Three: Wedding bells will chime

I'm very sorry this took so long. I hope you enjoy it just as much! As always, my thanks go out to Salllzy for beta-ing. Ps. school holidays have finally started, so now I do have a bit more time than before!
Pps. I loved writing wedding crazy Merle, haha!

Previously: In the past, we learn more about the process for and about Harry's life, and what happened to Molly and Ginny. In the present Draco and Harry have a heart-to-heart, people enjoy the pubs for some downtime, Merle volunteers to help out for the wedding, and Luna has her way. Mack and Draco get into a fight that Merle seems to diffuse which makes him the hero in some way. Merle is feeling quite great about himself lately, and he knows he has Hadrian to thank for this second chance.

Present time Peverell Mansion

It was a beautiful December day, the grounds had started to freeze slightly within just a week time which gave the whole estate an otherworldly look as if they were in a Christmas world, and not in America. It couldn't compete with Hogwarts, to Harry's dismay, but since Marriet had been over the moon with the décor and the snow, he wouldn't be sad about it either. It wasn't his day but he had been happy to be able to configure a wedding this size in the current climate.

With people likely to arrive through the Floo at the Deathly Hallows at any moment, Luna walked in just in time, serene in the beautiful light lavender dress that flowed all around her. It made her look like a true angel, with the heavy winter cloak in an icy shade of periwinkle tastefully draped over her shoulders, the Longbottom seal on the bronze clasps a nice nod to her husband, but also matching her outfit in a way that would suit a true lady.

Lady Longbottom was a sight to behold, and Harry kissed her knuckles and planted a quick kiss on her cheek as she stood next to him. She leaned in towards him for a side hug, and he held her by her shoulders as they waited together. Always at ease with each other, no matter what. That was Luna to him.

Luna had been one of his closest friends, especially after the war, and she felt like a sister to him, a sister he needed to protect. Someone he still had to cherish and Harry was glad that Neville understood this need. As Harry had no wife or anyone to take on the duties of First Lady of his houses, Lady Longbottom, as an allied house to Potter, was allowed to help. Narcissa, as Lady Malfoy but a former Black, would probably take over when she arrived, Harry was sure of that but for now he had to do the honours.

Luna and Harry were the welcoming committee, directing the guests to the large courtyard of Hallow Manor where the wedding would take place. The reception would follow, with plenty of drinks and canapés. Afterwards, the wedding party would use the Hellebore Pub for a tasteful after-dinner. This was at Severus' request. The Potions Masters had wanted to keep it small, but appearances had to be made. Marriet had lost some of her good friends in the apocalypse and had only been able to reach a few. They had reacted rather surprised but happy for her and would also be there.

The American ministry had sent out a decree a few weeks ago - much too late in all of their opinions - to help each other out, and not to go on without having cleared the borders and the stations. There had also been some other nonsense in it that most people didn't buy, like where they claimed to clear areas - they didn't -, check on people - also no - and more. Fortunately for the wedding, it had been Harry's name that had been co-signatory on the invitation, and that helped get a lot of people out of their homes and onto the manor with a secure floo connection. The belief was that people were safe on his estate. And rightly so, if Harry was able to say so himself.

For the wedding, two massive canopies had been stretched between Peverell Manor and Hallow Manor, decorated with beautiful holly with red berries. Neville had grown the plants especially for the occasion, and Harry would be able to use the best of the vines to make wands at a later date. Fairy lights were strung all around, and Luna had used an enchantment to make extra fairy lights float in the air. At least, that's what he suspected. Knowing Luna as he did, it could be that she had asked some real fairies to help her out. Who knows. To be honest, he didn't want to know.

There were magnificent black wooden planters that John had made. They marked the paths and the reception area with beautiful potion ingredients like hellebore, viburnum, angel's trumpet and lavender, overflowing everywhere you looked. Carol already had plans for these planters at a later date. For a wedding between two potion masters, it was very whimsical and magical. It had just the right feel. The white and purple complemented the usual Snape black, and Harry smiled as he thought back to the relationship Neville and Severus had once had, as opposed to the one they had now.

This had been Neville's way of saying thanks to the man who had been responsible for their safety.

Lady and Lord Malfoy had been the first to arrive, with Heiress Greengrass in their wake, whom they greeted as old friends. Astoria, Daphne's sister and Draco's wife, was still ill and would not be able to make it. She hadn't been to any party in a few years already. Harry knew that Draco had been over at Malfoy Manor that morning, and had just arrived half an hour ago. Astoria and he were very friendly with one another, but there had never been any notion of love between them. They knew that when they married, that was just tradition.

