A/n hello my minions! There is just one thing I want to say before we start the next chapter. A reference is made to a man named Pierre Pettigrew. He is a real person in the government of Canada. Look him up on Google sometime, the resemblance, in my opinion, is uncanny.
Chapter 7
"Ah, Severus, you've made it." Dumbledore said as Snape entered the room.
"I would have arrived earlier, but I had important business to attend to." he said, shooting Sirius a nasty look.
"Well now you're here, do you have anything to report?"
'Oh I bet he has'
"Yes I do. The Dark Lord is expanding his operations to Canada. He has planted a spy in the government there. Minister of Foreign affairs. It is the ideal person to have as a spy. But there is one drawback." Snape held up a large Muggle photo of a man with grey hair, small blue eyes and a pointed nose. "Three guesses as to which of his Death Eaters that is."
'Even a moron wouldn't need all three'
"Peter?" Lupin said incredulously
"Yes, but it gets better. The minister who Peter is impersonating is named Pierre Pettigrew."
'Old Voldy is loosing his touch. Especially as Pierre is Peter in French'
Snape went on and on and soon Sirius lost thread of the conversation. There had been something nagging in the back of his mind all day.
'What is it I'm forgetting? Today is July twenty-fifth. What is so significant? Harry's birthday is on the thirty-first; Ellie's was the fifth. Ohhhhhhhh Lily and James got married on the twenty-fifth. Duh'
"Whatever you do, don't eat the cake in the box in the fridge."
"Ellie, for the millionth time, we will not eat the wedding cake! Stop worrying."
Ellie picked up her bag and dress before disapparating with a loud crack. She was going to stay with Lily tonight. James and Remus were staying over with him. A few minutes after Ellie left, two men apparated into the living room.
"Hey James, haven't changed your mind, have you mate?"
"Don't give him ideas Sirius, it was all I could do to get him to come over here." Remus said, throwing his suit over the back of the nearest chair. To save money James, Peter, Sirius and Remus had turned the suits they'd worn to the disco black.
"well, don't worry, I'm sure Lily'll be driving Ellie nuts, she's such a worrier.
The next day was hot and sunny. James had taken up pacing through the living room over and over. Finally Remus asked him to stop and he flopped onto the couch, staring blankly at the wall.
After a quick lunch (James had refused to eat) the three men changed into their suits. Sirius had the rings in his hand and was about to put them in his pocket when he spotted an envelope on the kitchen counter. He put the rings down and picked up the envelope. Inside was a note and two small tablets. The note read;
Sirius, give James the pills at one; they'll keep him from getting carsick. I'll be round about quarter past. Good luck.
Xoxo
Ellie
P.S. don't eat the cake!
"What's that?" Remus asked, trying to read over Sirius's shoulder.
"Just Ellie not trusting us to keep our hands off the cake."
"You mean there's been cake here all this time?" Remus said with mock surprise, "anyway, do you know how to tie a tie?"
"No, I was hoping you did."
"Uh uh, let's hope James does."
"Hope I what?"
"Do you know how to tie a tie?"
"No, I thought you did."
"Shit! Let's just hope Ellie does."
"There's always Peter"
James snorted, "and I can teach dragons to sing."
"Hey, that could come in handy. Anyway that reminds me, eat these."
"What are they?"
"Dunno, Ellie said they'd keep you from getting sick."
"Great, did she leave any more?"
"Did who leave any more what?" Ellie said.
"You're early." Sirius commented, "You look nice though"
And she did look nice. She was wearing a long, deep sky blue dress and her hair had been curled and pinned away from her face. The only thing that didn't match was her black high tops.
"Thanks. Lily threw me out, said I was making her nervous. As if. You lot ready to go?"
"Just about, do you know how to tie a tie?"
"None of you know how to tie a tie? How did you make it through Hogwarts?"
"My mum tied all mine before I left each year. Just had to slip it on." Remus said, the other two nodded. Ellie just laughed and tied their ties.
"Here, open up the car, I'll be along in a minute, forgot my dress shoes." she said, tossing the keys to Sirius.
The three men piled into the back of the midnight blue Cadillac. A few minutes later Ellie got in, threw her bag and a pair of blue high heels into the passenger seat and started the car. She turned on the radio and pulled out of the driveway.
It took them almost half an hour to reach the church. The motorway was crowded with families driving to the beach on the hot Saturday. When they reached the church they sought out refuge from the heat in the basement. Ellie stood on a chair so as to see out the small window.
"You know, its not too late to bail. You'd fit through one of those windows." Remus said, munching on a cookie he'd snitched from one of the plates lined up on the table near the door. These were going to be set outside after the ceremony for the guests to eat.
"Yeah, or you could hide in that hideous silk plant and we could carry you out" Sirius said, laughing. James smiled and shook his head, "you guys aren't supposed to be egging me on to bail."
"We're not?" Sirius and Remus said pretending to be surprised.
