Hello again, darlings. I am a day early because last night I realized we have a cross country meet and Comic Con this weekend. (Happily in the same city.) But this means I will not have time to finish and post tomorrow, so I made this chapter just Harry's wedding and am I posting. Enjoy!
Chapter 27: Mr. and Mrs. Potter
The day before Harry's wedding, Hermione cleared her calendar so she could devote the entire day to set up the ceremony and check with the reception hall. Ron pointed out she wasn't the best man or the maid of honor. "No, the best man gets to deal with a nervous Harry," she patted his cheek smirking. "What I'm really doing is making sure Annika's sisters don't let Sigurd go off script because he's excited and they can't tell him no."
"And you can?" questioned Ron with a scoff of laughter. "That man either charms or confuses everyone."
"He tries. I am capable of keeping him in line. It's like dealing with the twins, except there is only one of him." She smiled.
"Have fun I guess," he shrugged.
"More than you will. Be careful not to overdose him with calming draught." She grinned at Ron's worried face as she apparated away.
She landed in the middle of a deserted beach along the cliffs in Porthcurno. Sigurd and his granddaughters had arrived earlier and began casting the muggle repealing wards and the other privacy charms needed to keep this moment private and secure from muggles. Annika's sisters began setting the flora and tulle decorations. Nodding in approval Hermione turned the older man's attention to setting up the chairs for the guests. She directed him to create the perfect frame of the cliffs behind the arch. Satisfied with the placement, she flicked her wand and transfigured two boulders into a delicately entwined archway with numerous openings. Another bit of magic created a vine of deep red roses, which Hermione braided into her arch.
"Stunning," she looked over her shoulder to see Sigurd smiling at her with pride. "You are so talented with runes and mixing them seamlessly into rituals, it is easy to forget you excel at the gentler magics as well."
"If that was a compliment, then thank you."
"It was. You have more flower plans?"
"Yes." She turned to the aisle. "Help me lay the rest of those flowers in a layer on the sand." Once they were done, she cast a spell to create a coating similar to clear acrylic and hardened it. "No high heels sinking into the sand during this bridal march."
Smiling with approval Sigurd cast a preservation spell over the area protecting it from the elements, nature, and anything else. The last thing they did was cast a spell to keep animagnus out, just in case Skeeter thought to get revenge by crashing Harry Potter's wedding.
Harry woke them early the next morning, his nerves getting the better of him. "Harry," Hermione snapped, "she cannot not show up. She is legally obligated to marry you. If you do not stop this right now I will hex you."
Viktor stared at her in wide-eyed shock. Harry hung his head, "I'm sorry. You're right."
"Now, go have Kreacher start breakfast. We will be down to join you as soon as we get dressed," she ordered.
Harry began pulling the door closed behind him, "Okay."
Hermione slipped out from under the covers and pulled on a simple sundress. Viktor sat watching his wife. "Will you be joining us this morning?"
"You yelled at him."
"Yes, I do that from time to time."
"But, you yelled at Harry."
"Because he needed it. He's faced far worse than getting married straight on without carrying on. If I coddled him it would only make his nerves worse."
"Coddling means bad things?"
"Yes, if I am coddling him, then it is bad. If I snap and order him about everything is fine. When he needs it, I will coddle. Now, get dressed."
"Because everything is fine?"
"Because if we don't get down there we won't get anything to eat. Ron has a hollow leg and a bottomless pit for a stomach."
Kreacher served them a full English breakfast at the kitchen table. Hermione skimmed the headlines of the Daily Prophet while eating. She stopped to read the under-the-fold article. Chuckling, she held out the paper, "Here's the best wedding gift I can give you."
Ron took the paper and read aloud, "Illegal Animagnus Found Guilty of Spying. Rita Skeeter, formerly a reporter and columnist for the Daily Prophet, and author of the tell-all book, Dumbledore: Life and Lies, has been found guilty of failing to register as an animagnus and using her beetle form to spy on celebrities and in top secret meetings for decades. Skeeter has been registered and due to the time and severity of her crimes, a 30-year sentence without parole has been passed." Ron whistled, "Wow, they threw the book at her."
