The Eighth Year Universe

Love Wins

You're My Destiny

The chapter title is from the song:

Rewrite the Stars by Zac Efron, Zendaya (From The Greatest Showman).


Potter Manor

Daphne decided to wait until after the wedding to announce her mother's sudden appearance. She had blamed it on work when she got home two hours later than intended on the eve of the wedding, and only one person had questioned her. Of course, she had told him the whole truth as per the rules she and Harry had laid out a long time ago.

What Daphne had really done that evening was tell her mother all about her children. Being a pureblood, she hadn't blinked an eye about the fact Teddy was in love with more than one person. Still, the unusual nature of the wedding had made her choke on her tea, and Daphne had taken great amusement from that.

She had speculated about who Andrea's mysterious boyfriend could be. Daphne had proudly talked about how Andrea had decided she wanted to be a Healer. Daphne had told her mother all about Alastor and his 'boyfriend' who wasn't really his boyfriend, and about Brazil.

She had barely touched on everything with Thea, and Lareina hadn't pushed. She was aware of the fact Daphne had just let her back in, after all.

And as liberating as it had been, Daphne didn't think it was the right time to announce it. There were far more important things happening today, after all.

As promised, Daphne had let her mother come to the wedding, but under polyjuice as one of her distant French cousins. She could explain later, but now, this was fairer for Narcissa's sake as much as anyone else's.

Pulling herself out of her thoughts, Daphne looked across the table at Teddy and Nick, neither of whom were eating much.

"Too nervous to eat?"

Both boys looked up, and Teddy smiled anxiously at his mother, "Uh, yeah. I feel excited but also kind of sick."

"I just feel sick," Nick admitted.

"Marriage, what a wonderful thing," Thea remarked sarcastically.

Daphne gave her daughter a pointed look, "Thea, why don't you head upstairs and make sure the others are awake?"

Thea didn't roll her eyes like she usually would at being asked to help. Instead, she just nodded and left, leaving Daphne alone in the kitchen with the two grooms.

"You are not nervous because you're scared to get married," Daphne assured them, "The four of you love each other, and you fit together perfectly. You balance each other out, you bring each other up when needed, but you keep each other modest too. This isn't about that. It's about the spectacle."

Nick nodded and looked down.

"So forget about what anyone else will think. Don't give a damn about what the press will say," Daphne said firmly, "Do what you want. Do what feels right for you because if you don't, you will regret it."

Teddy looked up at her, "Do you?"

Daphne smiled and shook her head, "I don't regret a single thing in life, Teddy. Everything that happened brought me to where I am now, and I like that place. I'm proud, looking back on the journey and how far I've come. But I was scared of what other people thought for a very long time, and when I finally stopped doing that, I realised how liberating it was."

With a small smile, Teddy nodded, "Thanks, Mum."

Daphne got up and kissed him on the cheek, "Try and eat something. I'll make sure your dress robes don't have any creases in them."

She left the room, and Nick smiled sadly, "You've got a great mum, you know?"

"Yeah," Teddy said. He patted Nick on the knee, "But you know…Jen's not so bad."

"I know she isn't," Nick admitted. He reached down and took Teddy's hand, "But she never felt like my mum. She never did the things Mum's do…it was my dad who did those things, you know? He looked after me when I was sick, healed me when I did stupid stuff."

Nick shrugged, "He's kind of always been my mum and dad all rolled into one, I guess."

"Well then, I guess you're pretty lucky to have such a great dad," Teddy said, nudging him in the ribs. "Because I've always gotten on with my dad, and I do have some great childhood memories with him, don't get me wrong. But you know that I didn't get this close with him until I became an Auror. My mum's always been my rock."

Nick smiled slightly and squeezed his hand, "Then I guess we're both kinda lucky."

"Yeah, I guess we are," Teddy agreed.


Blacknot Castle

Scotland

"Are we all dressed, girls?"

A general call of 'yes' came out of the room, so Sadie stuck her head in. She smiled at Almina and Nina, who were now in their wedding dresses and were just doing the finishing touches done to their hair and make-up.

"You both look lovely."

"Thanks, Mum," Almina said brightly.

"Thanks, Mrs Nott," Nina echoed a little more nervously.

