Author's Note
After all those cliffies and angst - time for some fun and love everyone! Enjoy…
FOUR WEDDINGS & A FUNERAL
By Lady Jane
Chapter Twenty
It was while Draco Malfoy and Albus Dumbledore were paying their last respects to Narcissa Black Malfoy and, to a far lesser extent, Lucius Malfoy, that Neville Longbottom finished reading over his report for the second time. After doing so, he once again shook his head in amazement as he signed it and attached instructions for it to be copied and distributed, with the original marked for archiving. He was still filled with a sense of awe at what had happened at Malfoy Manor. He found he couldn't help but compare it with the night at the Leaky Cauldron when they'd set a trap for the two Death Eaters in an attempt to find out Hermione's whereabouts after she'd been kidnapped - it seemed a lifetime ago now; it was then that Harry had first demonstrated a measure of his immense power. Neville sighed. He'd grown up with Harry, slept in the same dormitory for seven years, and yet - could he claim to know everything about the man he'd become? A smile curled the corners of his mouth. He doubted anyone could claim to know Harry that well; except perhaps Hermione…
While Neville wrote out instructions for dealing with his report, the wizard at the centre of it was home, at last, with the only thing in life that mattered to him: Hermione. They'd stayed at the Burrow Saturday night, sleeping like the dead (as succinctly put by Charlie) thanks mainly to more of Mrs Weasley's Sleeping Draught (for which no one condemned her). After spending the whole of Sunday being (politely) interrogated by Neville and Dumbledore, they were too exhausted to do anything but stay another night with their adopted family. This time they slept deeply without the aid of any Sleeping Draught until finally, finally, on Monday morning they were able to go home, to the blessed quiet of their flat in London.
They'd Flooed from the Burrow and stepped out of the fireplace into their living room, brushing the light dusting of soot from their shoulders and arms, their eyes met and locked. They both straightened, facing each other, their movements slowing until non-existent; they were separated by no more than eighteen inches as they stood there, facing each other, both still wearing the same jeans and tops - although since washed by Mrs Weasley, of course.
`It's over,' whispered Hermione, `it's really over.'
Harry nodded. He was so full of relief and jubilation, weariness and joy, he couldn't speak.
He lifted his hand and laid it against Hermione's cheek, caressing it gently with his thumb. Hermione let her head rest against his hand, closing her eyes and smiling as she brought her hand up and wrapped it around his wrist, her fingers brushing lightly along his muscled forearm, sending shivers through Harry.
Then she opened her eyes and looked at him. Harry hadn't taken his eyes off her and the expression of profound love and intense desire in them took her breath away.
She whispered his name and before she knew it, his hands were gripping her shoulders as he pulled her to him. Her arms stole slowly up and around his neck as he dropped his head, his arms moving down and closing around the small of her back, burying his face in the wild tangle of her loose, brown hair. Its familiar, sweet fragrance filling his mind as so many things from the past week washed through him - pain and heartache, victory and exhaustion; but above all else, it brought to his grateful mind the image of this woman, his woman - being safe, above all else, being safe…
`Hermione…' he murmured, and just knowing he could say her name, that she was here and would answer, made his heart swell with happiness and relief.
`Harry…' Hermione felt the same, although she'd never doubted that he'd survive. She would never tell him that she'd had some moments of serious concern about her own survival - Lucius Malfoy, up close and personal, had been icily terrifying in his psychotic glory. It was clear he would've been prepared, with no remorse, to go to extraordinary lengths to torment his captive victims. He'd been prepared to have them killed, too, without giving it a second thought.
Then thoughts of Lucius Malfoy melted away as Harry's hands ran possessively from the small of her back to grip the gentle curve of her waist, pulling her hard against him as he continued to kiss her with unremitting passion, his tongue delving into the warm, wet softness of her mouth. Hermione moaned softly as Harry's very prominent erection pressed against her stomach and she instinctively moved her hips against the enticing hardness, suddenly feeling greedy for it - wanting it inside her, where it belonged.
She moaned again, her tongue hungrily reciprocating the sensual movements of Harry's - the sensations coursing through her making her desperate for more…
Then Harry's hands loosened their grip on Hermione's waist and moved to grasp the bottom of her jumper, pulling it upwards.
