and started ushering the teens along.
"What's wrong?" Harriet asked Hercule.
"Zat man is no soldier, he has been on our radar for a couple of weeks," Hercule explained. "He arrived in Paris shortly after you came to Avalon. He always speaks in Muggle areas, zen uses magical tricks to dazzle and vanish from ze crowds."
"Shouldn't you arrest him? That's a breach of the International Statute of Secrecy."
"We 'ave been trying, but 'ee is very clever. He Disapparates in a puff of smoke, so ze muggles he speaks to simply think he is doing mere Muggle tricks. He speaks to ze poorest and most downtrodden of ze city, magic and Muggle alike. He does not speak of Magique zat we can tell, he simply speaks of ze coming end of an age, and ze rise of a new 'dark lady' who will 'lead the low to rise up and bring ze world into a new age.' It is madness."
Harriet's chest clenched. A new 'dark lady'? That's what Crouch, Jr had called her. Did the man down that street work for Crouch, Jr?
Harriet kept mulling this over as they continued on to the cathedral. She pushed that bit of unpleasantness out of her mind when they reached the majestic building. She found herself wishing the Flamels' chapel looked as grand on the outside. The massive buttresses and steeples were both beautiful and intimidating. She hurried inside with the others, eager to see how faithful Castillon's reproduction was.
Once inside, Harriet was confused to see the large organ, but Dora assured Harriet that the organ was too recent an addition for Castillon to bother with recreating. This actually made Harriet a little sad. She thought an organ would be a nice addition to the wedding. Didn't they usually play them at weddings? They always did in movies and television, Harriet thought.
Seeing the inside of the real cathedral finally made Harriet feel a sense of joy. The wedding was here. It was finally here. Mum was about to go from Professor Sinistra to Professor Dusk.
That thought, however, made Harriet almost trip over her own feet. Professor Dusk. Mum was going to go from Aurora Sinistra to Aurora Dusk. The twins probably would change their last names0, too. That was something Harriet had not yet thought about. They were going to adopt her. Would her last name change, too? Would she go from Harriet Potter to Harriet Dusk?
Harriet did her best to forget about this thought for the time being and focus on having fun. Castillon had indeed done a marvellous job at recreating the cathedral's interior. She was even a little disappointed to not see Nicolas and Perenelle's tombs.
Now pressed for time for the hair appointment, they hurried to their next stop: Auberge Nicolas Flamel. Harriet, who was used to the opulence of Avalon, almost walked right past the small tavern front. It was nondescript and stone, almost blending totally into the surrounding buildings.
"It was first opened in 1407 as a place for travellers and workers to eat and rest," Dora explained as they looked on the building. "The ground floor's still a tavern… we're thinking of having it fixed up, but it's been low on the business priority list lately."
"That's sad," Marcus said.
"Yeah…" Dora agreed.
They did not go inside or lin0ger. Instead, they hurried along and arrived at the studio. The Flamels had hired some rising stylist named David Mallett. Harriet was surprised to find he was Australian, and very funny. She had expected a Parisian salon to be stuffy and snooty, but David was anything but. She supposed it was helped by the fact he knew Fern, having done her hair on two occasions.
Harriet had to take her glasses off for most of the experience. However, as David cut her hair, Harriet kept seeing the fuzzy shapes of people walking over to Ronnie in the mirror. She furrowed her brow.
"Ack!" David laughed. "Keep still, keep still love."
"Who are those people?" Harriet asked.
"Them? Agents mostly. Trying to land their next big discovery. Your pretty red-haired friend seems to be making a splash!"
Harriet blinked a few times in surprise. She had a hard time thinking of Ronnie as pretty. Not that she was ugly. Harriet had just never thought that way about her before. To Harriet, Ronnie would always be the girl with short hair, scruffy clothes, and dirt on her nose that she'd almost mistaken for a boy.
As they left his studio, Ronnie had a hard time walking straight. Instead of watching where she was going, she was staring at the handful of business cards she had been given by the agents. She had thrown out the ones Fern had advised her against keeping.
"Why me though?" Ronnie asked, staring down at the cards in disbelief.
Fern smiled. "You're really tall and slender. It's the 'in thing' right now. Your face is really symmetrical too, even the freckles. And the freckles are a plus, it makes you stand out."
