Chapter Twenty-Five

The mirror showed a blushing bride. In awe, Andie gazed at her reflection and wondered whether that graceful young woman was truly her. She couldn't help but smile and kept turning from side to side to study her silhouette in the mirror. Her dress was very simple, yet elegant. The white lace fitted her body perfectly, and the material was so light she couldn't wait to dance in it. This dress looked in nothing like the heavy ball gowns she had tried on when she was engaged to Evan.

"Come in," she called over her shoulder when there was a knock on the door.

"Look at you!" Alice beamed, entering the room with Molly, who carried her six-week old son Charlie. "You're a real bride!"

"You don't need us at all!" Molly chuckled.

"I definitely do!" Andie protested with a wide smile. "I'm dreadful with make-up. But look at the baby!" she hurried over to take a peek at the sleeping baby Charlie. She and Ted had last visited the Weasleys two weeks ago, and even in such a short time period the baby had grown. "He's grown even more, has he? He looks wonderful!"

"Yes, he's always hungry," Molly chuckled. "I was going to let Arthur watch him too, but he didn't want to run the chance he'd go hungry before I'd be there to feed him again. He gets really cranky when he's hungry, just like his father and his big brother."

"Can I hold him?" Andie cooed at the baby, extending a finger for him to hold onto when he opened his eyes. Even at just six weeks old, little Charlie already had a tuft of red hair- the same colour as his parents' hair.

"Sure, but he could ruin your dress."

"I'll take the risk," Andie beamed, taking the baby as Molly handed him over. "We can always use an evaporation spell."

"Arthur's Aunt Muriel did that when she had a stain on her dress last Christmas," Molly said. "She burned a hole in it."

"Oh." Andie looked from the baby to her impeccable white dress with a more worried expression.

"Don't worry he's just been fed half an hour ago," Molly grinned. "I'd say the risk is about as low as it gets."

They were soon joined by Mrs Tonks. "Hello girls, I'm glad you're all here. She looks beautiful don't you think?" she beamed, having helped Andie into her dress earlier that morning. They were up since five AM dressing and doing her hair. "Could one of you help me with the decorations in the garden? We want to take pictures there, but the balloons won't stay put."

"I'll help!" Molly piped up. "I'll be right back," she told Andie and Alice with a grin. "Wand at the ready for some extra assistance!"

"I'm really glad you're both here," Andie told Alice once they found themselves alone. "Ted has such a big family, it sort of feels I've brought in no one," she grimaced.

"We're here for the both of you," Alice assured her. "And I'm sure everyone else is too."

"I can't believe I'm really getting married," Andie said. It seemed yesterday she and Ted had exchanged their first secret kiss on the Astronomy tower.

Both girls glanced towards the baby when he started to make little noises, now fully awake.

"He's sweet isn't he?" Andie rocked little Charlie in her arms. "Mummy will be right back," she cooed at him.

"The baby looks good on you," Alice grinned, laying out the make-up supplies she and Molly had brought. "Do you want one of your own soon?"

"I think so, when we have a house of our own," Andie smiled. "What about you?"

"Frank and I aren't even engaged yet," Alice chuckled.

"That won't take long, I'm sure," Andie laughed. "You could catch my bouquet."

"I think I'd like a baby in a few years, after we finish our Auror training," Alice said. "It doesn't seem such a good world to bring children into, though. But even so... if we don't the other side will definitely outnumber us."

"Yes, but I don't like to think about our babies being born to join the war," Andie shivered. "You'd think we'd have happier topics to discuss today."

"Of course. It's your wedding, this is supposed to be fun. We have more important matters to attend to!"

"Yes, like my colour nail polish, and whether it should match my lipstick," Andie laughed. She could do that now, laughing sincerely. It still sounded unnatural after the gloomy weeks she had just been through.

Her nightmares still occurred frequently, but they no longer controlled her everyday life. The longer she was here, the more her old life faded to the background. Sometimes it was as if none of it had ever happened. The wedding today would make her a real Tonks, and it meant more to her than she could explain. Her new friends thought a wedding was a mere romantic purpose. They had no idea how much more it was to her. Joining Ted officially would help her leave everything behind, and focus on the future. It would feel like she had a family again, although Ted's parents had told her more than once she was family already.

