Chapter Fourteen
Zachary's Wedding
Over the next month or so, the school days seemed to drag on and on. Homework piled up, and Quidditch restarted. Gryffindor was in the lead with Slytherin not far behind. Ravenclaw was doing fairly well and Hufflepuff was...Hufflepuff. The Slytherins were still giving Gryffindors a hard time, but thankfully they had long since abandoned 'Weasley is Our King'. Surprisingly, Malfoy was not one of the main hecklers. In fact, he seemed to be slipping away from the world, not that Harry or Nikki cared.
Before they knew it, they were boarding the train at Hogsmeade Station. As soon as they got to King's Cross, they were met by Zach to go to meet Kate at the dress shop. Nikki got fitted for her bridesmaid dress and Harry decided to just wear his dress robes. When they got to Zach's house, Nikki took her trunk up to her room. (Yes, she had her own room. If you have a problem with that, please email me, the author, at kissmyassbitch,com.) Zach led Harry up to the guest bedroom and set his things down.
"Here you go Harry. Now remember, I may seem like the cool, older brother, but if you hurt her, I will be forced to kill you." Zach said calmly. Harry gulped, loudly. Just then, Nikki walked into the room.
"Zach, must you scare off every boyfriend of mine?" Nikki asked, seeming annoyed.
"I do not scare off every one of your boyfriends!" Zach protested.
"Liar! You sent my last one a letter saying that if he hurt me, you would slit his throat in his sleep. Then, when we broke up, you sent him a letter saying that you were coming for him that night! He was bloody terrified!" Nikki exclaimed. Zach's expression faded into deep thought before a smile spread across his face.
"Yes, well, he was a little arse hole anyway. What was his name again?" Zach asked.
"Joshua Gregory, and your right, he was an arse." Nikki admitted.
"Don't worry, Nikki. He didn't scare me...much." Harry confessed. Nikki playfully hit Zach on the arm.
"Well, I'll leave you two alone. I have to go check on something anyway." Zach said as he left the room.
"Did he scare you?" Nikki asked.
"No, he just implied we couldn't do anything while we were here." Harry responded sitting down on the bed.
"Well, that's not so bad. It's not like we were going to shag or anything..." Nikki said with a wink as she left the room, too.
"Yea-wait, what do you mean! Come back!" Harry called, chasing after her.
That night was the rehearsal dinner. It went splendidly. During dinner, Harry was introduced to Nikki's adoptive parents, Rob and Maria. They seemed to really hit it off with Harry and complimented Nikki on finding such a nice boy. When she told them his last name, they got a look in their eyes like they knew something she didn't. Thankfully, neither Harry nor Nikki took notice of this.
After dinner, Nikki went back to Kate's flat where all of the bridesmaids were staying. Harry went back to Zach's house. The groomsmen decided that before Zach became a husband...he needed a party. While the guys were getting pissed drunk, Harry was sitting up in his room writing to Nikki and Sirius. Harry sent a letter to Nikki first, who was staying at Kate's flat. He would have to wait for Hedwig to get back before sending a letter to Sirius. An hour later, Hedwig returned with a reply.
Dear Harry,
Well, I can't say I am disappointed that you are not going to wake up the next morning with a hangover. Though, do not take this as me being an overbearing girlfriend. If you want to go get spiffed, go for it. I'm sure they have someone performing the Sobering Charm. Just, have fun. We all need a little fun, right? I'll see you at the wedding.
I love you,
Nikki.
Harry smiled at this. He was a bit afraid that Nikki would be mad if he got completely drunk. Even though, he didn't really feel like going down there. He was perfectly happy sitting in his room, plus, he was going to try to get some sleep, as soon as he sent a letter to Sirius. Now he wished he hadn't left Sirius' mirror at school. Harry folded up the letter and placed it under his pillow as he laid his head down to sleep.
The next morning, Nikki woke up around nine. All of the bridesmaids were still sleeping, but Kate was sitting alone in the kitchen looking through a photo album with pictures of her and Zachary. Nikki walked in and sat in front of her. Nikki saw tears in her eyes.
"Kate, what's wrong?" Nikki asked cautiously. She didn't want to startle her.
"What? Oh, nothing. It's just nerves." Kate replied in a daze.
"Bollocks. What's really going on?" Nikki asked harshly.
"What if Zach isn't the one? What if we fight all the time? What if he stops loving me or I stop loving him?" Kate cried, tears brimming her eyes once again.
