Woo chapter 24 finally up, really happy with this chapter.
Sirius's Big Day
It had been two months since Hermione announced that she was expecting twins, life hadn't changed too much for her since the announcement and she was able to live her life as easily as she could even with Draco and Blaise's constant worrying.
"Draco will you stand still please," Hermione sighed as she tried for the second time to tie his tie.
"I don't see why I have to do this, why do I even have to go?" he whined. Today was the day of Sirius's wedding to his fiancée Cecelia, they had received an invite months ago and Hermione couldn't believe how fast the ceremony had come. They were all at home getting dressed for the ceremony. The wedding wasn't going to be as extravagant as the trios as Sirius hated the idea of marriage, yes he had fallen for his beautiful bride to be but marriage was always something he had never wanted even as a small boy.
"You have to look smart Draco and because he is family, Sirius is your Uncle not only this but your parents are attending so you've got to go as well," said Hermione stepping back to look at the tie from a distance.
"Still don't want to go," he moaned.
"Tough you're going so shut it," snapped Hermione rolling her eyes and walking toward Blaise who was sat laughing at the kitchen table. "And you can stop laughing."
"Hermione relax, a wedding is supposed to be a joyous time, ignore Draco's whining and get your things together so we can go," said Blaise resting a comforting arm on her shoulder. Her hormones had gone through the roof since the pregnancy had started and the simplest of things would stress her out.
"Your right, I'll be just a few minutes," Hermione left the kitchen in search of her bag.
Ten minutes later the trio were walking through the grounds of Malfoy Manor, Narcissa had insisted that Sirius would have his wedding at her home hoping it would rekindle their friendship. Sirius had accepted because of Cecelia, she had wanted an outdoors wedding near a large castle but he had opted against having the ceremony at Hogwarts so when Narcissa had suggested her home he had jumped at the chance of a free venue. He had spoken to Cecelia that evening and the next day the duo were walking around the grounds with Narcissa pointing out the perfect spot for the wedding.
"I never realised how beautiful your home was in the spring Draco," said Hermione, she had only ever seen Malfoy Manor in the winter or when it was dark so it was nice surprise when she saw the beautiful flowers and green grass outlined by rows of trees and hedges formed into shapes. "It'll make the perfect place for a wedding,"
"I agree, though it was quite Slytherin of your mother to do this." Blaise said and both Draco and Hermione frowned waiting for him to explain. "Well think about it. When the war ended the Malfoy family weren't in the best of lights even after switching side's last minute. It also doesn't take a genius to know that Sirius Black did not like his family and his family didn't like him. So your mother volunteering to hold the wedding here is clever as it puts her in a good light showing the Malfoy family have changed and the family of cousins are forming a bond once more. Also the wedding pictures are going to be in the Daily Prophet this also means your house and garden are going to be, this will show the family isn't evil and dark like many think,"
Draco looked at Hermione and then to Blaise and chuckled who knew his mother could be so clever to think up that and still put her in the good light. The trio stopped when they heard someone calling their names, turning towards the sound they smiled as they saw Narcissa walk towards them.
"It's lovely to see the three of you," she said placing a kiss on their cheeks. "The wedding should start in half an hour everyone is over near the gazebo in the south side of the garden," she explained and Draco nodded taking hold of Hermione's hand and walked in the direction his mother stated.
The gazebo was huge and there were already plenty of people there, the trio took a seat next to Harry and Pansy.
"I can't believe how many people are here for Sirius, I didn't know he knew so many," Harry said astounded. "Front row will have Bellatrix, Narcissa, Andromeda and Tonks seated as they're his only living relatives, plus Remus who is his best man."
"I think it's nice that they are now a family once more. I'm proud that Sirius has been able to put the past behind him. It's only a shame that Regulus couldn't be here to sit beside them,"
"Who's Regulus?" Blaise asked.
"Regulus was Sirius's younger brother he died not long before my parents were killed,"
"Wasn't he a Deatheater?" Draco asked and Harry nodded.
"He joined hoping to make is parents proud because he hadn't run off like Sirius had done, Regulus was 16 when he joined and didn't understand the danger of it all. Many think he died because he tried to leave Voldermort but the story of his death is very different he was a brave man and he did what he believed to be right." Harry explained, "He sacrificed his life with the hope that the locket he had taken from inside the cave would be destroyed and a part of Voldermort would be destroyed as well. Sadly it took nearly 20 years for that to happen and it nearly cost another life to get it." Harry didn't explain any further not wanting to go any deeper than that.
