The hushed, reverent silence of the Hogwarts library was a stark contrast to the usual chaos that followed Echo. He was currently perched precariously on a tall, rickety wooden ladder, a stack of ancient, dust-covered tomes precariously balanced in his arms. Shimmer, a blur of silver fur, zipped between the towering bookshelves, occasionally leaping to nudge a particularly stubborn book from its perch, sending it tumbling towards Echo.
Below, at the foot of the ladder, Sirius Black leaned casually against the shelves, a mischievous grin playing on his lips as he held the ladder with a theatrical flourish. "Careful now, old chap," he called up, his voice a stage whisper that still somehow echoed in the vast space. "Wouldn't want you to take a tumble. These rare texts are probably worth more than your entire life savings, not to mention your questionable wardrobe."
Echo, struggling to maintain his balance, rolled his eyes so hard he feared they might get stuck. "You know, for someone who's supposedly 'helping,' you're remarkably unhelpful, Black," he grumbled, his voice strained. "You're just standing there, looking pretty. Can't you, I don't know, use some of that flashy Gryffindor magic to levitate a few of these things down? My arms are about to give out."
Sirius scoffed, pushing off the shelf and striking a pose, one hand dramatically placed over his heart. "And miss out on my crucial role as your moral support, Echo? Never! Besides, holding this ladder steady is the most vital job. You wouldn't want to go splat, would you? Think of the mess."
Echo let out a long-suffering sigh. "Right. 'Moral support.' You'd better not be using this 'moral support' time to gawk at my backside, Black, or I swear to Merlin, I'll shove a Bowtruckle down your pants and see what gets cut off first."
Sirius sputtered, a genuine look of affront on his face. "Echo! The very idea! Though," he added, a curious glint entering his eyes, "now that you mention it, did you happen to sit on something during lunch? There's a rather… pronounced lump back there."
"SIRIUS!" Echo roared, his face flushing crimson, causing the entire stack of books in his arms to wobble dangerously.
As if on cue, Shimmer, who had been observing the exchange with keen interest from a high shelf, let out a triumphant chitter and, with a swift kick, sent a particularly thick, leather-bound volume hurtling downwards. It struck Sirius squarely on the head with a satisfying thwack.
"Ow! What the—!" Sirius yelped, rubbing his sore spot, his playful demeanor momentarily forgotten.
Just then, a tawny owl, looking remarkably unimpressed by the dramatics, swooped silently into the library, landing with a soft flutter of wings near Sirius's feet. It held a small, rolled parchment tied to its leg.
"Hold on a moment, Echo," Sirius said, bending down to retrieve the message, still rubbing his head.
Echo, swaying precariously on the ladder, several heavy books still threatening to escape his grip, nearly dropped them all in exasperation. "Don't tell me to 'hold on,' Black! I'm currently teetering on a ladder, a dozen pounds of ancient knowledge in my arms, and my death is imminent if I so much as sneeze!"
Sirius, still wincing, carefully untied the parchment from the owl's leg. He unrolled it, a frown creasing his brow as he saw the elegant script. "Well, this is odd," he muttered, then looked up at Echo. "There are two letters. One for me, and one for… you."
Echo, his face a mask of strained patience, let out a shaky breath. "That's fine and dandy, Black, just tell me who they're from before I plummet to my untimely demise."
Sirius glanced at his own letter, then back at the second, identical one. His eyes widened slightly. "They're both from... Andromeda."
Echo, despite his precarious position, froze. "Rye bread?" he croaked, a note of genuine surprise in his voice. "What in the blazes would she want with me?"
The distraction proved too much. The ladder gave a final, decisive wobble. Echo let out a yelp, his arms flailing as the stack of ancient books began to cascade around him. Shimmer, with a frantic chitter, launched itself from the shelf, tiny paws outstretched, trying desperately to grab hold of Echo's robes.
