A/N: Harry Potter and his world belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Brothers and anyone that has received licensing rights. I am grateful she gives us the privilege of playing in her world.
-oOo-
Chapter 13
-oOo-
January 4, 1997
London, England
The nerves boiling in her stomach were better, but she still felt them. It turned more to butterflies when Charlie led her around the people, and she caught sight of Harry. He was standing tall, which still meant he was the shortest of the three boys, just about men, standing at the bottom of the stairs.
Through her veil, she searched for his green eyes and found them. A pleasant thrill went through her to see how intensely he was staring at her. There was no hint of the nervousness or doubts they had just shared minutes before. Seeing him so resolute, it steeled her nerves.
If Harry could go into this with a fighting spirit, she could as well.
She silently laughed at herself, thinking the hat had had reasons to put them into Gryffindor.
As she got closer, she very much liked how he stood.
The music stopped as they made it to within a few feet of her Harry. "Who presents this woman before magic and her betrothed," Minister Bones asked.
"Charlie Weasley, step-father to the bride and presenting the blessing of her mother, Rebecca Weasley," Charlie said.
"The blessing of the bride's family has been given. Who would give the blessing of the groom's family?"
Mr. Weasley stood up, trying to look as stiff as he could, but the man really wasn't into all this pomp. "I am Arthur Weasley, who claims this boy as family. The Weasley's and his friends give their boon and blessing."
Harry gave a smile to the man, and she couldn't keep her own off her face to see him look so pleased.
"The blessing of both families have been received. If you would present the bride," Minister Bones directed.
The butterflies in her stomach intensified as she was led before Harry. Charlie lifted her veil. "Thank you," she quietly said to him.
"Least I can do for my new sis," Charlie said with a wink. He turned to Harry, taking her right hand. "I offer this woman to be accepted before magic and her husband."
Harry gave a slightly nervous smile. "Ah, I take this woman before magic and to be my wife," he said. They had been drilled the last few days in how the ceremony was supposed to go. He took her hand and they turned to Minister Bones, who gave them a smile.
"To all those present today, Harry James Potter and Lavender Cecilia Brown have agreed to enter the bonds of marriage, as presented before magic and those here. Are there any objections before I start the hand fasting?" The Minister asked.
She squeezed Harry's hand, trying to say if he wanted to run, now was the time. He squeezed back and gave her an encouraging smile.
Lavender knew Harry would never run.
When no one voiced any objections, Minister Bones took a white cloth with embroidered silver runes and a circle on it. "This is a traditional hand binding cloth. By placing your hands in the center circle, you acknowledge your willingness to pledge to each other your everlasting fidelity, support, companionship and love."
The Minister wove it under their clasped hands. Harry looked very serious about this but waited until she moved her hand. When they put their joined hands into the empty cloth inside the silver circle, Lavender could feel the magic in the runes. Her magic immediately latched onto Harry's through his hand. She felt the same warmth and need from him as she felt for him.
The Minister folded one half of the cloth over their hands. "On this layer is woven the magic of the House of Potter. Lavender Cecilia Brown, are you willing to let your magic merge with that of your husband? You pledge to uphold the values of the blood of the Potters? You pledge to be Lady of the House, through hardship and good, through sickness and health and whether you are poor or rich? As Lady of the Potters, you pledge to provide heirs, the first of which shall be heir of your Lord?"
"I do," she said, the heaviness of what was being asked of her really hitting home. This binding was far less restrictive, giving her her own free will, but it also bound her to her pledges. She would stand by Harry, support him in any way she could, provide him children and do all she could to make him happy. That was the most important part to her. Hermione asked her to keep him happy, and she would do that.
The magic flowed between them, the silver runes taking on a blue hue from the magic. As it flowed, she felt his magic seeping into her. It wasn't replacing who she was, just adding to it.
Harry took in a long breath, obviously feeling it as well.
After what felt like minutes, but probably wasn't, Minister Bones folded over the other half of the long cloth. "On this layer is woven the magic of House Brown." It was done this way, so the deeper magic of the lead line was the foundation of all other magic to be used today. "Harry James Potter, are you willing to let the magic of your wife merge with yours and strengthen your line? You pledge to uphold the values of your bloodline, as well as your wife's? You pledge to be Lord of your house, to protect and provide for all those under you, through hardship and good, through sickness and health and whether you are poor or rich? As Lord of House Potter, as Lord of House Black, you pledge to provide heirs for both lines, and to attempt to give your seed and blessing to see the House of Brown continue?"
