A Sirius Affair

A SIRIUS AFFAIR

Chapter 17

Requesting the Honor of Your Presence

By the time she returned from her ride with Emma, Cordelia was more exhausted than she needed to be on this very important day. Emma had been asking questions non-stop, and Cordelia had had just about enough. "I'm going to take a bath. Write all your questions down and Sirius and I will go out to dinner with you sometime when we get back from our honeymoon, all right?"

Emma smiled, "I'm sorry. It's just that it's all so amazing!"

"I just need some time to get ready, that's all," Cordelia replied. "And please, try not to stare tonight, all right?"

"Will I be able to tell just by looking at them?" Emma asked with a gleam in her eye.

"Could you tell about Sirius? Does he look or act different than other men I've dated?"

"Well, except for being better looking, and being much nicer, and loving you to an extreme, no. But I didn't know anything could be different," Emma considered.

"Right then. You tell me then later on, at the reception."

"You'll be much too busy then, and rightfully so," Emma said as she left Cordelia at her door. "I'll just keep my eyes open, and I'll be back in half an hour to help you dress."

Cordelia smiled and went into the master bathroom, turned the water on in the great claw footed tub and began to undress. She slid into the hot soapy water and relaxed for the first time in a week.

It certainly didn't seem like half an hour before Emma pounded on the door, dragging Cordelia from her state of drowsiness. The women were there to do her hair and nails, Emma reported. Cordelia reluctantly climbed out of the tub and drew on her thick terry bathrobe. Over the course of the next hour, her hair was done up in a lovely upswept style, her nails were polished with a deep red gloss, and makeup, just enough to highlight her eyes and complexion, was skillfully applied. Her CRAS friends had migrated in and out as Emma kept things under control and moving along. Even after everyone else left, Eleanor and Tony had stayed to help Emma and Cordelia's mum with last minute preparations, and be there for support, in case she needed it. Of course she didn't.

Finally she was ready to put on the dress.

The dress was, in Cordelia's opinion, absolutely perfect. It didn't conform to the current standard wedding gown but was exactly what she had always wanted, from the time she was a little girl. It was made of the softest cream satin she had ever touched. The neckline nearly bared her shoulders, and came down low in a classic sweetheart shape, revealing, yet concealing. The long sleeves came to a point on the backs of her hands, and were trimmed with a bit of lace and tartan ribbon. The dress fastened in the front with 20 very small buttons running from the neckline to just below the waist. The bodice was tightly fit down to her hips then came to a point just below the waist. The skirt was full and ended in a modest train. Cordelia had always wanted an obscenely long train, but settled for a shorter version to accommodate the size of the room where the wedding would take place. Her favorite part of the whole dress was the base of the hem which had a three-inch wide tartan ribbon ruffle held in place by the most delicate of Irish lace. The tartan matched the pattern of Sirius' clan kilt. The tulle of the veil was set into a headband trimmed in the same ribbon braided with gold. She wore the string of pearls her mother had worn on her own wedding day, and a pair of sapphire and diamond earrings her father had given her when she finished her legal studies at university.

Eleanor and Tony, satisfied that they were no longer needed, went downstairs to get settled, and Kate had gone to see about greeting some of the guests. Emma was helping Cordelia fasten the last of the buttons with a buttonhook, when there came a soft knock on the door.

Cordelia asked Emma to get the door, and at first, Emma refused. "It's probably your groom, trying to sneak another peek at you!"

"His knock could never sound as tentative as that," Cordelia noted with a laugh. Finally, Emma crossed to the door; still suspicious that Sirius lurked outside. Once she determined it was not the groom, she opened the door eagerly.

"Hermione!" Cordelia called with a broad smile. "Hermione, this is Emma, my best friend, matron of honor, and now co-conspirator. She was the one who ran over Sirius earlier today. We told her a little bit about the magical community."

"Oh, so you were the cause of that broken rib I had to fix earlier. I'm not so good with bones and ribs are tricky, but he's okay now. He's fully functional," Hermione finished with a wink.

"Thanks," Cordelia laughed.

"My real reason for coming is a magical wedding tradition. It's best done with just the two of us. No offense Emma, you can stay if you want."

Emma smiled, "No, I have to go finish up dressing. My hair is a mess, and I need to find my pearl earrings, so I'll let you two be."

As Emma left, Hermione began. "There is a custom in the wizarding world that has come to be known as the Effing wedding charm. You'll see why in a moment, and it's not what you think, but the name makes everyone laugh. It helps to ease the tension. One wedding charm is cast on the bride and one is cast on the groom. Since I'm your closest witch friend I was assigned to cast yours. Harry is casting Sirius' charm now as well. Usually the bride knows all about the charm and is prepared. I didn't get the chance to prepare you, so you'll have to listen carefully and decide quickly. You get to choose one of five different charms. These charms only affect you and your betrothed may choose a different charm. The charm serves to enhance the talent or quality for which the charm is named, but it won't replace a talent that is absent. Choose wisely. It can make a great difference in your marriage. It's rumoured that if you and your beloved choose the same spell, the quality is enhanced fivefold."

Cordelia nodded, taking in all Hermione was saying.

"Right then. Here are your choices: Fidelity, Fertility, Financialis, Fairness, and Fun. Hence the nickname of the Effing wedding charm. Obviously Fidelity helps to enhance your desire to remain faithful."

"No need for that one," Cordelia laughed. "Once I had Sirius Black, everyone else looked colourless. If I guess correctly, Fertility aids in reproduction. I think I'll take my chances there."

"I think Molly and Arthur Weasley must have both chosen that charm," Hermione remarked with a grin. "Financialis eases your worries about money. It won't necessarily provide all the money you need, but it helps to lift anxiety about money."

"I think we're set there, too. I have plenty of savings and Sirius has told me of his vault of galleons, so I'll pass on that charm as well. What will Fairness bring?"

"Fairness helps bring the wisdom to judge fairly. It gives you a shade of perception into your beloved's motivations. It won't let you read his thoughts, nor does it make you into an empath, but it will heighten your awareness of his point of view."

"Oh, that might be useful," said Cordelia as she lifted her train and began to pace.

"Finally, there's the Fun charm. It does have a Latin name, but it doesn't fit as well with the set. This one enhances your ability to see the fun and humor in nearly every situation. It won't make you into a comedian; it will only enhance your sense of the absurd."

Cordelia stopped and smiled. "That's it. That's the one I choose. I've found that finding humor in a desperate situation is one of the most necessary and least developed qualities in most people. Plus, I do have a tendency to take myself too seriously at times. I could use any help I can get."