But Sirius, despite his usual dramatics, was surprisingly quick. He dropped the owl's message, abandoning his casual lean, and lunged forward, catching Echo just as he began to topple backward in a sudden, dusty rain of leather-bound tomes. Books thudded around them, scattering across the floor.
Echo, clinging to Sirius like a terrified limpet, his heart hammering against his ribs, gasped for air. He was trembling, trying to swallow his heart, which felt lodged firmly in his throat. He looked up at Sirius, his eyes wide and disoriented.
Sirius, a triumphant smirk spreading across his face, leaned in slightly. "Well, now, is that all the thanks I get? No kiss for your savior?"
Echo, still disoriented but a flash of his usual fire returning, let out a choked sound of outrage. He instinctively raised the closest weapon at hand – a particularly heavy, dark-magic tome that had somehow remained clutched in his grasp – and brought it down with a satisfying thwack on Sirius's head.
"Ow! You absolute menace!" Sirius roared, letting go of Echo with a yelp of pain.
Echo landed with an ungraceful thud, rubbing his bruised hip with a pained grimace. "Serves you right, you pervert! Now, what did Andromeda send us?"
Sirius, rubbing his head, glared at him. "How am I supposed to know? You just assaulted me with a textbook!" He bent down, retrieving the two letters from the floor. "Here," he grumbled, handing one to Shimmer, who, with an air of immense importance, meticulously carried it over to Echo.
Echo snatched his letter from Shimmer, tearing it open with a frustrated rip. Sirius, still grumbling, did the same. Both paused, their eyes falling on the contents. Inside each envelope lay a glossy, charmed photograph. It depicted Andromeda, her usually severe expression softened by a radiant smile, locked in a passionate embrace with a wizard. The wizard, with kind eyes and a slightly unruly mop of brown hair, was clearly a Muggle-born, identifiable by the slightly old-fashioned cut of his clothes and the utter lack of any magical embellishment. Below the image, scrawled in bold, unmistakable red ink, were the words: "MMMMMM MUGGLE-BORN."
Sirius blinked, then rubbed his eyes furiously, as if to clear his vision. "Echo," he whispered, his voice laced with disbelief, "are you… Are you seeing what I'm seeing?"
Echo, his jaw slightly agape, nodded slowly. "If what you're seeing is Andromeda making out with some guy who's definitely a Muggle-born, then yes, Black. Yes, I am."
A stunned silence descended upon them, broken only by the soft thump of Shimmer landing back on Echo's shoulder, its large black eyes fixed on the photograph with an air of profound confusion.
Then, almost simultaneously, they both flipped the photographs over. Further messages were written on the back in Andromeda's elegant script.
For both of them, the main message was the same:
Dear Sirius and Echo,
I know this is sudden, but Ted and I are getting married in one week. It's a small, private ceremony, and we would be honored if you would both stand as my groomsmen. Please say yes. Ted is quite excited to meet you both properly.
Below this, there were personalized messages.
For Sirius, it read:
Sirius, thank you for everything. Thank you for allowing me to reconnect with you, even after all I did and didn't do. It means more than you'll ever know.
For Echo, the message was:
Echo, thank you for helping me see the light and accepting my truth. I've never been happier.
Echo reread his message, a warm, fuzzy feeling spreading through his chest, a feeling not entirely attributable to the residual butterbeer. He looked at Sirius, who, after finishing his own message, had a similar, albeit more overtly sentimental, expression on his face.
"Groomsmen?" Sirius whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "Andromeda… wants us to be groomsmen?"
Echo nodded, a small, genuine smile gracing his lips. "It would appear so, Black. And she actually sounds… happy."
Sirius let out a watery chuckle, wiping a tear from his eye. "Happy? She's practically glowing! And a Muggle-born, of all things! The family's going to lose their minds absolutely!" A mischievous glint entered his eyes. "This is going to be magnificent."
"YEAH!" Echo roared, slamming his heavy book onto the floor with a resounding thud.
"WOO!" Sirius cheered, throwing his own letter into the air and catching it with a flourish.
