Snapestudiedhisgodson,dekedoutinweddingrobes.“No.Butitisonethingtoknowitandanothertobelieveit.AndthinkingthatyourgodsonisinlovewithHarryPotterisverydifferentfromtrulyknowingthesamefat.”
Draodidn’treply,butlookeddownatthetworingsagain.Afteramomenthemurmured.“Iknow.I’mstillsurprisedmyself.”
Assundownneared,guestsbegantoswarmtheManorandHarrymadehiswaydownthelongpathleadingtotheManor,withLupinbyhisside.
“Areyounervous?”Lupinasked.
“Alittle.”
Lupin’ssmilewasaknowingone.“Trynottobe.Thisisyourdayafterall.YoursandDrao’s.It’sadaytoberememberedsothatyouantellittofuturegeions.Anditwouldn’tbeaveryiingstoryifyouonlyrememberbeingnervous.”
Harrysmiledabsentlyattheremarkbeforeasking,“Doyouthinktheywouldbeokaywiththis?Myparents?Sirius?”
“Ithinkthatitwouldhavetakensomegettingusedto,espeiallyforJamesandSirius.Lillywouldhavelovedtheidearightaway,butitmighthavetakenaweekorsoforJamesandSiriustoseewhatshewouldhaveimmediately.ButIdothinkthatatthismoment,wereJamesorSiriusinmype,theywouldbothbeveryproudofandhappyforyou.”
Harry’slosestfriendssurroundedhimasLupinledhimupthewalkway.Thepathwaslinedwithssmatesandfriendswhoallsmiledathimandjoinedthegroupastheypassed.Drao’slosefriendsstoodnearhimashewathedHarrywalktowardshim.
WhenHarryhadwalkedtowhereDraostoodinfrontofthergedoubledoorstotheManor,LupinpedHarry’shandinDrao’soutstrethedoneandstoodbaktoSnapeasthetwofaedeahother.
Inalearvoie,Draospoke,“WhereyouareGaia,IamGaius.”
“WhereyouareGaius,IamGaia,”Harryreplied.
Snapesteppedforwardwiththeweddingrings,andDraopedHarry’sringonhisfingerwitharevereneHarryhadneverseenfromhimbefore.HarrythenpikedupDrao’sringfromtheboxSnapeheldandsliditontoDrao’sfinger.
“UbituGaia,egoGaius,”Draospokeinlittlemorethanawhisper,andHarryrespondedinkind,“UbituGaius,egoGaia.”