Mr. and Mrs. Potter
Even though Harry and Ginny's wedding had been moved up, with only a weeks notice, there was still a absolute shit ton of people at the burrow. Charlie would have guessed close to two hundred, maybe two-fifty. There was two rows in the front for family to be seated, and Charlie realized that the way the processional was to be done, he and Iris would have to walk down it together.
Bill and Fleur were to walk down, then he and Iris, and each of his brothers except for Ron who was escorting their Mum and then would take his spot standing next to Harry in front of everyone.
“I didn't know we would be on display.” Charlie admitted to Iris. She gently adjusted the boutonniere on the lapel of his suit.
“Well get used to it.” Iris told him simply, “we have about a dozen weddings the next few weeks, and one of them is ours.”
“Iris, my boutonniere won't stay straight!” George shouted frustratedly. She turned and walked over, and made the proper adjustments and repined it to his lapel.
“Now stop touching it.” She warned, slapping his hand lightly when he went to go and adjust it. “Anyone seen Harry? Or Arthur for that matter?” She asked the room full of Weasley's.
“I think Harry's outside.” Ron thumbed over his shoulder. “And Dad is getting pictures with Ginny.”
“Here,” Iris turned to Charlie and handed him the largest boutonniere, “find your dad and get this on him, and go ahead and give your Mum her corsage. I'm going to go find Harry.” She headed out the back door and started to search for the groom.
Harry was sitting out past the garden on a fallen over log. Iris gathered that he wanted some alone time, but they were running out of time before the wedding started.
“Harry?” She approached, calling his name. He turned and looked at her, holding his glasses in his hands. “You all right?”
“It's just... A lot.” He told her, “sometimes I feel like I don't deserve all this.”
“The fuss of a wedding?” Iris asked, sitting down on the log with him. “Or love?”
“Both?” He rubbed his already reddened forehead. “Mostly the love part.” Iris took a deep breath and reached over, placing a hand on his arm.
“I think that young men who have experienced a lot of loss, mostly loss because people loved them, are exceptionally hard on themselves.” Harry looked up and over at Iris who was looking out over the overgrown field and tree line. “They believe that they have done something, simply by existing, that merits them a penance they should pay... When they've already paid the price, and will continue to pay the price for as long as they live. They will continue to try and do everything right, and yet they still feel like it's never enough. Meanwhile their loved ones, specifically their wives, just see them as the most self sacrificing people they know, making them the ones that deserve the love and comfort of a well built relationship the most.” Silence passed, with breeze blowing through the tall grass and branches.
“Ben felt the same way?” He asked after a few seconds, and Iris simply nodded. “For what it's worth, I think if Ben had to choose anyone for you... I think he would have chose Charlie.” Harry nodded. “Just from what I knew of them. I know they were friends.”
“I do too. I think that's what makes it harder.” Iris looked over at Harry, plucked his glasses from his hand and placed them on his face for him, making sure they were straight. “You are worthy of love Harry, you're worthy of a safe home filled with love and laughter and peace.”
“So are you.” He told her and Iris felt that cut her like a knife.
“Thank you. But today is about you and Ginny. So let's go make you a Weasley.” She told him, standing. He smiled at her, and grabbed her outstretched hand, standing up and stretching.
“I have this for you, by the way.” Iris showed him the boutonniere, and started to place it on his lapel. “Almost forgot about it.”
“It's nice, better then any others I've worn.”
“Hey! I made Ron and Hermione's!”
“Well, yeah... But red is a better color.” He joked and she smiled, shaking her head.
“Alright, little Romeo, lets go before they start thinking you got cold feet and ran off.” She and harry made their way back to the Burrow, and saw Charlie standing outside the back door waiting for them.
“Mum was about to have a conniption fit!” He warned, making Harry speed up and run for the arch where they were getting married. “He ok?” Charlie asked Iris.
“He is now. He just was having some I don't deserve love, kind of thoughts, but I was able to walk him through them.” Iris told him, and to Charlie's absolute shock, Iris wrapped a hand around his arm, pulling him along with her gently. To the naked eye, they would almost look like a normal happy couple.
“You have a leaf in your hair.” He told her, plucking it from her white blonde hair.
“Do I have any more?” She turned her head away from him so he could look.
