Chapter Thirty-Two: Always
Later on, that day Lily, Petunia, Sarah, and Stevie all went out to get their hair and makeup done and get fitted into their beautiful dresses while Severus stayed back at home with Harry and Dudley. Carly and Mrs. Weasley both sent him owls that they would meet them at the church and Chase called on the new house telephone to tell his arrangements.
Once Severus took the boys to the church, he couldn't believe how beautiful his niece and future stepdaughter looked. Stevie was wearing a black strapless dress with her hair all braided back into a bun, and she had on light blue eye shadow and lipstick that matched her nail polish and had a bit of blush on her cheeks.
She also revealed to have a couple of crystal earrings in either one of her ears. "That's funny, I don't remember you having your ears pierced." Severus said while raising a questioning eyebrow at her.
"That's because I just got them done today." She told him with a giggle and a rather wide grin that stretched a crossed her face.
"I've only had custody of you for a few years, how did you turn into a woman so fast?" He questioned her before turning to look down at Sarah who wore a sleeveless dress as well but hers was light pink. Her hair was curled and she had on light pink eye shadow, lipstick, and nail polish with just a little touch of blush on her cheeks like Stevie.
"There's my little princess." He said while swooping her up inside his arms and kissing the top of her head before wrinkling his nose as he sniffed the air. "Uh oh, I guess I better change you before the wedding starts." He began as he glanced down at Harry. "And Harry if you have to go potty now is the time to do it." He told him.
"Okay but I don't have to." He replied.
"Alright, are you sure?" He questioned him as Harry silently nodded. "Okay, just double checking as I would hate for you to have an accident in your dress clothes." He told him before carrying Sarah off to go and change her diaper.
That's when suddenly Stevie felt a tap on her shoulder and she quickly turned around to see Chase standing behind her. "Oh, hullo there." She said with a grin before throwing her arms around him and tightly embracing him. A few moments later they slowly pulled away from each other.
"Stephanie Wilde, you look,.. dare I say it,.. magical." He said with a grin as she smiled back at him.
"Thanks." She replied with a blush and a twinkle in her eye.
"You really do look beautiful Stevie." She heard a voice from behind her say and as she turned around, she was face to face with Carly Clark and that's when suddenly her smile vanished since they hadn't spoken to each other for more than a year. "I hope you don't mind, but your uncle invited me here because he figured that we could try working things out between us." She explained and Stevie didn't respond and she just simply looked at her.
"Look, I know you're still mad at me but can't we just forget what happened and move on? I really am sorry about what happened and I think I have a way to make it up to you." Carly told her.
"Really? How?" Stevie questioned her with uncertainty but Carly just simply grinned.
"You'll just have to wait and find out at the reception." She told her before she turned back around and went off to find her seat and Stevie rolled her eyes once she was gone.
"Who was that?" Chase wondered.
"Just an old friend from school. Come on we better find our seats, the ceremony will be starting soon." She told him as she took him by the hand and started leading him away. A few moments later Severus returned with a freshly changed Sarah before setting her down in front of Harry.
"Alright, you two better get back with your mother because we're about to start." He told them.
"Okay." Sarah replied with a huge grin before turning around and running away but Harry suddenly felt himself unable to move.
"What's the matter Harry?" Severus questioned him.
"I changed my mind. I don't want to be the wing bear." He replied with a shake of his head and Severus raised an eyebrow at this.
"Really? Why not?" He wondered.
"I'm too afwaid. Can't you have Dudley be it instead?" Harry questioned him while looking up at him with his eyes full of tears when suddenly Severus let out a sigh.
"Dudley can't be the ring bearer, he's way too busy keeping Ashley company." He replied before bending over and hoisting the small child up inside his arms. "Come here, we need to have one of our legendary talks." He said while placing him up at his hip. "And wow, you really are starting to get big. I remember when this used to be a lot easier." He told him while softly kissing his head and started carrying him outside to the front steps and then sat down with him on top of his lap.
"Listen Harry, do you remember last year when you were too afraid to sleep because you were so worried about how much you were going to miss me when I went away to Hogwarts?" He questioned as Harry nodded at him.
"Yes I do and that's because I did." He replied.
"I know, but if you also remember correctly it didn't wind up being as bad as you thought it was going to be as you found ways to keep yourself busy. And the truth is that it is now your responsibility to stay at home with your mother, sister, cousin, and aunt while Stevie and I go off to Hogwarts to keep them and Nugget company. Just like it's your responsibility to give your mummy and I our wedding rings so we can get married. That way you and your sister will get to have a daddy again. Understand?" He questioned him.
"You were always my daddy." Harry replied catching Severus completely off guard and that's when he tightly embraced him.
"Come here." He whispered as he hugged him tighter and sniffed while attempting to hide the fact that he was currently in tears while kissing Harry on the cheek and rubbing his back.
"Why are you crying?" Harry wondered having pronounced that word perfectly for the first time.
"I'm sorry buddy, it was just really touching for me to hear you say that. You've always been my son for as long as I can remember as well and I love you so much." Severus told him while continuing to hug him tightly and then kissed his cheek again.
"I love you too Daddy." Harry replied while hugging him back and kissing him on the cheek before they slowly pulled away from each other and broke the embrace.
"Anyways, the point is that if you feel yourself starting to get a little bit of stage fright then don't think about all of those people watching you. Just look at me and think about me instead alright?" He questioned him.
"Okay Daddy." Harry replied as Severus picked him up again and slowly got to his feet before carrying him back inside.
"Alright, go find your Mummy and little sister now." Severus told him before gently setting him down and watching Harry run off as he smiled through his tears. "Always." He whispered to himself.
Okay, I'm nearly in tears myself right now and I think that that was my favorite chapter so far. :') Oh yeah and it looks like there is going to be a little bit more chapters than I originally planned before the sequel.
