Disclaimer: Please see Chapters 1 and 2 for all disclaimers.
Shout outs and other such notes of appreciation…
Evenstar Elanor… Oliver will be back, I promise, but not until later in the story. He can't very well up and abandon his Quidditch team… that's probably the one thing Serena would NEVER forgive him for. Oh, and about the hair? Trust me. If you're getting trussed up in a wedding gown, I can pretty much guarantee you that you don't want to be in it while you're sitting in the hairdresser's chair. Not unless you want it to wrinkle like an accordion.
Wyall Jared… Brilliantly? blushes Why, thank you!
Mercury Gray… Yes, leave it to Arthur to be "Captain Obvious." Glad he and Molly make you smile! Get ready to throw your confetti!
Chapter 12: An Exchanging of Rings
All of the guests took their seats in anticipation. The Weasleys and Lupin sat near Minerva McGonagall and Madame Pomfrey. The music of the bell was augmented with a harp and Molly Weasley tapped her husband on the shoulder.
"Here comes Tonks," she whispered. "Oh, just look at her!"
The rest of the group was whispering the same thing. Tonks wore a simple silk dress that was a lovely teal color. A thin ribbon of darker teal went around her just below the bust line. Her hair, normally any number of exotic colors and styles, was a rich shade of chestnut brown and was done up in a simple bun… except for the one lock that hung down past her shoulder in a loose curl. That one piece of hair was the same color as her dress. Tonks walked slowly past the crowd and winked at Dumbledore. Then she turned and faced back down the aisle.
A moment later, Serena appeared. She paused at the end of the aisle and took a deep breath, and then she started to walk forward slowly. The skirt of her dress swirled as she walked.
"Oh, she's lovely," sighed Molly. "What a beautiful bride." She dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief. "I just love weddings. Imagine when our little Ginny walks down the aisle!" She sniffed loudly and blew her nose while her husband put his arm around her shoulder and gently hushed her. Next to Molly, Madame Pomfrey started to blink rapidly and McGonagall absently handed the nurse her own handkerchief.
Waiting in the center of the circle, Severus watched as Serena walked towards him. He tried not to let his mouth hang open. She was utterly gorgeous. He'd always thought she was beautiful, but to see her in her wedding gown with that radiant smile… nothing he had imagined had even come close to how she looked at that very moment. And she was walking down that long aisle to meet to him, coming to be with him. She was going to be his wife. When she reached him, Serena smiled at Severus and all he could manage was to stare back at her. Then she handed her bouquet of lavender and roses to Tonks.
"Handfasting is a time honored tradition in the magical world," said Jeremy after allowing them a fleeting moment to look at each other. "When it first began, any couple intending to make a match would become handfasted for a year and a day. In that time, the couple would live together under the same roof and when the year and a day was over, they would decide to renew their vows. If they did, the next handfasting would last for seven years and after the seven years, they would renew their vows once more – if they chose to – and this time, it would be for the rest of their lives."
He paused for a moment and seemed to think. "Severus, Serena. Please. Stand before me and join hands." The two stepped closer to him. Severus took his fiancée's hands and gave them a squeeze.
"Before we begin the handfasting," continued Jeremy, "we must cleanse the circle. Tonks?"
Tonks stepped forward and picked up a clean new willow broom. She went to the east side of the circle and started walking widdershins around the circumference, sweeping as she went, until she came back to the point where she started. As she swept, Jeremy talked about how the circle is a representation of continuity, and how it shows the cyclical nature of life. He reminded everyone that ups lead to downs and on and on into eternity, and he talked of the importance of starting a life together with positive thoughts. When she came back to where she started, Jeremy thanked Tonks for cleansing the area of negative thoughts and feelings.
Jeremy raised his hands and a column of yellow light began to glow at the eastern point of the circle. "Serena and Severus," he said. "Within the realm of magic, the east represents clarity, understanding, and intellect. In the Light of the East, what say you to each other?"
Serena spoke first. "Without understanding, life can be dark, limiting and frightening. We will work hard to understand each other, to ask questions when we don't. We will work to offer the clarity we both need to allow our understanding of each other to flourish."
"Let it be so," said Severus.
"Let it be so," repeated the assembled guests.
The yellow light intensified for a moment and then faded to a pale yellow. As it did, Jeremy turned his attention to the southern most point of the circle and the column of light that blossomed there was a deep, rich red.
