The Hayes & Finnigan Wedding

The ceremony had been lovely - short and sweet, the annoying over-personalized filler that seemed to be present in so many other weddings was lacking, though Gisele was sure this was out of necessity rather than good taste. The reception room was well put together too; filled to the brink with tables to be filled by the guests. She had noticed the heaping buffet but had yet to find her appetite so Gisele made her way towards the bar and ordering a class of champagne for both herself and Katarina.

Within a few minutes Gisele had found her way back to her little brunette date and passed her the flute, which she took with the slightest bit of trepidation. "We'll be here for awhile. You're going to need it." Gisele offered as some slim form of encouragement/explanation. She was slightly offended that the other girl wasn't more grateful that she had remembered the one kind of alcohol that Katarina did drink. If she had been here alone something a tad stronger might have been called for.

"See anyone you know yet?" Gisele asked, glancing around the room. No matter how much she really did like the other Ravenclaw, a little more diverse company would have been appreciated.

"Some Gryffindors. No one really." Katarina shrugged, still eying the bubbling glass in front of her. Cautiously she reached out and took it in hand then brought it to her lips, barely enough to take the smallest of sips. If she takes that pace she'll likely get through the entire night on the single glass. Gisele thought with slight amusement. The band began to play and Gisele was grateful for the music that immediately filled the silence Kat loved to provide.

Gisele could tell the other brunette was uncomfortable - while she was always the quietest in their dorm, she could at least be counted on for a civil conversation. It was public events like these that she sometimes got strange at and from experience Gisele knew that with continued prodding and a little more champagne she would be able to get the Rookwood out for at least one dance by the end of the night. But, until then, Gisele would continue to wish she had brought Adrienne as her date.

- - -

Avery went to hand Robin her glass but he shook his head. "I couldn't. I'll go get something." Robin stood and pushed his chair in behind him. "Save my seat?"

Robin moved towards the bar, smiling and saying hello to his acquaintances that passed. It was no surprise that Keiran and Robin had become friends, considering how many people were mutually known. Much like he and Avery apparently did, they shared the same circles from Quidditch and friendships. But at the moment Robin had little interest in catching up. He had three objectives: find Della, return to Avery, and get something to drink.

The drink was quickly becoming the most urgent. As he reached the line for the bar Robin scanned the crowd for any sign of the girl he had arrived with. He mentally kicked himself for sitting for going to see Avery before he had sought her out. The chances that she was either dead, killing, or gone were much too high for Robin to feel comfortable without her in his eyesight. He knew he had always treated Cordella Quinn like too much of an adult but now when she was older than ever he was forced to think of her as a child - in constant need of care and attention.

Of course, Robin couldn't help but be a little annoyed with himself for bringing her. He should have known better. But there was nothing to be done now except dance and drink - the latter of which was about to be accomplished and the former would come soon enough.

Keiran lifted an eyebrow in slight surprise as Millie suggested they find some of his folks and chat with them. Glancing about in an attempt to place his part of the group, he spotted Avery sitting with Robin. The two were quite close together until Robin excused himself, Avery nodding and smiling at him. Keiran smiled at Mille, and gestured in the direction of his best friend's table.

He followed her over and grinned at Avery as she stood to greet them. “Well,” Keiran began, giving the blonde a one-armed hug, “that wasn't as entirely nerve-wracking as I expected originally.”

“I'm glad you're able to admit it.” Avery joked. Turning to look at Millie, Avery's eyes nearly laughed with her smile. “I hope you can put up with him, Melissa.”

“Quiet, you.” Keiran warned with a half smile tugging at his mouth. Glancing down at Millie, he hoped she wouldn't take Avery seriously. The woman had a tendency to enjoy messing with her best mate more than she really should have. “She rather likes to annoy me, I'm afraid,” He told Melissa belatedly, “I should have warned you.”

Avery shrugged and took a drink from her glass. Keiran frowned, wishing he had picked up a drink before starting to make the rounds. As much as he knew he shouldn't, the man was seriously interested in downing something quite strong. Or just taking a nap. All of the people around him made him feel uncomfortable. At least he had people like Avery who would calm him down. Hopefully, Keiran mused, Millie could be that person in the future.

Just as the silence was starting to stretch, his parents joined their circle, hugging both him and Millie, then grinning at Avery. Keiran's mum looked loads better by now, seemingly coming to terms with the fact that it was done with, and things were different now. His eyes, however, were drawn to his father, who looked rather uncomfortable. Keiran made a mental note to speak with his dad before he left. Maybe if Melissa decided she wanted to dance with some of her friends or something, he could catch Aiden's eye.

“You look beautiful, dear,” Bridget was saying to Melissa as Keiran's attention returned to the rest of the group. Avery and Keiran smiled, nodding in agreement. She was, indeed, he mused.

