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And They Didn\'t Live Happily Ever After	By : ElizabethStump Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 90306 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 2
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
- 86
- 87
- 88
“And They Didn't Live Happily Ever After”

Chapter Eighty-Six
"For Whom the Wedding Bells Toll"

Disclaimer: Oh, for Merlin's sake. Rowling owns Harry Potter and I don't. I just play with her characters. How many times must I repeat myself?

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Severus felt unkempt. The community's beard-growing competition started two days ago, and so far all he had was two days of growth that made him look old and haggard. He wasn't a vain wizard, but he always liked to present a neat appearance. He had even kept up with occasional teeth-whitening treatments, and exfoliated periodically to keep his skin looking fresh instead of dull from dead-skin build-up. There was even the use of a new shampoo he made to bring back the luster of his hair, since he now had his head stuck over cauldrons most of the day, just like when he was back at Hogwarts.

It was a shallow world, but he was forced to live in it, and figured he might as well at least make an effort to make the best of it. Severus had a business to run. Good grooming required him to keep up appearances, since perceptions colored the public's view about a person, even though his reputation was solidly established on the island. But the beard-growing competition was a big event on the island, and no one made mention of his facial hair, except to wish Severus luck.

Draco also sported two days of growth, but his was a pale golden halo about his face, highlighted against his tanned skin.

Going over some paperwork regarding a recent shipment, Severus heard a knock upon his office door.

Bailey, one of his students who collected ingredients to help pay for lessons, came into his office. He was holding several different bags of various flora and fauna he had collected during the week.

“Do you have time to see me now, sir?”

Severus nodded and they went to Severus' work lab in the back, once he let Draco know he'd be busy for a bit.

The first item Bailey pulled out was a large puddle of banana slugs in an over-sized glass jar with very tiny air holes in the lid that would allow them to breathe, yet not escape. The large yellow gastropods were congregating together in some bizarre mating mass.

“I used one and put it on my sister's plate this morning next to her papaya. She almost ate it. You should have heard her scream,” the young wizard snickered.

Severus should not have found humor in the boy's confession, but he had to admit it was a pretty harmless and amusing prank. It was far less terrible than the pranks he had pulled on him by Potter and Black.

Pulling out his set of scales from a bookcase on the far side of the room, Severus weighed them after taring the weight of the jar.

“Almost a full pound. Impressive.” Severus pulled out his price list from the local apothecary and calculated a fair price. “How does one Galleon, two Sickles sound?”

Bailey agreed to the price, since it was better than what he would have gotten at the apothecary for the slugs.

There were other items, like ginger roots, the broken shells of hatched nene geese from an old nest, dried protea and pincushion flowers and their seeds, some dragon droppings Bailey found from the latest migration, and various other leaves and flowers still fresh from a recent rain shower.

While examining a bag of delicate fungi that Bailey had collected from high up the side of the volcano where the clouds often shrouded the top with fog and mist, Severus picked up something that didn't belong with the fungi.

“What is this?” Severus asked with great interest.

Bailey took the furrow in Severus' brow as disappointment that he'd left something that didn't belong with the fungi fall into the bag.

“Oh, I'm sorry, sir. That's a weed next to where that mushroom grows. I must have accidentally picked one when I was collecting and thrown it in the bag. It won't happen again,” he said a little nervously as Severus was fixated on the small pod.

“It's just a weed, sir,” Bailey went on. “And a nasty one. The flowers tend to bite. One took off a corner of my nail, sir.”

Severus couldn't believe it. He gazed with amazement, wondering if it was really what he suspected it was. There were a lot of plants that had been brought to the Hawaiian Islands from all over the world, but he wondered if this one plant had somehow made its way on purpose with the intent of luring someone to grow it here, or by accident by hitching a ride in a crate of goods like some other plants had that had come to the island chain.

“Let me see your finger,” Severus demanded.

Looking at the nick in the boy's fingernail, it looked like it might be the right size.

Grabbing the boy firmly by the shoulder, he said, “Show me where you collected this.” He was nearly giddy.

