Ad Mortem Festinamus

The wedding was scheduled for July 07^th - exactly one week after Narcissa's graduation. She hadn't even attempted to keep her mother from planning a huge ceremony with eight hundred guests, the only point she had prevailed on was that they wouldn't be married by Pater Anselm, her mother's priest and confessor. She wasn't religious, and she took her wedding far too serious to seal it with a ceremony that had no meaning for her, or the groom. They wanted to make their own vows.

Amandine had been out of herself, beseeching her daughter, begging her on her knees, crying, sobbing, but for once in her life, Narcissa hadn't obliged her and given in. Pater Anselm was invited and heartily welcome, but he would not perform the ceremony - Abraxas and Cygnus would. The former would gladly do her any favour she'd ask for, while her father was supremely proud in bringing his favourite daughter's wedding about, he was neither superstitious nor religious like his wife, let alone Catholic. And if he had to part with his 'little flower', he could at least have a central role in the deplorable incident.

He had accustomed to Lucius - the boy had proven his reliability and consistency, and even when Cygnus' fatherly jealousy would never allow true affection for this rival for Narcissa's attachment, he could easily see how happy his dearest child was with him. And her happiness was what counted after all.

Poor Amandine, aggrieved as she was anyway, found no sleep in the nights prior to the wedding. She had so much to consider! And she still wasn't satisfied with the robes. It was her own wedding gown, adjusted to fit Narcissa, who was taller and had a smaller built. She had personally embellished it with a thousand real diamonds and pearls, had sewn a matching veil made of laces from Brussels - Narcissa had insisted on a veil, she had purchased a dozen pairs of shoes to give her daughter a bit of a selection. And that was only that. The organisation of the food, the robes for the bridesmaids, having rooms in Malfoy Manor prepared for the guests who'd stay overnight, the table arrangements, the servants... And that she had to deal with the more than unpleasant father of the bridegroom didn't make her hard lot any more simple.

She had to handle it all by herself - she found that men had no talent for those things, and none of her daughters was there to help either; Narcissa still in school, Bellatrix thoroughly disinterested, and as for Andromeda... Narcissa had also insisted that both of her sisters should be her bridesmaids, causing much trouble. It was obvious that she wouldn't come at all if her insufferable husband and illegitimate children weren't invited as well. On the other hand their appearance must be prevented under all circumstances; Cygnus would get a cardiac arrest of his own, and there were loads of other family members bound to make scenes. Amandine settled for the measles, feeling only a little guilty of contaminating her own grandchildren - it was worth that price - compelling the father to stay at home with his sick girls. Astonishingly, Andromeda didn't even become suspicious. Maybe she didn't believe her old Maman capable of such dirty tricks.

Narcissa herself didn't sleep well either. She was incredibly excited. Her NEWT results had been outstanding, she would begin to study Philosophy and Literature in autumn, and in a few hours, she would be married, able at last to be with the one she loved, and never part with him again. And there was yet another thing thrilling her out of her mind -

"Need any tips?" Bellatrix asked at the first possible occasion; their mother had just left the room to fetch the jewels.

Narcissa hardly listened, but Andromeda snapped, "Tips for what exactly?"

"Oh, you see, unlike certain other family members, our dearest Cissily here will go as a virgin to her wedding bed."

"What?!"

"Leave it, Bella," Narcissa muttered, wondering how to fasten the garters. "I really don't want to debate this. Help me with this, if you want to do something useful."

Bellatrix obeyed concerning the second plea, but merrily continued, "Your groom deserves an award, Cissy. The poor guy!"

"If there's one thing that Lucius Malfoy is not, it's this - he's not poor, neither technically nor literally," Andromeda gnarled. Being poor was a touchy subject with her, since her own father had pulled every string to prevent Ted from getting a good job, and the whole family had live on the modest salary that he earned as a muggle warehouseman, and the occasional paitings he'd manage to sell.

"The poor guy," Bellatrix stubbornly went on, "didn't get it for - what - 20 months or so?"

"You are kidding me!"

Narcissa sighed. "No, she's not kidding you. Can we get over with this?!"

"You're a virgin? You're engaged for more than a year - and yet you're a virgin?!"

"You say that as if it was immoral!"

"I'm just gobsmacked! I hadn't figured you that - uhm - reserved!"

"If you truly want to know - that wasn't my idea."

"You mean Malfoy - no - come on! You're both kidding me! The guy's shagged half of the frigging school, he -"

"Quit making remarks about my bridegroom, will you! I'd also prefer it if you could use his first name, at least on our wedding day, and if you could get by without some gibes about his ex-girlfriends!"