"They're here" Ellie said, jumping off the chair and putting her shoes on, "good luck" she gave both James and Sirius a quick kiss, then Remus, who had asked for one in a tone of mock heartbreak, and hurried off to meet the bride and her entourage.
Just after Ellie left, Mrs. Potter came down to tell them to go up to the church.
From his spot at the altar, Sirius could see that the church was almost filled to capacity with chattering people. Moments later, organ music started and everyone quietened. Ellie came down the isle carrying a bouquet of brightly colored flowers. James's niece was meant to be flower girl, but Voldemort had killed his sister's entire family three months previously.
Ellie took her place at the altar between Sirius and Remus. Then the music changed to a wedding march and Lily came down the isle arm in arm with her father. Sirius felt a small nudge and Ellie slipped something into his hand.
The rings.
"You left them on the counter." Ellie muttered, barely moving her lips.
Lily met James at the altar and the music stopped. Dumbledore started the ceremony and Sirius felt himself loosing focus on what he was saying. It was almost unbearably hot in the church and the fans had been turned off for the ceremony. He looked around at the congregation. The guests had been seated according to whose family they were with. Lily's family on the left, James's on the right. It then struck him how small the congregation would be if he and Ellie got married. Neither of them had family who would come, except Andromeda's family and the Weasleys with their five kids. Ellie's brother might come and maybe her real father would come over from Canada. And probably her friend Jeremy would be there. He could just imagine everyone arranged as they had been here. Ellie's brother in a bench alone with Jeremy on one side and the Weasleys and Andromeda's family on the other. Hagrid would probably come if they invited him; he was here today, sitting at the back.
Sirius was so lost in his own thoughts that he was quite startled when Dumbledore asked him for the rings. Dumbledore winked as he handed over the rings, feeling rather foolish for drifting off.
The vows were exchanged and Dumbledore pronounced them husband and wife. Everyone clapped and the organ music started again as Lily and James signed the marriage certificate, followed by Ellie and Remus, who were to be their witnesses. Once the certificates were signed they all made their way out of the church, showered by rice being thrown by the guests. It was even hotter outside than in the church. While everyone was enjoying the cookies and juice and chattering, Dumbledore approached Sirius.
"Ah Mr. Black. My apologies for rambling on, I'm sure you weren't the only one who drifted off."
"Oh man, I'm sorry Dumbledore, it was the heat, honestly. One could never tire of hearing you speak."
"That's quite alright. I was close to falling asleep myself!" They both laughed and Dumbledore left. Slowly the other guests were leaving and Peter set up his camera. He was going to take the pictures for the wedding instead of hiring a photographer.
"Everyone gather round!" Lily and James called and everyone crowded around the newly married couple.
"Smile!" Peter said, snapping picture after picture. Once the group pictures were finished everyone scattered, mostly everyone went to the food table. Lily and James had made a list of people for Peter to take pictures of and he was busy cornering them, getting as many in a frame as possible. He caught up with Sirius just as he was looking for Ellie so they could leave. "You're the last one," Peter said with obvious relief, "smile."
Sirius grinned and Peter snapped the picture. "One more" he said.
"Hold on" Sirius grabbed Ellie, who had been walking past. He pulled her to where Peter was waiting with the camera. "But I don't want to be in the pictures." she protested.
"Too bad" he spun her around and they both beamed at the camera for a moment before Ellie pointed at the sky. "Look at that huge cloud, looks like rain." She said. Sirius looked over and while he was distracted Ellie pulled away from him and ran off. He laughed and went after her. "You cheeky moose, come back!" She just laughed and got into the car. Then there was a loud crack and the sky opened up, poring rain. Everyone ran for shelter and Sirius, Remus and Peter piled into Ellie's car. No sooner had they shut the doors than Ellie disappeared with a loud pop. A couple minutes later she reappeared in the driver's seat holding a large box. "Can't forget the cake," she said, putting the box on the passenger seat and starting the car.
It didn't take too long to get to the hotel where the reception was to be held. Ellie went off to the banquet hall to drop off the cake and Sirius quickly located a bathroom and relieved himself. He'd had to go since they'd left for the church. When he got back he found Remus and Ellie asleep on the couch in the foyer. He sat down in the chair next to the couch and picked up the Muggle paper. It turned out to be quite a fascinating read. Almost an hour later, Remus woke up.
"What time is it?"
"Quarter past five."
"Forty-five minutes till dinner, drat. I'm hungry."
"Well, there's always the coffee shop. They might have muffins or something."
"Muffins! I'm there! Think we should wake her up?" Remus nodded at Ellie, who was still fast asleep.
"Yeah, s'pose so." Sirius said, prodding her, "time to get up El."
"Time is it?"
"Quarter past five"
Ellie yawned and stretched, "remind me to tell James to make Lily get rid of that plaid couch of hers when she moves in with him. I pity the fool who has to sleep on that next. Between that couch and Lily's going on about whether she's made the right decision or not, I got next to no sleep last night." she yawned again and got up.
