"What happened to Maddy?" Remus asked downstairs a few minutes later.

"She isn't feeling well, actually," Sirius answered. "She said the three of us could go on." He looked away.

Remus nodded, but didn't pursue the subject. He knew Sirius well enough to tell that something had happened in the short amount of time since he had last seen them.

"So! Ready to go?" Sirius asked.

Tonks looked to Sirius, who usually didn't sound quite that chipper, and then to Remus. She wasn't fooled either. "You know, we don't have to go just now. Why don't you two catch up for a bit, and we'll meet again later? Perhaps Maddy will be feeling better then."

Sirius started to speak, but Remus interrupted. "She's right. We'll go into town later today. Hopefully the weather will have improved by then, anyway." He brushed his lips to Tonks's cheek. "Are you going up to the room?"

"Yeah, I think so. What's your room number, though, Sirius? I might go check on Maddy."

"Oh. It's the Cezanne Suite on the second floor." Sirius seemed none too sad to be forgoing another trip into Annecy. He glanced outside, where a steady drizzle continued to fall.

Tonks left, and Remus and Sirius were alone.

"Let's find a place to sit," Remus said.

"There's a bar down that way, with some tables." Sirius began to walk in that direction, and Remus ambled along, looking around with interest as he followed him.

They walked into a lounge, empty this time of morning, and sat at a small table. Remus didn't waste any time getting to the point.

"Maddy's still worked up about that vision, isn't she?"

Sirius looked at him. "What do you know about it?"

"Albus showed it to me."

"Why did he do that?" Sirius was surprised.

"Obviously, he thought it was important. We don't want that happening to you, do we?" He smiled faintly, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I wish we had more details, though."

"You really believe that Bellatrix – "

"I know she'd be more than willing. Doesn't exactly show much restraint, does she? And it's best to be prepared. It made perfect sense for Albus to let me see it, since I was there. So, how's Maddy dealing with it? He said it really bothered her."

"Well, there's a story to that."

Remus twisted a corner of his lip upward. "How am I not surprised?"

"I suppose I am to blame. I didn't know what to do. She was worried to death about me. Not only that, she told Albus that killing Bellatrix would be a perfect way to keep it from coming true. Do you really think I'll let her try that?"

"No, I don't. What'd you do, Sirius?"

"I kept thinking how our wedding day was going to be ruined, all because of fucking Bellatrix. She has a talent for wrecking my life, apparently. I saw one solution that, admittedly, I didn't think through very well. But I thought it would work. I obliviated the memory."

Somehow, Remus didn't appear too surprised. "Ah."

"Is that all?"

"All what?"

"All you're going to say?"

"Sirius, come on. I know you very well, probably better than your fiancée. When you care about someone, you have this need to make it all better. You can't stand to see those you love hurt. I'm not surprised at all. You're a bit too impulsive at times, but there are far worse faults."

"Thanks. You disapprove, though."

"Don't be putting words in my mouth. That vision came at a very bad time, and with no simple solution. What you did, considering the circumstances," he said, looking around the room, "was probably for the best. Short-term, anyway. She has a right to that memory, though."

"Yes, I know that!" Sirius said impatiently. "I didn't do it for fun. But Remus, if this is what being a seer is like, I'm afraid it will drive her insane!"

"I begin to see why her mother wanted her to have no part of it," Remus said, nodding. "You'd definitely have to have an iron constitution. However, Albus thinks that if she can manage to divorce herself from the things she sees, they could perhaps be helpful to us. At this point, she's so new to it – inexperienced – and only tried to see Bellatrix. I can just imagine what a nasty shock it was when you turned up. And Dora," he added grimly.

"Does Tonks know?" Sirius asked. "The part about herself?"

"Yeah. Like us, she should be prepared." Remus was silent for a moment. "So why is Maddy upset now, if you erased it all?"

"I felt guilty. I told her what I'd done. I really wanted to wait 'til after the wedding. Couldn't do it, though. But I did not tell her all the contents. Not yet, anyway."

