Chapter 12 - The Wedding
"What in Merlin's name is all this?" Severus asked. They'd just caught sight of the lake and they both stopped short and stared. It looked like everyone they knew was standing on the platform before them. Muriel blinked a few times, but didn't answer. "Mur, I'm supposed to be in hiding!"
"I only invited Dumbledore, Macnair and Remus, I swear. I didn't even tell Remus why he was coming." Mur cast a worried glance at Severus, who had already figured it out. She was relieved to see that he was fighting back a smile. He took her hand and they apparated onto the pavilion.
Everyone went silent for a moment when they appeared. Severus noticed Macnair sitting with Arthur and Charlie and winked, at which both the Weasleys raised their eyebrows. Their experience with the taciturn professor had never included winking.
Dumbledore ushered them to the other side of the pavilion with a familiar twinkle in his eye as the Order members clapped and whistled. There was also a great deal of whispering.
"Did I just see Severus smile?"
"I don't think his robes are quite black, are they?"
"No, that's definitely blue."
"I've never seen him not look angry." This last was Hermione. Draco rolled his eyes.
"No one is angry all the time, Hermione. Not even Lucius," he said with a shudder. Hermione only nodded and watched as Dumbledore cleared his throat.
"Well, you all know why we are here today, but I understand that Severus may not yet have been informed." A few people laughed nervously as Severus tried to glare around at them as he always had. Muriel stepped hard on his foot and chuckled into her hand when he jumped and turned to look at her. Dumbledore continued to smile at them both fondly. Muriel looked up at him.
"Professor, before we begin, I'd like a chance to set the record straight." Dumbledore nodded as Severus narrowed his eyes at her. "Several of you probably heard me say some things to Severus last night that were patently untrue. I thought maybe you wouldn't mind if I tell you how I really feel."
Remus smirked and caught Severus' eye as she spoke. The Potions master quickly found a point on the floor near his feet on which to concentrate. He had not been caught blushing since his fourth year at Hogwarts, and he had the uncomfortable feeling that Muriel was going to embarrass him in front of the entire Order in the next few moments. He wasn't wrong.
"I have never met a braver man than Severus Snape," she said quietly. "All of you have put the needs of the wizarding world ahead of your own. You have found ways to be at every Order meeting, and performed your missions in spite of the danger. But when your missions are over, you go back to your families, friends, and coworkers and find acceptance and understanding. The people around you know that what you're doing is right."
"Severus goes back to all our old friends to find the same political struggles and power plays that we dealt with as children, and a great deal more danger." She turned away from the others to look at Severus, and he did his best not to meet her eyes. "I'm so proud of you, Sev," she said quietly. "You found what was right before it was too late."
Severus looked quickly toward Dumbledore, who was smiling at him even more openly. Only the headmaster saw the tear that slid down his young friend's cheek. With a flick of his wand he removed it and Severus nodded his thanks before turning back to Muriel.
The ceremony was short, but the members of the Order had no intention of leaving right away. Many stayed to offer congratulations, and some to dance. Muriel noticed over Severus' shoulder that Draco was dancing with Hermione, and pointed it out to Severus, who winced. "How's Weasley?" he whispered. She looked around until she found him, sulking at a table while Harry tried to convince him to just go cut in. Muriel laughed.
"That was us once," she pointed out quietly. Severus knew she wanted to talk to Ron.
"I need to talk with Macnair," he said quickly, kissing her forehead.
"Thanks," she replied, making her way toward the boys' table. Ron didn't look up as she sat down, but Harry grinned.
"Congratulations, Professor," he said. Mur could tell immediately that Remus had told him about Sirius. His smile was just a little too forced, and he was doing his best to conceal his mind. She decided it would be best not to mention it just now.
"Thanks Harry. Where's Draco?" This caused Ron to look back at the dance floor sharply, then back at his drink. She laughed.
"Do you know that in my fourth year of school I asked a very handsome 26 year old man to take me to the Halloween ball to make Severus jealous? I'd sat around for two weeks after the announcement waiting for him to ask me, and it seemed like he never would. He didn't talk to me for quite a while after that dance." Ron was staring at her like she was crazy. He didn't get it.
"What I'm saying is that if you want her, tell her now, or you'll have to wait 15 years to find each other again like we did," she said bluntly. "A girl can fall in love with someone else when the man she wants doesn't seem interested." Both boys were now looking at her with their mouths open, but she only laughed and stood, wanting to find Remus. She looked all over the pavilion, but he didn't seem to be there anymore.
She finally spotted him walking on the bank of the lake, and apparated to his side. He jumped. "You told him," she said quietly. It wasn't an accusation, but Remus wasn't feeling very discerning, and got defensive.
"It just slipped out."
"It's alright. He has a right to know." They walked in silence. Remus had long since gotten used to being able to hide his thoughts from her, but they were written all over his face. "I miss him, too, you know," she said quietly.
He didn't answer. How could she say she missed Sirius when she'd just married someone else? It sure seemed selfish to him.