"I do," Harry said. The runes glowed brighter, the magic of her house flowing into Harry to make the line of the Potters stronger. She could feel the increase of power in the lower layer. The roots of their marriage would be strong, blessed my magic and those around them.
"What is made by magic cannot be sundered. If ever magic accepts, other magic can be added to the bond, but none shall come before this," Minister Bones said, touching her wand to the cloth and clearly saying, "Hanc obligationem magia benedicat."
Lavender took in a sharp breath to feel the Potter magic latch onto hers. It wasn't unpleasant, but it was strong. The runes glowed brighter before they slowly faded. "Scion Potter, you may kiss your bride," the Minister said.
Harry leaned over, looking like he was going to give her a chase kiss. Feeling how strong his magic pulled to her, she wasn't having it. Her free hand hooked around his neck and her tongue demanded entry as soon as his lips met hers. There was some cheering and catcalls with the applause. After a moment, Minister Bones leaned over, "If you need, I have a few extra rooms upstairs."
Harry pulled away, laughing. Her face took on a bright hue. Fred and George laughed at their reaction.
"Thank you, Minister. I think we can wait for tonight," a now red Harry replied.
"If we have too," she whispered, moving in to peck him again.
The Minister chuckled and announced, "May I present Scion and Heiress Potter, heirs to House Black and Brown."
"Way to go Potter," Fred called out, which earned him a hit in the ribs by the woman next to him. Lavender thought she recognized the girl as graduating a year or two before Fred.
She gave a broad smile as Harry led her down the aisle. Their party was barely gathered when her mother was suddenly at her side, a large smile on her face. "How does it feel to be Mrs. Potter?" her mother asked hugging her.
"Ask me tomorrow," Lavender laughed as her mother let her go to hug Harry.
"You better treat her right," her mother demanded of Harry before hugging him.
"I will, Rebecca," Harry promised.
Mrs. Weasley was a mess of tears as she came up. She first hugged Harry and then her. "Welcome to the family," the emotional woman told her. "Only four more to go."
After that, she was hugged, spun around and congratulated until she was grateful that her new husband was taking her hand. Harry is my husband! she screamed like a schoolgirl in her head. She would be lying to herself is she wasn't still nervous, but she was freaking Mrs. Harry Potter! How many girls hadn't dreamed about that? Lavender admitted she had lost that dream years ago and never thought she would fall in love with him, but still...
"You alright?" Harry asked, leaning down and whispering into her ear.
"Can you call me Mrs. Potter?"
He gave her a curious look before he said, "I love you, Mrs. Potter."
This time she did let out a little squeal. Many looked at them and she saw the understand in Parvati's eyes. Hermione gave her a soft smile too. Lavender still felt like she stole Harry from Hermione. She may always feel that a little. Lavender didn't doubt that Harry had chosen her though. "I love you too, Mr. Potter."
"Lavender Potter. I'm going to have to get used to that," Harry told her as they entered the hall. Two tables were set up and a four-piece band had their stuff setup on a small stage. The room could easily handle more than two hundred people, so their small party of just over twenty felt small. Lavender may have dreamt of a huge marriage party at one time but found this a more intimate gathering that she liked more.
A house elf came up to them. "Good afternoon, Scion and Heiress Potter. Would you like to dance now or after the first toast?"
"Tipsy, is it?" she asked, crouching down to be more eye level with the house elf.
The small elf smiled at her. "Yes, Heiress Potter."
"I would very much like to dance with my husband first," she told the elf.
Tipsy nodded and then bustled off. "I guess we forgot a few details," Lavender told Harry.
"Are you kidding? I can't believe we pulled this off. I really need to thank your mother, Mrs. Weasley and Minister Bones," Harry replied.
"Later. First you are dancing with me," Lavender informed him.
"Yes, dear," he said rather cheekily.
She rolled her eyes at him as they walked out to the floor.
