A Dark Time For The Light

A/N - Thank you, Bekkieclaire, for your lovely comments. I hope you enjoy the rest of this tale as much.

On with the show!

81

Harry traced random patterns in the sweat on his lover’s chest as they lay, a sticky mess on the landing floor catching their breath. It had been Harry’s turn for the carpet burns as the night thickened around them and the orange glow from the streetlights lit them. “That went really well”. Harry wasn’t sure if Draco meant the sex or the visit, but plumped for the latter, “Mmm. To be honest, I sort of expected her to look down her nose at me, but I like her, Dragon. Another one changed by all of this. Another one finding their true love and destiny. I would have liked to have been shown round though, the flat looked really cool. We must do Sunday lunch for them or something”, he giggled, “Show them how the other half lives”, Draco joined in the chuckles then they both drew apart long enough to visit the bathroom then flopped into bed together in a pile.

The next fortnight went in a blur with Harry and Draco trying to co-ordinate the plans and Hermione and Ginny helping where they could. They had arranged the restaurant and were shipping in the supplies to the House where the after-party was to take place. The boys took care of the party foodstuffs and the drink. Alice was taking care of the drugs, she had some nice Nepalese black hash, some of Kilmarnock’s latest foray into husbandry, a strain cross-pollinated from a South Sea Island strain grown as a graft on the sturdier Northern Hemisphere’s rootstock,. Some mind-blowing pharmaceutical BP cocaine made under Government licence for medical use that Matt had acquired for her.

Somewhere in the middle of all of this, the two celebrants chose some new clothes. Severus veered towards Victorian Goth Dandy and Remus went Paul Weller Mod with an extremely sharp suit that suited his angular lines. Severus in a fitted-to-within-an-inch-of-his-life frock coat and narrow pants. The girls made them model their new outfits, singly of course, as it was bad luck to see each other arrayed thus until the big day itself and declared both outfits ‘gorgeous’.

On the Thursday night, Ginny turned up at their flat and ordered Severus to wash his hair, then proceeded to chop an inch off the ends and razor them so when his head moved, his hair moved as a curtain, she applied some leave-in conditioner to gloss it and declared, “Severus Snape, you have beautiful hair”, as she weighed the heavy locks in her hands, “It’s almost as gorgeous as my own”, she smirked, until he stilled her and ran a hand through her hair, his eyes closing, “Yes, beautiful”, as his hand glided through the thick heavy, glossy strands. He smiled at her pink cheeks, “You know my most frequently used nickname at School was ‘greasy git’, now you know that isn’t so”. She reddened further as she recalled herself using that epithet to describe her Potions teacher. She stood back and declared him ‘done’. She then whipped out a manicure kit and trimmed and buffed their nails, “Got to have you both looking your best for the big day”. She rubbished their objections as she slicked a semi-matt clear polish on then ran a white pencil beneath the nail tips, “For the signing-the-register shots”. Colin was to be their photographer.

Next day Severus and Remus took it easy, they visited the barbers for a close shave and a facial conditioning with a head massage thrown in. When they got home, it was to find Harry and Draco there waiting for them. Draco already had Severus’ clothes packed plus his toiletries. The two men had planned on a quiet evening together, but this was nixed by the boys. Tonight Severus was spending the night in Draco’s spare room and Harry was on the bed-settee at Remus’. They had balked at the Mundane custom of the celebrants spending their last single night apart, but the boys brooked no nonsense. With a kiss, Harry sent Draco home with Severus and a muttered, “No naughty stuff, you”, into his lover’s ear. Draco replied in the same undertone, “No dallying with the wolf. Tonight we are chaperons only”. They parted with a kiss.

All spent a chaste and restless night. As the respective best men, Harry helped Remus dress the next morning as Draco assisted Severus. Both of the taxis arrived on time and debarked their passengers at roughly the same time into a crowd of smiling guests that each greeted courteously and warmly. Then Severus caught sight of his beloved and they held each other tight and kissed. “Missed you, love”. “Me, too”. “Well, shall we?”. “Yes, let’s do it”. They linked arms and processed in together. They were held to one side while the registrar made sure their guests were in and seated and the Wedding March struck up and Severus and Remus strolled in together.