Without a word, Hermione lifted her arms from Harry's neck, holding them up in the air to so that he was able to pull it off over her head, tossing it carelessly aside after he'd done so. Hermione let her head drop back, her hair cascading down her back as she reached around to undo her pale blue bra, enjoying the way Harry was greedily devouring the sight of her. Once her bra had joined her jumper, she reached up and slowly removed Harry's glasses, smiling seductively at him as she did so.
`You certainly won't be needing these,' she told him in a throaty whisper as she dropped them onto the nearby couch before wrapping her arms around his shoulders. Harry's hands moved irresistibly to cup her breasts, watching, mesmerised by the sight of his own thumbs grazing over Hermione's stiff nipples, all the while drinking in the small, soft, seductive sounds she was making. As he lifted his eyes to her face, he felt a jolt, like an electric shock:, to see she was looking at him, her dark honey coloured eyes filled not only with burning desire but avid lust and, when he thought it wouldn't be possible, he felt himself grow even harder.
Hermione reached down for the hem of his jumper and tilted her head expectantly at him, a rather suggestively sexy smile playing about her mouth. Harry obediently lifted his arms, assisting Hermione to remove his jumper since she couldn't reach as high as his arms extended. As it fell to the floor beside them, Hermione wrapped her arms around his waist. Harry's sharp intake of breath told her that the feel of her breasts against his bare chest was making serious inroads into his self control.
`Hermione!' his voice contained a desperate plea, both his hands lost in her dishevelled curls as he moved to kiss her again.
Hermione turned her head slightly, keeping her mouth just out of reach of Harry's - his mouth was a mere inch from hers.
`What is it, Harry?' she asked, a deliberately innocent note in her voice.
`I want you,' he rasped, `please, I'm aching for you Hermione…'
Those words, spoken in that voice, were her undoing. She closed the small space between their lips, kissing him hungrily, her lips slightly parted allowing him instant access - their tongues writhing together in mutual passion.
Then she suddenly found herself drowning in his burning green gaze, mourning the end of the kiss. Before she could speak, and without losing eye contact, Harry bent and scooped her up, Hermione's arms quickly wrapping around his neck.
For a moment, Harry stood there, holding her. Hermione felt heat suffuse her whole body - a result of the effect of being held like this and the intense emotion in Harry's eyes, his face mere inches from her own.
`What is it?' whispered Hermione.
`Does this remind you of that first time?'
Hermione's thoughts flew back to that first time they'd made love. On that night, too, Harry had carried her to bed. She smiled at him, her eyes glowing.
`How could I forget?' she murmured.
`True,' replied Harry with a smirk, making Hermione giggle.
Then his gaze became serious once more. `Tonight, it's my turn to savour this moment - the way you're looking at me and the way I feel. The anticipation for what we're about to do…'
`Not to mention the strain and pain involved in waiting for what we're about to do,' said Hermione saucily, her eyes filled with loving amusement.
Harry laughed, exulting in the moment - in being here, now, with Hermione - his Hermione!
`Not that you'd know about that!' he told her, rolling his eyes.
Hermione gave a low, husky chuckle. `I just enjoy your strain and pain, my oh-so-sexy-saviour!'
`Enough talking!' cried Harry dramatically, Hermione smiling in his arms as he marched purposefully out of the room, along the hall and into their bedroom, `Time for action, my lusty wench!'
`What did you call me?!' exclaimed Hermione, giggling as Harry leant over their bed, releasing her from his grasp; Hermione put her hands behind her head, feeling rather wanton as she lay there topless, her jeans still on. She kicked off her shoes, her eyes roaming over Harry as he stood beside the bed, undoing his jeans.
In that small space of time all hilarity fled. Harry kicked off his trainers before pushing his jeans and boxers down, bending over to pull them off. Hermione's eyes roamed greedily over his whole body as he did so then, as he stood, divested of all his clothing, running his hands through his untidy locks, Hermione thought perhaps she knew what was meant by "swooning" - because she was pretty damn sure that was a good description of what she was about to do. And that was before Harry knelt down beside the bed.
