"I can't believe you dumped me for Kreacher," Ron muttered for the tenth time that hour. "He's a bloody purple elf!"
"Ronald, I had no choice in the matter," Hermione explained for the tenth time that hour. "Queen Titania tricked me into performing that ritual, and I had no idea beforehand of its consequences."
Since Kincaid was acting as the father of the bride and giving Ivy away at their upcoming wedding, Harry had been force to supply not only his best man but the maid of honor as well. Ron and Hermione were the obvious choices, but the subject of Kreacher was causing problems within the wedding party. If he didn't put a stop to their bickering soon the irritated bride was going to end up killing one of his best friends. Or maybe even both of them.
"Ron, it is a soul bond and she can't break it," Harry explained for the tenth time that hour. "And as for you Hermione Granger: stop pretending you aren't happy about this whole mess. I have seen how close you stand next to Kreacher, and the way you are always fixing your hair when he is around."
"I do not!"
"Yes, you do."
Ron buried his head in his hands. "Sweet Merlin, I could have died a happy wizard never knowing that Hermione enjoys flirting with Kreacher the bloody house-elf."
"He is not a house-elf anymore," the witch snapped as the temperature in their tiki hut suddenly fell by several degrees. "He is dark-elf, and don't you forget it."
"Hermione, get a hold of yourself," Harry said quietly. "You may have perfect control over your internal magic, but now you are the Winter Knight. You have to be more careful with your new abilities or someone might accidentally get killed. Someone like Ron, for instance."
"I am sorry," Hermione said as she closed her eyes. Slowly the temperature inside the hut returned to normal. "It's just that this Sidhe magic is so frustrating. There is no logic to it at all, and when I asked Queen Maeve for help she just laughed at me. I think she is hoping that this new magic kills me so she can pick her own Winter Knight after I'm dead."
"Don't worry about her," Harry assured her. "You were selected by Mother Winter herself, and there is nothing Queen Maeve can do to change that. Plus you have Lord Kreacher and his Drow Mercenaries protecting you wherever you go."
"I thought our lives were eventful before, dealing with Voldemort and all that. But then you had to go and fall in love with the strangest witch in the world," Ron said as he straightened-out his silk shirt.
"Sorry about that," Harry offered.
"We really should get out there," Hermione said. "Given the guest list it's only a matter of time before a fight breaks out, and a magical duel between some of them could easily destroy the island."
The trio gathered themselves together and walked out on to a picture-perfect tropical beach in the Batu Islands of Indonesia. Being the Archive made Ivy a unique individual, and she had certainly planned a unique wedding. This specific island was located directly on the Equator, and the wedding itself was being held on the fall equinox when the sun would be directly overhead. As a final touch she had shanghaied both the Queen Titania of Summer and Queen Maeve of Winter so that they could jointly conduct the ancient Vedic wedding ceremony. When Harry had asked her about it, she explained that the "symmetry" of it all appealed to her.
While Hermione went to join Ivy, Harry and Ron walked over to the altar where the two Queens were waiting for them. Titania and Maeve were eyeing each other with barely concealed hostility, so much so that Ron's fear temporarily overcame his hormones. Thanks to his fiancée Harry had developed a limited immunity to the effects of Sidhe's otherworldly beauty.
"I would just like to thank you both for agreeing to do this for Ivy," he told them.
"We own your future wife a debt, and the Sidhe always pay their debts," an amused Titania replied. "And to be honest I enjoy watching Maeve cower before the power of the Archive."
"I fear no mortal," the Winter Queen snapped.
"Liar. You saw how easily Ivy arranged the destruction of Mab, and you believe the child will do the same to you," Titania explained as an orchestra of one hundred dryads, naiads, and oreads began playing their various instruments along the edge of the beach.
Harry turned to look over the small crowd. He had sent invitations to the entire Weasley family, but he had never expected all of them to make the trip here by portkey. That included Bill, Fleur, and even Charlie. But the real shocker was Ginny, who had never looked more beautiful. Ron admitted that his little sister had spent weeks getting ready in an attempt to outshine Ivy, and it had worked. What the youngest Weasley hadn't counted on was the presence of the Sidhe and a White Court vampire who made the young redhead and every other woman at wedding look plain by comparison.
