Sacred is the Windswept Time

Thirteen: A Double Wedding in Secret

Light filtered in through the windows and the three boys lying on the floor in the Head Boy's room groaned and stretched as they sat up in the sleeping bags that Harry had transfigured for them. There was another pair of groans, one from a girl and the other a low rumble from a boy as the two sat up in the large four-poster.

Harry looked over at the bed and saw Lucius scoot backward so that his back was against the headboard, and he'd gathered Narcissa into his arms and she was leaning against him, her head resting on his left shoulder, her nose nuzzling at his neck, as he bent down and kissed her cheek. It was a sight lovely to behold, and Harry was proud that he was the one responsible to bring the two so successfully together as far as emotions between them went.

Lucius took in a deep breath and brought the girl's hand to his mouth, his lips caressing over her fingers as he sighed in content and whispered, "I can't imagine waking up without you, Narcissa. Say you'll marry me... Say you'll marry me tomorrow, and no one shall be the wiser save the witnesses and the wizard to perform the ceremony. Please."

"Yes," she replied, and he dipped his head until his lips met hers and they were lost in a tender moment.

When they parted Lucius was smiling and said, "Let whatever war coming be damned, because you will be my bride, and no matter what I'll keep you safe. I swear it!"

As James heard Lucius' exultation he stood up and glared at the couple on his bed before shaking his fist in the air and growling, "So help me Malfoy if you've deflowered her in my bed I'll tell Sirius and let him have at you!"

"Dad!" Harry said in mock horror, and James looked at the boy, visibly shaken and oddly endeared at hearing "Dad" fall from his son's lips.

"Bloody Hell! With all this soddin' noise!" Severus groused as his head poked out from his sleeping bag and he looked around, his hair sticking out at odd ends as he glared at everyone in the room. "Dammit! I'm awake! Now sod off!"

"It's not like you need beauty sleep, Sev, besides haven't you heard the good news? I'm getting married tomorrow!" Lucius said.

"Not if I make her a widow before the fact," the boy snapped back before trying to bury himself in the sleeping bag.

"Aww," James said and gave a kick at the sleeping bag containing the irritated Slytherin, eliciting a snarl from within its depths, "Is Snape not a morning person?"

Snape erupted from the sleeping bag a moment later brandishing his wand at James before Lucius rolled his eyes, pointed his own ebony wand at his friend and said, "Expelliarmus." Severus flew back into the wall and was looking more than decidedly cranky when he gathered his feet beneath him and glared at his friend cuddling a Gryffindor in James Potter's bed. The world had turned topsy-turvy and all about arse backwards in his opinion.

The boys were just getting up and walking about, James going through his trunk and wardrobe to look for clothes to loan them when a fierce knock sounded on his door followed by a steady pounding, before unwittingly James pointed his wand at the door deactivating the wards and unlocking it. Not a moment afterward Lily, Sirius and Remus burst through the door and looked about the Head Boy's room in shock.

"Well," Remus said, and having fully recovered relocked and warded the door. "This answers the question of where Narcissa has been, though a new question comes to mind. James, could you explain what three Slytherins are doing in your room?"

"And what in the bloody hell is my cousin doing in your bed with a bloody Malfoy?" Sirius growled as he took a menacing step toward the bed, but Harry stepped into his path and shook his head, and Sirius took in Harry's appearance, noting the bare feet beneath disheveled trousers and the unbuttoned shirt.

"They are going to get married tomorrow. I plan on making the arrangements with the Headmaster today, and as I recall he is fully qualified to perform the ceremony for them. Do you object Sirius? They are meant to be together. And this time he'll be a better husband to her. He will never be the man that I knew him to be. The question is whether you'll be the man I knew you to be? You've always been foolish. It'll get you killed one day," Harry said, and lifted his hand to Sirius' cheek, and the boy looked about, somewhat panicked, his eyes meeting with James and seeing the anger evident on his friend's face, before it eased, as James realized that there really was something between his son and his best friend.

