Violence Inherent in the System Chapter 21: Bunny's Big Day, a Sailor Moon + Harry Potter Crossover fanfic

Insert standard legal disclaimer and boilerplate notes here. Magic Knight Rayearth isn't mine, nor is Mahou Tsukai Tai! nor Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha nor Wedding Peach nor any of the other magical girls that I may imply take part in the scenes rendered below. The youtube clips were fun to watch though.

Warning: There is an over the top quasi western style-ish wedding scene. I can't not write it. I will try to make story relevant remarks within the wedding itself as I don't want it to be considered pure fluff. I will also refrain from recording every single detail to the Nth degree. If you think wedding scenes are for sissies, then you can skip bits once the camera moves inside Tokyo Dome. Perform an alt-f search for 'I do' or perhaps 'Mendelssohn's Wedding March' to skip far enough through to get back to non-ceremony plot elements.

...as seen previously on Violence Inherent in the System...

"And you, 'Mione. Thank you for being the cake."

Two out of three people in the room blushed heavily. Luna took their pause as an opportunity to find the finger that still had icing and sniff it.

"Hmmmmnn..." Luna hummed to herself in satisfaction. "Lemon. My favorite!"

Violence Inherent in the System

Chapter Twenty-one: Bunny's Big Day

Part One: Riddle's Last Stand

The sake cup came down again and once again their eyes locked. Harry lost himself in Usagi's sparkling deep blue eyes. Her gold crescent moon sigil shined and her skin practically glowed with raw love (and subtle makeup application). Harry snapped out of his daze when he noticed the priest, Rei's grandfather, take the sake cup from Usagi's hands and give it to him. Rei then stepped forward and refilled the cup in his hand according to ritual.

Harry focused on the cup in front of him as it was being filled, determined not to make a mistake in the middle of his own wedding. Back in the cupboard under the stairs, he never conceived that such a thing as this could happen to him. He never expected to be worthy of a girl's favor much less her heart and future.

He was getting married. Okay... that wasn't too far out there. People do that. Even 'freaks'.

He was getting married to a Japanese girl. That's a bit more rare for a boy from Wales. The neighbors up and down Privet Drive would have had a field day with that one. Hell, maybe they were having a field day now?

His bride was the Crown Princess of the Moon, a magical girl and not just a third string magical girl at that.

Harry brought the now full sake cup up to his lips and drank from it in three measured swallows, careful to drain the cup on the third pull. As he lowered the cup and waited for Grandfather Hino to retrieve it, he thought about the other people here in the room around him.

Traditional Japanese wedding ceremonies were often much smaller than their Western counterparts, primarily restricting the witness list to close family. For this ceremony though, 'family' was expanded to include those who took the role spiritually or symbolically. The Tsukinos and all of the Senshi sat on Usagi's side of the shrine, all in their wedding finest. Standing in for Harry's family was line of wizards and witches; those who followed Harry to the Department of Mysteries, the Weasleys and the Greengrasses. Also on either side of the shrine, two royal families sat representing Japan and England. On Usagi's side, Emperor Akihito and his family watched silently. Queen Mum and the rest of the House of Windsor sat with Harry's family.

True, there were those on both sides' security details that threw a bloody fit over having so many heirs so close together, but then the importance of the occasion plus the massive scope of security provided by Pluto mollified many. Those that still complained were given a reminder of how well Usagi protected her fellow royals at the last big meeting at Buckingham Palace. Those that still complained were told to shut it or else.

If the Dursleys had somehow accidentally made it onto Japanese soil, they would have been cursed and/or shot strait away, so no, they did not attend.

The elder Hino began chanting prayers again. Soon the bride and groom would make an offering to the Gods before having a small reception. It had to be small on account of them getting married again in a more Western and much more magical ceremony as countless thousands watched on.

Oh, and a Dark Lord might actually show up at some point or other. Pluto and Ranma told them not to worry, but, you know what Harry and Usagi are like. Beating the big baddies is kind of their thing.

"Welcome back! This is Tendo Nabiki with TV Tokyo reporting to you live from just outside the Tokyo Dome!"

The camera pulled away to show both Nabiki and the mass of humanity behind her left shoulder. People were slowly marching through the main entrance of the massive public landmark in a steady stream. Above the doors, an obviously enchanted banner announced the current festivities and ran a countdown timer for the main event.

Currently, there was just under two hours before Sailor Moon walked down the aisle.

Smaller magical banners nearby ran messages directing any magical guest to use a different entrance around the building to the right. There were also two large magical (not that anyone could tell) screens projecting live views of what was happening inside. Currently, the j-pop band Heather Snape and the Inner Senshi saved from tentacle demons was putting on a concert in order to entertain the early crowd.

"Here, you see the crowds surrounding Tokyo Dome's public entrance for this massive event." Nabiki continued. "Security is as tight as you would expect for Sailor Moon's wedding... and just about as magical as you could get too."

And indeed it was. There were plenty of uniformed officers on hand from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department as well as a web of JSDF checkpoints, some of which were also manned by British Royal Guards in their tall bearskin hats. Then there were the truly unusual guards. Right at the doors, a quartet of imposing looking women stood. The traditional patterning of colored silks and rough leather mixed with the bright shine of sharpened steel to intimidate anyone who saw the Chinese Amazons. There was also an equal number of aurors on loan from France in open view. Behind the overt security a much more substantial force of Amazons and aurors controlled access into the building, but the average Tokyo native would never see them through all the privacy and security wards in place.

"As the viewers at home can now see, incoming guests are being separated based on magical ability. Let me assure you all that this is not social discrimination at work. In fact, these are security measures put in place to ensure the safety of both magical and non magical guests. As our blushing bride Sailor Moon is still the only magical girl currently unmasked to the public, event organizers thought it unwise to invite every magical girl in the country without providing some way to help ensure their secrets stayed secret."

Nabiki looked back to her left. There, some one hundred meters away, was the magical entry point. The cameras tried to get a close up, but there was obviously some form of obscuring magic blurring out the whole area. Nabiki and her crew could easily see dozens, perhaps even a hundred forms on the other side of the field but there was no way to tell who they were.

"While we can't see what goes on over there, don't fear for the wedding itself!" Nabiki spoke up again. "I am told that there are cameras inside the building that will connect to TV Tokyo's network as well as display on large outdoor screens right here at the front entrance. I'm also told these indoor cameras are enchanted to automatically edit out the faces of any magical girl, witch or wizard present- except those in the wedding party itself- so that no one watching will be able to recognize them. Sadly, there are no cameras allowed at the Hikawa Shrine where Lord Potter and Crown Princess Serenity are reportedly engaging in a Shinto wedding ceremony even as we speak."

Nabiki listened to a voice in her headset and then lightly bowed for a moment before commenting. "That is correct, Yui, the Imperial Japanese family and the British royal family are both said to be present at the Hikawa Shrine as witnesses for this historic union." Nabiki stopped and bowed deeper to the camera. "Okay, guys. That's commercial break. Back in two minutes. Let's try to get some crowd reactions... or maybe even a magical girl who isn't camera shy. That's what I really want."

Nabiki began to walk off with Kaji and Manny in hot pursuit. Even here at Sailor Moon's wedding the best news was the news you went out and looked for. Maybe she'd get lucky.

Only one hundred meters away behind obfuscation wards, the story Nabiki was looking for played hard to get. Mary Riddle herself was behind those wards at the end of a line of magicals at the magic-only entrance. It was in this line that Mary Riddle found herself quickly running out of ideas.

She didn't aim for the line first, of course. The building was pretty big but then the perimeter was also well warded. That isn't to say that she couldn't pop the wards quickly, 'cause she could. Could she get through them without anyone noticing? No. She also felt the light pressure that always came with the presence of anti-apparation and anti-portkey wards outside of the building. Well, a ward breach could be Plan B if she needed it.

The muggle entrance was also out. Yes, the wards were weak, but then there were aurors scanning for magical signatures. She sat and watched for half an hour as the sentries told half a dozen people that they were in fact magical- even if those 'muggles' refused to believe it. Hell, when Mary put one muggle under a low level compulsion and sent the woman forward, the aurors even caught that. No Imperious spies for her today. Drat. In short, if she tried entering that way, she'd be spotted and have to go wand out and casting. This was a Plan C at best. Cracking the wards near the back gardens seemed much preferable to charging in the front like a Gryffindor.

Whatever Plan A was, it still hadn't occurred to her. All those years of Dark Lording were sadly lacking in any details that might allow her to use this muggle location to her advantage and she didn't have any servants helping her from inside. She'd been moving around the target building since sunup looking for a weak point, and all she had to show for it was a place in the magical girl line. Why this building at all? It came as no small surprise to her that the earlier private ceremony had much more security, both muggle and magical. She expected the guards at the shrine to follow their charges to the larger public venue and planned to make her move before the wedding party could settle in after the venue change.

How to get in? The cover of darkness wasn't available. There were no obvious weak points... and she would have been suspicious had she found one. Maybe this once, she could follow Harry's example and take a chance. Well, Mary wouldn't call it a chance... calculated risk sounded much more Slytherin.

The minutes ticked by as Mary watched a trio of Amazon ki-adepts, two younger women and an old crone, work the magical entry point. Well, Mary was a girl and magical just like the others... sort of. Maybe if the guards didn't push her cover story too hard- or if she could land a discrete compulsion at just the right time- she could get through quietly.