They clapped and high-fived each other, first a quick slap, then a more elaborate routine involving spinning around and ending with a triumphant chest bump.
"YEAAAAAAAAH!" they both yelled, throwing their arms into the air.
"QUIET!" a shrill voice shrieked, making them jump. Madame Pince, her face a mask of furious indignation, stormed out from behind a towering shelf, her eyes blazing. "You two imbeciles! This is a library, not a Quidditch match! And look at this mess! If you don't clean up every single one of those books and replace them exactly where they belong, you'll be reorganizing the entire Restricted Section from top to bottom, by yourselves!"
Echo and Sirius instantly deflated, their triumphant grins replaced by sheepish expressions. "Sorry, Madame Pince," they mumbled in unison, bending down to hastily gather the scattered books.
Madame Pince sniffed disdainfully, gave them one last withering glare, and then bustled back into the depths of the library.
Once her footsteps had faded, Echo straightened up, holding a stack of books, and muttered in a low voice, "Your family is going to lose their minds absolutely. No doubt she's already sent letters to everyone."
Sirius, still rubbing his head, scoffed. "Please. She's probably already been cut off and burnt out of that damn family tree. Good riddance, I say."
"I can almost imagine her sisters' reactions now," Echo mused, a dark smirk touching his lips. He pictured Narcissa receiving the photo, sighing dramatically, and rolling her eyes. Then, his mind turned to Bellatrix, and he could almost hear her raging and screaming at the photograph about blood purity and blood traitors, and on and on and on.
"No doubt it's going to be a small ceremony," Echo continued, "just whoever Andromeda is friends with, and everyone that Ted knows and is family with."
"Andromeda never really liked big, fancy parties anyway," Sirius added, nodding in agreement.
"It'll be good for her," Echo said softly, a genuine warmth in his voice. "She deserves to be happy."
Sirius clapped him on the shoulder, a rare, uncharacteristically gentle gesture. "She does. And so do you, mate. Now, come on, let's get these books put away before Madame Pince decides to turn us into house-elves."
They worked in silence for a while, carefully replacing the scattered books, the previous excitement muted by the library's quiet reverence. Shimmer, sensing their change in mood, dutifully helped by nudging books with its tiny nose, occasionally letting out a soft chitter of encouragement. As they finished, brushing the dust from their robes, a new sense of anticipation settled over them. Andromeda's wedding. It was a chance for joy, for celebration, and for a reunion that had been a long time coming.
"One week, then," Echo said, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Andromeda's wedding. We'll need to get her a gift."
Sirius grinned. "A very magnificent gift, I think. Something to truly annoy the rest of the Black family, if possible."
Echo's lips curved into a slow, wicked smile. "Oh, I think I can arrange that."
The snow fell in thick, silent flakes, dusting the ancient oak trees surrounding the clearing in a pristine white blanket. Inside the magically warmed gazebo, a soft, inviting glow emanated from charmed lanterns, illuminating the dozen guests gathered for Andromeda and Ted's wedding. The air was filled with the comforting scent of mulled cider and an array of homemade dishes lovingly prepared by the attendees. Laughter, soft and genuine, rippled through the small group – a family born of choice, not blood, a stark contrast to the icy silence of Andromeda's past.
Andromeda, radiant in a simple yet elegant white wedding dress that shimmered faintly in the soft light, stood by one of the gazebo's transparent panels, her gaze fixed on the swirling snow outside. Her heart, usually so guarded, was light, yet a faint shadow touched her eyes. The last of the guests, a mix of Ted's Muggle relatives and a few of Andromeda's loyal, if unconventional, friends, had arrived. But two very important figures were conspicuously absent.
"Andromeda?"
She turned, a soft smile gracing her lips as Ted approached her, his kind eyes shining with adoration. He looked remarkably handsome in a tailored suit, a vibrant blue tie accentuating his warm demeanor.
"You look absolutely breathtaking, my love," he whispered, reaching out to gently cup her cheek.
