Chapter Nine: A love bloomed.

Harry stood at the altar, simply looking at his outward calm no one would have suspected that he was an absolute basket case. This was the day he had dreamed of since he had asked her to marry him. This was his and Naya's wedding day. No one could imagine the amount of anxiety that was flowing through him, well no one that is except for his best man, who himself had married a month before to Lily. James and Lily's wedding was beautiful, Lily had worn a white gown of silk and lace with a beaded bodice. She had looked stunning as she walked down the isle and now it was Harry's turn to get the first glimpse of his bride. Harry tapped his foot with impatience.

"Harry, it's a wedding." James chuckled. "Not a Broadway play."

"What's taking so bloody long?" Harry grumbled in annoyance. "She can't have changed her mind, can she?"

"No Harry, She hasn't changed her mind. Women just take a while to get ready, you'll learn this after a month or so of marriage." James assured him. "I sure have." He added with a grimace.

"The waiting is going to kill me!" He blurted, not bothering to keep his voice down.

"Nervous?" James raised an eyebrow.

"Just a bit." Harry admitted.

"Don't worry, it'll be over soon." James grinned mischievously. "Then the real fun begins."

"What do you mean?" Harry asked wearily.

"You'll see." James replied, smirking.

Before Harry could retort the music started and the door to the chapel opened to reveal the procession. Naya's nephew Marlow and niece Ani were adorable in a matching purple dress and suit. They walked down the isle, a bit hurriedly and ran right to their mother's arms barely peeking out from under to watch the others procession down the isle. Next came Sirius leading Naya's homely sister Mirabel down the isle. As Sirius passed Harry he glared at him as if to say "thanks alot for pining me with that!". Then came Remus leading Naya's eldest sister Naciana. Remus though was by far from dissappointed. Naciana was just as lovely as Naya and just a placated with the man on her arm as Naya was with Harry. Naci begrudgingly let him part from her as they approached the end of the isle. Next came Lily in a lovely gold gown lined in purple satin. She winked at James as she passed them. Then came Naya, in a shimmering gown of silver beads on white satin. Her hair was up in a crown with spirals flowing down her face.

Harry found himself gaping in surprise. This was his soon to be wife?

Had Naya gone only to be replaced by this goddess?

As Naya approached, she saw Harry's face and chuckled. "Close your mouth dear." Naya chided. "They'll think I'm Marrying an ape."

Harry snapped his mouth closed and made a sound of an ape for only her to hear.

Naya laughed outright as she took his arm and they faced the minister.

"Dearly beloved we are gathered here today to join these two in holy matrimony." The minister began. "If there is anyone that believes these two should not be united let him speak now or forever hold his peace."

These words Harry would come to regret hearing.

At that moment the doors to the chapel burst open and Redolphus

Lestrange entered with a few of his "Friends" following close behind.

"I object!" He bellowed as he stormed forward.

Naya turned to face her cousin. "What are you doing here Dolphie?" She said in a cold voice that even made Harry shiver.

"You can't marry him Naya!" Redolphus growled. "He's not right for you!"

"And just who are you to say who's right for me and who's not?" Naya shot back. "I'm my own person Dolphie, you don't own me!"

"Will you stop calling me Dolphie!" He shouted, going red in the face.

"My name is Rudolphus!"

"I will the moment you stop trying to run my life for me!" She bellowed

back.

"Why can't you just be placable and just marry the man I've chosen for

you!" He practically whined. "Lucius is a wonderful choice Naya and you could learn to love him quickly enough."

"No!" Naya brought out her wand. "I will not be toyed with like a doll!

If you don't get out of here now Dolphie I will not hesitate to use this on you!"

"But!" He began to protest. Then looked at Naya's face and sighed.

"Fine! But this is far from over Naya."

He swooped out of the hall, his cronies following him as if they had been practicing some bad play and slammed the doors shut behind them.

Harry gaped at Naya as she turned around and noticed how calm she was

as she placed her wand back into the almost invisible pocket in her gown.

"What?" Naya sighed as she turned to face Harry.

"You were supposed to marry Lucius?" He said almost breathlessly.

"No, that was who most of my family wanted me to marry, all but my father and sisters." She rubbed her temples in annoyance. "Not who I wanted to marry though."

Harry looked at her and smiled. "So then I'm not just some one to marry to get away from all of that?"

"No dear, you're not." She smiled sweetly. "But if you don't stop this idle chit-chat we'll never be married."

They turned back to the alter and had a very uneventful ending to the

wedding.

Then Harry kissed his bride.