“My God woman what did you do? Roll around?” Charlie said loudly, plucking a few more from her hair. He flicked the leaves from his fingers as they walked towards the set up chairs to join the rest of his family.
“You're hands are rough.” Iris stated, and sent a shiver up his spine when she grabbed his hand, flipping it over to study the inside of his hands. She looked at the cracks, callouses, and areas of hard but smooth skin from healed burns.
“Part of the job.” He told her, “I'm surprised yours aren't.”
“They would be, but I use a salve to keep them soft.”
“Charlie! Iris! Perfect! You two are going to follow Bill and Fleur, then George, you and Angelina, Percy is escorting me, then the bridal party will come down, then Victoir and Teddy, and then Arthur and Ginny.” Molly explained to all of her children. “Bill, Charlie, can't the two of you do something with your hair?”
“Just showing off that we have the best hair out of all your children.” Bill smiled, shaking his long hair. Charlie's wasn't as long as Bill's, but it still hit just below his shoulders.
“What does Ginny want?”
“I don't give two shites about their hair.” She said, causing all of them to turn and look. All the brother's softened at the sight of their baby sister in her ornate wedding dress. Her long red hair was curled, one side pinned back behind her ear with a sparkling comb. She wore a pearl necklace, with simple matching earrings. Her long sleeved dress caught the light in so many ways she looked like she was glowing. Lace sleeves, that looked more like swirls and gusts of wind, and appliques covered most of the dress, with a pink-tinted underskirt that gave just a hint of color. It was a one of a kind wedding dress that no one besides Ginny could have pulled off.
“Gin... You look beautiful.” George said first, followed by a round of nods and agreements.
“I feel much to gussied up, but I figure for one day it's fine.” She smiled. “You all look very handsome, too, I guess.” She teased with a wink. “Let's get this show on the road, shall we?”
What the bride said, was done. Music started, Bill and Fleur walked down the isle together, followed closely by Charlie and Iris. She had her arm in the crook of his elbow, and he laid his other hand over hers almost in a re-assuring way. He felt like walking the middle isle took decades, before he and Iris were finally able to sit and not have eyes on them.
The Weasley family was sat, the bridesmaids made their way down, and then came little Victoir tossing flower petals and Teddy holding the pillow with the rings. They were adorably ridiculous, Victoir only being a little over a year old was practically drug down the isle by Teddy, who had just turned two. Fleur grabbed up Victoir as soon as she got close to her parents and Teddy looked around before Iris held out her hand,
“come sit with me Teddy.” He smiled up at her and scrambled up onto her lap, and Charlie noticed his hair suddenly started to change from a dark brown into a white blonde. Iris ran her hands through his little locks and held him close. “When it's time, you have to take the rings to Harry, ok?” She whispered into his ear and he nodded happily, showing the pillow off to Iris and Charlie.
When the music changed, and the bridal song began, everyone stood. Iris picked Teddy up and placed him on her hip as they watched Ginny and Arthur walk down the isle. The wedding went off relatively without a issue, except for one reporter from the Prophet who kept standing in the way. Charlie watched Iris held up her finger, whispered a spell and suddenly the mans pants caught on fire. When she had learned wandless magic he had no idea, but he was incredibly impressed, and she blew it off like it was nothing and continued to whisper a story into Teddy's ear to keep him happy.
She was incredible with Teddy, keeping him calm and happy during the ceremony, even through the lengthy vows that Ginny and Harry had written to each other. Charlie found himself watching Iris and Teddy more then he did the actual wedding, watching Teddy's tiny fingers play with Iris's white painted nails and the rings she wore on her fingers.
When it was time for the ring exchange, Iris gently gave him a little push towards Harry and Ginny who waited patiently for him to bring the rings.
The kiss. The cheers. Rice was tossed into the air.
“For the first time, I am happy to introduce, Mr. and Mrs. Potter!” The Minister shouted, causing the entire place to get very, very, loud.
The wedding was like a post war reunion. People that had helped and aided in the war were there, and Charlie was introduced to a couple people that actually laid low in Iris's house during their time on the run from snatchers. There were congratulations on their upcoming nuptials, and there were also people who continued to give their condolences about Iris's loss.
Then came the photos. So. Many. Photos.
Pictures seemed to last for hours, and Charlie's stomach was starting to growl. Donuts and pastries would only do so much to hold people over.
