H P Boy who livesYear 7- Summer
Chapter 31
The Handfasting
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Harry and Hermione get officially promised to each other...hmm what really happened.
--
Avalon- Kingdom of the Fées (Fairies)
Harry was sitting on a throne with Hermione on his lap while he watched his first-grandparents quarrel.
Hermione was content to curl in his lap, because Princess Celestra had healed both Harry's and her own aliments. This meant no cast on her leg or foot. :Promise me that you will never drink four different drinks like that again. You were completely out of control. I mean really Harry disappearing like that and without the use of a wand. Just what happened between you and Princess Celestra anyway?:
:She's thousands of years old and my Aunt so relax.: Harry wasn't proud of his actions. :I know that it was stupid of me to snog under a tree that was being guarded over by Brownies. How was I supposed to know that they would go tattle to my First-Grams that we were being mischievous under the enchanted apple tree? I had no clue that she would whisk us here in front of the entire fairy court and my First-Gramps, who has been here recharging his magic. I'm having one of those red-letter days okay! Not that what we were doing wasn't enjoyable or anything because believe you me it was.:
Hermione blushed crimson. :I just thought that spending the last two days before term in prison would have been a bad way for you to start off seventh year.:
:This is all Dad's fault, so he would've been doing my time, or we both would have been sharing the same cell. I now know what Dad and Mum mean when they say that coupling complicates matters. I can barely think right now, so seventh year would've been hell if we had well gone for...: Harry was being snarled at by Merlin.
"Well, young pup what do you have to say for yourself! You have to go and choose an enchanted apple tree of all places! You are a PRINCE she is your FUTURE PRINCESS! This is not the time of WENCHING! You do not take advantage of your princess, because you went and got yourself bloody well sloshed out of your MIND! Guinness is fine for a lad, as magically gifted as you are! I can't tell you how much trouble that drinking ale got me into! Arthur is an example of one of those times, but then it didn't go all that badly until later! Not that this means that you can go and get yourself sloshed! Surfing on Nessie in public, you are going to make the Muggle tabloids for sure with that one! Who was the dumb ass that gave you Fire Whiskey, Beer, Ale, and Guinness all in one day!? Was it that crackpot pirate Sirius! I'll give him what for!" Merlin was so angry that all the fairy court was putting barriers around themselves for protection.
"I...Uh...well...you...see..." Harry tried to get up the guts to say something.
"Uncle James gave it to him." Hermione whimpered.
"That figures the dumb ass! Not that he's dumb in any way, just mind numb about important things like what not to give his son! He deserved that tornado your mother brought down on his head! He's lucky that she loves him or he would have been ashes!" Merlin zeroed in on Hermione. "Lass you knew bloody well what was going to happen when you used a female wolfs call and still you called him! You knew that he was sloshed! Why in Cronos' name did you do that!?"
"Merlin you have grown as dim as the mortals during your solitude." Mab wasn't happy with the two, but she sensed that they shared a heart link with each other.
"What are you talking about woman? She lured him there and that got him in trouble!" Merlin narrowed his silver brows at her.
"That is because the two are eternally linked dear husband, a fate which the two of us know all too well." Mab kissed his cheek.
"So are James and Lily, but unlike this one she played hard to get." Merlin grumbled.
"Father you are being too harsh on the two of them. They are but two young ones newly in love. It is natural for them to make mistakes along the way. After all you and mother made plenty." Celestra came to their defense.
"Yes, your argument would ring true if the two of them were mere teens at heart, but alas they are not. They are two who have seen more than any young one should, which makes them older than their years. Therefore, the two of them were well aware, of what they were doing, and the circumstance that could go with that. I doubt that they wanted to change the future and have their firstborn earlier than foreseen." Merlin's next move was definitely without a shadow of a doubt checkmate.
--
Lily fainted in James arms. No one had noticed that Sir Pigwidgeon had escorted them to High court.
"Aye, but father the two of them can handle anything together." Celestra countered.
"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE! BACK UP AND REWIND! WHO IS HAVING THEIR FIRSTBORN EARLIER THAN EXPECTED?! IT SURE AS HADES BETTER NOT BE JUNIOR OR SO HELP ME GOD I WILL DO WHAT VOLDEMORT DIDN'T!" James, garbed very much like his title, completely lost his cool.
"WOULDN'T YOU LIKE TO KNOW? YOU FRICKIN MORON!" Merlin narrowed his eyes at James. "ARTHUR'S MAY BE YOUR VERY NATURE, BUT THE BOY TAKES AFTER ME!! NOW DON'T BLUNDER IT UP ANYMORE THAN YOU ALREADY HAVE!"
The palace walls shook from his fury.
"I propose the prince and princess be properly wed!" Prince Cameron the husband of Celestra thought of a solution.
"Wed!?" Lily sat straight up knocking James senseless. "What's going on? What did he do?! I'm not ready to be a grandmother yet!"
James was seeing stars. "You are bound and determined to break the jaw today aren't you, Red." He rubbed his sore jaw. "I don't know because they won't tell me."
"Oh, he's playing that game is he." She got up to her feet stalked up to Merlin and glared up into his eyes. "Care to see how rusty you really are old man!" Lightning blazed in her eyes.
"James chose well." Mab smiled.
"I must say you are a force to be reckoned with when you aren't pregnant and now that you are I am sure that you could very well clean my clock. That however won't be necessary what's done is done. You can't change it neither can I." Merlin wasn't the least bit afraid of her.
"Harry James Merlin, look me in the eye, and tell me what you did!" Lily stalked over to the throne that they were sitting in.
