James led Laurie to her seat and then Peter escorted Walburga to hers and the two women eyed the other with a nod...neither trusting the other and Dumbledore's eyes moved back and forth between the two.
Sirius stood in his dress robes at attention to the elder wizard's left, his eyes trained on the entrance to the Great Hall for Liesel. James and Peter were busy ushering the girls to their places to Dumbledore's right. He breathed in deeply when he saw Clementine enter, picking lavender and the occasional orange rose petal from her flowered skirt and dropping them onto the aisle between the oak pews. As she passed the pews, she garnered many stares and those on the Black side of the wedding guests cast disapproving glares in her direction.
Finally, the doors opened again and Remus appeared, his wand at the ready as he walked to Ronan's left and John to her right, his wand also brandished, each one casting lumos brightly. He craned his neck to see her, but the Centaur was too large. He nearly missed Douglas who walked ahead of Ronan, his sword brandished as well as Alastor. The Heads of the other Houses were walking behind them wands brandished in addition to the favored House weapon. He wondered if they were expecting a fight or if it was a show of strength? From the glares of his guests, he guessed it was the latter.
Finally, Ronan reached behind him and Alastor and John moved to the large Centaur's left to help her off his back. She was still hidden to him as well as the rest of the people in attendance by the Moody's family cloak and Alastor removed the hood of the cloak and John looked to her. "Ready," he whispered. She nodded. He kissed her cheek through her veil.
Sirius' eyes were on his bride, everything else within his line of sight had grown dark by comparison. She approached with her father toward the dais and John placed her hand in his and he withdrew silently with a bow and turned toward his old friend and winked his eye. Orion nodded his head and smiled genuinely.
Dumbledore said a few words and told the couple that this wouldn't take long since the contracts had been long signed. He produced the cords and Sirius' eyes grew large. He didn't want that bound around their hands and his head snapped toward her. She held his hand tightly, squeezing her fingers tightly and nodded slightly. He watched with surprise as the cords melded into one and he exhaled...he wasn't aware that he'd been holding his breath.
The couple exchanged their personal tokens and vows and then turned toward their guests. Dumbledore touched Sirius' arm and James grabbed at the other, knowing how badly Sirius wanted to get out of there and get on with things, namely the reception and finally, the honeymoon. "Sirius, aren't you going to kiss your bride," Dumbledore whispered.
A lopsided grin came to the young man's face and he nodded. "Oh yeah." Liesel rolled her eyes and shook her head. He turned toward her and raised his brow. She thought that he'd merely plant a tiny kiss on her lips just so that he could get her out of there...but no. He removed the cloak from her shoulders revealing her wedding gown to everyone, allowing Lily to catch it as best as she could...the thing was dreadfully heavy. Sirius looked into Liesel's eyes as he raised her veil and placed his hands on either side of her face and lowered his to hers, feathering his lips onto hers and then, he deepened the kiss, his tongue waging a mock battle with hers exactly as their first kiss had been. When he withdrew he winked at her and she giggled. Together they turned to face their guests once again to thundering applause. Sirius looked toward his father and saw that his head and shoulders were slumped over. Liesel saw what he was looking at and she gasped, covering her mouth with her fingers.
"Lords and Ladies, Gentry, Elfin folk, Centaurs, may I present to you, Lord Sirius Black and his bride, Lady Liesel Black of The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black," Dumbledore's voice said, thundering over the applause, quickly quieting the guests. Regulus reached over the back of the pew while Liesel moved quickly with her husband toward his father. John and Lyall moved quickly through the guests to reach their old friend. Walburga's eyes leaked her sorrowful tears as she held his hand through her gloved hands and Sirius wasn't certain if it was due to Orion's passing or his assuming control of the family...
Sirius and Liesel's hands were still bound together and she lifted up her hands to Dumbledore as he loosened the knots and freed their hands. Liesel moved back as Sirius moved closer to his father. He took a knee and looked up into his father's eyes...they were opened and he felt a tear leave his, as he realized that his father had witnessed him assuming control of his House...It was the only reason why he had ventured away from number 12 Grimmauld Place.
Lyall nudged John and covertly motioned toward Laurie with his eyes. John's gaze fell upon his distraught wife and he swallowed hard as he watched former classmates and even Dumbledore crowd around her. He stroked Sirius' hair gently as the young man craned his neck up to him. "I'm sorry," John said.