“In my back yard. It's an hour and a half hike there, sir,” replied Bailey. He was a little worried, given the odd excitement the Potions master showed regarding this obnoxious little weed.

“I don't care. Do you have a Floo connection?” he asked with growing enthusiasm.

The confused boy shook his head.

“Then we can Apparate there.”

Severus told Draco that he might be late for drinks with Ginny and the Finaus, and to lock up if he wasn't back by closing time. Draco gave his friend a puzzled look as Severus practically bolted out the door with the boy in tow.

As they stood out in the middle of the main street, which afforded the best view of the volcano that towered above the town, Severus said, “Show me where your house is, since you said it was in your back yard.”

Bailey pointed towards an area near the top of the volcano. It was just at the edge of where there was dry and barren lava and the forest began. He trekked a long way to come to Severus' shop for lessons on foot a couple times a week.

'Of course that's where it would be,' Severus thought, noting the cooler climate due to elevation of the constant source of moisture, with the flow of clouds providing a cool misty environment.

“Hold on,” Severus told the boy, and held him while they Side-Along Apparated to a spot that was a two-minute walk from that particular patch of forest.

Where they wound up was almost in Bailey's back yard. The spot Bailey had collected from was within the property lines, since Severus warned him and others he paid about collecting on other people's property.

The trail was narrow and a bit perilous. Severus had to shuffle along a narrow ledge, holding on to vines in front and above his head that kept him from falling down a 300-foot sheer cliff. The whole trail was only barely wide enough for one to carefully walk single-file. The place where Severus Apparated to was the closest spot for two people to stand together and not fall over the edge.

Once they reached the place, Severus was nearly hysterical with joy. It was sheltered by trees above whose branches gathered the mist that swirled around the volcano mountaintop and dripped with dew.

“Bailey, how would you feel if I said you and your family would never have money troubles ever again?” Severus said with reverence.

Before Severus was a large swath of Miniature Man-Eating Masdevallias. Each pod was worth fifty Galleons – more if they were freshly-picked and plump.

Miniature Man-Eating Masdevallias were an orchid native to the high-cloud forests of the Andes in Ecuador, Columbia, Peru, and Bolivia. Since they were very valuable and prized as a Potions ingredient, they were over-harvested and only a few wild stands were left in South America. Those stands were closely guarded, most often under a Fidelius Charm to keep poachers away, given the high price of the plant and its pods. The magical version of the orchid was an exceptionally hard orchid to grow in a pot, and all attempts to commercially grow them had failed so far. The only solution was to leave the orchid to grow wild wherever it found a patch of ground to flourish, and harvest from there. There was easily over 100,000 Galleons worth of pods in this patch alone.

Bailey picked a pod from a plant near his foot and said, “What? This?” He dropped the pod and crushed it beneath his shoe, unaware of its worth.

“Bailey, do not destroy another single pod,” Severus commanded the boy.

Bailey looked at Severus as he began to understand the value of this little weed he had often picked and chucked over the cliff out of boredom over the years.

Severus asked to speak with his parents, since this patch was on their land.

“My mom's still working at the taro farm on the east side of the island. She'll be back from work in a couple hours. My dad is off somewhere, probably drinking,” Bailey confessed, shame and embarrassment reflected in his tone.

Severus could empathize. When he was growing up, he was exposed to his own father's penchant for the bottle and the violent episodes that would follow.

“Then we'll speak only with your mother.” He placed a hand upon the boy's shoulder, seeing a bit of himself in this lad.

Bailey was a bright student with great potential. The only reason he was able to continue on with lessons with Severus was due to all the ingredients the boy brought Severus weekly, which barely covered the cost of the lessons and materials. This boy would never have to collect ingredients again, unless he wanted to. Severus hoped the young wizard would continue, since he usually brought Severus some of the nicest and freshest ingredients of all his students he paid for their collecting.

