Fanfiction based in the world of Harry Potter, created by JKR. Her characters are hers. Original characters are mine. No pecuniary rewards. Please see first chapter for full disclaimers and description.

Thank you to my Beta, Elaine!

Thank you to Hermaania Malfoy and WitchEcho who are going back through the entire story and Brit-Picking for me.

Feel free to look at my LiveJournal, I am weasleyfan, to view my running list of 'corrections' and also research notes/credits.

Thank you to the LiveJournal community "HPBritglish" for help in learning of British wedding traditions, appropriate music, etc., etc. A great deal of research went into this chapter and many people helped to make it what it is. (Which in no way implies perfection, so please feel free to critique!)

Chapter 43: Nuptials

The late-May Saturday of the wedding day was as perfect as anyone could wish. The brilliant azure sky seemed endless; the riot of flowers throughout the grounds seemed to be trying to vie against one another to be the most vividly colorful amidst the green velvet grass.

The wedding would occur in the afternoon, followed immediately by a meal and the necessary party. They originally intended to use the Great Hall, but it was quickly decided that it would be easier to maintain the highest level of security if they used the Room of Requirement. The students knew what was going to happen; it was impossible to keep something of that magnitude a secret. However, only Harry, Hermione, and the Weasleys would attend out of the student body.

The Professors least intimately acquainted with the bride and groom would be relied upon to supervise the rest of the students while Hagrid, Minerva, Filius, Pomona, Severus and Albus attended the festivities. The remaining Professors would also have the assistance of the Hogwarts ghosts and the Head Boy and Girl. House curfew would be strictly enforced. It was definitely an 'invitation only' event, in spite of occurring within Hogwarts itself.

The staff lounge was in use for the gentlemen to prepare for the ceremony, while the women gathered in Rowena's quarters. Excitement was high, nervous anticipation was almost contagious, and for those prone to shortness of temper, well—one can imagine.

"Good Lord, Potter. How many times are you going to re-tie that cravat? The bloody ceremony isn't for hours yet." Severus asked with bored exasperation. Harry was standing before a full-length mirror trying to tie the vivid blue silk for the umpteenth time. It was the only splash of color amidst the coal-black formal dress robes and the white collar of the shirt just visible at the throat. Severus, surprisingly, submitted to this slight stain upon his usual black, though he wore it with the same disdainful grace as everything else.

"I can't get it to lay flat!" Harry exclaimed nervously.

"It's fine, Harry," Remus said mildly, though he was fiddling with his dress robes with equal discomfort and nerves. His were entirely blue, the same blue as their ties. His own tie was white, barely visible against the white of his shirt.

"You are going to a marriage, not the gallows," Severus said as he turned his exasperation onto the werewolf. "Moreover a marriage into which you claim to be entering voluntarily. Why all the bother? Tonks does not marry you for your ability to wear your garments."

"Ah, Severus, it's just normal wedding jitters," John Lupin said knowingly. "It's a once in a lifetime sort of day, they want it to be perfect. You'll understand one day I suspect."

"Highly unlikely," was all Severus said in return.

As if on cue, the door burst open and Rowena flew into the room, in as much of a dither as any of the gentlemen had ever seen her. She was nowhere near 'done', as she was running about in her tights, her hair clean but unadorned and straight as a pin. She was already in her dress, a slightly lighter, complimentary blue to Remus' robes and the ties. It, too, was silk, and consisted of a spaghetti-strapped bodice tightly clinging to her from bust to low on her hips, before flaring out in a full skirt that reached just below her knees in the front and slowly tapering almost to the ground in the back. A fine, nearly transparent silk lace in the same shade of blue layered over the whole, like a second dress worn over the first, but with elbow-length sleeves and a gentle, scooping neckline.

"Remus! Tonks is hysterical. Her 'something old' isn't going to work at all! She was planning to wear Andromeda's veil from their wedding, but we've just taken it out of the storage box, and it's gone yellow with age! It can't have been stored properly. Even Molly Weasley hasn't been able to whiten it!" Rowena exclaimed breathlessly as soon as she laid eyes on her brother.

