Ah, weddings. Everyone loves them- except for the parents of the bride who have to pay for it and the maid of honor who does all of the work! Ha! Natalie and Sirius deserve this happiness, do they not? There's also a wink to my best girl in here, as well! You were the one who convinced me to publish this and try my hand at writing. Thanks for being my support, my muse, and my most faithful reader! :-* I love you all!
"Wake up, Natalie! Cummon, wake up!" Ginny's shrieks broke into Natalie's consciousness, and she sat up quickly, only to be pummeled in the face with a pillow. Ginny laughed and jumped up and down on her bed, her red hair fanning out around her. "It's today! You're getting married! You and Sirius are getting married!"
Natalie peered out the window at the grey sky. "Ginny, be quiet," she whispered. "It's not even dawn yet, you'll wake the others-"
"Girls! We need to get going! We have a lot to do this morning!" Mrs. Weasley's voice carried up the stairs. Natalie heard Hermione stirring from underneath her blankets, as well. Footsteps sounded down the hallway as the boys answered Mrs. Weasley's summons, knowing full well that if she was awake there was food on the table.
The girls dressed and headed down the stairs as well, greeted by the smell of bacon frying. Natalie's mouth watered as they gathered around the table to eat. Before they began, Mrs. Weasley spoke. "Now, this house needs decorated- the girls will help me with that. Boys, I need you to clean up the outside today and get the tables set up in the yard. It will be a nice enough day to have a feast outdoors, I think. It's been unusually warm this winter. Arthur, can you supervise?" When Mr. Weasley nodded, she lowered her voice. "And keep Sirius busy, will you? I don't want him snooping around before everything is ready." She smiled at Natalie across the table, who couldn't resist laughing out loud. Sirius, who hadn't heard her, was entertaining Harry and Ron with a story about his time at Hogwarts. Remus broke in every once in a while to clear up the exaggerations.
After breakfast, Natalie went to follow Ginny and Hermione back up the stairs to collect the Christmas decorations from the attic, but was stopped by a hand on her arm. She turned to see Remus grinning. "I have a surprise for you," he whispered. Natalie narrowed her eyes playfully, wondering if this had anything to do with the day he spent in Diagon Alley this past weekend. She trailed him down the hall to where he was sharing a room with the twins. He knelt and pulled a bulky, badly-wrapped package from under George's bed. "I had to hide it," he said with a wink. "Couldn't have Sirius seeing it before the ceremony."
He tore open the paper to show Natalie a brand-new set of dazzling white robes. There was a delicate row of seed pearls sewn around the collar and each wrist. When Natalie reached out to touch the silky fabric, it slid through her fingers like shimmering water. Along the bottom of the skirt was a swooping pattern of embroidered vines, decorated with more pearls. She looked at Remus in awe. "Remus-" she began breathlessly.
"You can't get married in your everyday robes, Natalie." He was smiling broadly.
"I can't- I can't accept these, Remus," she stammered. "They're so beautiful, they must have been so expensive-" Since he had lost his job teaching at Hogwarts, Natalie had noticed that his usually shabby robes were looking more and more worn as he searched for a new position. She couldn't accept a gift of this size from a man who didn't have the money to spend on himself, much less on her.
"You only get married once, Nat," he said kindly. "You don't have a father or brother to look out for you. I just wanted to make sure that this day was absolutely perfect." He hugged her tightly and kissed her cheek. "The only stipulation is this: I want to be the one who gives you away."
"Of course," she assured him. "I wouldn't want anyone else."
He stroked her hair. "I'm sure Molly will want to doll you up for the ceremony, but I wanted to contribute." He looked into her hazel eyes with his grey ones. "After today, you'll be a married woman, Nat," he said, a smile playing on his face. His eyes, however, looked sad. "You know our friendship will never be able to be what it was before," he told her.
She laughed and brushed his graying hair from his forehead. "Nonsense. I'm not going anywhere. And I highly doubt Sirius will let you disappear." She pinched his nose. "Like it or not, you're stuck with me, Mr. Lupin."
He pulled her into his arms and hugged her again, tightly. He took the robes from Natalie's fingers and carefully re-wrapped them in the brown paper. Handing the package to her, he whispered, "Go hide these, then. And for goodness' sake, don't let Sirius see them. It's bad luck, you know."
Giggling and flushed with happiness, Natalie ducked into her room, sliding the package onto the bottom shelf of the wardrobe. Then she hurried downstairs to help Mrs. Weasley and the children prepare for the ceremony.
