Carys Potter stopped pacing the street and look around her with a look that made the passer-by’s glance at her, swallow deeply before they quickened their paces to escape the area before she exploded.

To say that she was stressed would have been the understatement of the century. Her wedding to Remus Lupin was a mere 7 days away and everything that could go wrong, seemed to be going wrong.

She was meant to be trying on her dress one more time just to make sure it was perfect since she had lost gained weight recently and none of her bridesmaid or even her mother had turned up even though Carys had made it perfectly clear that the appointment was scheduled at 10 am. It wasn’t even as if it was hard to find, it was on Diagon alley and they had to pass it to get to Gringotts every day, even if it wasn’t; the large sign and the fact that it was the only dress shop on the street was quite a large hint to where they were meeting.

She glanced at her gold watch, which had been a 20th birthday present from her brother James, for the seventh time in a few minutes and bit down on her lower lip painfully tasting copper in her mouth as the skin split.

It wasn’t hard, she decided standing there, for the others to get there on time, the only one with an excuse was Lily, her sister in law, and that was only because the older girl was currently 8 months pregnant with second child and it was a hot day.

It also didn’t help her already stretched out nerves that her fiancé was away on a research trip and had been for the past 3 weeks. She missed him terribly though she didn’t say anything about it, complaining wouldn’t do anything to help the situation. She groaned out loud attracting more glances to her and resumed her pacing outside the shop, entertaining herself with what she could say to the others when they finally turned up.

She was thinking about it so intently that she almost missed the sight of three women hurrying up the street towards her, ignoring the people they bumped into and pushed in their hurry to reach the lone figure outside the shop. Carys quenched the feeling of relief she felt as they got closer and instead looked angry, hands on her hips.

“What happened?” she demanded as soon as they were in ear range to her “Did you forget or something? I mean they have other customers today you know, I could have lost the spot and then what would I have done?” she asked, she glanced around them seeing their red faces and their apologetic expression, and sighed allowing them to kiss her on the cheek as a show of forgiveness

“Where is Sophie?” she demanded noticing her sister was missing, she resisted stamping her right foot with difficulty, it really did seem as if the whole world was against her in some fashion. “The chief bridesmaid needs to be here, she needs to try her dress on” Carys stop and bit her lip again. She felt a bit like crying, all she wanted was for things to run smoothly and none of it had. She wished that Remus was there he would sort things out.

“Right, you listen to me Sweetie” Keeley Lupin said sternly, looking her best friend directly in the eye and placing her hands on her shoulders “You need to calm down and breath, this isn’t how Remus would want you to be ok, you’re meant to be enjoying this I mean you’re getting married as for Sophie well we’re not exactly sure where she is at the moment but err…” her voice trailed off as she saw the look in her friend’s eyes and she released the younger girl as if she had been burnt.

Carys glanced around her one more time then shook her head looking disappointed

“We better get in there” she said lowly, turning from the others and opening the door and leading the other into the elegant dress shop.

Sophie Potter was well aware that she was in a great deal of trouble as she sprinted down Diagon alley. She had slept in late and had messed around for a bit before realising that she was meant to be at the dress shop for 10 am and not 11 am like she had thought. What followed was a frantic 10 minute shower and dressing that had amused her fiancé Kevin a great deal.

Sophie felt awful about it, it was obvious that the strain of the wedding and the fact that Remus wasn’t there was beginning to get to Carys and then she goes and pulls a stunt like being late to her sister’s last dress fitting. She supposed the fact that she got the younger girl her favourite herbal tea and a low fat muffin probably wouldn’t do much to help her situation but she hoped it would help a bit.

She breathed a sigh of relief as she saw the shop and came skidding to a halt outside it, out of breath and red in the face but the main thing she decided as she stepped in, was the fact that she was there.

“Mum” she said leaning other slightly to catch her breath. Maris Potter looked up from the magazine she was reading and bounded to her feet

“Sophie Christine Marie Potter you have a lot of explaining to do later on” she said sternly “I can’t believe you are late today of all days when you know how stressed Carys is” Sophie shrugged looking guilty

“I didn’t do it on purpose mum, I just had it written down as 11 am that’s all, and I’m here now aren’t I?” Maris nodded with a smile and kissed her on the cheek

“I suppose you are” she conceded “Now go in there and apologies to Carys, she’s nearly in tears” Sophie glanced into the room and nodded

“Ok” she said, she held up the small bag and the tea “at least I brought a peace offering, perhaps it will buy me a few minutes before she kills me” Maris shrugged

“Perhaps” she said taking her seat again “Lily and Keeley are getting fitted now and then it’s you and Carys so go in there and try and make amends, we’re going to Lily’s after this and I’d prefer no feuding in front of my grandson” Sophie rolled her eyes and entered the back room, Maris was always talking about her grandson Harry and how it was about time that Sophie and Carys thought about having children, especially as they were both engaged to be married, “now go and beg forgiveness, you really should have been more thoughtful Sophie and got in contact with us, I mean wait till next May and see how you feel” Sophie rolled her eyes as she closed the door behind her and glanced around the room.

Lily and Keeley were chatting as they had their dresses refitted and Carys was sitting on a chair in the corner looking tired and pale as she nibbled at the skin to the side of her thumb. She smiled at the two girls on the stools who noticed her and made her way to Carys

“Sorry” she said kneeling by her sister “I thought the appointment was at 11 and I didn’t realise till 10 to 10 that it was actually at 10. Can you forgive me, I got you some tea and a muffin” she held them up and placed them on the ground by Carys’s feet. Carys shrugged

“I feel ill” she announced softly to Sophie “I’ve felt ill for a while now” she glanced at Sophie as the other girl dropped a kiss on her head “and I don’t want to deal with any of this, I don’t even want to try my dress on, I just want to go home and find Remus, does that make me bad?” she asked a tear sliding down her cheek before she brushed it away. Sophie looked worried