Bailey invited Severus into his meager home, that was nothing more than a large shack perched precariously on the hillside, held up on stilts. The boy offered to make him a cup of coffee while they waited for his mother to return home from her long day at the taro farm. Bailey's sister was over at a neighbor's house down the mountain, since she was still too young to be left home alone.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Lady Anne Battenberg was a vision in virginal white with a long veil and a blusher, the choice of a blusher being pretty ironic considering all the depraved things she had begged and paid Severus to do to her. The witch hadn't blushed in a very long time. Only Lavender knew of the bride's former activities, among the many high-society and famous guests in attendance, since she was the one who had arranged her meetings with “Bob,” her gigolo. Lavender normally wouldn't have been invited, despite their acquaintance – and especially since she knew of Anne's secret trysts with Severus, having fielded her requests for certain activities. However, she was now Ron Weasley's wife, and Ron was a good friend to Viktor Krum, the groom and her husband-to-be.

Hermione had no idea of Lady Anne's relationship to Severus. Lavender would never tell her, due to client confidentiality, but she also knew Hermione wouldn't want to know about Severus' former clients, even if she could ask him.

The former Mrs. Weasley had gone to Madam Mandel's and, with the help of the haute couture fashion designer, found a dress suitable for the occasion that was neither too strong in color nor too flashy, as it was never good manners to take the spotlight away from the bride on her day.

A simple floor-length dress with short capped sleeves in royal purple flattered Hermione. Emerald and forest green, and ruby red, were also flattering colors for her, but entirely inappropriate to wear to a wedding that included a Muggle-born bride, since those colors were inappropriate for Muggle weddings.

Hermione sat next to Lavender and Ron, which garnered a few odd stares. She didn't know anyone else at the wedding, given the social circles Viktor and the bride ran in. Lavender was on a first-name basis with many in the crowd, but it was most often through business contacts and networking. Hermione was going to have to learn their names, since she would be filling in for Lavender in a few months.

The new Mrs. Weasley was wearing a dress that fit her expanding midsection yet didn't look like it was made by Omar the tent-maker, as many maternity designs often did. Ron looked quite dashing, still sporting his muscular physique and nicely-cut robes, no doubt picked out by his wife, who had good taste.

The bride's parents were Muggles related to royalty. They were second- or third-cousins, once- or maybe twice-removed from Prince Phillip, husband and consort to the Queen of England; Hermione couldn't remember the exact lineage. They seemed at a bit of a loss, given their daughter's association with so many witches and wizards. The bride's parents were disappointed that it was not being held in a proper church, but given that the Church of England still held a certain viewpoint about witches, in addition to the I.S.W.S. of 1692, they accepted a ceremony officiated by a Ministry of Magic official. The parents invited very few of their Muggle friends.

Officially, in the Muggle world, Lady Anne Battenberg didn't even exist, as she'd been conveniently wiped from ancestral records upon discovery she was a witch. The Ministry of Magic had helped with the erasure of many items of Muggle documentation and artifacts to help cover this up, upon the request of the Muggle Ministry and the Crown.

Upon her marriage, Anne would be giving up her title and, in a way, severing the last ties to her Muggle life. She would still be in contact with her parents and her one sister, a Muggle as well, but most probably would drift farther away from her roots. This is what Hermione had done over the years, drifting from her own parents, whom she had not been visiting as often as she had promised she would since her divorce.

The outdoor ceremony was not too lengthy, which was nice considering that Lavender had to fan herself, feeling a bit overly warm out in the sun where the guests were seated, watching the ceremony take place in front of them in a wooden pavilion. No cooling charms were permitted, since there were Muggles present. Fortunately, Lavender didn't have to get up to excuse herself, her pregnancy making her hot and uncomfortable. There was a tent set up for the reception afterwards, and it would be more cool in there than the shaded area they were currently sitting in.

Hermione's invitation allowed her to bring a guest. She had almost considered asking Neville to be her date, but given their falling into each other's arms and Neville's bed, she was glad she didn't. It would have been more awkward had Neville been there; she never would have rescinded her offer.