"I would have given anything to come back here and find Sirius again, Remus, but that isn't how it happened," she whispered suddenly, turning to look into the woods. He stopped walking as well and put an arm around her, wondering how she'd guessed his thoughts.
"I thought you couldn't tell what I was thinking."
"I can't. But I know what I'M thinking." She paused to wipe her tears away. "We're it, Moony," she whispered. "The last of the marauders." Remus laughed a little. Yes, he supposed she had been a marauder for the last two years of school. Certainly they'd planned pranks together and relied on each other and confided in each other. He hadn't thought that she considered herself one, though. It was nice to think that he wasn't alone.
"We've got to stick together, you know," she was saying. "You can't bail out on me." She fixed him with a searching stare, and he swallowed hard, reminding himself that she couldn't really KNOW he'd considered that. She waited but he didn't respond.
"I need you, Remus. I mean it. You can't leave me."
He knew she wanted a promise, and he also knew that if he gave it he'd keep it. "I know, Mur. I'm not going anywhere," he said finally. Then she smiled.
"Good, because I have a favor to ask. I need you to move back to Hogwarts and take over the group Harry started last year, Dumbledore's Army, I think they called it. It needs to be reinstated as part of the N.E.W.T. level Defense Class, and I've already got the okay to bring you back."
Remus felt his eyes widen. How long had she been planning this? He knew what she was doing. She wanted him out of Black Manor. He nodded slowly. It was for the best. It was just too hard to live there with Sirius gone.
She clasped his hand, then, and smiled again. "Let's go back." She cast a glance at the Pavilion and saw that Severus was dancing stiffly with Molly Weasley and looking around desperately for her. She decided it wouldn't kill him to dance with Molly a little longer. "My date's already dancing with someone else," she said with a wink.
Finally Remus smiled back at her. "Then let's pay him back," he said, purposely echoing an old conversation.
When Harry looked up and caught sight of Remus and Muriel dancing, he nudged Draco. It looked like Remus had cheered up considerably, especially as he led her right passed Molly and Severus, looking at his old school rival with what could only be described as a victorious smirk.
He couldn't help whispering as he passed them. "You married into the marauders, Severus. Welcome to the gang." Remus and Muriel both laughed at the horrified look on Severus' face. However, it lasted only a moment before he smiled as well. He excused himself politely from Mrs. Weasley and went to track down his wife. Remus gave her up still smiling, and went to sit with Harry and Draco, who were watching Ron dance with Hermione.
"What in Merlin's name is all this?" Severus asked. They'd just caught sight of the lake and they both stopped short and stared. It looked like everyone they knew was standing on the platform before them. Muriel blinked a few times, but didn't answer. "Mur, I'm supposed to be in hiding!"
"I only invited Dumbledore, Macnair and Remus, I swear. I didn't even tell Remus why he was coming." Mur cast a worried glance at Severus, who had already figured it out. She was relieved to see that he was fighting back a smile. He took her hand and they apparated onto the pavilion.
Everyone went silent for a moment when they appeared. Severus noticed Macnair sitting with Arthur and Charlie and winked, at which both the Weasleys raised their eyebrows. Their experience with the taciturn professor had never included winking.
Dumbledore ushered them to the other side of the pavilion with a familiar twinkle in his eye as the Order members clapped and whistled. There was also a great deal of whispering.
"Did I just see Severus smile?"
"I don't think his robes are quite black, are they?"
"No, that's definitely blue."
"I've never seen him not look angry." This last was Hermione. Draco rolled his eyes.
"No one is angry all the time, Hermione. Not even Lucius," he said with a shudder. Hermione only nodded and watched as Dumbledore cleared his throat.
"Well, you all know why we are here today, but I understand that Severus may not yet have been informed." A few people laughed nervously as Severus tried to glare around at them as he always had. Muriel stepped hard on his foot and chuckled into her hand when he jumped and turned to look at her. Dumbledore continued to smile at them both fondly. Muriel looked up at him.
"Professor, before we begin, I'd like a chance to set the record straight." Dumbledore nodded as Severus narrowed his eyes at her. "Several of you probably heard me say some things to Severus last night that were patently untrue. I thought maybe you wouldn't mind if I tell you how I really feel."
Remus smirked and caught Severus' eye as she spoke. The Potions master quickly found a point on the floor near his feet on which to concentrate. He had not been caught blushing since his fourth year at Hogwarts, and he had the uncomfortable feeling that Muriel was going to embarrass him in front of the entire Order in the next few moments. He wasn't wrong.
"I have never met a braver man than Severus Snape," she said quietly. "All of you have put the needs of the wizarding world ahead of your own. You have found ways to be at every Order meeting, and performed your missions in spite of the danger. But when your missions are over, you go back to your families, friends, and coworkers and find acceptance and understanding. The people around you know that what you're doing is right."
