A/N: I'd just like to apologise to anyone who's been waiting for this chapter, it's taken me such a long time! The dreaded writer's block, I'm afraid. Thank you to everyone who reviewed chapter 1 and offered me encouragement :)
Chapter 2 - A Weasley Wedding
Harry felt the familiar painful bands pressing into his chest and the odd sensation of being squeezed through a rubber tube; he ignored the discomforting feeling and concentrated firmly on his destination and suddenly he was there, standing in the overgrown yard behind the Weasley's ramshackle house that was swaying ever so slightly in the fresh breeze. Apparition wasn't so bad, once you got the hang of it. It had felt all right then, while he had kept his mind firmly focused on the Burrow. He would still take a broomstick any day of the week, but the ability to Apparate was another thing Harry had a feeling he would need in the times to come. He glanced down; his trunk was there with him, having survived the trip intact, so that was something else to be pleased about.
It was not long after half past ten; there was a thin trail of smoke drifting lazily up out of the chimney and a few chickens were scratching around to Harry's right, but otherwise there were no signs of life from the house. Harry hoped he hadn't come too early, but then he had never known the Weasleys to have a quiet lie-in of a morning in his life. Dragging his trunk behind him, which was heavier then ever with Hedwig's cage stuffed inside, he made his way across the lawn (kicking aside a gnome that stuck its little foot out in an attempt to trip him with an undisguised guffaw of laughter) and knocked on the kitchen door. It was opened a few moments later by Mrs Weasley, who shrieked loudly:
"Harry dear!"
He was quickly engulfed into a hug and propelled into the kitchen, which was cosy after the unseasonable chill outside.
"We weren't expecting you until the afternoon! How on earth did you get here? Are you hungry?"
The radio was on faintly, broadcasting the Wizarding Wireless Network. The sink was already full of pots and pans being thoroughly scrubbed by an enchanted brush and scourer, and a big pot of porridge sat steaming on the kitchen table. At the far end of the table sat Ginny with a very resigned look on her face; one side of her hair had been twisted into curls, the other side made very wavy and on top had been twisted into a plait.
"Hey Harry," she said, resting her chin on one hand.
"Hi Ginny," he replied, unable to restrain a grin. He knew better than to say anything though. He took off his cloak and then sat down at the table and turned back to Mrs Weasley.
"I've had breakfast thanks Mrs Weasley," he told her. "And I Apparated here."
"But you don't have your license yet!" said Mrs Weasley, sounding shocked.
"I know, I'd better not risk it again until I can go to the Ministry and take the test. I wasn't sure how else to get here though."
"Oh that's our fault, I'm so sorry dear," Mrs Weasley said, walking back over to Ginny and brandishing her wand. "We've been so busy lately, so much to prepare for the wedding . . . cake, flowers, decorations . . . we're still trying to decide which style will look best for Ginny's hair . . ."
"I like it straight like it always is," Ginny told her, although she sounded like she knew it was an argument she wasn't going to win.
"Nonsense, it has to look special for Bill and Fleur's big day . . . Arthur!" she called into the living room. "Arthur! Harry's arrived!"
"Harry my boy!" Mr Weasley came striding into the kitchen holding a Muggle hairdryer in one hand, an excited look on his face. He pumped Harry's hand vigorously with his own free one.
"Made the trip all right then? Excellent. Fascinating things, these! To think Muggles have to sit there for up to ten minutes blasting one of these at their heads in order to dry off!"
As he always was when presented with Mr Weasley's odd fascination with Muggle appliances, Harry found it best just to smile and nod. Ginny rolled her eyes at him as Mrs Weasley continued to charm her hair into different styles, hmming and hahhing as she did so.
"I was just going to have some tea, would you like some Harry? Tea, Molly?"
"Yes please dear."
Harry soon found a mug of tea pressed into his hands and Mr Weasley took a seat opposite him. His look became slightly more serious, although his good-natured tone remained.
"So Harry, seventeen today eh? Finally of Age . . . you've come a long way, haven't you . . ."
"Merlin's beard, I can't believe I forgot! Happy birthday, dear!" Mrs Weasley cried, coming around the table and giving him another bone-crushing hug.
"Thanks Mrs Weasley," Harry said, wincing slightly.
"I remember when I came of Age," Mr Weasley said, reminiscing as he sipped his tea. "I went around the house levitating everything in sight, just because I could . . ."
