Mum made Tyler and I shop separately. Daddy and Tyler went to meet up with Draco at Diagon Alley, while I went with Mum. She made schedules so we wouldn’t cross paths at any point. It had been a LONNNNGGGG week.
Mum took me to Madam Malkin’s to get find a dress first. We tried on about a million. Or, so it seemed. I wasn’t allowed to get a white dress. Apparently, only virgins wore white and in a wizarding wedding, your dress would turn black at the alter if you wore white and were “impure.” Instead, I was told to get a ‘ghost white’ dress, which was a shade or two lighter. Honestly, it almost didn’t seem worth the trouble. I wanted a poofy one, like the Muggle fairytale Cinderella, but I didn’t want one that went all the way to the floor. That seemed like more my mother’s style. Mom wanted to incorporate blue into the gown. I liked the mental picture I got of it, so I didn’t object. I also knew I wanted it strapless. So finding this dress was killing my mother, but as Daddy said, it was MY wedding, not hers.
Finally, after 4 hours, we found the most perfect dress I’d ever laid my eyes on. It was a little longer than knee length, strapless with a blue sash around the waist with a rhinestone and silver embellishment. When you describe it, it sounds so… weird, but to see it in person… it was beautiful.
Mum and I fought. Boy, did we fight. She wanted me to wear a customary long dress and I wanted this one. Finally, after an extra hour, she promised me, if I’d walk down the aisle in the long dress, I could wear the short one for the reception. I agreed on that. The reception was longer anyhow.
We searched for another dress I liked, found one, and they fitted me for both dresses, telling me to come pick it up the following week. Mom rushed me out of the store quickly, texting my father to tell him we were out.
TPOV
Severus’ phone buzzed and I listened to his mumbles of protest for Muggle technology as he tried to figure out how to answer it. I offered to help him but he refused. Finally, he said “We can go to Madam Malkin’s now.”
As I was being fitted for my tux, Draco and Severus started launching on the serious questions. I was wondering when they would, as all morning all we’d talked about was quidditch, and other ‘manly’ things.
“Decided on a spot for your Honeymoon yet?” Draco asked.
I hestitated. “No…” Was I supposed to?
“Yes, you are. That’s one of the Groom’s responsibilities.” Severus answered my unspoken question. It still gave me chills when he did that.
“Oh. Well, uhm… I don't know where I should take her. I’ll ask her.”
“Are you crazy?” Draco raised his voice. “You cant ask her. Its supposed to be a surprise.”
“He’s right mate.” Spencer spoke up.
I didn’t say anything anymore. I had no idea where I was going to take her.
“Think on it for awhile.” Severus said.
They pestered me about a few other things while they got fitted but said nothing more on the Honeymoon.
The next store my mother dragged me into was one of those you’d rather die than to go into with your mother. Witch’s Secret was its name, and sure, I’d been in there once, maybe twice, by myself, but it just was NOT a store you wanted to be at with your Mum by your side. She started rambling immediately though. “Okay, you need a strapless bra, a new pair of underwear, a garter, and last but certainly not least, your Honeymoon lingerie.”
I shuddered.
“Oh Alixzandra, don't be embarrassed. You're seen as an adult now. Yes, you're way too young to have to deal with a baby and a wedding, but the only thing your father and I can do is to make the best of the situation, and start treating you like an adult. We don't want you to hate us. We’d like you to WANT to come see us when you move away, not to dread it.” She petted my hair back and kissed my forehead. “You're a woman now, whether you like it or not.”
She turned away and we got to shopping. “Okay, as for your bra, you want something strapless, supportive and comfortable… and white.” We went through three or four rows, tried on a handful, mom asking questions through the dressing room door the whole time, (“Could you wear it for five hours straight and not want to kill yourself?” “Do you like how you look in it?” “Does it feel like its gonna slip or fall down?” “Jump up and down. How about now?”) before we found one she liked the answers to. It amazed me how much a good bra cost.
