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I'll be True to You - Part Two

James led Laurie to her seat and then Peter escorted Walburga to hers and the two women eyed the other with a nod...neither trusting the other and Dumbledore's eyes moved back and forth between the two.

Sirius stood in his dress robes at attention to the elder wizard's left, his eyes trained on the entrance to the Great Hall for Liesel. James and Peter were busy ushering the girls to their places to Dumbledore's right. He breathed in deeply when he saw Clementine enter, picking lavender and the occasional orange rose petal from her flowered skirt and dropping them onto the aisle between the oak pews. As she passed the pews, she garnered many stares and those on the Black side of the wedding guests cast disapproving glares in her direction.

Finally, the doors opened again and Remus appeared, his wand at the ready as he walked to Ronan's left and John to her right, his wand also brandished, each one casting lumos brightly. He craned his neck to see her, but the Centaur was too large. He nearly missed Douglas who walked ahead of Ronan, his sword brandished as well as Alastor. The Heads of the other Houses were walking behind them wands brandished in addition to the favored House weapon. He wondered if they were expecting a fight or if it was a show of strength? From the glares of his guests, he guessed it was the latter.

Finally, Ronan reached behind him and Alastor and John moved to the large Centaur's left to help her off his back. She was still hidden to him as well as the rest of the people in attendance by the Moody's family cloak and Alastor removed the hood of the cloak and John looked to her. "Ready," he whispered. She nodded. He kissed her cheek through her veil.

Sirius' eyes were on his bride, everything else within his line of sight had grown dark by comparison. She approached with her father toward the dais and John placed her hand in his and he withdrew silently with a bow and turned toward his old friend and winked his eye. Orion nodded his head and smiled genuinely.

Dumbledore said a few words and told the couple that this wouldn't take long since the contracts had been long signed. He produced the cords and Sirius' eyes grew large. He didn't want that bound around their hands and his head snapped toward her. She held his hand tightly, squeezing her fingers tightly and nodded slightly. He watched with surprise as the cords melded into one and he exhaled...he wasn't aware that he'd been holding his breath.

The couple exchanged their personal tokens and vows and then turned toward their guests. Dumbledore touched Sirius' arm and James grabbed at the other, knowing how badly Sirius wanted to get out of there and get on with things, namely the reception and finally, the honeymoon. "Sirius, aren't you going to kiss your bride," Dumbledore whispered.

A lopsided grin came to the young man's face and he nodded. "Oh yeah." Liesel rolled her eyes and shook her head. He turned toward her and raised his brow. She thought that he'd merely plant a tiny kiss on her lips just so that he could get her out of there...but no. He removed the cloak from her shoulders revealing her wedding gown to everyone, allowing Lily to catch it as best as she could...the thing was dreadfully heavy. Sirius looked into Liesel's eyes as he raised her veil and placed his hands on either side of her face and lowered his to hers, feathering his lips onto hers and then, he deepened the kiss, his tongue waging a mock battle with hers exactly as their first kiss had been. When he withdrew he winked at her and she giggled. Together they turned to face their guests once again to thundering applause. Sirius looked toward his father and saw that his head and shoulders were slumped over. Liesel saw what he was looking at and she gasped, covering her mouth with her fingers.

"Lords and Ladies, Gentry, Elfin folk, Centaurs, may I present to you, Lord Sirius Black and his bride, Lady Liesel Black of The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black," Dumbledore's voice said, thundering over the applause, quickly quieting the guests. Regulus reached over the back of the pew while Liesel moved quickly with her husband toward his father. John and Lyall moved quickly through the guests to reach their old friend. Walburga's eyes leaked her sorrowful tears as she held his hand through her gloved hands and Sirius wasn't certain if it was due to Orion's passing or his assuming control of the family...