"We don't remember all that much, but we are fairly certain that nothing major happened." Hermione spoke up when Harry said nothing.
"Nothing happened... I think... I was under the influence of five drinks. I'm sorry if I can't remember the details while I was James the pirate!"
"Bloody hell mate that's two days in Azkaban! What the hell were you thinking?!" Draco finally made himself known.
"That's just the point I wasn't thinking! Dad got me sloshed!" Harry now wasn't sure what had happened.
"The choice is clear, as they chose one of our trees to frolic under, our bylaws stand true. The two should wed in a Handfasting ceremony end of discussion." Cameron frowned.
"Cam makes a valid argument the law is the law and he is of the royal line." Mab agreed.
"Even if nothing happened?" Harry gulped.
"The law is the law young one." Mab gave him a stern look. "You will be married by magical law in a Handfasting ceremony, but your punishment for breaking your word is to remain true once more until mortally wed."
"We have no choice but to respect magical law." James grudgingly agreed.
"JAMES!!" Lily couldn't believe her ears.
"The Wizarding World respects the laws of other Magical realms as their own. It is out of our hands." James glared at his son. "You are still mine until September 19, 2005. This changes nothing."
"It's not our fault! You got me sloshed! My James side took complete and total control!" Harry glared back at him.
"Look, if the two of us can face off with some of the darkest wizards that ever lived. I know we can handle anything else that fate wants to throw our way! If and I am stating if something happened so be it! This way it's a red flare to anyone in the land that he is mine and hands-off!" Hermione had heard enough and let her own temper show.
"This one shows great promise as well. They make an excellent match these two." Mab was beyond pleased with the next generation's choices of mates. "You young Draco where is your princess?"
"At the girl's campsite with the others your majesty," He answered.
"Does she have fire like this one or is she as meek as a mouse." Mab frowned.
"I am so not some meek little mouse!" Ginny was escorted into high court dressed very much like a princess.
"The Four Hearts unite." The court murmured.
Draco having yet to see her final look was floored by how beautiful she looked. Beau had done his magic on her fiery red hair, which now had golden highlights streaked through it and artfully fell in layers framing her face. "Ginny you look...I mean..." Draco was all but drooling.
Ginny walked up and kissed him. "Speechless I like it. "
"There are no words to describe how beautiful you look, not that you didn't look beautiful before but wow." Draco tried to get the words he wanted to say out without sounding like an idiot.
Ginny blushed. "That's nice Dragon. You look handsome in your Prince clothes too."
"It is necessary when dealing with matters in the High Court." Celestra explained. "Welcome to Avalon at the moment we are deciding on the fate of my many-great-nephew and his princess."
Ginny turned and shot a look at Hermione. "Did they break the bylaws or something?"
"Oh, you could say that." Draco grumbled.
Ginny's eyes widened as what he was thinking dawned on her. "But Harry has never broken a promise in his life!"
"What is done is done on with the wedding!" The court was bored with this banter.
"Wedding?! No way that's so not fair!" Ginny shouted in protest.
"Peaches, the law is the law. Go with it or we might not make it out of here till the next century." Draco pulled her into his arms and growled into her ear.
"This one proves the Four Hearts will thrive. The Handfasting will begin in an hour's time. Celestra take Hermione, Lily, and Ginny so they can help her prepare for her wedding." Mab's word was law.
The women were all ushered away.
--
This left Harry to face off with his father and Draco, who were both waiting for him to speak.
"Don't look at me like that and don't even start to flay me alive for something that was not entirely my fault!" He paced in front of them. "You were willing to take a risk by offering me drinks when you introduced me to fire whiskey tea this morning, then this afternoon to beer, ale, and Guinness on a mostly empty stomach. I promised to bond with you, we were bonding, and that had repercussions. Now a while ago I was positive that nothing happened, but now I can't be so sure."
James stopped his son from pacing by putting his hands on both of Harry's shoulders and shaking him. "Junior this isn't a complex spell or potion. Did you or did you not break your promise? You either did or you didn't it is just that simple."
"No it isn't that simple DAD! My brain, the logical side of it, shut down as soon as that stuff entered my system! I wasn't in control at all! The James the marauder side of me took complete control. I vaguely remember riding on Nessie, turning into Prince, finding my princess, saying something to Mum, then disappearing without my wand, and appearing under this gigantic enchanted apple tree with grass that was like velvet." Harry got this secret smile on his face and his eyes darkened a deep green. "After that it's all a pleasant blur, until the brownies and Sir Pigwidgeon discovered us on a routine patrol of their tree. There was a blinding flash of golden light and the next thing I know the two of us are dressed like something from the royal courts of old in front of the High Fairy Court. Aunt Celestra gave me some fruit and it counteracted the effects of the drinks, and healed Hermione's leg as well. Then we took a seat on the throne and got growled at by the first-grandparents." Harry shrugged his shoulders.
"You can't remember one of the monumental events in your life, because of a bad alcoholic reaction, or because the adults scared the shit out of you." Draco raked his fingers through his silver blonde hair in frustration.
"Enough, what was done cannot be undone." Merlin ended the discussion. "Who do you wish us to send for or do you not wish anyone else to be here for your wedding?"
"Everyone at the campsites should be here or I'll get killed if they miss it. As it is, Aunt Molly is gonna want to murder me. The rest of the family is off on their honeymoons and I don't know where they went. Wills and Kate are probably getting ready for a date or something. Dan and Emma are in the middle of filming the fourth installment of the books." The fact that this was happening and that he was getting married in an hours time finally hit him. It wasn't the way they had wanted this to happen and he was upset about that.