"Nice choice," Hermione replied with a smile. "Sit down here in front of the fire. By the way, did you know it's begun to snow?"

"Yes, they predicted flurries that would stop before sunset. It shouldn't be a problem," Cordelia said confidently as she settled onto a stool in front of the fire.

Hermione took out her wand and was circling Cordelia, whispering a series of words. Cordelia tried to hear and understand them, but she was more enthralled with the twinkling silvery lights emitting from Hermione's wand.

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

At that very moment Sirius was dressed and leaning against the window frame looking down at the driveway and the guests that were beginning to arrive. He was surprised … no…shocked at the number of wizards turning out to witness his wedding. This time last year none of them would have acknowledged his existence if they met him on the street. He shook his head as a knock came on the door.

He turned to see Colin enter the room in a very nicely tailored Armani and muttered, "I knew I would have looked better in a suit."

"You look great. Nice legs," Colin chuckled before turning to more practical matters. "I've got the memory arches in place and activated. Once the people pass through them, their memories will be devoid of any magical components in the ceremony and the reception. They will remember the Muggle portions and they'll think the wizarding traditions were just unusual things you incorporated. They will recall the spell-words, but not the wands or the physical manifestations of the charms. All the witches and wizards have received warnings not to excessively participate in magical activities, and I hope your young Weasley friends will keep their promise. Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"Let me have your suit."

Colin raised his hands in protest. "Cordelia would kill me. Nope, you will have to suffer the consequences of agreeing to her idea of formalwear."

"Thanks," said Sirius. A sly smile played around his mouth as he remembered her methods of persuading him to wear a kilt. "Colin, thanks for the help in coordinating the wizard - Muggle interface and the security arrangements. I know the planning and authorizations have been a nightmare, and I'm very grateful that you took on that responsibility."

"No problem, boss," Colin said with a smile. "See you out there."

Sirius was left alone for a few moments as he returned to looking out of the window. A lot of people were arriving; he tried to distinguish the wizards from the Muggles from the cloaks alone, although a few Muggle women had very handsome cloaks. There was another knock on the door, and Sirius turned from the window. Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he thought he caught sight of a man with light brown hair, without a hat but garbed in a cloak that was patched in a number of places, standing in the courtyard, making no move to come in. Sirius turned back to the window immediately, and Harry entered the room.

Sirius cast his eyes around the entrance almost desperately. "Come here Harry …do you see … hell, he can't Disapparate. Where did he go? I could have sworn I just saw Remus."

"Sirius, Colin and I tried everything we could think of. We pulled every string, contacted very embassy, and talked to every ID operative we could. There's just no trace of him. Even if he somehow materialized without us getting wind of it, how would he know about today when the owl with his invitation kept coming back?"

"It was in the Prophet. Maybe he saw something there. No, you're right. I suppose it was just wishful thinking." Sirius tried to keep his mouth from twisting into a frown. "He was supposed to be here for this. So was your dad." Sirius paused and shook off the momentary cloud, "But you're a pretty good substitute."

Harry smiled and changed the subject quickly. "Explain to me again how Cordelia talked you into wearing a kilt?"

Sirius laughed and surveyed Harry's MacGregor dress tartan kilt, white pleated front dress shirt and black bow tie. His garb was almost identical, and both their shirts were topped with black semi-dress jackets trimmed with silver buttons on the wrists and down the front. "You do look pretty sharp."

Harry raised an eyebrow; "You are only going to make me do this once, right?"

Sirius laughed again, "Absolutely! If there is a next time, I'll be more resistant to the lady's charms while making decisions on what I wear."

Harry glanced at his watch. Time was running short. "Right then, I need to do your Effing wedding charm. You know the drill, don't you?" Sirius nodded. "Which charm are you interested in? Fidelity? Fertility?"

"No," he said quickly. "Hey, I gave her that ring, so I don't need the Fidelity charm. And thank you for the vote of confidence in the fertility department. Cordelia would kill me if I went with that charm and we ended up with ten kids. No, I'll definitely go with the fun. Not had enough of that in the last 20 years."

"Okay," Harry said drawing his wand from his sock, where the Sgian Dhub would be if this was a Muggle ceremony.

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

Cordelia and Kate had spent the week before Christmas decorating the farm house from the wine cellar to the attic with boughs of pine and holly, poinsettias, and mistletoe, twinkle lights and bayberry candles. The decorations were for Christmas, which Cordelia, Sirius, and Kate had spent at the farm, but were also left in place for the wedding.

The great oak front door was decked out with a large pine wreath trimmed in tartan ribbon and lit with twinkle lights. The door opened into a large entry hall, which was L-shaped. The formal dining room took up the length of the hall to the right, up to the main staircase. There was a library and a small sitting room on the left. The staircase ascended from the crux of the L, with the hall continuing to the right towards the kitchen and beyond. The hall terminated beyond the staircase with the entrance to a ballroom that ran nearly the length of the house. The ballroom was something Cordelia's grandmother had insisted on adding in the 1940s.

In the formal dining room, the table had been removed and 140 chairs were set up in two sections with an aisle down the middle. There were three entrances to this room. The first was the entrance from the main hall. This door was in the corner closest to the front of the house. The second entrance was a doorway that the groom could enter that led to the kitchens. This door was in the opposite corner. The third entrance was an archway that joined the formal dining room with the main hall at the foot of the stairs. The archway was decorated with pine boughs woven with holly branches and heather. The officiant could stand beneath this arch while performing the ceremony, making it a perfect setting for the wedding. Dinner and dancing was set up in the ballroom just beyond the main hall.

The question of the officiant had been a difficult decision for them. Sirius wanted a wizard or witch. Cordelia didn't really care, but Kate had been focused on an Anglican minister. Although the ceremony was not specifically a religious ceremony, Kate insisted that it just was not a marriage unless performed by a minister.

Luckily Harry came through right before the issue got heated. Reverend John Norman was an ID operative wizard. His assignment was to gather information and track the politics and rhetoric of the Anglican Church. In order to infiltrate the church hierarchy, Reverend Norman studied at a Muggle seminary and became an ordained Anglican minister. Although he was a minister and worked primarily in the Muggle world, he was a fully trained ID wizard. Harry and Colin agreed that Reverend Norman would be an ideal addition to the security staff assigned to the event.

The man assigned to the door was also a wizard, selected by Colin, and was part of the security detail in the DC's office. There were quite a few high-ranking wizards in attendance; not the least of which was the groom, therefore security was an issue. There were more than a few members of the security team in the wait staff, as well as unobtrusively placed witches and wizards throughout the house. They had worked out a screening charm, and as a final added measure, guests were required to present their invitations for admittance.

