A/N: This chapter takes place sometime mid-July 1997. I've taken the liberty of deciding that every member of the Wizengamot is authorized to perform a magically binding marriage, just like judges can authorize marriages in the U.S. (or so I understand it). The one officiating is Griselda Marchbanks, who was one of the members who resigned after Dumbledore was removed in OOTP. I also want to thank everyone who has read and reviewed this story very much! I reached 10,000 hits, which is far more than I ever expected. I would like to reiterate that all comments, from praise to concrit to flames, are greatly appreciated.
Chapter 19
"Are you sure about this, Nymphadora?" Remus and Tonks stood in a small flowery meadow outside a Muggle town in Wales.
"What's not to be sure about?"
"You'll probably lose your job for marrying me. You'll be ostracized."
Tonks adopted a tolerant tone, not unlike one that she would use with a small child. "Remus, we've discussed this. I'll probably lose my job anyway. The Death Eaters that are infiltrating the Ministry already know that I'm involved with the Order. Besides, all the people that I care about know about us, and they support our decision."
"But you do still want to try and keep it a secret, don't you?" He looked at her hopefully. The more people knew, the more their union would endanger her and her parents; Remus understood this deep in his bones and was determined that no ill should befall her on his account.
Tonks nodded reluctantly. "Yes. It's only prudent. That's why we're getting married on the outskirts of a Welsh muggle village that no one can even pronounce. Besides, I gave my word you that we would be discreet." She swept her hand around their surroundings. "But you have to promise me something, too."
"What's that?"
"That you won't delude yourself into thinking that, because of our secrecy, I'm ashamed of marrying you. Nothing could be farther from the truth." She smiled down on the ring on her left hand. "As soon as the war is over and the Ministry regrets its bloody awful bigotry, I'm going to shout from every available rooftop how much I love you!" She saw that she had shocked him a little with her exclamation, and she wasn't really serious, but she wanted to impress on him how excited she was about making the connection that already bound them inextricably official.
"Thank you for the sentiment; I think I needed to hear that." There was still the odd flicker of uncertainty and concern in his eye, but he was smiling genuinely and broadly. Then they simply stood waiting for the rest of their small wedding party to arrive.
Griselda Marchbanks apparated suddenly. She was able to do this because of the multiple muggle-repelling and other defensive spells that Remus and Tonks had placed around the area. The old witch, who had been very impressed when she personally examined Tonks' mother in N.E.W.T potions, was a friend of Andromeda's and was performing the ceremony as a favor, and to express her disapproval of the Ministry's policies.
"Hello, Nymphadora." Tonks managed not to give her habitual response to the use of her first name because Remus ruthlessly squeezed her hand. "Mr. Lupin." She nodded to him.
"Wotcher, Mrs. Marchbanks."
"We'd like to thank you again for your services."
Marchbanks waved her hand dismissively. "Think nothing of it, my boy. I heartily disapprove of the current state of affairs. Rumor has it that the Ministry will get much worse before it gets better. This is the least I can do to aid the resistance."
"With all due respect, Mrs.Marchbanks, I hardly think that marrying us is helping the resistance." Remus nodded his agreement with Tonks' statement.
"Pish posh! Of course it is, my dears. It shows them that their growing power may be circumvented. And that blood is not the most important matter under the sun. It shows that there are people who will fight in whatever way they can, no matter the willful ignorance of the majority of the populace. It matters little if the stand I choose to make is performing the marriage ceremony for a couple of "untrustworthy shapeshifting halfbloods," so long as I make a stand." Neither Remus nor Tonks could deny that her speech held a certain logic, or that they felt great warmth from her expression of support for both the cause and their union.
"Thank you again. Your words were lovely."
"How many people are we expecting today again?" inquired Marchbanks.
Tonks counted them off on her fingers. "Well, there's my mother and father, Sirius, Molly and Arthur Weasley, and Alastor Moody."
"Hmm, that's quite an interesting group you have there."
Remus and Tonks both shrugged. "They're the people dearest to us," said Remus fondly.
"And I assume they'll be coming soon?"
