A/N: Before you continue with the next chapter I thought I should remind you all the four R's - Read, Rate, Review and Recommend! Also, as we know squat about the wizardry version of the wedding ceremony, I used up my authors license points to put some things in it *grin*. As the chapter was getting almost as long as the dream one, Harry's birthday is not in it…exactly.
Disclaimer: Not mine. If you don't know who's then you probably shouldn't be here.
Everything is fair...
The week before the "big days" - Bill and Fleur's wedding and his own birthday - was quite tiring for poor Harry. First - as this was their last week of training, Bruce started to train him with a real sword instead of the wooden imitations they had been using so far. It took a while for Harry to get over the fear of being cut to pieces or skewering Bruce accidentally during those lessons, but the fear also worked the other way - there's nothing like a bit of healthy fear to help keep you away from the opponents sword like Bruce told him. Harry was becoming quite the swordsman - Bruce praised his ability to keep the sword moving, going from an attack to a block and attack again without pause. 'No point in stopping in the middle of a fight and presenting your opponent with a stationary target,' like Bruce said. 'A true master is never where the blow lands' was another bit of useful advice Harry learned through numerous small cuts and scratches that he still had a long way to go before he could consider himself one. 'Like Bruce, for example,' he thought. 'I might as well try to cut a ghost and have more success.'
Second - there was now little Albus in his life. And though Hermione gladly took care of the tiny phoenix during his training hours Harry understood that Albus was now under his care, like Hedwig - his responsibility. He wondered if the first headmaster of the Order of the Phoenix had chosen the magical bird as their symbol and pet just so to remind himself and anyone coming after him just how much love and care it requires to nurture something into as beautiful and magnificent a creature as a fully grown phoenix - a lesson that could be very well transferred to the rest of the world. The fact that the process was repeated four times per year - once every season - would guarantee that the lessons would not be forgotten. There were many first moments that Harry enjoyed immensely - the first feather Albus got, the first note of the phoenix song he managed and the first time he had appeared to his side from another room through the magical flames the phoenixes created. Then, of course, the first time Albus nearly choked on his phoenix treats almost made Harry flip out from panic before he could help the little phoenix.
And third - almost as the week was over, Harry realized that he still had to buy a wedding present for the couple. He dragged Hermione with him to Diagon Alley and straight to Gringotts where they took a ride to his vault. It was his first time there since Sirius died and left him the Black family fortune so he was a bit surprised by all the treasure now stuffed inside the vault - it actually made it quite hard to enter the room. When Hermione scolded him for walking on his gold so carelessly he pointed out that being stepped on by the Chosen One would probably increase its value hundredfold or so. He quickly took some gold and led Hermione back before she could throw herself at him and beg him to buy her a library or two. Not that he wouldn't, but he figured that now was not the best time for it.
Finding the right wedding gift proved to be quite difficult. Harry was looking for something that would say "you know just by looking at it that this is from Harry Potter." From him - not The Boy Who Lived or The Chosen One. After going through almost every shop in Diagon Alley that was still open he began to feel tired and desperate. Nothing seemed to fit his requirements. In the end he felt frustrated enough to step into the Quality Quiddich Supplies shop.
Harry wandered aimlessly through the shop looking at the brooms, broomkits, robes and other things in there. He loved flying and Quiddich but he doubted he would find an appropriate wedding gift in here. When he had made a complete circle inside the shop he turned around to walk out and try his luck in another shop.
"Hey! Watch out!" Harry suddenly heard a shout. "Don't let it escape!"
Following an instinct Harry turned in a crouch and slashed his hand through the air in front of him. He felt something round and metallic hit his hand and a soft beating against his fingers. Surprised, he looked at it. A golden snitch was gleaming in his fist, its wings fluttering against his hand.
"Ah, thank you, young man!" Harry heard the shopkeeper making his way towards him. "I say - that was the most spectacular catch I've ever seen!" When Harry looked up from the small golden ball he saw realization dawn on the shopkeeper's face. "Oh my! Mister Potter! I should have guessed!" The man was beaming at him. "Thank you, again! That one here is a particularly elusive little bugger that's been giving me more trouble than it's worth, to tell you the truth. Now, is there anything I could offer you, Mr. Potter?"
Harry blinked from the sudden idea that popped up in his mind. He gave a wide grin to the shopkeeper as he held out his hand with the struggling Snitch.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to take this 'little bugger' off your hands."
One minute later Harry stepped out of the shop with a smile and a box with the now-dormant Snitch in his pocket. It wasn't quite what he had imagined - yet. 'Nothing a few charms won't fix, though,' he thought. He went to Flourish and Blotts to collect Hermione and ended up buying one of the rare books in there for her - it was a choice between either that or leaving her in there until she was finished. Considering the size of the thing - that made him think it was meant to be used by people the same size of Hagrid - he thought buying it was the wise man's choice.
