Bab 36: Yule Break III
Like the wedding of Bellatrix and Harry, Narcissa's wedding would be held at Pounds House. Harry, currently, was using his wand to levitate tables into long rows for the reception. Around him, Dobby worked swiftly to place decorations and tablecloths on each. This was his task, specifically given to him by Narcissa, probably to keep me out of her hair... he thought with a grin as the final table was settled against the wall of the reception tent.
"Narcissa said you wished to speak with me?" Apolline's voice came from the opening to the tent. Turning Harry beckoned her inside.
"I did. I wanted to apologize for not spending much time with you. I was hoping after Yule Break is over and everything is settled, you and I could do something together." Harry said as she came to her side, "I know I want to talk more about the bond you say we share."
"We do share a bond, you saved my life. When you went into the Chamber, I knew you were there." Apolline sighed and looked at her hands for a moment, "I am not expecting your love, Harry...just that you will allow me to remain here with you." For Veela like Apolline, a bond was a blessing and a curse. It meant that she knew without a doubt, who she was meant to be with, but if they didn't share those feelings she was unable to leave them without risking damage to their magic or their lives.
Apolline wanted to have something real with Harry, but thus far she had been unable to figure out what to do about it. He was utterly dedicated to Bellatrix and Narcissa, so much so that while he seemed fine with having Consorts, it was clear that he didn't plan on being with them, not of his own choice anyway. He is only doing this because he feels an obligation... She thought sadly.
Harry noticed the despondent look on her face, "Is something the matter?" He asked her. He knew he was at fault for not spending enough time with her, but it was difficult. He was expected to be at the castle unless it involved his business as Head of his House. Bellatrix made the effort to come to see him, perhaps he should ask Apolline to visit Hogwarts from time to time.
"I..." She stopped and collected her thoughts, "I wish I could break this bond between us." Her words were soft and sad, and Harry could practically feel the pain in them, "I wish I could go back home to Paris, and find a man who I will not be third or fourth choice for." Tears gathered in Apolline's eyes, "That I could find a man and give him my heart and get his in return. That is what I wish, but I cannot. For ill or fair, I am connected to you."
Harry pulled the blonde witch into a hug, "I am sorry that we are bound in a way that hurts you. But I do not regret saving your life. I would do it again, even now knowing what comes from it." He said softly, as he felt her begin to softly weep against him, "but I promise you this, I will never treat you like you are my third or fourth choice. We will find a way to make whatever we will have work."
She looked up at him then, her eyes bright by the tears, "You make it very difficult to dislike you, Harry..." She said with a watery smile, "We will speak again later after you and Narcissa have your time.."
Scene Break
"This dress is so out of date..." Narcissa exclaimed as she opened the box, "This was the best Mother could do?" It was an archaic thing in her mind, all lace and what seemed like a thousand mother of pearl buttons, "Really, it's the absolute limit..."
Bellatrix shrugged from her spot by the bed, "It's the proper dress for a proper lady marrying into a proper family, properly of course." She rolled her eyes and brushed an errant bit of lint from her own dress, "The important thing is that you and Harry will enjoy removing it much more than we'll enjoy putting it on you."
Andromeda stepped over and looked at the dress, "I think this is the same one that I was supposed to wear..." She stifled a shudder and pulled the dress out, "Well, it's not like we have a better option..."
"The hell we don't, we have eight hours before everyone shows up right?" Bellatrix said to Narcissa who nodded, "Who wants to grab Apolline so she can come with us for the last minute spree?"
"That's awful polite of you to invite your Consort to go shopping for my wedding dress..." Narcissa pointed out to her sister, "But if my Consort is coming, I suppose we should bring everyone."
"Grand, I'll go find her." Bellatrix said leaving, "Chuck that antique into the fire and meet me in the entry hall..." She indicated the box before shutting the bedroom door behind her.
"If you set that dress on fire Mother will probably try to guilt you into marrying off your first born to whomever she owes the most money to." Andromeda pointed out to her youngest sister, "Luckily you can just play the 'good little wifey' angle and tell her that Harry makes those decisions."
"Mother would never just let it die like that. If she couldn't wheedle it out of myself, she would not rest until Harry was as browbeaten as Father." Narcissa said looking down at the pale ivory dress. Her lip quirked into a smirk, "Do you think she'd lose her cool if I told her white is not a suitable color for the event?"
Andromeda cackled at that, not a titter, not a giggle, but an outright full cackle, "If you tell her, please make sure I'm nearby. I need to see her reaction." The two Black sisters laughed together as they waited for Bellatrix and Apolline to arrive.