"This is all wrong. It wasn't supposed to be this way. I can't believe that we're getting married, because of something that wasn't completely my fault and may or may not have happened!" Harry had to get some air, so he stalked out the doors.
"Harry you can't run away from this!" James shouted after him.
"Leave him be." Cameron growled. "He needs time to himself, so I will show him where they will prepare him for the ceremony. The rest of you follow that guard and he will show you where you may prepare as well." He pointed to one of the sentry's who bowed then motioned for the others to follow him.
"He's my son and I will take care of him."
"I believe that you have done enough for one day." With that said, he walked out the doors that Harry had gone through.
--
"I wanted Dan, Emma, Wills, and Kate to be there when we got married the first time! It was supposed to be our private little ceremony just for us and not something forced on us because we broke some ancient bylaw!" Harry snarled up at the starlit sky.
Cameron put a hand on his shoulder. "Think of this as a promise ceremony between you and your love. You are already bonded in love, loyalty, and friendship for all eternity. In our realm what the two of you share is called a soul bond or a heart link, and should be celebrated as such. This is a joyous occasion no matter the cause. There has not been a royal wedding in many years in our realm. Celestra and I have been wed for over a thousand years."
Harry turned to look at Cameron whose looks reminded him of Cedric's. He was blonde, blue-eyed, with strikingly handsome features. He didn't look a day over twenty-one. "A thousand years of marriage is a longtime to be together."
"Aye that it is lad, but our bond is unbreakable to any trial or tragedy that fate throws at us. Celestra and I have many daughters, but just one son named Xander. Who reminds me very much of you. He is incredibly brave and courageous as well as true to wherever his heart leads him. Celestra sees him as handsome, brave, stubborn, and too intelligent for his own good." Cameron and Harry were walking through the gardens towards another wing of the palace.
"Our realm was not left untouched by the Dark Lord. He saw us as a threat and recruited some of our own kind to destroy us. Xander discovered the treachery and with the help of loyal soldiers defeated the traitors thus ending the Dark Lords plan to destroy us."
"Voldemort never took failure lightly, so he must have tried to retaliate against your son." Harry could almost see where this story was heading. Yet another race had been hurt by that evil snake.
"Voldemort was a descendent of Queen Mab's youngest sister Morgana, which made him one half of our kind. When he discovered the secret location of our home, he infiltrated our world, and kidnapped two of our own. Princess Chloe and Princess Daisy, Xander's wife and child… He set off to rescue them that eve knowing that our home would have to move again that night." Cameron went on with his woeful tale.
"It makes my blood boil to think that yet another family has been destroyed, because I didn't act fast enough and taken out Voldemort. That I waited for him to come to me instead. I am deeply sorry if that cost you the lives of your son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter." Harry wondered just how much damage that fiend had done.
"That I do not know. It will be two of your world's months this September since we lost them. If Xander had managed to save them, it would have been impossible for them to find us again. They are lost to us now." Cameron's tone was that of mourning and sheer misery.
"I vanquished Voldemort on the last night of June. They could still be alive and searching for you unless..." Harry saw a flash of three fairies and a very familiar ancient oak tree. "Where was that tree your highness? I believe your lost loved ones are still alive and waiting there."
Is he the one that was foretold to be the next like Merlin? Cameron had sensed that Harry had been shown something and his heart leaped with joy. "The tree was found near the Orchard on what the muggles call Gryffindor Lane. Our home had not seen many visitors since the tragedy that befell there. If he had indeed rescued them he would not risk the two of them coming to harm and would stay in our former home."
Harry saw another flash this time clearer, it was indeed Cameron's missing family members making due with what had been left behind by the others. "Send your men to that oak tree and you will find that they are safe and sound. He does seem to be annoyed at the construction of my new home. It's causing Daisy to be curious." Harry kept his eyes closed as he focused on the vision. "He tried to contact my grandfather, but he isn't at the castle, so they wait there for his return. He knows that Stephen will know the new location of home."
Cameron had called on some of the royal guard while Harry was in that trance like state. "I wish you to return to the ancient oak in the Hollow. I want you to bring back my son and his family to our new home."
"At once sire, but how do you know that they are there?" Sir Talon who was Xander's best friend bowed in front of Cameron before asking his question.
"Young Harry has just had the sight and has seen them at the Oak tree. Take as many men as you need and bring them back to us." Cameron placed a hand on Talon's shoulder.
"If they are indeed where you say I will find them and bring them home safe. Just as legend has foretold you are the next to be like King Merlin." Talon left to gather his men.
"That's the third time that I've heard that today… from Nessie, from First-Grandpa, and now from him." Harry frowned.
"Now young one it is a tribute not a hindrance to be thought of as Merlin. Now as you have brought the light back into my life by telling me of my son and his family. I shall ease that heavy burden on your shoulders, by telling you that you did not break your promise to your lass. This wedding is to be a promise ceremony between you and your love. It is to be no more no less and you will be able to say your vows with a clear mind, heart, and soul." Cam led him into the more private family part of the palace.
Harry felt like he could fly. He was so happy that he had kept him promise that was grinning from ear to ear. "Just out of curiosity, how is it that you know this for sure?"
"I was sitting near the apple tree. You see it was me who transported the two of you to the palace before either of you could break your promise."
Harry gave him a how-do-you-know-about-that look.
"Aye young Harry it seems that Merlin likes to proudly boast to Mab that you are not like the others of your line and that you had never yet broken a promise. I made sure that you kept that perfect record."