Getting back to the Privet Drive he left Hermione in her state of bliss pouring through her new book and went upstairs to put the finishing touches on his gift to Bill and Fleur. When it was ready he felt rather proud of himself and wished his arms would bend the other way for a moment so he could give himself a pat on the back. He wrapped up the present and left it in his closet to wait for the wedding day. He spent the rest of the day learning the spells Hermione had left him with - she herself was still stuck to her new book. Harry wondered if he would have to use a crowbar to separate the two when it was time for dinner. Luckily he was able to convince her to abandon the book for a short while and even receive a short kiss from her before she returned to it. Harry suddenly felt profound empathy and understanding towards the people who liked to burn books.
The day before the wedding made him a bit sad, actually. It was his last day of training with Bruce. Bruce, of course, made it memorable with teaching him a few really funny things one could do to an opponent. Then it got even more memorable when Bruce decided to put his skills to a real test - he was going to duel with Harry and not hold back much. Harry winced when Bruce went and didn't take another sword like his own but drew the Eagle Blade from its scabbard. He had the feeling that if needed, that sword could cut through anything - including his own sword and anything still connected to it. Like his arm, for example.
Bruce took a quick step towards him and made a lightning-fast cut that left Harry with a considerably shorter haircut than a moment before. Harry had managed to duck under the blade just in time. Realizing that Bruce was indeed holding back only slightly Harry put everything he had in the fight. It was either that or seeing his ears follow his hair, he understood. He dodged, slashed, parried and sidestepped in a whirl of steel, using everything he had learned and using his quickness and reflexes as best as he could. He let his head go empty, remembering Bruce's comment about too many thoughts in a fight making it heavy and thus - one that easily came off. In a fight as quick as the one he had right now it was instincts and reaction time that decided the winner, not who could come up with the best plan. The fight was a blur of near hits and misses that went on and on until Bruce jumped back out of Harry's reach and signaled the end of the fight. Harry dropped in a crouch, his hands on his knees to support himself. He was soaked with sweat and felt like falling over right then and there. He wondered how he had been able to keep fighting for as long as he did, not noticing the fatigue until he finished. 'Bloody adrenaline,' he thought.
"That was very good, Harry. I couldn't hit you a single time and I did try - not one-hundred-percent, but quite hard indeed." Bruce smiled proudly at his young student.
"Yeah," Harry gasped, his breath still coming rather hard. "I could tell."
"I'm glad your sword held up as long as it did," Bruce mad a comment. "A bit more and it would have gone to pieces I'm afraid."
Harry looked at his sparring sword and gasped in surprise. It had deep notches all over it, resembling a one-handed saw more than a sword. One blow landing in a notch would have meant him holding a much shorter version of it - not a good thing in an intense fight. He looked at the Eagle Blade - not a scratch on its shining surface. He remembered managing a few rather strong blows that had connected with the sword.
"I don't think there's much that can harm this blade - not that I've tried," Bruce explained. "Maybe there's some truth in that legend after all?"
"Yeah, there might. Those evil spirits sounded a lot like dementors," Harry said.
"What? There are really soul-sucking spirits out there?" Bruce was surprised.
"Sure are," Harry replied in a dark tone. "Seen some of them real up, close and personal." He shuddered. "They're not the nicest of beings to be around. The fact that they work for Voldemort now doesn't make them any better."
"Well…" Bruce seemed thoughtful. "Maybe then you should take the sword with you to find out if the legend is really true."
"What? Me? Take the Eagle Sword?" Harry was left gaping at Bruce. "But…it must have cost you a fortune! I can't just accept a priceless, ancient sword like that! Besides, I already have an old, fancy sword waiting for me somewhere…" It had been his intention to go back to Hogwarts and 'loan' the Gryffindor sword for a while.
"It might be priceless, Harry, but I never value anything above a friends life. If you can put it to a good use - take it. It would be not hard at all to adjust to it after your training," Bruce insisted.
"I don't think it would be smart running around with two ancient swords, Bruce," Harry was adamant.
"Oh, well…" Bruce sighed. "Then someone you know, perhaps? A good friend of yours?"
The thought of Ron in Quidditch robes chasing after a bunch of dementors on his broom, yelling and swinging the samurai sword above his head made Harry laugh so hard he had tears in his eyes.
"Well, I might. But I'm afraid he'll be as much a danger to himself as for the dementors," he said through tears.
"Then you could teach him how to use it properly and with responsibility," Bruce said.
"Ron and responsibility don't really go in the same sentence, Bruce!" Harry laughed again. "But yes, the idea is good actually. If I can give one of my friends another weapon against the dementors - especially as he didn't quite manage to learn the spell that drives them away…"
"It's settled, then," Bruce said with a smile. "Your birthday is the day after tomorrow, right?" Harry nodded. "I'll send it to you then. Gives me time to say goodbye to it."
Bruce stepped close to Harry and shook his hand.
"I'm glad I met you, Harry, and I wish you luck with your quest."