It was about dinner time when they changed out of their wedding clothes and most of the guests had left. Harry thanked Minister Bones and she refused again to take anything for the day. Lavender hung on his arm as they made their way to the fireplace in the main hall. Ron and Susan could be seen in the dining room. They were dancing as the Bones house elves cleaned up the room. Charlie was doing something to make her mum laugh next to them. "You think they had a bit too much?" Harry asked, a grin on his face. Lavender giggled at the way Harry was wagging his eyebrows.
"You don't want to see my mum drunk. Last year at the Abbotts New Year gathering she gave them a pole dance," Lavender retorted, giggling more when Harry gave her a lecherous eye.
"Would you do the same if I got you drunk?" Harry put to her.
Lavender laughed this time, her neck warming. "I might do it without being drunk."
She loved how his whole face went red.
"Can you two wait until you get to your new home?" her mum teased.
Lavender gave her mum a look. "What is the fun in that?"
Her mum laughed. "I knew you were my daughter."
They embraced each other. Harry braced Charlie's forearm, his hand just about wrapping around Harry's, and hugged Rebecca. Her mum said into his ear, "Take care of our girl. I want to see you two for dinner on Wednesday."
"I will. I'll make sure we are there," Harry told her. "You and Charlie can come over Friday."
"I'll drag him there."
Harry laughed at the image of the smaller woman trying to drag the hulking form of Charlie anywhere.
"Just don't hit her head on the door when you carry her into your house," Charlie warned.
Her mum hit his thick upper arm. "Behave," Rebecca said with a laugh.
"That hurt!" Charlie said in a mock affronted voice.
"I guess I've been a bad girl?"
"Or I just hit your head to hard on the backboard last night," Charlie replied cheekily.
Lavender giggled again. "Explains a lot."
"Oi!" her mother exclaimed.
Harry and Charlie laughed at them. With that, they said their goodbyes and called out, "Cliff's Edge," as they went through the Floo. Harry went first and Lavender gave out a little scream of surprise when Harry caught her on exiting and lifted her in a bridal hold. She wrapped her arms around his neck. He was carrying her like she was nothing.
"Welcome home, Mrs. Potter," he said to her.
She leaned her head against his shoulder. "I like the sound of that. Are you going to take me to our bedroom?"
Itsy came into the sitting room, followed by Dibby. "Are the masters wanting anything?"
"Just our room. We can find our way to the kitchens later if we need," Harry told the elves.
"The Regent and his Lady should not be doing normal things," Itsy told him.
Lavender giggled. "You aren't going to win," she told her husband. She really liked the sound of that now that it was done. "Now, take me to our room."
Harry kissed her forehead. "As the Lady wishes. I am going to cook in my own kitchen if I want."
"It isn't proper," Itsy replied.
"If the master wants too, the master should," Dibby said.
She had started to kiss his neck. She liked the soft growl he gave her. "I am going to take Lavender to our room. Don't fight too long," Harry told the elves.
"Yes, Regent Black," Itsy said.
"Dibby is not arguing. Master is master and does as he wants," Dibby said.
"It isn't proper. Regent Arcturus never did that," Itzy replied.
Harry had moved his head to the side as she sucked on his neck some. "Please. I really want to lay with my husband."
"If I knew you were that anxious, I would have taken Minister Bones up on her offer."
Lavender giggled before kissing his neck again.
Harry took her to the master bedroom and put her down. "Should we get ready for bed?"
Lavender turned to wrap her arms around his neck. "You are taking me to our bed now."
Harry pecked her lips, his hand sliding a little up her front to just tease at the underside of her chest. He had a smirk on his face that had her going crazy. "We don't have to go to bed right away." There was a gruffness to his voice that made her think he was having difficulty not to just drag her there.
She growled at him as he moved his hand up so it was cupping her tit. "I am Mrs. Potter and want to be that in every sense of that word."
Harry smiled as he kissed her again and she groaned as his fingers found her nipple through her bra. "Well, I shouldn't disappoint my wife."
When he moved his hand away, she was about to protest until he picked her up again. This time, when her arms wrapped around his neck, her lips found his neck and she started to suck in the spot she knew Harry liked. He made a sound in his throat that sent a flush through her. They had decided to wait for their wedding night. In the run up, they had found ways to get each other off without shagging each other silly. She was going to use all those tricks until he took her tonight.
