You guys ROCK! Have I told ya that recently? NEVER let anybody tell you otherwise! Lol. Anyway…..this chapter is "The Wedding of a Marauder!" Hope u guys enjoy it! This is like my BIGGEST challenge yet with this story coz……well coz Sirius is my favourite character and I want his wedding to be perfect coz Gary Oldman gave us such pleasure when he brought Sirius to life two years ago so…..I hope I do a good job here! If I don't I'm sure you will tell me! Lol. Ah no really though thank you for the reviews and I'm glad you liked chapter 25! I meant what I said above. You do rock! Keep them coming! Enjoy chapter 26 and I hope it lives up to your expectations! Talk 2 ya!
Finally September 30th arrived in glorious abundance. Andromeda had done as she promised and made five brides made dresses, five groomsmen suits, two flower girl dresses, two page boy suits and the most important outfit of all being Sharinas wedding dress. They were a credit to her. The five bridesmaid dresses were ankle length gold cotton fabricated, strapless dresses with a fawn shawl to match. The back had a Kris cross effect which ended half ways down. They were made to co-ordinate with the groomsmen suits which had its traditional black pants, white shirt and black jacket but had a golden coloured waist coat and matching bow tie. The page boys were the same as the groomsmen as the flower dresses were a fawn short sleeved dress. That morning, to avoid Sirius seeing Sharina before the wedding it was decided that the men would get ready in Sirius and Remus house while the women would get ready in James and Lily's. Sharina had asked her older sister Hillary to be her matron of honour and her two brothers agreed to be Sirius groomsmen. Though outside was a glorious sunny day, inside the girl's house was far from sunny. Sharina was panicking as it was only ninety minutes to the ceremony.
"Well what if he doesn't show Lily? Ill be mortified! Ill never live it down……"
"Hush Shari okay? That is not something you need to be worrying about."
"Well didn't you have these last minute nerves with James?"
"Yes of course I did. But a good friend told me that if he had no intention of going through with the ceremony, then he wouldn't have proposed in the first place. Remember Shari?"
Sharina reciprocated Lily's amused smile as she nodded.
"Come on lets get upstairs to the others okay?"
"Okay. Let's do this." Lily smiled at her distraught friend as she followed her upstairs into the main bedroom. The atmosphere was the total opposite in the men's house.
"Oh yes James. It's very important to have the hair looking right for Lillian!"
"Shut up Sirius!" said James as he through a towel at a grinning Sirius who was standing in the bathroom doorway. "Where's Harry anyway?" James asked turning away from the mirror to look at his friend who had the pants on and the shirt hanging outside it.
"Oh he is in with Remus getting sorted out."
"What do you mean getting sorted out?" James asked looking perplexed.
"He somehow managed to fasten the buttons incorrectly so there is one or two with no holes to go into!" Laughed Sirius. James just smirked as he shook his head.
"Okay guys look who is ready to fulfil his very important duties?" Remus called coming down the hallway. Sirius turned around and James stepped out of the bathroom.
"Hey hey looking good champ!" James said smiling at his son.
"Thanks dad." Harry replied settling his jacket. "Well Padfoot. What do ya think?"
"What do I think? What do I……Harry mate you look great!" Sirius declared before picking him and spinning him around in his arms. "You guys could pass for twins!" Sirius remarked looking between Harry and James.
"Ya except I'm better looking Sirius!" Harry said grinning at Sirius which made Sirius cheer and Remus and James laugh. Sirius then put Harry on the ground.
"Come on you two lets go downstairs." Remus said as he and Harry went on ahead.
"I suppose that was your doing Pads!"
"What? I have no idea what you are talking about mate." He winked at James who rolled his eyes and slapped him across the back. "Ill just grab my jacket and be down to ya in two minutes."
"Alright Sirius mate." James said as he went downstairs and into the kitchen to the others.
One hour later all the women were ready so Lily stepped outside to check on the car situation. James was standing at the door of the other house when he saw Lily. He smiled at her before rushing over.
He kissed her quickly on the lips before saying…..
"You look amazing Lils."
"Thank you James. You don't look so bad yourself actually."
"So does that mean that you won't be ashamed to walk down the aisle with me?" He smirked at her.
"Oh James….I could never be ashamed to be seen with you." She kissed him a little deeper than last time. "Feeling is mutual darling." She smiled at him before asking…..
"What time are the cars due at? Its 11:30 now and the ceremony commences at 12:00."
"Ya well when I booked them at the ministry they said that they would be on time……and here they are. Problem solved!" He winked at her before calling the others out of the house.
