A Marriage at Hogwarts
It was a bright, sunny morning, the warm summer heat was just beginning to form, letting everyone know a hot day was dawning upon them all. That early morning found Molly and Lily both up and preparing breakfast for their family. They were calling everyone to get up. Time was precious this day of all days that had dawned upon them.
Today, was Ginny's Wedding Day.
It was to be held at Hogwarts.
After much discussion and wavering between Harry and Ginny about whether or not to hold it at the Burrow, they decided upon Hogwarts due to the room available to them. Their invitation list was rather large, but after all the publicity given to them curteousy of The Daily Prophet, they knew that many more witches and wizards would be wanting to attend. So, Lily suggested Hogwarts' Great Hall, and since she was the Schools' Headmistress . . . !
The elves had been busy, working overtime, getting all the decorations placed, the food cooked, tables set up and a host of numerous tasks that both Molly and Lily attended to themselves.
Harry had invited all his friends he went to school with, the first time, in Gryffindor House. They were all delighted at having been remembered by Harry.
Ginny did likewise. No one was left out. So after dueful consideration they just opened the entire school up to anyone who could come. Afterall, the wedding of The Boy Who Lived was a one time affair and no one wanted to miss it. Besides, his Mum was Lily – the Headmistress of Hogwarts.
Fred and George, the co-founders of Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes, offered to provide the night time visual displays for which they were so fond of making. After all, this was their only sisters' First and Last and Only Wedding Day and they pulled out all the stops, with their no-holds barred display of just what they can really do. Just about all the Wizarding population and reporters would be there so they had a great advertising display to many potential customers. Afterall, business was business and what a break for them!
Ginny was upstairs in the Gryffindor Tower in her old room getting ready. Both Mums were there, Molly and Lily, helping her get dressed, getting her hair done to her satisfaction.
"Oh, Mum!" Ginny cried out in desperation. "I just don't know what to do! How do I look? I want to look my best for Harry, not look like some rag a muffin."
"Oh, my precious daughter!" Molly walked over to Ginny and held her hands. "You'll be just fine. You look very attractive, your wedding gown is just as you wanted it as is your hair. Don't worry, dear, everything will turn out well, won't it Lily?" Molly looked over to Lily for some reassurance.
Lily just stood there, gazing at her soon to be daughter in law, the soon to be wife of her only son. Tears started to cascade down her rosy cheeks, and trying to check a sniffle. Lily was trying to smile, but she was most happy.
"Oh, Ginny," Lily began, "everything will be ok, trust me on that. Harry will approve of you just the way you are. Today, you're at your lovliess and most radiant. All the press and your visitors will definitely take notice."
"Oh, are you BOTH sure, I mean REALLY sure? I don't mean to pick or anything but I just want to be certain." Ginny said.
They both, Molly and Lily, nodded approvingly.
"Now, I do think its' time to go, dear." Molly said, hesitantly. She knew that as soon as Ginny left this room, she'd not be her single daughter anymore, but the wife of another good wizard, the only wizard she'd ever really wholeheartedly approve of.
Just as Ginny and Lily were starting to walk out of the dorm room, Molly stopped them briefly. "Dear, before you go, I just want you to know, while you're still here in this room, I've always loved you. You're my only daughter, and the man you're about to marry is much loved by me. He always was. You couldn't have picked a better wizard for a husband. And, dear, I'll always be here to help you, and talk with you. I just wanted to say all this before you left, because as soon as you step across the threshold of this door you'll be his wife and his responsibility foremost." Molly was in tears, yet happy. Lily put her arms around Molly and comforted her. "Molly, she's not going anywhere, you know that as well as I do. Like James and I, the Burrow will always be her home."
"Oh, Lily, I know, it's just, . . . , well, Oh, Go on Ginny, you don't want to be late for your own wedding, now do you?"
They all three laughed and left.
Harry and Arthur and James as well as the other six boys, quite a crowd had left the dorm room earlier. It was the same room that Harry had used for his previous seven years when he'd first attended Hogwarts.
Harry walked into the common room and just stood there – memories flooding back to him like it was just this past year that he'd left school. In his mind's eye he could see the innumerable hosts of students walking in the common room, walking up and down the staircase. Shaking his head in amazement, he took to the stairs slowly, reliving each step, each moment till he arrived at the top of the stairs. He knew his way by heart.
Arthur and James just stood there, slightly behind Harry, letting him get adjusted to the place where they both knew so many memories were held by him.
