Yule Break IV

Harry was charged with greeting the guests as they came from the boundary to Pounds House. The carriage house had finally been prepared for horses and with the hiring of a local squib from Plymouth, a carriage waited to bring the guests from the boundary to the house proper.

The first group was the guests that Harry had been wanting to see the most. His first real example of a family that loved each other. Stepping out, dressed in clean but plain formal robes, stood Arthur Weasley and his wife Molly. The tall ginger-haired man Harry had considered a father figure was only a few years older than Bill had been when Harry had met him the first time. Speaking of, a squirming baby was in the arms of a thin woman Harry had never met, must be Bill being held by his grandmother Cedrella... Harry noted as he held out his hand to Arthur.

"Mr. Fawkes, Arthur Weasley," He said, shaking Harry's hand, "This is my wife Molly, our son Bill, and my mother Cedrella." Harry greeted Molly with a polite kiss to the knuckles, "It was quite a surprise when we received an invitation from Walburga Black to your wedding to her niece. The Blacks don't normally associate with their more far-flung relations." Arthur said, stopping when his mother scoffed.

"'Far-flung'? Please, Arthur, I am her cousin not a forgotten daughter of a fifth cousin thrice removed." Cedrella said, shifting Bill to her other side, "She just doesn't associate with me because I did something she wasn't brave enough to do." Cedrella looked at Harry for a moment, "You've done a great deal to shake up the family. Good job."

Harry smiled, "Well it's definitely a better path for them than the one Orion wanted." He said, earning a slight twist of the older woman's lip, "Please call me Harry." He told the Weasleys, "Come along and I'll lead you up to the tent while Joseph leads the carriage back for the next guests."

As he led them down the path, thankful for the line of warming charms Narcissa had insisted upon, it was Molly who spoke to him next. Molly tilted her head slightly in thought, "I understand you are British-born, but you grew up in the States?"

"I did." Harry lied, "My parents wanted to leave after the war, so they moved us to Boston, which is where I grew up." Harry looked at the path for a moment, I really need to start writing down my backstory, so when people ask I can give them all the same one...

"I am not aware of the Fawkes family..." Molly continued.

Harry nodded, "You wouldn't have. My family did their best to stay out of wizarding politics." He chuckled, "They'd rather spend time figuring out the functions of rubber ducks." At that, he saw Arthur's eyes light up, and thus began the conversation that took them to the reception tent.

Scene Break

Narcissa fretted at her mirror. This Morrigan-be-damned scar won't fade no matter what I do! I've got find some way to cover it up, but it shows through every product I have!

She was so intent on frowning at her reflection she almost didn't hear the door open. In her mirror was Walburga. Since coming back to Pounds House, Narcissa had avoided being around the woman who would have sent her to Lucius Malfoy. "Your parents have arrived. Bellatrix is busy keeping your mother from coming in here." She said stiffly, "Your father asked me to give you this."

Walburga handed Narcissa a small box. Opening it, she found a small opal ring with a delicate setting, beside it was a more sturdy ring in a men's setting. Inside the box with the rings was a note, written to her by Cygnus.

Dear Narcissa,

I've been dreaming of and dreading this day since the moment the healer handed you to me. My baby girl, the youngest of my three, is grown up now. These rings are your key to allow yourself and your husband entrance into our home and our vaults. The ward scheme for both will recognize you as welcome. Now that you will be Narcissa Fawkes, the Lady Peverell, I wanted to make sure that you never felt like you needed permission to enter your family home or your family vault.

I am very proud of you.

Love,

Father

Narcissa smiled as she read the letter. The words from her father took her mind away from the scar stinging underneath the magical concealer she was using. "Thank you, where is Father?" She asked Walburga.

"With your mother, helping Bellatrix keep her distracted." Walburga said, looking at the gown her youngest niece wore, "I see Druella gave you the heirloom dress. Fitting I suppose, the first two sisters were an obligation and a runaway."

Narcissa rolled her eyes at the older woman, "And now they are free from yours and my mother's machinations. Bellatrix is happily married to a man who loved her unconditionally, and Andromeda is going to be the Consort to my line."