Narcissa sighed as the laughter faded, "She is convinced that she will take on a preeminent position in the family now that Walburga is no longer in line to become Lady Black." That thought rankled her, Druella Black had never done anything to deserve the honor of guiding the Black family into the future, to set its destiny. She had merely acted the part of a dutiful wife when company was over and ran roughshod over Cygnus when it wasn't. It wasn't that the Black sisters hated their mother exactly, it was more that she was indicative of the old ways.
The same old ways that had bound Bellatrix to Lestrange, had cast Andromeda from the family and had nearly sold her off to Lucius Malfoy. They were stupid, the old ways, and they needed to be changed. Narcissa made her choice then and there, no one would ever tell her what her place was. She would never be a 'good little wifey' as Andromeda had termed it.
Harry, she knew, would not have a problem with his wives acting as his partners. He'd never espoused the beliefs of the old set, probably because he wouldn't be born for another eight years... She thought with a little grin.
That mindset, besides the bravery and indeed cunning that he'd shown since she'd met him, was what had most drawn her to him. She was proud to be his fiancee, and in a few hours time, she would be proud to be his wife.
Scene Break
Jane found herself sitting in the living room of the Lupin family home. It was clear to her where her boyfriend had gotten his cautious nature from. It had taken Mr. Lupin nearly ten solid minutes to key her into every ward, even temporarily, so that she could come onto the property.
Remus sat on the couch with her both hands on the mug of milky tea his mother had prepared for him, "You're sure that you are invited, Remus?" Mrs. Lupin asked for the third time this morning.
"Yes mother," Remus said, "Sirius made sure that I was invited as one of his guests to help fill out Professor Fawkes' side of the aisle." Sirius had invited each of his fellow Marauders. Peter had accepted but had sent a letter the day before that his mother wouldn't allow him to come after what had happened at the first Fawkes wedding on Halloween.
"Tell me," Mr. Lupin asked Jane, "What are you thinking about as a career?"
"I'm looking to become an Auror with my friend Alexandra Tate. We've been planning our courses out since the third year to make the most of our time. If something unforeseen happens, then possibly taking over my father's potion shop in Cardiff." Jane replied, "But given that Alex and I are in the top five of our year, I think we'll be alright."
Remus spoke up then, "She's helped me with my Defense coursework." He knew that Jane was brilliant, not too mention magically powerful. That and his own insecurities about his condition was why he still had no idea why she was interested in him.
"Don't sell yourself short Remus, without you helping me with Charms, I wouldn't have gotten an Outstanding on my last essay." Jane countered, "You are top in your year behind Evans and Parkinson. That's nothing to sneeze at."
Remus turned slightly red, a fact that was not lost on his mother who smiled and turned back to Jane, "Remus' bag is prepared for travel. You can use our floo to travel to Potter Manor." Then she turned to her son, "Remus, you will listen to Lady Potter and you will be on your best behavior, am I understood?"
"Yes, ma'am." He said. His mother rose and hugged him, "Have fun dear."
With that, the pair left via the floo. Arriving at Potter Manor, Jane was finally aware of how wealthy the family of the more annoying of Remus' three friends really was. Fuck me sideways this place is huge... She thought as she stepped into the foyer.
Standing in the doorway was a tall, regal gray-haired woman that could only be Dorea Potter. At her side was Lily Evans and Regina Parkinson, "Greetings Remus, and you must be Jane." She said as she snapped her finger and a pair of House Elves took their bags and vanished, "Come along, I was just about to take the girls on a little tour of the grounds before we left for Pounds House."
Scene Break
The four women that made up the Fawkes family found themselves in the middle of a muggle shopping district, "Trust me when I tell you that wizards don't have anything on muggles when it comes to sexy outfits..." Andromeda said to them, "We might be able to make dresses that sing 'O come all ye faithful', but they have a lock on sexy negligees and naughty nighties."
"Personal experience?" Bellatrix asked as they were led into a small boutique. It was not what she had expected from a muggle shop. It was clean and open, on each mannequin, there was an outfit of delicate lace and seemed to tease the viewer with promises of hidden pleasures.
"I will just say that I have an extensive collection from an ill-fated attempt at seducing my fool of an ex-husband and move on." Andromeda said as she took Narcissa's arm and began to steer her towards a particular section of the shop, "You and I are going to find the most scandalous item in this shop...we didn't stop at Gringotts to exchange for pounds for nothing..."