"Are you alright, son?" James asked.
Harry hesitated, nodding his head slightly and turning to look at his dad and step dad. "Yea, it's, well, It's just so sudden and overwhelming to me, that's all. I didn't expect this."
"They're all good memories, son, don't worry." James added.
Harry walked into his old dorm room. The last time he'd been here was the night before the Battle on the School grounds, facing Voldemort and his army. He looked around and saw his bed, and the window where he'd sat and wrote out his last Will that very evening before sending it off by Owl to Gringotts'. Turning his head, he could see the rest of his old room and the faces of his room mates as if they were actually standing there just as they were when he'd last seen them.
Tears were running down his cheeks. He just couldn't help it.
"Oh, Dad, I remember. Everything now. Just everything. I can see them standing here just as they were when I'd last seen them, was with them. All my old friends, including you back then." And, he added, "I remember Mum – or Hermione, too. I don't know why I didn't recognized you both back then, Hermione was the level headed one of us, the logical one. I should have known, I just should have seen it all, but, . . . , I, . . . , I just didn't." He shook his head. 'I wonder how things would have turned out, maybe for the better? If only I had taken the time to see them, for who they really were.' Harry thought all these things to himself, in his mind.
Harry turned back and looked at his Dad, saying, "How much did it cost me? How much did I actually sacrifice, and loose, just to get here where I'm at now?"
Harry felt some hands upon his shoulders. He knew it was Arthur and James. "Son, you didn't loose anything, you've been promised that everything that you'd given up, sacrificed, would be restored unto you, and it has.That was the promise given to your Mum by Father, she's told you that, remember?" James turned his son around slightly, looking at him. "Son, you've still got Ron here with you, remember me then? You've still got Hermione here, Lily, your own Mum. We've both been right here beside you the entire time. All your other friends will be downstairs, eager to see you after so many years."
Harry looked up at his Dad. "Thanks, Dad. Sometimes, it's just difficult."
"Time to get dressed now, son, Arthur and I will be downstairs waiting. Just take your time."
All these memories came back to Harry as he and the others left the dorms to go to the Great Hall where the ceremony would be held.
Harry walked towards the Doors of the Great Hall, they were massive and well remembered by Harry so many times, the times he walked through them going to and from meals, and other special occasions.
He walked up to the Doors, and they opened; He just stood there, looking at the Great Hall, and saw all the guests, many faces he knew and recognized as his friends, others' he recognized as just acquaintances. Seems as though all of Diagon Alley and Hogsmead had closed down just so the shop keepers could attend the wedding. Harry walked the long walkway towards where the Head Table usually sat, but today, it was gone. There standing was a gentleman, dressed all in white and smiling. Harry recognized him immediately. His Mum had her pensive containing her memories of that very special day when she'd had him Blessed by this very same Muggle gentleman, whom Lily told him had responsibilities that far exceeded her own. Harry knew the difference between Muggles and those who could perform Magic, but when his Mum told him something, he always believed her, absolutely, without question and this was one instance that he never questioned her, even though he just couldn't fathom just HOW his responsibilities far exceeded his Mums', but they did, and and Harry believed and just let it go at that.
Off to one side stood Dumbledore! Harry immediately went to him and took his hands "Professor Dumbledore, its' so good to see you again. Really! Mum must have talked with you."
"Yes, Harry, she did, And congradulations. Your Mum told me many times that she knew you and Ginny would be married one day, she could see it . . . ." He bent down a little closer to Harry and slightly whispered into his ear like a 'conspirator' – ". . . a little more clearly than Professor Trelawney can, I might add!" With that he winked and smiled at Harry, who in returned smiled back, great big!
"I'll have to ask Mum about that one day, thanks, Professor, for being here. I really mean that."
Harry continued walking and saw someone else he didn't really expect to see:
His Aunt Petunia.
Harry held out his arms and walking towards her, hugged her for a long long time. "Thanks, Aunt Petunia, for being here. This must be one of my Mums' surprises she was hinting around at."
Harry held her at arms length and said to her, "If ever you need me, for anything, and I mean anything, just contact me. You're my Mums' sister and she loves you dearly and I will too. Time to turn over a new leaf, so to speak. You'll always be welcome in my home and I expect to have you there visiting me and Ginny. I need you, Aunt Petunia."
