Esclavitud *Now Complete*

Chapter 23
Muggle Wedding
By Moon of The Sea
Beta Aine Rowan


Severus and Draco were in the sitting room where Severus was shooting question after question and seeing with great pleasure that his student was getting them all right. It seemed that there wasn’t a question that Draco could not answer. Severus was just about to up the level of difficulty in his next battery of questions, when Harry came rushing through the floo.

“Severus, Severus, she did it…” but he stopped when he saw Draco and without thinking he said, “You said he would be out by the time I got home,” he said looking at Draco, but talking to Severus.

Harry saw the rage in Severus’ eyes and knew at once that he had screwed up.

“I will leave,” said Draco picking up his cloak and books.

“No, Master Draco, I said I would tutor you until two and it is only a quarter after one,” talking to Draco, but looking at Harry.

“Hum, yeah, Draco, look… I really didn’t mean to be so rude. I…”

“What my master is trying to say is that he is very sorry that he has been such an ungracious host and he would love to offer you a drink of his best liqueur; maybe some Gran Marnier will tempt you?”

Harry had to suppress his dismay from showing. Severus was making him pay the piper. He knew how much Harry loved his sweet liqueur and Gran Marnier was his favorite. He never offered it to anyone and kept it in the library. So he had to square his shoulders and put on a smile.

“Yes, Draco, will you please join me for a drink?

Draco looked at him with bewilderment.

“Professor, I see you were right when you assured me that he doesn’t treat you at all like a slave,” he said looking at Harry but talking to Severus.

“Indeed, he does know how to treat me when he wants to sleep in a warm bed,” replied Severus answering Draco, but looking at Harry.

Harry’s shoulders deflated and he had to chuckle at the reality of Severus’ words.

“But surely you can order him to your bed,” asked Draco with a surprised look on his face.

His professor looked at him with a menacing glare and when he looked at Harry he saw that he was sporting a sheepish smile.

“Does that answer your question?” asked Harry.

“Wow, I guess I don’t envy you, Potter.”

“Well, I wouldn’t change my luck,” he said moving towards his lover and placing an arm around his waist.

“Well said, Master, you might even find that your bed will be on fire tonight,” he said with a suggestive smile.

“Well, that is my cue to leave. The information given out freely is not what I want to obtain. Good day, gentlemen,” as he headed towards the floo.

Once Draco was gone, Severus crossed his arms in front of him and arched an eyebrow.

“I said I was sorry!” whined the Gryffindor.

“Nooooo, I believe I said you were sorry,” drawled the Slytherin.

“Same difference,” tried the Gryffindor, but saw at once that he was not amusing his lover and decided to use Severus’ tactics and change the subject.

“Aren’t you excited? She actually found a way,” said Harry with a wide grin.

“As soon as you decipher what I am to be excited about, I am sure I will be, Master,”

“Hermione! Hermione figured out at way for us to get married. Isn’t she a genius?”

But Severus’ demeanor changed completely, he no longer looked like a man in charge of the situation, but one that had no control over it. His hands went to his side and even though he did not bow his head, on the contrary he raised it, his eyes were cast low. He hoped that Harry would not perceive his change, but to no avail.

“Severus, aren’t you happy. Love, we can get married,” he emphasized trying to make his lover react the way he had expected.

Still neither words nor reactions were coming from Severus. He just stood there trying to control his breathing.

“Love, she really did it. You see, the ministry has to accept any marriage performed by a muggle official, so all we have to do is get married by a muggle official and we are all set.”

“Master, unless muggle laws have changed drastically since my captivity, muggles do not accept same sex marriages,” rebutted Severus show signs of life.

“Ah, that’s what I said, but you know Hermione, she knows everything.”

Severus looked at him with a doubtful glare.

“According to Hermione, muggle Britain does not accept same sex marriages, but countries like Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands do. You see my love, all we have to do is go to one of those countries and get married, then we bring our marriage certificate to the ministry and they will have no other choice but to accept it.”

Severus looked defeated; Hermione had thought of everything.

“Severus! What’s wrong? Love, don’t you get it? We… are…going… to … get… marrieddd.”