Walburga stepped back to the door, "Pray then, that your husband does not decide that his heart lays with another woman, one outside of your little 'family'." With that Walburga left the room, leaving Narcissa to finish her preparations.

Scene Break

The attending members of the families were settled in their places. Harry, again with Minerva at his side, this time along with Sirius, stood there waiting as the music began to play.

First came the bridesmaids; Apolline, Andromeda, and Bellatrix as Maid of Honor. They took their places opposite Harry, Minerva, and Sirius. Then, as a surprise for Harry, came Lily with the basket of flowers, her task of creating a path for the bride complete, she went back to sit with Regina, Dorea, and James. Finally, Cygnus, walking with the assistance of a silver-headed cane, led Narcissa to stand beside her very soon-to-be husband's side.

The music, courtesy of Professor Flitwick and several charmed instruments, quieted as the same druid who had joined Harry and Bellatrix began his work, "Join your hands, and with your hand's, your hearts." He said to them.

Harry took Narcissa's hands in his own, behind the brave front she put forth for him, it was clear by the tremor in her hands that she was nervous. He gave them a reassuring squeeze, and when it drew her eyes to his, he smiled at her.

"These are the hands that will lift your burdens; these are the hands of comfort."

"These are the hands that will carry you through trials and tribulations; these are the hands of strength."

"These are the hands that will light your darkness; these are the hands of guidance."

"These are the hands that will share your sorrows and share their blessings; these are the hands of love."

With each line, the druid used his wand to conjure a different colored strand that wound their way around Harry and Narcissa's wrists and hands. Eventually the five strands were finished and the druid lowered his hand, "One string will break easily, but when others are brought together, just as members of a family," here, the druid looked in turn to each member of Harry's family from Bellatrix, to Andromeda, then Apolline, and then back to Harry and Narcissa.

"By the power given unto me by Magic itself, I name you Harry and Narcissa Fawkes, the Lord and Lady Peverell." The druid said, placing his wand on the conjured rope and then raising it, the strings flowing up their hands and turning into matching rings, "You may kiss the bride." He said to Harry.

And kiss the bride Harry did.

There was applause, more from Harry's side of the tent than Narcissa's. Most of the old guard of the Black family were still dubious of the man that Arcturus had chosen to guide them until Sirius was old enough to take on the duties.

From his seat, Cygnus clapped loudly. Loud enough, it seemed, to draw the ire of his wife who stiffened in her place beside him. Druella had made plans for her children. Each one had a purpose to the marriage partners she'd chosen. Each of those plans had been foiled. Andromeda left the family for a mudblood and then left him to become Consort to Harry Fawkes, Bellatrix had dutifully married Rodolphus, only to betray him and act as Harry's second in a duel to the death, and finally, there was Narcissa.

Narcissa's marriage to Lucius Malfoy would have meant the union of the two proudest pure-blood families. But no, now Lucius was lost at sea on his way to Azkaban and Narcissa was married to Harry. Worse, the other Consort isn't even human.

It disgusted her. It truly did. Her children were meant to usher in a new generation of superior pure-bloods, and instead, they were aligned to a traitor. At least Walburga looks as disgusted as I am... Druella thought with some comfort.

Walburga fumed silently. The look of utter happiness on the face of Narcissa infuriated her. Just as with Bellatrix, Narcissa had found the love that Walburga had spurned. They have no right to be so happy while the man I love is dead. She thought angrily.

James Carver had been murdered by Orion. Harry's removal of Orion from the family had given her a measure of comfort, but she'd wanted to see more. She'd wanted to see him suffer. She scoffed in disgust as she saw Narcissa embrace her husband, crying tears of happiness against his neck. Disgraceful, utterly disgraceful...She curled her lip in distaste, when she saw the look of pride on Harry's face he held his new wife, it caused her to imagine James embracing her in the same way and that in turn caused her to grow even angrier. Angry with them for having the chance she never got, and for herself for throwing said chance away.

Scene Break

After the wedding, came the reception. That saw Harry and Narcissa take their first dance together as man and wife. "This is so wonderful..." She said quietly as she and Harry led the opening dance. This was exactly what she had dreamed of, a dance with the man she loved, surrounded by her family. She wished she could amend that to 'friends and family', but Narcissa knew that she had very few of those. I will probably have little time to gain friends now...She thought, my Mastery and medi-witch internship will be grueling.