Colin had circulated through the house one last time before taking his seat, when a young wizard approached him in the entry hall. "Sir, we've just had an incident in the courtyard, but it seems to be under control. I just thought you should know."

"What happened?" Colin asked, hoping it really was a minor incident.

"A wizard just tried to enter without an invitation. In addition, the screening charm indicated he was not fully human."

"So, the security measures seem to work?"

"Yes sir," said the young wizard, rather proud they had apparently done the right thing by refusing entrance to the strange wizard.

"When you say he wasn't human, was there any indication what he might have been?"

"My friend Mark thinks he might have been a werewolf, for some odd reason. I told him he was a nutter."

With this Colin's ears perked up. "Did the wizard tell you his name?"

"No, he just said he was a very good friend of Mr. Black. I told him we didn't need his kind at this event and he Disapparated."

Colin's heart sank. He had a strong suspicion this was the werewolf he and Harry had searched the world for during the past few months. He dashed out into the courtyard, but of course the wizard was gone. He questioned each of the operatives in the vicinity, and all he got was a brief description of a man in his early 40s with light brown hair, which was graying at the temples. There were indications the man was a werewolf, which was one of the reasons he was denied entrance.

Colin decided to keep this incident to himself for now. He would tell Sirius once they were back at the office. There was little anyone could do about the mistake now, and he was not going to cause his boss any undue worry or unhappiness on this particular day. There would be plenty of that in the coming years.

********

The piper began to call the last of the guests to their seats, as their nuptial time had come and all was ready. Harry and Sirius had made their way to the kitchen, so that they could enter from Reverend Norman's left. Harry left Sirius momentarily to escort Mrs. Hunter to her seat, then returned to the kitchen. They gave each other a final glance as Harry teased, "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Never more sure of anything in my life," Sirius earnestly.

With that Sirius opened the door and stepped into the room, followed by Harry.

The piper completed his ballad and a trumpet took its place. All eyes turned to look down the makeshift aisle as Clarke's Trumpet Voluntary began. Emma appeared in the doorway wearing a velvet gown in deepest forest green and walked slowly forward. Once Emma had taken her place to the right of Reverend Norman, Sirius felt his stomach do a flip - he knew this was it. He glanced at Emma, who smiled brilliantly at him. He allowed himself to return the smile as he then shifted his gaze to the back of the room.

She entered the room alone, as the window lit her from behind with the last rays of the setting sun. Sirius couldn't yet see the gown's details, and he didn't much care, but his heart leapt as he saw the woman in cream satin. She adjusted her bouquet of red and white roses trimmed in heather and rimmed with a tartan ribbon, which curled and extended to her knees. The trumpeter continued as Cordelia made her way towards Sirius. She too had a brilliant smile for him. He had a mad compulsion to take her in his arms, kiss her wildly and swing her around, but stayed in his spot trying to look as formal as he was able.

What he was not able to do was quiet his brain. How the hell did I get so lucky? was his first thought. Followed by, Don't screw this up, do all that's expected today and just don't screw up. This thought was followed by, What am I doing myself in for?, then Look at her, she is so beautiful.

As Cordelia reached his side, she handed her bouquet to Emma and Sirius took her hand. Once her hand was in his, his brain quieted and he was able to concentrate on Reverend Norman's intonations.

After a brief welcoming statement, Reverend Norman lifted a length of woolen tartan from the small table, took their hands and wrapped it tightly around their intertwined fingers. "A long time ago, there was an ancient Scottish custom called handfasting. While the strict ritual of that custom is no longer practiced, it is symbolized by wrapping the hands. It binds the couple together, to fuse their souls and hearts and bodies. Sirius and Cordelia will accomplish the same with the ceremony today. May their lives be filled with all the blessings the world has to offer. Give them the courage to seek these blessings, and the strength to take their blessings and bless others in return." He unwrapped their hands and draped the woolen around Sirius' neck.

Sirius knew they were doing various readings, but once he caught Cordelia's eye he could not be troubled to look away. Before long he heard himself saying his vows twice, first in well-practiced Gaelic."Tha mise Sirius Ian Black a-nis 'gad ghabhail-sa Cordelia Katherine Hunter gu bhith 'nam chéile phòsda. Ann am fianais Dhé 's na tha seo de fhianaisean tha mise a' gealltainn a bhith 'nam fhear pòsda dìleas gràdhach agus tairis dhuitsa, cho fad's a bhios an dìthis againn beò." He paused, then repeated the words in English "I, Sirius Ian Black now take you Cordelia Katherine Hunter to be my wife. In the presence of God and before these witnesses, I promise to be a loving, faithful and loyal husband to you, for as long as we both shall live."

He heard Cordelia pledge the same. She hadn't known any Gaelic before they began planning the wedding, but had made a wonderful effort to memorize the vows in the ancient language. Her voice was so clear and so strong and so sure. "In the presence of God and before these witnesses, I promise to be a loving, faithful and loyal wife to you, for as long as we both shall live."

The next thing he knew he had turned to Harry, who effortlessly produced the ring, a wide Scottish gold band with a diamond, emerald, and sapphire inlaid. He made sure the ring did not contain a ruby. "With this ring, I thee wed, with my body I thee honor, with my soul I thee endow."

A thread of desire snaked through him as she spoke her vows, but he quickly tamped it down, for later.

After the exchange of the rings, Reverend Norman paused and placed his portfolio containing the traditional vows on a small table to his left. He picked up a wand and began, "This part of the ceremony will be a bit unconventional to some of you, but it is an old tradition in Sirius' family, under these wonderful circumstances."

"Sirius has chosen to bestow upon Cordelia two charming gifts. One that will give her the gift of insight, and a second that gives her the gift of longevity. The first will allow her the ability to perceive the world that some people overlook. The second will age her body more slowly. Her longevity will never be as long as some others, but this will assist her body in fighting off the inevitable. These spells require the consent and strength of three wizards." He turned to Harry as Harry and Sirius both drew their wands. Harry stepped around to the left of Cordelia. With Harry positioned there, he, Sirius, and Reverend Norman formed a triangle with Cordelia in the center. An incantation began, which Sirius had coordinated with some incidental music to distract the Muggle guests. They could hear the musical interlude and they noticed many of the ritual words, but not the word "wizard," and they did not see the wands at all. Light from the wands split and encircled Cordelia. They lifted the circle of light up to her head and then down to her toes. They raised the circle twice and finished the words. Then on a cue from Reverend Norman, they broke the bond between the wands and Harry resumed his place to Sirius' right. Sirius noticed that Cordelia had her eyes closed during the spell and was now opening them to meet his gaze.