He looked at Harry one brow was raised as if trying to decide what to do with him. "You will wear the traditional garbs of old."
"I'm at your mercy dress me as you will. Oh and thanks for telling me the truth. It means a lot that I kept my word to everyone." Harry found himself converged on by the royal tailors. :Hermione, you can relax and enjoy this experience, because Uncle Cameron just told me nothing happened that he stopped us. So think of this as our own promise ceremony and one more thing I love you, my heart.:
--
Hermione had found herself at the mercy of Celestra's Ladies-in-waiting; they were treating her as they would their queen. She was bathed, lotioned, powdered, and then forced to don what seemed like endless undergarments of the finest silk, satin, and lace. :Oh Harry, that makes me very happy, because I wanted our first time to be special and not something that we would think was a mistake. I love you and I will see you in an hours time.: She was smiling again.
Lady Mabel was intricately creating a hairstyle fit for any princess with braids entwined with flowers and jewels. "That's the spirit lass you should enjoy preparing for your wedding not fret about it."
"I'm promising myself to my soul mate. This is indeed a joyous night." She stepped into a gown of the finest silk, satin, and intricate lace and jewels that winked from the fabric. It was a gown fit for a queen right out of the fairy tales. Complete with a matching cape. "This gown is glorious!" Hermione twirled around as she looked at herself in the floor-length mirror.
Lady Ariel had waited until her hair and gown were done before doing her face. "You have such a beautiful face Lady Hermione and such flawless skin to compliment it, and your figure is that of the envy of any lass."
Hermione blushed crimson. "I'm just plain compared to other girls."
"Lass why whatever made you think that?" Ariel giggled.
"I don't know. I suppose my studies and keeping up with Harry and Ron made it so I never really focused on how I looked. It wasn't until recently that I realized that people thought of me as pretty." Hermione frowned at her reflection not recognizing herself in the mirror. "That and making me pretty takes too much work to bother with daily."
"I will teach you a little secret that we Fée use to keep up our flawless appearances. It's called a Glamour spell and it instantly applies the right amount of what mortals call make-up to your face. It is a blessing if you have been crying and you don't wish anyone to know." Ariel smiled. "You can also use it to completely change your appearance or clothing all that you need do is add more detail to the spell."
"I tried to use that once fourth year, after reading about it in an ancient book, but the result was a total failure. I looked like a lady of the night. It took two hours to get my face normal again." Hermione was wary of that kind of spell.
"I promise you that this will not be the same." Ariel went about teaching her how to do a Glamour spell.
"Here goes nothing." Hermione looked at her reflection in the mirror, waved her hand across her face, and performed the chant that Ariel had taught her. It worked; her face looked as if a professional make-up artist had done it. "So it made me up all fancy because of my gown?"
"That's right; it all depends on what is needed." Ariel smiled. "The wonderful part is that at the end of the day when you wish to have a clean face you just chant the reverse spell that I taught you."
"It is nice to see my little niece smiling once again. Could it be that she has talked to her prince?" Celestra glided into the room dressed in a creation of pink silk that winked of jewels as she walked. "It is a wonderful night with much to celebrate. Xander, Chloe, and Daisy are coming home to us and we are rejoicing in celebrating your wedding to my nephew."
"Thank the stars they're alive, but how do you know my lady?" Mabel clutched her hands to her chest in thankfulness.
"Young Harry had a vision when he was talking with Cam and saw that they are alive and at the ancient Oak on Gryffindor lane. So Cam sent Talon and his men to go get them and bring them home."
"Then this truly is a joyous day! Once again we are free of the Dark Lord's treachery. My Talon will bring them home to us." Ariel danced a happy jig around the room conjuring flowers as she waved her hands in the air.
"Cameron was the one who told Harry that we were true to our promise. Is he your husband?" Hermione's interest was peaked at the mention of the former Dark Lords name.
"Yes lass. Cameron is my husband and Xander is our only son. The Dark Lord stole his wife and child from him and he set off to rescue him on a dark and treacherous night. You see Voldemort was a descendent of my mother's youngest sister Morgana. She's always been jealous of what mother has, is as evil as the come, and is determined conquer both of our realms. This being so he was able to enter our realm undetected and steal away our own. It had happened once before three years ago that day when he stole away our youngest daughter. Our bylaw states that when an event like this happens, that we are to move our home to a new location forth haste. It was the night that our son set off to rescue his own that we were to move. They did not return in time and so we thought that they were lost to us like our baby was." Celestra explained. "Now just as was foreseen, the one who will be like Merlin has returned to us, thus bringing a time when wizards and fairies can finally once again coexist in harmony. This hasn't happened in a thousand years. He will also bring back what was once lost home again."
Hermione's eyes widened, as she listened to Celestra speak. My Harry is the one who is to be like Merlin?
"Cameron has taken to brooding during the eve and was sitting near the tree to which you and Harry were frolicking under. He knew of the promise that you had made to everyone and whisked you way to the palace. Only someone with true magic and fairy blood can find our home a second time, so again the legend rings true." Celestra placed a veil with a crown of jeweled flowers on it on Hermione's head, and then placed the matching necklace, and bracelet on her neck and wrist. "Mother wishes that you wear these, they are her favorites, and what she wore when she wed my father."
"The only other prophecy that I was aware of was our Four Hearts one, so this legend that you're speaking of is big news to me. If Harry is to be like Merlin then that will eventually make him..." She began to pace in front of them.