Andromeda shook her head, but said no more, and they helped Narcissa to put on her robes, her jewels, her veil. Amandine was crying already when they left the house to apparate to Malfoy Manor altogether, Cygnus rehearsed his lines over and over, and the two older sisters bickered all the way through. None of them was fit to support the bride who felt on the verge of fainting, no one even seemed to notice. She wanted by all means to marry - there was only one part of the celebration that made her panic - another thing that hadn't been her idea.

The wedding ceremony took place in the gardens next to the lake. Hundreds of chairs had been put up, the guests were in eager anticipation - if not for the romantic bits, they were keen on the dinner anyway - and down the aisle, Narcissa saw Lucius and Abraxas waiting. She pressed her father's arm, not knowing how they got over there, all she could see was her fiancé - husband - groom, anyway, their gazed locked. Cygnus held his solemn speech, then the young couple knelt down and held each other's hands.

"À la très chère, à la très belle," Lucius began, not bothering to raise his voice. He was speaking for her, not the guests in the back rows. "Qui remplit mon cœur de clarté, à l'ange, à l'idole immortelle, salut en l'immortalité! Elle se répand dans ma vie comme un air imprégné de sel et dans mon âme inassouvie verse le goût de l'éternel... À la très bonne, à la très belle, qui fait ma joie et ma santé, à l'ange, à l'idole immortelle, salut en immortalité!"

"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach, when feeling out of sight for the ends of being and ideal grace. I love thee to the level of everyday's most quiet need, by sun and candlelight. I love thee freely, as men strive for right, I love thee purely, as they turn from praise. I love thee with the passion put to use in my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose with my lost saints. I love thee with the breath, smiles, tears, of all my life - and, if god choose, I shall but love thee better after death."

"Amo, semper amen, sincere et constanter."

"Sine te iam vivere nequeo," she breathed, lost in his eyes.

"Nec mortem effugere quisquam nec amorem potest, laus in amore mori."

"Ego tu sum, tu ego es, unius animi sumus."

"Inquietum est cor meam, donec requiescat in te."

"Toto meam corde in saecula saeculorum," she said flatly - her heart was beating so madly, she could hardly catch her breath. He put on the ring on her finger and she put on his, then their hands entwined.

"Will you, Narcissa, respect and honour me as your husband, treasure our love and hold it dear, in good and in bad, in health and in sickness, until the end of time?"

"I will," she breathed, looking straight into his eyes and scared out of her wits. A flame shot from Abraxas' wand and wound around their joined hands. "And will you, Lucius, love and treasure me as your wife, respect me, hold me dear, in good and bad days, in health and in sickness, until the end of time?"

"I will."

Another flame, and Narcissa took a deep breath, closed her eyes for a second and sighed, "And will you have faith in me, be true to me and our union, be faithful to me as your wife until death doth us part?"

"I will," he said with emphasis, pressing her hand and shooting her a very intense look. They had almost argued - for the first and hopefully last time since they were together actually argued about this part of their wedding oath. Curiously, it had been Lucius' wish to add it, while she had severely objected. This was an Unbreakable Vow, he'd just die if he trespassed his oath, and as much as she was anxious that he could betray her, it was still nothing compared to her fear of losing him for good. He had insisted though, laughed off her doubts and reasoned that she must have faith in him not to die, because of his faith in her.

"So will you have faith in me, trust me, be true to me and faithful until death doth us part?"

"I will!" She felt like sinking with agitation, adding under her breath, "Of course I will!"

"I know," he whispered and shot her a wide smile, squeezing her hand again and gently pulling her up. They were married now - really, properly, officially married! Abraxas said some more words that Narcissa could hardly listen to, oblivious to anything but the man at her side; at least he had some more scratches of focus left, or they would have stood there, transfixed to the ground for the rest of the day. They kissed, far more chaste than either of them would have wanted, but everything else would have been inappropriate, then he tugged her arm under his and lead her along the aisle, everyone was cheering and applauding, and from the corner of her eye, Narcissa saw her mother, lost in tears.

Lucius murmured, "You think it would be considered as very bad style if we left right now, my love?"

"It would surely be considered so," she replied with a smirk. "Why, are you in a hurry?"

"Not so much hurry. I'm just dying with impatience to be alone with you after all!"

She heard Andromeda's suppressed giggles; in fact, she felt a little bit like giggling herself. Once they had dealt with the countless guests and managed to get through dinner, they would finally - finally! - be really together for the first time. She was as thrilled with the idea as she felt suddenly anxious. After all that time she had longed for this moment, she was suddenly worried that she couldn't stand up to his expectations...

