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Much Ado About Nothing	By : goblet Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male Views: 2534 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 40
- 41
- 42
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
by The Goblet

Chapter 40

The next morning, the Headmaster's office was inundated with people preparing for Severus and Remus' wedding.

Severus had floo'd from the Hufflepuff dorms to Albus' office, accompanied by his bodyguards: Lily, Minerva and Arabella. The three women had not let him out of their sight since the Headmaster had announced that he had made the necessary arrangements with Remus to marry 'Severus' cousin'.

Albus was waiting for them with opened arms, dressed in his finest silk robes. In his gold and cream robes, he almost outshone Severus' Wedding Robes.

"Did I not tell you he was innocent?" he said as the four visitors tumbled out of his floo.

Minerva smiled, thankful that Albus had insisted that they dress in his rooms rather than use the floo in their good robes. Her plain green robes were filthy.

"So are Remus and Sirius," she replied, "Tricked by those scoundrels!"

"I'm glad everything got sorted out. Imagine if the LeStrange brothers were never caught!" Arabella exclaimed as she stumbled out of the floo.

James, who had been waiting in Albus' office to ensure that everything went according to plan, stepped forward, and helped Lily out of Albus' fireplace. "If they hadn't, I would have had to duel Remus. And he's pretty good at duelling," he added. Everyone in the room knew that he meant a duel to the death.

Albus chuckled and turned to Severus and the girls. "Your robes are laid out for you in the next room. Severus, I retrieved your Wedding Robes from your quarters. Ladies, I see you have brought with you the adequate materials to make Severus look delicious." Severus blushed profusely at Albus' comment.

"When you are all done, proceed down the stairs to the Entrance Hall, and wait for me to announce you before entering the garden."

"Where is the access to the passage," Minerva asked, referring to the secret passage between the Headmaster's quarters and the rose garden. She knew full well that Albus did not mean for them to traipse through the castle, and enter the Entrance Hall from the garden.

Albus smiled and pointed to a large hole in the wall, where a bookcase usually sat. The Wedding Party could see the top of a set of stairs descending from the tower. No doubt the passage also served as an escape route for the Headmaster.

Gathering their things, the women steered the reluctant bridegroom into the changing room. Severus still had bad dreams about their last 'beauty' treatment, and he wasn't particularly happy at the prospect of being fussed over again.

The Headmaster closed the door of the makeshift changing room, before focusing his attention on James. "Go back to Gryffindor Tower and tell Remus that it is time. Ask him to meet us in the garden. You have about twenty-minutes before Severus will lose his patience."

"Of course," James replied. However, instead of leaving to find Remus, he stayed, waiting, debating his next action.

Finally he came to a decision. "Um… before I go, can I ask you a favour?"

Albus smiled at his former student as Minerva escaped from the dressing room to retrieve the make-up bag she had left by the floo. "What is this favour?"

James opened his mouth to speak, but then closed it again. He turned to Minerva. "Is it true that Lily… regards me in high favour?" he asked.

Minerva smiled, almost blushing as she recalled the conversation James had overheard in the library, regarding Lily's love for him. "As Severus might say, she finds you… adequate," she replied, her eyes twinkling in a manner somewhat more accustomed to Albus.

James' cheeks coloured slightly. "I find her… adequate as well," he admitted. "In fact, I find her quite exquisite."

"Something you may have picked up from me, and Remus, and Sirius," Minerva chuckled.

"I don't understand," James replied, puzzled at Minerva's comment.

"It's all right." Minerva smiled as she ignored James' bewilderment. "Why are you asking after her feelings for you?" she enquired.

James was fairly hesitant in replying; he bent his head and examined his shoes. "I was wondering perhaps, today, when you marry Remus and Severus… if you would marry me and Lily as well," he said quietly, his cheeks turning a bright red.

Minerva almost dropped her make-up case when she heard James' request. James wanted to marry Lily? "Have you asked her yet?" she asked.

James shook his head.

"Well I suggest asking her first," admonished Minerva.

James hurried back to Gryffindor Tower to find Sirius and Peter fussing over Remus.

"It's time," he called as he crawled through the portrait hole. "Just let me get changed and we can head to the garden," he added as he disappeared into the dormitory.

A few moments later he re-emerged wearing a new set of robes.

His friends stared at him. "What?" he asked. "Haven't you ever seen anyone wearing traditional robes before?" he asked.

"It's not that," giggled Peter. Not even trying to hide his mirth.

Sirius was having similar troubles. "Prongs… they're white."

"They're cream. And they have red edging," James defended himself.

"You look like you've nicked those out of Dumbledore's wardrobe," Peter added.

"James, you look pale," Remus said quietly, trying to figure out why James was wearing such… different robes.

Sirius grinned. "He's not angry, or sick, or hungry… Merlin! I think he's in love!"

Remus smiled for the first time in five days. "We made a sign: 'Here is a good horse to hire: James Potter, the married man', want me to go get it?"