Severus observed the exchange with raised brows, though he said nothing. He would not have admitted the sentiment aloud to anyone, but he found that he was enjoying simply looking at her. She would have decried herself as 'plain' and 'ordinary', and perhaps to more objective observers that might be an accurate assessment. He thought he had rarely seen her look lovelier, even in her 'undone' state. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes bright from the excitement of the day and her current distress. He remembered the silky softness of her hair, and simultaneously longed to reach out and touch it, while feeling possessively jealous of the others in the room who were being 'treated' to the rare sight of it loose and flowing to her waist.

An exclamation from one of the other men in the room drew his attention from his more pleasant ruminations.

"Damn!" said Ted Tonks from his seat near John.

"Uh-oh," said Remus. "Alright. I'll come and talk to her, calm her down." He stopped fiddling with his sleeves and made to leave the room, except that Rowena stopped him with her hands on his chest.

"Are you mad? You can't see her before the wedding! It's bad luck!" she said, looking at him as though he had grown a second head.

"What are you on about, Lupin?" Severus asked, still not having risen from his seat near the window. "I'm sure Minerva can transfigure a new veil without difficulty."

"Yes, Severus, a new one," she said irritably. "She needs "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a Sickle in her shoe". Don't you know? It's tradition, and is supposed to bring good luck to the marriage."

She turned her attention back to Remus.

"She's borrowing my pearl earrings that you gave me all those years ago. Her garter is blue, and of course her dress is new and we've got the sickle. Andromeda went home to see if she could come up with something else, but Tonks says she doesn't have much because… well, you know…"

When the Black family disowned Andromeda, she had hardly been allowed to take anything valuable with her.

"Well, I gave you those earrings twenty years ago, doesn't that count as old enough?" Remus asked, exchanging a bemused look with Severus, who was unsuccessfully trying to pretend not to pay attention to the conversation.

She stamped her foot in irritation—which had no affect whatever since she wasn't wearing any shoes—and shoved him in the chest.

"Are you being difficult on purpose? Of course those don't count. She has to give those back because they are borrowed. It's very bad luck to keep something borrowed. The something old is supposed to represent longevity and a long, happy marriage. Ideally it would come from someone who has experienced a long, happy marriage, get it? That's why she's so upset over her mum's veil—it was Ted's mum's veil too, see?"

She looked to Ted for confirmation. He and John Lupin appeared to have been playing cards, though Ted looked slightly put out at the moment.

"Damn," he said again. "Andromeda will be impossible for days. Yeah, it was my mum's. Andromeda was so happy to wear it, meant a lot to her. She'll be in a snit that it's ruined and Nymphadora can't wear it."

"I'm sorry, Ted," Rowena said sympathetically, "You're right, though. Andromeda is as tearful over the thing as Tonks."

Rowena turned back to Remus, who still seemed puzzled at how such a 'small' thing could be such a problem.

"Oh, never mind!" she snapped at him, irritated that he didn't seem to 'get it'. "We'll just have to figure something out ourselves.

"That's not why she sent me here, anyway. I'm supposed to ask you what color you want her hair to be? She doesn't like the pink, red or violet that she's tried so far. She says they clash with the flowers."

"We've already talked about this," Remus said with a touch of annoyance of his own. "I am marrying Tonks because I love her, just as she is, not her abilities or her hair. I told her I wanted her to just be herself."

Now he was surprised when his diminutive sister threw her arms around him and kissed his cheek, blinking back tears.

"Oh, Remus—that's so sweet!" she said, "I'm sorry I was so short with you, but poor Tonks is so upset over the veil. She really wanted to wear it. I need to get back. I've got to help see if we can straighten things out, and then see if Mum will agree to help me do something with my hair."

She gave her brother a wry grimace, as they both knew how much Becky Lupin did not care to try her hand at that particular task.

"Alright. I'll help you with your hair if you want, but it sounds like you have other things to deal with just now," he said, trying to smile around his own nervousness.

"We'll see. I'll come back if Mum won't help me, but for now I'd better see what we can do about 'something old'. I'll check in again later," she said, smoothing down his tie after mussing it when she hugged him.

The door hadn't quite shut behind her when Severus followed her out into the hall.

"Lupin," he called to her, and she turned to look at him inquiringly. He glanced up and down the corridor and lowered his voice. "Meet me at my office."

He disappeared back inside the staff room before she could say anything, or even nod her head in agreement. She knew he was trying not to be seen as part of the 'festivities', but she was burning with curiosity, even as she was anxious to return to Tonks and the others.

