Thank you all for the great reviews and the Favourites and Alerts adds. Enjoy. I know it's late. I have no excuse. On the bright side, I've been looking forward to writing this chapter for a very long time. I hope you enjoy it and leave a review!

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Harry had checked the wards around Hogwarts himself, making sure they were functioning properly. Their enemies could see their wedding day as the perfect day to attack Hogwarts. After all today all the attention would be diverted elsewhere. But as much as he was preoccupied with the well being of the school and its students he could not fight off the nervousness eating at his brain and heart. It was like a disease spreading around his body. His palms were sweating and his hands were shaking slightly.

He was getting married.

God what had possessed him to say that? He was only 17 for God's sake. He froze his thoughts. He knew he loved Lillian and there was no point in dragging their commitment out. The wizarding world needed someone who they could place their trust in and having them two represent the resistance against Voldermort would bring the general spirit of the population up, which would significantly dent Voldermort's forces. But he knew deep down that the reason he was marrying Lillian today was because he needed to give her stability after everything that they had gone through.

"Harry are you ready?" His father called to him. Harry snapped out of his trance. He was back in his father's room, just finishing getting ready.

"Umm yeah. Let's go" he said.

James held him back on the shoulders "Wait son. As a father I need to say something you know…I'm proud of you Harry. You chose a good woman, I'm certain Lillian is the perfect for you. I'm glad that your mother and I lived to see you getting married. Even though we nearly missed it" a tear threatened to fall down his left eye but he quickly wiped it away. "Okay no crying. Go get em' lion" he said and thumped Harry in the back. Months ago such actions would have sent Harry to the floor, but with his new physical strength, he didn't even move an inch. Harry nodded nervously and made his way outside, where the wedding ceremony and reception were taking place.

o.O.o

At a different location in the castle, the bride's bedroom to be exact, the situation was very similar. Lillian was pacing around her bedroom; Penna stared at her through golden eyes. Hermione, the Maid of Honour, was likewise staring.

"Perhaps if you focus on something else it might calm your nerves" the bushy haired woman said.

Lillian paused for a few moments before she contemplated Hermione's advice.

"That might be a good idea. Yes… I can check the wards around the castle again. You never know, someone might try to attack when our guard is down"

"Although that is unlikely, if it gets your mind relaxed, then go ahead" Hermione answered, sitting on the large bed, gently running her hand over the smooth yet indestructible golden feathers of Penna's head. Lillian closed her eyes and focused her magic, expanding it and letting it reach out and connect to the gigantic sized wards around the castle. There were exactly 52 layers of protection. She checked each layer individually; it was a highly intricate combination of spells and charms. The basics originated from Merlin magic but 90% of the wards she had spent weeks making from scratch. Voldermort had stolen books from her home after all, meaning he had knowledge about how Merlin magic worked. Luckily for all of them Voldermort would need an amazing amount of magical power to work any Merlin spell. In his normal health state it would have been possible but in his post-Hogwarts battle condition, he stood no chance. But still, it didn't hurt to reinforce the shields again. She recognized Harry's unique magical presence the moment she touched them. He had thought the same thing she did. A smile graced her features. She began her work. Only those with an invitation would be allowed through the wards. Checking each layer took time, before she knew it, Hermione was nudging her shoulder, and informing her it was time to go.

"There's still a few layers Hermione" Lillian said.

"But it's time. The bride can't be too fashionably late. It will be fine, today is your special day"

Lillian sighed and retreated from the wards. She gave Hermione a smile, "I'm getting married today".

Hermione didn't say anything; instead she returned the smile and led the bride out the door.

o.O.o

The big wedding day had finally arrived. The reception was all done, covered in beautiful white roses and silk covered chairs. All the guests had arrived; nobody would dare miss the event of the century. Everyone was gathered. It was a Saturday afternoon so the entire school was present. Guests were in their very best dress robes while students made sure their uniforms were extra cleans and crispy. Important figures, such as the members of the Wizengamot, sat in front with their family crests proudly displayed at the front of their cloaks. The immediate family of the groom, meaning James and Lily, were standing besides Kingsley Shaklebolt, who would be performing the ceremony. Originally it was Minister Scrimgeour who would be doing it but he was absent and no one had heard from him. Harry figured he got caught up in Ministry business.