"Ow! Hermione, watch my eye with that thing," Ginny said crossly, as Hermione stepped around her. Natalie, Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, and Hermione were all squished in Ginny's bedroom, Natalie sitting on the edge of the bed while the other women fluttered around her. Hermione was using her wand to scoop her hair into an elegant chignon, leaving soft curls to frame her heart-shaped face. Natalie resisted the urge to sneeze as Mrs. Weasley carefully applied blush to her cheeks. Ginny was sitting cross-legged on the bed behind her, ducking Hermione's wand and securing a wrought-silver necklace around Natalie's throat. Natalie reached up and touched it gently. Mr. Weasley had slipped her a package earlier that afternoon, whispering that her wedding present from him and Molly was inside. He had ignored her protests and simply smiled at her before hurrying away to stop Fred and George from bewitching the roses in the backyard to sing the wedding march.
The late afternoon sun slanted through the window, making dust motes dance in the air. Natalie smoothed her new robes, her hands shaking. It was hard to believe this was really happening. Molly smiled at her understandingly, patting her hand while absent-mindedly poking Hermione in the arm with the eyeliner she was holding. Natalie giggled. Surely the ceremony would be less chaotic than getting ready had been.
Crookshanks, Hermione's ginger-haired cat, was curled up on Natalie's cot, purring and watching the activity through slitted eyes. Natalie was very sure she had seen the cat eyeing her necklace, and hoped that he wouldn't decide to go after it.
Mrs. Weasley stood up and took a step back. "Well?" she asked the girls. "How does she look?"
Ginny scrambled off the bed to stand beside her mother and Hermione, and all three let out a satisfied sigh. "Beautiful," Ginny breathed.
Hermione was looking her up and down critically. "She's missing something," she said aloud. Suddenly, with a cry of, "Oh!" she pointed her wand at Natalie's forehead. "Aquifolias regnas," she said firmly, and Natalie felt a weight on her head. She reached up and touched it as Hermione explained, "It's a wreath of holly for your hair. I thought it might be a nice touch, since it is Christmas."
Natalie stood up and hugged her, looking into the mirror and smiling happily. "Congratulations, dear," the mirror murmured sleepily. Ginny grabbed her hand. "Let's go," she said breathlessly. "They're waiting!"
"Hold it!" Molly reached over and straightened the dark blue bow in Ginny's hair that matched her best robes. "There," she tutted, "You're ready." She smiled at Hermione, who was dressed in periwinkle robes of chiffon. "You look beautiful," she told her before turning to Natalie. "I think we're ready," she said, quickly brushing a tear from her cheek. Natalie hugged her. "Thank you so much, for everything," she whispered. Molly nodded and straightened her robes, leading the way down the stairs.
The living room had been decorated with a giant evergreen tree covered in baubles of gold, draped with strings of gold beads. The firelight danced off of their surfaces, making the whole tree twinkle. Mr. Weasley had conjured icicles that wouldn't melt and hung them from the mantle and ceiling. Hermione had bewitched the ceiling to reflect the beautiful sunset outside. Remus had added a choir of canary songbirds, who seemed blissfully unaware of Crookshanks watching them from his spot on the carpet or Tacari admiring them from his perch on the bookshelf.
Natalie smiled and pinched herself in the arm, just to be sure that this was all really happening.
Molly opened the door to the backyard a crack and peered outside. "They're ready, I think," she said, tearing up again. She jumped back as Remus turned the doorknob and stepped inside. He stopped on the threshold and stared at Natalie for a moment, a crooked smile on his face. "You look beautiful," he told her sincerely. She reached for his hand and squeezed hard.
Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, and Hermione hurried outside to take their places. Natalie took a deep breath. She could feel her palms getting sweaty. Remus squeezed her hand. "Haven't changed your mind, have you?" he joked.
She shook her head. "Don't tease me now, Remus, I'm frightened."
"Of what?" He sounded surprised. He looked at her, frowning. "You do want to marry him, right?"
"Oh- of course!" Natalie assured him. "I love him. I just- this is scary, everyone looking at me."
He chuckled, and his relief was evident on his face. "It's only the Weasleys. You've lived here for months, surely you're not afraid of them?"
"Dumbledore's here," she whispered. "I know he's important. I have to impress him. He's Harry's headmaster."
Remus shook his head, grinning. "Well, who else was going to perform the ceremony, you goon? Sirius can't just walk into a church and ask the deacon to say a prayer. And can you imagine Fudge's face if he showed up at the Ministry of Magic for a magistrate?"
Natalie allowed herself to laugh, as well. Relief swelled in her chest. "I suppose not," she conceded.
Remus linked his arm around her elbow. "You ready?" At her nod, he turned to the door. "Off we go, then!"