A faint blush rose on her face. "Thank you, Ted," she murmured, leaning in to press a soft kiss to his cheek. His touch was a comforting anchor in the whirlwind of emotions.
She turned back to the window, her gaze once again lost in the mesmerizing dance of the snowflakes.
"What's wrong, darling?" Ted asked, his voice laced with concern, following her gaze.
Andromeda sighed, a small, sad sound. "It's just… I was hoping Sirius and Echo would be here by now. I know it was short notice, but…"
Ted wrapped an arm around her, pulling her into a comforting hug. "They're students, love. And we did send the invitations at the last minute. Everything about this ceremony has been a whirlwind of activity. Perhaps they couldn't swing it."
"I know," Andromeda admitted, leaning into his embrace. "You're right. I just… I was hoping to see them. Even if it was just for a quick hello, a casual greeting."
Ted squeezed her gently. "I'm sure they're sending their warmest… dragon?"
Andromeda pulled back slightly, looking at him, then at the sky beyond the gazebo. Her eyes widened. High above them, circling against the backdrop of the grey, snow-filled sky, was an unusually large and magnificent black dragon. Its massive wings beat slowly, powerfully, stirring the falling snow into a dizzying vortex. And then, it let out a roar – a deep, resonant sound that vibrated through the very air, shaking the glass of the gazebo and echoing across the quiet, snow-laden grounds.
Inside the gazebo, all conversation came to a halt. The dozen guests, both magical and Muggle, looked up, their faces a mixture of awe and alarm. The witches and wizards among them instantly drew their wands with practiced ease, their faces hardening, ready for a fight.
The black dragon, Wick, descended with surprising grace despite its colossal size, landing several yards away from the gazebo with a heavy thump that vibrated through the snow-covered ground. Steam plumed from her nostrils, momentarily obscuring her massive head, as she slowly and deliberately began to trudge towards the gathering. Her large, intelligent eyes, the color of molten gold, swept over the stunned guests. Every face in the gazebo was a mask of nervousness, fear, or outright terror, wands still firmly clutched and pointed at her. Then, a familiar sound, incongruous with the majestic and terrifying presence of the dragon, broke the tense silence.
"Couldn't you have landed this thing a bit closer, Echo?" a voice grumbled from atop Wick's back.
"Don't call Wick a 'thing,' Black!" Echo retorted, his voice muffled. "And what did you expect her to do? Land on the gazebo and crush everyone inside? Or get close enough for her wings to blow everything away as she landed? If anything, this was completely safe! And don't come at my flying skills, Mister-Falls-Off-The-Dragon-Four-Times."
"It was only two, and you know it!" Sirius argued, his voice carrying clearly across the snow. "And I caught myself those other two times!"
"Oh, whoa. You want a medal for semantics, Sirius?" Echo's exasperated voice drifted down as Wick continued her slow, deliberate approach. The tension in the gazebo slowly morphed from pure fear to bewildered amusement.
"Ahem!"
The sharp, authoritative sound cut through their bickering like a knife, making both boys jump. Wick had finally stopped directly in front of the gazebo, her massive head lowered slightly, as if patiently awaiting their next move.
Echo, with a soft thump, hopped off Wick's back, landing gracefully in the snow. He was impeccably dressed in dark formal robes, a subtly shimmering silver tie at his throat, and a small, perfectly wrapped gift clutched in one hand. He looked surprisingly dignified, despite the dragon-borne entrance.
"Andromeda! Ted!" Echo called out, striding forward, a sheepish grin on his face. "So incredibly sorry we're late! We had a group project to turn in today, then we had to sneak out of class, and it was a scramble to get our suits on and wrap the present. We would've been here much earlier if someone," he shot a pointed glare at Sirius, who was still attempting to slide off Wick with less grace, "didn't spend ten minutes preening himself like a Hippogriff."
