Rose Weasley and the Waiting Heart

Epilogue

It was a freezing cold day as everyone gathered together in the haphazard house and waited. The sky was white and full of snow and it was impossible to see over the hills for the rolling fog dropping down them. The garden was blanketed in a fresh falling of white flakes which had come down during the night but the sky seemed clear for the moment. Everyone was dressed in thick fur cloaks which kept out some of the chill creeping around every part of the house and grounds.

James looked extremely nervous in his dark blue robes and bow tie waiting with his brothers and Salamander, who were dressed in exactly the same robes. He was tapping his fingers against the kitchen sideboard as his friend and brothers grinned at him passing jokes from one another about how pale he was. Someone came to tell them that it was time to make their way into the waiting marquee, "Especially you," they said looking pointedly at James, Salamander, Vernon and Albus who each nodded in turn and began to make their way out to the waiting entrance where they disappeared inside ahead of everyone else.

"So James, is it the effects of last night or what's coming up today?" Salamander asked with a light laugh leaning over to the man standing at his side and remembering his best friend crawling into the flat at about three o clock that morning.

"Bit of both really," he replied wincing as he remembered the amount of alcohol he had consumed to try and calm his nerves.

"What are you so wound up about?" Salamander asked him.

"Everyone watching me and listening to me," he whispered as people began to trail into the magically enlarged room which was draped in swathes of dark blue and white satin which hung across the ceilings and draped down the walls.

"James, you've never been shy about it before and don't you have to talk in front of loads of people at work?" he asked shaking his head.

"Well yes but that's different, it's about work and I know exactly what I have to say. This is different it's not exactly the kind of stuff that I usually talk about is it? Well not in front of a room full of my family anyway!"

"I suppose not but you'll be fine James! Absolutely fine!"

At that moment a magical harp began to play a soft piece of music by itself and everyone turned to look at the open doorway where three bridesmaids dressed in royal blue satin robes with white ermine trims came into view. They smiled and looked at the waiting crowd before starting to walk down the aisle one behind the other clutching a simple bouquet of white flowers. They were covered in blue and white confetti which had fallen from the same enchanted doves that Bill and Fleur had had at their wedding anniversary.

As they reached the bottom everyone turned their heads back to stare at the man and woman who were now standing in the doorway both smiling brightly, though the father looked a little nervous about having all the eyes on him and his little girl. She was wearing the simplest ivory robes with soft feather trims on the hem, collar and sleeves, a plaited gold belt was tied loosely around the waist where the robes tapered in to show the bride's curvy body and two long strings fell from the knot to the floor. All eyes were glued to the pair as they began to walk down the aisle towards the front, the red headed man in dark blue robes smiled at his daughter when they reached the bottom and passed her hand over as James and Salamander stepped forwards and the latter added to his friend, "You're not the one who's supposed to be nervous, it's me who's getting married!" Then he turned to gaze at the beautiful Rose Weasley who's hand was being held out for him by Ron. He took it gently and beamed at his bride, the girl of his dreams and the only person he had ever and would ever love no matter what.

They stepped forwards together and stood in front of the tall man in white robes who was about to marry them, the wedding had happened in a whirlwind for both of them but they knew they wanted nothing more than to stay together forever and both Rose's and Salamander's parents had been over the moon when they had heard the news. They had both found what they wanted, Salamander had someone to shower his love on and Rose had someone who loved her as much as she loved him, and everyone was happy for them. They were the perfect couple who had been through a hard time and survived. They knew each other well and were madly in love which was obvious to the whole congregation who beamed at the couple as they said their vows and then clapped when the wizard announced that they were man and wife, something which caused the couple's faces to burn bright red. As they left the front of the room and walked back down the aisle beneath the enchanted doves Salamander Longbottom positively beamed. James followed on arm in arm with his cousin Dominique and behind them were James' two brothers who led Consuella and Holly out by the arm.

There were a few photographs taken in the bitter cold while the marquee was transformed into a ballroom where everyone gathered to dance, drink and hear the speeches, something which James was desperate to get over and done with. Bottles of champagne hovered around in the air filling all the glasses as eventually the last vestige of colour drained from James' face and face he stepped onto the small platform where the ceremony had taken place and nervously tapped his glass. "If I...if I can have everyone's attention please...I...I would like to make a...a speech," the entire room fell into silence and turned to look at the pale faced man at the front who they had all known well for a long time.

"Right....well I...I would like to begin by saying thank you to Salamander for asking me to be his best man even though I have to make this speech!" Everyone laughed as he nodded at his best friend, "Then I guess I need to go on to say some things about the happy couple," he coughed once more. "I...I was really nervous about this speech, if you can't tell," he added and the room chuckled slightly, "I have to talk in front of a room full of people about allsorts when I'm at work but it's usually something I am knowledgeable about or have read up on in preparation but today...today I have to talk about something which I never knew much about until a short while ago myself." He looked away for a second at this point before continuing, "The two people standing here in front of us," he held his glass out to Salamander and Rose who were stood in front of the platform with their arms wrapped around each other, "are very much in love, in fact I think they may be the epitome of love! Now I know most of the Weasleys," he nodded swiftly at his uncle Charlie who had come dateless to the wedding, "shower love on their partners all the time and our Rosie here wanted nothing more than to do the same, and have someone do it back to her." Rose began to blush furiously but she smiled on at her cousin.