"How many times, Nina?" Sadie chuckled, "Call me Sadie."

"Sadie, sorry," Nina said sheepishly.

Both of their dresses fit their figures and personalities rather well. Nina was wearing a simple, plain white dress that was shorter than the average wedding dress. It worked on Nina though, because she was very petite. The dress had a ribbon placed around the waist, which was entirely strategic because it hid the small baby bump there.

Almina, on the other hand, had also gone for something relatively simple, but it was entirely different from Nina's. Her dress was full length, but she was tall, so that made sense for her. It was plain white as well with a plunging neckline and a criss-cross back. It toed the line between glamourous and sexy very nicely.

Both girls had their hair in the same manner – left down and lightly curled, with matching silver circlets to hold it in place.

Delphi and Addison were here too as the collective Chief Bridesmaid and Best Man. Addison was wearing a simple blue dress, and her wild red hair had been let down but was a little tamer than usual.

Under normal circumstances, Victoire would have been a part of the bridal party because she and Teddy were so close. But her surprise pregnancy had put a spanner in the works.

As such, Teddy had asked Delphi to be their best man. She had agreed under the condition she got to choose her own outfit.

She was wearing the same dress robes as Teddy and Nick (navy blue with silver embellishments). Rather than wearing a shirt and black trousers underneath, she wore a fitted pencil skirt and a blouse.

"You look great, Delphi."

"Thanks, Mrs Nott," Delphi returned politely.

Technically they could have had two Chief Bridesmaids and Best Men. But this worked – Nina had never really had a best friend until she met Almina, and Nick hadn't had that many close friends outwith Teddy. Almina and Teddy were the two more sociable ones, so their friends had become Nick and Nina's friends.

"Ten minutes until showtime," Sadie reminded them with a smile, "You're all doing okay?"

"We're fine," Almina assured her mum, "You can send the dads up."

Sadie laughed, "I'll get right on that."


On the grounds of Blacknot Castle, Harry and Rob were wishing they could still drink.

"It's not even mid-afternoon, and I think I'd kill someone for a firewhiskey."

"That'll fade with time," Harry assured him as they watched the guests arriving in the lovely seating area that the elves had set up on the grounds.

"Until something really bad happens, obviously," Harry added, "That's kind of the point of a relapse."

Rob snorted, "I take back what I said about you being a good sponsor."

Harry just grinned at Rob in response. Then an argument behind them caught their attention.

"No, Theo, just do what I'm telling you," Draco was muttering as he and Theo headed up towards the house.

"No, because I'm telling you it doesn't matter," Theo shot back.

"Tradition dictates that the father of the bride should walk on the right side of the aisle - "

"Fuck tradition. We're both the father of the bride," Theo pointed out.

"Yes, but technically you're her - "

Theo stopped in his tracks and turned around, putting his hands on Draco's shoulder and looking him in the eye, "Fuck tradition, we're both the father of the bride. Okay?"

Draco held his gaze, then nodded and sighed, "Okay."

"I still don't know how he does that," Rob whispered.

Harry snorted, "You have a dog long enough, eventually it does what you tell it."

Rob stifled a laugh at that, but Theo and Draco were a little too far away to hear them anyway.

Theo leant forward and kissed Draco quickly, then he muttered, "Quit freaking out, that's my thing."

"Yeah, you're remarkably calm, actually," Draco mused as they headed inside, "Considering how much you freaked out at Lacey's wedding."

Theo scoffed, "I'm a fucking pro now. This is nothing."

"You're going to cry your eyes out at the vows," Draco said.

At the same time, Harry muttered to Rob, "He's gonna cry like a baby at the vows."

Rob did bark out a loud laugh at that, and Harry couldn't help but join him.


When Theo and Draco got to Almina's bedroom, the nerves had begun to kick in for Almina. They had kicked in for Nina hours ago, but the nervous energy had been keeping her going for the most part.

Theo smiled when he stepped in, "We all ready to go then?"

"No," Almina said, making everyone look at her in disbelief.

"No?!"

"What if this is a terrible idea?" Almina panicked, and Draco smiled slightly because he was suddenly reminded of Hermione.

"What if you can't love more than one person?" Almina continued, "What if Nick's actually Teddy's soulmate?"

