Chapter Five
Tonks stood in front of the huge mirror in the room Lily had shown her to several days earlier and took a deep breath.
"You look…" Nikka wiped her eyes quickly, now was not the time to ruin her make-up.
It was the truth though, even if the words didn't seem to be able to be said out loud. Tonks' make-up highlighted her sharp cheek bones and heart shaped face. Her eyes were done up smokey to highlight the beautiful doe shape and her lips were painted dark purple.
She had insisted on wearing her New Rocks, something Andromeda hadn't been too pleased with but accepted that this was her daughters day.
She was wearing a snow-white, tea length dress that flared out from her waist with neat lace capped sleeves.
She looked like a snow fairy, ready to steal you away to a hill for a hundred years, and it was perfect.
Nikka, thankfully was not wearing a large pink dress with lots of frills as Tonks had threatened but a dress that just brushed the top of her feet in yellow, with thick black lace over the top.
"Oh…" Andromeda walked in, wearing a neat set of dark red robes, "oh…"
She dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief matching her dark red dress and held her daughter at arms length, drinking in every inch of her.
"Thanks Mum." Tonks grinned, giving her a hug, "Did you find the veil in the end?"
Andromeda reluctantly tore her eyes from her daughter and nodded, "Yes. It was in the attic, of all places! I had Winky clean and press it ready."
Andromeda opened a long and rather battered cardboard box, moving aside the black tissue paper that protected the lace veil which would trail far behind the wearer.
They hadn't had much when Andromeda and Ted had married. Ted came from working class background, with parents who hadn't been best pleased to have a magical son that they didn't understand anyway, and Andromeda had left home with little other than the clothes on her back.
They'd gotten her a dress from a charity shop and his suit from a car boot sale. Andromeda had worn her everyday shoes, one of the reasons Tonks wanted to do the same.
The one thing they had splashed out on was the veil. It was made from delicate white lace and had trailed behind her for a good six foot. Tonks had never imagined her wedding day without it.
"I'll go and fetch Danica." Nikka smiled, "She wanted to be here to see your veil get put on."
Nikka closed the door softly behind her and walked through the long corridors and knocked on Danica's door.
She wasn't sure exactly what had, mostly, snapped Danica out of her angry stage but it was much nicer to have the happy Danica back.
"Come in!" Danica called.
Inside the room, Danica was dressed in a matching dress to Nikka, her long black hair brushed to a sheet of jet down her back.
"You look so pretty!" Nikka grinned.
"Thank you." Danica smiled back, "You look really pretty as well. Do you think Sirius would like a picture of us all dressed up?"
It took Nikka a minute to find her voice, "Yes. I think he'd love it." It still shocked her whenever Sirius was mentioned.
Danica nodded, "I think so too. Is Aunty Tonks ready?"
"Yep. Just need to put her veil on, but she thought you'd want to be there." Nikka said.
"I DO!" Danica yelled excitedly, "Let's go!"
"Hold on a second!" Lily said, half way through brushing her teeth and rushing through from the bathroom.
She grabbed a yellow rose crown from the bedside table and placed it carefully on Danica's head, giving her a thumbs up and vanishing back into the bathroom.
Nikka took Danica's hand and led her down the hallways. Danica had been a bit worried about showing off her arms and the back of her shoulders but Tonks seemed to think she looked very beautiful in the dress so she hadn't moaned about it too much. Tonks had given her a cardigan if she wanted to cover up.
"You look so pretty!" Danica cried, seeing Tonks all dressed up.
"Don't get used to it kid." Tonks laughed, "Back to baggy jeans and jumpers after this."
Andromeda rolled her eyes and pulled Danica onto her knee, "What are we going to do with her?" she grinned.
It wasn't long before there was a knock on the door, Ted walked in and looked Tonks up and down, crying himself.
"Oh Pa!" Tonks smiled.
"You look amazing Dora!" Ted told her, "I just came to tell you that they're all ready and waiting."
Tonks nodded, the butterflies building in her stomach, there were so many times that she didn't think they were going to make it to this day, and she was never going to let him go again.
Danica jumped off Andromeda's lap and stood next to Nikka as Tonks' parents helped her to pin her veil in place.
"Ready Dora?" Ted asked, offering her his arm, "You don't have to do this you know? I know you're sure, but I'm your dad, I have to ask."
Tonks rolled her eyes, "I know, but I really, really want to."
Ted smiled, "I know, but I had to check. He's not who we would of picked for you, but he's certainly who the gods picked. You make each other so much better."
"Mum can you grab my flowers?" Tonks asked, looking around the room.