Sirius finally tumbled off Wick, landing with a soft plop in a snowdrift. He brushed himself off, adjusting his own slightly rumpled formal robes. "Do you really think all of this was an accident, Echo?" he asked, a knowing glint in his eye.
Echo immediately opened his mouth to reply, but Sirius quickly cut him off. "Don't answer that."
Echo blew a loud, exaggerated raspberry at Sirius, then immediately turned back to Andromeda and Ted, his expression shifting to one of theatrical remorse. "I am so, so incredibly sorry for stealing all your thunder, Andromeda, Ted," he said, gesturing dramatically with his gift. "But we were in such a rush to get here, and Wick truly was the fastest option we had."
Sirius, still brushing snow from his robes, scoffed. "You could've just rated us, you know, using the Diricawl like when you come into class just before they start."
Echo rolled his eyes. "And Apparate to a place I've never been before, Black? Even with the Diricawls' natural power to appreciate, it doesn't exactly work like that. Do you want me to splinch myself, or worse, splinch you?"
Andromeda, a warm smile gracing her lips, stepped out of the gazebo and into the soft snow, her white dress rustling faintly. She extended her arms. "Sirius, Echo. I'm so glad you both made it."
They both moved forward instantly, embracing her tightly. Echo, holding his gift carefully so as not to crush it, buried his face in her shoulder. Sirius, with a genuine, heartfelt hug, squeezed her, a rare tear glistening in his eye.
"We also brought you a gift, Andromeda," Echo said, pulling back slightly and presenting the perfectly wrapped package. "Sirius and I… we made it for you. Both of us."
Andromeda's eyes lit up, a genuine warmth radiating from her. "Oh, you shouldn't have! I can't wait to open it. Come inside, both of you. It's freezing out here. And I hope you weren't expecting cake," she added, a teasing note in her voice. "With such short notice, we couldn't arrange for one."
Echo and Sirius exchanged a quick, knowing look, a shared glint of mischief in their eyes.
"Come on, everyone, back inside where it's warm!" Ted called out cheerfully. He was already ushering the other guests further into the glowing gazebo.
Once inside, Andromeda turned to her fiancé with a loving smile on her face. "Ted, this is my cousin Sirius Black and Echo, the boy who helped me finally take the plunge in our relationship."
Ted's kind eyes crinkled at the corners as he extended a hand to Sirius and then to Echo. "It's truly wonderful to meet you both finally. Andromeda speaks of you often. Though," he paused, a puzzled frown creasing his brow, "she never mentioned you two were a couple."
Echo's jaw dropped, and he blinked, utterly stunned into silence. Sirius, on the other hand, let out a choked gasp, a wide, triumphant grin spreading across his face as he looked at Echo, clearly struggling to suppress a laugh.
"WE ARE NOT A COUPLE!" Echo roared, his voice cracking slightly, his face flushing a furious crimson. The guests, startled, all turned to stare. He took a deep, shuddering breath, forcing himself to calm down. "We are not a couple," he repeated, much more softly, though still with a hint of outrage. "We just… bicker. A lot."
Sirius, still grinning, managed to say, "I can see that."
Echo glared at him, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Shut your mouth, Black, or Shimmer will do to you what he did to Bellatrix last year."
Ted looked between the two of them, a knowing, amused smile playing on his lips. "Right. Of course. Just… bickering." He clapped Sirius on the shoulder. "Well, it's a pleasure to meet you both, bickering or not, finally. Andromeda has told me a great deal about you. Now, Echo, I believe you have a gift for my wonderful fiancée?"
Echo, still fuming faintly, snapped his attention back to Andromeda. "Oh! Right!" He carefully handed her the present. "Here you go. We hope you like it."
Andromeda took the package, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. She gently tore at the wrapping, revealing a small, intricately carved wooden box. It was made of a dark, polished wood, inlaid with shimmering mother-of-pearl that formed delicate, swirling patterns of stars and crescent moons. On the lid, etched with exquisite detail, was a miniature, lifelike depiction of a niffler and a sleek, black dog, their forms intertwined in a playful dance.
