Disclaimer: Harry Potter isn't mine.

Chapter 18 Surprise!

A week before the wedding, Kat finally found the courage to talk to Ginny. She was so nervous that she wanted to throw up, but she forced herself through the floo anyway. Mrs. Weasley told her that Ginny was upstairs, getting ready for a Quidditch game, and Kat felt an overwhelming sense of dread with every step she took up the stairs.

"Ginny?" Kat knocked lightly. "It's me…"

There was some fumbling and a curse, but Ginny eventually opened the door. She wouldn't look at her. "Hey."

"Can I come in?" Kat could tell Ginny knew what this was about and didn't want to let her, but she very reluctantly opened the door wider. She sat on her bed, leading Kat to do the same. They stared straight ahead at the Quidditch posters on her wall. "I'm sorry it took me so long to come over."

"Because of Malfoy," Ginny said bitterly. She hesitated before continuing and brought her knees to her chest. Blaming Draco was easier to talk about than what was really going on. She had been doing it ever since she found out he and Kat were together. "…You kissed Luna at that party. In my fifth year."

Kat winced at the memory. She thought Ginny was going to dance around the subject or maybe deny it. The incident she was referring to was a Christmas party, and she was wasted. When she saw the mistletoe, she didn't think much of it and neither did Luna. They kissed briefly on the lips and broke away to laugh when everyone started cheering. "It didn't mean anything."

"To you," Ginny mumbled. "But I thought…"

"I'm sorry." Kat looked at her feet. Her white laces were half tied and in knots because she let Teddy practice tying shoes on her black Converses. "I never said anything because—Remus and Sirius always kept things private. I thought you wanted to too. But I should have told you that you didn't have to-that I don't care about stuff like that."

"I had a date," Ginny said so quietly that Kat had to strain her ears to hear her. "During your bachelorette party. That's why I bailed." She laughed bitterly. "I've tried so hard. For years, Kat. And sometimes, I can ignore it. I can giggle with you when you talk about fucking Malfoy. But then I come home, and I'm all alone in my room… I used to think it was just you. I used to wish that you were a boy. Then there wouldn't be something wrong with me."

"There's nothing wrong with you, Ginny," Kat said quietly. "If I was a boy, would you still—would you still be in love with me?"

Ginny was quiet for a long time. She probably wasn't used to hearing that she was in love with Kat out loud. "I don't know."

"You're date was with a woman?" Kat asked. Ginny nodded. "I think you should bring her to the wedding."

Ginny tensed and whipped her head over to her. "Are you insane? The only people who know are you and Malfoy! There are going to be hundreds of people there!"

"So you won't have to tell anyone…" Kat smiled awkwardly when Ginny glared at her. "Think about it. I want you to be happy. I love you, Ginny… Just not in the way you love me."

"She is going to be there." Ginny cracked a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "And if I bring Neville as my date, I think she'll kill him."

Kat laughed but forced herself to say what had been in the back of her mind for years. "Do you hate me? For not… For not being…"

"A little bit," Ginny admitted. "But not like after graduation. Not like when you said you loved Malfoy for the first time."

Kat squeezed her eyes shut. She had wanted Ginny to say no, that she couldn't possibly hate her, but she couldn't expect her to lie either, not after hiding her feelings for so long. "Bring your date to the wedding, Ginny. It'll mean a lot to me if you do."

Ginny didn't start crying until after Kat left, and Daphne didn't come out of the closet until she heard a sniffle.

"There, there, Ginevra." She was the only one who could get away with calling her that. With a sigh, she wiped a tear off her cheek. "Katherine doesn't know what she just lost. She's as stupid as Theo says."

"She's not stupid." But Ginny smiled anyway. "What would you have done if she wanted to be with me?"

"Clawed her eyes out," Daphne said without hesitation. "Are you going to let me walk down the aisle with you? I have black and white dress robes, so I'll match your brothers'. I'll stand right next to Ronald. I need to let him know that I know he's taking advantage of Astoria."

"We'll see." Ginny felt her heart leap to her throat. She feared her parents' reaction the most. She was the only daughter, so she felt like she was disappointing them.

