A Sirius Affair

A SIRIUS AFFAIR

By Carole Estes

Chapter 16

Autumn Anticipations

Wednesday, October 3, 2001

It was overwhelming, Hermione thought, that in the two weeks she'd been at her large desk in her little cubicle, with the title Chief Assistant Charms researcher on a plaque that everyone could see as they came in, she had managed to finish less than half of what she'd been assigned to do. She had one of the larger cubicles in a vast room full of research witches and wizards. Owls zoomed constantly overhead taking instructions and memos here and there, delivering books, lunches, and parchments. It was as chaotic and distracting as the Gryffindor common room had been before Fred and George left. On her first day, her boss threw five projects in her cubby, assigned a mentor, then left her to figure it all out.

Her mentor was a middle-aged balding wizard. It took her less than a minute to determine that she knew more about charms than he did. He seemed very unconcerned about her deadlines and returned her owls only when it suited him. He did provide valuable insight into the personalities involved in the hierarchy and told her which wizards were lechers and which were slightly more trustworthy. She wasn't sure which category he fell into though.

She had embarked on her projects with typical Hermione enthusiasm, but had a lot of questions, which very few people were willing to answer. Most of the time her colleagues' responses consisted of leaving a ParchNote on her chair overnight with instructions to write a scroll on the question and they would owl her later with thoughts.

She did manage to get two of the projects done in these two weeks, with no help from her co-workers of course. The third was a bit tricky. Health-EZ, a wizarding medicenter, had been observing some muggle pharmaceuticals, and had contracted with the Charms Institute to develop a detecting charm to deconstruct the muggle medicine and reveal the recipe, thereby allowing it to be adapted and improved for wizarding uses. Hermione had researched the origin of detecting and deconstructing charms and had made some adaptations to an ancient deconstruction charm designed to reveal a potion recipe, but the charm just kept exploding the muggle medicine, which was in capsule form.

After 3 days in a lab that was now filled with the tiny balls from inside the capsules and was sticky with the remnants of syrups and serums, she felt like giving up. She sat on the lab stool for half an hour trying to decide whether to bin the rest of the day, or bin the new job completely and go back to academia. Just then a small knock came on the door and a small dark-haired witch poked her head in. "Are you done in here yet? I'm signed up for the next hour."

"Oh, sod it! Yes." Hermione threw her wand down and began to shove her books back into her rucksack. "Sorry, I forgot it was booked after me. I usually try to book the last slot of the day so I can keep working if I need to."

"That's okay. I just need an hour. Hey, you're Hermione Granger, aren't you?"

"Yes, how did you know?"

"Everyone knows you. You know, best friend of Harry Potter and all that rubbish. I'd heard you signed on here and I've been dying to introduce myself. I'm Elizabeth Grace." Elizabeth crossed the room in a few easy strides and held out her hand to Hermione.

Hermione took her hand, "Nice to meet you."

"I work mainly with food charms and potion brewing… my mum loved to cook."

"Hey do you know anything about deconstructing?"

"A bit. It's a tricky business."

The two women settled onto lab stools and spent the next two hours going through a whole range of subjects from charms to potions to Institute politics and back to charms.

"I'm so glad to finally meet someone helpful. I've been trying to get answers out of my mentor or anyone, for that matter. The inertia in this place is driving me nuts!" Hermione exclaimed as she stepped down from the stool and began to pace.

Elizabeth smiled, "Yeah, it can get maddening sometimes. They all do their jobs, and most are very nice people, except that Mitchell in the magical creatures division. He's gorgeous, but a real nightmare. But you don't have to worry. You're seeing Harry, right? I've heard you live with him."

"We're flatmates, but we're not seeing each other. It's a common misconception, but truly we are just very close friends. He's seeing someone at the moment. His first real girlfriend actually," Hermione said with a smile.

"Well, you learn something new everyday. Anyway, the people here are very nice, but after you've experienced the 'Institute' and you slip into the system, it's hard to motivate yourself to go at any pace other than agonizingly slow motion. It's just the way it is. You either figure out a way around the lethargy or you succumb to it."

"How have you managed with your sanity intact?"

Elizabeth laughed, "I have a goal in mind. Having worked at the Institute looks great on a CV. It gives you credibility with other institutions and businesses. It also gives you a lot of contacts through the various projects you're assigned. I'm putting in a couple of years here; then I'm opening my own restaurant. I go to muggle cooking school at night, and here they pay me to learn everything I can about food charms and other wizarding delectables."

"Sounds like you have it all figured out."

"And the great Hermione Granger doesn't?"

"I've been in school my whole life. This is kind of a transition for me. I'm really looking forward to dissecting charms and delving into their history, origins, and learning how they work. My fantasy is to invent some magic of my own."

"A Granger Charm?"

"Yeah, something like that."

"Well, if anyone can do it, from what I've heard, you can."

"Thanks but at this pace, I may be 300 years old before I do." Hermione and Elizabeth laughed at the image this conjured.

"Don't let the people here get you down. They are helpful; they just operate on Institute time. You'll get used to it."

"I know I need patience, but I want to do a good job and make a good impression."

Elizabeth smiled. "You want to get some dinner?"

"Sure, I've had it with exploding stuff today."

"I'll reserve the lab for tomorrow and help you in the morning, deal?"

"Deal."

***************************************

Friday October 5, 2001

Ginny sat in a private dining room in the Leaky Cauldron. She had booked this private setting so that she could interview her candidate for managing editor without risking his current job. She also wanted to impress her guest and show him she had the financial backing to afford him. Finally a tall, dark-haired wizard was shown into her dining room by the maitre'd. He wasn't as slender as Harry, and he didn't have Harry's green eyes, but Ginny had always thought of him as pleasant on the eyes.

"Grant, how are you? It's been a long time," Ginny said as she rose to shake his hand.

"Hi, Ginny. Yes, it has been awhile…nearly a year now, isn't it?"

"Yes, I suppose so. How are they treating you at Wizard's Quarterly?"

"It's been all right. They made me features editor a couple of months back. Waldrop Forsythe is a good man to work for. He gives me a lot of latitude to take the features anywhere I want to go. I heard you're thinking of starting your own rag. Is that what this is all about?"

"What, can't I have dinner with an old friend for no reason?"

"Not in this business you can't. So what are you doing with yourself? I also heard you quit Witches World in a bit of a snit."

"Well you are right about both rumors. I did quit when they hired someone to help market to a younger audience."

"That was your crusade, wasn't it?"

"Precisely. It's a little frustrating to say something again and again and not have it listened to, only to have someone who's an old friend of the Galleon-counters show up and say the same thing, and end up being carried down Diagon Alley at the head of the "We Are Great" parade. So I quit and yes I am starting my own magazine."

"Who's backing you?"

"I have a good set of investors. We have enough to fund a complete year of start-up costs. I have offices and now I'm looking to staff up." At this point the Sommelier wizard entered the room, accompanied by an Inn Elf with bread and salads. "I hope you don't mind. I took the liberty of ordering a special meal prepared and wine to complement. I know it's one of your favorites."

Grant looked at her warily. "So what type of magazine are you planning?"

Ginny's eyes lit up; "It's going to be a completely new type of publication for the wizarding world. It'll cover some fashions, but it will be for both witches and wizards. I also want to deal with issues. I want to be free to comment on politics, interpersonal issues, education, the environment. I also want to include restaurant reviews, calendar of events, celebrity interviews, and perhaps even a Quidditch match or two, particularly around World Cup season."

"Sounds ambitious."

"It will be targeted for our generation, but I want it to be able to catch my mum's eye as well at times."

"I see. All things to all people?"

"I don't mean to cover everything in every issue, but I don't want to limit the scope of the magazine to a set formula every month."

"So, what do you want from me. I realize this isn't a social call. If it were, you would have invited Harry and Katherine. Do you want me to spy on what Wizard's Quarterly is doing so you can keep up?"

"No, I don't want you to spy, and how did you know I was seeing Harry?"

"I work for a magazine that specializes in celebrity wizards We know everything he does, well . . . almost everything."

Ginny was a bit uncomfortable with the way this conversation was headed. "How is Katherine anyway?"

"Fine. Same as always."

