A/N:
Another synonym for moonstone is "selenite," from the greek word "selene" which means moon. It is also said that wearing a moonstone strengthens our intuition and our capacity to understand. Interesting.
Um, there's a reason why I'm writing out the ceremony. ... I don't care if this isn't how a wedding goes. And honestly, I wouldn't get married in this fashion. It's nice, though. Oh, before I forget, there's a reason Selena carries the flowers she does.
Uh, Selena wanted to marry someone like her father?
I was a bit late in putting out this chapter because I played around with how I wanted to ... pose certain things. And yeah, I got a bit fluffy in this. Maybe I flirted with the citrus fruits too.
Poor Darcy. Remember this about her, maybe? And what does her predicament mean figuratively?
The Scribe's Resurrection
Part Two: Chapter Fifteen
Saturday, July 15, 1978
Selena stole another glance at her dress. She really couldn't stop looking at it, and every time she did, Selena immediately blushed crimson. The dress, however, wasn't anything special, as it was just a white, tulle strapless, but Selena loved it anyway.
The wedding, to take place at The Belladonna Estate, was in two days. Everything was in order, but Selena had one more thing to do.
"Selena, Professor Dumbledore's here with the rings," Remus said, poking his head in the door. "He's taste-testing the hors d'oeuvres, so you don't have to rush."
"Okay. Can you come here a second?"
"Sure." Remus strode in the master bedroom. "Oh, is that the dress? Very pretty. You'll look like a queen."
"Oh, thank you. Come sit." He sat next to Selena on the bed.
"Yes?"
"I have a question."
"Okay."
"Well, at my wedding, I always wanted my father to walk me down the aisle and give me away. And since that can't happen, I was wondering if you could."
"M-me?" Remus asked, surprised. "Why me? You could have Mr. Potter do it-"
"Mr. Potter is not my brother, and neither is Alastor Moody or Dumbledore. You're the person I want to walk me down the aisle."
"Wow, okay." Remus' face turned a slight pink. "That's sudden."
"Sorry. It's just that since you're my best friend, I figured-" Selena stopped she didn't know what she'd 'figured.'
"I'll do it, yeah."
"Thank you!" Selena hugged his arm and then said sadly, "I'm sorry the wedding's so close to the full moon."
"You might be one of the only people I know who actually tracks the full moon, Selena. I don't mind. I'll just be tired."
"Right." Selena stood up. "Now, tell me about this bachelor party you're having with Sirius tonight."
"I'm not at liberty to say," Remus declared, smiling.
"Great."
"He's not going to do anything. I don't even know where we're going, you know. It's James' duty to plan that. Just like it's Lily's to plan your hen night."
"Eh. You think if I throw a dungbomb at him, he'll tell me?"
"Oh, no. Honestly, I don't even think he made plans." Remus fidgeted, getting up from the bed. "So, how were your N.E.W.T. scores? Sirius said I'd have to ask you, or else I wouldn't believe it."
"Straight 'Outstandings' across the paper."
"Really?! Wow!" He high-fived her. "Just like me."
"Wicked!" Selena hugged him again. "I'll bet the Ministry's just begging you to work for them."
"Actually, no one's begging me for anything." Remus looked past his friend at the mirror on the wall. "No one will even look at my CVs."
"What? Why?" Selena angrily set her free hand on her hip.
"Because I'm a werewolf."
"That's a stupid reason. It's not like you'll randomly turn into one while you're working."
"They don't care."
"Oh, Remus..." Selena trailed off.
"Come on, Dumbledore's waiting." Remus swiftly left the room.
Monday, July 17, 1978
The ceremony was supposed to be short, Selena knew. No more than thirty minutes, because such a gathering- with Moody, Dumbledore, and two Aurors in-training- would be disastrous if not done correctly. This was why The Belladonna Estate was such a wonderful place to have the wedding ceremony and reception. Not many people were allowed to attend, because outside of the glorious patch of land called The Belladonna Estate, a war had ensued.
But to Selena, the ceremony was not short, not even close. She was 'hiding' behind a screen with Lily, Alice, and Remus, waiting to come out.