"Can you wait until I get you to the bed?"
She sucked a little harder before pulling her lips away from his neck. "I said I want to make love to you, and I am," she said in a sultry voice.
Harry growled as she kissed his neck before sucking on it again. She laughed as they spilled onto the bed, Harry not paying attention with her ministrations. He fell on top of her. She laughed more as he grumbled. "That was not where I expected it to be. Got my bloody shin."
"Awww, do you need me to kiss it better?" she teased.
He propped himself over her. "Maybe."
She bit her lip. "Then get down here you wimp."
"I am not a wimp," he complained.
"Just get down here," she told him, her lips opening slightly and her eyes becoming half lidded.
"If that is what Mrs. Potter wants," he said, that stupid smirk that always got her hot on his face. His lips met hers and soon her tongue was wrestling his as she struggled to get the jumper and t-shirt off him. Harry's hand ran up her stocking clad leg and she groaned when it went under her skirt and to her bottom.
They struggled to get their clothes off as they both kissed any skin they exposed. Harry nipped her nipple a slight bit. Usually she didn't like it, but he didn't do it hard, and it sent a shiver through her. Of course, that could have been his cock pressing into her panties too...
When they were finally naked, both breathing a little heavily, Harry propped himself over her, his rather large cock resting against her folds and her legs quivering in anticipation. He looked a little uncertain. "I've never done this," he told her. They had talked about this the other night and knew she wasn't a virgin, but she had only done this twice about a year ago. Something about Harry though was far more exciting, she felt her juices making her whole core slick, and she loved him. Truly loved him. Her magic wanted him.
"You've done great so far," she assured him, kissing him.
"Tell me if I am doing it wrong?"
She giggled before her eyes took on a smoldering look. "I think you'll do fine," she told him, reaching for his hips and pulling him closer. She had to shift just a bit before he started to slide in her. She closed her eyes and let out a breath of pleasure as he slowly made his way in. He spread her more than she was used to, but it wasn't uncomfortable, not like it had been with Seamus.
"Merlin, Lav," he said, and she gave a sultry smile.
"Yeah," she agreed. She kept pulling his hips until he was all the way in her. The feeling was electrifying. When he started to move, she moaned. "Just like that," she encouraged.
Harry's eyes were looking at her when she opened them. He was moving in and out at a slow pace that was causing her heart to quicken. "I love you," she said, pulling his face down to kiss him. He lengthened his strokes a little and started to go a little faster. He grunted and moaned when she rolled her hips a little. Shots of pleasure ran through her.
His breath quickened as she started to make little squawks of pleasure every time he bottomed out in her. This was so much better than before. "I love you," Harry said, starting to go a little faster.
"Harry," she got out.
"Lav," he grunted, and she felt him shutter. She wasn't quite ready for her own release, but Harry was, and she rolled her hips again, finding she really liked the feeling. "Lav," he grunted again.
"I love you," she told him, trying to kiss him as he moved. Harry tensed before she suddenly felt him release in her. She had felt him do this in her hands and mouth before, but there was something about him shooting his cum inside her like this that suddenly had her close to her own release.
Harry was about done when she put her hand between them. She felt she needed to orgasm while his cock was in her. She started to rub as he thrust a few more times and as he buried himself, so his crotch hit hers, she cried out, her whole body quacking as he let out one more. When she finally came down, he pulled out and flopped on the bed next to her.
"Merlin, why did we wait?" Harry asked.
She giggled, turning over and putting her head on his sweaty chest. "I don't know, but can we do that again later?"
Harry chuckled. "Yeah."
He kissed the top of her head. She put her leg over his, quivering again as her swollen lips around her core brushed the hair on his leg. They just lay there until they both stopped breathing hard. "I love you."
"Love you too, Lav," Harry said. "Mrs. Potter."
She felt a flush go through her, and she rubbed her twat against his leg. "Keep calling me that and later will be sooner than you think."
He laughed. "Is that a promise, Mrs. Potter?"
She looked up at him, her hair half obstructing her view, meeting his vibrant green eyes. "Are you trying to make me hot again?"
