Chapter 3: Wedded Bliss

Three months rolled by in a haze of wedding plans and discussions of whether or not Julie and Sirius were doing the right thing. She was sure she was. The more time she spent with Sirius, the more she was looking forward to it. Sirius never let her out of his sight. He catered to her every whim. When she felt sick, he was there to hold her hair out of her face. He was a real hero to her.

The only one still unsure about the whole marriage thing was Julie and James' dad Harry. Harry Potter was a man of average height and skinny build. His hair was graying, but his eyes still shown the twinkling hazel hue of his twins. He had lots of money, more money than he cared for. He had a lot of it tied up in investments. He was the reason that James and Julie were so independently wealthy.

Julie, Lily and Alice Longbottem were sitting in the guest bedroom of James and Lily's Godrics Hollow cottage. Lily was applying sleakeasy hair potion to Julie's fly away hair when Harry walked in.

"My baby." Harry said. "You look more beautiful and grown up by the day." He crossed the room and Julie stood up to give him a hug. "Would you mind," he said turning toward Lily and Alice, "giving me a moment alone with my daughter." They nodded their heads, stood up, and left the room.

"Daddy," Julie said. "Are you going to try to make me cry?"

"If I'm good enough. Julie, I know that no matter what I say you are going to marry Sirius." He paused a moment to put his hands gently on her shoulders. He pulled her into a hug. "Don't get me wrong. Sirius is like a son to me. I could not imagine a better son-in-law." He let her go from his iron strong grip and looked into her eyes. They mirrored his own and the thought made a tear spring to his eye. "I can't help but feel this whole thing is rushed. You're about to take an unbreakable vow to love someone until death. Are you ready to spend the rest of your life with Sirius Black? To give him your love? To make him happy, and potentially ruining your chances to find absolute true happiness?

Julie looked deep into her father's knowing eyes. "Dad, I know you're worried. There is nothing I can say to make you feel better. I'm just going to tell you the truth. I'm having a baby. It's a death eater's baby. I just think it's better for the baby and everybody involved if I take Sirius up in his marriage offer. I want people to think this is his baby."

"Julie I know all about it. Your brother is the world's biggest blabber mouth. That doesn't stop me from trying to protect you. Love is the most powerful magic of all."

"Dad I love this baby. I will do everything in my power to protect it. Your right. Love is the most powerful magic. I love Sirius."

"Like a brother."

The truthfulness of his simple statement hit Julie like an icy wind. Her voice caught for a second. "Just please pretend that you are happy for me."

"I don't have to pretend. I love Sirius. He'll do, I'm sure, everything in his power to make you happy.

"I'm going to make him happy too."

"I think you already have."

Hours later the girls were finally dressed. Julie peered out of the window at the beautifully set up back yard. Chairs were set facing an enormous archway interlaced with gorgeous roses of the deepest shades of red, white, and pink.

Guests were arriving and staggered themselves among the rows of chairs. Edgar Bones and his sister Amelia, Elphias Doge, Aberforth Dumbledore and his pet goat were standing near the rear rows in conversation. She also saw the massive outline of Rubeus Hagrid bending low to speak with Dorcas Meadows and Marlene McKinnon. Near the archway, laughing as if the world were light and fluffy were Sirus (her heart fluttered), "Mad-Eye" Moody, and Albus Dumbledore.

"There are a lot more people than I expected." Julie said nervously. She was wringing her hands around a blur handkerchief Lily handed her.

"Everybody came to see Sirius settle down with only ONE woman." Alice laughed. She began to pin a veil made of pure lace on Julie's finally tamed hair.

It took at least another hour for the guest to be situated. Sirius took his rightful place under the archway with James standing beside him. Sirus began to sway on the spot. James caught him beneath his arms to prevent him from falling.

The scene was elegant. Julie appeared at the back door of the cottage, her arm intertwined with her fathers. A gentle breeze began to blow. Julie's long glistening white robes began to flow behind her. She looked so like an angel. Father and daughter walked slowly up the aisle. Julie suddenly felt the urge to just run. She held tight to her fathers arm. She never remembered James' yard being so large.

Finally Julie reached the arm of the man she was going to spend the rest of her life with. Her father gave her a wink and a smile. She reached for Sirius' arm and the pair turned toward Albus Dumbledore.

Dumbledore pulled his wand from his emaculate purple robes and began to speak. " My dear friends, we are gathered here today to witness Julie Potter and Sirius Black make the unbreakable vow of marriage. Many believe that love is the greatest force in the world. I must admit I am of like mind. Sirius Black." He turned toward Sirius. "Julie Potter." He turned to face Julie. "If you would please join hands."

Julie and Sirius clasped their hands into each others and looked each other straight in the eye. The world did not exist and Julie felt she could stand there forever looking into the stunning gray eyes of her protector and savior. Sirius felt as if he could melt away with the happiness that flooded over him. After years of waiting for her to give him the time of day, there she was. His Angel. His everything.

"Sirius Black," Dumbledore continued, "do you promise that you will forever do anything in your power to make Julie happy and safe?"

"I will." Sirius said. A rope of red flame shot from Dumbledore's wand and wound its way around their clasped hands.

"Julie Potter, do you promise that you will forever in your heart, leave a sacred place for Sirius?"

"I promise." She said, and another rope of flame emerged.

"Do you both, in every way, promise that you will treat each other with kindness and respect. That you will show the world that the two of you separate are nothing. That in coming together you represent a force so powerful that no man could break it?

"We do." They said in unison. A final rope of flame wound its way around their intertwined hands.

"May you go and live in peace. May the blessings of this matrimony be forever imprinted on this earth?"

After the ceremony was over the chairs had disappeared to make room for a dance floor. Beautiful music played over the party and the guests were gracefully walking across the floor like buzzing fireflies.

Julie sat at the head table with her new husband Sirius. They looked happy as they laughed and dank deep from flagons of butterbeer. Things were going as normal and calm as everybody could expect. Then, the death eaters showed up.

Harry had asked his daughter for a father daughter wedding dance. A slow and beautiful melody echoed in the air as they danced. Julie laid her head on her fathers shoulder. They danced on air, holding on to one another. It was as if the last 20 years had not happened and Julie was still a young girl dancing on her father's feet.

Out of the trees that surrounded the back yard came a dozen hooded figures like vampires through the night. The feeling of euphoria had broken and duels began to break out everywhere. Spells began flashing through the air so fast it looked like rainbows springing from the ground.

Harry had pushed Julie behind him and was attempting to clear her out of the battle path. Julie looked frantically around for a glimpse of Sirius. Through the haze of colors and hooded faces she not make out a single order member. She felt a sudden jerk behind her. She turned and looked straight into the black cold eyes of Severus Snape through the slits of a death eater's mask.

"A wedding present." She heard him say, and then she heard a loud "NOOO!" issue behind her. She spun around as she saw a flash of green light headed straight for her. Before she could register what was happening, she saw her father laying spread eagle on the ground below her. He had a look of terror on his face. His blank eyes were staring, right through her. He had saved her. He had jumped in front of her and saved her. He had paid the ultimate price for her.

The death eater's had vanished and a quiet clam fell over the ground. James and Sirius had pushed their way through the congregated people. Sirius ran to Julie and pulled her close to him.

When Sirius had let go, Julie noticed that James had not moved. His eyes were fixed on his father.