"So who is going in what car?" Lily asked.
"Well four limos by sixteen people……mathematically it would be four by four but……"
"Lily darling you look lovely as ever!" Sirius shouted with a smug grin across his face.
"Thank you Sirius. James and I are just trying to work out the car situation……"
"Well what is there to work out? I will go in one with Remus, James and Harry. You take one for yourself, Isabelle, Karina, and my beautiful Sharina. Then there are two left over for Andy, Ted, Tonks and Lucia and finally number four can be used for Sharinas brothers Dylan and Dieter, her sister Hillary, her husband Gary and the two kids Rob and Chelsea."
"Where would we be without you Sirius?" Lily asked smiling in relief.
"Not at the wedding that's for sure!" All three laughed before the rest of the groomsmen emerged from the house. After they were all in a limo and gone off to the church, Sharina came out of the house with Karina in front and Isabelle behind. Her dress was a creamy fawn colour, and a similar design to the bridesmaids. It was a few inches from the ground, strapless and a zip up the back design. It wasn't puffy like your average one but slender just like her. Her hair was up on her head mid way in a bun and it was curled. She had ringlets embracing her face. Around her neck she wore the locket that Sirius had given her for their first anniversary which had a picture of them inside with Sirius smiling at her as he had his arms around her. Engraved on the back were the initials "S.B 4 S.S forever."
"Sharina you look beautiful. Sirius will be swept away." Lily said as she hugged her friend.
"Thanks Lils."
"Okay can we go already?" Tonks cried impatiently which earned her a thump from her sister.
"If you are ready Shari….." She looked around at everyone before saying…….
"Okay….lets do this guys."
At the top of the church Sirius waited patiently with Remus, James and Harry on his right. The other groomsmen were sitting in a bench to the left.
"Are you nervous Padfoot?" Harry asked.
"No mate I am not. Do you believe me?" He asked smiling down at him.
Harry just nodded. Then in the doorway of the church, Remus saw the bridesmaids congregating. He nudged James and he looked up.
"Okay Sirius mate that's our quay to go. Harry come on."
Sirius stood by breathing deeply. If truth be told, he was a little nervous of today. But what he knew seemed to calm him. He knew he loved Sharina and that they could overcome any obstacle married life threw at them. When James, Remus and Harry reached the porch, they approached their co-ordinating partners. Harry and Arielle would be walking down first followed by Rob and Chelsea; Sharinas niece and nephew, Lily and James next followed by Remus and Tonks, Isabelle and Dieter followed by Karina and Damien and Hillary and Gary took up the rear. All the couples walked down with their arms linked but the flowers girl also had to scatter rose petals along the aisle. When Sirius saw Harry and Arielle walking down he couldn't help smiling to himself. As soon as they all reached the top, the couples separated; Lily and Hillary stood to the left hand side of the alter whilst Remus, James and Harry stood next to Sirius on the right. A few seconds later the wedding tune was heard which indicated the bride was coming. Sirius stood upright and looked to his friends who nodded and smiled their approval of him looking fine and symbolising good luck also. He looked down at Harry who smiled and they gave each other a small, discreet high five, symbolising good luck and gratitude. When they all looked up again, Sharina was walking down the aisle with her arm linked with her father's. She smiled coyly at Sirius who smiled warmly back at her. As soon as she was a few feet away from the alter, Sirius stepped forward to take her the rest of the way. Her father whispered to her…..
"Good luck sweetheart." He kissed her on the cheek.
"Thanks dad." She said discreetly, while releasing the grip on his hand as well as holding back tears.
"Take care of my little girl Sirius. She means everything to me."
"Of course I will. She means everything to me too." Both men smiled at each other before Sirius turned to Sharina, smiled and asked "Ready?"
She nodded as she smiled and said "Ready." Sirius then took her hand and guided her to the alter. At the foot of the alter, the priest was standing before them as he asked…..
"Who gives this woman to this man?" Shane who was standing behind them said..."I do." Shane then walked over to his seat after exchanging smiles with his daughter and Sirius.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to today to unite to young people who wish to unite in matrimony. If anybody here has any objections as to why these two people should not be married, please speak now or forever hold your peace." The priest waited a few seconds before he continued.
"As nobody has any objections we shall begin the ceremony. I believe that Sirius and Sharina have wished to express their own hand written vows." They both nodded before the priest smiled which indicated for them to begin. Sirius took Sharinas hand as he turned side ways to face her.
