Ch 63 The Wedding of Erica and Viktor 2027

Using the old, abandonedmonastery they had a reasonably successful dress rehearsal, Harry thought the second week in January. It was cold and the air was too thin, but Harry was used to it. He knew it would take him a couple of days to warm up and get over the physical and mental strain, but they had practiced this, had needed to practice. He turned to Sammy Sun. "Everybody Apparated or took a Portkey to where we wanted them to come," he noted. "Close enough."

"They all were wearing the spell resistant, bullet and knife resistant armor." Sammy summarized, satisfied that finally all of the Honor Guard and most of the other people called were prepared. "They tried to set up a protective perimeter, as well. I'm just worried that too many of them will die before they can set up adequate defenses."

"We don't know enough about the layout where The Lord of the Dementors stays, or how well guarded he will be if they capture Albus and/or Cleo and bring them there," Harry complained, looking at the best, but still quite incomplete maps of where The Lord of the Dementors had his lair. "I'm still terrified that we will suffer major loses."

"I've lost way too many good Aurors and others fighting The Lord of the Dementors and his allies," Sammy growled. "I know you suffered loses when Albus and Cleo killed Jezebel. What choice do we have?"

"None, really," Harry agreed. "Not confronting evil is a choice I refused a very long time ago. Do what is right, not what is easy. It has cost me and my family, and I fear it will cost us more before we are done."

"It looks like we are getting more Honor Guard members from North and South America," Sammy noted, looking over the list of who was in the group. "You are more familiar with that part of the world than I am, Harry. Do you know why?"

"Aurors who want excitement have found it a little tame since Jezebel has been defeated," Harry replied. "One of Orwant's cousins and a more distant relative, both of whom were very involved in fighting the Pirate Witch Queen, have volunteered. It is not like there is no crime, but the amount of criminal activity and the out and out depravity and danger is much less."

"Mostly wizards, forty to ten witches, and only five couples," Sammy noted. "Two with no children, and one of them doesn't want to have any, and the other three with older children. Mostly Magi in their twenties and thirties, but the oldest is almost one hundred. He's good, too!"

"The success with defeating the Pirate Witch Queen makes me feel better about what we are risking in fighting The Lord of the Dementors," Harry concluded, "but everything we practice makes me still worried that we will have huge loses when the time comes."


Erica Lionheart Potter came through the Floo seven-forty-five in the morning Monday January eighteenth, twenty-twenty-seven. She thought that Victoire would not have left for work, and she was right. Molly and Victoire were still in the kitchen, and children and caregivers were arriving and leaving for various areas of the New Burrow and Potter's New Burrow complex for play and lessons.

"Who do I ask to have our wedding here?" Erica asked Molly.

"It is fine with me," Molly replied. She looked at Victoire.

"I will help as well," Victoire replied. "We should let Harry and Ginny know, but I really don't think we need to worry about them not agreeing.

"I thought you were thinking about having at church?"

"Some of Viktor's family will not come, and will make a huge fuss, if we try to have it at a church," Erica frowned. "Father Lewis told us that the priest or minister or official doesn't really marry you. They witness the agreement you are making between each other, but the couple does the marrying. So, it really doesn't matter where. He is going to say a blessing as part of the ceremony, and register us as married in the church registry, but we can have the ceremony here or anywhere.

"I've asked Hermione to do the marriage spells and charms. Mum will do a parent spell, but I'm not sure dad will be able to. Harry and Ginny have agreed as well, which is just wonderful. I'm not sure if Viktor's parents will, though.

"Viktor is going to adopt James as well, making sure little James knows that he will be part of our family, although still James Potter. He is so considerate!"

"He is wooing you?" Victoire asked, smiling.

"Well, James and I rather fell into this marriage thing without a lot of thought, but with Viktor and I it is much more a choice. We know we are going to have hard things we have to get over, with a blended family and his mother being so so against the marriage.

"Viktor really wants to get this marriage thing right. He is even studying the book, because he is a virgin and says he has no idea what he needs to do. It is not like it is that difficult, well, maybe it isn't going to be the easiest when your first experience is with a witch that is eight months pregnant."