Ronnie flushed, smiling sheepishly. Dora looped her arm in Ronnie's and hugged it tightly, giggling.
"See, they wouldn't give those to a stork. They can see you're my beautiful crane."
Fern again gave Hermione a quizzical look, jerking her thump at Ronnie and Dora, mouthing 'what's with the birds?'
Harriet barely fought back a giggle. She looked around and stopped dead. She'd just caught sight of her own reflection in a shop window. She stared at herself. Her face felt strange; particularly her freshly plucked eyebrows. Her skin felt silky smooth and brand new from the face mask she'd worn before the haircut.
She looked over her hair. She had taken Fern's advice and had Mr Mallett cut her hair down to shoulder length. He'd then parted it on the left, giving it flowing tresses. The effect was the hair flowed over the right side of her face, almost covering her right eye. She flushed as she turned her head side to side to study the effect. She felt like an old film star, from the old black and white films Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia would stay up to watch.
She felt her lips twitch with laughter as the twins stopped too, posing playfully and blowing kisses at their reflections. Their hair had been styled to match Harriet's. Harriet wondered if Professor Spring was going to have her hair done the same way. The last she'd seen the school's Muggle Studies professor, she had short, spiky hair.
Hercule laughed. "Alright, Mam'selles, let us keep moving."
"Yes, Hercule," the twins grinned.
"Those two are gonna be trouble," Fern grinned.
"They already are," Harriet grinned.
"C'est elle!"
Harriet stopped. Whoever had said that was close. Very close. It sounded like someone had whispered it in her ear. She didn't recognize the voice. She looked around in confusion. She had heard the voice so clearly.
The rest of the group was still walking. There was plenty of people passing them on the sidewalk, but no one seemed to be paying them any attention.
"C'est elle…0"
Harriet spun around. That voice was different, but it was just as close as the first one was. It was more as though she was hearing one of her own thoughts than a voice. But it definitely did not sound like her. What's more, she didn't know French.
"Harriet?"
Hercule was looking at her with worry on his face.
"C'est le seul!"
"Are you okay?" Hermione asked.
Harriet shook her head. "I'm hearing voices again," she said. "Like the basilisk!"
Her friends exchanged dark looks.
"We have dallied overlong," Hercule said, his face growing more urgent. "We are almost to ze cars."
The group continued in subdued quiet. They reached the cars and quickly hurried inside.
"You think it might be snakes?" Marcus asked, looking down at the ground out the car window.
"Doubt it," Ronnie said. "A snake would go nuts with all the traffic and people walking here. Snakes hear by vibrations. Only a Parseltongue can properly speak with or hear them."
"It wasn't Parseltongue," Harriet said. "It was similar, but it wasn't the same, now I think about it. When I heard the basilisk, it was clearly a sound outside my head. I could follow it. But this time it's like I was the one thinking it."
"What did the voice say? Was it You-Know-Who?" Kieran asked.
Harriet shook her head. "Don't know… I don't think so. I think it was French."
"What did you hear?"
Harriet thought, remembering. "Voices… saying something like: Say Elle? Say la sull?"
Dora, Camille, and Fern exchanged a glance.
"What…?"
Dora grimaced. "I think you heard: it's her, it's the one."
Harriet's heart was pounding. There was no more waiting. This was it. Her mind was spinning. On the one hand, she was wrapped up in the wedding. On the other, she was trying to process just what had happened.
She had overheard people saying "it's her" in French. Hadn't she? Had she imagined it? She hadn't imagined the basilisk. Not only that, but she didn't know French. Why would she be imagining something in a language she didn't know?
Harriet forced her mind back to where she was. She was waiting to join the procession. She was wearing her dress. It was made of chiffon, mulberry, and backless. The neck was a deep vee with a collar that came up around her neck. There was a wide silk wrap around the waist. A long slit ran up the floor length skirt, stopping just above her knee. The shoes were silver, heeled sandals, with little rhinestones running along the straps. She was holding a bouquet of two mulberry roses, surrounded by white baby's breath.
Harriet swallowed. The music began, making her jump. Nan put a gentle hand on Harriet's shoulder. Harriet gave her a thankful smile as Gramma Lisa walked into the aisle. Harriet couldn't see down the aisle from her position, but after a minute, Sirius and Moody stepped out into the aisle. Remus followed right after.
