Chapter Seventeen - I Do
"Oh... where is she?" A very excited Ginny Weasley squealed.
Tonks smiled and shook her head, "No Mrs. Potter, no one sees the bride. I haven't even seen her."
Harry hugged the purple haired woman and then carefully lead his wife along and into the chapel. Ginny was so obviously disappointed. Alexandria and Severus had announced their wedding to everyone five months ago. Since then everyone that knew them had been in uproar, either because they were good friends to Alexandria or just shocked to hear that Severus Snape was marrying the girl everyone knew was nothing like him. Over time though people had gone from hating the man to admiring him. They talked to him on the streets and shook his hand with congratulatory wishes. A large wedding was in order. Several precautions had been taken so that only the actual people invited walked through the chapel doors. A magical barrier had been created to keep others out.
Hermione walked in next. She was fidgeting a bit and kept looking behind her. "Tonks, I have a last minute guest and he needs clearance to walk through the doors. Can I speak with the bride or groom?"
"Oh of course wait here," she said rushing off to Hermoine's right. The castle in which the ceremony was taking place had been magically sealed to only let the rightful guests through its doors and gates. It had been altered to distinguish any use of polyjuice or charms. The front of the chapel inside the castle was covered in white oriental lilies and red roses. "Alright Hermione, here's Severus." Tonks reappeared with the groom who also seemed a little twitchy.
"Well, its about time Miss Granger. I didn't think you guys would ever show up together. Isn't it amazing what pairing you two as partners for my potions class has done?" he raised an eyebrow to the young lady who stood before him.
"Congratulations on your wedding. Alexa has loved you from the beginning, but I'm sure you already knew that," she said not taking head at what he had just said because she was so nervous.
A half smile came to him as he seemed to drift back on the memories that he and Alexandria had created. "What are you two chattering about? Are you gonna let me stand out here the whole ceremony?" a familiar voice came through the door.
"Patience Mr. Malfoy," Snape said waving one of his hands over the door. Draco walked through and shook his old professor's hand. Severus knew that he and Hermione had been keeping a secret relationship for a very long time now and even though it too had gone sour around the time Severus had disappeared with the young platinum haired boy, it was back on track now. Severus knew for sure now that it was Draco who had purchased Hermione her beautiful estate that she now lived in. The two had been living together since he had returned from hiding and they had decided to be just roommates as Hermione had not been able to make her rent with the salary she made. Draco had stepped forward and offered to help because she had helped him make a public return that would not land him in the Ministry courtroom. It had not lasted long before something more seemed to blossom. It was then that Draco had stopped informing him and now it would be made public. The young Malfoy removed Hermione's coat and then turned back to his former professor.
"Congratulations Severus, I was wrong about her before. I'm glad you finally sorted out your issues and decided to come forward with the wedding idea."
Hermione shot him a look of astonishment, "You knew that they were thinking of getting married?" she asked.
"They are married. This is just for show," Draco said raising an eyebrow to the man standing before him glaring.
"Well I know now that I wont be telling you anymore of my secrets. I suppose I only told you so you would finally come forward with yours and Miss Granger's relationship."
Hermione raised both eyebrows in shock, "You knew?"
"Of course I knew… I knew from the very beginning."
Hermione smacked Draco's arm, "All this time I've been putting up such a show for everyone and he already knew because YOU told him?!"
"Ouch! Mione please… I was just thinking about us one day and he read my mind."
Hermione gave Severus a fake smile and walked away without another word to her boyfriend. Severus chuckled and walked over to the door that kept his future wife hidden. Lightly, he leaned on the door and part of him fought to keep from throwing it wide open. "I don't believe you're supposed to be here…" Remus stood behind him with a raised eyebrow. The only person who would be able to walk through the door and see his beautiful bride was the man who had been present for the first wedding. It was Remus who would be walking her down the aisle. Although the two had become some-what of friends Severus thought it would have been more appropriate for Neville to walk her down since he was more family than Remus. Alexandria on the other hand would not hear it. ("Remus has been there from the beginning," she would say to him). With that they had made Neville best man and Luna maid-of-honor. Severus shook Remus' hand but the man threw his arms around him and hugged him, "You take good care of her Severus… Very good care of her…"
Severus looked around him and hesitated a moment before patting Remus on the back, "I will."
Remus let go and walked right through the door. The sweet hum of her voice could be heard through the door but he could not tell what they were talking about. Tonks walked to him, "Remus just told me that everything is ready. You should go and take your place." Tears seemed to form in her eyes as she smiled brightly.