"Arthur," Mrs Weasley said disapprovingly.
"Wish I was of Age," Ginny said grumpily. "I could do my own hair then."
"Another year to wait yet dear," Mrs Weasley told her, continuing to fuss over her hair. "There are presents over there for you, Harry. Hedwig brought some more earlier this morning."
Harry followed Mrs Weasley's pointing arm to one end of the kitchen counter, where there sat a small pile of packages and envelopes all addressed to him. He carried them over to kitchen table and began to unwrap them.
"Is Ron up yet?" Harry asked as he began to unwrap the first parcel, which was from Mr and Mrs Weasley.
"No, but he ought to be, the lazy boy," Mrs Weasley said, and promptly waved her wand and sent something silvery streaking out of the room. "Bill and Fleur have gone for a walk to fetch the newspaper."
Harry pulled a box of home-made fudge and a new handknitted jumper from the package; the jumper was red with a large golden '1' emblazoned on the front.
"Thanks Mr and Mrs Weasley, this is great . . ."
"I thought, what with . . . well, the Chosen One and all," said Mrs Weasley fondly. Harry was a little taken aback at this reminder of his fate but took off his sweatshirt and put the jumper on, not wishing to appear ungrateful. Mr Weasley was eyeing the fudge so Harry opened it and offered it round. There was a card and lumpy package of rock cakes from Hagrid; another card that had been signed with best wishes from each of the remaining members of the Order of the Phoenix, which, Harry thought sadly, was now a very short list; finally there was a package and card on which Harry recognised Hermione's neat handwriting. Her gift was a framed wizarding photograph of the three of them standing together in the Gryffindor common room, smiling at the camera with their arms around each other's waists. It had been taken not long after Ron had recovered from being poisoned, if Harry remembered rightly. Looking at the picture it was amazing to see how much taller both he and Ron were now; Hermione just about came up to their shoulders.
"That's a nice picture," said Mrs Weasley, looking over his shoulder. "Doesn't Hermione look pretty? Hmm, Ginny dear I wonder if can get your hair a bit thicker like Hermione's is . . ."
"Mum, no!"
Both Harry and Mr Weasley exchanged grins as Harry read Hermione's card:
Dear Harry
Happy Birthday! I'm sorry I can't be there in person but I thought it'd be best if I spend as much time as possible with Mum and Dad before the wedding. We're going up to the Lake District for a few days, but we're taking the train as they won't let me Apparate them there. We should be coming to the Burrow on the 19th. I hope your stay with your relatives wasn't too bad; I thought I'd send your present to the Burrow, as I knew you wouldn't stay there longer than necessary. See you soon!
Love from,
Hermione
A bleary-looking Ron entered the kitchen as Harry put down Hermione's card; he was still dressed in pyjama bottoms and a t-shirt and with a big tuft of his red hair sticking up from his head.
"You need to sort out that wake-up spell Mum," Ron said with annoyance. "Bloody thing nearly took my head off."
"Well if you got up at a respectable time I wouldn't need it," chastised Mrs Weasley.
"Nice hair," Ginny said, laughing.
"Look who's talking," Ron retorted, and then ducked a spoon Ginny threw at him. Harry laughed.
"Happy birthday mate," Ron said, handing him a card as he sat down at the table.
"Thanks Ron," said Harry, opening the card. A vibrant orange voucher fluttered out, which Harry read was worth five galleons at Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes.
"Saved up for it myself," Ron said proudly, taking a bowl and ladling it with porridge.
"Thanks mate," Harry said awkwardly. He didn't have the heart to tell him that Fred and George had given him free run of anything he wanted from the shop, but he doubted the twins had bothered to tell Ron that either when he purchased the voucher. Harry resolved to buy Ron something with it.
"Accio sugar jar!" Ron said, flicking his wand which he'd produced from a pyjama pocket. The jar of sugar soared across the table and Ron began to pour it generously onto his porridge. Harry laughed again.
"What's so funny?" Ron asked. Harry told them about the magic show he'd put on for the Dursleys that morning and soon Ron and Ginny were both roaring with laughter. Mrs Weasley made a little 'tsk tsk' noise but both she and Mr Weasley were grinning.
"Serves them right," Ron said through a mouthful of porridge. "You don't have to worry about them anymore now mate."