Erica felt down to the bottom of her womb, which was rather large and, she had to admit, would be somewhat in the way.

"It never bothered Arthur!" Molly exclaimed.

"Teddy either!" Victoire agreed with a big smile, laughing.

"Well, it didn't bother James either," Erica admitted. "And I always enjoyed it when I was pregnant with James." Erica looked at Molly and Victoire, slightly embarrassed. "Even before maybe we should have, although I am glad Viktor wants to wait."

"When do you want to have this marriage?" Molly asked.

"Saturday January thirtieth," Erica said. "That is less than two weeks away, but we want to be married well before the baby is born and Quidditch season starts."

"Are you going to try and go on a honeymoon?" Victoire wondered.

"Probably next summer, and of course I will have a nursing baby along so we will probably take James as well," Erica replied. She sighed and shook her head. "So,I guess it will be more a family vacation than a honeymoon."

"If you plan it right you should still be able to practice what Viktor needs a lot of practice with two or three or more times a day," Victoire kidded.

Erica just rolled her eyes.


Wednesday Harry sat down with Erica and Viktor going over the guest list. "It is not a small family wedding with just Erica and James's family, as large as the family is," he noted, "and then you add the Cannon team members and their families, and a few friends, and it is getting large.

"Viktor, do you have any idea who will be coming from your side?"

"Mum and dad, my sisters and their families, all the grandparents and great-grandparents," Viktor replied. "I have a dozen classmates or players I was friends with, most of whom have families, so that adds about forty more people. It will be a fair size crowd."

"Do you have a list, so I can have security clear them all? I'm careful about my immediate family, and the Aurors in Switzerland are paranoid about Albus, Cleo and their family."

Viktor handed Harry the list. "I've talked to my sister, the one who gets along with Erica and me, and she has contacted everyone who I send an invitation to so we know who is coming."

"Your best man is a teammate?" Harry confirmed.

"He is one of the second-string beaters and was on the Bulgarian team with me. He would be first string on most teams, but he is a real team player, and a nice person," Viktor elaborated.

"His wife is one of the childcare providers at the Cannons," Erica added. "She is a very nice person, and they have three little children. It is a nice family."

"You are going to have your sister Tabitha as matron of honor," Harry confirmed, looking at Erica.

"Yes. I wanted a matron of honor, me having been married before and pregnant, and my older sister is just ideal. I like the time I can spend with her and her husband and three children. She is helping mum some with dad and is just a very good person. I'm so glad mum and dad adopted her!"

"That was quite a change for your mother," Harry remembered. "She wasn't thinking about a family then, just playing Quidditch."

"And when she went all domestic and had four more!" Erica exclaimed, grinning. "I'm glad she did, me being the first of the four."

"You wanted to see me, Mr. Potter," Viktor asked coming into Harry's office two days later.

"I am having a hard time finding anything about two of your old teammates," Harry replied. "One seemed to be a good player, and he is still playing, but I'm not sure if he is married or even where he lives other than in the team dormitory. He wants to come with his father, but we don't have any information on his father."

"I don't know who his father is, although I think I've met him," Viktor pondered, scratching his head. "I think they may be Polish, but I'm not sure. He was always uncomfortable talking about the history surrounding Gellert Grindelwald, like maybe his ancestors were on Grindelwald's side."

"If we cannot find out any more about his family, I want you to uninvitehim," Harry stressed. "I was at one wedding ruined because of Death Eaters, and I'm not about to risk another one ruined, or even worse risk someone being captured or killed."

"I will just tell him that you are insisting that anyone who comes to the wedding has to pass through security, and that you don't have enough information to clear him," Viktor let Harry know. "I know I am blaming you, but I will apologize."

"Thank you," Harry responded, grateful that they would not have to worry about this wizard and his father.

Harry brought out a letter from the other former teammate. "He knows all about the dark history in his grandfather and two great-grandfather's pasts. Much more than I have been able to find out. Much of the history seems to have been hidden. He is very apologetic and has documented how neither his immediate family nor he have been associated with those political views."

