4 YEARS LATER

Planning the wedding of someone that was actually in my acquaintance – someone that was practically family – always meant that I was more involved, more excited to plan the wedding. Of course, I always wanted the best for all of my clients but when it came to my family and my friends I became ready to cause someone real pain if they got in the way of their happily ever after. But, it also meant that I found it that much harder to reel the bride and groom back in when it came to some of their more unrealistic demands.

That would never be the case for the bride sitting in front of me. Molly Weasley took after her grandmother so much so that the bride-to-be walked into my office with a folder of her own full of the ideas that she wanted to work through. Salazar, I loved working with organised brides; it made things so much easier and straightforward. Currently, we were aiming at creating a shortlist of venues that she wanted to book viewings for at a later date.

We were making good progress until there was the sound of apparition.

"James Potter," I called out loudly, surprising Molly who looked up sharply. With a sigh, I pointed to my entryway where sure enough, he was standing. "He's the only person that apparates in and out of here. No matter how many times I tell him not to."

"It's quicker than having to walk in through the front door," he defended, walking towards me and greeting his cousin with a smile.

"Would you please stop dropping by whenever I have clients to see to?" I asked with a sigh, seeing no need to rise to my feet to greet him. "It's really annoying and highly unprofessional."

"It's only Molly," he said with a roll of his eyes. "You don't mind, do you Mols?"

"Not at all," the older witch said, shooting a knowing glance in my direction.

"See."

"Well, I mind." I shot back, crossing my arms.

"Why?" James grinned, arching an eyebrow in the way he knew annoyed me. "Am I really that distracting for you, love?"

"Yes," I scoffed. "It's because you're so annoying. Why are you even here?"

"We have a lunch date. Remember? I thought I'd drop by early to come and see you."

"Well go and sit in the waiting room," I ordered, pointing down the hall.

"Fine." He rolled his eyes, moving to do just that before he backtracked to walk towards his cousin. Squeezing Molly's shoulder, he grinned at her when she looked curiously towards him, "Make sure you get the family discount Molly – the ring on her finger means you can ask for it."

"Oh please," I muttered under my breath, "you're saying that like she doesn't know we're engaged. You bloody well announced it to your whole family – even before asking me."

"What was that, love?"

"I said that I've already given the discount, now go away."

James grumbled under his breath before turning and heading towards the waiting room. Once he was out of the room, I closed the door with a wave of my wand. Just in case.

Looking back to the witch across from me, I said a sincere, "Sorry about him."

"Shouldn't I be apologising to you?" she asked with a smile, "He's your fiancé, but he's my cousin."

"Let's just agree that he's a nuisance for the pair of us," I suggested, and we shared a laugh. "Now, let's finish this list before he decides to come back."

"Good idea."

Molly was such an organised bride that it took less than 10 minutes for her to finish compiling her shortlist. When she was satisfied, she handed the list off to me and I promised to contact her at a later date for the scheduled viewings. Eliza escorted Molly out and I headed back to my office to get my coat and purse because I knew James was likely to appear at any moment. And sure enough, as soon as I stepped out of the office, he was there and offered me his arm.

"I'm assuming there's a reason you came to see me early?" I asked, taking his arm and letting him lead me out into the street after sending a 'see you later' to Eliza who waved from her desk.

"Can't I just come to see you?" he asked sweetly, and I narrowed my eyes at him.

Camera flashes went off around us and I didn't even bat an eyelid. Over the long course of our relationship, I'd had to get used to the reporters following us everywhere. At first, there had been polls in the newspapers about just how long our relationship would last and once it seemed like we weren't ever going to crumble, the articles appeared wondering how I had managed to 'tame' him. And Salazar, when the engagement ring made its debut on my finger, people were dying to see some sneak peek at our wedding plans. Unfortunately for them, we had agreed – or rather, I'd convinced James – into having a long engagement.

One positive in all this was that business was booming. The pictures that always appeared of James picking me up from lunch gave the sort of publicity that I just couldn't have paid for. Business was doing so well that we'd actually expanded and the number of staff I had increased. Eliza was pleased that hiring new staff made her more senior to them and she finally had people to boss around by sending them on the errands she didn't want to run.

"But honestly James," I said with a raised eyebrow. "What is it?"

"I just don't understand why you can't come with me to the World Cup," he complained suddenly, and I struggled not to roll my eyes. Not this again. "Lots of significant others come along."

"It's also peak wedding season," I reminded him, squeezing his arm gently. "Remember? I'm rushed off my feet at the moment?"

James sighed, beginning to pout. I stopped in my steps, making him look curiously towards me. Tugging on his jacket, I waited for him to lower his head before pecking him quickly on the lips. And just like that, he was grinning widely. He leaned forward to kiss me again.

"I promise to come to one game," I suggested as we started to walk again. "Is that alright?"

"But having you there makes me want to win."

"Shouldn't you want to win anyway?" I questioned dryly. "Considering you play the sport professionally and all?"

He rolled his eyes, muttering petulantly, "You don't understand."

"Ok, here's a deal Potter – I'm only going to offer it only once."

"What is it?"

"You win the cup and I'll move the wedding forward to the summer after next."

"England's never won the World Cup," he shot back. "Not good enough."

"Next summer." He didn't seem to believe my words, but I nodded decisively, "Next summer, no earlier, no later. Going once, going twice, going –"

"Ok, ok," he said hurriedly, peering down at me sceptically. "We just have to win the World Cup and you become Mrs Potter 3 years earlier than originally planned? Deal."

"You're saying that like winning the World Cup will be easy," I teased as we turned into the restaurant we frequented whenever James took me out for lunch. The waitstaff, already used to of the sight of us, just gestured us in.

"Well I'm determined now," he assured me, as we approached our usual table. He pulled my chair out for me as he smirked, "It's practically a shoo-in."

(Against all odds; that was the first year England won the Quidditch World Cup.)