Sunshine and Babies

While the house elves prepared the food and set up the many small tables that would seat the guests during the reception, Hermione and Ginny spent the last half hour before the wedding fixing hair and makeup. When they were finished, they turned Tonks toward the full-length mirror and waited for her reaction.

"Oh my!" she stated, turning around and looking at herself from all angles. "Hermione, you were right. This muggle wedding gown is perfect. I'm glad that you and Ginny talked me into making this wedding a mix of muggle and wizard."

"Well, that's what we did for our weddings. Muggle clothing for the women, and a wizarding ceremony. I even did something for Remus that I saw in a muggle movie," she told them. "I have large wizarding pictures of Sirius, Lily, and James set up in the front. So it will be like they are here with us. I'm sure that they would be happy for Remus, and that he would want them to be here."

Harry reached over and adjusted the clasp on Remus' robe and pinned on the small red rose that Hermione and Ginny had insisted on. "There, I think that maybe we should take a portkey to the guest house. If we take the floo, we'll be filthy," Harry told the two men standing with him.

"You're right," Ron told them. "Besides, Harry would fall over onto the hearth." Remus and Ron started laughing, while Harry looked at them, shaking his head. He walked around to the table and picked up a lamp.

"I'm going to turn this lamp into a portkey to take us to the guest house," Harry told him, waving his wand over the lamp and then setting it down on the small table in front of them. "Whenever you gentlemen are ready, we can go."

Remus looked at the two younger men, and smiled. "You're sure that she's still going to be there, right?" he asked, smoothing his robes and patting his hair.

Ron and Harry laughed. "She's probably pacing the guest room and asking Ginny the same thing," Ron told him. "Everything will be fine, and I'm sure that it will be beautiful."

Remus sighed, "All right, let's go. I can't be late for my own wedding."

Ginny and Molly walked into the room just as Hermione placed the sheer veil on Tonks' head. "There, you are completely ready," she told the woman, patting her shoulder. "Remus won't know what hit him. You look stunning."

"Stunningly beautiful, Hermione, you outdid yourself. I've never seen a more beautiful bride. No offence to either of you," Molly told her.

"None taken Mum," Ginny told her, handing the bouquet of red and white roses to Tonks. "Remus is going to feel like the luckiest man alive."

"You're all assuming that he's going to be here for the wedding. I still think that he's going to change his mind," Tonks said, looking at the other women in the room. "Why would he want to marry such a clumsy woman?" she asked, almost to herself.

The door to the room opened, and Harry walked in. "Because he loves you," he said, walking over to place a kiss on her cheek. "You look incredible. I might just have to put Remus' eyes back into his head when he sees you."

"He's here?" she asked him, looking panicked.

"He's in the guest house. He wanted me to make sure that you were still here and planning on marrying him," he said to her. "So, should I tell him that you're still going to be here when the ceremony starts?" he asked, smiling.

"I'll be here if he will," she said. "He's not planning on leaving, is he?"

"Remus isn't going anywhere until tomorrow, when the two of you leave for your honeymoon," he told her. "Tonight, you will be staying in a house on the property. It's quite a walk from the main house, and there are wards that won't allow anyone but the two of you in." He hugged the nervous bride and then the other women in the room. "I'm going to tell Remus that you'll still be here. I'll see all of you in a little while."

"Remus, will you please sit down and relax. Harry will be back soon, and he'll tell you that she's all ready and waiting for you," Ron told him, handing him a steaming cup of tea.

"Were you worried about Hermione wanting to call it off?" he asked, taking a sip of the hot, sweet tea.

"Up until I saw her father walking her down the aisle. I figured that she would want to find someone that had more money, and had more of the same interests. But she didn't--she loved me and still does. I can't tell you how many times I've wondered why," Ron told him.

He set his cup down on the table. "I wonder where Harry is. He's been gone for a long time." Remus said, turning toward the window. "Never mind, here he comes now."

Harry opened the door and sat down on the chair that Remus had just vacated. "Remus, you are one lucky man," he told him.

"Why?" he asked, looking worried.

"Because your bride looks incredible, and she's not going anywhere," Harry told him. "I couldn't believe that it was her when I walked into the room. But since she was the only one there in a muggle wedding gown, I figured that I had the right girl."

"This is really going to happen, isn't it?" he asked, dropping down onto the nearest surface.

"Yes, in about twenty minutes, your wedding will start." Ron answered.

"All right, ladies," Molly told them. "It's time for us to move this party to the study. It will make it easier for you to hear your cue."

"Molly, I don't have anyone to walk me down the aisle," Tonks told her, panic in her voice.

"Don't worry, dear, there have been several people who have volunteered," Molly stated. "You just have to choose who you would like to do it."

"I was hoping that Arthur would do the honor," she said to Molly in a small voice.

"He would be honored," Molly answered, walking to the door. "I'll go and get him while the three of you head to the study."