The Raven and The Snake

Nerves were making Ariadne tap her feet restlessly. She had been forbidden from holding Delphini or Antigone in her dress until after the pictures were taken. She glanced at the mirror, feeling a roll of disgust.

She looked dead. Her skin was ghostly with dark eye makeup that made her look like a corpse. The ivory silk dress was laid precisely around her, black lace flowers clinging to her bosom. In her hair, diamond pins looked like dew drops in the loose twists held together with an ornate stick pin adorned with a shiny metal snake. It might have looked better if Merry had been the one to style it. Seeing as this was a place filled with Death Eaters, Ariadne hadn't wanted to invite Merry even if it had been allowed.

She hadn't much paid attention to the set up as she hadn't planned any of it herself. She had merely nodded without looking whenever she'd been asked. Now she worried what the rest of it would look like. Was the funeral effect intentional? "It's time," Narcissa informed her.

Ariadne gave a stiff nod, standing to follow.

Narcissa walked down the aisle first with Lucius. They were followed by Ashlynn and Rodolphus. Ashlynn didn't really resemble Miss Piggy anymore. She was thinner and had clearly taken a page out of Narcissa's book when it came to styling herself. Her blond hair was pulled into a tight bun that might have given her headaches.

She looked alright walking with Rodolphus who was politely looking up at the chandelier and decorations, not seeming able to focus on anything in particular. He had his arm in Ashlynn's in a gentlemanly way, his posture elegant, but it seemed that she was the one leading the way down the aisle.

Tabitha looked a little less than thrilled with Rabastan. She also seemed to be leading him, but that was more due to the fact that he was focused on looking down her dress than keeping his head forward. Still, she was doing alright for herself. Finally, it was time for Ariadne. Bellatrix was wearing a black lace dress and a pouty expression. She hooked her arm in Ariadne's, holding her like it was a challenge. Ariadne didn't flinch, holding on just as tight.

Together, they strode down the aisle. The floor was black marble, either side of the aisle lined with plain white candles that gave the guests a smoky sort of haze. Ahead was Voldemort, in smart black dress robes, his too-wide mouth pulled into a menacing smile as he took in her appearance.

Bellatrix jerked a little, wanting to hurry forward to her master. Her expression had gone soppy, eyes getting misty at the sight of her lord looking so finely polished.

Ariadne slowed. She felt like she could wait forever to be at the end of this aisle. Never had she thought that she would need to be here. Her eyes felt in danger of leaking when she saw Snape.

Snape was perfect. His hair that normally hung in curtains without much grooming was slicked back, drawing attention to the sharpness of his chiseled features. His face was smooth, not showing a hint of emotion, but he watched her with sharp focus. His black eyes glinted in the dim candlelight.

He held himself stiffly, back ramrod straight. He'd worn the dress robes Ariadne had personally embroidered for him in preparation for the Yule Ball and a cloak she'd given him the same year he'd gifted her Antigone. He looked classy and heartbreaking. Had it been any other occasion, she'd have ran at him, eager to be close.

As it was, it felt like the aisle was too short. She found herself standing before Snape and her grandfather, Bellatrix abandoning her to take a seat in the front row next to Draco. Draco attempted to pass Delphini off to her mother, but was rebuffed, leaving him looking uncomfortable, his white-blond hair ruffled.

"We are gathered here to see the union between one of my most loyal advisors, Severus Snape, and one of my direct line, Ariadne Black." Voldemort announced to the crowd. Bellatrix's teeth snapped together so hard that Ariadne could hear the click.

As Snape had anticipated, Voldemort readied his wand. Ariadne had to relax her stiff grip on her bouquet of white roses to allow Snape to take her left hand. Raising the clasped hands up, there was an uncomfortable sensation like thin wires being coiled around Ariadne's wrist as little lines of golden magic slithered from the tip of Voldemort's wand. "Do you, Severus Snape, vow your eternal loyalty to Ariadne Black?" Voldemort asked in a high, ringing voice. Snape looked down into Ariadne's eyes. She wanted to recoil, but he held her, his expression steady. "I do."

"Do you vow to do everything in your power in the service of her safety and health?" Voldemort asked, a sneer coloring his tone. As though he really cared. It was merely another way of ensuring Snape remained under his thumb. "I do."

Ariadne's hand twitched. As the first question had been asked, she'd felt a light warming in the binding around her wrist. Now with the second question, she was definitely sure that it was getting hotter. Voldemort opened his mouth to speak again. Yes, it was definitely burning now.

"And do you vow to love her devotedly, pledging yourself to her and her family?" Voldemort sounded vicious and mocking at the word 'love'.

Ariadne's hand tightened now. Her wrist was on fire. Surely, she alone wasn't feeling this discomfort.

Snape's eyes remained fixed on her face, he didn't so much as flinch. "I do."

"And do you, Ariadne Black, vow the same? To love and respect him as your lawfully wedded husband?" Voldemort's ruby eyes flicked to her now, the burning decreasing slightly.

She would not be expected to obey the oath the same way Snape would be forced to after all. She met Snape's eyes, peering into the depths. She put every ounce of conviction she had into her answer, trying to make him aware of how much she meant it even if she wasn't magically bound.

"I do."

The magic binding their wrists sparked green. There was another sharp sear of pain then it loosened.

Snape let go of her hand. She glanced at it, seeing a dark brown spiral around her wrist. The magic had left a mark.

"The rings?" Voldemort looked between Lucius and Narcissa who hurriedly leaned forward to pass the rings to Ariadne and Snape.

Ariadne looked down at it with mild surprise. Wasn't this mark on their wrists sufficient?

The ring she was to put on Snape was a simple black gold band. She felt guilty sliding it onto his finger, glancing up at him apologetically through her lashes.

He seemed to gulp slightly, putting a much more decorative ring on her. Hers was white gold with a snake curled protectively around an emerald.

"I now declare these two husband and wife!" Voldemort shouted, the crowd breaking into applause.

There was no order for them to kiss. Ariadne glanced up toward her grandfather cautiously. He seemed delighted at whatever anxious expression she was showing. He reached forward, pulling her uncomfortably close and planting an excited, violent kiss on her.

She wriggled a little, feeling his hands drop low on her body. He kissed her possessively. She could see the glint of his eyes, flashing up to look at Snape as he did it.

Relief washed over her when he let her go, allowing her to fall back into Snape's arms. He steadied her carefully. Together they walked back up the aisle, now married. Followed out of the room by the clapping of Death Eaters.