Note: I'm so, so, so, so sorry this took so long to get up. I have school, and I'm in the musical, which opens in two weeks, (update: ended a week a go. Now I have time to write, but I miss Seussical!) so I'm really busy with that, and I've had a lot of home work, and I know I'm just making excuses, but I am genuinely sorry I didn't update. I wanted to get this up before election day, or even post on election day, but clearly that didn't happen. Hillary Clinton in 2008 all the way! Sorry. I had to.
Okay, so I made the slash part of the plot in the beginning of this chapter. Just this chapter, though. This chapter contains some language that is derogatory and hateful, and which will offend some people. (It offends me) Just remember who's saying the hateful things before you call me bigoted in your reviews.
Chapter 3: Wedding Bells
"I'll expect these essays the day you get back. No excuses, whether you're at school for vacation or not!"
"A whole week without Snape," Ron said dreamily as they walked out of the class. "Paradise."
Harry and Neville laughed; Hermione smiled and pulled Ron's hand into her own. Neville looked at the two of them a little bitterly. "I got to get me a girlfriend," he said to Harry. "Between the two of them, you and Ginny, and Dean and Seamus, everyone's got someone but me."
"I heard my name," Seamus said, coming up behind them. "What's up?"
"Neville is bitter," Harry said. "He doesn't realize that dating is far more work than it's worth. Though it has some perks." He began to smile.
Ron quickly caught the look on his friend's face and frowned. "Watch it, mate," he said. "That's my little sister you're talking about."
Seamus and Neville both laughed. "So where's Dean?" Harry asked. "You two aren't often apart."
"I could say the same about you and Ginny. Dean had to talk to Professor Lupin about an assignment before vacation. I was hungry, so he told be to go on ahead." The others nodded. Only Ron became quiet, and pulled Hermione in closer.
The friends began to talk about vacation plans, which for all of them except Seamus and Hermione were filled with Sirius' wedding. Harry was walking backwards, telling them funny stories he had heard about Sirius picking out flowers and invitations. He wasn't looking where he was going, which was unfortunate, because coming down the hall was a group of Slytherins, lead by Draco Malfoy.
"Watch where you're going, Potter," he said with a sneer. "What a motley group you all make. A weasel, a Mudblood, an idiot, and a queer. And of course Harry Potter, who must be the center of them all."
"Shut up, Malfoy," Seamus said. His ears were turning red and he was clearly stopping himself from causing the Slytherin some kind of pain.
"Or you'll do what? Burst my eardrums with a Cher song? That's what you people listen too, isn't it?" Seamus started forward, and Hermione put a hand on his shoulder to stop him. Draco turned to the rest of the Slytherins and said, "Would you look at that? The fag wants to fight!" He laughed, and now it took both Neville and Harry to hold Seamus back.
Draco suddenly sensed that he didn't want to be in the midst of this, and started walking past the Gryffindors, smirking.
"He's not worth it," Hermione said when the Slytherins had passed out of earshot. "Snape's classroom is just down the hall and he would have had you suspended for fighting."
"You can't listen to what that idiot says," said Neville. "Believe me, you learn to ignore it after a while."
"I don't want to ignore it! I want him to stop being stupid and bigoted. I want him to get it through his thick skull that he can't say things like that!"
"But you won't," said Harry. "A kid like Draco Malfoy's not going to learn, no matter what you do. You have to pick your battles, and with him, it really isn't worth it. Now come on, I'm hungry, and dinner tonight should be good."
"Yeah, fine. I guess you're right. He just makes me so mad."
Ginny and Dean were both waiting at the Gryffindor table, already digging into the food that was spread out across the table. "What took you so long?" Dean asked, kissing Seamus on the cheek as he sat down.
"Malfoy," was all he could say without an angry rant, so that was all he said. Dean understood.
Neville looked from Dean and Seamus to Harry and Ginny to Ron and Hermione. "I really need to get a girlfriend," he muttered to himself, and opened up the late addition of the Daily Prophet that had just arrived. The headline practically screamed out at him. "Did you guys see this yet?" he asked
"No," said Hermione, detaching herself from Ron. "I've only seen this morning's. What does it say?"
"'Black Speaks Against Hogwarts' Staff' is the headline."
"It's about Remus, isn't it," Harry said, turning to look at the staff table. Teachers were all reading the evening's paper too.
