* ~ The Eighth Year Universe Series ~ *
PART FOUR
Brave New World
Chapter 70: It's a Nice Day for a White Wedding
A/N: The chapter title is from the song:
White Wedding by Billy Idol.
"How are you feeling?"
"Fine," Daphne said, frowning over at Harry, "Why?"
"Because it's the 29th of December," Harry said with a slight smile, "We're getting married in two days."
"Well, I don't have any pre-wedding jitters if that's what you're referring to," Daphne said with a chuckle. They were hanging up decorations in the drawing-room, which would convert into a ballroom.
"Are we just going to banish this furniture into the attic room for the wedding?" Harry asked, glancing around the room.
Daphne nodded, "The sofas and tables will go, and we will replace them with tables for the meal. Then before the 'New Years Party' starts, we'll get rid of most of the tables so that we have plenty of dance floor space."
"We'll need to get the stage ready too," Harry said.
Daphne frowned, "What stage?"
"The stage," Harry re-iterated, "This was designed as a ballroom. We just tend to use it as a drawing-room in everyday life."
"I know, but I helped restore this place, and I don't remember there being a stage," Daphne pointed out.
"Well, there is one," Harry said. He walked to the far end of the room and pointed his wand at a large portrait of one of his older ancestors, "Alohomora!"
The portrait slid away, revealing a small stage with deep red curtains pulled across it. When Harry opened them, a lot of dust was displaced.
"Right, we will need to get that ready then," Daphne agreed with an amused smile, "It should be big enough for the Weird Sisters."
"I reckon so," Harry agreed.
"Dada! Puppets!" Teddy exclaimed.
Daphne laughed, "I think we've gotten enough done for the wedding today so go on."
Harry grinned and jumped up onto the dusty stage, "Time for the Potter family puppet show creation…the mysterious ticking noise!"
Daphne shook her head in amusement and continued to hang decorations while Harry amused their son.
"Alright, so this is my 'I'm now slightly nervous that I'm getting married tomorrow, checklist'," Daphne rattled off as she sat in the kitchen with Astoria and Lilly the following morning.
Astoria chuckled, "Go on."
"I have my wedding dress, and I have dresses for you, Sadie, Hermione and Susan," Daphne said, ticking a box, "Harry his dress robes, and he picked up the robes for Neville, Theo, Draco, Ron and Bill."
"Bill is one of the groomsmen?" Astoria asked in surprise.
"Yeah," Daphne said, "I'll be honest, I didn't see that one coming, but apparently, he's Harry's favourite brother."
"Wow, sucks to be Ron," Lilly remarked.
"Lillian-" Astoria began to say.
"I mean, you get attacked by a sentient chess piece, go into a chamber full of evil snakes, face a werewolf head-on, destroy a Horcrux and save a guys life, only for your hot, badass older brother to be his favourite," Lilly continued, "That's a pretty shit deal."
"Astoria, don't lose your temper. She's being sarcastic," Daphne said quickly, "And you, Lillian Moon. Regarding Ron's presence at the wedding, no fighting."
"I don't fight. I'm a lady," Lilly said calmly as she leant back in her chair.
Daphne shot her a knowing look, "Shh."
"Did you just shoosh me?"
"Yes, so shoosh."
"I don't shoosh for anyone, even Daphne Greengrass."
"I'm going to get that put on a t-shirt," Harry said as he leant in the doorway in a dressing gown.
"Harry, would you like to put some clothes on since we have polite company?"
"Polite company? I just see Astoria and Lilly."
"Fuck you," Lilly said, giving Harry the middle finger.
Harry grinned at her, "Coffee, Lil?"
"Yeah," She replied grudgingly.
"Tea for you and Tori, babe?"
"Uh-huh," Daphne said calmly.
"By the way," Harry called as he crossed the room, "As much as I can't wait to tell Neville about your impassioned defence of Ron. I actually said that Bill was my favourite brother because Ron didn't count since he was my best friend."
"If you tell Neville about anything you just heard, I will make sure that the only way the Potter family has an heir is if Daphne screws someone else. Comprende?"
"You'd have to disarm me first," Harry said with a cheeky grin.
"Harry, shut up. We're doing important last-minute wedding planning, and your presence is distracting me, so make us hot beverages, then leave, please."
"Bridezilla," Lilly whispered.
"Seriously, shoosh, or I will make you shoosh."
"I will shoosh when you realise that we have everything planned and under control," Lilly remarked, "You're just starting to freak out because the wedding is in a couple of days, and the fact you're freaking out is freaking you out more because ice queens don't freak out. So it's like a freak out within a freakout."
"Did that make sense to you?" Astoria asked her sister.
"Yes," Daphne admitted, "And while you may be right, Lilly, I would like to go over everything again anyway. So, I have Teddy's little suit, and I have a little dress for Victoire. The ballroom is completely ready and set up. I have the house-elves on the meal and the wedding cake, so that's fine."
"Who is doing the ceremony?" Astoria asked.
"Someone from the Ministry, he's booked in for 2 pm," Daphne said with a flick of her hand, "Dennis is doing the wedding photographs."
"My ex-boyfriend, Dennis?" Astoria asked, raising an eyebrow at her sister.
Daphne smirked, "Consider that revenge for the Niffler."
"Touché," Astoria said with a slight smile, "Wedding favours?"
Daphne nodded, "Done. I have everything squared with the Weird Sisters, and the stage is all set for them. They are going to be here at about 6 pm to set up."
"Flowers?"
"Arriving first thing tomorrow morning," Daphne said.
"What about a honeymoon?" Astoria asked.
"We aren't really having one," Daphne admitted, "Harry needs to be back at the training centre on the 3rd of January, so Andromeda is going to have Teddy for a couple of nights while we have a long weekend somewhere."