She had already asked Albert for that Saturday off for the wedding. That was good, considering she felt like she needed a little breathing room from Neville, what with how awkward they reacted towards one another after Hermione got dressed. She even bowed out of dinner that particular night, going home to her flat and feeling guilty over what had happened.

The ghostly visions of Remus and Hagrid had made it no easier for her to deal with what she had done that night. The spectres of her consciousness asked some very pointed and uncomfortable questions. They had reminded her that they were manifestations from her own mind, but it didn't make their grilling any less uncomfortable, bringing up subjects she didn't want to address that night.

The wedding ceremony finally ended. The bride and groom kissed, and everyone clapped decorously before the newlyweds walked down the aisle to take photos elsewhere, since they had not seen each other before the ceremony.

Everyone adjourned to the reception tent and nibbled on hors d'oeuvres that were pretty tasty and probably cost a small fortune, considering that each one looked like a miniature piece of art. Hermione sipped champagne while Lavender had her choice of water with or without carbonation and a slice of lemon, since the choices for teetotalers was rather limited. Ron was very attentive to his wife, helping her to a chair when her feet got tired or she felt out of breath. He fetched her water and took away whatever canapes suddenly offended her olfactory senses, since she was still a bit sensitive to some smells.

Ron went to chat with some of the other Quidditch players who were invited to the event, while Lavender and Hermione chatted about work and the upcoming India launch. Harry and his wife, Zhubanysh, were supposed to have been seated with them at their table, but for some reason, the Potters never arrived. Their absence was marked by the two empty seats. Ron had been hoping to catch up with Harry since they had recently patched their friendship.

The bride and groom finally made their grand appearance. A reception line was formed in which everyone would have a chance to congratulate the couple and meet everyone in the bridal party. The bride's parents seemed to find some of the wizarding world's fashion choices rather questionable, but seemed to find less offense with their stares at what Hermione and Lavender wore than Ron's robes.

Food was served and eaten, and polite conversation made with the others who sat at the same table with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and the former Mrs. Weasley. Everyone had the good manners to not bring up the divorce nor make mention of the fact that Lavender and Hermione were so chummy, considering the scandalous nature of a husband moving from the one witch to the other.

Hermione and Lavender were becoming friends, as Lavender was the only person with whom she could openly and frankly discuss some matters. Even Lavender had taken to openly grousing about some annoying habits Ron engaged in and asked for Hermione's advice on an occasion or two. Hermione still visited Harry and his new wife, Zhubanysh, about once a month for dinner, but even she could not talk about Severus much with her oldest friend.

The bride and groom danced, and most people found their way to the dance floor as the live band played on. Lavender was up for only one slow dance with Ron, and then decided that was enough for her.

Ron was begged away for a dance from the wife of one of his teammates, with Lavender waving him away, telling him not to worry since Hermione was keeping her company. Hermione was not feeling like dancing much and preferred to sit. Perhaps if Severus had been there, she would not have been adverse to going out on the dance floor.

As Hermione and Lavender discussed some more ideas for products targeted specifically for infants, Dagmar Nettleton came over and sat herself down at their table without invitation.

“Dagmar, it has been a while since we last spoke,” Lavender said cordially.

Hermione could tell there was little joy in Lavender seeing this particular witch, as she had that certain smile plastered across her face that was a mask for indifference or loathing.

Hermione had come to recognize it after watching her at the Ministry's Halloween ball, even with an actual mask on.

“Well, I just had to come over and give you an update,” Dagmar simpered with great self-satisfaction. “It seems that present you helped me procure for Bascom's birthday was far better than I had hoped. He was quite thrilled with it, I should say. Not what I expected at all, though we are now better for it, if I do say so myself. It is a pity about that unfortunate incident in February, though I had already expanded my circle of ‘friends', so it was not too great of a disruption.”

Lavender nodded her head politely. “I am so glad that it seems to have all worked out for the best. How fortuitous.”

Dagmar suddenly looked at Hermione, recognition making her eyes widen and alight. “I remember you from the ball. Mrs. Weasley.” Her eyes then turned to Lavender. “And the new Mrs. Weasley. My, what a cozy arrangement. Do you share?”