"I know," replied Harry. "It's great."
And it was. Sitting here in the company of the Weasleys, and with the knowledge that he'd never have to return to Privet Drive again, he was already feeling a great deal happier than he had the day before. The daunting nature of what lay ahead still lingered over him, but for now he could relax.
"Dad's taking me to the Ministry tomorrow," Ron said thickly through another mouthful of porridge. "To do the Apparition test. You going to come?"
"Yeah, that's a good idea. Sooner we get it sorted the better."
"I can't wait," said Ron, turning red slightly. He was still clearly embarrassed by his previous failure.
The kitchen door opened and Bill and Fleur came in, both dressed in Muggle coats. Bill had a copy of the Daily Prophet under one arm.
"'Arry," Fleur said throatily, striding over and swiftly kissing him on both cheeks. "Eet is good to see you again. 'Appy birthday!"
"Thanks Fleur," said Harry, his cheeks burning at the touch of her lips. "All right, Bill?"
"Happy birthday Harry," said Bill, shaking his hand. Despite the criss-crossing white scars covering his face Bill did indeed look a lot better than Harry had last seen him.
"They should get a little better than this," Bill told him, gesturing to the scars. "I'm still using that awful paste on them."
"Eet does not mazzer," Fleur said as Bill handed the newspaper to Mr Weasley. "Bill is still verry 'andsome, they just show 'ow brave 'ee is . . ."
Harry was trying not to laugh at Ron, who was watching Fleur with a rather dreamy expression and dripping porridge onto the table.
"Ooh Ginevra, zose curls are adorable," Fleur said, crossing over to Ginny and admiring the curly locks adorning one side of her head. "She will look so pretty don't you think, Molly?"
"I'm going to kill whoever told her my full name," fumed Ginny, ignoring her.
"Why?" demanded Fleur. "Eet is such a pretty name!"
Harry smiled and drank his tea as his listened to the Weasleys chattering around him. He missed this; even Hogwarts, the closest thing Harry had ever felt to home, could not provide this warm feeling of family. For the millionth time he felt grateful for the Weasleys to include him in theirs.
"Ron, show Harry where he'll be sleeping," Mrs Weasley told him after he'd finished his second bowl of porridge. "And get dressed, for Merlin's sake!"
Harry followed a grumbling Ron out of the room, dragging his trunk behind him. When they reached the stairs he stopped and took out his wand.
"Locomotor trunk," he incanted. The trunk rose a few inches off the ground and began following him obediently up the stairs.
"Nice one," said Ron. "It's great, isn't it? I've been doing everything by magic since I've got back, been driving Mum crazy. You're in Charlie's old room for now, but you'll be back sharing with me once people start arriving for the wedding."
"That's all right," said Harry. "Thanks for looking after Hedwig."
"Sure. She's up in the attic with Pig. Harry . . ."
Ron stopped and turned to him.
"What?"
"Have you . . . have you thought about it yet? About . . . what the plan is?"
Harry knew what Ron meant. When they had spoken by the lake after Dumbledore's funeral the idea had been clear; he knew he wanted to visit Godric's Hollow, and then the search for the remaining Horcruxes would begin. But how they were going to go about that . . . Harry had spent much of the time at Privet Drive thinking about it, but he wasn't sure if now was the right time to talk about it with Ron.
"I have," he said finally. "But wait until Hermione gets here. It's best if we all talk about it together; I need both of your opinions."
"All right," Ron said, looking what Harry thought to be both a little bit relieved yet also proud that his opinion was important. "Fancy some one-on-one Quidditch before lunch?"
Harry laughed, Ron was already thinking ahead to his next meal.
"All right. I'll meet you downstairs."
Ron went off to his own room to get dressed and Harry guided his trunk into Charlie's old bedroom, where he found the bed freshly made. The room had the feel of not being lived in for quite a while, despite being spotlessly clean. Harry deposited his trunk at the foot of the bed and put the picture Hermione had given him for his birthday on the desk in the corner. He extracted his Firebolt from his trunk and then headed back down the twisting stairs. At the bottom of them he bumped into Ginny, who had finally managed to escape from the kitchen with her hair returned to its normal sleek mane.
"Hi," she said. "You left before I could give you this."
She held out a small, wrapped package to him.
"Happy birthday."
"Ginny . . ."