"You haven't even worked out where?" Astoria asked in disbelief.
"No, it's all booked, but I haven't planned it," Daphne said with a smile as Harry handed her a cup of tea, "Someone wants to surprise me."
Astoria rolled her eyes, "Gryffindors. Are you all this romantic?"
"Neville's worse," Lilly muttered.
"Oh god, yeah," Harry agreed, "Does he apologise to you with quotes from muggle literature too?"
"Yes, what's with that?" Lilly asked as she gratefully accepted the cup of coffee he was holding out for her.
"I don't know, but it makes me uncomfortable, so I just hug him until he shuts up," Harry shrugged.
Lilly grinned, "I usually just kiss him to shut him up."
"Are you sure this isn't a four-way?" Astoria asked.
"We've not all had sex yet, so no, it's not a four-way."
"Yet?" Lilly and Harry echoed as they looked at Daphne.
Daphne waved her hand at them, "Shh. So, wedding shoes? Lilly, did you pick them up for me?"
"Yes, I have them. I still have no idea how you're going to walk in them, mind you, and I'm not letting that 'yet' comment go that easily, by the way," Lilly added.
"Neither am I," Harry said, perhaps a little too suggestively, which was why Lilly raised an eyebrow at him and said, "Down boy."
Daphne snorted, "Harry, out."
"Alright, I'm going out to see Dave," Harry said with a yawn, "Call me in if you need me."
The door shut behind him, and Astoria said, "He's only wearing a dressing gown, and it's like -3 out there?"
Daphne and Lilly shrugged, "It's Harry," they said in unison.
Astoria shook her head in amusement, "Accessories?" Astoria asked.
"Sorted, I dove into the family jewellery box," Daphne said with an amused smile.
"Who is going to do your hair and make-up?"
"Susan, even if she doesn't know that yet," Daphne grinned.
"Do all the guests know they need to be here for 12noon tomorrow, under the ruse they need to help set up?" Astoria asked.
"Yes, they do," Daphne replied.
"Wedding rings?"
"Safe in a drawer upstairs."
"And last but not least. Have you got your something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue?" Astoria asked her.
Daphne frowned, "Something old can be the tiara because that was Great Grandma's. Something new…my dress?"
"Something borrowed and something blue?" Astoria asked.
Daphne shook her head.
"I figured you'd have forgotten about that part," Lilly said as she slipped a bracelet from her wrist and handed it to Daphne, "So wear this. It's emerald and diamond. It will look great on the Slytherin ice queen."
"But Lil," Daphne said, "That's the bracelet I bought you in Paris."
Astoria raised an eyebrow at her, "You bought her a Slytherin bracelet?"
"No, it's just a coincidence that our birthstones are diamond and emerald," Daphne said offhandedly, "But seriously, Lilly, I can't wear this."
"You can and you will," Lilly said simply, "Don't argue with me. You've already told me to shoosh more than once this morning."
Daphne smiled and leant over to kiss her on the cheek, "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Lilly said with a smile.
"And I bought you this," Astoria said. She handed her sister a box, "As your something blue. Consider it an early wedding gift."
Daphne cracked the box open and smiled, "Aquamarine and diamond earrings? Astoria, these must have cost a fortune!"
"Well, your big sister only gets married once," Astoria said softly, "And they will look beautiful on you."
"Like everything else does," Lilly chuckled.
Daphne smiled a little tearfully, "You two are brilliant, thank you."
"Uh, babe!"
Daphne popped her head out of the shower, "Yeah?"
"Teddy's in bed, but where am I sleeping tonight?"
Daphne frowned, "In the bedroom?"
"Are you sure?"
"Just come in!"
Harry slipped into the bathroom.
"What are you on about? Where else would you be sleeping?"
"Well, I'm not meant to see you the night before the wedding, am I?" Harry pointed out.
Daphne rolled her eyes, "You want to go with that old tradition then?"
"I don't know. I just didn't know if you did?" Harry asked.
Daphne shook her head, "Don't be silly. Go to bed. I'll be there soon. It's going to be one hell of an early start tomorrow, not to mention a hectic day."
Harry chuckled, "That's an understatement. Night love."
Daphne felt the first twinges of nerves the following morning as she waited in the entrance hall for the guests to arrive. She looked every inch the part of a party planner as she stood in her jeans with her hair in a bun and a clipboard in her hands, so she hoped that they wouldn't catch on before she wanted them to.
They arrived in groups; first Sadie, Theo, Neville and Lilly. Then Astoria, Charlie, Susan, Percy, Bill, Fleur and Victoire who had all been staying at Shell Cottage. Then Draco, Hermione, Narcissa and Andromeda. Finally, Molly, Arthur, George, Angelina, Ron, Katie, Frederick, Ginny, Blaise and Hope arrived.
Daphne's father was already here, of course, he was leaning against the staircase with the support of his cane. Harry was upstairs finalising a couple of things, and Teddy was 'helping'.
"Hey, everyone. Happy New Years eve!" Daphne said cheerfully, "Thanks for coming along to help out. Now I need to assign everyone some jobs, so if you can just hear me out for five minutes, that would be great!"
They were all listening intently.
"Charlie, George and Percy," Daphne began, "Make sure the front path is clear of ice and snow, please. Ginny and Katie, could you take the kids upstairs into the playroom and help keep Teddy occupied, please?"
There were nods from those addressed, so Daphne continued, "Neville, Draco, Theo, Ron and Bill; I'm going to need you guys to go upstairs and find Harry so that you can get dressed."
Some frowns were beginning to form now.