Hermione may have missed the entire context of what Mrs. Nettleton was discussing with Lavender before, but she certainly caught the meaning of her question regarding Lavender, Ron, Hermione, and their relationship.

Before Hermione could respond to such a suggestion, Lavender discreetly placed a calming hand on Hermione's arm under the table to silently indicate she would deal with the matter.

“Dagmar! Honestly. You shock me, which isn't easy to do,” Lavender confessed with the hint of a blush, even fooling Hermione at being stunned by such a proposal. “Not everyone is so open minded to such possibilities, nor is everyone suited to such arrangements. We're just conventional witches. Whatever arrangement you have with Bascom now seems to suit you both.”

“Perhaps with age comes wisdom to explore new possibilities. But I shan't shock you any longer,” Dagmar said, fanning herself dramatically, as if the topic of conversation was too hot for present company. “I just wanted to thank you.”

Dagmar rose and sauntered off, her eyes scanning the reception for fresh meat of either sex.

Once the older witch was gone, Lavender's face fell, becoming equally somber and disgusted. “My God, what have I done? I've created a monster.”

“That witch pinched my arse at the Halloween ball,” Hermione added, still repulsed by the concept.

“Why I am suddenly not surprised,” Lavender growled. “And here I was hoping Bascom would have keeled over from a heart attack, but alas no. Figures he'd like it.”

Hermione was about to ask what Lavender was talking about, but Lavender dismissed it with a wave of her hand and said it was a topic for another time in another place.

Before Hermione could mediate on the matter, Viktor came over while circulating among the guests. He greeted the pair of witches.

“Her-my-knee. Lavender. It is so good to see you both. And might I add congratulations on the news,” Viktor said, his eyes glancing down at Lavender's swollen abdomen, obviously into her second trimester.

“Thank you, Viktor. You and Anne seem very happy. May you have many wonderful years together,” the blonde witch said warmly. It did not escape her attention that the bride was not socializing at this table.

“Thank you so much. And if I may steal Hermione away for a dance?” Viktor asked, his hand outstretched.

Hermione looked to Lavender, who gave her a stern glare, out of view from Viktor, that she had better get up and accept, or Lavender was going to use her wand and dump her out of her chair that instant.

“Of course. You'll be fine, won't you Lavender?” she asked, looking at her boss.

Waving her hand dismissively, without a care, she casually sighed with a song-song voice, “I'll be fine. Go have a dance or two.”

Viktor tucked Hermione's hand into the crook of his arm and escorted her to the dance floor. They began dancing to a waltz, moving to and fro before they began to spin about with the other couples, moving like multi-hued floating petals swirling above a lazy whirlpool.

“I am sorry to hear about your divorce vith Ron. I had no idea that things vere so bad,” Viktor said, beginning their conversation on a serious note.

They had owled each other periodically, but both had avoided the topic before in their correspondence. Hermione had assured him that she was fine, and left it at that. How could one discuss such a topic through letters?

“It was mutual, and we're both happier for it,” she assured him.

“I don't vish to be im-pert-tent-tent...” he stumbled over the word.

“Impertinent?”

“Yes, that vord. But you do not look as if you are faring for the better.” Viktor tried looking in her face to gauge her reaction.

“I'm working on a Potions apprenticeship. I'm just very tired from working and completing my apprenticeship at the same time. After a long day at work, I have to crack the books.”

Hermione sighed; it was more than her work load that had taken some of the sparkle from her eyes since Viktor saw her last at the Ministry Halloween ball. Severus was gone, and with him, that glow that he brought forth within her.

“It surprised me to discover that you are vorking for the vitch that Ron is now married to. A bit unconventional. But you and her seem to be friends,” her old friend noticed, a slightly perplexed look on his face regarding their arrangement.

