XIX

Cassiopeia shook the hand of family member after family member, a crowd of people with red hair and enthusiastic words that always started with 'I can't believe George got such a nice girl to marry him' and ended with 'good luck'.

"Black and Malfoy, you said?" an old grey woman eyed her up and down. "What did he do, uh? Love potion? Stunned you? Ruined you?"

Cas raised her eyebrows, honestly surprised.

"He saved my life on Christmas two years ago," she said simply. "I consider that quite a standard."

She just stared at her for a moment, then looked at George, and then looked back at her.

"And you gave up a fortune for that ?" she continued, still shocked. "Foolish. Just foolish."

She walked away, leaving the two behind to laugh.

"Not unexpected," her fiancé declared. "Aunt Muriel deserted Fred and me after we played a prank on her."

Cas shook her head. It wasn't unexpected, indeed.

"Is everyone set?" she questioned, looking around the living room.

"I guess so," George rubbed his hands together. "The rest of the guests will be arriving just for the ceremony."

She nodded, suddenly nervously, and he reached for her.

"You're not giving up, right?" George asked.

"No," she cupped his jaw. "Never. Just…"

"Jittery?" he suggested.

"Jittery."

He kissed her lips gently.

"That makes two of us."

Cassiopeia gave him a small smile.

"We are getting married tomorrow," George whispered. "That's… Wow."

"Wow is a good word."

He giggled and pecked her on the lips once again.

"Are you going home?" he asked.

She nodded silently.

"Hermione, Ginny and Fleur are coming with me," she told him. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow."

George sighed.

"I'll miss you," he whined.

"It'll only be for a night," Cas exclaimed. "You certainly can survive a night away from me. And then we can move into our new home."

That made him smile.

"And we'll have a full week without Fred to celebrate."

Her face burned in embarrassment with the implication of his words.

"Stop teasing her, George," Tonks laughed. "You'll terrify the girl."

Cassiopeia's skin grew even hotter and she ushered her out with the rest of the girls. After pondering for weeks, she'd picked all four of them as bridesmaids, knowing she wouldn't be able to have just two or even three. Fleur was her maid of honour and Cas were pretty sure her wedding would have been a whole mess without her help. Also, Tonks was a sister to her, Ginny was her future sister-in-law and when Cassiopeia needed a new support system when she turned her back to everything she once knew, both she and Hermione were part of it and welcomed her into their group. She just couldn't leave them out.

They disapparated into the Tonks' garden, where the wedding would take place, and Fleur was quick to cover the bride-to-be's eyes.

"Hey!" she exclaimed.

"It's not ready," she argued. "You can't look."

Cassiopeia rolled her eyes but didn't say anything. she did not want to cause disturbances right now.

"Good, you're here," they heard her aunt and she ushered them inside. "Lupin brought something I think you should see."

Cas followed her into the living room, glancing at where her wedding dress was hanging, then down at a jewellery box, which she picked up from the centre table.

"Do you remember when Sirius said he'd like to you wearing the set that belonged to my mother at your wedding?"

She nodded.

"I remember a bit of it."

She opened the box and Cassiopeia's eyes widened when they fell the necklace, earrings and tiara. It was beautiful. While the tiara was plain silver and diamonds, the necklace and the earrings were a combination of dark blue sapphires and diamonds that would make her dress stand out even more, and made her eyes look blue.

"That is beautiful," she whispered.

She raised your gaze, finding her aunt tearing up.

"Aunt Andromeda?"

"I remember her wearing it," she whispered. "My mother. You look so much like her, you have no idea."

She opened up a smile and touched the girl's cheek while she kept her silence. While Draco was the one with mostly Malfoy looks, Cas was always considered a 'nice mixture' of the two families with a striking resemblance of her maternal grandmother.

"You'll be a beautiful bride," she whispered. "You've come so far."

The teen girl smiled. If someone had told her years ago that she would be where she was right now, she would have cursed them. She was, now, an enemy of her family, standing with Harry bloody Potter, working in a prankster store and marrying a Weasley, of all people, the person she used to be would think that it was all a joke – and a really bad one.

"Thank you for letting me live here," she whispered to her. "And for caring for me. I don't know where I would be without the help from this family."

"Cas, you are part of this family," she affirmed firmly. "From the moment you walked into our door, you became my own daughter, and that's not ever going to change."

She hugged Andromeda, holding back the tears that threatened to spill onto her cheeks.

"Oh, Merlin," the girl chuckled as she stepped away from her aunt, blinking rapidly to recompose herself. "Thank you. Thank you very much for everything."

She touched her face gently.

"Now," she stepped back. "Go rest. There'll be breakfast ready for you tomorrow and there are beds for the girls in your room."

Cassiopeia nodded. She was right, she should go to bed. Tomorrow would be a long day.