Severus nodded and suddenly he felt more nervous than he ever had. The door was opened for him and he froze. The chapel was filled with people all talking amongst themselves waiting for the wedding to start. The moment he reached the front everyone would turn to stare at him. Bloody hell… I don't want to stand up there with everyone staring at me! I could do without the extra pressure. "Ready?" Neville whispered to him.
Severus jumped. When had he gotten there? "Uh… no… there's too many people for me to stand up there alone."
"You wont be, I'll be there and as soon as we're ready the wedding will start."
"Right… ok lets go," Severus started but made sure neville was only a step behind him. He tried looking straight ahead but he still noticed people turning to look at him.
"Just breathe…" Neville whispered when they reached the front. Then Neville nodded to Tonks who was waiting at the back. They had left her in charge because they knew she didn't want to sit alone since Remus would not be sitting with her until after he handed Alexa away. After saying something behind the door she walked to her seat up front and smiled.
Music began to play and the doors opened magically. No muggles were present except for Alexa's sister who wasn't even really a muggles just a squib. There were no braid's maids or groom's men just a two very little kids who were children of one of the ladies that Alexandria had befriended in town. The little girl tossed flower petals on the floor while the little boy carried the rings. Then came Luna who was dressed in a lovely light green satin dress. As soon as she had walked down and stood on the other end of him and Neville the music changed and the crowd came to its feet. Severus felt his heart almost leap out of his chest. At the back of the room stood Alexandria with Remus. They began to walk down the aisle slowly. Alexandria wore the most beautiful smile he'd ever seen. Her white gown dragged behind her. Every now and then she turned to smile at a few of the guests. At one point she reached out her hand to Minerva who was in tears. Then came the moment he was waiting for. The moment she lifted her eyes to him and not once did she take them off. Suddenly, the world faded and Severus only saw her as she came to him. When they reached him Remus turned to her and kissed her cheek softly and smiled. He lifted her hand and placed it in Severus'. Remus walked down and sat beside Tonks who was already in tears. Severus smiled at the woman before him and led her to the altar. Everyone took the seats and the ceremony began.
Severus slid the ring onto Alexandria's finger and kissed it. Alexa smiled at him and took his hand also sliding a ring onto it. "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride," the minister said standing back.
Alexandria smiled as he leaned down to kiss her softly. Severus placed his lips on hers and they kissed before everyone. The guests broke out in sobs, cheers and clapping. "I love you," she whispered to him as he leaned his forehead against hers lightly.
"I love you too," he said before she turned and smiled at everyone. Severus walked her down the aisle and then outside to the castle courtyard they were followed by Neville and Luna and then the rest of the guests came offering they congratulations and hugs and kisses, even for Severus. Never in his lifetime had he been hugged so many times. Many of their former students had shown up. Hermione got almost as much attention as the bride with the news of her and Draco out. Fortunately, Harry and Ron had both been forbidden to make a scene by the women they were with. Ron, Percy, Bill and Arthur were the only Weasleys in attendance, as Molly had refused and Charlie had been left off the guest list. Ginny of course was there but she was now Mrs. Potter, not a Weasley. Minerva walked up to him and hugged him for the first time.
"Oh Severus, I never thought this would happen… I'm so happy for you both. You deserve to be happy my dear boy. Even when you were one of my students I always thought you'd grow up and be alone because you hated everyone so much! Of course there was Narcissa but when Alexandria came to teach with us… oh, I'd never hoped so much that she would change your mind. And now she has, I'm so happy!"
Severus thought it was kind of weird for her to say what she had said but it was true. He had hated everyone and marriage had been the last thing on his mind. Even with Narcissa he had loved her but never thought of marrying her. And he had not loved her the way he loved Alexandria. Severus recalled McGonagall saying to him once that Alexandria "enjoyed his company" though she didn't know why. "Thank you Minerva," was all he could think to say to her. Alexandria walked over to them and hugged McGonagall.
"Yes, thank you Minerva. You're the reason we're together now," she said turning to Severus and holding his hand.
"Yes, no onto the next impossible task. When are you gonna have children?"
That question neither of them was prepared to answer. They had never even discussed it between themselves. Severus frowned and Alexandria's eyes popped wide open, "Um… Minerva we haven't thought of having children, just yet. We just got married."
Arthur walked over and shook Severus' hand and kissed Alexa on the cheek, "Congratulations to the both of you."