Harry and Naya had chosen to wait on taking their honeymoon because with Voldemort at full power and being extreamly dangerous they knew that no where would be safe, except of course for them to be around the order. They had not hesitated to join as soon as Dumbledore had approached them. James and Lily were expecting their first child in one month and Lili had to pull out of operations because of the iminent birth. Remus had started to date Naciana (even though he protested due to his "condition" she had won him over) and now she had begun to pester him about marriage which was an area he had skirted

around as much as possible. Sirius, well he loathed the fact that

everyone was paired with someone ("even Remus for christ sake!" he would say often when asked.) and he wasn't so keen on being the odd man out so he took to hiding as much as possible and not coming to get togethers even though he was always invited. Naya had offered to set him up with her other sister, which Sirius shuddered at the mere thought and would reply a very hasty "No!". Naya had pretended most of the time to be hurt by how quick Sirius would answer then when he would apologize she would burst into laughter. She would tell Harry in secret that she just liked seeing him squirm.

Just as they had settled into what seemed an uneventful life Harry and

Naya got a surprise. Naya had been told by doctors all her life that she would never be able to conceive a child much less carry one to term. So when she visited the doctor this time she was very shocked, not to mention elated when they told her that she was indeed pregnant. As she walked toward the orders headquarters, for their weekly meeting a thrill of excitement coursed through her veins. She was pregnant and now she couldn't wait to tell Harry. Her excitement soon ran out

of her as she heard a cold voice behind her say.

"Hello Naya." Rudolphus Lestrange said coolly as he leaned against the light pole.

"What do you want Rudolphus." Naya said as she turned to face him.

"The same thing I have always wanted. Your submission." He grinned at her evilly.

"That'll never happen." She growled.

"Oh it will Naya, one way or another I will have what I want." He pushed off the light post and advanced toward her.

"You stay away from me Rudolphus!" she pointed her wand at him shakily.

He just smirked and continued to advanced on her, forcing her to back

up.

She had gone no more than a few steps when she bumped into something

hard. Then she felt a pair of hands clasp her arms and she froze in terror.

"Naya, all you had to do was do what I wanted." Rudolphus tisked and shook his head as he came up to her. "But no, you had to go and Marry that, well I'm not even sure what he is."

"You leave Harry out of this!" She screamed at him.

"Oh but Naya, this is what you don't understand." Redolphus looked at the back of his hand. "I can't leave him out of this. He stole you from me and my plans for you."

"Your not my master!" She screamed. "You never will be!"

"That is where you're wrong!" He shouted as he back handed her so hard that she could taste the blood in her mouth.

"You bastard!" Naya bit back a sob as she stared at him defiantly. "If you think this will make me do what you want you're wrong! I would rather die then do what you want me to!"

"Then so you shall!" He said coldly as he backhanded her again.

He raised his hand to hit her one more time when a shot of red zoomed past his face. He looked past Naya and spotted five wizards charging toward him, wands drawn and led by Harry.

"Get your hands of her!" Harry growled as he descended on them. "Or so help me I'll kill you where you stand!"

Rudolphus glared at him defiantly before dropping his hand. The man holding Naya let her go with a thrust, causing her to fall to the ground. Then they disaparated leaving Naya sobbing on the ground.

Harry knelt beside her and swooped her up into his arms. "Naya, it's

alright. They're gone." He soothed her as he stood up and carried her back to the orders headquarters.

Naya Held onto him and continued to sob, unable to get a coherent thought together in her mind.

Harry laid her onto a couch as soon as they had entered the order and then sat beside her. "Naya, please calm down honey. You're safe."

"I'm not safe! I'll never be safe as long as he's around!" She sobbed.

"Nor will our child!"

Harry gaped at her. "What do you mean, our child?"

"Oh Harry, this was not the way I imagined telling you this!" She sobbed harder. "I'm pregnant!"

Harry looked at his wife. "You're really pregnant?" He asked, still in shock.

Naya nodded. "I just saw the doctor and he told me that I'm five weeks

pregnant." Naya gained control of herself and looked at Harry. "You're going to be a daddy."

Harry sat back on the couch and looked blankly at the wall opposite of

them.

"You're not upset are you?" Naya asked half afraid.

"What?" Harry suddenly looked as if he had been unaware she had been right before this moment. "Naya how could I ever be upset with news like this?" He took her into his arms and kissed her. "Now as for your cousin." He growled as he pulled away. "I'll have his head if he ever touches you again!"

"Just let it go Harry, he's not worth it." Naya pleaded.

"No! Naya, he hurt you!" Harry protested. "And he could have killed our baby. No, I won't let it go."

"Please Harry!" Naya pleaded. "Don't go looking for him."

"Oh I won't go looking for him." Harry agreed. "But if I run into him I won't promise anything."