"I think I'm gonna be sick," Selena mumbled, nervously tapping her moonstone and silver crescent moon pendant.
"No, no, here." Lily began to fan Selena's face. All of the color had drained from it. "Breathe, breathe... That's it..."
"Can I have some water?" Alice held up a cup.
"Careful, don't want to get it on the dress..."
The music began to play.
"Oh, God," Selena groaned.
"You'll be fine," Remus said quietly. "What's the worst that can happen? We've all seen you at your worst, and this is going to be your best. You're going to shine."
"Oh, thank you."
Lily and Alice, doubling as flower girls, threw out white rose petals as they glided down the aisle, and Selena did not want to move.
"It's fine, it's fine..."
"Do I look okay in this dress?"
"It's lovely. You look lovely."
"You think he'll like it?"
"He loves you when you're covered in mud from Quidditch. He'll love it."
"What if my shoes suddenly fall apart?" Selena asked, looking down at her silver shoes.
"They will not. They're spun from unicorn hair, that's why they're silver."
"Honest?" Selena found this bit of information impressive.
"Yeah."
"Is my hair okay?" Selena's fingers touched the loose ponytail and the sweet milky flowers in her ebony hair.
"Your hair is perfect."
"Your mum did it for me."
"And that's why it's perfect. C'mon, Quicksilver."
"I'm gonna be sick."
"You will not." Selena placed her hand in the crook of Remus' left arm, and they moved out from behind the screen. As they began to walk, the family of glittering animals followed, sugaring the air with silver dust, like it always did when a jolt of happiness struck.
Selena didn't look at the end of her path straight away; instead, her eyes swept over her guests. In turn, her eyes widened with the knowledge that some twenty-odd people were watching her. Selena began to bite her lips; she clutched her bouquet of baby's breath tighter, and her eyes traveled up the aisle. And then she saw Sirius.
Her worried expression evanesced into a serene smile. He was positively beaming. Selena couldn't help thinking how handsome he was just then- his starry grey eyes, his dark hair framing his face just right.
Remus stopped her in front of him, and the fleshy, rotund man at the alter began.
"We are gathered here today in the face of this company, to join together Sirius Orion Black and Selena Nisha Riviera in matrimony..." Selena wasn't listening, and neither was Sirius. Selena's face was stuck in that silly smile, and Sirius could not stop staring at her. But when the marriage officiant stopped talking, Selena began to pay attention.
"Who gives this woman to be married to this man?"
"I do," Remus spoke. He took Selena's hands and put them in those of his best friend's. He gave a small smile and stepped back. Remus took his place in the crowd next to his mother, who promptly pat him on the arm.
"Sirius Orion Black, do you take Selena Nisha Riviera for your lawful wedded wife, to live in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love, honor, comfort, and cherish her from this day forward, forsaking all others, keeping only unto her?" Selena had the corpulent nuptial official edit the bit about 'as long as you both shall live'; she felt that was extreme finality.
"I do." Selena's heart could hardly beat evenly.
"And Selena Nisha Riviera, do you take Sirius Orion Black for your lawful wedded husband, to live in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love, honour, comfort, and cherish him from this day forward, forsaking all others, keeping only unto him?"
"Yes, I do."
The man turned to Sirius, and had him repeat the following: "I, Sirius Orion Black, take you, Selena Nisha Riviera, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, honor, and cherish forever. This I solemnly swear."
Selena turned towards the man, waiting for him to address her. She echoed after him: "I, Selena Nisha Riviera, take you, Sirius Orion Black, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, honor, and cherish forever. This I solemnly swear."
"Who bears the rings?" The marriage officiant asked.
"I do."
Albus Dumbledore stood with the silver wedding bands, which were covered in runes. He held out the satin pillow, and Sirius and Selena picked up the other's wedding band. They put them on each other's fingers, but Dumbledore did not sit down.
"These rings are special," he said simply, pulling out his wand. He swiftly wrapped each of the rings, murmuring an incantation as he did so. Then, the white bearded man retook his seat.