"However she always seemed to manage to find the wrong one for a long time until she met Sal or, I should say, noticed Sal because of course they have known each other all their lives. I was the first one to find out that the two of them were...er developing feelings for the other and was surprised at myself when I didn't tease my cousin to death as I would have done in the past. Instead I started to see that they would be very good for each other and after a discussion with our other dear cousin," he toasted Dominique at this point who turned her head away, "I tried, or rather we tried to give them a gentle nudge in the right direction and did I or did I not say that they would be toasting us at their wedding dear?" he asked looking pointedly at Dominique who nodded her head and grimaced as everyone turned their heads in her direction. "Anyway, they took a bit of persuading but got their in the end, however as we all know fate had a nasty turn for them and I think we were all as devastated as they were when they had to part for reasons beyond their control." He looked poignantly away for a moment but did not dwell on the experience.

"The point I am trying to make though is that because they loved each other so deeply and so much when it was all over they managed to find each other again and rekindle that special love that they had found, the one that I think that many of us envy. All either one wanted was to be happy and have someone to love and now they have that and we can all see that it is going to last forever," he smiled softly at them and Rose turned her head coyly into Salamander's shoulder to hide her red face. "The wedding came around quicker than any of us thought it would but I know they are a strong couple who can face anything and I am honoured to be part of their wonderful day. Now this is the only time I am actually going to talk about my cousin like this so before I go back to winding her up like I usually would, can I please propose a toast to the two most amazing people in the room today, without whom this day would never have happened." He lifted his glass in the air then and added, "To Dominique and James," and then took a deep swig from his champagne. The room erupted in laughter but everyone clinked their glasses together and drank to the two 'matchmakers' before James went on loudly and said, "To Rose and Salamander."

"Rose and Salamander," everyone chorused before they clapped and cheered the happy couple.

"Feeling a bit better now that's over?" Salamander said clapping his friend on the back and shaking his hand as everyone went back to the drinking and dancing which was to continue well into the night for all the guests. James nodded in relief, "Thanks, mate I know it was...hard," Sal added in a low voice.

"Why would it be hard?" he asked jovially.

"Because of..." he trailed off letting James fill in the blank.

"It's over mate, I'm not dwelling on it so don't sweat it, she can go and join Gloria for all I care! I'm off to get myself the hot bridesmaid!"

"James, one of them is your cousin, one of them is Sal's sister and the other is Holly!" Rose joked "Your choice is sort of limited!"

"Yeah mate and I wouldn't recommend my sister seeing as she swings the other way!" Sal added.

"Like I said, I'm off to get the hot bridesmaid," he chuckled eying the slim brunette at the other side of the room, "don't wait up!" and with a cheeky smile at the newlyweds he sauntered across the dancefloor and asked Rose's best friend and chief bridesmaid if she wanted to dance.

"I never thought our James would be the one to have his heart broken did you?" Rose whispered leaning in to her new husband, "And I never expected Annemarie to cheat on him."

"She reckons that he was always going to break her heart one day and go back to his womanising ways so she got in there first, or something like that. He seems to be okay with it all now," Sal replied pulling her into his arms.

"I'm not so sure, I think he's covering up a lot," Rose returned.

"He's got plenty of family around to help him, and I'm sure Holly will keep him entertained for the evening at least! You never know one night with you was all I needed to get over Gloria," he went on nuzzling her neck, "maybe Holly will sort him out!"

"Hmmm," Rose murmured enjoying the feel of his lips on her skin, "how long before we can leave?"

As the midnight sky began to empty its frozen contents Salamander Longbottom whispered in his wife's ear and the two of them bid goodnight to the few remaining guests before heading out into the icy night. Most people had dispersed by then including James and Holly who had both disappeared hours before and the newlyweds had already taken bets on which of their homes they had gone to. Rose pulled her cloak tightly around her as she left the marquee and held her head down as she walked into the cold blast but when she lifted her head again she gasped loudly at the pure white horse stood in front of her. It was dazzlingly bright and was pulling behind it a pristinely white sleigh with red velvet seats covered over with a partial roof which was hung with deep red curtains. A short man in black and white dress robes was stood by a small set of steps which led up to the carriage and Salamander held out his hand to Rose who took it and stepped up into the sleigh. She sat down on the soft seats and waited for her husband to climb in beside her, once he was comfortable he cast a spell at their feet which instantly set a small flame burning to warm their toes, then he put his arm around Rose and held her close as the horse began to trot forwards and the carriage began to move. The few remaining guests, including both of their parents, came to wave them off as they left their wedding in style wrapped up together inside the cosy open sleigh. After a few moments the whole thing began to rise off the ground and Rose looked around startled as they began to climb higher and higher through the snow filled sky racing across the hills and valleys on their way to a new life, together. "Are you happy Mrs Longbottom?" Salamander asked rubbing his nose against hers.

"I've never been happier," she returned kissing him softly on the lips. James had been right (and this was the only time she was ever going to admit it!) all she had ever wanted was someone to love her as much as she loved him and she had finally found that and along with it her real self, she had let the old, desperate Rose go and she never needed to be that person again. They may only have been dating for four months in reality but they had known each other their whole lives and Rose knew now that she would follow the family tradition when it came to love and marriage. She was going to shower it on Salamander Longbottom for the rest of her life because he was her friend, her lover and her soulmate and nothing was ever going to come between them again.

AN: Sorry to my reviewer who liked James and Annemarie but I sort of went off her a bit; there are more James stories to come with a new girl who I really really like so stay tuned if you still want to read about him!