She spent several minutes watching the Amazon warriors at the magical entry point testing a group of five teens. The two boys and three girls were wearing common muggle clothing unlike the true mahou shoujo in line. They almost seemed muggle in comparison... except that they had brooms and wands with them... and one of the girls was wearing a proper witch's hat. Interesting. Mary cast a minor hearing enhancement charm on herself. Seems like these kids were all members of a school level 'Magic Users Club'. The Amazons made each of the five students do some minor magic to prove their place; the boys both chose to do a bit of broom flying and each girl cast a small charm. After the Amazons and aurors were appeased, each teen received a small card... maybe a business card... and the five promptly vanished.

Probably portkeys. Mary would need one of those cards.

"Hi! My name's Hikaru. What's your name?" A girl in line in front of Marry called out. "That's a pretty dress you're wearing. Where did you get it?"

Time to see if her cover would work on local magicals. She was going local, sort of, by dressing in a newly stolen outfit and using makeup that helped mute her European facial features. Mary turned around and came face to top-of-head with a cute little redhead wearing a mostly red outfit with some fairly flamboyant shoulder guards. "Hello, Hikaru. My name is Mari." Mary bowed politely in keeping with local custom and feigned that cute-happy schoolgirl act that seemed to be a universal trait of the girls in line. "It's not from anywhere special, but I did get the matching sandals too!"

Mary took a moment to bend slightly and point one strappy-sandaled foot out from under her floral patterned sundress. Then she rubbed her foot up the back of her other calf to get rid of a few adventurous ants.

"Oh, that's a nice sword you got there! Where'd you get it?"

Mary watched the little redhead smile happily and begin to prattle on about some place called Cephiro and how she met a woman in the middle of a forest that made weapons and armor for Hikaru and her two friends. Hikaru then introduced her friends Umi and Fuu. The blue haired one, Umi, was a bit snobbish and the blonde in green was exceedingly polite. They all had swords. Big long ones. Glancing down the line, Mary noticed that every girl there seemed to be proudly displaying a Shiny/Pointy-Thing-of-Power... except for the one or two that actually had wooden wands like hers. It must have been show and tell day. Maybe these girls didn't get to mingle as often as witches and wizards did in the Wizarding World?

Mary displayed her own wand, yew with a phoenix feather core (oooohhhh, aaahhhhh) and told Hikaru and her friends a fanciful lie. She claimed to be a vampire hunter who recently tracked a whole family of undead into Tokyo. 'Mari' heard about the wedding and, like, just had to go. While filling Hikaru's ears with fluff, Mary also kept a close watch on the door.

Muggle soldiers were there of course. Aurors too. Fine, she could deal with those. She had finally read enough old Daily Prophets and Legilimensed enough Hogwarts students to know what ki-adepts were capable of and as such planed to feign weakness unless she was found out. It was the Senshi that had her wishing the building's ward scheme wasn't quite so sophisticated. After all... she really didn't believe any wizard or witch was responsible for hunting down her Horcruxes. The late Albus Dumbledore... maybe... but he was dead- and even if the old man had Harry looking for Horcruxes for him, he would have warned Harry not to let evidence of his success leak out in the form of a Daily Prophet special edition on Founders' Artifacts and the Crown Princesses who wear them.

Having said all that, it was a fair bet that one or more of the Senshi were responsible for eliminating her soul containers... and she was just about to walk past two of them with a Horcrux- her last horcrux- in her pocket. Luckly, the line was a slow moving one, so she still had a bit of time to plot.

As Mary wove a story of fangs and garlic to bewitch three Magic Knights without actually using magic on them, a certain compact magical supercomputer was beginning to make noise just inside the building.

"He's here." Mercury murmured to her taller green haired companion. "Tom Riddle is less than one hundred meters distant... both he and his soul fragment should actually be near the end of the magical guest line."

"Now you see why you had to live through this morning twice?" The Senshi of Time and Space teased her shorter companion.

Mercury linked herself into the local CCTV system and scanned the magical girl line via a nearby security camera.

"Is he under cloaking magic? Is he underground? I don't see any males in that part of the line."

"Is this why you told me to shut off the Mercury Computer when we arrived at the shrine?" Mercury's fingers blurred over the keyboard. "Hmmm. Riddle seems to be the last person in line. Could he be possessing that last girl? The dark haired one in a sundress?"

"I didn't want contact with Riddle to interrupt Usagi's actual ceremony." Pluto said in answer to Mercury's first question. "We'll bring Usagi and Harry into it between ceremonies, assuming this is resolved quickly. If not, then Harry may get to fight Voldemort on live television after all. Well... unless Voldemort runs off again. He does have good track record for escaping when the odds are against him."

Mercury grunted out an affirmative as Pluto made a hand gesture that the nearby Amazon trio would see. Amazon Elder Cologne walked over to the Senshi.

"Our target is the dark haired girl in a sundress at the end of the line." Pluto informed her. "We don't know if she is a willing or unwilling host, or perhaps even a disguised Dark Lord herself."

Mercury spoke up as soon as Pluto went quiet. "I am detecting a wizarding magical core with Riddle's power signature as well as Jusenkyo energy... all in the same person."

With a final whispered comment, the Amazon elder slipped away. Things began to happen at the other end of the line.

"Good morning!" Hikaru chirped before bowing to someone she saw over Mary's shoulder. Mary tried not to flinch.

"Good morning to you as well, dear. My, isn't the weather wonderful today? Such a nice day for a wedding…"

When Mary turned around, she came face to face with the old hag from the front of the line. It was Elder Cologne, Shampoo's great-grandmother not that any of these girls knew that. The elder was balancing herself at the top of her walking stick, her feet not even touching the ground.

"Could I interest any of you young ladies in some tea?"

Cologne pulled a full tea service out of her robes much to the delight of Hikaru and her friends. The elder didn't need to use a wand to do that. Mary began to get nervous. At least no one was uncomfortable with her keeping her wand in hand. Several of the girls, Hikaru foremost among them, thought Mary's wand was quite pretty in a natural kind of way.

"Oh, dear me!" Cologne cried as one of the tea cups fell off her serving platter and landed near Mary's foot. "These old bones just don't work like they used to. Are you all right Miss... ?"

Mary looked up from the hot tea staining the concrete to see the old woman staring her right in the eye. Damn! She must have seen something in Mary's reaction.

"Something the matter, dearie?"

Cologne leaned in closer, still perched on top of her cane and still holding the tea service.

"No. I- I would just rather have some soda. Something cold. Personally, I think it's a bit warm out today."

Mary took a half step backwards, silently cursing the wards that prevented her from just apparating out. Fortunately, having the memories of a Dark Lord screaming random threats and advice in her head finally did Mary some good. She didn't need a broom to fly, did she?

She'd had enough. Better to leave while she still could than stay long enough to be caught. Bending her knees, she prepared to kick off of the ground. Unfortunately, this did not go unnoticed.

"Going somewhere?" A young woman's voice rolled over Mary's shoulder.

That someone also grabbed her wrists and refused to let go. Mary looked over her shoulder to find a pair of bright blue eyes under a curtain of red hair looking back at her. It was the redhead from Hogwarts. Ranma. This did not bode well for Mary.

Fuck Plans A through C. Mary felt trapped but she still had her wand in hand and she would not just roll over and die. She cast a silent yet powerful engorgement charm at the ground beneath her. Her charm hit the concrete, making it explode due to near instant enlargement. She also hit the line of ants that were giving her calves trouble only a minute ago. The ants got bigger. Much, much bigger.

Many surprised magical girls suddenly found themselves fighting for their lives against giant ants. As this was not how they planned on spending their morning, there was a lot of screaming involved.

With a pair of pony sized ants chomping on her leg, Ranma hit a pressure point on Mary's neck and dropped the now unconscious dark witch to the ground. Ranma then turned around and started beating the shit out of giant ants. The screeching of panicky magical girls was getting on her nerves and Ranma needed to do something about it.

To be fair, only a few magical girls were screaming. Those were mostly the delicate girlie-girl healer-angel types that could practically raise the dead yet couldn't hurt a fly. A few of the more rough-and-tumble girls in line just figured this morning's monster-of-the-day had arrived. Those girls were blasting bug guts all over the sidewalk with frightening speed.

Still, the giant ants were pretty fast for their size and there were quite a few of them. Perhaps if the locals hadn't unloaded a barrage of glowing pastel death at the oversized insects, the aurors behind them might have had a chance to reduce the critters back to their original size. Oh, well... at least some of the girls were having fun.

Back on the other side of the magical/ non-magical divide, people were beginning to notice a disturbance in the force. Strange noises and lights leaked through the obscuring wards. The ground shook. Loud pops and cracks followed by explosions came with greater and greater frequency. Nabiki and every other reporter in a three block radius smelled a breaking story in the making.

On the violent side of the wards, one magical girl stopped chopping up giant ants long enough to see a wounded comrade in need of aid.

"Hey!" Hikaru cried. "Mari's hurt!"

Three Magic Knights who until today had done all of their best ass-kicking on another world formed a ring around the motionless witch.

"Those ants did pop out of the ground right under her." Umi added. "I wonder why..."

Not having seen Ranma and Elder Cologne's ambush of Mary for what it was, the magical trio resolved to help their new found friend.

"Iyashi no Kaze." Fuu softly intoned over the unconscious dark witch.

All three girls crowded around closer to see how long it took for Mari to get better. Mary opened her eyes.

"Are you okay?" Fuu asked.

"Imperio." Mary replied.

As Hikaru's and Umi's eyes widened in confusion, Fuu's eyes dimmed a little. The mind control magic worked.

Hikaru screamed as a silent banishing charm tossed her through the air and into the back of a girl in white and blue robes. Umi drew her sword into a striking position.

"Midori no Shippu!" Fuu intoned, magically forced to defend Miss Riddle from all comers.

Powerful winds threw Umi back almost as hard as Mary's banisher tossed Hikaru. Unfortunately for Mary, Fuu's use of wind magic got a lot of attention. Senshi and ki-master attention.

