Part Twenty-five
To say that Marden and Ailene were lost at where to begin getting married was an understatement. All they knew is that the had to get married as soon as possible. In both Muggle and Wizarding societies, it was highly frowned upon for a woman to be pregnant out of wedlock, so they had to be careful in choosing who and where to go. And Marden had to keep their union relatively quiet, the Prophet would eat up a story of the heir to the McKinnon legacy marrying a pregnant Muggle. He had enough scrutiny to deal with.
Besides, most people would turn them away, and it was quite difficult to hide Ailene's growing belly.
This meant that getting married in a church was out of the question. What parish in London would marry a couple expecting? She could hear them now. His Holiness would forever judge you.
"Perhaps we can ask the Wizard who married us?" Fleamont suggested one evening, "He's usually drunk on the weekends, you can find him at the Three Broomsticks, and I doubt he'd say no after a few shots of Firewhiskey."
This was a start, and the Potter's even suggested going to talk to him about it. In the meantime, Ailene was starting to grow restless from her pregnancy. Her ankles and hands were starting to swell. She began to crave curry and chocolate milk. Her back began to throb if she stood for too long. Her breasts began to swell and were sore all the time.
Doctors visits weren't helping either. Her obstetrician, Dr. Forsyth, was not keen on the fact that she was only five months pregnant.
"Perhaps you are farther along than expected..." He suggested, looking at Ailene with an accusatory expression.
"I conceived last August, and I know this for a fact." Ailene replied, rather sternly. "I remember the evening quite fondly."
"Are you sure? Is there anyone else that you may have been seeing outside of your marriage?"
Ailene turned red and furious. Of course they had to lie and pretend that her and Marden were already married. She turned to look at her 'husband', who was not paying attention to their conversation, rather staring green at a diagram poster of a child in the womb, passing through the birth canal. The baby in the picture was being pulled along with what looked like forceps. Maybe a wizard doctor was a better option?
"To suggest that I am cheating on my husband is insulting and deplorable!" Ailene stood, shouting before storming out of the examination room, Marden being dragged by his collar.
Maybe Wizarding babies grew faster than Muggle? Maybe it was magic that pushed them along? Despite the fact that pregnancy was becoming a nuisance, she wasn't ready to give birth so soon. In fact, she dreaded the idea. She figured Marden wasn't ready either.
As the end of January approached, they received an unexpected invitation from Fleamont and Euphemia to be at their home that Friday, and to dress their best. Perhaps they convinced their officiator in marrying them, and they were meeting him to go over their plans.
Now the couple were excited, and began preparing for this meeting. Marden went out and bought them new dress robes, with Ailene's just a little larger to try and discreetly hide her belly.
On that Friday, they arrived at the Potter home, being met by them with concern.
"What's wrong?" Ailene asked Euphemia as she took her coat.
"Achaius is late." Her soon to be sister-in-law replied. Ailene could only assume that was the officiator. "I knew we should've gone to the Broomsticks instead. He'll never find his way to us."
Both the Potters were dressed up as well, Euphemia wearing make-up and her hair done up nice in a pretty bun.
"I'm sure he'll make it." Fleamont said, pouring a glass of Firewhiskey for Marden, which he did not ask for. He then clapped his brother-in-law on the shoulder.
"Cheers mate!" Fleamont said a little too enthusiastically, and it immediately drew suspicion.
"What's going on?" Marden finally asked, looking at his sister.
"He agreed to marry you two, tonight."
"Tonight?" Marden and Ailene both said in succession.
"I would've worn white!" Ailene protested.
"You look fine." Euphemia reassured her. "Besides, you two wanted to get married as soon as possible, right? He agreed and didn't question the rush."
Then the door suddenly swung open, and there stood a disheveled Scotsman. His kilt was crooked, his face was redder than the sunset, and his smile was far too wide.
"Immade it!" He announced at the four of them, who looked at him in total disbelief. It was the weekend, after all.
He staggered inside and took Ailene's hand immediately, placing a sloppy kiss on her skin.
"Ye must be the bride." He purred, and Ailene could only give an awkward smile before offering a small curtsey.
She could hear Marden whisper furiously at Fleamont. "I can't have a bloody drunk marry us? Will it even be official?"
Their quiet conversation was interrupted when Achaius then came up to Fleamont, who quickly turned the drunk towards Marden.