"Dear Merlin, you are meant to be. Bloody hell, I'd kill for a nip of firewhiskey about now," he said before falling back into one of the chairs faced before the dead embers in the fireplace.

"James Potter, what has been going on in this room? I demand to know, your position as Head Boy may be brought into question for this sort of conduct, and Sirius... Harry?" Lily said as she noticed the look shared between Sirius and Harry.

Harry shook himself, the voice of his mother bringing him back as he looked at her and had the decency to blush. He spared a glance to his father and then returned his gaze to his mother as he said, "Lily, we're on the brink of war. I had a vision last night and there was a plan to kill Narcissa. On my word, Lucius, Severus, and I snuck into Gryffindor Tower last night to save her, and I woke up James and asked if we could stay in his room, knowing that no one would think to look for any of us here. Our state of undress is due to our need to hurry in seeing that Narcissa was safe."

She nodded and then her expression of shock soured to one of disapproval. "That still doesn't explain why Lucius Malfoy is in James' bed with her, now does it?"

"Sharp one aren't you?" Harry said, and winced as he realized that James would probably thump him later for getting sarcastic with his mum, and then continued, "Lucius and Narcissa have formally been engaged, and plan to wed in secret tomorrow."

Lily's legs gave way and her knees met the floor in shock as she looked at her best friend in bed next to a Slytherin, a Malfoy. She blinked a few times and a hysterical bout of laughter fell from her lips, before James was by her side, trying to figure out what was wrong with her and trying to comfort her or aid her in some way. She looked up, her chuckles dying down before she slapped her thigh and broke out into laughter again.

"Next thing to happen will be James proposing and their being a double wedding tomorrow," she said through her bouts of laughter.

James stiffened next to her, and her laughter died just as quickly as she turned to him, and blinked. He then cleared his throat and said, "Well, now that you mention it. A war is coming. Believe Harry when he says it. He knows far better than any of us. I'm not sure of how much time we would have together, but I've loved you for ages Lily. I couldn't bear going another day without you by my side, not knowing how precious time is," and with that he shot Harry a look before he asked, "Marry me tomorrow Lily, and if after the war we don't work out then I will part ways with you, no fuss, but allow me this, as a man who does not think he'll survive to see twenty-two, give this to me."

She looked deeply into his hazel eyes and was stunned to find that he was serious. She swallowed thickly and nodded, "Very well James. But so help me if you are lying to me, or if this is all some joke..."

"So you will?" he asked, and a huge grin flitted across his face before he caught her up in his arms and kissed her soundly. She smacked him on the back as she'd been caught by surprise and embarrassment, but within a moment she was giving in and fervently responding to the kiss. Harry then noticed a pair of bookends on a dusty old bookshelf. Pointing his wand at the platinum books ends he transfigured them into a magnificent set of platinum rings, one for a man the other for a woman, carved in interlocking Celtic knots. He then summoned the rings into his hand before he handed them to his father as a wedding gift.

James looked up at his son, a huge smile on his face as he said, "Thank you, Harry, we couldn't have gotten a better gift from a better man."

"Anything for you," Harry replied, before he noticed two platinum candlesticks on the nightstand next to the bed, and proceeded to transfigure them into simple but elegant bands of a serpent eating its own tail, an Ourubus, a timeless symbol of infinity. Harry then took the newly made set of rings in his hand and held the intricately detailed set of rings out to the couple on the bed. Lucius took the larger ring from Harry's hand and stared at it in awe, noticing the detail of each scale and the beauty of the rings. Narcissa took the other ring, also examining it and her eyes widened as she looked up at Harry.

"These are designed in the form of an Ourubus, the symbol of eternity as noted in ancient Egyptian lore. A serpent brings forth the shape of the Earth, and infinite beginnings born of infinite endings in the devouring of itself," she said in wonder and looked up at the boy who'd made these rings for her and her intended husband.

"Narcissa, you should have been a Ravenclaw, and where did you learn such a trick, Harry?" Severus asked.

