Happily Ever After

This is the final chapter. At least for now. I hope that everyone that has seen fit to read it, has enjoyed it.

Happily Ever After

Hermione stood in front of the mirror. Tears welled in her eyes at the vision before her. The wedding gown held so many sweet memories because of the person related to it. It had been her mother's dress. Severus had demanded that not only should they have a Wizard hand-fasting, but they should also have the ceremony that her parents would have wanted for her.

Dark Feather stood behind her, working on taking the dress up in the few places, because Hermione was a bit smaller than her mother had been. Her face was a mask of concentration as she placed the stick pen carefully in the side seam.

Hermione watched her friend, before playfully gasping as if she'd been stuck. Dark Feather jumped, and then turned to admonish her with a shake of her finger. "Don't do that! What if I really stuck you?" She sighed, "Why don't you just magically shrink it the way you can? My fingers are beginning to cramp."

The two women regarded each other for a moment before Dark Feather leaned closer and kissed Hermione on the cheek. "I know, honey. You want it done the way your own mother would insist on having it done."

Hermione nodded. "Mum always had a way of making things like this so special. I wish she could be here."

Dark Feather got a far off look on her face, and was about to say something when Severus and Remus both walked into the room.

"I am telling you, the reason for the nightshade is because the potion is unstable without it. It must have it in order to keep the other ingredients from becoming volatile." Severus said in a dangerously low, sardonic voice.

Remus sighed, "And if you can't get those ingredients soon, then I shall miss Hermione's wedding altogether." He scowled at Severus. "You planned it that way!" he accused softly. "You don't want me there."

Severus looked insulted. He straightened his shoulders and inclined his head. "I do not truly care if you come or not. However, as my bride wishes you there, I would not do anything intentionally to hinder your attendance."

Dark Feather and Hermione were watching the men's exchange with raised eyebrows. Then they looked at each other and Dark Feather shrugged.

Hermione asked, "What is it that you two are arguing about?"

Lupin sighed, and turned to face Hermione, "Apparently Severus forgot to restock his supply of nightshade, and no one has any, so he can't make the Wolfsbane." He shook his head, "I won't be able to attend your wedding, Hermione. It is the night of the full moon. Since your wedding is in the evening, I would be putting people at risk. Without the potion to help control my baser side, I dare not come."

Albus cleared his throat as he walked into the room. "I was afraid that something of this nature might happen." He held out a vial to Lupin. "I am glad I thought to store some in my own stock of potions."

Remus sighed, and took the vial from Albus. "Thank you so much." He shook his head, "I would have hated missing such an event."

Albus nodded and smiled. "Yes. Frankly I am amazed you could let such a thing slip your mind."

When he left, Lupin looked at the vial and said softly, "I hate that my life is tied to this damnable potion."

The two women exchanged knowing looks before Dark Feather stepped closer to him. "My offer to help you gain control of that part of yourself still stands, Remus," she said softly.

Hermione smiled. Dark Feather and Remus Lupin were so attractive together, but neither even seemed to notice. He was only ten years her senior, and the two of them had such fire in their eyes when they looked at each other.

Sadly, Remus shook his head and turned away, "Your son learned early on how to control his Lycanthropy early. I have suffered with it for a much longer period of time," he tilted his head, enjoying a sidelong glance at the dark beauty before him.

Dark Feather smirked and shook her head. ''You are a chicken!" she exclaimed softly.

Remus turned and gaped at the woman. "I BEG your pardon?"

She planted her hands on her hips, "You heard me. You are so afraid of failure that you won't even try!"

He faced her squarely. "I most surely am not!"

Dark Feather opened her mouth to argue, but stopped short at hearing Severus and Hermione's laughter. Both her and Lupin turned astonished gazes their way.

"What, pray tell, is so funny?" Remus asked softly.

Severus faced him with a straight face and Hermione laughed all the harder. "Hermione and I are the ones getting married. But the way you two argue, I would think that it is you that has been married an eternity."

Dark Feather shook her head. "I wouldn't marry him." She threw him a sideways glance, adding under her breath, "He's too stubborn."

Hermione raised an eyebrow in her friends' direction, "I am not good at divination, but I daresay, I see a merger in the future for you two."

Lupin rolled his eyes. "It will never happen," he swore softly.