"Dead Scream."

A bright purple orb shot past Fuu. Mary leapt into the air to avoid it as well as the two blue ki balls that rolled in right behind Pluto's attack. The concussive force of three attacks pushed Mary further back.

As Mari's captive magical girl brought up a shield wall made of wind, Mary began flying backwards. She also started hurling a steady stream of curses back towards Pluto, forcing the Senshi and anyone near her to throw up a shield or get out of the way. One girl with pink hair and her own wedding dress took one of Mary's darker spells in the stomach; she fell down screaming and vomiting blood.

Oh no she didn't! As more than a dozen white/love magic users saw to their injured sister, a veritable wall of magical weapons were brought to bear. Everyone knew who the bad guy was now.

Mary crossed the obscuration wards becoming the first magical combatant clearly visible to vast crowds of non-magicals - soldier, civilian and news crew alike. Several dozen shiny assault rifles and handguns were brought into position, safeties off.

"Halt! Put your wand down and surrender!" Shouts from the guards could be heard over the growing din of excited spectators.

She paid them no mind… she had more dangerous enemies than muggle men and their toys. Lucky for her, the Amazons and aurors guarding Tokyo Dome's doors were still following orders to not leave their posts. She could have been a distraction and not the real attack after all.

Unluckily for her, those weren't the only Amazons here today.

"Damn…" Mary cursed as she watched a purple haired warrior appear behind her Imperioused ally. Fuu was napping on the ground less than a second after a taking a leather boot to the head.

"You, I kill!" Shampoo screamed and took a bounding leap towards Mary, a pair of giant maces in her hands.

Mary put as much effort into getting away from the disturbingly familiar looking barbarian as she could. She was being quite reasonable here, really, as Chinese Amazons don't joke around about who they intend to kill or when they intend to do it.

Shampoo's mad charge missed Mary in mid-air, but the angry Amazon was only a small part of Mary's problems. After Shampoo, she had to dodge a volley of ki balls intermixed with a steadily increasing barrage of magical projectiles and energy beam attacks. A quick look to her rear showed Mary that many of the mahou shoujo felt that staying in line was for pussies. Some were running forward at a full charge. Others were in free flight just a as she was.

Harry really better appreciate what she's willing to do for him once this all settles down.

Nabiki was in heaven. A royal magical girl wedding was the stuff of legends, but everyone knew it was coming. A fight breaking out at the royal magical girl wedding? It gave plenty of extra pop to what was already history in the making. An angry mob of magical girls appearing in broad daylight to beat down one of their own? Priceless. That half of the mahou shoujo in view were clearly unknown players as far as the media were concerned was icing on the cake. Nabiki didn't even react when she saw Ranma pass through the mob in a flanking maneuver meant to join up with Shampoo at the razor's edge of attack.

Mary felt her spell connection to the blonde in green break. Fuu must have been freed of the Imperius. No loss, really. Mary had already picked out her next victim.

"Die now!" Shampoo screamed as she blurred in from below.

There would be no dodging this. Mary didn't want to get away this time.

"Imperio!" Mary shouted, putting as much into the mind control spell as she could.

Shampoo pulled her maces into a blocking position but the magic passed right through as if they weren't there. The Amazon crashed into Mary and they both tumbled to the ground.

"Good hit, Shamps!" Ranma set down next to his wife and reached over to retake control of the naughty witch panting on the ground. "Now let's tie this bi- hey!"

Ranma had to dodge a battle mace... then a foot... then both maces at the same time.

"Dammit, Shamps! What's gotten into you!" Ranma began backpedaling away as Shampoo's strikes got a little closer each time.

"Mind control, Son-in-law." Elder Cologne appeared.

She tossed a pitcher of ice water at her own great-granddaughter only to see the girl bat it away. Apparently the mind control magics allowed her enough intelligence to defend from threats like triggering Jusenkyo curses. Maybe Riddle was just that good with unforgivables, for she had Shampoo fully under and yet the Amazon still had mental capacity enough to be creative in helping Mary escape.

"You wouldn't hit a pregnant woman would you, Airen?" Shampoo teased her husband.

That may have been hitting below the belt but boy did it work. Ranma just stood there unable to wrap his mind around the words his wife just used.

"Pr- p- pre-" -WHACK-

Shampoo's roundhouse to the face was a clean hit. Ranma fell to the ground, out cold. It would be up to Great-grandmother to subdue Shampoo without hurting the unborn child. And there was one... an unborn child, that is. Shampoo just hadn't gotten around to telling Ranma yet. Surprise!

"Open fire!" The command came from directly ahead of Mary, from the muggle guards.

She turned around just in time to get a volley of full metal jacketed lead in the face… must have gotten close enough to the crowds of helpless muggles to warrant a muggle response.

Mary put her arm up to block any bullets heading for her eyes, mouth or nose. She did not want to know how the Impervious spelled necklace would work if one of those things went up her nose. Having them bounce off of her skin already stung like a bitch even if they didn't tear her open.

Mary's charm didn't make her clothes impervious though, and all of that hot lead really did a number on her dress. It wasn't quite the club hopping look of a bare midriff and miniskirt, but it was apocalypse victim chic.

When the gunfire finally dropped off after a few seconds, Mary opened her eyes to look for the muggle gunmen. There were a lot of them, but the closest group was behind a makeshift barricade. They were also well within spell range. With a jab of her wand, a traffic divider became a gryffon and several rubbish bins became wolves. That shut those muggles up right quick. The defenseless crowds behind the gunmen finally began to run away in a panic. To be fair, a gryffon and several wolves were right scary when seen close up like that.

Mary spun back around and immediately launched a heavy stream of Fiendfyre in the direction of the charging magical girls. Whether she came back to rescue Harry or not, she needed room to escape this hoard of heroines looking to do her in.

"Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!" Sailor Mercury shouted, and she wasn't the only water elemental to challenge the great firesnake.

"Koori no Yaiba!" Umi, the Magic Knight of water summoned a wave of ice crystals to impale the beast.

Fire clashed with powerful water magics in a great explosion of steam, giving Mary another chance to turn and run- er, fly. She crouched, torn dress flapping in the breeze and wand out in a guard position... and then her upward flight faltered almost as soon as it began. High above Mary, a purple star flickered in the late morning sky. Mary could just make out the form of a girl floating behind the light... a girl in a white robe with blue trim. It was the very magical girl that Mary banished Hikaru into only a minute or two before.

Mary silently cursed fate or whoever placed so many obstacles in her path today as she listened to the spell being cast above her, and even though the words were faint, Mary still heard them.

"Divine... "

The purple star flared and a high pitched whine filled the air. Oh, shit!

"...Buster!"

Mary frantically pulled her wand from right to left, pulling a curtain of concrete and earth over her in a thick dome.

-BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM-

Magically generated particle beam cannons were not known for being quiet nor were they known for being weak. When the debris cloud finally settled, Mary's earthen dome was gone. Rubble littered the ground. The girl herself was lying motionless face down in a shallow blast crater.

Naked.

Well, not quite naked. Her outfit had been blasted down to little more than a shredded halter top and half of a skirt. She was wandless, shoeless and in desperate need of a seamstress. Even her lightning bolt charm necklace was torn and smoking on the ground... if her attackers tried just one more time, well then it would be disembodied spirit time again.

Oh, she just had a horrible thought... would she be a phantom of Mary or would he be a phantom of Lord Voldemort again? She whimpered softly.

"Still alive after all of that?" A woman's voice called from the edge of the crater. "And what's this?"

Mary was just conscious enough to crack open her eyes and look to the left. What she saw took what little hope she still had away completely. A white gloved hand reach down to pick up a shiny golden chalice.

"That is the last horcrux. We have a one-hundred percent match between its energy pattern and all of the other ones." A second, younger female voice called out from slightly further away. "The girl still registers as Tom Riddle... and I'm also reading Jusenkyo magic. I think 'she' is a victim of the springs."

Hufflepuff's cup was lost to the enemy. They had her cup and they knew it was her last soul anchor. Beaten and broken on the ground as she was, Mary almost wished for the peace of death to overtake her right then. She couldn't bear to face Harry like this.

"Well, no wonder I didn't see her coming..." Mary was in so much pain that she failed to make any deductions from that statement. "If you are Tom then let me be the first to inform you that you failed. Harry and Usagi finished their first ceremony ten minutes ago. They are currently having a small private reception which I must now interrupt to announce the arrival of our guest of honor. You."

Tears formed in Mary's eyes. She was too late. Harry was already married to the Moon Whore, her last key to immortality was in enemy hands and any minute now she could be targeted by hot water. She was too weak to fight back and in too much pain to rage against her weakness.

She never dreamed it would end like this.

pop

"Master Lord Harry Potter Sir! Master Lord Harry Potter Sir!" Dobby fell to his knees, bowing and scraping before the awesome-est wizard lord ever. "I is so terribly sorry for leaving! I is being back again!"

"Get up, Dobby!" Harry gently admonished. "No need for that. Why don't you tell me who summoned you away so we can decide if they should be punished for making you leave us?"

Dobby looked up at Harry with a renewed sense of awe. Dobby and Kreacher were expecting to serve Harry and his guests at the wedding, only they found themselves sitting among the guests instead. Harry had explained his reasoning thusly:

'This is a celebration of unity. My guests come from across the globe. They come from royal houses and working class homes. There are muggles, witches, wizards, magical girls, phoenix-men, goblins and even aliens from other worlds. And yes, there are elves. Not as servants but as guests. Equals. All are here in one room to celebrate how two can become one and how many can become family.'