Harriet took some deep breaths. Daddy gave her a reassuring smile before he followed the three into the aisle. She heard a tap and looked down. Castillon was there. He was the officiant of the wedding. Castillon gave her a little wink before he began down the aisle.
After another minute, it was Harriet's turn. She stepped out and made her way down the aisle. Nan and Rosie were right behind her. Harriet did her best to hold her head high, but her eyes kept being drawn to the people filling the seats. She recognized far more faces than she thought she would.
They were mostly Order members. She felt a pang as she caught sight of Fred. He saw her at the same time. He did his best to give her a little smile. George was there as well, sitting between Fred and Erica.
Harriet put her mind back on walking, not wanting to trip on her dress and make a fool of herself in her parent's wedding. She felt relieved as she took her place on the dais, trying to keep her hands steady. Why was she so nervous? She wasn't the one getting married. But her future parents were, and her whole life was about to change.
Professor Spring took her spot just in front of Harriet. As she did, their flower-elf and ring-bearer came down the aisle. Snickers was the so-called flower-elf, and he looked positively delighted as he scattered out the white flower-petals. Beauregard was the ring-bearer, and he looked as though he did not nearly enjoy his situation as much as Snickers.
Harriet swallowed again. It was time for Mum and Grampa Zeb to appear. Across the dais, Daddy looked almost faint. Remus gave him a cheerful nudge. Sirius was giving a cheeky wink to Professor Spring. Harriet couldn't see Professor Spring's face, but she did note that Professor Spring was standing so as to show as much of her leg through her dress' slit as possible.
The Bridal Chorus began. Every eye turned. Harriet's jaw fell a little as Mum came into view.
She looked incredible. Her hair had been curled and was pinned up on the right by a silver bird hairpin that dazzled almost like diamonds. Her veil was thin and Harriet noticed tiny stars on it, surrounding a large, stylised sun that was over Mum's face. Her dress was white and strapless, hugging Mum's frame perfectly. The skirt was floor length, with a long train, and was covered by the same lacy, starry fabric as her veil.
Grampa Zeb's lower lip was trembling, tears running into his white beard. They reached the dais, and Mum sweetly dabbed his eyes for him before he lifted her veil. Mum bent down for him and he softly kissed her forehead. He turned and took Daniel's hand, squeezing it firmly. The two men looked each other in the eye and nodded before Grampa Zeb walked down to sit with Gramma Lisa. She put her arm around his shoulders as he broke down completely.
Castillon was standing on top of the modified lectern. A little platform had been nailed on top of it so he could stand. He smiled kindly after Grampa Zeb, then spread his little arms wide.
"Welcome, friends and family of the two loving souls before me, here to pledge their lives together in matrimony."
Castillon took a breath. "We are here to celebrate the love of Aurora and Daniel, and see the making of their family. This summer, I have come to know Aurora and Daniel personally. I have come to respect the commitment that both have to this union, and most especially to their children. I have come to enjoy the cheerful laughter of Aurora's beautiful daughters, bringing much-needed life and joy to our home. I have come to be inspired by the determination and care in the heart and mind of their soon to be adopted daughter, Harriet Potter. I have come to enjoy the openness and life affirming nature of Aurora's loving parents."
Castillon paused, taking another couple deep breaths. "Marriage is many things. Sure, it is a legal process, but that is merely the surface. The meaning of marriage has perhaps become a bit lost, and even in the past was not always done with the best of intentions. In all frankness, marriage was once nothing more than a process for families to increase their power.
"But I… in my very long life… have had the chance to bear witness to the purest of marriages in that of Nicolas and Perenelle. Two young people who bound themselves together in love and marriage that lasted centuries. They found love in each other, and their shared passion for all living things."
Castillon returned his attention to Daddy and Mum. "And when I see you two, Aurora and Daniel, coming from such different backgrounds, overcoming such hurdles, I see the same love that burned in Nicolas and Perenelle. I see a marriage I know will last, and be full of love. Marriage, as life, is never easy. But I see two who will weather the storms, stand by each other, and show the world what it means to love."
Grampa Zeb was all but bawling.
"And so, it is time for this loving couple to exchange their vows. I understand that the pair has written their own vows?"
Daddy and Mum nodded.