"Fleur, I'm going to need you to get Victoire into the dress I picked out for her," Daphne continued, "Susan, I'm going to need you to do my hair and Sadie, I'm going to need you to do my make-up. Hermione, Lilly and Astoria? You guys are going to have to get into your dresses."
Realisation was beginning to dawn on their faces.
"And Dad, I'm going to need you to get into your dress robes because you will be walking me down the aisle in," she glanced at the clock, "an hour and a half."
There was much laughter, clapping and shouting at this news.
Daphne grinned and said, "Welcome to our surprise New Years Eve wedding! We wanted you guys here for the ceremony. Everyone else is coming for the party later on."
"Oh my gosh, Daphne!" Sadie exclaimed, "I can't believe you kept this a secret!"
"How on earth did you not slip up?" Hermione agreed.
"I had a select few people to discuss it with," Daphne admitted.
Sadie laughed, "You knew then, Lil?"
"I knew," Lilly said with a smile, "So did Astoria."
Daphne grinned at them, "We decided to bring in the new year with style."
"That's one way of putting it," Susan laughed.
"Oi, Daph!"
Daphne looked over at Bill, "Yeah?"
"How come you didn't tell me I was a groomsman?"
"You already knew about the wedding. I had to keep something as a surprise," Daphne joked, "Go upstairs and sort Harry out. He'll need all the help he can get."
Bill laughed and nodded.
Meanwhile, Susan said, "Come on, future Mrs Potter, let's make you even more beautiful than you already are."
Astoria smiled at her sister and said, "Have fun getting ready with your friends. I'm going to help Dad. He will struggle with all of the clasps on dress robes."
Daphne nodded and smiled at her little sister, "Thanks, Astoria," she said as her friends swept her away.
"Come on, Daphne, we have to see this dress that you picked out without us," Sadie said, giving her friend a pointed look.
"Hey, I am not as picky as you were," Daphne teased Sadie, "I was perfectly capable of picking out my own dress."
The other girls laughed at this as Daphne led them into the spare room that she had turned into a wedding dressing room. Her dress was hanging up on the wardrobe, and everyone bar Lilly gaped.
"You are going to look like an angel in that," Sadie said tearfully.
"Hormones are making you crazy, Sade," Daphne chuckled, "You haven't even seen it on yet."
"We don't have to," Hermione said, "You are going to look beautiful in it."
Daphne smiled and said, "Your dresses are in the other wardrobe. Trying to come up with a dress that would flatter you all was impossible because Hermione and Sadie are tall and Lilly, Susan and Astoria are tiny. Then there was the matter of Hermione having brown hair, Sadie having blonde hair, Susan and Lilly having red hair and Astoria having really dark hair," she rattled off, "So long story short, there are two different colours and styles."
Daphne opened the wardrobe and took out the first style. These dresses were short and pastel blue, "So Susan and Lilly, you are both in blue because pink would look awful with your hair, and I figured pale blue would be a good contrast against how dark Astoria's hair is, so she is in blue too."
"Not at all harsh, Daph," Susan snorted as she took the dress from her friend.
Lilly sniggered, "Come on, we should be used to it by now."
Daphne ignored their comments and continued, "Sadie and Hermione, you two are in pink because I figured it would complement your hair and skin tones."
She held up long pastel pink dresses.
"You really thought this through," Hermione said, hiding an amused smile.
"This is why I'm going to elope," Susan muttered under her breath.
If Daphne heard her, she didn't let on, "Right so hair and make-up, please girls!"
When the boys found Harry in the drawing-room, Neville grinned and said, "Nicely done."
"You knew?" Theo asked.
"Of course he did," Draco said with a roll of his eyes.
Harry shot them an amused look, "Oh come on, of course, I told Neville."
"I knew too," Bill smirked, "Daphne told me. I had no idea I was going to be a groomsman, mind you."
"Well, if you don't include Ron because he's my best friend, you're my favourite adopted brother Bill," Harry said with a smile, "And you've done a lot for Daphne. I hope you know how much I appreciate that."
"I think I do," Bill said sincerely.
"Enough brotherly love and not so brotherly man love," Theo said with a wave of his hand, "You're getting fricking married! On New Years Eve?"
"Yep. You have met my future wife, haven't you?" Harry laughed, "She has a certain flair for the dramatics."
"Doesn't she just?" Draco muttered under his breath.
"Has she given you guys your marching orders yet?" Harry asked them.
"We've got to get dressed," Draco said with a roll of his eyes, "Please tell me you picked decent dress robes."
"I'm sure you will approve," Harry promised.
"Are we going to look like we're from Beauxbatons like at my wedding?" Theo grumbled.
"Definitely not. I'll show you once Teddy's babysitters arrive," Harry laughed.
"Here we are," Ginny said as she and Katie walked into the drawing-room with their two-month-old babies.
"Are you sure the two of you will manage him with your own little ones?" Harry asked.
"He'll be fine," Ginny said with a smile, "Look at him, sitting entertaining himself."
"He's good at that," Harry said, smiling proudly at the little boy.
"On you go, get dressed for your wedding," Katie said, giving him a nudge.
"Alright," Harry conceded, "Come up a couple of floors, guys."
They followed Harry into a spare room, a floor below the girls 'dressing room'.
"So there is definitely no Beauxbatons blue," Harry grinned as he opened the wardrobe, "I went for subtle with a flashy hem."
Draco rolled his eyes, "You have got to be kidding me."
"I won't be seen dead in that," Theo agreed.
"Theo, you looked like a ponce in your dress robes for your own wedding," Ron remarked.
Harry and Neville laughed loudly at this.
"You did," Harry agreed, "What's wrong with black dress robes?"
"I think it's the gold hem they are objecting to," Bill grinned, "I like it, very flashy."