After a few minutes Ivy and Kincaid appeared. The bride had made only a token effort with her simple sundress and was wearing no make-up, but to her eager groom it didn't matter. Ivy's most striking feature had always been her pale blue eyes. At first Harry had found them strange and even a little frightening, but now they fascinated him with their endless depths. Kincaid had on a white silk shirt like the other men in the wedding party, but strapped over his shirt was a dual shoulder holster which held two Glock handguns.
The ceremony itself was disturbing, and not just because of the role played by the Sidhe Queens. Harry could feel the currents of magic swirling around them. When they had finished the oaths of "total and unwavering devotion to each other" that magic suddenly entered their bodies. Ron had told Hermione and him about Unbreakable Vows once, and he had no doubt that the promises they had just exchanged were similar if not identical in nature.
"Normally at this point you would both disrobe, and the groom would take the bride's virginity so that the blood from her hymen could be offered to the appropriate gods," Titania explained. "But these two have already taken care of that little detail."
"You scarlet..." was as far as Molly Weasley got before the bride magically removed her tongue. The spell had been used extensively on slaves in several ancient cultures, most notably in Egypt.
"She might get it back if she behaves," Ivy informed the Weasleys as several of them reached for their wands. As a curse-breaker Bill had some idea of what the girl in front of them was capable of, and he quickly convinced his family members to put their wands away.
After that minor interruption the two kissed, the crowd clapped, and everyone quickly made their way towards the bar. The first group to offer their congratulations to the happy couple was an odd trio from the United States. Ivy leaned over and began whispering to her husband as they approached.
"The older man is John Marcone, one of the most powerful and dangerous criminals in North America. The huge male is a bodyguard, while the tall blonde woman is a Valkyrie who is going by the alias of Ms Gard."
"A real Valkyrie? Why does Odin allow one of his noble shieldmaidens consort with a common criminal?" Harry asked. Ms Gard winked at him from several meters away, an act which betrayed her supernatural origins.
"Trust me, Gentleman Johnny is a very uncommon criminal. As to Odin's ultimate motivations: they are a mystery even to me," Ivy answered truthfully.
Mr Marcone ignored this byplay as he studied the young couple with a pair of dull green eyes. The crime lord was intimidating, but again being around Ivy all the time had built up Harry's immunity to such things.
"It is very difficult to shop for someone of your stature Mrs Potter, but I believe I found you the perfect gift," Marcone said as he carefully handed Ivy a small metal box.
Ivy opened it and found an ancient silver coin inside. "Are you certain this is real?" she asked.
"Yes, it was authenticated by Ms Gard and her employer," Marcone replied. "I brought the coin from a corrupt Roman Catholic Cardinal in the Vatican, and was planning on encasing it with cement and dropping it in the Mariana Trench. I was curious though, can you actually destroy it?"
"I have spent the past several years pondering that very question, and I believe that I can. But I will need several weeks to prepare for the ritual. It is very complex."
Harry finally made the connection. "That is one of the silver coins of the Order of the Blacken Denarius? The same demons that captured and tortured you in Chicago?"
"That is correct Mr Potter, and those foul... things tortured me as well," Mr Marcone replied as he discreetly pointed his disfigured ear. "What better gift could I offer your new wife on her wedding day than a chance at revenge against one of her enemies?"
"Thank you John," a ginning Ivy said as she carefully closed the box. "Once I have succeeded I will return the broken shards of silver to you as a trophy."
"Then I wish you both every happiness," Marcone said. "Now with your permission Ms Gard will open a portal to Nevernever. I have pressing business I must attend to in Chicago."
"You are too short to be Teller, so you must be Penn."
"No my name is not Penn or Teller, it's Neville Longbottom. May I ask who you are?"
"Karrin Murphy," the tiny Knight of the Cross replied after finishing off her second Long Island Ice Tea. "Do you know the name of that bitch... sorry, that witch who is holding the little baby?"
"Her name is Andromeda Tonks."
"Great, not only is she tall and classically beautiful, but her name is Andromeda. No wonder Kincaid is screwing her," Murphy muttered. "Where is the father of her kid, and why does the little brat's hair keep changing color like that?