"Pfft," Theo scoffed, drawing all attention to him.

"You think you only have one soulmate?" Theo asked. He raised an eyebrow at Almina, then he glanced over at Nina, "Come on, nobody has just one soulmate. That would be such a dumb system. Imagine your soulmate died as a toddler, so what, you'd never get to be happy? No, that's not how it works."

Almina blew out a breath, and Theo continued, "You get multiple soulmates. Sometimes you lose them because you meet them at the wrong time or because they die. But that doesn't mean you'll never find another one. Some of us are just lucky enough to get to be in love with those soulmates at the same time."

Nina smiled slightly and nodded, "That's kind of beautiful, Mr Nott."

"Theo, for the love of Merlin, Nina. I've known you for over ten years!"

Nina laughed nervously, "Sorry, Theo."

Theo grinned, "Much better. Now, Mimi, let's warm those feet up."

Almina laughed and shook her head, "No, it's fine Pops. I think I needed the freakout, but I'm fine now that it's out my system."

"You are so like Mum," Theo chuckled.

Draco nodded his agreement, "But that's not a bad thing. Yes, she freaks out sometimes, but she's also one of the most strong-willed people I've ever met, just like you."

Almina took a final breath and nodded, "I'm ready."

"Then let's head down," Theo said, holding out his arm for Almina.

Almina smiled and kissed Nina on the cheek, "See you in five."

With a slightly more nervous smile, Nina nodded.

Almina then left with Draco and Theo. Addison and Delphi were already waiting downstairs, Addison to make sure everyone else was seated before the wedding got started. And Delphi to get in place next to Teddy and Nick at the altar.

Nina took a few breaths to steady herself, then there was a knock, and the door opened.

"How are we doing, Nina Frost?" Harry asked.

Nina laughed weakly, "You won't be able to call me that for much longer."

"Oh, you'll always be Nina Frost to me," Harry said airily, but for some reason, it made Nina feel emotional.

"Aw, mate, you've made her cry," Rob said, nudging Harry in the ribs hard, "Some fucking fake dad you are!"

"Shit, I didn't mean to. Sorry Nina," Harry said quickly.

"No, it's not you," Nina said as she took a steadying breath, "It's just stupid hormones."

Harry gave her a gentle hug and said, "Hey, it's your wedding. You can cry if you want to."

"Don't wanna mess up that pretty face though, do ya?" Rob asked.

Nina smiled weakly and shook her head, "You two stink, by the way. If you don't want to get in trouble, you should use freshening charms."

"They were muggle cigarettes," Harry said, casting a freshening charm on himself, "Just in case you thought it was anything else."

Nina chuckled and shook her head, "No, I suppose you'll save that for later when your wives are too drunk to care."

Rob grinned and brought a finger up to his lips.

Harry chuckled and held out his arm to Nina.

"Shall we?"

Nina nodded and took Harry's arm.

"Yes, we shall."


The wedding ceremony was beautiful. It helped that the weather was perfect, and the landscape was a beautiful backdrop.

It took place in the castle gardens in the shadow of the sweeping Cairngorm mountain. The tips of the spires of Hogwarts could be seen in the distance too.

Looking back at Blacknot Castle as she walked outside, Almina thanked her lucky stars for being blessed with all of this. She knew she was lucky, and she had always tried not to take that for granted.

They had kept the wedding relatively small – close family and friends only. With four of them, though, that was still a pretty large number of people, and Almina got nervous when she saw that.

"Just imagine they're all naked," Theo whispered.

Draco rolled his eyes, "Theo, that doesn't work. That's just going to make her more nervous."

Almina smiled weakly, and Draco added, "They are all here because they love you. They don't care if you mess up your vows or fall down the aisle like your mum did."

"She didn't fall. She stumbled," Harry said as he and Rob arrived with Nina, "Which she reminds you both of every time you bring it up."

Theo and Draco shared an amused look, but the comment had put Almina at ease slightly all the same.

Rob snorted, "We ready then?"


"Teddy, are you even breathing?" Delphi asked. She prodded him in the ribs for good measure.

"Ow!" He hissed, "I'm breathing, fucking hell Delphi."

