Scorp shifted in his dress robes uncomfortable. He looked over to Al who had them stuck on his head.
He laughed, "You okay there mate?"
A muffled 'yeah fine' was he response as Al managed to pull the robes down.
"Ugh I don't see why Teddy couldn't have had a muggle wedding. I know they're basically the same but those 'soots' look so much easier!"
Scorp chuckled, "So you got your co-best man speech ready?"
Al nodded. "Yeah, thank god he got both of us to do it. If it were just James Teddy would never be able to show his face in public again."
"Oi!" yelled James who was straightening his robes. "I resent that! My part of the speech will be very taste… ah who am I kidding. I'm going to bury Ted."
Al shook his head at his brother and turned back to Scorp. "The thing is, I know how much Ted wanted Dad to be here. It's gotta be tough on him."
"How are you going?" asked Scorp, "I mean with your mum coming and all."
James nodded solemnly and Al just shrugged. "Dunno. It's going to be a chore. They only let her out on the promise that someone would watch her always and make sure she didn't get any drink. I also think this going to depress her. Watching Teddy go down the isle without Dad here…"
Scorp clasped his friend on the shoulder. "It'll be okay, don't worry."
"Thanks." Al said with a small smile.
There was a knock at the door and Al turned away just in time to miss his brother mouth his own thankyou at Scorp. James was at a loss at how to help his bookish and closed off little brother.
"Yeah?" called out Al.
"It's me," replied Teddy. He opened the door and walked in shutting it behind him.
Al smiled at his god-brother. "How you feeling?"
"Like a bunch of hippogriffs just ran me over." Teddy sighed. "I can't believe it's finally happening!"
"Neither can anyone Ted. I mean who would have guessed that shabby Teddy Lupin would bag a girl like-" James' teasing was cut short by Al covering his mouth.
"Ignore him. We're really proud of you Ted."
And they were. At aged twenty Teddy part of the Department of Discrimination, which had been introduced after the war to insure rights for vampires, werewolves and other misunderstood and generally hunted humanoid magical creatures. And now he was marrying Victoire.
Teddy smiled. "Thanks Albus." He turned to Scorp. "Oh yeah, your mum is looking for you."
"Thanks." Scorp said. "I'll see you all later." He turned and left the room.
The wedding, of course, was being held at the Burrow. Scorp grinned when he saw the numerous amounts of red haired people running around trying to organize… something. Over in the north corner Bill was comforting a teary Fleur. Charlie and Percy were trying to remember the spell to set up the tent while Ron and George looked on laughing. They were the ones who hid the instruction sheet.
Mrs Weasley and Hermione were setting the tables and Mr Weasley was trying to entertain Louis who was now five and intelligent enough to want to help. Scorp looked around trying to locate the children.
Dominique was Fleur's maid of honor so she was helping get Fleur ready somewhere along with Rose, Molly, Roxanne and Lucy who were the bride's maids. Lily was also missing, getting ready to be a flower girl. She'd quietly mentioned to Scorp earlier that while she was happy Victoire had asked her to be involved she was annoyed that she had to be the little flower girl.
Fred and Hugo had forgone being involved and were out in the back de-gnoming. They had transfigured Lily's hair tie into a rat.
Finally Scorp found her.
Charlotte was over to the side talking to Angelina and Audrey. She looked up and waved at him. He waved back and walked over to her.
"Teddy said you were looking for me?"
She nodded. "Mr Weasley needs to go collect Mrs Potter, could you look after Louis for a while?"
"Yeah sure." He said. He turned to go but suddenly something hit his leg. He looked down to see Louis hugging his legs and smiling up at him.
"SORP!" Louis still had problems get the sc sounds right.
Scorp crouched down. "Hey buddy. Your granddad has gotta go do something so you're going to hang out with me for awhile okay?"
"Yay!" squealed Louis as Scorp lifted him up.
"Ugh, you are getting big! You'll be bigger than me soon."
Louis giggled and gave him a soft knock on the head. "Me big you little."
Charlotte watched with a smile as her son continued to talk to little Louis. She touched her stomach briefly before turning back to her conversation.
It wasn't the time.
-ooo000ooo-
Victoire Gabrielle Weasley do you take Theodore Remus Lupin to be your wedded husband to live together in marriage. Do you promise to love, comfort, honor and keep him. For better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. And forsaking all others, be faithful only to himso long as you both shall live?"
"I do."
"So in the eyes of all present and of magic herself I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
They all leapt to their feet clapping as Teddy pulled back Victoire's veil and planted a kiss on her lips sealing their matrimony.
