CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: The Joining of the Wands

The little spare time available at Hogwarts became filled with the welcome diversion of wedding plans. Everyone, including many students, turned their attention towards it, offering ideas, taking full advantage of the romantic atmosphere, whispering and giggling behind Remus and Roxanne's backs. They'd finally decided on Easter weekend-a small gathering of close friends and family in Professor Dumbledore's study. A letter arrived from Remus' father congratulating them and stating that he'd be there with bells on. But several trips to London to collect her muggle mail yielded no reply from Roxanne's brother Allan. She hadn't really expected one, but hoped he'd have the decency to at least share the news with his wife. Angela had always been nice to Roxanne, despite (or perhaps because of) her husband's malice toward her.

Professor Dumbledore agreed to perform the ceremony; Sirius gladly accepted when Remus asked him to be best man; Roxanne asked Hagrid to give her away- he burst into sobs, blubbering about how honored he'd be and how proud he was of her.

The question of a maid of honor proved difficult. Roxanne had no long-time friends. Of those in the wizard world, she'd known Molly Weasley the longest. She'd almost decided to break completely with tradition and ask Ron or Harry. The group of them-Remus, Sirius, Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Roxanne-spent a blustery March day gathered around Hagrid's table for a round of Butterbeer that Ron had brought back from Hogsmeade the day before, where Roxanne told them. Remus laughed. Ron turned bright red. Sirius looked Harry up and down-"He'd look ravishing in a frilly pink frock." Harry kicked him hard under the table.

"I think you should ask Professor McGonagall," suggested Hermione firmly. She was well aware of the daunting task the Professor had undertaken in finally helping Roxanne to succeed in transfiguration.

Ron gaped at Hermione as if she'd just suggested a stroll through a lake of fire. "Professor McGonagall? Are you mad?"

"She's on my short list," replied Roxanne. "So's your mother, Ron."

"My mum? I don't know if she would," he said. "She's upset Bill didn't ask you first."

"To marry him?" she laughed. Ron nodded.

"Was he going to?" Remus asked, a bit defensively.

"No. That doesn't matter to mum. She just thinks he should've, whether he wanted to or not."

Remus frowned.

"Nothing against you, Professor," Ron hurried on. "She just thinks Bill might settle down a bit if he found the right girl-I think she was hoping Roxanne would be the one."

"But what about his girlfriend?" asked Roxanne.

Ron looked at her puzzled. "Bill doesn't have a girlfriend."

"He told me he did. On Halloween night. He told me all about her. They met in Morocco. You really didn't know?" Roxanne was beginning to feel she'd let a secret slip that she shouldn't have. But Bill had said nothing about keeping it under her hat.

Ron shook his head, his eyes wide. "I don't think Mum and Dad know either," he said, whistling quietly. "This is great!" he shouted.

"What's great?" asked Harry smiling.

"I've got blackmail material!" beamed Ron. "I'll bet Bill'd do anything to keep Mum from finding out."

**********

In the end, Roxanne asked Professor McGonagall, who accepted graciously with a warm smile and misty eyes. The next day, in her duties as Roxanne's new assistant, Professor McGonagall arranged for Madame Malkin to visit the castle and fit Roxanne for her dress. Madame Malkin fussed with measurements while conjuring miniaturized models of dozens of dresses, each frillier than the last, all of which Roxanne refused.

"Something simple, yet elegant. Please," she begged.

Finally Madame Malkin thrust a piece of parchment and a quill at her. "Draw it, then," she said testily.

"But I can't dr-"

"Just do your best."

Roxanne clumsily drew something that looked a bit like a human being and began clothing it in a not very close facsimile of what she imagined the dress should resemble, with Professor McGonagall and Madame Malkin hovering over her shoulder.

Before the drawing was quite finished, Madame Malkin snatched up the paper and threw it into the air, waving her wand deftly at it. She produced a perfect miniature model of the dress, very much as Roxanne had pictured it- long, sleek and silky; a pearly cream dress, high collared, close fitting; a long lavender overcoat fastened with a row of ornate silver buckles; high heeled lace-up boots in the same shade as the dress.