In Daphne's eyes, she had already said yes. "I'll get a black bowtie. And I'll get you emerald earrings. Astoria has a pair."

Ginny waited for Daphne to ask if she still loved Kat or if she would ever stop, but the accusations never came. Perhaps Daphne sensed this because she kissed her instead of demanding answers. As they leaned back on the bed, Ginny wrapped her legs around Daphne's waist. For once, she didn't worry about locking her door.

The day before the wedding, Draco woke to the sound of Katherine retching. She and Black were up late last night with the seating chart and ordered a ton of Chinese food an hour before the restaurant closed. Great.

He opened his eyes to see Katherine's face hidden in the trashcan. If she had food poisoning again, he had no idea what they would do.

Draco held her hair up while trying not to react to the sound. "Do you need some water?"

"No!" Katherine finally lifted her head from the trashcan. "This can't be happening."

"Maybe you should try—"

"Jesus fucking—" She gave up on vulgarity and settled for screaming like a savage. "I can't get married like this!"

Draco tried not to look at the trashcan as she slammed it on the ground. "I think—"

"Don't rub it in my face because I don't want to hear it!" Growling to herself, Katherine got up and stomped to the closet to get dressed. "I'm going to Saint Mungo's, and if they can't cure me, you can visit me in prison because I'm going to burn the Chinese food place to the ground!"

Draco rolled his eyes. Katherine loved that restaurant to the point that she bought the owner's daughter a small used car for her sixteenth birthday. He'd give her a week before she wanted to go back. "We have the rehearsal."

"I can't go to the damned rehearsal!" Katherine fumbled with her contacts before giving up and throwing the box before snatching up her glasses. She looked like she wanted to yell some more but had to run over to the trashcan to get sick again. "Go by yourself!"

"But—" Draco sighed as she slammed the bedroom door and stomped off to the floo. Hopefully she only had a mild case of food poisoning.

Because Katherine was acting like a child, Draco had to take Hermione to the rehearsal and practice the ceremony with her. Blaise was watching them in the church next to the castle where they were having the reception. His arms were folded over his chest like he thought his friend was going to start making out with his girlfriend any second.

"This could have been us," Hermione said to Draco before smirking at Blaise, who scowled. "If you were correct."

They were standing in front at the front of the church, and Draco had just read his vows. Kingsley had just left, and Blaise was in the front row of the wooden pews.

"I can't picture it now." Draco frowned, realizing that he actually couldn't. He remembered when he was in the hospital, wishing that Hermione was sitting with him instead of Katherine. It felt so wrong now.

"Me neither." Hermione looked at the mostly empty pews, perhaps trying to envision them full of people. "I was going to agree to a date. If you know, we were mates. And I liked you, but it was so awkward! I had to really think about if I liked you in that way. I don't think I could."

"I fancied you," Draco admitted. "I did third year too. Did you ever—?"

"No," Hermione said instantly. She laughed when Draco's face fell. "What? You were a prat!"

"You didn't even have to think about it," Draco mumbled, causing Hermione to laugh even more.

"I think Kat fancied you sixth year." She grimaced. "But don't tell her I said it!"

"She sliced me open," Draco said flatly. If anything, he thought Katherine never hated him more than in sixth year.

"Ron and I were never sure," Hermione admitted, looking like she was still confused by the whole thing. "Kat has a thing for blondes."

"I've noticed," Draco drawled, remembering the foot guy. "Thank you. For answering my letters back then. You didn't have to. You could have gotten Unspeakables to bond you to Weasley."

"Where's the fun in that?" Hermione glanced at Blaise, who was still scowling. "Everything turned out better this way, don't you think?"

"Definitely." Draco wouldn't have it any other way.

After the rehearsal, Draco found Katherine lying in bed flipping through a magazine, which she rarely did. Upon closer inspection, he saw that she wasn't really reading it, just staring at a Quidditch supplies advertisement. The picture had a bunch of children zooming around the field, and her eyes were following the seeker.

"Feeling better?" he asked lightly. They couldn't move the wedding the day before the event, so he didn't know what they would do if she was still sick.