"Then Daniel, if you please."
Daddy took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He opened them, taking out a small piece of paper.
"Dearest Aurora, when we met I was lost and alone. I had lost my best friends and the once bright future I'd dreamt of was gone. But then you walked through my door, you smiled at me, you laughed at my jokes, you brought warmth to my heart again. You took my hand and guided me back on the path, a path of love and hope with you.
"Today, before our friends and family, I solemnly swear to fill your days with sunshine, to comfort and encourage you, to help you reach your dreams and to love, honour, cherish you with all my heart."
Harriet's throat was tight, and she was having a hard time seeing. Mum sniffed, also on the verge of tears as she held up her vows.
"My Daniel… by the time I met you, I had accepted my life with my girls and was happy. Then—" Mum giggled "—I walked into your shop. And you were courteous, respectful, and never gave me a feeling of being judged as I told you about my girls. Over the years, you continued to be that same kind gentleman on our dates. You always remembered my girls at Christmas or their birthday. Then Harriet came into your life, and I saw a lost boy become a man, and I knew this was the person I'd been secretly hoping for all along.
"Today—" Mum giggled again through her tears "—before our friends and family, I solemnly swear to be your rock when you need one; your shoulder, your best friend, and to love, honour, and cherish you now and forever."
There was more than a few sniffles in the audience.
"Please, the rings."
Beauregard held up his little pillow, bearing the rings. Daddy and Mum both took one. Daddy took Mum's left hand.
"With this ring, I thee wed."
Mum smiled up at him, taking his hand.
"With this ring, I thee wed."
Castillon spread his arms wide again. "I hereby pronounce you husband and wife. The wedded may kiss."
Mum and Daddy embraced, their lips meeting passionately. The whole room broke into applause and cheers. Daddy and Mum laughed as they held hands, hurrying back down the aisle. Professor Spring started down after them but gave a shriek of laughter as Sirius caught her and swept her up into his arms bridal style, laughing jovially and carrying her down the aisle.
Harriet felt a pang of jealousy. In that moment, she wanted someone to carry her like that. She wanted someone she could say such loving things about like in her parents' vows. She wanted that kind of love, too.
The wedding party lingered for a while at the chapel while the rest of the guests headed to the Inn where the reception was being held. The wedding party then climbed into the Flamel cars, which took them to the Inn as well.
Harriet and the rest were through first. The guests cheered them. Harriet blushed as she looked around the room. She caught sight of her friends, which lifted her spirits a little. She looked over at the stage where the slurring, drawling MC was announcing their names.
"Dung!" Sirius laughed. "Who put you in charge of this?"
Dung?
"No one, lads!" the man named Dung laughed, his voice a thick Cockney. "Just helped meself!"
"Mundungus Fletcher," Remus whispered to Harriet. "Don't think you have had the… pleasure… of his company yet."
"By the sound of it, he's already started partying," Rosie muttered with disapproval.
"That is most likely," Remus chortled.
They sat at the table. Nan, Harriet, Rosie, Professor Spring, Gramma Lisa, Grampa Zeb, then two chairs for Daddy and Mum, followed by Remus, Sirius, and Professor Moody. Now that the spectacle of the wedding was over, Harriet appreciated how nice Professor Moody looked, compared to his usual grizzled form. She was pleased to see that he had at least attempted to tame his hair, with about the same success as Hagrid, but she appreciated the effort.
Harriet blinked, looking around. Hagrid wasn't there. How had she not noticed before? She supposed he was more distracted than she thought. Hagrid must still be on his mission. She wondered how well Professor Dumbledore, Professor Stratton and Professor Sutler were doing on their missions.
Daddy and Mum entered now. The crowd cheered again as Fletcher introduced them. They both paused and gave Fletcher slightly quizzical looks before shrugging and waving at him, moving into the middle of the room.
A piano and a violin started playing. Daddy and Mum moved close together and began to dance slowly as a young soprano began to sing. Harriet raised her eyebrows and looked around at the little stage so fast she almost cracked her neck. Dora was on the stage, singing.
Ave Maria, gratia plena,
Maria, gratia plena,
Maria, gratia plena,
Ave, Ave, Dominus,
Dominus tecum.
Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus,
Et benedictus fructus ventris (tui),
Ventris tui, Jesus.