"And now she's angry with you."

"Yes. Probably packing as we speak," he said bitterly.

Remus laughed.

"I'm not joking!"

"Now, Sirius. You don't really believe she'd leave you over that?"

"She said she needed to think. Probably of ways to kill me herself. Or where to apparate from here to get away from me."

"Sirius, you know how much she loves you. Did it ever occur to you that you're both probably a bit nervous about tomorrow? I'm sure she's on edge about it, and that little revelation didn't help any. She'll think about things and I am confident she will get over her anger, as long as you don't keep the truth from her for long."

"I don't know," Sirius said. He still sounded morose.

"Trust me."

"I hope you're right. You should do this for a living." He attempted a smile.

Remus laughed, though. "True. I ought to start charging for advice. I could make a fortune, just off you. Why don't you go check on her?"

oOoOoOoOoOoOo

Sirius wasn't the only person in the habit of dueling with his conscience. Maddy had been stalking the confines of their suite like a caged lioness, seething at the injustice of having an important memory obliviated, just like that. Sirius was treating her like a child, and it chafed her.

Oh, for the love of Merlin, give it a rest, her inner voice chimed in. He felt helpless. The man loves you.

Be nice if I actually knew what was so bad about the vision, she snarled back. Maybe I should try it again.

You really are being childish. It wasn't good, obviously. No need to dwell on it and ruin tomorrow, which happens to be a rather important day.

Well, maybe the wedding should have been postponed if something horrible is going to happen.

Oh, come on. You're going to let Voldemort and his merry band of wankers run your life? And who knows when it would happen anyway? Assuming it actually does happen.

Well, you don't just go around obliviating people you care about. What if he does it again?

Do you hear yourself? Not even a year ago, you did something quite similar to him. Legilimency ring any bells? Getting into his head? At least he had a solid reason for erasing the scene from your memory. And he wasn't going to keep it from you forever. Give him some credit for trying to fix what he did, at least. He had to know you were going to be angry about it. Probably thinks you're going to leave him now. Oh, and another thing. He could've thrown the legilimency thing back at you, but he didn't. So there!

He can't think that I'd leave him because of this! Maddy opted not to address the other issue.

Think about it. He's had very little family that ever cared for him, other than three blokes he went to school with. And one of them betrayed him. You're lucky he trusts anyone. In fact, you're bloody fortunate that he's halfway normal at all, considering he spent twelve years practically in solitary confinement because he trusted that person. Knowing he was hated by everyone in our world. He could've died there or gone insane, you know. I think he's remarkably well-adjusted now, considering. If the man wants to be overprotective of someone he loves, you, in other words, at least try to understand. And what if your positions were reversed?

I knew you were going to say that. And I wish more than anything he'd had a happy life before we met. But do I not have a right to be upset? Even for a little while?

Yes. But then you tell him you love him, and that it's all right. Worry about the damn vision some other time. You'll see it eventually.

It's not all right! groused the part of Maddy that was still in high dudgeon.

It had better be all right very soon. You don't want to be a queen bitch on your wedding day, do you?

Maddy looked down at her engagement ring. It occurred to her just how short their engagement had been. Sirius had given this to her a little over a month before, on a blustery evening in March. A niggling feeling of self-doubt crept up out of nowhere. What if this is too soon?

But she already knew the answer. No, this is right. I want to be his wife.

Maddy spied the letter her mother had written, folded up and placed on a writing table. She didn't need to examine the contents, having memorized most of it already. Sirius was correct; her mother could have exercised a littlemore restraint in her advice, to put it mildly, and she came across as slightly meddlesome. Even so, Maddy felt an acute longing for the woman, and was pleased with her inventiveness in communication. And she had the beautiful combs for an heirloom, which should match her gown perfectly. They were secure in their box, under a spell to prevent anyone else taking them.

She opened her handbag, rifling through it until she pulled out a tiny bag. She had bought this in Paris. It wasn't much, just a plain thick platinum band, but as of the following night, Sirius would wear it in honor of his commitment to her, to show that they were now a family.

