Her Chance Gone

A/N: Ah here we are…the last chapter! I want to thank all my readers who have reviewed this story as it has progressed. You have all been such good support and encouraged me to continue. So, I dedicate this chapter to you all. A huge 'thank you' to my super, fantastic beta reader Angela!

Chapter Fifteen: The Wedding

Regina Hardcastle paced angrily up and down the rooms she had been sharing with her future husband. He was nowhere to be found and the wedding ceremony was about to start. She was meant to be the one who was late, not the groom. She had wanted to make the grand entrance into the small, crowded chapel and hear everyone gasp as they saw her sweep down the aisle.

She peered at her reflection in the mirror and it brought a smile to her cold, stony face. She did look beautiful, stunning in her mind, as she finally stood in her wedding dress. She was wearing a crimson set of wedding dress robes with her hair hanging in lose curls around her face. Small flowers were intertwined with the ringlets in her hair.

She clutched the wedding bouquet and gritted her teeth. Where in the name of Merlin was he? She knew that she should have gone after him and prevented him from looking for that woman! She was stupid for not going after him. She looked at the grandfather clock and growled when she saw the time. She would be nearly married to that fool if he had been there on time. She couldn't believe he was making such a fool of her by keeping her waiting like this. Didn't he know that they had guests waiting for them?

She had sent Hagrid, the supposed best man, to look for Albus. Her mind wandered to what her wedding guests would be saying as they waited for the arrival of the groom then the beautiful bride. She could just imagine their stupid faces as they whispered amongst themselves.

An urgent knocking at her door broke into her twisted thoughts and she swept over to the door and flung it open. Hagrid stood outside with his hands behind his back. The expression on his face was glum and it was obvious that he didn't want to be the one to deliver such news.

"Well?" she demanded to know as she placed her hands on her hips and glared at the groundskeeper.

Hagrid gulped and played with his hands as he tried to muster up the courage he needed. He looked quite the part as best man, wearing a large black tuxedo with a white shirt and cufflinks. Regina had wanted the men to be dressed up in tuxedos while she and her bridesmaids were to wear traditional dress robes.

"Spit it out imbecile!" she hissed angrily.

"He is nowhere to be found," mumbled Hagrid as he avoided her icy glare.

"What did you say?" she demanded as she gritted her teeth.

"He isn't here," he said again. "'I've looked everywhere!"

Regina's nostrils flared as she took in the half giants words. She had never been so angry in her life and she wanted to lash out at something. Her eyes grew wild as she sized Hagrid up, her lips pressed tightly together as she reached forward and grabbed the vase that had once held her wedding bouquet. She threw it against the wall with such rage that Hagrid flinched as it made contact with the wall and shattered into dozens of small, jagged pieces.

"Call yourself a best man?" she hissed at Hagrid. "You couldn't organize hay in a hay barn. You are a bumbling idiot who should go back to where he belongs, in a pit! Now, you go and find Albus and then take him to the chapel! I will not have you ruining the most important day of my life. People are waiting to see me! Do you hear that? They are here to see me!" She then slammed the door in his face and marched back into the living area with a frown on her face.

Hagrid stood quietly outside as he tried to think of what to do. He certainly hadn't expected this to happen. He had wondered if he had done something wrong but the truth of the matter was that he hadn't actually done anything, Regina had planned everything down to the last detail and had given him a list of things to do in a specific order. He decided to give it another go and search Hogwarts for the Headmaster again.

As he made his way down the staircase, he heard two people come running into the entrance hall. His eyes sparkled with relief as he saw an out of breath Albus Dumbledore.

"Professor Dumbledore, Sir," he greeted loudly as he thundered down the stairs to meet him "Where 'ave you been?"

"I am sorry, Hagrid," said Albus clutching the half giants big hands. "There has been a change of plans!"

"Plans?" asked Hagrid. He didn't like changes to the plans, for it would mean something else to mess up.

"I want you to go and tell the guests in the chapel that there is to be no wedding," the Headmaster told his dear friend. "Direct them into the Great Hall and tell them to help themselves to the spread."

"Does Miss Regina know about this?" asked Hagrid.

