Disclaimer: JK Rowling is the Goddess. I just play with her characters.
Chapter Nine: Love for Love's SakeIf thou must love me, let it be for nought
Except for love's sake only. Do not say
'I love her for her smile—her look—her way
Of speaking gently,—for a trick of thought
That falls in well with mine, and certes brought
A sense of pleasant ease on such a day'—
For these things in themselves, Beloved, may
Be changed, or change for thee,—and love, so wrought,
May be unwrought so. Neither love me for
Thine own dear pity's wiping my cheeks dry,—
A creature might forget to weep, who bore
Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!
But love me for love's sake, that evermore
Thou mayst love on, through love's eternity.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning, from Sonnets from the Portuguese
The garden at The Burrow was filled with flowers. Cherry blossoms, magnolias, roses, lilies, jasmine, snowdrops; Spring had finally arrived. The air was heavy with their sweet scent and a cool breeze blew through the tall trees, causing them to quake and shiver in its wake.
A beautiful day to get married, Sirius thought happily as he surveyed the garden.
Arthur's fascination with all things Muggle had inspired him to intertwine "fairy lights" through the blossoming leaves and the lattice work on the patio, and Arthur turned them on now, gleefully explaining to Sirius how they ran on "Eklectricity."
A small archway, bedecked with a flowering wisteria, had been set up towards the back of the garden, where the garden turned into a pretty wilderness, and rows of white chairs were placed before it.
They were only having a small wedding, with the members of the Order and a few Hogwarts professors attending.
Sirius wilfully obliged when Molly pushed him upstairs to get dressed. He entered Percy's old room, where Harry and Remus were waiting.
"'Bout time, Padfoot. We were getting worried."
Sirius grinned nervously as Harry handed over his black dress robes.
"Here," the bespectacled teen said. "We'll be back in a moment."
Sirius changed quickly into the plain but elegant formal robes he was to wear for the ceremony and stood anxiously in front of the mirror.
"You can come in."
Remus and Harry re-entered the room.
"You look great, Sirius," Harry said, smiling warmly up at his godfather. "Not much else to do."
"Good," Remus said as he looked out the window. "Almost time to start. The guests are arriving."
Sirius nodded to his best friend as Harry helped straighten up his tie. Sirius looked down at the young man.
"Merlin, Harry!"
"What?" the green-eyed teen answered, startled.
"Your hair! It's… neat!"
Harry gave Sirius a cheeky smile. "Hermione lent me some of her Sleekeasy's Hair Potion. Works well, doesn't it?"
Sirius grinned, baffled. "It's a miracle!" He laughed. "James had such a time trying to get his hair to lie flat. Never happened."
Remus chuckled. "Remember how jittery he was? He was so nervous. But I think that was more that Padfoot would embarrass him during his best man speech than anything else."
Harry snorted. "And did he?"
"Of course," they both answered in unison.
"And, Padfoot," Remus said, clapping a hand on Sirius's back. "I'll be returning the favour tonight."
…(&&&)…
Anna surveyed herself critically in the mirror.
Ginny, flitting importantly around the bureau, fastened a few more gardenias to the back of Anna's hair.
"Okay… done!" she announced finally.
"Good," Hermione said slowly from her place at Ginny's window, "because it's almost time to go. Sirius just got to the archway."
"Really?" Anna gulped nervously. "Shit."
"What?" Tonks chuckled, "not having second thoughts, are you?"
"No, no, of course not," the bride reassured them, waving the accusations away. "Why would I be nervous about marrying Sirius Black?"
"I think you just answered your own question there, sweetie."
Anna sighed. "Point taken. But I'm not nervous. I am the epitome of calm." Leaning forward across the dresser, Anna applied the last sheen of lip-gloss. She stepped back in front of her bridesmaids. "Okay. How do I look?"
Hermione, Ginny and Tonks all smiled brilliantly. "Ann, you look stunning."
"Good," she whispered excitedly. "'Cos it's time for me to go get married!"
…(&&&)…
Ginny was the first to come down the aisle. The youngest Weasley was serving as a sort of bridesmaid/ flower girl, as there was no best man to match her. She was wearing a full-length strapless dress made of a light, jade coloured silk. Her hair was piled high on top of her head, with a few wisps snaking down her back and neck. There was a big smile on her face as she artfully tossed gardenia petals into the air from a small wicker basket that hung from her wrist.