The corridor seemed to have grown a lot smaller. He unwrapped the gift and his mouth opened as he held up a pair of new Seeker gloves; they were red with black mesh and had a Golden Snitch embroidered on each forehand. Harry recognised the brand - they were expensive.
"You shouldn't have spent so much . . ." he managed.
Ginny shrugged slightly.
"Don't worry about it. I got them before we . . . well, before."
Harry felt very awkward. Ginny looked as pretty as ever and she had just given him a fantastic gift; he was sure that the beast in his chest that had been so active last year whenever Ginny was around was going to rear its head again but it remained oddly dormant. He wasn't sure what to say.
"Thank you," he said finally. "You really didn't have to . . ."
"Well, you only come of Age once."
There was another pause. He thought that she seemed to be watching him for some kind of reaction, but he wasn't sure what.
"Me and Ron are going to play Quidditch outside, if you want to play?"
"No that's okay, I've got some stuff to do. See you later."
And then she was gone up the stairs. The corridor returned to its normal size. Harry sighed, feeling very guilty indeed.
* * *
The three weeks leading up to Bill and Fleur's wedding passed in an ever-increasing flurry of activity at the Burrow; with Mr Weasley and Bill kept busy in their jobs, it fell to Mrs Weasley and Fleur to make most of the arrangements. Despite Mrs Weasley's change of heart about Fleur they frequently clashed over details and it was not uncommon to hear one or the other of them muttering out of the corner of their mouths. Harry was sure he caught Fleur swearing in French several times, for she flushed bright red when she noticed him grinning. The number of family members occupying the Burrow continued to increase making it noisier and more crowded than ever; a fair amount of that space was taken up by Ron's great uncle Stanleigh, a jovial wizard whose sizeable waistline was only matched by his passion for firewhiskey and somewhat risqué jokes. With the hustle and bustle of so many Weasleys it took a few minutes before anyone realised that Hermione and her parents had arrived.
"Hermione dear!" Mrs Weasley exclaimed, putting down a load of clean washing and giving Hermione a hug. "And David, Jane! So glad you could come, did you have a good trip? Arthur! The Grangers are here!"
Mr and Mrs Granger didn't have much of a chance to answer Mrs Weasley's questions as Mr Weasley appeared and dragged Mr Granger off towards the den with one arm around his shoulders.
"We've never spoken about this dentistry, David," Mr Weasley was saying as they faded out of earshot. "Is it true you actually use metal to drill holes into teeth?"
Mrs Weasley guided Mrs Granger towards the kitchen, flicking her wand at the pile of washing she'd been carrying which floated along on its way.
"Wait until you see the layout, Jane, it's wonderful . . ."
Hermione smiled and took a look around; there were mops of red hair everywhere, but she soon found a familiar one in the corridor leading from the kitchen. Ron was standing by the window, looking out at the back garden which had been transformed from its normal overgrown state into an immaculately-tendered lawn. There was a large white marquee, several tables and row upon row of chairs arranged in slightly curved lines around a small raised area where no doubt Bill and Fleur would stand tomorrow and take their vows.
"Hello," Hermione said, standing next to him.
"Hermione! Hi. When did you get here?"
"Just now . . . what are you doing?"
"Oh, I'm on Gnome watch. We turfed them all out last week before Dad did the lawn, but they're sneaky little buggers. Keep finding new ways to get back in. How was your holiday?"
"It was fine," said Hermione, looking out of the window herself. "It was a bit hard to relax with, well, with everything that's happened, but it was nice to spend some time with Mum and Dad. I was a bit worried I was neglecting them. The garden looks wonderful!"
"Yeah," agreed Ron. "They've done a good job, fair enough. Bit too girly for my liking really."
Hermione smiled and shook her head.
"How did your Apparition test go?"
"Oh, brilliant," Ron said, his face lightening up visibly. "Me and Harry both passed, watch . . ."
With a crack! he vanished and instantly reappeared on her other side.
"See, eyebrows and all."
"Very good . . . where is Harry?"
"Where he always is," Ron replied, nodding out of the window. Hermione looked out and there in the distance, in the field next to the Weasley's back garden, was a small black figure standing next to a large, rather withered tree.
"He's done nothing but practise," said Ron. "Silent spells and stuff. He's been duelling with anyone he can get out there with him - mostly me, but Dad and Bill have both been out there with him once or twice. Fleur has been duelling with him quite a bit."
