XX

Cassiopeia opened her eyes almost in a burst, instantly afraid she was late, but stopping when registering it wasn't even light outside yet. Although she could clearly hear someone in the kitchen, the girls were still sound asleep around her bed and she had to be careful leaving the room in order not to wake them up.

She stepped silently through the corridor and found herself to be right when her eyes fell on her aunt, who was cooking something by the stove.

"Aunt Andromeda," she called.

The wedding was programmed to start at 11 am, which gave them enough time to get ready as long as they were up with the sun, precisely at eight.

"Cas," she exclaimed, finally noticing her. "What are you doing up?"

"What time is it?" she looked around for the kitchen clock.

"Almost seven," she answered. "And you didn't answer me."

The girl rubbed her hands down her thighs nervously.

"Just nervous, I guess," she muttered. "All of my things are in the new house except for the dress and the wedding stuff. I… I don't live here any more."

She offered her niece a small smile.

"It's quite a change, right?"

The girl nodded.

"We'll still be here regardless of you living with us or not. You're our daughter in every sense of the word, I've told you so already."

Cassiopeia smiled back at her, knowing her words were nothing less than the truth.

"Many times."

Andromeda confirmed and she sighed.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Of course, darling."

The teen looked behind her back, over her shoulder, to see if they were actually alone before leaning in for a whisper.

"I don't know… I don't know what to do after…"

She couldn't finish, only settling for flushing and looking away from her. Cassiopeia had started taking one of the contraception potions back in August, just out of precaution after her aunt's insistence, but that didn't cover the start of things.

"Well, I'm sure you know the basics, right?"

The blond nodded, still staring at the table.

"Well… Teddy has told me once or twice about catching you two…" she looked for words. "Snogging."

Her face burned in embarrassment, but she didn't seem to care.

"If you do know those two things," Andromeda continued. "All I can tell you is to relax and be communicative."

Now with even the skin of her chest and the back of her neck burning in flames, Cassiopeia moved her eyes and eyebrows right up in shock.

"Commu- Talk-… You mean talking to him? " she stuttered. "During… It?"

She just stared at her niece, unimpressed.

"Don't give me that incredulous face!" the brunette put her hands on the sides of her waist. "He'll be your husband. You need to be able to communicate with one another. If you don't like something he's doing or need a moment to adapt, he has to listen. And if you do like something… Well, I must tell you that it always makes Teddy very happy to know when he does something right. George is so enthusiastic about you that I am sure he'll want to please you as much as possible."

Cassiopeia hid her face behind her hands. Oh, Merlin.

"And don't be afraid of surprising him or innovating. You'll figure out things as you go."

"Okay," she muttered from behind her hands.

The girl heard a sound and moved them away, finding a cup of tea in front of her.

"Your favourite."

Cas offered her a smile. As embarrassing as it could be, she was happy to have her aunt in her life.

"Thank you."

Andromeda moved to her and kissed her forehead before going back to her activities, and she took a deep breath.

"Aunt Andromeda," she called once again.

"Yes, dear?"

Cassiopeia swallowed the knot forming in her throat.

"I told my mother about today," she looked down at her tea. "That I'm getting married to George."

She stopped and turned right back to her niece again.

"How did Cissa react?"

Cissa. Years apart, and she still called her sister by her nickname.

"When I was getting married, she asked if I was expecting her to congratulate me," she said slowly. "Then she asked if it was George I was marrying. Then she left."

She breathed in deep, taking another sip of tea and holding a set of tears that were threatening to fall from her eyes.

"Oh, Cas…"

Cassiopeia sniffed and lifted her head, recomposing herself.

"I just needed to tell someone," she affirmed, firmer this time. "I won't think about her, I won't think about them. Today is a good day, a day to make memories."

Her aunt smiled and walked to her direction, reaching for her and touching her pale cheek.

"And a good day it will be," she promised. "Go back to bed and rest, dear. I'll wake you up when it is time."

"Yes, ma'am."