"Is it working, Mrs. Potter?" he asked, trying to look innocent. His cock wasn't innocent though as it poked against her leg.
She bit her lip. "I think we are going to miss dinner."
"Lucky you married someone that can cook. Now, Mrs. Potter, about that later?"
"You are incorrigible," she giggled, shifting so that she was on top of him, his cock resting in her folds. She wanted him as much as he seemed to want her. They both moaned as her slit came to rest on his cock.
Harry kissed her. She moaned as his hands started to caress her breasts. She rocked her hips and he slid up and down her slit. She liked the pleasure that shot through her every time the head of his cock touched the nip at the top of her slit. After a few moments, she slid all the way up and he found his way inside her. She moaned as she slowly slid down his length.
"I can roll over," Harry offered.
She shook her head, capturing his mouth with hers. It wasn't long before they were panting again as she rode him. She had never done this before, but found she liked how she could control both their pleasures. This time, she didn't need to use her hand as she came hard on him, and he released after she seized around his shaft.
When she collapsed on him, she woke hours later, curled into his side and the comforter over them. He may smell of sweat and sex, but she found she could sleep at his side like this every night for the rest of their lives. After that night, she never thought about Seamus again.
-oOo-
January 9, 1997
London, England
Magazines, pamphlets and papers were scattered all over the large table in the formal dining room of Abbot Hall. Hannah was leaning back in her chair, her hands on her eyes. "Susie, why is this so complicated?"
"I thought your mother and Madam Longbottom were doing all this?" Susan asked, picking up a magazine with photos of different flower arrangements.
"They are, but mum wants me to decide on all these details. She said it's important and they need to get the orders in next week or we may not get what we want," Hannah whinged.
"I liked this one," Susan said, showing Hannah one with lots of yellow flowers. "It would go well with your hair."
Hannah lifted her arms to look at the picture. "I like that one too, but Madam Longbottom says it's too simple." There was a lot of disdain in her voice toward the matron of the Longbottoms.
"Ok, what about this?" she randomly skipped a few pages and found something gawdy with lots of tall, rare flowers that was also insanely expensive.
Hannah snorted. "She would probably approve of that."
Susan laughed at her. "You could just go simple, like Harry and Lav. That was a lot of fun Monday."
Hannah sighed. "I thought that too, but mum and Madam Longbottom have already got a list of almost two hundred, and Neville really wants to get married at Longmarche."
"Then get married there. Mrs. Weasley is helping us out and Ron and I already decided to get married at Grace Hall," Susan replied.
"Well, he is going to be adopted into the Bones, so that makes sense," Hannah agreed.
Susan smiled. "At least it's not a blood adoption."
Hannah screwed her face, Susan happy to get the reaction she was trying to get. "Oh, yuck. You'd be marrying your brother."
"Cousin, actually. Aunt Ami would blood adopt him, but the Proliferation Board won't allow that. Then we would only be one generation separated," she said not sounding that disturbed, though it was a rather gross thought.
"You're twisted, you know that? Right?" Hannah said, finally sitting up and putting her arms down.
Susan laughed at her. "Ron doesn't seem to mind."
Hannah got an evil gleam to her eye. "That's because you like to go down on him whenever you can."
Susan blushed a little. "Hannah, if you knew how he used his tongue on me, you wouldn't mind gagging on him either."
Hannah's smirked. "Oh, I am not complaining what Neville does to me. How big is he?"
"Big enough," she said cryptically. She knew enough to know Ron was longer than average, but he didn't seem particularly large in girth.
"Ah, huh. Up until a few months ago, you said it sounded gross to do that to give a blowjob," Hannah put to her.
"I can change my mind," Susan defended herself.
"I told you," Hannah said with a smirk.
"And does Neville know how much you practiced before him?" Susan enquired.
"Nope," she said, popping the 'p'. "He doesn't need to know that. I never did anything else. He's the first one to see me in my all and go down on me."
The doors to the room opened and Mrs. Abbot came in. "Ah, Susan, I didn't know you had come over."
"Just a little bit ago. It sounded like Hannah needed some help," she answered.
"If you can get her to make a decision for everything on that list, I will owe you," Mrs. Abbot told her.
Hannah huffed. "I already told you what I like. It's you and Madam Longbottom that don't agree."