Harry noticed the change in her eyes and squeezed her gently to gain her attention, "Are you alright?" He whispered, "Not preparing to run away are you?"

That earned a small laugh from his wife, "No," Narcissa said, "I was just thinking that I should have probably been more social. You've only been here for less than a year and you have friends. This is my original timeline and I have none." Harry leaned in and kissed her gently,

"Then we'll share..."

At their table, Sirius looked at his girlfriend and, not for the first time that, was awestruck. Lily's dress was by far and away the most unadorned of those he could see, but it suited the muggle-born witch perfectly. It was a soft blue color that, while not made of acromantula silk like many of the others, seemed to shimmer in a way he'd never seen before.

"So, aren't you going to take your girlfriend onto the dance floor?" She said grinning at his stunned expression. That seemed to startle him awake and the pair made their way onto the floor.

Likewise, James and Regina made their way, James holding her hand. Regina was surprised, pleasantly so, when James took the lead and began to guide her around the floor. "You're pretty good at this Potter..." She said quietly, enjoying the feel of his hand at her waist.

"Not bad yourself Reggie.." He said quietly, earning a glare from her this time, "I've been studying dance for a few years. Have to act all 'firstborn son to Lord and Lady Potter-ish' after all..."

Jane, dressed in soft purple, had little interest in the dance floor. She wasn't a dancer, she was agile on a broom, but not on lacquered hardwood floors. "So, Remus, what do you say we go for a walk on the grounds?" She asked her date.

"If- if you would like that, yes," Remus said standing and offering Jane his hand. She took it rising from her seat and with that, the pair stepped out from the reception tent and onto the grounds of Pounds House proper.

"The warming charms extend a fair bit," Remus said, "Professor Fawkes showed Sirius the boundary, apparently, it goes all the way to the orchard." He pointed to the rows of apple trees, "Professor Fawkes wants to make cider and mead to sell."

"My parents love cider, I wonder if it'll be ready for sale by their twentieth anniversary..." She mused, more to herself than Remus. "Professor Slughorn likes mead according to Alex. Maybe you should get a bottle when he's ready to sell it and give Slughorn it before your O.W.L's."

Back inside the tent, Sirius and James had done the unthinkable. James had, quite politely, asked Lily to dance and she had allowed it. Sirius and Regina, likewise, danced together. "You're not nervous that Potter will steal Evans away from you are you?" Regina asked, teasing evident in her voice, though her eyes revealed that she was worried about that very thing.

"No, I trust Lily. I trust James, to some extent anyway..." Sirius said, "We're together. If Lily wanted to be with James then she would have taken one of the fifty or sixty times he'd asked her."

"Yeah, but that was the old 'prat' James. The new James is...is different. He's more thoughtful, he's a better student now that he's taking it seriously...he's.." Regina stopped as a deep blush touched her cheeks, "D-do you mind if I cut this dance short?"

Sirius' grin told her didn't and she broke away. She made her way over to James and Lily and tapped his shoulder, "Po- James, can I speak with you?" She asked hesitantly.

Lily stepped back and looked over at Sirius. "My boyfriend has a look on his face that says something happened that will make me want to kiss him or kill him." She turned to the other two, "I'm going to see which it is."

Once she was gone, James looked at Regina. He'd never seen her like this, she looked determined and terrified all at once, "Regina wha-"

And then she was kissing him.

As first kisses go, this was something James would always want to remember. Regina smelled like honeysuckle, thanks to the perfume she had borrowed from Dorea, and James found that the scent of honeysuckle, mixed with the natural scent of Regina Parkinson was his favorite blend.

When the kiss broke, Regina looked down at their hands, which had joined during the kiss, "I really like you, James. I want you to be my boyfriend." She said simply, not looking up at him yet.

James was a Potter. Potters knew when the time for words had passed. This was a time for action. The action he chose was to kiss her.

From across the dance floor, Dorea Potter smirked as she spun with Harry, Narcissa close by with her father. That went quicker than I expected...the older witch thought happily.