In the end she decided that a few more minutes wouldn't hurt. She slipped into her own office on her way to her quarters, and used the connecting passages to get to Severus's office. He was already there, standing with his back to her. A stone on the wall behind him had swung open to reveal a complicated wizard's safe, which was also open. He withdrew something from it, and then resealed the lot so that it was impossible to discern that stone from all the others.

"Will this do?" He asked, holding out a delicate choker of small pearls. At her look of inquiry, he explained, in bored tones, "Something old? It belonged to my grandmother. As I said, I have very little memory of her, but my mother insisted that she was 'happily married' for over 30 years, until her husband died. I believe it is at least 70 years old. It ought to match the earrings you've lent her?"

"Severus… why would you give such a thing away?" she asked, awestruck not only at the necklace, but also at the gesture.

"Far be it for me to stand in the way of tradition, even superstitious nonsense," he said cynically. "If there is one thing Slytherins understand, it is the need to follow tradition. If it will suit, you are welcome to it."

"Are you sure? It was your mother's!" she said, uncertainly.

"No, my grandmother's. My mother never wore it. I would not have offered if I was not willing to part with it." He smirked rather nastily as he toyed the pearls through his fingers. "My mother hid my grandmother's things so that my father could not sell them, but she never wore them. I have no attachment to them other than enjoying the fact that he never got his filthy hands on them.

"In fact, I think I like the idea of what the old bastard would think to find such a thing given to a half-blood as she married a werewolf." He moved closer to her and took her hand in his, and put the necklace in it, folding her fingers closed over it.

"It is nothing; a small price to pay not to have to listen to any more dithering about superstition. I ask that you make up some tale as to the origin. I would rather no one know."

"Why?" she asked in a small voice, trying to sound teasing over the lump in her throat. "Are you afraid for your reputation if someone finds out that Severus Snape has a heart after all?"

"Most assuredly," he said sardonically. "I would hate to find out such a thing myself, let alone anyone else learn of it. Enough cheek, Lupin. Go tend to your hysterical future sister-in-law before she does herself bodily harm in her distress."

Considering that the woman in question was Tonks, Rowena knew this was not an idle concern. She beamed at him and hugged warmly.

"Thank you, Severus," she breathed in his ear, and then to his surprise she brushed a chaste kiss against his cheek.

After she left, he decided that a modest string of dusty old pearls was worth a few moments of holding her in his arms any day of the week.

Back in her quarters, Tonks accepted the story of the pearls 'from a friend' with the distracted gratitude of one that has just been saved from the gallows. Becky and Molly raised brows at each other, but said nothing, and the pearls were quickly adorning Tonks' slender throat. Her dress was a form-fitting 'mermaid' style in shimmery snow-white silk and lace. Personally, Rowena thought that Tonks ought not to wear something guaranteed to make mobility more challenging than normal, but the dress was very pretty.

Tonks, when in her 'natural' form, looked very like her mother with hair so dark-brown hair as to be almost black, and eyes so light-blue as to be almost gray. Rowena thought it might be a passed-down trait from the Black line, as the coloring was remarkably similar to what Sirius' had been; and that perhaps that was why Tonks so often used her innate ability to change it. However, she was very pretty just as she was. Molly and Andromeda were having fun weaving flowers through her hair.

The 'theme' for the wedding was 'new life'; her colors and decorations simply "Spring flowers". She had chosen the blues of the dresses and the men's clothing to represent the color of the sky in the springtime, and a huge riot of different colored flowers for the decorations and the bouquets. Rowena's hair, being much longer, was not so easily coped with, and Becky didn't feel capable of the task, having given it over entirely when Rowena was very young. Rowena ended up back in the staff lounge with Remus and an entire basket full of a multitude of flowers.

Katrina had arrived with Arthur Weasley sometime after Rowena left earlier, in a pretty little dress the precise shade of her blue eyes. Dylan was also there now, apparently having turned up to keep Remus 'company'. Remus seemed to be enjoying the diversion. Severus had retreated to a far corner behind a huge book. Harry was playing checkers—normal, muggle checkers—with Katrina, trying not to muss either one of them.

"Remus, help," she said in exasperation. "I can't do anything with it, and I don't have time to muck about. Get your wand and lop a good two feet off it and let's have done. Mum won't cut it."

Rowena had always felt very dull and drab with her 'monotone' skin and hair coloring. Growing her hair exceedingly long had been her way of trying to compensate for her 'boringness'. However, it was naturally very straight and exceedingly fine, so that it really was difficult to do much with it without a great deal of time involved.