Viktor read the letter, nodding while he was reading it. "He is writing what he told me several times," Viktor let Harry know. "He knows that there are dark things in his family's past, but from all the time I knew him he made it very clear that he was not against Muggles or in favor of the darker leanings of his more distant ancestors."

"He is also coming with a wife and baby son," Harry smiled. "You usually don't bring a baby along if you are planning some dastardly deed."

"His wife is the sweetest thing," Viktor smiled. "She walks with a bit of a limp, some magical accident, and can be awkward in her motions. Some of my nastier teammates would call her ugly, but I don't think she is exactly ugly, although she is no Veela. She is nice, though. I would like them to come."

Harry looked at the photographs the wizard had included. 'She is no Veela' was a very charitable way of describing the poor young witch, but she seemed to be a happy person, and you could see in her expression her love for her baby and her husband.

"I'm not going to hold his family's history against him," Harry let Viktor know.

"Thank you," Viktor replied.


The New Burrow and Potter's New Burrow were large U-shaped buildings, back-to-back, and in between the U's was a reasonably large space. There was glass or magic of some sort between the buildings, and a glass roof over the inside of the U, so you could make the area into a large meeting area. It normally was filled with grass and plantings, but you could magic a solid floor over everything, with a stage at one end, making it ideal for a wedding.

Large gatherings always made Harry nervous, and this wedding was no exception. They had caught several allies of The Lord of the Dementors in Switzerland, and there was every indication that he was getting more and more desperate to capture Albus and Cleo.

Dementors were also trying to oppress him over the deaths of James and Monica Jane, and over all the other deaths from the Battle of Hogwarts on. Harry had to make a concerted effort every morning to first pray, and then charm a Patronus to drive any lurking Dementor away. It usually worked, although occasionally during the day he had to do the same thing, first pray, then conjure a Patronus.

Every guest was told where to enter the New Burrow/Potter's New Burrow property. Some entered through the Floo at the New Burrow, others at the Floo at Potter's New Burrow, and others through the front door of the New Burrow. The Cannons had a tour bus that operated much like the Knight Bus, without quite the chaos of a Knight Bus ride, and those Magi would be among the ones entering through the front door. Each place there was security, with a map which would reconfirm everyone's identity, and a wand expert to identify the wands.

Harry was in the office at Potter's New Burrow, looking at a master map of the property, when he was called by an Auror at Potter's New Burrow. It was a short walk to the Floo, and he spotted one of the Aurors, and the former teammate of Viktor's with his wife and child.

"The map shows him with two names," the Auror pointed out.

"That is the name you gave me, and the surname is the same as your son and wife have," Harry pointed out. "The other one?"

"That was the one I was born with," the wizard explained. "The family history is very dark, with prejudice against No-Maj and Jews and, they were gleefully complicit in the Holocaust and never learned or repented of all the killing."

"I think I've seen that surname," Harry thought. "Many Magi fled to Switzerland during the battle against Gellert Grindelwald and the Muggle World War II. Albus probably knows more about that period of history than I do, because of some of the people they deal with in Switzerland."

"I will gladly talk to Albus or anyone," the wizard replied. "I don't want to cause any problem."

Harry called Albus, and a short time later Albus and Cleo were there talking to the little family. It didn't take long for Albus to say, "They are fine, dad. I will vouch for them."

Albus and Cleo retired to the living room for a brief conversation with the couple before going to the area where the wedding was going to take place.


Shortly before three Victoire mounted the stage and announced, "Would everyone please take your seats. We want to start the wedding at three."

There was quite a rush of people, including parents with children, claiming seats. Mrs. Krum had been shown to her seat earlier, not led in with ceremony as the mother of the groom but just shown her seat. Almost everybody seemed to be happy in the chaos, to the amusement of Viktor senior and the obvious distress of his wife. As it appeared that most people were seated, she turned around, looking with distain at all the parents trying to corral little children. Not two rows away there were two witches nursing their babies in public! One was very well dressed, as were her children, and seemed to have mastered the art of nursing while staying modest, but the other one, the short, a little heavy, curvy one didn't seem to care. Her husband, Erica's brother she thought, was bouncing a toddler on his knee.