Well, he had some faults; who didn't? But he was loyal and kind, affectionate and witty, and she knew beyond a doubt that he loved her. And he had the grace to admit his mistakes. Maddy looked outside. Rain still pattered down, but the sky was brighter now. Maybe she should take a boat over to Annecy and find the others after all.

Someone knocked on the door. Maddy put the ring back in her purse and went to see who it was.

"Wotcher, Maddy!" Tonks said for the second time that day. "Mind if I come in?"

"No! Please do." Maddy held the door open, and Tonks strolled in, the curtain of sleek hair swaying behind her. "I thought you lot were in Annecy."

"Nah. We decided it could wait until you felt like going." She observed Maddy shrewdly, then looked around. "Well, this is impressive! Personally, I think you should just buy this place and let us all come and stay whenever we please."

Maddy laughed. "Wouldn't that be nice? Actually, I'm anxious to get home. We've had a lovely time here, though."

"Yeah, you and Sirius put the honeymoon before the wedding, didn't you?" She grinned.

"I suppose we did."

"Everything okay with you, Mad?"

Maddy paused. "Yeah." She didn't really want to talk about it. "Tonks, I know this is really short notice, but would you mind being my maid of honor?"

"Are you joking? Of course not! I was so worried you wouldn't want to speak to me, after everything that happened."

"Oh good Lord, don't be silly." Maddy smiled with relief. "And with Remus as Sirius's best man ..."

Tonks rolled her eyes. "Be nice if that gave Remus a few ideas, but it probably won't."

"You on or off again?"

"On, for now. At least 'til the full moon next week." Tonks looked her up and down and decided to change the subject. "Well, let's see it!"

Maddy frowned. "See what?"

"The gown, silly goose! Model it for me."

"Oh, yeah. It's in the closet here."

She opened up a door and pulled out a large bag, and the velvet wrap. Laying it down on the bed, she unzipped it and took the gown out. Tonks gently fingered the white silk and pale green velvet bodice, which Maddy had magically added to match the wrap. "Mad, this is gorgeous. You will be so beautiful. Put it on," she ordered.

Maddy thought of the combs. "I have something else to show you first." She grabbed her wand and opened a dresser drawer. When she pulled out the gift from her mother and explained its origins, Tonks was misty-eyed.

"You mean your mum left this for you all these years? Here?" She wiped an eye with her finger. "She must have been a lovely lady."

Maddy felt herself getting teary-eyed, as well. "Don't make me start up!" she said, laughing as she wiped her own eyes. "Right. I'll be back."

She picked up the bulky gown and took it into the next room. After several minutes of struggling with it, she admitted defeat and emerged holding the back together with one hand.

"Forgot the wand. Can you help?"

"Dear Merlin. Maddy, you are lovely." Tonks whipped out her own wand, and Maddy was buttoned up in short order. "Here. Let me have at those." She took the combs and, after a few more movements with the wand, had styled her hair in a loose up-do so that showed them off nicely.

"Jesus, Tonks. I should've known how handy you'd be with hair styling. You'll have to do this again tomorrow."

Maddy went to the nearest mirror. Her anger with Sirius had finally ebbed, and now she admired herself, swishing the gown back and forth. This was the first time she had tried it on since buying it. She turned back to Tonks, who was no longer looking at her, but behind her, wearing a huge grin once more.

"Come in here and observe your bride!" she called out.

Maddy turned to see Sirius, standing at the door, staring at her. She looked back at him, and he leaned against the doorway, taking her in.

"Remus back in our room, Sirius?"

Sirius glanced at Tonks. "Yes."

"Well, I believe I'll join him. Mad, we'll make it a date tomorrow afternoon to get you set up, dear. But I'll see you later this evening." She winked at Sirius and sidled by him, out the door.

Sirius didn't move. "You are beautiful."

"Thank you. I think maybe you're not supposed to see me like this." Maddy realized that Tonks, in her own way, had helped to diffuse her wrath. She was having a hard time staying angry with him.