Katherine looked up. She had an odd look on her face as if someone just slapped her. "Y-yeah. I was a little dehydrated, so they gave me something for that."

Draco raised an eyebrow. Perhaps she was embarrassed for reacting so strongly this morning. "So you did have food poisoning?"

She still had that odd, shocked expression. Katherine bit her lip and said, "I have to start eating better."

"Finally." Draco sat next to her and wrapped his arms around her. "I can't have you shitting yourself at the altar."

With a smirk, Katherine turned back to her old self, meaning she was going to torment him. "I won't," she promised. "But you're going to have to wait until after the wedding for your surprise!"

"Surprise?" Draco looked around her room, expecting to see a giant box on the floor that she would taunt him with. "Like a gift?"

Katherine nodded and pushed him away slightly so she could take his belt off. "And you'll have to wait until tomorrow night to get it! And you won't find it anywhere!"

"I'll find it," Draco growled as she pushed him flat on his back so she could straddle him. "You actually want to do it here?"

"I bought Sirius, Remus, and Teddy tickets to see that new Winnie the Pooh movie." Katherine grinned as she started unbuttoning his shirt. "I don't mind fucking when Sirius isn't home."

"Thanks for telling me after two months." Draco gasped when she shifted and slid her hand down his pants. "And must you be so crude?"

"Yes." Katherine let go so she could kiss him. Then, she looked him dead in the eyes and said, "You aren't finding my surprise."

"Katherine!"

The following morning, Draco barely opened his eyes before Katherine started throwing every blanket and sweater she owned at his face. For Merlin's sake!

"Are you insane?" she yelled before Draco heard her shut herself in her closet. He almost agreed and said that he had to be out of his mind to marry her. "You can't see me before the wedding! Get out! Get out! Get out!"

"Katherine!" Draco tried to yell back through all the fabric. He had to throw several things off himself before he could sit up. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

She wouldn't come out of the closet. "We need all the luck we can get right now!"

Draco rolled his eyes. It was rather tempting to yank the door open. "Why?"

There was a pause. "Because we're about to get married, you wanker!"

"Are you really that superstitious?" No answer. His robes were at the Manor anyway, but Draco wasn't going leave until he saw if he could use the situation to his advantage. "I'll leave if you tell me the surprise."

No such luck. "If you don't leave, I'll scream until Remus and Sirius come in and remove you!"

Damn. Well it was worth a shot. "Alright, darling. I'll see you later."

"Okay. Bye!" she called out from the closet, sounding happy and carefree. Draco once again rolled his eyes before going downstairs do use the floo. At least he only had to wait one more day.

"Please Victoire?" Fleur pleaded. After an hour of hearing the tot scream, Kat had such a bad headache that she felt like she was going to be sick. She could do without a flower girl, but Fleur was a bridesmaid, making Bill a groomsmen. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were in the front row, meaning that's where Victoire would be having her tantrum if she wasn't involved in the wedding.

"I ring boy!" Victoire screamed. Kat had no idea how she still remembered. She offered her a kitten and a puppy, but she still refused to be flower girl.

Kat was ready to send Victoire across the country in a box. "Teddy's ring boy, Vicky. You can't take his job. It'll hurt his feelings."

"I don't mind." Teddy eyed the flower basket that Victoire had thrown. "Then I can walk up with you and Dad and Daddy."

"I ring boy!" Victoire yelled while Fleur tried to shush her.

"Are you sure?" That sounded a lot better, actually. Then she could have her whole family with her at once. They could always charm the rings to stay on the pillow…

Teddy nodded and with a smile, changed his hair to match the bow on her dress. "Then we can go as a family! Can Drake be flower boy too?"

"No. He's going to be waiting for us." Kat glanced at Fleur.

Fleur sighed, and Kat felt bad because her bridesmaid dress didn't fit this morning, and they had to magically let it out, so the emerald dress looked a little distorted compared to everyone else's. Now her little girl wasn't going to be flower girl. "Perhaps next time, Victoire."

"I ring boy!"