With his eyes glued to Hermione's face and while she was hypnotised by the sight of his hands, Harry began undoing the zipper of her jeans, pulling them down and off, flinging them aside, leaving her clad only in her knickers. When Harry hands then remained stationary, resting on the edge of the bed, Hermione's gaze slowly shifted from Harry's hands to his face, finding his green gaze fixed on her. Once her eyes met his, his hands moved again - coming to rest, one covering her belly button, the other on the curve of her thigh. Hermione shivered delicately as Harry's skin came into contact with hers.
Then Harry moved his hands again, deliberately brushing his fingertips teasingly over Hermione's skin, hearing her sharp intake of breath as he did so, a small, satisfied smile curving his mouth. Then he placed both his thumbs in the band of Hermione's knickers, his eyes boring into hers as he slowly, oh-so-slowly, pulled them down over her long, lean legs
With a nonchalant wave of his hand, Harry reduced the light in the room to a soft, warm glow and then focused entirely on Hermione, lying supine on the bed, rejoicing in the moment because it meant they were alive and well and together.
`You look breathtaking,' he whispered, his left hand pushing loose strands of hair away from her forehead, the fingers of his right hand tantalisingly trailing up from her ankle along the length of her leg, Hermione's hips arched in response as Harry's fingers skimmed her hip, following the curve of her waist and coming to rest around her breast, gently kneading.
`Harry…'
Harry dropped his head, trailing his tongue quickly up the underside of Hermione's breast before taking her hard, sensitive nipple into his mouth, his skilful suckling eliciting a very gratifying response - he loved the soft, delicious sounds Hermione was making; Harry could feel the increasingly agitated movements of Hermione's body and found himself rapidly reaching the limits of his own self-restraint.
`Harry - please!'
The sound of his name, spoken with such forceful pleading and so full of longing, was enough to tear away the last of Harry's self-control. He pushed up off his knees and climbed on to the bed, Hermione parting her legs so that he could kneel between them, his hands caressing the firm lines of her thighs. Hermione's eyes were luminous as they travelled from Harry's straining erection, over the taut muscles of his stomach and chest until she reached his face and locked gazes with him, her arms still clasped above her head, her pale skin glowing in the soft light.
`Hermione…' his own voice, deep and hoarse with the overpowering desire that possessed him seemed to inflame Hermione further because she suddenly lifted her legs, wrapping them around Harry and pulling him towards her. Harry moved swiftly so that he was supporting his weight on his elbows. Without breaking eye contact, Hermione placed one hand on the side of Harry's face, the fingers of the other tracing the strong line of his jaw, her fingertips brushing across his lips as she whispered, `I love you.'
Harry immediately closed his mouth over hers, a groan reverberating deeply in his chest. Hermione wrapped her arms around him, urging him with the movements of her hips, desperately wanting him inside her - and then he was. Their lips broke apart so they could restore air to their lungs, both overwhelmed by the thrilling sensations bombarding them.
As he sank into her tight, warm depths, Hermione cried out his name, the strength of her orgasm fuelled by the intensity of the emotions involved in this particular union - it was a celebration of themselves and their love - and of their victory over adversity, defying anyone to ever again try and part them or hurt them.
As Hermione's body was seized by waves of ecstasy, Harry also lost himself in the exquisite pleasure that tore through him. As the blissful rapture slowly, inevitably receded, they found themselves laying on their sides, smiling each other, Harry's arm supporting Hermione, his other resting on the curve of her waist; Hermione's legs were entwined with Harry's, one between his, the other still curled over the top.
`I love you very much, my Hermione,' said Harry softly as he leaned forward and kissed the tip of her nose.
Hermione, one hand nestled between their bodies, the other curled around Harry's neck, fingering the soft, black strands of his hair, smiled rapturously at him.
`That's all I need to be happy,' she told him, her eyes glistening.
`And you're all I need.'