Her mother sighed. "Hannah, you know that you are marrying someone that will be a Lord on the Wizengamot in a very high standing house. It needs to be more than your simple likes."
"I don't get why? This is Neville and mine wedding and neither of us want to have so many guests or be so extravagant. I like those simple yellow flowers. Neville has offered to use what is in their greenhouses. I want a simple white dress, like Lavender had. Why do I need all this lace and bead work and a train that is a mile long?" Hannah snapped back. "Don't any of you see how uncomfortable Neville is with all this pomp? I don't even know half the people on the list."
Her mother sighed this time. "Is this about Neville or you? I thought you wanted a big wedding?"
Hannah frowned and Susan regarded her. "I know what we used to play at," Susan told her best mate. What girl didn't play dress up or dream of the wedding she would have when the prince married her.
Hannah looked to Susan. "What about you and Ron? How big is your wedding going to be?"
Susan shrugged. "I am the Heiress Bones. My Auntie is the Minister. This is going to be a large social affair. I don't expect to know most of the people at my wedding, but I will someday. Ron or I will have to sit on the Wizengamot. I gave her a list of about fifteen people, mostly friends from school. Told her what I like. She is meeting with a planner next week and over Easter I will finalize things with her. All I really want Hannah is Ron and a family. The wedding is only one day."
Hannah was listening to her. Susan went on, "Neville is the Scion Longbottom. He is mostly the same position I am. Everyone will be looking to your wedding, and you will want to know some of those people someday."
Hannah sighed after a few. "I love him, Susie. I didn't know what I was really getting into, did I?"
"I tried to warn you, but you were to preoccupied with getting your tongue in his mouth and your mouth on other things," Susan said with a smirk. Payback was a bitch at times.
Her mother snorted. "Is there something you should be telling me, Hannah?"
"No, mum," Hannah said quickly, giving Susan a scathing look.
"You are both being chaste until the wedding? Right," her mother pressed.
"Yes, mum. Though I may not if you and Madam Longbottom don't let me get the flowers I want. I'll wear that gawdy wedding dress, but I like yellow flowers and Neville likes yellow," Hannah said forcibly.
"Fine. I will convince Augusta. How about the tiaras? Augusta would really like you to wear a Longbottom heirloom," her mother asked, sitting at the table with them.
"I really like the citrine one," Hannah said, reaching for a folder with some wizarding pictures before laying out seven pictures of tiaras.
Susan whistled. "Merlin, Hannah! Madam Longbottom is offering you one of these?"
"For the wedding. Though, I guess they will be mine once I become Lady Longbottom," Hannah said with a smile. "Mrs. Longbottom? No, I like Lady Longbottom better."
Susan and her mother laughed at her. "It won't be anything Longbottom if we don't get through that list today. I like the citrine tiara as well."
Susan looked at the picture. "You really love him, don't you?"
Hannah gave an abashed look. "He's really handsome."
"I get that, but you always used to like pink and that is a gorgeous tiara with some pink diamonds," Susan remarked, pointing to another picture.
Her mother chuckled. "I noticed that too."
"Neville likes yellow. I figure I would wear something pink under my dress. Something I pick out," Hannah made it clear there would be no argument about it.
"I don't care if you go sky-clad under your dress, Hannah, just make sure you wear the dress that day," her mother said with a wink.
Hannah looked to turn a little pink. "I couldn't do that," Hannah squeaked. As forward her friend was, she still was modest about somethings.
Her mother shrugged as she took the list. "I don't know, your father doesn't mind at times."
"MUM!" Hannah screeched. "Oh! I don't need that image!"
"You're going to be a woman soon. Women talk about those things at times."
"Not with their mums," Hannah complained.
Susan chuckled. Hannah cast her a look. "Oh, sure, laugh it up. Maybe you like to talk about how you like to deep throat in present company?"
Susan's face started to flame. "It's not me that likes to have Neville finger her in the great hall!"
"That was one time, and you know Lavender dared me to have him do it after Hufflepuff lost the last match," Hannah retorted.
Her mother eyed them, got up and looked at them. "I think I need to go get some tea for this. Don't mind me," her mother said, her shoulders moving in what looked like laughter. When she was out of the room, Hannah shook her head. "I think that was a little much about the fingering comment. It wasn't in the great hall."