The reception was an ordeal - the young couple, four parents (Lucius' mother Elisabeth had indeed found the way to be present on her son's great day), two bridesmaids and 803 guests meant 6448 handshakes and false smiles on total. They both saw countless people they thought they had never met before, but who'd still profess their best wishes, or people they hadn't seen in ages, who'd claim the new-weds hadn't changed the slightest bit since then. Narcissa was glad when Severus suddenly stood before her - a truly friendly face, at last.

"I'm so glad to see you!"

"Thanks for the invitation, we're very honoured -"

"Stop this nonsense, kids! I have never spoken a single word to half of these people, still I had to invite them. I'm very happy to shake hands with someone I actually like!"

"My best wishes, and if I may be so bold - you couldn't have found a better wizard."

"Yes, I know." She beamed at him, at her husband - husband, husband, husband, she couldn't get enough of the idea. Two and a half hours later, the reception was finally over and they sat down for dinner. Amandine and Elisabeth - Lucius' mother - had taken on insulting each other in elaborate French, Andromeda and Pater Anselm were arguing in plain English about the sanctity of chastity, Bellatrix and Rodolphus were just plain and speechlessly drunk. Narcissa was perfectly oblivious of all this, incapable to swallow a single bite - her entire attention focused on the man beside her.

"Meus es tu, te amo, te volo... Pulchra enim sunt ubera quae paululum supereminent et tument modice!"

"Lucius," she blushed, "it doesn't get more decent just because you say it in Latin!"

He replied in an undertone, "I'm not inclined to be decent today, petal - audiat optatos semper amica sonos! Besides, the only one who has heard and understood me is good Pater Anselm. Look at him!"

The good old priest had fiercely reddened and turned his eyes down, and Narcissa couldn't oppress to laugh softly, whispering in return, "Poor man!"

"Poor me! I wonder whether we could leave just now? I can't take this much longer, I may end up saying something very inappropriate, very loudly!"

She shot him her best smile, "We need to get through dinner, mon amour!"

"All I want to eat is you, sweetness!"

"And after dinner, we have to do three dances, at least."

"Three? Why's that?"

"You'll have to dance with me, my love -"

"Gladly! But we could do number two and three upstairs, couldn't we?"

"Hardly, because you'll have the second dance with my mother, and the third with your mother, and I truly don't want to see either of them in our bedroom."

"I won't dance with my mother and if my life depended on it!"

"Please, mon amour. I know you cannot stand the sight of her, but do it for me."

"That's not fair. You know I'd do anything for you!"

Rather preoccupied, they got through their obligations, but then, Lucius had had enough and resolutely took his wife's hand, marching out of the hall without saying goodbye even. He carried her upstairs, which wasn't only romantic, but necessary, because Narcissa was so dizzy, she couldn't have walked. He whispered into her ear what he'd do with her, making her only more excited, and she managed to murmur, "I hope you're not disappointed with me..."

He chuckled and brushed a kiss on her forehead. "Nonsense! What are you talking about?"

"Oh, you know..."

"My love, I've dreamt of this night for - oh Merlin, a couple of years, and you might well assume that my expectations are as high as they could be. But there's nothing you could do wrong, all right? Absolutely nothing. Except falling asleep, perhaps..." He chuckled and chucked her under the chin. "Leave it all to me."

Amandine would have appreciated his care regarding his first approach of undressing his wife, and been totally appalled by the vigour with which he ripped off the rest. This gown wouldn't be worn by another bride, so much was certain, countless diamonds and pearls rolling over the floor, shreds of costly Belgian lace everywhere. Suffice to say that neither of them was in any way disappointed with the following three days - they actually postponed the beginning of their honeymoon trip - because they wouldn't want to leave the bed.

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Toto... With all my heart for all eternity.

'À la très chère...' - From: Charles Baudelaire, 'Hymne'. - To the dearest, to the most beautiful - who determines me to clarity - to the angel, to the immortal idol - my salutes in eternity. - She floats through my life - like a sea breeze - and gives my anxious soul - the taste of the eternal... - To the best, to the most beautiful - who gives me joy and sanity - to the angel, to the immortal idol - my salutes in eternity. (English translation by myself).

'How do I love thee...' - From: Elizabeth Barrett-Browning, 'Sonnet XLIII'.

Amo... I love you, I'm always in love, sincerely and constantly.

Sine... I can't live without you.

Nec... Neither death nor love can be escaped, praise him who dies in love.

Ego... I am you, you are me, we are one heart and one soul.

Inquietum... Stirred is my heart until it finds rest in you.

Toto... With all my heart for all eternity.

Meus est... You are mine, you I love, you I want ... For beautiful are those breasts that protrude a little and swell with measure!

Audiat... Always tell the beloved what she likes to hear.