The first thing Natalie saw was a row of tables on the green lawn, white tablecloths fluttering in the breeze. They were positively groaning with good food. Mrs. Weasley had outdone herself, Natalie thought wildly. Fred and George had magically erected an arbor, winding roses in and out of the wooden weave, which thankfully were not singing. Underneath the arbor stood an elderly wizard with silver hair and a beard that were long enough to tuck into his belt. He wore half-moon glasses on a very crooked nose, and even from this distance, Natalie could see he was smiling. Natalie's heart began pounding when she saw Sirius standing beside him, dressed in brand-new black robes. His hair was neatly trimmed, Molly having coerced him into sitting on the stool for a haircut again after breakfast. Sirius was beaming broadly, and when he saw Natalie, he took a step forward, as if to meet her. Harry, who was standing right behind him, grabbed his elbow to stop him, and Natalie smiled.
Remus walked her up to the arbor, where he handed her to Sirius. Natalie saw him tip his best friend a wink, but Sirius had eyes only for her. He squeezed her hand and turned expectantly to Dumbledore.
Dumbledore cleared his throat and said clearly, "Am I to understand that you two, Sirius Black and Natalie Birladeanu, wish to bind yourselves in marriage, despite the fact that Sirius is wanted by the Ministry and therefore unable to procure a magistrate for this occasion?"
Natalie heard George stifle a laugh and Remus cough. The corner of Sirius' mouth twitched. "Yes, sir," he answered, trying to keep a straight face. He squeezed her hand and took a deep breath. "Yes," he said again, his voice more confident.
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows and looked at Natalie expectantly. She answered quickly, "Yes, I do. Please."
His eyes twinkling, Dumbledore nonetheless turned to the audience and said solemnly, "Then, as Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, and Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, I am prepared to perform the ceremony myself."
Looking directly at Sirius, Dumbledore asked, "Mr. Black, do you swear to devote your life and your love to this woman beside you, caring for her always and providing strength and support throughout your lives together, until death parts you?"
Sirius cleared his throat. "I so swear."
Dumbledore turned to Natalie. "Miss Birladeanu, do you swear to devote your life and your love to this man standing beside you, providing him with a home and a family to be proud of throughout your lives together, until death parts you?"
Natalie's heart was in her throat as she answered, "Yes, I swear."
Dumbledore smiled. "Then, by the power and authority given to me by the Ministry of Magic in the name of wizards everywhere, I pronounce you husband and wife." He gave Sirius the tiniest of winks. "Well, go on, kiss her then," he commanded, raising his eyebrows over his glasses.
Sirius laughed and pulled Natalie into his arms, kissing her passionately before surprising her by scooping her up into his arms. "Let's eat!" he yelled boisterously, and carried her past Mrs. Weasley, who was sobbing into her handkerchief while Hermione patted her back awkwardly, to the tables laden with food along the lawn.
Everyone filled their plates and feasted outside, sprawling on the grass and enjoying the beautiful weather. Natalie giggled when Fred whispered something and waved his wand, causing Ginny's chicken to jump off of her plate and tap dance across the ground. She hit him with a Bat-Bogey hex, which caused quite a commotion until Mr. Weasley could sort it to rights.
Natalie turned to see Sirius studying her closely, a smile across his handsome features. "What?" she asked him quizzically. "Haven't changed your mind, have you?"
He laughed and leaned over to kiss her. "Never. I love you, Mrs. Black."
She turned her head and nipped at his ear playfully, making him growl with desire. She sat back and wrinkled her nose at him. "I suppose I love you, too, Mr. Black."
He reached over and stroked the bare skin of her wrist, sending pleasant shivers up her spine. "I can't wait to show you just how much I love you, wife," he whispered, and sat back, laughing, when she swiped at him. "Not in front of the children!" she admonished.
Before he could answer, Remus came over to where they were sitting. Sirius stood to his feet and wrapped his best friend in a tight hug, thumping him on the back and saying, "Thank you for everything, Moony. I know it was your and Molly's efforts that made all this possible."
Remus smiled. "I'm just glad it went off without a hitch," he observed mildly, as Ginny chased Fred and George around the side of the house, screaming at them to change her hair back from the purple hue it had morphed into.
Natalie laughed, and Sirius turned to grin at her. "She looks beautiful, mate," he said to Remus. "Thank you."
Remus flushed. "Of course. You are my two best friends. I'm just thankful that you allowed me to be a part of everything today."
"Why wouldn't you be?" Sirius exclaimed. They fell into laughter a moment later, reminiscing about their days at Hogwarts, and Natalie tilted her head back, closing her eyes and absorbing the warm sun. This day had been perfect, she thought to herself. The best day of my life. She placed a hand on her slightly swollen waistline. That is, she corrected herself, until you come, little one.