"I'm glad I met you, too, Bruce. Hope we meet again in the future." With that Harry turned and left his latest teacher and friend.
Back in # 4 he found Hermione still reading the book. Harry shook his head in amazement. He decided to tease her a bit about it.
"Hey, Mione. Interesting book?" He asked.
"Mhmhh," she replied as expected.
"Got the answer to life, universe and everything in it?"
"Mhmhh."
"Like the new haircut Bruce gave me with his sword?"
"Mhmhh," was again the answer.
"Hey, Voldemort is at the door, would you go and let him in?"
"Mhmhh," was still the only thing he got from her.
"Wanna shag?" he tried in desperation.
"Mhmhh," she answered without a change of tone or looking up to him.
'Well, that's just sad,' Harry thought disappointedly. 'Its fine to love books, but she's positively obsessed with that one!' He sighed and went upstairs to take a shower.
After putting on some clean clothes he went downstairs again and was happy to see that Hermione had at last finished reading the book. He used the opportunity to steal some passionate kisses from her.
"Taking a break?" He asked her after a while.
"No, I'm done, actually," she smiled.
Harry looked at the book. It seemed as large as before. If he would start reading it he would probably finish it sometime next year. Shaking his head slightly in amazement he turned back to Hermione.
"Sorry, love, but we don't have time to go back and get you another one for light reading."
"Well it would have been lovely but I agree - we don't have time for that," she said, pressing her lips against his and demanding another kiss from him. "That book was worth every Galleon you paid for it. I know the spells in it will be of great use to us!"
"Yeah, I could see how enamored by it you were - you even missed the offer to have sex with me," Harry grinned.
"What!? I did? Damn! Well, let's add the reward for buying me the book to the growing list of things to thank you for - eventually we'll get to it!" Hermione gave him a seductive smile and a burning kiss.
"So, what do we do now? I'm done with the spell list you had for me."
"Nothing, then. I guess we have the evening off before tomorrow's wedding. I just know it's going to be one of those days to remember for the rest of our lives." She waved her wand at the electric fireplace and made it vanish, then did the same to the boarded-up section of the fireplace and cast an enchantment on it that started a cozy fire in it. They threw a few pillows on the floor before it and laid down on them.
"You did find a present for them, right?" she gave him a questioning look.
"Yes, I did find something. I think they'll love it," Harry said, getting comfortable next to her.
"Hey!" Hermione said suddenly. "What happened to your hair? It looks like someone tried to give you a haircut with a sword!" she grinned at him.
"Funny you should say that…" Harry started to tell her about his day. "But don't worry, It'll be back to its usual length by tomorrow morning or I'll eat my sword," he finished after a while.
"What sword?" Hermione asked in confusion.
"Actually it's 'which one of them' now, Mione - I'll tell you about that later." He turned towards her. "How about right now we work off some of your debt to me?"
The next day before noon Harry was pacing around on the ground floor waiting for Hermione. He hadn't seen much of her since breakfast when she had gone up to start preparing for the wedding. Harry shook his head in a typically manly fashion, not understanding why it took her so long. But he admitted that the result was well worth the time he had spent waiting for her when she came down in her new dress that she had bought on their visit to Diagon Alley. In his mind he thought that the bride could appear naked before them if she wanted but even that would not be enough to tear his eyes away from Hermione. He held her and kissed her, apparating to the Burrow at the same time - the sensation that came with the apparition squeezing them even tighter against each other.
"Wow!" Hermione's eyes were fluttering. "You, Mr. Potter, definitely get some brilliant ideas from time to time!"
They saw many familiar faces there - all the Weasleys, naturally; friends and teachers from school; people Bill and Fleur worked with in Gringotts and some Ministry workers who were friends with the Weasleys or lived in the neighborhood - Lovegoods and Diggorys among others.
"Ah, Mr.Potter, Miss Granger!" they heard a familiar voice behind them. They turned around and saw Professor McGonagall walking towards them.
"Professor?" Harry blurted out. "I didn't expect to see you here."
"And why is that, Mr. Potter? May I remind you that as the Head of Gryffindor House I've been responsible for a whole generation of Weasleys for seven years each of them spent in Hogwarts? Molly often owled me asking how I managed to remain sane through that and having other students and teaching classes besides watching over her children!" the old Professor smiled. "Besides, I had to bring something from Hogwarts to Mr. Jordan." Harry noticed Lee Jordan talking with the twins Fred and George.
"You think they're up to something?" he asked.
"Who? Fred and George Weasley?" Professor McGonagal asked. "I highly doubt that - I heard Molly warn them that she would personally snap their wands in two if anything 'funny' happened today." Harry nodded his head in understanding - he and Ron didn't exactly have a clean record, either.
He pulled the small box with his wedding gift from hs pocket and gave it to Hermione.
"Mione, would you please take it to the other ones? There's something I'd like to ask Professor McGonagall."