Roxanne gasped. "That's it! Just like that-except the boots. No heels. I can't stand them."

A flick of Madame Malkin's wand and the heels shrank to a more manageable height.

"And the coat," said Roxanne. "I want something rosier-not too dark, not too pink. And the sleeves-they need to cover my wrists."

Another flick of the wand and there it was. Perfect.

**********

The morning of the wedding dawned bright and still. The lawns to the south of the castle were beginning to green up in the warmth of the spring sunshine, while to the north deep snow still clung to the ground, sheltered in the cold blue shadows of the high walls. Roxanne landed lightly on the battlement of the north tower, scanning the grounds once more after a long soaring flight, making ever widening circles over Hogwarts and the surrounding countryside.

The Headmaster had asked her to take these daily flights and report anything unusual to him. She thought it especially appropriate to not skip this morning. Particularly since her growing excitement was echoed by a growing sense of dread. Dumbledore, though he didn't say it, seemed to feel the same way and did not object when Roxanne told him she planned to conduct her patrol as usual this morning.

She'd seen nothing out of the ordinary, but felt a twinge of unease at the thought that she and Remus would be leaving the castle in a few hours-even if only for one night. The news yesterday that opposition to Arthur Weasley, and the others at the Ministry of Magic who supported Dumbledore, was becoming more aggressive, that Fudge had called Arthur on the carpet for what he termed 'acts of insubordination,' only heightened Dumbledore's concerns. He'd called an emergency meeting, explaining that the Ministry was dangerously close to allowing the expulsion of those who vociferously opposed the Ministry's do-nothing stance. And if that occurred, Dumbledore would finally consider the Ministry allied with Voldemort.

The Headmaster seemed very tired afterward. But strolled the corridors of the castle until late into the night, accompanied by Professor McGonagall.

Roxanne lifted lightly from the battlement and swooped down the castle wall, angling along it until she reached Dumbledore's window. It was open. He was waiting for her. She transformed smoothly just before landing and stepped lightly, as if bursting out of a box, onto the floor.

"Good morning, Roxanne," Dumbledore said. "Nothing to report, I hope."

"Nothing, Headmaster. Nothing I could see anyway."

Dumbledore's eyebrows rose in a high arch and he looked at her piercingly.

"Just a feeling. Maybe it's nerves."

"Normally, I would say that is the case," Dumbledore said heavily, pacing the floor, "but a sense of dread weighs heavily upon me as well." He stood erect and smiled at her warmly. "Let's not allow this cloud to darken this day," he said. "I have something for you. He removed a sealed letter from his robes and handed it to her. "It arrived this morning-from Mr. Orcrist."

Roxanne took the letter, puzzled, and opened it slowly. The handwriting was not that of Mr. Orcrist, however. It was her father's.

(Dear Roxanne,

The fact that you are reading this letter means only one thing. You are about to marry a wizard. I hoped you would. I leave my blessing with you, as well as your wedding present. Don't let your brother know about this. He will be disappointed to learn that his share of the inheritance was the smaller. In Gringott's bank, vault number 1132, you will find a small fortune in wizard gold, as well as the deed to a large parcel of land located not far from Hogwarts. Surprised? Good. As for advice-fathers are supposed to give their children advice on their wedding day-remember to take life's sudden hardships by the horns and let them make you stronger. I lacked the courage to do this. You do not.

Love Lorenzo)

"Remus' father is here," Dumbledore said when she finished. "I believe they are waiting breakfast for us. Shall we?" He held his elbow out to her, which she took, squeezing the old wizard's arm affectionately as he led her out of his office.

**********

Remus stood at the bottom of the grand staircase talking with Sirius Black and a man with Remus' gray eyes. He was beaming at his son, and laughing at tales of old times with the younger men. When he spotted Roxanne on Professor Dumbledore's arm, hesitating high above him, he begged his father's leave and sprinted up the steps three at a time until he reached her.

"Excuse me, Professor," he said with a nod, "I believe you have something of mine there." And he took Roxanne's hand in his and turned to take her down to meet his father.

