Chapter 38: A Happy Day

Harry nervously attempted to flatten his hair for the dozenth time in the past half-hour with no more success than he'd had the first time he'd tried it. His hair simply was at it always was: all over the place.

Hermione reached over his shoulders and straightened his tie, smiling softly at his fidgeting.

"You're worrying too much," she said quietly. "You look fantastic Harry. Besides, Daphne's been as excited as I've ever seen her this past month."

Harry gave a shaky laugh and pushed his glasses up on his nose.

"I guess I'm just nervous. I mean, this is a big day even if we really are safe here."

Their wedding was held in the Greengrass Manor grounds, but Harry couldn't help looking around, as if a hoard of storm clouds and death eaters would come for them at any second. However, he was not the only one on watch. Several of the members of the Order of the Phoenix as well as Professor Flitwick and the Weasleys had their wands within easy reach and were keeping a keen eye on their surroundings.

Still, when he wasn't worrying about Voldemort or his followers, Harry felt the pressures of his wedding day. His dress robes were white, with a Slytherin green vest. That had been his idea. They both agreed to wear a bit of something containing each other's house color, as it would help promote the idea of unifying them against Voldemort. Luckily, Daphne had loved the idea, and agreed to it within seconds.

"Harry," said Hermione turning him around so he was looking into her brown eyes. "You just have to worry about one thing today. Are you sure you want to marry Daphne?"

Harry looked at her, and a sort of resolution gripped him.

"Absolutely."

Hermione smiled brightly.

"Good, then you let us worry about everything else."

"Thanks for agreeing to do this Hermione. I know it's a bit… weird."

"Well," Hermione said, moving away from him and tiding up her own dress. "I admit the idea of having a girl as your best man is fair unorthodox, but you've never been very conventional, Harry."

Harry had spent more time than he would've thought trying to decide on his best man. However he considered it, he figured that his best man should be someone who had always been there for him and was his best friend… beside Daphne. Hermione was really the only person who fulfilled that idea. She'd risen to the occasion fairly well. Although the Weasley twins had kidnapped him for a stag night that was loud enough to annoy several people into the night.

"You've always been there for me," he said, smiling at her. "Even when I was right prat. I'd have been dead a long time ago if it wasn't for you."

"And I'd have been dead to a troll and friendless without you, Harry. I'd walk through hellfire with you if you asked me to. It's the least I could do to stand next to you at your wedding."

He smiled and nodded.

"How's Ron taking it?"

"Not too bad," said Hermione. "He said that he understood, although he was a little quiet at breakfast this morning. Still, he's not sulking in the corner to being rude to anyone. So, honestly that's pretty good."

Harry nodded again and gave himself one last look in the mirror.

His reflection suddenly spoke, saying, "You'd best get on with it, dear."

Harry double-checked that his wand was safe in his holster at his side and both he and Hermione walked to their places at the altar, where professor McGonagall had agreed to preform the ceremony. She gave Harry the smallest of smiles and nodded to him and they took their places.

Astoria and Tracey, Daphne's bridesmaids were already in place and as Harry looked at them, Astoria looked into his eyes and smiled, nodding gently. Harry nodded back, and silently hoped that his heartbeat wasn't actually visible through his jacket, despite how hard it was pounding. Suddenly, the musicians began to play their instruments and Harry eager looked back towards the entrance arc.

Daphne walked slowly down towards him, clothed in an ornate white dress with a Gryffindor red sash tied around her waist. Her arm was looped around her father's, who was looking down at his daughter and Harry could tell the man pleased for his child in a way only a parent can be.

For a moment, less than a second, he wondered if Sirius would've had that same look on his face if he were able to be there.

He'd probably be hooting and causing a mess of things on purpose, Harry thought before bringing himself back to the present moment.

As Daphne and her father reached him, he smiled softly at Daphne before offering her hand to Harry, who took it, hoping desperately that he wasn't sweating much. Hermione and Tracey moved towards them and looped a ribbon around their intertwined hands.

"Ladies and Gentleman," Mcgonagall said, loud enough for her voice to carry across the entire crowd easily. "We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of two faithful souls."

Harry smiled gently at Daphne and he saw her return it as she squeezed his hand for a split-second. He could hear several cameras going off, but he paid them no attention. He wasn't here today for them or for the crowd. He was here today for Daphne, the beautiful blonde woman who had been through more than almost anyone their age just to be with him.

He could still recall that day when she had sat beside him at the great lake, as if she'd had no concern in the world. Somehow, that hadn't really been lost, even through all the trouble they found themselves surrounded by. Sure, they had long nights and discussions discussing plans and ideas and concerns. But there were times when she was just looking for him, and she would sit beside him, as she always had. She would take his hand or lay her head on his shoulder and for just that moment, there would be no concern for either of them.

She'd also stood up to a greater danger than he'd thought would ever exist in his lifetime. She hadn't offered to go fight Voldemort with him, she'd insisted. He reminded himself that she was always determined to get what she wanted. It was the Slytherin in her.