"Teddy is her grandson, and his hair changes color because he is a metamorphmagus like his late mother Nymphadora," Neville calmly explained. He didn't want this woman to turn her alcohol-fueled rage on him.
"She is a fucking grandmother and she still looks that good," Murphy complained as she used her thumb to expose a section of sword blade which was hidden inside of her polished walking stick.
"Is that an actual sword?"
"Yeah, it is," Murphy said as she pulled the blade free of it wooden sheath, an action which caused the strapping young man to flinch. "It's called Fidelacchius, and it won't bite you. Not unless I want it to."
"I'm sorry, it's just that I recently had a bad experience with a sword," Neville whispered. "I almost got myself killed."
"Tell me about it."
And he did.
"Excuse me, but can I have a word with you Mr Dresden? My name is Hermione Granger and this is Lord Kreacher."
"So you are the new Winter Knight? Have a seat," Dresden said as he pushed out one of the chairs at his table. He was still furious about Ivy's ambush and Leanansidhe's murder, but none of that was this girl's fault. The purple elf put him on edge, but it was clearly one of Maeve's servants and had just been obeying orders. "This is my apprentice Molly Carpenter, the dog's name is Mouse, and the butt-ugly one over there is Thomas Raith. "
"You are a true incubus?" Kreacher asked the ridiculously handsome Raith as he stood guard behind his soulmate's chair.
"The preferred term today is a White Court Vampire," Thomas replied. "I take it you are some kind of elf?"
"I am a dark-elf, and if you attempt to enchant my beloved I will not hesitate in killing you."
"Duly noted Evil Legolas."
Hermione noticed that this exchange seemed to anger Dresden for some reason, but she couldn't understand why he would want to protect a vampire. Maybe they were homosexual lovers. "I was wondering if you could tell me anything about being the Winter Knight. Any special powers or rules I should know about. I would be immensely appreciative for any help you could offer."
"Well, first of all you are now a lot more durable, and can take all kinds of punishment that would have knocked you on your ass before," Dresden explained. "You will also see a real increase in your level of physical endurance."
"I have already noticed that," the dark-elf supplied.
"Kreacher!" Hermione said as she blushed furiously.
"Wow, you Brits really are kinky," Molly Carpenter remarked.
"This is way too much information for me," Dresden said. "What kind of freezing spell do you wand-types use?"
"The Glacius," the still-blushing witch replied as she drew her cherished wand.
"Is that really a magical wand?" Molly asked.
"Yes, it is," an irritated Hermione replied. With her tattoos, long legs, and spectacular breasts it was easy for other women to dislike Dresden's beautiful blonde apprentice. "Would you like to see a demonstration of one of our spells?"
Molly nodded, and with a flick of Hermione's wrist the champagne glass in front of her was transfigured into a hissing king cobra.
"Holy shit!"
Dresden just rolled his eyes. "Calm down padawan. It's just an illusion. Watch this." With a wave of his hand the true wizard caused the cobra to change back into a champagne glass as his stronger magic disrupted the witch's spell.
"I will have you know that wasn't an illusion. I actually transfigured that glass into a cobra," Hermione huffed. "If took me six years to learn how to do that correctly without a verbal incantation."
"Bullshit, it was just an illusion," Dresden told her as he scratched Mouse's ears. "No human being has enough magical power or dexterity to rearrange matter on a molecular level."
"Are you always this rude?"
"Pretty much," Dresden replied. "Are you rich?"
"No," a peeved Hermione answered.
"Why not? If you or your friends could truly transfigure matter you should be able to create as much gold or silver or platinum as you wanted. Is that dress you are wearing transfigured?"
"No."
"That's because if you wore "transfigured" clothes the illusion might end at any moment and leave you butt naked," Dresden lectured. "Can you eat transfigured food?"
"No, I can not. Creating food is a violation of Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration," Hermione lectured right back.
"No it's because if you ate something that was "transfigured" it would revert to its true form in the middle of your intestines and kill you. All you are really doing is creating advanced three-dimensional illusions. You and the elf should head to Vegas. You could make a fortune putting on a show for the tourists."
"No they should head to Barcelona. I pay good money to see these two perform in front of a live audience," Thomas remarked.
"So would I," Molly added. "Elves are hot."