Harry shrugged before he sighed and noticed that all eyes were on him. "I find that transfiguration helps me to relieve stress when a broom is not handy. Usually I prefer to fly, but sometimes using magic for artistic means is just an itch I can't ignore."

"These are incredible," Lily said as she looked up at him.

He blushed and looked down at his parents. "Thanks, you've no idea how much it means to me to receive a compliment from you."

"Right, so we've a double wedding to plan, but first three Slytherins are in desperate need of clothes," Remus said, as he clapped his hands together and shook his head, wondering what was to happen next, and then his eyes locked with Severus', and everyone else in the room faded from view, as Remus was drawn to the dark haired, dark eyed boy.

"Werewolves mate for life," Severus said softly, and Remus' face flushed as he turned to look at the floor, but then Severus' fingers were on his chin, forcing the werewolf to look at him, their eyes locking gold with black, as the Slytherin continued, "I'm ready for that commitment, because I know there could never be anyone else."

Remus barely had time to nod as Severus Snape thoroughly savaged his mouth. When the two parted they were stunned to find that they had an audience, and both blushed as Remus withdrew his hand from beneath his lover's shirt.

"There are far too many under dressed people in this room. Narcissa, come with me and we'll see about getting your things moved to my room, since your life is threatened, you can stay with me until tomorrow, and then we'll see the headmaster for further arrangements," Lily said as she detached herself from James and went about putting things in order.

When the two girls left the room, James took a seat on his bed, next to Lucius, though there was well over a couple of feet between them. They turned to look at each other and both of their eyes widened as they realized that they were about to be married.

"Bloody hell, mate," James said as he threw an arm across Lucius Malfoy's shoulder, "We'll be taking the plunge together. Who'd ever have thought it?"

"I agree," Lucius said, looking pointedly at the arm thrown companionably across his shoulders. "And I think your son is a horribly bad influence on us all. Actually consorting with Gryffindors. Whatever happened to inter-house rivalry? We're actually turning out to be..." There Lucius paused and shuddered.

"Friends," James said with a grin and then removed his arm before giving Lucius a sound and hearty thump on the back.

"Bet the founders are rolling in their graves," Severus muttered as he rolled his eyes and then slyly noticed Harry and Sirius in the middle of a snog.

For once he was grateful to James Potter when James looked up, saw the two snogging and cleared his throat. Harry and Sirius sprang apart and both had the sense to look embarrassed as James gave the both of them haughty looks.

"What am I to do with the pair of you?" he said with a shake of his head as he got up, approached them, gave them both a clap on the back, and then went to his wardrobe to look from some clothes to loan the indisposed Slytherins. He tossed a green jumper that his mother had knitted for him in Lucius' direction, before he tossed a dark red t-shirt to Harry as well as a pair of socks, and then noticing that Severus was the most decently dressed of the three Slytherin's shrugged and got some clothes out for himself. The boys used freshening charms on themselves to clean up and clean their teeth, and once they were all decently dressed and had used some old books off the dusty shelves of James' room to transfigure into shoes, they left the Head Boys room, and were gawked at upon entering the Gryffindor Common Room, where previously half-asleep Gryffindors became fully awake at the sight of three Slytherins descending the stairs from the Gryffindor Boys' dormitories.

The Slytherins exchanged glances and wondered why fate had chosen that most of the Gryffindor House be late to breakfast on that particular morning and then they recalled that it was Saturday...

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"Lemon drop," the headmaster offered holding out a small candy dish, James and Harry politely took a candy, while Lucius looked at it with a raised brow and declined with a shake of his head.

Once social niceties were out of the way, the headmaster looked at the three boys before him, and a small smile crossed his old lips. "So in these times of dawning darkness you present me with a few moments of light. I find it an honor and a privilege that you would ask me to perform the ceremonies."

Lucius Malfoy's mouth fell open and James looked stunned, but Harry only grinned as the headmaster continued with, "And it isn't every day that a son gets to witness his parents wedding. So are the rings in order?"

James and Lucius nodded dumbly, both reaching in their pockets to check that the rings were still there, and slipping glances in Harry's direction, as he'd crafted them.