As Ginny took her place on the bride's side of the archway, Hermione began her walk down the corridor on the arm of Sirius's godson. The Gryffindor prefect was wearing a dress similar to Ginny's, the only difference being the pale blue colour. Her hair was down and had somehow been tamed into a long mane of delicate curls. She and Harry were both smiling broadly, Hermione brushing a hand over his crisp black dress robes and leaning in and speaking to Harry in soft tones, causing him to chuckle slightly. Sirius guessed from the way Hermione's eyes flicked amusedly to his godson's head, they were discussing the tamed state of his hair.
As the pair reached the threshold of the archway, they both gave Sirius a swift smile and parted to either side, leaving the aisle clear for Remus and Tonks, who began the descent arm in arm. Remus was looking very smart in his finest robes, and seemingly pleased with the wonderful woman in soft lavender on his arm. Tonks had apparently decided to not disguise herself for this special occasion, allowing her natural hair to fall down her back in thick, voluminous waves, its startling darkness making her look very much a Nymphadora, not the Tonks she had become known as.
And finally, as they reached the end of their walk, Sirius sucked in a nervous breath and looked to the end of the aisle. There stood Severus Snape, long time enemy and pseudo-father to Sirius's soon-to-be wife, who was resting on his arm. Dressed in a long, crème silk gown that trailed along the freshly-cut grass, Anna was simply beautiful. The dress was fairly simple, with a low V-neck and thin straps curving over her shoulders, but nevertheless it accentuated Anna's frame perfectly, and she absolutely took Sirius's breath away. Her hair was swept up in an intricate chignon of curls and gardenias picked from the garden that morning, matching the bouquet she held in her hand.
The groom stood breathlessly watching his bride come toward him, a dazzling smile alighting his face. As was expected, he shook Snape's hand before the Potions Master delivered Anna to the archway, where Dumbledore was waiting to marry them.
Grasping Anna's hand tightly in his, Sirius too turned towards the aging Headmaster, who stood resplendent in robes of dark purple, a twinkling smile in place.
Clearing his throat, Dumbledore began the ceremony with a poem.
"Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.
"Friends and family, we are gathered here today on this joyous occasion to witness the joining of Anna and Sirius in matrimony. If nobody here objects to this marriage, the bride and groom may now read their vows."
Sirius nodded silently to Anna, and steadily began his speech. "As I stand here today with the world as my witness, I pledge to you my undying and everlasting love.I will stand beside you as your partner, I will stand before you as your protector,
and I will stand behind you as your solace. Please spend and end your life with me."
Gently reaching behind his bride, Sirius unclasped the silver chain from which the small antique ruby and diamond ring, that he had given Anna almost an entire year ago, hung. Sliding it from the chain, Sirius quickly redid the clasp and slipped the band onto Anna's finger. "I love you."
She nodded and drew out a crumpled piece of parchment. "You are not the air that I breathe; you are the sweet scent that drifts upon it. You are not the sounds that I hear; you are the music of my life. You are not the food that I need; you are the nourishment of my soul. You are not my will to survive; you are my reason for living. It is with you that I experience the wonders of the world. It is with you that I triumph over the challenges in my path. It is your partnership that will lead me to the fulfilment of my dreams. It is your friendship that guides me as I grow and learn. It is your patience and wisdom that calms my restless nature. It is through you that I know my true self. I do not take you for granted; I cherish you. I do not need you; I choose you. I choose you today in witness of all the people who love us. I choose you tomorrow in the privacy of our hearts. I choose you in strength and weakness. I choose you in health and in sickness. I choose you in joy and sorrow. I will choose you, over all others, every day for all the days of my life. I love you, Sirius Black, and I can think of no better way of spending my life than with you."
Turning to Tonks behind her, Anna took the plain white gold band that her friend offered, unadorned but for the inscribed words that ran around the inside of the ring, "I choose you."
Once she had placed it on Sirius's finger, the couple turned to Dumbledore, who dabbed a tear from his cheek. "I now pronounce this man and woman, husband and wife. You may kiss your bride, Sirius."
And as the audience erupted in happy cheers, many wiping tears from their eyes, Anna and Sirius, married at last, embraced in a long, lingering kiss.
