Is this the life you chose yourself, or just how it ended up? Is that the yard you pictured when you closed your eyes and dreamed of children in the grass running through the sprinklers? Being somebody's wife, or were you living in another life?
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A/N —
I totally think I forgot to mention that there's gonna be a large amount of timeskips and not a whole lot of details leading up to the big switch, which you probably know about if you read the tags, came here from my comment on Tiktok, or came from discord.
Either way, I'm gonna do my best to make this story epic since I already know what I'm putting in the next however many chapters.
— A. Barnes
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The weeks following were busy for the group of friends.
In between James and Sirius's Auror training, everyone's training for the order and the war, there was dress fittings, cake tastings, and various other things that had to do with the wedding that was approaching fast.
They had decided that the ceremony would be the smallest part of their big day. Only the people closest to them were invited to that.
Many more people were invited to the reception that would be held after the fact.
Ascella had only invited two of her sisters to the whole event, as she was never close to Bella.
Ascella hoped she'd get a letter from Narcissa saying she'd come, but none arrived, even as the sun began to set on the evening of August 12th.
"Theres still time, you know?" Lily said to Ascella, who was watching Marlene, Alice, Dorcas, and little Dora Tonks danced around the Potter Manor, listening to various muggle songs.
"She won't come, Lils. . . I know Cissa better than anyone — if she was going to come, she would've sent a letter immediately."
Just as Lily opened her mouth, Marlene bounded over and grabbed Ascella's hands. "Quit moping because of your sister. She made her decision and thats no excuse for you to be all pouty the night before you get married."
Marlene pulled her up just as the intro to one of their favorite Abba songs, courtesy of Sirius and Remus, began playing. Immediately, Ascella seemed to lighten up as her and Lily joined the group.
The five young women belted out the lyrics and danced around carefree, all while Dora danced among them and Andromeda stood in the doorway sipping on a glass of wine.
Soon the girls were wore out from dancing together and began their relaxation process.
Dora was so relaxed that she fell asleep in a large, crushed velvet arm chair.
It was just past 12 am when everyone decided to get ready for bed since they had to be up early. There had been much firewhiskey and butterbeer involved in their evening festivities.
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It was Andromeda who woke Ascella up the next morning at 7 am on the dot.
The woman sent her younger sister into the bathroom with a robe to put on over her undergarments once she bathes.
Ascella locked the door behind her and stripped her clothes from her body, temporarily leaving them in a pile on the floor. She turned the water on, then used the bathroom while she waited for the water to heat up.
The moment she stepped under the hot water, she instantly felt more awake. She showered quickly and got out, using her wand to dry herself off before putting the undergarments on and covering herself with the silk robe.
When she exited, all the girls were there and breakfast was waiting for her on the desk that Euphemia insisted she get.
While she ate a little bit, Andromeda took Dora back to their home. The girl was a little put out about the fact that she wouldn't be included in the wedding.
The position Ascella wanted Dora to have was taken by Sirius — it was being the flower girl.
Then it felt as if the remainder of the morning went by in a blur.
Ascella tried not to think about Narcissa, who promised to be there on her wedding day when she was just a child.
They all promised.
Andromeda helped Ascella with her hair, expertly weaving it into an elegant updo.
Lily and Marlene helped her with her makeup, giving her a natural, glowing look that highlighted her beauty.
Dorcas and Alice helped her into the dress and it was truly stunning.
It was when there was a knock on the door that Lily rushed over and cracked it, making sure it wasn't James. Upon realizing it was Remus, Lily let him in and closed the door before anyone else could see the door open.
Remus had volunteered to walk Ascella down the aisle since she had no father figure to do so. When he offered, she cried for 10 minutes, thanking him profusely.
"I'm going to make sure everyone is where they're supposed to be so we can get this started, come with me ladies." Andromeda said just moments before slipping out the door with the bridesmaids and maid of honor right behind her.
"You look amazing, Ella." "You really think so, Remmy?" She questioned in a soft voice.
It was clear to Remus that she was nervous, as he could hear her heart beating fast. He stared down at her, with only the love a brother could have for his sister. Adopted-ish sister.
"I really do. . . Now, when our cue is given, we're going to walk out that door and into the orchards. . . You're going to marry your best friend, so there's no need to be nervous."
"But what if he doesn't want to marry me anymore? What if he leaves?"
"He wouldn't, Ella. James a nervous wreck out there, but just know, he loves you. He wouldn't leave you on your wedding day, or ever."
A minute passed and they heard the song that she was supposed to walk down the aisle to. They exited the room and walked towards the doors.
They magically opened, revealing the bright light of the outdoors, along with the small group of people they'd invited to the ceremony.
In just a little bit, she'll no longer be Ascella Black, but Ascella Potter.