Only now that she had dissociated herself from them could she see how strong her bond with her sisters had been. With Bellatrix, especially. Perhaps too strong. Suffocating. Even after forcefully severing ties with her, she still haunted her dreams. She was free, but in some ways she wasn't. Ted's words were always reassuring, but Andie feared her eldest sister had instilled so much fear in her it would last a lifetime.

Molly soon returned after having settled the decorations outside. By then the last finishing touches could be added to make Andie into the bride she had envisioned herself to be.

"We're running a little late," Mrs Tonks announced nervously. She had joined them when Molly had to change Charlie. "The photographer arrived fifteen minutes ago. We gave him coffee, but if we want to be in time for church we should really hurry up."

"I'm ready," Andie smiled, standing up once the girls finished with her make-up. "Do I look acceptable?"

"Acceptable?" Mrs Tonks repeated, taking her hands and squeezing them. "You've always been beautiful, but I dare say Ted won't even recognise you! I'll go and announce you." Quickly she leaned in to kiss Andie's cheek, before hurrying down the stairs to tell the waiting groom his bride was ready.

Andie let Alice and Molly go down first with the baby, and took a moment to recompose herself. Her last moments as a Black. She didn't feel sad at all. This was what getting married was supposed to feel like. If she had married Evan everything would have been different, and not in a good way. No matter how hard things might sometimes be, she had never once doubted her love for Ted and her decision to marry him. Today would only give her more confidence in that regard.

After one last deep breath, she followed her friends down the stairs. Ted was waiting for her at the bottom, grinning sheepishly. The rest, including Mr Tonks, Frank and Arthur with Bill, stood in the back of the hallway.

"So, how do I look?" Andie enquired when Ted remained speechless. He kept grinning at her, taking in every detail.

"Well?" she frowned.

In response, he threw his arms around her, pulled her close, and kissed her deeply in front of all the spectators.

"Does this answer your question?"

"I suppose so," Andie laughed, ignoring Ted's friends who all wolf-whistled at their kiss. "You look smart, too."

"Always knew I had it in me," Ted's grin widened yet more when they went into the garden for the pictures. "I have a surprise for you later."

"What kind of surprise?"

"I can't say. It wouldn't be a surprise, would it? It's at the church."

Leaving Andie puzzled at this prospect, Ted pulled her along to meet up with the photographer. Everything in the Tonks's garden was beautifully decorated with flowers and balloons in red and white colours. Some of the balloons were emitting golden sparkles, which were surely Molly's doing.

Things were delayed further because Arthur was engaged in deep conversation with the photographer about his camera ("So the pictures don't move at all? Are you quite sure?"), but Molly quickly solved that by handing a crying Charlie over to her husband, noting it was his turn to change the baby.

They started with a series of photo's of just Andie and Ted, later joined by Ted's parents, and finally joined by their friends as well. The rest of the guests would meet them at the church for the ceremony, and then a picture of the entire group could be taken afterwards.

The morning passed in a blur; Andie barely had time to do anything but smile and make sure she didn't step on the hem of her dress. Once they arrived at the church, she was awed at the many people that had come to watch the ceremony. Ted's relatives and friends mainly, but it didn't matter much. They all complimented her on her dress and made her feel they were there for her, too.

"So where's the surprise?" Andie enquired curiously when they could take a breath after greeting a whole new stream of guests. "Or are you going to make me wait until after the ceremony?"

"I'm glad you're not curious or anything," Ted chuckled. "But I suppose now is a good time. In a second mum will want you inside to readjust your hair or something like that."

"What's wrong with my hair?" she frowned, quickly reaching out a hand to inspect whether her hair was still in order.

"Nothing, I'm just saying-" he paused, looking for a way out of this. "Do you want that surprise or what?"