"About what?" Hermione asked, wanting to know what it was that he didn't feel comfortable asking in her presence.
"About transfiguration, of course - I'll tell you later," he said, noticing the surprised look on both of the women's faces. When Hermione had left them he turned towards his transfiguration teacher.
"So what do you want to ask me that cant wait until the next school year, Mr. Potter?" McGonagall asked him with a raised eyebrow.
"I'd like to know the benefits of becoming an animagus, professor," Harry said. "I mean - you're one of the best witches at transfiguration…so why go through the trouble of becoming an animagus when you could just transfigure yourself into any animal form, not only the one that comes from being an animagus?"
"Well, Mr. Potter, as the lesson about animagi happened in you third year after your first Divination lesson I'll forgive you the lack of attention you showed at that moment. As it happens, there was an article about the subject in the last issue of 'Modern Transfiguration'. However, compared to an essay on the subject one of my third-year students once wrote, it was complete rubbish." She looked around quickly, then with a swift flick of her wand summoned a scroll from thin air. She handed it to Harry. "Now no-one will ever learn of this, am I understood, Mr. Potter? Can't really go around handing out my best students homework like this. I just wish all my other students were as attentive and focused as her." The pointed look she gave him left no doubt in his mind whom exactly she meant with "all the other students". Noticing Hermione return to them he quickly stuffed the scroll in his pocket.
"Was there anything else, Mr. Potter?" McGonagall asked him.
"Actually there is," Harry's voice turned serious. He took a deep breath. "I wont come back to Hogwarts this year."
"What?!" Professor McGonagall looked very shocked. "Why?"
"It has to do with what I was doing with Professor Dumbledore that night. I'm sorry but I can't tell you what it is. It's important - very important. He wouldn't even tell the Order what it was. I have to finish this before I can come back to finish my education in Hogwarts."
"Well, at least Miss Granger…" McGonagall started.
"…Will be going with him, yes, Professor," Hermione cut in, a look of determionation on her face. Professor McGonagall looked at her for a long time.
"You will, wont you?" the old teacher sighed. "Well, that leaves me with a problem, then."
"I don't see any problem," Harry said defiantly.
"No?" the new Headmistress of Hogwarts asked. "Well, then maybe you, Mr. Potter, can tell me who I should appoint as Head Boy and Girl in your absence?"
"Oh…" was all Harry managed to say. He looked at Hermione who was wearing the same surprised expression as he. "Well, I'd suggest keeping them for the next year when we'll hopefully be back." He scratched his head. "You're right - I can't think of anyone to suggest from our year as Head Students, either. Maybe Neville as Head Boy if he's coming back this year. I believe you've noticed how he has changed. He's not the clumsy boy he used to be. He'll probably also be the best in his class in DADA now that the three of us are gone."
"The three of you? You mean Mr. Weasley…"
"…will go with those two wherever it is they're going to, correct," Ron's voice came from behind the professor. "Seems like you'll be loosing a lot this year, professor," Ron smiled at McGonagall. "Two prefects - one of them supposed to become a Head Girl, too, if the rumors are true. Then both your Head Student candidates, and then the Gryffindor Quidditch captain and Seeker plus the Keeper. And besides that you'll have to find new teachers for DADA and Transfigurations and a new Head for the Gryffindor House. To be honest - if anyone would offer me the Headmasters job this year I would have refused. You'll have a difficult first year in the office, I'm afraid," he finished.
"Yes, Mr. Weasley, quite correct," McGonagall sighed again. "I do hope to see you three back in Hogwarts when you're able to continue there - please let me know immediately. And if there's anything else I could do for you, just ask."
"I will, but not now, Professor," Harry said. "Seems like its time to go and find our seats - the ceremony is about to begin."
They got to their seats and a minute later when everyone had settled down, the wedding ceremony began. Harry had to admit that though there were similarities between the muggle and wizard versions of it, he liked the wizardry version of the wedding ceremony much more. Not that he had been to any muggle weddings, but he had seen a few of them in TV and those always seemed to end in tears. 'Well, Mrs. Weasley is crying, but that's to be expected, I guess.'
Bill looked still absolutely cool despite his scars - like a pirate on a looting trip out for booze and women. 'Well, he got his woman all right…' Harry grinned as Fleur walked to the groom. Seemed like Fleur had changed a lot - not so much the French airy girl anymore but a young and capable woman who already made some hard choices in her life. It made her look more human and less veela - something that made Harry feel even better about his wedding gift to the two. It was out for all to see that the two were going into marriage because of love, not some magical spell or effect of Fleur's blood.
Harry prepared himself for a long and boring ceremony filled with long speeches. 'Why bother with an hour-long ceremony,' he thought, 'while all it really took was two questions and two answers?' Half-way through it he noticed Ron's head start to jerk gently - sure sign of his diminishing awareness of his surroundings. Harry thought it wouldn't do to have his best mate start to snore in the middle of a wedding so he elbowed him to wake him up. When Ron's head came up and gave him a thankful nod, he turned his attention back to the front. He started to feel his own consciousness slipping soon. 'Come on! I mean, is this guy related to Professor Binns or something?" he wondered.