"He will be one of the most powerful wizards in nearly a thousand years. That is the reason he was able to withstand Avada Kedavra or any of the dark curses and the reason special blood runs through his veins and can place his mark on any dark one. If a wizard is truly evil just a trickle of his blood will turn them to dust in the wind." Celestra explained. "You yourself are a perfect match for him, the smartest witch in over a century, and with a touch of fairy blood in your veins from your mother's side of your family tree. You are compassionate towards others, ready to fight for a cause that you believe in, and can tell if someone is in the right just by looking at them. I would add that you are beautiful inside and out, but then that is well-known by all that are around you."
"Is Harry becoming an Auror a good thing for him then?" Hermione frowned.
"So you believe that because he is to be like father, a Dark hunter he cannot be?" Celestra laughed. "He will follow his own path, be his own person, and that is how it will be. Father has always wanted to see magic thrive again all over the world and because of Harry that is what is happening. Harry is a natural hunter, but eventually he will tire of that and focus on another path like perhaps the one you wish to follow."
Lily was the first to walk into the room dressed very much like her station a princess of the realm. Her floor-length gown was of both silk and lace. The bodice of it was red silk and black lace that flowed down into a layered skirt the first of which was of red silk and lace that peaked out from the ivory silk overskirt. The sleeves of the gown were sheer lace at the shoulders that flowed down into intricate lace to her fingertips, a stunning jeweled cap made of entwined pearl strands, ruby pieces, and diamond drops adorned her head.
"Sweetheart, you look breathtakingly beautiful and I can see that you know that this is more a promise ceremony than a wedding. I just left Harry. He looks, well, you'll have to wait and see." She gave Hermione a hug.
"You look smashing as well Aunt Lily." Hermione hugged her back. "Where are the others?"
"Oh, they got sidetracked by the others." Lily fussed with Hermione's veil.
"Others?" Hermione arched a brow at her.
"Evidently this is the place where one goes to take a honeymoon when they don't wish to be found." Lily winked at her. "Uncle Albus and Aunt Minerva, Remus and Gene are here. Dad and Mom sent for Wills and Kate, and the rest of the Weasley clan. You parents were unable to be reached, so were Mattie and the twins. They are over at a sleepover, Mattie is out of town, and your parents are evidently handling a royal dental emergency. The crown Prince and his mistress ate something that did disastrous things to their teeth. Oh and we don't know where Hagrid or Olympe went to, so we haven't been able to contact them. Daniel and Emma are on a night shoot and can't come. "
"Everyone made it?" Hermione hugged Lily happily. "Except for Hagrid, Dan and Emma and my parents... This is wonderful."
"Wills, Ron, the Weasley twins, Charlie, Bill, Percy and Remus, after having a ten minute talk with Harry, are now reassured that you aren't being rushed into marriage, because of him getting drunk, and breaking his promise. Those boys are extremely protective of you." Lily smiled at Celestra. "It has been ages since you and I have been able to talk. I hope that we can do that again now that our world is at peace."
"I have many new healing items to show you. Now that Mother knows that Harry is indeed not like the others, perhaps she will move the Kingdom back to the ancient oak next to Hagrid's. That way she can keep a close eye on the two of them." Celestra hugged her. "I was overjoyed when father brought all of you back to us again."
"I suppose that I could move the Kingdom back to Hogwarts for the school year. Young Harry needs more guidance than my clueless husband can give him. He has such promise, both of you do, and I'll not see that wasted." Mab appeared in the room. She was dressed in a grand gown fit for a queen. "You look smashing my dear." She walked over and kissed Hermione on the cheek. "So I see that you have learned the Glamour spell. Just remember that natural beauty is just as important as anything that you place on your face."
"Yes mother, but it comes in handy when you are in need of the perfect look for occasions such as this or a Grand Ball." Celestra winked at Hermione.
"Oh Hermione, you look beautiful." Molly, dressed in an emerald gown of crushed velvet, gasped when she saw Hermione in her gown.
"Thanks Aunt Molly you look wonderful too." She was once again hugged and kissed.
"It's okay my dear all of us have done crazy things when we were first in love." She whispered in her ear.
"Oh, wow Hermione you look amazing." Ginny walked into the room with Luna each were dressed much like Lily only Ginny's was in a deep sapphire blue and Luna's was in the color of burnished gold.
"Love agrees with you Hermione." Luna smiled.
"I was just talking to Fred and George and they were wagering on if The Prophet was gonna get wind of this or if they captured pics of Harry riding Nessie before he turned into Prince. I added that some muggle might have gotten part of it on video or snapped it as well." Ginny winked at her friend.
"The twins are going to cover this for The Quibbler and we're going to have an exclusive. They see running the paper as a challenge while Ron and I are in school." Luna seemed to think that this was no big deal.
"I know that I would rather you ran it in The Quibbler than have it ran in The Prophet. Although truth be told, it wouldn't bother me any, if this was our little secret. Even though, I know that is an impossible wish." Hermione sighed.
"It seems like the two of you are the presses darlings of the moment." Jenna was wearing a gown like Lily's, but hers was amethyst in color with a tiara and jewelry to match. "I hate dressing up like this."
"Jenna, a princess must dress accordingly for various occasions. It would not look proper if you were to wear jeans to the ceremony." Celestra gave her a knowing look.
"It's just that jeans don't require all the underthings that these gowns do. I don't mind the lacy lingerie it's just the petticoats that annoy me." Jenna stuck her tongue at Celestra.
"Oh really, Jenna that is so mature of you." Celestra rolled her eyes at her.
Jenna responded to that by crossing her eyes and sticking out her tongue at her.
"I could make you look like that for a week if I wanted." Celestra warned.
