Wedding Pictures

Wedding Pictures

Author’s Note: I wanted to share one of my favorite songs with one of my favorite people, MystressXOXO. Happy Anniversary, Sweetie!

Have you ever seen a sight as beautiful
As that of the rain-soaked purple
Of the white birch in spring?
Have you ever felt more fresh or wonderful
Than on a warm fall night
Under a mackerel sky,
The smell of grapes on the wind?

Outside, the autumn moon was rising, beginning to make its way across the nighttime sky. It cast a clear view of the lawns, gardens, and forest that surrounded the manor. Inside, though, it was warm and comfortable. The fire in the hearth was warm as it gave off its dying glow. The burning wood was turning to ash, yet it gave enough warmth and light for the two lovers cuddled together on the loveseat facing the glowing embers. Their dogs, Blackie and Levon, were quietly sleeping at the feet of the couple.

Well I have known all these things
And the joys that they can bring
And I’ll share them all for a cup of coffee
And to wear your ring.

The two men had their heads together, each of them holding part of a photo album. At times, their fingers would accidentally touch. Sometimes that was all. Sometimes, though, the moving party would stop to caress the hand of the stilled person. Fingertips would gently caress and eyes would meet, holding for a few moments before they’d return to looking at the pictures. Each of them felt desire and passion growing, but they wanted to wait. This time was set aside for reminiscing.

Have you ever had the pleasure of watching
A quiet winters snow slowly gathering
Like simple moments adding up?
Have you ever satisfied a gut feeling
To follow a dry dirt road that’s beckoning you
To the heart of a shimmering summers day?

“And here’s the one where Hermione shoved Ginny out of the way to catch the flowers. Poor Ron. They’d been dating longer than we had and he still hadn’t proposed. I wondered, then, if she would have to be the one to propose to him or if she would punch him in the mouth.” Harry chuckled as he retold the story. The picture showed the two women violently shoving each other with the brunette being triumphant in catching the white roses each man had held during the ceremony.

Draco laughed as well. “Don’t overestimate Hermione’s right hook, Harry. I should know. My jaw was aching for weeks after she hit me in third year.” As he said it, the blond began to rub his chin again, feigning a mask of pain in memory of the event. But then he began to laugh again. He knew Harry didn’t believe him for one minute.

“Let’s look at some more pictures before we turn in. We still haven’t gotten to the cake yet,” Draco continued, eager, as he turned the page.

Well I have known all these things
And the joys that they can bring
And I’ll share them all for a cup of coffee
And to wear your ring.

It was their eighth wedding anniversary. The day had been spent with family members and friends had dropped by to wish them well and to talk about how each family had been growing and developing. Anniversaries always reminded everyone of how far they had come.

As per their own tradition, Harry and Draco pulled out their wedding album and shared a quiet, intimate evening looking at the pictures. Every year, they shared the same stories, never tiring of hearing them. Each brought with it more lovely memories than the last.

Each year, the pictures brought to mind events that had happened, not only on their wedding day, but during every day of their marriage.

Like all good marriages, most of the memories were warm and inviting like cinnamon raisin bread on a cold December day. Some memories were always painful to discuss like a war wounded that would never heal properly but just needed to be tolerated. Yet, no matter which memories were discussed they belonged solely to these men sitting together. And no matter how many well-wishers there are, ultimately a marriage is made up of just two people and only they, together, can share moments such as these.

And I don’t know how I survived those days
Before I held your hand
Well I never thought that I would be the one
To admit that the moon and the sun
Shine so much more brighter when
Seen through two pairs of eyes than
When seen through just one.

Pages were turned, pictures were discussed, laughs and howls echoed in the room, quiet whispers and soft kisses were exchanged as well. This was going to be another good anniversary and both of them knew it. Soon they would retire to their bedroom to renew their vows in intimate physical acts of lovemaking. Their stares became more focused, their breathing became breathier and even after eight years of marriage, it was a difficult task for them not to touch each other.

Before they knew it, they had come to the final page. On it was a picture of them kissing each other right before they left for their honeymoon. Each man sat in silence looking at their younger selves glowing with youth and excited about their days ahead, united in holy matrimony.

Have you ever seen a sight as beautiful
As a face in a crowd of people
That lights up just for you?
Have you ever felt more fresh or wonderful
As when you wake
By the side of that boy or girl
Who has pledged their love to you?

“Yes, I have to reluctantly admit that I wasn’t exactly thrilled that you had asked Dennis to take our wedding pictures. He does take a good picture though, even if he took up the number one Harry Potter stalker position right after his brother died,” Draco said. He always got a bit jealous whenever he mentioned the photographer or any of Harry’s other lovelorn followers.

“Well, he may have been obsessed with me, but I only had eyes for you,” Harry countered. He began to close the book with the pictures, stopping their trip down memory lane, because he didn’t want Draco upset on their day. He wanted more happy memories for all their future anniversaries.

So, he got up and put the book back on the bookshelf in its special place. Then, he came back to the loveseat to cuddle up next to his beloved. Once he was settled, he continued.

“On that fall day, you were too beautiful for words. Your eyes were almost like silver and your hair shined like unicorn hair. It felt like my breath was stolen every time I looked at you then. I cherish those moments and these pictures, Draco, because I realized I married the best man in the world.

“I would say ‘I do’ on that day and on every day afterward. For better or for worse, you are the one that I chose. Don’t you forget it,” Harry said as he took Draco’s hands in his.

Well I have known all these things
And the joys that they can bring
And now every morning there’s a cup of coffee
And I wear your ring.

I wear your ring.

“Happy Anniversary, Draco,” Harry said as he leaned in for a kiss.

The fire was now almost completely out. It barely gave any light for the two men to get up and make their way around the sleeping dogs and to their marriage bed. They would share these memories again and again, renewing their vows.

Right now, though, they retired to reignite the passion between them.