“Dinner better be good.” Charlie whispered through a smile to Iris, while camera lights flashed.
“Oh it's super fancy. Only the best for the boy who lived and the Harpies best girl.” Iris assured him. He was not disappointed.
Grilled shrimp satay, crab and avocado toast points, and a little layered salad with tomato's and feta was served first. The family was served first, and while the toast didn't interest him, it sure did Iris.
“You want mine?” He asked, holding out the little plate.
“You don't want it?”
“No, I don't like avocado's.” He told her.
“Do you want the shrimp? I don't like shrimp.” They ended up switching their food and were then promptly served glasses of sparkling wine, because Fleur was very loudly telling everyone how mediocre it was compared to real French champagne. “Would it be uncooth to tell her to shut the fuck up?” Iris asked.
“I mean, if it was anyone else's wedding, probably, but it's Ginny's so she'd probably high five yo-”
“Shut the fuck up Fleur!” Iris shouted before Charlie could even finish the sentence.
“You shoot' zee' foock up!” Fleur shouted back, and it was enough to cut the tension, making everyone laugh including Ginny who toasted to that. Charlie did not understand women, how Fleur and Iris could yell at one another like that and laugh it off was beyond him. He chalked it up to it just being their personalities, both extroverts while he was very much an introvert.
Between the dinner course and the cake, there was the first dance, the father daughter dance, and perhaps one of the sweetest moments, the mother son dance where Molly took Harry's hand. She did not birth him, but she loved him from day one like he was hers, and treated him as such. Even if Ginny and Harry would not have ended up together, she still would have loved him and he would have been a part of their lives for good.
Then there was just some soft music played, and couples crowded the dance floor, including Iris and Charlie.
“Been a while since we slow danced.” Charlie mentioned, taking the leap. Her eyes widened and she genuinely looked surprised, and he noted the blush cross her face.
“You remember that?”
“I do. It was the first time I danced with anyone.”
“Well you saved me from Diego more then likely grabbing my ass relentlessly.” Iris chuckled.
“Oh I remember, you looked at me like you were drowning.” He laughed.
“It feels like it's been a lifetime.” She sighed, “and it's been what? Eleven years?”
“Had to be, it was before you and Ben started dating.”
“Well we only started dating after Christmas holiday in our seventh year.”
“Considering he didn't clean my clock, I assumed you two weren't dating yet.” Charlie lead himself down the path of no return.
“He didn't find out about that until after we were married.” Iris admitted.
“Spin the bottle or... Us?”
“Both.” She laughed, “for a while he thought he was my first kiss and then Tonks went and opened her mouth, you didn't tell him about spin the bottle? Oh I could have clobbered her.”
“Was there anyone before me?” He asked, seeing that the memory had actually made her laugh.
“Well there was one time I kissed Bill-”
“WHAT!” Charlie exclaimed, causing a few people to look their way.
“Shh! It was an accident, I went to give him a kiss on the cheek and he did the same and we kissed and quickly laughed it off. He was dating Fleur at the time, Ben and I were married, and it was a honest mistake.” Mhmm. Charlie's mind supplied. “My first kiss was you though.” She admitted.
“Well, that was my first kiss too.” Only kiss since as well, he thought, but didn't say it out loud. “It's kind of funny though.”
“What?”
“That we were each other's first kiss, and now we're here.” That apparently was not the right thing to say, because Iris's shoulder's slumped and she looked away from him. Her entire demeanor changed in fact.
“You act like it because we want to be.”
“It wasn't the best solution, and I don't agree with it, but at least it's you. If I'm going to be married, I'm glad it's you.” He told her honestly, hoping that would give her some sort of peace. Judging by the silence she gave him, it did not. “I'm happy I won't be alone, even if it was what I thought I wanted.”
“Being alone doesn't end just because you're with someone.” Iris told him sadly. “I've been alone in a room full of people.”
“You're not alone now, I'm here.” He tried to assure her, holding her a little tighter. Regardless of the law, he was her friend and he would have been there for her no matter. Her eyes looked up at him, and he saw sadness there like he had never seen in someone's eyes.
“I'm always lonely, Charlie.”
It was the saddest admission he had ever heard and he was about to challenge her thoughts when there was a clinking of glass.
“Everyone, please take a seat, as the bride and groom are going to get ready to cut the cake!”