Severus was unable to pretend to be absorbed in his book, as he glanced up in abhorrence at the thought of cutting her hair. He was on the point of intervening himself when her brother's response reassured him enough that he retreated back behind the dusty tome before anyone could notice his attentiveness.

"I'm not about to cut it," said Remus, laughing. He rose from his chair and walked over to her just as she flopped the basket of flowers onto a small table. Dylan also looked horrified at the thought of cutting her hair and came over to observe the exchange. Rowena slumped despairingly onto a stool and transfigured the stretch of blank wall in front of her into a mirror.

"Well then… help," she said desperately.

"Why doesn't your mum help you with your hair?" asked Harry, surprised that Rowena would be seeking Remus at a time like this.

It was Remus, however, who answered, even as he fished out her brush from amidst the flowers. With sure hands and deft motions he quickly began to gather bits of it and section it off, adding flowers randomly as he twisted the strands.

"Our Mum grew up on a farm, and always kept her own hair short to be out of the way. The only braiding she did was for her horse." He grinned at Harry through the mirror when the boy laughed. "Needless to say, when she tried to braid Rowena's hair like her horse's tail, 'Wena protested—greatly. The final straw came when 'Wena was about six, though. I remember her screaming like a Banshee while my mum tried to brush the knots out of it. Mum grabbed the sheep-shears and was this close…" he demonstrated briefly with his hand, "to shearing her to the scalp. Well, I came in just then and begged mum not to cut it—so she said I had to take care of it."

"Like I was some sort of filthy stray crup he'd just dragged into the house," Rowena added, with mock-indignation. "It's your responsibility, then, and if I have to touch it one more time, I'm shaving the lot!" She said in mimicry of her mother's tone.

"Yes, well, to be fair to your mother, I think your shrieks shattered some of her finer crystal goblets in the next room," John said laughingly. "If you weren't such a tomboy—always following Remus through the stream and the woods. You should have seen her, Harry. They both neglect to mention that on the day in question, she came home with her hair so full of cockle-burs her head looked like a scouring pad."

Dylan and Ted Tonks were laughing heartily at the image presented, and even Severus glanced over the edge of his book again, though it was only to cast a dark glare at the cowboy and retreat behind it once more.

"At any rate, I had nothing better to do, so why not? I found some books and learned all sorts of interesting things to do with it; it's not unlike knotting rope, really," said Remus.

Rowena made another indignant noise, and Remus grinned at her through the mirror. He was getting a little ahead of himself trying to talk and weave at the same time, so that his fingers were getting tangled and he forgot his 'place' for a moment.

"Here, I done braided a few o'them horse-tails before," said Dylan, still chuckling. He stepped closer. "Lemme hold the odd ends while yer fixin' the flow'rs."

A loud 'thunk' of a heavy book being tossed aside followed this statement, immediately succeeded by an almost aggressive swish of robes.

"Professor Lupin is not a 'horse', Howard," Severus snarled, having gained their position in a few brisk strides. "She did not come to her brother for aid only to have a ham-handed oaf scalp her in the process!"

He did not physically touch the cowboy, but his mere presence seemed to make the taller man step backward—though again Remus thought he caught a glimpse of something like triumphant satisfaction in Dylan's expression. Severus stood silently a moment, glaring down at the intricate braid now being constructed through the honey-brown hair. He then carefully extricated the ends that Remus held in his right hand, freeing that hand to add the flowers—which Severus was not about to touch himself. The instant awareness of how pleasant it was to twine his fingers through the soft tresses once again was immediately and savagely squashed.

"Do get on with it, Lupin. I confess, I cannot begin to comprehend this level of consternation over what is essentially nothing more than a mass of dead keratin."

There was dead silence for a moment, and at least one of the people in the room thought something along the lines of "That much is obvious…" as several of the men cast furtive glances at the Professor's own lank hair; but no one dared utter the sentiment aloud. Severus stood with dignified boredom, as though holding strands of hair with the precise amount of required tension was no different than handling a potion ladle. Rowena was staring at him through the mirror with her jaw slightly open until he glanced at her and she shut it with an audible 'click' of her teeth.