…(&&&)…
An hour later, the sun was setting and the chairs that had been previously lined up for the ceremony were placed in a large circle, with a space in the middle reserved for dancing. Arthur had set up a C.D player that was running off magic, out of which music (both Wizarding and Muggle) was playing. The speeches were over (thankfully) without much pain, the cake had been eaten, the bouquet had been thrown (to be caught by an exceedingly embarrassed Tonks) and now Anna and Sirius stood, readily awaiting the music to start for their first dance.
The first notes of the song begun, a smoky, hazy, lilting tune, and Sirius and Anna begun to sway rhythmically to the music.
I lie awake
I've gone to ground
I'm watching it pour,
in my hotel dressing gown
And now I dream of you
but I still believe
there's only enough for one
in this lonely hotel suite.
The journey's long, and I feel so bad.
I'm thinking back to the last day we had
Old moon fades in to the new
Soon I know I'll be back with you
I'm nearly with you, I'm nearly with you.
As the chorus begun, many other couples took to the dance floor, those remaining happy to continue watching the bride and groom.
When I'm weak, I draw strength from you
and when you're lost I know how to change your mood
and when I'm down you breathe life over me
Even though we're miles apart, we are each others destiny
On a clear day, I'll fly home to you
I'm bending time getting back to you
Old moon fades into the new
Soon I know I'll be back with you
I'm nearly with you, I'm nearly with you.
Her head resting on her new husbands shoulder, Anna softly sang the last lines of the song.
"When I'm weak, I draw strength from you
and when you're lost I know how to change your mood
and when I'm down you breathe life over me
Even though we're miles apart, we are each others destiny.
I'll fly home."
…(&&&)…
"Sickle for your thoughts?"
Harry was brought gently out of his dazed stupor by the faintly amused, but nevertheless kind voice of his favourite Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor.
He shook his head. "I'd like to think my thoughts are worth a little more than that, Remus."
The older man chuckled and turned his gaze upon the object of Harry's scrutiny. "Ah, the happy couple. I never thought I'd see Sirius married." He laughed. "Or so happy about it. This is a memorable occasion, Pronglet. Sirius Black, Don Juan of Hogwarts, finally tied down."
"A memorable occasion indeed," Harry sniggered. "And that reminds me, I have something for you." Digging into the pockets of his robes, Harry brought out a small silver sack and plonked it into Remus's hands. "Ten Galleons, as promised."
Remus shot Harry a quizzical look. "What?"
The bespectacled teen grinned. "Call it payment from the afterlife."
Laughing, the werewolf tried to shove it back into the adolescent's hands. "You don't have to do that."
"It's the least I could do," Harry refuted with a determined shake of his head. "Keep it. Just don't tell Sirius."
Conceding defeat, Remus dropped the bag in his robes and turned to resume their watching of the wedding guests.
"How about you ask Tonks for a dance?" a sly voice prompted.
Remus chortled. "Well, aren't you just the little matchmaker? I'll tell you what, I'll ask Tonks to dance if you ask a certain redhead you've been eyeing on the sly all night."
"What, Ron?" Harry asked, shaking his head. "Sorry, Remus, I don't think he's into that."
Giving the teen a hearty clap on the back, Remus amended himself. "I meant Ginny, dolt. You ask Ginny, I'll ask Tonks."
After mulling the idea over for a moment, Harry gave a curt nod. "It's a deal."
…(&&&)…
Thanking Professor Dumbledore for the dance, Hermione waved her hand rapidly in front of her face in a hopeless attempt to cool herself down. Sitting at the bridal table, the girl was presently surprised when a cool glass of champagne was pressed into her palm, accompanied by a low, "Here you go, 'Mione."
Turning to her saviour, Hermione smiled widely. "Thanks Ron, have a seat."
He nodded once and took Tonks's empty place. "Enjoying yourself?"
"Having a ball," she grinned, "I love weddings. What about you?"
Shrugging, Ron looked down at his empty hands. "I guess. But there is one thing I promised myself I'd do that I haven't yet."
"Oh?" Hermione asked, a slender eyebrow raised. "And what would that be?"
He gulped nervously. "Asking the prettiest girl for a dance."
She laughed, glancing over at the dancing space. "Sorry, it seems Anna is rather busy right now."
Ron sighed. "I meant you, Hermione. I want to dance with you."
Her mouth forming a small 'o,' Hermione stood and offered her hand to the redheaded man sitting glumly beside her. "Well? What are you waiting for?"
…(&&&)…
Come on, Potter, Harry chided himself sternly, you can defeat a basilisk and a dragon, stand up to someone you believe is a mass murdered hell-bent on killing you and face one of the most powerful, darkest wizards EVER who you know is trying to kill you, yet you can't ask a girl for a simple dance?
