Disclaimers: I do not own Harry Potter, or any unicorns. I have never planned a wedding either since I was married in front of a registrar and she gave us the 'short, short' version. For details of the short short version please consult the movie Spaceballs.
Chapter 8: The Tarot reading said what?
Severus moved forward and picked up the contract. "Let's go sit down on the couch and talk about this, ok?"
Draco continued to cling to Harry and whimper periodically. The idea of losing his magic was not something he had ever contemplated seriously before and it was rocking his world.
Harry didn't know what to think about the whole situation. Here was the contract that had gone missing from his room (was it only that morning?), more people had read it, AND he still did not know what it said. He looked over at his official fiancé and said, "Do you think you could read the contract out loud to us. I still haven't got to read it and I really would like to know what it says."
Severus eyed his green-eyed intended as he sat there holding the hiccupping blond. "I didn't actually intend to pick this up this morning when I went to get your copy of our contract. It had been stuck to ours and I didn't notice until I was sorting the papers back into order to hand to the clerk at the Ministry."
"Why did you take the contract from me?" Harry was perplexed. "Surely you had your own copy of it?"
Severus grinned. "I did have a copy but you had the original. When the full contingent of wizards hexed the contract, Dumbledore put an extra curse on yours."
Draco stopped crying and looked over at Severus. "Oh, that is why you were willing to sign the contract without any quarrel. I wondered why you would let Fudge write the contract and you not argue about the terms he stipulated."
Harry was still confused. "What?"
Draco grinned at him. "Several powerful wizards hexed the parchment before Fudge wrote it out. Fudge wrote a worst case scenario because he doesn't like either you or Sev and wanted you to be miserable together."
"I still don't understand. Why did they hex the paper?"
"Because everyone knew what Fudge would write. Daddy hexed the parchment to correct the heir clause. Flitwick cast one to counter the partnership clause. Severus gambled on the fact that you would want to be equal partners in the marriage so he hexed it to give you what you desired from the marriage. And, Dumbledore cast the 'tears for fears' curse so that you would cry on the contract while you complained about all the clauses you didn't agree with."
Big green eyes blinked occasionally as they stared at a grinning Potions Master. "You gambled on the fact that I would cry on the damn contract?"
"Yes, Brat. I gambled on the fact that you would loudly and clearly state every condition you found unacceptable and then tell anyone who was listening exactly what it was that you did want."
"What would you have done if I had not cried on the contract?"
"I would have wed you regardless. I love you." The smile never left his face even when his arms were filled with an exuberant brat squeezing him to death while raining kisses all over his face and neck.
Draco looked on, pleased that all was going well. He could not help but brag when they finally came up for air, "Good thing I reminded Daddy that he needed to go check on you two last night, huh?"
Harry stopped kissing Severus and turned around to look at Draco. "What did you remind him to do?"
Draco smirked. "I reminded him to mention the contract so that you would go looking for it. I know how insatiably inquisitive you are. Good thing I did too, because today was the last day the contract could be changed. Severus took an awful chance with you."
Severus's arms tightened around Harry so that he could not move away. Harry's tense body told him that he needed to talk. Draco had said too much and Harry was upset again. His whiskey dark voice sounded in Harry's ear as he whispered the words, "I can't live without your sunlight. As the world falls down."
Harry moaned contentedly and settled back against his big sexy Snape. "I love that movie."
"It isn't so much a movie as it is an autobiographical of how Queen Sarah ascended the Goblin throne."
"I am..."
Harry was cut off by Draco who had been eyeing the two of them rather thoughtfully. "What do we do about that betrothal contract?"
Harry tilted his head slightly so he could look at Sev's face. He licked his lower lip teasingly before saying, "Read it to me?"
Severus tilted his head so that he could kiss Harry silly before reaching across the cushions to pick the parchment back up. He settled back into a comfortable spot and waited until Harry wiggled around a bit then quieted. He began reading, "I, Lily Potter, being of sound mind and body do hereby make an agreement with Narcissa Black Malfoy, also of sound mind and body to unite the great and honorable houses of Potter and Malfoy by offering into betrothal our progeny...I, Narcissa Black Malfoy do hereby give into the House of Potter my eldest child to be wedded to the Potter Heir..."
Severus read the document through then looked across at Draco. "I will stand-down in my contractual claim to wed Harry. Your contract takes precedence."
Draco's eyes flared wide. He jumped up and moved to where he could kneel in front of Severus and Harry. Harry, sensing a momentous event, immediately sat up and scooted off Sev's lap in order to give his undivided attention to Draco.
Draco waited with bowed head until Harry extended a shaking hand and touched his cheek softly. Looking up at the two of them he immediately started babbling before he lost his nerve. "You honor me, Godfather. I know what this marriage means. I cannot let you renounce your claim to wed Harry. He did not ask for me. I accept mother's decision to have me become a muggle."