Ginny smiled. She had never cared for Katherine, but that was none of her business. And right now, she had a spell to cast, metaphorically speaking, of course. "Right then," she said. "I want you to be my managing editor."

Grant looked surprised. "Are you sure? Not that I wouldn't love the job, or be damned good at it besides, but do you think that's such a good idea?"

"What, working with you? I don't see why not. You're the best editor I know. You've got loads of experience with different publications and spanning different departments. I need your help with this, Grant."

"You don't think our history might get in the way?"

"No, not at all. In fact, I'm fairly certain I can restrain myself," she added slyly. "Can you?"

He smiled. "I suppose. Are you sure you can afford me? They pay me pretty well at WQ, you know."

"You'll get a raise that should make it worth your while. It's very important that I do this right, and you're the best candidate," she said simply.

"How much control will I have?"

"I reserve the right to have the last word on the content. I envision my involvement primarily being in deciding which stories to pursue and in making final edits at the end, right before press. How each story is fleshed out and assembled would be your domain, as well as day-to-day operations of the publication. You'll be my second. When I'm out, you'll be in charge."

"So I get a substantial raise and have the authority to run the operations how I see fit?"

"Yes, that's it. It will be my magazine, but I want your opinions and suggestions."

"Katherine will absolutely hate this, you know."

Ginny laughed. "That's just an added benefit. So are you in?"

"How does Harry feel about you wanting to hire me?"

"Why should that matter to him?" she paused. "He doesn't have a problem with it, but it wouldn't stop me if he did. He's a boyfriend. He has nothing to do with this magazine or the decisions I make regarding it."

"Can I think about it?"

"Yes, but not for too long. I need to start hiring other key people, and I'd like your input. If you decline, I'll need to work out a contingency plan."

"Who else are you considering for this position?"

Ginny smiled sweetly and said, "You know I'm not at liberty to discuss who I've interviewed."

"Do you have your first issue planned?"

That question sparked a lively conversation regarding magazine publishing. Their discussions were still going strong two hours later. Ginny finally paid the bill, just to get some peace from the Inn elf that had been lingering about their dining room for the last hour. "Come see the offices," she invited.

"I really can't tonight. Katherine is expecting me."

"When are you going to marry the poor girl and put her out of her misery?" Ginny teased.

"We are engaged. We just can't seem to agree on a date," he said briskly.

Ginny wanted to ask if that was his idea or Katherine's, but restrained herself. Grant filled the silence with another question. What about you and Harry? Engaged?"

"Are you asking me as a journalist, or a friend?" she questioned.

He raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Off the record, I promise!"

That was enough for her to feel comfortable answering. If she was going to hire him, she'd have to be prepared to trust him again. "No, neither of us is quite ready for that step."

He raised an eyebrow and rose from his chair, "Fair enough. I'll tell you tomorrow, although I suspect you know my answer."

"I don't think you'd spend two hours giving me some of your best ideas if you weren't interested."

He smiled, "I'll owl you. Thank you for the dinner and the offer."

They parted at the door. Ginny was more energized than she had been in weeks. It was really exciting to talk to someone who shared her ideas. She had told everyone she knew what her plans were, but for the most part, they simply sat and listened politely. She didn't fault them for it. At least no one laughed at her, except for Fred and George, who didn't really count. But this was the first time she had had someone to feed ideas back to her. Ideas that were in line with her own perception of what this magazine would be about each month. It was invigorating.

She was supposed to meet Harry after dinner. They hadn't seen each other in a week and this was the first date they could arrange, but she was too excited to see him just now. She didn't feel flirtatious at all - in fact, she felt like being productive and business-minded instead. She went to her office and owled Harry, begging off the date they had planned. She was there until nearly two in the morning filling scrolls with notes, charts and sketches inspired by her meeting with Grant.

**********************

Friday November 2, 2001

Cordelia was sitting at the desk in her hotel room surrounded by boxes of due diligence on the target company. She had the summary memoranda from the more junior solicitors but was determined to get a strong handle on the information first-hand. She knew the task was likely to take the majority of the weekend.

Thank God, Sirius came last weekend, she thought to herself. Of course the minute she said it, she regretted the thought only because once he entered her brain it was damn difficult to drag it away from thoughts and fantasies of him and back to the boxes.

She picked up the top file folder, intending to thoroughly familiarize herself with the information. Five minutes later she found she hadn't gotten beyond the first line. Instead she was staring at the bed. She shook her head, trying to banish all those carnal thoughts and recommitted her mind to the report in the file folder. Meanwhile her body had begun to react to her fantasies, which was not a good thing.

Okay- concentrate Cordelia. But her treacherous mind and body just would not cooperate. Her mind had developed an awful problem of wandering off to picture Sirius naked whenever it wasn't really interested in the work at hand. Then her body would start longing for the touch of his hands, his mouth against her skin, and every inch of him warming her.

"Gah!" Cordelia threw her pen down on her completely blank notepad, stood up, and went out to the balcony. She drank in the fresh breeze and looked out on the lights of Sydney spread out below her. She heard clinking glasses and peals of laughter wafting up from the bars and restaurants that lined the roads around her hotel. She thought about a cold shower, but decided a swim would be easier. She stood there for a few minutes trying to get him out of her mind.

"Impossible," she mumbled as she went back in, dug her swimsuit out of the drawer and started to change. Just then she heard a faint, familiar pop. Even though she knew what the pop meant she still let out a small yell as she whirled around.

Sirius.

"Oh my, naked and just waiting for me?" came his wonderfully velvety voice.

"What the bloody hell are you doing here?" she said grabbing her terry cloth robe.

"Don't get dressed because of me," he said as he moved to take her into his arms.

She twined her arms around his neck, as his arms encircled her waist. "I couldn't stay away," he murmured against her lips. "I was trying to study the structure of the Far Eastern magical conference and all I could think of was you naked in bed. Not at all conducive to learning. So I said sod it and started apparating."

Cordelia laughed. "I was just going for a cold swim to banish thoughts of you in a similar state."

"So you're not sorry to see me?"

"No, I was about to go mad if I didn't."

"I'm the only one allowed to run mad in this relationship," he stated as he began to let his hands roam across her body beneath her robe.

She let out a small laugh as well as a low "mmmmm."She began to undress him, and before too long they were doing precisely what both had been trying to avoid all evening.

Later after their bodies had satisfied their carnal desires, a more commonplace, physical hunger set in. They went around the corner to an all night restaurant.

As they sat with their food, Cordelia had ranted about her week and the horrors of the corporate world. Finally, she stopped and said, "That's enough griping about my job. What's going on with you?"

Sirius shook his head, "My headache this week is with Zonkos. They've been contacted by an American muggle conglomerate that wants to adapt some of their games and tricks for muggle use. Some vice president of the American company married a wizard, and she's been pushing the idea since they got back from their honeymoon at the Quidditch World Cup Playoffs last summer. The IFW completely opposes it, but there are a couple of unsavory wizards acting as consultants, telling them how much gold they could make."

"What does Zonkos make?"

"All manner of wizarding tricks and joke materials. Fred and George were their best customers, if that tells you anything. Some of their things are fun - fireworks that work with water, no fire needed; Dungbombs, which leave a stink that lasts for hours, stuff like that. Other products take magic to reverse. What we can't seem to make them understand is that if we issue them a permit for some products, it's really difficult to limit what they can sell. They don't want a limited permit and we can't give them a permit without restrictions."

"Has anyone mentioned liability issues to the muggle corporation?"

Sirius raised his eyebrows; "No I don't think they really know what they're getting into."

"Well, if they start selling products that result in injuries only magic can reverse, that's just asking for lawsuits, which would be a nightmare for both worlds."

Sirius spent the next hour listening to and questioning Cordelia on liability issues and muggle corporate philosophy.

"Corporations operate to make money. If they can see that an idea is going to cost them more than they can make, the idea will never see the light of day. Right now anything with excess liability has the potential to cost a lot of money."

"What we need is someone who can approach the muggle company and point this out."

"They should have corporate counsel to tell them that."

"They can't seem to explain the magical potential of the products they're interested in to their counsel without violating at least a dozen IFW regulations, and the witch at the company doesn't want to see her husband sent to Alcatraz for this."