Nick fought a grin from his spot next to Teddy, "You getting nervous because of all the people?"

"Yeah, well…there are a lot," Teddy said. He took a breath.

"Most of them are your family," Nick pointed out, "There are only like…six people here for me, and technically, Nina has no family."

"But you have two parents and a special Aunt and Uncle," Delphi whispered, "And your fiancé has four parents. The wedding was hardly gonna be ten people gathered for beers in the back garden, was it?"

"Not when there's a Nott involved," Nick said with a boyish grin.

Teddy rolled his eyes at Nick, "I'm a Potter. Could you see my mum ever letting me get married with some friends and a few beers in the back garden?"

"No," Delphi scoffed.

Nick nodded, "Yeah, fair point."

Teddy chuckled too. He felt a little more at ease for a moment. Until Delphi nudged him again and said, "Showtime."

Nick and Teddy both looked in the same direction – up the aisle in-between the seats, towards their brides.

Almina walked down first, one arm in Theo's and the other in Draco's. Nina walked behind her, one arm in Harry's and the other in Rob's.

Nick and Teddy were up on a raised stone platform with Delphi and the wizard conducting the ceremony, Charlie Weasley. As it turned out, running a dragon reserve got you certified to perform weddings, just in case two staff members needed to be wed in a hurry.

Almina hugged Draco and kissed Theo on the cheek. Then she stepped onto the platform and took Teddy's hand.

"Hey," He murmured.

"Hey," Almina whispered back. She let out a sigh of relief now that she was with him, rather than walking up the aisle with all eyes on her.

Nina reached the platform a few seconds later. She hugged Rob, then pulled back and hugged Harry, "Thank you," she said sincerely.

Harry smiled warmly at her, "Good luck, Nina Frost."

Nina smiled at that because, of course, he had to get it in one last time. She stepped up onto the platform and took Nick's hand. He grinned at her and asked, "You okay?"

Nina was still nervous; it was just in her nature. But she just nodded and looked him in the eye, "I'm great," she promised.

Charlie smiled broadly and clapped his hands together, "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for coming. We are gathered here today for a celebration of love, commitment and friendship."

They stood in a line – Nina holding Nick's hand, Nick holding Teddy's, and with his free hand, Teddy holding Almina's.

There were no sides. This wasn't a case of 'the brides family on one side, the grooms on the other'. As the sign by the gate said, "Please choose a seat, not a side. We're all family once the knot is tied."

Charlie smiled and continued.

"There are certain types of people who come around every once in a while, and we don't know why but they tell us stories, and we grow attached, and they feel like magic, in the way they tear down our walls so easily. In the way they give us power, in the way that they make us feel whole."

Nina intertwined her fingers with Nick's, and he squeezed her hand in response.

"And whether we want to admit it or not, those people make us realise that sometimes our soulmate lies in more than just one person," Charlie said.

"So today we celebrate the union of four soulmates who fell in love by chance but who are here today because they are making a choice."

Charlie looked directly at them now, "You are choosing each other, and you are about to make promises to each other that you intend to keep. You're going to vow to take care of each other, to stand up for each other and to find happiness in each other. There is a simple premise to each of these promises – you are vowing to be there. You are teaming up and saying to each other, 'I want you to be a part of every experience I am going to have'."

Almina shot a small smile over at the others. They all felt at ease now that the ceremony had begun.

"With that in mind," Charlie continued, "Do you all vow to take each other as life partners?"

"I do," The four echoed in unison.

Harry leant over to Daphne and whispered, "Do you think they practised that?"

Daphne smirked and returned, "I had them recite it for an hour straight."

Harry snorted and shook his head, "Of course you did," he murmured fondly.

Charlie continued, "Do you all promise to live in truth and to communicate fully and fearlessly with each other?"

"I do," they chorused.

"Do you pledge your love, devotion and magic to each other as you join your life to one another's?"

"I do," They echoed again.

Charlie took a step back and announced that there would now be a reading from 'The Warlock's Hairy Heart' by Beedle the Bard.

Alastor patted Teddy on the back as he walked past him to stand on the platform. Daphne smiled and glanced back at her mother, who already had tears in her eyes. Then she drew her attention to Alastor once more.