"Yeah. Listen. 'Minister of Magic candidate Bellatrix Black spoke to a group of concerned parents and voters this afternoon, denouncing Albus Dumbledore and his management of Hogwarts school. She criticized the curriculum of the school, stating that he was exposing children to dangerous magic at too young an age. Black also sharply condemned the qualifications of Hogwarts' teachers, most notably the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Remus Lupin, a known and registered werewolf. "It is the responsibility of parents and the government to work together to protect our children, and to maintain that their education is the best. Clearly, the government has not been doing its job to protect them from dangerous individuals like Remus Lupin," she said in her speech this afternoon.
"'She went on to state that her opponent, Arthur Weasley, would not protect the children of the voters, as his relationship with Albus Dumbledore would prevent him from seeing the change that was needed. A spokesperson for the Weasley campaign could not be reached for comment at the time of publication. With tactics like this just two weeks before the election, the Daily Prophet wonders how this speech will influence voters in the days to come.' It has the text of the speech a few pages later, and some analysis too."
Hermione took the paper from Neville and began to read. Ron and Ginny looked at each other. "This isn't good for Dad, is it?" Ron asked. Ginny shook her head.
"But not all people can think that having a werewolf at Hogwarts is that bad," Harry said. "No one seems to mind now, right? Everyone knows how great a teacher Remus is, and how he couldn't hurt anyone."
"Harry, look at this logically," Hermione said. "You grew up around Professor Lupin; he's one of your parent's best friends. But most of the magical community doesn't look at it that way. Professor Lupin waited until his students knew him a little, a few weeks into term, to tell them he was a werewolf. How many of those kids to you think told their parents? Not that many, I would think, if they liked him and weren't completely stupid. Some of the Slytherins, probably, whose parents probably told them they would file complaints, but no one else would really care enough. This is going to be big, and it's going to be bad for Mr. Weasley's campaign."
"Won't Sirius come up with something good to get back at Bellatrix thought?" Ron asked. "He's been great for Dad so far."
"Hermione's right," said Ginny sadly. "It'll be too little, too late. There just isn't enough time to change people's minds before New Years'. If anything, Dad will come out saying how he supports Dumbledore and is friends with Professor Lupin, which, even thought it's the truth, isn't what people want to hear."
Harry looked up at the staff table again. Remus was deep in conversation with the headmaster, and he looked grim. Dumbledore was shaking his head. On could surmise that Remus had been saying something about resigning, and Dumbledore wouldn't hear it. By this point, the whole school had seen the evening's paper, and was staring up at the staff table, the distinctive buzz of gossip echoing in the hall.
"Professor Lupin isn't leaving, is he?" a second year girl asked nervously. "He's the best teacher I've got."
"Dumbledore won't let him leave," Hermione said reassuringly. "He wouldn't have hired him if he wasn't prepared for the backlash."
"Dumbledore was prepared for the backlash, but I don't think Remus was," Harry said. "I have a feeling Dad and Sirius will have some sort of conversation with him, talking him out of whatever he's planning on doing. They've been good at that. He just better not do anything rash tonight. Vacation starts tomorrow."
Christmas break was a welcome relief from school work and all that talk about politics. Though the election was less than two weeks away now, it was easy to get it out of their heads, for at least a little while. Sirius and Carol's wedding was much more pressing.
The Potter home had become wedding central for Carol, as their apartment was overrun with flowers and fabric. They saved money doing things themselves, but it was a hassle. So the Potters' livingroom had played host to gown fittings and a bridal shower, for all of which Harry stayed far out of the way. He was too young to go to Sirius' bachelor party and his friends had their own work to do. Hermione was away and all the Weasleys were consumed with trying to save their father's campaign.
They all managed to take the evening off for Christmas dinner, which had been held at the Longbottoms since the families had been friends. It was a bit more snug than it used to be, never less then twenty people. But the evening was full of laughter. Molly, Lily, and Alice pulled were sharing wedding day stories with Carol. Ginny and Harry gazed longingly into each other's eyes while her brothers and Neville watched and laughed. A few people, alas were missing. Percy Weasley was becoming quite obsessed with his work, convinced that if he worked overtime at all hours of the night, he would get his father elected, or at least earn himself a promotion. Remus was home sleeping off the previous night's full moon. Lily soon noticed this and before the night grew to late, she gathered some food and popped into his apartment, living him something to eat when he awoke.
