XXI

"Careful," Cassiopeia muttered when Fleur pulled a lock of her hair stronger than she should have, and her maid of honour whispered an apology in French without ever stopping with what she was doing.

The wedding would be in one hour and they were currently standing in the middle of her room, having Fleur giving her hair the last touches before she would have to go down to the garden. Cas expected to be nervous; this was her wedding, after all. She wasn't, though. Everything that needed to be done was already done, things that needed to be put up, dressed, cleaned and cooked, arranged or undone… It was all finished, and if anything was supposed to go wrong at any time, there was nothing she could do to prevent it right now.

"Do you know who is out there?" she questioned the girls around the room.

The windows and door of her room were closed shut, and her curtains had been pulled along with a silence spell. Cas truly had no idea of how things were going outside, and her bridesmaids and family were sure to ensure that.

"Ron said the other guests showed up a while ago," her fiancé's sister answered, toying with her flowers. "Neville and his grandmother, Luna and her father, people from Hogwarts… They are all still a bit surprised, though. It's George getting married. It's kinda weird."

The blonde bride chuckled and winced when Fleur pushed her veil into your hair.

"You know I still want to have hair after today, right?" she noted.

"I'm not pulling that hard," her friend rolled her eyes. "Don't be so dramatic."

Cassandra didn't answer, satisfied with only letting her step away.

She was interrupted when someone knocked on the door, and looked back to see her uncle putting his head inside the room.

"Are you girls alright?" he questioned as he entered and closing the door, and she could see how he was holding a camera. "I thought it'd be nice to get some memories."

Cassiopeia smiled gently at him, and the girls moved around just as Tonks helped her climbing into the short platform that Fleur had insisted to bring for some reason she didn't quite get.

"Ready?" he pointed up.

She was smiling when her maid of honour handed her the flowers, and everyone finally smiled at the camera. He waved his hand when he was down, putting it down and walking to her, stopping to get a kiss on the cheek from Tonks and giving Hermione his camera.

"You look beautiful," he affirmed, reaching and holding the girl's small hands in his.

"Thank you so much for doing this," she looked into his eyes. "I don't know what I would have done without your help in everything those last months."

"You're my niece," he affirmed. "We might not know one another very well, but I care very deeply for you."

Cassiopeia smiled and her uncle sighed.

"You know, my Andromeda did the same thing you're doing. She chose her own path and that is the reason we are together," he affirmed. "I see so much of her in you, I don't think you know that. The look you gave us when you stepped into our house that night and the courage it took you to leave your family and their views behind and come to us. I'm proud of you."

Ignoring all of her inhibitions, Cas put her arms around his shoulders, hugging her uncle tightly and closing her eyes when he held her firmly.

When he stepped away from her, she quickly recomposed herself, and her Aunt Andromeda entered the room with a smile right after.

"Are you ready, dear?" she questioned. "We are just waiting for you."

Cas felt her heart racing in her chest and held Andromeda's hand when she offered it, stepping down from the small podium.

"Ready when you are."

"I'll let them know we can start," her uncle told her, quickly kissing his wife goodbye and giving the bride's cheek a peck before leaving the room.

When she was alone, her aunt turned to her with a smile.

"What a beautiful bride," she squeezed her hand.

Cassiopeia did the same.

"Thank you for doing this for me. I don't think I'd be able to go on my own."

In response, she gave the girl a surprised look.

"Darling, you've done so much on your own already," she reminded her. "You're a strong girl."

Cas just smiled and took in a deep breath.

"Did anyone else arrive?" she questioned, even though the girls had already told her who was and wasn't present.

It was irrational and stupid, and she would be the first person to assume it, but there was a small hope in her that her mother or her brother would be there to see her.

"Well, you'll be surprised," her aunt said with a wicked look. "But Viktor Krum is here."

Cas turned to her with her eyebrows high on her forehead and her mouth slack open.

"Viktor Krum?" she questioned. "What is he doing here?"

"I have no idea!" she laughed. "But he came and congratulated us on the decorations."

The girl shook her head.

That was George's going, it could only be his idea.

She was ready to say something when the door opened again.

"They are ready, darling."

Cas took a breath and her aunt squeezed her hand.

"Ready?" she questioned.

"Yes," Cassiopeia confirmed. "Let's do this."