Scorp snuck a look at Al by Teddy's side, holding onto Louis (the ring bearer)'s hand. His friend wasn't looking at the happy couple, his eyes were over the crowd and staring at the back. Scorp turned around following Al' gaze.
Ginny as standing at the back her arms wrapped around each other, as if she was struggling to hold her self together, literally. She was staring at Teddy with joy in her eyes and a few tear. Scorp smiled, if she was happy so would Al be, but he couldn't ignore how skinny she looked, or how sunken her eyes were.
A hand touched his shoulder. It was Charlie.
"Hey, come on. We're going to pack this away for the dance floor."
Scorp got up, "Yeah sorry."
He vacated the tent and looked around. It was the first month of spring, March and the air was still chilly.
This was just what they had needed. Thing had Hogwarts were getting dire and the board was talking about shutting down indefinitely.
Charlotte had laughed when she heard that. "This is just like my third year! When the Chamber of Secrets opened and Lucius Malfoy wanted to get Dumbledore fired. Well there are no Malfoys on the board now, we'll be fine."
Scorp wished he shared her confidence. Four more attacks had occurred and the first girl was hanging on by a thread. Wizards everywhere were being called in to donate small amounts of magic but it took a fortnight to replenish magic and not many people were willing to give any.
"Thinking too hard again?" Evanna's voice came from the side.
He blinked. "Yeah."
"Maybe you've got a Ibi wiggle in your head. They're quite common in winter, they make being think negatively."
Scorp smiled. Ever since that divination lesson Evanna had found herself again, well with a bit of normality. She wasn't exactly the same but, while it was mean to say, Scorp preferred her this way.
They made their way over to their table. They were with Rose, Hugo, Lily and Roxanne. Al, James and Dominique were all sitting up at the high table.
The meal was a suit yourself and Scorp politely asked his plate for some pumpkin pie. Finally there was a silence as James tapped his fork gently against his glass. He and Al stood up together.
"Teddy has always been part of our lives," James began. "One of my earliest memories is fighting for attention when Teddy was around and of course I lost. Teddy is my brother in all but blood. The weeks Teddy came over I was always very excited and when Andromeda died and Ted came to stay full time… well if I told you some of things we did I'd have to kill you."
The crowd chuckled and James carried on. "So congratulations Teddy. No one has any idea why Victoire puts up with you but we love you anyway. To Teddy and Victoire."
"To Teddy and Victoire."
James sat down and Al began. "Like James I have many fond memories of Teddy. I was four when he moved in permanently and the only thing I remember before hand was having to share a room with James every time it was our week to have Teddy. So for me Teddy has always been there, twenty-four seven. He's been there for all the important parts of our lives and we've been there for his. James and I even spied on his first kiss with Victoire! The beating we got from him afterwards was well worth it when James sold the pictures to Witch Weekly." Teddy had his head in his hands now, his hair turning red. "He got us back later when he altered a picture to make it look like James and I were kissing and then sent that to Witch Weekly. Dad was almost too late to get it back. So good luck Teddy, and good luck Victoire, he's your problem now."
Al sat down and Teddy gave him a punch in the arm.
Dominique stood up next with her speech.
"This," she gestured to Teddy and Victoire, "Was always going to happen. From the time I was born I've been hearing stories of Teddy spending hours with Victoire when she was a baby and I don't think I've ever seen them apart. It didn't take a Seer to guess that this day would come. Unfortunately Teddy's proposal was less than perfect with Teddy falling over and losing the ring and it raining the minute Victoire accepted. Oh and of course Rose getting her ass kidnapped and therefore missing the event. But hey, we got here in the end. Well done Teddy, I hope you make my sister happy."
Victoire jumped up with tears in her eyes and gave her sister a hug. Then the music started and Teddy and Victoire left for the dance floor. A few minutes later Hugo and Lily left together and Al came over to ask, blushing furiously, Evanna to dance. Grinning Scorp himself go up and tapped Rose on the shoulder.
He bowed and held out his hand. "Milady, would you do me the honor of giving me this dance?"
She giggled and placed her hand in his. "Oh well if I must."
A/N: I know I've ignored the epilogue by saying Teddy moved in with the Potters but I prefer it this way so there. Also I changed Teddy's real name (its Ted but I like Theodore better. Feel free to yell at me). For all you Ginny fans there you go; she's fine, happy and getting proper help.
Hmm things are not looking good at Hogwarts…
I'm sure you'll all be pleased to know that the A squad has been working over time thinking up wonderful ideas and finally came up with the best twist in the direction of the character development possible. Ah even thinking about it makes me want to dance and shout about it but the time is not right… soon…