'My dearest Friend, whether I stand high or low in the estimation of the world my conscience is clear. I thank God I have you for a partner in all the joys and sorrows, all the prosperity and adversity of my life. To take a part with me in the struggle.' John to Abigail Adams

Chapter 63

The wedding was going to be quiet affair. Neither Ariana nor Harry wanted a lot of people there. They didn't even want a lot of people to know about it. They could only image the story lines that would hit the prophet.

Fairytale ending for Boy Who Lived!

Happiness for Harry at last!

Dumbledore sister marries way after her time.

It was not a pleasant thought. Besides the quieter it was the easier they found it was going to be to arrange. And so that week was all preparation for what promised to be the wedding of the year (for those in attendants) begun.

Albus found a discreet vicar. Aberforth sorted the booze, Sirius did the food. There was no time to waste. The Weasley's, Hermione and Andromeda Tonks all got invites. Selected Order members would also be attended and they were all informed if the circumstances in which bride and groom were cementing there love and why it had to be so quickly.

Part of Ariana said it was vulgar to push on with their big happy day when it was so recently that so many people had died. But it was better done sooner than later.

Those who knew of these circumstances of course understood. The discipline they had to employ was in effect 'now or never'. There was no point in waiting. It made no sense too.

The big day was set for that Sunday. Like everything else that had significance in their 'love story' it was to take place on Hogwarts grounds. It was where they had met; where they dance at the Yule ball; conceived Alice.

Thus on Saturday evening, much to Harry's annoyance he was forced out his own home as Luna, Ginny and Hermione came over. Ginny's new sister in law Fleur also came, as did Poppy Pomfrey and McGonagall. Though the young women saw this as the elders keeping an eye of them, Ariana was glad they were there. They had all helped her in their own way.

But none of them seemed to be in the party mood. Maybe as they knew what was coming. Going out into the kitchen, Ariana grabbed another bottle of wine. There was no reason in the world why she should not indulge herself a little, not now.

A knock on the door told her she was not alone. Hermione was there, as was Ginny.

"Ready?" she asked.

"For tomorrow? As I am ever going to be." She shrugged. A sigh followed. "I want to be with him forever Hermione. Six months isn't long enough." Since she had been planning her wedding, she had been faced with the enormity of what she was going to lose when she lost her life. It wasn't just what she had. No what hurt her heart the most was knowing she was also losing what she might have one day had. A long life...matching rocking chairs... grandchildren...

"I know. But at least the two of you get to say your goodbyes this time."

Ariana nodded. In truth, it was only when she thought of her young family she had any quibbles with her fate. Otherwise she was more than able to accept it.

"We are too young to have to think of goodbye."

For herself, she welcomed what would come. For him, she did not. For Alice, she didn't. A life time in her fiancées arms was she could not deny though, an appealing prospect – if only it could be her fate. She wanted to see her little daughter grow tall.

Selfishly, when she thought of her death she thought of what was going to come after. A chance to be with her parents, the chance to say sorry. A life time with Kendra and Percival also had its appeals. And it felt so long since they had been together.

She didn't want to leave what she knew. But she looked forward to what was ahead.

"I know you are. But at least you can," said Hermione as she took the wine and moved towards the living room. "Are you not coming?"

"I need to talk to Ginny quickly, can you give us a moment please?" she said as she beckoned the red head further into the room.

Hermione who hadn't ever known the pair to be close looked at them curiously before she left them.

Ginny shifted uncomfortably. She had never disliked Ariana but she had never been her favourite person in the world. She had ever unnerved her. Now that she was left alone with her, she knew she would rather be anywhere else in the world.

"I know you are probably wondering why I wished to talk to you – it is a strange reason I give you that but I feel I have to say it," Ariana said taking a deep breath to compose herself. She didn't wish to say what she was about to but she knew she had too all the same. "In a few months I am not going to be here anymore, Ginny. Harry is going to be alone and I cannot stand that thought as he is such a good person – he deserves more than me; always did no matter what Aberforth said to the contra." she said thoughtfully looking her straight in the eye. "Don't let him be alone for long. I have seen what grief can do. It can fester away at you. Destroy your chances of happiness. Don't let that happen to my man."

Ginny nodded and was about the reply when the other girl swept out of the room and back to the party. She stood there for a while thinking on what she said, not understanding what she meant or why she said it.

-

"Well how do I look?" asked Ariana as she stepped into the sunlight. Having come out the cottage she found her daughter with her uncle's. The four of them would go up to the ceremony together, along with Hermione.

"You look lovely my dear." Albus reassured her.

Aberforth shook his head. "A rose among the thorns, kiddo." He nodded.

As ever, Ariana had gone for her own style when it came to her wedding dress rather than what was 'in style'.

Rather than fit her tightly, it hung off her body as if her skin did not touch the cloth. The only thing the smallest bit risqué about it was that the next line was lower than she was used to, but neither was she exposed. On the contrary she was well covered up.