“Master, I do understand, but what you fail to see is that once this marriage is registered in the Ministry of Magic it becomes a binding document. Master, divorce is not an option in the Magical Realm.”

Harry closed into Severus’ personal space and gave him a peck on the nose.

“Love, why would we want a divorce? You do not get it, do you? I love you and I want you to be my family.”

And this was when Severus finally bowed his head.

“Family, family is something that you have always wanted. Family is something I am unwilling to give you. No, Master, we cannot get married. One day you will find the right person to form this family you have always…”

Harry kissed him on the lips obtaining the desired silence.

“You are my family. Well, you and two tiny elves that are somewhere around here.”

“Master, this is not a joking matter.”

“No, Severus, it isn’t. And I am not joking. Yes, I would love children, although when I think of Lucy…”

“She is quite smart. I do believe your assessment was correct. She will do well in Slytherin.”

Harry chuckled, placing his forehead on Severus’. “As I was saying, I would love children and I am hoping that one day you will trust me enough to give me children, but if that never happens…”

“You will regret it all your life.”

“No, I will be thankful for the family I do have. Severus, it has always been only me, now we are four, the way I see it I am ahead of the game.”

“Master, I told you, I love you and I have entrusted my heart to you, but I cannot, in all good conscience, gamble with the life of a child.”

“And I am aware of the fact that I may never take off this earring, but I will dedicate my life to making you happy and secure. Severus, I am not taking no for an answer. I know you love me the way I love you; marriage is our only option.”

“Master, please hear me out, we could leave things as they are, and if the day comes were I could feel comfortable enough to give you a child, then we can get married. We already know we can, isn’t that enough?”

“No, Severus, it is not enough. That would be love with a safety net and love does not have a safety net. I love you, I don’t know how else to tell you. We …”

“Master, you are so young, one day you may find someone…”

“I have found that someone. Severus, I need you, do you really think anyone else can deal with my quirks, with my insecurities. Severus, let’s face it; I am not an easy lover…”

“Master, you have just come out of a relationship that shattered your perception of reality. It is normal that for some time you feel the need to be possessive and in control, but I assure you, you will grow out of it.”

“But what if I don’t and you are stuck with a possessive and controlling lover?”

Severus deflated with a huff, “I am pretty sure I can survive that, Master.”

“Well, I guess I am not the only one taking chances with our relationship.


***

The day of the wedding arrived and Harry was walking around like a chicken without a head. The party would be at the Burrow. Only Hermione and Draco, who were serving as witnesses would accompany them to the actual civil ceremony. Then Kingsley had agreed to perform the Wizard Wedding. This one would not be recognized by the Ministry but the first one would have to be accepted.

Mimi had prepared Severus in all his slave gear; Harry almost had a heart attack. He could not arrive at a muggle civil curt with Severus half naked. Nothing was going right. Severus, who was trying not to get too involved, took pity on his lover and went up and got dressed. When he emerged, he was wearing black dress trousers, a white turtle neck and a black dress jacket. He kept the makeup on and Harry thought that he was stunning. When Hermione questioned the make up Harry explain that many muggle gay couples wore makeup to their weddings. Draco was lost and had no idea what all the commotion was about. But in his wizard finery he also looked stunning. Harry only had to make him remove his cloak. Muggles do not wear cloaks anymore, he explained.

Mimi and Kreacher were waiting expectantly. Harry realized that they were expecting to go to the muggle wedding.

“Severus,” he whispered, “Please, explain to them that they can not go to the muggle ceremony. Tell them to wait…”

“Master, this is all your idea. I am sure you can explain to them exactly what you want,” said Severus not budging in his determination.

Harry looked at the two elves, the second half of his family. Try as he might he could not think of how to tell them that they would not be able to be there. Hermione finally took compassion of Harry and suggested the invisibility cloak. So Harry ran upstairs and came down with cloak in hand. He knelt down besides the two elves.

“Look, you know you can’t be seen by the muggles, right?” said Harry looking into their eyes. The elves simply nodded. “But Severus and I could not imagine getting married without you there.” Severus raised and eyebrow that Harry tried to ignore. “…so you are going to have to hide under the cloak. Is that understood?”