Bells began to ring outside the palace marking the start of the next hour.
"It's time." Mab had been on the verge of separating the two princesses.
"Is someone in need of being walked down the aisle?" Wills and Kate were standing in the doorway.
Hermione beamed at them. "I thought that you had a thing with your Grams and then were off to University?"
"Harry's developed yet another way to torture the one who thinks he is our father. He's taken up trying to cook and bake. Now it's rude to tell your youngest son no, so Uncle and his mistress both bit into a rock hard brownie and the result was hurting their teeth. I told him next time he should shell the nuts before putting them in the batter. But then again it was hilarious watching them howling in agony and that's the reason we are here and Uncle Alex and Aunt Kath are not."
"We were floored when Stephen appeared in front of us and told us that you and Harry were getting married." Kate gave her a hug.
"It's more like a promise ceremony and I'm so happy that you both are here." Hermione was on cloud nine with happiness.
"I'll bet he thinks twice before ever drinking that much again." Wills hugged her.
"If he does he's toast." Hermione growled.
Trumpet's blared nearby announcing the ceremony would soon begin.
"All right let's do this." Hermione took Wills arm and let him lead her out of the room.
--
"I feel like I need to call for my musketeers in this getup." Harry hissed at Ron and Draco, who were standing on one side of him, as they waited for the ceremony to begin. The frock coat and matching vest of Harry's fairy prince look was made of the finest candlelight golden silk and heavily embroidered in intricate Welsh, Celtic, and Highlander designs of old with treads of gold and silver. It was an ensemble with a silk shirt and breeches made in raw silk of the same color of the jacket, and of course fancy shoes to match.
Draco and Ron were in similar clothing although theirs was not created all of silk. Their frock coats were of the finest crushed velvet, highly embroidered with similar symbols with golden threads, with the matching shirts, breeches, and vests.
Draco had to force himself to keep a straight face and not laugh. "Well then all for one and one for all." He smirked.
"I don't know what the two of you are jokin about these pants are giving me an atomic wedgie." Ron fidgeted next to Draco.
"Just smile boys and son remember you have to do this again, only it's going to be a thousand times grander than this with a lot more people." James, who was standing next to him, hissed that into his ear.
"Gee thanks a lot Dad. I feel so much better now." Harry rolled his eyes at him.
"Anything to help Junior, anything to help." He grinned.
The trumpeters sounded the arrival of the bride and her party. Everyone turned to look towards the royal garden gates, as harps began to play a prewedding march. Mab made her appearance next to Merlin and gave the signal for the Pages' to open the gates.
Lily and Celestra were the first to walk down the aisle, followed by Jenna and Molly who took their places. James, Sirius, and Arthur were awe struck at their beautiful wives.
The harpist changed music again and Luna appeared causing Ron to nearly drool all over himself at her newly polished very ladylike look. Next was Ginny who blew Draco away with her new princess look. Last was Kate who was smiling at Harry. All eyes turned to the doorway, as the harpist started to play the wedding march, and finally Wills and Hermione were standing in the entranceway.
"I know that this is just a practice run, but is it true that after this ceremony the two of you are going to be legally married in the Wizarding World?" Wills bent to whisper that in her ear.
"Wills this is a promise ceremony, now just walk me down the aisle, and try not to trip over your own feet." Hermione hissed back at him thru her practiced perfect smile that she had been taught at the tender age of three.
"I'll take that as an I'm ready let's get this rolling kind of signal." Wills chuckled.
"Sorry about the interruption, but since we have kept up with you both all of your lives it would be a shame that we missed your wedding." Xander winked at Hermione. "I'm Prince Xander and this is my wife Princess Chloe and our baby girl Daisy. I owe my cousin our lives."
"I'm so happy that all of you made it back."
"Hello Princess Hermione please call me Chloe." The princess was a breathtaking blonde beauty, who was as kind and gentle as they come. "Can you say hello to your cousin?"
Daisy the mirror image of her mum smiled up at Hermione and said. "You pretty."
Hermione, in complete view of everyone, reached out to hold her in her arms. "You so adorable and I thank you for thinking that I'm pretty." She gave her a flower from her bouquet and then kissed her cheek. "I think that you are pretty too."
"She nice. I likes her lots." Daisy kissed Hermione's cheeks.
"I believe that you were missing some family members so Talon and I decided to bring them ourselves." Xander smiled.
"I believe that you are doing our job, William." Alex and Katherine, who were both dressed up to the nines, stood behind them with Neville and Lavender, who were also dressed for the ceremony.
"All of you made it!" Hermione turned around and hugged each of them. "Lavender will you please go up and join the other girls. That goes the same with Neville and Wills. They should be up there with Harry now that you both are here." She smiled up at Xander and then at Talon. "This means everything to me."
"It is only right to make your wedding special after everything that you have done for both our worlds." Talon smiled.
Harry could hear the conversation happening down the aisle and smirked, "Prince Xander, Princess Chloe, Princess Daisy, Sir Talon, Neville, Lavender, and Uncle Alex and Aunt Katherine just arrived. So make room for more gents and more Ladies." He was calm, cool, and ready to commit himself to his other half.
"Poor Wills he's gonna pout now." Kate giggled.
Xander walked up the aisle, with Daisy in his arms, and Chloe at his side. The wedding guests broke into applause and calls of welcome home. "They'll be right with you it seems that young Prince William is pouting." He chuckled as he passed them on his way to stand next to his father.
Neville walked up the aisle with Lavender on his arm and joined the wedding party. "Sorry that we were late, but we were on a date when they found us and brought us here." Neville smiled.
