I Don't Want to be a Hero - Second Year
Chapter Forty-Five
It's Gonna Be A White Wedding Day
26 June 1993
Severus stood in front of the full length mirror in his bedroom so he could study himself. Dressed all in black but for the white of his shirt he could turn, and would blend into the shadows. This is, if the sunshine was not shining through the windows taking them all away.
"Merlin's Rotted Teeth, Severus!" cursed Lucius as he walked into the bedroom. "You look like you are ready for a funeral, not your wedding."
Severus turned, and scowled at the dove grey suit, and the rich purple waistcoat he wore. He was far too tailored and trimmed to be a married man with three sons.
"I see no problem with the way I am dressed, Lucius," commented Severus as he turned back to the mirror, and brushed at invisible dust on his shoulder.
"Not that I expect you in virginal white, my friend, but you must consider breaking up some of the black with colour. Now, let me see what I can do." Lucius smiled wickedly as he stepped closer to the Potions Master, and withdrew his wand from the head of his cane. Severus swallowed, fearing the worst.
In Harry's bedroom Draco and Harry both fought for time in front of the only mirror in the bedroom. Draco was dressed in almost the same thing his father was in but he did not wear a waistcoat over his white shirt. He did wear a pearly white cravat that was topped by a diamond encrusted dragon brooch given to him by his mother on his eleventh birthday.
Harry wore a tailored suit of deep blue, a velvet waistcoat of royal jewel blue that was worked with fine silver-threaded embroidery, and a short coat that ended at his waist but had long tails at the back that fell to his knees. He kept tying his long hair with a leather tie, and then removing it.
A knock that sounded irritated and impatient jerked both preening boys from the mirror.
"What?!" demanded Harry.
Hermione pushed through the door with Luna behind her. She stopped midway into the room hands on her hips, and a scowl on her face. She was all prepared to take the two to task for making her and Luna wait for them when Draco cut off her words.
"You look beautiful, Hermione," he declared.
Hermione blushed as she glanced down at her peach coloured chiffon of a dress that fell to her knees in a pretty profusion of ruffles. Her shoes matched, and her curly, brown hair had been tamed into a French braid.
"You think so, Draco?" Hermione smiled shyly. Draco nodded, and then did the gentlemanly gesture of offering her his elbow so he could escort her to the beach where the wedding was to take place.
Harry was not aware of Hermione or Draco as soon as his eyes settled upon Luna. She was not dressed terribly conventionally but her dress was of soft satin, and silk in a woodsy colour festooned with ribbons of all colours that drifted happily from her waist, her sleeves, and they were accompanied by a weaving of ribbons in the wide eyelet hem of her gown. The gown itself fell into floaty pleats that did not define her shape. Lastly, she was barefoot, and flower petals appeared to have been tossed at her hair which hung loosely below her hips.
Harry was enchanted.
"You look nice, Harry," voiced Luna as she blinked her pretty, owlish blue eyes at him.
"Thanks, Luna. Professor Malfoy gave me the suit. He said I had too much black like my father," he laughed self-consciously. He stepped closer and caught one of the ribbons from Luna's sleeve that danced lazily in an invisible breeze. "You look smashing, you know."
Luna's face brightened as her eyes twinkled, and she smiled at Harry. "Does that mean I'll be able to smash things?"
Harry grabbed up her hand, and chuckled. "It's possible, Luna. But, no smashing today, okay? I think my new mum wouldn't appreciate it."
"Okay, Harry," Luna giggled, and gave a little skip as she walked beside Harry. "Do you think your beach might have Hopping Sand Skeeves?"
"Let's go find out!" Together they both left the cottage where together they jumped through a nifty little portal that easily deposited them onto the lower beach.
Luna and Harry ran off to hunt for Luna's Hopping Sand Skeeves leaving behind the nearby bower - a quaint arch dripping with ivy populated by colourful poppies. The bower faced the waves of the ocean while behind it loomed the Prince Lighthouse. There were chairs for a few guests; most of whom had all ready arrived, and were up at the cottage.
Luna and Harry were met by Draco and Hermione, and Ron and Ginny, and their watchmen Fred and George; a duty given them by their father Arthur, and the bridegroom Severus. Luna told everyone about the fairy-like creatures of the sand that she and Harry were hunting for, and soon all of them were barefoot in the sand, and combing the beach for the 'elusive and shy' Hopping Sand Skeeves.
Severus had never meant for such a production for his wedding to Poppy but after he had asked Lucius to stand with him, and Poppy asked Narcissa to do the same, Harry wanted his friends to attend, and four of those were Weasleys which meant the entire family was invited. Molly was not bad to have; she had taken over the kitchen and meant to feed everyone once the ceremony was over.
"White? Merlin's Teeth, Lucius! I look like a hospital caretaker!" Severus groused angrily as the gentleman in question changed the colour of Severus suit.
"A well-dressed caretaker," Lucius corrected. He snorted softly at the terribly pale image his friend presented in his mirror and before him.
"Lucius, so help me, I have no problem hexing you to death on my wedding day if you do not stop this," threatened Severus.