And with that explanation, Dobby's devotion to Lord Harry Potter Sir grew yet again. There were all sorts of men and women in the room. Some of them had feathery wings. Gringotts did send a small delegation once the shock of being invited to a wizarding wedding wore off. Dobby himself was seated between a magical school's headmistress and the heir apparent to a galaxy wide space empire.

But never mind that, he had a message to deliver. "Dobby was called by Missy Plu-" Dobby ground to a halt when he saw the very people who summoned him sitting on the bride's side of the room. "-the other Missy Pluto and the other Missy Mercury. Those not sitting in this room now."

Harry turned to look at Setsuna, only to see her sharing glances with Ami. He saw the two Senshi nod in acceptance of the inevitable. Surely they would be reliving some or all of today with the help of the Time Gates.

"And what did other Missy Pluto and other Missy Mercury have to say?" Harry asked.

Dobby smiled brightly. He knew the great Lord Harry Potter Sir would like hearing this. "Other Missy Pluto and Other Missy Mercury telling Dobby to tell Lord Harry Potter Sir that Tom Riddle is being captured outside of the Dome of Tokyo. The Dark Lord is being caught alive and wandless and is ready for the great Lord Harry Potter Sir to defeat him like prophecy is saying!"

"What?"

-pop-

Harry and Usagi Potter appeared in the middle of a large group of martial artists and magical girls who were in turn surrounded by non-magical authorities and soldiers.

"Harry!" Usagi shouted feeling scandalized. "We should have said more than 'There's a bit of trouble to sort out. We'll be back in a few minutes, promise.'"

That shout got a lot of attention. The bride and groom had arrived. Early.

"Hey, Harry!" Ranma shouted from her position next to a tightly bound, scantily clad girl that Harry's never seen before. "Come say hi to 'Tom'!"

Harry ignored the reporters and news cameras that focused on him and his bride. He ignored the dull roar of the crowd that was cheering their arrival. With Usagi's hand in his, he walked past several excited and blushing magical girls to reach his fellow Jusenkyo victim.

"That isn't Tom." Harry murmured.

She sure didn't look like Tom Riddle. She was a 'she' to begin with. She looked like a broken shell of a girl too like the will to fight was lost. Still, Harry knew that looks could be deceiving.

Harry came closer to the prisoner and knelt down to her level. Usagi moved to do the same, but Pluto blocked her at the last minute. Sensing the small amount of danger that still remained, a ring of wands, scepters, swords and staffs all leveled on one bound girl. Harry was about to lift the girl's chin when he noticed a small shiny bit of gold lying on the ground before her. It was a small piece of jewelry... a golden lightning bolt charm.

"You sure this is a Dark Lord?" Harry asked Pluto though he never turned away from the girl before him.

At his question, the girl seemed to jerk and slowly raise her head. Finally, their eyes met.

"H-Harry?"

Her voice was meek. Desperate. Soft silver-grey eyes and heavy lashes screamed innocent. Harry was sure that there was no way in Hell that this was his most hated enemy.

"That's me. But I'm afraid I don't recognize you miss." Harry replied. "My friends tell me that you are a rather bad person. I don't see it. You mind telling me who you are?"

Pluto spoke up. "He fell in the Drowned Girl Spring at Jusenkyo Harry. Just like Ranma did. All our scans prove she is without doubt Tom Riddle."

Pluto bent over and placed a battered golden cup on the ground between Harry and Mary. "This is the last horcrux, Harry. She had it with her. Get rid of this one and Dark Lord Voldemort will not escape death again."

Harry looked between the cup and the girl. Now that he thought about it, he could feel the dark aura rippling off the cup. Strange how he felt nothing from her. Perhaps if his scar was still a functioning link... but it wasn't.

"Miss?" Harry prodded.

The two stared into each other's eyes, and Harry watched Mary's facial expression change from hopelessness to wonder and finally to... to... damn.

"You came for me! I mean- of course you- well... I came to rescue you of course but you saved me instead!" Suddenly Mary's joy at being united with her Harry became much more serious. "Now untie me so that we can get rid of that Moon Bitch and get out of here!"

Harry quickly lost whatever good humor he still had. "And just why would I want to do that? I still don't know your name and now you've insulted my wife."

"Mary Riddle."

Harry's eyes widened both at her feminine first name and her infamous family name. Was Pluto wrong? Did Tom impregnate some hapless victim shortly before Harry and Tom had their first confrontation at Godric's Hollow all those years ago?

"Where's her wand?" Harry asked the crowd.

"Broke." Ranma replied with no small amount of satisfaction. "But here are the bits left over."

Harry held his left hand out far enough for Ranma to drop a few odds and ends into it. Wooden shards. Check. They were yew, just what one would expect from Voldemort's wand. Even the broken shape of the yew was the right broken shape. There was also a crushed feather in the pile. The colors were unmistakable to anyone who had ever spent time in Headmaster Dumbledore's office. Fawkes. Damn, this really was Voldemort's wand.

"There is one way to be certain..." Harry began to raise his wand at Mary. "A simple application of hot water should-"

"Nooooo!" Her shrill cry stopped him cold. Mary fell to panic. "Don't do that! Please don't do that! He'll come back. He'll come back and he'll make sure I never see you again!"

Harry narrowed his eyes and leaned in closer to the now panicking witch. "Who will come back?"

Mary squeezed her eyes shut and appeared to struggle with the answer. "L-Lord... Voldemort. Voldemort will come back if you hit me with hot water."

"And you're not him?" Harry asked curiously.

"Not... not really. He hates you. I hate... he doesn't love you like I do." That wasn't how Mary wanted to drop that bomb on him. She began to cry in fear for her future.

Harry got up and slowly returned to Usagi's side.

"There is something seriously wrong with her." Harry muttered.

"Then heal her." Usagi's answer was as firm as it was simple. "She's in pain Harry. We can help her."

Harry looked for any doubt in Usagi's eyes. There wasn't any. Very well. He would heal her of the infection known as Dark Lord Voldemort. Harry held one empty hand out to his wife. Usagi summoned the Kaleidomoon Scope and passed it over to him. He took the crystal rod into his hands. Honestly, it felt like an old friend had returned. By Merlin, he actually missed moving about with the Scepter of Prissiness stuck through his belt.

He turned to Mary.

"If the love you feel is real... then this won't hurt a bit." Harry swallowed. "If this is all a trick... if you are hiding darker emotions under a mask so that you can get close enough to strike out... well then this really will be the end of you."

"B-but the prophecy, Harry!" Mary cried. "One of us must die by the hand of the other... the prophecy demands it!"

Harry backed up a bit, and everyone else around him backed up more. Everyone except for Usagi, that is. Harry raised the Scepter of Prissiness in his hands and much of the telly watching world held its breath. He drew the crystal power focus back into position. Mary sat there, motionless with a golden cup resting at her knees. He'd get her and the cup in the same shot. Eyes narrowed in concentration, he never noticed the golden moon sigil on his forehead flare.

"MOON... GORGEOUS..."

As Harry lunged, a desperate shriek left Mary's throat. Fear of death flooded her mind.

"MEDITATION!"

Just like in Diagon Alley... a spectacular flash burned through the retinas of anyone watching. It was done. Harry pulled back slowly from his lunge and relaxed. The crystal scepter slowly fell until its jewel capped end was pointing at the ground.

Mary looked no different. She sat upright bound tightly just as before. Even the golden cup at her knees seemed unperturbed. She was alive. Just as before.

She coughed, eyes opening wide... and then she stopped breathing.

"She's..." Harry stared at her, confused.

"She's choking!" Mercury shouted from somewhere to the right. "Her airway is obstructed!"

What the hell? Hadn't he just blasted her with pure white magic? Why was she dying now?

Harry's 'saving people thing' kicked into high gear. He swished and flicked the Scepter of Prissiness, silently banishing the ropes from Mary's midsection. As soon as she could move, her hands shot up to her throat in an instinctive effort to grab the offending blockage from the outside. Her skin began to turn blue. She was in desperate need of air.

Harry quickly ran around behind Mary and reached around her waist. He dropped the scepter, clasped his hands together above Mary's bellybutton and then pulled up and in as hard as he dared. Again.

On the third try, Mary erupted in a small fountain of blood and odd bits of torn flesh, all pouring out of her mouth.

-Hack- -Cough-

When she drew in a deep gasping breath of air, Harry released her and looked over her shoulder.

"What the Hell's wrong with her, Mercury!"

Harry moved back to retrieve the crystal focus lying on the ground where he dropped it. Would he need to cast more white magic? Was the job only half done?

"That's not her blood." Mercury answered Harry's question after a few full body scans of their captive. "She expelled blood, muscle and bone fragments but none of it was hers. In fact, some of the blood is yours, Harry."

Harry looked at the puddle of bloody filth at Mary's feet. Bone fragments. Bone of the father. Bits of muscle. Flesh of the servant. His blood. Blood of the enemy. It made a horrible kind of sense that white magic would physically eject dark ritual materials from this girl's body...

… but then that meant she really was Voldemort. Wasn't she?

Heedless of the potential danger from a supposed enemy, Usagi moved forward to help Harry and the recovering Miss Riddle. She used the pure white sleeve of her own wedding kimono to wipe some blood off of Mary's chin.

"My Harry," Usagi called. "Please do something to cover her up."

Harry pulled out his wand and began transfiguring a simple outfit out of bits of rubble. As he began spelling the clothes into place, Usagi caught Mary's gaze with her own.

"Now... Marry... can you tell us what this was all about?" Usagi asked in a voice that was soft and supportive.

Staring into Usagi's eyes, Mary finally fell to the storm of emotions brought about from catching a Lunar magic particle beam in the chest. She fell forward and latched onto Usagi like her life depended on it.