James blushed as he recalled the conversation they had had while in the staffroom. It had only been two weeks ago, but it seemed like an age had passed.

Sirius clapped Remus on the back. "You know what? I think you've turned him into a fairy, with all that white."

Remus' face dropped at the insult. "I'm not a fairy," he hissed. "And neither is James. He looks good. Actually he looks more than good: I think he looks dashing."

"Yeah, but he isn't supposed to wear white to the wedding. You are," Peter added, knowing full well that only the bridegrooms and the celebrants were meant to wear white.

"It's cream, and I like it," Remus said quietly. "We should go, right?"

James nodded, thankful that Remus wasn't making a big deal about his robes. If he was going to propose to Lily today, then he wanted to be dressed properly for the occasion. He even had the love letter he had written Lily in his pocket for good luck.

Still teasing James, the four Marauders made their way through the halls of the castle to the Headmaster's Rose Garden.

When they approached the entrance, James pulled Remus aside, and adjusted the hood of his wedding robes to cover his face. While he was doing that, he noticed that his friend had a dark, blood-red rose pinned to the front of his robes.

"What's this?" asked James, touching the delicate flower lightly. The colour was so rich, the petals were almost black.

He barely heard the response. "It's for Severus. I wanted to marry him, not his cousin."

James took hold of Remus' hand and squeezed. "It'll be ok," he whispered to his friend as they followed Sirius and Peter into the garden. He didn't breathe a word to Remus that he was actually marrying Severus; Albus had sworn him to secrecy. "I promise everything will be alright."

The Headmaster was waiting for Remus beside a flamboyantly blooming rose bush. The roses were large and purple and gave off a sweet, calming scent.

"Good-morning, Albus," Sirius greeted the Headmaster as they reached the flowering bush.

"Good-morning, gentlemen," Albus replied.

He waited until the four men were assembled in front of him before focusing his attention on Remus. "Remus, do you agree to marry Severus' cousin today?" he asked.

Remus nodded. "I do," he replied. "You have recommended him to me, and I accept him with all his imperfections." Remus was, of course, referring to the Dark Mark. As per Albus' instructions, he had not told his friends that Severus' cousin was a spy or a Death Eater, so this was his way of acknowledging the fact in front of the Headmaster without alerting his friends.

Albus turned to James and nodded. The young man serenely walked through the garden and opened the green door to the Entrance Hall where Severus was waiting.

"It's time," he told the waiting party, before returning to stand behind Remus.

Several long moments passed with no one appearing at the door. Remus was half convinced that he had been left at the altar as recompense for Severus' death.

But then Arabella appeared at the door. She walked slowly towards the waiting party, and stopped a little away from Albus, facing Remus.

Then Lily walked out. She also walked towards the group, and stood standing next to Arabella and facing the boys.

Next came Minerva; Remus started shaking as his former Head of House walked towards him. She had an evil glint in her eye, almost threatening him to make a scene.

When Minerva reached her position, all eyes turned once more to the door.

After several moments delay, a lone figure appeared at the door, dressed in Severus' Wedding Robes. It moved slowly towards them, its head bowed down, the hood keeping its face from view.

Remus looked up at Albus, whose eyes were twinkling, growing brighter with every step the bride (bridegroom?) took towards them. Remus was at a complete loss. He could smell Severus' scent radiating from the approaching figure. He supposed Severus' cousin was a closer relation to his betrothed than he had been led to believe.

He cursed Albus for his meddling ways, he should have insisted on meeting the person who he was going to marry! Hell! He couldn't even figure out if he was marrying a man or a woman.

The figure reached the rosebush and turned to face Remus, its face still hidden in the hood of the robe.

Remus stepped forward. Severus' scent almost overwhelmed him, but he still could not determine the gender of his partner. "Let me see your face," he whispered, pulling the hood off his own head.

"No," Albus stated. "Not until you join hands and you swear that you will marry."

Remus blushed. "Give me your hand," he whispered, and nervously reached for the figure's left hand. Once he had a hold of it, he could not resist looking at the only uncovered part of the person who stood in front of him. He turned the hand over in his own, examining it.

The hand was so very much like Severus', and yet so different. They both had long, bony fingers, but where Severus' hands were stained by potions and strange ingredients, the hand Remus held in his own was unblemished, its fingernails were clean and well manicured.

Remus had loved Severus' hands. He had loved to watch him work, slicing and dicing ingredients, stirring potions, scrubbing cauldrons. And he had loved the feel of those hands on his body.

Slowly, Remus pulled back the sleeve, just enough so that he could get a peek at the figure's forearm. He completely missed the fact that the arm, like the hand, was identical to Severus'. All he saw was the Dark Mark: a grotesque, half-healed, weeping Dark Mark.

He dropped the sleeve gently. "I don't care," he whispered, only loud enough for the figure to hear.

Still holding the Hand, Remus dropped to one knee in front of the hooded figure. "I am your husband, if you like of me," he stated.