"If you are wondering about the location of the ceremony, you need not worry," Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eyes. "I have a wonderful location in mind, and I'm sure that the owner wouldn't mind in the slightest for what purpose you intend to use his rear garden and home for."

Harry shook his head, and said, "I hope you mean a reception unless he has guestrooms."

Dumbledore chuckled. "A reception is what I had in mind, Harry. Whatever was on yours?"

All three boys had the decency to blush at that comment and then they were dismissed.

As they were descending the stairs Lucius said, "Odd old bloke, isn't he? We didn't have to say a word and he already knew what was going on."

Harry grinned. "Dumbledore is a Legimens, and you both are practically glowing. A blind man could figure out what was going on. I'm still wondering what location he's thinking of."

"So that's how he knows about everything that goes on in this school?" James asked, the wheels in his head turning like clockwork.

Harry shook his head. "No, he does have portraits in his office you know. The portraits love gossip more than the students."

Lucius and James exchanged a look, and both were nodding in agreement with Harry's assessment of the portrait's pastime.

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"You want to use my back garden and home for a what?" Serrano Sorcebaine snapped as he looked at the headmaster, who was sucking on a lemon drop.

Once Dumbledore had finished with the candy he looked at the Potions Master and said, "A double wedding. Lucius Malfoy and Narcissa Black are going to be married, as are Mr. Potter and Ms. Evans. Is that a problem? I thought your grounds would be a lovely place for the ceremony and your receiving room a good place for refreshments afterward."

"If any children are conceived in my home..." Serrano threatened, brandishing his wand, but Dumbledore merely chuckled knowing that he'd won the argument.

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The garden was beautiful and had a sweet fragrant warmth about it. Harry's mouth fell opened at the various flowers that grew about the yard, and the little stream with the water wheel, vines of wild foliage weaving and growing within the woodwork of the ancient wheel, and the cobblestone paths that led from the lovely cottage home to the small stream. He'd never expected that a home reflecting such warmth could belong to a seemingly cold man like Serrano Sorcebaine, but often people were surprising.

Harry saw the two grooms standing in a spot near the stream, both barefoot, as was the headmaster. Both of them were fidgetting in their nervousness, and then Harry saw Severus and Remus exit the house, both rolling their eyes as Black trailed behind them, grumbling over his cousin marrying a Malfoy. It was when Harry's eyes fell on the doorway that he noticed the pretty blue flowers, and recognized them, bluebells. Quickly picking a few he hurried into the house and ran into Lily and Narcissa as they were coming down the stairs. His breath caught at the sight of his mother, glowing in her happiness, her rich ginger hair hanging past her shoulders down her back save for a bit of hair gathered at her temples and pulled back in a braid, to make her look as though she wore a crown, dressed in a pale blue gown, probably the gown she planned on wearing to the End of the Year Ball, and then he took in the pale lavender gown that Narcissa wore, and noticed the blonde woman's hair done in the same fashion as his mother's and smiling at them, presented the two girls with the flowers.

Narcissa looked at the flowers and sighed before her face brightened even more with an idea. "Oh, Lily! We should put them in our hair!"

Narcissa took the flowers from Harry and began to tuck a few of the blue blossoms in the braided crown of Lily's hair, before Lily returned the favor with what was left of the blue bells. Once the girls were finished with the flowers they gathered up their skirts and each of them taking either of Harry's arms allowed him to escort them out of the house and to their awaiting grooms.

Once the door opened Lucius and James looked up, having previously felt foolish for wearing black trousers and beige peasant shirts that tied in the front, they forgot how silly they felt in their bare feet and the funny looking shirts, and stared in awe at the two lovely girls on the arms of Harry.

Once the girls stood next to their respected grooms and before the headmaster, Dumbledore said, "What man would see these two ladies to wed?"

Harry cleared his throat and said, "I would sir," and then he bowed and stepped back, presenting his father and friend with their brides.

Harry was standing next to Remus when Dumbledore asked his next question. "And who stands for these two men?"