"Glad that you could make it, Neville." Harry grinned.
Wills walked up the aisle clearly not happy that his big job of escorting Hermione up the aisle had been taken away. "She'll be right with you, her parents showed up."
"That's enough William Arthur Philip Louis, you are being a baby." Kate growled.
"Geez woman how many times do I have to tell you not to use my full name like that?" Wills flushed crimson.
Kate gave him a look that shut him up. "That's much better. Sorry for his childish actions next time he might not get to go at all."
Harry did the smart thing and said nothing. He just kept his eyes focused on the three individuals standing in the doorway.
"You look lovely, princess." Alex kissed her cheek. "I think that this is a good idea only because it's just a promise ceremony, not that I don't want you to marry Harry, its just that I'm not ready to officially give you away quite yet."
"I think that all young couples should have a promise ceremony it shows how much they are committed to their lives together." Katherine hugged her daughter. "You look beautiful, honey."
"I love you both to pieces and I know that you only want what is best for me, and right now that is having this ceremony with Harry. Who although is being very patient has been standing there for about ten minutes or so now. So would the two of you please just walk me down the aisle?" Hermione wanted so much to see Harry after seeing him standing there in his ultra fairy prince clothes.
The two of them proudly walked their daughter down the aisle, before taking their places.
Harry took her hand and kissed it. "I love you...You look amazing... I would wait an eternity for you if I had to."
Hermione smiled happily up at him through her veil. "You look very dashing yourself and I love you too."
--
They formed a circle
Mab smiled at everyone. "We have come together here in celebration of the joining together of Harry and Hermione. There are many things to say about marriage. Much wisdom concerning the joining together of souls has come our way through all paths of belief, and from many cultures. With each union, more knowledge is gained and more wisdom gathered. Though we are unable to give all this knowledge to these two who stand before us, we can hope to leave with them the knowledge of love and its strengths and the anticipation of the wisdom that comes with time. The law of life is love unto all beings. Without love, life is nothing, without love, death has no redemption. Love is anterior to Life, posterior to Death, initial of Creation and the exponent of Earth. If we learn no more in life, let it be this."
"Marriage is a bond to be entered into only after considerable thought and reflection. As with any aspect of life, it has its cycles, its ups and its downs, its trials and its triumphs. With full understanding of this, Harry and Hermione have come here today to be joined as one in marriage." Merlin continued.
"Others would ask, at this time, who gives the bride in marriage. But, as a woman is not property to be bought and sold, given and taken, I ask simply if she comes of her own will and if she has her family's blessing." Mab finished with the opening of the ceremony.
Mab turned to Hermione." Hermione, is it true that you come of your own free will and accord?"
Hermione smiled. "Yes, it is true."
She then turned to Harry. "Is it true that you have your family's blessing?"
Harry took a quick look at his parents who nodded then said. "Yes, it is true."
Mab smiled at everyone. "Please join hands with Harry and Hermione and listen to that which I am about to say."
All the wedding party joined hands.
"Above you are the stars, below you are the stones, as time doth pass, remember...Like a stone should your love be firm; like a star should your love be constant. Let the powers of the mind and of the intellect guide you in your marriage. Let the strength of your wills bind you together. Let the power of love and desire make you happy, and the strength of your dedication make you inseparable. Be close, but not too close. Possess one another, yet be understanding. Have patience with one another, for storms will come, but they will pass quickly. Be free in giving affection and warmth. Have no fear and let not the ways of the unenlightened give you unease, for the gods are with you always." Mab continued with the ceremony.
She focused on Harry. "Harry, I have not the right to bind thee to Hermione; only you have this right. If it be your wish, say so at this time and place your ring in her hands.
Harry's heart skipped a beat as reality set in. "It is my wish."He placed his ring the one that Merlin had given him in the hands of Hermione.
Mab smiled at Hermione. "Hermione, if it be your wish for Harry to be bound to you, place the ring on his finger." Hermione placed the ring that Mab had given her on Harry's finger.
"Hermione, I have not the right to bind thee to Harry; only you have this right. If it be your wish, say so at this time and place your ring in his hand." Mab could see that the love between them was strong and true.
Hermione wasted no time placing the ring in his hand. "It is my wish."
Mab turned to Harry. "Harry, if it be your wish for Hermione to be bound to you, place the ring on her finger.
Harry placed the ring on Hermione's finger.
"Harry turn and face Hermione and then repeat after me"
Harry stated his vows without a waver in his voice. "I, Harry James Merlin Evans Potter-Pendragon, in the name of the spirit of Goddess that resides within us all, by the life that courses within my blood and the love that resides within my heart, take thee, Hermione Anne Diana Spencer-Granger, to my hand, my heart, and my spirit, to be my chosen one. I promise to love thee wholly and completely without restraint, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in poverty, for eternity. I shall not seek to change thee in any way. I shall respect thee, thy beliefs, thy people, and thy ways as I respect myself."
"Hermione, repeat after me."
Hermione also said her vows strong and true. "I, Hermione Anne Diana Spencer-Granger, in the name of the spirit of Goddess that resides within us all, by the life that courses within my blood, and the love that resides within my heart, take thee Harry James Merlin Evans Potter-Pendragon to my hand, my heart, and my spirit, to be my chosen one. I promise to love thee wholly and completely without restraint, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in poverty, for eternity. I shall not seek to change thee in any way. I shall respect thee, thy beliefs, thy people, and thy ways as I respect myself."
Mab handed a golden-jeweled chalice to Harry. "May you drink your fill from the cup of love."