Remus looked as though he was chewing savagely on his own tongue to keep from laughing, but he set to work to finish the braid. Surprisingly, Severus assisted him with such ease that it was almost like having four hands of his own—he never once had to offer direction or ask for assistance. In the end she had a very fine herringbone braid to the nape of her neck, with the random riot of multi-colored flowers throughout. He then left the rest loose for her to curl and let hang down her back.

"Thank you, Remus, Severus," she said, smiling warmly at both of them as she stood up to leave, though she had to ask Severus, "where on earth did you learn how to do that?"

"I have eyes, Lupin. I observed. Nothing more," he said irritably, and swept back to his chair and returned to his comfortable concealment behind his book.

Katrina left with Rowena to go and see Tonks, and they carried the rest of the flowers with them so that Katrina could have some put in her golden curls as well.

The Room of Requirement was utterly unrecognizable as being a part of Hogwarts Castle. Flitwick, Minerva, and Albus had spent their time transforming the room while the others were mucking about with hair, flowers, old traditions and cravats. The ceiling had been temporarily enchanted like the Great Hall so that it reflected the sky outside, currently a gorgeous blue darkening toward evening, which was a beautiful compliment to the blues of the wedding party.

The rest of the room had been transfigured to look like someone's very elaborate flower garden courtyard, complete with a white arched trellis covered in roses at the head of the room, under which the bride and groom would stand. The "walls" of the courtyard then had several alcoves along each side tastefully concealed behind more vines and flowering shrubbery, allowing for brief moments of privacy, as any good wedding should do.

The room was made to be long and narrow at present, to allow the bride to have a nice, long aisle to walk down to meet her groom. After the ceremony, it would change again to be less elongated to provide for a cozier atmosphere for the meal and dancing.

Tonks and Remus both had a number of Muggle relations whom they wished to invite. Albus at first advised only Order members attend, but decided that the true Muggles would not present additional security risk. Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Grandparents and the like—only those who knew they were a witch and wizard—all came to swell the crowd. Severus used a very mild disillusionment charm on himself. The wizarding folk would see him as he was, but the Muggles would see him only as a nondescript 'someone' that they would not be able to recall clearly upon leaving. These individuals were already seated in the room, having been carefully transported by Emmiline, Sturgis, and Kingsley via Portkeys.

Tonks stood with her father, Rowena and Hestia in a larger alcove at the very head of the room, though concealed from view of the arriving guests. She was bouncing nervously on her feet, and Rowena frequently had to pull her hand away from her mouth lest she chew away her lovely manicure of the day before.

"Go peek, Rowena," Tonks said anxiously. "How soon will it be? Is everyone sitting down yet? Has Snape seated the Mums?"

Obligingly, Rowena slipped out of their seclusion to look over the room full of people. It was not a crowd by any means, no more than fifty people at the most, half of whom she knew already, but it was still enough to incite her own bout of butterflies. She wasn't much for crowds!

"You have overlooked a very important marriage custom, Lupin. I am surprised that you would be so careless," said the familiar velvety smooth voice from just behind her. She nearly jumped out of her skin in fright and spun on her heel to look at him.

"Oh no! What? What have I forgotten? Whatever it is you mustn't tell Tonks—it's too late to repair and she's in such a state already!" she said nervously, though when she met his dark eyes, she felt all weak-kneed and shivery all over again for an entirely different reason.

Severus was looking at her with very definite masculine appreciation. She had managed time to curl the loose hair, put on a spot of makeup and tiny diamond stud earrings which she had bought just for the wedding, but otherwise looked much the same as when he had seen her only an hour before. She couldn't imagine why he would look at her like that at this moment.

"It is considered in most circles to be in excessively bad taste for the attendants to be more attractive than the bride," he said smoothly. "I thought you were more sensitive to the workings of etiquette than that."

The music changed at that moment to signal time for him to perform his 'duty' (which Tonks had assigned) as 'Best Man' and seat the mothers. He gave a small bow and turned on his heel, leaving her to wonder, as she watched him gracefully escort Becky and then Andromeda into their seats, whether he had just complimented her… or insulted her?

She still hadn't worked it out when the music changed yet again and she had to rush back to the alcove to take her own position with Hestia, ready to follow Tonks and Ted into the ceremony.

Tonks did not trip and fall on her way down the aisle. Whether that was because she had a death-grip on her father's arm, or because the cut of her dress forced her to take small, cautious steps was impossible to say. Remus stood at the end of the row grinning like a fool, though Rowena thought he looked like a very dashing fool.