"This reading is actually from Albus Dumbledore's commentary on Beedle's story," Alastor explained. He had never been a nervous child, so standing up here speaking came naturally to him.

"No man or woman alive, magical or not, has ever escaped some form of injury.

Whether physical, mental or emotional.

Nevertheless, we wizards, seem particularly prone to the idea that we can bend the nature of existence to our will.

The young warlock in this story, for instance, decides that falling in love would adversely affect his comfort and security.

He sees love as a humiliation, a weakness, a drain on a person's emotional and material resources.

Of course, the centuries-old trade in love potions shows that our fictional wizard is hardly alone in seeking to control the unpredictable course of love."

Alastor finished his reading and smiled out at the guests, "Because love is what we all want, but we often fear it too. And today, we celebrate four people who have found it and intend to keep it forever."

Everyone clapped, and Daphne squeezed Harry's hand when she noticed him getting teary.

"I'm proud of how far he's come too," She murmured, knowing what was going on in Harry's head without having to say a word to him, as always.

Harry just smiled and leant over to kiss her cheek as Charlie returned to the ceremony.

"You will now give your vows," Charlie said, "So if all four of you could hold hands…."

They moved into a circle. Nina held onto Nick's hand, he had Teddy's, he held onto Almina's and then Almina reached out and grabbed Nina's hand. They shared a brief smile, and everyone looked back at Charlie.

"Do you, Nina Frost, take Nicholas Wolfe, Edward Remus Lupin-Potter and Almina Tracey Nott as your life partners?"

"I do," Nina said with a smile.

"Do you, Nicholas Wolfe, take Nina Frost, Edward Remus Lupin-Potter and Almina Tracey Nott as your life partners?"

Nick smiled proudly, "I do."

"Do you, Edward Remus Lupin-Potter, take Almina Tracey Nott, Nicholas Wolfe and Nina Frost as your life partners?"

Teddy grinned around the three of them, "I do."

"And do you, Almina Tracey Nott, take Edward Remus Lupin-Potter, Nicholas Wolfe and Nina Frost as your life partners?"

"I do," Almina said sincerely.

Charlie blew out a breath, "Great, that's the difficult bit over. Nobody is objecting, are they?"

An echo of laughter went around the guests, and Charlie grinned then announced that there would now be a second reading. This time it was from "The Hobbit" by J.R.R Tolkien.

Natasha smiled at Nick and stepped up onto the platform. Unlike Alastor, she wasn't a natural public speaker, but Nick said there was nobody he would want to read it more than her, so she had caved.

She was a tomboy and had never been a dress kind of girl. As soon as she was old enough to tell her mother to stop shoving her into dresses, Natasha had, much to Jen's dismay. She wore pale blue dress trousers, a white t-shirt and pale blue dress robes.

Addison gave her a thumbs up from the sidelines, so Natasha took a deep breath and began to read.

"Roads go ever on,

Over rock and under tree,

By caves where never sun has shone,

By streams that never find the sea,

Over snow by winter sown,

And through the merry flowers o June,

Over grass and over stone,

And under mountains in the moon.

Roads go ever on,

Under cloud and under star,

Yet feet that wandering have gone,

Turn at last to home afar.

Eyes that fire and sword have seen,

And horror in the halls of stone.

Look at last on meadows green,

And trees and hills they long have known."

Rob and Jen were both a little teary. The nature of the reading was fitting for a girl who had been very far from home herself recently. The husband and wife moved closer together, Rob slinging an arm around Jen's shoulder.

Natasha stepped down and let Addison pull her into a hug. She stayed there for a little longer than usual, then kissed Addison on the cheek and sat back down in the front row next to her mum.

Charlie continued with the ceremony, "And now, we exchange rings."

There was a pause, and everyone looked around. Then a male voice muttered, "Johnny…the rings."

"Don't wanna!"

A ripple of laughter went around the guests as Johnny Sheppard had a temper tantrum. There weren't many young children in their families, but Nick's cousin, Grayson Sheppard [John's son], had a four-year-old called Johnathon. Grayson had married his childhood sweetheart, Marcella, not long out of school, and Johnathon was their first and only child.

"Johnny, please," Marcella whispered to her son from his other side.