"Severus goes back to all our old friends to find the same political struggles and power plays that we dealt with as children, and a great deal more danger." She turned away from the others to look at Severus, and he did his best not to meet her eyes. "I'm so proud of you, Sev," she said quietly. "You found what was right before it was too late."
Severus looked quickly toward Dumbledore, who was smiling at him even more openly. Only the headmaster saw the tear that slid down his young friend's cheek. With a flick of his wand he removed it and Severus nodded his thanks before turning back to Muriel.
The ceremony was short, but the members of the Order had no intention of leaving right away. Many stayed to offer congratulations, and some to dance. Muriel noticed over Severus' shoulder that Draco was dancing with Hermione, and pointed it out to Severus, who winced. "How's Weasley?" he whispered. She looked around until she found him, sulking at a table while Harry tried to convince him to just go cut in. Muriel laughed.
"That was us once," she pointed out quietly. Severus knew she wanted to talk to Ron.
"I need to talk with Macnair," he said quickly, kissing her forehead.
"Thanks," she replied, making her way toward the boys' table. Ron didn't look up as she sat down, but Harry grinned.
"Congratulations, Professor," he said. Mur could tell immediately that Remus had told him about Sirius. His smile was just a little too forced, and he was doing his best to conceal his mind. She decided it would be best not to mention it just now.
"Thanks Harry. Where's Draco?" This caused Ron to look back at the dance floor sharply, then back at his drink. She laughed.
"Do you know that in my fourth year of school I asked a very handsome 26 year old man to take me to the Halloween ball to make Severus jealous? I'd sat around for two weeks after the announcement waiting for him to ask me, and it seemed like he never would. He didn't talk to me for quite a while after that dance." Ron was staring at her like she was crazy. He didn't get it.
"What I'm saying is that if you want her, tell her now, or you'll have to wait 15 years to find each other again like we did," she said bluntly. "A girl can fall in love with someone else when the man she wants doesn't seem interested." Both boys were now looking at her with their mouths open, but she only laughed and stood, wanting to find Remus. She looked all over the pavilion, but he didn't seem to be there anymore.
She finally spotted him walking on the bank of the lake, and apparated to his side. He jumped. "You told him," she said quietly. It wasn't an accusation, but Remus wasn't feeling very discerning, and got defensive.
"It just slipped out."
"It's alright. He has a right to know." They walked in silence. Remus had long since gotten used to being able to hide his thoughts from her, but they were written all over his face. "I miss him, too, you know," she said quietly.
He didn't answer. How could she say she missed Sirius when she'd just married someone else? It sure seemed selfish to him.
"I would have given anything to come back here and find Sirius again, Remus, but that isn't how it happened," she whispered suddenly, turning to look into the woods. He stopped walking as well and put an arm around her, wondering how she'd guessed his thoughts.
"I thought you couldn't tell what I was thinking."
"I can't. But I know what I'M thinking." She paused to wipe her tears away. "We're it, Moony," she whispered. "The last of the marauders." Remus laughed a little. Yes, he supposed she had been a marauder for the last two years of school. Certainly they'd planned pranks together and relied on each other and confided in each other. He hadn't thought that she considered herself one, though. It was nice to think that he wasn't alone.
"We've got to stick together, you know," she was saying. "You can't bail out on me." She fixed him with a searching stare, and he swallowed hard, reminding himself that she couldn't really KNOW he'd considered that. She waited but he didn't respond.
"I need you, Remus. I mean it. You can't leave me."
He knew she wanted a promise, and he also knew that if he gave it he'd keep it. "I know, Mur. I'm not going anywhere," he said finally. Then she smiled.
"Good, because I have a favor to ask. I need you to move back to Hogwarts and take over the group Harry started last year, Dumbledore's Army, I think they called it. It needs to be reinstated as part of the N.E.W.T. level Defense Class, and I've already got the okay to bring you back."
Remus felt his eyes widen. How long had she been planning this? He knew what she was doing. She wanted him out of Black Manor. He nodded slowly. It was for the best. It was just too hard to live there with Sirius gone.
She clasped his hand, then, and smiled again. "Let's go back." She cast a glance at the Pavilion and saw that Severus was dancing stiffly with Molly Weasley and looking around desperately for her. She decided it wouldn't kill him to dance with Molly a little longer. "My date's already dancing with someone else," she said with a wink.
Finally Remus smiled back at her. "Then let's pay him back," he said, purposely echoing an old conversation.
When Harry looked up and caught sight of Remus and Muriel dancing, he nudged Draco. It looked like Remus had cheered up considerably, especially as he led her right passed Molly and Severus, looking at his old school rival with what could only be described as a victorious smirk.
He couldn't help whispering as he passed them. "You married into the marauders, Severus. Welcome to the gang." Remus and Muriel both laughed at the horrified look on Severus' face. However, it lasted only a moment before he smiled as well. He excused himself politely from Mrs. Weasley and went to track down his wife. Remus gave her up still smiling, and went to sit with Harry and Draco, who were watching Ron dance with Hermione.