She and Hestia followed behind; their bouquets smaller versions of the huge mass of wild flowers which Tonks carried. Hestia's hair was done up in an elegant knot that looked like it took hours but probably did not, and also had flowers decorating it in vivid splashes of color against her very dark hair.

Rowena's nerves settled a bit when she realized, of course, that all eyes were on the bride and she would not be expected to do or say anything in front of all these people. All eyes, except Severus' that is. She had been deliberately trying to avoid looking at him until Hestia managed to nudge her gently and give a significant nod in his direction. He was watching her in a way that made her feel as though there was no other living soul in the room. It was precisely that 'intensity' which they had discussed at the party last night, enough to take her breath away.

She was glad to get to the end of the aisle at last, and she and Hestia helped to spread out the short train of Tonks' dress before assuming their places at her side. The ceremony was longer than Rowena remembered of her own very brief, very private wedding. Tonks had selected some poetry that Albus read in addition to the standard vows.

Rowena found, to her horror, that when it came time for them to exchange vows, she was every bit as weepy as her mum and Andromeda. The severed Bond that she still shared with Severus became more painful than it had been in weeks, and she felt broken-hearted all over again at what had been lost. The vows shared so joyously by her brother and his bride were a painful reminder, even as she tried to focus on being happy for them.

Harry came forward with Tonks' ring; she provided Remus' when the time came. Albus conjured a lovely marble podium upon which rested the marriage license and a golden quill and ink. Emmeline Vance, it transpired, had a very lovely singing voice, and was asked by Tonks to sing a very nice if slightly sappy love song—"Longer" by Dan Fogelberg—during the signing. First Remus and Tonks signed, then the witnesses and then Albus.

Rowena could not look at Severus when she moved closer to him for her turn to sign the parchment, though she could feel his eyes upon her like a touch. She blinked back the traitorous tears and signed, then turned to hand him the quill. He caressed her hand slightly as he accepted it, which did ease the physical pain somewhat, but did little for the melancholy that wanted to overtake her.

"You are now Husband and Wife," Albus said at last, in his delighted, booming voice, and then gently turned Remus and Tonks to face their guests. The room burst into applause and cheers as they proceeded down the aisle under a veritable shower of multi-colored confetti.

Severus was still looking at Rowena gravely when they came together but she avoided his gaze and took his arm. He tightened it gently against his side as though to squeeze her hand comfortingly. Harry and Hestia followed behind, while Minerva and Filius prepared to gather the guests to one side of the room so that they could rearrange the area for the dinner and dance.

"Well, the thing is done, Lupin. I believe congratulations are in order," Severus said dryly. The receiving line had at last broken up, and he and Remus were standing somewhat apart from the rest of the well-wishers who were still hugging Tonks and congratulating her on the lovely wedding. The two men were observing the tables and chairs materialize in the room, floating into arranged positions at the direction of Albus, Minerva and Flitwick.

"Thank you, Severus," Remus said, still grinning. "All that anxiety and preparation, and it's over and done already."

Severus raked his gaze through the guests, easily noting the muggles in the crowd. "Is there anyone here who does not know you are a werewolf?"

"No. I gave up trying to hide that years ago. About three years ago, as a matter of fact," he said in a tone that was too gentle to be accusatory, though they both knew the reference.

"It was absurd to attempt to hide it to begin with," said Severus, utterly without remorse. Remus shrugged but made no comment, and Severus moved off, apparently without direction, though he ended up near Harry.

"Potter, a word," he said brusquely. Harry glanced nervously at Ron and Hermione, but followed Severus toward one of the small alcoves.

"What is it, Professor?"

"I wish to discuss your speech."

The meal was a grand affair. Remus and Tonks sat in the center of a long table at the head of the room just in front of the same arched trellis beneath which they had married only an hour before. Kingsley volunteered his 'services' as photographer so that he wandered the room here and there taking pictures of the guests and the bridal party. Severus and Rowena sat next to Remus, while Hestia and Harry were seated next to Tonks, all of them facing outward into the room. The rest of the guests were seated at large round tables decorated with still more of the vivid flowers.

"I believe that Harry had something he would like to say on this joyous occasion," said Albus at last. He was seated with the other Professors at one of the tables near the wedding party. The meal was winding down, so that it was clear that it was time for the requisite speeches.