Ave Maria!
Harriet stared with disbelief. Daddy and Mum were beautiful as they danced to the music, but to finally hear Dora sing, Harriet was dumbfounded. Harriet scanned the crowd. She found Ronnie. Ronnie's eyes were dazzling. She was leaning on her elbows on her table, her chin in her hands. Harriet knew in that moment that the whole of Avalon could come crashing down on top of them and as long as Dora kept singing, Ronnie would never notice.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei,
Ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
Ora, ora pro nobis;
Ora, ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
Nunc et in hora mortis,
In hora mortis nostrae.
In hora, hora mortis nostrae,
In hora mortis nostrae.
Ave Maria!
The song and the dance finished. Everyone applauded as Daddy and Mum came to take their places at the table. Daddy and Mum looked out on the crowd, which now fell silent.
"Welcome, everyone!" Daddy said, spreading his arms wide.
"Thank you all so much for coming," Mum said. "This is such an incredible moment… I know it was not easy to arrange this under the circumstances, but we're so happy that so many of you could make it."
The gathered Order members and family all cheered.
"Rora and I… we've been through a lot. It wasn't always easy."
"Someone was still a bit too into his bachelor's life for me for a while," Mum teased, elbowing him.
Daddy laughed. "I was… I was… I was a fool. And Harriet, my beautiful girl, helped me see that."
Harriet went very red as every eye turned on her now.
"The first time she called me Daddy… I died. In a good way. The boy in me died, and the man in me was born. I knew what I wanted. I wanted a family. I wanted the most incredible, strongest, smartest, beautiful woman in my life forever, and I wanted her girls to be a part of it, and I want Harriet to be a part of it. And now it's finally happening. And I'm the luckiest man on the face of the earth…"
Daddy broke down. Mum pulled him close and kissed him hard as the crowd roared. Harriet felt herself choking back sobs. It was real. It was truly real. They were married. Now they could adopt her. She had been taken out of the Dursley's custody. She was going to have a real family.
Daddy and Mum sat as the applause continued. As the din died, little Beauregard clapped his hands together twice and at once food appeared on their plates. Harriet groaned. She hadn't eaten at all that morning, and now that she was calming down, she was realizing just how hungry she was.
Her plate filled with a stuffed pheasant breast and perfectly cooked asparagus and a baked potato with the insides perfectly fluffed and whipped, covered in sour cream and chives. She groaned audibly, picking up her fork and knife, cutting into the breast and devouring the first bite.
"Hehe, careful, you'll choke," Rosie teased.
"Worth it, I'm famished," Harriet moaned.
The Inn was full of laughter and conversation as people ate. After finishing their plates, Daddy and Mum got up from the table and walked about the gathered guests at their tables, chatting merrily with them. Harriet was perfectly happy to stay where she was. She would have been happier with her friends, but she thought getting up and moving now would draw attention, and perhaps be rude.
After a while, Daddy and Mum returned to the table. As they retook their seats, Grampa Zeb rose, and the room fell silent. Grampa Zeb cleared his throat.
"I'm not much a man for speeches. I've always preferred to be the one sitting back and enjoying my wine while others did the work."
A wave of chuckles swept over the crowd.
"The fact is…" Grampa Zeb sniffled. "I might be the happiest man in the room. I want to say the proudest I've ever been in my life was when I held my beautiful baby girl in my arms for the first time. The proudest I've ever been after that was when I held my baby girl's beautiful babes for the first time."
Grampa Zeb beamed over at the twins who both gave him emotional smiles.
"And yet… I might have to call my proudest moment now," Grampa Zeb said. "The day I see what an amazing mother and now wife my precious baby has become, and at the same time I gain a son who has astonished me with his dedication and care, and also a beautiful new granddaughter as full of love and life as anyone I've ever known."
The crowd gave out an 'awwwww'.
"Daniel," Grampa Zeb continued. "You are an incredible human being. I've been wrong about a great many things in my life, but I've never been happier to admit I'm wrong than I am now. I never thought I'd meet anyone who would be good enough for our Rora and her sweet ones, but you've made me eat that assumption. You are a stand-up gentleman of quality. You stood by your conviction about one of your best friends even though it cost you your career. You built yourself back up to a wonderful, respectable businessman. You took on giving the child of another of your best friends the love and care she'd long been denied. And you made our Rora feel respected and loved, and treated her girls as your own."