*
Ginny and Dean remained at the Burrow a few days longer. Ginny was doing extremely well, mainly due to the fact that she was now was free of the fear of any future threat from Lucius, Draco or the cursed Malfoy roses. On Dean's insistence, she did have a visit from a mediwizard who specialised in healing the "damage from unpleasant events" as he so succinctly put it. He helped a lot; Ginny was even able to tell him about her visit to Draco in the graveyard which he understood completely and was with her when she told Dean, because she refused to keep anything from him. The mediwizard applauded her decision to do so and Dean, no doubt helped by the knowledge that Draco Malfoy had left England for good (confirmed by Professor Dumbledore who had seen him off), was able to accept that he and Ginny would go forward from this point, free of Malfoy's presence or even the threat of it. They literally had their whole lives in front of them.
Despite the fact that they were now more than ready to return to their own flat, Molly was sad to see them leave as she enjoyed their company immensely and it had made her more than a little happy to have someone to look after and fuss over besides just Arthur.
Neville was kept particularly busy right up until Christmas writing his second report on the whole incident. His boss had insisted on a detailed record of who had done what, when they'd done it, and why, not just what had occurred at Malfoy Manor.
It did take some time, but Neville finally got to the bottom of the whole thing. His investigation was made much easier by Lucius Malfoy's death as once he died, the Imperius Curses he'd placed on a number of people vanished, leaving them a little confused and bewildered, but able to supply a lot of information. Chief amongst these had been some of Neville's own colleagues from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement: David Sunningfield, Wayne Hasluck and Lila Caplo.
It was during this investigation that he finally discovered the reason the Cautus Contego Charm had been activated at Dean and Ginny's engagement party: Lila Caplo. As it turned out, Lila had been the first victim of the Imperius Curse once she'd taken up her position at the Ministry. On the night of Dean and Ginny's engagement party, Lila had slipped away unnoticed, ordered to do so by Lucius Malfoy so that he himself, using Polyjuice Potion to appear as Lila, could attend the party for a short while to gather information. When his presence had activated what he later found out to be a specific protector charm, placed on Hermione by Harry and the Professor, he wondered why Lila's presence hadn't done the same since her presence, as his minion, would surely mean she represented danger to Hermione. It was that particular incident that started him investigating the relationship between the Imperius Curse and the Cautus Contego Charm, eventually leading him to the discovery that anyone, even a Death Eater, under the influence of the Imperius Curse, would not activate it.
When Lila had later chosen Lucky over Sunny, although she hadn't been told specifically which of them to choose, she'd sealed his fate as Malfoy, after putting Lucky under the Imperius Curse, then used him to perform various tasks. When Lila had burst into Amelia Bones' office nearly two months earlier to dramatically announce Jugson's escape, she had actually been the one who had aided that escape under Malfoy's orders.
Now at last they could put it all behind them. They no longer needed to worry about anyone being under the Imperius Curse or of being afraid that someone they knew was actually someone they didn't know using Polyjuice Potion.
Priscilla had been assured over and over by each of them and even more so by Neville that she'd not been in any way responsible for her part in helping Malfoy to kidnap Ginny. At one of the friends' impromptu gatherings, she and Neville let everyone know that they planned on being married in a small, quiet ceremony, on Priscilla's birthday, the fifth of January.
The last few weeks leading up to Christmas passed in a bit of a haze for most of them. Everyone had been invited to the Burrow for lunch on the Sunday before Christmas Day and they were all able to come.
Molly spent the days before the weekend in a state of happy, organised chaos; Arthur was kept busy once more enlarging their modest home to accommodate all the guests, most of whom were staying the night before, Charlie, Bill and Fleur being the only ones who weren't able to come until Sunday. After quite a lot of swishing and flicking, Arthur stood back to survey his handiwork, mentally going through the list of people needing rooms.
Molly and I, Ron and Luna, Fred and George, Ginny and Dean, Hermione and Priscilla, Neville and Harry. Six…now how many have we got? Hmmm... yes, six! And three bathrooms, just in case… By Merlin's beard - I'll be conjuring up Buckingham Palace by the time Charlie, Fred and George get married and they all start having children!
At least this time he didn't have to worry about de-gnoming the garden, although he had to work on the living room and kitchen downstairs so that they could all eat inside given the season. But not before he had a nice, hot cuppa. This was hard work…
*
Harry and Hermione had arranged to meet Ron and Luna, Ginny and Dean, and Neville and Priscilla at the Burning Broomstick for tea before going to the Burrow on Saturday evening. They were first to arrive and sat talking at their table while they waited for everyone else. Hermione was sitting on Harry's left and he had his arm resting across the back of her chair, leaning towards her, listening as she spoke, smiling as he thought of how wonderful it was that their lives had begun to return to "normal".
