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I am not the kind of girl man
Who should be rudely barging in on a white veil occasion
But you are not the kind of boy
Who should be marrying the wrong girl
What was Severus even doing here? Torturing himself would probably be the most truthful answer, but he couldn't let himself hide away, he needed to see it happen.
The marriage law was brought in as a last ditch attempt to fix the dwindling birth rates and casualties from the war. It was brought into law as the last action of the Thicknesse ministry. The man has spent 90% of his leadership under the Imperius curse but somehow managed to pass several laws before being deposed.
Shacklebolt had tried his best to strike the laws from the books, but it had been too late and now they were all stuck.
“All magical individuals under the age of 30 and deemed to be fertile must marry before the cessation of 1998, and produce an heir within five years. In order to promote magical strength, marriages between those who can trace magical ancestry back four generations are forbidden to marry each other.
The wording was obtuse, but essentially prevented purebloods from marrying purebloods in order to cement their family lines. Instead, they had to marry half-bloods and muggle-borns. His godson, along with the Saviour himself, had fought the laws. The former, because he had fallen in love with his betrothed as a child, but she was as pure as he was. The latter, because he simply did not wish for marriage.
Severus glanced towards the back, where Draco sat, his blonde hair standing out in the rows of red heads. He’d found someone eventually, someone who gave him the same spark that being with Astoria had. Although, thought Severus, gritting his teeth, did he have to find that person in the ranks of the Weasley? Charles Weasley, it had been discovered, was in fact not of pure blood. He was the result of Fabien Prewett getting carried away with a muggle during a trip overseas after Hogwarts. He came clean to his sister on returning, tiny babe in tow after his mother passed in childbirth. He was terrified and asked his sister and her husband for help, after all they already had a son of their own. They agreed to let Fabien, and Gideon by extension, and wee Charles to move in, to teach the twins how to be parents.
The family was never meant to be however, with the twins dying in a Death Eater raid just two weeks later. Charles was six weeks old. The public had simply assumed that the new baby was a result of a secret pregnancy, not the first and certainly not the last during the first war, and Molly and Arthur never said any different.
Severus could barely hold in a laugh, looking over the room of well-wishers, knowing that a fair few of them had no idea why they were even here. The bride had insisted on inviting all the higher-ups in the ministry that she could, seeing as she was marrying the precious Saviour of the Wizarding World.
Anyone who actually knew Harry Potter, knew that he’d only ever thought of having a small wedding, with only close friends. But that wasn't meant to be, given his choice of bride.
Severus nodded slightly to his godson, and all the others sitting around him, united in their distaste for this wedding. But Harry had run out of options and ran out of time. Tomorrow was the final day of 1998, and the final day that he had to marry before he could be arrested for defying the law.
‘If only’ Severus allowed himself to think, fingering the piece of parchment in his pocket with a sigh, ‘if only.’
He cut off those thoughts, knowing that there was no point. It was too late. Everything had just happened too late.
He could almost hear the shrieking from where he was standing, as he glanced at his watch with a smirk. The bride was already an hour late, and Ha-Potter had been forced to offer the guests refreshments.The church was hot and Severus, despite being proficient at cooling charms, was starting to feel the weight of his formal robes.
Potter had returned to the altar and even from the back of the church, Severus could see the other man's hands shaking.
Severus tensed when finally… finally(!) the organ began to play at the back of the room.
The song was taunting him, reminding him of what could have been and what would never be. His fist clenched around the parchment in his pocket.
His mind slid back to the night the law was finalised and Harry’s future set in stone. They’d come back from getting takeaways, laughing at the expression on the witch’s face when Harry Potter had come to pick up his dinner. Then Harry had turned to him all of a sudden, “marry me Sev. Have children with me. I don’t want to lose you, lose this to this stupid law.
Severus had frozen, standing in the doorway of Harry’s little flat, eyes wide with shock. His mind had gone immediately to his own parents, to the screaming matches and the pain from his father that always followed. He wasn’t even sure of the words he managed to choke out, but the pain of Harry’s face was evident and then he was gone, apparating out before he could stop himself.
He hadn’t seen the man since, other than in the newspaper.
He’d scoffed when Draco had told him the date of the wedding, his own invite suspiciously absent. He couldn't decide whether it was because Ha-Potter didn't think he'd want to come, or if the bride had made his invite disappear. Either way, he hadn't listened. Although loitering in the back of the church just out of sight was far too similar to his former ‘dungeon bat’ persona than he was comfortable with.
He barely managed to hold in a scoff when he turned and glanced at the bride as she tiptoed down the aisle. Ginevra Weasley was clad in a dress that appeared to be laced within an inch of its life, while the skirt made it look like she was being eaten by layers of tulle.
He glanced up at Harry and couldn't help but hope that the look of sadness in his eyes wasn't just him seeing things.
Severus felt almost numb as the ceremony began, the bride and mother-of-the-bride already sniffling, while the groom's expression had barely changed all morning.
He held in a scoff as the preacher did what they did best, preach. The words flew over him and then finally he spoke the words Severus was waiting for.
“Should anyone present know of any reason that this couple should not be bound in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace.”
The room tensed at those words and Severus froze as his godson turned, icy blue eyes meeting black. Draco jerked his head towards the altar and glared at him, his meaning clear to anyone who noticed.
Severus shivered in the silence, the un-bearing heat of the church suddenly fading away and only leaving what he knew he needed to do.
He stepped out from behind the curtain, the movement enough for emerald eyes to lock onto him and widen. It was the most emotion anyone had seen in those eyes all day.
Slowly, everyone began to turn, trying to see what had captured the groom's attention other than the bride in front of him. Only to land on a single figure all in black, standing in the back of the church.
Severus cleared his throat, before beginning shakily, “I am not the sort of man who should be rudely barging in on such an auspicious occasion. In fact, I am the last man anyone would expect to be here. But I am also, it seems, the only man willing to step in and stop this foolishness before it is too late.
Gasps spread around the church at the realisation that he was making an objection.
“Potter… Harry” Severus said softly, “You asked me a question months ago and I panicked. I couldn’t see past my own… fears, in order to see the future you saw.”
He gritted his teeth, hating that he had to bare it all in public, that he’d left it too late to say this in private.
“Harry. I can see that future now. And if that question is still open, my answer is yes,” he closed his eyes at that final word, unable to look as he waited for the last slice of heartbreak to hit.
The silence in the church was all encompassing, crushing him from all angles as he waited. Waiting for the pain he’d inflicted on his love to be reflecting back.
A loud shriek from the bride made him open his eyes and they widened as he realised that Po- Harry was striding down the aisle towards him.
“Har-” he started before the words were cut off as furious lips were thrust onto his, his arms coming up to wrap around the other instinctively, holding him tightly.
“You stubborn bloody snake” Harry huffed as they broke apart, “Had to wait until the last blooming moment.”
Severus chuckled softly before lowering his head and saying softly, “Marry me Harry Potter.”
Harry brought his hand up to Severus’ jaw, tilting his head so green met black before a grin split across his face, “all you had to do was ask.”
So glad you were around when they said speak now