The wedding guests sat in two rows in a wide semi-circle facing a low, broad dais of virgin alabaster. A high arch spanned the platform, a latticework of cherrywood throughout which was woven a lavish abundance of blood-red roses. At the heart of each rose, unseen by the onlookers, was a tiny bell. Every now and then a soft breath of air would flutter the petals of one rose or another, causing the unseen bells to whisper a faint, high-throated note. However, none observed this phenomenon, everyone being occupied in nervous and excited conversation.
There was no division for friend of bride or groom in the assemblage, as at a Muggle wedding. Groups gravitated and settled in according to common bond and natural affinity. Nevertheless, there was a pattern to the groupings, in accord with the occasion for which all were assembled.
At the center, seated in a simple folding chair despite his preeminence, was Albus Dumbledore. In his capacity as Speaker, he was, by custom, central to all.
To Dumbledore's right sat Ginny and Ron, their places also ordained by their rank as Attendants to the bride and groom. Next to them sat their parents, Molly and Arthur Weasley. Completing the right arc of the crescent were Lavender Brown, Parvati Patil and her twin sister, Padma (one of the few non-Gryffindors present).
Seated at Dumbledore's left were Hermione's parents, resplendent in their wizard's robes, if still somewhat ill-at-ease around so many magical folk. Beside them sat Sirius Black, serving as Harry's surrogate parent. Next came Remus Lupin, who chatted and reminisced with his fellow Marauder about good days gone forever, and better still to come. Completing the forward left were Professors McGonagall and Flitwick, the latter floating above his chair at eye-level by benefit of a Hover Charm.
Hagrid sat directly behind Dumbledore on a sturdy bench conjured to order by the Hogwarts Headmaster. There had been outright laughter at the first when the officious Percy, having taken charge of the proceedings, perfunctorily handed Hagrid one of the folding chairs upon which the others now sat. The seat of the chair was roughly the size of Hagrid's hand, and upon receiving it, the half-giant said politely, "Thank yeh, Percy. This'll do nice fer me stoat san'wich. I din' wan' ter squash it in me pocket when I sat down on the groun'."
Fred and George Weasley sat to Hagrid's right (from which vantage Molly could keep watch on them from the corner of her eye), followed by their fellow Gryffindors from Harry's and Hermione's year. Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan joked and swapped stories in their places behind Lavender, Parvati and Padma, who exchanged compliments regarding each other's dress robes, hair styles and various accessories. Last of all came Neville Longbottom, fidgeting nervously as he tugged at dress robes that didn't seem to fit quite right. Every now and then he essayed to sneak a surreptitious glance at Ginny, who pretended not to notice but was secretly more than a little pleased with the attention.
The remaining Weasley siblings sat to Hagrid's left. Charlie had much with which to regale his friend and mentor regarding his adventures with dragons in the wilds of Romania. Bill and Percy conversed soberly on subjects ranging from the fluxuating value of the Galleon to the smuggling of magical contraband from countries not signatory to the International Magical Trade Charter.
Last of all sat Oliver Wood, tall and striking in his best dress, his eyes flitting occasionally in the direction of Dumbledore as if seeking to see past the Headmaster's high wizard's hat and billowing robes.
Alone of those assembled, the Grangers were slightly less than informed regarding the ceremony in which their daughter and only child was participant. It was generally felt that the true nature of the Soul Chamber was a bit much for mere Muggles to accept with aplomb. They knew Hermione was being married in wizard fashion, and their curiosity prompted the inevitable questions. For answer, Hermione had given them a book describing the procedures of an ordinary wizard wedding.
In conversation with his future defacto "in-laws," Sirius had endeavored to outline the tenets of wizard marriage in a comfortable manner.
"Marriage is a very personal thing in the wizarding world," he explained. "It is believed that, since only God can sanction a marriage, true and meaningful vows can be exchanged between none save the betrothed couple and the Almighty. It's custom for the bride and groom to sequester themselves in a secret chamber and make their vows one to the other. This done, they appear and declare their union to the wizarding world, sometimes in a ceremony like this one, but not always.
"This declaration is never questioned. It's a point of deepest honor amongst wizards. It's believed that even the lowest of the low would not defile the sanctity of the wedding chamber by lying about their union. And if any are found to have done so, they are typically ostracized by the wizarding world, made veritable outcasts. Nothing short of rape or murder is regarded with as much abhorrence as to make a false claim of marriage. And it's worth noting that divorce is virtually unknown in the wizarding world. We take marriage very seriously."
The Grangers had, of course, asked about the purification ceremony, which was not mentioned in the book given them by Hermione. Sirius merely shrugged and stated that this was merely an elective, to show the true devotion of the couple to be married. This seemed to please them greatly, reinforcing their confidence in their daughter's convictions. But through it all, Sirius still sensed an underlying trepidation on the part of the Grangers. Though their support of their daughter's strange, new lifestyle had been manifest, they were still Muggles, after all. There was a vast gulf between the two worlds, and Sirius was not naive in regard to the pitfalls of a wizard-Muggle union. Hermione was a true witch, of course, but still Muggle-born. Only the strongest of loves could overcome the differences of two such diverse worlds. But when such doubts surfaced, Sirius' thoughts immediately turned to his beloved James and Lily. She, like Hermione, had been Muggle-born. But Sirius had never seen a stronger love than that shared by his old Gryffindor classmates.
Never, that is, until today.
His thoughts thus occupied, Sirius was among the last to notice that everyone's attention seemed riveted on the arched platform before which they sat. Every voice was suddenly stilled, and in the quiet, broken only by the voice of an occasional sparrow, a song of a different heart was rising on the September air.
The bells! The tiny bells in the eye of each rose decorating the arch were singing in a soft, melodic voice; each infinitesimal of itself, but in chorus a rhapsody to the soul. He, who had been party to this same ceremony years agone, was as enthralled as those to whom all was new and wondrous. Alert now, he looked for the next stage in the culmination of this most joyous of magical rites. And he gasped aloud with everyone else. The roses were changing. One by one, from the topmost and along either flank, the red roses were turning white! It was as if some Muggle electrician were flipping switches on a board, one after another, to light a marquee.
Sirius wasn't aware that he was holding his breath until he suddenly expelled a wheezing lungful. Another onrush followed -- one of tears.
A sphere of light was growing at the center of the dais. It expanded until its borders kissed the petals of the snow-white roses, whose song now lifted to the heavens.
Between the span of two heartbeats, the magical tongues of the rosy arch stilled. The milky sphere of light popped silently like a soap bubble. Harry and Hermione stood on the dais, their hands joined, the hoods of their brilliant robes thrown back to reveal faces more brilliant still.
The young couple's eyes immediately sought those of their Speaker. Dumbledore placed his hands together, his smile shining brighter than the sun.
"Once in a lifetime," Dumbledore whispered reverently, "is an honor passing description. But twice! Twice!"
And, buoyed by the lightness in his bosom, Dumbledore rose from his seat and approached the dais.