Neville had managed to keep the information given to the Daily Prophet to an absolute minimum, telling them simply that Lucius Malfoy and two of his offsiders had died in an accident that had also razed Malfoy Manor to the ground. In a ghastly coincidence, his wife, Narcissa Black Malfoy, had died the following day of a longstanding illness and their son, Draco Malfoy, had moved out of the country. No mention whatsoever was made of Harry's, or anyone else's, involvement. Harry was eternally grateful to Neville for this, dreading publicity as he'd always done.
When Neville and Priscilla arrived next, Harry once again shook Neville's hand and thanked him.
`Harry, enough already! It is we who owe you a world of thanks! No more thanking, agreed?' Priscilla sat down next to Hermione, the girls hugging each other in greeting. Neville sat down next to Harry after getting himself and Priscilla a drink. Hermione and Priscilla were chatting excitedly about Priscilla and Neville's wedding, now only a week away.
Ron and Luna were next to arrive, Luna joining Hermione and Priscilla in "wedding talk" as Ron put it. It was only when Ginny and Dean showed up that everyone moved so that they were sitting with their partners and the conversation became more general. Hermione commented to Harry on how well and happy Ginny was looking and how relaxed Priscilla was. Their orders were soon taken, after which Neville stood up, making a show of gaining everyone's attention, drawing laughter from them all.
`Since this is our first normal gathering since, well, since Harry did that little saving thing of his again,' (more laughter), `I just wanted to say how happy I am you are all here, safe and well. And thanks, Harry. Here's to truth, justice and the Wizarding way - and Harry Potter!'
`I thought you said no more thanking!' cried Harry, shaking his head as everyone toasted him, but laughing at Neville nonetheless. Amongst his friends, at least, he felt completely comfortable.
`No more from this moment on,' agreed Neville with a sheepish grin.
The noise and laughter had drawn a few glances of recognition from other patrons who smiled indulgently at the happy group.
Shortly after they'd eaten, they all Flooed to the Burrow from the pub, emerging from the fireplace to find the usually small kitchen and living room was now large enough to hold them all comfortably. Charlie, Bill, Fleur and the twins were already there enjoying some hot chocolate.
`Would you look at that, mate?' sighed Ron as he sat down at the table; Luna, Hermione, Ginny and Priscilla all gravitated towards Fleur, seated in the living room, who was now actually looking slightly pregnant. Bill was by her side, hovering protectively. Charlie and the twins were sitting at the table with their half drunken mugs of chocolate.
Harry shrugged, grinning at his friend. `If all goes well, that'll be you and me some day.'
Ron blanched for a second then smiled. `Yeah, true.' He stole a glance at Luna, a rather misty look entering his eyes.
Neville joined them, setting down four mugs of hot chocolate, one each for himself, Dean, Harry and Ron.
Dean, sitting across from them, nodded at Harry.
`Absolutely, mate. I can't wait, actually.'
`Can't wait for what?' asked Ginny who'd been heading back to the kitchen with some empty mugs.
Dean quickly drew his wand and sent the mugs off to the sink alone, his free arm snagging Ginny around the waist, drawing her to him. Ginny's arms automatically closed around Dean's neck as she bent down to kiss the top of his head, thanking him with a giggle.
`Can't wait till bedtime,' growled Dean playfully.
Ginny laughed, then kissed him again, this time on the mount. `You never can, Dean Thomas!'
`I never hear you complaining, Ginny Thomas!'
Ron rolled his eyes making Harry and Neville laugh; Ron still occasionally regressed to thinking of Ginny as his "untouchable little sister".
Shortly after, yawns began spreading amongst them all at a rapid pace. Bill and Fleur were the first to retire, followed quickly by Molly and Arthur.
A few minutes later, Fred and George followed Dean and Ginny up the stairs, Ron and Luna on their heels.
Harry, Hermione, Priscilla and Neville moved to the couches in front of the fireplace, each couple curling up together at opposite ends of the large, old couch. Neville remarked on the fact that the last ones up were the ones not sharing a room.