Afterwards they admitted it was all a bit of a haze, but they were gazing into each other’s eyes as they exchanged their vows and rings, plain white-gold bands that could be charmed at a later date, but for now were engraved with a simple, R S-L and S S-L and the date. Then came the instruction from the registrar, “The grooms may now kiss”, and they did, for Britain, emerging for air with the sound of cheers ringing around the room. Colin’s flash going off at all of the relevant moments, they signed the register and the party broke up and wandered outside, to have rice and confetti thrown over them. The girls handed back the bouquets they’d looked after through the ceremony and told them to stand at the top of the steps, turn their backs and throw them over their shoulders. “Ancient Mundane custom”, murmured Hermione. They duly did so then turned to face the melee of people scrambling to catch them. With their conditioned Seeker reflexes, Harry and Draco caught one and both blushed bright pink, the second was caught by Jenny. She blushed and curled into Narcissa’s side as she explained the significance of catching a bouquet. “I was the Ravenclaw Seeker for three years, too”. No-one missed the kiss that followed, incandescent enough to light a room.

Harry heard a murmur behind him, “Well, well, well. Narcissa Malfoy. How interesting”. He turned into Minerva’s gaze. She caught it and winked at him, Hortense by her side. She continued, “A worthy one to have on our side. Have you told her of the Magic Bunker?”. Harry shook his head, “No, there are many things she doesn’t know yet, but I like her. I mean”, Harry held up the flowers, “She is to be my Mother-in-law after all”.

Just then, after numerous photos, the taxis showed up to take them to the restaurant for the wedding breakfast and the chef did them proud serving a delicious meal with copious amounts of champagne and red wine for those whose tastes ran in that direction. Harry and Draco each gave a short speech as the best men and everyone tucked in. There were more impromptu speeches and amusing anecdotes as the wine and champagne flowed. An eloquent little speech from Minerva extolling her ex-colleagues’ skills. A pissed salute to them both from Ron and Blaise, a sweet little eulogy from the Manchester cadre that Pansy read out. A rousing and heartfelt song that the Kilmarnock youngsters had written about two lusty postmen that made both grooms laugh. Harry quietly settled the bill and then a phalanx of taxis turned up to take them to the House for the party.

Remus was tiring a bit, so Hermione put them in George’s room for a nap while the party was getting going. They made love for the first time as ‘Mr and Mr’ amidst George’s rumpled sheets and slept a while, then changed into the more casual clothes that had been pre-placed and joined the party. No-one complained, all knew Remus’ need for rest at regular intervals. Both appeared glowing to join in the evenings celebrations to be greeted by Alice with a large line for each of them. Prepared, they made their way downstairs and into a writhing mass of people dancing and carousing. A space was made for them on the dancefloor and Remus immediately pulled his lover to him for a grind to an old soul track that they both loved, “Two can Have a Party” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Tyrrell, then in for a deep kiss. Some folk didn’t stay for long. Minerva and Hortense slipped away pleading age and tiredness, plus one or two others, then the pace amped. Hermione broke out the bombers, pouring out a handful and offering them to her ex-teachers first. They balked until she dipped her head and stuck out her tongue and snared one, swallowing it with beer. Ginny did the same, “It just keeps you awake a bit, they’re great”.

Remus went to reach for one and was told ‘no’. “You have to fish for it with your tongue”, Hermione was grinning evilly as a line of capsules was laid along her palm. She held her hand up, Remus dipped with his tongue and snagged two. Hermione gently took one back, “Greedy”, she grinned and offered her can to help the pill’s passage. Severus gently held her wrist and kept his eyes on hers as he tongued one up. She felt a shiver go through her as she offered her can for the swallow. She leaned in to him, “Naughty boy”, she purred, her eyes narrowing. She passed into the rest of the party, offering her palm to tongues all around.

Alice set up proceedings in the girls’ room and once again, Harry admired her ability to speak to anyone. As he entered, she was teaching Narcissa and Jenny how to snort. As each person came up, she gently rifled amongst their thoughts. Narcissa tipped her head back per instruction then snapped her mind shut against the intrusion to feel her shields gently nudged aside and the invasion. She straightened up and looked into the woman’s eyes and was stunned. Her son was behind her in the queue. He leaned down, “Mutti, this is Alice. She’s a friend of ours. Alice, this is my Mother, Narcissa”. Alice wore a slight grin. Draco asked of his mother, “Did she just rake through your mind like so many cinders at the bottom of the grate?”. His mother nodded, hypnotised, “No-one, even him can read so ruthlessly”. “That’s what Sev reckons and he’s pretty strong as an Occlumens”. Narcissa started a slow smile that spread to her eyes, she extended her hand to the woman who was about her own age, “Alice, please call me Cissie”. Alice shook the pale hand that was offered gracefully, then said, “You two look not one whit alike until you smile. Nice to meet you Cissie”, she bowed her head slightly as the woman ceded to her son as next in the queue.