"They should be." Tonks glanced at her watch. "They still have ten minutes until they're late, though. And my parents, at least, are worried about being tracked."
Griselda Marchbanks frowned. "I suppose they should be. It's so sad that it's come to this, though. That people should be worried about attending a wedding."
Tonks chortled slightly. "This is nothing. You should see everyone go on about Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour's wedding. Moody wanted to restrict the guest list to ten, including the Weasleys as guests." Marchbanks actually chuckled at that.
"Ah, I remember Alastor Moody. I examined him in N.E.W.T. Charms and Defense. He got Es in both." At this, Tonks burst out laughing, and Remus looked at her in question.
"He got an E in Defense?! I'll never let him live that down; he always told us recruits that he got an O in every subject."
The three of them were still chuckling when a sudden pop alerted them to the presence of the first guess. It was none other than Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody.
"Speak of the devil," blurted Tonks.
Moody did not react to them; he never abandoned his habitual look of gruff watchfulness and concentration. "Best not speak of the devil on your wedding day, lass." Tonks rolled her eyes. "Have you lot double checked the perimeters?"
"Triple checked," Remus answered smoothly. Moody raised an eyebrow, but he didn't protest.
Andromeda and Ted, Molly and Arthur, and Sirius all arrived shortly after Moody.
Butterflies suddenly came alive in the pit of Tonks' stomach. With the quickness of the wedding preparations, she had not had time to feel nervous about her nuptials. She knew that nothing would really change, that she wouldn't love Remus any more or wouldn't suddenly fall out of love with him, but she still knew that this was an important event.
Griselda Marchbanks moved to the front of the small assemblage, and Remus stood directly before her. Tonks and Ted moved away.
"I'm very happy for you, Dora." Ted smiled fondly down on his daughter. Tonks returned the gesture.
Tonks looked around at her closest friends and family. She saw Sirius standing next to Remus as the best man, grinning and whispering something in his ear. In response, Remus turned to glare at him. Arthur was smiling serenely, seemingly lost in memories of his own wedding. Molly also stood near Griselda, with her handkerchief already prepared to wipe away her incipient tears while her mother merely sat regally, wearing a small smile. Finally, Moody stopped his final glance around the meadow and settled both his eyes on Tonks, a rare event, with an expression that might have been a smile.
In time everyone turned to look expectantly at Ted and Tonks. They began to walk down the makeshift aisle between the Summoned chairs. Ted deposited her next to Remus and went to sit beside Andromeda.
Griselda cleared her throat to begin the ceremony. "We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of two faithful souls. There are some who may say that this is not a proper union, that the Ministry is entitled to determine those who are worthy enough to join their hearts and their lives in love forever. However, we who have come today know the inherent fallacy of that presumption. We know that these two people have been through untold hardships, but they have remained true to each other.
With that, do you, Remus John, take Nymphadora to be your magically wedded wife, to have and to hold her, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish forever more?"
"I do." Sincerity and feeling resounded in each word, and his eyes never left Tonks.
"And do you, Nymphadora, take Remus John to be your magically wedded husband, to have and to hold him, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish forever more?"
"I do."
"From all accounts I have every confidence that their marriage will withstand the test of time. However, I must ask: can anyone present a valid reason that these two should not be united together? Speak now or forever hold your peace." She was met with silence.
"Then I declare you bonded for life. You may kiss the bride." Remus did that with enthusiasm.
By that point Molly was sobbing into her soaked handkerchief; a few tears even escaped Andromeda's eyes. All the men were smiling genially.
After the requisite hour of picture taking, the party traveled to the Burrow for a small lunch.
Later in the afternoon Remus and Tonks left to enjoy their weekend-long honeymoon at a modest and affordable Welsh inn in peace. Or at least as much peace as one can expect in the middle of a war for the very soul of wizardkind.
A/N: The words from the ceremony are based on three sources: the words for Bill and Fleur's wedding on p. 145 of DH in the American hardcover edition, traditional wedding vows, and my own improvisation. I hope they sound believable enough. I'm hoping to update again on Wednesday, but I can't make any definite promises.