Harry knew it had started when Penna and William flew down the aisle (causing all the guests to stand up), gracefully dancing around each other before landing softly and silently on their pedestals, especially placed to the left and right of Shaklebolt. Hermione came first, dressed in cream silk robes that went to her feet. A wreath of yellow daisies circled her head as she walked down the aisle and joined the Best Man, Ron, at the front.

Lillian let out a deep breath as she turned to face the aisle, taking the first slow step towards Harry. All eyes were on her. And what a feast those eyes had. She was a goddess in white, the delicate lace blowing in the afternoon wind, caressing both her skin and her hair. Her dress had a v-neck design, allowing her Soul Mate Mark to be visible to everyone. Harry caught his breath. Her mahogany hair looked bright red in the sun; it seemed to gain life of its own, shining out in contrast to the white of her dress. It was pinned up, only a few planned curly strands fell down as she too carried a wreath, only hers were white, of daisy flowers on her head. He couldn't take his eyes off her. And neither could she.

Before either of them knew it, Lillian was in front of Harry.

He released his breath "Hi" he said quietly and anxiously.

"Hi" she was equally nervous. He took her hand and led her towards Kingsley.

"Dearly beloved we are here today to celebrate the union of Harry James Potter and Lillian Merlin" knowing the bride had no family Kingsley skipped the 'Who gives this woman away?' part. "These two stand here before you because they have decided to unite their lives together and spend the rest of their time on this earth at each other's side. True love is often hard to find but these two now stand before me, their love a true part of their being just as their magic is. It is my honour to unite these two in the biding contract of marriage. Do you Harry James Potter take Lillian Merlin to be your wife, honour, respect, cherish and protect her, in the good and bad times, in sickness and in health; until death do you part?"

"I do" Harry answered, confidence was rushing through his veins. Happiness was his drive and at this very moment he had never been happier. Serenity, who was sitting on the front row, let a tear fall down her face. She had never imagined her parent's wedding to have been like this.

"Do you Lillian Merlin take Harry James Potter to be your husband, honour, respect, cherish and protect him, in the good and bad times, in sickness and in health; until death do you part?"

"I most certainly do" she laughed, a tear being pulled by gravity down her cheek.

"Will the power vested in me by the Ministry of Magic and by all of you, I know pronounce you husband and wife. I present to you Mr and Mrs Merlin-Potter. You may kiss your bride" he told Harry. Harry and Lillian stared deeply into each other's eyes and smiled as they leaned in to share their first kiss together as a married couple.

They broke apart and as the audience were about to cheer and clap someone beat them to it. As the bride and groom broke apart the loud clap resonated through the crowd waiting patiently for the couple to break apart. It was the pause and tones of the clap that alert people that it was not a congratulatory clap. More like an arrogant and intruding one. Heads turned and faced the man at the end of the aisle. Lillian and Harry turned last, still radiating bliss from their kiss. Lillian's face changed from utter happiness to complete shock and disbelief. Her hands, which were cradled in Harry's, tightened and grew cold.

The man smirked at the bride. His light brown eyes met Lillian's sky blue ones and a name escaped her lips before she would stop herself. A name she thought she would never utter again, for the saddest reasons.

"Nicholas" she whispered. Few people managed to hear her.

"Hello my dear sister" the handsome man named Nicholas said. Harry didn't like the way the dear sounded. It sounded forced and at the same time sarcastic.

Lillian let go of Harry's hands, no doubt to begin running towards her brother, the brother she thought to be dead at the hands of Voldermort. Relief covered her face.

"You're… alive Nicholas. Oh God you're alive!" Lillian began to hurriedly walk towards Nicholas but his sharp "Stop!" ceased her in her tracks.

"Wha…?" she began.

His smile grew. Harry did not like where this was going. The almost acidic feeling in his gut grew by the second. Something was not right here. But if this was truly Nicholas he would not deny his wife the right to meet her long lost brother.

"You know Lillian…those wards. I knew you were a smart but this" he waved his arms in a circular motion above his head, emphasising the shape of the wards "Wow! This is pure genius. Fifty-two layers of genius to be exact"

Lillian's mind began to kick in over the shock of her brother being alive. Deep in her mind she wondered how he managed to get in. Only invited guests could enter Hogwarts. She finally noticed. The sweat on his forehead, under the smirk there was an exhausted face and her senses told her his magic levels were much depleted.

