Harry Potter: Another Chance

Disclaimer:

Harry Potter and all its characters belong to J.K. Rowling.

I own nothing but the original characters I make.

"Dialogue"

'Thoughts'

-Author notes-

Chapter 443: A Nice Night for a Wedding

A small group of people had been gathered at Hogwarts' Astronomy Tower.

It was already dark and well past curfew, so the halls were empty of students, except for the few present here.

A well-dressed Harry stood in the center of the room. Beside him was Daphne, wearing a traditional witch's dress adorned with intricate gold decorations. It was something passed down through many generations of her family.

Standing in front of them was Dumbledore. The Headmaster held an ancient-looking book, reading through its contents. "Let's see… I have to use this part… and then…"

Daphne leaned closer and whispered into Harry's ear. "Does he know what he's doing?"

"I'm sure he can figure it out," Harry responded.

Traditional magical weddings like the one they were performing had long fallen out of fashion, leaving few wizards knowledgeable on the subject.

"No, it's this part, you see?" McGonagall was next to Dumbledore, trying to help him turn the pages since it was difficult to do so with one hand.

At the sides of the classroom were some of their family members, who had come to bear witness to the union.

Daphne's parents, along with her sister Astoria, stood on the right side.

Harry's parents, along with his two sisters, were on the left.

Lily and James were having a small argument over the camera they had brought.

"James… I swear to Merlin, if you don't get that thing working, I'm going to—"

"Wait! I've got it," James hurriedly said. "I think I was pressing the wrong side, hehe."

"Dad… how can you forget how to use a magical camera?" Lyra was in shock.

"Seriously, Dad… how can you?" Holly echoed her sister's words.

"Not you too…" James groaned.

"Okay, go stand over there," Lily ushered him away. "I want as many pictures as you can take."

"M-Master Harry…" Dobby was crying at the back of the room.

"Shh! Don't interrupt the ceremony," Mipsy whispered beside him.

The only family member they had left at home was Victoria, who had refused to visit the castle, even for a short while.

"Very well, I believe we are ready to commence," Dumbledore finally announced.

It appeared that he and McGonagall had sorted everything out.

James moved to stand at one corner, where he could take good pictures of the couple.

"This is happening too soon…" Lily couldn't help but shed a few tears.

"Well, you don't have to worry about me getting married anytime soon, at least," Lyra commented.

"You better not. You're only fourteen," Lily said firmly, casting a wary glance at her. She is going to have to keep a closer eye on Neville.

"I'm never getting married!" Holly declared.

"Huh?" Lily looked at her youngest.

"Boys are icky!" Holly added.

"Pfft… you say that now," Lyra chuckled.

"That's enough, you two. Now keep quiet," Lily hushed them so she could listen to Dumbledore.

The Headmaster began to read from the ceremonial book. Most of the verses were written in Latin, speaking of the origins of the tradition and the meaning of the magical union between two magical people.

The connection formed during the ceremony was much more profound than the Muggle version, as it created a link between their magic. In fact, this ceremony could be considered a mild ritual of sorts...and the only one that could still be legally performed.

The witnesses could feel the magic stirring around Harry and Daphne as Dumbledore continued speaking.

Harry and Daphne stood in front of each other, their arms interlocked.

"I can feel something…" Daphne whispered.

Harry nodded. "Me too… a link is being formed, like a contract."

After a couple more minutes, McGonagall approached them as Dumbledore finished his chanting.

"It's my turn. I'll do the last part," McGonagall said, pointing her wand at their hands.

She uttered a few words, and a red rope appeared, wrapping around their wrists and hands.

The rope began to emit a powerful light before vanishing in a flash, leaving behind a mark on their arms that disappeared soon after.

"It is done," McGonagall announced. "Your magic is now bonded until death sets you apart."

Daphne and Harry's arms unwrapped, and she threw herself at him, kissing him passionately.

"This is not part of the ceremony…" Dumbledore pointed out. "Oh well…"

"Ew… I don't want to see this," Lyra muttered, looking away.

Lily, however, was signaling James to take more pictures.

McGonagall waited until they finished their kiss to continue. "Congratulations. By the laws of magic, you are now husband and wife."

"Yes! Congratulations!" Lily began clapping, and the rest soon followed.

"So, I guess I'm Daphne Potter now," she told Harry with a warm smile.

"You are! Welcome to the family," James exclaimed, snapping another picture.

"Congratulations, sis," Astoria said, approaching her.

"Thank you, Tori." Daphne then glanced at her parents. She hadn't seen her father this emotional since the day she dueled a Malfoy.

"I'm so proud of you, Daphne," said her mother, Selene.

"Hold on, there is one more part written here…" Dumbledore said, flipping through the book again. "I believe it's this part here. Let's see…"

McGonagall hurriedly took the book from him. "I think the groom and bride are a bit young for that part yet…"

"Did we miss something?" Harry turned to Daphne for an answer. She had been the one studying these old magical customs.

Daphne pulled out her wand. "Hold me," she said.

Harry immediately grabbed her free hand, and in the next instant, they disappeared from the Astronomy Tower.

"Hmm? Where did they go in such a rush?" James asked, looking around.

"Minerva? Do you know something?" Lily inquired, confused. Her own wedding had been more Muggle-styled, so this ceremony was unfamiliar to her.

"The last part…" McGonagall began. "Would be the bedding. But that's..."

"Oh…" James finally realized where his son and his new wife had gone.

"Ahh… I see," Lily said, appearing unbothered. She reminded herself that Harry was, at least mentally, an adult.

"Albus, we cannot allow this. They are too young," McGonagall said, frowning.

Dumbledore glanced at the parents, none of whom seemed to object. "If the parents don't mind… it is not our place to complain."

McGonagall turned to the Greengrass parents.

"It is a sacred custom. I have no issues with it," Lord Greengrass said.

"Yes, and we trust Harry," Lady Greengrass added.

"Where did Harry and Daphne go?" Holly asked, tugging on Lyra's robes.

"Ehm…" Lyra's face turned slightly red. "That's… you're too young to know!"

"What?! Why am I always too young to know everything?!" Holly pouted, glaring at her sister.

"Wait… did Daphne use Apparition inside the castle? How did she do that? Aren't the wards working?" McGonagall suddenly asked.

"Hmm…" Dumbledore looked pensive. "Now that you mention it…"

<><><><><><><>

On the outskirts of the castle, there was a small hill covered in trees overlooking the large clearing around Hogwarts.

Daphne and Harry appeared on that hill.

"This is…" Harry looked around, quickly recognizing the spot. It was a place he often visited when he needed to think or find peace. He had shown it to her a while ago.

"It's one of my favorite spots near Hogwarts. I thought it was appropriate for tonight," Daphne said softly, touching the ground with her wand to conjure a large, comfortable-looking bed.

"We could have gone to the Room of Requirement," Harry suggested.

"No… the first night has to be outside, under the stars," Daphne replied, glancing up at the clear sky. The moonlight provided more than enough illumination, and the stars above were countless. "Isn't it beautiful?"

"It is…" Harry said, though he wasn't looking at the sky.

"What are you doing?" Daphne asked mischievously.

"Admiring my new wife, I suppose."

Daphne sat down on the bed and stretched her arms. "You don't have to admire me… come closer."

"Are you—"

"Don't ask me if I'm sure again," Daphne interrupted him. "Unless you want to spend the night with Madam Pomfrey instead." She scoffed. "Of course I'm sure. I want to enjoy every second we have left together."

She tapped the bed beside her.

"Now… are you going to make me enjoy every second?"

"I will try my best to fulfill my lady's request," Harry said, joining her on the bed.