The Kind Hufflepuff

Chapter 25: Lestrange Wedding

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The Kind Hufflepuff - Second Year

Chapter Twenty-Five: Lestrange Wedding

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Cali rolled her eyes as she listened to her father's warnings, something that had becoming increasingly more common over this past summer as she smoothed out her dress, the entire situation reminding her suspiciously of the engagement party from the previous year. Cali had been surprised to learn of her father's attendance, having fully expected him to opt out of the occasion in favor of work but it appears that wouldn't be the case. Instead, he had spent the past week informing his children of how weddings worked in the wizarding community and the proper way to act.

From her letter exchanged with Greta, who had asked a hundred questions about wizarding weddings, there were some remarkable similarities between the two such as the formal attire and even the ceremony had a similar ring to it although, wizards made it appear far more technical and more of a legal situation than muggles treated it. Greta had desperately wanted to attend, and Cali had even briefly considered inviting the girl before remembering the Black family position on muggleborns and decided that it was ultimately safer that she attended the wedding alone.

Something she was excited about regarding the wedding is that she would be able to see both of her best friends once more- namely Sirius Black. Earlier in the month, Regulus had been invited to be a part of the wedding though Sirius had not been. Because of this, Walburga Black took this as the highest of insults and that her family was losing its stature and blamed the entire thing on Sirius Black's sorting. This blame resulted in Sirius to be subjected into some brutal punishments according to Regulus and stopped Cali from being able to see the boy.

Once Ardel Higgs had finished his warning, he announced that it was time to leave as the ceremony was supposed to start in 20 minutes. He took hold of Bertie's arm while Ethel took hold of Cali's before they apparated. Cali looked around, trying to figure out where they were before realizing that they were in the backyard of Druella and Cygnus Black, the family home of Bellatrix. The yard had been completely transformed, with black pansies and navy-blue roses that seemed to decorate the wedding into some sort of sinister affair. In Cali's opinion, it resembled more of a funeral rather than a wedding.

As the family walked, they ran into the many chairs that stood before an alter which was made of a dark wood that had likely been painted for the occasion and created sort of a twisted forest theme. Beside the alter stood the groomsmen and Cali's eyes immediately landed on Regulus Black. She hadn't seen him since July and somehow in that time, he had managed to visibly grow up. He was now a few inches taller, his face more defined and gaunter, and his hair had grown though the grease in his hair made that less obvious now. She realized he was staring at her, his grey eyes meeting hers as she wondered if she looked any different to him as she offered him a sweet smile.

"Cali," Greeted an elated Sirius Black, his eyes bright as they landed on the small girl who had somehow grown absolutely none despite his growth spurt as he hugged the girl in greeting. "It feels like I haven't seen you in ages," Sirius laughed as the girl nodded.

"Yes well, you managed to not get yourself placed beside Regulus up there," Cali shrugged, smiling at the boy.

"But that just means that we can sit together," Sirius countered as the girl nodded in agreement.

This excitement died once Ethel approached the pair, her eyes examining the boy's appearance. His tie was somehow crooked already despite the fact that Cali knew Walburga would have done his tie before he arrived and his shirt appeared wrinkled while his red socks were at uneven levels on his skin making them stand out quite a bit. "Hello Sirius," The woman greeted despite her disdain for the boy. "Unfortunately, our daughter will be sitting with the rest of our family and I'm sure Walburga would love for you to sit with her." Sirius would have laughed at her, immediately recognizing that Ethel Higgs simply wanted him out of her hair before Cali pointed towards Bertie who was sitting with Rufus Scrimgeour and Tiberius McLaggen.