“Harry Potter is forgetting that WE are not the ones with learning problems,” said Kreacher rolling his eyes.

Harry looked up to Severus, “This is why I wanted YOU to deal with him.”

“No,” stretching out the o, “… YOU wanted ME to tell them because YOU could not tell them the truth.”

Harry took a deep breath and understood that he was outnumbered. He would have to choose his battles, but he already knew how the lines were divided. The elves would always side with Severus.


***

Back at the Burrow, George was in rare form also.

“Mum, why isn’t the kitchen done. The extension should have been completed by now. I paid for it months ago!”

“George, they said I wouldn’t be able to use the kitchen for two days!” answered Molly not really understanding what all the fuss was about.

Arthur, Bill, and Percy had front row seats to the argument.

“Mum, they also said that they would provide the food for those two days. It was all part of the deal.”

“George, you know your dad doesn’t like restaurant food.”

Arthur arched his eyebrow. Apparently this was news to him.

“George, dear, I don’t understand what all the fuss is about. Your father will simply enlarge the kitchen as we have always done.”

“Mum, don’t you get it. Decent people do not eat in the kitchen. This is why the extension included a kitchen and a dinning room.”

No one could believe the words that came out of George’s mouth. They all stood there with their mouths open. All of a sudden, Molly ran out of the kitchen suppressing her cry with forearm over her mouth.

“Now what in the world would possess you to say such a stupid thing?” asked his father as he ran out after Molly.

His brothers looked at each other and then Bill asked, “Who are you? And what have you done with our brother?”

“What? Just because I want the best for my family, you look at me as if I were some kind of troll.”


Bill looked at his brother and said, “Percy, speak.”

Percy looked puzzled, “What?”

Bill looked at his brother and determined that Percy was still Percy, so he had to discard the possibility of a transferring charm. Percy made his indignation noted.

“You’ve got to admit, Percy, he did sound more like you than the carefree George that we all know,” he said, following his brother out of the kitchen.

George stood alone in the kitchen contemplating the mess he had created. Would they understand if he tried to explain?

***

When they arrived at the Civil Court in Belgium, they were directed into a judges’ chamber. Severus and Draco fallowed Hermione and Harry who seemed to understand what was going on. When the door closed behind them leaving the four of them in the office. Draco and Hermione sat towards the back of the room while Severus and Harry took the chairs right in front of the desk. Harry noticed how Severus was wringing his hands and placed one of his on top of the mistreated limbs.

“You really don’t want to do this; do you?” asked Harry staring into his lap.

Severus looked at Harry’s posture and exhaled.

“Master…”

“Severus, soon you will have to call me husband,” he said perking up. “Well, at least I hope you do,” deflating again. “You do know that if you really don’t want to do this we can go home.”

“As I was saying, Master, I am marrying a very loving, caring and not to mention young and handsome man, I would be a fool not to want to marry you. I just hope I never see regret in your eyes. I would never be able to live with it.”

“I know it is hard for you to believe in me, but this is why we have to get married, so I can prove with my actions, with my life, that I love you. Not what you can give me, but you. I want to grow old with you in my bed. Both of us reading side by side, then making love and finally sleeping in each others arms. Nothing sounds better to me than that dream.”

Severus looked at his lover and understood at the moment that this was a dream he shared. That this was a dream he was willing to risk his fears for.

Draco was outraged at how short the muggle civil service had been. He knew the muggles to be strange creatures, but he had no idea how little respect they had for sacred bonds. He was in total shock when Hermione explain the whole concept of divorce. His mother had mentioned a couple of times how they should move to the muggle world where no one knew their name. But he knew she only said it because she wanted to take him away from his present reality; she would die away from her world.
***
At the Burrow, Harry and Severus were changing into their dress robes in Ron’s old room, when Mimi popped in.

“Is Mimi making Severus pretty for this wedding?”

“NO!” said Harry with horror.

Mimi looked at Severus not understanding what was wrong with their master. Severus knelt down to be at eye level with the elf and smiled at her.

