Chapter 12
"You invited the Pope?" Alucard asked. Harry grinned,
"And the Queen! The Pope, predictably is unable to attend, but he did request pictures." Harry said, tugging at his sleeves, and adjusting his tri-corner pirate hat.
"And Betty?" Alucard asked, looking skeptical. Harry grinned but said nothing. Harry turned his head to the door as he heard a knock.
"Are you dressed?" Integra asked. Harry frowned.
"Yup!" Harry said. His jaw dropped when he saw her. At the last minute, Harry and Seras decided to adopt a pirate theme for the bridal party, Integra was wearing the chosen bridesmaid dress, however it had been distressed and modified through transfiguration to look more piratey. She looked absolutely stunning.
"You all set?" Integra asked.
"You're beautiful!" Harry said
"I am, aren't I?" Integra said with a smirk. Alucard laughed.
"I remember when you were a little girl, pointing a gun at your uncle." Alucard said.
"You made a fairly decent arm rest." Integra said fondly. She looked up at Harry and smiled.
"It's almost time." Integra said. She made to leave before Harry caught her arm, bringing her in for a kiss. When it broke she smiled and laughed, stumbling backwards a bit before turning and leaving awkwardly with Alucard following behind her. Harry took one last look in the mirror and smiled, wiping Integra's lipstick off his lips. He felt strange, completely at ease. Everyone had warned him of the pre-wedding jitters, but either he was too busy, or on a deep, instinctual level, he understood that this was right. There was no apprehension, no nerves, just peace, and excitement. He ducked his head under the doorway to avoid the ridiculous hat he had on being knocked off, and made his way down the Hogwarts hallway.
A first year Hufflepuff girl came running down the hall, skidding to a stop right in front of him.
"Yarr?" Harry asked. The Hufflepuff laughed,.
"They're ready for you." She said.
"Yarr!" Harry said with a nod. The girl took his hand and lead him the rest of the way through the corridor, and through the great hall, pausing at the door. Shortly after an ethereal dog bounded into the room, and sat in front of Harry.
"Th-they're r-ready for you..." Sirius' patronus said, his voice broken.
"Oh lord he's already crying." Harry said.
"What a bitch!" The Hufflepuff said.
"Five points to Hufflepuff!" Harry said with a grin, high-fiving the firstie. He waved his hand, opening the doors and walked through, following a marked path down to the grounds where he assumed his position at the altar, smiling at an openly weeping Minerva and Hagrid. Harry struggled not to laugh as he took in the costumes everyone was wearing.
Minerva was wearing a red starfleet uniform from Star Trek, the original series, and had a transfigured tricorder attached to her belt. Hagrid was wearing an admittedly awful, homemade dragon costume. Sirius was wearing stereotypical prisoner garb, including a plastic ball and chain. Remus was dressed as werewolf, but only because Tonks had wanted to go as Little Red Riding Hood. Teddy, was of course was dressed as the huntsman.
He couldn't quite figure out Alucard's costume, he was wearing a red and white checkered dress with matching bonnet, pigtails, combat boots and he was wearing a penguin puppet on one hand, grinning like a madman. His groomsmen, Ron, Fred and George Weasley, Pip, and Neville were all wearing matching pirate crew uniforms, except Zorin who was also wearing a modified bridesmaid dress, standing in the best woman position.
Harry looked over at the bridesmaids, with Integra in the maid of honor position and smiled at her, Rip, Hermione, Heinkel, Yumie, Luna and Helena. Harry admitted that Rip and Zorin made exceptional pirate wenches. To nearly everyone's utter shock, Anderson stood in priest vestments at the altar, having been asked to officiate. Harry smirked when he remembered Minerva's face when he'd asked Anderson to help translate when Minerva became 'all emotional and Scottish.'
His heart leapt when he heard professor Flitwick tap his baton against his sheet music stand, and the band comprised of Hogwarts students started playing the wedding march. Andromeda and Narcissa, holding Regina and Nicole walked down first, throwing flower petals on the aisle, followed by an ecstatic looking Schrodinger who was dressed as Link from the Legend of Zelda. Harry stared in awe at the vision of beauty that approached behind them, her hands grasping the absurdly dressed Alucard's elbow.
Seras arrived just as the song was ending, and with a smile he took Harry's hand, and placed it in Seras', before stepping back and assuming his position. Harry's mind was blank, Seras was to him already one of the two most beautiful women in the world, but dressed as she was, she was like a living goddess. Her dress was lavish, tastefully cut and made of the finest silks they could get their hands on. She wore an ornate, bejeweled, goblin-made platinum tiara which had been gifted permanently to the Potter-Victoria family, in an almost unprecedented show of respect and friendship from the Goblin Nation.
"Jesus fuck you're hot." Harry said, causing those in attendance to laugh. Harry winced when he was smacked in the head with a rolled up copy of their wedding vows that Anderson had been given.
"Lord's fuckin' name." He said with a grin. Harry laughed along with everyone else in attendance. He looked over again at Seras and smiled, meeting her watery gaze with his own.
"Dearly beloved, we're gathered here today in the sight of God to join this monstrous abomination and this Godless heathen in unholy matrimony." Anderson said, causing the crowd to gasp in outrage.
"How dare he..." Emma Granger whispered to Amelia bones who was sitting next to her.
"Look at them." Amelia whispered. Harry and Seras were laughing and Anderson was looking fondly at them.
"I have it on good authority, that Alucard helped them with that." A muffled female voice said from behind them. Amelia looked back and saw a short, older woman dressed as a fighter pilot.