"Just walk on up to Nicky," Grayson said.

"No!" Johnny objected.

John, ever the fun grandfather, stepped in to save the day, "Johnny, take that cushion up to Nicky, and I'll give you a bar of chocolate."

Johnny's eyes lit up, and he positively ran up to the platform. Then he dropped the cushion on the ground and ran back to his grandfather, "Where's my chocolate, Grandpa?"

By this point, everyone was laughing. Grayson bit his lip to hide his grin as Marcella berated John because, "He's never going to stay quiet for the rest of the ceremony now!"

Elizabeth shook her head from her husband's side and muttered, "You know Marcie's opinion on giving him chocolate, John!"

Harry was crying with laughter. Something about it was perfect, and nobody minded. Almina and Nina weren't the sort of brides who would get upset about anyone stealing the spotlight. Especially not when it was an adorable, if strong-minded, four-year-old.

Charlie was still chuckling as he retrieved the pillow with the box of rings upon it.

"A ring is - " he paused and collected himself, "Sorry, thanks to Johnathon Sheppard for some world-class entertainment there. That kid deserves the chocolate bar, honestly."

Grayson grinned, and Marcella hit him.

"A ring is the ancient and traditional way of sealing the contract you have just made," Charlie managed to say this time. "It is an unbroken circle like the one you have formed, and it symbolises the unending and everlasting love. These rings are the outward sign of the lifelong promise you have just made to each other."

Charlie opened the box, and everyone reached in to take a ring.

"They know whose putting what on who, right?" Harry asked in a whisper.

"One of them's knocked up so I doubt it," Rob muttered from his side.

Jennifer smacked him, and he hissed in pain, "Ow," he muttered dryly.

Daphne kicked Rob for good measure and whispered, "I made them rehearse it six times, so they will get it right."

"Did you mean to make that sound like a threat?" Jennifer whispered.

Harry grinned, and Daphne gave Jennifer a look that could kill.

Thankfully, at that point, it was time for the rings to be exchanged.

"Do you offer these rings as a symbol of your love and devotion for each other?" Charlie asked.

"We do," They said, and then they perfectly orchestrated what they had rehearsed so thoroughly with Daphne.

In their circle, Almina placed a golden band on Teddy's finger. He put one on Nick's, and Nick then placed one on Nina's, who finally placed one on Almina's.

Daphne smirked and leant back, "Seamless."

"You're a good teacher," Harry whispered suggestively.

Lilly snorted in amusement from where she and Neville were sitting in the row behind them. Daphne flipped her foot back and kicked Lilly in the shin with her heel.

"Ow," Lilly muttered in response, "Those are really sharp!"

Harry bit back a grin when Daphne smirked at him.

On the platform, Charlie announced that it was time for the final reading – this time, it was from "The Fountain of Fair Fortune" by Beedle the Bard.

Charlus left Victoire's side and jumped up onto the podium. He was very like Theo, exuberant and more than happy to be in the spotlight. He rolled up the sleeves of his black dress robes, revealing his tattoos.

Victoire chuckled, and Hermione rolled her eyes.

"I told him not to roll his sleeves up!" Hermione hissed.

"Which means you basically asked him to do it," Theo snorted from her side.

Hermione elbowed him in the ribs hard, and Theo mouthed the word 'ow' at Sadie, who smirked in response.

"This was my sister's favourite story when she was a kid," Charlus explained, "Because it's about true love, and she was always a big fan of true love. I didn't really believe in it though, not until I saw her and Teddy together, then these four together."

He smiled and added, "So this reading has a lot of meaning because it signifies that love is what you make it, that you don't find love, it finds you."

With that said, he took a breath and carried on with the reading.

"As the sun fell below the horizon, Sir Luckless emerged from the waters with the glory of his triumph upon him, and flung himself in his rusted armour at the feet of Amata, who was the kindest and most beautiful woman he had ever beheld.

Flushed with success, he begged for her hand and her heart, and Amata, no less delighted, realised that she had found a man worthy of them.

The three witches and the knight set off down the hill together arm in arm, and all four led long and happy lives, and none of them ever knew or suspected that the Fountain's waters carried no enchantment at all."