Draco sat quietly for a second he had always been told that Regulus had died because he had tried to get out of Voldermort's circle and the Dark Lord had learnt of this and had killed him. To discover that Voldermort had never touched him was a surprise to him and he was sure it'd be a surprise to his family when he informed them. He knew Harry was telling the truth with the way Hermione had acted, she must have also known the truth and it made him wonder what else Hermione knew about the war that she hadn't said.
"Does Sirius know the truth?" he asked Harry
"No, Kreacher was the only one who knew the truth about Sirius and he told, Hermione, Ron and I, if none of us told Sirius then he believes he died like a coward. I should really tell him the truth." Harry said thoughtfully looking straight ahead seeing his godfather's smiling face but also recognising the fleck of nerves in the man's dark eyes.
"If it's alright with you, I'd like to tell my mother and father about how he died. She was after all his cousin I think she'd like to know."
"Sure he deserves to be known as a hero who died trying to make a difference." He said smiling at Draco then turned to Hermione. "Remind me to get in touch with the Daily Prophet I think it's time the world knew of the brave sacrifice that Regulus Black did to protect this world, give him a hero's status instead of being a coward." Hermione nodded and smiled resting her head on Harry's shoulder for a moment.
The gazebo continued to fill up for the next five minutes before it all went silent. Sirius nervously stood at the front of the gazebo facing in the opposite direction. It was then that the Priest told everyone in the room to stand as the bride enters. The music started up and the women in the room smiled when they saw Cecelia's two elder sisters walk down the aisle first following them was her eldest sister's 3 year old daughter throwing flower petals her tongue stuck out of her mouth as she carefully walked down the aisle. Concentration was etched upon her face. Behind the young girl was Cecelia in a beautiful ivory fitted gown, the top was of soft lace coating her bust and stomach before dropping to her hips with floating ivory silk. Her feet were in white shoes just poking out from beneath her dress. Her dark hair was fastened up in a stylish up do with strips of hair framing her pale face. Her father stood beside her looking very proud as he walked her down the aisle and placed her hand in Sirius's nodding to his future son in-law.
"Ladies and Gentlemen we are here today to celebrate the wedding of Sirius Orion Black and Cecilia Louise Robinson to join them in holy matrimony…" the priest spoke and the guests listened quietly as he spoke about the two people and how they had met as children and drifted apart after Hogwarts to now be reunited today and to be classed as one in the Wizarding World.
Sirius took her hand and smiled, in his days at Hogwarts he had been a player, he liked women he had liked them a lot but he never thought he'd find a girl he'd like enough to marry. He knew the circumstances of the wedding where not because he had courted her for years and eventually got down on one knee and asked for her hand but because the Ministry had placed them together and they had to wed but even after all of this he was thanking his lucky stars that the beautiful woman in front of him was Cecelia because now he couldn't imagine his life without her.
They sat and listened as he repeated his vows dropping in a joke to show he was still the same Sirius they all knew. Cecelia took it good natured smiled a little and rolled her eyes before surprising him when she herself had placed a joke into her vows and smiled when she saw the spark in his eyes grow even larger.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." The gazebo erupted in applause when Sirius and Cecelia shared their first married kiss. "To the new Mr and Mrs Sirius Black," the duo walked down the aisle hand in hand smiling to everyone who had turned up to watch their special day.
Remus stood and addressed the guest, "the next part of the day will be spent in the western side of the grounds, refreshments, food and dancing will be all done there. Thank you." He offered his hand to his smiling wife and followed the crowds as they left the gazebo and headed to the west of the house.
"That was so beautiful, I loved Cecelia's dressed," gushed Pansy to Hermione who had grown attached to the bushy haired Gryffindor.
"It was so elegant and classy and it flattered her so well." The two girls continued to talk as they made their way to the large tent with the words 'Just Married' on the top. The music had already started and people were beginning to sit down, order drinks and eat food. Hermione said farewell to Pansy and headed towards Remus who had been Sirius's best man.
"Hey Hermione you like the wedding?"
"It's just beautiful Remus so glad to be here. I can't believe how many people turned up for Sirius I didn't know he knew so many people."
Remus laughed and handed a drink over to Hermione as he picked up his own and a soft drink for Tonks. "A lot of these were friends of ours when we were in Hogwarts but I know he wishes James had been here as well."
"I'm sure James was here in spirit probably getting his own back on his friend after what Sirius said to James and Lily on their day." Remus chuckled and nodded his head smiling.
"Maybe you're the right Hermione. Don't say I told you this but I think apart of him wishes Regulus could have been here, they were very close before Sirius came to Hogwarts." Hermione smiled sadly, Remus was another who did not know the truth of Regulus's death.