Harry held the chalice to Hermione while she sipped, then Hermione took the chalice and held it for Harry while he sipped. She handed the chalice back to Mab who set it on the table. Next, Mab took a crystal plate with bread on it, sliced it with a bejeweled ceremonial dagger, dipped it in salt and gave it to Harry. Which he fed to Hermione and then she took it and fed to him.
Mab then finished this part of the ceremony.
Merlin smiled at the two of them. "Now comes the other just as important part of the ceremony."
He started the next part of the ceremony. "Know now before you go further, that since your lives have crossed in this life you have formed ties between each other. As you seek to enter this state of matrimony, you should strive to make real, the ideals, which give meaning to both this ceremony and the institution of the soul bonding."
"With full awareness, know that within this circle, you are not only declaring your intent to be handfasted before your friends and family, but you speak that intent also to your creative higher powers."
"The promises made today and the ties that are bound here greatly strengthen your union; they will cross the years and lives of each soul's growth."
"Do you still seek to enter this ceremony?"
"Yes, we seek to enter." Harry and Hermione answered.
"In times past, it was believed that the ones soul shared characteristics with all things divine. It is this belief, which assigned virtues to the cardinal directions; East, South, West and North. It is in this tradition that a blessing is offered in support of this ceremony." He smiled at everyone in the circle.
"Blessed be this union with the gifts of the East. Communication of the heart, mind, and body Fresh beginnings with the rising of each Sun. The knowledge of the growth found in the sharing of silences." Celestra smiled at them as she spoke her part in the ceremony.
"Blessed be this union with the gifts of the South. Warmth of hearth and home. The heat of the heart's passion. The light created by both to lighten the darkest of times." Chloe happily did her part of the ceremony.
"Blessed be this union with the gifts of the West. The deep commitments of the lake. The swift excitement of the river. The refreshing cleansing of the rain. The all encompassing passion of the sea." Xander's voice rang true as he spoke the words of his part of the ceremony.
"Blessed be this union with the gifts of the North. The firm foundation on which to build Fertility of the fields to enrich your lives a stable home to which you may always return." Mab smiled at the two of them.
"Each of these blessings from the four cardinal directions emphasizes those things, which will help you build a happy and successful union. Yet they are only tools. Tools which you must use together in order to create what you seek in this union." Merlin once again officiated the ceremony. "I bid you look into each other's eyes."
"Harry, Will you cause her pain?"
"I May."
"Is
that your intent?"
"No."
"Hermione, Will you cause him pain?"
"I may."
"Is that your intent?"
"No."
"Will you share each other's pain and seek to ease it?"
"Yes."
"And so the binding is made. Join your hands." A cord of burgundy colored silk was draped across Harry and Hermione's hands.
"Hermione, Will you share his laughter?"
"Yes."
"Harry, Will you share her laughter?"
"Yes."
"Will both of you look for the brightness in life and the positive in each other?"
"Yes."
"And so the binding is made." A second golden colored silk cord was draped across Harry and Hermione's hands.
"'Hermione, Will you burden him?"
"I may."
"Is that your intent?"
"No."
Harry, Will you burden her?
"I may."
"Is that your intent?"
"No."
"Will you share the burdens of each so that your spirits may grow in this union?"
"Yes."
"And so the binding is made." A third cord this time a sapphire blue was draped across Harry and Hermione's hands.
"Hermione, will you share his dreams?"
"Yes."
"Harry, will you share her dreams?"
"Yes."
"Will you dream together to create new realities and hopes?"
"Yes."
"And so the binding is made." A fourth cord this one a brilliant red was draped across Harry and Hermione's hands.
"Harry, will you cause her anger?"
"Is that a trick question?" Harry chuckled then saw the look that Merlin was giving him and said. "I may."
"Is that your intent?"
"No."
"Hermione, will you cause him anger?"
"I may."
"Is that your intent?"
"No"
"Will you take the heat of anger and use it to temper the strength of this union?"
"We will."
"And so the binding is made." A fifth bright yellow cord was draped across Harry and Hermione's hands
"Hermione, Will you honor him?"
"I will." She smiled her eyes never leaving Harry's .
"Harry, Will you honor her?"
"I will." Harry was smiling his eyes shined with so much love for her.
"Will you seek to never give cause to break that honor?"
"We shall never do so."
"And so the binding is made." A sixth cord and last cord this one white was draped across Harry and Hermione's hands.
Merlin tied the cords together in a knot. "The knots of this binding are not formed by these cords but instead by your vows. Either of you may drop the cords, for as always; you hold in your own hands the making or breaking of this union." He then removed each cord and placed them on the altar behind him.
"By the power vested in us by the Gods and Goddesses I now pronounce you soul bonded. May your love so endure that its flame remains a guiding light unto you. You may kiss your soul mate." Merlin and Mab winked at the two of them.
Harry finally got to kiss his princess.
To everyone who knew about wizarding bylaws this was indeed more like an official wedding than a promise ceremony, but to the parents who need not be told those facts this was simply the two of them vowing eternal love, eternal loyalty, and eternal friendship towards one another.
To Harry and Hermione this was just the first step in their journey that would last them all their lives. So they decided to enjoy every second of it.
--
Chapter32
New enemy
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I do not claim any of JKR's characters only that I love being able to create my own kind of mischief with her beloved characters. I do not claim any other things that are owned by other companies that I may mention once and a while in the stories...Although the original characters and ideas are mine and I loved creating them. So please review if you wish but try not to flame me too badly.
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Cindra 2004-2008