She just stood there, with tears running down her cheeks. "Oh, Harry, you're just like Lily, just so much like her! I'm so proud and happy for the way you turned out."
"thanks, Aunt Petunia. I meant what I said about coming to visit us at The Burrow. You're family and you're expected to be there with us."
"Ok, I'll visit you. Professor Dumbledore gave me a port key to use as well as showing me how to use the Floo network which he hooked up our fireplace to."
Harry kissed his Aunt Petunia on the cheek and continued walking up front. He saw many friends, not a stranger amoung the bunch.
The Daily Prophet had all their photographers there, continuously taking Wizarding Photographs for the newspaper.
At the front he stopped and looked at the Muggle gentleman for the first time since he'd been blessed by this same man.
"Thank you, for what you did for my Mum that day when she brought me home when I was born. She's told me about you many times. There's much I still don't understand, but Mum still teaches me about you and Father. Thanks for performing the ceremony for us, it really pleases Mum, that you're here. I'm very thankful for that."
"You're welcome, Harry. Your Mum is, indeed, a most special lady, for she has our Fathers' approval. Just pay attention to her direction and you'll always be ok."
"I will, I will." Harry said.
Harry just stood there, turning slightly to face the people, and waiting for his Bride to make her appearance and approach.
He needn't have waited too long for there she stood in the door way, dressed in her finest apparel.
Ginny was dressed in a long white wedding gown, adorned with much lace, a very long train, stiched with pearls in a familiar decorative fashion. She wore a vail, and was absolutely stunning.
Harry stood there, speechless.
She walked slowly up the main aisle, accompanied by her father, Arthur.
Pictures were taken by every photographer including Wizarding movies of the entire event, no one was missed, not a single event. What captured the attention was Ginny's Dress. She was absolutely outstanding.
She walked up to Harry, and stood beside him, taking his arm in hers and holding tightly to him, not letting him go.
After the ceremony, everyone gathered around and shook their hands, congradulating them.
As they both stood there, faced by all their friends, family, and everyone else who knew either them or Lily or Arthur, Ginny turned to Harry: "Well, darling, what do you think?"
"I'm the luckest man in the world with the most beautiful lady by my side as my wife!"
Harry was just standing there, lower lip trembling, looking at Ginny Weasley Potter, not able to say anything else.
Ginny reached up to caress her husbands' face, "Harry, what's wrong?"
With tears now running down his face, looking at her, he said to her in a voice that all heard: "Now, now at long last, I have a family, my very own family."
"Oh, darling, oh, Harry, you've always had a family ever since that first time I saw you at home, at the Burrow. You were family then." Ginny kissed him for the longest time to the approval of everyone.
After the ceremony, many pictures were taken, both wizarding and muggle, some were for the benefit of Harry's Aunt Petunia.
Lunch was served by Hogwarts' House Elves, providing a banquet that provided for every taste that the wedding guests enjoyed and liked.
"Would you like to go for a walk with me?" Lily asked the gentleman, the Muggle who performed the wedding ceremony.
"Of course."
Lily and him walked down the halls, Lily explaining to him who she is, her family, and what she does.
"This is a school for our people to learn how to use their abilities. I don't know how much you know about me, or our people, but, . . ." Lily stopped and turned to him not knowing how to finish her thoughts. She did not want to disappoint him or say anything that would be taken in a negative context.
"Go on, Lily, it's alright. You've been chosen by Father, so whatever it is you do here, or are, Father must have known ahead of time. Please, contine your thoughts."
"We're just like you; We have feelings, thoughts, desires, fears, likes, wants, everything that you have, but one difference – we have been given the ability to perform magic. It has rules, and boundaries, not unlike your science, so it is here, that we all eventually come to learn how to use them."
Lily continued walking and thinking, turning her head to look at her visitor occasionally to see his reaction.
"I'm the Headmistress here. I don't know if what I've said bothers you, or not, but I want to be truthful with you, as to who we are."
"Father told me that you needed a blessing for your son, the first time I met you. It was He who lead me to your home. He also told me about your need for someone to perform a wedding. All I know about you is that you're a Daughter of Father, just like all the rest of us are His children, except He told me that you've been given a special job to do for your people, and that I was to trust you – totally."
Lily stopped walking in the hallway, just in front of the Great Doors that lead to the outside. "Thank you, for helping me. When you were here, the first time, blessing my son, the same one who got married today, I felt that he needed it for his future trials." Lily looked down and holding her hands in front of her, kinda nervous, "I also told my family that you served Father, that you carried more power and Authority than I did, in this world."