"Kate, you know he loves you. I have seen the way he looks at you. The man is in love. He couldn't look at anyone the way he does you. He will always love you, and you will always love him. You look at him with the same look in your eyes that he looks at you. The same way people in love look at each other. And Zach will make a great husband." Nikki assured her, putting her hand comfortingly over Kate's.
"I know, I know. But what if he gets hurt again? What if he dies? I couldn't take that." Kate replied, tears finally forcing their way out of her eyes and down her cheeks. The thought of losing Zach for good had plagued her mind since he proposed to her. Nikki and Kate just sat there in silence. Kate drinking a cup of coffee and Nikki drinking a nice cool Butterbeer.
At eleven, Kate and Nikki went into the living room where all the bridesmaids were sleeping in sleeping bags on the floor. Nikki had grabbed one of her CD's and boombox and plugged it in. Kate was a half-blood so she had muggle and wizarding influence. The bridesmaids were awoken to a muggle band from the States called Green Day. The song they were awoken to was a song called "When I Come Around". The girls all began getting ready as Kate's mother came over to help them get ready, as well as a hairstylist and make-up artist. Perhaps you are wondering about the boys, eh? Well, I haven't forgotthen about them, they were getting ready...just a bit behind schedule.
"WHERE THE HELL ARE THE RINGS!" Zach shouted while trying desperately to find them. "Damn it! I knew something like this would happen! Wait a second...I am a Wizard!" Zach exclaimed, stopping his search. "Accio rings!" He called, waving his wand about. There was a soft whirring sound and two small silver rings flew right into his hand.
Three hours later, everyone was gathered in the church. Zach was standing at the front of the church as the last of the guests were pouring in. Soon, the bridesmaids began walking down the aisle. Zach felt his breath catch in his throat for two reasons. One, was that soon Kate was going to be walking down the aisle to become his wife. The second reason was because he had never seen his sister look as beautiful as she did in that light blue gown. Harry turned to look as the bridesmaids walked down the aisle and felt the air leave his lungs immediately. Nikki's shoulder length hair was down with soft curls. The dress brought out her eyes magnficantly. She had a gorgeous smile on her face which just made Harry go weak at the knees. It was the most beautiful he had ever seen her. She was even wearing the necklace he had gotten her for Christmas. Suddenly, the music changed to the wedding march. Everyone stood up as Kate came into view. The best man grabbed on to Zach's arm to keep Zach from falling over at the sight of her. Slowly she made her way down the aisle. In reality it took all of 45 seconds, but to them, it took an eternity. Finally, Kate arrived in front of him on the altar. The minister began to recite the usual vows. When it became time to recite the vows for Kate and Zach, they recited ones they had written for each other.
"Kate, from the first time I saw you, back in first year, I knew I had to have you. And this was before I even liked girls. There was something about you that I fell in love with You stuck by me no matter what. I know in my heart you always will." Zach said, as tears filled Kate's eyes and a single tear fell from his.
"Zachary, earlier this year, you gave a lot of us a big scare. When I thought I might lose you, it nearly killed me. I could never live without you. I have always loved you. And here you are now, standing in front of me. I know now that our love can never be broken. We are destined for each other. No one else. This is our destiny. I love you, now and forever." Kate said as they turned back to the minister.
"Do you, Zachary, take you, Katherine, to be your lawfully wedded wife? For richer for poorer? In sickness and in health? As long as you both shall live?"
"I do."
"And do you, Katherine, take you, Zachary, to be your lawfully wedded husband? For richer for poorer? In sickness and in health? As long as you both shall live?"
"I do."
"Then by the power vested in me, I know pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride." The minister said. Zach slowly brought his lips down to hers in a sweet short kiss. "Ladies and gentlemen, I am happy to give you Mr. and Mrs. Zachary Gryffin."
They turned and began to walk back down the aisle. The music once again became loud as the bridesmaids and groomsmen followed the happy couple out of the sanctuary. Harry caught up with Nikki as they made their way into the Reception Hall at the church.
The reception was a blast. There was good food and good music. Unfortunately, the fun ended too soon when the bride and groom suddenly dropped dead from poisoned wine. Just kidding, what kind of sick twisted author do you think I am...don't answer that. Everything before the whole death part was true, though. Too soon it seemed, Zach and Kate were off to leave for their Honeymoon in Hawii.
As soon as they were gone, Harry went out to the street and hailed a cab. Nikki said goodbye to her parents then went outside to get in the cab with Harry. She slid into the cab right next to him and he draped his arm around her shoulder. The cab drove off into the sunset towards Zachary's house.
So sorry that took so long to write. I know its short and I am so sorry. I will try crosses fingers to have the entire Tale of Miss Gryffin posted BEFORE January 4th. Let us hope...