"We're going to the coffee shop. Wanna come?"
"Yeah, I'll be along in a minute." Ellie said and disappeared into the ladies room.
Finally six o'clock rolled around and the banquet hall began to fill with guests. Sirius and Ellie found themselves seated at the long table in the front of the room with Remus, Peter, Mr and Mrs. Potter and The Evans'. There were two empty chairs for Lily and James. The hall had been decorated with gold and silver balloons and the mirrored walls reflected the dim lights. The twenty or so smaller tables had white tablecloths and were set for nine or ten people each, with a large arrangement of flowers in the centre. There was a long table at the back where the guests deposited their gifts for the bride and groom and there were two more similar tables on the dance floor. These tables were laden with tureens of food, heated by small gas burners. Sirius looked up and noticed that the ceiling had been mirrored too. Ellie seemed mesmerized by the mirrored ceiling. "This is so weird" she muttered. Personally he had to agree, rooms were just not meant to have that many mirrors. It felt like there was always someone watching.
After what seemed like forever Lily and James arrived and they were allowed to fill their plates with food. Bottles of wine were being set out on the tables.
"This wine is awful," Remus said, taking a sip of the red wine. "Lets hope the white is better," he took a sip and pulled a face.
"That bad?" Sirius asked, poring Remus some water. Remus nodded and gulped down the water.
"How can you drink that crap El?"
Ellie just laughed, "give me your glass." Remus handed it over and Ellie pored more wine into it before taking the glass under the table and taking out her wand. She tapped the glass twice and gave it back to him.
"What did you do?" Sirius asked her.
"Just drink it"
Remus took a sip out of the glass of what still looked like wine.
"Tastes like chocolate milk. Where did you learn how to do that?"
Ellie just smiled "found it in a book"
Once everyone was finished eating, it was time for Sirius to make his speech. He got up and went over to the lectern next to the head table. Everyone quietened. Sirius cleared his throat.
"Uh hi everyone. I'm not too good with speeches so just bear with me here. For those of you who don't know, I'm Sirius Black. James has been my best friend since our first year of school. We spent many days wreaking havoc on the school, once we'd stopped getting lost, that is. But it's not much fun with just two, and so Remus and Peter joined our little mob. A couple of years later James started to fall for a certain redhead in our year. The Quiddich star, prankster extraordinaire was hopelessly taken with Lily and we all had to hear about it ad nauseam. There was only one problem, Lily hated James. He would ask her out three or four times a week and she'd shut him down. Sometimes in quite a harsh fashion. But finally, in seventh year, after a good few slaps round the face, James, and I'm quoting Lily here, deflated his overly large head. And that's how they got together. Uh, I think that's all so I'll shut up now before you all fall asleep. To Lily and James." With the last words everyone raised their glasses and clinked them together. Sirius sat down and everyone seemed to be waiting for something. Finally Lily leaned over and whispered in Ellie's ear. Her eyes got big and she jumped up from her chair and went over to the lectern, looking rather embarrassed.
"Oh my gosh, I can't believe I forgot about my speech. Obviously I didn't write one so I'll try and keep my rambling short, for all our sakes. Um, well, I can't say I've known Lily as long as Sirius has known James, but I do know James is a lucky guy. I first met Lily in fourth year, uh, she'd had a bit of trouble with her other friends and they'd pretty much shunned her from their group. She never told me why, but it didn't really matter, I had my first friend since changing schools. James would ask her out as Sirius said, several times a week. Lily would say no, and then I'd hear about it later. The thing James doesn't know is that if he'd handled the rejection gracefully, namely not taking out his frustration on other students, Lily probably would have gone out with him long before they did. You see, that's how Lily liked to pick her guys. They would ask her out, she'd say no and then she'd see how he reacted. If he took it well and respected her decision, she would go out with them. If they took it badly and took out their anger on other people, like James did, she would be nasty to them. But eventually James worked this out for himself. And now here we are. That's all I really have to say, so here's to a great story to tell their kids, how mummy and daddy hated each other." Everyone raised their glasses again. Ellie sat down. A few more people made speeches and then the cake was brought out. Lily and James cut it and pieces were distributed to the guests.
The cake had been beautifully decorated with sugar flowers in bright colors with a little figure of a bride and groom on top. It had five layers, one for each of the marauders, Ellie had explained. One layer of chocolate for Remus, one layer of butter pecan for Sirius, one layer of carrot cake for Peter and a layer of plain white cake for James. The top layer was fruitcake so that it could be kept and eaten on their first anniversary.
When the cake was gone, the man they'd hired to play music arrived and Lily and James enjoyed their first dance. The supper tables had been cleared off the small dance floor.
" I thought you said Blacks don't dance" Ellie said cheekily while she danced with Sirius.
"We can make exceptions."
"What do you think Sirius?"
"Huh? Oh I agree with Kinglsley."
"Alright, it's settled then, if no one has anything more to say, this meeting is over."