"I'll take the risk."

"Come inside and close the door."

Sirius moved and let the door shut behind him.

"Come here," Maddy whispered.

He walked up to her. She put her arms around him and held him close.

"I love you. It's all right."

"God, Madeleine, I'm so sorry," he said into her hair.

"Stop. We'll worry about all that after this is over. Let's just have fun tonight and tomorrow night, and enjoy each other."

oOoOoOoOoOoOo

Arthur and Molly arrived that evening. Once they had been ensconced in their own room, the three couples met in the ballroom where the wedding was to take place the next day. Madame Rabot, in charge of the hotel end of things, quickly went over the details of the reception, which was to be held outside on the terrace if the weather cooperated. Once she had gone, they remained in the ballroom. A bonding witch, Madame Bernard, had been procured a few weeks before by Sirius, and she reviewed all the details with the couple quickly before apparating back to her home nearby in Lyon. She was to return the following evening for the seven o'clock ceremony. Molly sat next to Arthur, conjuring handkerchiefs to dab her eyes with as Sirius and Maddy went over their vows with the woman. Curiously, Tonks did the same thing, and Remus was forced to wave tissues into existence with his own wand to stem her tears.

"Well, I believe we are set for tomorrow evening," Madame Bernard finally told Sirius once they had gone over everything necessary.

"Wonderful! We'll see you before seven, then, yes?"

She assured them that she would return promptly the following night. Once she had gone, everyone readied themselves for a trip into Annecy for dinner. Rather than attempt to coordinate an apparition into the town proper, Sirius had arranged for a boat to take them across the lake to the restaurant.

The group had dinner at a canal-side restaurant serving a local specialty, fondue savoyarde, and laughed at Arthur Weasley's entertaining stories of raids he had conducted on behalf of the ministry over the years.

"But what I've always wanted to know is ... exactly how do airplanes stay up? Anyone?" the older wizard asked.

Sirius grinned and winked at the man. "Easy. It's a combination of lift and thrust, Arthur." He laughed at the innuendo and took a drink of his wine, then put an arm around Maddy, gathering her close to him.

Arthur furrowed his brow, thinking about that description, and Sirius chuckled even more. Maddy rolled her eyes, then allowed him to insert a piece of melted cheese on bread into her mouth to try. His mood had boosted considerably once they had made up, but he hadn't been able to get her alone long enough to act on it. He kissed her deeply now, and didn't care who saw.

"You taste very good," he whispered into her ear.

Maddy, who was tipsy herself, kissed him back. She glanced over to Tonks, who watched her with a wistful look, then to Remus, whose gaze was turned elsewhere. Maddy raised her eyes heavenward and gave her a penetrating stare that said go for it, already! Encouraged, Tonks nudged Remus, murmured something in his ear, then kissed him soundly on the lips. The two of them stood up.

"Think we'll go for a stroll around town," Remus said.

"Oh, how nice! Arthur, let's join them!" Molly exclaimed.

Tonks looked away, and Sirius said quickly, "No, stay here with us! I've been meaning to speak to you about some ... Ministry issues, Arthur."

"Really?" Arthur leaned forward. "What's on your mind, Sirius?"

Sirius paused, speechless in an attempt to come up with an actual question. Meanwhile, Tonks and Remus slid by them and disappeared into the darkness. Molly realized her faux-pas, and looked at her husband.

"Talk about work some other time, Arthur! Let's walk around on our own for a bit. Sirius, Maddy, would you like to join us?"

"Thank you, but I believe we'll just sit here for a while and let our food digest," Maddy answered with a smile.

The other couple rose to leave, and soon Sirius and Maddy were on their own. He rubbed the nape of her neck softly, and they sat for a few minutes without speaking. Then he leaned over to kiss her ear.

"So this is our last night as a non-respectable unmarried couple sharing a bed. Care to make it a memorable one?" he whispered. "And I could do with another little session in the alley beforehand."