“Yes, actually, she and I have put the unpleasantness regarding Ron behind us. This apprenticeship means the world to me, and Lavender has been a very fair and equitable employer, more so than the last job I had.” Hermione smiled a bit upon reflecting that Lavender was giving her opportunities to expand her knowledge base through practical experience, things she could never learn in a classroom or a book.

The wizarding world didn't exactly have a flourishing trade in books on how to be a better business witch or wizard, and Hermione wasn't about to start reading the Muggle business management books unless it was absolutely necessary. It was bad enough when her aunt droned on about such matters.

The waltz ended. Viktor and Hermione changed to dancing a simple foxtrot, moving their feet, but concentrating more on their conversation.

“Perhaps you can come over for lunch some time. It vill give us a chance to talk more and for you to better acquaint yourself vith my bride,” Viktor offered.

“It will have to be a dinner, since my weekends are full with my apprenticeship working in my Potions master's garden or in his laboratory. Sundays are most convenient.”

Hermione sighed, trying to not dread the monthly booze-up that was happening next weekend, now that she remembered what was on her calendar ahead.

Viktor agreed to the arrangement and promised to owl her once they were back from their honeymoon.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

As Severus walked to Tina and Manny's wedding, he was nearly broadsided by a young wizard on a skateboard who rounded the corner on the sidewalk.

“Watch it!” he snarled at the youth.

The skateboarder went on his merry way with a brief apology shouted back as he continued coasting, intoning he was still getting the hang of the device. The young wizard was followed by a bicycling witch, who could barely steer her way down the street.

The summer Muggle Studies program had begun last night.

On a large white sheet erected in the community park the night before, they had shown the western movie “Shane,” which Severus had missed. Someone who had ties to the witches and wizards in Los Angeles was able to get the magically adapted projector during summers to show movies every Friday night. Supposedly next week they were going to show a musical, but it was unknown which one they would screen. They had to wait until the film was Portkeyed over before anyone would know.

Severus had discovered that in addition to the Muggle Studies program, which was funded by the community, a large number of students who had taken their SAT's wound up scoring top marks in the subject. Because of the large Muggle influence on the island, which included mixed marriages, and the Muggle Studies program every summer, a large number of kids from Malu Palekaiko went on to work for not only the United States Department of Magic, but many other foreign governments as liaisons and consultants between the wizarding and Muggle world, or jobs that dealt with Muggle devices. The ones who had the marks to become an Auror were often placed in divisions that required pursuing cases that allowed them to blend in with Muggles in deep undercover assignments.

While flying about the island, Severus had seen the Muggle campus that also operated as one of those Muggle camps for adult witches and wizards he'd read about in that sales fodder while waiting to Portkey from San Francisco. The streets mimicked the real Muggle world with streetlights, concrete sidewalks, and traffic signs. They had a livery of nearly a dozen automobiles of all types, and the children who were at least sixteen would be able to learn to drive. Some had actually gone on to get their driver's license in hopes of getting a job that would make use of their knowledge of the Muggle world in a magical job capacity, after finishing their schooling. It wasn't like there was a lot of job opportunities on the island. Being exceptionally well-versed in the Muggle world was often a ticket out, and onto bigger and better things.

Severus watched another witch flail her arms about like a windmill as she tried to master roller skates, her feet laced into ankle-high boots. The gravity of the sloped street was pulling her faster towards the bottom of the hill that led towards the beach.

Not wanting to get knocked off his feet, since who knows who else would come barreling down the street or boardwalk, Severus cast a cushioning and deflection protection charm about his person. He was carrying a wedding present; he didn't need to get himself bowled over or for the present to be knocked out of his hands on the way to the wedding.

Arriving at the church, it didn't surprise him that the whole place looked like unicorns and Pygmy Puffs had vomited all over the church interior, as it was decorated with an ungodly amount of pink and lavender. The flowers, bunting, wall color... everything except the pews, altar, and crucifix was suddenly the color of a cheap love potion. Severus felt mildly nauseous from the color saturating his field of vision.

After placing his gift – some tasteful glassware wrapped with silver and white gift paper – on the table to the side so he didn't have to hold it during the ceremony, Severus took a seat next to Draco and Ginny, who had saved a seat for him.

