October 4th

Alicia and Penny's wedding day dawned crisp and clear. Hermione, Angelina, and Verity had been chosen as bridesmaids and had been conscripted for makeup and primping from a very early hour, so Percy arrived to the wedding venue much later in the day with Fred and George.

The women had chosen to be married in the chapel at Hogsmeade, with dinner and dancing to follow at the Three Broomsticks. Madam Rosmerta was catering, and Percy had peered in to see that the decorators had transformed the cozy pub into a rustic and elegant banquet hall.

As the officiant, there wasn't much day-of preparation Percy had to do, and he was feeling a little lost as Fred and George went off to support Alicia on one half of team Bride. Guests started trickling in as Percy waited in the narthex. Many of Penny and Alicia's school friends had been invited. Percy recognized many familiar faces, including Dean Thomas, who'd been invited as Luna Lovegood's plus-one.

"Hi Dean, you're looking well,"

"Thanks, mate," They shook hands, and Dean's grip was strong. He was still uncomfortably thin, as expected after his months of starvation and abuse, but he was smiling handsomely in a well-fitted muggle tuxedo. His skin had returned to its warm-toned brown, rather than the ashy grey tint it'd had the first time Percy had seen him.

"And Luna, lovely to see you," Luna's dress robes were vintage looking and made of a light silver material that seemed to float and swirl of its own accord.

"You as well, Percy," Luna said, embracing him, "I expect I'll be seeing a bit more of you than usual in the near future; I've hired Ron to be the architect for the Quibbler's new office,"

"You're restarting the Quibbler? That's great!"

"I'm very excited. We're rebranding as a magical nature publication; I'm just not quite so into current events and gossip as Daddy was, and the Scamanders are part owners of the company, now,"

"I'm so glad to hear that, Luna, I can't wait for the first issues to come to print," Luna and Dean excused themselves to go find their seats.

"Percy, could you come here a moment?" Hermione beckoned from the room where Team Penny had set up.

"Sure," He peered into the door, and, seeing that everybody was decent, followed Hermione over to where Penny sat. The room was quiet. Penny's mother was finishing curling Penny's hair, while someone who must have been Penny's grandmother sat nearby, looking on. Penny's sister, one of Penny's healer friends, and Verity all wore long, forest-green dresses that matched the one Hermione had donned. Someone had styled Hermione's hair into a detailed braid with flowers woven into it. Percy gave Hermione a quick kiss, trying hard not to smudge the lipstick he knew was there.

"I've got a gift for Alicia and was hoping you could bring it over to her?" Penny held a small jewelry box out to Percy, "It's for her 'something new'," She opened the box so that Percy and the ladies could see it. Penny had picked out a delicate, rose gold bracelet for Alicia.

"Yes, I can bring it to her," Percy leaned to give Penny a quick kiss on the cheek, "You look beautiful, by the way," Penny's ivory dress was lovely; the structured bodice gave way to a full, lace and tulle skirt.

"Thank you, Percy," Percy slipped out of the room and walked down the short hallway to Alicia's room.

Team Alicia was a bit more boisterous in their preparations. Music was playing, and Fred and George were snacking and talking while Angelina applied something shimmery to Alicia's eyelids. Alicia wore a simple, fitted dress in white and was absolutely glowing. Her hair, short and red, sported a crown of flowers and greenery.

"I've got something for you, Alicia, from Penny," He offered the jewelry box to Alicia, who opened it and gasped.

"Oh, it's beautiful!" The others oo'ed and aah'ed appreciatively, "Will you put it on me, Percy?"

"Of course," Percy managed not to fumble with the clasp, and once it was secured around Alicia's wrist, she smiled even more brightly.

"Thank you. Oh gosh, we've only got 10 minutes left. I'm so excited I can't stand it!"

"Good, because we did not want to have to drive the getaway broom if you got cold feet," George spoke up. He was adjusting Fred's tie.

"Bite your tongue!" Alicia laughed, "I feel like I've been waiting for this day my whole life,"

Neither Alicia or Penny had living fathers; Penny's had passed away when she was a baby, and Alicia's father had been killed in a muggle car accident just before she started Hogwarts. It was the lack of fathers for the traditional escorting of the bride down the aisle that had prompted Alicia and Penny to decide that they would walk each other down the aisle. All of the other wedding party members lined up. Percy offered his elbow to Hermione, who took it. The musicians started playing, and they proceeded down the aisle, two by two.

Once everyone had assembled but the brides, Percy bade everyone to rise and turn. Alicia and Penny held hands, making their way down the aisle slowly.