Viktor was marrying into THIS family?

Father Lewis and Hermione Granger-Weasley came forward, and proclaimed, "Will the bride and groom please approach."

Erica and little James walked onto the stage from one side. Erica wore an off-white maternity dress with three quarter length sleeves, very upscale with lace trim and a modest sweetheart neckline. She looked very pretty and very pregnant. Little James wore a Muggle navy blue pinstripe suit with a white shirt and tie. She was accompanied onto the stage by her sister Tabitha who wore a modest pink pastel dress, looking very much like the young mother she was.

Viktor came onto the stage from the other direction, wearing a suit that matched the one little James wore, right down to the tie. His teammate and best man wore a similar suit.

They came together at the middle of the stage, Erica shyly beaming, Viktor looking happy but a little stunned and unsure. James looked briefly at all the people, and then grabbed his mother's hands like his life depended on it.

When they met at the center of the stage James turned to his mother and said, "UP!" loudly.

"You are getting too big for me," Erica protested.

Viktor held out his hands and James went into Viktor's arms, looked over the crowd, and then buried his head into Viktor's suit.

Father Lewis started out, "We are here to witness and bless the union of Erica Potter and Viktor Krum."

"And James," Viktor added, looking at the little boy.

"And James," Erica repeated.

"You may recite your vows," Fr. Lewis continued.

Viktor took out a piece of paper and, still holding onto James, read, "Erica, I came into your life just after your heart was broken, the life you had planned was torn asunder, for my own career. And you were the most fantastic spotter I could imagine. I never planned in falling in love with you, but we just meshed. We tried to back off, not see each other so often, but when we were not together something was missing.

"I fell in love with you, but also with James, and the whole loving family that surrounds you. I even fell in love with Diane, the baby you are carrying.

"I didn't want to force anything, and we stopped seeing each other except for work, and that was hard. I was and am very grateful that you invited me back into your life.

"I promise to love you and care for you, James, Diane, and any children we may be blessed with. I am going to be adopting James and Diane, not to take their father's place, but to be your partner in raising and loving them. I promise faithfulness to you in sickness and health, in poverty or when we are blessed with material possessions, in sad times as well as in happy times, as long as we both live."

Viktor then turned over the paper and gave it to Erica, who read, "Viktor, we meshed as a couple, working well together, long before I fell in love with you. I think I first realized that I was falling in love with you when I saw you taking care of James. Then it was hard for James when you were not there. And I finally realized that it was harder for me when you were not there.

"I didn't fall in love with you because you are handsome, although I think you are, or because you are a good Quidditch player. I fell in love because you care for me, and James, and Diane. I hope and pray we grow old together, when you can no longer catch a snitch and neither of us is pretty.

"I promise faithfulness to you in sickness and health, in poverty or when we are blessed with material possessions, in sad times as well as in happy times, as long as we both live."

Viktor put James down, saying, "I need to give your mother a ring, and she needs to give me one. Are they still in your pocket?"

James fished out two rings from a pocket in his little suit jacket and gave them to Viktor.

"It is an important job, carrying the rings," Viktor told the little boy. "That is why your name is on the program as ring bearer. Thank you."

"Welcome," James replied. "I did it right?"

"You did a good job, James!" Viktor exclaimed as James beamed with pride.

The couple exchanged rings as James looked on.

Hermione stepped forward and said the binding spells over the couple, and stars fell around them but also around James. She then said, "You may kiss your bride."

Viktor and Erica kissed, the most passionate kiss that anyone had ever seen them give each other. Then Viktor kissed James on the cheek, as did Erica, as Viktor said, "You are part of this too, James." Viktor then knelt down and kissed Erica's baby bump.

The crowd burst into applause.

Harry, Ginny and Donna Lionheart joined together to say a binding spell over the couple, for a happy marriage and, if they desired, children. From the way Erica and Victor looked at each other, Ginny thought that their family would probably not stop at Diane.

Viktor's mother held onto his father's hand fiercely, keeping him from going up onto the stage, fury in her whole bearing.