Severus was almost hysterical. "No! You cannot do that! I refuse to let you become a muggle when I could have prevented it." He reached forward and was clutching Draco's hands.
Harry watched the pain flicker across Draoc's face as Severus clutched his hands too hard. The distraught older man did not realize his own strength at times. He also did not think of the obvious when he was under stress. He couldn't resist saying, "Sev, do you think that you could let go of Draco's hands before you break a bone? You are obviously overset to the point where you aren't thinking."
Severus dropped Draco's hands and sputtered, "Oh, sorry!" Then turning to Harry he blinked a few times.
"You want to know what you missed, right?"
Sev nodded.
"Do either of you have a problem with the three of us being bonded together?" Harry grinned at their shocked looks that quickly mutated into consideration, then outright joy. "I don't exactly love Draco the way I do you, but I could probably learn to care for him quite easily." Harry's hand drifted back across Draco's face to take the sting out of his words.
Severus shifted slightly then pulled Draco up to join them on the couch. The three of them were laughing and crying at the same time when Lucius and Narcissa drifted back into the library in search of the lemon drop tin.
Narcissa grinned and dog-piled them. "Yeah! A scrum!" She bounced on Draco's lap and quickly lost her smile when he dropped her butt first onto the floor. "What has you riled up, Dragon?" She pouted as she stood up and rubbed her bruised posterior.
"Mommy! How could you? It could have been the most awful mess if Harry and Severus had not asked me to marry them!"
"What are you on about now?" Lucius snarled as he patted his wife's bottom. "IF you hurt your mother I will use my cane on you!"
"Just look at that stupid contract she wrote out! And then she didn't even bother to tell me about it."
Lucius put on his reading spectacles and grabbed the parchment that Draco waved under his nose. It took him very little time to assimilate the gist of the document. Glaring at his cowering wife who had suddenly gone very pale he screeched, "what the hell were you thinking about when you wrote this, you stupid woman?'
Narcissa blinked at her irate spouse. "I..I.. I." She couldn't force any more words out so she broke down crying and dashed out the door. (A Veela tends to get upset when their mate isn't happy.) Lucius shook his head at the other three and said, "I will talk to you in the morning. I must tend to her: I love that woman but she is a real pain in the ass at times."
Harry awoke the next morning feeling warm and content. Draco was cuddled up beside him still snoring away. He couldn't help but poke him until he woke up and then asked, "Why are you in bed with me, Draco? I specifically remember taking you upstairs and putting you in the second guest room."
Draco gave him a pitiful look. "I did try to sleep upstairs but I couldn't get to sleep because Dudley was snoring louder than the soundtrack for Chainsaw Massacre! And, then there was that ungodly noise from Uncle Vernon. I swear I just slept with you. I didn't do any of those things that Malfoys tend to do when they are in bed with someone else."
That statement was so utterly ridiculous that Harry had to laugh. "Just what type of things do Malfoys tend to do when they are in bed with someone, Draco?"
"I can show you after we get married, OK?"
Harry nodded his agreement. "Come on. Let's go make breakfast. I think we have some more gingersnap cookies. We can transfigure them into death eater biscuits. That should make a nice breakfast, don't you think?"
It took very little time for both boys to get ready to start the day. The only problem they encountered was Severus sitting at the breakfast table with Aunt Petunia. He glared at them as they exited the closet under the stairs. "What were you two doing sleeping together before the wedding?" He growled.
Harry went around the table and crawled up into his lap as he pushed his chair back. Rather than answer him, Harry decided that kissing him would be nicer. They separated several minutes later and Severus turned his glare to Draco.
"I am still waiting for an answer?" He glared. "That was Harry's room you came out of."
Draco blinked at the jealous man. "I only came downstairs and slept in Harry's bed because Dudley and Uncle Vernon were both snoring too loudly for me to fall asleep." He really was very good at whining. Harry suspected the whining was a self-defense mechanism, a pattern of learned behavior, from having been around Pansy Parkinson too long.
The only reason Severus dropped the subject was because Aunt Petunia smirked at Draco and said, "I can't sleep either unless I have my earplugs in."
Draco blinked and turned a lovely shade of pink. "Oh Merlin! I could have cast a silencing charm and I did not even think of it. No wonder you are in a snit with me, Sev."
Harry decided to go on outside and cuddle his unicorns a few last times before he got married and did all the things he was terribly curious about and absolutely dying to try. He really was going to miss them. It had been absolutely smashing to ride the mother unicorn around. And Lasting Hope was a fantastic little friend. It really was going to be hard losing them.
Draco chose to go sit on the back step and lean his head back to catch some sun. He was surprised when the mother unicorn came over and gave him a big slurpy. He smiled at the animal and gave her a scratch behind the ears. "Thank you, I think." She nickered before ambling away.