There was some applause as Charlus took his seat next to Victoire, resting a hand on her stomach like it was already second nature.

Charlie smiled broadly, "With the binding of your magic, you will be bound together for life."

This was the scary part. Nobody knew what colour it would be, and that beheld the fortune of the marriage. Not a single soul didn't feel nervous about it, and if they said they weren't worried, they were lying.

Still, the four of them joined hands and closed their eyes. Then Charlie did the spell that bound their magic, and a pale blue shimmering glow surrounded them.

"Bill and Fleur's was blue," Harry whispered in a panic, "That's bad, right?"

"They're getting back together, you idiot," Daphne muttered.

"Yeah, after 20 years!"

Sadie flicked a stinging hex at him and muttered, "Harry, shut up."

"But Sadie, it's blue!" Harry whispered.

"Blue means peace, openness and serenity, dumbass," Sadie hissed across the aisle.

Theo sniggered by Sadie's side, and Harry pouted like a slapped puppy, but to his credit, he did indeed shut up.

The glow of the magic subsided, and Charlie stepped back and grinned, "You have now made a solemn and binding contract with each other in the presence of your family and friends. It is, therefore, my great honour to pronounce you magically bound as life partners."

His grin widened, "You may now kiss!"

None of them were big PDA people. Nick kissed Nina lightly while Teddy kissed Almina. Then Almina kissed Nina on the cheek and pulled her into a hug while Teddy kissed Nick quickly.

Everyone smiled and cheered or clapped. And amid all the noise, Rob whispered, "It's like watching what prettyboy and Theo could have been."

Harry choked out a laugh, and Daphne hit him again. He was too busy laughing to care though, and a grin broke out onto his face as they began to head up to the castle for the meal.

The newlyweds led the way, walking up the extra-wide aisle four-a-breast. Then, traditionally, the father of the bride was to escort the mother of the groom.

So, of course, Theo grinned at Daphne and held out his arm, "Marchioness Potter?"

Daphne laughed and took it, "Lovely service. I think we did rather well, don't you?"

"I think the Nott cousin dream team strikes again."

"I still wish you wouldn't call us that."

Draco chuckled at their antics and held out his arm to Jennifer, who took it with a smile.

"It was a lovely service."

Draco nodded and proceeded to use his best 'political' small talk to carry them from the grounds to the castle's courtyard.

Rob offered a boyish grin and his arm to Sadie. She took it with an amused smile and said, "Don't think I didn't hear you and Harry laughing and bickering throughout the entire ceremony, by the way."

"Oh, give us our due. We need something to amuse ourselves," Rob joked, "We can't use booze like you ladies who lunch."

"What makes you think we've had anything to drink?"

"You reek of champagne and sophistication."

Hermione chuckled and took Harry's outstretched arm. They ignored the bickering of those up ahead, and Hermione spoke softly.

"I'm glad we got this. Even if the prophecy is what we think and I don't have long. I'm glad we all get today."

Harry tightened his grip on her and said, "This isn't the last wedding we'll go to. There will be loads more, and I'll dance with you at every single one because you're my best friend. You always have been, and you always will be."

Hermione smiled sadly, "I want to believe that too, but there has to be some comeuppance for what we did, and I think we both know that it's going to be me who is sacrificed."

"No," Harry said quietly, "We don't do that, alright? We don't sacrifice ourselves anymore, not after the Forbidden Forest."

"Harry," Hermione murmured impossibly softly, "You know that I don't have a choice this time. You said it yourself; the consequences will be drastic if we try to change the prophecy. It is written in the stars. Whatever we do, we will always end up there. Whatever choices we make, whatever details we alter, we will always end up there."

Harry swallowed and shook his head. He looked down at Hermione and said, "No, you're my best friend, and you're our Minister for Magic. I love you, and I'll protect you. I can't live without you in my life, and I'm sorry that I pretended that I could for so long after we argued. But I'll do everything in my power to prove it now, I promise."

Hermione smiled tearfully and reached up to kiss him on the cheek.

"Okay?" Harry said.

"Okay, Harry," Hermione said. She let go of his arm and took his hand, and for a moment, Harry allowed himself to believe his own words – that it would be okay, that nobody would be sacrificed.

- TBC -