Finally Reverend Norman turned to Sirius and asked if he would like to kiss the bride. He was sorely tempted to ravish her mouth and give her the kiss of a lifetime, before God and all the witnesses, but decided instead on a gentle, but imploring kiss through which he attempted to convey all of the more noble feelings he had for her.

Reverend Norman then had them turn towards their guests and announced, "I now introduce Mr. and Mrs. Sirius Black, go in peace to love one another and spread the joy you feel today, each day to the rest of the world."

The piper played the first notes of Highland Wedding as Sirius and Cordelia stepped back down the aisle. As they walked its length, they were showered with wandlight and petals from the baskets of flowers some of the Muggles held.

Harry, Sirius, Cordelia, Emma and Cordelia's mum made a receiving line in the hall to greet the guests as they filed out of the dining room and made their way to the ballroom. It was still lightly snowing, which barred all but the heartiest of guests from strolling outside. Sirius introduced each of his guests to Cordelia, Emma, and Kate; while Cordelia introduced her guests to Harry and Sirius.

Hermione, of course, needed no introduction to anyone in the receiving line, so she wandered through the library for a short time before heading into the ballroom. In the dining room, she sat with the rest of the Weasley family. Ginny and Hermione were keeping each other occupied as Hermione had not brought a date and Harry was very much occupied as best man.

Percy and Penelope were there. Fred had brought Angelina Johnson, and George had convinced Alicia Spinnet that the wedding was not to be missed. Charlie and his wife Maggie had brought the kids from Romania to visit for the holidays. Bill'd had to leave Susan and his children in Egypt. He was able to attend only because he was required to be in London for Gringotts mandatory first of the year meeting. His family had been back to England during the previous summer and decided it was impractical to make the trip again for the Christmas holidays.

By the time the last of the 126 guests were greeted, most others had found the bar and located their tables. Sirius had convinced Lee Jordan to be master of ceremonies and music provider, on the unbreakable condition that Lee not aid or abet the Weasleys in magical mischief, although he really did not expect the evening to go completely without the Weasley touch.

Harry and Emma went into the ballroom first to take their places at the head table, which left Sirius and Cordelia alone for the first time that day. Sirius grabbed her hand and pulled her into the tiny room beneath the stairs.

It wasn't tiny right now.

The walls were the same color has her dress, lit with a beautiful amber glow that didn't come from any lightsource in particular. The floor was carpeted, and the only furnishings were a table spread with strawberries and tiny cakes, and a dark red velvet chaise that was big enough for two, even if one was wearing a dress with a remarkably full skirt.

"What is this?" Cordelia asked in delight as she looked about the magical room.

"It's another wizarding tradition, but this is one I wanted to surprise you with. Since olden times, the bride and groom have gone from their wedding directly to a private room, where they could spend a few minutes together, away from guests and photographers and responsibilities to anyone but each other." He pulled her close and gave her the ravishing kiss she knew he'd refrained from falling into during the ceremony. Before her mind got lost in the feeling of his lips against hers, she mentally thanked Hermione for the makeup preservation charm she'd done right after the Effing charm.

Sirius led her to the chaise and continued, "Officially, we're supposed to consummate the marriage right now, but if you don't want to muss your dress, we can just feed each other and kiss a lot."

Cordelia smiled, plucked a strawberry from the silver tray and asked, "What do you think, husband?"

He pulled her into another kiss and ran his lips down her beautiful neck. He brought his lips back up and his next kiss seemed to last forever until, "…damn buttons," he murmured.

Cordelia laughed.

"Where's my wand?"

"I think I have it right here."

"Not that one," he said as they laughed against each other's lips.

A short time later, they stepped into the ballroom to tumultuous applause and not a few hoots from various sectors. The music was playing, a few couples were having a turn on the dance floor, and other guests were enjoying the hors d'oeuvres. Cordelia had insisted on recorded music, although Sirius knew that wizard musicians could work wonders on any type of music. They could change musical genres with ease, and transform instruments at will. Cordelia vetoed this because of the suspicion it would arouse with the muggle guests and because she absolutely hated hearing any of her favorite music done by anyone except the original artist. She was adamant, Sirius conceded.

Once the guests of honor had entered the room, dinner was served. The seating arrangements were perfect, as everyone seemed engaged in lively conversation. Sirius and Cordelia conversed with Emma and Harry, as Emma resumed asking as many questions as she could about the magical community. After most of the guests were done eating, Harry rose, as he knew he was obligated to give the first toast.

"To Cordelia, for having him. He's no longer my responsibility. I am absolved of any additional godchild's tasks and consider my mission in life complete. For those of you who don't know Sirius, he is my godfather and mentor. My father was his best friend and should have been the one to be his best man, but after he was killed when I was one, Sirius waited until I was of age to marry. I thought that was right considerate of you. Anyway, I met Cordelia on their first date, quite by accident, but knew right away that she was good enough - no, perfect - for Sirius, if he was bright enough to pursue her. He was and he was also bright enough to be honest with her from the beginning. It's been great getting to know you Cordelia, and you have my sympathy."

Everyone laughed. Emma made a similar speech emphasizing the fact that Cordelia was nearly the last of their group to marry, glancing significantly at Jory and Rob, who had lived together for eight years and would, most likely never marry. Emma also commented that she was sad not to be working with Cordelia anymore, but that she understood that Cordelia's new job was somehow associated with Sirius and therefore Cordelia was "lucky to be working and living with such a handsome and wonderful man."

Finally Kate rose to speak. "To Sirius and Cordelia who remind me of my late husband, Edward, and myself on our wedding day. We were younger and much more naïve when we married. Hopefully your maturity and cynicism will keep your expectations grounded in reality. It's obvious to everyone that you are very much in love. I hope that will lift your lives so that you can live out your dreams." Then Kate turned, looked pointedly at Sirius, and continued. "I know I don't need to tell you that there are times when life is so full of nightmares, you don't think you will ever wake up. But keep each other in the forefront of your heart and never try to handle anything alone. That's the reason you marry - so you can wake each other up from the nightmares life hands you."

She concluded by saying, "I'm very proud of my daughter, and so very excited, pleased, and relieved at the choice she's made for a husband. Good luck and remember I'd like to be a grandmother before too long."