Harry and Hermione exchanged a quick smile then Hermione winked at Harry. Harry rolled his eyes; he knew Hermione thought he should offer to swap rooms, as Neville was a little uncertain of doing so. Harry watched as the expression on Hermione's face altered subtly, her smile becoming distinctly seductive, her eyes darkening with that look he knew and loved so well - the look that said she wanted him. Harry shifted in his seat, his jeans becoming uncomfortably tight as thoughts he couldn't prevent forming began playing havoc with his - um - self-control.
Hermione smiled knowingly, just as Harry spoke, his voice quite a bit lower than usual…
`Um, Neville? Why don't you and Priscilla take my room and I'll go in with Hermione?'
Priscilla blushed, but didn't look as though she was about to object.
`Mrs Weasley won't mind?' asked Neville a little nervously.
`What she doesn't know, won't hurt her,' said Hermione firmly, a twinkle in her eye at the surprised expressions on the three faces staring at her. `It's true, isn't it?' she asked. `Besides, we're all of age and we're engaged to be married.'
`I'm not about to argue!' laughed Harry.
Later, alone in bed, Harry asked her when she'd become so avant-garde, especially in respect of Mrs Weasley.
`Since it means I get to sleep with you, Harry James Potter,' she'd said huskily.
And he definitely wasn't going to argue about that.
*
The next morning Molly was in her element; she cooked breakfast for everyone, fussing happily over Fleur who so far had suffered none of the usual symptoms of early pregnancy.
`It eez wonderful!' she sighed, as she tucked into her scrambled eggs. `I 'ave not been ill one morning!'
`I hope I'm the same,' said Ginny hopefully.
The night before, all the girls had, of course, been discussing babies - from pregnancy onwards.
`My mum said she was disgustingly healthy while she was pregnant with me,' said Luna, `so I hope I take after her.'
Dean leant towards Ginny, sitting beside him, and kissed her on the temple. `If you're at all sick, I will look after you, twenty four hours a day if necessary, never fear!' he said grandly.
Ginny laughed. `I'll hold you to that, my darling husband!'
Luna looked expectantly at Ron who was oblivious to everything and everyone around him as he was busy eating a record number of fried eggs and rashers of bacon. When an amused, expectant silence fell over the table, Ron finally noticed, also realising that all eyes were trained on him. He looked from one to the other, puzzled.
`What?' he said, around the bite of toast he'd just taken.
Everyone burst out laughing at the same time, Ron rolling his eyes before going back to his breakfast.
`Fred and George making fun of me again I suppose,' he muttered to Luna, frowning across the table at his twin brothers.
Luna smiled happily up at her husband. `Ronald, I wouldn't exchange you for all the Crumple-Horned Snorkacks in the world!'
Once breakfast was over and the kitchen clean once more, Molly shooed them all out so that she could start on lunch.
Everyone rugged up warmly against the cold, Bill and Fleur choosing to go for a leisurely stroll. Charlie said he had to make a quick visit back to his dragon stables but would return in time for lunch, Fred and George saying they'd go with him.
`No leaving any of those bloody concoctions of yours around, then!' Charlie warned them firmly, receiving innocently injured looks in return.
The rest of them decided to go for a skate on the small lake. Harry had to use a little magic as he'd never had the opportunity to learn to skate growing up with the Dursleys. Not that Dudley ever learnt either, for obvious reasons. `Imagine Dudders on ice!' laughed Harry as he and Hermione skated side by side, their arms around each other.
Priscilla was quite adept, but Neville seemed to find his childhood clumsiness again which didn't seem to respond to magic. The only consolation, he told Priscilla, was that he got to hold on to her so tightly to make sure he didn't fall.
Ron and Luna made a wonderful sight - they were both quite good and were skating in amongst everyone else, their cheeks glowing with the exertion.
It was Dean and Ginny, however, who really stood out. They were practically dancing and received a number of envious glances from their companions.
`I'll be damned,' said Harry as he watched them. `Dean was complaining about Seamus' dancing ability and would you just look at him!'