In response to the spell, the rings began to glow brightly and heat themselves. The sensation was not new to the couple- the tattoos they had gotten the previous year had felt exactly like this. The rune-covered rings burned and melted into Sirius and Selena's skin, making them wince. When it was finished, the figures stood out like peculiar scars on their fingers.
Thoroughly impressed because he had not seen this done, the stout man squeakily proceeded to recite another selection, something about hoping that Selena and Sirius would be happy and without grief, something about long life with friends and family, and something about sealing their vows with the burn rings on their fingers.
As they all waited for him to say the magic seven words, Selena felt her heart pulsating, endeavoring to leap out of her chest. Sirius' heart, already nervously palpitating, gave a sudden lurch.
"I now pronounce you man and wife," the marriage officiant from the Ministry declared. "You may now kiss the bride."
The newly-weds wrapped their arms around each other, with Selena beginning to cry. As they embraced with their kiss, their hearts seemed to swap bodies. The onlookers erupted into accolade.
When they pulled apart, Selena said, "Dammit, I wasn't supposed to cry. Sorry." Sirius wiped away the tears with his ring hand.
"Don't be sorry," he said. He lifted her up into the air and spun her around.
Selena felt the oddest sensation that her father Raphael was the one doing the lifting.
---
Sirius ceremoniously carried a giddy Selena over the threshold. Earlier that week, she had moved into Sirius' house.
"I never knew Dumbledore could dance like that!" Selena laughed.
"Who did? He could teach Remus a few things about lindy-hopping." Sirius set Selena down and let her look around. "My wedding present to you is that the entire house is finally filled with beautiful Moroccan and Indian furniture. And French, and Italian, and Egyptian, and everything else expensive that you wanted."
"Aw, thank you." Selena untied his bowtie.
"I need that, you know." Sirius reached out for it.
She moved back a few steps and said, "No, you don't."
"Really now?" Selena giggled, still slowly stepping backwards towards the stairs.
"Yep." He opened his arms to her, but she shook her head.
"Gotta catch me." She took off sprinting up the stairway.
"I'll get you!" He yelled after her, also running.
"I'm faster than you!" She declared her laughter and Sirius in her wake. Selena opened the door to the master bedroom and kicked off her shoes, waiting for Sirius to catch up. When he finally did arrive, he found her sitting delicately on the bed holding up the piece of cloth she had stolen.
"You mean girl," Sirius chortled, placing his suit jacket on the bedpost.
Selena sat watching him with a coquettish smile, her eyes dancing by the light of the candles. He then reached over and violently pulled her feet towards him, effectively causing her to lie down. Sirius crawled onto the bed, straddling her, and kissed her face.
Arms finding their way around his neck, Selena sighed happily.
8:27 AM on Friday Morning, July 21, 1978
"Good morning, my love," Sirius said automatically. He briefly glanced up at her, then looked back at his crossword puzzle.
"Good morning," Selena yawned.
"You look tired."
"After last night, who wouldn't be?" She grabbed a mug out of the cabinet and peeked over at Sirius. He was watching her, trying not to burst out into giggles, but failed when their eyes connected. She laughed too, pouring her tea.
"So, what're we doing today?" Selena asked casually. She stood next to his chair in the kitchen and peered down at the page he looked at.
"I've decided to make you thongs." Selena looked at him weirdly.
"Um... What? You're gonna make me a pair of knickers?" Sirius let out another barking laugh.
"Thong sandals," he corrected himself. "Eh, flip-flops."
"You purposely said it that way to get a laugh, didn't you?" Sirius wrapped his right arm around her waist, putting his lips to her abdomen.
"Maybe I did."
"Awful."
"Anyway, I'm going to make them out of bamboo."
"Alright. Thank you."
"Because I hate the fact that you've got to use that walking stick around the house. And, I've got a new formula on how to make the shoe, and I want to-"
A loud crack echoed from outside.
"Who could that be?" Selena wondered, making her way out of the kitchen. Sirius got to his feet and followed her. A horrid wrapping at the front door echoed through the house.
"Okay, okay, hold your hippogriffs, I'm coming," Selena yelled upon seeing Remus at the door. She undid the lock and he burst through the door.