"He never has anything wholesome to eat, just canned food and instant meals. He needs something homemade every once in a while," Lily said to explain herself, though no one was arguing.
The dinner was delicious and they had good times distracting themselves from politics and wedding plans, and everyone went home happy and stuffed.
The next morning was a little less relaxed and content. The wedding was at noon, so Carol and her other bridesmaids were at Potters first thing. When Harry stumbled down the stairs, half dressed, there were cries of "out!" and "shoo!" from the women getting ready. In Sirius' apartment, however, the tone was quite different. Sirius was no where to be found, but the entire living room and kitchen seemed to have been invaded by brightly colored flowers.
"Padfoot?" James was calling as Harry walked in. "Come on, you haven't got cold feet, have you?"
"Hey, Dad, I think these roses are moving," Harry said, laughing. Underneath the pile of red petals was a large, black dog, fast asleep.
"Padfoot, my friend, you have to wake up some time, hopefully soon." The dog whimpered a little and burrowed further under the flowers. "Come on now, I know you're awake, just get up. Honestly, I didn't hide under plants the morning my wedding, and I was nearly twenty years younger than you are now."
The dog growled and stood up, shaking rose petals out of his hair. Then Sirius stood and yawned loudly. "But its too bloody early to get up now. If the womenfolk think they need to preen and primp for five hours, fine with them. All I need is a little more sleep."
"No you don't," Remus said, stepping in from the fire place. "You need to get dressed then help us get all these flowers into the Potters' backyard. We need to cast that bubble around the place to keep the snow out and we need to get food ready for the reception. And I need to remember to thank Lily for the dinner she left for me last night."
"Remind me why I invited you again, Moony," Sirius said with a smile.
"Because I can get things organized, and if it were up to these two, you would have been asleep for a few more hours and gone to your own wedding in a sweat suit."
The Potter men looked offended, then at each other, and shrugged. "It's true," said Harry reluctantly. "We are rather hopeless. Thank goodness for Mum."
James nodded. "Now, as best man, it is my duty to force you into the shower if you won't go at your own free will, while we start moving centerpieces and alert the ladies that you will be passing through." Sirius stood there for a moment, running his fingers through his tangled hair.
"It's just too early," he said.
"Go!" James said laughing. To Remus and Harry, he said, "Grab a floral arrangement and brave the domain of the women. Harry, you go first, because you're young and they won't go after you."
The women had apparently moved out of the kitchen and into the livingroom, so the coast was clear for transport of flowers. The snow was thick outside, so casting a dome to keep it out was harder than they thought, but James and Remus easily got it done. They even added a glass floor over the snow. They hung flowers and vines, carefully floating climbing roses to create an archway.
"Why don't you just conjure and archway?" Harry asked. "What if the flowers fall?"
"Oh, they won't," James said, smiling. "At least, not unless I tell them to."
"Your father perfected this spell in school, Harry," Lupin explained. "Best way to drop things on unassuming Slytherins."
"Those were good times," James said longingly. "I remember once, Padfoot and I . . ."
"Don't go giving him any ideas, Prongs. I'm a teacher now, remember. And so is Snape. The Slytherin head of house was a pushover when we went to school, but not any more."
"Fine, fine. But someone needs to have taken over from the void left by the twins graduating. Why shouldn't my son, heir the great tradition of Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs? You've only got a year and a half more, than it's up to the baby!"
"What was that?" Lily said, coming into the fragrant dome, hand resting on her stomach. "You've already managed to turn Harry into a little delinquent, but you will not be turning this one into the next generation Marauders. Now stop reminiscing and start conjuring chairs. Or better, let me to that so you can make sure Sirius hasn't run away. I'm starting to think the idea of this kind of settling is frightening him a little."
"We've got a few hours to talk him back into it, if need be. First, fifty white chairs." One by one, the seats filled in, the flowers were suspended, and fairies were floating a few feet above where guests would soon be sitting. James, Harry, and Remus surveyed their work, thoroughly pleased with themselves. Of course, they could have payed too close attention, because not an hour after they left, Lily and Carol completely rearranged things, Carol's Muggle sisters helping a little with what they could. "Men," they muttered to themselves.