`Put skates on Seamus and I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up on his bum, quick smart!' remarked Hermione. `Speaking of Seamus,' she continued, `he went back to Ireland, didn't he?'
`If he knows what's good for him,' growled Harry.
Hermione swiped him playfully on the stomach as she laughed up at him. `Oh, Harry! You're not serious!'
`Not entirely,' answered Harry, giving her a look that made her heart skip a beat. Then he unexpectedly dropped his head and kissed her. He had his arm around her shoulders and gently pulled her around to face him as he did so, his tongue insistently seeking and being given entrance to her willing mouth. It was a forceful, demanding and very passionate kiss and Hermione felt her legs weaken as the heat of desire invaded every part of her body; she had to cling to Harry's waist with both arms to support herself.
When Harry ended the kiss, their combined breaths forming rapid, small puffs of fog between their mouths, Hermione thought she could stay like this forever, looking into the incredible green eyes of the man she loved, his breath warming her face, her lips still tingling from his touch.
`Oy! For Merlin's sake, you two! You'll melt a bloody hole in the ice, d'ya mind?!'
General laughter greeted Ron's remark in which Harry and Hermione joined.
Just then, Arthur appeared on top of the small rise beside the lake and waved his arms, his voice carrying on the still cold air, telling them lunch was nearly ready.
*
It was after they'd all eaten their fill - well, all except Ron perhaps, who was eyeing the last piece of treacle tart as though it might vanish before he could eat it.
`Don't even think about it, Ronald Weasley,' admonished his mother, sweeping the pie dish from under his nose. `It's going home with Harry; it's his favourite.'
`Oh, Harry gets left overs! What do I get? Your own son!'
Everyone laughed once more, including Molly.
Charlie suddenly got to his feet and picked up his goblet of wine, holding it aloft.
`Here's to laughter, everyone! It's come back to us once more and I hope it never leaves us again!'
`Hear, hear!' chorused everyone.
`Good toast, Charlie,' said Arthur, smiling at his son warmly.
Harry stood then, holding his nearly empty goblet of wine, his other hand holding Hermione's; she was smiling up at him, her eyes glowing with love.
Everyone immediately looked at him expectantly, thinking he, too, had a toast for them.
Molly, who had started orchestrating the return of dirty dishes and plates to the sink, stopped mid-chore and sat down again.
When he had everyone's attention, Harry spoke.
`I have to say that I applaud your toast, Charlie,' and he lifted his glass while looking at Charlie. `It's very true and I'm never going to stop being grateful for it. Hermione and I just wanted to tell you this all together - you who are our friends and my family. We've been to see Hermione's parents earlier this week and so…not too long after our favourite Longbottom makes the lovely, wonderful Priscilla his wife, Hermione will literally make me the happiest man alive and become my wife. And so you are all invited to our wedding which is happening in a little over seven weeks' time - on Valentine's Day.'
A cheer erupted around the table, Arthur hurrying to get some more wine to celebrate this wonderful announcement. Molly immediately jumped up, deciding on the spot that they'd all have to stay for tea now and with a light heart and happy step, went to work once more, her eyes definitely a little moist…
Harry told Hermione he would go and fetch her parents, knowing they would want to be in on this celebration. Hermione's eyes filled with tears; Harry seemed to always know the right thing to do without her even asking…
Harry returned, followed immediately by Hermione's parents who both looked happily flustered as they stepped out of the fireplace. Hermione couldn't help herself: she squealed with excitement and delight and ran to her mum and dad, hugging them tightly.
Further arrivals, not ten minutes later, added to Harry's happiness; Albus Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, Hagrid and Madame Maxine joined them. Harry, wanting the rest of his "family" to know, had taken a quick side trip to Hogwarts.
`What about Remus and Tonks?' asked the Headmaster.
`Do you know where they are?' asked Harry.
Professor Dumbledore nodded and smiling, told him they'd be arriving shortly.
Which they did. Along with Mad Eye Moody and Mrs Figg.
`As if we'd miss this!' exclaimed Mad Eye.
And while Molly Weasley had one of the most exhausting nights of her life, it was also one of the happiest. The only people happier than Molly were Harry and Hermione.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Author's Note
There, wasn't that nice? *Janie smiles* Only one chapter to go…
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