Cordelia and Sirius laughed as Lee began to spin the music for the first dance, Love of My Life. Sirius led Cordelia out onto the dance floor. When they were in each other's arms and gazing into each other's eyes, there was no one else in the room. In fact there was no one else on the planet. They never broke eye contact, except when he leaned in for a kiss. It took the knowledge of the presence of the rest of the guests to not dance right out the door and back to their secret room. It took a full minute after the music ended for the newlywed couple to break their embrace and notice the others who were queuing up for their chance to dance with the bride and the groom.

Dancing went on for hours. The plan was to ring in the New Year with their guests before departing for the ancient inn where they would spend the wedding night. The music was varied as the guests. Waltzes were intermixed with danceable rock, which was liberally sprinkled with big band and swing. There were even some Highland Reels as Lee had been able to find a few discs by various Ceilidh bands. Harry and Hermione got many a chance to exhibit their prowess, but Harry spent all the slower ballads with Ginny.

"Pssst….are you one of them?" Emma asked Bill Weasley who was lingering on the edge of the dance floor watching his brother Fred and Angelina wreak havoc on the other couples during a particularly fast hop-hop tune.

"If you mean a Weasley…then yes…I am one of them," he commented with a sly smile.

"I mean . . .," she looked nervously around. "I mean, are you a wizard like Sirius?"

"Well, I am a wizard, but unfortunately not much like Sirius."

"There are different kinds?" Emma looked abashed.

"No, I just meant that I'm not nearly as powerful and haven't quite risen to his status yet," Bill replied

"Powerful? What does that mean?"

"Well, I work in Egypt for the wizarding bank, Gringotts…" Bill began.

Emma interrupted, "Oh, you're a banker?"

"So to speak…."

"Do you have family there?"

"Yes, I have a wife and two children. They couldn't come to England this holiday, maybe next year. And you?"

"Married, but not yet blessed with children. Not for lack of trying, however." Emma mused wistfully.

Emma felt very comfortable chatting with this wizard for some reason. They danced a few songs, but mainly took a seat at one of the tables and talked most of the evening away. They talked about Emma's husband and Bill's wife. Bill talked a lot about his kids, and explained his large extended family to her.

Across the room Cordelia watched Sirius from her chair at the head table. She was taking a much-needed break from the dancing. She'd never really watched him move through a large crowd before. He moved from table to table greeting people, smiling, laughing, shaking hands. Christ he had nice legs. Her heart turned over in her chest as she realized everyone seemed attracted to him. Women of all ages flirted with him, and most of the men wanted to shake his hand. Everyone laughed at his jokes. From here, she had the freedom to examine his dark hair, the angular planes of his face, the well-trimmed beard, his broad shoulders, slender waist, strong arms and wonderful hands. Looking at his hands always made her pulse quicken as she thought about how wonderful they felt when he touched her. At that moment she felt like she was the luckiest woman on earth.

Just as she was letting out the breath she had been holding as she watched him, he turned and appeared to be searching the room for her. Their eyes locked, he smiled that brilliant smile, and her heart began to melt under the heat she felt. Someone touched his arm and he was forced to look away, but not before he mouthed, "I love you."

A shiver ran down her spine as she rose to make her way to him. She felt like a princess and he was her prince. She didn't give in to these fanciful thoughts very often, but what else could she do in this magnificent gown, with her prince dressed accordingly, holding court in this room decorated like a holiday fairy tale, surrounded by all the people they loved.

As the evening wore on, Kate circulated with the guests and took many a turn on the dance floor herself, usually with Trevor, her friend of many years and escort to the wedding. Finally tiring of all the noise, she guided him outside on the terrace for a few moments. The snow was falling a bit harder now as he wrapped his jacket about her shoulders.

"Didn't they say this was supposed to stop by midnight?" Kate conjectured.

"That was my understanding. If it gets any worse, you'll probably have some house guests for the night," Trevor chided.

"We have loads of room, as long as Sirius and Cordelia get off in time, that's my only worry."

"Do you have room for nearly one hundred?" Trevor asked with some concern.

"They won't all stay, would they?" Kate pondered.

"Do we need to take a poll?"

"A lot of our friends have left already. So we're probably down to 70 or 80, don't you think?"

"I suppose," Trevor mused.

"And Sirius' friends won't stay, they have very reliable transportation. Harry, Ginny and Hermione were going to stay to help put the house right tomorrow."

"You should be fine then."

"You're staying aren't you?" Kate asked hopefully.

"I planned on it. Should we plan to double up in your chamber this evening, madam?"

"Well, it would be the practical thing to do wouldn't it," Kate pointed out. "We don't want to waste space, do we?"

"Oh yes, and we must do what is practical," he said with a sly smile.

"Right then, let's get back inside and check the weather report. If people are going to stay I need to get some things done."

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

A large Tawny owl approached the door and landed on the doorman's outstretched arm. He untied the note from its leg and handed it off to a waiter he knew.

The waiter found Ginny Weasley amongst her family waiting for the music to begin again. Harry was next to her with his arm draped loosely about her shoulders. Ginny and Harry read the note:

Ginny,

Hate to interrupt your evening, but there has been a major snafu. We need your input tonight, ASAYA.

Grant

Her heart sank as she realized she had to go. She and Harry had planned to apparate to the inn in town and spend the rest of the weekend together. She had been dearly looking forward to having some quality time with him - no work, no family, no Hermione.

As she swore out loud, her parents and those brothers who weren't dancing turned and looked at her. "Sorry, I have to go back to London. This damn magazine can't seem to go two minutes without a bloody crisis."

Harry looked concerned, but not fully stricken or miserable.

Ginny went on, "Sorry Harry. You could come back to London and we could spend some time together once I get this straightened out."

"I promised Sirius I'd stick around to help Kate and also give them a hand getting Cordelia and their things to the PortKeyPort tomorrow night." He sounded almost plaintive in his excuse.

"Oh, all right then," sounding more than a little annoyed, Ginny pushed her chair back and got up to leave, but Harry was standing at her side before she was even on her feet. The band was playing Distant Sun as Harry took her hand and led her to the dance floor.

"Nothing at the office is so vital that you can't enjoy one last dance," Harry said as they moved across the floor for a few spins on the way to the cloakcheck. While they waited for Ginny's cloak, Harry kissed her once, and then lifted her palm to his lips. He pressed his mouth against Ginny's hand, then folded her fingers into a fist. "Keep that hand closed until midnight, then enjoy your New Year's gift."

She didn't say anything until he walked her through Colin's ReVision gate, to the Apparition area, where they were shielded from Muggle eyes. "I'll see you next year," she whispered into his ear, before placing a small kiss on his lips and disappearing.