"How is he doing?" Hermione asked.
"Really well," said Ron. "It's getting a bit scary, actually, how good he's getting. He doesn't say a word either! I've been stunned so many times . . ."
"No, I mean, how is he doing? Is he all right?"
"Oh, I dunno. All right I 'spose."
They both looked out at the distant figure, who brandished his wand at the tree which suddenly erupted into flame. The figure quickly doused the flames with water from his wand and seemed to look around guiltily to see if anyone had noticed.
"That used to be my favourite tree," Ron said rather wistfully.
"It must be hard for him," said Hermione. "So much is lying ahead of us and it's still so unclear . . . and being here, with Ginny around . . ."
"Oh yeah, that," said Ron. Hermione turned to him and raised an eyebrow.
"How are you feeling about that?"
"Well," Ron said, looking out at the distant figure of Harry, "part of me wanted to punch him. She is my sister, you know, however much she bugs me. But I dunno, after she yelled at me outside the common room last year I decided to keep my nose out."
Ron had gone a little red, and Hermione inclined her head sympathetically.
"Probably the best idea. I feel awful, I haven't even written to Ginny while I've been away. I don't know how she's doing."
"She's got her hands full with Gabrielle. Fleur's sister? She's been put in charge of looking after her."
"Sounds like fun," Hermione said, laughing.
"Yeah," Ron agreed, laughing himself. It soon faded.
"I understand why he did it though," he said, looking out at Harry again. "I don't think I'd want a girlfriend right now. Too much stress if you ask me."
"Really?"
"Yeah . . . well, no. I dunno. Things are going to be a bit scary this year, I think. It might be nice to have someone, even with all the stress going on."
"Can I try something?" Hermione said sharply, looking him in the eye.
"Erm, all right?" Ron said, a bit flustered. His eyes widened when Hermione took out her wand and pointed it at his chest.
"Steady on!"
She flicked it and the tip glowed silver for a moment. Ron winced and closed his eyes, but after a few moments when nothing had seemed to happen he opened them again to find Hermione looking disappointed.
"What the bloody hell was that?" he asked.
"Never mind," Hermione replied, putting away her wand. "I was just checking something."
Ron opened his mouth to demand to know what she'd just done but before he could begin to speak Hermione had Disapparated with a crack!
"Mental," Ron said to himself.
Harry was concentrating hard; in his head he was picturing Death Eaters on all sides, thinking of how they might move, how they might try to outflank him and what spells they would cast. He sent a Blasting Curse to the one on his right, then rolled and cast a Shield Charm to protect himself from the stunner coming from his left, thinking the incantations clearly in his head. The two ahead of him made the mistake of coming too close together - Incarcerous! - and they were bound together by the ropes that shot from his wand. He moved continually, never letting himself become a stationary target, and when he heard the loud crack! of someone Apparating behind him he reacted instantly, rolling and bringing his wand up:
Stupefy!
In the last instant he realised who it was and yanked his wand up; the red jet of light shot a few inches past Hermione's head and into the sky. She jumped in surprise.
"Goodness, Harry!"
"Hermione! Sorry, I got a bit carried away there, I thought you were a Death Eater . . ."
Harry rubbed the back of his head with his wand awkwardly, embarrassed. Hermione walked over and hugged him.
"How are you, Harry?"
"I'm all right."
The look she gave him made it quite clear she didn't believe him.
"All right. I'm angry as hell and scared witless, too."
Hermione just nodded and took him by the arm.
"Come on, let's sit down."
She conjured a blanket for them to sit on (the grass was still a bit wet from Harry dousing the tree with water) and Harry was soon telling her about the last few weeks, from his quiet reflection at Privet Drive (to Harry's surprise Hermione giggled madly at his magic show for the Dursleys, he was sure she was going to disapprove) to his recent rather intense training he'd started on. The hard work has not been for nothing, as with a small glow of pride he told her how he had now mastered silent spellcasting. Hermione was very supportive.
"There's still a long way to go, though," Harry told her.
"I know . . . have you been thinking about what we'll do, Harry?"
Harry looked at her for a moment, and the fear in her eyes brought him great guilt. The last thing in the world he wanted to do was put his friends in danger, but there was no escaping it if they were to accompany him on this journey. And Hermione and Ron had both sworn to; he knew he would not be able to dissuade them from it no matter how hard he tried. He secretly felt comforted that they would be there with him, so that he wouldn't face the danger alone, but it didn't stop him from feeling the guilt he now felt.