Harry smiled, "Thanks, Hermione. I know this wasn't just for me, but now there is zero chance of her crashing the wedding and publishing insane stories."
"You're welcome. What do want to do until Neville gets here?"
In the end, they opted to teach Ron and Viktor how to play poker, which turned into strip poker. Neville arrived to find Ron wearing his pants, Harry down to his trousers, Viktor wearing nothing but a smile, while Hermione placed a sock on the table. "Do I even want to know?"
"These two hustled us." Ron shook his head, "First it was let's teach them poker. Then, hey, how about strip poker. Now, we're starkers."
"And ready to go take a shower. Scoot." She kissed Viktor's cheek, "You can join me if you want."
"No, no shower sex while we get ready." Harry ordered, "Plenty of bathrooms, each to your own."
"Party pooper," Hermione grumbled as she went.
Annika and Harry agreed they wanted a casual affair. The groom and his attendants wore beige linen shirts and navy blue trousers. Hermione wore a navy colored dress matching the bridesmaids' style. Their dresses were a vibrant emerald green. Hermione pinned bluebell boutonnieres to their lapels. She allowed Viktor to tie the ribbons of her corsage around her wrist.
"Harry, I want to thank you for not making us wear stuffy suits in August at the beach."
"Yeah, cheers, mate," Ron agreed.
"I didn't want to die of a heat stroke, either." He looked at Hermione, "Do we have everything?"
"We do. Everyone grab the portkey." She held out the wicker basket. They each took hold of the handle. "Try to land on your feet."
"She's talking to you, Neville," teased Ron. Hermione rolled her eyes but didn't respond as the portkey activated depositing them onto the beach.
Harry looked around at the decorations, "You guys did an amazing job, Mione."
"Yeah, they did," Ginny remarked walking over to them. "You all need to get to your area."
"Thanks, Ginny," Harry smiled at her. "You look wonderful."
"You clean up nice, Potter." she told him, "Then again, we already knew that from numerous formal events over the last seven years."
"And Yule Ball," added Hermione.
"Oh, and Yule Ball," Ginny concluded. "Now, staging places, people." Harry and the others made their way into a tented area off to the side.
Viktor made his way over to Sigurd to offer his assistance for last minute arrangements as the others entered the small white tent. Ron flicked his wand casting a cooling charm on the area. He, Hermione, and Neville then watched Harry pace back and forth. "Were we this bad beforehand?" asked Neville.
"No idea," answered Hermione. "I was with the brides. Hannah was perfectly serene. If she had nerves or doubts she kept them well hidden. Moira had a brief panic that she wasn't good enough to marry a war hero. I reassured her she was."
Ron smiled at her, "Thanks, Mione."
"Yeah, I told her you to snore, tend to talk when you chew if you are excited, your socks give off fumes that might be capable of killing small mammals, and you have moments where you have the emotional range of a serving spoon."
Neville and Harry laughed at the look of disbelief on Ron's face. "Oi, Ron, Hermione thinks you've had emotional growth. Up from a teaspoon to a serving spoon." Hermione smirked and winked at him, tilting her head towards Harry.
Understanding what she was doing, Ron grinned, "Laugh it up. She's going to be living with you. Plenty of time to tell Annika embarrassing stories."
"He's not wrong," teased Neville.
"Nonsense, Hermione loves me. She's my sister."
"Because siblings don't ever embarrass their family just for fun," Ron rolled his eyeballs. Harry stopped laughing and looked at Hermione in complete panic.
"Relax, Harry, you know I will always have your back first and foremost. Just like Moira knows I told her exaggerated things to relieve her anxiety. Except for the serving spoon thing." All of them laughed this time.