She caught her son as he exited, “Who is she?”, her eyes were round. Draco smiled his slow Malfoy smile, “She’s untrained, brilliant and dangerous and she’s on our side and she can shred Sev’s Occlumency shields like cobwebs”

This gave Narcissa pause for thought as she headed back downstairs feeling deliciously decadent as the coke bit. She had never taken drugs before, but she was caught up in the atmosphere and Jenny seemed fairly familiar with the protocol winding her long hair away and tucking it into the neck of her dress before she bent her head to the mirror. Narcissa had to admit, she was fascinated by Alice and determined to get to know her better if she could. She felt magnetised by the power. It was the only thing that had attracted her to Lucius, but this was different. They’d shared a look, feeling the power, a faint feeling of recognition? Perhaps? She remembered the woman’s slow smile and shuddered.

Hermione was giving out the last of the bombers as she re-entered. She declined politely. She watched as another of her son’s classmates took a pill onto his tongue and swallowed it with a sip of beer. Neville Longbottom. The last pill lay in Hermione’s palm. Narcissa watched, spellbound, as the boy picked it up on his tongue and fed it back to Hermione mouth to mouth, the girl sipped beer and tipped her head back to swallow, then they danced together for a while until claimed by their partners.

Those who hadn’t partaken of the speed were the next to drop out. Narcissa and Jenny hugged the two grooms before their taxi sped them away home. Draco heaved a sigh of relief that his mother had left, “Cramps a man’s style”, he offered as he lowered his head over the mirror. Alice laughed aloud, “Your mother is a fascinating woman. I look forward to knowing her better. It’s pretty cool having your mum share a snort with you. If my mum was still alive, she would be having me shipped off to the nearest funny farm”. Harry laughed aloud at this and his head bent to the mirror.

The grooms were lost in each other dancing. The sort of tracks that could be danced to either fast or slow and Severus and Remus in their little bubble of two were taking the slow route, devouring each other on the dancefloor and breathing hard. They were two steps away from fucking on the floor. Harry was sure he saw Sev have a floor-gasm. It sure as hell looked like it. He had seen Sev come before, that look in his eyes, the blackness intensifying. He stared, mesmerised as Sev poured that look into his lover’s eyes, then tugged his hand and led him away from the dancefloor , their gazes not breaking then there was the sound of feet on the stairs and the middle bedroom door opening and slamming shut, a body thrown against it, then low moans and suppressed screams. He took Draco in his arms for a dance to be asked, “Can you hear them? Shall we go and join them?”, his lovers eyes were wild. Harry claimed that wildness for himself. “I think not, this is their wedding night, but there’s the front bedroom we can use”. He led his lover away. No-one noticed.

They could hear Remus being ravished next door and this drove them wild as the speed hit. Harry ripped Draco’s clothes off and took him, their mouths and bodies pressed together, urgent, hard and wanting. They didn’t want to sleep afterwards and after a while, they dressed and rejoined the party, moving in the afterglow against each other. At some point, they looked up and the two grooms were dancing with each other. The boys shared a look then separated them and Harry danced with Severus being caught up in a numbing kiss as was Draco with Remus. They relinquished the spouses to each other after dances that would set ice alight. Blaise murmured in Draco’s ear, “You guys have shared before, haven’t you?”. Draco said nothing in reply, but his red face said everything.

Eventually Severus took his Wolf home in a cab. Remus couldn’t travel just now and he was only a week from his next debilitating round of treatment, but they had a honeymoon to look forward to. As their wedding present, Harry and Draco had paid for a wonderful romantic week in Venice for them, but not until after Remus had completed his treatment. Everyone that was still standing wished them a warm goodnight. Harry and Draco’s farewell being particularly fond. Until the men realised why. As they had been delayed from climbing into the taxi, so several items, old tin cans and boots had been surreptitiously tied to the bumper and a ‘just married’ poster stuck to the back window as they pulled away. The two howled laughing all the way home.

The sound of the taxi engine died away. Severus claimed his beloved’s mouth as they pushed the front door shut. Remus sagged against the wall, “Stay with me. I’ll revive”, he muttered. Severus led them both upstairs. He could sense Remus’ exhaustion. He undressed his lover and led them both to bed, preparing to lay down and sleep, but once Remus was laid down, he seemed to revive and begged his husband to take him, pulling him down to sweet heated kisses and opening for him in wanton abandon and his Sev fucked him to the oblivion he needed, collapsing over him as he let his legs stretch out and his lover withdrew and they lay together panting, foreheads touching then kissing until both slept joined at the mouth. Sev’s last words as he sank, “Love you forever Wolfie”. Remus grinned and held his Sev tighter, “Mine, all mine, forever”, were the last words on his lips as he somersaulted into sleep wearing his new husband like a cloak wrapped around him.