Fic post: Royal Wedding, G
Title: Royal Wedding Pairing: Snape/Lupin pre-slash/friendship Rating: G Summary: Dumbledore has assembled the Order to cast a very special spell for a royal wedding Note: this is set during the wedding of Charles and Diana in 1981. It began as a series of drabbles for the Snape100 and Lupin100 community.
"So. We're supposed to cast this spell - "
"To ensure the success of the royal marriage. Yes." Lily tapped the list of music and readings. "It should reach its climax during 'I Vow to Thee, My Country.'"
Sirius nodded. "I get that. What I don't get is why James and Peter aren't in on this."
"The spell requires four specific casters," said Remus. "A mother, a Dark Creature, a bachelor, and an alchemist to direct it. That means Lily, me, you, and whatever alchemist Albus sends us."
A hooded figure appeared in the doorway. "That would be me, Black."
*****
"You aren't - " Sirius began.
"I'm close enough for the spell." The stranger pushed back his hood to reveal a familiar face. "If the PM hadn't personally asked Albus for help, he'd be here himself."
Lily was the first to speak. "So you're the spy, Sev. I'd wondered."
Severus Snape nodded, very slowly. Remus glared Sirius into silence. "So Voldemort is planning something. Isn't he going to ask where you are?"
"I told him my mother was ill." Snape drew a scroll from his robes. "Here are his plans for Operation Jupiter. Albus already has a copy - "
*****
"I don't trust him." Sirius glared at Snape as he conferred with Lily. It was the morning of the Prince of Wales's wedding, and they stood beneath Sir Christopher Wren's great dome. "Flamel should - "
"Flamel refused, and I don't blame him," said Remus. "The last time he tried to direct a hieros gamos was for Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Severus is - "
"A Death Eater, and - "
"A spy." Remus spotted their positions near frescoes that looked rather too much like the life of Zeus, not St. Paul. "Lily trusts him."
Sirius returned to glaring.
*****
They took their places in the Whispering Gallery: Snape in the east, Sirius in the south, Lily in the west, Remus in the north. Snape raised his wand and began to chant as the first notes of the processional rang through the cathedral. Sirius next, then Lily, then Remus last of all.
The power built as they called for blessings on the royal marriage: fertility, peace, wealth, love. Snape directed the energy downwards to surround the future King and his youthful Queen.
"I vow to thee, my country - "
Snape went white as his left arm began to spasm.
*****
"It wasn't your fault." Remus dropped into the seat beside Snape. "At least no one was hurt."
"The marriage will fail." Snape could barely be heard above Sirius ranting at Lily in the next room. He cradled his left arm to his chest. "I should have known he'd summon me."
"They'll have children. There's that," said Remus.
Snape shook his head. "He loves another. The spell was supposed to overcome that." The rebroadcast of the ceremony on the WWN had reached the moment when his voice had faltered. "Turn that off."