Song for the second part of the chapter: Love of My Life - Queen

TW Violence

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August 1st, 1997

Despite all of the chaos that just seems to keep coming, there is some good coming out of it. The sun is high in the sky and it's the perfect weather for a wedding. The Weasley's orchard looks perfectly manicured as we walk towards the large white tent set up in the big yard.

Our whole family was invited, which means that Atlas, Elio, and Cassie are with us. Regulus is holding Cassie and I'm so grateful that she's such a happy baby so we won't have any issues while at the wedding.

Fred, George, Ron, and Harry are all standing at the entrance of the tent to greet people as they arrive. The twins seem to be complaining about the whole ordeal.

"When I get married, I won't be bothering with any of this nonsense. You can all wear what you like, and I'll put a Full Body-Bind Curse on Mum until it's all over," Fred says. Ron elbows him in the side and he looks up and grins. "Ah, the Black family," He says. "And Missus Black."

Regulus rolls his eyes. "Fred, stop flirting with my wife," He says.

"Never," Fred says. He waves at Cassie and she laughs as George shows us where our seats are.

We sit down on the groom's side. Xenophilus and Luna Lovegood are sitting behind Regulus. He adjusts Cassie on his lap and starts talking to the both of them. I listen to the conversation a bit before I glance around at all of the other guests arriving.

Atlas and Elio start talking in hushed voices and Elio elbows his older brother so I know that they're definitely up to something.

"They're looking at us," Elio whispers.

"I can see that," Atlas says. He waves at someone and I glance over to see who it is.

There are two blonde girls who look to be around Atlas and Elio's ages, and they're clearly related to Fleur. Both girls have long blonde hair and blue eyes. The older one of the two waves back at Atlas while the younger one blushes and weakly waves back. Both of the girls giggle and go to take their seats across the room.

I glance back at Atlas and Elio and shake my head, trying not to laugh. Both of them are slightly red in the face and Atlas keeps looking over at the girls. Regulus turns back around in his seat and looks at the boys with a confused look on his face. "I'll tell you later," I whisper to my husband. I decide not to say anything when Remus and Tonks show up. Their seats are to my right, so Regulus and I start talking to them before the wedding starts.

Soon after, Jack and Natalia arrive and Elio turns around in his seat to talk to his best friend while Jack leans forward to talk to Remus, Tonks, Regulus, and me.

"God, I haven't been to a wedding in a while," Jack says.

I look over at Remus and Tonks. "Yeah, me neither," I say.

"If it makes you feel any better, no one was invited to our wedding," Tonks explains with a grin.

Remus laughs, "And you don't have any room to talk, Meredith. You and Regulus eloped in Portofino without telling anyone then stayed in the Italian countryside for two months before coming back and announcing that you were pregnant."

"I-, we were going through a lot," I say, trying not to laugh.

"What even is there to do in the Italian countryside for two months?" Tonks asks.

"How do you think she got pregnant so quickly?" Regulus deadpans.

Remus laughs, "That's why I got very vague letters the whole time you were gone."

All of us laugh and I start thinking about the last wedding I went to. It was about fourteen years ago when Jack and Evelyn got married. It was a small ceremony outside, but Emmeline and Thomas were there, as well as a few other people from school.

Jack and Evelyn were always so happy together. They were love in its purest form. Natalia was born almost a year after they got married, and they had about four good years as a family before Evelyn started getting really sick while pregnant with their second child. She died a bit after Natalia turned five and a part of Jack died with her. She really was a lovely person. Evelyn and I always got on well.

All of the guests settle into their seats and it's not long before soft music starts floating through the tent. We all stand when Fleur walks down the aisle, looking absolutely gorgeous.

Regulus holds Cassie throughout the whole ceremony, and she sleeps through the entire thing.

- - - - -

At the reception, Regulus and I drink champagne with our friends. Atlas, Elio, and Natalia found the Weasley twins and started asking them loads of questions about Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Surprisingly, Fred and George answer every single question and look happy to do so. The kids are occupied and Cassie is just happily babbling at everyone from my lap.

The atmosphere is happy and almost every single person in attendance is smiling.

Remus, Tonks, Jack, Regulus, and I are sitting at a table discussing baby names. There's an almost empty bottle of champagne in the middle of the table, which would be empty right now if Tonk was able to drink.

"Okay, before you even think about names you have to decide whether or not you're going to keep the Black family tradition and name it after something astrological," Regulus says.

"It?" Remus asks, trying not to laugh.

Tonks thinks for a second. "Probably not, there's a limited amount of names remaining now. And I feel like the traditions already broken because of my name."

"See, now you have an unlimited list of names to choose from now," Regulus says.

"We still have eight months to pick a name," Remus says. "So that should be enough time."

Jack laughs, "Yeah, Evelyn and I thought that too but then she went into labor early and we didn't have a name picked out."

"Fuck," Tonks mutters. She looks at Remus. "Do you have some parchment and a quill? I need to start writing some stuff done."

We all laugh and the conversation tapers off until a new one starts up. I finish off my glass of champagne and Regulus leans forward and rests his arm on the back of my chair.

"Do you want to dance?" He asks.

"Of course," I say with a smile. "But we have Cassie."

Remus, who is sitting on the other side of me, interjects. "I can hold her," He says.

"Do you want to go see Uncle Moony?" Regulus asks her. Cassie claps her hands and I pass her over to Remus. She smiles at him and claps her hands for no reason.

Regulus grabs my hand and leads me over to the dance floor. A new song starts up as Regulus places his hands on my waist and I wrap my arms around his neck.

Love of my life, you've hurt me

You've broken my heart

And now you leave me

Love of my life, can't you see?

"Do you remember when we danced to this song at Pandora's wedding?" Regulus asks.

I nod, "That feels like forever ago. We were so young and stupid."

Regulus kisses my forehead. "Yeah, well look at us now," He says.

We dance to the song, not a care in the world until a bright blue figure comes flying into the tent. Regulus pulls me behind him as the room erupts into noise. I find Atlas and Elio, still with the Weasley twins, across the tent.

The blue light settles and forms a Lynx patronus that belongs to Kingsley Shacklebolt.

"The Ministry has fallen. The Minister of Magic is dead," Kingsley's voice pauses before he whispers. "They are coming, they are coming, they are coming."

The room bursts into chaos and I immediately go to my sons. I grab Atlas and Elio and ushered Natalia with us as Jack pushes through the crowd to get to her. He reaches us and grabs Natalia and she buries her head into his side. Regulus has Cassie and is trying to get her to calm down as she cries at all of the noise.

Just as Atlas, Elio, and I reach Regulus and Cassie, a black flurry comes flying into the tent and the chandelier goes up in flames, quickly catching onto the tent.

Death Eaters are filling the tent and spells are flying everywhere. I cast a protection spell around my family and lock eyes with Regulus.

"We need to get them somewhere safe," I say. "Let's meet at the Manor."

Regulus nods and throws up another protection charm around us. Cassie is screaming in his arms. I look at my sons, who both look terrified.

"Okay, hold on, I'm going to get us out of here," I say as they both cling on to me.

I look at Regulus and he nods. We let the protection spells drop. Regulus disappears into a twist with Cassie. I wave my wand and apparate us away as spells bounce around the tent that is engulfed in flames.

- - - - -

You guys spot the parallels? Oh boy is there going to be so much foreshadowing and so many parallels coming up.