Kat knew one thing for sure, she was happy never to hear that again.

Because Theo refused, Blaise was stuck standing next to Weasley at the altar. His ears were still red because everyone gasped when the hillbilly walked in with Astoria. Blaise didn't know what his problem was. People were still whispering when Ginevra walked in with Daphne. Blaise glanced at Weasley, who was trying not to look at his sister. Oh, perhaps that was it. This was the first the Weasley family knew of Ginevra's interest in women. Blaise couldn't help but smile. This is great.

Blaise was still laughing to himself when Katherine walked in. Draco's breath hitched when he saw her walking down the aisle with Black and Lupin. So he liked the dress. Thank Merlin because Blaise didn't want to hear him whining about it while Theo bragged about how stunning Pansy's dress was.

By the time Katherine arrived, she already had tears in her eyes. Blaise glanced at Hermione, silently asking, Seriously?

She shrugged as if to say, I don't know what's wrong with her. You know she's crazy. Okay. Blaise may have added that last sentence in himself, but it was true.

The best part was when Kingsley Shacklebolt announced, "Katherine and Draco decided to write their own vows."

Now Blaise was there when Draco asked Katherine if they wanted to write their own vows. It was another one of those ridiculous double dates. However, Draco's words were, Do you want to say our own vows? Katherine looked at him like he was crazy and said of course. The fool must've thought Draco was asking if she was comfortable speaking in front of so many people. She looked absolutely mortified as Draco started speaking after sliding her ring on her finger.

"The first time we met, I had no idea who you were. That meant something completely different to me when we were eleven. I was annoyed that you didn't tell me you were The Girl Who Lived. I was even more annoyed that you didn't want to be my friend.

"Ten years later and I find out that you are my mate. I was terrified. Instinctually, I knew I couldn't be with anyone else, but I didn't see that all of my past memories of you were tainted with jealousy. I couldn't see the real you, and you couldn't see the real me. I thought you would never be able to love me, and I only wanted to be with you because I thought you were my only option. I was an idiot.

"Although there were some difficult times, I have never been so happy in my life. I promise to always stay by your side, even when you have food poisoning, to endure your terrible jokes, and to not be afraid to try new things, including those in the Muggle world. You are everything to me, and I am so glad we were given the opportunity to start over."

Katherine covered her mouth, and Blaise had to hold his breath to keep from laughing. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Mrs. Malfoy wiping her eyes and Black trying to discretely do the same. He couldn't wait to hear whatever Katherine made up on the spot. He smiled at Hermione, who was doing her best to keep a straight face. Draco was clueless and eagerly awaiting to hear what his soon-to-be wife head to say.

"Erhm…" Katherine was turning redder and redder. Draco's face fell when he realized she didn't know what to say. She slipped his ring on his finger with shaking hands. "I-I promise to love you, and, er, you know, forever… And… To love you through sickness and in health… And-and you are the love of my life, and no words can describe how I feel about you."

You could try. Draco was clearly just itching to snap at her, and Blaise had to give him credit for not doing so.

Katherine smiled awkwardly, silently saying, That's all I got. At least Shacklebolt had the sense to save her before she started rambling.

"If anyone has an objection to this union, speak now or forever hold your peace." Shacklebolt paused but went on quickly before Katherine could open her mouth and make a fool of herself some more. "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You made kiss the bride."

Blaise could tell that Draco was tempted not to. Finally, he gave into her halfhearted pout and kissed her. Everyone started cheering so loudly that Blaise wanted to cover his ears.

"I can't believe you!" Draco hissed as they had their first dance as husband and wife. Kat blushed at the memory of saying her vows. "You've had weeks to prepare!"

"I thought you meant repeating back the vows that Kingsley said!" she whispered. "Instead of just saying 'I do' when he's done! I didn't see you writing your speech!"

"Because I didn't want you to know what I was going to say!" Draco twirled her around, and she wondered if the people watching them could see the angry look on his face. "That was humiliating."

"Imagine it from my end!" Kat stole a quick kiss to keep him from saying it was her fault. "We'll laugh about it later." From the look on his face, it didn't seem that Draco would be laughing any time soon. "What can I do to make it up to you?"