"Alcatraz? I thought that was a defunct Muggle prison."

"It was, but the IFW took it over a while back and converted it for their use."

"I see. So in this Zonkos thing, don't you have someone who can explain this to them?"

"Hmmm, no not really." Sirius got a faraway look in his eye and absently stroked his beard. A few moments later his focus was back to Cordelia as he picked up the bill. They left the restaurant and walked back towards the hotel.

**************

The next morning Cordelia got up early and really did get through some of the folders she had intended to review the night before. After working for two hours while Sirius slept, she decided she needed a break. She slipped off her robe and climbed back into bed. Sirius was lying on his stomach with his head resting on his arms. She couldn't help brushing her hand across his broad shoulders and down along the muscles of his back. His face had a slight smile on it as she traced her finger down from his eyebrow around his cheekbone. As her finger neared his mouth he moved slightly and bit her finger, then opened his eyes and smiled at her.

He reached out and pulled her close as she leaned in to kiss him. "Sirius," she murmured.

"Yes?" he answered with his lips against hers.

She drew back, "I need to settle some issues about the wedding while you're here."

"Mmmm, now?" he asked sleepily. "I've just woken up from an erotic dream. You're here all warm and naked, and I haven't had any coffee. You kept me up way past my bedtime after apparating halfway around the world to be with you, and you want to talk about the wedding?"

"I'm trying to catch you while you're vulnerable."

"Well, I guess now's a good time. I have no blood in my brain, it's all gone elsewhere. I'm liable to say yes to anything." He raised his head up on one elbow and looked at her with half lidded eyes. "You've had coffee, haven't you?"

"Two cups. I want to incorporate some Scottish traditions into the wedding, as it will be in Scotland after all."

"Just so you don't ask me to wear a kilt."

"Well…ummm… actually … I absolutely adore men in kilts and you have such nice legs," at which point she ran her hand up the inside of one his legs.

"Ugh," sighed Sirius as he fell onto his back. "My dad wore them all the time under his robes. Said pants were too confining. He was constantly trying to get me into those contraptions, but by that time I wouldn't be caught dead in anything but jeans, or leather if I was riding the bike. Kilts and motorbikes have the potential for a bit more exhibitionism than even I was up for."

"So you've never worn a kilt?"

"Maybe when I was too young to fight," he said, almost blushing.

She was running her hands over his chest now curling the hair around her fingers. "Would you wear one for me on our wedding day?" Her lips formed a slight pout.

"You are a shrewd negotiator aren't you? Next thing I know you'll be wanting bagpipes at the reception."

Cordelia smiled, "Just to announce dinner and as a traditional first dance."

"Hell, Cordelia! Those things give me the willies. I always think of funerals when I hear them."

"I won't have them play Amazing Grace or anything. Something up tempo."

"Have they transposed any Clapton for bagpipes?"

"No, I don't think so, Layla just wouldn't work."

"Damn. How about the Rolling Stones?"

"No, Sympathy for the Devil has too many satanic references for a wedding, don't you think, and well, they just couldn't replicate the rhythm of Brown Sugar?"

"All right. I think there are some of dad's old kilts in his Gringotts vault. My aunt put a lot of mum and dad's stuff in there when they died since I wasn't around to go through it, and I suppose I could tolerate two bagpipe songs."

"Actually, I plan on three."

Sirius rolled his eyes and rubbed his hands over his face. "Three?"

She nodded as she kissed him, and rolled over on top of him. Pressing every inch of her naked body onto his.

"Promise me you'll make passionate love to me right now and you can have your bloody kilt and bagpipes."

"I had a feeling I could persuade you."

"You didn't persuade me, you seduced me. Not fair at all." But by this time Sirius was exploring her neck with his tongue and had his hands busy with her soft round bottom.

"Not fair, but much more fun than arguing."

"Is this how you get your clients to accept terms?"

Cordelia laughed, "No, there I use my brain, but you're different, with you I can use my body."

"No, I think right now I'm going to use your body, but I promise to give it back in about an hour."

"Mmmm, okay," she purred as he rolled them both over so he could possess her completely.

***********************

Work at the IFW was heating up as Sirius was beginning to transition from training to taking on the responsibilities of an Assistant Director of External Affairs. Cordelia was still in Australia most of the time, and Sirius was having a hell of a time sleeping. He always slept better when she was there. In addition to having trouble getting to sleep, he was experiencing the same dream over and over, throughout November and December. It wasn't a wedding-panic dream. He'd been told to expect those, but he never had one like that. This was worse, although it started out innocently enough.

He walks along a stream, Cordelia with him, holding his hand and smiling. He leads the way as if taking her somewhere to show her something very special. They smile, they kiss, they laugh. They are always laughing when they come across the serpentine wall.

Sirius guides them around the outside of the wall, searching for an entrance. Cordelia is reluctant, but Sirius teases her about being afraid of him. Finally they come to a small door. The door opens and Sirius steps back to allow Cordelia to enter first. Once inside, the corridors are dark. The serpentine rock lends a greenish hue to their faces. They wind around endless turns and twists. They go up flight after flight of stairs. The final corner is turned and another door stands open. His pulse quickens; his heart begins to race. He recognizes the building and the room that is accessed through that door. It's Azkaban and the door is the door to a cell, his cell. Without being able to stop himself, Sirius places a hand on Cordelia's back and pushes her inside. The door clangs as Sirius closes it.

The wall that was there up until that point dissolves into prison bars. Cordelia looks out at him with the same look he glimpsed the night before the trial when he looked at her across the shattered room. Sirius backs away from the cell, pressing his back against the wall opposite the cell. That's when he realizes what he's done. That's when the numbing cold of the dementors begins to hit in wave after icy wave. The scream catches in his throat. He's not able to make a single sound. He's not able to explain, apologize, say anything. Cordelia looks terrified. He looks around and sees them approach from both directions.

Sometimes he was able to force himself awake at this point. Always screaming, usually thrashing, and despite the cold, always drenched in sweat. Sometimes a very hot shower warmed him up enough to banish the look of Cordelia in his Azkaban cell. Usually it didn't. The only time he could readily get back to sleep was when he could wrap his arms around Cordelia, drink in her heat and see with his own eyes that she was safe, innocent of the Azkaban experience.

During Cordelia's last week in Sydney, he had the nightmare three times, and couldn't wait for her to return home for good. He missed everything about her. He got up and wandered aimlessly about the flat. He felt like he'd been blasted with two stunning spells and had just enough of an Ennervate spell to move around, but not enough to actually feel the ground under his feet or the hard chair against his back, or even the hot tea he poured down his throat. He tried to focus his mind on work, but it always seemed to drift back to the dinners they'd had together, the laughing and talking they'd done. The conversations they'd had when they seemed to read each other's thoughts. He tried not to think about making love to her, that just made him ache, longing for her. Tonight he opted for the hot shower. The needling spray pummeled his skin until he could take in the sensation. By the time he got out and dried, the first rays of light were lighting the backs of the curtains, making them glow warmly. Another night was over. Another day begun.

***************************

They'd been living together for two months now. Sirius gave up his flat about a month after the trial. It was simply the most reasonable thing to do. They were spending all their free time together anyway. Maintaining two households was becoming superfluous and cumbersome, and inevitably something important would be forgotten at one flat or the other. Cordelia's flat had two bedrooms. They had converted the second bedroom into an office with a desk and another table. It still had a bed for guests, but it was where Sirius went to work late at night or early in the morning when he couldn't sleep.

Sirius was leaning back in the office chair trying to learn details about the various muggle governments worldwide and was just about to call it a night. He began putting papers back in his briefcase when he heard the door burst open downstairs and wave after wave of female laughter emanate from the entry way and begin to fill the living room.

Cordelia had arranged to go out with her friends that night for dinner and entertainment. It was supposed to be a sort of last night out with the ladies before the wedding. Sirius smiled as he thought over all the phone calls Cordelia had fielded setting this up. Trying to get seven professional women together, without husbands or partners, and especially without children, was apparently a Herculean task. There were so many parties and family engagements this time of year, they had opted for earlier rather than letting it go too late.