It was a happy affair: that was something that Millie knew she had to remember. Yet, somehow, the event was still tinged with a sadness she couldn’t quite examine the cause of. She thought perhaps it might’ve been the loss and absence of her father or the nature of how the wedding came to take place. Perhaps it was the lack of her old lover, the only form of closure she could ever get from him. Perhaps it was knowing that, as a result of a silly law and an even sillier illness that would creep up on them all during the winter season when once again disease would be rife, Kieran was as stuck with her as she was with him. Yet, neither of them were particularly upset by it. They just got on - like the true Brits they were, she supposed.

Following Kieran’s lead, Millie entered fully the reception area of the barn. She smiled briefly at Avery, not entirely sure who the woman actually was really, and laughed at the appropriate point, ignoring the sting of her full name. Even her grandmother didn’t get away with that. She was just Millie. Of course, strangers weren’t to know that. Strangers. Her new family, of sorts. Yet, they were strangers.

“Suppose I could always hex him if he bugs me,” she responded with a half-shrug, a smile slight on the side of her mouth.

It wasn’t a time to glaze over and zone out and thus, Millie fought to keep a hold of her consciousness and focus on the situation at hand. Yet, it was only when she was wrapped up in her mother-in-law that she truly snapped to attention, smiling brightly at the compliment which she felt as totally unnecessary. The wedding paraphernalia was never something Millie had wanted to subscribe to. A pair of jeans and a t-shirt would have done the job just as adequately.

“Oh, I don’t know.” She shook her head. “I could fit a train under this thing.” She pulled the dress a little around her hip and smiled a little before adding, “I hope you enjoy yourself. Feel free to hide from my mother if you come across her.”

---

Across the room, it was becoming apparent that stealth wasn’t going to be Cordella’s strongpoint. She’d had enough of the skulking around and being around Gisele but unable to be with Gisele was stifling and mind-boggling. Eventually, she’d have to approach the woman and Cordella that now was as good as ever. So, carefully she began to pick her way through the crowd of people towards Gisele and Katarina who, as ever, were thick as thieves.

However, part way there Cordella lost her nerve and spun around, taking a glass of champagne off of a passing tray for the sake of Dutch courage. It brought little comfort to her though and despite herself she continued to move towards the two raven haired girls, her eyes fixed penetratingly on the Frenchwoman whom she’d come to love most ardently. Regardless of knowing better, of knowing Robin would string her up by her toes for being so blatantly foolish, Cordella had to see Gisele.

If it was the last thing she did.

Somehow, someway, she found herself standing before the two young women, slightly lost for words.

But being in someone else’s skin certainly had its benefits.

A smile spread on Cordella’s lips, focusing her gaze on Gisele.

“Hi there,” she offered. “Which side are you? Bride or groom?”

The spread of food looked lovely but Gisele still couldn't quite find her appetite. She had been living mostly on salads lately, perhaps in some bizarre attempt to eat as many living plants as she could before winter destroyed them. Meats had fallen almost completely out of her diet and when she did include them they felt heavy in her stomach. The only thing Gisele was truly excited for was Christmas when the waves of cinnamon, eggnog, and pumpkin pie would overcome her tastebuds.

Gisele had always adored winter. As a young girl there had been nothing more magical than the first snow and she had old habits of catching snowflakes on her tongue. Ice crystals glittered and even before the carolers started she felt as though the wind was whispering music through the air. Perhaps she had watched one too many sappy Christmas movies but there was no time that Gisele liked better. The cold didn't feel so cold when you were snuggled by the fire, surrounded by family, and wrapped up in blankets.

This year Gisele seemed to be less enthusiastic about the upcoming winter. It was feeling less like a Wonderland and more like it really was - all the growth and life dying around her. But before the melodrama could get the best of her the pepper-up potion always seemed to kick in and she would return to the half little Ravenclaw girl she had always kid the world into thinking she was. Tonight, the combination of the potion and the champagne had left her in a surprisingly good mood, despite the completely lack of excitement coming from Katarina.

The golden champagne was almost gone from her glass when Gisele's attention was caught by a blonde girl who had stopped at their table. She spoke and for a moment Gisele was surprised.

"The bride's an old friend. And you?" she inquired, tilting her head slightly to the side. She didn't recognize this girl from Hogwarts, though she looked possibly young enough to go. But maybe she was older, Gisele could see that too. All she was sure of was that she had never seen her before. You didn't just forget a face like this girls. Yes, she was quite attractive indeed and suddenly Gisele felt much less bored with the event. Unconsciously she played with the flute in her hands, the last drops of her drink swirling around the bottom.

"Are you a friend of Keiran's?"

Avery grinned at Millie's response, though she caught Keiran's frown at her holding a drink. Her best friend seemed to be either in need of drink, or interested in getting drunk to some extent. She mused faintly that perhaps it would make their evening or honeymoon, if they had one planned, a bit less awkward. The idea didn't want to settle in her stomach, but Avery knew it was because she worried for Keiran and his family. None of them had expected this so soon, even with the law being in and around their lives. These two weren't the first to get married due to the law, but even being second could put some pressure on them.