"You're just distracting me from the hair thing," Andie laughed, nevertheless allowing him to pull her along. The guests were slowly entering the church to find their seats, giving them a moment away from all the attention.

Ted stopped them outside, towards the side of the church. "Wait here."

"All right," she frowned. "But if you're setting me up..."

"That's it," he snorted. "I've been waiting for years to marry you just to set you up with a hundred guests waiting in church for us. Not very likely, babe!" He blew her a kiss over his shoulder and disappeared momentarily behind the corner. Only to return mere seconds later with two boys, one of which she knew only too well.

"Sirius!" she exclaimed, losing all sense of decorum her mother had taught her and enveloping her cousin in a tight embrace.

When she finally let go of him, he grinned uncomfortably. "I brought a friend," he said, nodding towards the black-haired boy to his right. "Hope that's okay?"

"Of course," Andie laughed, still in disbelief at her favourite cousin being really here. She turned her attention to the other boy; black, ruffled up hair and round spectacles. He did look familiar.

"Potter is it? James? I remember you." She shook his hand.

"Yea," James nodded with a grin. "Congratulations."

"Well, we're not married just yet," Ted reminded them, taking Andie's hand. "We really should hurry inside now, or they'll think we've changed our minds! You guys can catch up later."

"We will," Andie smiled, quickly kissing Sirius's cheek before he could duck away. "I'm glad you're here."

When she turned to follow Ted inside, she could hear Sirius asking James: "Do you reckon he's got any pretty muggle cousins?"

The ceremony was every bit as beautiful as they could have hoped. It was a traditional muggle service at the local church. Ted's parents were thrilled they had agreed to do it the muggle way, so that they could be part of every moment. It didn't matter much to either of them; the important thing was to get married one way or another. Andie liked making Ted's parents happy; they had been so kind to her, they deserved to enjoy this day as much as she and Ted.
After the ceremony, a few more pictures of now the entire group, and receiving an endless stream of congratulations, dinner and a small reception followed at the Tonks's. The weather was lovely, so everything could be done outside in the decorated garden. They could have opted for a bigger celebration, but it wouldn't have suited them any better. And besides, Ted and Andie wanted to use their savings to invest in their future house. Not that they had one yet. Every day they checked the newspapers, and they had even gone to a few sightings, but so far no luck. It surely wasn't for their lack of trying. For now Ted's attic room would have to function –his parents had no objection to them sharing a room now they were properly married-, but the intention was for them to get their own place as soon as something suitable came up.

Andie had been looking for a chance to speak to her cousin all day, but it was proving a challenge. Apart from a quick congratulations they had barely exchanged two words. Everyone wanted to talk to her and Ted, and then there were dinners to eat, speeches to listen to, and even more pictures to be shot. Finally, towards the end of the evening, she found a minute to join Sirius and his friend James at the bar- an improvised section of the kitchen, currently tended by no one. It was late, and a lot of guests had already bid their goodbyes. Several bottles stood opened, inviting the remainders of the party to serve themselves.

"There's the bride," Sirius beamed. "Fancy a drink?"

"I think my head's spinning already," Andie said, hoisting herself up on the empty stool next to the two boys. "But I don't see why not."

"Everyone else is wasted anyway," James grinned. "So you're not as much of a focus anymore." He drained the remainder of his beer and slid off his stool. "If you'll excuse me, I need to see that muggle girl over there from up close."

"He is as bad as you, is he?" Andie chuckled, watching James head over to one of Ted's cousins. She gladly accepted a new glass of champagne from her cousin, and sipped it tentatively. She couldn't hold her alcohol very well- this glass really had to be the last today.

"Of course. I choose my friends well," Sirius laughed, watching James try his flirting skills for a while, until he turned to face Andie.

"So how are things?"

"Are you really asking, or are you asking to be polite?" he enquired.

"I'm not sure," she admitted. "I suppose it depends on the answer. But then again, I have pretty accurate ideas on how things are."

"I'm sure you do," he grimaced. "Well, my mother blast you off the family tree."

"I can't say I'm surprised. Aunt Wallie never hesitated to do that."