But Dumbledore grasped the hand still resting in the crook of his arm. "She is not yours yet. And I am not quite ready to let her go, Remus. You shall have to share-for a little while longer, anyway," he said with a wry smile. Remus was taken aback, but deferred to the Headmaster and stood to Roxanne's other side, swinging her hand onto his arm for the walk down to the entrance hall. With all this attention, Roxanne became suddenly aware of what she must look like. She hadn't changed since soaring into Dumbledore's office, and wore a pair of faded jeans and a baggy sweater. She expected her hair must be sticking up everywhere, but both hands were occupied now and she had no chance to reach up and smooth it before she was standing face to face with the senior Lupin. Dumbledore kissed her hand, then took Sirius by the shoulder and the two walked into the Great Hall.

"Roxanne," said Remus "I'd like you to meet my father, William Lupin."

Roxanne held out her hand, which William ignored, instead grasping her in a tight embrace. "Welcome to the family," he said holding her at arms length and smiling broadly. "Now," he continued, ignoring Remus and leading her by the hand toward the breakfast table, "tell me all about yourself-Remus never was very good at writing detailed letters." Son followed father, shaking his head and smiling.

The Great Hall erupted in cheers when they entered. William straightened, convinced he had the prettiest girl in the place on his arm. Remus laughed and waved. Roxanne's face turned red and warm, but she smiled and waved at Mr. and Mrs. Weasley who sat at the Head Table alongside Professor McGonagall. Hagrid beamed, his eyes glistening with joyful tears. Professor Dumbledore waited for them to take their seats at his left side before standing and signaling for quiet.

"It is a wonderful thing to have reason to celebrate, at any time, but now more than ever. In a little less than two hours time Gryffindor will join with Gryffindor in marriage," he said pointing to Remus and Roxanne. "I for one, would very much like to have a large breakfast before then. So we had better get to it." He clapped his hands once and a large, sumptuous feast appeared on the tables.

Remus and Roxanne ate little. William questioned Roxanne ceaselessly, trying to get to know his soon-to-be daughter in a few short minutes. She did her best to answer his questions honestly without disappointing him too much. She wondered if he'd be quite as excited for them if he knew everything about her. But he seemed not to be perturbed by the snippets of the whole truth that Roxanne doled carefully out.

**********

After breakfast, several women descended on Roxanne and escorted her from the Great Hall, Professor McGonagall in the lead, with Madame Pomfrey, Professor Sprout, Hermione, and Mrs. Weasley bunched closely behind. Time was running perilously short now. If Roxanne were going to back out of this, it would have to be now. But she had no uncertainties about Remus. She loved him, more than she ever could have imagined loving anyone. But she was young still, and things had happened so fast, and there was still so much she needed to accomplish to become his equal, and the times were not serene as she so desperately wished they were. She wanted to fade away with Remus, escape into a place where it could be just the two of them forever. They had just one day, for now anyway. One day, just he and she, to leave their cares behind at Hogwarts.

The ladies hurried to her room where the dress hung in a corner beside a tall mirror. They bustled around her, helping her dress, tucking her wand into a pocket inside the coat, combing and coifing her hair, accentuating her fine features with modest dabs of makeup. Professor Sprout brought a box full of glistening red and gold blossoms, which she placed expertly into Roxanne's hair. Hermione just sat and watched, fascinated. Finally finished, they stepped back, Molly Weasley dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief, Professor McGonagall beaming, and let Roxanne see herself in the mirror. She gasped silently, and gulped loudly.

"Roxanne, you look perfectly wonderful," said Professor McGonagall. "Now wait here until Hagrid comes for you-it shouldn't be long. Ladies? Shall we?" And the five of them bustled out the door, tittering and giggling amongst themselves like schoolgirls.

For the first time in a long time, Roxanne thought of her mother, missed her, wished she could see her now, hoped that somehow she really was watching her, hoped she'd be proud of her. For just a moment she felt out of place in the world, as if she were standing on the edge of it watching through the walls of a bubble. But the thought of Remus, waiting for her, brought her willingly back. She knew he'd be as nervous as she, pacing under the watchful eye of Sirius. She knew Sirius would be teasing him relentlessly, acting very much like the brothers they had grown to be over the years.