He let them have some space and time to enjoy each other's company, but was nevertheless intrigued to learn more about Cordelia's friends. He'd met Emma, but the rest remained a mystery. He'd heard plenty of stories about all these ladies and their husbands, ex-husbands, former lovers, livelihoods, and personal tragedies, he decided it was time he met them all face to face. He took a deep breath, ready to face anything. It wasn't that he was afraid of women, but seven old friends who were all a bit tipsy could prove to be a rather intimidating environment.

As he went down the stairs, the ladies paused in their conversation and turned to look at him.

"Sirius, love, come in and join us," Cordelia said from the overstuffed chair and a half near the fireplace.

He smiled. He could tell she'd been indulging in gin and tonics from her expression and the lack of articulate speech. He crossed the room and sat on the arm of the chair.

"Right then, formal introductions. This is the Cordelia Rescue Aid Society, CRAS. You know Emma, from the coffeehouse. She's the one who thought you had a nice arse for someone over 40." Cordelia indicated her friend who was seated on the couch to her left.

Sirius blushed, but laughed.

"Next we have Antonia." Cordelia indicated to the woman who was sitting on the floor with her long legs stretched out in front of her. She had a very short black hair, but very feminine features. She was dressed in all black, but had eyes almost as green as Harry's. Cordelia continued, "She grew up in Ceylon on a tea and rubber plantation. I met her when she came to help decorate this place."

"At the other end of the couch is Eleanor, who I met in law school. We call her 'Princess', because she is such a snob!" Eleanor laughed, but she did have a regal air about her that seemed to justify the endearment. "She got me through that awful romance with…ummm…whatever the hell his name was."

"Okay moving on. Here on the love seat we have Jane and Jory." Cordelia smiled a brilliant smile at these two. While they didn't look alike, Jane was a redhead and Jory had blonde, nearly silver hair, their gestures were very much alike. "They are my oldest friends from the farm. We have known each other since we could walk. Jane is married to Jory's brother, and Jory's lover has these delusions that he's descended from Robert the Bruce." They all laughed at this, particularly Jory as she rolled her eyes.

"Next up is Sara." Sara was also seated on the floor with her legs crossed. "We call her Sabre because she has such a sharp tongue and likes her swords long and broad." Cordelia said with a leer. "She and Antonia have a thing for sailors."

"Finally, my dear friend Roseanne. She breeds horses. All of the horses on the farm come from her stables. She knows a good mount when she sees one. And her husband isn't half bad either."

They all laughed again. "Well, that about does it. Do you care to join us for a drink?"

"I'll get myself something, but I'll take it upstairs and let you lovely ladies continue your discussions of swords and mounts. We need some knights and jousting in here."

"We can joust later if you'd like?" Cordelia said suggestively, which set off another round of laughter from the room.

Sirius retreated to the office. The conversation was loud, overlapping and punctuated with peals of laughter, and not a few expletives. Although he couldn't quite make out the specifics of the conversation, not that he was purposefully listening, he did hear his name mentioned on more than one occasion along with other names of men he assumed were various husbands, lovers, or enemies of the other women. It wasn't until he heard bad, off-key singing that he gave up trying to read and retreated to the bedroom that was a bit more insulated from the living room.

**************

"Cordelia…" came a hushed voice. "Cordelia, love…"

Cordelia opened one eye, quickly closed it again, and groaned.

"I wouldn't wake you, but your mum called and needs the guest list. She's coming by in half an hour for it. If you tell me where it is, I'll let you go back to sleep."

Cordelia groaned again and rolled over onto her back. "No. I'll get up." She lay still for a couple of moments with her arm draped over her head. "Ugh. Remind me never to drink gin again."

Sirius laughed, "You seemed to be enjoying it last night."

"Mmmmm, I suppose. It was so nice to see them all. I'm glad you got to meet them. It's been ages since we've all gotten together. You'll love them once you get to know them."

"Oh? May I?" Sirius said with a leer.

"No!" Cordelia shouted as she sat up swiftly. "Not like that!"

Sirius laughed at the look of realization on Cordelia's face as she sunk back down onto the bed holding her head. He turned her over and rubbed her neck, shoulders, and back.

"Thank you…I am never drinking gin again!" She sighed and propped herself up on her elbow, squinting into the sunlight that was drifting in around the curtains. "Right then, I'd better get into the shower and get some coffee so I'm coherent when mum arrives."

"I could help with both."

"I just bet you could." She smiled. "Thank you, but I'd best shower alone. I may end up spewing all over your feet. My stomach is not all that settled. If you'd concentrate on the coffee, I'll love you forever."

"I can handle that," he said dropping a quick kiss on her forehead, leaving the room.

Half and hour later Cordelia entered the kitchen wearing a plaid flannel shirt and a faded pair of blue jeans. Her hair was wet, and she was still very pale. "Is there an axe in the back of my head?"

"No, I don't believe so…I take it you have a headache."

"No, a headache would be a relief from the way my head feels. Where is the Tylenol?"

"Everything you need, my lady, is right here," Sirius said as he set a tray in front of her. "Coffee, toast, and appropriate Muggle analgesics. We have a potion draught that helps hangovers, but I don't have the right ingredients and I'm really lousy with potions. I'd probably end up shrinking you instead."

"No, I don't suppose that would be helpful."

"Not by half. So how did your meeting with Deputy Smith go yesterday?"

"Oh, I nearly forgot! He offered me a job."

"Really?"

"Yes, he wants me to work for his office as a liaison between the IFW and muggle governments, and corporations when necessary. Was this your doing?"

"I suggested that the IFW had need of a position like that after we had that problem with Zonkos. I also mentioned your expertise at negotiations and the fact that you were looking for a new job, but in conversations that were separate from the other by as much as three or four minutes."

"Aha! I had some suspicions you instigated it, but Mr. Smith denied it."

"I didn't say anything specifically, but I might have planted the seeds."

"I'm not sure whether to thank you or hit you. I really don't need you to find a job for me, particularly in a world where my kind is not thought that highly of," she said with a darkened look.

"I think in this position you would avoid most of the lowlifes who have problems with muggles. I take it you didn't say yes immediately?"

"I told him I'd have to think about it. It would be a big change, Sirius. It would require a whole new set of knowledge and skills and a whole new set of contacts and community. I'd be operating in a community I only learned existed a few months ago. I don't know." She shook her head. "When I said I was thinking about changing jobs, I thought maybe I'd go across town and join another firm. Eleanor was going to check at her firm to see if they would be interested. This is very different."

"We could really use you."

"Ugh…do we have to talk about this now? I still am not feeling all that well. My brain hurts without thinking about this big a move." She put her head back down in her arms. "Then there are the people I would have to deal with. You're talking about heads of state and high-ranking diplomatic personnel. I'm not sure I'm in their league. Not today anyway. Ugh…." She tried to lift her head, but didn't even manage to raise it an inch off the table.

"Sorry. Take all the time you need and don't feel obligated, just because having you in that position would not only make my life easier when I do become DC, but it would mean we could see each other during the day as well. I kind of fancy that idea."

"Doesn't absence make the heart grow fonder? Familiarity breeds contempt?"

"All right…all right…I get the picture," he said with a smile.

"I didn't say no. I just asked for time to think about it."

"That's fine." Sirius said as the doorbell rung. Cordelia winced and rubbed her temples. "That would be your mum."

***********************

Tuesday, December 11, 2001

Cordelia had lived with other men over the years, and while she knew she loved Sirius to the depth of her toes, living with him was not nearly as easy as it had been with the others. This particular day was one of those bad days where the forces of ordinary evil gang up to the point where rational thinking is merely a vague concept espoused by those lucky enough to be delusional.

It started when the digital clock read 4:06 a.m. in very green, very bright numbers. Sirius had woken her up again with fitful sleep and another nightmare. It was the second time this week he'd awakened sweating and yelling. She generally went back to sleep easily, but she had too many things to do to go back to sleep this morning.

Cordelia sat at the kitchen table with a mug of hot tea, looking over the list she'd made out.

Bank—need to move more money from savings to checking... damn wedding

Post Office—damn Christmas cards

Office—arrange final signatures

Lunch—dry-cleaning; ring florist, and caterers

Fitting Appointment —damn dress

Meet mum at dinner - damn seating arrangements

Talk to Sirius about wizards and memory charms—damn wizards

"Damn, no bread," she exclaimed, staring into the fridge. "Maybe a shower will wake me up and get me headed straight for the day."