“Where were you last night?” Draco asked in a hushed whisper, understanding the Muggle protocol to speak quietly in a house of worship. “You missed the movie. It was actually good, I was surprised.”

“I had some very pressing matters regarding a student of mine. Which reminds me I need to speak with Mounga after the wedding.” Severus wasn't going to say much more on the matter and was thankful that the organist had started playing music indicating the procession of bridesmaids and ushers.

The bride came in on her father's arm, looking like one of those crocheted toilet paper roll covers he was forced to learn about in Muggle Studies when they covered the modern arts and crafts back in the 1970's at Hogwarts.

Tina was a Muggle-born and was raised a Southern Baptist. She had found a wizard who was also a Southern Baptist pastor to perform the wedding ceremony. Manny was rather ambivalent about religion, as many witches and wizards were, but agreed to having a Christian pastor for the wedding since it seemed quite important to her.

There was a whole lot of speaking by the officiant, and prayers during which Severus noted he was expected to bow his head. He observed with a sort of detachment. Not soon enough, the bride and groom were pronounced husband and wife, and the wedding moved over two blocks to the community center that Tina and Manny had rented.

When Ginny and Draco had their reception, it was a community-inspired event to give the young couple a proper wedding feast. The town had become enamored with the couple's romantic story, unaware of Draco's financial ability to fully afford to throw a grand reception even after buying a house. In contrast, Tina and Manny were known to the community, and everyone knew the two could afford to pay for their own reception.

The community center was decorated with more of that vomitous sugary pink hue and sickly lavender color. At least the lavender that Lavender picked for herself did not have a undertone that was comparable to bad-tasting medicine, unlike Tina's choice for colors.

Much to Severus' dismay, he learned that it is common for Southern Baptist weddings to have no liquor at the reception. The upside was they also tended to refrain from dancing, though some weddings of that particular denomination did have dancing. Severus was certainly not up for any dancing, even though his back was all better. At least there was a live band playing music in the background, though it was rather bland and innocuous.

Severus congratulated the bride and groom in the receiving line, then joined Ginny and Draco, who had taken a spot near the back. Many of Tina's Muggle relations had come. The event was a rather raucously noisy and boring affair, especially with the lack of alcohol.

Heading over to the punch bowl to get himself a drink, Severus offered to get drinks for Ginny and Draco, which they politely declined. When he got there, he finally understood why they had refused. The punch was a bright lime-green murky sludge, with what looked like pond scum floating atop of it.

One of Tina's Muggle relations had come over with the same idea and asked Severus for a cup of the “refreshment.”

“What exactly is this?” he asked, trying not to recoil in horror of the festering pus-like color in the bowl before him.

“It's 7-Up and lime sherbet, silly!” huffed a large Muggle woman with a Southern accent thicker than Tina's. The Muggle's hair had a distinct chemical-orange color and was piled up in a large bouffant atop her head.

Severus stuck with water.

For all the lack of refreshment options, at least the food was the most pleasantly memorable part of the entire event. Tina's Muggle relations had decided to cater the event themselves. Severus knew that Muggles could cook, but even he was impressed with the quality of the food. There were ribs and brisket that had been smoked for several hours and was near falling-apart tenderness. Because Tina was originally from South Carolina, they served the pork barbecue with a mustard sauce, and the beef with a sweeter Memphis-style tomato-based sauce. Both were excellent in Severus' opinion, and he finally found a reason not to regret accepting the invitation to the wedding and reception. While Severus had an aversion to barbecue sauce after his run-in with Frank, the slovenly Portkey officer in San Francisco, he was willing to set his prejudice aside for the day, much to his palate's delight.

Light and airy cornbread, savory and smoked beans, coleslaw with a nice vinegary bite, potato salad laced with bacon, corn on the cob grilled within its own husk, a variety of pickled summer vegetables (including okra, carrots, cauliflower, watermelon rind and cucumbers), grits served with shrimp, fresh slices of onion and tomatoes, and succotash were some of the many side dishes.