She turned toward him, her own mouth at his ear. "Exactly how memorable would you care to make it, Mr. Black?"

"I've a few things in mind. Possibly involving the balcony, and you down on your knees in front of me, to start. Then we can move elsewhere for afters. I'll take mine between your legs. Then we'll just see what happens, little Miss O. Ready?"

She nodded and kissed him, barely touching his lips with hers. They stood up, and Sirius tossed some francs on the table. He didn't bother waiting for change, but took her hand and led her away from the restaurant, back to the little passageway where they had been before. There he shoved her against the brick and forced his mouth to hers, twisting his fingers through her hair.

"God, I could have you right here," he said in between rough kisses. He lifted her leg, pushing her closer to him. "I don't care who sees."

Maddy kissed him back, then gasped as his mouth moved to her neck.

"Let's go home. Now," she managed to say.

Sirius looked around and, pulling his wand out, made them disappear.

oOoOoOoOoOoOo

Fortunately, by Saturday morning, the clouds had disappeared, and the day was shaping up to be warm and sunny. Maddy woke up and walked out on the balcony with a cup of tea, looking out over a lake so calm and still that the mountains left a perfect image in the water. Sirius had risen early to meet Remus and Arthur for breakfast, leaving her free to lounge around until Tonks and Molly came knocking later that morning.

Once Maddy met up with the others, the three women took a boat over to Annecy once more and spent the morning there, trolling the little shops. After a few hours of shopping and a relaxing lunch in a tiny café, Molly decided they should head back.

"We have to start getting you ready, my dear!" she said, winking at her.

Maddy, who had been relatively calm up until then, felt her heart lurch suddenly. She looked to Tonks in a panic.

"Oh, relax, Mad. By this time tomorrow, you'll be Mrs. Black and it'll all be over with!" Tonks added. "We'll hang out in your suite this evening, ply you with a glass of champagne, and make you so beautiful Sirius won't be able to keep his hands off you!"

"Thanks. I'll need all the help I can get," Maddy said. She didn't know why she was so jittery all of a sudden. "Don't let me drink much, though. I'd hate to be falling over in the middle of the ceremony!"

Once they had returned to the hotel, Molly and Tonks left Maddy for a while, arranging to meet back up in her suite a few hours before the ceremony was to start. She was left alone to her thoughts, since Sirius was nowhere to be found. Maddy noticed his wedding clothes were gone, and vaguely remembered him telling her the previous night that he would be changing elsewhere, if for no other reason than to curb Molly's nagging about tradition.

She wandered around the suite, thinking up something to do to make time pass more quickly. Television was out, she thought, glancing at their set sitting dormant in the corner. She didn't know enough French to understand what was going on, anyway. She contented herself with pulling out a thick paperback she had bought a few months back in a muggle shop. Curling up into an armchair, she read several pages until her eyelids refused to stay open any longer. The book fell to her side and she dozed off.

oOoOoOoOoOoOo

Maddy awoke out a deep sleep, feeling as though she had missed something very important. The sun filtered through a sheer drape, warming her face. She wondered, in a haze, if it was the next morning. Sirius was nowhere around, and she realized she was hungry. She needed to round him up and get some breakfast.

Then she noticed the digital clock beside their bed. 4:45. Suddenly, she realized it was her wedding day, and only a few hours since she had fallen asleep. She jerked her body out of the chair in a panic.

Opening the closet door, Maddy saw the gown and crinoline on their hangers. She pulled them out and heaved them into the bedroom. There was no place to hang them, so she laid them across the bed. It was then that she noticed a white box tied with a ribbon sitting on the duvet. She picked it up, grazing the velvet bow with her finger. Sirius must have put it here while she was sleeping. A rolled up piece of parchment accompanied it, with her name written in his distinctive script. He had anticipated her, apparently. Beneath the name Madeleine on the back of it, he had scrawled open your gift now as an afterthought. She finished unrolling it and read.