"I agree," Neville said, "Since I helped pick it."
Ron laughed, "Me too."
"Of course you do!" Draco fumed, "It's gold! Gold is a Gryffindor thing."
"And I am a Gryffindor, and it's my wedding day," Harry smirked, "So shut up and get dressed. The robes will shrink to fit; it won't be quite the same as when Madam Malkin fits them, but it was a surprise wedding so," he shrugged.
"What made you want to plan a surprise wedding, anyway?" Ron asked curiously.
"We wanted to be spontaneous," Harry said honestly, "And Daphne didn't want the whole big white wedding thing."
"Why New Years Eve?" Theo asked.
"Because," Harry smiled, "When we had the big New Years Eve party here last year…I said to Daphne I was grateful that I had gotten that far because I never thought I would survive the war to see myself ring in 1999. She then said that she would be standing right beside me, to ring in the millennium in style."
Neville smiled, "That's one hell of a story."
"That will be a good one to tell the grandkids one day," Bill agreed with a wolfish grin.
Harry just chuckled, "I need to get dressed, then I need to try and remember my vows. I don't want to have to write them on my hand."
"You wrote your own vows?" Draco asked in surprise.
"Yeah, which I'm regretting now because every time the nerves kick in, I can't bloody remember them," Harry said with another nervous laugh.
Neville put his arm around his friend's shoulder, "Stop bricking yourself, Harry. You're marrying the love of your life, the mother of your little boy, so calm down and enjoy today."
Harry took a breath and nodded.
"Now that is a good best man," Theo said, smirking at Draco, "Not like the one who let me get lost in Vegas."
"Oh, would you give that up, you fucking prick?" Draco exclaimed, "It was not my idea to go to Vegas, and you were the one who wandered off and got lost!"
Ron and George laughed loudly about this and asked, well begged really, to be filled in on the story while they got dressed. Harry was pretty glad because it took his mind away from how nervous he was.
When Daphne finally walked out of the walk-in wardrobe wearing her dress, there was an awed silence.
"That's good, right?" She asked, surveying them all tentatively.
They all nodded.
Daphne had her hair in a loose bun with some curled strands coming down at the front. Her make-up was subtle, but her dress was stunning. It was white, floor-length and slim-fitting, which meant that it flattered Daphne's figure perfectly. The bodice had long sleeves and was rather low-cut in a V style. The lace arms and bodice were decorated with diamantes, and the dress was pulled in around her slim waist with a rose gold 'S' shaped clip.
"You look every inch the high-class pureblood that you are," Astoria said as she slipped into the room in her bridesmaid dress.
"Harry Potter is one lucky man," Sadie agreed.
"And he knows it," Hermione assured them.
Daphne smiled too, "How is Dad, Astoria?"
"Dressed and resting," Astoria replied, "He doesn't want anything to affect his ability to walk you down the aisle, so he has agreed to let Draco put him in a wheelchair and levitate him down the stairs to the ballroom."
Daphne tried to hide the tears that swam in her eyes upon hearing those words. She cleared her throat, "And the boys?"
"All dressed and ready to go," Astoria assured her sister, "Everyone is sitting down in the ballroom. Teddy is in his suit. He hasn't spilt anything on it yet, but he is bouncing around the ballroom because there are so many people for him to talk to, and Victoire is having a nap because she's a baby, you know?"
Daphne laughed, "So we're all ready to go then?"
"We are," Astoria said, "But I believe your husband-to-be has a pre-wedding surprise for you first."
Lilly glanced at Sadie, "You should go with her, Sadie."
Sadie shook her head, "You're her maid of honour, Lilly. You go."
"But it's-"
"You go," Sadie said firmly.
Lilly nodded and took Daphne's hand, "Come on, Daphne."
Daphne frowned but let Lilly lead her out of the room, "Harry realised, with a little bit of prodding, that there was someone who you really wanted to be here today who couldn't be-"
"Please tell me my mother is not out on day release," Daphne said dryly.
Lilly shook her head, "No, Harry isn't stupid. A bit clueless at times, yes, but not stupid. He did his best to make sure that this person could be here today, in some small way."
Daphne's frown deepened as they crossed the hall, "But the only person I would want here who couldn't be here is Tracey, and she's dead."
Lilly opened the door to Harry and Daphne's bedroom and motioned inside. Daphne stepped in and froze when she saw the portrait on her dresser.
"Your arse really does look big in that."
"Tracey," She breathed.
"Just remember," Lilly said softly, "It's a portrait, imbued with Sadie's memories of Tracey so she can embody her, but she doesn't have all of her memories or anything. It's not really her. It's just-"
"-an echo," Daphne finished. She tightened her grip on Lilly's hand, "I know."
"So you're really marrying the chosen one?" Tracey asked with a smile, "The boy whose name you scrawled on potions textbooks for a whole year?"
Daphne smiled slightly, "Yes, I am really marrying him."
"Haven't you come a long way?" Tracey said softly, "You look like a princess."
Daphne frowned, "I don't want to look like a princess. I want to look like a formerly evil ice queen who reluctantly redeemed herself for the side of good."
"You read too much," Tracey chuckled.
"Damn right, I do," Daphne remarked with a sad smile.
"Alright, make the eyeshadow a darker shade of blue, darken up the eyeliner a bit, put the mascara on thicker, and you will be good to go," Tracey said with a grin.
Daphne smiled too, "What happens to you after the wedding?"
"Well, I think I'll see the wedding because your new BFF is going to hang me in the drawing-room, right?"
"Yep," Lilly replied, "Where you will hang for the rest of your days."
"I'm going to become great friends with the Marauders, I can tell," Tracey said with a cheeky grin, "And I'm glad you've got Lilly, you know? I never thought the quiet, weird girl who used to fall asleep in the library would become your best friend, but I can see why it works."