"Oh, my!" Andromeda breathed, her fingers tracing the carvings. "It's exquisite!" She opened the box, and inside, nestled on a bed of soft, midnight-blue velvet, lay a delicate, silver locket. It was simple, elegant, and entirely unadorned, but as Andromeda picked it up, a faint, almost imperceptible warmth emanated from it.
"It's a remembrance locket," Echo explained, his voice softer now, devoid of his earlier theatricality. "Sirius charmed it so that it will always contain the strongest, happiest memories of love and friendship that you share with the people you care about. It's subtle, so no one will really notice it, but you'll always have those memories close."
Andromeda looked at the locket and then at the two boys, her eyes welling up with tears. "It's the most thoughtful gift anyone has ever given me," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. Thank you, both of you. Truly."
She clasped the locket around her neck, and as it settled against her skin, a faint golden light glowed for a moment, then faded, leaving only the locket's silver gleam. She smiled, a radiant, genuine smile that lit up her entire face. "Now," she said, wiping a stray tear from her eye, "I believe we have a wedding to get on with, don't we?"
The small ceremony proceeded, an intimate and heartfelt affair. Ted's Muggle family, initially a little wide-eyed at the presence of a real, live dragon just outside the gazebo, quickly settled into the joyous atmosphere. Wick, after her grand entrance, had settled into a surprisingly docile heap in the snow, occasionally letting out a soft rumble, as if offering her silent approval.
The perception began after this, and after the priest asked them to take their vows, he finally reached the part everyone had been waiting for.
"Now for the exchange of rings," the priest announced, his voice carrying softly across the magically warmed gazebo. He turned to the young page, who approached with a small, velvet pillow. But as the priest reached for the rings, his brow furrowed. The pillow was empty. A collective gasp rippled through the guests.
Echo, standing beside Sirius, felt a familiar pang of dread. His eyes darted to his pocket. A small, furry form was attempting to extricate itself, tiny hands reaching for the gleaming silverware on a nearby table.
"And where do you think you're going, you little kleptomaniac?" Echo hissed, pulling his wand. With a gentle but firm Accio, Sniffles was yanked from his illicit mission, landing with a disgruntled squeak in Echo's palm. "Give them up, Sniffles," Echo whispered, his voice low and threatening.
Sniffles merely chittered defiantly, burying his face in Echo's hand.
"Alright, just so you know, you wanted it this way," Echo warned, and with a swift movement, he held the Niffler by its tiny feet and shook vigorously. A small cascade of coins, sparkling buttons, and other shiny trinkets rained down, forming a glittering pile at their feet. When the pouch was empty, Echo looked at Sirius. "Help me look, they must have dropped around here."
As they began to scan the ground, Andromeda's voice, laced with amusement, cut through the quiet. "Echo? Over there."
Echo shot his head up. "Yeah?" he asked, looking to his side where Andromeda was pointing. There, perched delicately on a nearby table, was Shimmer, his large black eyes admiring two oversized rings, one on each of his tiny, silver-furred hands.
Echo let out a soft "ahem" and extended an open palm. Shimmer sighed dramatically, carefully slipping the rings off and placing them into Echo's hand. Echo, a sheepish grin on his face, handed the rings to Andromeda and Ted. As they exchanged them, Sniffles, now free from Echo's grasp, rapidly gathered his lost treasures. Echo scooped up the jingling Niffler. "And back into the pocket you go," he said despite Sniffles's protests.
After the rings were exchanged, the priest, with a faint smile on his face, announced them as man and wife. Andromeda and Ted leaned in, sharing their first kiss as a married couple, a moment of pure joy amidst the snow-dusted clearing. The applause was soft but sincere. Echo and Sirius, standing side by side, clapped enthusiastically, genuine smiles on their faces.
Later, as the mulled cider flowed and the laughter grew louder, Echo found himself talking to Ted. The Muggle-born wizard, despite his initial confusion about Echo and Sirius's relationship, proved to be an affable and kind man.