Sirius had watched Harry and Ginny from across the room. He remembered what Harry had said the previous night. But today they'd looked at each other with obvious affection; there was something there. "What do you make of those two?" he asked Cordelia in a low voice.

"Looks to me like they are deeply in like."

Sirius laughed. "Is that a good thing?"

"Deep like can lead to love."

"Does it happen often?" Sirius asked.

"I have no idea. It depends on the people, and what they are willing to settle for. I had settled for deep like a couple of times before I met you." Cordelia leaned over and kissed Sirius fiercely. "Obviously, it wasn't enough for me. Deep love is much more rewarding."

He looked into her eyes and was only able to mumble, "Ummm, er….yes, I agree," as he continued the kiss.

"Okay, break it up here," coughed Deputy Chancellor John Smith.

Sirius was startled and pulled his lips from Cordelia's mouth, then stood and offered his hand. "Thanks so much for coming. It meant a lot to me that you were able to be here."

"You two have rather grown on me, I wouldn't have missed this for a hundred galleons."

Only then did Sirius notice the woman standing to General Smith's side. They had been introduced in the receiving line, but had not had a chance to greet her properly. "Please join us for a bit," Sirius offered to Beata Smith as he gestured to two chairs.

"Thank you, we will. But just for a moment," said the Deputy Chancellor. "We're about to take our leave. We're getting too old to stay up too late, plus the snow is getting worse. Apparating in the snow isn't as hazardous as driving, but our old bones do get chilled. We just wanted to let you know we've quite enjoyed ourselves."

The Deputy Chancellor's wife cut in, "Yes, the ceremony was beautiful. Sirius your charm gifts were touching, and we've been having the most fun dancing. I haven't seen some of the other directors' wives in years, it was so nice to catch up."

Cordelia's hand rested on Sirius' knee as they discussed the food. As they moved to the topic of music, Sirius felt her hand move up his thigh. By the time the Deputy mentioned that they ought to be leaving, her hand slipped up just a bit further. Sirius caught back a shout of surprise and shot Cordelia an alarmed look through his smile. She glanced back looking all the world like an innocent maiden. He took her hand firmly and held it at his side, as the Smiths rose to leave. Sirius pulled Cordelia up, as he could tell she was fighting to stifle a giggle.

Once the Smiths had departed, he turned to her trying to control his own laughter. "Stop that," he managed to get out.

She couldn't hold it in any longer and burst out laughing.

"Don't tell me you chose the Effing fun charm as well." Cordelia nodded. "So did I. You know that's supposed to multiply the effect of that charm."

"So does that make me twice the fun, or more?" Cordelia regained her self-control. "Let's dance, I like this song."

Hermione had been dancing most of the night but finally collapsed in a chair at the Weasley table. Harry had partnered her for all the swing songs, but she'd also danced with Fred, George, Percy, Bill, Charlie, and even Arthur Weasley. It had been a long time since she had talked to Angelina and Alicia. So she was able to catch up on who was doing what in between one or all of them being dragged out repeatedly to the dance floor.

Emma, ever the social butterfly, had drawn her, for a time, over to the CRAS table. "If you're a friend of Cordelia's, we will be granting you CRAS status soon, so you might as well get to know us," Emma warned then added, "Although Cordelia will not likely need a rescue aid society anymore."

Hermione made a mental note that the best dance partners were definitely Simon and Shane. Roger and Adam were adequate, and Linc and Rob adamantly refused to dance. She had had a marvelous time without a date, as she didn't have to worry about anyone else's comfort or happiness. She could dance with whomever she pleased and sit when she was tired. She had had a good time getting to know Cordelia's friends. They seemed like a very intelligent group of women who were all very devoted friends. She made a mental note to try to develop a larger circle of female friends, just as Harry sauntered over and asked her to dance once again.

"Where did Ginny go?" Hermione asked glancing around the room.

"Crisis at Circe," Harry stated flatly as they moved deftly to "String of Pearls."

"Ahhhh," she said spinning under his arm. "Is that place ever not in crisis?"

Harry smiled. "Doesn't seem that way," as he lifted her and placed her back on her feet.

"I think what she is doing is marvelous, but her workpace is worse than mine during third year." Hermione resumed the standard steps.

"How come all my female friends are workaholics?" as he spun her around again.

"Not tonight," she said. They both laughed and finished the song.

Finally midnight approached and everyone joined in the countdown to the New Year. The guests watched as the bride and groom kissed for well over the minute that was needed to complete a wish for a romantic year, and when they finally separated, everyone applauded. Even the Muggles noticed the bells the wizards and witches sounded during the kiss.

"Do you miss Ginny?" Hermione asked while they watched the happy couple, right after giving Harry a quick kiss on his cheek.

Harry didn't answer the question directly. He said, "I gave her a kiss to enjoy at midnight, so hopefully she won't miss me while she's struggling with whatever crisis they're having."

"How could you do that?" Hermione asked in wonder. "You didn't sneak a time turner in here, did you?"

"She didn't know it, but I had her palm a Hershey's Kiss right before she Apparated away. I only hope it didn't splinch into her en route," Harry mused.

The end of Sirius and Cordelia's kiss was the cue for the cake to roll out to the middle of the dance floor. Most of the Muggles thought it got there with a remote control. The cake itself looked like it had grown in a garden, and given the unusual decorating techniques of Jamie Cantrell, the witch who'd designed it, it probably had. Lemon leaves covered the table, and a large tartan ribbon was tied around the base of each tier. Tiny clusters of flowers sat atop each layer, covering the white frosting with greenery and thousands of colorful, vivid sugarflowers. The cake itself was made of buttercream and the fondant resting between each layer tasted of fresh strawberries.

Even many of the magical guests had never tasted such an exquisite wedding cake, but the Muggle guests were amazed at the sweet and tart flavors in the cake and its decorations.

"The strawberries taste like strawberries!" one exclaimed.

"The roses taste like the scent of roses," another smiled.

Angelina and Fred, who were passing by, asked, "And do the snozzberrries taste like snozzberries?"

It was after one o'clock before the final dance - Moonlight Serenade - played. All the couples returned to their partners and began to sway about the dance floor. Harry offered his hand to Hermione and she gratefully accepted, not wishing to sit alone for this song.

They draped their arms about one another and swayed to the music. Hermione and Harry kept up a commentary about the various couples, sometimes serious, sometimes joking.

Hermione on Fred and Angelina, "I knew they were always meant to be together."

Harry after glancing at Kate and Trevor, "They look so comfortable with one another."

Hermione on Arthur and Molly, "Look at those two, it's as if they just met."

Harry on Colin and Aiden, "For a seeker, Aiden ought to be a better dancer."