"Sharina you stand here before me preparing to become my wife. I still cannot get over how happy you make me. You taught me to love and not to be afraid of it. For that I am grateful to you. I may not be perceptive but know this, not a single day will go by where I will make you unhappy. So finally…" he turned to Harry for the rings who held them on a velvet cushion..."Sharina I vow to take you for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health until death do us part." They smiled as he slid the ring onto her finger. Then Sharina said……
"Sirius you are the most important person in my life. I never thought that I would be so fortunate in finding the best life partner anyone could have. You always know just what to say. That is one of the many things I love about you. I promise to spend the rest of my life making you as happy as you make me." Harry was now standing behind her so she turned around and took the ring he was holding on the cushion as she smiled at him…"So finally, Sirius I vow to take you for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health until death do us part." They both smiled once again as she slid the ring on his finger. James and Remus smiled at each other and Harry smiled up at them.
"I know pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." The priest declared happily.
After exchanging smiles, Sirius and Sharina exchanged their first kiss as a married couple. The church was filled with cheers and the sounds of photographs being taken. A few minutes later, Sirius and Sharina walked down the aisle as a married couple followed by their bridesmaids and groomsmen.
The wedding reception was at the Castlenova hotel just a few miles away from where they lived. When Sirius and Sharina arrived they were greeted warmly with hugs from all their friends and family members. The sun was still shining and since the hotel had some lovely, spacious grounds, they decided to take some photographs outside before the meal. The meal was due to commence at 3:30 so they had forty-five minutes to spare. Everyone ventured outside for the photographs.
Later that night, after the meal was over the band started playing which indicated that the bride and groom were to be the first out on the floor. Sirius and Sharina gracefully left the table as they prepared to dance to their wedding song "Too lost in you." They were soon followed by James and Lily, Remus and Tonks, Isabelle and Dieter, Karina and Damien even Harry and Rob escorted their partners Arielle and Chelsea. They of course received the most attention. Sirius and Sharina were dancing, smiling to each other; neither one of them wanted to break the tranquillity of the moment by using words. They both knew what the other was thinking. Sharina rested her head against his chest while Sirius rested his chin on her head. After the song was over, only two of the original couples remained on the floor but were soon joined by others. James and Lily stayed on stealing glances at Sharina and Sirius as they remembered this night eight years ago.
"So how does it feel to be Mrs Black?" Sirius asked smiling down at her.
"It feels…..amazing Mr. Black." Sharina replied after she removed her head from his chest.
"Good. I'm glad to hear it but you know you could always keep your maiden name Shar. I don't mind about stuff like that."
"Aww Sirius you are so sweet. But I really want to take your name."
"You really want to take my name?" Sirius asked grinning.
"Oh shut up you tool!" She said as she whacked him on the arm playfully.
"So now you're calling your husband a tool? Oh that is just charming darling!" Sirius remarked as he massaged his "injured" arm. Sharina just stared at him. Sirius stopped as he asked..."What?"
"That is the first time you've called me that since we got married."
"Oh yeah your right Shars." He said as he smiled at her.
"So what do you say we go get a drink?"
"Ya that would be good but there's something I need to do first."
"What Sirius?"
"This." He exclaimed as he smiled at her and kissed her.
A few hours later when all the commotion had died a little, Tonks approached Remus who was sitting at a table by himself waiting for James to bring them back beers.
"Wotcher Remus!" She exclaimed gleefully, taking a seat next to him.
He smiles before saying…"Hey Tonks how are you?"
"Oh ya mate I am great! How come you aren't out dancing? There are plenty of eligible ladies out there!"
"Oh well Tonks…..I'm not really into dancing so much."
"Aww why not Remus? I mean you are a good looking guy. I am sure any girl would feel privileged to be hanging off your arm." Remus had his fist against his mouth. He removed it, smiled and said….
"Tonks you're drunk."
"Ya? So?" She asked as she shrugged her shoulders and rested her elbows on the table.
"So…..you don't know what you are saying."
"I know how I feel Remus. Anyway I'm only tipsy really."
"How much have you had to drink?" He asks pouring her a glass of water.
"Ah just five glasses of champagne and two vodka spritzers. Not that much really."
"Here drink this. We can't let your mother see you this way." Remus said as he handed her a glass of water.
"Aww Remus you are so sweet. Did you know that?" She asks taking the water from him.
"Just drink the water Tonks." Remus said seriously.
"Alright alright." She said as she downed the water in one gulp.
"You know it's a pity that I can't find someone like you Remus. All the blokes these days have got a one track mind." She says putting the glass back on the table. So Remus re-fills it.
"What about Charlie? I thought you guys were serious?" Remus says handing her the glass again.
"We broke up a couple of weeks ago."