"The Light of the South is red, representing passion and transformation. In the Light of the South what would you say to each other?" Jeremy's voice was rich and lulling.
This time it was Severus' turn to speak. "We will keep the passion alive between us through all the days of our lives. We will support each other as we grow and transform with the years, and allow those transformations to be a reason that we fall in love with each other over and over again."
"Let it be so," said Serena with a smile.
"Let it be so," repeated the guests.
Serena smiled at her soon-to-be husband. Halfway through, she thought.
"The element of the West is water," said Jeremy, "and the Light of the West is blue. Water represents emotions and feelings, but water is also a cleansing element." On the western side of the circle, a column of blue light began to glow. "In the Light of the West, what would you say to each other?"
The vows of the west fell to Serena. "Honest emotions are the key in any relationship," said Serena. "We will both work to be honest in our emotions, no matter what they are, and never forget to tell each other how we feel. And during those times when emotions boil and we are angry with each other, then we will remember that the element of water will help wash away resentment and let us see past the anger."
"Let it be so," said Severus.
"Let it be so," echoed everyone else. As they all turned to face the north, a column of dark green flowed up from the ground and into the air.
"And at last we come to the Light of the North, deep green like the forests of the world. The Earth is a foundation, our stability, our grounding. In the Light of the North, what would you say to each other?" Jeremy folded his hands in front of him and waited.
After a pause, Severus looked into Serena's eyes. "We will share ourselves and our secrets with each other, building trust and a strong foundation for the future. We will build a home together, and we will build a life together, and by doing so we will be stronger together than we ever would be apart."
"Let it be so," said Serena.
"Let it be so!" chorused all of their friends and family.
"You have stated your promises for the future to each other in front of family, friends, trusted confidants, and you have stated your promises before the directions and elements that are so important to our magical world. Now it is time for the two of you to exchange your rings."
Tonks stepped up and slipped a ring into Serena's hand; Dumbledore did the same for Severus.
"Serena, if you would begin please," said Jeremy.
She took Severus' left hand in hers and held the ring up with her other hand. "A ring has no beginning and no end, and therefore goes on forever. Severus, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and devotion. Captured within the gold of the ring is a smoothed piece of obsidian, a stone that is part of the Earth and a symbol of the solid foundation we begin our lives from. Will you accept this gift and this promise from me?"
"I will," said Severus softly.
She slipped the ring onto his finger and then smiled up at him. For a moment, Severus was lost in her smile. I do not deserve her, he thought. How can she look at me with such love? I am nothing, a little and bitter man… What could I have possibly done to earn her love?
"Severus?" Jeremy's gentle reminder scattered his dark thoughts and Severus took Serena's hand.
"Serena, I offer you this ring as a symbol. It represents my devotion, my love. On the band there are engraved oak leaves. The oak's deep roots delve into the earth and little can uproot it once it has grown. I would have the oak as a symbol for us: a strong foundation beneath sheltering branches. Will you accept this gift and this promise from me?"
"I will," Serena said as Severus slipped the ring onto her finger.
"And so it is done! By the powers vested in me, I declare you husband and wife," said Jeremy. As he did, the columns of light expanded and encircled the group, the colors blending together into a vibrant, flowing mosaic. Then the colors parted again and each went back to the direction it came from.
Tonks and Dumbledore came forward and each took one end of the broom that Tonks had used to sweep the circle at the start of the ceremony. At the top of the aisle that led out of the circle, they cast a spell and the broom hovered horizontally about six inches off the ground.
"Serena, Severus… before your friends and family here today, you've exchanged promises and rings. You've declared your intent to join your lives together from this day forward. Go forth, leaping joyfully onto your new path together, and never forget what you have promised each other this day." Jeremy was smiling broadly as he recited the final part of the handfasting ceremony.
Hand in hand Serena and Severus walked up to the broom and jumped over it. All of the guests cheered and clapped. Severus caught Serena by the waist when they landed, lifted her a few inches from the ground and spun her around. As her feet touched the ground again he whispered in her ear, "I love you, Serena."
Then, for the very first time, Severus Snape kissed his wife.
As always, deep appreciation to all of my readers, but especially to my "Three Musketeers" (or Three Muses sometimes…): Mercury, Evenstar, and Wyall… I know more people read than actually review, but I wanted you three to know that I really appreciate your constant reviews and encouragement. So please, keep the reviews and comments coming… and if there's anyone else out there who has been reading "Panther," I'd like to hear from you, too!