"Oh fine!" huffed Lucius. "Face me." Severus did not move as he was still staring at his tragic reflection. "Severus. Face. Me." Dropping his hands upon the 'white' wizard's shoulders he forced him to turn away from the mirror. "No fidgeting, and no suggestions, Severus. Bite your tongue, and let me fix this."
Severus crossed his arms dubiously over his chest. Lucius knocked the closed gesture apart. "Arms down." As Lucius made adjustments he muttered to himself. "Spoiled brat… thinks he's Merlin… or ten… why Poppy wants him… I am THE Potions Master… I am… OW!"
After listening to the voice of his friend that was modulated just for his hearing, Severus thumped him on the head. "Are you finished, yet?"
Lucius, kneeling on the floor, glanced at himself in the mirror. "You messed up my hair, Severus! I spent an hour…!"
"You did not!" gruffed Severus. "You tied the bloody mess with a tie." He yanked away from his friend effectively knocking him on his arse to the floor. "Well… that is… acceptable."
Severus smoothed the long coat that ended at his waist. The trousers were still black but the pattern had been modified to include thin stripes of even darker black. The jacket was a solid black with the cuffs of starched white cotton protruding from the end of the sleeves. Lucius had adorned the cuffs each with a square cut emerald. Above the deep blue quilted, velvet waistcoat was a pristine white cravat around his throat that was topped with the twin spiral snakes in emerald and silver that were the main part of the Prince family crest.
Lucius rose to his knees, and Severus helped him up to his feet. He began to brush at invisible lint. "Must you sound so surprised, Severus?"
Severus turned sideways and glared at his reflection critically. "I am not so sure about the jacket being so short, Lucius."
"You have a gluteus maximus that your future wife rather likes, Severus. Do not change the length of the jacket," admonished Lucius.
"You have no idea if Poppy likes my ars… uhm… backside!"
"I work at Hogwarts. I eat in the Great Hall," Lucius enunciated each word bitingly. "I have seen Poppy looking at your… arse… and trying not to get caught in her appreciation of said. arse." Lucius chuckled as he re-tied his hair back.
Lucius directed the man away from his mirror, and out of his bedroom. "Time to get you married, Severus. Let us go!"
Poppy generally restricted her wardrobe to the period that flattered her the most, Victorian Witch of Britain. Except she usually did away with the confining corset whenever a dress called for one.
Not for her wedding, though. She had chosen a daring gown that was mostly an elaborate corset embroidered with antique beads of cream and gold on the background of the pearl-like bodice, and decadent red lacing down the low back. The dress was off the shoulder, and she blushed every time she dared a glance at the sculpted, and very daringly low neckline. The waist of the corset continued until it ended in a hip and pelvis designing 'v' that was taken up by a lazy frothing of cream and Summer amber lace that fell generously to her ankles with no hint of a straight, and conservative hem.
Poppy wore no jewelry but Narcissa had lended to her a netting of pearl and moonstone for her hair. The netting had vanished as soon as it touched the amber gold of her hair, and Narcissa was making sure that each pearl and moonstone appeared to fall in a cascade down the wealth of the Healer's fall of wavy hair. Here and there Narcissa poked out tendrils of hair around Poppy's face that she charmed into delicate curls.
Poppy touched the pearls that edged the top of the corset, and tried not to stare at the swell of her bosom that only enhanced the daring nature of the neckline.
"This is scandalous, Narcissa," whispered Poppy to her reflection. "Why did you ever talk me into this dress?"
"Ah! Don't settle the blame on me, Poppy," chided Narcissa. "You were the one who could not take her eyes off this decadent confection."
"I wasn't wearing it at the time, Narcissa," protested Poppy. Still, she could not help the smile at her reflection when she thought of how Severus would react when he saw her. "Isn't this really for a much younger woman?"
Narcissa charmed a small curl above Poppy's left ear. "Stop it, Poppy," she scolded. "You have the perfect figure…"
"Until I start showing…" she muttered with a delighted glint to her eyes.
"Shouldn't a Healer know about contraception charms?" teased Narcissa. "And, what about that Potions Master of yours? Did Severus forget the potion for a wizard?" Poppy only blushed in reply, and Narcissa nodded knowingly. "Methinks twas no accident but a Slytherin plot."
Poppy laughed, and that is when Narcissa handed her Alaric, and she took Alexander into her arms. Poppy easily held the small boy, and stroked his warm cheek with her fingertip. "Practise, Narcissa?"
"I think Severus is more in need of such practise, don't you, Poppy?"
Together they left the guestroom, and the cottage.
Putting Severus and Lucius in charge of the twins while they waited beneath the arched bower for the ceremony to start, Narcissa kept Poppy under a Disillusionment Charm that she muddled with a Glamour to make the nervous bride blend in more with her surroundings. Narcissa was certain the adults would not be able to see through the Disillusionment Charm, but children were sometimes able to see a figure beneath the disguise of the spell. Hence she had 'muddled' the charm with a Glamour.