"Eh? Ah, yes, the groom." He said, hitting Marden hard on his upper arm. "Perk up there, lad. It's right fine to be nervous on yer weddin' night."
He then staggered himself to their drawing room and scouted it out, before helping himself to other rooms of the home.
Euphemia followed him quickly, making sure he didn't bounce off of anything valuable.
"This should do, I reckon." He said, standing in the middle of their magnificent living room, his hands proudly on his hips. He dug into his breast pocket and dug out a crimpled marriage license, handing it to Fleamont. "Take care o' this, lad." He said before gesturing for Ailene and Marden to come forth.
He turned them onto the spot, and they now faced each other. Marden's angry face melted when he locked eyes with his bride, smiling down at her. This may not be ideal, but they were going to be married, after six long years. Ailene smiled back up at him, her heart beating in her chest, and for the first time she felt something stir in her growing belly.
They took each other's hands, and Ailene closed her eyes gently. In her mind, she saw Rosa's coffee shop. She was sitting at the last booth, papers scattered everywhere. And there Marden sat a few seats away, facing her, sipping his coffee and watching her with loving eyes. She felt her cheeks burn intensely. She never thought she'd ever marry that man. Or create another human with that man. Full of mystery, of unknown.
Now, she knew everything about him. She knew how he made love to her, how much he longed for her. All mysteries were gone.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered 'ere today to join these two in holy matr'mony." He then paused, seeming to scratch his head. Did he forget his lines?
Marden broke the silence. "I take thee, Ailene, to be my wife, in sickness and in health, to love, to honor and to protect, for better or for worse, till death do us part." Fleamont's hand came to nudge Marden's shoulder, holding out a small golden band. Marden took it and slipped it onto Ailene's finger.
"I take thee, Marden, to be my husband. In sickness and in health, to love and to honor, to protect and cherish, for better or for worse, till death do us part." Fleamont know held out a larger band for Ailene to take, pushing it over Marden's finger.
"Rightly done, if I do say so m'self." Achaius said, sniffling before blowing his nose with a white handkerchief.
"Ye may kiss the bride, lad!" He declared, and Marden took Ailene into his arms, crashing his lips to hers. They embraced for one long moment before pulling away. Both Euphemia and Fleamont clapped as loud as they could before they broke apart.
"Aye, hold out ye right arms now..." Achaius said, and Ailene quickly became confused. The drunk shimmied his kilt on right again and pulled out a small dagger, and before anyone could stop him, (all three of the others screamed "NO!") he, as gently as he could, drew a small line of blood. Ailene's hand instantly covered it, she could feel the warm blood touch the palm of her hand.
He then grabbed Marden's wrist and did the same, before placing them together, their wounds touching, and Achaius draped the white handkerchief over their hands, tying it gently.
"And now it is done!" He announced. "I pronounce thee husband and wife!"
Euphemia clapped only once or twice before she pulled Ailene away to their kitchen, cleaning the small wound on her wrist. "Bloody drunk, I hope I never see him again." She growled, wrapping a small cloth around the wrist to keep it covered.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't think he'd do that." Euphemia said, and Ailene replied by pulling her into a hug. "I'm so happy to call you my sister."
Marden finished signing the marriage certificate, and Ailene came to join him, signing it along with Fleamont and Euphemia as witnesses.
"Aye, now we can drink!" Achaius declared, pulling a small bottle from his waistband and pouring everyone a glass of the amber colored drink. Ailene poured her share into Fleamont's cup, who gladly took it.
Euphemia, kindly but forcefully pushed Achaius out of the house, handing him a few galleons before shutting and locking the door behind him.
"Are you sure this is an official wedding?" Marden spoke up immediately before Fleamont piped in.
"Believe it or not, this is a real marriage certificate from the Ministry." He said as he rolled it, conjuring a string to tie it up before giving it to Marden. "It's all signed and ready to go. I'd submit that tomorrow." He advised.
Marden took it and looked at it. "It'll be in the Prophet, no doubt."
"Yes, I daresay it will. All marriages are announced, but at least the tiny detail of pregnancy will be left out of it. Unless your Mum or Dad'll write in. I hope they wont."
"Who cares if they do." Ailene then said, which took everyone a little by surprise. "We're married, and none of that matters anymore."
The four of them smiled, and a pleasant silence grew around them before Fleamont spoke up again.
"I guess there's no need to consummate the marriage, is there?"