Grampa Zeb took a deep breath. "Lisa and I are proud to now call you our son-in-law, and promise that anything you two need, never hesitate to ask. We're family now, and so we're whole."
Daddy rose and crossed to Grampa Zeb. The two men embraced, patting each other's backs. The room applauded Harriet included.
"'Ere, 'ere!" shouted the voice of Mundungus Fletcher.
He began tapping his wine-glass, causing a wave of others doing so. Daddy and Mum laughed and Daddy leaned down, Mum rising to meet him in a passionate kiss. The room whooped with cheers. The twins, who were sitting either side of Harriet, giggled behind their hands.
Harriet's eyes found Fred again. He was the lone person not really cheering. Instead, he was sitting sullen and subdued. Harriet grimaced. Was he still down over her anger about him blackmailing Bagman? Or was Weasley's Wizard Wheezes not off to the start he'd hoped? Harriet hadn't thought to ask.
Remus now stood.
"Daniel… you are my best friend. You… you were the one who looked at a sickly, quiet, lonely boy and brought him into the fold. You were the one who, after finding out my terrible affliction, said 'no, we won't let him continue being alone. We'll stand by him whatever it takes.' We went on adventures together."
Remus took his own deep breath. "You've been more loyal to everyone you know than anyone could ever ask. You gave up your career over Sirius' false imprisonment. You… you brought me into your home, made me a place where I could be safe during the full moon, and a comfortable bed to sleep in. You gave me a shop where I could create and fix what I'd destroyed. You brought me into your shop, where I could start saving money, so I can afford a home of my own someday. And maybe… I don't know… settle down…"
Remus' glanced out at the crowd. Harriet followed his gaze and saw Professor Spring's friend Tonks, who gave Remus the biggest of winks. Remus swallowed, getting visibly hot under the collar before he resumed his speech.
"Things I never thought I would have… but maybe, just maybe, I might. And now here you are, fulfilling your dream, marrying the love of your life, the only woman I've ever met truly good enough for you, and becoming the father her daughters deserve, and also Harriet has always deserved. To you, Daniel!"
"To Daniel!" the crowd called, raising their glasses.
"To Daddy," Harriet said, blinking and glancing side to side. The twins had said "To Daddy!" as well, and both were grinning at her brilliantly.
Professor Spring stood. She looked a little awkward but smiled radiantly nonetheless. She looked lovely, wearing the same dress as Harriet and the twins, but her hair was somehow spiky, yet still styled. It swooshed down across her forehead in the front, while it was sprayed up in the back.
"Aurora… we haven't known each other exceptionally long. So I don't know if I can give the same sort of speech, but in the time that I've known you, you've been the shining big sister I never had. I've teased you a lot since I came back to Hogwarts. You first seemed this stiff, no-nonsense person and it became my mission to break through that wall, as any good little sister should."
The crowd chuckled and aww'd.
"And then I saw you with your girls for the first time. And I heard what you had done for the American students the year before. And I knew you were someone I wanted in my life. You were someone I could look up to and aspire to be."
Professor Spring sniffed and Gramma Lisa put a gentle hand on her arm.
"And then I saw you with Daniel, and I knew you two were meant to be together. So I got on that big wagon of all of us on the Hogwarts staff pushing you to settle down with this wonderful man. And I do mean all of us at Hogwarts!"
The crowd laughed. It was then that Harriet noticed there were indeed a few teachers there. She spotted Professor Sprout first, then saw she was sitting with Professor Flitwick and McGonagall. She didn't see Professor Snape, though she wasn't sure why she was even looking.
"So I suppose I'm here to speak for all of us at Hogwarts, in how happy we are for you to finally find someone truly deserving of you. We love you, Rora."
Professor Spring hurried over and hugged Mum tightly. Harriet was distracted catching the sight of Dora hurrying back towards the stage as the band started playing music again.
"Let's have the first dance!" Fletcher hiccupped.
Grampa Zeb rose from his chair and took Mum's hand. He led her out onto the dance floor.
"This is a slightly modified version of an old song, a bit more fitting for a dance," Dora said as the piano and the violinist started.