"You both have watched the Lord of the Rings way too many times," Dresden said before turning to the new Winter Knight. "Alright little girl, show me your freezing charm."
"I show you my freezing charm you horse's ass!" Hermione snapped as she pointed her wand out at the ocean. "Glacius!" Her supercharged spell created an iceberg the size of a yacht, and caught the attention of whole party.
"Perhaps there is hope for you yet child," Queen Maeve said as she seductively sauntered over to their table. "I see that you have finally realized that emotions are the key to your new magic."
"Fuck off you psychotic bitch," Dresden snarled.
"Are you still upset about your poor little godmother?" Maeve asked with mock concern. "A quick death was really the best thing that could have happened to her."
"I going to rip your..."
"Harry, stop being such a hypocrite!" Thomas suddenly yelled. "Everyone who met Leanansidhe and Mab knew that they were both bat-shit crazy. Think of all the damage they might have caused the world if they hadn't been taken out."
Since Thomas Raith was Dresden half-brother the true wizard couldn't lash out at the vampire like he wanted to, so instead he tried to explain himself. "You weren't there. They cut them down like they were nothing more than a pair of dogs."
"They were a pair of dogs," Maeve remarked. "Rabid dogs."
Seeing no friendly faces in the crowd, Dresden grabbed his staff and began walking along the deserted beach away from the others. Only the huge dog Mouse followed.
"Did you ever think that Thomas would become the more mature of our two grandsons?" Queen Titania asked as she watched Dresden disappear out of sight.
"That vampire is relation of mine," Ebenezer growled. "And I want you to stop provoking Harry. Our boy has suffered too much these since he found out about his daughter."
"You were too harsh with Margaret, and now you are too lenient with this one," Titania pointed out. "Make up your mind wizard."
As product of a union between a Sidhe and a mortal, Harry Dresden's mother Margaret McCoy could have chosen to become either during her late adolescence. Unlike Luna she had rejected the option of becoming a Sidhe, and instead lived as a mortal.
However her father's harsh discipline drove her into the arms of the King of the White Court Vampires. She married and had a vampire son, Thomas. Later Margaret had come to recognize how cruel her new husband truly was, and had escaped. But there was no denying the White King his vengeance. Shortly after giving birth to her second son Harry Dresden, she was hunted down and killed by agents of the White Court.
"Thanks to Margaret's plotting our boy has a destiny I'm not sure anyone could handle," Ebenezer said as he watched the Weasley and Carpenter families dancing on the beach in the fading daylight. "And after what we did to his godmother I doubt if he will ever trust me again."
"The Black Council attempted to destroy the Sidhe by infecting our minds with some sort of magical insanity, and now their plot has finally been defeated. Dresden will come to see the wisdom of our actions soon enough," Titania offered.
"Are you sure the Black Council's scheme to weaken the Sidhe didn't actually work?" Ebenezer asked. "The new Winter Lady and Winter Knight don't exactly fill me with confidence. They are both too young and too inexperienced."
"Although she was raised as a mortal Luna Lovegood is everything a Sidhe should be, but what we no longer are. If anyone can inspire a reprobate like Maeve to become a proper Queen of Winter, it is her."
"What about that other slip of a girl? She is no one's idea of a fearsome Knight."
"When Hermione Granger was just fourteen she broke the Sixth Law of Magic right under the nose of the British Minister of Magic by using time travel to help a wanted criminal escape execution. When she was sixteen she used a curse to permanently disfigure the face of a classmate at Hogwarts. When she was seventeen she broke the Third Law of Magic by using a memory charm on her own parents. Currently she is the bonded mate of dark-elf who leads his own personal army," the Queen of Summer explained. "Trust me, Granger and Maeve will soon become the best of friends."
The old wizard couldn't stop himself from smiling as he listened to her cold-blooded speech. "You know Titania, you are still one hell of a lady."
"Aye Ebenezer McCoy, and you are still my man."
It was well after nightfall before Dresden finally made his way back to the party. "Where have you been all this time?" Murphy demanded when she finally saw him.
"Sorry, I just needed to clear my head. Is there something you want to talk about?" Dresden asked.
"Yes, there is. I think have found the third Knight of the Cross."