"I... I'm sorry! I'm sooo sorry! I killed so many people... oh, oh no... I-I w-was..." She then broke down into a massive crying fit.

Usagi would end up holding Mary until the girl cried herself to sleep. Others may have offered to take the prisoner from her before that, but Usagi would have none of it. Sailor Moon wasn't holding a prisoner, she was holding a victim.

Order was restored and people eventually did go on about their business for the most part. Harry and Usagi returned to their private reception. It was left to other Pluto and other Mercury to get Mary someplace she could sleep it off in peace... someplace she couldn't escape from. Surely Cuteness wouldn't mind if an ex-Dark Lord napped in her bed for a few hours, right?

She'd be under heavy guard the whole time. Just in case.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - Intermission - - - - - - - - - - - - -

No, it's not another separate chapter. I said I'd finish this story in one chapter and I will dammit. Epilogues to follow. Now you go take a potty break, eat some damn candy and get back to reading.

Part Two: I Need You

The singers left the stage. The crowd roared. The lighting changed.

It was time.

-pop- -pop-

With over a hundred and fifty thousand people watching in person and countless more watching via television screens. Minerva McGonagall and Filius Flitwick apparated onto the stage.

Two wands were raised and then the magic began. Flick and swish, twist and jab. The stage turned, buckled and morphed until it was completely transmogrified. What was originally a metal platform with lights and speakers became a stone altar made of tiered concentric rings. There was also a new central aisle running away from the altar. At the far end of the aisle was a smaller raised platform with an arched trellis sitting at the top. The changes were hardly lost on anyone. Clearly a magical girl wedding was next.

The crowds roared.

But Filius and Minerva still had one more task to complete. They walked to a particular spot on stage, a spot near the edge, and canceled a ward.

Suddenly, a dozen rows of seats appeared in a ring around the stage. The seats had always been there but normal guests couldn't see them. Most of these seats were occupied by 'out of town' guests. Magicals mostly though some held other kinds of V.I.P. guests. This was where family and those who attended the earlier private ceremony found themselves. Still, several rows of seats remained empty at the very front. Yes... even in front of the Emperor of Japan and the Queen Mum herself.

Why?

Because this was a magical girl wedding, and magical girls should get all the best seats.

Filius and Minerva stepped down from the stage to take seats in a row that held the Greengrasses and Delacours among others.

-pop-

Mamoru Chiba and Ron Weasley appeared inside of the trellis wearing tuxedos. Not that this was anything new for Mamoru 'Tuxedo Mask' Chiba, but Ron did look a bit off. The ginger wizard immediately pulled out his Nimbus Two-thousand, expanded it and shot into the air. Much better. Chiba took off in a long jump that spanned most of the distance from trellis to altar, and after landing he took a short easy stroll the rest of the way. When both the male avatar and the young wizard were satisfied, Ron pulled out his wand and used it to set off a firework.

Oooooohhhhh. Aaaaaahhhhhhhh.

The firework in question was a magical portrait of Harry and Usagi charmed to wink and snog before exploding. Weasley Wizarding Wheezes does good work.

The crowd roared their approval.

-pop-

Ranma and Shampoo appeared under the trellis. They both crossed the distance between platforms in a single leap and took positions on opposite sides of the altar.

-pop-

Neville Longbottom appeared under the trellis with Yosho Masaki Jurai, the Shinto priest who would be officiating the ceremony. Neville and Yosho took their time walking to the altar, and as they did more members of the groom's party began to pop in under the trellis. There was Gred and Forge, then the Creevey brothers. Ginny appeared with Hermione, and then Luna appeared with Lavender. Myrtle appeared with the Patil twins. Yes, the girls were allowed to be groomsmen... or rather groomswitches. Awesome Lord Harry Potter's Inner Circle of Coolness was a single unit and Harry would not segregate his friends based on naughty bits. They were his Senshi (sort of) and he would not hold one above the rest. Well... 'Mione sure... and maybe Luna too... but those are special circumstances and... well...

The wedding. Right.

Just as the last groomswitch took her place, one more -pop- came out of the trellis. Harry. The groom-who-lived shot out of the trellis on his firebolt with the Sword of Gryffindor at his hip and a tail of wizarding fireworks trailing behind him. Of course, given the chance, Harry would have done things a bit less flashy... like not getting married in front of hundreds of thousands of people... but this was Usagi's day and Harry wanted everything to be perfect for her. The best way to deliver a message in the modern non-magical world was to put on a show, a big one, and Usagi wanted to spread a message of love and joy to the whole world.

Everything would be worth it in the end. Actually, for a boy who grew up in a cupboard under some stairs, getting married was great fun. This morning's special birthday wake-up sex was brilliant and it was also fun to open a few presents at the breakfast table before the whole wedding circus got rolling. And his honeymoon started tonight.

As soon as he touched down, a new stage in the ceremony began. Lighting changed. Music started. It was the song widely accepted as Sailor Moon's theme song by non-magical Japan and the country's magical girl toy industry. Moonlight Densetsu.

As the music ramped up, new arrivals began to emerge from the trellis rapid fire. The crowds began to roar loud enough for noise suppression charms to activate as a steady string of mahou shoujo jogged down the aisle and took their seats. More than three hundred of them attended and it was rumored that every single magical girl in all of Japan had come. Even the Devil Hunters. Even the ones that no one's ever seen in public like Hikaru and her Magic Knight friends.

When the last magical girl took her seat, the first bridesmaid appeared.

Naru stepped out of the trellis. The childhood friend of Usagi blushed heavily under the scrutiny of so many, but she shrugged it off as best she could. Usagi needed her here so she was here. She would be one of only two non-magicals to stand at the altar on this special occasion.

Mercury appeared behind Naru, sigil shining brightly and wearing the dress she wore at the Ministry Yule Ball. Under the makeup and the Senshi disguise magic she was blushing like a Weasley, but she continued on. For Crown Princess and Country, she could do this.

Mars was next. Then Jupiter. Then Venus. Each wore her Silver Millennium ballroom dress as Mercury did and each walked regally down the aisle. Neptune and Uranus came next, then Saturn and finally Pluto. Pluto carried the Garnet Rod as a symbol of her station. As the only one carrying an enchanted weapon down the aisle, she anchored of that part of the procession.

WHOOOMP

Everyone's attention was drawn to the trellis once again as a giant explosion of glittering rainbow sparkles and glowing faeries filled the air. High pitched squealing and giggling echoed through the giant assembly as two blurs shot out of the sugary-sweet explosion. The flower girls had arrived. On brooms. As Cuteness zigged and zagged her broom, Lulu held on tight while holding a sparkly pink baton in one hand. The baton was enchanted to spit out flower petals on demand. Lulu already asked if she could take it back home with her. On the other broom, Gabby flew around just as randomly as Cuteness while her bombardier Sammy held a flower baton as high as she could; a steady stream of flower petals fell behind her to match Lulu's work.

Harry watched his daughter and her friends play with the crowds for a few minutes, but they did have a time table and playtime couldn't last forever. A few small nods between Mamoru, Ron and Harry lead to the groom pulling out his holly and phoenix feather wand to cast a couple of messenger patroni at the two Little Miss Broomriders. When both brooms stopped abruptly and shot strait to the trellis the crowd had a good laugh. Get back to work, girls!

Once the flowerbrooms both returned to their original positions, Cuteness flew directly down the aisle. With a double strength flower petal attack, little of the original floor still showed through. That was a job well done. After the flower girls finished landing and stealing quick Harry Hugs, the music changed again.

It was organ music. That organ music. Wagner's Bridal Chorus.

Two more figures appeared under the trellis. The last two. The bride and her father. Noise suppression wards had to be dialed up again at the sight of a veil and train.

At the other end of the aisle Harry nearly fainted. When his senses suddenly sharpened up without warning, he was sure that someone must have popped him with an Enervate. Thanks to whoever cast that one.

Harry looked at the vision of perfection slowly approaching in a snow white dress. She was more than perfect. She was a goddess. Radiant. It certainly didn't hurt that that she literally glowed. Her golden crescent moon shined brilliantly through a whisper thin veil. Her ankle length silver hair was drawn tight into a single braid, a shiny rope of pure silver running down the middle of her back. While her dress was not heavily jeweled, it was finely detailed in silver thread and managed to sparkle without the aid of magic. Harry would not be the only person watching that thought her divine.

Kenji Tsukino led his daughter down the aisle and in the time it took for him to do so Harry was pinned in place. He didn't remember taking a single breath during the entire march though it certainly seemed that his heart would explode at any moment. He hardly reacted when Kenji and Usagi finally stopped just short of his position. All around the assembly, and in dozens of news stations across the globe, Harry's face was being cast as the new definition of True Love. Straight up Fairy Tale.

Yosho began speaking. Harry didn't hear a word of it. After a short exchange, Kenji released his Bunny and stepped back. The next thing Harry knew, he was looking Usagi in the eyes and her angel soft hands were clasped lovingly in his own.

Yosho spoke. "Do you, Lord Harry James Potter of the Ancient and Noble House of Potter, promise to..."

Harry tried to follow the words. He did listen... though perhaps he didn't hear them all. Surely, he'd never be able to repeat what Yosho said from memory. At the right time, specifically when Harry noticed that Yosho wasn't talking anymore, Harry answered the question.

"I do."

Yosho retook the reigns. "Do you, Crown Princess Usagi Serenity of the Royal House of the Moon, promise to..."

Once the shrine priest finished asking Usagi her question, she replied. "I do."

Harry shook at her words.