Harry looked slightly panic-stricken and swallowed hard before glancing nervously at Remus. It was Severus, however, who stood with the same carelessness with which he might address a class. He slid in his chair so that he could lean one arm on the back of it as though it was his lectern in his dungeon.

"There has been a change of plans, Headmaster," he said smoothly, glancing toward Albus. It was all the explanation he offered.

"When Lupin requested that I fill the role of Best Man, he seemed particularly anxious to assure me that I would not be 'required' to make this speech. Anyone who knows our history will understand that his enthusiasm for anything makes me suspicious. Enthusiasm to spare me an odious task even more so.

"Thus, I did a bit of research into the custom, and the truth of the matter was revealed at once. It took very little time for me to ascertain that the traditional intent of this speech is to provide the groom some degree of embarrassment."

Remus groaned and buried his face in his hands, while Severus turned just enough to flash a smug glance in his direction.

"You cannot expect ME to lose a sanctioned opportunity to humiliate you publicly before all your friends and relations?"

Remus appeared to resign himself to the inevitable and gave Tonks an apologetic glance before shaking his head. Severus did not seem to be waiting for an answer in any case.

"Nor could Mr. Potter be counted upon to do the thing properly, as he does not know you nearly as well as I. Nor would he be likely to be willing to provide the requisite humiliation even if he had the means."

He turned back to address the assembled guests rather than Remus.

"The challenge which faced me is that the embarrassment is intended to be humorous—the affectionate goading of one friend to another; utterly impossible in this situation. Lupin and I share a great deal of history, but little of it can be considered amicable and none worthy of levity.

"Instead, I found another tradition that seemed suitable to meld with this task, that of symbolic housewarming gifts. These are not commonly given at weddings, but I have taken liberties."

He pulled out his wand and waved it so that a large pewter cauldron appeared where the remains of Tonks' meal had been a moment before. He turned slightly so that he was primarily facing her, and proceeded to address his remarks to her rather than Remus, or even the guests.

Severus reached into the cauldron and pulled out an enormous "loaf"—that is, it was shaped like a very large loaf of bread; but what it was, was chocolate. This he presented to Tonks.

"A loaf of bread is traditionally offered, that your household may never know hunger. This is absurd. Lupin has an excessive metabolism due to his lycanthropy. He is almost by definition always hungry. Most of the detentions he served at school were for getting caught sneaking into the kitchens; until the house elves decided they felt sorry for him and assisted his rule breaking."

He paused, his glittering black eyes regarded Tonks with a very stern air, and one fine brow arched high, as though he were lecturing a wayward student.

"It behooves you, as you begin your life in the matrimonial state, to seriously contemplate what it means to be wedded to someone who incites the pity of house elves."

Tonks gave a very small laugh, as though she was uncertain if Severus was trying to be funny, but his implacable façade made her stifle the sound almost at once.

"He also has an appalling addiction to chocolate. During the time he was at Hogwarts, both as student and again as professor, he consumed more chocolate in one week than the rest of the castle inhabitants combined. This might get you through a few days."

Rowena giggled—she couldn't help it. Remus WAS always hungry, and his passion for chocolate was almost legendary.

Severus next produced what appeared to be a salt shaker from the cauldron and held it in his hand.

"Salt, having to do something with bringing good luck while avoiding tears and hardship in life according to some sources; or protection against evil spirits in others. Most information I could find suggested that it was intended to be sprinkled around the doors and windows of the home for that 'protection'. I thought this more appropriate."

He casually moved his hand so that the salt shaker drifted briefly near Remus, wafting it under his nose. Remus jumped so suddenly that his chair skidded noisily several inches backward. He coughed violently and covered his nose and mouth with both hands as though the bottle contained something that stank terribly. Severus then handed this to Tonks with a satisfied smirk.

"Aconite, also known as Wolfsbane for anyone who has not managed to receive a passing mark in my class. It is an effective lycanthrope repellant even when in human form. Spread it anywhere you do not wish him to be nosing about. He has his friends' annoying habit of prying where he does not belong. This seems perhaps to be a requirement for admittance into Gryffindor House. Some things are simply better left secret."

Tonks looked scandalized, but couldn't help laughing slightly again as she accepted the shaker.

"Wine, that you might never know thirst by some traditions," he said pulling out what appeared to be a large wine bottle, except that it was capped with a rubber potion stopper and had a hand-written label. The liquid inside was barely visible through the dark green glass, but it seemed to be very murky and much too thick to be wine.

