The thoughts of Walt, his apparent death, and his supposed connection with the Death Eaters disappeared quickly as Harry and Kit immersed themselves in planning for the wedding. Kit spent all day with the girls planning the details, in the evening Harry would come home, make supper for them all, and Kit would fill him in on everything they thought would be a good idea. Harry always agreed. Kit would accuse him of letting her have her way completely, and he would agree, but only because he "wanted it just like that".
It was the end of November when Remus came over to help Harry and Kit make the invitations.
"What about your parents?" he asked lightly, and Kit shot him a look.
"You can send them invitations if you want. It's just a waste of paper anyways."
"Do you even want them to come?" Tonks called from the other room where she was playing with Nate.
Kit shrugged, and did not answer any other questions on the subject, saved by the ringing telephone.
"You have a phone?" she asked, shooting Harry a look of surprise.
"Hermione," Harry and Remus muttered together, licking the envelopes closed.
"These taste disgusting," Harry commented.
"You're the one who can't use magic," Remus shot back, and Harry stuck his tongue out at him.
"No. Really?" Kit gasped on the phone. "That's – is that a good thing?" She laughed, and Harry heard her say, "Well it's supposed to be a surprise. I know, I can't wait either. Thursday? Fantastic. See you there."
She hung up and rejoined Harry and Remus at the coffee table. "that was Hermione."
"We could tell."
"Her aunt died."
"That's horrible."
"She left her everything."
Remus' eyes grew wide. "Her aunt was very well off."
Kit nodded, smiling. "Hermione and Ron have already found a flat in the greater part of London."
"They're leaving?"
Kit nodded. "And Jonathan will be around during hols this year."
"That's fantastic."
"Do we have to lick an envelope for him?" Harry complained.
The next day began as hectic as all the others began in December. Kit had pulled out the Christmas ornaments they had found in the attic and had cleaned them quickly when Carrie wasn't over. But Harry had an unresolved issue that he wanted settled before Kit went out shopping.
"So about the wedding," he said quietly, helping Kit dry the dishes.
"Yes?"
"Who all do you need?"
"What?"
Harry sighed. "Ron will be my best man. I'm asking him later today, he's going to drop by the pub later."
"Well then, I was thinking – and we've already discussed it – that Hermione will be my maid of honour."
They fell quiet.
"That's all we need, hey?"
"Oh, for sure," Kit said. "Except for the flower girl and ring boy."
"There's a word for ring boy, isn't there?"
Kit shrugged, smiling at him. "Probably."
Harry laughed, jotting the names on a piece of paper as Kit folded the towels up and old Christmas Carols filtered through from the living room where Nate was playing with the Christmas ornaments.
"Who will walk you down the aisle?"
Kit sighed. "Probably not my dad."
"Is he not coming?"
"They're in South America or something, Harry," she said quietly, and Harry could see the crest-fallen look on her face. "They wouldn't even come if they were just down the street."
"Can I call them and ask?"
"You can try if you want," she said, getting up from the table. "I'll go and check on Nate."
Harry nodded and watched her leave, pulling the phone towards him. The piece of paper in front of him had the Ravencraft's number on it, and he dialled it quickly.
"Hello?"
"Hello, Mr Ravencraft. It's Harry Potter calling."
There was a slight pause before he said, "Oh, hello."
"Hi, did you get the invitation?"
"Oh yes, congratulations."
Harry frowned into the phone. "We were just wondering if you would be able to make it."
"Oh, uh, right. Sorry, but we can't, awfully busy, you know." He attempted a laugh that came out strangled.
Harry bit his tongue. "I understand, but I mean –" He glanced into the hall for Kit, who was nowhere to be seen. "You won't walk your daughter down the aisle?"
There was a longer pause on the other line before Kit's father spoke again, this time sounding angry and finite. "We can't make it."
"As usual," an upset voice on another line said.
The line clicked and Mr Ravencraft scoffed. "We're in South America, we can't make it. It would seem ridiculous to make the trip for a couple hours."
"Ridiculous to attend your only daughter's wedding?" Harry asked, his temper beginning to rise as Kit came thundering down the stairs and Nate poked his head curiously out of the living room.
"I didn't say –"
"But she's your daughter," Harry pressed desperately.
Silence fell on the other line.
"Forget it Harry," Kit said loudly, throwing her hands up in the air. "Remus will walk me down the aisle. He's more of a father than – than –"
"Yay! Uncle Moony!" Nate squealed, running through the kitchen as Remus slipped in through the back door.
"Hey, buddy!"
"Too bad you won't make it," Harry said into the phone.
"Maybe next time."
"Right, because multiple weddings are all the rage," Harry snapped. "Thank you for your time, Mr Ravencraft. Goodbye."
He hung up before the other had said the same.
Remus raised his eyebrows at Harry as he hoisted Nate up into his arms. "That sounded intense."
"Remus, will you walk me down the aisle?"
Nate scrambled out of Remus' arms and clapped wildly as the others in the kitchen fell quiet.
"Of course," Remus said quietly as Kit smiled sadly. "Of course!"
Remus grinned, pulling Kit into a hug, and Nate hugged their knees.
"Now we have to invite him, don't we?" Harry added cheekily.
Remus and Kit laughed as Nate ran around them.
---
It was obvious Christmas was looming when Jake knocked on their door later that afternoon with a Christmas tree beside him.
"You don't have one yet, do you?" he asked desperately, and Kit beamed.
"No! Please, bring it in!"
Jake smiled, and Harry helped him stand it up in the corner of their living room.
"That's exactly where your parents put it," Remus commented quietly, carrying tea into the room for them. Harry couldn't help but smile.
"Now we can decorate it, Natty!" Kit smiled.
Nate clapped, pulling random decorations out of the box and trying to hang them on the prickly branches. He made a face when one needle poked him and turned to Harry, his lips pursed.
"It poked me."
"It's supposed to," Harry answered.
"Why?"
"So that you can't steal the presents that will be under there pretty soon."
Nate's eyes lit up.