"So, Echo," Ted began, a twinkle in his eye. Andromeda told me you're quite the… unusual student at Hogwarts. She mentioned something about you having a pet Niffler and a Demiguise, though I guess I've seen them myself."
Echo grinned, a hint of his usual mischief returning. "And a griffin, and a Runespoor, and a few flying snakes, and a Merperson girlfriend, and a few others Dumbledore doesn't even know about."
Ted's eyes widened. "Good heavens! Andromeda certainly understated it. You must have quite the time keeping them all a secret."
"Not really. A lot of my creatures, like Wick, are self-sufficient and live out in the wild, and any that I keep in the Room of Requirement are tended to by a magical feeder," Echo admitted, shrugging. "But they're my family. And they keep things interesting." He glanced over at Andromeda, who was laughing with one of Ted's relatives, her face radiating happiness. "She really seems happy, Ted."
Ted's smile softened. "She is. More than I've ever seen her. And that's largely thanks to you, Echo. She told me how you encouraged her to embrace her true feelings, not to be afraid of who she is or who she loves. It took a lot for her to break away from her family's… expectations."
Echo nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. "She deserved to be happy. Everyone does." He paused, then looked at Ted. "You're a good man, Ted. Take care of her."
Ted placed a hand on Echo's shoulder, a look of genuine gratitude in his eyes. "I intend to, Echo. With all my heart."
The magically warmed gazebo was filled with the joyful chatter of guests, the clinking of glasses, and the comforting aromas of the homemade feast. Light, genuine laughter flowed freely as plates were passed and stories were exchanged. Echo, a subtle grin playing on his lips, raised his glass and clinked it gently with a spoon, the soft sound cutting through the celebratory hum.
"Ahem, ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please?" he began, his voice carrying clearly, a playful glint in his eyes. "Sirius and I," he gestured to his grinning co-conspirator, "had a sneaking suspicion that, given the wonderfully short notice of this magnificent event, there might be a certain… confectionery oversight."
A ripple of amused murmurs went through the small crowd.
"So," Sirius chimed in, a triumphant flourish to his voice, "we took the liberty of bringing a little something extra. A special gift, if you will, to truly complete this perfect day."
Echo clapped his hands together with a decisive smack. In a shower of glittering confetti, Pippy, the house elf, apparated into the gazebo, a medium-sized, elegantly decorated wedding cake levitating before her. The cake, three tiers of white frosting adorned with delicate sugar flowers, settled gracefully onto a nearby table.
"On behalf of all the house-elves of Hogwarts, congratulations to the happy couple!" Pippy squeaked, her large eyes beaming with pride, before popping away in another puff of confetti.
Andromeda, her eyes wide with surprise and profound emotion, looked from the cake to Echo and Sirius. A genuine, heartfelt smile lit up her face, and without a word, she moved forward, pulling both boys into another tight embrace. "You two are absolutely incredible," she whispered, her voice thick with gratitude. "Another amazing gift. Thank you, thank you both so much."
She then turned, a new warmth in her heart, and went over to the spot where Pippy had just been, her gaze sweeping the area. With a soft, heartfelt "Thank you, Pippy," she bent down, and though the house elf was long gone, she gently kissed the top of her own head, a gesture of deep appreciation. A faint, almost ethereal giggle seemed to echo in the air, a sign of Pippy's delight.
Ted, his arm around Andromeda's waist, smiled at the thoughtful gesture. Together, they approached the cake. Andromeda, with a hand over Ted's, guided the knife, and with a soft slice, they cut the first piece of their wedding cake as a married couple. Echo, ever vigilant, deftly held back a chittering Shimmer, whose eyes were fixed on the cake with an almost frantic intensity, preventing the Demiguise from launching itself face-first into the delicious confection. Slice by careful slice, they ensured every guest received a generous portion of the delightful, unexpected treat.