"I'm sure Regulus is here in spirit also, the man is a hero in a way nobody knew." Remus looked at her frowning, "today is not the day for answers you'll find out soon enough."
"Hey Hermione," Tonks cried shuffling over to Hermione wrapping her arms around the bushy brunette. "You look lovely you should definitely come over and visit us sometime."
"Don't worry. Maybe when I get rid of the morning sickness and the horrific mood swings I will."
"The morning sickness will go the mood swings however will be there till the very end dearie," Hermione groaned and Tonks chuckled. From a distance Hermione could see Harry and Sirius sharing a hug patting one another on the back.
"Congratulations Sirius you're finally a married man." Laughed Harry. "I think that is the joke,"
"Cheeky bugger I had women lined up wanting to marry me when I was as old as you."
"Yeah and then you got old and only Cecelia decided to stick around." Harry teased chuckling as Sirius swiped him beside his head. "But in all seriousness I'm happy for you."
"Thanks squirt I just wish your dad could have been here,"
"I know I wish he could have been at mine but I know he's always watching down on me and looking out for me. I think he has to I don't know if he trust you to be a good role model."
"Maybe your right there, god help me in about 8 months' time I will have to be a role model." Sirius looked down at Harry with a knowing smile as his godson looked up in shock.
"You mean?" Sirius nodded.
"We're going to tell everyone in a while but I wanted you to be the first to know. You think I'll be any good?"
"Yeah the kid will love you, don't forget though I'm going to need a babysitter when I have mine," said Harry smiling.
"As long as you baby sit mine."
"It's weird to see Narcissa Malfoy, Andromeda Tonks and Bellatrix Lestrange in the room together without an argument or fight breaking out," Harry chuckled and Sirius nodded.
"We've still got plenty of time left and Bella is expecting so she could be the one to start something," he laughed, "in a way I'm glad they're here. Other than Tonks they are the only blood related family I've left. But before the years out there'll be three babies around."
"I'd make that five as Hermione is married to Draco Malfoy, Narcissa's son and she's expecting twins."
"Haha it'll be like when I was a kid, the five Black children and in a strange way it'll still be like that. A child from Bellatrix, a child coming from Andy's line, two children coming from Narcissa's line and one from me if only Reg had survived he could have made it a five way split."
"I think Regulus is sat up there grateful he won't be forced to babysit them all." Harry said trying to lighten the mood.
"Probably, you know I still don't know what I'm going to do with my mother's bloody portrait I can't get it down from that spot on the wall. I may need to see if my dear cousins have any ideas." Harry laughed and nodded bidding goodbye he walked away from Sirius to sit beside Pansy whose hand was on her stomach.
An hour later everyone had eaten and it had been announced it was time for the married couple to have their first dance. Everyone who was watching saw that Sirius was beaming with happiness but what everyone didn't know was the happiness came from his beautiful new wife and the knowledge he had learnt that would remove his blasted mother from his house. The duo danced closely sharing kisses as they went and before long Cecelia's mother and father had joined the dance floor. One by one couple's started to get on to the dance floor and focused on one another as people drifted around sharing a special moment that brought many back to their wedding day. Sirius looked over to Harry and winked it was time for the couple to announce what Harry already knew. Everyone stopped dancing when they saw Sirius stand on the stage and helped his wife to stand beside him.
"Hey everyone firstly I just want to say a big thank you to everyone who has turned up today to help celebrate Cecelia's and mines big day today. But there is also a special announcement that we'd like to share with you tonight." He handed his wand to Cecelia who smiled at her husband.
"In a little over 8 months' time our family of two will suddenly become a family of three." The room cheered as applause spread around.
"Great two Sirius's," moaned Remus causing everyone to laugh, "I aint babysitting mate."
Sirius laughed, "S'all right Mooney Harry has agreed to do it," Everyone looked towards Harry and Remus patted him on the back.
"Good to see you're still sacrificing yourself for the safety of the Wizarding world Potter," called Lucius jokingly. Ron and Hermione laughed as Harry's face fell realising just what he had gotten himself into. He looked towards Pansy who was scowling at him.
"Well it looks as though I could be sleeping on the sofa tonight," he mumbled grumpily.
"I think Lucius you should be worried, especially if you have to babysit your two grandchildren if they are as smart as Hermione is, as sly as Draco was and as quick as Blaise was," said Snape chuckling when he watched the picture of horror spread upon his friends face. Everyone in the room looked straight to Hermione's stomach and realised right there and then that the offspring of Sirius Black might not be as dangerous as the offspring of Draco Malfoy, Blaise Zabini and Hermione Granger.
Woo glad that chapter is finally up, I hope ya liked it. Laters!