Susan shrugged. "I know, but I agree. I really didn't want your mum hear if we are talking about this."
"I don't see you denying the deep throat comment," Hannah put to her with a raised brow.
Susan bit her lip. "I really like it when Ron's head is between my legs, so I repay him. I think his eyes just about rolled back into his head the first time I did that."
"When was that?"
"Just before Christmas," Susan said more conversationally, picking up the picture of the tiara with citrines in it. "I thought I was going to choke until I figured out how to do it. That is rather pretty."
"Isn't it?" Hannah said. "Yeah, I know what you mean. Neville is like this big around and I barely get him all the way into my mouth."
Susan wagged her eyebrows. "So, the rumors are true?"
"I don't think he is as long as Ron and Harry are, but he is big." Hannah confirmed.
"Lavender won't say. I think Parvati knows, but for once they are being quiet about it," Susan remarked, putting the picture down and reaching for the list her mother had left. "So, that is the tiara, dress, flowers... I see you also chose the plate settings and table covers. Do you really need to know what napkin holders to use?"
"The Longbottoms have like six sets. I hate them all. Mum said we could use ours, but we only have fifty. I need like two-hundred and fifty," Hannah told her.
Susan nodded. The Longbottoms were an old, wealthy family. The Abbots were a quarter the age of the Longbottoms, and were well off, but nowhere near who she was going to marry. Her family was the opposite. The Bones were pretty wealthy, older than the Weasleys and more respected. She knew they didn't have the wealth that Hannah was asking to choose between here though.
"Ok, which ones do you hate the least," she asked. Hannah reached for another folder and took out more pictures. "The silver ones, but Madam Longbottom said they would clash with the gold trim plates I like. Susie, they have a set of Dwarfish crystal plates. Two-hundred and ten settings. Do you have any idea how much that is worth?" Hannah put to her.
Susan whistled. "That is a small king's ransom."
"There is going to be more wealth on display than I think my entire family is worth, and that isn't even a quarter of what Neville says he has," Hannah remarked, pointing to a golden napkin holder with a Longbottom crest on it. "I can live with that one."
Ok, so the Bones were paupers compared to what Hannah just said, and the Abbots would be struggling compared the Bones. "Bloody hell, Hannah. Can I marry Neville too?"
Hannah laughed. "What about Ron?"
"Oh, he can come to visit my bed on the weekends."
Hannah laughed more. "You slag."
Susan waggled her brow. "I didn't hear a no."
"I am not sharing Neville with you," Hannah raised her voice and shoved Susan. Susan laughed this time.
"So, no then?"
Hannah huffed and crossed her arms over her chest.
Susan giggled at her reaction and went to the next point on the list. "They have different house elf uniforms?"
"They have four house elves and six elflings right now. Apparently, there are two different uniforms that have been used for weddings and formal functions. I like the one with the burgundy trim, but it won't go well with most of the yellow I am choosing," Hannah told her.
"Let me have a look," Susan offered.
"Elfias," Hannah called out.
A few seconds later, a middle-aged elf appeared. "The future-heiress Longbottom called?"
Susan rose her eyebrow at that. She didn't think family elves typically recognized those like Hannah until married.
"Yes, can you please retrieve your formal uniforms? I would like to see them again," Hannah requested.
The elf bowed low. "Yes, future-heiress Longbottom." He was gone with a snap of his figures and Hannah turned to her questioning look. "Neville told his personal elf that he was to listen and obey me like we were already married."
"Oh, right," Susan said as though that was perfectly normal. She hadn't done that with her elf to Ron. Should she?
"What's next on the list?" Hannah asked.
"The style of chairs," Susan replied after looking at the list.
It was late that night when she flooed back to an empty Grace Hall. Her auntie was working late again, or was already in bed. Susan sighed as her boots echoed in the empty house. Tipsy, her elf, met her in her room to help her get ready for bed. She laid down thinking that she couldn't wait for Ron to share her bed with her and to have lots of little feet running around. Her children would not grow up lonely like her.
-oOo-
Hanc obligationem magia benedicat. = Let magic bless this binding.