Percy tried, and failed to keep tears from running down his cheeks at the sight of his two best friends. Hermione's hand was at his elbow, discreetly offering him a muggle tissue. He took it, gratefully, and saw that her eyes were bright and shiny as well.

"Welcome, dearly beloved, family and friends, to this beautiful day. Welcome, as we have come to celebrate Alicia and Penny as they join together in marriage," Percy briefly introduced the wedding, followed by Penny's mother, who read a bible passage.

It was something he'd never heard before, but Percy was immediately inspired. Penny and Alicia had told him to be creative, and he hoped they wouldn't mind him ad-libbing, just a little bit.

"What a beautiful reading to reflect on. Love is patient, love is kind. These are characteristics of the people we most adore. For example, Penny is patient, Alicia is kind. As we join together today, witnessing the marriage of these two women who are so in love with one another, allow us to think of those in our lives whom we love, and reflect on just how deeply beautiful it is, to love,"

Percy allowed for a moment of quiet, after he said this. Penny's eyes were shining, and Alicia reached out to squeeze her hands.

"Now, Alicia, if you would repeat after me. I, Alicia, take you, Penny," Percy led each of them through the traditional vows that they'd chosen, and prompted each to place a ring on the other's finger. Neither girl was able to keep her tears from spilling over.

When all of the vows had been taken, Percy knew exactly how he wanted to end the wedding.

"You may now kiss the bride,"

Alicia and Penny reached for each other, and Alicia very nearly knocked Penny over in her excitement. The congregation laughed and applauded as they kissed, and the musicians began to play the postlude.

The photographers took their time with portraits, and afterward, the wedding party adjourned to the reception hall to join the rest of the wedding guests for dinner. The meal was delicious, and soon after, Lee Jordan took over as DJ to kick off the dancing. The music was lively, a combination of Alicia's and Penny's tastes, and there were so many young people at the wedding that the dance floor was filled with laughter. Percy enjoyed dancing in turns with Hermione, Ginny, Penny and Alicia, and several other female friends.

Eventually, Lee Jordan called out a song as a "Ladies Only" number, so Percy retired to the bar to get a cold drink.

"Hi, Percy," Draco was seated there in handsomely tailored navy robes, sipping what to other people would look like a cosmopolitan, but Percy knew to be soda water with a splash of cranberry and a lime wedge.

"Oh, hey. I wasn't expecting to see you here," Percy could have bit his tongue, feeling stupid for having pointed out that Draco wasn't particularly close friends with either of the brides. Draco shrugged.

"I was invited last minute. Your brother Ron wanted to bring a plus one, of all things," Draco rolled his eyes.

"Ron invited you as his plus one?"

"Yeah. Something about 'he wanted to invite Luna but she was already going with Dean, and weddings are so much more fun when you bring someone to chat to anyhow.'"

"I suppose,"

"Not that it matters. Ron's been glued to Luna all night," Rather than join the ladies-only dance, Luna was seated at a table across the room. Ron was pouring her a glass of water. Both of them were smiling broadly as they chatted.

"What's happened to Dean, then?"

"What's happened to me?" Dean repeated, sliding into a seat on the other side of Draco.

"I hope you're not upset that your date and mine are both fawning all over each other," Draco said.

"Not at all. Luna asked me as her plus one so that she and I could ogle all of the attractive men in dress robes together," Percy watched as Draco choked on his drink. Dean politely pretended not to notice.

"You're not interested in women?" Draco managed to say, finally.

"Not at all," Dean made eye contact with Draco and smiled.

Percy slipped away as the two men started talking. He went over to Ron and Luna.

"Did you intend to set Draco and Dean up tonight?" Percy asked.

"Of course we did," Ron said, "Dean's a good bloke. He came out in sixth year after he and Ginny broke up," Luna nodded, agreeing.

Percy filed away the information that Ginny and Dean had dated as something to ask about another time.

"...and he and Seamus Finnegan had a fling, but Seamus is Catholic and he was too afraid to come out as gay, so he dumped Dean and told him it had been a mistake. Totally screwed him over. Dean's been single ever since, but he wants to apply to be a forensic sketch artist with the Ministry, so he and Draco have been sending letters back and forth for weeks about what it's like to work for the DMLE."

Percy, Ron, and Luna watched as the music changed to a slower song. Draco offered his hand to Dean, and the two men stepped out onto the dance floor.

A few hours later, when Percy spotted Draco and Dean leaving the reception together, he smiled.