Harriet became lost again as Dora sang. She listened to the words, watching Mum and Grampa Zeb move around the dance floor. They both looked on the verge of tears and kept speaking softly to each other.
Mama, where's your pretty little girl tonight?
Trying to run before she can walk, that's right
She's growing up, she has a young man waiting
She's growing up, she has a young man waiting
Wide eyes, she'll be street-wise
To the lies and the jive talk
But she'll find true love
And tenderness on the block
Daddy, don't you ask her when she's coming in
And when she's home don't ask her where she's been
She's going out, she has a young man waiting
She's going out, can't keep her young man waiting
She'll be okay, let her have her day
'Cause it's a long way, it's a long walk
But she'll find true love
And tenderness on the block
I know how much it hurts to see her go
She has a mind of her own, you know
She's all grown up, she has a young man waiting
She's all grown up, she has a young man waiting
She was wide-eyed, now she's street-wise
To the lies and the jive talk
But she found true love
And tenderness on the block
She found true love
And tenderness on the block
The song and dance finished. Daddy rose and held out a hand to Harriet. Harriet stared a moment, not sure of what was going on.
"Come on, Harricane," Daddy smiled. "I think this wedding can be forgiven two father-daughter dances…"
Harriet swallowed and took his hand, rising. He guided her out onto the dance floor. The band started up again, this time the song sounded much more familiar to her as Dora began to sing again.
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right
Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here
"You are my sun, Harriet," Daddy said to her softly. "And I'll always be here for you."
"You're mine too, Daddy," Harriet whispered, hugging him tightly. She was crying now. All of this was real. It was happening. She couldn't be happier.
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right
Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
It's all right, it's all right
The song and dance finished. The crowd applauded and whistled before moving out onto the dance floor themselves. Dora hopped off the stage, hurrying over to Ronnie, the pair catching each other and Ronnie gasping as Dora dipped her, kissing her passionately.
Harriet moved out of the crowd, looking for her friends. She felt a little frustrated at not being able to find them. Finally, she found Scott, sitting with Camille, chatting.
"There you are," Harriet said with relief, sitting next to them. "Where's everyone else?"
"Dancing," Scott said, gesturing to the crowd.
"Scott was just telling me about your terrible situations," Camille said, putting a kind hand on Harriet's. "How awful for you both to have such terrible things happen to those you love."
Harriet flushed. Did she love Finn? She couldn't yet. She fancied him, sure. Quite a lot, in fact. Indeed, the only thing that had helped her sleep through the last few nights was practising some of Mum's 'secret techniques' while listening to Finn's voice.
"Just… wish there was something I could really do for him," Scott said sadly. "He's always so dry in his letters. He used to be so… so…"
"Romantic?" Camille smiled.
"Heh, yeah," Scott sighed but managed a smile.
The trio chatted quietly for a while. Harriet felt good to be out of the spotlight. Eventually, her friends all drifted over. Kieran and Fern were first. Kieran could only do slow dances with his leg. The next was Ronnie and Dora, both groaning as they took off their heels.
"Those are bloody murder!" Ronnie declared, tossing her heels onto the table with a clatter. "I don't know how the rest of you do it."
"You get used to it," Fern smiled.
"Hermione and Marcus still out there?" Scott asked.
They looked around. Sure enough, as the band played another slow song, they caught sight of the two dancing. They were very close, Marcus bent down oddly when Harriet realized he and Hermione had their foreheads resting together, talking softly, looking into each other's eyes.
"Lovebirds," Dora said making a fake gagging noise.
Ronnie laughed rolling her eyes, bumping Dora's arm with her elbow.
"They do make a cute couple," Camille observed, smiling warmly. "It is nice to see her feeling so secure with someone. She was so guarded for ze longest time."
Fern shifted uncomfortably. Kieran gently put a hand on her shoulder.
Harriet was feeling awkward. Terribly so. She caught sight of Fred again. He saw her too, having just gotten some punch. He went red as his hair and tried to turn away. Harriet rolled her eyes and got up, hurrying over to him.
"Fred, wait," Harriet said, managing to catch his arm.
"Oh, h-hi," Fred said lamely.
"Fred, we can't do this," Harriet said. "We have one more year at Hogwarts together, we're in the same house on the same Quidditch team, we can't keep letting this be weird."