Back at the Black apartment, the men finally decided to get ready properly. Sirius was standing facing the mirror, trying without any avail to tie a bow tie. "Why am I wearing this? Someone tell me again?"
"Because Carol wants you to and you love her?" James offered.
"No, that can't be it. Why would I subject myself to such torture for a woman, even that woman."
"Because you thought it was a good idea at the time and now you can't change it?" Harry suggested.
"This never sounded like a good idea," Sirius insisted.
"Because James wore one at his wedding, couldn't tie it properly, and since then you promised you'd be able to do it. I think there many have even been some sort of cash wager," Remus said. "Now stop pulling at it or you'll strangle yourself." He got up and fixed the thing in a few seconds.
"Why haven't they come up with a spell to do that?"
"Because they have better things to do with their time. Or they have, and you had better things to do than learn it. But now you're ready, we have an hour left, and it is time, my friend."
James smiled, but Harry looked bewildered. "Time for what?"
"We ought to inaugurate him into the tradition. He's sixteen now, and besides, he'll have to carry it on once Remus has been tied down. Unless, of course, he manages it before Moony here."
"Hey! It's the groom we're supposed to be roasting, not me. I'd also like to remind you that I dated both Lily and Carol before either of you. It's not my fault they lowered their expectations losing after me."
Harry laughed, but through his laughter he did add, "Remember that's my mom your talking about."
The older men looked at him. "That's true. Unless you want to hear things about your parents you never needed to know, I suggest you go see if perhaps the womenfolk need a hand."
Harry shuddered, getting an unpleasant mental picture of his parents. "I think I'll go see if Ginny is here yet. Yeah, that's a good idea." And he bolted through the fireplace.
A few guests had arrived, with only Carol's family to greet them. The Weasley family was among the first, which was lucky, because Harry could easily get unpleasant thoughts about his mother and father out of his mind with one look into Ginny's eyes. They were quickly pulled apart as Harry was introduced to various family members of Carol and asked over and over what his relationship to the couple was. It got to such a degree of redundancy Harry was tempted to say he had no relationship with the couple whatsoever and was an actor paid to interact with guests at weddings of antisocial people. He actually started that line when his mother appeared and gave him a look. "I'm a friend of Sirius, actually," he told the smiling people. It was a small wedding, true, but he had never met half the people there.
At about quarter 'til, the three Marauders popped in and Harry was relieved from introducing guests to each other. "Where are Ginny and Ron?" he muttered to himself, but before he could find them, he was told to get into place, the ceremony was about to begin.
Dumbledore, as Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, was entitled officiate weddings, among other things, and was overjoyed when asked to perform this one. Sirius stood at the top of the aisle, waiting for his bride. James walked with Lily, best man and maid of honor. Lupin and Harry each walked with one of Carol's sisters. The guests stood as Carol came down the aisle, her dress whiter than the snow that fell around them, escorted by her father. Sirius stared at her, his mouth open. She reached him, looked into his grey eyes, and smiled. He could do nothing but stare at her, open mouthed, until James kicked him gently in the shin. "Right," he said, smiling.
Dumbledore looked at them both, his blue eyes at their brightest. "Marriage. The union of two people to celebrate their love and harmony with each other. To find the person that his in such balance with you, to find the person that fits you as if you were made for each other and no one else, that is rare. But when it happens, it is beyond all magic that we may perform with wands or potions, far beyond anything that we may teach. It is a magic that is as old as time, that is felt by all people, though magic may not be what they choose to name it. It is honest and pure, more powerful than any other. And you two, Carol Morgan and Sirius Black, have discovered that magic.
"You will say today that you love each other and no one else. You will hold this vow when times are good, and you will not break it if times become bad. You, and all of us here, have been fortunate to live in calm times. We hope that they may continue, but even if they don't, you will have each other." Dumbledore paused, looking at the smiling couple. "But you knew that before you came here. You knew, somewhere, that you would reach this day from when you were very young. I have had the benefit of seeing you grow up together as your teacher, then watched you in adulthood as a friend. And you already knew that you would reach this day, that you would hold on to each other if darkness ever came. So now, though you remain two, you are in reality one, bound by this promise.
