Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JKR, of course. Just puttering about in her world.
A/N:Last official chapter, with the epilogue to follow tomorrow. Hard to believe it's done. Next story should start up soon though. :)
"We should have eloped."
Ron chuckled at Harry's distressed declaration. "Bit late for that, mate. And even if you did, Narcissa would track you down and make you go through this ceremony anyway, you know."
Harry squirmed as Hermione busily inspected his clothing, brushing away an invisible speck of fuzz here and tweaking how the cloth lay there. "Hold still, Harry, or you'll keep making this bunch up."
"I don't know why I agreed to full, formal wizarding dress robes," Harry moaned.
Again, Ron got to be the voice of reason – and his smirk declared he was enjoying his role. "You agreed because Narcissa batted her eyelashes at you while holding your babbling son in her arms."
That memory brought a smile to Harry's face and let most of his discomfort at the posh clothing and impending flamboyant ceremony drain away. Narcissa's pamphlet had proved providential, and after a trip to Edinburgh to the Paediatric Audiology clinic at an NHS hospital, Richard had been fitted with a soft headband that did seem to work despite the audiologist's initial doubt it would work with his level of hearing loss. Severus was rather firm in the theory that Richard's parseltongue manifesting was what led to the BAHA band working and suspected that the bone-anchored device would work even better.
Richard would never have the clarity of hearing that the rest of his family had, but at least now, he could actually understand their speech. He now babbled incessantly and threw tantrums if anyone removed the headband while he was awake. They had to use protective spells in the bath to keep the device safe, but it was worth it.
Hermione finished her clothing adjustments and stood back to study Harry with a critical eye, but her expression slowly turned to one of satisfaction. "You look wonderful, Harry. You carry off the traditional pureblood look well."
"Too many damned buttons to dress like this normally," Harry stated. "I don't know how Severus manages it."
Ron laughed. "Magic, mate. One spell to fasten up all those buttons, and another to release them. Plus whatever he does to make the robes billow out. That has got to be a spell, you know."
The silly statement drew Hermione and Harry into laughter, and the trio fell into a comfortable group hug. "I'm so glad you two are part of this today," Harry said.
It earned him brilliant smiles from the both. They'd attended his first wedding, but it had been an understated affair.
"Harry? Are you ready?" Andromeda stepped into the room, carrying Richard on one hip. She graced them all with a warm smile.
The dark-haired wizard spun slowly for Andromeda to inspect his clothing, finally accepting his outfit as perfect when he realized Richard wore a miniature version of it. Uncomfortable as he might be in the complicated garment, his son looked like he'd been born to such glamor. Someone had charmed the soft cloth of his headband to match the silver robes he wore, with the outlines of tiny green snakes running as a border.
"Da!" Richard reached for his father, grinning happily, and Harry took him, cuddling the boy to his chest and kissing his soft blond hair.
"Allie is ready as well, and I think she's more nervous than you or Draco either one about today going perfectly," Andromeda said, turning to inspect Ron's state of dress after seemingly approving of Harry's. The silver robes over green doublet and black breeches didn't accent the redhead's coloring the way they did Hermione and Harry's, but he still looked regal enough to please the discerning woman.
"Tell Allie I'm certain she'll outshine us all," Harry said. He handed Richard over somewhat reluctantly to Hermione, who stepped to the doorway at Andromeda's urging. The older woman cast a quick tempus charm and nodded.
"Head to the south entrance now and enter with Richard when the music starts." With that last instruction, the current Mrs. Snape hurried off to whatever wedding detail she had to help her sister oversee next.
Harry took a deep breath and followed Hermione and Ron to the ballroom that held the guests waiting to witness what the newspapers had begun declaring the 'wedding of the year' despite it only being February and legally only a ceremony to celebrate a civil partnership. Then again, it was unlikely there'd be another marriage this year of families with the combined standing of Malfoy, Potter, and Black behind them, so Harry supposed it was an accurate description.
The music started, and Hermione set Richard down, holding his hand so the boy could enter alongside her. Harry peeked into the crowded room to see Allie entering from the opposite door, her own small hand tucked into Millicent's. The pair were beautiful in their green robes over a silken silver dress, and Harry didn't think he could feel more joyful than seeing the two women meet in the middle and the children take each other's hands. The ceremony would be short enough that Richard would be allowed to stand with his parents as long as he wanted.
At the change in the music, Ron stepped out into the room, leaving Harry to stand alone. He met Greg in the middle, and the two men shared a smile in greeting before melting to the side of the women who'd entered first.
Feeling the worst attack of nerves he'd ever had, Harry shivered as he stepped fully into the doorway as the music changed one last time. But every ounce of nervousness disappeared as Draco appeared opposite him. He met the beloved grey gaze steadily, each step into the room bringing him closer to the man he'd chosen to spend the rest of his life with.
As they clasped hands over their children's heads, the music ended. Richard looked up and lost the solemn look he'd worn at being in a room full of strange people. He reached up toward Draco with his free hand, demanding to be picked up. "Fa!"
Soft laughter rippled through the guests, and Harry gave Draco an apologetic smile. The blond returned the smile, unperturbed, and lifted the toddler into his arms. As he settled Richard onto the hip away from Harry, Allie moved to Harry's other side as if this change to their positions had been preplanned. Harry put an arm around the little girl and took Draco's outstretched hand.
Severus began to speak, and with the solemn words spoken, the four became the family officially that they were already by love.
"Are you disappointed we're not having a honeymoon?" Harry asked as the door to their suite in the Manor closed behind them. His feet ached from all the dancing at the reception, but he forgot that as he watched his husband move further into the room and shed his robes. He was suddenly glad Draco had worn the flowing garment. If he'd displayed himself in those tight black breeches during the reception, the celebration would have quickly lacked both grooms.
Draco turned with a smile, shaking his head. "I don't need to go off to some posh hotel or exotic location to celebrate being your husband." As Harry neared him to claim a kiss, he slid Harry's own robes to the floor. His tongue explored Harry's lips before demanding entrance, where he twined it with Harry's.
When he remembered he had to breathe, Harry demanded softly. "What's the spell?"
The blond was puzzled at first, until Harry tugged at the tiny buttons on his silver doublet. Chuckling softly, Draco whispered the spell as he drew his hand slowly down the row of buttons on Harry's garment. The dark-haired man groaned as Draco's magic washed over him with the unfastening of the buttons, and he quickly managed to mirror it.
"Too many buttons and layers," he protested as the next barrier to touching Draco's pale skin ended up being the man's silk shirt. Repeating the spell worked well to divest that garment too.
A gentle shove from Draco spilled them both onto the bed, but the blond didn't seek more skin to skin contact immediately. Instead he captured Harry's wrist, raising it to his mouth to kiss the newly formed magical tattoo that matched his own. Dragon and griffin romped playfully, as if they were a pair of puppies, encircling his right wrist and Harry's left.
"I never thought I'd willingly take any mark on my skin," he said softly, grey eyes intense with feeling as he met Harry's. "But I'd wear this one on my forehead if you asked, so the entire world knows where I belong."
"So would I, Mr. Malfoy-Potter."
The words incited his husband back to action, and as Harry gave in to the beloved, familiar weight above him, his magic flickered around them both, drawing Draco's out and dancing along their skin as their very magic celebrated with them.
A/N:
BSolomon, Lientjuhh, and Lupinesence - glad you liked the last chapter.