The joyous chatter in the gazebo momentarily lulled as Andromeda, her cheeks flushed with happiness, gently clinked her glass with a spoon. Her radiant smile seemed to dim the soft lantern light, drawing all eyes to her and Ted, who stood proudly beside her.
"Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please?" she began, her voice a little breathless with excitement. "Ted and I... we have some very important news to share with you all."
A ripple of anticipation went through the small crowd. Sirius, ever the impish one, leaned forward, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Is it," he drawled, "that you decided to get married in the depths of winter and with such short notice, purely to spite the Black family tradition of spring weddings?"
Andromeda laughed, a melodious sound. "That was certainly part of the appeal, Sirius, I won't deny it. It brings me immense satisfaction to know that news will reach them eventually, and they'll be absolutely beside themselves." She paused, her gaze sweeping over her small, chosen family. "But the real reason, the truly wonderful news is..." She trailed off, a hand flying to her mouth, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears of joy. She was too overcome to finish.
Ted, his arm tightening around her waist, stepped forward, his kind eyes beaming. "We're expecting!" he announced, his voice filled with paternal pride. "Andromeda is already well past her first trimester, and we couldn't be happier!"
A collective gasp of delight filled the gazebo, quickly followed by an explosion of cheers and applause. Guests surged forward, offering hugs and congratulations to the beaming couple. The atmosphere crackled with pure, unadulterated joy.
"WOO-HOO! It looks like Andromeda finally took Echo's advice on 'straddling her legs around Ted and riding him into the sunset'!" Sirius roared, his voice cutting through the celebratory din. A triumphant, albeit slightly inappropriate, grin split his face.
Laughter, shocked gasps, and a few blushes rippled through the crowd. Andromeda's face flushed a deeper crimson, and she buried her face in Ted's shoulder, who himself was struggling between a blush and a hearty laugh.
Echo, his own face turning a shade of furious red, lunged at Sirius, grabbing him by the front of his robes. "SIRIUS ORION BLACK! I am going to throat punch you for real this time!" he seethed, his eyes flashing dangerously. He then whirled around, pointing a trembling finger in the direction of the half-eaten wedding cake, where Shimmer was, at that exact moment, poised for a face-first dive. "SHIMMER! If you put your face in that cake, I swear to Merlin, I will put you on a baby leash!"
Shimmer froze mid-air, a look of profound disappointment crossing his furry face, before slowly backing away from the confectionery temptation.
As the evening wore on, the snow continued to fall gently, blanketing the clearing in an ever-thickening layer of white. Echo and Sirius eventually bid their farewells, promising to visit the newlyweds soon. With another soft thump, Echo and Sirius found themselves once more on Wick's back, rising into the snowy night.
As they flew back towards Hogwarts, the castle lights twinkling in the distance, a comfortable silence settled between them. The exhaustion of the day, coupled with the warmth of the cider and the genuine joy of the wedding, had mellowed Echo.
"She looked really happy, didn't she?" Echo murmured, his voice soft, a rare hint of sentimentality.
Sirius nodded, leaning back against Wick's warm scales. "She did. And it was a nice wedding. Much better than all the fancy, stuffy ones the Black family usually tries to force on people."
Echo chuckled. "Indeed. A Muggle-born. Walburga would be having fits in her grave."
Sirius grinned, then stifled a yawn. "Good. She deserves all the happiness in the world, and all the chaos she brings to that family is just a bonus."
Wick let out a soft rumble, as if in agreement, her massive wings beating a steady rhythm against the wind. As they approached Hogwarts, the ancient stone walls seemed to glow with a comforting warmth.
Echo looked out at the familiar silhouette of the castle, a strange mix of emotions swirling within him. He was tired, genuinely tired, but beneath the weariness was a quiet contentment. He had his friends, his creatures, and a sense of belonging, however unconventional. And for now, that was enough. He closed his eyes, drifting off to the gentle rhythm of Wick's flight, a faint, contented smile on his lips. He was home.