"Oh and what a pretty little Alice we have here!" she said looking at her little daughter in her flowers girls dress. It was baby blue and matched the colour of her eyes.

"Mama!" she squealed and run to her. Lifting Alice in her arms, she passed her bouquet to Hermione who was her maid of honour.

Hermione felt her heart rise in her chest at the sight of mother and daughter together. They were getting so close only to be pulled apart from one another someday soon.

"Aren't you just the most beautiful girl in the world hey sweetheart?"

"Are we goi' to go and see daddy now?" she asked.

"Yes we are. And then mummy and daddy are going to get married." She told her with a smile.

"Like a 'airy tale?"

"Yes sweetheart. Only better." She muttered as she kissed her child's nose making Alice laugh.

The walk up to the school was slow, Ariana walking between her siblings. They were all aware of the fact that by the end of the day she would indeed be Harry Potter's wife before she as their sister.

Going over to Hogwarts felt strange and wonderful all at once. The last time she had been there had been a battle going on – and now she was getting married there. As she saw the castle, it melted her heart. She never realised how beautiful it was. But then she was seeing everything with brand new eyes.

The marriage would take place under a willow tree by the lake, and as they approached they saw chairs were set out. The groom and his party had arrived. Harry stood at the front, Sirius and Ron at his side.

"I'll go sit down," Albus said as he kissed his sisters check. "Really my dear, you are lovely." He told her before leaving her to Aberforth.

Her big brother held on to her with one hand and her child in the other, while Ariana had been passed her bouquet of roses back.

The two siblings locked eyes. This was it. "What am I going to do without you?" asked Aberforth.

"Live brother mine. Live." She said to him. Leaning forward, she gently kissed his freshly shaven face and then pulled back. Her veil was then put over her face by Hermione. And just like that, she was gone from him.

Turning to the aisle Ariana didn't feel in the least bit nervous, there was nothing to be nervous about. Her eyes settled on Harry and she was safe in the knowledge they were soon to be man and wife.

Her hand rested on her brothers arms. She could feel that he was shaking. This was not what he wanted for her and never had been. But because she had asked it of him, he did it.

Guilt and an overwhelming sense of gratitude hit her.

"I love you." She whispered as they walked down the aisle.

"I know Ari, I love you too kid. You can come home – whenever you need me. I'm still here." He promised as they walked through the chairs.

They were all too suddenly with Harry.

Taking his sisters hand he put it in Harry's and once they were joined laid his own over it.

"I give you my sister – and my blessing on this marriage."

And it was then that in Ariana's mind that they were married. The words they said after – the vows were meaningless. It had been Aberforth who had joined them in love – but the vicar who joined them legally.

As they stood by side by side, bride and groom both wore electric smiles. This was all either of them had wanted for so long. And if they were not going to be together long then they were going to make the most of them time that they did have together.

The actual ceremony passed in a bit of a blur for Ariana. All she knew was that when it came to an end she turned to see many tears stained faces (Sirius' included). Harry wasn't crying though. And neither was she. Maybe they both had enough elixir now to realise that they could put the time together first, the grief second.

"You may kiss the bride..." the vicar said.

Between them, their child looked up as her mother and father kissed in the sunlight in moment that would warm Harry's heart for the rest of his life.

Her lips weren't cracked as they had been when they were reunited. Her hair had been washed clean of the grease. It was as if she had been utterly healed in preparation for that day.

"I will always be yours," she whispered to him as they draw apart. People were clapping but he only saw her and their daughter. They were the only ones who mattered.

Sweeping down, he picked Alice up, put an arm about his wife's waist and walked them down the aisle.

Not since Halloween night 1981 had there been a real Potter family and yet here they were. The new age of Potters.

Harry, Ariana and Alice: The Potters.

They were a real unit now.

He continued to smile, kissing both his wife and child as they walked. All that mattered was that they had one another, and they were together.

After that they had a wedding supper in the Gryffindor Tower which had been decorated for the event. The initial thought had been to use the Great Hall but it would have been too much for all of them to go where there friends had died so recently. It would be disrespectful.

The castle was full of ghosts, and not just the floating kind.

It was not long till music was playing and drink was flowing through the Tower. Harry and Ariana insisted. What had happened that day was not to be looked on as the last desperate wish of a couple who were doomed to soon be separated forever but rather a couple just like any other who wanted to show the world how devoted they were to one another. Not that anyone could doubt it after all they had been through together. Had she not been dying they still would have married – perhaps they may have waited a little longer, but ultimately they would have married.

After the food, the tables were cleared away and the dancing begun, with Ariana and Harry opening it of course.

"I feel like we are back at the Yule Ball." She whispered to him.

He shook his head at how long that seemed ago now. They had been through so much and changed so much from those days. They had been so young at the Yule Ball. Gladly would he compete in a Tri Wizard Tournament now. That seemed like a doddle compare to everything else he had done.

The moment for them was happily interrupted by their daughter who informed her father she wanted 'up.' So it was with Alice wedged between them that they finished up the song – and neither of them would have wanted it to end any other way.