The portal set above near the outside of the cottage opened like a door near the arched bower to admit Minerva, Remus Lupin, and Albus Dumbledore who wore a crimson robe embroidered with sparkling suns, stars, and moons across its velvety surface. Albus started to amble over to where all the children were building a sand castle but Remus caught him by the sleeve to stop him, and said something Narcissa could not hear at this distance.
Down at the wedding bower Albus grinned up at Lucius and Severus. "Hello! I'm Albus Dumbledore!" he introduced himself, but then glanced quizzically at Minerva, and took an assuring step closer to Remus. Minerva stepped before the two wizards and spoke in a tone only they could hear. "He has forgotten most everyone with the exception of Remus in the last few days." She glanced sadly at the older wizard who was now dragging Remus towards the children.
"Has he deteriorated that much?" asked Severus in concern. "What about the Clarifying Potion?"
Minerva shook her head sadly. "It hasn't helped at all I'm afraid. Remus and I took him to St. Mungos to see his Healer yesterday, and poor Albus wept like a frightened child the entire time. Not even his sherbet lemons soothed him."
"What did the Healer say?" asked Lucius.
Severus had stepped away to watch as Albus sat on the sand to play with the children. He looked like Albus but he was quickly becoming an Albus Dumbledore he was unfamiliar with. Albus often had mercurial mood swings that ranged from tears to tantrums and then to the child-like placidity he was in now. He missed the old man that had always been manipulative, scheming, juggling about thirty different things at once. That old man Severus had despised on one hand, and then was grateful for on the other. Albus had been someone that he could argue with as an adult who would listen to him, and not ever hit him. Likely he had lost that Albus, and would never see him again.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Remus trotting over to Albus and the children. The children were all ready to obey but Albus was noticeably fussing. Remus took out a handkerchief and Transfigured it into a stuffed, red Phoenix. Severus recalled that Fawkes had been missing for three months now. He surmised that the Familiar Bond had broken as the old wizard's mind continued to fracture.
Although he had heard Minerva reply to Lucius' question about Albus' health he pretended he had not as he turned away from the scene of Albus with his phoenix, Remus, and the children walking towards the chairs that had been set up for their guests. He closed his eyes as he woke his Occlumens to remove those last few minutes. As he did so, adding a branch to a grand old tree within his mind, he was unaware of Lucius fussing over him. A touch to his cheek from Lucius, and his eyes fluttered open onto his friend's face.
Lucius looked deeply into his friend's eyes. "As doors will open, some will close. Today is a day of doors opening. The gods have blessed this day with fine weather, good friends, your son, and a beautiful woman in heart and soul who shall become your lifemate. Are you ready to marry Poppy, Severus?"
Severus smirked. "When did you become such a romantic, Lucius?"
Lucius glanced at his twin sons who were sleeping the occasion away in their cradles. "Need you ask?"
Severus shook his head slowly. "I am ready, Lucius, but I am waiting for one more guest."
"Ho! Brother!" Regulus had arrived, and he waved to Severus as he walked towards Severus and Lucius. The two men embraced quickly, and then Regulus shook Lucius' hand.
"I almost did not think you would make it in time, Regulus," began Severus. "Your reply was that you would be travelling away from Hogwarts?"
Regulus nodded. "With my freedom secured I decided it was time to leave my home for a bit. I am just playing the tourist, and then I shall be settling down."
"Settling down?" asked Severus.
Regulus chuckled, "And, you are delaying your wedding which is likely making your bride very nervous."
"And I am getting impatient," Minerva's voice startled the three men. They turned to see Minerva resplendent in rather queenly gown of red velvet splashed by a blazon of her tartan dramatically spilling from one shoulder to her waist, and pinned by a large silver thistle. "Go sit down, Regulus. Lucius, take your place, and Severus, straighten up." Minerva gave a nod to Narcissa behind all of them, and she waved her hand which sent a gentle cascade of music over one and all, and removed the muddled Disillusionment Charm from Poppy.
To say that Severus was struck speechless would have been redundant. Poppy was not only beautiful but as ravishing to him as Aphrodite had ever been to the gods. Her smile as she caught Severus' eye was shy but he felt his blood boil in such a way that it would be a heat that promised to simmer forever. Not only did he feel fortunate to have this woman in his life, but as he glanced towards his son who was beaming like the sun at Poppy, he knew a healing of his past tribulations was not just his but Harry's and Poppy's.
The ceremony felt like a dream at that point for both bride and groom. They would recall every minute of their time beneath the bower of flowering ivy but at the moment time seemed both endless, and not. Before either of them knew it they were sealing their union with the bright ribbons of magic, and then a scorching kiss that none of their witnesses would ever catch again.
The ceremony truly ended when Harry, who could no longer contain his excitement, jumped up from his chair, and ran to embrace his new mother. Poppy knelt down to her son's height so she could draw him into her arms, and return his enthusiastic embrace.
Harry kissed Poppy's cheek, and with a smile he whispered into her ear, "Hello, Mum!"
a/n: The Epilogue is coming, and I promise it will be better than the "19 Years Later" of Deathly Hallows.