That left Bellatrix and Apolline alone in their own corner. Bellatrix looked at a pair of elbow length fingerless gloves and debated wearing them for Harry one night, "What do you think of these?" She asked the French witch, "I'm thinking of wearing them the next time I decide to surprise Harry in bed."
"Does he like surprises like that?" Apolline asked her, "I need to plan what I will do if I can ever spend enough time with him to get to that point."
Bellatrix drew in a breath to gather her nerves for what she was about to say, "Why don't you use the floo one day, go to his office and when he comes back from lunch, pull him into his bedroom?" She looked over at Apolline, "You are beautiful, Harry knows that. You have that damnable connection him after he saved your life, just shag him. Trust me, he's very malleable when you're naked and there's a bed." She grinned remembering their first time, "Don't try and force a grand romantic gesture, just be with the man and let things happen."
Apolline sighed and set down the stockings she had been holding, "It's not that easy. He has you, he has Narcissa..."
"Yes, it is that easy. If you're going to be around my eventual children then you are going to show them a strong, confident woman. I won't have my daughters thinking that since Aunt Apolline is mopey that they can be." Bellatrix said to her, "Now pick something sexy," She directed, "After Harry and Narcissa finish their honeymoon you are going to meet him at Hogwarts."
Scene Break
Amelia sat in her flat at the kitchen table, beside her, reading the Daily Prophet and scowling at a smiling picture of Barnabus Cuffe was her roommate Diana, "Stupid Barney, of course, he found out about my father..."
Sure enough on the front page the headline AUROR OF ROYAL APPOINTMENT? complete with a picture of her from the day she received her badge. Diana crumpled it up and tossed it, "Now people are going to know that I'm the daughter of 'Lord Spencer'..." She said, her voice doing a more than passable impression of a condescending drawl, "Worse is what would happen if the Director decides that I'm just who he needs for the 'Royal Security' assignment."
Both witches shared a grimace, the R.S. Assignment, otherwise known by those unlucky enough to get it was essentially a babysitting job for the Royal Family. It meant that they would be mostly cut off from the magical world. As a half-blood, Diana was well suited for the job, they both knew that. But her father's place as Lord Spencer was the issue. Amelia knew that Diana was concerned they would try to make her act as if she was married to the current Heir to the British throne.
Diana knew Charles, and she hated him. A spoiled frog-faced shit-licking pillock She had described him more than once. "Hopefully nothing will come of it then," Amelia said, "If worse comes to worst, you could always leave the Aurors and become a personal Hit-Witch."
"Maybe. Merlin knows I don't have much interest in being the nanny to that twat." She said draining her morning tea, "Are you going to the Fawkes wedding?" She asked Amelia.
"I was invited, it would be rather rude of me not to show up. At least he's rich enough that I don't have to buy him a gift." Amelia looked at their meager flat. Her parents had not been especially keen on their only daughter becoming an Auror. Their constant disapproval had made living at the Ossuary untenable. So, Amelia, upon graduating from the academy, had, along with Diana, set out to find a place.
That had led them here. It was small and dingy, but it was theirs.
"You know, Fawkes is pretty decent looking. Maybe you should talk him into a contract, that'd keep your folks out of your hair." Diana said to her friend, grinning as Amelia choked on her tea.
"In that case," Amelia said quickly, "Why don't you do the same. They can't make a married woman pretend to be a Princess."
Diana rolled her eyes, but then grinned in thought, "I could probably talk him into it..." She leaned back letting her pectoral muscles contract, causing her breasts to move in her robes, "Think he'd like that trick?"
"You are horrible. Besides, Bellatrix Lestrange isn't really the sharing type. The only reason Narcissa Black is getting married is that she's her sister. Otherwise, she'd have probably cursed her eyeballs into glowing coals and let her head burn." Amelia replied. Amelia had never liked Bellatrix, going back to their Hogwarts days they had fought over everything from grades to who would get the best compartment on the Express. Now she was with a handsome and powerful man and Amelia was secure enough in her emotions to admit that she was somewhat jealous.
"I should go get ready..." Amelia said rising and using her wand to send her dishes into the sink before going to her room to change.
At Potter Manor, three girls began to change into their dresses, while a young werewolf changed into his formal robes.
At Grimmauld Place in London, Sirius and James did the same.
Back at Pounds House from their shopping trip, the wife, fiancee, and two Consorts of Harry Fawkes began to dress. Narcissa had not found anything suitable to serve as a proper wedding dress and so she relented and began to put on the one her mother had given her.
Each person prepared themselves for their part in the wedding of Narcissa and Harry. None knew at that moment just how important to the future of the wizarding world this day would be.
Status Power Mingguan
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