She tiptoed quietly into the master bath and closed the door before turning on the light. The last thing she wanted to do was to wake up Sirius. He needed to sleep, as he'd been staying up late trying to learn the structure and function of the IFW. Plus his nightmares were getting more frequent... although when she asked him about them in the bright light of day, he always said he didn't remember them.

The hot water felt wonderful, as it was just starting to get cold outside. She scrubbed hard at her face and body trying to wash away the fatigue and the doubts. She was just about to turn off the water when she heard the door open. Sirius poked his head around the curtain and smiled.

"Mind if I join you?"

"You're supposed to be asleep. You need the rest."

"I tried. Just not the same when you're up."

"I'm just finishing... come in if you like. I really should get started on the day though. I've got a list..." she was going to continue, but he had moved her against the wall of the shower and was kissing her with such fervor that she lost track of her train of thought. "Completely impractical to make love in the shower today as see, um, I've got this list..." but that thought got lost as well.

Next thing she knew she was washing his hair as he was exploring her neck and breasts. Once he was soaped and rinsed with her help, he picked her up and carried her back to bed.

By now, it was six a.m. "Tell me again why we don't just stay in bed all day?" she asked.

"You've got a list."

"Right... damn list," she muttered as they got up and prepared to face the day.

"Today should be bloody hell. Three meetings and two conferences with people who think it's my job to do their work," he explained as set two mugs of coffee on the table.

"I'll be out for dinner tonight. You need to fend for yourself."

"Meeting a secret lover?"

"No, just my mum. She insists we have to get the seating chart done for the reception."

"Ah. Wizards on one side, Muggles on the other?"

"Something like that."

"How many people are coming, anyway?"

"I think the latest count was 124—most of the IFW Division Chiefs are coming."

"Really?" Sirius asked, surprised. "They hardly know me. Maybe the DC recommended it."

"He's going to be there as well," added Cordelia.

"Oh dear. That means I have to behave myself."

Cordelia replied with an indelicate snort, "Well, that goes without saying."

"You're no fun," Sirius pouted.

"That's not what you said earlier."

He shot her a smile and suddenly she did feel ready to face the day. At that moment, all was right with the universe. They parted, and set off for their separate worlds.

9:10 a.m.

"What do you mean, they wouldn't sign? I thought we'd settled all the issues and addressed their concerns. I can't table this and meet in two weeks. I'm getting married and will be gone for two weeks after that!" Cordelia said in an exasperated tone to Mark, one of the junior solicitors for this transaction.

"I'm just the messenger," he said apologetically

"I know. I'm sorry. What I've failed to tell you, and please don't let this get out, was that I was planning on giving notice at week's end. I've got another job and was hoping to have this transaction done by the time I leave."

11:25 a.m.

"Hello, Whiteland Florist? This is Cordelia Hunter. I'm checking on some flowers for my wedding on December 31st.

"What do you mean, the carnations and gladiolas will be ordered in two weeks? First, there are no carnations or gladiolas. Second, the wedding is in two weeks! May I speak to Tom? Yes, Tom the owner. I know he's there."

12:15 p.m.

"Yes, dinner should be served at 7:30. The wedding's at 5:00—we'll have cocktails from 6:00 to 7:00. The hors d' oeuvres are all set, right? Yes, we did specify hors d'oeuvres. Yes, I faxed our choices over a month ago. What? You have us down for 50?"

2:35 p.m.

"All right, I can skip the annual association lunch and move the final signing to next Wednesday," Cordelia said to her secretary as they went through her diary. "Damn, I was really looking forward to it this year."

5:43 p.m.

"Ah! The dress is lovely... perfect! At least one thing has gone right today. Can I see the headpiece?" Cordelia waited patiently, admiring the dress in the mirror. It was exactly what she had always wanted in a wedding dress. Finally the attendant came in.

"This is not the right veil! I ordered one with satin trim! You can't get it by then? Oh, bloody hell... just put the tulle on and forget it."

7:43 p.m.

"But Mum, if we can't put Aunt Emily and Uncle Neil at the same table as the Charleses, then we have to put the Smithfields at the same table as the Murphys, and you know that won't work," Cordelia said as she massaged her temples. They had been through this four times and still hadn't settled it. The waiter had refilled their coffee cups three times and settled the bill, and had asked twice if there was anything more he could do.

"That's it, Mum! I can't do any more of this today. Call me tomorrow and we'll talk. I have to ask Sirius about the wizards anyway. I have no idea who shouldn't sit near who on his list."

8:15 p.m.

"Sirius, are you home?" Cordelia asked as she looked around.

She slumped into the couch, flicked on the telly, and promptly dozed off.

10:30 p.m.

CRASH!

Cordelia awoke with a start to see her briefcase being launched into the air, papers exploding out of it before it finally landed on the coffee table with enough force to put a dent in the finish.

"What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?" she yelled.

"Getting your briefcase out of the way. I Apparated in and nearly tripped over it." He paused and took a deep breath. "Sorry... I shouldn't have done that. Been a bloody nightmare day—just as I suspected it would be."

Just then, the phone rang. Cordelia picked it up.

"Hello? Yes, Martin. What can I do for you? ... Who told you this? … Well, yes, it is true, I was going to turn in my resignation on Friday. I was waiting for the Collins Geophysical transaction to be complete. … What do you mean you were going to submit me for partnership after the first of the year? … You've submitted my name before this, why should I believe it would make any difference this time? … Do you have the support of the rest of the committee? … That's rather vague. … Really? That is a generous offer, if it flies with the rest of the partners. Who else is with you on this? … So what are my chances this time? … That high? You sound overconfident. … Let me think about it. I'm not sure I can be that patient, given the partners history on making selections. … All right, you'll know by Friday. I'll get back to you by then. … Thanks." She hung up the phone.

"What do you mean, you'll get back to him? I thought you'd decided to work for the D.C.," Sirius asked with a touch of irritation still in his voice.

"I had, and I probably still will. But this is what I've been working towards for years—I've got to at least consider it," said Cordelia.

"So you're saying you'd rather stay with this wretched Muggle company that has treated you like dirt than move on to somewhere where you'd be appreciated?" Sirius asked.

"Are you so sure I will be appreciated? From what I've seen, Muggles are not universally appreciated in your world. This could be an utter disaster!"

"It might be to start, but once I'm D.C...." Sirius hesitated.

"Yes, once you're D.C., you'll be my boss—and I'm not sure that's such a royal idea anyway."

"Thank you so much for that vote of confidence, my dear," Sirius glowered.

"All I said was that I would consider their offer."

"Cordelia! After all the times they've put you off! You'd be insane to consider it! Putting you up for partnership later this year is certainly no guarantee you'd be in, now is it?" he added with a sharp look.

"So now you're questioning my sanity—my sanity! I'm not the one having nightmares every other night and you're not the one planning this whole bleeding fucking wedding that seems to be disintegrating in front of my eyes!"

"I never wanted this bleeding fucking wedding, as you so aptly describe it," Sirius yelled, his face flushed with temper. "I was all for a quick wizard ceremony, but no. You said it would be fun. Well, here's your blasted fun, Cordelia. And while you're at it, just dial up a plan to get rid of these nightmares. Yes, I do remember them. Vividly. Usually they involve my death, your death or at a minimum your dismemberment, and the virtual death of prison again. You have not been where I've been or seen the evil that I've seen or made the horrendous decisions that I've made. I'd love to be free of them, but if they're bothering you that much I can certainly sleep elsewhere if you'd like!"

With that, he stormed out and Cordelia stormed upstairs. She slammed the bedroom door as hard as she could. She looked around the room and spotted the wet towels in the corner. "How could a day that started out like that end up so awful?" she thought bitterly. She glanced down at her ring. The jewels on either side of the diamond were as green as emeralds. It was the first time she'd looked at it that the gems had not been blue.

At that moment, her anger shattered and the ocean of frustration that she'd kept carefully dammed up the whole day burst through her reserve. She threw pillows, kicked the bed a number of times, and finally collapsed in a heap of sobs on the bed.

