chapter seventen The Eve of Christmas

Stella and Lily helped Sapphire brush her long hair in their dorm on her wedding day. "You look beautiful, Saphy. Really you do, but why didn't you get a white dress."

Sapphire was wearing a long-sleeved, full-length gown of a pale gold colour with embroidery of blue beads that had the neckline cut to show the top of her large breasts. "There's going to be snow everywhere; you'd barely be able to see me if I wore white, and all of the white dresses had lace." She hated lace. ""Still, I can't believe I let Jessie talk me into getting this dress."

Lily wondered, "What's wrong with it? I mean it goes so well with your eyes and hair. You like clothes like that."

"I know, but I think it shows too much."

Stella rolled her eyes. "You've got a figure most girls would kill for, including me, so you might as well show it off once in a while."

Sapphire stated, "I guess."

"Besides," said Stella slyly. "Once the wedding is over and you and Remus are alone I don't think you'll have to worry about wearing it much longer."

Her faced turned blood red and she said nothing.

Laughing, Stella asked, "Are you sure you don't want any make-up?"

Jessie knocked and came in answering, "Saphy thinks make-up is the root of all evil." Jessie and Stella were wearing identical violet dresses since they were part of the reception. Lily decided to wear green.

"I do," Sapphire agreed.

Lily said, "Hey, you aren't supposed to say that until the wedding." She laughed with Stella and Jessie.

"Could you guys leave, please? I need a minute alone," stated Sapphire politely.

Jessie and Lily left, yet Stella had to ask, "What's wrong?"

"It isn't fair that I should get to be so happy and Jessie has to be so sad. Are you sure Blaise didn't say anything when you talked to him about it?"

Stella looked at the floor. "I'm sure."

"I was certain he had something to do with it, even Lupine thought so. Oh well, you're my best mate and I know you wouldn't lie to me."

Guilt filled Stella so much that she blurted, "All right, all right! Blaise told me he and Gina did it and made me promise not to tell anyone."

Sapphire hugged her. "You did the right thing. Don't worry, I won't let Blaise know you told me."

"Thanks."

"Now, let's go. I have to get married!"

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"Nervous, Moony?" asked James while the Marauders walked to Hogsmeade. He, Sirius, and Peter had on black suits and Remus' was blue.

"Extremely," stated Remus.

James chuckled. "Why? You don't think Gem is going to come up to you and say, 'Sorry, but these past few years have been an act. I actually hate you and I'd never marry you' do you?"

"No, it doesn't have to do with the wedding."

Sirius guessed, smirking, "It has to do with after the wedding since everybody knows what happens on the wedding night."

Remus' cheeks flushed.

"Ha! I love being right!" cried Sirius happily. "Don't worry about it. I know you haven't done it before, but neither has she. You'll both like it, trust me. The best part is when the girl-"

Remus felt sick. "Padfoot, stop talking."

"OK. We're here anyway."

Dumbledore stood behind a sapphire alter that he'd conjured and the audience sat on benches in front of it. Sapphire and Remus liked things quaint and romantic, so the only guests were Anne and John Lupin, Blaise, Lily, Mr. and Mrs. McGonagall, Minerva, and two individuals Remus had never met, but he knew they must be Chrissy and Ryan. Everyone else was part of the reception.

Standing at the alter with his friends behind him and Jessie and Stella on the other side of the alter, Remus waited for Sapphire to come up the hill. When she did he wished time would've stopped so someone could have painted a portrait of how gorgeous Sapphire looked with snow-covered trees in the background and hung it in a museum for the world to admire forever. Naturally, that is not what happened. Sapphire walked down the aisle and her father got up to give her away unsmiling.

With Sapphire and Remus holding hands Dumbledore read the vows that were clearly tweaked, "We are here today to see two individuals that were smitten with each other since they were eleven to be joined in matrimony. Do you, Remmy and Gemmy, take one another in sickness and in health, for rich or poor, when drunk or sober for as long as you both shall live?"

The word "individuals" had made Sapphire happy, yet now she was confused. How did Dumbledore know the pet names she and Remus used for each other? "I do."

"I do," Remus stated.

Dumbledore continued, "Is there anyone crazy enough to object? If there is speak now or deal with the marriage and be happy about it."

"Is there anyone crazy enough to think these two should not be wed? If so, speak now or deal with the marriage and be happy about it."

No one said a word, but Remus suspected Mr. McGonagall wanted to.

"Then by the power invested in me by Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic I pronounce you husband and wife. Go ahead and snog so I can go back to school and have a lemon drop," finished Dumbleore with a chuckle.

Remus and Sapphire were laughing so hard that it was a minute before they were calm enough to kiss.

Minerva McGonagall went up to Dumbledore after everybody clapped for the couple. "Albus, why did you say that?"

"Well, my dear Minerva, Mr. Black said that Miss McGonagall- I'm sorry, she's Mrs. Lupin now- gets stressed over everything and that Mr. Lupin would be nervous to, and that such a speech would help them both be more at ease. He wrote it all."

Minerva looked over at Sapphire, who was suggesting to her friends that they sled down the hill. "It seems to have worked."

"Indeed. Would you like to come back and have some lemon drops with me."

"I suppose." That's exactly what they did.

"Saphy-kins?" Sapphire's parents came over to her.

"Yes?"

Her father asked, "Why? Why did you marry before you graduated?"

She shrugged. "Lots of reasons, but as long as we're in love it doesn't matter when we marry."

"That's right." Her mother hugged her and whispered in her ear, "I just want to warn you: it hurts your first time."

Sapphire jumped away from her blushing. "Mum!"

"Oh, you really are a 'blushing bride!" cried Remus' mother, hugging her too.

"Nice to see you, Anne," said Sapphire.

Mr. McGonagall looked at Remus' father. "You don't have a problem with this?"

"By 'this' I guess you mean the marriage. Of course not. Sapphire has only been over our flat a couple of times, but I know her enough to see she's an intelligent young woman that knows what she's doing, and Remus thinks carefully about everything that he does, so I trust his judgment," answered John pleasantly. It was no mystery where Remus got his personality.

"It just must be me," muttered Mr. McGonagall, walking away with his wife.

Jessie and Remus came over then.

"Who's this?" Anne Lupin asked.

"My new sister!" answered Remus. "I never liked being an only child." His saw his parents give each other a look that he did not understand.

"Well, see you later, darlings," said Anne, and Sapphire's in-laws left.

"What's wrong with them?" wondered Jessie.

"It's my fault," Remus replied. "They always get like that when I mention siblings. I haven't a clue why."

"Not to change the subject, but Jessie, I need to tell you something," Sapphire stated siriusly.

"OK."

"Wait, should I leave?" asked Remus.

"No, you can hear too as long as you don't tell James and Sirius." Sapphire then explained the break up.

Jessie stomped over to Blaise. "Did you and Gina make me and Sirius break up?" she demanded bluntly.

"Yes," he answered, just as blunt. "It was for your own good."

Jessie gasped at what a terrible mistake she'd made.