The couple went to a table on the stage, sat down, and signed the marriage documents. Erica listed her name as Erica Potter Krum, so by the name she was going to be known by {,} she was acknowledging both James and Viktor, something Viktor had encouraged.

They also had a document confirming Viktor's adoption of James, which Viktor signed, and then James carefully and proudly printed his name on the document.

Molly Weasley came up to the stage. "We have a childcarearea in Potter's New Burrow, through those doors in the back," pointing to the house on the other side from the stage. "There will be people there to help if little ones need a nap as well. Victoire and Josefina are in charge. Josefina is back there right now."

Josefina, looking like a very middle-age lady who was surrounded by children, waved.

"I will be back there when Remus is finished, mum," Victoire told her mother from one of the seats up front, looking at Remus who had decided he needed to eat.

Mrs. Krum stared at Victoire, who didn't seem any more concerned with modesty than that other witch. And all the children! Way too many noisy children!

Molly continued, "Viktor and Erica are going to greet people up here, sitting down most of the time. She needs to rest her body at this point in her pregnancy.

"We will be serving a buffet meal starting about four-thirty, and dancing should start about six."

The Lionheart family was first to greet Erica and Viktor, Donna and Bill, their children, Tabitha's husband and children, plus Billy, Lily and Will. Lily told the couple, "I have James's change of clothes. James, do you want to get out of that suit and play with your cousins?"

"Are you my father now?" James asked Viktor. "Do I have to ask you?"

"Your mother and I both want you to feel free to play, if that is what you want," Viktor replied. "Do you want to call me father or dad?"

"Everybody else has one," James sighed. "I thought that is what we just did?"

"Your father has to confer with your mother," Viktor let the little boy know.

"Father and I both give you permission to get out of that uncomfortable suit and play," Erica replied.

And just like that, James started calling Viktor 'dad,' a little shyly at first.

There was a line forming to greet Erica and Viktor. Molly seemed to be directing the line. She could see Viktor Sr. and his wife arguing, and then together they headed to the head of the line. Molly let them cut in front of everybody else, although they were hardly the second group going up to greet the couple.

When his parents arrived in front of Viktor and Erica, Viktor stood up and shook his father's hands. Viktor Sr. told his son, "Congratulations on your instant family."

"It is not exactly what I have always dreamed about, but I think it may be better," Viktor Jr. answered.

Viktor Sr. then shook Erica's hand, saying, "Welcome to the family."

Erica replied, rather cautiously, "Thank you."

Mrs. Krum looked hard at her son. "They are not MY grandchildren. What kind of people let all these BLACK people in."?

"Good people. Some of them are James'scousins, mother," Viktor replied.

As they passed Erica and Viktor Jr., Viktor spotted Hermione, who was still up on the stage.

"Hello, Hermione," Viktor Sr. greeted Hermione. "Congratulations on being a grandmother."

"Just because I don't bother coloring my gray hair?" Hermione joked, laughing.

"No," Viktor replied. "I spotted your daughter nursing what I guess was her second child. She looks like you, with just a little of Ron thrown in."

"I'm going to have to be content to let Rose give me grandchildren for a while," Hermione told Viktor. "My son seems to be more in love with Weasley's Wizard Wheezes than any witch, any female witch or not.

"I like your son. He fits right in with this crazy family."

"Thank you," Viktor St. replied.

"I see you have grandchildren too," Hermione observed, "with your two daughters, and now your son is giving you an instant family, well almost instant. Diane isn't born yet."

"Not MY grandchildren," Mrs. Krum growled as she pulled her husband away.

Erica and Viktor were greeting people, Hermione observed, Viktor almost always standing, Erica alternating between standing and sitting.

As people were milling around, talking, most of them greeting the newly married couple, Molly was directing the setting up of tables for the meal. At Four-Thirty Molly went up on the stage and put her wand to her throat. "Sonorus," she said, then, "The newly married couple is going to start the food line. Unless we have already pointed out assignedseats, you are free to sit anywhere you want. The food is through that door with the sign above it that says FOOD ENTRANCE. We have some family members who are going to be going first, and then I will announce when the rest of you can line up.