Fred sighed, leaning against the table. "Yeah, I suppose you're right…"
"We… we had something good… and now…"
Fred sighed again. "Harriet, it's alright. I'm just… I'm trying not to be weird… I guess it's making me act weird… but I don't want you thinking about what a piece of shite I was last year on a day like today. And after what happened to your bloke, Finn… I'm not a prat enough to… yeah."
"Oh, Fred," Harriet said. "I don't think that about you. You couldn't have known, and you were the one being wronged. I…"
"No, you're right. It was wrong of me. Sure I bend and break rules, but that was the law. And I'm better than that. You helped me see that. So… I guess… even if I blew it… I'm a better person now."
Fred gave her a warm smile. "Thanks, Harriet. You really are an incredible person. I hope you find Finn, I really do. He's a laugh. And you deserve all the laughs in the world."
"Th-thanks," Harriet stuttered. This had not at all gone the way she'd expected.
Fred gave Harriet a gentle hug before taking his punch and heading off into the crowd. Harriet was left standing there, staring after him, trying to process what Fred said.
"That were bootiful, it was," said the now recognizable voice of Mundungus Fletcher.
He was pouring himself a glass of wine, his hand shaking a bit, wavering slightly.
"I… thanks… and… I think you've had enough," Harriet cautioned.
"Dahh, this old body o' mine's got a few drinks left in it," Mundungus chuckled. "By the by, need to tell yeh, Bart is awfully sorry about that business with Sebastian."
Harriet's throat tightened, and her eyes widened.
"See, Bart has it in his head you're to be the next Dark Lady. And he has a point. He's been travelling Europe, telling people all about you. They really seem to be listening."
Harriet was trembling. Fletcher's voice had changed. He no longer sounded drunk, his voice no longer raspy. He wasn't swaying, instead was standing perfectly casual, sipping his wine.
"We'd been watching Grimmauld Place. Bart's little cronies had seen plenty of Order members moving about the area. We didn't think much of it until we saw Dr Sebastian Bishop coming and going. Now, who in the Order would need a magical psychiatrist, we asked ourselves. Well, no one. No one but Harriet Potter, that is."
Harriet leaned against the table. It couldn't be. It couldn't be him. Not here. Not now. How?
"So I decided to do a little digging and found myself an in: Mundungus Fletcher. He's perfect! He's a crook! Everyone's already used to him acting suspicious! I've been him for a little while now, since a little after we think you managed to escape here, so I'd really appreciate you not telling anyone, for old time's sake. And if that's not enough, I have a gift for you. But I'll only give it to you if you promise not to tell anyone that I'm Fletcher. If you do, I won't give you this note, and bad things will happen. You know how bad…"
Harriet shuddered and coughed as she felt a dry heave.
"I'll take that as a yes. See… I didn't sanction Bart's little foray into Sebastian's home. He was duly punished for it by Sebastian himself of course. Threw him through a wall, apparently. He's lucky, I let that stand as punishment in lieu of taking one of his toes."
Harriet's knees were shaking. The last time she heard that voice, it was threatening to kill Dudley.
"Shall I kill him, too? Normally I wouldn't ask, but since he's your family I thought it only fair."
"No! Leave him alone!"
"As you wish, Harriet Potter. The debt is repaid."
"So, that's when I decided to do some more snooping. Turns out that Sebastian has made it to Northmoor Hill Nature Reserve. He's living in an old chalk quarry. Plenty of birds to eat there. This is the exact location."
Harriet was staring down at the table. As she watched, Fletcher's hand slid a piece of parchment into view.
"Consider this an apology from a very sorry little Bart. Amazing to watch him work. You saw him today apparently, preaching to the masses. I don't know much of his rhetoric I believe personally, but—"
Harriet was heaving. She felt sick. Her arms were shaking. She was starting to hear screaming.
"—if you do want to keep your new family and loved ones safe… it wouldn't hurt to have an army at your disposal, would it, Dark Lady?"
Harriet sank to her knees. She hugged her chest tight. She saw it all again. She saw the torn bodies. She felt their blood. She heard their screams.
"Farewell, Harriet Potter. Till we meet again."
She felt their hands on her. She felt the helplessness wash over her. She saw the knife in Piers' hand. Harriet reached up, grabbed her hair as hard as she could, and screamed.