"All right, mate?" Sirius asked, seeing his friend. Remus shook his head, taking deep, ragged breaths.
"Did something happen last night?" Selena asked. The night before had been the full moon. Remus whimpered, sliding to the floor, and began to sob. Two more cracks sounded, and James and Lily came through the already open door.
"Remus?" Selena asked, her eyes watering. She dropped to her knees, her cane falling to the hardwood floor.
James was murmuring a flurry of jinxes to protect the house, and Lily shut and bolted the door.
"What the bloody hell is going on?" Sirius asked.
"I don't really know," Lily replied. "I heard a noise outside on the streets of Godric's Hollow when... Oh, James, you tell- you saw more of it."
"I was accompanying Remus last night, you know, as it was the full moon and all. We were in the woods when I heard yelling and then I saw the Dark Mark."
"No!" Selena gasped. She was holding Remus like a child, already perceiving the worst.
"I couldn't just leave Remus, but I couldn't not go, so I led Remus far away from the area and went back to Godric's Hollow. The Dark Mark was above Remus' house, and by this time, Voldemort had set fire to it."
"Voldemort was there?" Sirius asked incredulously. James nodded gravely.
"Yes. Well, by that time, Lily was out in the street, along with several others, and there were Death Eaters too. Snape was there." James paused, but continued his narrative. "Anyway, only Mrs. Lupin was in the house at the time. We aren't sure if Voldemort-" James took a swift look at Remus- "if Voldemort went after her, or just set fire to the house. But Tibernius Lupin came back several minutes later, and by that time, Lily and I were already dueling. Mr. Lupin confonted Voldemort, who was in the burning house... And, well, he's gone now. I told my mum to send a letter to Dumbledore, but Dumbledore already knew and was there by that time. Voldemort was out of the house by this time, trying to kill us all. And then Dumbledore! He scared off Voldemort, but some Death Eaters remained. Lily and I rounded some up. Dumbledore should be by soon. He stayed behind to make sure the Daily Prophet got their facts straight. And that's it."
"Oh, Remus... C'mon, let's get you to the couch," Selena murmured. Sirius helped him up, guiding him a few feet to the living room. Selena draped a downy blanket over his shoulders while he held his head in his hands.
"That's interesting," Selena commented. "Voldemort knew exactly which night to attack."
"Snape," James growled. Another knock from the door rang out into Selena and Sirius' house.
"I'll get it," Lily offered. She went and returned with Peter and Albus Dumbledore. Peter sat next to James.
"I am dreadfully sorry," the silver haired man said, patting Remus' shoulder. For the first time since he came into the house, Remus spoke.
"It's all my fault. I was supposed to take care of them."
"It is not your fault," Dumbledore simply said. "Voldemort knows exactly how to get what he wants."
"What am I supposed to do know?"
"Fight!" Dumbledore declared. "Fight back and avenge those who have died. Fight and help bring back goodness and happiness to the Wizarding world."
"Puh. How do we do that?" Sirius asked.
"The Order of the Phoenix," Selena whispered. "Is that what you're talking about, sir? I didn't think that existed..."
"It does. I ask you six to join me in the fight. You all have reasons for joining, and you all are of outstanding caliber and intelligence. Your aid in the Order's endeavors would be helpful."
"I'll join," Remus said, pulling up his head. "I will join you."
"So will I."
"And I."
"Me too."
"I as well."
"And me."
"Very good. A meeting is at noon today," said Dumbledore quietly. "Information will be sent... Please stay well. This is just the very tip of the evils Voldemort can inflict. And again, my deepest sympathies, Remus. Your mother and father were of very noble and exceptional character."
"Thank you, sir." Dumbledore left the room with a swish of his cloak. In silence, he six friends sat for a moment, thinking of the pledge they had made to a man they idolized.
"No bodies, are there?" Remus asked.
"No," Peter answered. "There aren't." Closing his eyes, Remus sighed into his hand.
Thursday, November 30, 1978
"Thanks for letting me stay here while Lily and James are on their honeymoon," Remus said quietly.