The boy-who-was-getting-married was eternally grateful that they had forgone writing their own vows. He barely had enough control over his own voice to repeat the short list of traditional vows that Hermione and Fleur drilled into his head morning, noon and night all through last week. He thought it was annoying then, but being able to run on autopilot was really saving his bacon now.

Usagi spoke again, and again Harry wondered how he lived through the experience. He wouldn't put it past his mates to be sending him a constant stream of beneficial spells. He would find, in time, that a calming draught had been discreetly switched into his stomach from a distance on at least one occasion. It was right when he saw his bride for the first time that Minerva didn't like the color in his face and did what she felt was necessary. Good on her.

"The bride's ring, please..." Yosho called, and Harry saw Ron pull the requested jewelry out of his pocket.

Thank. God. He wanted to trust Ron to do that bit right, but there was always that tiny hint of mistrust eating away at the groom-who-lived. Harry was going to have to ask 'Mione if she helped Ron. Later, though.

Harry took the ring, a new goblin creation as well as a wedding gift from Gringotts, and placed it on Usagi's finger. He sighed in satisfaction. He could feel her trembling. Good. It wasn't just him.

Harry spoke his part. "With this ring, I thee wed..."

At some point, the rolls were reversed and Usagi claimed Harry's future with a goblin made ring. She repeated her vow with a softly wavering voice.

Yosho began speaking again. Harry lost track. Again.

It was only with a light stinging hex to the arse-cheeks that Harry realized Yosho had stopped talking. For the last time.

Oh. Right.

The kiss.

Harry released Usagi's hands just long enough to lift her veil. Once more he had to fight to breath, her dazzling smile was almost too much for him to bear. On top of that smile a single tear fell from her right eye and her left eye was suspiciously bright. Had she been holding those in the whole time? Only to let them go now that he could watch?

The seconds it took for their lips to join seemed to take forever and then... and then... Harry was lost to the world again. Oh well, at least Usagi seemed to be lost with him this time. The kiss deepened. His arms found their way around her waist just as hers found their way around his neck. The world was screaming in celebration and these two love birds didn't know or care. Every single magical girl... as well as most of the rest of the audience... had risen from their seats to cheer the newlyweds on.

"I love you," Usagi whispered through the kissing and the tears, "I love you I love you I love you... so much."

Harry replied in kind, and as the wedding altar's area affect Sonorus was still in effect, every single person there heard their whispered declarations... and they also heard Usagi weeping for joy onto her husband's chest.

A Fairy Tale wedding indeed. The old 'Marry Harry Potter' game Ginny and Luna used to play would soon be overshadowed by a newer, more tender version pulled straight out of real life. Never mind the fact that the internet was about to come alive with video and sound clips from the Wedding of the Millennium.

Mendelssohn's Wedding March began to play in the background, and yet no one moved to leave. It wasn't a mistake... everyone was to remain at the altar save minor adjustments. The general merrymaking continued for as long as the wedding march lasted... just long enough for Harry and Usagi to finish their kiss.

There was one more bit of business to declare before the partying could truly begin. It was fairly important too.

Pluto drew her staff up into the air and then-

-Crack-

-she brought the butt end down on the stone at her feet. Hard.

-Crack-

And again. People were beginning to take notice as the sharp report easily rang through the whole building.

-Crack-

One last time the Garnet Rod struck the floor and nearly all other noises had fallen off, even the myriad news reporters commenting over microphones were cutting their speeches short. They all wanted to know what was about to happen.

"In accordance with the last wishes of Her Royal Highness Serenity the First, Queen of the Moon, Empress of the Silver Millennium, I hereby announce the reign of Her Royal Highness Serenity the Second, Queen of the Moon! Long live the Queen!"

Immediately after announcing that huge bomb, Pluto dropped to her knees, set the Garnet Rod on the ground before her and bowed low to her queen. Almost instantly, every other Senshi fell to their knees to acknowledge their queen in the same way. Naru didn't hesitate to follow their example.

They wouldn't be the last to kneel before Queen Usagi either. Harry dropped to one knee while still holding his bride's hands. Behind him, the D.A. 'groomsmen' all fell to one knee or curtseyed. Whether it was Pluto's plan all along or not, a physical reaction to Usagi's royal ascension shot through row upon row of guests.

Sailor Moon had just been declared a Magical Girl Queen, in front of more than three hundred magical girls no less. Every single one of them bowed out of respect. More than half of those girls had fallen to their knees just as the Senshi had and were bowing to their queen. These eager new subjects of the Lunar crown were what one would call magical girl 'free agents'... until now. They were the girls who were not already associated with some magical kingdom or other, and after getting a good look at Queen Sailor Moon they wanted in. Every single one of them.

Many witches and wizards also chose to drop to one knee before Queen Usagi, as by their way of reckoning a Goddess of the Old Ways had returned. The Queen of the Moon was alive. Circe be praised.

"My friends… my family… please rise." Usagi's words filled the air.

Her friends, loved ones and newly acquired subjects began to rise. Usagi turned to Harry, and with a wicked little smirk, she added. "Except you."

Harry smiled widely and remained in position, on one knee, at her feet. Honestly, it was a position he felt entirely comfortable in. Still, she had something else in mind…

"Your sword…" Usagi drawled, her right hand outstretched and palm facing up.

Harry gently drew the Sword of Gryffindor from its sheath and handed it, pommel first, to his Love. She took it and began to study the letters and runes etched into its gleaming blade.

"I need you."

Usagi tilted the sword down and tapped Harry's left shoulder with it's blade.

"I need you by my side."

Usagi brought it up and over to Harry's right shoulder, tapping it.

"I need you to be my equal in all things."

Sharp steel fell once more on Harry's left shoulder.

"I need a King."

Usagi turned the Sword of Gryffindor around, offering to return it to Harry. The two locked eyes again.

"Rise, my King."

Harry James Potter, Boy-Who-Lived, Chosen-One and Aquatransexual Wizard Lord gained yet another fantastically improbable title. King of the Moon. He would never be able to live this one down in the dorms. Harry rose to his feet. He took back the Sword of Gryffindor, and when his hands were free he pulled his queen close and claimed her lips as was his kingly prerogative.

There was much rejoicing.

The next few hours would become a blur as the party got into full swing. Flitwick released a second set of privacy and space warping charms which revealed a massive house elf run catering line and a huge dance floor which had been lying in wait for just this moment. Magic sure was awesome. After factoring in the space expansion charms, Tokyo Dome was more than double its normal volume and the wizards that set the place up weren't even trying very hard.

Harry and Usagi started things by dancing the first dance and soon they were lost in their own little world alone on the dance floor. They also danced the requisite dances with other people. Usagi danced with her father, Harry with Usagi's mother. Usagi's brother finally got lucky enough to dance with his dream girl Ami.

Harry and Usagi made a point of spending time with the magical girls who had something to do with the fight outside. Wedding Peach was feeling much better now, thanks for asking. Harry got Nanoha to blush by complimenting her dark witch stomping particle beam attack.

Eventually all of the showy bits were done with and the reception became a chance for all people great and small to speak with Harry and Usagi face to face. Not that all one hundred and fifty thousand plus guests would be able to do so, but even some of the walk-ins got to pay their respects... and Pluto may have fudged the flow of time just a bit to let a few more people get to say hi. Of course, it didn't take long for Cuteness to latch on to her parents and refuse let go. As the well wishers came and went, many of them wondered about this odd little Senshi flower girl, but as the newly crowned King and Queen indulged her at every turn, none bothered to question the pinkette's presence. Well, Nabiki considered it... not out loud mind you, just in her head... but then she knew this family better than most outsiders... and she was patient. Maybe if she was a good girl then Pluto would give her another exclusive.

There was one other guest that stood out from the rest. A bit of magic had to be used to separate this meeting from the main celebration but it was important.

"I... I'm sorry. Really, I am."

Mary Riddle was on her knees before Harry and Usagi, hands bound in cold iron manacles on her lap. Her eyes were downturned in submission. It wasn't just Harry and Usagi that Mary was pleading her case to, either. Lord Voldemort had done far more in his past than torment Harry Potter, after all. Emperor Akihito stood to one side as did the Queen Mum, Elizabeth the Second. Opposite the royals, Lord Greengrass and Monsieur Delacour stood as representatives of the Wizarding World.

This was an extradition hearing at the very least and a capital offense trial was not out of the cards.

A few hours' peace and solitude did give Mary time to put her mind back together but it certainly did nothing for her appearance. She was still dirty, barefoot and dressed in the rough outfit that Harry transfigured for her from rubble off the ground. Not that any of that mattered. Girl or not, dirty or not, she was a defeated Dark Lord. Pluto and two Amazons stood behind the prisoner ready to stop any unpleasantness before it could start.

Were she one of the good guys, she'd be pushing for anyone caught in her position to be sent through the Veil. Would the Ministry find a Dementor willing to go back to work just to execute her? The possibility made her stomach turn. Her only hope was to throw herself at the mercy of Harry and his bride.

When she called for the guards not ten minutes ago, she didn't expect them to heed her call. Yet by some miracle the green haired Senshi walked up and agreed to present her to Their Royal Highnesses the King and Queen of the Moon.

Oh, fucking shit. The girl she tried to kill was a queen now. The boy she was going to kidnap was king. All she could do was throw herself at the mercy of those she wronged and hope to still be in possession of her soul at the end of the day. That is why she fell to her knees and apologized as soon as she was face to face with Harry again.

"We believe you." Harry answered, and he knew without doubt that he spoke for Usagi as well.

"I know that I will never be able to make up for the death and suffering that I have caused in the past. All that I can say for myself is that I would rather die than become him again... and that I humbly beg that I be spared the Dementor's Kiss."

