A/N: Ha! Surprise! Thought I didn't love you, did you? Just kidding.

Now, the scroll that Denali almost died trying to give to Henria has been, FINALLY, read!

:D Hope you enjoy!

Henny, that lucky Penny!

A petite woman sat in front of the mirror. Her hair was flowing in chocolate waves down her back. Her stark white dress a nice contrast to her dark tresses. Her skin glowed with a light tan on her olive skin. Her hazel eyes, more sea foam green than light brown, were lined with deep brown liner. Her lips painted a soft pink. She was positively glowing with happiness and anxiety.

Small hands caressed a rolled piece of parchment. Dirt and grime coated the scroll with years of being held. A soft smile played across the pink softness of her lips. She recalled the day her faithful owl risked his life to present her with it. Even though the memory brought on waves of tension and worry, years had dulled them to a reminder of all that she had endured in the dark times. The times when she almost had lost hope.

With shaky fingers, mostly from nerves and the unknown, she carefully uncurled the stiff paper. Two simple lines greeted her eyes as she gazed upon familiar loopy handwriting. Trust her crazy uncle to somehow get a message to her from beyond the grave.

While you are in the dark, the light is building at the end of the tunnel.
Take care in the knowledge that light always wins, no matter how long the road was.

"You were a man of many words, Uncle Albus." she murmured to herself. A quiet hoot of agreement came from the corner of the room. An owl with graying feathers was perched on a coat rack, ever watching his mistress with careful eyes. She sent him a wink that was returned with a slow blink. They both knew that his time was coming. It hurt, but it was expected.

A knock interrupted their loving glances.

"Henria, are you decent?" a low and deep voice called through the door.

"Yes, daddy!" Henria called back as she sent one more wink to her Denali.

The doorknob clicked as it was turned and a man with graying brown hair entered. His features were impossibly untouched with time. His square jaw was relaxed as a broad grin curled his lips. Tears gathered in the corner of his eyes as he took in the vision that was his daughter, Henria Aislinn Sownbinder.

"You are just as beautiful as your mother was on our wedding day." he reverently whispered. A sad smile formed on her face as she remembered who would not be here to see her married. It hurt so much to know that her mother would not be there to tell her how radiant she was in her own dress.

"Thank you." Henria whispered back. She let the parchment roll back on its self and tucked it into her shoe. Two of the most important people in her life would be with her while she walked down the isle to her intended.

"Are you almost ready, sweetheart?" his deep rumble washed over Henria and calmed her nerves.

"Very much so. Are you ready?" she asked him pointedly. It could not be easy to give away your daughter, no matter how strong willed she was and how powerful a witch she had grown into. She would always be a daddy's baby girl.

"No, but like you reminded me, I had better do this or suffer the consequences." he smirked as she grinned wickedly. Yes, she was a very capable witch.

Henria rose from her chair and crossed the room quickly. She wrapped her arms around her father's torso and gave him a bone crushing hug. Jaerymiah returned the embrace with as much force. Most of the time he had wished she had stayed in Alaska with him, but seeing who she was today made him realize she needed to move here and be her own witch. It may have hurt him, but it made him proud to call her his daughter.

"I love you, daddy." she whispered into his chest.

"I love you too, baby." he answered.

They slowly broke apart. She looked over at her owl and saw him watching them with a happy glint. A tug pulled on Henria's heart and she crossed to the coat rack. Her hand came up and Denali gingerly hopped down to perch on it. Henria lowered his aging form down and lightly kissed his feathers. Oh Gods, she was going to miss her baby boy when his time came.

"You ready to threaten him, one more time?" she whispered into his feathers. A soft hoot pulled a smile to her lips. Oh how Denali loved to threaten people who came near his witch.

"Come on you two, it is time." Jaerymiah stated, hating to break up the emotional moment between witch and familiar.

Henria brought him to her shoulder and he stepped over and parked his talons. A final look over and the three left the room.

The music was soft and the witches and wizards present were murmuring softly. The union between the American Hit Witch and wealthy pureblood wizard was exciting. Who could stand either of them? She was crass and loud and conniving. He was spoilt and arrogant and cunning. They made a scary pair indeed.

As the witch rounded the corner on her father's arm, many women present stifled gasps. Her simple style was breathtaking on her. Her simple make-up and demurred dress complimented her personality so well, that she had an aura of light around her. Her groom stood at the alter with a dumbfounded expression plastered on his aristocratic features. Her maid of honor stood, looking proudly at her friend as she made her way slowly down the isle. She loved it when her sister in all but blood could surprise a room full of war veterans. That was just her kind of style.

As the three came up to the arch, Jaerymiah kissed Henria's hair at her temple and released his death grip on her hand. A brilliant smile thanked him for being so brave about it all. A quick look to Denali and he mustered all the energy his old and tired body could to swoop at the groom's head. This was his final warning to the wizard. If he at any point hurt his witch, he would know and there would be hell to pay. He would not care if he was dead. He would haunt the bastard with ghostly hoots and screeches until he went mad.

A nervous chuckle came from those present. Many had seen the bird in action and did not feel sorry for the poor wizard. That owl was more a menace than a pet.

Henria stifled giggles as she stepped into her place. She glanced up into pools of silver. They were slightly annoyed at their antics, but he understood the need. That blasted bird needed to feel like he was still in charge and Henria was a slave to anything it wanted. It made the wizard feel a touch sorry for the two of them. Henria had told him at length why she would miss the foul thing. He could care less, but what hurt Henria, hurt him as well.

"Are you ready to begin this wild ride, love?" Draco Malfoy whispered softly as he gently took her forearm into his grasp.

"I am very much ready to be married to you, Draco Malfoy. The real question is, are you ready to begin this wild ride, darling?" she whispered back with a smirk playing close to her lips.

"You have no idea." he replied with his expression mirroring hers.

A wild ride, indeed.