A soft knock pulled her out of her thoughts, and she opened it to see Hagrid, dressed in a neat brown suit, a large red rose pinned clumsily to the lapel. He tried to speak, but couldn't, choking up at the sight of her. Giving up, he simply held out his arm for her, and smiling proudly, escorted her to Dumbledore's study. All the people Roxanne loved most were standing around the room, all watching her, all smiling, all silent. The room had been emptied of furniture and decorated with more red and gold flowers. Hagrid brought her forward until she was standing, facing Remus, in the windowed alcove where she and Dumbledore had talked not long ago- though it seemed ages ago now. The Headmaster was there, standing silhouetted against the windows, in deep red robes, laced with gold paisleys. His silver hair seemed to glow as the sun shone through the windows, lighting him from behind. Sirius and Professor McGonagall took their places behind the couple and Professor Dumbledore cleared his throat.

"Remus Lupin, Roxanne Stewart, see that you enter into this oath with the knowledge that it is to be held with the greatest respect; that you will be binding yourselves to one another for all time, regardless of life or death; that you forsake all darkness for the love of light that will sustain you, together, through any challenge you encounter." Dumbledore fell silent, eyeing each one. They looked deeply into one another's eyes, their thoughts only on each other and their commitment to the words Dumbledore spoke. "Now, take out your wands. Hold them together, tip to handle, with your right hands."

They did as they were instructed, their hands touching each other at the wands' centers. It seemed to Roxanne that the wands grasped her. Although she had no desire to do so, she felt as if she would be unable to release them, as if the oath had already bound them, knowing their hearts, before they had spoken the words.

"Remus and Roxanne, do you swear, before these witnesses and before the power that rules the universe, to bind yourselves, one to another, forsaking all others, forever faithful to this oath and the powers of light which you possess?"

They looked at each other, smiling slightly. "We so swear," they said together.

Suddenly the wands burst with golden light streaming out from between their fingers, filling the room with warmth. Roxanne felt a blissful charge fill her body and mind. She closed her eyes and reached for Remus with her other hand. She found his shoulder, could feel it drawing nearer to her. She felt his arm around her, felt him kissing her. Then with a roar, as of a lion, the feeling was gone, and she became aware of the cheers of the others in the room. She looked down at their hands, still grasping the wands. Glittering gold bands had appeared on their ring fingers, etched with tiny runes.

"It's the words of the oath," whispered Remus. "Mine has it as well."

Dumbledore took their hands and separated them, each taking his and her own wands. "Your guests are waiting to congratulate you," he said, pointing to the group gathered behind them. Roxanne turned back to the Headmaster and looked at him questioningly. It had been nothing like she'd anticipated.

"I told you," he said quietly, "you may find more power than you expected in the oath. Apparently your faithfulness to Remus and his love for you have given you the power he wanted for you."

She threw his arms around the old wizard's neck and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "Thank you. For everything," she whispered.

Remus was shaking Sirius' hand when she turned back to him. Professor McGonagall hugged her lightly, beaming warmly, but too near tears to utter a word. Sirius took her in his arms next. "I'm very happy for you," he said sincerely. "And for him, though he doesn't really deserve you." He jerked his head toward Remus, who pulled Sirius roughly out of the way.

"Get your hands off my wife, sir," he said gallantly, taking Roxanne by the waist and pulling her close. They waited long enough to collect hugs and kisses from everyone before sprinting for the door and racing through the castle. Remus collected their bags from Roxanne's room and they were off, to more cheers from the students gathered in the entrance hall and along the grand staircase, chasing them out onto the grounds and along the road to Hogsmeade.

They stopped, catching their breaths and laughing just outside the Hogwarts gate. "Now," Remus said, taking his wand from his coat, "we can give this power a try. Take out your wand."

She looked at him, puzzled, but did as he said.

"Hold them together, like we did for the oath. There, that's right. Now we can apparate together."

"But, Remus, I don't know how to-"

"That doesn't matter. I do," he said. "It's as if we are one body now. When I apparate, you come along. Ready?"

She nodded eagerly.