"Other sources suggested that it represents the nectar of life, wishes for fertility and procreation."

Tonks actually blushed as he handed her the bottle, though the look on Severus' face was one of barely contained disgust.

"This is a contraceptive potion of my own creation—highly effective of course. Directions are on the bottle. Circe knows I have no wish to see werewolf whelps populating my classroom. If you run out, I will provide more without charge… gladly."

Several of the female guests looked outraged, though many of the men were snickering, and even Remus was chuckling as he shook his head. Tonks was now glowering, though now her ire was directed at Remus as much as at Severus, so that Remus quickly ceased his laughter.

"There is no symbolism to the cauldron or the items remaining inside. It is very blatant. The cauldron is the precise size and weight necessary, and there are enough ingredients within it, for the brewing of several cycles of the Wolfsbane Potion. I expect you to contact me as soon as reasonably possible and learn to make the thing."

Tonks directed her glare at him again now, apparently offended; though Severus did not look the least contrite. He turned his attention back to Remus.

"As you said when you asked me to take this role, our acquaintance has been a lengthy one. I believe your phrase was something about knowing each other through our 'formative years'. We have not been friends and often been adversaries. However, it would be reasonable to say that we have recently reached a place of détente. I congratulate you on finding an intelligent young woman willing to be tied to the likes of you. Even more astonishing, she seems to genuinely like you, which is a rare thing in my limited experience with the matrimonial state. Appearances to the contrary notwithstanding, I wish you and your new bride the best of success in your life together."

He picked up his glass from the table and held it up, once again addressing the guests.

"To Remus and Tonks Lupin. Best wishes for a successful marriage," he said in his deep, clear voice. Glasses rose in the room around them, and everyone drank to the bride and groom.

Severus held his hand out to Remus, who stood and shook it warmly, beaming.

"Thank you, Severus. That means a great deal," he said sincerely. Severus shrugged off the thanks as well as he could and resumed his seat, apparently glad to be done with his 'task'.

Harry then stood and said a few glowing things about the couple, as though he was trying to wash away the rather acerbic speech from Snape, and the party toasted them again. Ted Tonks also spoke a few words and offered a toast, as did John Lupin and Dumbledore.

The happy couple cut the cake together as was tradition, and it was served with alacrity so that at last all the 'requirements' of the meal had been met. At Dumbledore's request, everyone stood and gathered once again to one end of the room while the Professors rearranged the room so that only a few tables and chairs remained around the perimeter, leaving the center open for dancing.

Molly, Becky and Andromeda gathered all the single young women while this was occurring, so that Tonks could throw her bouquet. Rowena and Hestia were not excused from this gathering, no matter how both tried to avoid it. Rowena disappeared with Katrina so often that she did not notice the suspicious whispering between Hestia, Tonks and Emmeline. She lurked at the rear of the small cluster of young women, thankful that she was a good deal shorter than most of them.

When Tonks turned her back to them and threw the bouquet, it flew straight over the outstretched arms of all the other women to gently 'fwump' against Rowena's chest. She instinctively raised her arms to prevent it falling to the floor, and then glowered half-heartedly at Emmeline. The girls were squealing in delight and clapping her on the shoulder with giggling congratulations while she blushed. She happened to catch Severus' watching her when she looked up from amidst the small throng. He raised a sardonic brow and stared at her, inscrutably.

When she could at last extricate herself from the mass she made her way to Emmeline.

"You put a homing charm on that bouquet!" she accused.

"Now, Rowena, would I do such a thing to you?" the Auror asked with an air of unconvincing innocence.

"Yes," said Rowena decisively, and Emmeline giggled. "It doesn't count if it's bewitched you know."

"Why not? It's just a superstition anyway. It's all in fun, Rowena. We had to tease you. Now that we know what's going on, we've been watching, and Snape has hardly taken his eyes off you all day. It's very romantic, if you can bear to think of Snape that way. It's almost 'cute'; though don't tell him I said that. I'm very fond of my wand-hand just as it is. We just thought we'd give him something more to think about."

"Oh! You and your meddling! Now I know why Severus gets so annoyed with Albus," she said, but she laughed with her friend anyway.

A/N: Long chapter, had to cut it somewhere. Next chapter is the PARTY!