Suddenly from next to him Hermione gave a sudden gasp and sat straight as a board - her eyes wide.
'What?!' Harry thought. "She either had a major revelation about something or someone just pinched her in a very inappropriate place."
He turned in his seat to take a look at who was sitting behind them and came face to face with Mad-Eye Moody's electric-blue eye and wicked grin.
'Oh God please make it a revelation!' Harry begged and turned to the front again, shuddering.
Thankfully, the ceremony wasn't that long. When the bride and groom had said their 'yes' and became husband and wife everyone stood up and applauded the young couple. Harry stepped in line with Hermione to congratulate the newlywed couple. They were right behind Ron and Luna so he heard Bill tease his youngest brother about finally finding himself a new blond girl.
"'Arry! 'Ermione!" he heard Fleur's excited voice and noticed that Ron and Luna had moved on. He received the usual hug and kisses from her and a firm handshake from Bill.
"Fleur, you look beautiful as always. Bill - you look worse, but cooler than ever!" Harry grinned at them.
"Yeah, that's what the twins have been telling me, Harry," Bill grinned back at him. "I'm sorry I won't be at your birthday tomorrow, though."
"Oh, I figured you two would be…busy after today," Harry said, making the young couple go very red.
"Well, Harry, today isn't over yet," Bill told him. "I wish you luck in what's about to happen, though - both of us do. And we figure that based on your previous experience you have a good chance of winning!"
"Winning what?" Harry asked in confusion, but before he got an answer Hermione pulled him away.
"Come on, Harry. There are other people behind us anxiously waiting to congratulate them!" Hermione told him. He let her pull himself away but only because he wanted to ask her something.
"So what was it that made you jump during the ceremony?" he asked.
"What did you think?" Hermione returned the question.
"Er, I'd rather not say," Harry felt heat rise to his face. Hermione just shook her head.
"It was something the minister said, actually - about the bonds between the married couple. A bond of hearts and minds."
"So…" Harry thought it was the usual stuff people talked about at wedding ceremonies.
"So that's exactly what I think happened to us! We formed a bond between us!" Hermione seemed very excited. "Unfortunately it's not a bond of minds - we do not seem to hear each-others thoughts and I'm afraid the connection to Voldemort that you have would not allow another like it to be formed."
Harry felt his hate towards Voldemort grow even more. He felt cheated out of something truly amazing at the moment - another thing Voldemort had taken from him.
"So what we have is a bond of…" he let her finish the sentence.
"Hearts - I think, yes," she said. "We seem to hear what the others heart is saying to us." She looked at him in a way that made the voice in his heart telling him she loved him redundant. "Its not only conscience, voice of reason or something else - its all that and much, much more."
"Have you heard of anything like this before?" Harry asked.
"No," she smiled. "If anyone has, they kept it to themselves."
"I think that's a smart thing to do," he smiled back at her.
Suddenly a magically amplified voice boomed over the chatter surrounding them.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Wizards and witches! May I have your attention, please!" Lee Jordan's voice echoed through the crowd. Everyone turned to see Lee stand in front of what used to be the Weasleys small Quiddich pitch and now resembled a miniature Roman Colosseum.
"Before we proceed to sampling the wedding cake and the magnificent food Molly Weasley has prepared for us we have something else to take care of, first!" Lee announced. "Namely - a battle! And not just any battle, but one where the winner is awarded with a kiss from any - and I do mean any - lady or gentleman present! If they refuse they go home hungry!"
"This is crazy!" Hermione huffed next to him. "It's a wedding, for Merlin's sake!"
"Well, Mione, you can watch from the sidelines, then, because I'll be down on the field!" Harry grinned at her. "And don't even think about leaving before it's over!" he added.
"Oh, is that a challenge, Mr. Potter?" she raised an eyebrow.
"No, not really. You know how I feel about little girls and battles," Harry replied in a nonchalant voice.
Hermione gave him a withering glare and stormed off towards where Lee was guiding people either towards the seats or the arena. Harry followed her quickly. He also saw Ron enter the arena but without Luna.
When everyone was either down on the arena or seated above it Lee Jordan's magnified voice came from the tribunes.
"Before we start I'd like to tell you the rules, oh brave warriors! No magical objects like Shield Hats or the like are allowed! Any non-harmful spell or charm is allowed! Anything that harms the mind or body is not! So use your imagination! Also, initially forming groups of no more than three is allowed until the last group or person is standing! If it's a group, they will fight each-other one on one until we have a winner! If it's a single person - well, that's it, then! Form your groups now!"
Harry could swear that both Ron and Hermione apparated next to him, leaving quite a few people disappointed. When everyone had found the people they wanted to group with, Lee continued.
