Chapter 15 - I Thee Wed
"Are you okay? We know Hogwarts has been a home for you." Claudette muttered.
Regulus only smiled as they reached the train, looking back towards the castle.
He would admit, he'd grown up there. He'd learned and he'd loved. He was taught right from wrong.
Regulus had spent so many days in the library and so many nights sprawled out on the observation deck.
The school had given him friends- had pushed him to his limits and allowed him to grow.
"Nah", Regulus assured, "I'm going home."
And by home- he meant James. And Remus and Sirius- his family.
"Somehow it always feels like we're walking towards our demises." Ivan admitted.
"Where's your sense of adventure?" Regulus quizzed, playfully bumping into him.
"It died two bad guys ago." Ivan huffed.
"Don't mind him, Regulus, he's just prickly because he doesn't like change." Claudette explained.
"That's not true!" Ivan spat.
All it took was a look from Claudette and Ivan piped down.
Regulus snickered, "Starting to think Claude's the top."
"Says James' whore." Ivan retorted.
There was a moment of silence.
The trio broke out into uncontrollable laughter.
One thing they could never do was be upset while they were together.
There was something special about their connection.
Regulus knew from the very first moment that they would be important to him.
He guessed he had that time traveler to thank- for the butterfly effect that landed him with his people.
~
Regulus was adjusting his jacket as he stood in the full-body mirror.
James strolled into the room, his tie as messy as his hair.
Regulus chuckled, fixing the boys hair and his tie.
"I can't believe they're getting married." James admitted.
"Is it really all that shocking to you?" Regulus asked, tightening the boys tie.
"Not shocking- it just feels like yesterday Sirius and I were eligible bachelors looking for a good time, and now he's marrying the love of his life and I get to be with mine", James explained, "It's just...nice."
Regulus chuckled, "I know what you mean."
As Sirius would say, Regulus was barely out of nappies by the time he met James.
Which was an exaggeration because he was literally fifteen.
He was around the age where he could figure out what he wanted, romantically at least.
Regulus didn't need a large conquest like his older brother, no Regulus knew that he wanted James.
That was still the same nearly three years after they'd officially met.
"You think this is our happy ending?" James quizzed.
Regulus brushed a strand of hair from James' eyes, "Perhaps it's only our happy beginning."
"I like the way you think." James gleamed, pressing a kiss to the small boy's head.
"We should get going, Sirius'll kill us if we're late." Regulus explained.
"Who knew Sirius would be such a bridezilla?" James huffed.
There was a pause of silence almost as if they were thinking about it.
"I did." They both said at the same time.
Regulus and James hopped in a car shortly after and drove to Wales.
Sirius and Remus had planned their wedding in a barn- specifically Lyall's barn that was right out back of Remus' childhood home.
Regulus had helped as much as he could as long as he could.
These days Regulus' back had been killing him, which sentenced James to being an on-call masseuse.
His feet had also been hurting and most days he had the most awful heartburn.
The barn was so perfectly decorated to fit Remus and Sirius.
Chaos in a beautiful, simple way.
It was surprising, to say the least, that Sirius had done most of the planning- since Sirius hadn't planned a single thing in his entire life.
Outside the barn was an arbor, wrapped loosely in vines with blooming flowers.
The isle was a path made by the two areas of chairs.
It was a typical backyard wedding.
Soon, Sirius joined the party of guests.
They all filed into the chairs for Remus and Sirius' sides- although most of the guest were for both of them.
Regulus stood on Remus' side, looking at his brother.
Sirius embraced James and they seemed to share a moment together.
Music alerted the crowd as all eyes traveled towards the house.
Remus strolled out, his elbow linked in Lyall's.
Regulus wasn't sure where to look, at the lovely Remus or his crying brother.
Remus joined beside Regulus, sending him a loving smile before turning to face his husband-to-be.
The officiant began his spiel, glancing up occasionally from his book to the crowd.
He glanced towards Sirius, "Will you take Remus Lupin to be your husband; to live together in the holy covenant of marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him so long as you both shall live?"
Sirius smiled and Regulus thought it made him look years younger.
"I will." He muttered.
Regulus could see as Sirius squeezed Remus' hands that were rested in his own.
"Will you take Sirius Black to be your husband; to live together in the holy covenant of marriage?", The officiant said to Remus, "Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him so long as you both shall live?"
"I will." Remus answered quickly, as if he'd never been more sure about anything in his life.
The officiant asked for the rings as a little girl hobbled to the front.
She wore an adorable flowery dress and her hair was a bright fuchsia.
"Thank you, Dora." Sirius gleamed as he took the rings from her.
Nymphadora looked so proud of herself, practically skipping back to Andy.
"Though small in size these rings are large in significance. Made of precious metal, they remind us that love is not cheap, nor common; indeed love is to be cherished." The officiant explained before looking towards the couple, "Repeat after me- With this ring, I thee wed."
"With this ring, I thee wed." Sirius spoke as he slid the gold band on Remus' finger.
Remus slid the ring on Sirius' finger and their eyes flickered up to meet.
"With this ring, I thee wed." Remus muttered.
Regulus' own attention flickered to his partner in crime.
James was so enthralled by his best friends' happiness.
He was almost like a sponge for it- like his friends' happiness made him glow with joy.
Regulus wished he had a camera on him, to remember the angelic way James looked in that moment forever.
He allowed himself to think of his own wedding. James crying as Regulus walked down the isle to meet him. They’re hands- warm and cold, mixing together so perfectly.
Being James' for the rest of his life.