Severus shook his head and stepped closer to the man that had only recently become someone he would call friend. "Never say never, Remus. Trust me." He turned and looked at Hermione. "I've learned that lesson the hard way."

Hermione looked at Severus with a smile. "Do you know that it is bad luck to see the bride in her dress before the wedding?" she asked softly.

Moving to her side, Severus leaned down and kissed her lightly on the lips. "That may be true for some, my love. But not us. We live a charmed life." Turning, he and Lupin left the ladies to finish the fitting.

Hermione watched as Dark Feather moved to finish fixing her hair. She studied her friend through the mirror as she worked. "You do like him. Don't you?"

Dark Feather stopped and shook her head. "I did at first. But now that I've gotten to know him, he's an insufferable, know-it-all --- what's the word you use? -- GIT!."

Hermione worked hard to stifle the laughter that bubbled up at Dark Feather's words. Searching to change the subject, she asked, "What does Little Arrow think of the school? Is he ready for classes to begin?"

The other woman nodded. "Yes, he's really very excited. He is enjoying being out here a lot."

After Dark Feather finished, Hermione stood and looked at herself in the enchanted mirror, which exclaimed softly, "Oh, my dear, you will be the most beautiful of brides."

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When the night arrived, everything was magical and special beyond anyone's imagination. The scene beside the lake was one that would not soon be forgotten. Albus had summoned up water lilies to float on the water. Each lily held within it a pastel-hued flame. There were three different colors: pink, blue, and purple.

Along the water's edge were roses of the same colors as the flames within the lilies. The gazebo floated above the water. Severus and Remus stood next to Albus on the steps of the small shelter. There were a row of ivory steps that floated just above the water, leading to the waiting men.

Every wizard and witch in the area had turned up for the wedding. Even the house-elves had all shown up and threw white rose petals in front of Dark Feather and Hermione's feet as they walked the path to the water's edge. Dark Feather proceeded Hermione in the Muggle fashion of bridesmaid.

Little Arrow watched his mother with growing pride in her appearance. Her long ebony hair was worn loose with white feathers hanging from the ends. Her dress was made of soft buckskin that had been dyed a light blue. Beads adorned the collar of the dress, making it even more breathtaking on her person.

Remus felt a catch in his heart as he stared at her. She was, to him, the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. He wanted to take her in his arms and demand she bind herself to him on this night as well. But he had no right to that. With an ache in his heart, he turned and smiled tightly at Severus, who watched his friend knowingly.

When Hermione came into view, there were gasps . She looked like an angel. Her dress glowed in the moonlight. Her hair was also loose, and fell in soft ringlets down her back. Tiny roses were scattered in her hair, making it look as if she was wearing a veil of flowers. Tears sparkled in her eyes as she made her way to Severus. Their eyes never left each other's.

When she reached the steps, Severus reached out to her and led her up onto the platform. Albus stood before the couple, and said in his gentle voice. "Once in a lifetime, a love comes along that is so strong that there are no ways to break it. It ties itself around your heart, and you have no choice but to go where it leads." Hermione squeezed Severus's hand. He looked from Albus to her and felt his heart swell with pride.

"It is not always an easy path one walks to find the love they are meant to have." Albus continued, "Sometimes we come across others who touch us deeply also, but they are just people that pass through our lives and give us sweet memories to always hold dear. Other times we don't see what is right before our eyes. Or when we do, it is very easy to try to push it aside and deny to ourselves that we deserve what we have found." Albus turned, and took a silken cord and held it up for all to view. To Hermione and Severus, he said, "Please clasp your loves' left forearm."

Severus turned and stared into Hermione's eyes as he clasped her left forearm. She smiled as tears gathered in her eyes. "I love you," she whispered. "And I love you," he answered softly. Albus stepped forward and wrapped the silken cord around their joined forearms. The cord seemed to become a part of their skin, and then it disappeared and was replaced with what looked like a matching tattoo of a rose vine around both their forearms.

Albus watched as the tattooed vine seemed to bloom, as if showing to all that their love was everlasting and true. "Only in the case of a forever love will the cord become a mark upon both of your skins. You are bound by more than any simple ceremony could ever offer. Your hearts, just as I have for a long time believed, are One." He paused and smiled gently. "They always have been."

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A/N: Thank you to everyone that read and enjoyed my little story. Reviews are welcome, but not mandatory.