A year had passed since Auron stole an invisibility cloak, adopted a basilisk as a surprise hunting toy, and accidentally made half the British goblin population develop stress-induced migraines.
All in all, a productive twelve months.
Now the sun rose over a quiet glade deep within Artemis's sacred forest, casting silver-touched light through the leaves. The clearing had been transformed: strings of moonlit lanterns drifted lazily through the air, silver ribbons hung from branches, and a long aisle of soft moss led toward a wide marble altar.
It would have been beautiful.
It would have beenif the Olympians weren't arguing over seating arrangements.
"With all due respect," Hermes said, waving a seating chart, "I should sit near the cake."
"No one is sitting near the cake," Artemis snapped. "I saw what you tried to do at Aphrodite's last wedding."
"It was ONE flaming cupcake."
"It set the drapes on fire," Apollo said cheerfully, polishing his bow. "And the host."
Hermes sniffed. "He deserved it. He was rude."
Auron stood there watching his divine relatives bicker, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"This is my wedding day," he muttered. "My actual wedding day. Why is this happening?"
Zoe Nightshade, looking both elegant and seconds away from throttling someone, patted his shoulder. "Because you, brother, are cursed with family."
Phoebe snorted as she adjusted her silver armor. "Welcome to our misery."
Meanwhile, Harry ran laps around the glade in his tiny silver suit, waving a toy raptor plushie over his head like it was a battle standard.
"AURON! LOOK! MY RAPTOR IS EATING THE SUN!"
Auron blinked at the sky. "Harry, don't point that at Apollo."
Apollo gasped. "HOW DARE YOU INSULT ME WITH A TOY LIZARD?"
Harry giggled and ran faster.
Lily, beautiful, serene, wearing a white dress threaded with silver, stood off to the side, adjusting her veil and watching the chaos with the same expression one might use when watching a pack of highly caffeinated raccoons.
"Tell me again," she asked Artemis, "why weddings with gods are like this?"
"Because," Artemis said dryly, "we tried not inviting Zeus once, and the kingdom of Lydia imploded."
Lily nodded solemnly. "Right. So… tradition."
"Exactly."
Just then, thunder rolled overhead.
Zeus arrived.
Thankfully, this year, he came in a form less likely to traumatize mortals: an older, dignified man with stormy eyes and a beard that absolutely thought very highly of itself.
"Hrmph," Zeus grumbled as he landed. "My granddaughter-in-law-to-be looks radiant. My grandson looks passable."He paused, then added begrudgingly,"…and I am happy."
Auron blinked. "Zeus… did you just say you're happy?"
Zeus scoffed and glanced away. "Don't make this emotional, boy."
Hermes whispered to Apollo, "He's practicing being soft again."
Zeus growled. Lightning struck a nearby tree. The tree apologized.
"Well!" Athena appeared next, looking elegant and very annoyed. "Can we begin the ceremony before someone dies?"
"Or after someone dies," Ares suggested casually. "Either works."
"No death," Artemis hissed. "This is a wedding."
"Fine," Ares muttered. "But if someone accidentally gets stabbed, I call dibs on the soul."
Lily sighed. "This is normal, right?"
Auron squeezed her hand. "Shockingly, yes."
When the lanterns lit themselves and the forest grew silent, Artemis stepped forward, silver bow in hand, her power settling like moonlight over calm water.
She smiled softly at her son.
"To my Hunt's little brother, my moonborn child… and to Lily, whose courage and fire make even Olympus acknowledge her strength… I bless this union."
Lily's eyes sparkled.
Auron's throat tightened.
And then Harry, standing proudly as the ring bearer, shouted:
"KISS HER!"
"Not yet, Harry," Lily whispered through a smile.
"BUT I WAITED A WHOLE YEAR!"
Zeus cleared his throat dramatically. "As King of Olympus, I grant divine permission for—"
Hermes cut in: "Just hurry up, we're losing daylight."
"WE ARE IMMORTAL, TIME MEANS NOTHING!"
"DAD LET THEM MARRY," Apollo groaned.
Zeus threw up his hands. "FINE. I, ZEUS, KING OF THE GODS—"
At this point, Artemis physically shoved him aside.
"You may kiss the bride," she said flatly.
Auron swept Lily close and kissed her, soft and deep and filled with a year's worth of love, laughter, and stolen midnight moments.
The forest glowed.
The Hunt cheered.Harry threw flower petals in the wrong direction.Zeus pretended not to wipe a tear.Fawkes, now bonded to Auron, let out a triumphant trill that shook the branches.
It was perfect.
After the feast, when laughter had mellowed and stars blinked awake overhead, Hades arrived quietly.
He stepped from the shadows wearing a midnight suit and carrying a scroll.
Lily tensed.
Auron bowed politely. "Uncle Hades."
Hades offered the scroll with a small, surprisingly soft smile.
"For the newlyweds," he said. "A gift."
Auron accepted it and unrolled it slowly.
His brows rose.
Lily gasped.
Harry peeked around Auron's elbow.
The scroll read:
I took that little piece of S*@t soul fragment out of Harry.
Auron blinked. "He… he means Voldemort, right?"
Hades nodded. "I removed the prophecy as well. You're welcome."
Auron stared. "What did the Ministry say?"
"They screamed," Hades said casually. "Then fainted."
Harry, delighted: "COOL!"
Lily covered her mouth, tears forming, shoulders shaking.
Auron pulled her into his arms.
A prophecy broken.A scar cleansed.A child freed.
Hades added, "Oh, and I left the rest of the Horcruxes neatly stacked in your hut's front yard. I assumed you wanted the fun of breaking them yourself."
"Uncle," Auron whispered, eyes stinging, "thank you."
Hades shrugged. "It was either this or another toaster."
Then he melted back into shadows like a moody goth uncle with a heart of gold.
Zeus strode up next with a massive grin.
"As a formal wedding present," Zeus announced proudly, "the Olympian Council has decided unanimously to grant you the right to deal with Voldemort as you wish."
Auron raised a brow. "Meaning…?"
"Meaning," Zeus said with a booming laugh, "you may go kill him now! Or later! Or use him as fertilizer!"
Phoebe: "Or the Hunt could"
Artemis: "NO. This is a wedding."
Auron shook his head, laughing softly.Lily leaned into him.Harry jumped, cheering like this was the best day of his life.
Maybe it was.
As Auron picked Lily up bridal-style and carried her through silver moonlight toward their cabin, she whispered:
"What now?"
Auron kissed her forehead.
"Now? We celebrate."He glanced at the scroll again."And tomorrow?"
His eyes glowed silver.
"We finish what's left of Voldemort… and then give Harry the life he deserves."
Fawkes trilled.
The forest hummed.
And far away, in a dark little corner of the world, a weakened mortal Tom Riddle jolted awake and whispered:
"…I suddenly feel very unsafe."