She had been about to sit down at the end of the dance when she heard a voice in her ear.

"Have you a dance for your exceedingly old brother?"

"No," she turned. "But for Al; yeah, I might have one for him."

Albus gave a light heated laugh and led her back to where she had been standing with Harry and took her in his arms. His eyes twinkled.

"How could I have ever been ashamed of you?" he had meant to say it in his head but he had said it out loud.

She didn't look horrified though – rather she looked grateful for the honesty he was affording her.

"I didn't mean to shame you if I ever did."

"As if you could Ariana." He said. "I was a stupid young man. Know only if I could turn the clock back, I would. I have been very selfish over the years – yes I have, don't interrupt," he said cutting off her protests. "I made more than one decisions when I put something over you and Aberforth in importance and I never should have. I even put something in greater importance than little Alice. You both should have been number one to me from the moment that we lost our parents. I adore you little sister and am so proud of what you have achieved. Ariana if I could go back I would. Please forgive me."

"There is nothing to forgive. And I would not have you go back! Things have not been easy on any of us, brother mine and you know that better than anyone else in the entire world. Albus, if you want the truth then I would not change a hair on your head – even back when we weren't that close. Your folly, as you might call it; your misjudgements meant I was sent into the future. It meant that we could be so much closer than we ever could have been back then and it led me to, Harry. You let me be educated and you gave me a better life. You allowed me to grow up and I will always be thankful for that. But you have got to let go off this grief, guilt and me."

"Ariana – even when you go, I suspect we won't be apart for that entire long."

A lump rose in her throat. "Maybe not – but you follow me when your called and not before – do you understand?"

He nodded.

"Brother I mean it – thank you – for every little thing you ever did. Albus, you'll never know how much I love you."

He nodded, and they feel silent. The two of them danced on long after the music stopped.

-

"What a day Mrs Potter." Said Harry.

It was hardly the traditional end to a wedding night, with them both in comfortable nightwear and dressing gowns, but then they had always had their own ways of doing things. Harry brought in two mugs of hot chocolate to the living room where he found his daughter sleeping in her mother's arms, curled up in front of a roaring fire. He had never seen such a pleasant sight.

"Indeed, Mr Potter," she said as moved gently enough so Harry could sit behind her but not so quickly as to wake their child.

Harry wrapped his arms about them and kissed her. His wife...

"She enjoyed herself." He said as he stroked one of Alice's chubby cheeks.

"I know – I don't think Ron stopped chasing her about till eight or nine."

"No wonder she is exhausted."

A beautiful moment of silence took them. Harry didn't like to break the silence but then remembered he had to tell her something.

"I got an owl from the ministry today. They want me to start working there – helping them after Voldemort and everything."

"When do you beginning?"

"I'm not going to take the position Ariana. I'm needed here."

"Not all day, every day you're not." She saw that he looked quite taken back. "Oh Harry, don't take that the wrong way my darling. It's just... we have months before – I want to live normal married life for a while. Harry, let me be a wife to you. Let me look after our child in the day and cook you dinner by night. After so long of being mad, I realise my biggest dream isn't for us to go away together as we planned to. But to live normally – if only for a short time. Please take the job Harry. Let's live normally." She pleaded.

He realized every world she said had been the truth. Unable to deny her, he grazed is lips against her cheek and nodded. "If that's what you want ... I'll owl the ministry tomorrow. I'll take the job."

"It is," she said as she looked at their child. Then, knowing she had the courage which could break at any given moment, she turned to him. "Harry I have one final wish – just one." He nodded.

Turning to face him she looked into his green eyes knowing what she was about to say would break her own heart.

"What is it?"

"Promise me..."

"Anything."

"When I am gone, you mustn't grieve forever. Harry, I broke Aberforth's heart today." She said as she swallowed down the lump and let tears spill over. "He waited his whole life to get me back; only to have me chose you over him in the end. He is such a good man, and would have made some woman a wonderful husband. But he waited for me instead. You mustn't do the same." She ordered him, wiping a tear off his check. "Love again without guilt, without shame. Remember me, but don't live in memories of the past. I tried to. It doesn't work." She pushed her lips to his. "Live Harry. That's my wish. I'm dying. But you're not – and so must carry on when I am gone."

Harry could say nothing in response; only kiss his dear, dear wife. Life after her seemed impossible. But then time travel was impossible.

They had always been living on borrowed time.

"You're the love of my life. That, Ari, won't ever change."

They sat there until the embers burnt low in the fire and long after the steam had stopped rising off the hot chocolate.

Moonlight lit the room and still the family remain as they were, at least for a moment, frozen in time.

'Should I draw you a picture of my heart? You would know with what indescribable pleasure I have seen so many scores of years roll over our heads. With an affection heightened and approved by time. Nor have the dreary years of absence in the smallest degree, effaced for my mind the image of that dear untitled man to whom I gave my heart. You could not be, nor did I wish to see you, an inactive spectator.' Abigail to John Adams.

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