Chapter Twenty-Four: The Reception
James was one of the last few people to enter the tent. Victoire wanted the wedding party to enter the tent last, meaning he and Dominique were going to have to find Colin and Mya in the huge mess of people. Before they could get a chance to do that Victoire and Teddy wanted pictures with their whole families. Teddy was considered part of the Potter family, so James had to get his picture done with both Victoire and Teddy. Finally after ten minutes of picture taking he managed to break away from the cameras and slipped into the tent. He found Mya and Colin dancing together. James straightened his tie and walked over to the two Gryffindors. Mya was the first to see James and her face broke into a wide smile.
"James!" She exclaimed running over to him. She embraced him into a hug and then laughed. "Colin and I thought we had lost you and Dominique."
"No. Victoire was just being a little too extreme with the pictures. You know how she can get. She's just as bad as my Aunt Fleur wanting everything to go perfectly." James said rolling his eyes
"Should we go sit James? I think Teddy and Victoire are going to cut the cake." Dominique said appearing by James' elbow
James looked over to the front of the tent and saw that Victoire and Teddy were making their way up there. He offered Mya his arm and then lead her over to a table where Albus and Harmony were already sitting. Dominique and Colin were right behind them laughing about something.
"This wedding has just been so beautiful Dominique. You must be so happy for your sister." Harmony said once Dominique was sitting beside her
Dominique broke into a huge grin. "We all love Teddy. It's hard not to be happy for her."
Before Harmony could respond six large slices of cake landed on their table. Harmony nearly jumped a mile in the air not expecting it. Dominique let out a few giggles, but stopped when Albus gave her a look.
"It's my grand-mum's recipe from France enjoy.' She said blushing before she dug into her piece of cake.
"Dom, I think your sister is going to want us to make our speeches after your dad." James said nodding over at Bill who was standing and tapping his fork on the side of his glass
"Ladies and gentlemen, our dear friends and family; I want to thank you all for coming to this happy event. I remember my own wedding, how it ended in destruction and terror, but how Fleur and I had each other. (James noticed his father squirm uncomfortably) We experienced one of the darkest battles the Wizarding World has ever seen. We lost a several family members and they will always be alive to us in our hearts. We built our family after the war. Fleur and I gained two beautiful daughters and a handsome son. Now our oldest daughter has become a women and decided to marry a dear and close friend of ours. Teddy, Victoire I give you both my deepest blessing. I hope the two of you live and long, happy and loving life." Bill said lifting his glass as tears started to appear in his eyes
James looked over and noticed that Fleur was crying as Louis patted her back He looked up at Teddy and Victoire who were glancing deep into each others eyes and he knew they belonged together. Dominique smiled at him and then got up from the table and went up to Bill. She kissed her father on the cheek and then took the spot where he was standing, as he went to sit with his wife. Dominique grabbed a cocktail glass off of the table sitting next to her. She smiled over at her mother.
"Don't worry mum. I'm only going to use it as a toast." The tent filled with laughter as Dominique smiled again and looked back at her sister and new brother-in-law. "You know, I always knew you two were going to get together. Hearing the endless talk about how cute Teddy is when Vic was is school got tiring. She was thirteen and I was nine, I was too young to know about love, but I had a feeling that Vic liked Teddy way more as a friend. You could see it when she looked into his eyes or whenever he would pass by her. I know I've never felt a love like Teddy and Victoire share, but I can't wait for when I do. I love you Victoire and welcome to the family Teddy." Dominique lifted her glass in the air, but set it back down on the table, under her mother's hawk vision
She walked back over to the table and patted James on the back. "It's your turn mate. Knock 'em dead."
James nodded at his favorite younger cousin and walked up to the beginning of the tent. He had rehursted what he was going to say for weeks now, but somehow he was forgetting everything. He knew he couldn't let Teddy or Victoire down, so he was going to have to improvise. James picked up the same glass Dominique had just used and looked out into the tent at his friends and family. His eyes didn't stop on Fred and Hazel who seemed to be in a mini food fight with their cake, or at Rose who was staring into Scorpius' eyes; instead they stopped on Mya, who was looking directly into his eyes. James felt his mouth go dry and his stomach fill with butterflies.
"Well…as you all know Teddy chose me to be his best man, for some reason, just kidding Teddy. The two of us, we've grown up like brothers. I've always looked up to Teddy and he's been my role model. I remember hearing the news that Teddy and Victoire were starting to get closer. I really didn't believe Dom when she told me. Then I actually walked up to find Teddy and Victoire snogging at Kings Cross, let me tell you that was embarrassing. Teddy's hair turned a shade of red in embarrassment.) But I honestly couldn't be happier then the fact that my brother is marrying one of the most amazing girls I know. Vic, you really are an angel, no wonder you were in Ravenclaw and graduated with top honors. Are you sure your not Aunt Hermione's kid? (Fleur shot him a look) I'm only kidding Aunt Fleur. I should go and sit back down before I get hexed by either Aunt Fleur or Rosie. Anyways congratulations Teddy and Victoire." James lifted the glass above his head and smiled as everyone in the tent clapped
He turned around and winked at Teddy and Victoire and then made his way back over to the table. Dominique and Mya were both laughing when James got back to the table. Albus was staring at him dumbstruck though.
