A Wizard's Debt

Severus



“Lucius, stand still.” I muttered at the pacing blonde to my left.



“How can you be so calm!?” he hissed back, standing still but pinching the bridge of his nose.



“You’re being nervous enough for the both of us!” I grinned, I was shockingly calm, relaxed and actually looking forward to the day.



“How can you go into a marriage to someone whom you don’t know and be so calm? How can you be so relaxed at such an uncertain future?” my friend looked at me with utter confusion.



“Can you say, looking back today at your own wedding that you actually knew Narcissa? Could you have told me then everything you know now? Could you please her then as you can today?” I looked at him pointedly, trying to push my point across, “And nobody knows of the future – even the most gifted divinationist will predict wrongly should one small variable change. Would you have guessed you’d be standing here and preparing to be a father again? Would you have predicted the outcome of the war?”



“No. No to all of what you said.” He sighed, turning to smile at Narcissa who, even with an anti-morning sickness potion in her, looked rather ill beneath her makeup. Draco held her hand on her right, Oliver to her left.



“Severus, what happens if I mess it up again? Fatherhood?” he whispered in my ear.



“Learn from your mistakes, as I will learn from mine.” I said, turning as I heard the shouts of the reporters outside the temple. They were not permitted inside when a private ceremony was taking place, but it hadn’t stopped them making camp between the flowerbeds in wait of a story.



“You’re the wedding of the decade – of the golden trio, she was the angel and you’re some devil corrupting her.” Lucius grinned.



“Stop reminding me of this evening – she’s terrified.” I hissed, not willing to say more on the matter – whatever happened between Hermione and I stayed between us.



“Let me tell you one thing, my friend, take it slow – very slow. The chances of her being… fulfilled are incredibly slim; but with tenderness she might find some pleasure.” He whispered, almost inaudible in my ear.



“Do you think me stupid?” I asked, jumping as the door opened, it was Potter and Weasley escaping the media, I returned my attention to Lucius.



“No. I could never call you that. I think you are a warm-blooded male who has not had the company of a witch in far too long.” He chuckled.



“She is late.” I said, noting the time on the watch Albus gave me on my seventeenth birthday.



“She’s the bride – they’re supposed to be late! The only time they’re not late is at a wand-point wedding! And as she’s a virgin, I can’t see pregnancy being an issue!” he smirked.



“If we weren’t in the temple, I’d have hexed you for saying that!”



“And if we weren’t in the temple, I wouldn’t have said it – knowing you’d hex me!” he laughed softly.



“What’s taking so long?” I said, worried. She was fifteen minutes late.



“Now who’s nervous?” Lucius asked, shaking his head.