At the same time the Malfoy's arrived, Blaise and Theo had come down the stairs, both dressed in the same dark-coloured dress robes, showing their bonding without shame. Whereas Blaise had used golden accents to compliment his skin tone, Theo had chosen silver, which matched his eyes. Draco was a few steps behind them, in a dark wine-coloured set of robes, that matched his fathers. It didn't take long for the floo to flare to life again, as Pansy Parkinson came out with practised ease that Harry still was jealous of, and they greeted the Slytherin party as a whole.

As Draco led them out, guests from all around the world came out of the floo. Surprised that they were able to make the journey – only for twenty-four hours to be exact or as long as Harry's magic willed it – some guests barely took notice of their famous host. Exactly as Harry liked it.

Present time The wedding

Severus Snape might hate it. But his name had drawn enough people out of hiding, through an international Floo, nota bene. People were walking, talking, and socialising all around, and Harry greeted people left and right, with one Malfoy or the other in his wake. Ron stood somewhere undercover to keep an eye on the guests, as he liked to do, while he pretended to be in conversation with a Hufflepuff they had known at school, who had been a few years younger. Ron couldn't be too sure that no one was holding a grudge against Severus or Harry at the moment, and Ron paid tribute to Moody's 'constant vigilance'.

Wizards were a bunch of strange folks.

Merle and Daryl had been forcibly dressed by Carol, who had a crash course in wizarding culture by Marriet and Elenoir. She had been dead set on having Sophia fit in with her new world, and she wore the role of a Lady herself with ease. Carol was wearing a beautiful dress with a matching cloak with the Potter emblem on it to show that they were protected by Harry. Sophia was wearing the equivalent of her mother's dress, but then a bit more whimsical as was appropriate for a girl her age. She loved the cloak around her shoulders, and had proudly shown Harry her holster, and the latest spells that she had learned from Vicky and Elenoir. Gerard and his wife loved children, and Sophia was often found at their apartment, learning the odd spell here and there.

Harry had given her his undivided attention for a while, explaining all sorts of things about the wedding and the encompassing rituals that were involved, walking around with her on his arm, which had sparked a new rumour that Harry was using this wedding to look for his own partner to have children with. Harry had merely rolled his eyes at the news Pansy had brought him.

Narcissa and Pansy were enjoying it a bit too much, if you asked Daryl.

Both Dixons had opted for the dress shirt option with a vest over it, without a jacket or cloak. The shirts were more fancy than they had expected they were going to wear, but they were allowed their boots, since most wizards wore dragon leather boots in one way or another. The wizarding men might wear expensive pairs, that looked like they shined more than the silverware they would dine out of today, but they were boots alright and the brothers had accepted their fate. They were here for the dour potions man, with his lovely bride. Daryl knew that Merle never missed an opportunity for a wedding.

Merle saw how Harry noticed everything around the room, and he couldn't fault the man. His own eyes were constantly on little Sophia as well. If any wizard thought they could hurt her, they would feel his fists first, and he would break any stick that would be aimed at him. Harry had even permitted him to do so.

It was Mack who broke the silence, as he stood next to them almost in the same attire. Probably dressed by Vicky and Carol as well.

"Jeez, they went all out." The youngest Moore brother had a glass with a sketchy fluid to drink in his hand.

"'Hey, bud. Good to see you," Merle said as he held out his hand.

"Yeah, thanks man. Also thanks for the last time we spoke. I needed some breathing room." Mack seemed a bit remorseful, and kept his voice down as he referred to the fight he had with Ron.

"All's good. No worries," Merle commented. "Did you have any time to talk with Draco?"

"Yeah, I did."

"I didn't expect to see you here today." Daryl looked genuinely surprised as he joined the conversation.

"Yeah, me neither, but it's a wedding you know. Marriet invited me personally, since I do harvest most of her herbs. Always have, even before this." He shrugged, and downed the fire whiskey that was offered to him by John. "Can't stay away and all that. My mother raised a better man than that."

Both Dixons nodded that they understood.

"Come on, it's starting!" With a giddy step and a big smile on her face, Sophia interrupted them. "We have to take our places!" She ordered Merle around as she tugged on his large arm, dragging him to where they needed to sit.

Merle smiled. Ignoring the snorts from his brothers and the laughter from Mack. Fuck those idiots.

Present time The reception

The wedding itself had been a short but sweet affair. Just as it was supposed to be, the former professor hardly wanted any of the attention he had at the moment. Before they were able to sit down to dinner, however, the reception had been lavish. There were dignitaries, there were people to talk to, and there were people to convince of his power, in Harry's view. Yes, he wanted to help in his way, no, he wouldn't fight without a cause, yes, he would help on the sidelines, sure, they could get a meeting with him through his lawyer, they could send an owl to his representatives if they needed to speak to him, no, tonight was not the time for business, but for family. It went on and on.