Hermione on Eleanor and Simon, "He's so tall, and she's so tiny, how on earth do they dance without getting a stiff neck."

Harry surprised to see Emma and Bill dancing, "They appear to be getting along," to which Hermione raised an eyebrow.

When the song was over, Cordelia threw her bouquet, which Jory caught easily. Hermione stood with the other single women, including Kate, but neither of them tried to catch it.

Then, as Cordelia and Sirius disappeared, officially to change into traveling clothes, waiters appeared with cups of coffee and tea for the guests. Some of the Muggles needed to drive, and no sensible witch or wizard would think of Apparating without sobering up slightly first.

Before the guests could move to the cloak- and coat-check, Kate borrowed Lee's microphone and notified the remaining guests that it was snowing very heavily and that she recommended that those without reliable transportation consider staying the night at the house. Most wizards would have no trouble getting home, but a fair number of Cordelia's guests decided to remain.

Harry and Hermione gathered names of those who would be staying, while Kate and Trevor attempted to reconcile the number of beds and optimize the sleeping arrangements. In the midst of all this, Sirius and Cordelia appeared briefly and left for their nearby inn, ignoring Cordelia's friends' protests that it wasn't safe to take to the roads in this weather. Of course, none of them knew that they were perfectly safe in the Ministry car that was to take them to the inn. Its wheels didn't touch the ground.

After a half an hour of discussion, they concluded that only one person would need to sleep on the couch in the main living room; the only real single person that was planning to stay was Hermione. She accepted her fate in good spirits, but confided that to Harry she was not looking forward to it. She was exhausted, didn't want to be woken up early, wasn't fond of the lack of privacy, and always had trouble sleeping on a couch.

"Stay with me," Harry blurted out.

"What?"

"I have that nice room reserved at the inn. I happen to know it's a king size bed so there's plenty of room. You won't have to worry about lack of privacy. After all, I've already seen you in your knickers!" he laughed.

"What would Ginny think?"

"Oh, come on, we already live together," Harry pointed out. "If we were going to do anything, there is way more opportunity every night than at a wedding where we're both exhausted."

Hermione considered the offer. "It does sound better than a couch. What kind of bath does it have?"

"A nice large tub you can soak in for an hour if you want. As for me, as soon as I get into the room, I'm hitting the pillow."

They informed Kate, who was most grateful, then they grabbed Hermione's bag and Apparated to the inn.

Once at the inn, Hermione did escape to the bath and stayed there until she was so tired she couldn't even charm her towel so it would be toasty when she stepped into the chill. After toweling off and donning her flannel pajamas and warm socks, she moved into the darkened room and slipped into the bed on the opposite side from Harry.

She lay there for a few moments but thought from his breathing that he might not be asleep. So she asked softly, "Harry, are you awake?"

He sighed and answered, "Yes, for some inexplicable reason I am."

He rolled over closer to the middle of the bed, facing her. They talked about the wedding and the people at the wedding. They talked a bit about the storm and what they might need to do tomorrow to help Kate with her extra guests. Finally Hermione said, "Personal question time - do you think you're in love with Ginny in the way that Sirius and Cordelia are in love?"

"No, not yet," he said quietly.

"Do you think that kind of love is possible for anyone or just a lucky few?"

"I have no idea." He was quiet for almost a minute and she wondered if he'd fallen asleep mid-conversation. It wouldn't be the first time. Suddenly, he spoke again. "The more I date, the more I realize I know nearly nothing about relationships that involve love."

Of course he didn't, she thought. Love wasn't a skill you could pick up in class, or a skill you could practice alone, like Quidditch. You had to experience it, and Harry had had fewer chances to experience it than anyone she knew. But it didn't feel right to bring that up now, so she tried to turn the conversation away from his relationship with Ginny. " I really botched it with Rufus."

"Nah, you didn't botch it. He messed things up with his petty jealousy."

"I know, but maybe if I'd tried a little harder?"

"You tried plenty hard. He was a real nutter. Can you imagine anyone being so convinced that we were in love?" he asked, almost angrily. "It really irritates me when everyone takes any relationship between a man and a woman as romantic by default."

"I know, it's just absurd what some people think."

"I think having you as a friend is so much more important than being in love," Harry admitted.

"I agree, friendship is so much less demanding. It's not fraught with misinterpretations and misrepresentations."

"Much simpler and more rewarding." Harry said in the darkness.

"Yes, more rewarding."

"Except the sex part. Sex is rather rewarding when it's good."

"I suppose, maybe… "

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

Sirius and Cordelia entered the ancient inn with such a flurry of snowflakes, they were almost blown through the door. They had left their wedding finery at the farm and were both garbed in wool slacks and sweaters, Sirius in his woolen travelling cloak and Cordelia wrapped in her black dress coat. Sirius had checked in that morning, as the desk clerk wouldn't be on duty in the middle of the night. After they finished brushing the snow from their hair and removing their coats, which Sirius threw over his arm, he led her up the stairs.

Their room was the very last one at the end of the hall - the largest and best-appointed room in the inn.

They stopped right before the door, and without a word, Sirius picked her up and carried her over the threshold into their room. There was a fireplace in one corner with a lush rug in front and two overstuffed chairs flanking it. To the left of the fireplace was a window, with a window seat that ran the length of that wall. The wall opposite the fireplace held a door to a dressing area, the large cherry four poster bed, and the door leading to the luxurious bathroom. The bed was positioned high off the floor and seemed at least twice as thick as a normal bed. There were velvet curtains that could be drawn all the way around, and there were multiple pillows and a very inviting eiderdown comforter.

He set her down on the carpet by the door. Cordelia went immediately to one of the chairs and collapsed. Sirius conjured a fire then slumped onto the floor at her feet, stretching his legs towards the fire and placing his hands into hers. Their rings winked in the firelight.

They sat for a long time just resting and warming their hands and feet by the fire. When Sirius felt warm enough, he Summoned the bottle of Champagne and pair of glasses from the butler's table by Cordelia's chair. Sirius popped the cork, Muggle-style, and poured two glasses.

"To us, let's hope we can hold this together and make it last."

"Here, here" said Cordelia as they touched their glasses together as Cordelia sat back deep in her chair, keeping one hand entwined with his as she rested that hand on his shoulder.

They talked about the wedding and about the people who were there. They worried a bit about the snowstorm, but decided there was nothing they could do this night. Finally Cordelia got up and crossed the room to her overnight bag and drew out a package. "I've got a wedding night gift for you," she said with a wink.

He looked surprised, "What is it? Should I open it now?"

