"I'm not going."
"Persephone Noel Lupin…"
"I am NOT going, Hermione, and don't think just because you're one higher in class rank than me that you can…"
"SEPHIE, you HAVE to go to the wedding! Fred and Angelina are expecting you! You already told them you would go!"
Sephie sat for a few moments. "All right. I'll go. But you have to stay with me at ALL times! Promise me!"
"I promise, Sephie," Hermione said with a relieved smile. "Now, come on, we have to go to Hogsmeade to get our dresses!"
~*~
"George, you ARE coming to my wedding, right?" Fred asked, casually leaning against the door. George looked up, confusion marring his features.
"Du-uh, Fred, I'm your best man. Remember?"
Fred shrugged uncomfortably. "Yeah, but… well, you know…"
"I know, Fred. I'm going."
"No bloodshed, brother," Fred warned harshly.
"Only if someone attacks me first," he sighed.
"Did you hear about the latest soap opera at Hogwarts concerning ickle Ronnikins and his wittle girlfriend?" Fred asked brightly.
"No! Do tell!" George said just as brightly.
"Well, apparently SOMEONE wants Hermione and Ron broken up, so someone posed as Hermione and kissed- a guy, and Ron saw 'her' and FLIPPED."
George shook his head. "I told Mum, 'anger management.' But does she listen to me? Noooo."
"It gets better."
"Better?"
"Better. Then Ron, in a jealous rage," continued Fred in a dramatic bass…
"Killed himself!" George suggested hopefully.
"No such luck. He kissed Lavender Brown…"
"Ugh! It seems we need to give him taste lessons, as well," George said, making a face.
"Well, he IS dating Hermione… she's first rate."
"Oh. I didn't mean HER. Besides, she was the instigator there," George said, waving his hand dismissively.
"Anyway, he kissed Lavender, the REAL Hermione caught him, went schizophrenic…"
"And killed herself!"
"NO."
"Killed Lavender!"
"No, but apparently she held her out the window 500 feet about the Quidditch pitch with her MIND."
"Whoa. Can we say, 'Carrie?'"
"Definitely."
The twins loved Stephen King.
"Then she threw Snape into a wall and ended up losing all her magic."
"Huh!?"
"Don't worry, she got it back."
"Oh, good."
"But they made up all nice, cause Ron swallowed his pride and went on his hands and knees… in a letter… to her."
"Oh, that's good. Can't really make fun of Mione till she's one of the family, now can we? Besides, I have some FABULOUS ideas on how to trash THAT wedding…" George said with a gleam in his eye.
"Oh, yes. See here, George, Angel made me promise I wouldn't pull anything funny…"
"That means Canary Creams and Ton Tongue Toffees as favors are out. Oh, bollocks, I LIKED that idea!"
~*~
The wedding was a total success. 48 hours after George was mourning the loss of a pranking opportunity, Angelina became a Weasley. Mrs. Weasley cried buckets, Mr. Weasley beamed, and Ginny Weasley slipped something she had concocted into Fred's drink at the reception, temporarily turning him into an otter. The guests were treated to the not so bizarre sight (remember, they all know the twins) of a baby otter in a tux being carried by a red headed teen that was being chased by a screaming bride. Fred actually changed back in George's arms, collapsing them both and causing Angelina to run right into them. After that her anger faded and she laughed until she cried. Soon after that fiasco, though, the dancing began.
Sephie had walked into the reception on Oliver's arm, and the stiffening of George's entire profile was evidence to his notice. He didn't say anything, but they all knew he was struggling, and Hermione kissed his cheek with a soft, "Don't worry about it, George."
They were all distracted when Dumbledore came over to give best wishes to the new couple. "Congratulations, congratulations! How are you two doing?" he beamed upon them.
"Just fine, Professor," Angelina smiled, leaning on Fred's arm.
Dumbledore tutted. "I know you've only been out of school for a year, but really! You needn't call me Professor!"
"It still seems odd to call you anything else, Albus," Fred said jauntily.