"Yes, I have. But we'll talk about it after the wedding, all three of us."
"That's a good idea."
"I do want to ask you something, though . . ." Harry said, rather nervously. He had been dreading this.
"Of course! But before you do, can I try something quickly?"
He nodded and she smiled; soon she was brandishing her wand at his chest just as she had done with Ron, but before Harry could even begin to ask her what she was doing the tip of her wand began to glow with a soft silver light and he felt an odd, tingly sensation in his chest. He looked down and there was a rather faint, sparkling silver glow coming from his chest.
"I thought so . . ." Hermione said, more to herself than to Harry. Her tone was rather odd; he wasn't sure if she sounded relieved, or sad, or perhaps even a little bit angry. She flicked her wand and the glow and tingling sensation disappeared from his chest.
"And that was?"
"I'll tell you another time," she said, a somewhat mysterious look on her face. "I need to check something else first. It can wait. What did you want to ask me, Harry?"
"Oh yeah, right. Hermione, I need your help with something."
"Do you want me to duel with you?"
"No," said Harry. "Well, yeah I do, but that's not what I was asking. Hermione, I need you to help me learn Occlumency again."
Hermione leaned back slightly in surprise.
"But Harry, I . . . I can't! I mean, I don't know how to do Occlumency!"
"I know," said Harry. "I don't need you to teach me how do Occlumency again, I already know how. As rubbish as I am at it, I know what to do. Snape showed me that."
He spoke Snape's name with obvious disgust.
"Hermione, I need you to learn Legilimency. If you can become a Legilimens, then you can break into my memories and I can practise Occlumency again to block you out. I've already started practising to keep my mind clear, but it's not enough."
Hermione seemed rather flustered.
"Harry, surely there's someone else you can ask? An accomplished Legilimens?"
"There isn't anyone. The only other person who knew how to do it was Dumbledore-"
They both paused for a moment, feeling sadness at the mention of their former Headmaster.
"There must be books about it. If anyone can learn how to do it, Hermione, you can."
Hermione's cheeks turned pink from his praise and she looked down at the grass for a few moments.
"Of course I'll help you, Harry," she said, looking back up at him. "This is just a little overwhelming, that's all. You're trusting me with something very important - if something went wrong . . ."
"I trust you with my life, Hermione."
She went pink again, and Harry smiled. He hadn't meant to do that, but seeing her so bashful seemed to warm him a little.
"I'll start right away," she said, now sounding rather determined. "There must be books on it, like you said. I'll go to the Wizarding library in Diagon Alley, they have books on everything you could imagine . . ."
Her voice had taken on a rather dreamy tone and Harry laughed.
"I have to ask though, Harry . . . why didn't you ask Ron to help you? You could've gotten started with this much sooner!"
It was now Harry's turn to feel embarrassed, and he scratched the back of his head and avoided her gaze for a moment.
"Well . . . there are some memories that I'd rather Ron didn't see."
Hermione smiled softly.
"Ginny?"
"Yeah."
This was, at least, partly true. Harry certainly felt that Ron didn't need to see his memories of snogging Ginny, but the real reason he hadn't asked Ron was because, given the choice of either Ron or Hermione digging around his head using magic, he would feel a lot safer with Hermione doing it. He had a feeling Hermione had guessed this anyway - Merlin knew his cheeks were red enough. Thankfully she chose not to mention it.
"'Arry?"
Fleur's rather musical voice floated across to them and soon she appeared, climbing over a short gap in the wall they were sitting near to.
"Ah, zere you are 'Arry . . . 'Ermione, nice to see you again . . ."
"Hello Fleur," Hermione said rather cordially. "How is everything coming along? I bet your family must be excited, I haven't met any of them yet . . ."
Hermione didn't see Harry's rather frantic gestures of 'no!' from behind Fleur.
"Ah, zey are not coming," said Fleur, sounding sad. "Zey no longerr approve of Bill, now that 'ee may be a werewolf."
"Oh Fleur I'm sorry, that's awful!"
"Eet is all right. Gabrielle is here, she would not miss eet for zee world. She adores Bill still. Az long az she is eere, I am happy. We av always been very close, my seester and I."