"Took a while to break but I managed, just just barely. The first 45 layers were tough, newly enforced protection layers are just that. But luckily for me you didn't finish your last check and the weakness of the remaining layers allowed me to slip through. But look at you! I couldn't miss this! I watched you at the battle of Diagon Alley, damn sis; you were never that kick-ass before. It's almost a shame" he added the last part slightly quieter, as if talking to himself "You are looking beautiful may I add"

"Nicholas! What happened to you? What is this about?" Lillian asked.

"So many questions must be going through that brilliant mind of your sis. No wonder you escaped the attack to that prison" Nicholas started "That mind that could put everything at risk. But I will give you the satisfaction of answering your questions. After all the reason I chose to interrupt now rather than at the 'Who gives this woman to this man' which I guess you skipped to avoid her the embarrassment" Lillian's face portrayed her disbelief while gasps erupted among the guests "But hey the brother is here!" he let a diabolical laugh escape his lips "You know Lillian I never actually thought you would reach this point in life. I finally figured it out" another menacing laugh. People were too shocked to moved, dreading what was about to happen "It took a while. I bet you're wondering to yourself how I managed to stay invisible to your magical sensing…how I managed to play dead. The answer sis…well it's killing. Hahaha! Killing Lillian! Merlins are so pure, such a source for light and positive magic that the act of killing my own blood purged the link between myself and the source of Merlin's power!"

"No! You lie! You couldn't have. Nicholas what are you saying?" Lillian shouted "Whatever did we do to you? You are one of us!"

"NO! I AM NOT! Do you want to know what you did? You are perfect! You, the first born twin! The perfect child; the one with the amazing gift…the future matriarch of our family! All of them and their persistent sermons on goodness and protecting the balance of the world, such bullshit. We are gods Lillian! We are gods amongst humans! Our power could bring countries down to their knees…yet…yet you squander it on ants! Mother and her 'dreams' of a happy life for us knowing full well we would never set foot outside that damn fortress! Forever serving others, using your power to help others. The power that should have been mine! You stole it from me. You got the Resuscitation and what do I get? Huh? The power to know how things work? Well Lillian today it's your special day isn't it? The blushing bribe, although I guess by now less of the blushing"

"Hey! Don't talk about her like that you psychopath" Harry began.

"Shut it Potter! I would love to deal with you but Voldermort has plans for you. Although I don't really give a shit about what that freak says and does, he has been very useful to me. The attack on Hogwarts left him scarred both physically and magically, which makes me believe that although you don't look the part, you must have had some major damage to you as well; damage that your regenerative powers could cure immediately. So sis, I will finish what I started; I used my power and finally figured out the trick behind Mother's immortality, an ability she decided to pass to you! I should have gotten it! I am better than you, I figured out the loop hole that you didn't know about. Hahaha! You know muggles as worthless and insignificant as they are, are actually rather good at making things to harm one another" He kept looking at her puzzled face "You still don't get it do you. Maybe I underestimated your intelligence. Your immortality only works on keeping you alive from magical attacks, even the slightest hint of magic on the weapon will be repelled so" a figure appeared from behind him. A man, a muggle from the looks of him, took his hand out of his pocket and pointed a gun at Lillian.

Most of the guests did not know what the gun was, but those who were muggle-born knew perfectly well what it was. It happened so fast. Later many versions of the events would be told but one thing was for certain; Nicholas' last words echoed in everyone's mind.

"I'm tired of living in your shadow. From this day of happiness comes your downfall sister…heal this!" Nicholas shouted and laughed. The gun went off, the muggle didn't even blink.

For Harry everything went in small motion. Nicholas' words echoed in his mind, the gun shot a bullet of coldness through his veins; he knew full well what it did. But he was frozen on the spot, dreading what was to come. All his training… all his studying. It meant nothing. It equalled to nothing and the bang echoed in ears and he saw the figure of his new wife fall on the ground. He looked at Nicholas for a split second and registered his satanic smile before he snapped the shooter's neck and Apparated away. The wards were gone; he could come and go as he pleased.

Harry ran towards Lillian, maybe a fraction of a second had passed. She had not yet reached the floor. What he saw would forever be burned in his mind. Amongst the screams and hordes of people trying to run towards the safety of Hogwarts he saw Lillian on the floor.

Scarlet blood staining her pure white dress.

Crimson blood soaking her body.

From the giant hole right in the middle of her Soul Mate Mark.