Katarina and Krum

Finally, The Day. Katarina was radiant as the sun had decided to appear between the clouds. Still, the cold had not given a break and there was a wide layer of snow covering everything around. When they reached the future home of bride and groom, Lia said to her mother, with her eyes shining in admiration:

'Mom, look how beautiful! The sun is making the snow shine, it'll match Katarina's dress ... it's as if the entire nature has dressed up for the party!'

Flora smiled and hugged her daughter gently, and thought how lucky she was to have a daughter who saw the world through a poet's lens. The snow was really beautiful, but suddenly she felt nostalgic for the sweet scented air of the tropics, her mother complaining about the red earth soiled clothes, the many colours and aromas that seemed to be part of someone else's story. All, long lost things for Flora. Was she doing the right thing by bringing her children so far from Brazil? Katarina's marriage had left her melancholic. She sighed and returned to reality. She told her kids to play around a bit - taking care not to get dirty or wet - while she helped with the final preparations for the party. Soon the guests would begin to arrive.

The bridal couple had had the help of their friends in the party preparations, they did everything needed to be done with magic before the arrival of Muggle relatives from Brazil to avoid a breach of confidentiality on the magic (once it remained in force despite massive campaigns of wizards from multiple locations). In the wedding invitation itself was the recommendation (protected by anti-invisibility spell for Muggle) to avoid the use of wands, because it was a mixed event.

The decor was a gift from Hannah and Flora to Katarina. They pitched a large tent in the yard near the house, where covered white taffeta chairs were arranged around heptagonal tables covered with towels in blue voile topped with white handmade laces, all brought from the Brazilian Northeast. The special touch was given by vases of very delicate flowers that stood on each table, giving the impression that they were in a garden on the clouds.

Time passed quickly. Flora was almost as tired as excited. After checking that everything was in place and leaving Nadine showing the guests to their seats, she went to get ready. If it was not for a little delay of Katarina, Flora would not have had time to be on the altar. But there she was, standing close to Felipe, near the justice of peace, at the place set for the bride's godparents. Across them there were Harry and Ginny, as godparents of the groom. Harry and Felipe greeted each other with a friendly nod, and then Harry looked at Flora and smiled as she nodded too. Ginny was visibly irritated with which could be interpreted as an explicit demonstration of affection to Flora, whom she still could not qualify as a friend or foe, by her husband. Despite of that and as to not cause discomfort, she imitated her husband's gesture, which was reciprocated by Flora.

From the altar, Flora watched the multitude of faces of different nations. Wizards and Muggles were socializing and waiting for the bride and groom and it made her happy. To think about her parents was inevitable for her, because if it were for them, none of it would be possible. She felt relieved and thankful to Harry for all he had done for the Wizarding World.

Krum came and stood beside Harry. He was as handsome as any groom and gave Flora the impression that he was clothed in joy, for his wide smile and bright eyes outshone anyone who tried to look only at his clothing."He is perfect", thought Flora. Katarina came to the altar as if floating and she would not divert her gaze from Krum. She looked beautiful and happy. While Flora admired her friend, the justice of the peace of the Ministry of Magic began a speech about love and union of people, and Flora daydreamed.

After a beautiful ceremony, while serving up the cranberry juice (that Katarina had made a point of serving at the party because of its pink colour), Nadine and Flora chatted animatedly when Flora's eye crossed with Harry's and she turned politely as to not draw attention. However, her friend noticed it and commented in a low voice - but in English, as they had agreed that they would not be rude and talk in Portuguese whilst being surrounded by foreigners:

'I found it rude of Katarina to invite Harry Potter to be best man and be at the altar with you and Felipe after everything that happened ... I don't know how you can look at him.'

'Nadine, Mr. Potter and Viktor Krum are long-time friends, it'd be rude not to invite him. He thought of calling Ron and Hermione, but he prefers them to be the godparents of his first child ... Anyway, I don't know how much Katarina told you about what happened between me and Mr. Potter, but I understood that he was as much a victim as me. We were both bewitched and acted under the a third person's command, or rather under the command of a third person's spirit. We even hadn't the chance to defend ourselves… He's not an aggressor. Actually, he's a gentleman. '

Nadine, still perplexed, lowered her voice even more and said:

'But he saw you naked - did things with you. He must remember this ...'

Embarrassed, Flora smiled and said firmly:

'I try not to think about it ... I think he's doing the same.'

Ginny approached them. She stared at Flora, then gazed at her belly. Hermione saw the scene and fearfully approached them too. Ginny finally spoke:

'Flora, I couldn't avoid listening to what you said. I'm sorry for judging you badly. I hadn't thought about the situation from your point of view. I was unable to see you as a victim. I'm so sorry!' She hugged Flora. 'I'm glad you don't hold any grudge for Harry. My husband is very concerned about your well-being. Just as you, he doesn't feel comfortable about this situation…'

'Thank you, Mrs. Potter. I'm relieved to know you understand me.'

Flora smiled; she had insisted on calling Ginny by her surname, as a way of showing that she respected her as Harry's wife. Hermione came up and deftly changed the subject relieving the tension.

'Have you seen how graceful Jo is? She's barely completed one year of age and she's already talking, and in her way, she asks intelligent questions ... You see, while she was playing of mixing sweets of all colours in a plate, she just asked me why when doing this, one gets a brown colour if the mixed colours of the rainbow are white?! I was amazed! I don't know how she gets so much information ...'

'Well, I think this time I do ... This once.' Said Flora smiling. 'I noticed that she was paying great attention while Hannah and I casted spells on the chairs experimenting different colours to see which one would be more beautiful ... At the end, we had kind of a colour-duel and all colours were changed so quickly that there seemed to be a rainbow between us ... And the result was this perfect white ... She's indeed clever and observant,... '

And the four women rested in silence for some moments watching Joanne lovingly playing with food and making drawings with her little fingers on the chair.

Across from where they were, Harry approached Felipe. The two men watched their wives chatting happily. Harry was relieved. Felipe guessed:

'We are two lucky men. Beautiful, aye?'

'Yeah, more and more every day ...'

Harry sighed... It was inevitable, he loved them both. Two clever, graceful, and strong women. In his thoughts, he apologized to Felipe for his inevitable betrayal. After he made sure that nobody else was listening, he asked Felipe:

'How is Flora doing?'

'Flora is very well. She often talks gently to the baby and has begun to make the little girl an outfit. Moreover, she continues to take care of her health. My children are also enjoying the idea of a new baby.'

Harry was relieved. He had not spoken directly with Felipe about Flora yet, although they were working together for the cradle, but he realized by Felipe's cordial way that there was no reason for concern. Felipe continued talking:

'I was thinking and I suggested to Flora that we invite you and Ginny to be Astrea's godparents. So you could follow closely her growing up... I'll be the official dad, of course. And when she's old enough to know under what circumstances she was conceived, she might accept you as her dad too. What do you think of that?'

Harry smiled. It was not the kind of conversation that he had hoped to have in a wedding party, but he was relieved that Felipe had given him this opportunity. Flora was right: Felipe was a very special man. This was exactly the result that he had wished when he learned about his previous baby.

'It'll be a pleasure. Thank you.'

Harry smiled, now he could understand why Flora had never even considered splitting up from Felipe, in spite of what they felt for each other. In fact, that made Harry's life easier, since he could not leave Ginny either, since she was the woman of his life. Harry hugged Felipe, happily.

Ron came up with Viktor and the four men went along cheerfully together, following the Brazilian tradition of selling small pieces of the groom's tie throughout the party.