She picked me out a lacy white thong (I blushed) without even asking, and walked over towards the garters. They were customizable! First you had to pick the type of garter: satin, lace, feathers. I picked satin. It came with a little heart border that would match the ribbon color. Lace seemed too… old and feather… too… prostitutey for my liking. Then you picked the color of the ribbon that went on top of the satin. Then, I got a sterling silver charm of two interlocking hearts to hang from the bow’s center. Last but not least, Tyler and my names were added to the ribbon in black cursive. We got a matching (but less expensive) garter for the ceremony’s garter toss, because I was NOT giving this one up.
Unfortunately, though, the fun soon ended as Mum took me over to the lingerie department. This, was the part I was dreading. “Pick 5. One MUST have blue in it to match your dress for the wedding night. And one MUST be black. Other than that, you pick. I know you don't want your Mum around for this part, so I'm going to go look through some other things. Have fun!”
I did as Mum told me, and even went back over to the bra and panty department and picked out a few more of each. When Mum came back an hour later, I had 5 babydolls, 5 pushup bras (plus the one for the wedding), 5 thongs (plus the one for the wedding) and even two pairs of heels. Mum mumbled about how she’d never leave me alone to shop ever again, but took the items and walked them up to the cashiers. A whopping 62 Galleons later (That’s just over $300 in American money ;P) and we walked out, three large, notoriously Witch’s Secret pink bags in hand.
“Okay.” Mum said. “Jewelry.” I smiled at this one. This, I could do. We looked at the lighted, glass covered counters, with many expensive trinkets underneath.
The sales clerks showed us tiaras, bracelets, necklaces and earrings alike. We were in there for at least two hours. I wanted it all! But Mum wasn’t having that. She bought me a bracelet, and a pair of earrings. When I insisted on a necklace, she insisted on a NO. We got shoes next and then finished along our path.
Time for lunch, we looked for a place to eat. “You know, you still have to get Tyler a gift.”
“What?”
“A gift. He has to get you one too. It’s customary. You also have to get Draco one and he has to get Spencer one. So, be thinking of what you want to get him. It should be special.”
I thought about it all through lunch. I could get him literally anything he wanted. But what should I get him? I thought about it for the rest of the day, through shopping for flowers (Lillies and light blue roses) and every other seemingly insignificant thing my mother forced me through, before thinking of the perfect thing to get for him!
TPOV
Tux fitting took awhile, and afterwards, we had to go to the jewelry store. Wedding rings. This was it. Severus, Draco and Spencer offered their opinions when I asked, but mostly just let this part be up to me.
I looked and relooked at every ring for a hour or so. The store clerk knew how to sell things, that’s for sure. He could make the most expensive ring sound cheap once he told you all about it, but none of them were perfect enough. None of them screamed ‘Alix’.
“We can look somewhere else, Tyler. Don't just settle. This isn’t one of those things you settle on.” Severus spoke up.
The clerk sighed. “Do you have her engagement ring with you?”
It was my turn to sigh. “No. I don't.”
Severus tapped my shoulder. “Hermione put it in my pocket this morning before we left.” He dropped it in my palm and as soon as the store clerk saw it, he gasped.
“I've got the perfect ring.” He stated in awe, hobbling to the back of the store. When he came back, he held out a ring that was almost a mirror image to Alix’s promise ring. Not as flashy, of course, as the wedding ring is always more simplistic, but perfect, nonetheless. “And this one would be yours.” He held out a simple silver band that was perfect for me as well. No flash, no nothing except a declaration of my love for Alix. “What’s the misses’ name?”
“Alixzandra.”
“Spell it.”
I did.
He waved his wand and suddenly, my ring bore her name, scrawled in elegant lettering along the top of the ring, and my name along the inside of Alix's. That’s what really sold me. “I’ll take them.”
“Don't you want to know the price?” The clerk asked. Obviously, they were expensive.
“I don't care. I’ll pay it.” I ended up paying 5,822 galleons, but it was well worth it.
“What’s next?” I asked Severus. “Well, Alix’s gift. You have to get her a gift to exchange during the wedding when you get a moment alone with her. You’ve got to get Spencer one too, but you can do that another day when he’s not around.
I thought about it for awhile before being directed into the store next door.
I love you like a love song baby
And I keep hitting re-pe-pe-pe-pe-et.
- Selena Gomez, Love You Like A Love Song
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