Potter Island, July 2019

"Genda," Lily said, "the ceremony starts soon. Are we still on time?"

"We should be, Lily dear. I am just making some final alterations to Auntie Padma's dress. She keeps changing shape slightly…"

"Blame Ronald Weasley! He got me in this way…"

"You weren't complaining during that bonding ritual, Pads! Besides, I was there when they kissed you yesterday afternoon. You shall be celebrating your wedding night in the traditional manner tonight, I presume."

"Of course. You will be too, Parv.

"So, one last embrace as spinsters, Sis?"

"Please, Pads!" The twins hugged and pecked each other's cheeks.

"Marie khoobsoorat betiyan!" their mother sobbed.

"It is time to go," Rose announced. "Good luck, Genda, Auntie Parvati."

Each twin took one of their father's arms, their mother, James, Albus, Lily, Rose and Hugo lining up behind them. The party processed to a Temple to the Six Goddesses set up on Potter Island, where Harry, Ginny, Wednesday, Daphne, Ron and Hermione were waiting, with Tracey, Millie and Pansy in attendance, all of them in short white Grecian robes. Hippolyta was officiating, unclad as usual when acting as High Priestess.

A spectral white figure seemed to emerge from the Eternal Flame to join the procession. "Lav!" Parvati cried with joy.

"You didn't think that I would allow a pesky little detail like death stop me from attending your wedding, did you Parv?" Lavender Brown asked drily.

"I'm glad it didn't, Lav. Consider yourself an honorary bridesmaid!"

Wow! You both look gorgeous! Those Bollywood style dresses that leave your midriffs almost bare are gorgeous! You are in House Colours too! Parvati, you have surpassed yourself.

Thanks, Millie. Getting the look right with a pregnant woman wasn't easy. Luckily, she is only a few weeks gone.

Parvati! No comments about my bump!

It is the most beautiful part of you, Pads.

Thank you, Hermione. I owe you a long kiss!

I'll collect it during the ceremony, darling!

At that point, the bridal party reached the altar. Less than an hour later, Padma Patil-Weasley and Parvati Patil-Potter were happily married women.

The Doctor turned to her "Plus-One" for the event. "What did you make of that, Mary Poppins? I thought that it was a lovely ceremony."

"It was, Doctor. The Potters did a fantastic job of putting on this event.

"Why did you invite me?"

"There are so many things going on in the world these days, Mary Poppins. We shall need the various Guardians of the Imagination more than ever. You, Matilda and Cole may be a line of last resort. The things that you three can do…

"Besides, River is dead. I doubt that I shall see her again. It is time to move on."

"I'm flattered, Doctor. You are seriously considering…"

"Why not?!" The Doctor slipped an arm around her old friend's shoulders. "After all, who else could I find who is Practically Perfect in Every Way?!"

"That went perfectly," Parvati commented over the wedding banquet. "My twin and I are very lucky!"

"We are indeed, Parv."

"What is that?!" A figure seemed to fall out of the sky.

As Harry and Millie investigated, they found Cole Hawlings on the ground, dazed but otherwise unhurt. He sat up with a start. "Call Will Stanton! The Seals are Breaking! The Great Lords of the Dark will soon be loose in the world once more…"

"Don't worry, Cole," said Mary Poppins. "We can see them off once more."

"Oh," Will Stanton said softly, "we will. The Light must rise once more. The Old Ones of the Light must return…"

Author's Afterword

As usual, thank you to Model Builder for his advice and encouragement.

Emma Thompson based Nanny McPhee on a series of books about Nurse Matilda. I decided to give the Nanny the Nursemaid's given name, as she was never given one in the films.

Cole Hawlings was played in a 1984 BBC TV adaption of "The Box of Delights" by the late great Patrick Troughton, of "Doctor Who" fame. Repeats of "The Box of Delights" were once as essential a part of Christmas as, well, "Mary Poppins".

I hope you liked the story.