"Now the objective here is to eventually stun your opponents! Once stunned, it's not allowed to revive them or this battle will never end! Our referees will move them to the sidelines and revive them there so they can enjoy the rest of the show! And here they are!" Lee shouted when four people entered the arena and closed the gate behind them. "Let's all give an applause to Alastor Moody, Nymphadora Tonks, Remus Lupin and Kingsley Shacklebolt!" When the applause died down Lee started to count down from ten.
Harry took a quick look around trying to see who had grouped with whom and which group posed the biggest threat. He was glad to have both Ron and Hermione with him. This would be a good test to their abilities of quick thinking and cooperation. He saw that Ginny had teamed up with Fred and George and decided that if anyone could take his own team out it would be them. Fred and George were professional pranksters and Ginny had always shown talent for hexing people.
Before Lee said 'one', however, he held a pause to make an announcement.
"Now pay attention, everyone! According to Fred and George Weasley like they told me - watch out for Ickle Ronniekins! He's become quite a wizard thanks to them by now!"
Fred and George looked mortified. Lee might have turned everyone else's attention to Ron, but it also meant that Ron would come after them first. The thought didn't sit well with either one of them.
"Lee! We'll thank you later for that!" they yelled together towards Lee Jordan who just shrugged and shouted 'ONE!' into the magical megaphone.
The arena was filled with discharged magic when at once more than a dozen spells were fired off. Harry had a shielding charm around them instantly that reflected every spell that hit it. He dropped it immediately so the three of them could counter-attack. His first spell burst Ginny's shield like a soap bubble and his second transfigured the sleeves of her dress twice their original length so that they fell over her wand and prevented her from casting anything for a moment.
Next to him Ron used a variation of Locomotor Mortis to bind Fred's left and George's right leg together then used Levicorpus on both of them. Behind him Hermione was busy hexing the blazes out of anyone trying to sneak up to them.
Harry turned his attention back to Ginny who had returned her sleeves to their original length and was now eyeing Harry in contemplation. She gave him an evil grin suddenly and shot off two spells amazingly fast. The first was her famous Bat-Bogey Hex aimed at him and the second was a stunner. Harry used the vanishing spell to get rid of the hex and decided to dodge the stunner when he suddenly realized that Ginny hadn't aimed the stunner at him - it was aimed at Hermione's back! Harry panicked, realizing that he didn't have time to block the spell so he just - stepped in front of it.
Harry had expected to be blown off his feet and drop down unconscious but the only thing he felt was a faint tingling as the spell hit him. He looked surprised at his chest where the spell had hit him, then at equally surprised Ginny. He shrugged it off and cast a stunner of his own at her. Ginny was a split-second too slow and with the twins still hanging upside down she went down with the stunner.
At the sidelines Moody, Tonks, Remus and Kingsley were looking hard at the battle.
"Are you sure that Harry isn't using any shielding items, Mad-Eye?" Tonks asked the retired auror.
"Of course I am," Moody snarled. "Didn't you see how it just dissipated? It wasn't reflected like from a shielding item. Besides, I see nothing on him that's not allowed to be there besides Grangers lipstick."
Tonks looked at Remus in surprise. They both grinned and turned back to the battle.
Now that Harry had taken out Ginny and Ron had finished toying with the twins they turned their attention to the rest of the arena. There weren't many people left on their feet. It looked like Hermione had taken out a whole group on her own while they were busy with Fred, George and Ginny. After a moment the only one standing besides the three of them was Charlie Weasley who had fought the battle all by himself. It looked like the job of taking care of dragons had done a good job of making him able to notice what was going on around him at any time. He had always been quick - he used to be the Gryffindor Quiddich captain and a legendary player like Harry - working with dragons had only made him quicker. The job also meant one had to be a powerful wizard to be able to stun the beasts when they got angry - like Harry had seen him do in his fourth year.
Charlie turned to face them after taking down his last opponent and shot a string of curses at them. It took all three of them to barely deflect them. Charlie changed his tactics immediately and concentrated on one of them only - Hermione. He had noticed that somehow she had seemed the slowest of the three when countering the curses. He shot off his best string of curses so fast that he felt if he was going any faster his wand might snap.
Harry stepped in front of Hermione the moment he saw Charlie's wand point at her. He felt the wand in his hand warm up from the spells he tried to squeeze off through it - like they were being pushed through a bottleneck. 'Finite! Finite-finite-expelliarmus-finite-accio-incarcerous!' he thought in a moment, his wand moving in a blur from one movement to the other without pause.
"Grrr, I can't watch this!" Mad-Eye Moody growled and turned away from the arena.
"What? Don't tell me you're going soft in your old age, Mad-Eye!" Tonks teased him.
"I said I can't watch, not that I don't want to." He pulled out his magical eye with a sickening plup. "Potter was blinding me," he said as he turned back to the arena.
"What do you mean - blinding you?" Tonks asked in confusion.
"I mean his magical aura was getting too bright for my eye. Like staring at the bloody sun..." Moody explained.