Madeleine,

There are many things I want to say to you, but, unfortunately, the words are not cooperating. I've tried three times to write things that sounded appropriately romantic, but with no luck. I thought I might use someone else's, as a result. Mr. Darcy came to mind, but as I haven't actually read your favourite book in quite some time, I can't quite recall exactly how he expressed his feelings for his own bride. So I attempted to think of some lyrics to a song that might do the job. Failing that, I decided to hell with it and used my own after all.

You are my beloved. I suppose we could say that a wedding, or marriage, really isn't needed between us. Maybe it's just an official-looking piece of parchment signed by the right person saying we're legit now. We're already living together, after all.

I think of it as more than that, though. To me, marriage is a mystical bond between two people. Plenty might laugh at that, especially if their own union was a lousy one. My parents, for example. Very little love seemed to exist between the two of them. It will never be like that between us, I promise you. To my mind, it's one of the most important things I could ever do: publicly commit myself to the woman I love. In a way, I feel inadequate offering you no more than this small ceremony in a foreign country. It might be nice to have something grand, back at home. But to be honest, I like the idea of only our closest friends and family being the witnesses in such a beautiful place (including your new godson- I checked with him, and I know James and Lily would have wanted it). Why should anyone else be there?

Madeleine, please don't worry about anything. I am confident that someday soon Voldemort and those who follow him will be defeated, our world will be repaired, and before we know it, you and I will be spending summers playing on the lawn with our son, just as you saw it. Then with both children. Then with our grandchildren. We will have a long and happy life together, starting tonight.

I love you.

Sirius

Maddy carefully rolled the parchment back up. She went to retrieve the box containing her mother's combs, and whispered the spell to release the lock on it. Taking the combs out, she replaced them with the note and secured the little box again. The box Sirius had left with her was still on the bed, and she went to it. Once she had pulled the ribbon aside, she opened it to find a necklace and earrings. Maddy picked up the delicate necklace and examined it. The design was simple; a pearl hung down, surrounded by a few small emeralds and diamonds, threaded through several delicate silver strands. The earrings matched. They were beautiful, and had obviously been picked out to match the combs. Maddy realized his words had eased whatever anxiety she had been suffering. He was sweet and kind, and he was to be hers.

A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. She went to the door and opened it to see a beaming Tonks and Molly.

"Time to get started!" Molly sang out, and Tonks held up a bottle of champagne.

"Well, I need to take a shower, before anything else. You ladies go ahead, and I'll have a glass soon as I'm done."

"Not just champagne, Maddy dear. Here are a few things to nibble on." Molly held up a little basket with snacks. "Courtesy of that Depaul fellow, Sirius said."

"Ooh, thanks! Just what I needed." Maddy rummaged around until she settled on a biscuit. "Make yourselves at home," she reminded them before heading into the bathroom.

She spent several minutes under the hot water before emerging with her wet hair in a towel and body covered by a robe. Tonks and Molly immediately set to work on her, first using a wand to dry her hair, then experimenting with various hairstyles before settling on the one Tonks had used the previous day. Molly worked on her nails, while Maddy did her own face. The necklace and earrings went on next, and finally the gown. Tonks and Molly stood back and inspected the fruits of their labors.

"Everything okay?" Maddy asked. She felt nervous again, and looked down at her manicured nails with an insane urge to bite them.

Molly smiled. "You are lovely, Maddy!"

Tonks nodded. "Beautiful."

Maddy observed herself in the mirror as she had done previously, only this day Sirius had been removed from the room. He was downstairs, already dressed, as reported by Remus, who had stopped by, and was speaking to newly arrived Harry and his friends. Maddy longed to see him, but gave in to Molly's insistence that to do it would be bad luck.

Once she had given Tonks Sirius's wedding band to keep, the two women left to ready themselves. The room was quiet again. Maddy pulled out Sirius's note and reread it, wishing she had thought to do something similar for him. She had a small gift, but had decided to give it to him later, after everything was done. Molly had planned to return eventually for her, so when a knock came at the door, she opened it expecting to see her. Instead, Albus stood there, looking resplendent in silver robes.