"Harry James," Mcgonagall said, her ghost of a smile still on her features. "Do you take Daphne Melinda as your wife?"

"I do, now and always," Harry said hearing the words echo through his own being.

"And do you Daphne Melinda take Harry James as your husband?"

"I do, now and always," Daphne said looking right into his eyes with her sky blue ones.

"Then I pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Potter, you may kiss the bride."

Harry leaned forward and met Daphne halfway between the two of them and the crowd around them exploded into cheers and clapping. Harry felt as if everything he'd ever wanted had come all at once.

Family…

She was his family. The word that he'd had little use for his entire life now had a person to attach to it. She wasn't just his love, and even more than his wife, she was his family. He knew, then and there that he would do anything he could to take care of his family. He would fight against the turning of the world if that was what it took. He loved her and would love their children the same.

It wasn't a plan, or even an idea for him. It was just a state of being… an understanding that he'd never really known could exist. Music began to swell and Daphne led him to the dance floor as they began to twirl around each other, much as they had for the Yule Ball, although by now they were far more attached to each other.

"Do you ever consider what it would be like if we hadn't met?" he asked softly as they spun around.

"No," she said, smiling. "This… This is right, Harry Potter. I won't credit any other possibility by giving it thought."

He smiled too, and kissed her forehead quickly.

"I can't but agree, Mrs. Potter."

Daphne gave a soft shiver in pleasure and buried her face in his chest, as they were joined by other couples and soon they were lost in a crowd of friends and family and Harry couldn't help but think that this was the most perfect day that had ever existed.

After some time on the floor Daphne's father came over to dance with her, and Harry gratefully took the moment to rest and sit on a bench and sip at some water while his giddy brain drank in the scenery. He felt more than heard Mcgonagall sit next to him.

"I have to say, Mr. Potter. In all my years having taught at Hogwarts, I never would've expected there would be such a couple as you and Miss Green—Well, Mrs. Potter, I suppose. Even if someone had asked me what Slytherin and Gryffindor might break the house rivalry, I wouldn't have thought it was you two. Yet, in all that, I don't know how often I've seen such a good couple who support each other. Honestly, I think you two are even better for one another than your parents were, and everyone always talked about how great they were together."

"Thank you professor," said Harry. "I didn't think I'd see the day you'd approve a student relationship or preform the ceremony at a wedding."

He turned and looked at her, and to his surprise saw a fully-formed grin on the older woman's face.

"Yes," she said slyly. "Well, I suppose when I see as much of a student as I saw of you, Weasley and Granger, I cannot help but become hopeful about your futures. You do tend to grow on people, Mr. Potter."

"Professor," he said softly. "Thank you… for… well, everything. You weren't always the… um… warmest person, I guess. Still you were always fair and I am grateful to have had you as my head of house."

He looked back towards the dancers, and if he didn't know better, he would've sworn Mcgonagall wiped a tear out of her eye.

"Have you two… Do you have a plan for the…"

"Horcrux? Yeah… well, a few plans. Hopefully one works. Still, if things don't work out, if this was it… that would be alright. I wouldn't complain, even though I'm hoping I have a few decades left in me."

"As are we all, Mr. Potter."

She stood, straightened her green robes and moved over to were the refreshments were being served. No sooner had she left than Mrs. Weasley came to him and hugged him tight enough to almost suffocate him.

"Oh Harry, dear!" she said, dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief. "It's such a beautiful wedding dear. I admit I was skeptical at first, but she really does seem quite alright, doesn't she?"

Harry couldn't help but laugh at Mrs. Weasley's description.

"Well, yes," he said, sipping more water. "I'd like to think my wife is alright."

"Oh," said Mrs. Weasley, turning pink. "I mean, well of course I didn't think that—I just mean to say that I…"

"I know what you meant Mrs. Weasley, and thank you. Honestly, I'm grateful to you and Mr. Weasley. You two have never once hesitated to take me in. I don't know if I ever said it to you, but in my fifth year, when you and… S-Sirius were talking; you said I was as good as your son."

"Oh dear… I never meant to…"

"I can't tell you how much that meant to me, Mrs. Weasley. I'm not sure I have it quite right, but I'm learning what it means to be family and you and Mr. Weasley were the closest I had to any family for a very long time. I'll never forget that. Thank you."

She hugged him again.

"Of course dear. Oh, I believe your wife is heading this way. I'll leave you to talk."

Daphne did indeed sit beside him and kissed his cheek.

"This is quite lovely, isn't it?" she said. "I think being married is going to agree with me."

"I'm glad to hear it," he said, chuckling sightly.

"So what do we do now?" she asked, growing more serious.

"Now," said Harry, looking to the sky. "We end Voldemort… together. Then, we… well, we're a family after that, I suppose."

"That," said Daphne putting her head on his shoulder. "Sounds far more crazy and chaotic than any happily ever after. I can't wait to experience it with you my husband."