Tonks, Remus and Kingsley exchanged shocked stares and turned as one back to the action on the arena.
Harry stared amazedly at the wand in his other had he had managed to Accio from the air when his Expelliarmus had disarmed Charlie. He looked at Charlie, who was now wrapped from head to toe with a sturdy rope making him look like a fresh mummy.
"That was brilliant, mate!" Ron slapped him on the back. "Now I believe there was something in the rules about stunning the opponent?" Ron aimed his wand at Charlie and sent a stunner at him. The next moment the ropes around Charlie disappeared and he floated to the group of aurors, ex-aurors and ex-DADA professors where he was revived. He deftly caught his wand when Harry threw it to him and gave a 'thumbs-up' in return.
"And it looks like the Golden Trio wiped the floor with anyone brave enough to stand against them! And what an amazing showdown between Harry Potter and Charlie Weasley!" Lee shouted. "In a moment its time for the Trio to sort out who's the top dog among them - so lets see who goes against whom first!"
Lee drew his wand in the air, writing the names of the trio in burning letters. He then waved his wand and made the names twirl. After a moment they stopped and Harry and Ron were linked by flaming lines.
"So its Potter against Weasley - Ronald Bilius Weasley - if you were wondering which one! So Hermione, please join the referees for a moment and give the two young gents some space! Don't worry, I'm sure they both will be fine without your guidance!" he added to the cheering of the crowd.
Harry and Ron walked to the centre of the arena and faced each other. They assumed the fighting stance and waited for Lee's command to start.
"So, how are you feeling, Ron?" Harry asked.
"Pretty confident, mate!" Ron smiled at him. "You know - I've been learning the whole month like my life depended on it!" he finished with a confident smirk.
"Ron, I've been learning for the month like everyone's life depended on it - plus I had the smartest with around here to teach me," Harry replied, rolling his eyes.
"Oh, right," Ron gulped.
"Now that Harry has managed to seemingly un-nerve Ron, let the battle begin!" Lee yelled from his seat. Harry raised his wand immediately.
"So - are you feeling lucky, punk?" he asked. He could clearly hear Hermione's amused snort from the sidelines.
"Not really, no." Ron shrugged. "Got any Felix Felicis left?"
"Can't say that I do, Ickle Ronniekins."
"Oh well, let's settle this the old-fashioned way, then, my poor love-addicted friend!" Ron twitched his wand at him and cast a spell non-verbally. Luckily the spell had a visible effect that Harry was quite familiar with - he easily sidestepped the red stunner.
"Love-addicted? Ron - I believe your Mum would do something like this if she heard you say something like that!" When he said 'this' Harry cast his own non-verbal spell. The next moment Ron was spitting soap bubbles out of his mouth.
"Cute," Ron remarked after he got the stuff out of his mouth. "Almost as cute as this!"
There was a loud bang and suddenly Harry felt like he was shrinking. After a moment the feeling stopped, but everything seemed really out of proportions for him. He looked down on himself and mewed in surprise - Ron had transfigured him into a cute little black-furred and green-eyed kitten! For Ron that was a really remarkable feat - he wasn't the genius like Hermione in the subject of human transfiguration. Though his new form felt strangely comfortable he understood that in his current form his chances of winning the duel were quite non-existent. Not really knowing how to reverse the effect he just concentrated hard on his human form - or his best guess at what it had been. Suddenly he saw his own human form as if through another persons eyes - Hermione's, he realized. With a pop he had his hands and feet and everything else back as it used to be. He threw a quick wink towards Hermione before turning his attention back to hexing Ron.
"Ok, I'm getting hungry here, mate. Let's wrap this up!" He jerked his wand up and Ron's sleeves suddenly grew longer and tied themselves into a knot - making it impossible for him to cast spells. Ron tried a severing charm quickly, but before he was finished Harry knocked him over with Impedimenta. Ron rolled to his back and threw Expelliarmus back at him suddenly, knocking his wand out of his hands and several feet away from him.
"HA!" Ron yelled victoriously. Harry winced, looking at where his wand lay on the ground. Ron would easily get him before he got even half-way to it. So he raised his hands instead.
"Guess you have a slight advantage now, mate," he commented. Ron was walking towards him with a wide grin on his face.
"I guess I do!" he gloated, stopping a few steps from him. "Don't worry, I'll make it quick!"
As Ron raised his wand and started to say the incantation out loud Harry exploded from his spot. Somewhere at the same time with Ron's "Stupe-" he reached him, ducked under his arm and grabbing it and sliding under Ron's arm, twisted it hard. The last part of "-oooy!" from Ron as he was soaring through the air wasn't exactly the correct ending of the incantation - but hey, it worked! - and Ron's own stunner hit him from his wand that was now pointed at his stomach.
The audience erupted in a deafening applause the moment after what they just saw sank in.