She was jarred awake by the alarm clock at six a.m. She glanced over... Sirius was not there, and had obviously not been there all night. She swung her legs out of bed and glumly got in the shower and cried again. She managed to get dressed and make herself look vaguely professional, although her eyes were still red and slightly puffy.

Maybe a strong cup of tea will help, she thought as she descended the stairs.

As she turned the corner to the kitchen, her stomach flipped. He was standing there with a mug in one hand and the Daily Prophet in the other. She glanced down at her ring... it was blue again. He put the mug and paper down and they embraced. Standing there holding each other very tightly and not saying anything.

"Sorry, bad day," they said in unison, then smiled at each other and kissed.

"You go first," Sirius offered.

"Oh, it was so many little things. Not enough sleep, those bastards in Australia reneged on the negotiations, the flowers were wrong, the veil was wrong, the hors d'oeurves were never ordered, and Aunt Emily can't stand Mrs. Charles. By the way, you need to go through this torture with the wizards. I don't even want to think of the consequences of a faulty seating chart with your kind... we're liable to end up serving more newts than people, although that would cut down on the catering bill, I suppose."

Sirius smiled. "Give me the list tonight. I'll work it out. I've been meaning to tell you we've got the kilts fit. Harry's still grumbling... says he doesn't have the legs for it. I pick mine up next week, and Harry's will be ready on Tuesday."

"Finally something going right—and you will look gorgeous in it, trust me. Okay, what happened to you last night? Where did you sleep?"

"Here. I slept in the spare room. After I left here—I went to the park and ran."

"Man or dog?"

"Dog—helps me clear my head. Then I went to the Obsidian. Gerry was working—we talked for a while. He told me horror stories of his wedding and the creature his wife turned into. I know what happened was about more than the wedding..."

"But it did contribute."

"Yes, and talking to him helped. So I came back here and you were already asleep. You looked so peaceful—I sat on the floor and watched you for over an hour. I couldn't disturb you. I know I'm not easy to sleep with."

"Depends on what you mean by sleep..." she said with a smile.

"I meant snooze, slumber, actually sleep. I'll ask Colin if he knows of anything that might help alleviate the nightmares. They get worse as stress increases. Maybe it will get easier once the wedding is over and we're both settled at work. Have you decided if you're going to leave Slaughter and May?"

"Yes, of course. " Cordelia was surprised that he was still taking her ranting of the night before seriously. "I was so thrown by their offer—I didn't know what to say right then. What I should have said was that they could take their partnership prospects and shove it up their arse—but I never think that quickly. That's why I do corporate law and not litigation, darling."

Sirius laughed again. "You had me going. Of course, you have every right to accept their offer if that's what you want."

"I know, but I really think it would be a bad idea. Too poisonous for any sane person's constitution, I realize." She wanted to ask him about his nightmares, but in a roundabout way, and asked, "So do you want to tell me about your bad day?"

"No, it will just wreck today. I'm going to pretend it never happened."

"So you promise to see if wizards have things for nightmares, or, rather, against them?"

"I know there are restful sleep potions and charms—I'll ask Hermione as well."

"I don't mean something for just the symptoms—do you think there's a way to work out the cause so you don't continue this all your life?"

"What, like a therapist?"

"Yes—if wizards don't have them, I could ask about Muggle therapists?"

"And tell them what? The root of my problems comes from a decision to switch places in an exotic charm. It also involves the utter destruction of my two best friends at the hands of an evil wizard, twelve years in prison being guarded by creatures that suck out your soul... oh, and by the way my other best friend was a werewolf? They'd lock me up so fast it would make your head spin. No, I'll look around my world. I appreciate the concern, though."

"I suppose you're right. Just check on it though. Not just so that I can get some rest—but so you can too."

"All right. I promise for you. We'd better be off. Dinner tonight?"

"7:00 p.m."

"Right."

"Right."

With a quick kiss, and a squeeze, he Apparated away.

************************

December 30, 2001

Sirius, Harry, Colin, Aidan, and the Weasley Brothers made their way from London to Edinburgh, so they could Apparate to the farm from there. Harry had reserved two cars on the Magical Metro for them, as an alternative to a stag night in London. Sirius had discouraged the stag night. He reckoned he'd done enough carousing in his youth and didn't feel like he wanted to drink and take advantage of women. He'd agreed to the rail trip more for Harry and his other friends than for himself.

As it turned out there was definitely drinking and carousing and they nearly destroyed a railcar. Actually, Fred and George nearly destroyed a railcar with their pranks. Aidan was just as dangerous as the twins. More so actually since no one was suspecting pranks from him, except Colin. He knew better than to trust Aidan with enough time and imagination for pranks. He did, however, keep quiet and let the rest of the party learn about Aidan's propensity for jokes on their own.

While they awaited the next prank, Bill and Charlie tried to impart as much wisdom of married life as they could think of to Sirius, without sounding thoroughly depressing. Harry and Colin spent a fair amount of time talking quietly about the Enforcement Corps, without letting the others learn about Harry's work, thanks to the Muffle Ball they tossed back and forth, depending on who was talking. A muffle ball caused their fellow passengers to erroneously believe they were talking about the weather with great depth and clarity. While Colin hadn't been in the I.D., he knew a lot of agents there, and Harry knew a lot of the agents in the Enforcement Corps, since he'd relied on those agents for manpower and backup during numerous operations.

At one point Harry joked to the group that he'd thought of commissioning a group of Veelas to accompany them, but thought better of it. As it turned out, a group of witches travelling to a family reunion were in the next car. Fred and George invited them to join the men in their car for a drink or two. The five witches accepted and settled in before they realized in whose company they were. At first it was simply that they'd heard of Weaseley's Wizard Wheezes, then they recognized Aidan, but were disappointed to realize he was travelling with Colin. Finally they asked what the occasion was and Fred told them it was to celebrate the impending marriage of their friend Sirius Black. That caused a bit of a stir, until they put two and two together and realized who the dark haired gentleman with the green eyes was.

They all had a marvelous time on the train, as Aidan and the Weasleys now had fresh victims for their fun. Finally they pulled into the station in Edinburgh, and wished each other well. Fred managed to get an address from the dark-haired witch, just in case. It was near midnight when the group Apparated to the doorstep of the Hunter Farm. Kate was there to receive them all and make room assignments. Sirius and Harry would share a room in the north wing of the house until after the wedding, when Sirius and Cordelia were going down the road a piece to a historic bed and breakfast that had been an Inn that dated back to the time of King Henry III.

The women were carousing in the south living area. It was a reassembling of CRAS, hence the men were warned to avoid that part of the house if they knew what was good for them. Sirius, however, managed to give the rest of the group the slip and sneak out to the patio near the south wing to spy on them.

Eventually, Cordelia came out of the house, calling that she'd be back in a flash but needed to get a breath of air.

Sirius snuck up behind her and placed one arm around her waist and one over her mouth, as he whispered "It's me," with his lips to her neck.

He felt her tense at first and then relax into him as he removed his hand from her mouth. "I was just about to scream," Cordelia said as she turned in his arms and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "I missed you."

She had been at the farm all week overseeing the preparations for the wedding. She broke the kiss she had initiated and took him by the hand into the gardens just beyond the patio. There was a large hedge they could duck behind for some privacy. The moment they were behind the hedge she reached for the buttons on his shirt. He wrapped his arms about her and kissed her fervently. The train ride had been an interesting experience for him. While he had enjoyed chatting with the witches, in a congenial sort of way, all the interlude had done was emphasize to him how much he cared for Cordelia. None of the women he had met tonight were half as attractive as he found Cordelia and being with them had made him ache for her.

The minute they were alone behind the hedge he intended to show her just how attractive he found her. Tonight wasn't his night, however. Just as he'd slipped his hands between her shirt and skin, Emma peeked her head around the hedge. "I was afraid of this. Sirius, get back to your wing. It's nearly her wedding day and its bad luck to see the bride before the ceremony."

"Emma, that's an incredibly old fashioned superstition!" Cordelia said protesting.

"I don't care. We're not done with you yet and he'll have you for the rest of your life so…run along. You'll have her tomorrow night, never fear…you can wait that long," said Emma with an exasperated look.

