CHAPTER 4

It was a Saturday afternoon in late February. Anastasia was sitting in the armchair next to the fire, idly flicking through The Daily Prophet when an article caught her eye.

'TINTAGEL VOTED TOP WEDDING VENUE'

She read on.

'Cornwall's Tintagel Castle, legendary home of the wizard Merlin, has been voted Britain't top wedding venue by readers of 'Witch Bride' magazine. Although it is a popular muggle tourist attraction, the ruined castle also appeals to witches and wizard trying the knot in traditional moonlight ceremonies.'

She walked over to the desk, where Snape was marking a pile of first year essays, muttering the odd unflattering comment under his breath. She put the paper down in front of him. He picked it up, read it, and looked at Anastasia.

'Do you want to get married there?' He asked. They had discussed wedding venues, but so far hadn't been able to find anywhere suitable.

'Well, it does sound nice, doesn't it? What do you think?' She looked at him expectantly.

'As long as we get married, I don't care where it takes place' he replied.

She smiled. 'I'll take that as a yes, then. I'll send them an owl to ask for more information.'

She went off to the owlery, leaving Snape to look more closely at the article, and the picture of the ruined castle which accompanied it. There was something oddly familiar about it, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it…

Within a fortnight, everything had been arranged. They were to be married at midnight at Tintagel Castle two days after the start of the Easter holidays, and spend the rest of the holidays honeymooning in Cornwall. All that was left to do was invite the guests. For Anastasia, this wouldn't be too hard. She only had one living relative-her great aunt Arabella. The rest of her family on the wizarding side of the family had died in a house fire five years previously. As for the muggle side, well, she wasn't too close to them, and she could hardly invite them to a Wizard wedding. Still, there was one more person she wanted to invite. Her best friends son…