"Good evening, Madeleine. How are you?"

"Albus! I've missed you," Maddy said, reaching up to hug him tightly. "Are you walking me downstairs instead of Molly?"

"Why, yes, I thought I would. You look beautiful, by the way."

"Thanks. I'm a bit nerve-wracked, to be honest."

He smiled. "I'll stay with you. At least until your husband takes you away from me."

"I'd like that very much," she admitted. His presence calmed her, at least a little.

He held out an arm. "I believe it's time, then."

They walked down the wooden stairs, arm in arm, until they reached the ground floor. A few guests stopped to gawk at the tall man in his unconventional attire and flowing beard, and then to the woman he accompanied. Albus held her arm tighter in reassurance, and they continued down the hallway.

Mr. Depaul himself stood outside the ballroom, and upon seeing Maddy, broke into a wide, toothy grin. He motioned to a person inside, and, whispering something soothing in French, ushered her in. She felt her cheeks color, feeling unused to so much attention. The small crowd of people had quietened down already, and swiveled in their seats when she appeared at the door. She glanced around at all their friends present and saw Hermione beam at her before darting a look at Ron sitting beside her. Harry sat with them, and Kingsley and his wife behind them with Minerva McGonagall. But Maddy had looked beyond the guests, to the man who stood at the front, smiling at her as if she were already his. Sirius, whose habit was already to dress somewhat formally, looked magnificent in a white shirt with platinum cravat and waistcoat, covered in a long black fitted coat and black trousers. A photographer took her picture, and someone plucked away on a harp as Albus walked with her toward him, but she barely noticed. Soon she was standing next to Sirius. His hand replaced the older man's, gripping hers securely.

Madame Bernard, the bonding witch, started off by speaking to the audience about the duties and responsibilities of witches and wizards who made the commitment to join. After several minutes of this droning, Sirius leaned over and whispered, "She's really not making this sound very good," out of the side of his mouth. Maddy had to bite her lip to keep from laughing, and spent the remainder of the witch's remarks with a half-smile on her face and couldn't look at him.

Fortunately, the lecture was short-lived, and Madame Bernard moved on, asking for the rings. Tonks and Remus each produced one for her, and she blessed them before handing Sirius his. He wasted no time, but took Maddy's hand gently.

"Madeleine, this ring is a symbol that I give myself to you for our entire lives. I am yours now, and I love you with my whole heart. I will share my life and earthly belongings with you, and I promise to honor and respect you. I will also protect you, and do all within my power to keep you safe. With these words, I make you my beloved wife."

He slid the ring on her finger before kissing it, and Maddy realized it was a different one than they had picked out. It was a thicker platinum band, hammered, and had tiny diamonds in the same constellation design as the necklace he had given her at Christmas. Sirius, it signified. Tears suddenly came to her eyes.

"Madeleine?" the bonding witch prompted.

Tonks handed her the ring she had picked out. Sniffling, Maddy looked back at Sirius and gripped his left hand.

"Sirius, this ring shows everyone that I belong to you now. I promise you I will love and care for you, honor and protect you, as long as we both live. My whole life, you have meant more to me than I can ever find words to say. I've never told you this, but for years, I prayed for you, that you might be safe, and that I would know someday why you were put in my heart. Now I know, and I thank God for you every day. You are the sweetest blessing of my life and I love you." She put the ring on his hand, then kissed it. Tears spilled down her cheeks, and she saw that his eyes were misty as well.

Madame Bernard took this as her cue to step in. "Le Bon Dieu knows why these two have been joined. You are now husband and wife, and may no one ever attempt to destroy those whom God has brought together. Sirius, you may kiss your new wife now."

Sirius put a hand on her cheek and brought his lips to hers, lingering there for several seconds. Then he pulled away slightly, oblivious to Remus and Tonks's own smoldering looks at each other, and whispered something in her ear.

The harpist began to play once more, and after a quick wizarding photograph, they walked down the aisle together as Mr. and Mrs. Black.