Kreacher had outdone himself, Harry found as he was seated at the head of the table, with the happily married couple on his right, and the Malfoy's on his left. He had asked Daryl if he wanted to be seated next to him, but the man had declined all that attention, and Harry understood the reason all too well.

He didn't know if Draco had a hand in this, but his newfound lover was sitting exactly on the opposite side again as the last big dinner, which gave them an undisturbed view of each other since the table décor had been lifted and placed on the side. Harry liked what he saw. Daryl was dressed in a combination of wizarding wear, with Muggle aspects that were appropriate, which gave him a very mysterious appeal that caught Harry's eye more than once.

He didn't need to worry, as Daryl's eyes seemed to follow Harry anywhere, which felt oddly comforting for the wizard.

After a few words from close friends to the couple, it would be Harry's job to open the meal, and say a few words. This was the part that he hated, but it needed to be done. He tapped his crystal champagne flute a few times, to get the attention the traditional way, before he whisked his wand out of his holster. His holly wand naturally. He wouldn't be using it, he couldn't even if he wanted to, but it was better that people didn't see his other wand or see him casting without one. The charms he would be pulling off were so easy, he was able to cast them both with a wand- and wordless, but that was better kept secret.

"Honoured bride and groom, ladies and gentlemen, if you don't mind, I would like to pay my respects to the bride and groom before we all enjoy the lovely food that has been prepared for us today."

Harry looked around the room, and noticed how he still was able to grasp the attention of everyone in the room, and he exchanged a quick look with Draco, who gave him a comforting smile. Next to him, Ron, Pansy, and George were seated, and the latter gave him a thumbs up as he winked mischievously. They all knew how much he hated giving speeches.

"As you all know, it's through Lord Prince-Snape that we've overcome some of our bad memories, and I couldn't be happier for him that he's found a very compatible wife in the lovely Marriet. Who not only matches him in her intelligence, but also as a potioneer. I wish you both the best, and from my house to yours; may your marriage bear the fruits of your labour."

It was a traditional saying, but Harry had to give Severus the respect that his presence and actions over the years had not only earned, but demanded.

"Hereby, please enjoy dinner." With a flourish that would make Dumbledore proud, Harry signalled for the elves to bring the food to the table, where it appeared as it did at Hogwarts, which elected the right 'oh's' and 'ah's' from some of the ladies at the table.

His work was done for the night.

After the happily married couple retreated to their chambers, and Lady Malfoy saw the last guests out, the inhabitants of the Peverell grounds found themselves around a large round table. It was around one or two in the night, Harry hadn't checked his watch in a while, and there were still guests lingering about; some were too drunk to get home while others were talking and waiting on their timetable to use the floo. Only a few of the oldest and closest friends that Lucius and Severus had in school were still left, and Narcissa was gently coaching them towards the hearth, without making it look like she was doing so.

It took a while before they had cleared everyone out of the castle, so now the Deathly Inn was the only place left that needed to be watched. Harry plopped down next to Daryl on a chair as he stripped himself of his tightly tied tie. He had abandoned his cloak a few minutes before that, and he yawned. It was time for him to go to bed since it had been a long but very beautiful day. He turned his head and looked over at Daryl, who seemed to have the same idea, as his hand had already found its way to his knee. It was a light and soft touch, but just enough that others could write that movement off as friendly or misplaced, but enough for Harry to know that Daryl was there for him.

Daryl seemed to have grasped early on that Harry loved being hugged and touched. Draco had called him touch depraved once, and Harry couldn't say anything against that diagnosis. He did not have a lot of people touching him daily, and revelled in Daryl doing just that.

Ron pulled out a bottle of scotch that they had been saving, and poured the inhabitants of the magical area a stiff one. Narcissa, ever so the lady, refused the glass that was given to her, just to take her husband's glass and empty it in seconds. Lucius, ever the gracious husband, didn't even bat an eye and poured her another one, and handed her back his glass. This caused Merle to smirk, who had just returned from getting Carol and Sophia safe to bed, while Draco muttered something about uncouth behaviour from his parents.

It was a nice way to bring the evening to a close. Between the alcohol and Daryl's burning hand on his thigh, Harry felt a certain sense of bliss. Until both he, George and Ron felt the alarms go off as someone magical tried to break into Luna Park.

"Oh bloody hell." That was all Harry heard Ron say with a heavy sigh.