So... not gonna lie, this is a filler chapter, so it's shorter than normal. I still hope you enjoy it of course.

Chapter 4

Are You Ready?

"Are you ready for this?" Andromeda asked, straightening Harry's cloak.

"As I'll ever be," Harry replied, rolling his eyes. "It's ridiculous that this is necessary, you know. A simple statement should have been enough to satisfy the masses."

Andromeda snorted. "The masses will never be satisfied, Harry, not when it comes to you."

"Make me feel better, why don't you?" Harry laughed.

"How did your friends take the news?"

"I thought I told you to make me feel better?" Harry retorted with a sigh. "I don't know. Draco, Ginny and Neville all find it rather amusing. Ron is panicking as I expected, and Hermione is quite distraught over the whole thing. I'm not entirely sure why, but... she seems to believe I'm signing a marriage contract with the devil."

"That's quite the compliment."

"Lord Potter."

Harry turned to find Tom and Lucius entering the room.

"Lord Malfoy, Voldemort. What are the two of you doing here?"

"We came to see if there was anything we could help with before you go out there," Lucius said, gesturing to where the rapidly growing crowd was waiting.

"Ah, I'm fine," Harry said, smiling. "What's the worst they could say?"

"Well -" Lucius began before Harry cut him off.

"Actually that was rhetorical, I don't care what they say. I'm only doing this to get one over on Skeeter."

Andromeda laughed but shook her head. "Will you ever grow up?"

"Good Lord, I hope not," Harry replied. "Adulting is hard work, Andie."

"I have no idea how you manage so well in the Winzengamot," she murmured, closing her eyes briefly. "It's time. Are you going to be okay?"

"Stop worrying, I know the rules. Keep it calm and clear, no arguing with the reporters and no hexing anyone for being obnoxious. Right?"

"Right."

"Then I'm ready. Let's get this show on the road."

He left the room with a cheerful smile, leaving the three remaining to watch him go with varying degree's of shock on their faces.

"Your marriage is shaping up to be quite interesting, My Lord," Lucius commented.

"Hmm. I'm unsure whether he is simply enjoying life or taking an illegal substance," Voldemort admitted, though he looked rather amused. "Let us go and take our seats."

Harry walked up to the podium, unsurprised to find Diagon Alley fit to bursting.

"It's Harry Potter!"

"Oh my god, I can see him!"

"Harry, Harry, can I have your autograph?"

"Harry, will you marry me?"

"Settle down, settle down," Harry said, smiling slightly as the crowd quieted. "I'm sure you're all wondering why I asked you to come here. There has been a development in the war that I wished to inform the public of myself. A ceasefire has been called, written into a magically binding contract, between myself and the Dark Lord Voldemort. The war, both light and dark sides, will cease to fight each other, upon the marriage of myself and Lord Voldemort."

Harry paused, unsurprised that the crowd went crazy. Shouts and screams rent the air, and he was hard pressed to stop himself rolling his eyes. Five minutes passed before he got tired.

"Enough! We are a small nation and there has been far too much death already. Having to sacrifice any future I could have had for the one I will have is well worth it to end the constant death and destruction we will be faced with under other circumstances! Your children will be safe to play in the open with their friends, you won't have to fear taking an hour to go shopping, or fear hearing the news of the death of a loved one. Peace will once more reign in the British Wizarding Community and for that, any sacrifice I must make is worth it."

"He saved us again."

"Harry, we love you!"

"He's a hero!"

"Merlin help me," Harry muttered. "Spread the news, the war is done. Anybody trying to rebel, be it light or dark supporters, will be punished severely by the Ministry. We will thrive if only we allow it to happen. Thank you all for your time."

He walked away, waving his hand and causing the podium to disappear as he did. Returning to the room he'd been in previous to making his speech, Harry was soon joined by Andromeda, Lucius, Tom and Severus.

"I told you so," Andromeda trilled, dodging as Harry swatted at her.

"They're a bloody nightmare," Harry sighed. "But, at least it's done with. No exclusives for Skeeter."

Severus snorted. "You really don't like her, do you?"

"Sweet Merlin, no. She's a cockroach. Ah well, shall we go. You know we're going to get swamped if we remain here much longer."

"Yes, I'll return to school with you," Severus replied with a nod. "My Lord. Lucius."

Exchanging quick goodbyes and a hug with Andromeda, Severus and Harry left quickly, taking a back entrance and apparating back to Hogsmead.

The weeks of summer passed quickly, without much to note. Tom took the Slytherin seat without much fuss, sliding into the political circles so naturally it was surprising he hadn't been there all along. Harry saw him briefly a few times, but with his lessons with Andromeda, not to mention being inundated with meetings with Gringotts, various members of the Ministry and Dumbledore, he didn't have much time left over for himself.

He was actually quite relieved when school restarted, signalling his final year as a student.

The first few days tested his patience, as none of the students seemed to know how to treat him. The whole summer, the marriage between himself and Tom was front page news. As the wedding day loomed, Harry began to feel somewhat nervous.

Not so much about the wedding, after all it was a repeat after me thing, but more so the marriage. He didn't even think that Tom would mistreat him, it was more that he'd never had a serious relationship. He'd never had to cohabitate with anyone aside from the boys in his dorm. He'd never had to share every aspect of his life before.

With Hermione asking him if he was still sure at every opportunity, and Ron taking random moments to make sure that Harry had ensured Tom couldn't just attack him at the wedding, he was literally on his last nerve by the eve of the wedding.

"All the preparations have been accounted for," Andromeda assured him as the two of them relaxed in the sitting room of the suite Lucius had provided them with. After much discussion, it had been decided that the Malfoy's would be the ones to host the wedding, mostly due to the fact that they had the space available.

Harry nodded. He had a tumbler of whisky in his hand and he was swirling it absently.

"Are you okay, Harry?"

He nodded again, offering her a small smile.

"If you wanted to back out..."

"I don't," he murmured. "It's just rather a lot, Andie, that's all. My robes are ready?"

"Of course. I'll help you get ready in the morning, of course. We've chosen rather traditional robes and they take a little work to get them fastened up correctly."

Harry snorted his amusement. "Of course they do. When is anything in the wizarding world ever uncomplicated?"

"Touche."

A knock on the door sounded before Lucius popped his head around the door. "Lord Potter, do you have a moment?"

"Sure, come on in," Harry replied, waving him in casually. "And really, we're around each other enough to drop the formalities, no?"

Lucius chuckled. "If you'd prefer it that way, then please, call me Lucius."

"Well, what can we do for you, Lucius?"

"Ah, yes. My Lord wishes to know what you would like him to do with Peter Pettigrew. I know we agreed that he would be sent to the Ministry, but you mentioned a willingness to see him dead, and in the interests of open communication, he wishes to know which you would prefer?"

Harry grinned. "Ooh, choices, choices. Honestly, I'm not altogether fussed. Kill him or hand him over to the Ministry for the Dementors to feast on. As long as he's no longer enjoying his freedom, I'll be happy."

"I'll inform My Lord then. Are you ready for tomorrow?"

Harry snorted. "As I'll ever be, Lucius. As I'll ever be."