"Thank you Mr. Weasley," Alexandria smiled, "I'm so very glad you made it. I'm still very sorr…"
"Don't my dear. This is your wedding day and I wont have you being sorry about my son's foolish actions. Ginny has told me what I need to know."
Minerva turned to Arthur and smiled, "Arthur I was just talking to them about having children. Tell them what a blessing it is."
"Oh yes, you should have children. They may be difficult at times but always worth it. Do you want children?"
Alexandria tensed at the question and Severus could see it, "I don't know. I have Neville and Luna is always there too so…"
"Oh but Neville is a grown young man and he and Luna are old enough to handle themselves. You know the greatest thing between two people is having a child. Its something thats only yours and his," Minerva smiled, "I hope you will think about it."
Alexandria nodded and hugged the older woman again before walking away. Severus stayed and spoke with Arthur about different things. Alexandria had gone over to steal Hermione and Draco away for a bit to congratulate them and thank them for coming. Severus glanced over at her often to see that she was having a good time. "Snape, congrats." Harry said shaking his hand.
"Thank you Mr. Potter."
"Where is Alexandria? I want to speak with her for a moment," he said looking around.
"She with…" Severus froze. Alexandria was no longer with Hermione or Draco. As a matter of fact he didn't see her anywhere around the room. "I'm not sure, I'll go find her." Remus was standing by the door and surely would have noticed if she had walked out. "Remus… excuse me, have you seen Alexandria?"
"Lost your wife already?" he joked.
"Where is she Remus?"
"She walked out of the room and headed for the stairs. Is everything alright?"
"Yes, everything is fine I just don't want her to be alone," he said running toward the stairs and for the room that had been made out for them. "Alexandria?"
"I'm here," a small voice came from the window.
"Is something the matter?" he asked.
"No, I just wanted to get away from the "are you gonna have kids" question. Thats all," she said shaking her head.
Severus smiled, "don't worry about it. Ginny probably gets it a lot too and she has her mother's shoes to fill." He couldn't help but laugh a little this time.
Alexandria laughed too, "Poor girl. I think she just wants to enjoy having Harry to herself for a while."
"Well, lets go dance shall we? And show them all how its done," he put out his hand.
Alexandria turned to him and smiled, "ok."
Severus twirled her around the floor as best as he knew. Everyone watched in awe, many remembered the first time they had seen Severus dance and now was not much different. They still could not believe that he knew how. When the song ended Alexandria proceeded to dance with Remus and then Neville. Severus just stood back and watched with a smile on his face as Neville did almost a better job than he did dancing with Alexandria. Look at him go. Crazy kid… Neville hugged his adoptive mother and held her tightly for a moment. Severus saw a tear slide down Alexandria's cheek. He knew how much she adored him. "Guess in a way it sort of makes you his dad, huh?" Remus laughed.
"No. The boy has a a dad and two moms. One of which loves him enough for the other two. He doesn't need me."
Remus nodded, "So where are you going for a honeymoon?"
"We never planned one, but I'm taking her somewhere else after this."
"Where?"
"She'll tell you later I'm sure. Anyway I better go get her."
Everyone had started dancing or eating. Alexa was talking to a few of the other guests when he excused his intrusion and pulled her outside. "Severus what are you doing?"
"I have a surprise for you."
"Surprise? You know I never took you for a man of surprises and you've done so much to surprise me since the beginning."
Severus closed her eyes with one hand and wrapped his other arm around her waist from behind. The air seemed to change. "Give me a moment. Don't open your eyes," he said letting her go. Light surrounded her. "Ok now open them."
Alexandria's eyelids slowly opened and looked around. They were in the ballroom of Schonbrun Palace. "Severus… how?"
"The cameras are down. I remembered you said you'd love to come back and so I thought I'd bring you."
Alexandria wrapped her arms around him. He held her for a moment and then swayed slowly with her. Just stepping from side to side and keeping her close. It was a night neither would forget. The danced for a long while. Severus looked at his bride in her white gown. All her hair had been pulled up and curled. "What?" she asked smiling.
Severus grazed her blood red lips and felt their warmth. Alexandria pressed them against his firmly. It was her lips that had started everything and now he couldn't get enough. Severus lifted her into his arms, "Lets go home shall we?"
Alexandria giggled and kissed his cheek. "Alright," she whispered into his ear. Remus and Tonks would take care of the guests. That night would be theirs and theirs alone.