“You cannot make me pretty for the ceremony, but you will have to promise to do so for the honeymoon. Will you?”

Mimi beamed at him.

“Severus is not worrying; Mimi is doing this for the ceremony and for the honeymoon,”

Severus looked up to see his husband cringe and he realized that he had thought of Harry as his husband, not as his master. He gave Harry a reassuring smile and then addressed the elf.

“Mimi, my husband likes it when you prepare me only for his eyes. He feels that you are gifting him with something very special. He is always going on about what a great elf you are and how lucky we are that you want to be with us.”

Mimi rocked on her heels and smiled; then she turned to Harry and winked.

“Mimi is going to prepare Severus in such a way tonight that Harry Potter Sir will not be able to get out of bed for days.”

Harry smiled down at the elf.

“Mimi, I like the sound of that, thanks,” he said returning the wink.


The wizard ceremony was beautiful; full with symbols and meaning. Their hands were bound together with a silver rope that disappeared when they promised to love each other till the end of times. Everyone present lit a candle to show how the couple’s love for each other would overflow onto friends and family. And they jumped a broomstick together* to symbolize their entering into a new life as a couple.

Draco followed his mother into the kitchen where Narcissa offered her help. Molly was handing out platters to her daughter and sons and automatically placed two platters on Narcissa’s forearms. Draco got in line behind his mother and extended his arms, but George came out of no where and took him out of the line with the excuse of needing help with pouring drinks in the ‘newly renovated living room.’ Again his brothers looked puzzled. After dinner and many toasts, Narcissa offered to help with the dishes, but the elves pushed her and Molly out of the kitchen.

Harry and Severus gave their goodbyes in a cloud of good wishes and sly innuendos. They went into the kitchen to say goodbye to the elves and left using the kitchen floo. The Malfoys followed soon after. Once the Malfoys left, George found himself surrounded by the Weasley Clan. They did not look happy.

“Do you wish to tell us what was that all about?” asked his father.

“No idea,” he tried.

“Well, let me see if I can clear things up for you son. Since when do you seek to impress the Malfoys,” Arthur clarified.

“Yeah, George, clean your nose, its brown,” interjected Ron.

George deflated in front of his family, “Is it that obvious?”

“Yes, but we have no idea why your doing it,” answered Bill.

“The Malfoys, why would you want to impress them? I don’t know if you’ve heard, but they are nobodies,” Percy chimed in.

“Is it so hard to understand that I have fallen for him?” he asked squaring his shoulders.

“Malfoy!” was the unison cry.

“His name is Draco. And since when do we judge people by their name. I always believed my family to be beyond bigotry,” argued George.

“Son, you have to understand, the Malfoys do not do anything without a motive.”

“George, you do understand that if any of us has a shot at the Minister’s seat that would be you. You have the money and the social standing,” Percy pointed out.

“Yeah, the Minister’s seat. Do you need a map?” said Ron sticking his finger repeatedly into George’s chest.

“Wow! I didn’t know it was so hard to believe that someone could love me.”

“George, you know that’s not true. We just don’t want to see you get hurt. Look, little brother, it’s clear that you have him tied around your heart. My best advice to you is, take him out to an expensive dinner then to your flat and out of your system,” said Bill with an arm around George’s shoulder.

George looked around to the women in the room, but none seemed scandalized by what was said. Hermione was the only one who had the tact to lower her gaze, but no outburst of rage.

“So, Mum, a one off is all right as long as it’s with someone that is not to your liking as a possible addition to the family?”

“George, you are my son, my first responsibility is to see you happy.”

“We learned nothing with the Charlie incident,” said George squaring eye to eye with his mum.

“George, I think your mother deserves your respect,” said Arthur from behind his son.

George took a deep breath and lowered his eyes.

“Well, I am glad I found out how my family feels. It would have been awkward if I would have brought him home with the naïve belief that my family would accept anyone I brought home,” he said as he disappeared through the floo.

The Weasleys were left standing in silence until Ron asked, “He can’t be that thick; right?”

***


*yep, totally took that from Roots by Alex Haley