"You're welcome."
"Of course we'd let you stay here, mate- you're practically family!" Sirius clapped Remus on the back. A small smile displayed on Remus' face.
"How's your training going, Quicksilver?"
"Fine. It's hard. I've got a parchment full of riddles to solve."
"Want me to help?"
"You can't, Moony- only Unspeakables and their understudies can see the ink," Sirius deterred his friend from the task.
"That's really harsh."
"Well, when I take my final in February, I can't tote you down in Level Nine, now can I?"
"What does Level Nine even look like? I've only seen the hallway leading to it."
"Like... Like what the inside of your head would look like if we could see what you were thinking." Selena clucked her tongue, thinking of a better explanation. She poured noodles in the pot of boiling water and stirred. "See, some doors would be like your memories, others hold your persona, others've got all the questions you've ever wanted to know but don't know, others hold your knowledge, others- our offices- are like the little people that help you function. And then there are the places in your head that're always locked 'cause you don't ever want anybody to know what's inside."
"Hum."
"Yeah, it's pretty cryptic. I can't tell very much- it's a secret."
"I've asked her about her day at work every day since July the thirtieth, and still I get nothing," Selena's husband grumbled.
"Well, I'm not an Unspeakable yet, you know, so I can't tell you stuff. They're constantly testing my ability to keep secrets."
"She's awful good at that," Sirius sighed. He picked his head off the table. "On the upside, since she's gone, I've been learning how to cook!"
"Really?" Remus looked at his friend strangely. "You've been cooking?"
"Yep. I can make breakfasts. Eggs and bacon and porridge and toast and sausage-" Sirius ticked off his accomplishments on his fingers. "And cereal."
"He makes meals for me before I go to work," Selena announced. "He does a very good job." Remus snickered.
"Don't you laugh! I bet you can't make food!"
"Of course I can. My mum taught me." Remus had put his parents' deaths in the past where they belonged, and he was recovering nicely. All the same, Selena could still see that glint in his eyes- the glint that said he felt accountable.
"Someone set the table for four- Peter's coming," Selena said.
"How d'you know that?"
"Unspeakable training- I know the future," she spoke solemnly. Annoyed, her husband stared at her before she broke into a smile. "No, see, it's the thirtieth. He always comes to dinners on the even numbers of the month. Because then, he raids our kitchen for food for the next day's three meals and the day after that's two meals."
"So he comes around every other day, ransacks our kitchen, and then comes back?"
"Uh, yeah."
"Wormtail's gotta learn how to cook."
"No, he's got to find out how to get the food."
"Anyway, do they honestly teach you how to tell the future?" Remus asked.
"No, you can't do that. Life is full of choices."
Tuesday, December 12, 1978
Selena could hardly find time away from Sirius to write in her journal. Her writing times had decreased from everyday to once a week. This past week had been particularly eventful for Selena.
"Darcy was in the Daily Prophet today. Apparently, she went to the rainforest for vacation and got infected with a strange plant spore. I don't know much Herbology, but this plant was weird. The Healers say she inhaled it, but she got to them too late and the spore flourished on her heart. So now, she's got a parasite living on her heart. (If they'd removed it, she'd die.) Strange thing about the plant Impetus venae is that even though it feeds off the heart, it does not kill its host because that would mean no food. But if there's a major attack of stress (like if a leg was cut off and the body's trying to regenerate), the plant sort of feels the panic/pain of its host and dies. When it dies, the host dies.
Poor Darcy. I hope she's okay and everything. I sent her chamomile tea infused with valerian, a blanket, gloves, a hat, a box of chocolates, and her favorite candies. She wrote me a note that said "thank you" and that was all.
I'm so worried about her. Sincerely-"
After signing the entry, Selena put the diary away in the music box given to her by Darcy. But then Selena stopped and stared out the window.
She slowly said aloud, "But how in Merlin's name did she inhale it if it's only found in the dead?"
Author's Ending Note: Yeah, I think this is my first ending note. Well, I am so, so sorry it took me so long to update. School started back, and I've been extremely tired. I'm sorry, but I'm back on track now.