"Of course, I've got them now off you go!" Andromeda smiled, shooing her daughter from the room.
Nikka and Danica fell into place behind Tonks and her father as he led them down the stairs and out into the garden.
Outside the house elves had been working since dawn. They had set up two dozen or so wooden chairs, in two neat sets with an aisle down the centre. Every chair's back was covered in flowers. The aisle was also covered in a blanket of flowers, magically grown to be in just the right place.
It led to an archway, once again covered in fresh blooms where Lucius was standing with Remus and a tall, slim woman with long white hair. She was wearing a flowing silver dress and had rather pointed ears; Harry suspected that she was some sort of snow elf from the way she looked and held herself.
Andromeda gave her daughter another hug and kiss before going and taking her seat. Everyone else was already in place.
They couldn't have many guests, it just wasn't possible at the current time, but even this was more than Tonks or Remus had ever dared to hope for.
Remus was standing there, waiting for her; Tonks could just see him if she peaked round the door. He was wearing jet black dress robes, with a yellow cravat to match the bridesmaids.
Lucius had bought the robes for him, saying that they were just an old pair that Lily had altered to fit Remus's slighter frame. It seemed the least that he could do, as they couldn't have most of their friends to the wedding. He missed Narcissa so much, she would have wanted to be here.
Her bridesmaids dress was tucked away in her large walk in wardrobe, bought before they realised that she wouldn't be able to wear it and Lucius hadn't had the heart to move it. Missing her was like a hole in his heart.
Harry stood by Remus, trying to keep a straight face. He'd never been a best man before and it seemed like a lot of responsibility, responsibility that was currently making him want to laugh.
"I never thought I'd get married." Remus told him quietly.
"Really?" Harry asked, "Not even once?"
Remus shook his head, "People like me… we don't have families. And I was so young when I was bitten, I never had the chance to think about weddings, or children. I was going to call all this off for a while."
"What made you change your mind?" Harry asked.
Remus smiled sadly at him, "Danica. What lesson would it be for her if I told her werewolves can't marry the person that they love?"
"Tonks is good for you." Harry said carefully, "And I see no reason werewolves can't marry. It's stupid."
Remus laughed, "James would have said the same thing."
"I'm sorry he can't be here, and Sirius…" Harry wasn't sure if it was the right thing to say, but it needed saying out loud. There were several people who should have been here that weren't.
Remus nodded, "I know. Me too."
Harry looked around, every house elf was dressed in a fresh uniform, bearing the Malfoy crest and sat along the second row of seats, chattering excitedly.
Bill and Fleur had managed to attend, dressed in matching red robes. They had been more than happy to take a day off from planning their own wedding and a chance to escape the Burrow for a while.
Three of Nikka's brothers had also been able to attend, although Ryker and Stefan were absent, leaving two empty chairs.
Corvus was sitting tucked away at the back. The Ministry had refused him permission to be there but Lucius didn't care what they said any more, it wasn't fair for Corvus to be locked away all summer.
He'd been quiet and little cut off from everyone, something that both Lucius and Lily agreed they needed to work against.
Hermione was dressed in a nice red knee length dress, feeling a little out of place and rather like she was only there by default. Draco stuck close to her, trying to reassure her that she was wanted there. Her bushy hair was woven with wild flowers, Winky's idea, and while she knew they were magically fixed in place, it made her slightly afraid to move her head to quickly.
"Could everyone please stand for the bride." the elf woman said, once everyone was in place.
A soft music filled the garden, and dozens of fairies came out of the bushes and trees to watch.
Tonks grasped hold of her father's arm and walked slowly forwards, down the aisle. She wanted to run, to jump into Remus's arms but her father held her back, beaming with pride.
Danica and Nikka followed her down the aisle, Danica stopping frequently to make sure the veil was perfectly flat on the ground.
Tonks stopped next to Remus and smiled at him, as her father kissed her on the cheek and handed her right hand to Remus. She was so happy, and nervous and feeling everything at once that her hair was changing colours every few seconds, it was going to look very odd in the pictures to anyone who didn't know her.
"Friends and family gathered here," the elf started, reading from a very old book, "we are today to witness and celebrate the union of Remus and Dora, who have chosen to join their lives into one. Remus and Dora have asked that we have a minute of silent reflection, to remember those who can not be here with us and hope for their well-being."
Harry lowered his head, glancing quickly around to see the other guests had done so as well, Fleur holding tightly to Bill's hand.
"Thank you." the elf smiled, "Now turn our thoughts, and attention to Remus and Dora, you have both come here of your own, free choice, out of love for one another?"