"You should claim your children now. Victoire tells me that we do not seem to have lost any of them, and their clothes are no dirtier than you would expect from children who have been playing games and having a good time."

Molly looked on in satisfaction as children and parents came into the area between the houses, obviously having had a good time, some with pictures they had drawn, others with little toys, most of them happier than they had been during the ceremony, but nowhere near as neat.

James came running up to Erica and Viktor with a drawing of the wedding, showing the three of them in the foreground and stars all around the three. Mummy looked VERY pregnant, and there was a stick figure of a little girl inside. Well, the stick figure had a skirt and long hair, so you could recognize it was a girl. James's shirt was untucked, one shoe was untied, and he was happy. Viktor picked him up, complimented him on the drawing, and then tied his shoe.

Donna Lionheart, who was in line next to Ginny, sighed a contented sigh. "Viktor is a good father. I'm happy for them."

"I think we are going to have to be grandparents to their children, if there are only two or if there are more," Ginny noted. "I think Viktor senior wanted to do wedding spells, but his wife, I'm not sure why she is even here. It is sad."

"Erica has talked to me about her mother-in-law, and the one sister," Donna replied. "I think they are just going to avoid them, as much as possible. At least they are going into the marriage knowing just what to expect."

Dancing started at six, and by nine the orchestra played their last song and people started to leave. Erica and Viktor left shortly after nine, Viktor carrying a very tired James.


Sunday Erica, James and Viktor attended the second church service, and then went to the New Burrow. Harry, Gregory and Minerva were also at church, but Ginny stayed home, going to the New Burrow early.

When all the churchgoers had arrived, Molly had her family sit down to eat. Albus and his family had gone back to Switzerland, but the rest of the family was there. George had non-family members open the stores so he and his family could come to Molly's somewhat obligatory Sunday gatherings.

After the meal Minerva went right up to Erica and asked, "Did you consummate your marriage last night?"

Erica started to giggle, looking a little embarrassed. "You know, that IS part of being married," she told Minerva.

"Mum told me, and she said it is fun!" Minerva responded. "Did you have fun?"

Erica looked at Viktor, buried her head into his chest, the baby bump very much in the way, still giggling. She turned up to him, and he leaned down, and they kissed. Erica hugged Viktor some more, and told Minerva, "It was good. It was good and it will be good. It is just a little awkward when you are as pregnant as I am, but it is still good."

Ginny went over and told her daughter, "You have asked enough questions of Erica and Viktor."

"I just WANTED to know," Minerva huffed.

"What did AuntMinerva want to know?" James asked.

"About grownups loving each other," Ginny told James. "It is something you learn about when you get older."

"Mum and dad love each other!" James exclaimed.

"Yes, they do," Ginny told her grandson.

Minerva marched over to her sister Lily, asking, "Do you and Billy do it, a lot? Mum says it is fun to do."

Lily looked over at Erica, and asked, "Do what?"

"Sex, what you do to make a baby," Minerva replied.

"It is fun, but it is a grownup thing," Lily told Minerva.

"Mum says you were almost not old enough, though," Minerva frowned.

"It is much better if you do not do it until after you have graduated from Hogwarts," Lily admitted. "My childhood came to a rather quick and abrupt end when I became pregnant."

"Are you planning on having any more?" Minerva asked.

"I'm not planning on having more, at least not yet," Lily answered.

"Like our first two were so carefully planned," Billy laughed.

Lily frowned. "Someone told me that accidents are the leading cause of people. It's not a good idea to forget to take birth control potions."

"You can get pregnant accidently?" Minerva gasped.

"All too easily," Lily admitted, shaking her head, looking up and rolling her eyes.

Minerva marched over to her mother. "Was I an accident?"

"No, you were planned. We knew I could become pregnant when we had Gregory and Monica. Actually, I knew I could become pregnant with all of you, but I wasn't exactly planning on becoming pregnant for my first two. James came a little earlier than I had expected he would.

"My first three came a little quicker than I had anticipated. I had six years where I was either pregnant or nursing."

"I don't like accidents," Minerva muttered.

Ginny looked at her two daughters. How had she and Harry created two such different witches?

2023