Daphne tightened her grip on Lilly's hand and tried her hardest not to let her tears spill.
"Woah woah, you do not get to ruin that make-up," Tracey objected, "Hold it together, Daph."
"Do you want a hug?" Lilly asked quietly.
Daphne nodded, so Lilly wrapped her arms around her best friend.
Tracey smiled, "She's cute. I like her."
"Yeah, me too," Daphne said, laughing tearfully.
Lilly murmured a quick charm to make Daphne's make-up waterproof as she drew back from the hug. Then she glanced at the clock on the wall, "It's only 5 to 2 pm. Does this mean that Daphne Greengrass is not going to be fashionably late on this occasion?"
"I think on this occasion, I owe it to Harry to show up on time," Daphne said with a soft smile.
Tracey smiled, "Wow. The Ice Queen really has melted."
"Oh yeah," Lilly grinned, "She melted a long time ago."
"Don't tell anyone," Daphne quipped.
"I'd never dream of it," Lilly chuckled, "Ready?"
"Ready," Daphne replied.
The dress she had chosen didn't have a train which made life easier. Lilly placed a beautiful golden tiara on her head then attached her veil to it.
"Stop looking at the clock," Neville whispered, "She'll be late."
"She always is," Draco added from Neville's other side.
Harry swallowed a lump in his throat, "I can't help it, sorry."
"You have nothing to be nervous about," Neville whispered in his ear, "You know she isn't going to do a runner. You two adopted that amazing little boy together. Marriage is hardly commitment after that."
Harry smiled at the spot in the front row where Teddy was playing with a couple of cuddly toys. He knew that Neville was right, "It's an irrational sort of nervous, but I can't shake it," he admitted.
"It's your wedding day, Harry," Neville smiled, "If you are ever allowed to be irrationally nervous, it's today."
Harry chuckled and scanned the room. He was very glad that Daphne had wanted a small, intimate wedding because his hands were shaking, and he felt nauseous with nerves. He couldn't imagine if there were hundreds of people here, rather than just close family and friends.
The clock ticked to 2 pm, and his heart began to beat faster than ever before while his eyes remained fixed on the door.
When the bridal party arrived outside the ballroom, Cygnus was waiting for them in the wheelchair that he hated to use. When he saw Daphne, he pushed himself up using his cane and smiled tearfully.
"You look beautiful, my love," Cygnus said softly. He kissed both of her cheeks, then drew her in for a hug.
Daphne smiled back, just as tearfully, "Thank you, Dad."
"I am so grateful that I did not miss this day," Cygnus promised her.
Astoria smiled from the sidelines while Lilly lined up the bridal party so that they would walk into the ballroom in the correct order.
"Ready when you are, Daphne," Lilly said once she was finished.
Daphne smiled and held out her hand to her father.
"Astoria," Cygnus said, holding out his cane to his youngest daughter.
Daphne frowned, "Dad, you can't walk without your cane."
"I will walk my eldest daughter down the aisle unaided," Cygnus said firmly. He held out his hand to her, and she hooked her arm through his.
Daphne put her veil down, then with a wave of her wand, Astoria opened the doors to the ballroom, and the bridal march began to play.
Daphne took a breath and stepped into the room. Her Father walked slowly but steadily, a look of pride shining in his eyes.
Daphne's eyes found Harry's immediately. She could see him visibly relax a little when he saw her.
On Harry's part, he could not believe quite how lucky he had gotten. He had gone back to school for an eighth year, not really knowing what he wanted to do with his life, and it had, in all honesty, made his life. If anyone had asked him how he expected to spend his life, having survived the war, he would never have answered that he would marry a Slytherin, that they would adopt his godson together and that she would complete him. But they had adopted Teddy, he was marrying her, and she did complete him.
As she glided down the aisle, looking like an angel, Harry had to thank his lucky stars.
When they reached the front row, Cygnus whispered, "I am so proud of you, Daphne," then he lifted her veil.
The officiator conducting the service asked, "Do you give this woman to this man?"
Cygnus smiled and placed Daphne's hand in Harry's, "I do."
Daphne turned her tearful smile to Harry as her father sat down, and he smiled nervously back at her.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the marriage of Harry James Potter to Daphne Lareina Greengrass. Today Harry and Daphne will be united in body and soul for life through the binding of their magic. However, before we can begin, I must ask if any man can show just cause as to why Harry and Daphne may not be lawfully joined together. Let him speak now or forever hold his peace."
There was silence, which was always good.
Harry smiled at Daphne as the officiator continued, "Do you Harry James Potter, and you Daphne Lareina Greengrass, promise to comfort, honour, protect and be faithful to each other for as long as you both may live?"
"I do," Harry said sincerely.
"I do," Daphne echoed.
"Then I would ask you to give your vows to one another," The man said with a smile.
Harry took a shaky breath and began, "Daphne, when you came into my life, I was a broken man. I had survived a war that had taken so much from me, and there were holes in my soul that I did not think would ever be filled until you filled them. You give me strength in the most difficult times, and you provide light in the darkness. When I feel I cannot take the weight of the world anymore, you are always there to take the weight from my shoulders."
Harry paused for a breath and was surprised to see Daphne looking close to tears, "My love for you has not, and will never, change. I promise that, here to you today, in the presence of our closest friends, our family and our son. I promise to love you until the end."
Daphne did not often let her emotions show, and especially not in front of other people, but she did have to take a breath to steady herself and to stop the tears in her eyes from spilling.