Harry and Usagi conferred in soft whispers for a moment before Harry stood and set out to shape Mary Riddle's fate.

"I think we can all agree that the trail of murders, tortures and dark treachery the world suffered at the hands of Tom Marvolo Riddle, also known as Lord Voldemort, was a dark blot on the face of history..."

Mary paled. Harry was not going to be merciful after all. She despaired that her very soul was forfeit.

"However, Mary Riddle is not Voldemort."

Mary inhaled sharply and looked up. Just what the hell was going on?

Harry continued. "Aside from Miss Riddle herself, I know Tom Riddle better than anyone alive and I tell you all that this girl is a complete stranger to me. Where is the seething hatred? Where is the arrogant sneer? The harsh demands that I suffer as he torments those I love?"

Harry dug his hand into the tuxedo he was wearing and pulled out something that he had been carrying around with him for the last few hours. It was a small lightning bolt charm dangling from a delicate gold chain. Mary's lost Impervious Charm necklace. Harry held the small gold charm out so that Mary would be able to see it. She did see it, then she blushed and looked away.

"Just as I thought." Harry declared smugly before dropping the necklace into Mary's open palm. "Miss Riddle neither looks nor acts the part of Voldemort. True, the evidence presented to us today supports that she was Voldemort… but Voldemort was a Dark Wizard who came to define evil for generations of British magicals. Miss Riddle, however, has been touched by the power of white magic. While it may sound childish and naïve, that is the power of love. What you have to understand is that true dark magic and white magic are polar opposites and my use of Lunar white magic has literally purged the darkness out of Miss Riddle's body... I would even go so far as to say that I cleansed her soul. Everything that made Voldemort what he was is gone."

Harry looked down at Marry.

"I don't know you, miss. You aren't who you used to be and Jusenkyo clearly changed you more than it changed me. That happened before I tagged you with the Scepter of Prissiness." Harry said. "Tell us, Mary... What happened to Voldemort? Who are you?"

She told them. She told them of her dark origins, of Lord Voldemort's desire to seize the exotic powers of Jusenkyo and avatar magic. She told them of her little accident at the springs and of her journey back to England. She spoke of when she finally realized that there were now two Riddles... when she realized that there was more to her cursed form than pouty lips and killer legs. She spoke of her day at King's Cross Station and how she killed the auror. Finally she outlined the morning battle from her side of things.

"... so you see. I'm not a good person. I mean, even when I'm not a Dark Lord, I'm still dark. I've broken enough laws in the last two months, even ignoring the few times that Bastard got out, that the muggle governments would still lock me up and throw away the key. Put before the Wizengamot, I could get life in Azkaban for killing that auror. I'm sorry to say, Harry, that is Mary Riddle for you. A young dark witch in love. Very dangerous combination, that."

Harry took in a deep breath and ran a hand through his short, messy hair.

"Bloody bastard that he was, looks like I still owe something of an apology to Albus Dumbledore." Harry looked straight up just in case a crazy old man was watching him from above somehow. "He was sure that love was the power Voldemort knew not and it looks like he was right all along... even if he picked the wrong method to wield such a power."

"Right..." He collected himself and turned to Mary. "I can't speak for anyone else, mind you, but I can tell you that Usagi and I no longer see you as the dark witch you say you are. You came here to murder Usagi in cold blood, did you not?"

Mary nodded.

"And you intended for the two of us to begin an unholy reign of terror and conquest while ruling the world happily ever after, right?"

She nodded again.

"So if I let you walk out of here under your own power, you'd keep at it then? Regroup and try to kill my wife? Take over the world?"

"No!" Mary shouted immediately. "Never again! You beat me, Harry! You win. I'll take any oath you want me to take. I'll rot away in prison if that's what you want."

Harry looked around the small gathering that was observing his examination of the accused.

"Even factoring in that whole 'King of the Moon' thing, I can't speak for everyone here... but I can speak for myself and my Love..." Harry looked back at Usagi and saw her smile encouragingly. Keep going. "For all crimes real or imagined committed by one Mary Riddle against the Houses of Potter and of the Moon, I forgive you."

"But I killed an auror, Harry." Mary countered. So shocked was she at his support that she unconsciously took devil's advocate. "I did that and a lot of other bad things in a lot of different countries. You don't have the power to pardon all of my crimes."

"Which is why I humbly submit before those who's people you have wronged that a form of magical community service be performed. You're certainly penitent enough for what I have in mind..." Harry stopped to center himself.

Damien spoke up. "Harry, boy. I know you have as much reason as anyone to hate what Riddle has done in the past-" Mary wilted at the words. She knew them to be true. "but you can't expect everyone to forgive him just because you are willing to turn the other cheek. What assurances do we have that this girl isn't just an exceptionally good actress? Voldemort was known to have a silver tongue."

Harry smiled, as much for Mary's sake as for his own. "I trust her now because of the very magic I used to purge the Dark Lord's spirit from her body. Love based Lunar white magic. It's the same magic that turned all of those Death Eaters light in Diagon Alley. They went to prison willingly and actually fought against the Death Eaters tasked with freeing them. It's the same magic that cured a known werewolf. Mary is willing to take a magical oath and I say we have much to gain. She isn't Voldemort... but she does have all of his power and all of his memories. She can spearhead the Ministry's effort to hunt down and imprison any Death Eaters still at large... even the ones only their master would know about."

Harry stopped and stared at Mary as though working through a difficult puzzle. "Mary?"

"Yes?"

"The Defense position at Hogwarts. Rumor has it that Voldemort cursed the position so that no one professor could teach more than a single year. Is that true?"

She nodded. Guilty as charged. Again.

"So you know how to lift the curse, then?"

"Why... yes. Yes, I could lift it. All I need is a wand and a trip to Great Hall."

Harry smiled. "Excellent. Then the next suggestion would also work."

"And what, may we ask, is your next suggestion?" Queen Elizabeth spoke. These were her subjects after all.

"I humbly suggest, Your Highness, that when Mary is done chasing dark wizards for the Ministry that she devote hertime to teaching the children of Magical Britain how to defend themselves. If memory serves, Headmistress McGonagall has yet to fill the position for next term. Merlin knows I'll be far too busy to teach the class again and I would like to know four sure that the professor helping me get ready to take my N.E.W.T.'s is fully up to the task."

"Surely you don't expect us to let a child teach other children defense. You yourself have gone on record as saying that you only took the post due to the worst kind of emergency in the middle of a war." Monsieur Delacour retorted.

"And you would be correct in that 'Mione and I are not up to doing this a second time. Not so quickly anyway... but what you have to remember is that Mary here isn't just a teen with wicked skill. She may not be a Dark Lord but she is a reformed Dark Lord. She has the experience and the knowledge required to really get the job done." Harry turned back to the girl kneeling on the floor. "Mary. I fought Voldemort at the Yule ball. You remember?"

"Yes. You are good for your age but Dumbledore really should have been training you up better. I only retired from the fight when both power and numbers were against me. In a proper duel- or even a improper one- I could easily smack you and your precious D.A. around without any real effort."

"That's exactly my point. Young girl or not, Mary here is the world's foremost authority in the realm of Dark Arts. I don't doubt that she is also the best wizarding duelist alive. Were Dumbledore still alive, I bet she could still have schooled him on the subject. She'll be a better Defense professor than the Headmaster was and far better than I was." Harry felt like he was delivering a sales pitch near the end of it, but he understood that this was the first important decision of his tenure as King (still having trouble with that bit) and he was absolutely sure that Mary deserved this.

"Just to make this clear to all involved," Damien summarized, "You wish the powers that be to sentence Mary Riddle, who is a former Dark Lord who had all her 'dark' aspects magically purged... you want us to sentence her to community service catching dark wizards and teaching defense. Is that about right?"

Harry checked back with Usagi for a moment before nodding. "That's about right. Yeah."

Minister for Magic Damien Greengrass, who was still technically Harry's magical guardian, made his opinion known. "I would agree to your proposal on two conditions."

"And they are?"

"First," Damien answered, "That we officially tell the world that Lord Voldemort is dead. I don't want anyone chasing after this girl in some misguided attempt to release a Dark Lord from such an unusual prison."

"That works. I can easily testify under truth potion or magical vow to having defeated Voldemort for the last time. We have the evidence necessary by way of broken wand bits and other materials known to have been incorporated into his resurrection ritual. We know that the dark artifacts that held Tom Riddle within this plane of existence have been undone. The spirit of Tom Riddle no longer survives within Marry Riddle in any way. He is dead. The prophecy is fulfilled."

Damien nodded in acceptance. So did his fellow 'judges'.

"Second, I want you King Potter," flinch, "to be her keeper. You shall be responsible for her good conduct for however long is required to see her debt to society repaid."

He should have seen that one coming. Fine. The guys were going to freak though. "I accept."

There was a round of discussion before everything came to a close. Everyone agreed pretty quickly, all told. To be honest, only Harry and his Magical Girl Queen wife had the power and ability to keep tabs on a reformed Dark Lord. It was a fair bet that no non-magical prison could hold the girl should she make any attempt to escape and the magical governments who weren't Moon based still worried about corruption.

Mary's magical parole hearing ended when Harry extended a hand to help her get off the floor.

"Congratulations, Mary." Harry said to the girl. "You've got your life back."

"Thank you, Your Highness. And Happy Birthday." Harry lit up at her words.

With the mess of a royal wedding to get through, a lot of people had forgotten about his birthday. Not Mary, apparently. She struggled for a moment before getting her bearings. She's been on her knees for so long now that her foot was asleep.

"I humbly request a pair of shoes. Perhaps some socks as well?"

"Can you not conjure a pair?" Harry asked, teasing.