Sirius cast Emma teasing glance as he whispered in Cordelia's ear, "I could turn her into a newt, just say the word."

Cordelia laughed as she placed a hand on his arm and kissed him once more. She gave him a longing glance, tucked her shirt in and left with Emma.

Sirius wandered back to his assigned room where he found Harry in the sitting room going through some paperwork he'd brought along.

"Thwarted by Emma?"

"Yes, daft woman," Sirius mumbled as he pulled up a chair to the fire.

"I tried to deflect her, but she saw you going outside. I'd be glad she's not a witch," Harry said with a laugh.

"I'll try later. Where'd everyone go?"

"Fred and George headed out to look for the witches from the train, Bill and Charlie had been travelling all day so they turned in, I've no idea what happened to Percy, although I'd try the library. Colin and Aidan decided to settle in as well. I think they wanted to be alone."

"I know Colin's been out of town a lot, doing some investigation in South Africa and Aidan has been on the road a lot this fall. It's probably been awhile since they were together. Can't blame them for that."

"Yeah." Harry closed his papers and leaned back in his chair. "Anything you want to do before you become an old married man?"

"You know I've been thinking about that all the way here. I know I should be craving a night of wild debauchery. But, I don't want to get drunk. I've been to way too many weddings with a hangover and it's not a pleasant thing. I always swore I would NOT have one at my own, it ruins the festive mood, plus the D.C. is coming. Then I realized on the train ride that I really just didn't want to get laid by anyone but Cordelia, and I doubt that's going to happen if Emma has her way." Sirius leaned back as well and let out a deep breath. "So it's just you and me and I suppose some deep conversation. That or one of us will fall asleep."

"Tell me about my parent's wedding?" Harry asked earnestly.

A large smile spread across Sirius' face as he stared into the fire. "It was the most beautiful and fun wedding I've ever been to. Your mother was radiant, and your dad was nervous about the logistics, but very sure of what he was doing. Personally, I just didn't understand what the rush was. But he said he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Lily and wanted that life to start right away."

"So, were they soul mates?"

"No, they weren't soul mates…they were one soul - and an old soul at that. We did manage to get him drunk a couple of nights before the wedding. Of course I was much more drunk…but that was par for the course. We tried to tempt him with a couple of Veelas we'd met in Montglane. Now I understand why he wasn't tempted. I, of course, gave into temptation…" He was laughing and shaking his head, looking far off into the fire.

He continued, "The morning of the wedding I was supposed to get him up at nine sharp. Next thing I knew he was pounding on my door at 9:45…I was a lousy best man. I didn't even remember the ring - had to Summon it about a mile, through Muggle territory and everything. Luckily, it was pretty small, and no Muggles noticed."

"Maybe you'll be a better groom," Harry remarked.

"I hope so Harry. I really do wonder if I'm doing the right thing."

"You love her, don't you?" Harry asked, confused.

"More than anything, but I'm not all that good for her, am I?" Sirius pondered.

"What the hell do you mean by that?"

"I'm dragging her into this world where she'll be ridiculed and never fully accepted. Also I'm not really the most balanced person in the world. I've been having the nightmares again."

"Any flashbacks this time?"

"Not yet. Did Cordelia ever tell you what happened the night before the trial?"

"No, another flashback?"

"No worse. I lost it. We were kissing rather intensely, and all I could think about was losing her. It started as a desperate feeling, which turned to anger. She pulled back, and I guess I ignited. I don't actually remember. You'll have to ask her for the details. The next thing I knew I was sitting across the room against the wall, and every stick of furniture except the bed was blasted to pieces. What if I had hurt her?"

"You would have fixed it," Harry said reassuringly. "But if it really is bothering you, you should get some help. You don't have to handle this alone, you know. You taught me that."

Sirius smiled and chuckled, "Yes, I guess I did. I used to say that to you every…what five minutes or so…?"

"I could check with the Librarian for resources."

"Colin gave me the name of a witch who specializes in stress disorders."

"Have you made an appointment?"

"No, I thought it was getting better."

"Is it?" Harry asked in a voice that was little more than a whisper.

He could barely hear Sirius' reply, "No."

"Send an owl to her now, asking for an appointment right after you get back. If you don't do this," Harry said, "I will. Where are you going again?"

"Bali."

"Then you should be very well-tanned for your first session," Harry said in a lightened manner. "About Cordelia though…Seems to me, if she didn't want to marry you, I don't believe we would all be here. It's not like she's going into this with her eyes closed. Particularly if she witnessed what you described."

"True enough. She never hesitates to tell me what's on her mind." Sirius still looked concerned, and mused aloud, "What if I'm just not suited for marriage?"

"I thought we were wearing kilts?" Harry said, laughing. "No really…you just said you have no interest in getting laid by anyone else…doesn't that tell you something?"

Sirius smiled. "Yes, I suppose it does. But that's just lust talking, isn't it?"

"Ah…lust and love, isn't that what we're all looking for, although I doubt very much you can have both in one woman."

"Which is it with Ginny?"

Harry turned away from Sirius. "Neither really, Where do comfort and genuine like and respect fall in here?"

"That's a bloody good start, although most of mine started with just the lust part. I take it you're not in love with Ginny?"

"I don't think so, not yet. Doesn't that take time to grow and develop though? I think we're on the right track." He hesitated. "Well, we could be, couldn't we?"Harry could feel Sirius' eyes on him, but he steadfastly refused to turn as he continued, "I mean, she's a wonderful young lady. You should see what she's doing with this magazine of hers. She has so much energy and passion for it."

"But not for you?"

Harry laughed and blushed, "Sometimes, when we can get our schedules to mesh."

"You have to want them to mesh…"

Harry finally looked back at Sirius and quickly changed the subject. "So did Cordelia accept the offer?"

"Yes, surprisingly she did. Slaughter and May offered to put her up for partnership when she threatened her resignation, and she almost considered it, but she did finally accept the DC's offer."

"Who does she report to? She's not in your department, right? "

"Not yet. She'll work with all the divisions when they need to interact with the muggle world. She reports directly to the DC. Most of her work will be with my division, obviously, and when I become DC, if I make it that far, she will report to me."

"Will that be awkward?"

"Only because I want to snog her every time I look at her. But if I can keep that under control, I think it will be quite nice. She'll be excellent in this position, but of course I think she's excellent in any position," he grinned wickedly.

Harry shook his head and smiled, "She'll be the go between for the IFW and all the muggle governments?"

"Businesses as well, as necessary."

"She's really plunging in, isn't she?"

"It scares me a bit. If she ever decided to leave me, it's one hell of a memory charm I'd have to perform."

"She'll never leave you. She's in love - and in lust - with you, can't you tell? Everyone else can. Can you imagine ever wanting to leave her?"

"Never, I can't imagine it."

"I would venture she feels the same way."

"I hope so. I guess that's what tomorrow is all about."

*******************************

Later that night, Sirius woke up disoriented and confused. He wasn't in his flat; he wasn't in her flat. He glanced at the clock. It read 2:39. As he sat up he realized he was at the farm, in the room he'd been assigned. Harry was sleeping comfortably in the other bed in the room. He could hear his steady breathing. He just felt out of sorts. He hadn't had the nightmare, but something just didn't feel right. He slipped out of bed, drew on an old flannel robe, and padded to the south wing where the master bedroom was located. Amazingly, Emma was nowhere to be found. Cordelia was sprawled across the bed with one arm thrown over her head. He slipped quietly and gently into her bed and gathered her into his arms. She turned to him and nestled into his arms, mumbled something incoherently and slipped back into sleep. Soon their breathing was timed to a slow steady matching rhythm as they slept.

Sirius woke up to the first rays of sunshine edging through the window. He slipped silently out of bed and went back to his own room. He had no desire to be accosted by Emma on his wedding day.

************************

Cordelia woke up late. She was certain Sirius had held her last night, but he hadn't been here when she tried and tried to get to sleep without him, and he certainly wasn't here now.

Maybe it had been a dream.

Within moments, Emma appeared in her doorway with a large breakfast tray.