"Do you, Carol Morgan, take this man to be your husband, to have and hold, honor cherish and protect, through light and darkness, through joy and sorrow, as long as you bpt remain bound to the earth?"
She smiled until her eyes were alight, looked at the man she loved, and said, "I do."
"And do you, Sirius Black, take this woman to be your wife, to have and hold, honor, cherish and protect, through light and darkness, through joy and sorrow, as long as you both remain bound to the earth?"
"Of course I do," he said. Guests cheered, and Dumbledore raised his hand for quiet.
"Then, by the power vested in me by the International Confederation of Wizards and the Ministry of Magic, I pronounce you husband and wife. Sirius, you may kiss your bride."
As they sealed their love, the glass dome pulsed with light and energy. Guests cheered again, and Harry and Ginny met eyes once again. "Maybe someday," he mouthed to her, and she giggled and blushed.
Soon, the chairs and archway were transformed into little round tables and a dance floor. Food appeared on plates, wine and butterbeer in glasses. James stood up and tapped his glass to get everyone's attention. "I suppose I have to make some sort of toast now," he said. "Sirius has been my best friend since we started school. We weren't supposed to like each other, we were supposed to become the most famous pair of rivals at Hogwarts since, well, since our parents were at school. But we became friends just to spite them, and now look where we are.
"I never thought I would see this man settle down with someone, anyone. He was always just too wild, too uninhibited by the chains of society. Then he met someone with wits to match his own, a spirit just as fiery. Carol, of all the people who have walked through our lives, you have been the only one I said would tame this man. Your strength and independence shine out, and you've found someone who sees them and will celebrate them. And if he doesn't, he'll have Lily to answer to, so you're all set.
"Hold on to each other, love each other, and be good to each other, and you will be able to face anything that life throws at you. So, my friends, you embark on married life, hand in hand, or sometimes furry black paw. All the best to you, now and until forever." He raised up his glass. "To Sirius and Carol!" The others echoed, and the party began, and went on into the night.
Five days later, a party of another sort was crammed into the Leaky Cauldron. "Weasley for Minister" posters where hung everywhere, and the Wizarding Wireless Network was turned up, predicting election results from various cities and counties.
Harry and his friends were crowded in a booth that faced the center of the room, watching the adults in the party make toasts and yell at the radio. None of them could vote, but they waited eagerly.
About fifteen minutes before the results were ready to be announced, Arthur Weasley stood up on a chair. "If I could have your attention before they give the results," he asked. "I just wanted to thank all of you for being a part of this, and supporting me through the hectic last few months. You've all been great, and even if we don't win tonight, it's great to know that I've got so many friends in the community.
"To my family, my beautiful wife and wonderful children, thank you for putting up with my late hours and never having me home for dinner. Thank you for giving me encouragement, keeping me grounded, and making me laugh." He looked at the twins, who smiled and raised their glasses. "To Sirius, who has run a brilliant campaign even while planning his own wedding, and to his new wife Carol, who has put up with his absence beautifully. Even if this doesn't turn out the way we wanted to, we've had great joy, and that makes it worth it.
"In terms of the campaign, I also want to thank you for proving that, even if we lose tonight, we're better people than my opponent. She chose to attack my friends at a point when she was losing support, and if she wins because of it, than she has only shown that sometimes people will give in to their prejudices and small mindedness. She has also shown that the caliber of people who don't. We never stooped that low and are better for it.
"Thank you for giving me the chance to get my positions out there. If we win tonight, well then, I can make some if my ideas permanent. If not, keep working, because we can all make change.
"That's all I wanted to say, so you can go back to partying before the announcement comes, which should be any minute. But no matter what happens, thank you all for the hard work that you've put into this."
There was loud, long applause, before someone stood up and shouted, "Be quiet! Their gonna make the announcement!"
The voice of the anchor on WWN came in clearly over the murmuring of the crowd. "My good witches and wizards listening at home and at parties, I can now say that we can confidently declare a winner of this election. The votes have been close, but all have been cast and counted, and we can officially declare that the new Minister of Magic will be . . ."
Sorry, but it was way to good an opportunity to pass up. Once I sat down and wrote this thing, it didn't take that long, so from now on I promise not to make you wait three months for a new chapter. And before you say you won't keep sitting through more chapters of fluff, I promise it gets better. Remember the premise of the story, please. Thanks for waiting, so now please review!