All the same, her breath still caught in her throat as she began her vows, "Harry, you came into my life at a time when I needed some hope that someday things would get brighter. For a long time, I had been living in the darkness, content with my own loneliness until I met you. You changed everything, and you challenged my opinions. You made me rethink the way that I looked at the world, and you made me feel more alive than I ever had in my life. Before you, I don't think I ever truly lived. Although I know I don't express it often enough, I cannot tell you enough how deeply I love you, so in the presence of our family, friends and most importantly, our little boy, I vow never to let that love go to waste."
Harry had tears in his eyes by the time she had finished, and plenty of their friends were crying. Sadie was practically having an emotional breakdown, and Theo looked like he was struggling to keep a straight face while he patted her on the head.
The man conducting the service smiled and continued, "Do you, Harry James Potter, take Daphne Lareina Greengrass to have and to hold from this day forward? For better, for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, to love and to cherish until death do you part?"
"I do," Harry said, without a tremble in his voice.
"And do you Daphne Lareina Greengrass, take Harry James Potter to have and to hold from this day forward? For better, for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, to love and to cherish until death do you part?"
"I do," Daphne said, her voice breaking slightly.
The moment was fraught with emotion. They both took a moment to catch their breath as their eyes met once more.
"Teddy, that way."
"No!"
Harry bit his lip and saw Daphne fighting back laughter too as they turned to the little boy. Neville was trying to get Teddy to walk up to Harry and Daphne with the rings.
"You need to go give the rings to Mummy and Daddy," Neville whispered.
"No! Mine!"
A ripple of laughter went around the guests. Harry couldn't help but join in. He knelt at Teddy's level, "Come on over then Teddy, you can come up here with me."
Teddy reluctantly walked over and let Harry pick him up. He apologised to the officiator, "Sorry for the less than conventional service."
The man smiled and said, "This is normal compared to some of the wedding ceremonies I have seen."
Harry chuckled, and the man said, "Place the ring on Daphne's finger, Harry."
Harry opened the box and took a ring. He sat Teddy on his hip and slid the diamond and platinum band onto Daphne's finger.
"And would you place the ring upon Harry's finger, please, Daphne?" The man then asked.
Daphne slid a simple golden band onto Harry's finger.
"I am now delighted to pronounce you, man and wife," The man said with a smile, "You may now kiss the bride!"
Lilly pried Teddy from Harry with the bribe of a square of chocolate. Then Harry leant forward so that he could kiss his new wife. A golden glow surrounded them as their magic combined, and all of their friends and family cheered.
"Mumma!"
Daphne laughed and took Teddy from Lilly, "Hey, baby. Guess what? We all have the same surname now."
"Technically, he goes one better than us because he's got two surnames," Harry said, beaming at Daphne.
"Of course you guys got a golden wedding bond," Lilly said with a grin.
"Just had to one-up Theo, you know?" Harry joked.
"Oh hush you," Daphne said with a tearful smile, "It's not about bronze, silver and gold like a medal. They mean different things."
"Still," Lilly said with a smile, "Gold is very you. Love, compassion, courage, passion and wisdom."
Harry smiled at his wife, "Yeah, that is very us."
"And silver is very Sadie and Theo," Daphne said honestly, "Glamour, grace, sophistication and elegance."
Harry nodded but was distracted by what happened next.
"Throw the confetti Victoire," Fleur whispered from the front row.
Victoire, being a baby, took this literally and threw the whole pot of confetti into the air. Neville grabbed the tub before it hit anyone, but the confetti rained down all over the occupants of the ballroom regardless.
"Come on, everyone!" Neville said, quieting down the guests, "Everyone down to the entrance hall for photographs!"
By the time everyone reconvened in the ballroom for the wedding meal, plenty of photographs had been taken (with the Marauders photo-bombing several of them through Charlus's portrait in the entrance hall), and plenty of glasses of prosecco had disappeared in the process. Harry was actually happy that the Marauders had done what they did because, in some small way, it meant that his parents were in his wedding photographs.
Everyone was seated for the meal, and more alcohol was served along with the food. As such, by the time the food had been consumed, everyone had loosened up a little, which was a good thing because it was time for the speeches. Not that it helped Harry because although he suspected that in time he would be able to drink alcohol again so long as it wasn't firewhiskey, he was currently tee-total. This meant he couldn't do anything to shake off the nerves.
Cygnus rose to his feet first, keeping himself upright with his cane. He cleared his throat and smiled, "I would like to thank everyone for coming today, especially because you had no idea that you would be attending a wedding. Thank goodness for transfiguration charms, or we would all have been in our comfortable clothes."
There was a ripple of laughter at this.
"I would like to thank Astoria and Lilly for helping Daphne plan this secret wedding, and I would like to thank everyone who helped this day come together," Cygnus continued. He took a breath and steadied himself, "So what can I say about Daphne? Well, it is a beautiful name for a beautiful girl. That was what I said to Daphne's mother the first time that I saw her as a newborn baby. Most people know the name 'Daphne' is Greek, but it means laurel tree or bay tree. In Greek mythology, Daphne was a nymph who was saved from an over-amorous Apollo by her father, the river god. As the father of this Daphne, I am certainly no river god, but I am protective. Daphne is my eldest daughter, and she is strong, intelligent and has the sharpest wit. Harry, you are a very lucky man, but you had better keep your eyes open because I will warn you, I have taught her some wicked homemade curses over the years."
The guests laughed, but Daphne was smiling tearfully because the speech he was giving was the one she had found attached to her marriage contract when she had opened the fateful box that changed everything.
"I once wrote up a marriage contract for Daphne, but I think deep down I knew that Daphne would always marry for love, not convenience, and I had one condition concerning that," Cygnus continued, "I would only allow Daphne to marry a man worthy of her and I think she might have taken that advice a bit too literally since she has just married the saviour of the wizarding world."