"I'd consider it an honour, if I were you," Sirius advised her. "I hope to follow you soon in that regard."

"Sirius!"

"I mean it," he said, looking dead serious. "I'm working on a plan. And I've been saving up my allowance."

"You're much too young for any of that!" she protested.

"Says the runaway princess, marrying down," he frowned.

"I hate that expression."

"So do I, but it seems you need a reminder."

"Don't give me teenage rebellion," Andie said. "What do you want me to do? Advice my underage cousin to continue on some insane plan?"

"It's not an insane plan. And I thought you'd understand. You, of all people."

"I do understand," she sighed, giving in. Telling Sirius Black to behave was a mission impossible, anyway. "But I don't know how to help you. Ted and I currently live in an attic room. We don't even have a broom closet to offer you," she grimaced.

"I don't need your help," he said stubbornly. "I can manage on my own."

"I don't doubt it," she smiled softly, deciding this wasn't worth the discussion right now. "And I'm very glad you came to the wedding today. I had no clue Ted arranged that. I didn't want to endanger you or any of the others by reaching out."

"Wouldn't have missed it," Sirius admitted. Suddenly, he leaned in closer. "Have you been reading the Prophet?"

Andie's face fell. She had, and she knew what he was talking about. Her best move would be to say no. Because this was a happy day, and she shouldn't soil it by thinking of her family. They had disowned her and discarded her, they didn't deserve her worries and tears. But Cissy did. Andie couldn't help but feel responsible for her youngest sister.

"I've seen it," she said quietly. "How is she?"

"Different," Sirius replied. "We don't see a lot of her anymore. She's always out with your mother, preparing for the wedding I suppose. But when we do see her.. well, she doesn't play games with Reggie anymore. All she does is talk about Malfoy, really, and that stupid wedding. I dare say yours was a lot better. I don't like too much fuss."

Andie smiled sadly at the compliment. "And does she talk about.."

"No."

She turned her face away, to stare at her half-empty glass of champagne. She couldn't bear his pitiful expression.

"Not to me, anyway," Sirius continued quietly. "They will have told her not to, Andie."

"I know," she nodded vigorously, concentrating hard on the glass. No crying. Not now.

"She's staying with..." He paused, mid-sentence. She could feel him staring at her. Calculating the chance of her being able to finish this conversation without breaking down.

"You can say her name. I can handle it," she lied.

"All right. Well, she's staying with Bella. Your father keeps burying himself in work in his study, and your mother turns down every dinner invitation stating she's suffering from migraines."

"And how's...?"

"You don't want to know."

"I suppose I don't," Andie said quickly, before she could change her mind.

They sat in silence like that, wondering how to finish this awkward conversation. All the questions Andie wanted and didn't want to ask kept running through her head. The carefully built up distance in these past few months was built on a very thin foundation. Too much closeness, even brought by snippets of information, would send the walls tumbling down and she would be back to where she started.

"Can I steal my wife back now?"Ted showed up behind them, beaming fondly. "I can't stop saying it; my wife. Sounds bloody marvellous don't you think?" He wrapped his arms around Andie from behind and pressed a kiss to her cheek. He then noticed the grave atmosphere surrounding the two cousins. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Andie smiled, allowing her husband's embrace to bring her back to the present. She turned around to kiss him. She belonged here. They had made it this far, and today was the crown on their victory. No one could spoil that.

Quickly she turned to Sirius and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "I meant what I said about you being here. You took a risk, and I appreciate it."

"What's life without a little risk?" Sirius laughed. "Now, you two have better things to do," he grinned. "I'll find James, or he'll never want to leave."

Andie watched her cousin go in search of his friend, and took Ted's outstretched hand. "Let's call this party to an end, shall we?"

She followed him when they went to say goodbye to the last remaining guests. Afterwards, she let him carry her up the stairs and pretended today was the closing chapter of her old life, and the start of her new. Only it wasn't. Not really. Wherever she went, she couldn't shake off the little voice in her head stating that Bellatrix Black always got her revenge. Sooner or later.