"That's the spirit, my boy. I wish you both the best… my gift has already been delivered to your… house," Dumbledore laughed. "And how are the rest of you? Well? Excellent! Have a good, good time… we mustn't lose our senses of humor," he said as his eyes twinkled merrily. Then he was gone.
"I'll be back," Fred said after whispering in his wife's ear for a moment.
Fred walked up to Sephie and Oliver. "Can I cut in, there, Oliver?" Fred asked in his jaunty tone. Oliver shrugged.
"Sure. I'll see you in a bit, Seph," he said, giving her hand a squeeze and handing her off to Fred.
Across the room, Angelina was hauling a reluctant George out of his seat. "Come on, then, George, it's my wedding day. You have to make me happy. And you dancing ONE dance with me would make me happy."
George sighed. "Alright, then, Lina. Only cause you're my 'sister.'"
Fred and Angelina's eyes caught across the room and they both nodded with smiles.
In the middle of the dance floor, the two couples encountered each other. Skillfully, Fred stole Angelina and passed off Sephie. "Dance and be merry, you two, I have to go steal some punch with my wife," Fred uttered in a lordly tone as he led Angelina off.
This left George and Sephie in the middle of the floor.
Together.
Slowly, as if afraid Sephie would beat him to a bloody pulp, he took her in his arms and they began to dance. "How've you been, George?" she finally managed.
George looked bitter as he spied Oliver across the floor. "Not as good as YOU'VE been, obviously."
Sephie followed his line of sight and flinched slightly. "I don't intend to fight with you on your brother's wedding day," she said formally.
"Fine."
They danced in quiet for a few more moments before George got up the courage to say, "Why did we ever separate, Sephie?"
Sephie sighed. "George, it was a lot of bloody crap that really... it just..." she couldn't finish.
"I miss you," he said softly.
She almost fell at that statement, so softly uttered, yet unmistakable for what it was.
"I miss you, too, George," she sighed almost inaudibly.
"Then... why do we..." George looked helpless. "Why aren't we together?!"
"I don't know. Maybe, someday, we will be back together... but not now, George."
He nodded as the dance ended and he was swept with the crowd to the seats, leaving Sephie with her very tossed up feelings. As she saw Oliver approaching her, she knew things with him would never work out. George was still there, and as long as he was there, any chance of another relationship on Sephie's part was essentially screwed.
And yet... she couldn't bring herself to admit that to him.
Maybe it was her pride. Maybe it was the fact that she felt like George was smothering her. But she knew that it would take a lot of growing up on both their parts before even the notion of being back together could enter into the equation. But for now, she put on her brave mask for Oliver and let him dance with her. These things could be dealt with later.
~*~
Harry leaned over to Mariah. "What's wrong? Ever since you talked to Dumbledore, you've been kinda out of it.
Mariah wanted to tell him about their conversation, but there were too many people around. "I'll tell you later, Harry," she whispered, giving him a quick kiss.
"Wanna dance?" he asked, eyes alight. "I'm getting pretty good at it."
Mariah smiled at his eagerness. "Sure," she said, taking his hand.
Sirius looked up as he saw Harry and Mariah take the floor. "I was wondering when his parents' love of dancing would kick in."
Remus laughed from the other side. "Let's just hope he doesn't have James' two left feet," he quipped, looking at his laughing wife and her friend.
Jessi wiped her eyes and looked over at Sirius. "You only say that because you're HERE, instead of THERE."
~*~
Oliver led Sephie out to the veranda and leaned on the railing.
"Are you alright?" he asked her softly; she was staring off into space.
"Huh? Oh… fine… I guess… Oliver…" She took a deep breath. "I don't think this is working. First of all, you're a teacher at my school. Secondly, I really don't think this relationship is going anywhere… which is partly my fault. I don't think any relationship will work with George Weasley alive and/or single." She laughed a bit as she said this, but it was a bitter laugh, filled with all the things she longed to do and couldn't.
He looked taken aback for a moment, then smiled sadly. "George. Yes, I see your point. I was going to tell you that I've been accepted as head Keeper of Puddlemere United… so I would have been leaving in a month after all."