"You know them?" Amelia asked. When the woman lifted the visor to her helmet and winked, Emma paled.
Meanwhile on the groom's side of the aisle, Remus was a consoling a sobbing Sirius while rolling his eyes.
"Get yourself together, man, you're going to miss the best part." Remus said, rolling his eyes.
"I'm just so happy!" Sirius said. Tonks smacked him on the back of the head and shushed him.
Schrodinger stood there, his heart bursting with joy as he watched two of his parents get married. He reflected on the fact that not too long ago, he was little more than the pet of a megalomaniacal fascist, destined to die bringing down a monster. Now, however, he was loved and cherished, and adored by an enormous and diverse family of people, many of whom used to be his enemies. He found himself retreating into non-existence less and less as time went on and it was all thanks to the wonderful people who had welcomed him into their lives with open arms.
He saw his cue and approached Anderson, holding a satin pillow with their wedding rings on it out. Harry took Seras' and placed it on her finger, then Seras did the same for Harry. They clasped their hands together and Anderson produced a strip of blue cloth, wrapping it around their hands.
"Before we met, I had no purpose. Life was dull, dark, dreary. I was going through the motions, drifting aimlessly, hoping that some day I'd find meaning. Then I met you. You opened my eyes and my heart. When I was turned I thought I'd never find love, yet you proved me wrong. My life with you is a dazzling adventure and I can't wait to see where it takes us next. I love you, Harry Potter-Victoria and I promise to until my dying breath." Seras said, her eyes shining.
"You saved me, Seras. During the war I had purpose, but no drive. I just lived each day wanting nothing more than to get it over with. Each completed task was simply the first step in the next. After the war, I had nothing. I helped rebuild, I raised money for charitable causes, I fought for the rights of magical beings and halfbloods and muggleborns, all worthy causes yet they did little for me. Then I was an auror, and then a hit wizard, searching for something I couldn't identify. Something I had as a kid, a purpose. Something worth dying for.
Then I met you. You gave me something worth living for. You gave me my new friends, my new life. You are my everything. I cannot quantify how much you've done for me, and it seems a pittance in comparison, but all I can offer you is my undying love, which I do freely. I love you Seras Victoria, and I will for the rest of my days." Harry said. Seras smiled, crying unabashedly.
"Potter-Victoria." She corrected with a grin.
"Do you, Seras Victoria-soon to be Potter-Victoria take this man as your lawfully wedded husband?" Anderson asked. She laughed.
"I do." Seras said.
"And do you, Harry, still gonna be Potter-Victoria take this woman to be your lawfuly wedded wife?" Anderson asked.
"I do." Harry said. Anderson tied a knot with the cloth ribbon under where their hands were clasped.
"If any here see any reason that these two should not be wed, hold your bloody tongues. I now pronounce you, husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." Anderson said. Seras and Harry kissed, and the crowd all cheered in jubilation, none louder than Integra and Schrodinger who both looked nearly deliriously happy. After a few moments the cheering abated and their kiss broke, and without warning a noise resembling an exploding trumpet blasted out in the back as Hagrid loudly blew his nose on a handkerchief the size of a table cloth.
Harry and Seras carefully pulled their hands out of the tied cloth, preserving it as best they could and made their way, hand in hand through a crowd of guests towards the area they'd set up down by the lake for the reception. The elves had, as they always did, gone overboard, and were reduced to jibbering, emotional wrecks when Harry insisted on shaking their hands and thanking them. Harry looked around and frowned.
"Where's Integra?" Harry asked. Seras looked around and frowned, spotting her standing off to the side with the other guests.
"Why is she all the way over there?" Seras asked, pointing in the direction.
"One sec." Harry said, disapparating.
Integra smiled, watching Harry and Seras, she could almost feel the happiness radiating off of them. She was overjoyed for her two lovers, but had resolved herself to keep a respectful distance during their special day. She realized that their relationship was rather new, but a small part of herself couldn't help but look forward to one day maybe having her turn at the altar. Until then, she would support and admire them from a distance. She nearly leapt out of her skin when she saw Harry disappear only to reappear centimeters in front of her, causing her to toss her wine in the air, drenching them both. Harry laughed, waving his wand to clean it off before taking Integra's hand and leading her towards Seras.
"Harry what are you doing?" Integra asked, grinning.
"You aren't where you're supposed to be." Harry said with a smile.
"Today is about you and Seras, Harry." Integra said, just as they got to the table Seras was sitting at.
"You're right it is, and it's ours to decide who we share it with." Harry said, directing Integra to sit on Seras' right, while he sat on her left.
"We have a peculiar relationship, Integra, but peculiar is fine. It's wonderful. We want to share every moment of this with you." Harry said, taking her hand and squeezing it. Integra sniffled.
"We need you, Integra. We'll always need you." Seras said, taking her other. The moment was interrupted by a sobbing Minerva being supported by a grinning Anderson. Minerva looked up and uttered an indecipherable string of what Harry was only partially convinced was English.
"She said she's proud of you, and seeing you up there reminded her of when she saw your parents married." Anderson said. Minerva nodded and said something equally indecipherable.
"She said they'd be so proud of the man you've become, and the wonderful women in your life." Anderson said. Minerva choked back a sob and uttered something else that had Anderson looking confused.
"Christ even I didn't get that one." Anderson said. Harry nearly fell out of his chair laughing at the absurd spectacle of a Scottish woman in her seventies leaping into the air to smack a seven-foot vampire murder machine in the back of the head.
