black and white ✰ g.w.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Ben and Adeline's wedding was upon them. The night prior, Olivia realized the only wedding-appropriate dress she had was the same one she had worn to Bill and Fleur's wedding in August. Only this time, she did not have time to go dress shopping for a new dress beforehand because they were to be at the Village for the wedding first thing in the morning. It was one of those times where Olivia was grateful that she could do magic, because with the wedding being outdoors in the middle of November in Scotland, she was bound to freeze to death otherwise.

As they were expected to, Fred, George, and Olivia arrived to the Village in the early morning of the 20th of November. They arrived by Apparition and went to Catrina's house where they would wait until the ceremony began.

"I brought my cat," Olivia announced as she walked in, setting Athena down and allowing her to do as she pleased.

From the sitting room, Oliver sneezed, the presence of a new cat in his vicinity triggering his allergies. "Wonderful," he said in a reproachful manner.

"Where's Mum?"

"Upstairs."

"Mum! We're here!" Olivia yelled so that her mother would be able to hear her from the second story of the home.

"I know! I have your cat!" Catrina shouted back.

"Typical," Olivia muttered to herself before she and the twins joined Oliver in the sitting room.

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At some point, the four young adults in Catrina's house had made their way over to Henry's instead, where some members of the Wood family were, including the groom. Oliver had been made best man, since Ben apparently did not have any friends outside of his family and both of his actual brothers were stuck at Hogwarts, leaving Oliver as the closest person to a brother he had available. Now, the two of them and Olivia sat in the kitchen while they talked.

"Where's your bride?" Olivia asked Ben, lifting herself up and sitting on the counter, allowing her to be taller than both men who stood on either side of her. "I haven't seen her yet today."

"She's with her family and a friend of hers at Aunt Elizabeth's," Ben informed her. "I haven't seen her since yesterday, myself."

"Awe, poor Benny." Olivia made a pouting face, and Ben looked completely unimpressed.

"Never call me that again. It's bad enough Fraser and Duncan keep calling me Benji, I don't need any more nicknames."

"Okay, Your Highness. Wait - you said Adeline's with her family? Does that mean Delia's here?"

"Yeah, she's one of the bridesmaids along with the friend I mentioned."

"Yes! I haven't seen her in forever."

In the brief pause that occurred in the conversation, Olivia looked over to the visible sitting room and saw Fred and George playing with Scarlett and Gregory and keeping them entertained until the ceremony began. The mothers of both children, Natalia and Jade, stood not too far away having a conversation. A smile appeared on Olivia's face, because no matter how many times she witnessed it, it warmed her heart to see the man she loved so much getting on so well with her family.

"So how do you feel, Ben?" Oliver asked, bringing Olivia's attention back. "You're gonna be a married man by the end of the day."

"I know," Ben said. He wasn't looking at either of them, but he did have a grin on his face. "It's mad. But it's a good mad. I wouldn't have it any other way."

"You know, that's the nicest thing I've ever heard you say about anything."

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Not long later, it came time for all of the guests to leave the houses to take their seats. They did so, all except for Henry who seemed to stay back for a few minutes to have a word with his son. Once he finished, he sat down in the front row next to Sarah, and Ben and Oliver took their stances up front with the officiant.

A few minutes later, Adeline began her trek up the aisle, escorted by her father. Walking behind them were the two bridesmaids, including Delia, who smiled at Olivia and the twins when she saw them among the guests.

Adeline looked absolutely stunning in her dress, and it was clear Ben thought so as well. Olivia hadn't seen him smile so big since they were kids.

It didn't take long at all for Adeline's mother to start crying; Olivia could hear her sniffling from where she sat. She was pretty much the only one, since the vast majority of the wedding party consisted of Wood family members, and they weren't emotional creatures by any means. However, Olivia had a feeling that if Amelia had been able to be there, she would be at least a little teary-eyed as well.

The ceremony then officially began, with the officiant reciting what was heard at every wedding: "Do you, Benjamin James, take Adeline Estelle..." and so on and so forth.

Olivia couldn't help but snicker quietly to herself. "Benjamin James," she repeated. "I'll be sure to remember that."

Finally, the officiant pronounced Ben and Adeline husband and wife, and cheers erupted from the guests when the two kissed.

"You know, we're basically solely responsible for this whole thing," Delia pointed out to Olivia some time after the ceremony had ended.

"You reckon so?" Olivia responded.

"I know so. If we had never told them they weren't so far apart anymore, they probably would never have found out and therefore would never have gotten back together."

"And you wouldn't be becoming an auntie come spring."

"At the ripe age of 21. Yeah, I know. And you'll have another cousin."

"Yes, because I need more of those. Can't you tell?"

Olivia motioned around the room to all of her family members, many of which were her cousins. But both she and Delia knew this wasn't all of them; some were at Hogwarts, some they preferred to pretend weren't family, and one was on the run.

"So... we're basically family now," Olivia said to Delia. "Extended... very extended. But still family."

"You'll definitely be seeing more of me, that's for sure," Delia said. "My parents can't really visit because of their work and the war, so they expect me to keep an eye on Adi while she's pregnant and to be the one to notify them when she goes into labor. I'll be here a lot, I expect."

Olivia grinned. "Looking forward to it."

[word count: 1093]
[written: 3/8/21]

[published: 3/8/21]

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