Molly popped her head through the opening, "Time to take your places." She beamed at them proudly. Smiling nervously, Harry led them across the sand to the stone archway.
Strains of violins floated on the breeze as Annika's sisters began the processional down the aisle. As Sigurd escorted Annika to the far end, the music swelled into a full orchestra. The bride beamed at the groom standing at the other end of the flower strewn walkway. He stared back in open appreciation of her beauty. Kingsley Shacklebolt smiled at the pair. "We are gathered here," he began.
"Again," shouted a Weasley twin.
Kingsley continued, " to unite these two in marriage."
"For the first time," yelled the other twin. Molly twisted in her seat to shoot them a warning glare.
Kingsley continued, ignoring the heckling, "The couple has informed me they are sick to death of boring people droning on and on about marriage since they listen to it multiple times a week." Everyone laughed. "And have decided to use Swedish vows." He looked at Harry.
He took her hand, "I, Harry James, take you, Annika Denae, to be my wife, to share with me through both joyful and sorrowful times, and devote myself to you, until we are parted in death." He slid a gold ring on her hand.
Smiling up at him, Annika repeated the vows, "I, Annika Denae, take you, Harry James, to be my husband, to share with me through both joyful and sorrowful times, and devote myself to you until we are parted in death."
"By the power vested in me by the Ministry of Magic, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." In keeping with their mischievous mood, the Weasley twins wolf-whistled at the demure peck the couple shared. Molly shot them a look promising retribution if they did not settle down. Chuckling Kingsley lifted his arms, "For the first time, may I introduce Mr. and Mrs. Harry Potter." The guests applauded. "The happy couple invite you to join them at The Ivy and the Rose in Diagon Alley. Portkeys will be available in twenty minutes."
Harry offered Annika his arm and walked her up the aisle through the cheering throng. The rest of the wedding party followed. While the group took group pictures, Viktor and the Weasleys quickly returned the beach to its original state. Viktor shrank the stone arch and cast lightweight charms on it. He placed it in a box and called for Harry's house elf. The elder elf popped onto the beach, "Yes, master Rune mistress?"
"Please take this box back to the house. Master Sigurd and I will sort it out tomorrow."
"May Kreacher take the remainder of the boxes back as well?"
"If that would make you happy. Thank you."
"Kreacher wants to help with Master and new Mistress's happy day."
"Thank you, Kreacher."
The portkeys delivered the guests to the side entrance of the Ivy and the Rose to avoid accidents. Hermione admired the interior decoration as they made their way through the taproom to the private back room. She admitted that they tended to eat at the old local, or at one of Finnegan's places. She looked over at Viktor. He placed a hand to the small of her back, "I like the look. If dinner is as good as it smells, we should come back." Some of the patrons tried to look as if they weren't watching the famous wizards streaming past them, others didn't even bother with the pretense, but sat openly gawking. "Annika is right, hosting their reception will boost business."
"Might as well use the fame for good," she whispered back.
The proprietors had decorated the large room in green and blue. The head table had an alternating blue and green tablecloth, the rest of the tables were covered with white. Gold candelabras on each table lit the room. Once everyone was seated, the wait staff served roast beef, browned potatoes, and carrots. Ron moaned, "Do they have a flat upstairs? Because I'm moving in here. This is on par with Mum's cooking."
"Does Molly know to make this dish?" asked Viktor? "Can she teach you?"
"I'll check, shall I?"
"Yes, please."
After dinner, the tables were cleared and the dancing began. Hermione rested her head on Viktor's shoulder as they watched the Potters share their first dance. "Do you regret not having this kind of reception?" he kissed her temple.
"Of course, not. We'll have one of these with the muggle wedding. My gran is excited to meet my foreign sports superstar fiance."
"Regulated back to fiance again. Sigh."
"Oh, yes, you poor put upon baby."
"I am. I suffer so." They laughed. "Come dance with me, not wife."
"I would be delighted to, not husband."