He moved through the crowd and took his wife's hands in his and she all but fell into him. "I'm sorry Love...I really am."
"Take me to him," she whispered; John nodded.
John circled her with one arm and took her free hand in his and he led her through the crowd and finally beside Sirius. Sensing that someone other than his bride was beside him, he looked to his right and then upward to see her gazing upon his father's lifeless body. "Laurie," he whispered. "How well did you know my father?"
"Oh, she knew him My Lord," Walburga spat. "In the Biblical sense even!"
Sirius and Regulus both looked to their mother and witnessed the knives in her eyes.
"How could she not! First love and all!"
"Now's not the time," John said, trying to lessen any embarrassment for either family.
"You do not command me, Moody!"
"You are all too correct Walburga, I don't. He does," he replied pointing toward Sirius.
Laurie reached out and was unable to touch the man's hand, so Sirius put his arm around her and scooted over to make room. She placed her hand over his and cried out softly. "He's still so warm," she whispered finally, causing Walburga to hiss.
"Shut up mother before I have you removed," Sirius warned quietly.
Walburga looked away and huffed. Finally, she stood. "You won't have to. I'm leaving! Congratulations on your handfasting, Sirius," she spat and made her way through the crowd. She barely curtsied as she shot knives from her eyes toward her new daughter-in-law. "Lady Black," she said curtly. She turned on her heel and quickly left the Great Hall.
Sirius' eyes met with his brother's and motioned toward the woman storming from the large room. "Reggie, I'll make sure you get some time," he said.
Regulus smiled and nodded. "Thank you," he replied and his face lost all expression as he looked toward the back of the room and make his way through the crowd toward his mother.
Liesel stood and circled her arms around her father's waist. "I'm sorry Daddy."
"Thanks Pet," John said kissing her brow. "Sirius, lets move him to a more quiet and secure area, alright?" He helped his new son-in-law up to his feet and then crouched down next to his wife. "Come on now, Laurie," he said gently. "We need to move him to a private place."
Laurie nodded, but refused to release the man's hand. Liesel moved in to take her mother by her waist. "Come on, Mom. Please? People are staring at you. Especially the Black hoard." She looked up toward one of her new relation. "Don't you have something else to look at?"
"No, my Lady," one of the new relation.
"Where are you taking Lord Orion," Bellatrix le Strange asked reverently.
"No idea," Sirius whispered to himself.
"Feel free to use my office," Professor Slughorn said. "I don't wish to seem indelicate you see, but It's still chilly enough in there, should help with the...you know..."
Sirius nodded and several of the Black-family men moved to circle around the body of the former Head of House and Sirius levitated him toward the entrance to the Great Hall. Liesel merely held on to her mother.
"Welcome to married life Darling...your place is with him now," Laurie said, her voice giving out, finishing in a whisper.
"But Mom!"
"No. Go. Now. People are watching..." she whispered.
Liesel released her mother's hand and trotted up behind Sirius and moved through the men and walked by his side on the right. "Wrong side, my Lady," Sirius paternal grandfather Arcturus whispered gently as he took her arm and gently led her to Sirius' left.
"Thanks Grand Pa," Sirius whispered.
"Of course Sirius." The elderly man smiled, his eyes brimming at the sight of his son being transported by his grandson from the room.
"Why the left side, Mister Black," Liesel whispered. "I thought I was supposed to go on the right?"
"Sirius is right-handed you see," the man said pointing as Sirius clasped her hand in his, brought it to his lips and kissed it, keeping his eyes on his father's body.
"We don't always follow protocol my dear," Pollux, Sirius' other grandfather said. "Especially when Sirius is involved. It's just easier that way."
"Oh." Finally Liesel giggled.
"Besides, I get to take the arm of the lovely bride," Arcturus said.
"Only because you got to her first," Pollux grumbled.
"You both take the axiom of dirty old man to a whole new level," Sirius groaned quietly.
"Thank you, my Lord," they both replied brazenly.
"Don't mention it."
Liesel stared ahead at the tip of Sirius' wand, watching the atmospheric ripples of energy as they moved to surround the body of Orion Black. And she realized that while the body was flanked for protection, she too was flanked and the would bet Sirius' fortune that neither of Sirius' grandfathers were as fragile as they seemed.