Sirius and Severus replied, "We so stand."

Dumbledore then nodded and looked at the two couples before him, and looking first to Lucius and Narcissa said, "And do you both enter into this binding with open hearts and open minds, forsaking all others to be so joined as mates?"

"We do," the couple answered and then Dumbledore nodded.

"Lucius, your vow to Narcissa," Dumbledore prompted.

The fair haired boy nodded and then looking at his bride spoke with passion edging his voice, "Knowing little of what our future may hold, I promise to try to be patient and kind, to share with you my heart and soul, and to protect and care for you always."

Tears gleamed in Narcissa's eyes as Dumbledore nodded and then she spoke. "Not caring what the future may hold, I promise to honor you, cherish you, and comfort you. You will always have someone to come home to."

With their vows spoken, Dumbledore turned to Severus and Severus held out a long white ribbon to the headmaster, and then Dumbledore turned to the couple and nodded once again. Lucius took the small Ourubus ring and as he slid it onto Narcissa's left ring finger whispered, "Let this ring stand as the symbol of my faith in us."

Narcissa then took the large ring Severus held out to her, and sliding it onto Lucius' left ring finger replied softly, "Let this ring stand as the symbol of my faith in us."

The couple then joined hands and turned to Dumbledore. The old wizard smiled at them and wrapped the ribbon thrice around Narcissa's wrists, thrice around their joined hands, thrice around Lucius' hands, and then knotted it three times. He then took out a white handled dagger and holding it to the sky said, "Let it be known to all who witness and to the elements present that this man and this woman are bound in wedlock and in love."

He then touched the tip of the dagger to the white ribbon and it fell away as the earth trembled beneath everyone's feet.

Dumbledore then turned his attention to James and Lily, and Harry's attention was focused solely on his parents as Sirius replied that he stood for James, and Dumbledore repeated the ceremony. Harry's breath catching as they came to their vows.

"As I have learned how precious time can be, I swear to love you with my every breath, and protect you until my dying day. No matter what path our lives may take, I will be by your side in this life and the next," James said, his hazel eyes locking with Lily's green.

Lily took a deep breath, her eyes sparkling with tears, as she spoke her vow. "As I have learned infinite patience in fancying you, I swear to give you the many chances that you will need, to try and curb my temper, and to love you every moment as though it were our first moment in joy. I will be by your side in our journeys together. Always James."

Dumbledore then turned to Sirius and taking the ribbon from him looked at the young couple as James took the small platinum band and slipped it onto Lily's trembling left ring finger, as he said, "Let this ring be the symbol of our love and vows to each other."

Lily then took the larger ring that Sirius held between his thumb and forefinger and slid it onto James left ring finger as she spoke in a clear voice, "Let this ring be the symbol of our love and vows to each other."

And as previously done, Dumbledore used the ribbon to bind James and Lily, and the dagger to present them to the witnesses and the elements, the earth trembling once again beneath their feet. And then Dumbledore began to speak in an ancient tongue, one of the earth and ages past, and the earth trembled and a wall of dirt surrounded the small wedding party, and then a ring of fire rose and crackled about the wall of earth, followed by a rushing stream of water flowing in a circle around the fire, and then a gale of wind trembled and whispered in a path on the outside of the circle of water.

Brandishing the dagger once again, Dumbledore pointed it to the Earth and then to the sky, as he said, "Let the elements bear witness to the oaths spoken betwixt lovers on this day, and may these vows be upheld or may fire burn them, air smother them, earth swallow them, and water cover their grave."

Dumbledore then knelt down and thrust the blade of the dagger into the earth and the four walls of the elements surrounding them fell as quickly as they had risen. Dumbledore then turned to the couples and smiling said, "You may now kiss the brides."

And James and Lucius taking full advantage of the moment did just that, as Dumbledore said, "May I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Lucius Xavier Malfoy and Mr. and Mrs. James Potter."

Harry was positively beaming as he congratulated the couples and they all commenced to the refreshments awaiting them in the Potion Master's receiving room.