Severus watched the three of them playing through the window and sighed. "Do I even have the right to destroy that innocence?"
Petunia gave him a weak smile. "I could always give you a tarot reading. Harry taught me and I really am quite good at it. All you have to do is take a deep breath and calm yourself. Think about what the issue is and shuffle the cards."
Severus glanced at her in surprise. "I don't usually go in for the divination stuff." He turned back to the window. "I know I want to be with him forever. He is the missing part of my soul. I just don't know if I should take him away from all of this. I don't want to take away his purity."
Petunia sat there and observed him as he gazed entranced at his beloved. She saw the smile that gradually crept up on his face. She noted the pleasure he derived from watching the younger man playing joyfully with the frisky colt.
She got up and handed him the deck to shuffle. He did so and handed the whole deck back to her without ever glancing down at them. He handed her back the five cards she requested he pull from the deck and did not turn to her until she gave a small squeal of delight once all five cards were laid out in pattern.
He finally looked over at her. "Well, get on with it since you are dying to tell me."
Petunia's face was rather flushed as she assimilated all the facts. She took a deep breath and began:
The first card you drew is the 9 Cups which usually stands for wishes fulfilled or a visualization of what you want. It represents past influences and since you drew it upside down it takes on the meaning of mistakes, material loss, imperfections, and misplaced trust.
Severus blinked lazily but did not say anything except, "Next card then?"
Your second card represents the present. The 10 Wands represents perseverance, burdens and resentfulness. You drew it upright which indicates that the overburdened feelings, excessive pressure, and problems may soon be resolved.
"OK. That is reasonable."
Petunia continued. The next card is from the Major Arcana and represents major influences. VI – the Lovers: this indicates combined feelings of head and heart. It is also upright which indicates that there is love, beauty and perfection. Troubles will be overcome and trust, honor and deep feelings will guide you.
He closed his eyes for a few seconds then looked back out the window. "You may continue."
She did. The fourth card is the advise card. The 10 Coins usually stands for prosperity, wealth, family and home. It is upside down which indicates bad odds, possible loss, hazard, loss of inheritance...
"I get the point. Move on."
Petunia looked up at him startled. His tone of voice had been extremely curt. "OK... where was I now? Oh, yes. The fifth card represents the outcome. This too, is from the Major Arcana. VII, the Chariot, represents self control, self discipline, confidence and optimism. This one was also drawn face up. It indicates that greatness can be achieved if you keep physical and mental powers in balance. Possible adversity may already be overcome but you still might want to pay attention to controlling any conflicting turmoil, vengeance and the need for supervision.
Severus turned to her and gave her a bow and a slight clap of his hands. "That was most excellently read, Madam. Thank you for your time. You have given me much to think about but I must depart soon. May I go into the garden to be with Harry a few minutes before I depart?"
"Yes. Yes, Of course. Have a nice day." She quit talking when she realized that Severus was waiting for her to dismiss him. She waved her hand toward the door.
She could not resist going down the hall and opening Harry's door. She stared in wonder at the sight of the three wizards holding each other, arms wrapped tightly around the others. Sev's cheek resting against the side of Draco's head, and Harry's face tucked into the hollow formed where shoulder meets neck on Severus. They looked so perfect together. Having two unicorns nudge their way into the huddle was a bit strange though.
Harry came back in the house after Severus and Draco had apparated away. He couldn't help but glance over at the table where the cards were still lying. "What did you read, Aunt P?" He asked curiously. "Those are some pretty interesting cards."
Petunia shuffled them back together before looking at him. "If you believe in divination, then the worst of it is behind you. You might have a minor problem or two but, nothing you can't sort out. The final outcome is quite favorable."
"Oh, good. I think." He rubbed his head and went over to the tea pot to see if there was a last cup he could get before starting his work day. As he stood at the counter drinking the tea, Aunt Petunia drifted back into the room with her diary and motioned him to sit.
"Now, Harry, since you are marrying two wizards instead of one, we need to get Narcissa involved and maybe another lady to represent Severus's interests while we work out the details. Now, who can you recommend to help?"
Harry looked at the list with glazed eyes. How in the name of Merlin were they to accomplish all that? It took a gentle shake from Petunia to refocus him. "Yes?"
" I asked if you knew another woman who could help Narcissa and me with the planning. I think it would work best if I took care of your details, Narcissa took on Draco's and the other lady can speak to Severus and represent his interests."
He just shook his head. "I only know two women who even speak to him. I suppose we could ask either Professor McGonagall or Mrs. Weasley."
Petunia stood up and began cleaning the kitchen. When Harry just sat there she huffed at him. "Get moving, brat. Call the Mrs. woman first. The professor might be busy."
"Yes, Aunt Petunia."
The wedding was finally a reality to him. He was getting the gorgeous, snarky Potions Master of his dream. And a Malfoy. Now just how lucky can one guy get?