There may have been only about seventy or eighty guests for the whole event, but there was enough food to feed at least twice that many. Given how much Tina's relations ate, it was no wonder there was so much food. Even Ginny was aghast at the amount of food some of those Muggles piled away.

The tossing of the garter was an embarrassing affair, as Tina's male Muggle relations kept egging Manny to inch the bride's dress higher and higher. Given that these were the bride's male relations made it a bit uncomfortable and creepy. Tina tossed her bouquet and the single Muggle women there seemed to take the fact that a witch caught it, fair and square, as some offense, thinking she has used magic to catch it instead of good old-fashioned hand-eye coordination and sharp elbows to the other rivals.

Thoroughly stuffed, Severus excused himself from the event, giving the bride and groom a cursory farewell and slightly snarky, innuendo-laced “good luck.” He was not bothering to wait for cake, since there wouldn't be any champagne served with it.

He had more pressing matters to address as well. Severus needed to speak with Mounga regarding the property owned by Bailey's parents, given that it was now worth a small fortune due to the secret crop of Miniature Man-Eating Masdevallia orchids that had been growing there freely for some time.

Last night, Bailey's mother, Blanche Condre, met with Severus. After the Potions master discussed with her the value of the rare crop growing freely in her backyard, and reasons behind why it was a rare and valuable Potions ingredient, she agreed to meet with Severus at Mounga's house. There, they would draft up a contract in which Severus would help manage the resource, since over-harvesting and initial poor management in South America had made the ingredient an even rarer commodity. They would discuss a Fidelius spell for the part of the property where the orchids grew.

Also, upon some personal disclosure, Blanche confessed this was her opportunity to set her husband up with a stipend and living quarters so he could live far and away from her and their children. It was clear to everyone what a poor father and husband he had proven himself to be over the years.

As for Blanche and how she came to own the most valuable piece of property on the island based on its resource alone, her great-grandparents came seeking sanctuary many decades prior, and she inherited the property after they passed away. She stayed in Malu Palekaiko because she had a place to live, especially after she married her husband who was from an equally impoverished background. Blanche, having grown up locally and not obtaining good enough SAT scores to go on and have some career to get her off the island, wound up working in the fields, like so many others.

When Severus rounded the corner, after leaving the reception, he saw Blanche sitting on the front porch with Mounga. Severus had suggested that Mounga set up the legal paperwork and contract for this partnership.

The property was to remain in Blanche's name, handed down to her children, with Severus as manager of the field of orchids. He would receive fifteen percent of all profits for the first ten years; the fee would be renegotiated later depending on how much he was needed to help continue managing the business and field. He knew through his extensive knowledge the best harvesting practices, as well as being far more versed in Herbology than Blanche, Bailey, or his little sister, Bernadette. It would take years to learn and possibly one of the children taking an Herbology apprenticeship in order to become competent enough to manage the reserve without Severus' supervision. Severus was to also be in charge of supervising the harvesting, packaging, and shipping of the valuable pods until he could teach Blanche how to run the office side of the business. The children would help when not busy with their schoolwork.

Walking up the steps, Blanche rose from her seat and greeted Severus with a handshake, a hopeful smile upon her face since she could see an end to backbreaking work in the taro fields and the start of her husband living far away. “Ready to go into business together?” she asked Severus.

“I'm always ready when there is money to be made in a venture,” he freely admitted.

Growing up poor could certainly give one a sense of drive to never be in that position ever again.

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A/N: Thank you to be glorious betas, JuneW and thegreyladies.

A group of slugs is called “a puddle of slugs.”

Banana slugs are native to northern California up through Alaska, along the coastal region. They are not a problem in Hawaii – I don't even know if they even have them in Hawaii, but they are so cool and unique (and the mascot of University of California Santa Cruz) that I had to incorporate them somewhere into the story.

Nenes (pronounced NAY-nays) are the state bird of Hawaii.
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And They Didn\'t Live Happily Ever After