"AND POTTER CATCHES WEASLEY TOTALLY OFF-GUARD! WHAT AN AMAZING MOVE BY POTTER!" Lee was yelling in excitement. "So that's one down one to go! Let's see how Potter does against Hermione Granger - the brightest witch alive according to many of her Hogwarts teachers!"
When Hermione walked to the centre of the arena with a wide grin on her face Harry felt like running the other way as fast as he could. He doubted he could fool her like he had fooled Ron - she certainly wouldn't let him close enough to disarm her.
"So, Harry…I think the time is ripe for some payback for that little side-along apparition accident you had at the beginning of the month, don't you think?" she eyed him like an especially delicious piece of pumpkin pie she was about to eat.
"Eek! Yeah, you might be right about that, Mione!" he squeaked.
"So what do you say we get started then? I thought you were hungry?" she asked, twirling her wand between her fingers. When Harry nodded she slashed her wand at him quickly. Harry threw a quick 'Protego'…
'Suckered!' he realized a moment later. 'She had already started - by severing his belt and using the levitation charm to keep his pants up! That's what she was doing by twirling her wand! When I used 'Protego' I severed the spell!' Harry concluded as his pants dropped in front of the audience. He felt all the blood in his body rush to his face. He dived sideways out of the stunner's path, muttering 'Reparo' at the same time. He quickly pulled his pants up again.
'Expelliarmus!' he shot at her the moment he got to his feet. He was surprised to see her wand go flying in a wide arc. Hermione was - too.
"And a quick move by Potter after his rather embarrassing start leaves Hermione Granger without her wand! What will she do now? Will she pull off something similar like Potter in his previous fight?" Lee's commentary broke Hermione's surprise.
"Em, I'd rather not stun you, Mione. So…could you just, like, surrender, maybe?" Harry asked.
"Never surrender, never give up, Harry!" Hermione told him while walking towards him.
"Er, Mione?" Harry was not sure what to do next. To be honest - he had no desire to stun her.
"Well, Harry, if you can't do it…I guess I have to do this myself!"
Hermione suddenly jumped him and pressed her lips against his, pulling him into a deep kiss. Harry felt like someone had just unplugged his brain - he felt dizzy kissing her in that beautiful dress under the warm sun. The rest of the world silently faded away until she pulled back with a victorious smirk. Harry noticed that he still had his wand.
"AND THE WINNER IS HERMIONE GRANGER!!!" Lee roared from his position.
"What?" Harry was dumbfounded. "WHAT?! I'm not stunned!" he yelled.
"Sorry, Harry, but you were!" Lee's voice came back. "The referees are voting on the uncommon tactics used by Granger -" Harry turned around to see the four Order members huddled together and after a while all four nodded towards Lee. "And its an unanimous vote! HERMIONE GRANGER WINS! CONGRATULATIONS! Er, do you want to have another kiss from him, Hermione?" Lee finished.
"Yes, I'd like that very much, Lee - thank you!" she yelled back.
'Well, maybe it's not so bad to loose sometimes,' Harry thought as Hermione pressed her lips against his again.
The rest of the wedding passed in a haze filled with delicious food - Harry tasted everything with pumpkin in it - dancing and other such activities. Finally, when it was beginning to get dark, the newlywed couple disapparated off on their honeymoon. The guests left soon after that.
Near midnight in an undisclosed location Bill and Fleur Weasley were opening the last of their wedding presents. Fleur picked up the last, small box.
"Who is it from?" Bill asked her.
"There's no card, love, but I think I know…" she smiled at her husband.
"Open it!" Bill encouraged her.
Fleur unwrapped the box and opened it. Inside laid a small golden ball and a card.
"Is that a Snitch?" Bill asked, peering over her shoulder. He pulled out the small golden ball while Fleur was examining the card. A small stick-figure seemed to wave to her from it. A chat bubble formed above its head and words appeared in it.
"I zwear dat I'm up to no good?" Fleur read.
The moment she finished the Snitch unfurled its wings and bolted out of Bill's grasp. With a yell Bill jumped up and started running after the 'little bugger', as he cursed it. Fleur laughed hard at the scene of half-naked Bill running around the room after the little golden ball. She looked back at the card. The stick-figure gave her a deep bow and two new words appeared above it.
"Mizchief managed!" Fleur said. The Snitch flew across the room and settled easily in her palm. She turned the 'little bugger' around and found the engraved words on its surface. She showed it to Bill.
'Others seek what you have found - congratulations!' followed by a small lightning-bolt shaped symbol.
Bill looked at the clock in their room - it was showing exactly midnight.
"Happy birthday, Harry," he said.
"Happy birthday, Harry!" Fleur repeated.
In a small bedroom in Privet Drive number 4 a young, beautiful witch was whispering the same words to a young sleeping wizard.
"Happy birthday, Harry," and kissed him gently before falling asleep next to him.
A/N:
It told you to remember the four R's! Read, Rate, Review and Recommend! *throws a wrench*