Mary held out her empty hands. "Not without a wand, my King."

Did King Harry detect a bit of snark?

"Fair enough." Harry pulled out his spare and handed it over.

Mary's hand closed around the wand, yet she continued to blink owlishly at Harry without wielding it. "You gave me a wand."

"That's right." Harry answered.

She looked at it. "This is Dumbledore's wand."

"He doesn't need it anymore." Harry said. "You hold onto that one until we can get you a new one."

Mary's eyes shot open. "Ollivander! He's at Malfoy Manor... well, I renamed it Riddle Manor but you get the idea... but he's been there for ages!"

"No worries," Harry soothed, "We cleared out the manor and got Ollivander about three weeks ago."

"But I could still attack you with this." Mary nodded her head fractionally in Usagi's direction. "I could disable you, kill her and be off in a flash."

"But you won't." He answered; by then Usagi had risen from her chair to stand by his side.

Mary didn't disable or kill anyone.

In fact, her first act with wand in hand was to swear a magical oath of service, loyalty and fealty to the King of the Moon. Penitent, yes, but she was still a girl in love. A Lunar white magic blast in the baps couldn't change that... if anything it only purified her feelings.

Now that she had her life in order, she needed shoes. With a casual air that made McGonagall look like a rank amateur, Mary magicked herself some highly polished leather shoes. And a new royal blue satin dress. And some silver jewelry... and a clean and perfumed body and a new hairstyle and a lacy and stylish cloak. Finally, she held her lightning bolt charm necklace in front of her, gave it a magical repair job and set it back around her neck where it belonged.

"Well don't you clean up nice." Harry joked, not that it was much of a joke. She was quite adorable.

"Thank you, my King." Mary answered demurely. "I live to please. Well, from now on I do."

"Do we need to look into your… er, allergy… to hot water?" Harry asked.

"That is what the necklace is for, my King." Mary answered. She ran her fingers lovingly over the golden lightning bolt charm sitting upon her breast. "So long as I bear your mark, I will be safe."

"But if it should be removed?" Usagi asked. Her heart went out to Mary as it had for all of those that Sailor Moon fought with in the past. Many good people were introduced first to her as enemies.

Mary's eyes dulled a bit. "I... I'm not sure what would happen if I were to fall to the curse again, my King. I exist... surely I must still have a soul or at least some part of one... but reversing the curse would push me back to a form that does not exist anymore."

"I don't believe that you would be in danger of reverting to the Dark Lord," Harry added, "but I also know that the attack I got you with does not cure Jusenkyo curses. Didn't help Ranma at all. I suspect if we asked Mercury... and I will... if we asked her to scan you that she will still find Jusenkyo magic in your system."

"If there is anything I can do for you, I will do it." Usagi drew Mary to her and hugged her close. "My plans for the future include you. I will not allow your curse to burden you forever. You are one of us now, and we take care of our own."

"My Queen." Mary said with real warmth.

Voldemort thought that love was a weakness. Mary knew now that he was wrong. So very wrong.

"Hey!" A little pink ball ran into view. Cuteness. "Whoever you are, your time is up! I want my Harry now!"

Mary noted the pinkette's familiar facial features, the glowing crescent moon riding high on the girl's head and made a very reasonable connection. She must be related to Usagi. Closely related.

"As you wish it, my Princess." Mary bowed theatrically to Cuteness before doing the same to her jailors. "By your leave, I shall get better acquainted with my future students and Headmistress..."

"Who told you!" Cuteness squeaked as her parents nodded their acceptance to Mary.

Mary smiled warmly as she disappeared into the crowd, "Why, you did. Just now."

Cuteness shook herself and huffed. "I am soooo glad you finally turned Aunt Mary, Daddy. Keeping quiet on that one was super hard."

"You knew!" Usagi squeaked before settling down. "Of course you knew. It's just that the last six months would have been a lot easier had we known Harry wouldn't have to actually kill Riddle to 'kill' Riddle."

The little Crown Princess looked up at her mother's face and blew a big raspberry. After that, though, Cuteness lost her smile.

"Mommy. Daddy. It's time for me to go." Cuteness was looking down at her feet and kicking at a bit of dust.

"But it's still early." Harry returned. "I don't think the sun is even down yet."

"Noooooooo..." The little girl whined. She pulled a magical device out from behind her back. "It's time to go."

"I'm sorry to say that the young princess is correct, Your Highness." Pluto appeared behind the girl. "Her tasks have been completed and her lessons learned. She saw her mother lost to Jusenkyo. She comforted her father at a low point in his life. She saw her mother come back from the dead. She attended their wedding. She is done here. She needs to go home."

Oh. Ohhhhhhhhhhh.

Usagi quickly swept her daughter up into a big hug. "Oh, baby! I'm gonna miss you soooooo much."

Then there were mother-daughter face kisses. "Hey!" Cuteness squawked indignantly. "Quit it!"

Harry liberated his daughter only to grab her up and steal the same smooches that Usagi took.

"Quit it quit it quit it quit it quit it quit it!" When Crown Princess Cuteness was let down again, her face was as pink as her hair.

"Hold still for a mo'." Harry mumbled and pulled out his wand. Then he hit himself, Usagi and little Usagi all with a charm.

"What was that, Daddy?" The girl asked with a big smile.

"Cheering charm." He replied equally smiley. "No tears. I won't allow it."

"Oh, thank God." Usagi added gaily. "I don't want to sob in misery on my wedding day."

"Nevertheless, it is time." Pluto gave the smallest Senshi a little nudge. "She's already said her goodbyes to everyone else."

"So," Mommy said, "How long before we see you again this time?"

Cuteness pinked a bit more and began twiddling her fingers. "Sometimes, when a King and a Queen love each other very, very much... they hhmmmpppphhh!"

Harry didn't care to hear the rest of that explanation. On the other hand, he was beginning to recover enough from that whole 'King of the Moon' thing that he could again devote some time to thinking pervy thoughts about what he and Usagi could do after this party was over and they were alone again. That Lunar Disguise Pen was just full of potential. And then there was transfiguration and charms. So many possibilities.

They stayed together for the next five minutes as one happy family. Any longer and Harry would have had to recast the cheering charm lest Usagi be tempted to ban all time travel in order to keep her little girl here.

After a few very close cuddles and declarations of love, Cuteness felt her smile faltering and skipped up to the top of the wedding altar where everyone could see her.

Funny. Her parents both expected her to discretely disappear into the depths of the Tokyo Dome's superstructure.

Not this time.

"Come on, Luna-P!" Cuteness called to her techno-magical assistant as she whipped out her personal Key of Space-Time and began fiddling with the controls. Luna-P appeared by her side and waited for their ride out.

As no one had bothered to remove the area effect Sonorus on the highest tier of the altar, Cuteness began to draw huge amounts of attention. Showtime. She held the Key of Space-Time high above her and shouted.

"Time Guardian! Tear apart the sky, and open the space-time door to me! I call the true name of the almighty god of time, the time guardian's father! Chronos! Reveal to me the path of light!"

With the whole assembly of magical girls, witches, wizards, goblins, elves, phoenix-men and non-magical men and women watching in open wonder, a portal to another time and place opened directly in front of the little magical girl.

A door through Space and Time was opened. Right there. Holy fuck.

Queen Mommy and King Daddy began to mount the altar with the idea of confronting their little grandstanding time traveling girl. They were too slow.

"Byyyyyyeeeeeee Mooooooooommmmm Byyyyyyyyeeeeeee Daaaaaaaaaddddddd Seeeeeeeeee Yoooouuuuuu Innnnnnn Theeeeeeee Fuuuuuuuuu-tuuuuuuuurrrrrrrreee!" Crown Princess Usagi Cuteness Serenity-Potter sang at the top of her lungs from the top of the altar before hopping through her Space-Time portal.

The door shut as soon as she was clear. Her escape was flawless.

"She is so grounded!" Harry shouted into the air.

"Harry, love," Usagi consoled, "She hasn't been conceived yet."

"Well, I'm grounding her the minute she's born." He said with steely determination.

"You have fun with that, Harry." Usagi answered. "I'll likely be passed out from the pain and effort of childbirth."

Harry and Usagi were both on the top tier of the altar when they said that. Everyone heard.

Everyone.

Harry and Usagi would have their honeymoon, and it would be spectacularly brilliant in every way. And then they would proceed to shape the world in ways no one expected. Not even Pluto. Seemingly against all odds, everyone would love them for it. Their vision of a perfect utopia would not be denied.

Dark Lady Cuteness would rule the Sol system by fear and a pink iron fist of doom- wait! No, that doesn't happen. Sorry.

After the wedding, Mary Riddle would team up with Sailor Pluto and the Saotomes to hunt down the last active Death Eaters and their remaining supporters, catching them all in record time. Mary would also be ready to teach come September first. She would soon become one of the most successful and most popular Defense professors in Hogwarts history.

Other people would also do very interesting things, things worth stories of their own... and they would all live Happily Ever After... or at the very least, they would all live in Interesting Times.

Very Interesting Times.

The End

(Except for Epilogues which are to follow)

Chapter Notes:

Let me give a big Thank You to everyone who took the time to read my story. It was a real labor of love, one that I like to think paid off. Hopefully you feel the same way.

My research into Japanese weddings left some leeway in the details as I couldn't get anything to say 'this is the only way how it's done in a precise step by step order'. I did find several light variations including the priest/miko led Shinto ceremony and the san san kudo ceremony. Both seemed to have shared elements from what I saw so I used what I thought would be an acceptable version if not the be-all-end-all traditional version. Either way, drinking sake in the middle of the ceremony seemed like a wonderful idea. What a way to loosen up and feel better about joining your future to that of another person.