"I can't believe you said that James. In front of everyone. I'm surprise Victoire or Aunt Fleur didn't string you up by your toenails." He exclaimed to his older brother
"Well it's the truth and everyone laughed." James said shrugging his shoulders
Music started to play and the six teenagers looked around at what was going on. Bill was walking over to Victoire and took her hand. James noticed that his oldest cousin's eyes were starting to water. Both Dominique and Mya smiled.
"They're doing the father daughter dance. Let's go find your dad Mya, so you can dance with him." Dominique said taking Mya's hand and leading her off into the tent.
Albus looked over at Harmony who was sitting silently. "We can dance when the next song comes on. There's no mother-son dance since Tonks died in the battle. Victoire didn't want things to be painful for Teddy, so you can wait with us boys."
James drowned out his brothers words as he stared at Mya dancing with her father. Everything about he just took his breath away. He couldn't concentrate on anyone but her. It was like she was the only girl in the world. He almost didn't notice Colin talking beside him.
"You know that she has the biggest crush on you too right?"
"What?" James asked looking over at the fellow Gryffindor
"Mya, she has the biggest crush on you. I've known since I had to stop her from strangling you."
"You know that, that doesn't make any since right Colin." James said
"No it does. She was jealous of the fact that you were with Bailey. Let me tell you Mya is tiny, but she is one strong girl." Colin laughed
James smiled finally realizing what Colin was getting at. He looked up and saw that Teddy was walking over to go get Victoire from Bill. Colin winked at his friend and the went over to Louis to take Dominique from him. James followed his god brother and friend's lead and walked over to where Neville and Mya were dancing together. He tapped Neville's shoulder and smiled at Mya.
"May I have this dance?" He asked Mya as he lead her away from Neville
"Yes you may."
Mya wrapped her arms around James' neck and blushed as his hands wrapped around her waist. "You know I've never slow danced before with a girl." James confessed
"Really? I figured a big lover boy like you would of danced with all sorts of ladies." Mya teased
"Don't tease me Mya it's true." James insisted blushing harder than she was
"I love this song." Mya said after a few seconds and she placed her head on James' chest
James felt his heart beating in his chest. He had never felt like this about a girl before. He knew that he had to tell her, he just didn't know how. James had never been in love before. He had pretended to be in love, but that's not the same thing. James knew he was truly in love and that Mya was different from the other girls he had dated.
"Mya, you know I have to tell you something."
"What is it James?"
"You know how everyone's eyes are supposed to be on the bride when she's in the room? That's not the case for me, my eyes were on someone else. Victoire may be one eighth Veela, but this girl in my eyes is much more beautiful then my cousin." James told her. Mya felt her heart sinking, somehow feeling that the girl he was talking about wasn't her. "Remember when you asked me if I liked you Mya? The truth is I don't just like you as a friend. I like you so much more then that. Mya Longbottom, I think I've fallen in love with you."
Mya froze as soon as the words came out of James' mouth. She pushed her head off of his chest and looked into his eyes. Nothing about them were lying. She couldn't help but be shocked though. She spoke the first words that came into her mouth. "Huh? What?"
"I said I love you." James repeated blushing
Mya shook her head slightly and then stared into James's eyes. He shifted uncomfortably at the fact that Mya had broken away from him. "Are you going to say something?" He asked
Before another word could come out of his mouth Mya lips were pressed against his. James smiled when they finally broke apart. Mya was blushing.
"Then again that was a lot better then words."
"You have no idea how long I've been wait to do that." Mya told James as she wrapped her arms back around his neck and rested her head back on his chest.
James looked up and saw that Victoire and Teddy were both watching them. Victoire had a huge smile across her face and Teddy just winked at him. He then realized that his brother was staring at him in shock, but his sister seemed to have a smug look on her face like she knew it was going to happen all along. He just laughed to himself and rested his head on top of Mya's.
Okay I am so proud of this chapter. I love Dominique and had to make her part bigger in this chapter. I thought James was adorable in this chapter. I finally got them together. Tell me what you think. I'm going to be on break until Saterday and where I'm going we don't have any internet connection, so my next chapter wont be up until either Saturday or Sunday. That'll be an Easter present. Thanks to all my subscribers and reviewers. Thank you so much you guys. Don't forget to review. Thanks and I will talk to you guys soon. Just as a spoiler there's going to be some major drama coming up with Bailey in the next chapter.