"Oh. Congratulations." Then a silence fell between them, and Oliver felt he had to say something.
"What are you planning on doing when you graduate?" he asked her curiously.
She sighed. "I was thinking of doing professional photography… I love exotic animals, and I know books are looking for pictures of them, so the pay will be good… and I've always wanted to see the world."
"Wow, that sounds perfect for you." After a bit more silence, he leaned forward and kissed her cheek. "Good luck."
She returned it. "Ditto, and keep in touch." The he gave a small bow, not feminine at all, although on some men it might have been, and went inside. Sephie let out a deep sigh and leaned her head on the railing.
"Why me?" she complained to the stars, who twinkled a bit in response. "Yeah, yeah, twinkle all you want."
~*~
The time after the wedding found people in different attitudes than usual. Of course, Ally was mood swinging like there was no tomorrow, and Remus was having 'fun' dealing with her as her due date approached. Hermione was helping out her mother, and Sephie was also unusually subservient. Jeremy and Ginny were popping in and out of 'public' view, basically being very discreet. Ron was actually helping Hermione and Sephie, playing the part of the dutiful boyfriend to the hilt. Harry and Mariah had fallen into the whole, ' I live and will die for you' attitude… which was slightly wearing on the others. Lexi was helping Draco and Lucius adjust to each other, which was interesting. To understate the situation.
Thus, the months passed, and on a sunny Saturday morning in May, the stillness was abruptly shattered…
"REMUS LUPIN, IF I COULD REACH YOU, YOU'D BE SO FUCKING DEAD!!!!!"
Ron openly gaped at two things: the fact that they could hear Ally's screams from the Hospital Wing in the Common Room, and that language out of his normally gentle teacher's mouth.
Hermione grinned at her sister. "Looks like Mum's in labor."
Sephie covered her ears. "Gee, what was your first clue?"
"I HATE YOU, YOU SON OF A- OOOOHHHH!!!!!" Ally's sentence trailed off into a shriek of pain. Then they heard a yelp of pain that wasn't Ally's.
Sephie gave Hermione a grin. "There go Dad's fingers, I expect. Maybe we should-"
"DON'T YOU DARE TRY TO TAKE YOUR HAND AWAY FROM ME, REMUS! IF YOU WERE IN A TENTH OF THE PAIN I'M IN…"
"-Stay RIGHT here," Hermione finished, opening her book with a sigh.
"I'm sure Dumbledore will send for us when she's through," Sephie nodded, turning to her Exploding Snap cards. She was determined to find a game she could play on her own with them, like Muggle Solitaire.
Ron stood there staring at them. "A-aren't you WORRIED about her?"
"It's labor, Ron. It's not a walk in the park. Of course we're worried," said Hermione coolly, not looking up.
"But-" Ron gave a grunt of defeat. "Whatever. If you're not going to spaz, then neither am I."
Mariah came bolting in the Common Room. "Wow! I had no idea Professor Lupin could scream like that! She sounds like she's in so much... pain !"
"Mariah, love," Sephie said with exaggerated patience, "she's in LABOR. Jezzus, Herm, you'd think we're the only ones who understand that concept!"
"I suppose," Hermione murmured noncommittally, immersed in her book.
Eventually, the whole lot of them was in the Common Room, waiting for news.
~*~
Spent, Ally watched them bathe her daughter and place her in her arms. She looked down… and her eyes widened.
"Poppy… is this… am I seeing…"
Poppy nodded solemnly as she turned to fix Remus' hands. "I don't understand it, either."
Ally examined her daughter's head again. Her hair was silver. Not white, or blonde, but SILVER?! It actually glimmered in the sunlight on her tiny head.
"What's the matter?" Remus demanded, trying to see around Poppy as she flicked her wand at each of his fingers in succession.
"Remus…" Poppy finally let Remus come over, and as he saw his daughter for the first time he immediately knew what they were referrencing.
"My God… this is amazing…" he managed, fingering one tiny lock.
"I think we should call her Luna," Ally winked, smiling proudly at her newest child. To her astonishment, Remus agreed!