The breeze smelled of salt and new beginnings. It left a briney taste in the back of the guests' throats—a refreshing taste that reminded them why they were all there. Enzo walked around with a smile, asking everyone if they were doing all right. The general consensus was that everything was utterly perfect. From the sun shining high in the sky to the small wildflowers that dotted the tall grasses, it was one of the most beautiful days the world had seen in a while. But, to be honest, it would have been a beautiful day even if it was pouring and the grass was dead. Why?

Because today was the day he and Cass finally got married.

"Thirty galleons says Enzo cries," Mattheo snickered under his breath.

"I'm not taking that bet," Theo huffed at the same time Draco plastered on a cocky smirk and said, "Oh, you're on."

Enzo rolled his eyes. "I'm not going to cry at my wedding. This is the happiest day of my life. Not the saddest."

Mattheo grinned like he was about to be a wealthy man. "Says the guy that cried when he saw a pygmy puff because it was 'so cute.'"

Not even that was enough to make Enzo frown. Not when today was so bloody wonderful. "It was an adorable pygmy puff."

The air changed, charging with power. A booming voice drawled, "Not playing nice, Mattheo? The basilisk will be eager to know that you're giving the groom trouble on his wedding day."

Mattheo scowled at his older brother. "You and your bloody serpent better stay away from me or you'll have to get someone else to do all your dirty work."

A woman with stormy eyes and dark curls sidled up next to Tom, wrapping her hands around his arm and tucking herself into his side. "What about your serpent, my love?"

"I plan on using it later tonight."

"Oh, gross, you two!" Mattheo gagged before walking away, dry-heaving the whole time.

Tom turned to Enzo and dryly said, "You're welcome. Now he'll shut up for a while."

Enzo just laughed. Evelyn, Tom's wife, turned to Enzo and said, "Enzo, I just saw Cass. She looks stunning."

He couldn't help but smile. Enzo had no doubt that Cass would look beautiful—she always looked beautiful—but the idea of seeing her walk down their makeshift aisle was enough to make his heart pound and tears come to his—

Shit. Was he crying already? The ceremony hadn't even started, and yet he was overwrought with emotions.

Enzo took a deep breath. He had to hold himself together until at least Cass walked down the aisle. He thanked Evelyn just in time to hear a voice screeching, "No, no, no! You are not making a bet on this beautiful wedding day!"

"But, Astoria, I—"

"Don't you 'But, Astoria' me, Mattheo Riddle! I have spent too long on this wedding for you to make it into another one of your stupid jokes!"

Somewhere in the crowd, Nora Rosier snickered as her boyfriend got torn into by a girl who barely reached his chest height.

"And you, Draco Malfoy, know better than stoop to childish levels! Now help me with gardenias."

Nora whistled just as Draco followed after her with his tail tucked between his legs. "Wow. That might have been the most incredible sight I've ever seen. Do you think she'll do that at every wedding?"

"Probably," Enzo said with a grin.

He said hello to his soon-to-be-in-laws, who were all smiles as they congratulated him on the nuptials about to come. He spoke to his sister for a while, who rarely left Theodore's side, blue eyes wide as she watched the wedding. For the most part, Enzo talked with his friends, since they hadn't gotten together as often since graduation. Draco and Theo were studying under their father while Mattheo was doing... well, whatever it was that Mattheo did. Ernie Macmillan and Margot Moore were both helping Cass get ready, while Nora watched with a cat-like grin as Astoria bossed everyone around. Despite the slight chaos—mostly from Mattheo as he attempted to turn a frog into a Yorkshire pudding—it was still a beautiful day.

And then it got even better.

"Places, everyone, places!" Astoria shouted with a wide smile. The guests all took their seats in the chairs that she'd set up for everyone. With such a small guest list, they'd opted not to have a bridal party. Enzo went to stand in front of the wooden arch adorned with white and yellow flowers and flowing gossamer. The steady ocean waves churned behind them, such a stark contrast to the pounding of Enzo's heart and Astoria's fluttering about. "Draco! Oh no, Draco, did the wind mess up my hair?"

"You look radiant, my love, just like always."

Music began to play. Soft melodies from an enchanted violin—another detail of Astoria's that had turned out utterly perfect. A melody to match the calm waves and bright, happy sun.

The wind settled just as the guests had taken their final seats. Enzo felt like it was some grand sign that his life was about to change. Even the Earth took a breath.

And then there she was. His future wife. Cass.

. . .

Cass's heart was thudding. She worried it might burst through her chest and ruin her beautiful dress. Astoria and Aria had gone with her to pick it out from a muggle shop in London. It was a long, flowing gown that hid her small bump. Sleeves with beautiful floral designs billowed from her shoulders. The back of the dress had a deep v that matched the v in the front. Aria had insisted Cass get this dress after she saw not only how it hid Cass's bump (Cass's only request for the dress) but also how it showed off her burgeoning pregnancy curves.

Her eccentric curls had been contained in a half-braid, half-down hairstyle with little yellow and white flowers scattered throughout it. Margot had done Cass's makeup—simple, with glossy lips and shimmering eyes. Cass held a bouquet made up of yellow and white wildflowers. The overflowed in her hands, which Cass thought was fitting because, in a way, her love for Enzo was overflowing too.