Draco smirked, and she already regretted making such an offer. "Ask Severus to dance."

Ginny hid from her family during most of the reception. She mostly stayed with Daphne and listened to Nott tell boring stories while she thought about how much of a stupid mistake she made by attending the wedding with Daphne. Her heart skipped a beat and started pounding when her father finally found her in the sea of people and asked her to dance.

At first, they danced like nothing was wrong, like they had a George and Angelina's wedding two years ago. Dad only started speaking when it was becoming clear that Mum wanted to intervene.

"You could have told us, Gin," he said softly. "We're surprised, but surprised isn't the same as angry or sad."

"Dad…" Ginny glanced at Daphne, who was dancing with her own father and circling her protectively. "I wish I was normal."

"You aren't normal, Ginny." Dad smiled when she tensed. "You are incredibly extraordinary. And not because you brought Daphne Greengrass as your date to the wedding."

"Thanks." Ginny still felt ashamed, but she could see Mum watching them hopefully. She wasn't angry. She could tell at the altar that her brothers just felt incredibly awkward. It was an awkward situation, especially since she lied and told them that Neville was her date. They weren't expecting it. So it wasn't her family that wasn't accepting her. She wasn't accepting herself.

For the sake of her marriage, Kat slunk over to Snape, who was eating with Blaise and Hermione. Blaise laughed at the sight of her and kept a rare smile on his face when Hermione slapped his arm.

"So… Snape…" Kat smiled, but the permanent scowl on Snape's face only deepened. "Draco wants me to dance with you."

"I'd rather square dance with Arthur Weasley," Snape drawled.

"You can't be sour forever Snape!" Kat looked over to see Draco and his parents laughing at her at the head of the table. He just told her to ask Snape to dance so he could make fun of her with his parents! Those bastards! "Alright, Snape. I'm still feeling sick from my food poisoning. Send this to me tomorrow."

Snape narrowed his eyes and took the folded up napkin. To everyone's shock, he actually smiled when he read it. He had to be drunk. "I'll floo it to your hotel room."

"My little Kitty Kat is all grown up," Sirius said sadly as he danced with Kat. "It seems like only yesterday I was changing your nappies and putting the soiled ones in Remus's coat pocket."

You mean Pettigrew's, Kat thought since she knew the story, but she didn't bother correcting him. Sometimes Sirius liked to act like the fourth Marauder never existed. "Remus said you were a terrible babysitter."

"Remus is a liar, Kat." Sirius's eyes darted around to make sure Remus wasn't close enough to hear that. "Anyway, I think you should cancel your honeymoon. Teddy wanted to know why we couldn't go with you. We don't know how to explain that you are going to start being… intimate with Malfoy."

Start? Kat didn't have the heart to correct him. In fact, she wanted to ignore most of what he just said. "When are you going to call him Draco, Sirius?"

"He calls me Black," Sirius said stubbornly.

"Can't you be the adult for once?"

"No."

Kat stepped on his foot on purpose. "You're taller than him, so you're the adult."

"Only by like two inches," Sirius nearly whined.

Kat sighed. What was she going to do with him?

While Draco danced with Pansy, Kat was stuck with Nott. She wanted to dance with Ron, but he wanted to stay with Astoria, who was feeling lightheaded.

"It is a shame," Nott said with his usual nasally voice. "That our spouses are best friends. I find you insufferable."

Kat shrugged. "It's okay, Nott. I find you just as repulsive."

"Good. I couldn't have you thinking that we could be friends." Nott flinched when she stepped on his foot. "You're the worst dancer, Potter."

"Oh I've been stepping on your feet on purpose," Kat lied smoothly. "I wanted to scuff your shoes. They look new."

Nott snorted. "I'll throw them away anyway since your filthy Muggle heels touched them."

Kat decided to take that as an invitation to step on his feet some more.

"What do you think they're talking about?" Pansy asked as she watched her husband try to step away from Katherine's feet.

Draco winced, understanding his pain. "Probably how much they hate each other."