Daphne rolled her eyes as the guests laughed, and Harry grinned.
Cygnus smiled, "In all seriousness, I am very happy for Harry and Daphne, and I would like you all to raise a glass with me."
Everyone raised their glasses.
"And toast their marriage," Cygnus finished, "To Harry and Daphne."
"To Harry and Daphne!" Echoed throughout the ballroom.
Cygnus sat down, and Daphne smiled at him, "Thank you, that was beautiful."
Cygnus's smile could not have been more genuine, "It was only the truth."
Daphne was still smiling as Neville got to his feet, "Alright, everyone, bear with me here. I'm very hit or miss in high-pressure situations. I either end up getting hung from a chandelier by pixies, or I behead a giant snake, so this could go either way."
Harry grinned and leant back in his chair. He was expecting Neville to stumble and be awkward.
"So what can I say about Harry and Daphne?" Neville asked with a mischievous grin, "A lot! For starters, I never thought I would be standing here as Harry's best man at his wedding to Daphne when we first went back to school for our final year. I mean, yes, Harry was obsessed with Daphne, but I didn't think she was going to look twice at him, to be honest."
Harry rolled his eyes while Daphne smirked.
"But Harry kept trying and trying, and trying," Neville said, "As his friend, it was a very trying time, let me tell you."
There was a ripple of laughter at these words.
"And eventually Daphne said she would go out with him, probably just to get him off her back, but here we are," Neville chuckled, "I figured maybe he'd stop whining for a bit, but he just got smug. I mean, let's be honest, his head was already pretty big after he defeated Voldemort but now that Daphne's married him, how is he going to get it through the front door?"
They all laughed at this, Harry included. Neville was doing a damn good job of this speech.
"But in all seriousness," Neville said with a small smile, "Harry was lost after the war. I think we all were for a little bit. I worried for a while that he might not get a happy ending because of that, but Daphne helped him find himself in the aftermath of it, and every day since, she has been there to help him heal."
Harry smiled a little tearfully, and Daphne took his hand.
"And he changed her too," Neville said, "He brought her out of her shell. He showed her that there was more to life than money and titles and class, although I think she's still pretty happy about being a Marchioness-"
"Oh yeah," Daphne grinned.
Neville chuckled, "But all the same, they taught each other a lot. They learn from each other every day. Daphne learns what a machine gun is, and Harry learns about relatives that Daphne knows he had, that he has no idea about."
All the purebloods laughed at this one.
"So although Harry has stooped right down to the level of the Blacks – no offence Narcissa and Andromeda, offence entirely intended Draco – and married his second cousin. I think they are going to make each other pretty happy. Anyone with eyes can see how much they love each other and how much they adore their little boy. So like Cygnus, I would like to toast Harry and Daphne!" Neville said, raising his glass.
"To Harry and Daphne!"
Harry shot Neville an amused look as he rose to his feet, "I would like to thank Cygnus for his moving speech and Neville for his interesting one. It was definitely clear that you were winging it."
"You told me that I speak best from the heart!" Neville objected to the laughter of the guests.
"You're better in a battle!" Harry joked with a grin. He then turned to the hall where everyone was waiting for him to begin his speech, "So I thought a lot about what I ought to say in this speech, and I think I should address a question that people ask you when you tell them that you are getting married. They always ask, "When did you know you were in love with her?" and I hate that question because I can't pinpoint one moment. I fell for Daphne over a period of time. It didn't just happen. It took weeks or maybe even months in that time Neville so kindly referred to earlier," there was some chuckling at this.
Harry smiled, "And little things at that time made me fall further and further. I don't know exactly which moment was the one that truly made me fall in love with Daphne. It might have been when she finally agreed to be my girlfriend on bonfire night or when I saw how much she loved Christmas. It might have been when she was there for me after the events of Valentine's Day. I don't know if it was during family planning week when she took to Teddy better than I thought possible. The closest moment that I can pinpoint of them all was when we took Teddy away for Easter. I'm sure it sounds crazy that an image of Daphne and Teddy walking hand in hand down a beach is what I think about when I cast a Patronus, but after the war, I didn't think it would be possible for me to feel as happy as I did in that one, simple moment."
Daphne smiled up at him, and he looked back down at her with a tearful smile, "But those moments are golden. Those were the moments when I looked at her and thought, Godric, I'm so lucky, and there were so many of them that I can't tell you exactly which one was the one. There are still moments like that, all of the time, moments like today. So I prepared a little something to show Daphne how much I love her, how thankful I am for her and how much I appreciate her."
Daphne raised an eyebrow at him, "You did?"
Harry grinned at her and nodded, "I did," he said as he jumped down from the top table and climbed up onto the stage behind it.
"This is something that not many people know about me, not even you, Daph. When I was a kid, I wrote poems. My cousin used to tease me something rotten for it, and during the war, Hermione told me that a poem is just a song without music," Harry explained. He smiled over at his friend, and she smiled back proudly.
"So I have a little bit of help since I cannot play a single instrument," he pulled the cord to open the curtains, revealing the Weird Sisters all set up on the stage, "And I don't know how great my singing is, but we're about to find out. Daphne, I've been working on this for a little while, and I hope you like it."
Daphne looked just as stunned as everyone else as the music began to play. Harry took a breath and stood behind the microphone. He shut his eyes and began to sing with an excellent singing voice. Daphne's jaw dropped, "How did I not know that he can sing?" she asked the top table in general.
"Probably cause you never had to share a shower room with him after Quidditch or at training," Neville joked.
Daphne chuckled but then fell silent to listen to the song that Harry had written for her.