"We have." Tonks said, unable to stop grinning.
"We have." Remus agreed.
"Remus John Lupin, do you promise to love and hold one another, through sickness and through health? For richer or poorer? No matter what may come to challenge you? You will remain forever faithful?"
"I promise, forever." Remus said.
"Nymphadora Tonks, do you promise to love and hold one another, through sickness and through health? For richer or poorer? No matter what may come to challenge you? You will remain forever faithful?"
"I promise." Tonks beamed, "Oh I so promise!"
"I believe that both Remus and Dora have some things they would like to say to one another." the elf smiled, gesturing to Remus.
"Dear Dora, I couldn't work out how to put into words, how much I love you but you came up with the idea of us writing out our vows so I had to." Remus smiled at the ripple of laughter that went around. "You have changed my life so much for the better, I never dreamed that I would meet someone as perfect as you and certainly never dared to hope that you would look at me twice. But I got lucky and you did, and now I will spend every day, every hour, every minute trying to say thank you for the amazing gift you have given me, by being in my life." Remus said softly, struggling to speak loud enough for everyone to hear.
With shaking hands he slipped the knot work band on to her finger and smiled.
Andromeda was crying, clutching at Ted's hand while she dabbed at her eyes. Lily reached forward and passed her a fresh handkerchief, she'd planned ahead and brought a stack of them with her.
"Dear Remus, I was once told that you like people because of things, you love them despite of things. I like you, I liked you from the first time we met, every small touch, every hand held and every sneaky kiss, only made me like you more and more. But, today isn't about like. Today is about love. So… I love you despite the fact you are really worried about what the future might hold for us, and that's led you to be a bit sucky at times. I love you despite the fact that you are so grumpy, three mornings a month especially! I love you despite the fact you like your steaks really rare which is gross. I love every part of you, all of it and I hope to spend many, many years proving just how much I you." she put the matching wedding ring onto his finger with a kiss
The elf smiled, "Remus and Dora, will you now hold hands?"
Remus and Tonks reached forwards and held tightly to one another. The elf wove her hands over Remus and Tonks's clasped hands leaving them wrapped with a chain of flowers.
"And so you are bound in marriage, forever more, two souls living one life. Together." the elf told them solemnly, "You may now kiss the bride."
Harry clapped furiously as Tonks and Remus kissed to a deafening round of applause. Several of the house elves leapt to their feet, sending firework like sparks shooting into the air, that fell softly back to earth, showering them in colour.
Slowly all of the guests stood up and congratulated the couple, Tonks couldn't stop crying and had to keep dabbing her eyes to stop the tears from streaming down her face.
"We're going to have a few photographs." Andromeda announced, "Please listen to where you are directed."
Several house elves jumped up with large, old fashioned cameras that weren't much smaller than they were. Harry stood where he was told and smiled as the cameras flashed around them.
Danica took at her cardigan, that had been tucked away with Lily as she was asked to stand in front of Tonks for one of the photos.
"I don't want everyone to look at me." Danica whispered to Harry.
"No one will, not in a bad way." Harry said, trying to reassure her, "You can wear your cardi if you want but no one will be looking at you. Tonks and Remus are going to be the only ones everyone is seeing."
Danica looked back at them, the love pouring out from between them so it was impossible not to see.
"You're right." Danica said.
She shuffled into place and smiled, Harry holding tightly to her hand.
It wasn't long before they moved inside a large tent, where the house elves had created a three course meal for them all.
Ryker and Stephan arrived just in time to join the wedding breakfast and hungrily ate the roast chicken salad, battered north sea cod and potato wedges (Tonks wanted fish and chips, Andromeda gave her a mother glare that said it wasn't such a brilliant idea, although all they ended up doing was renaming it really) with huge servings of bread and butter pudding to finish.
The dancing stretched on into the night as Tonks and Remus spun each other round the neat lawn. It wasn't long before most of the female guests had kicked off their shoes to dance and it was well passed midnight before they finally said goodbye to Fleur and Bill.
Tonks and Remus held hands as they walked up the long staircase to their small suite, that had more rooms than their previous house, in the north wing.
Remus stopped just outside the door and picked Tonks up in his arms.
"Noooo!" Tonks shrieked with laughter, "Put me down!"
"With how clumsy you are? Not a chance!" Remus grinned, "You'd trip for sure and we'd be ruined!"
He placed her back on her feet carefully, just the other side of the door.
"Welcome home Mrs Lupin." Remus beamed, kissing her again.
Tonks felt her cheeks grow warm, 'Mrs Lupin' she liked the way it sounded.