"No, I'll retire to the bath to make myself more comfortable, you go to the dressing room and open your gift."

He looked at her suspiciously, "I thought you were my wedding night gift. Why don't I just unwrap you?"

"You get to do that later. Just go. You'll see."

Sirius took the box, looking at it like it was going to explode, and watched Cordelia take her overnight bag into the bath. Once she'd closed the door, he unwrapped the box, crumpling the black paper and gold ribbon as he went. He opened the box with his eyes closed and hesitantly opened one eye. He was afraid it would be some lurid boxer shorts or worse bikini briefs. He breathed a huge sigh of relief as he realized it was simply a set of black satin pajamas.

He changed quickly but laughed as he went to button the top. All the buttons had been cut off. He exited the dressing room and returned to the fire, sat down in a chair and waited for Cordelia.

A short while later Cordelia emerged from the bath. He was surprised. "Aren't you supposed to be in something a bit more sexy?" he asked as he got up from the chair and closed the distance between them.

"I told you I was going to get comfortable. You don't like my choice," she said with a pout as she spread her hands across a very worn looking blue chenille robe.

His eyes traveled down to find plaid flannel pajama bottoms and orange fluffy slippers. "Well, umm….er… you'd look wonderful in anything, you know that…"

"The tops have little hearts all over. I've embroidered your initials on each one," she said in an overly perky voice.

"You….embroider?" He said incredulously. "I get the feeling you know very little about sewing, given the state of these pajama tops." He couldn't keep a smile from his face.

"Oh all right, I didn't embroider the tops of my jammies, and I did mutilate the tops of yours. You just look so sexy with that top open just a little. It makes it much easier to run my lips down…." Suddenly she cleared her throat. "Right then, I guess I could ditch the flannel trousers."

"May I help," he asked as he moved a bit closer.

"No, no…not necessary, you will keep me warm, won't you?" she asked as she removed the slippers and pajama bottoms.

"You can bet on it."

"Do you think I need this robe?"

"Ummm, no, but then I don't think you need anything at all."

"Okay. I'll forego the robe, but if I get cold it goes right back on," she joked as she took off the robe rather slowly.

Sirius drew in a sharp breath and cleared his throat. He felt his knees get a bit weak and his mouth go very dry.

"Is this more like what you were expecting?"

"Umm…yes…yes it is…well…ummm…whew…oh my…," he stammered.

Under her chenille robe was a black slip nightgown made of the sheerest of materials. He could plainly discern the curve of her breasts, and the contrast between them and her nipples. He could see the slope of her waist and the length of her legs. He'd certainly seen her nude before, but he had never seen her more alluring than she was on this night.

They stepped closer to one another and touched hesitantly. She ran her finger down the part in his pajama top. He lightly ran his fingertips along her cheek, down her neck and across her collarbone. His mouth went very dry. To him, at this moment, she was the most desirable woman on earth; and miracles of miracles, she was his wife. Fate seemed to be turning in his favor, he thought.

He reached out tentatively and ran his hand along her cheek. She lifted her head and looked deeply into his eyes. He reached out to her and pulled close, so close that every inch of their bodies were touching, sharing the heat that they were feeling. He brought his lips down on hers with a passion that surprised them both. His tongue delved into her mouth with an energy that bordered on ravishment. He broke the kiss and took a deep breath.

"Oh my, I wasn't expecting that. Should I go slower?" he asked a bit breathless.

"Mmmmm, yes, please," she purred.

Sirius took another deep breath, attempting to control the depth of his feelings. "Okay, I don't think you really want this ripped from your body," he commented as he ran his hands along her nightgown. "Let's see if I can talk through this."

"Your eyes hold me in thrall. You know how much they have attracted me, and what they do to me every time I look at you." He kissed her eyelids.

"Your lips are exquisite. They've been soft and warm and inviting since our very first kiss. In addition so many words of support and encouragement have poured from these lips, I would not have survived without them." He kissed her mouth.

"Then there are your hands." He gathered her hands into his and brought them to his lips, took a deep breath and continued. "What these hands do to me. They entice, they soothe, they endear, they excite, they seduce, and they satisfy." He kissed each hand, then drew her back into his arms.

"Finally there is your marvelous body. You have the most sensual, responsive, and enticing body I have ever experienced." He kissed the small indentation at the base of her throat.

"You definitely know how to flatter, but I think all that was a ploy so that you could spend more time looking at me in my lingerie."

"Isn't that what it's for? For me to leer at you and get very turned on?"

"Well, that's my intent."

He leaned in and kissed her as he moved his hand to her shoulder and slipped on strap from her shoulder, exposing one perfect, luscious breast. He could feel her tongue running down his throat and across his chest. He brought her lips back up to his as he felt the love and lust combine to completely encompass his heart, mind, and soul.

She shivered slightly and ran her hands up his chest. She slowly slid the satin top over his shoulders and down his arms.

Thinking her shiver was the result of her being cold; he lifted her off her feet, carried her over to the fireplace, and placed her feet in the center of the large thick rug that was spread in front of the fire. By this time he could feel her pushing the pajama trousers down his legs. The feel of her silky nightdress on his naked skin was glorious and pushed him one step closer to loosing all self-control. The only thing stronger than his passion was his equally strong desire to make this last all night, or forever. Rather than ripping the nightdress from her, he slowly raised it up, his eyes locked on hers. First up her legs, than above her hips, over her breasts, and finally over her head.

Next he started kissing her eyes, and kissed and explored with his mouth every inch of her as she stood before the fireplace. While he was doing that he could feel her hands touching, caressing, fondling, and even tickling his body everywhere she could reach.

He ended up on his knees before her, as it seemed she swayed just a little. He pulled her down to him, laid her back on the thick, cushioned rug, and found her mouth again. By this time the sensations she had induced and the feel of her beneath him finally got the better of his self-control and hers and the passion ignited and blazed hotter than the fire that lit their bodies.

A few hours later on the big curtained bed, with the eiderdown drawn up around them and the velvet curtains secluding them from the rest of the world, they laughed and talked and slept and made love whenever they regained consciousness.

Just before dawn they were snuggled tightly together. Sirius could sense that she was awake again. "Cordelia, what would you have done had you not met me?"

"I'd have continued to live my cold, colorless life and not known any better. What would you have done without me."

"I'd be dead. I would have not made it through this year without you. The words 'I love you' do not even begin to express the depth of my feelings."

"We need better words."

"You're the lawyer, you mentioned terms and conditions once when we first met."

"No terms and conditions on this. No limits," Cordelia offered.

"No regrets," Sirius answered.