Gathering himself together, Harry gave himself a determined shake. I can do this.
Pasting on a confidant, happy smile, Harry drifted over to where the young woman who had the Boy Who Lived in such a flurry was tapping her foot in rhythm to the new song starting up.
"Ginny," he said, and she turned and smiled brilliantly, causing his stomach to perform some uncomfortable acrobatics.
"Yes, Harry?"
"You look really beautiful tonight," he blurted out in a hurry.Harry grimaced. "Shit. I wasn't supposed to say that."
"So I don't look beautiful?" Ginny pouted.
"No, no, no," he rushed, "you look really gorgeous, I just said it without thinking and it sounded really stupid…"
"It didn't sound stupid, Harry, and thankyou," she reassured him. "You don't look too bad yourself."
"Thanks," he said happily. "Listen, do you want to dance? With me?"
Ginny nodded. "Sure. I'd love to."
Taking her hand, Harry led Ginny onto the dance floor, where he noticed Remus and Tonks and his two best friends were already dancing to the slow, jazzy tune, sung by a crooning, smooth, melodic voice.
At last
my love has come along
my lonely days over
and life is like a song
Oh, at last
the skies above are blue
my heart was wrapped up in clover
the night I looked at you
"You're a good dancer," Hermione told Ron as she casually (she hoped) rested her forehead against his shoulder.
"Thankyou," he replied. "Mum made us learn when we were little. I was the lucky one though, being closest in age to Ginny. I at least got to dance with a girl."
Hermione giggled. "Please tell me that Fred and George had to practice together."
He nodded. "With pleasure. As long as you promise to tease them mercilessly about it."
"Wouldn't dream of doing anything else."
I found a dream
that I could speak to
a dream that I could call my own
I found a thrill
to press my cheek to
a thrill that I have never known
"This is a pretty song," Harry commented softly.
Ginny nodded. "Etta James. It's Hermione's all time favourite love song. She made Anna promise she would have it played," she informed him from where her head rested against Harry's neck.
"Ah. I see your brother and Gryffindors favourite prefect are dancing together."
Ginny's head immediately shot up from its place and Harry was startled to feel the loss. She spun them round, a bright smile gracing her features as her eyes alighted upon the said dancing couple. "It's about bloody time. I wonder how that came about."
Harry chuckled. "I guess Ron finally worked up the courage to ask her."
There was a derisive snort. "More likely Hermione marched up to him and demanded a dance."
He smiled as Sirius caught his eye and gave him a pointed wink.
"Maybe."
You smiled
you smiled
oh and then the spell was cast
and here we are in heaven
for you are mine at last.
…&&&…
Anna laughed gaily as Sirius carried her easily over the threshold of their room at Grimmauld Place and deposited her carefully on the bed.
"My lady," he said regally, loosening his tie and bending down on his knees before her. "Are your feet sore?"
She nodded, wincing slightly as he slipped her shoes off. "Just a bit."
"Allow me," he grinned, and began to gently massage her tired feet from toe to heel. She sighed and lay back contentedly against the pillows. "A preview of our married life," Sirius laughed. "You, relaxing comfortably on the bed while I, your willing slave, sit on my knees at your feet."
"Sounds alright to me," she mused as his deft hands worked up her leg. "As long as you do this every night."
"My dearest Anna," he growled, leaning over her, "I don't think I'd care if you made me do this for the rest of my life."
She nodded. "Okay, it's settled. Now, come here."
"Your wish is my command, Mrs Black."
A/N: Wow. That was one mother of a chapter. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it. Sorry about the wait, I've been sitting on it since Friday but was down with that bug thing. I purposely put on all this romantic music to get me in the mood, it really worked, I was squealing like a little girl through most of the ceremony. I hope you all liked it.
The poem Dumbledore read was William Shakespeare, Sonnet CXV, and Sirius's vows were a poem by Earl. I got many ideas from , including most of Anna's speech. The song during Anna and Sirius's first dance was Destiny by Zero 7 and Sia, probably my favourite song ever, and the other was At Last by Etta James.
Please pretty please review this. Since I updated last by confidence has gone down extremely as I only got a few reviews and I'm starting to worry that no one is reading this story anymore. So if you are reading this please just take a minute to tell me what you think.
That's all, I think, so until next time, katemary.