Pansy smiled. "I'm surprised her dress isn't a frumpy mess. Not as stunning as mine, but the bow was cute."

"She is so beautiful," Draco said quietly, almost to himself.

"I'm shocked too." Pansy giggled when Draco nudged her. "What would you have done five years ago if someone told you that you were going to marry her?"

"Hexed them into a stupor." Draco chuckled. "It seems like you're the only one who isn't paired off with a Gryffindor, Pans."

Pansy shook her head in disapproval. "I have incredibly stupid friends." They danced past Daphne, who was threatening the Weasel. "Astoria has to be the stupidest of the lot."

Draco watched Weasley puff out his chest and most likely say something stupid like that he wasn't afraid of Daphne. Astoria was cowering behind him and trying to drag him away. "I think you're right."

Draco raised his eyebrows when Katherine chose the filet mignon instead of the dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets for dinner. She even chose the broccoli and a baked potato instead of those oddly shaped potatoes she called "tatter tots." "How bad was this food poisoning?"

"I almost went insane," Katherine said. She ordered a chocolate milkshake instead of champagne, so at least he knew she wasn't dying of some junk food related illness. "And I told you I need to start eating better." She smiled after he snorted when she took a sip of her milkshake. "One step at a time, my dearest husband."

"Yes, we don't want you to die from sugar withdrawal." Draco kissed the milkshake off her lips. "I love you."

"Love you too, Drakey Poo!" she chirped before digging into her food.

"I hate you." No, he couldn't say that. They had only been married for a few hours. She smiled brightly and wiped whipped cream from her milkshake on the tip of his nose. "I really hate you."

"What are you going to tell Teddy?" Kat wondered sleepily as she danced with Remus. She was about to leave for her honeymoon and somehow forced Remus to have the last dance with her. He hated dancing.

Remus obviously had no idea what she was talking about. "He fell asleep an hour ago, Kat."

"No. I mean…" Kat lowered her voice. "Sirius said that he was asking why he couldn't go on the honeymoon. You aren't going to tell him we're having sex, are you?"

Remus stared and then shuddered in revulsion. "He did no such thing. Sirius just wants you to stay at Grimmauld."

She was going to kill him! If there was one thing she hated more than talking about sex with Sirius, it was talking about sex with Remus. "Sirius is dog meat next time I see him."

"It was nice knowing him." Remus stopped dancing and hugged her tightly. "I'm so happy for you, Kat. This is exactly how Lily and James would've wanted your wedding."

They should be here, Kat wanted to say, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. "Today was perfect."

"Words can't even describe how I feel," Remus teased, quoting her from earlier today. "You didn't inherit your father's talent for last minute speeches, I'm afraid."

Kat felt her face flush. "I thought—Never mind. You'll take care of Sirius while I'm gone, right?"

"I'll do my best," Remus said dryly.

"Teddy will help." Kat felt like she was going away for years, not two weeks. "I'll bring you back a gift."

Remus's eyes twinkled like he already knew what it was. "I can't wait."

"So what's my surprise?" Draco asked after he managed to catch his breath. They had just finished having sex for the third time, and he didn't want Katherine to fall asleep without telling him. He had a feeling that she would do it on purpose so he would be up all night wondering.

But she was wide awake and had this odd, shy smile on her face. She didn't say anything until she got out of bed and put her silk green robe on. "Okay." She walked to the closet in their hotel room and opened it to show that it was empty. Then she walked to the bathroom. "So. No Sirius in here." He stared when she looked under the bed. "And he's not here."

"If he was, I'd be concerned." Draco sat up and laughed at his own joke. "Why do you need prove that Black isn't here?" What could Black have to do with his surprise? His smile faltered and his heart skipped a beat. She always teased Black and told him… "Wait…"

Her smile widened. "I'm pregnant."

Anyone see that coming from my little hints throughout the chapter? :)

I was thinking about writing a two shot of Ginny and Daphne and Ron and Astoria getting together, but I was really tired this week… Anyway, I'll tell you when I get around to it. Hopefully within next couple weeks!

Thank you for the reviews gr8rockstarrox and remeyqueen74!