"No!" answered Albus.

"I don't have to go and tell her that do I?" asked Hagrid, who really didn't want to face the wrath of that witch all over again.

To Hagrid's relief, Albus told him that it would be better coming from the groom to be than the best man and that Hagrid should go and enjoy himself in the Great Hall with all the others. Hagrid nodded and made his way to the chapel to tell the awaiting crowd the new plans.

Albus looked across at Minerva and offered her his hand. She took it and together they rushed up the stairs two at a time. They walked in silence as they made their way through the quiet corridors. They heard the mumbling of voices and looked out of the window.

They saw the small chapel being emptied of its' guests and the excited chatter that overwhelmed the silence. They smiled as they saw Hagrid being badgered for answers, which he ignored and changed the subject around to dragons. They watched for a moment or two before continuing along the corridor till they reached their final destination.

"Ready?" he asked softly.

"Ready," she agreed as she kissed him lightly on the lips.

Albus spoke the password clearly and waited as the door appeared. He took hold of the doorknob and opened the door.

"I told you not to come back here without him, you stupid half wit!" growled Regina, who had her back to her door.

"Now that isn't very nice," said Albus walking into the room.

"Albie," she shrieked "you mustn't see me before the ceremony!"

She whirled around and looked at Albus, her smile fading as she saw Minerva standing beside the man would was to give her fame and money.

"What she doing here?" Regina spat as she moved forward and stood inches away from both Albus and Minerva.

"Minerva," he replied, accentuating his Deputy's name, "is here because we have something to tell you."

"Maybe you should sit down," suggested Minerva, who couldn't help but smirk as she caught sight of a visible red mark on her blushing bride to be face.

"I will do nothing of the sort," bit back Regina. "I am to be married any minute and you are simply getting in the way. I suggest you run along now and leave me and my lover alone."

Albus reached for Minerva's hand and held it tenderly as he led her deeper into the room. He didn't even glance at Regina as they passed her on their way to the couch. Minerva sat down while Albus remained standing, his hands behind his back as he finally looked at Regina.

"There is to be no wedding Regina," he began. "I have informed the guests that there has been a change to the plans and that they are to enjoy themselves in the Great Hall."

"No wedding?" repeated Regina in shock. "Oh my, what will they think of me? You have made me a laughing stock old man! How dare you?"

"I don't really care what they think of you Regina," answered Albus. "You were not going to enter this marriage for love or companionship but for fame and fortune. I did not see that at first but it soon became clear as each day passed. You knew that my heart belonged somewhere else and you did your best to get rid of that threat. But in the end, I have to ironically thank you for love and happiness. Because, if you hadn't been the way you were then I would have never found out that my love is returned and that Minerva is my true love and soul mate."

"Thank me!" she yelled. "Thank me! You dare thank me for her? I pity you, for what it is worth! Your life with her will be miserable and boring. Perhaps you are made for each other. You are to bore each other into the grave while I will celebrate my lucky escape from boredom. I will not need the surname Dumbledore to be famous. I will make my own fame out of you both."

"Do what you want," said Albus, looking at Minerva and smiling softly. "You cannot destroy what we have and no one will listen to you in six months time. You will be old news and unhappy!"

Regina glared at them both before turning on her heels and storming from the room, her robes flowing behind her as she went. Minerva got to her feet and walked to the window that overlooked the school gates. Albus joined her and wrapped his arms around her waist as they waited for Regina to appear and leave the school.

They saw her appear five minutes later, storming down the path and shouting something at the guests as she passed. They couldn't hear what she had said but they could just make out the shaking of heads by the guests as they also watched her storm away.

"Well that went better than I had expected," Albus declared a few moments later.

"I am surprised as well," agreed Minerva. "I had planned to give her a matching red patch on her other cheek if she tried anything."

Albus chuckled into her neck as he planted soft kisses on the soft, creamy skin. He held her tightly and thanked his lucky stars that she was now his. They could look forward to their time together now.

"I love you," he whispered into her ear before softly nipping at it.

"I love you too," she answered as she leaned back against him, before whispering to herself. "I didn't lose my chance after all!"

THE END!