Disclaimer: Please see Chapter 1 and 2 for full disclaimers

Shout outs…

Evenstar Elanor… Glad you liked the motivation for the affair. People do things for different reasons and I wanted the affair to be more than just "he's hot and you ignored me."

Wyall Jared… You were surprised? Yay! This chapter will start to satisfy your craving for wedding stuff. Enjoy.

Mercury Gray… Yes, I'd say Lucius is just a wee bit steamed!

Chapter 11: Buttons

The Saturday that Serena and Severus chose to exchange their vows dawned bright and crisp. The late fall air was chilly and there was a mist that clung to the trees in the morning. Tonks knew Serena would enjoy the view but she was sleeping, and she was content to let her friend stay that way. The wedding wasn't until the late afternoon and Tonks knew Serena could use the rest after the nightmare she'd had. Finally, nearly two hours later, Tonks woke Serena up.

"Come along, luv. Kerry will be here soon and you'll need to start getting dressed."

In his flat at Slytherin House, Severus had been up with the dawn. He'd slept more soundly than he expected and wondered how much his evening out had to do with that. He briefly inspected his suit for that afternoon. He'd said in no uncertain terms that he'd not be wearing a tuxedo of any kind.

Instead, he'd opted for a new frock coat, similar to the one he'd worn the first time he danced with Serena. This one, however, possessed a subtle touch of embroidery on the sleeve cuffs. His pants were the same material but without the embroidery. Rather they were fitted at the ankles. His banded collar shirt was a raw silk with ebony covers on the buttons. Everything looked in order. He had several hours to wait, so he sat down and opened a book.

Serena sat in an old button down shirt and looked in the mirror at her hair. She turned her head slowly from side to side. Her headpiece was a simple band of pearls that rested just in front of the crown of her head. Behind the headpiece, her hair had been pulled up and then loosely curled, so that her midnight locks fell past her shoulders in gentle curls.

"Happy with it?" asked Kerry. The wide smile on Serena's face was all the answer her aunt needed.

"Then off with you," said Tonks. "Its time to get that gown of yours on."

Serena stood up and gingerly touched her hair. She looked at Kerry again. "Thank you for coming, Aunt Kerry."

"Oh, dinna need to be thanking me," she laughed. "But I've got to be off and get myself ready. I'll see you at the ceremony." Kerry kissed her favorite niece on the cheek and hurried out of the house.

In her bedroom, Serena stepped into her dress and pulled the sleeves up to her shoulders. The dress had long sleeves and a scooped neck. There was a mix of embroidery and pearls on the neck, sleeve cuffs, and at the hem. The embroidery was in the pattern of moons and stars. The princess waist made her waist look even more slender than it was. The skirt was a flowing silk that flowed and swirled. Serena had chosen the dress partly because of the skirt – she knew how it would spin while she danced with Severus later that night.

"You're not going to button me by hand?" Serena turned slightly, showing the open back of her dress to her maid of honor. She batted her eyelashes.

Tonks rolled here eyes. "A bloody diva, that's what you are. If I button all those by hand you'll be getting married NEXT November." With a swish of her wand all of the buttons from the small of Serena's back up to the base of her neck clasped instantly. Serena let out an exaggerated sigh, goading her friend.

"Be careful what you wish for, dear," said Tonks. "Severus will probably unbutton them by hand, just to wring a final dram out of that bet of yours."

"Don't even think it," cried Serena, aghast at the idea.

"Come on." Tonks handed Serena her bouquet. "We've got to go, or you're going to be late."

The guests were all seated chatting with each other. When Dumbledore walked in with Severus they all moved forward to stand within the circle. Rows of chairs formed a circle with aisles running north to south and east to west. There was a large open center in the middle, and that's where Severus went to meet Jeremy. They shook hands and spoke softly for a few minutes.

"He looks pale," whispered Arthur Weasley.

"How can you tell?" asked Lupin.

"Not another word out of either one of you," warned Molly Weasley. Both men turned their attention back to the center of the circle, neither wanting to temp her wrath that day. The ringing of a silver and crystal bell danced through the air and the guests knew the bride had arrived.

Well, for those of you waiting to get the wedding underway, hope you're happy with the start. Don't worry – there will be plenty more coming (wedding and more Malfoys!), I promise. Please read and review and let me know how this is going…