"Lily, that may . . . ."
"Please, let me finish. You hold certain keys that carry forth into the next life. I don't have that. But, what I can do is teach my people here some of the very basics that your people already know, like faith, hope, chariety, compassion, and – and sacrifice - and not just for the good times, but especially when times are bad. And in our peoples' future, I've seen that there will be bad times coming, very bad times. My people will be needing all my help in applying all these lessons, just to survive."
"I know that, too, Lily."
Lily looked at him, surprise all over her face.
"Father has given me, and my family, how do you say this - an 'extension' on our life spans. I don't know how long, but I was told that it was given me, us, that this was given the day my son, Harry, was born. It didn't show up, immediately, that is, it wasn't really noticeable until some years after Harry was born."
"Lets go outside, shall we? The summer evening is warm and the flowers and bushes are very pretty now." Lily asked him.
They walked out on the lawn, just walking slowly, looking at the beautiful landscaped areas.
"There'll be some times, in my future, that I'll need to talk with you, and, this need may arise many times while I'm here. I don't know how to say this but I'll be here for a very long time, longer than you may live, so, I'll just have to ask Father to send to me someone, like yourself, to help me."
"Don't worry, Lily. I'll have a successor and he will be just like me. When you see him, his spirit will be just like mine and you will be able to talk with him and trust him just like you do with me."
"Thank you, thank you very much for that bit of comfort." Lily stopped by a bench and turned to him, "I want to give you an invitation to my home, that you'll be welcome there anytime you desire to visit us. Even though you're not 'magical', as we are, you're one of Father's special servants and you'll always be welcome."
"Thank you, Lily. I may have a need in the future for your help."
"I know the evening is wearing on and that you may need to be leaving, but I want to ask a favor of you," Lily sat down on the bench beside the flowers and looked up at him, her hands folded in her lap.
"You want a blessing, too?" he asked, knowing her answer ahead of time.
"Yes, but, . . , how did you know?"
"Your spirit speaks rather strongly, Lily."
Lily closed her eyes and he administered a Grand Blessing upon Lily, one that she dearly needed, that showed her appreciation of all she'd received and the strength that would be given her during her times of intense trials ahead in her life, however long that would be.
Standing at the Great Doors of the Castle stood Arthur, Molly and James, witnessing the exchange. Arthur leaned over to Molly and said, "Molly, if all Muggle's were as nice as this one, I do believe that Lily's work would indeed be made much easier. It'd help our people so much, I don't know how, but I just have that feeling, ever since I first saw him."
Molly just held Arthur's hand and gently squeezing his hand in a quiet acceptance of his statement, Kissed him on his cheek. Arthur blushed, the typical Weasley Red.
"Arthur, you haven't blushed like that since before we were in school here." Molly smiled at him. "That pleases me, dear."
Lily looked up at Arthur, after he said such a good supporting statement, even though he was out of hearing range, Lily still heard him, and she smiled and nodded her head. All this while Arthur was looking at Lily. 'How does she do that?' Arthur wondered, shaking his head, but, still, pleased.
The gentleman was accompanied down the walkway, by Lily, and out the gate. There he left Lily standing at the gates as he walked away, back down the road from which he first came. Lily knew, felt, he'd be alright, for as the Gentleman was walking away there appeared another individual, dressed all in white robes with the whitest hair, wearing sandles. Lily recognized His appearance immediately! Her heart quickened a beat and she let out a small gasp in astonishment. He turned around and looked at her, waving His hand and nodding His head in acknowledgement and turned around and continued walking with the Muggle Gentleman.
Lily stood there for the longest time, just looking, and wondering. Reviewing all the pleasant feelings she'd received during his visit.
She'll never forget him, Never.
Sighing deeply, she went back to her school, for as she was walking back she remembered what her old Headmaster told her the day he'd made her the offer of Headmistress, of how long she'd be here: You'll be here for as long as Hogwarts stands, for as long as this school exists. Lily just stood there, looking up at the Castle, reviewing her feelings. 'I have my Family, my Home. My People have a deep need of me. All this I've been given by Father and all I ever asked for was to be a Mum to my son.' Shaking her head in wonderment, she said to herself 'I guess nothing is free in this life and this is my debt that I have to pay. What a wonderous way He has of getting us to help.'