Enzo was the most handsome thing she'd ever seen. Tall in his tuxedo with tears rapidly streaming down his cheek. He mouthed, "Hi, Cass" through all of his tears. Cass smiled and mouthed, "Hi, Enz."

"Oh, good grief," Draco muttered from his seat just as he slapped a few galleons in a grinning Mattheo's hand.

When she reached the end of the aisle, she took Enzo's hands and looked out amongst the crowd. Everyone she loved was there—her parents, her friends, Enzo's friends. Well, almost everyone was there.

The sun shined down on Cass's face. In that moment, Cass knew that her sister was there. She could feel Andie standing beside her, smiling and saying, I was right, sissy. I told you Berkshire would like you and here we are. A lone tear escaped Cass's eyes but she quickly wiped it off. This was a happy day.

The priest welcomed their guests before speaking to Cass and Enzo about love. Cass wished she could remember every word that the priest said but, to be honest, she was too busy staring into Enzo's eyes—bright and matching the sky above—to pay attention. Enzo smiled down at her and Cass smiled back.

Finally, it was time for their vows. Margot handed her a crumpled piece of parchment, evidence of her frantic writing and rewriting ever since she'd finished school. Cass looked up at Enzo. His face gave her courage through all of the nerves. With a shaky breath, Cass began.

"Enzo, you have been my best friend and my brightest light from the moment I've met you. For so long, I was lost without my sister. With you, I found myself again. I found happiness. I found friendship. I found love. I found home. In just a few minutes, you will be my husband and I will be your wife. We will build a life together. And that's just crazy to me because I know—more than I've ever known anything—that it will be such an amazing life. Because I know that despite whatever bad days come our way, my happiest will be with you. I am yours, now and always. That is my solemn vow."

Enzo was full-on crying now. His face was red, his cheeks scrunched, his eyes full of tears. Aria, with a roll of her eyes, stood and handed him a handkerchief. Enzo took several minutes to compose himself through his crying, only laughing when Mattheo muttered, "That deserves a double payout." Of course, he was then promptly smacked on the side of the head by Astoria, much to Draco's amusement.

"Sorry, got a little emotional there," Enzo chuckled through his last tears and the crowd laughed again. "My turn?"

Cass smiled. "Your turn."

Enzo smiled, took a piece of folded parchment from his jacket pocket, and began to read. "Cass, there's no way I can word how much you and our love means to me. I mean, I can try, but it would probably sound like I'm too obsessed with you and I would never hear the end of it." Cass laughed and Enzo smiled at her. "I thought I knew what love was. And then I met you. Somewhere between Charms class and movie nights, I realized there was no one else I'd ever want by myself. With you, the world is lighter. With you, love feels easy. And, today, I promise you this: I will love you with my whole heart. I will make you laugh when life seems hard. And I will remind you every. Single. Day. How much you mean to me. Because I love you, sunshine. I'm not going anywhere."

Then, to Cass's surprise, Enzo knelt on the ground and cupped her stomach. "And to you, my little one," he said, "I want to say this. You don't know me yet, but I'm your daddy. And I'm going to make some vows to you, too. I promise to love you every day of my life. I promise to be there for you as whatever you need—as your protector, your teacher, your friend, or just some silly dad who makes you laugh. I promise to show you what love looks like—not just in the way I love you, but in the way I love your mom, because if there's one thing I know, it's that she is the strongest, kindest, most beautiful soul I know, and you're so lucky to have her. You are my greatest adventure and my brightest light. Even though we haven't met yet, I already know that you are my heart. And I can't wait to be your dad, my little princess."

Now Cass was the one who was sobbing because Enzo's vows to their daughter were the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen. There wasn't a dry eye in the crowd, all of them—well, all of them but Tom—fought to hold back their tears from the emotionally charged moment. Enzo... he was it for her. Her best friend. Her lover. Her husband.

Enzo smiled. "Can I kiss you yet?"

Cass giggled through her tears. "Yes! Oh, yes, you wonderful man, you!"

The priest, choking back sobs, promptly pronounced them man and wife. Enzo grinned before wrapping his arm around Cass's waist and dipping her into the most heart-stopping kiss she'd ever had.

And that was it. The guests cheered and threw gobs of flower petals on them. Enzo and Cass smiled as they made their way back down the aisle as husband and wife. The sun shined as if Andie was cheering right along with them.

And Cass couldn't help but think, If this is the start of our forever, it's a damn good one.

Argh, I love this chapter and this couple so much. I listened to "The Wisps Sings" by Winter Aid because I thought it was such a perfect wedding song for Cass and Enzo. But fr, who else was tearing up during the vows to the baby? That felt like a stroke of genius when I was writing this.

Also, it may be a little longer before the next chapter! I'm doing a short story competition so my writing energy will be going towards that at least until next Friday. I'll try to get a chapter out then and will have another little break because my family is coming to visit for a week and then it's my birthday! So I'll write when I can for the next couple of weeks but sorry if it's a little longer :))

Does it make it up to you if I drop a little hint about an upcoming chapter... it'll be from Aria's POV ;) Hehe, have a good weekend everyone!