"I didn't want you to risk seeing him today, so I brought you breakfast. Then after breakfast, we're going for a ride. The hairdresser arrives at 2:00, with the manicurist, then at 4:00 you dress and 4:30 the photographers come. Why did you need two photographers anyway?"

"Are you sure you weren't a wedding planner in a former life?"

Emma laughed and set the tray down between them, but Cordelia could do no more than pick at her croissant and drink cup after cup of dark coffee. As the morning wore on, the rest of Cordelia's friends drifted in and out of the room. Only she and Emma were going to go riding, since everyone else begged off, claiming issues with hair, nails and horses in general. Roseanne was going to join them, but her husband called to tell her the baby had a fever. She'd be back in time for the wedding, she promised.

*******************

Later in the morning, Cordelia and Emma saddled their horses, packed snacks into their saddlebags, and headed out across the fields. She was immensely grateful to Emma for suggesting this. It was just what she needed to banish the pre-wedding jitters that were beginning to creep into her thoughts. What if the caterers didn't show up? What if the florists mess up the flowers? What if the wizards cause so much havoc that every muggle invited ends up with Alzheimer's? What if she was making a horrible mistake getting this immersed in the wizarding world, between her new job and marrying Sirius?

No, Cordelia, don't start with those thoughts again. Enjoy the wind and the sun and the biting cold and the horse. Deep breath. Feel better. Definitely the right thing to do. This will be an adventure.

They cantered around the empty fields and headed over through the woods at the edge of the fields. They emerged from the forest on the far side of the farm, well away from the house. They stopped and ate their snack and talked a lot about the past, the wedding, and the future. There were a series of low hedges between them and the stables. As they finished up their food, Cordelia got a challenging look in her eye.

"Feel up to a bit of jumping?"

"I haven't done any riding in nearly ten years, let alone jumping. I'm not sure I remember!"

"Oh come on Emma, I'll race you."

"You're on," Emma grinned as she dug her heels into the flanks of her horse and took off.

Emma took the lead and cleared the first hedge, then the next fence and another two hedges. She was a couple of lengths ahead of Cordelia as they headed for a hedge that jutted out from the woods to their left. Emma glanced back at Cordelia, then urged her horse over the next hedge. As her horse came over the hedge she spotted it, but not in time to avoid a collision. Her horse's front feet came down onto the grass, but directly in front of her was a large black Newfoundland dog. The dog was knocked backwards and to the side by the momentum of the horse.

Horrified, Emma reigned in her horse, just as Cordelia was clearing the hedge to Emma's right. Luckily she avoided the congestion at the hedge, but she immediately saw her friend dismount on the side opposite the dog. Emma rounded her horse to find the groom wincing as he held his hand to his side.

"Ugh…I think I broke a rib," Sirius groaned.

"What are you doing here and where is that dog I hit?"

Cordelia was off her horse in a flash running to Sirius. "Are you all right?"

"Where's the dog I just hit? He's got to be injured and probably in pain. I have to find it, we collided full on," Emma said in a panicked voice.

Cordelia looked at Sirius, then Emma, then back at Sirius. Emma was pushing through the hedges trying to locate the injured dog. "Emma?" she called out.

Her friend stopped routing in the hedges and looked up.

"There was no dog."

"What do you mean no dog? I jumped the hedge and there was this huge black dog at the base of the hedge. Don't try to tell me there was no dog. And I ask again, just where in the hell did you come from?"

"Cordelia, let me take care of this…ouch." Sirius winced again as he drew a breath.

"No. She deserves an explanation," Cordelia countered.

"But Cordelia…"

"No. I want her to know. I wasn't planning on telling her or anyone else, but she's seen it. I want to have someone that knows."

Sirius was shaking his head when Emma interjected, "Tell me what?"

"That Sirius was the dog."

"WHAT?" Emma shouted with a raised voice and wide eyes.

"Cordelia. Let me deal with this."

"No, no memory charm. I need her to know. I need someone to know."

"Your mum knows."

"That's not the same Sirius," she pleaded.

"But it's so much easier if they don't know," he pointed out sensibly, between gasps

"Please Sirius. I need this. I need someone I can talk to without lying."

Sirius looked at her long and hard. He tried to take a deep breath, but cut it short with a groan.

"What do you mean by lying? Will someone please tell me something!" Emma yelled, looking back and forth between Cordelia and Sirius. Their eyes were locked, hers beseeching, his skeptical.

Sirius looked off into the distance. Cordelia shifted her gaze from Sirius to Emma.

"Sit down. This is going to sound very bizarre."

Sirius and Cordelia spent the better part of an hour explaining to her how Sirius and the dog were one and the same and how that could be possible. In his attempts to explain, and to minimize the pain in his chest, he even did a demonstration of how he could use his wand and a spell to wrap bandages around his chest, but since all the changes happened under his clothing, she wasn't very impressed.

Emma listened patiently, making an obvious effort to keep her face placid. When they were done she looked from Sirius to Cordelia then back over to Sirius.

"It's the truth, I swear. I'll do some more spells, I'll transform again, anything you want, but you have to swear to keep this to yourself. There are whole departments in our government whose sole purpose is to hide us from you. There will be arches at the church and the reception that will modify the memory to erase any recollection of magic that happens in the ceremony or the reception. This is really very important."

After a long moment Emma said, "This is a joke right? You two are trying to get back at me for keeping you apart last night, right?"

"Well, we might be, if you really had kept us apart last night. But you didn't so there's no reason for such revenge." Sirius smiled.

Cordelia looked over at Sirius, "I thought you were in my bed last night, but when I woke up you were gone."

"I snuck in about 2:30, then left before 7:00. I didn't want to get caught by the warden over there. It's damn hard to sleep without you." He took her hand in his, and squeezed.

"What?" Emma almost looked more surprised by Sirius' surreptitiousness than she had at his descriptions of magic. " I try my best to keep your hands off her and I fail?"

"I just slept with my arms around her. She didn't even wake up. But isn't it a bit late to be worried about her virginity?"

Cordelia whacked his ankle and looked disbelieving.

"It's not that," Emma said in her own defense. "It's just there should be some anticipation on the wedding night." She paused and turned to Cordelia, "You're going to marry a man that claims he can turn himself into a dog? Come on, you can't expect me to believe that."

"You saw what he did before, with his wand and the bandages. Doesn't he sound better now that his ribs aren't hurting?" Cordelia asked.

"All I saw was him wave a wooden stick around. He could've picked it up off the ground. Stop trying to gaslight me, and tell me the truth."

Sirius simply said, "I am." He stood up and ran through a variety of charms and transfigurations in quick succession. He transformed and then returned to his human shape, did a levitation charm on Cordelia's saddlebags, then turned Emma's horse into a table that whickered and moved its legs restlessly.

Emma gaped.

After she recovered herself she stated simply, "You learn something new every day." They were all silent for a bit, waiting for her to say something else. "So there really are magical people walking around?" she asked. "And you have to be born to it?"

"Yep, we're all around you. Particularly this weekend. Didn't you notice the weird stuff going on last night?"

"No I was trying to keep you two apart!" Emma thought for a moment, "Except those redheads. They must be wizards, right?"

Sirius nodded and moved to sit down again, which made him wince and contort his face in pain. Cordelia wanted to get his ribs checked out and fixed, but felt that they needed to finish with Emma first.

"Emma, I love him to death," Cordelia explained. "He is my soulmate. My life's grand passion. I've never loved like this before, and I'm not sure I could breathe without him. So yes, I am going to marry him, no matter what he is, or what he's done, or what he's to become, or whatever his problems might be."

"Wow, I now pronounce you man and wife," said Emma with a smile. "You should have saved that for the vows."

Cordelia smiled and hugged her friend.

Sirius was glancing between the two friends beaming. Cordelia realized that she hadn't stated her feelings so plainly before, at least not since they'd started wedding planning. "Go on, go back and make yourselves beautiful," he said.

"Is your rib all right?" Cordelia asked hesitantly, helping Sirius to his feet.

"I'll get Hermione to fix it."

Cordelia turned to Emma, "See, they can mend broken bones with a spell."

"Of course they can," Emma said confidently rolling her eyes.

"See you at the wedding?" Sirius asked Cordelia, touching her hand one last time.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Cordelia beamed.