Lily finished her walk up to the Castle, back to her Son's Wedding party, where she was gladly received by Arthur, Molly and James.
"We're glad you're back, Lily" James said. "We all were very impressed by him."
"Yes, some Muggles ostracise us, or make us out to be 'bad' or something like that, but he didn't." Arthur said. "We all like him."
Lily looked up at the three of them, a strange feeling of 'de ja vous' crossed her mind: It was like 'the trio' when Harry was in school. "I guess some things just don't change."
"What do you mean, Lily? What things?" Molly asked.
"Oh, you three remind me of me,Ron and Harry, that's all. But, Arthur, you're right – he is a very good man. Too bad more of us can't be like him." Lily looked away just shaking her head a little, wistfully.
"That is what you're trying to do, isn't it?" Arthur asked.
"yes." Lily replied, very softly. "but maybe I'm trying to do the impossible; there's too many of us and not enough of me."
"We'll be here for you, Lily. Isn't that why we're allowed to be with you for as long as it takes? Isn't that the promise? You, me, our son, and the rest of our family?"
"Yes, James, it is. You're my advisors, my shoulders to lean on when the times get rough for me. Like I told my Headmaster, I'd be an anachronism, a walking history book if I did not have my family with me, if I were the only one left to go on. No one would really take me seriously."
"Lily, dear, we'll be here for you and help you the best we can." Molly said.
Lily smiled, "thank you, all of you. It's times like this that I really need you. And If I've not said it before, I love each and everyone of you."
"Oh, I believe you might have indicated that before." Arthur said, smiling like one of the twins.
"Oh, Arthur, you remind me so much of the twins when you say that! And I do appreciate you, all of you."
"Lets all go in, before it gets too late, shall we?" Molly suggested.
As they were walking back inside, Arthur mused to himself, "the twins, eh?" Molly nudged him "Shhhhhh, Arthur, the twins might hear you! They'd be so happy!" Molly smiled and leaned her head on her husbands' shoulder.
The four of them walked back inside to the wedding party, and found everyone still having a good time. Harry was talking with the guests, some were his dorm mates from his time he was a student here, while Ginny was busy talking with her friends she'd had here.
Together, after a while, they'd walk around and talk to their guests, as a couple, many were the shop keepers in both Diagon Alley and Hogsmead Village. Handshakes and Hugs were freely given out by them. Wizarding Pictures were being taken the entire time.
Harry approached Dumbledore, "Professor, I just want to thank you for all the help you've given me, and to my Mum." Harry continued holding on to Ginny's hand. "I came here as an orphan, for all I knew, not knowing anything, and it was here, under your guidance that I found friends and family. And I'm wanted, and loved." Harry said this last part while looking at Ginny, who was still holding on to her new husband and smiling at him, giving him her undivided attention and total support.
"Professor, I owe so much to so many people, I don't know how to ever repay, if I ever could."
"Harry, it was my privilege of helping you. That was what my job was as Headmaster. I owed your Mum a lot and she just needed help, like you did." Dumbledore leaned a little closer to Harry and Ginny – "Besides, Harry, now that your Mum is Headmistress, she's finding out just how much we all need her. And I think she loves the job more than she's willing to tell. That's a mark of a good Headmistress. Just stay with her, Harry, learn all you can from her, because she has a lot to teach you. You're one fortunate wizard, you too, Ginny." Dumbledore put his arm around Harry and hugged him. That's when a photographer took a picture that appeared in the Daily Prophet.
Harry and Ginny finally left the wedding party, walking down the path towards the outside gates that lead up to the Great Castle where, once outside, they could safely apparate away.
"You know something, Ginny?" Harry asked.
"What's that, dear?"
"Here I am, looking back at the Castle, I never actually realized just how much a part of my life it's been to me. Other than the Dursley's, I don't know of any other life. I don't want to go back to them, I know there's a good loving family, here, with you and your family."
Looking up at her new husband, Ginny corrected him. "Darling, it's OUR family, not just mine. You're a part of me, you always have been, and you always will be. My Mum accepted you a long time ago. Maybe she knew, deep in her heart, that you'd be right for me. But, now, darling, you're mine, my family is YOUR family. And in the years to come, I'll be giving you children, many children, all of your very own, when the time is right."
Harry and Ginny held onto each other and kissed, passionately, for the longest time. And while they were, they slowly faded out of sight, silently apparating away to the location of their Honeymoon. They didn't want to be disturbed for many a day.