Shadow Claw: The Life Story - The Final Chapter

Ch. 4 - A Wedding To Remember

The following morning, after Jenny and James had finished ranting about how Rufus Scrimgeour is such a jerk, we all got prepared for the wedding of Bill and Fleur.

I was dressed in a flowing, sheer black dress, pinned at the waist with my hair curled into a bun, a couple of strands drifting around my face to frame it, and my feet adorned with combat boots - don't judge. Shade had a formal suit jacket and trousers, his dark locks still messy and soft as usual. We groomed and bathed our kittens, and then made sure they were on their best behaviour. Snowy had a little snowflake coat on her back, whilst Tobias had a plain, neat brown one.

Nova wore a simple midnight dress, that dangled at her ankles with her small heels, her hair pinned back in layers, whilst she stood next to a very handsome Hawthorne in a suede black jacket and smart jeans. James, unusually tidy and clean, sat in the corner of the tent with a freshly bathed Olive in his lap, giggling and mewling.

Jenny was with Harry, both disguised as Weasley cousin-twins and standing awkwardly next to Luna as they watched Mr Xenophilius Lovegood stride around with a xanthous  jacket and an eye-wateringly yellow sunflower hat, tassels dangling in front of his nose.

I gave a low sigh and leaned against my chair, rubbing Shade's hand that rested on my thigh. Tobias gave a small mewl somewhere on the dance floor and I glanced over, watching him bound around and scare a few people whilst Snowy kept far back, hiding behind her father's leg - Kapok and Ivy were chasing after him, giggling loudly. Ron appeared though, diverting attention, with a scraggly, elderly witch at his arm. She appeared to be a badly-tempered pink creature, with a beaky nose, reddish eyes and a bright, feathery hat. That had to be Auntie Muriel. "... and your hair's much too long, Ronald, for a moment I thought you were Ginevra. Merlin's beard, what is Xenophilius Lovegood wearing? He looks like an omlette."

I resisted a slight smile, and greeted Lupin and Tonks who sat at my table. Lupin appeared somewhat sad; I didn't understand it, and though he looked and felt like shit, it didn't rub off on Tonks. Not much got her down, after all, I supposed. I gave a concerned sniff, however, and then my eyes lightened. "You didn't say you were pregnant, Tonks." I gave a slight smile, and Lupin paled, realizing that I could sniff out his unborn child. Shade gave a curious glance to the two, and then lifted Snowy onto the table so she could wander over to her favourite friend, except for Ivy of course. Lupin gave a small shake of his head, and Tonks flushed, smiling brighter. Perhaps it wasn't time for it to be known publicly.

Snowy mewed as she sat in a cup of water, leaping up in fright at the moisture and leaping onto Lupin. He stroked her fur, his ragged face becoming softer as she soothed my daughter, placing her back onto the table. "You'd be a great father, Remus." I said softly to the man. His lips parted, but we were called to our seats and I settled near the back, Nova and Hawthorne taking a seat beside us with their three kits in arm. James sat in front of me, scowling at the rather large back of Auntie Muriel.

Bill stood at the very front of the aisle, with a radiant smile, whilst Monsieur Delacour and Fleur drifted up it, towards her to-be husband and the tufty-haired man that spoke at Dumbledore's funeral. It forced memories into my mind, and forcing still, I held them back. Ginny and Gabrielle (Fleur's sister) were the bridesmaids, trailing after the father and daughter, looking exceptionally beautiful. Shade's hand slipped to my knee and he sent me a smile, "You look beautiful." He whispered, kissing me. I blushed and held Snowy and Tobias in my lap as they squirmed, gawking at Fleur and Bill with adoration shining in their eyes.

Somewhere in the crowd, Fred wolf-whistled, and the Veela cousins, also somewhere in the audience, giggled.

"Yes, my tiara sets off the whole thing nicely, but Ginevra's dress is far too low-cut." Auntie Muriel sad in a whisper that seemed to carry around the room. Most people ignored her, except for Ginny, who turned round, spotted Harry in his disguise, and grinned, before turning back.

"Do you, William Arthur, take Fleur Isabelle...?" There were various happy sobs around the room, the loudest being Hagrid with his trumpet-like nose-blows.

"... then I declare you bonded for life." The wizard raised his wand, sending a shower of shining silver sparkles over the entwined couple.

After a short while, the after-party began and Shade took me to the dance floor, perhaps without my consent, and had me dance with him. We swayed gently, and after a while of worrying over staring people, I laid my head on my mate's shoulder and sighed, content. I caught a glimpse of Snowy and Tobias sitting on a table with Lupin and Tonks, conversing with them and giggling, however I saw James, Nova, Hawthorne and the three young kits leave the tent. James had possession of Olive again. What in the name of Merlin...?

I made to walk after them, but Shade brought me back. "What's wrong?" He asked, placing a kiss to my lips. I pushed him away again slightly, "Just- it's nothing- be right back-" I walked slowly after my friends, exiting the tent.

I was hit with immediate shouting:

"You don't care about him, Nova! You don't love him as much as Kapok and Ivy!" James yelled, clutching the green-eyed cub with a wide-eyed expression.

"That's not true, James!" Nova screeched, "Hawthorne, tell him- tell James how much we love our Olive- we don't love Kapok and Ivy more-" Nova turned to her mate, only to find he had a blank expression as he gazed at the young kitten in James' arms. He rubbed the back of his neck, but did not say anything, except for one thing: "Nova-"

My friend gave a choked sob and fled the scene, leaving Kapok and Ivy sitting by James' feet, mewling up at him. Olive shivered, his temperature-condition getting to him quickly. "He's cold- James, give Olive to me. Hawthorne, you son of a bitch, go after Nova." I snarled, snatching the young cub and wrapping him in Shade's jacket that he'd draped over my shoulders.

James sniffed and I sighed, pulling him in for a small hug. "Come on, you three." I muttered, pulling James back into the tent with Kapok and Ivy trailing after - they found their way to Snowy and Tobias near to Lupin and Tonks. I sat James down at a vacant table, returned Olive to his arms and told him that he'd be alright, but before I could return to Shade, he grabbed my arm and sat me down. I watched Shade on the very opposite side of the tent briefly, but then somebody moved in the way and my attention returned to James. My friend gave a small whimper, looking to me for advice.

"Look, James, Hawthorne and Nova are both broken, alright? Lost was a very big part of their lives, and my life, and losing them was such an unexpected situation. Olive reminds Hawthorne of Lost, and Nova sees it too, and I agree it is no reason to disregard him, but you have to let them do their thing. Don't get involved." I pleaded, and James gave a small nod.

"Did you ever find out who really killed Lost?"

I sucked in a breath, nodding, "Shade and Hawthorne tortured it out of Estos. He admitted it, and Willow the Water Claw made an appearance, and she confirmed that Estos did indeed maul that tiny kitten to death. He enjoyed it, Shade told me." I shuddered and clutched at my arms, shaking my head.

At a sudden moment, a silvery Patronus of a lynx came bounding gracefully through the tent. The nearest people to it on the dance floor froze mid-dance, and in one swift motion, the gleaming lynx opened its mouth, and in the deep, slow voice of Kingsley Shacklebolt, it said, "The Ministry has fallen. Scrimgeour is dead. They are coming."