"Oh Tonks I am so sorry to hear that."
"Please don't apologise Remus……me and Charlie weren't exactly serious anyway. Besides it was an amicable decision. We both knew it wouldn't work out since we spent most of our time arguing. We are really good mates though. And that's the way it's going to stay!" She smiles broadly at him and he reciprocates. "Well if that was the case, ye made the right decision Tonks. Salvage your friendship while you could." Remus replies playing with a corner of the table cloth.
"Exactly Remus. So now I am a free agent!"
"So long as you are happy Tonks. That is the main thing."
"Ya but Id be even happier if one particular guy asked me out."
"Oh ya?" Remus half laughs. "So you are the hunt already?"
"She laughs at him. They share a five second stare before she says…
"Well I have been interested in this guy for a while actually. He is really kind, decent, sensible…..sweet." She moves closer to him but he doesn't notice because he is watching Sirius dancing with Harry and Arielle. "He sounds like quite a guy Tonks. I hope you can make him see sense." He replies still watching Sirius. She looks at him as she replies……
"So do I Remus." He turns and smiles at her before saying…..
"Tonks will you excuse me for a second?" Ill be right back." Just as he gets up, Tonks calls him so he sits back down again and asks…."Ya Tonks what is….." She brushes her lips against his….."It." He looks at her perplexed. She looks away.
"Tonks what are you doing?" Remus asks astonished.
"Isn't it customary to show someone that you like them Remus?"
"Well yes…..but Tonks why me? I am so much older than you are."
"Nine years is not a whole lot Remus. And I can't help how I feel okay?"
"What do you mean how you feel?"
"I have been interested in you for the past twelve months! Were you not listening to me just there?"
"Well yes but I just never expected it to be me that you were referring to. Look Tonks, you are seventeen and I am twenty-six. There is too much of an age gap there."
"So it's just about the age gap?"
"Yes…."
"So if I was say….twenty-four things would be different?"
"Maybe. I don't know Tonks. The point is you are seventeen and not twenty-four…."
"Tell me that you feel nothing for me Remus."
"I am one of Sirius best friends. Can you imagine how he would react if I started dating his kid cousin!"
"I am not a kid Remus!"
"Look Tonks you are a beautiful girl and for any guy it would be an honour to be seen with you. But I am sorry….we can't do this now. So if you'll excuse me…..I am going over to James at the bar." With that he left leaving a hurt Tonks behind. James and Sirius were laughing and joking over at the bar when a distracted looking Remus approached them.
"Hey sorry mate. But I was just coming over to you when Sirius here started talking to me."
"Oi Prongsie! Ya gota be nice to be today coz this is mine and Shari's big day!" He then drank some beer from a bottle in his hand. James just smirked at him while handing Remus his one.
"Don't worry about it James." Remus said leaning on the bar counter.
"You alright Mooners? Oh great speech by the way!" Sirius said as he applauded him a little.
Remus smiled blandly at him while saying "Thanks Sirius and yes I'm fine."
"We saw you talking to Tonks there." James said.
"You saw me talking to her but you didn't see anything else right?"
James and Sirius exchanged quizzical looks before James asked….
"What shouldn't we have seen Remus mate?"
"Oh nothing. It's fine. Don't worry about it." Remus replied drinking some beer.
"Not bloody likely Remus! So come on, out with it!" Sirius said taking a seat at the bar as the others followed suit.
"Tonks kissed me." Remus said meekly.
"SHE WHAT!" Sirius and James exclaimed in unison.
"Shh. Keep your voices down will ya?" Remus said looking around to see if anybody heard.
"Sorry Remus." They replied together.
"But really…Tonks kissed you?"
"Ya James she did."
"And did you…..kiss her back?"
"No of course not James!"
"Well why the hell not?"
"Because Sirius…she is seventeen, slightly drunk but I think I managed to straighten that aspect out and I am twenty-six. Plus she is your kid cousin!"
"Mate don't hold back on my account. Tonks confided in me a few months back that she had feelings for you. I can't think of anybody better suited for her."
"I am not getting involved with a teenager Sirius!"
"So is it the teenage part or Tonks you aren't interested in?"
"What kind of question is that?"
"A fairly straight forward one by the sounds of it Remus. Sirius has a point!"
"I am twenty-six and she is seventeen, why am I the only one who seems bothered by that?"
