Marguerith sat on her bed, her legs folded beneath her. She carefully observed the room that had once been her refuge during parts of her childhood and adolescence. The young woman let her green eyes wander over every detail of the room. Each small statue, each painting on the wall—things she had chosen to leave behind as she embarked on a new phase of her life.
A slight melancholy formed in her chest. Her thoughts drifted to the memory of her mother, who had passed away so many years before. She couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to have Rosette by her side on such an important day.
Marguerith clutched the edge of the towel wrapped around her. She held her breath for a few seconds, trying to push away the waves of longing. Light knocks were heard at the door, but she couldn't respond, still lost in her memories. In the next moment, she saw Hesper's face appear at the doorway. A gentle smile formed on Marguerith's lips. She was grateful to have her aunt there to help her prepare. She could have hired a professional, but she wanted to share this moment with someone close to her. Unfortunately, Betelgeuse could only arrive at the ceremony.
"Good afternoon, my dear," Hesper smiled sweetly as she approached. "I brought your wedding dress."
Hesper sat in front of her, unwrapping a tissue paper package. Shortly after, Marguerith laid eyes on a long white silk dress, delicately embroidered with golden threads. A sweet fragrance wafted from the fabric, light and graceful, just as the gown appeared.
"I asked them to add small golden roses—your favorite flowers. I hope you like it. Every detail was made with you in mind."
"Thank you, Aunt," Marguerith finally replied, allowing her voice to break free, grateful not just for the dress, but for the woman's presence.
Hesper simply smiled back. "Now, stand up. Come on, I want to dress you. You'll look beautiful. Perfect, just as a true Black—no, Black-Thorne—should be."
Marge obeyed Hesper's command, but as her aunt turned to retrieve the makeup case and other items to get her ready, the young woman grasped the Black matriarch's hand. Hesper stopped abruptly, waiting for her niece's next move. The girl wrapped her arms around her aunt's neck in a hug.
No words were exchanged between the two. None were needed. Hesper gently ran her hand through her niece's loose hair, gazing at her with tenderness. Marge pulled back and placed a loving kiss on her aunt's cheek. Without saying a word, the younger of the twins sat on a small divan in the room, waiting for Hesper's skilled hands to work their magic.
The Black matriarch still had her doubts about Marguerith's decision to go through with the marriage, but she found comfort in the fact that, unlike Sirius, Pericles seemed to be an upright man. She hoped that, in time, Marge would learn to love him.
She looked flawless. Like a porcelain doll crafted by a meticulous and dedicated artisan. Her hair was neatly pinned, and her face painted almost as if in traditional art. Pericles seemed utterly captivated, unable to take his eyes off his wife. When they were engaged, he found her stunning, but now, as he saw her walking down the aisle, he was at a loss for words.
Though Marguerith felt slightly apprehensive about starting a new life, part of her was calm. Without realizing it, she sought her husband's hand and intertwined it with hers under the table. One day, she would love him—of that she was sure.
In the grand ballroom, the entire Black family was present. There was also at least one representative from each of the other prominent families of the Wizarding World. Marge felt content; she had a good man by her side. And she was living a moment of triumph in front of her peers. At last, she would be respected.
Loud applause brought her back to reality. Sirius Black had just risen, asking for the attention of the guests. She had been so absorbed in observing everything and everyone around her that Marge hadn't noticed the time passing or the dinner ending.
"Well then, now that we're all satisfied, on behalf of the Black and Thorne families…" At this point, he made a slight bow to Aribeth, who responded with a half-smile. "I would like to invite you all for a walk in the gardens, where a surprise awaits us to celebrate the union of our dear niece and nephew!"
As Marge stood up, she felt someone gently pull her chair to assist her. Turning, she met the brown eyes of her now-husband, wearing a peaceful smile. Without a word, he offered her his arm, which she accepted in silence. The two made their way to the gardens, where a wizard hired by Sirius climbed a small platform, wand in hand.
The bride's green eyes followed the man as he conducted an invisible orchestra, and suddenly, thousands of fireworks began exploding out of nowhere, magically lighting up the gardens. As dragons, mermaids, and other mythical creatures soared through the sky, she became aware of Pericles' arm around hers, feeling secure with his touch and believing that their future would be promising.