"I need a family to drive me crazy. Call me out, when I'm low and lazy," Harry sang, opening his eyes to look over at Teddy, "It won't be perfect, but we'll be fine cause I've got your back, and you've got mine," he caught Daphne's eye, "You've got mine."
"We'll have tiny boxes for memories. Open them up and we'll set them free," Harry kept his eyes on Daphne, "There'll be bad days and some hard times, but I'll keep your secrets, if you keep mine."
Daphne smiled, albeit very tearfully at him. She would always keep his secrets, and he knew that.
"You are the memory that won't ever lapse, when 25 years have suddenly passed. Wherever you take me, it's clear I will go cause your love's the one love that I need to know," Harry sang beautifully.
"Who knew he was such a romantic?" Draco whispered to Hermione.
Hermione smiled softly, "I did, and I never underestimated how much Harry loves Daphne like you did."
Draco smiled a little and grabbed Hermione's hand.
"Take my picture, and then you laugh, but I hate the way I look in photographs. Keep your memories, but don't live in the past. I'm looking forward to the best days we will have," Harry said, his eyes flicking over to Teddy, who was bopping his head in time to the song, even though it was relatively slow.
As Harry sang the chorus again, it was clear to see that Daphne wasn't the only one who connected with the song.
"You are the memory that won't ever lapse when 25 years have suddenly passed," Sadie caught Theo's eye from where she sat at the top table. He noticed and smiled back at her, "Wherever you take me, it's clear I will go. Your love's the one love that I need to know."
Draco tightened his hand on Hermione's, and Neville caught Lilly's eye along the top table too.
"You can cry away all your complicated memories that keep you up so many times. But darling, save your apologies, because I know that you're scared, but I swear, you'll be alright," Harry said, looking Daphne straight in the eye.
Daphne swallowed a lump in her throat and raised her hand to dab away the few tears that she had allowed to fall.
"When the answers escape us, when we start to fade, remember who loved you and the ones who have stayed," Harry sang, and Daphne thought of their friends, of her father and her sister.
"Cause my body will fail, but my soul will go on, so don't you get lonely, I'm right where you are," Harry sang, and that lyric held more meaning than most people knew because Daphne was one of the few people who Harry had trusted with the truth about the fact he had been a Horcrux.
"You are the memory that won't ever lapse, when 25 years have suddenly passed," Harry sang for a final time, "Wherever you take me, it's clear will I will go cause your love is the one love that I need to know."
The song finished, and everyone clapped. Daphne wasn't the only one who was crying either.
Harry made his way over to the top table, and she rose to her feet. She had dabbed the worst of the tears away, but a few more spilt as she kissed him and whispered, "Thank you. That was…that was the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me."
Harry smiled back, "It took a lot of overcoming my stage fright, but Dave was a good listener."
Daphne laughed weakly, "You practised on Dave?"
"Snakes are very critical. I needed that to improve," Harry said entirely seriously, "He would have told me if I was tone-deaf."
"I swear, you are unnaturally close to that snake," Neville muttered, which caused a ripple of laughter to go down the top table.
As people dispersed following the meal, Daphne whispered to Harry, "I'm going to nip out for a chat with my Dad. Are you okay on your own?"
"I'll be fine," Harry assured her, "I love you."
Daphne smiled radiantly at him, "I love you too."
She slipped out and left Harry to set the ballroom up for the party that would begin in the next hour or so. The guests had mostly gone to either the kitchen or the garden. Daphne was relatively sure that she would find her father outside somewhere. After all, he could hardly go far, and she liked to think that she knew him reasonably well. She smiled when he saw him, sitting on a bench looking up at the night sky.
She sat down next to him, and they were silent for a moment.
"I cannot tell you how proud of you I am today," Cygnus said quietly.
Daphne frowned, "Why? All I did was get married."
"To the man you love," Cygnus said, turning to look at his daughter, "You went against typical pureblood etiquette, you went against your marriage contract, and you married for love. You were strong enough to do that, and that makes me very proud of you."
Daphne looked away from him to the night sky, "All I did, all I ever tried to do, was what felt right to me. That was why I couldn't stand by Draco when he became a Death Eater. I did love him, but I couldn't love a man who was capable of that. Harry…he has his flaws, of course, the war left him with more mental scars than physical ones, but he is a good man, he is a good father, and I love him more than I ever thought I could love a person."
She sighed and continued, "You tried your best to raise Astoria and I without the prejudice that you were raised with, and you did a good job of it. I mean, I married a half-blood and Astoria-"
"You know fine well you married properly," Cygnus cut in, smiling at his daughter, "Harry Potter may be a half-blood, but he has a title, a family manor and a hell of a lot of honour. Your sister's new boyfriend has no claim to any fortune."
"Does it matter if Astoria is happy?" Daphne asked, "Her tastes were never that expensive."
"Compared to yours," Cygnus said, his smile turning into a smirk, "I know you love Harry and I know you married for love, but I doubt you see it as an inconvenience that he has money, a beautiful home, a title and a seat on the Wizengamot."
"It isn't about that, you're right," Daphne said honestly, "But all the same, I was raised a certain way, and I am a bit of a privileged princess, which Harry likes to remind me of every so often," she smiled, "So yes, it would have been hard to live without that."
"Do you think Astoria will realise, in time, that she wants that too?" Cygnus asked.
Daphne leant back thoughtfully, "Do you know? I don't think that she will because I genuinely don't think it bothers her. Yes, she was raised in a nice big house with nice things and lots of money, but for a long time, she never knew your love, so I think she craves love far more than nice things."
Cygnus put his arm around her and sighed, "When did you get so grown up and wise, Daphne?"
Daphne smiled and kissed her Dad on the cheek, "When you had your big nap Dad," she said softly.
* ~ TBC ~ *