"Because you are the one with the problem, mate. Looks Remus age is just a number. It's how you feel that is important. If you like Tonks then you should go for it. I don't have a problem with it and neither does James. Her parents' wont I assure you and Lily and Shari will be fine with it too. She's finished in Hogwarts and is applying to be an auror so you won't be going out with a "school girl"
"Sirius I am not getting involved with Tonks. Now just drop it ya?" He looked at James and Sirius gravely. Sirius shrugged his shoulders as he said... "Alright fine." He took another sip from his beer bottle as Remus said…
"Thank you. Now I am going over to see Albus and Minerva. Do ye want to come?"
"We'll be there in a bit." James said as he smiled at his friend.
"Okay." With that he hopped off the stool and headed over to their table. James looked behind him to make sure Remus was out of ear shot before saying……
"Somebody has a crush on somebody else."
"Oh big style Prongsie! Mr Mooners has got it bad!"
"Yes sir. So…you coming?"
"Lead on Prongsie!" Sirius said jumping off the stool and following James over to Albus table.
By 1:30 everybody had gone home and the only people who were left were James, Lily, Sirius, Remus, Harry, Arielle and of course Sharina... Sirius and Sharina would be staying in the hotel that night but the others would be going home. Harry of course didn't understand why Sirius couldn't home.
"Please come home with us Sirius. You're going away for two weeks tomorrow so….please come back tonight so we can say goodbye." Lily was holding Harry's hand while James was holding a sleeping Arielle in his arms. Lily, James, Remus and Sharina exchanged sad smiles at Harry's outburst but Sirius knew just what to do and say to comfort his godson in this type of situation. He bent down to him and said….
"Harry mate…I can't go home tonight. Don't get me wrong, its not that I don't want to its just that…..well…this hotel you see…won't let the bride and groom use their hotel for the wedding reception unless we use their bridal suite."
"But that is really thick Sirius!"
"Ya mate it is but….every hotel has the same policy."
"Why?" Lily released her grip on her son as he went closer to Sirius.
"That is a good question mate and I wish I could give you an honest answer but I can't. However I reckon it could be their way of saying thank you for using their hotel in some…..retarded way."
"Very retarded way Sirius." Sirius smiled before saying….
"Ya it is Harry. As for your concern that you wont get to say goodbye to us before we leave for two weeks….well I promise you that we will come by in the morning and say goodbye okay?"
"What time Padfoot?"
"Shall we say……11:00?"
"Okay." He smiled at Sirius.
"So you promise me that you're gonna be up?"
"Yes."
"You swear?" Sirius asked smiling at his godson.
"Yes Padfoot but do you swear to show up?"
"Of course I will. Have I ever broken my promise to you before?"
"Nope."
"Exactly." They both smiled before Sirius said…"Come here." Harry fell into his godfather's warm, secure embrace for the best part of five minutes. Before Harry released himself, he said into Sirius shoulder…" Love you Sirius."
"I love you too Harry." The others looked on in awe at the spectacle before them. Lily then tried to release Harry from Sirius embrace but Sirius held up his hand to stop her. Eventually Harry and Sirius broke apart and Harry went over to his parents and Remus while Sirius wrapped his arm around Sharinas shoulder.
"So we shall see you both in the morning then?"
"Yes Prongs mate at 11:00…." He looked at Harry as he said…."sharp." Harry reciprocated Sirius smile. "Alright mate well behave yourself Padfoot!" He hugged him. "I always do Prongs."
He then hugged Sharina before Remus stepped up and hugged Sirius saying…..
"Great day Sirius mate. Thanks for everything."
"No bother mate and thank you again for all the presents and the preparation you guys helped us with."
"Think nothing of it mate." James said as Sirius winked at him.
"See you in the morning Shari!" Lily said hugging her friend.
"Ya of course Lily."
"And thank you Harry for being our ring bearer. You did a great job sweetheart."
"Thanks Shari." They exchanged a small hug before Sirius said...
"Ya great job mate." He winked at his smiling godson.
"Alright well we better be off and let you guys get some sleep." James said smirking at Sirius.
"Alright well thanks again you guys and we shall talk to ye in the morning.
"Alright. See ya." The adults said in unison as they and Harry waved and were gone within seconds. Sirius then turned to Shari saying…..
"So are you ready…..to go the bridal suite?"
"Yes. Yes I am Sirius. Let's go." She smiled at him.
"Okay." He returned her smile as he took her hand and they headed towards the bridal suite.
Okay well that is that. Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and that Sirius and Sharinas long awaited wedding was not a disappointment to you! Anyway the next chapter will take place when Sirius and Sharina return from their honeymoon to some devastating news and will also conclude this area of Harry's life. The next stage is Harry receiving his letter! Anyway let me know what you thought and I shall talk 2 ya soon!