Bridget was laughing brightly at Millie's response, though Aiden and Keiran were seemingly elsewhere, lost in their thoughts. Keiran's eyes focused once more as he leaned down to speak to Melissa. “I think I might go get a drink. I can bring you one if you want, or we could part and meet up again in a bit. If you want to chat with your friends, that is.”

Avery set one hand on her hip and gave him a small frown, brow furrowed. “Haven't you realized what time it is, Hayes?” Keiran lifted an eyebrow – Avery never called him by his last name. Not unless he had screwed up royally.

As if on cue, the music started and the group turned to glance at the wall it came from. Mr. and Mrs. Hayes had offered to pay for the live band provided that the group chosen could play whichever song Millie and Keiran decided they liked best for their first dance. Avery nodded her head in the direction of the dance floor. “You two have to go on so the rest of us can dance.”

Standing up straighter, Keiran turned to face Millie and offered her his hand. “Shall we? I daresay they're all expecting it.” A smile flashed over his features as his parents and Avery sat down to move out of their way. After Millie had agreed, he led her out and gave her a spin before taking up the usual position – one hand in hers and one on her shoulder blade. As much as Keiran would say he didn't like dancing, this certainly wasn't a time to show it. Perhaps he could learn to like it.

The music hadn’t been up to anyone. Again, it had arrived off of the back of a truck like many of the other great ideas that Elliot Finnigan had. However, when the first fizzles of fingertips over the strings of a guitar whispered overhead, Millie felt gooseflesh rise up over her skin. The beginnings of the whistling she knew so well broke overtop next as the musician began to strum more fully, Millie understood what exactly would be demanded of her and Kieran without Avery even needing to prompt - it was merely a clarification. Yet, horror didn’t engulf Millie quite like she expected it to. However, that didn’t mean her hesitance and her fear wasn’t there - merely under the surface, instead.

Allowing Kieran to lead her out into the area allotted for the dancing, Millie let herself fold into the ever so slightly awkward hold. She looked up at Kieran limply through her clotted eyelashes and blinked absently before returning to avert her gaze. She couldn’t quite grasp the necessity of exhibiting themselves quite like they had been forced to and neither could she find it within herself to want to. The first dance was something for true, real partners in life - not two people flung together by a poorly-conceived law and thinly veiled threats as to what would happen if they did not choose to comply.

At some point, she became aware of the appearances of others on the floor and she reopened eyes she had not realised she’d closed to see Gisele being led out by a particularly interesting blonde who had attended on the behest of Robin. It didn’t take a genius to work out who it was, either, but Millie wasn’t going to be the one to upset the precariously balanced plate. After all, anyone who went to Hogwarts with them knew that only one person had ever had true and consistent eyes for Gisele Delacour and that was Cordella Quinn, blonde or otherwise.

Of course eventually the music changed and Millie looked up at Kieran as the first beats were counted in with the vocals.

“Do you want to get that drink, then?” Millie asked quietly, the obligation to continue dancing long, long over.

Keiran wasn't about to voice his opinions about the awkward, required dance. Instead he kept quiet and just sort of swayed along with her. The tradition, he mused, made sense if one wanted to be married. But for those who were required and then partnered with someone they didn't love, like himself and Millie, it became that awkward reminder that this was what they were getting. This was their first dance – likely their only first dance, unless the law was repealed and some other such nonsense happened. He wasn't sure that Melissa would want to stay with him once the law was lifted, though, if it was. Why would she?

“Yes, a drink is necessary at this point.” He agreed, doing his best to hide the frown that attempted to work onto his face. It wasn't like it was Millie's fault. Not really. But then, it wasn't his, either.

From her seat at the table, Avery could see how strange the whole scene must have looked and felt, especially for the newlyweds forced into dancing. She almost felt bad for pushing Keiran out towards the dance floor. But at the same time, she wanted them to both get through it as well as get it over with. The mothers expected, tradition dictated that it should be so, and no one else was really supposed to dance until the new couple had.

Keiran nodded slightly at people they passed as he led Millie towards the drinks and the table meant for the food line. Avery was sitting again, still sans Robin, but looked content enough to watch things happen around her. He had learned while at AETAS that she actually quite enjoyed people watching, and though she never said so, Keiran sometimes wondered if that was because it meant that people probably weren't watching her. She wasn't a fan of being put on the spot or being the center of attention. As far as he knew, she had been that way since she was very young. Since her parents' divorce, or thereabouts. He hadn't made a point to ask.

“I was going to talk with Robin or Avery if you wanted to chat with anyone, or hang out with friends or anything. Or you could sit with us if you want.” Keiran offered, gesturing to the table where Avery was saying something to Bridget as she passed by. “Up to you.”