Severus had been in complete agony while Remus had inspected his hand; he had sensed that his fianc� had not recognised that it was his hand due to its cleanliness. And then Remus had looked at the Mark. Severus was sure that he would be rejected.

But he hadn't been – at least not yet. His love had told him that he wasn't worried by the blemish on his forearm.

"When I lived, I was your other husband," Severus whispered in a husky baritone. He slipped off the hood and looked down at his betrothed. "And when you loved, you were my other husband."

"Another Severus?" Remus asked, tears coming to his eyes. His Severus was alive!

Severus smiled; his relief at being accepted by Remus was evident in his face. "You are correct: One Severus died dishonoured, but I do live. And as surely that I live, I love you, with every fibre of my being," he whispered, tears also filling his eyes.

Remus got to his feet and kissed Severus passionately, happy and grateful that his Severus was safe and sound.

"You're alive," he whispered. "I can't believe you're alive," he repeated before kissing his lover again.

Severus pulled away. "You really don't mind?" he asked softly, referring to the Mark.

"Of course I don't," Remus replied, knowing exactly what Severus was referring to. "You have returned and you're back with me, that's all I care about."

Their next kiss was interrupted by Sirius. "B-b-but you're dead! I saw the mess you made myself," Sirius spluttered.

"Indeed, he died while his slander lived," Albus told him. "But I will tell you all about it later, after I marry these two."

Albus turned to the happy couple who were practically entwined around each other. He coughed politely to gain their attention, so absorbed in one another they were: Remus ecstatic that his lover wasn't dead, and Severus exultant that Remus was undisturbed by the Mark.

At least the two were polite enough to look sheepish when Albus brought matters to hand.

"Remus, you come here to be married to Severus?"

"Yes, of course I do," Remus whispered, kissing Severus softly.

"Severus, you come here to be married to Remus?"

Severus nodded, and kissed Remus. "I do."

Albus had to wait some time while the two kissed, before continuing.

"If either of you know any inward impediment why you should not be conjoined, charge you, on your souls, to speak now."

"I have none," Severus replied, looking deeply into Remus' eyes. The two men had come to stand thoroughly entwined around each other, their arms holding each other close, with Severus' hand buried in Remus' hair.

"Nor do I," added Remus.

There was a collective sigh of relief as no one objected to the marriage.

"The rings please."

Sirius stepped forward and handed Remus Severus' ring, while Minerva did the same for Severus.

Disentangling themselves slightly, Remus slipped the ring onto Severus' left hand. "With this ring, I thee wed. I promise to love and support you for the rest of my days," he whispered.

"With this ring, I thee wed. I promise to love and support you for the rest of my days," Severus repeated as he did the same.

Albus set off several firecrackers as the bonding ceremony was completed. "I couldn't resist," he smiled. "Congratulations, on your marriage!"

The two men kissed for the first time as a married couple as their friends set off more firecrackers.

"I love you," the newly wedded pair whispered in unison once they broke from their kiss. They laughed softly as each realised that they had echoed the other's thoughts.

"I have arranged for a small reception in my office," Albus announced as the couple finally broke apart. "Everybody is invited."

As the group started to make their way towards the green door, James remained by the rosebush. "Lily?" he called out.

Lily turned. "I answer to that name."

"Do you not love me?" James asked.

Lily was quite embarrassed by James' question, and didn't particularly want to admit to her feelings out loud, so she settled for a 'safe' response. "No more than reason."

James stood, aghast. "Well then Minerva and Remus and Sirius are mistaken, they swore you did."

Lily turned to give the trio an evil glare, which was particularly hard to do when Remus looked so very happy. "Do not you love me?" she asked.

"No, no more than reason," James replied, repeating Lily's answer.

It was Lily's turn to be shocked. "Well then Severus and Arabella are mistaken, they swore you did," she told him.

"They swore you were sick with love for me."

"Well they swore you were nearly dead from loving me!"

"They were mistaken," James told her. "Then you don't love me?"

Lily shook her head. "Only as a friend."

Minerva smiled, as she removed her own hood. "Lily, I am sure you love James."

Remus grinned and let go of Severus long enough to snatch a scroll out of James' pocket. "I swear he does love her, he's written her a love letter," he announced, giving the parchment James had been writing the afternoon of his Freedom Night to Lily.

Severus smirked, and pulled Remus into the Entrance Hall. After a private kiss, and much speculation by their friends waiting outside, the couple returned with a book. "And here's Lily's journal, containing all her affectionate thoughts about Potter," Severus declared, handing the journal to James.

Luckily, Lily was too engrossed in James' letter to object to her private journal being bandied around the garden like The Daily Prophet.

Remus and Severus held each other close while they watched their friends reading each other's love letters.

"So, you love me?" asked Lily, once she had finished James' letter.

"I do," he admitted, blushing. "Do you love me?"

Lily nodded. "I do."

Sirius merely stood there and smirked.

tbc...

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Much Ado About Nothing