"There's more than enough Weasleys to fill the gaps," Harry said, which made Fleur laugh.
"Yes!" she said, beaming. "I ad no idea zere was so much red air in zee world. Zere eez not much left for me to do at ze house, perhaps you would care to duel again 'Arry? Or were you and 'Ermione about to? I can watch, no?"
"Oh that's all right," said Hermione. "I need to go to the Wizarding library. But we'll duel later Harry, when I get back?"
"All right," said Harry. "And thanks, Hermione."
She smiled at him, and then Disapparated. Fleur drew out her wand with a flourish.
"Az we say in France, 'Arry . . . en guarde!"
* * *
Harry had never been to a Wizarding Wedding before. He hadn't been to a Muggle wedding either, but he did know how those worked. He imagined that the level of chaos in and around the Burrow that morning was the same of any wedding, Wizard or Muggle, as the final preparations were made. As the hours passed and the afternoon grew nearer more and more guests arrived, and soon the air inside the house and out was filled with conversation, laughter and the noise of children running around and playing. Fleur appeared at the front door briefly wrapped in a bath-robe to greet a gaggle of friends who had Apparated in from France with joyful shrieks and rapid-fire French; she was closely followed by Mrs Weasley who was taking the tradition of the bride not being seen by the groom very seriously and had been guarding the door to Fleur's room.
"I am not een my gown, Molly, zere eez no need to worry . . ."
"Yes but you're not in much else, either!"
Mrs Weasley was looking scandalised, clutching her wand and thanking Merlin most of the guests were in the back garden, not at the front of the house where Fleur was still now kissing the cheeks of her friends in greeting.
Harry was trying his best to be polite and talk with the wedding guests, but he found himself making excuses to leave as the conversation always invariably turned to how he was feeling, Dumbledore, and what he was going to do now that Hogwarts' future was in question - all things he had yet to fully discuss with Ron and Hermione, so he certainly didn't want to talk about them to the extended Weasley family and friends. He was very much on his own in the crowd; Ron had been drafted to help with some last minute decorations and Hermione had left him earlier to go and get ready. Harry himself had changed into his blue and black dress robes in all of five minutes, something he wished he had taken a little longer to do now as he politely excused himself from a friend of Charlie Weasley's who was keen to talk to Harry about the Hungarian Horntail he had faced back in the Triwizard Tournament, and pointedly took a detour away from Stanleigh, who already had a glass of firewhiskey in his hand. He was beginning to feel slightly trapped; he wished Ginny was here to talk to, even with the tension between them. She was with Fleur and Gabrielle, helping the bride to get ready. Harry was beginning to contemplate casting a Disillusionment charm on himself and slipping away until the wedding began properly when a familiar voice saved him:
"Harry!"
He turned, and there looming over the other guests (and acknowledging some jovial hails with a wave) was Hagrid, with Madame Maxime at his side. A grin broke out over his face and he rushed over to them, to be greeted with an enormous bear hug from Hagrid who was wearing his best rather mouldy old suit.
"Good ter see yeh, Harry, how yeh getting on?"
"Fine, thanks . . . Madame Maxime," Harry said, taking her hand politely as she offered it.
"'Arry, good to see you once again . . . excuse me, I must go and attend to Fleur . . ."
She disappeared into the Burrow, stooping almost double to fit in through the door.
"Very excited is Olympe," said Hagrid, grinning. "Thinks the world of Fleur, almost like 'er own daughter."
"Everyone's excited," said Harry, gesturing around. "It's certainly a nice enough day for a wedding . . ."
It was a lovely summers day, with the sun shining down brightly upon them. There were only a few puffy clouds hanging in the sky but, just like it had been at Privet Drive, what should have been a fiercely hot day was pleasantly cool due to the currently invisible fog. This was for once a blessing, as Harry imagined it would have been quite uncomfortable for everyone to stand around in their dress robes in high summer.
"Yer right there, Harry, bloomin' lovely . . . I'm glad of it, too. Everyone's long overdue a happy day if yer ask me."
"What's been happening with Hogwarts, Hagrid? How have you been getting along?"
"Ah, well," Hagrid began as the two of them began to walk over to a table holding a large decanter of iced pumpkin juice, "I've been getting along as well as I can. Rebuildin' and all that. Got the new roof on the hut yesterday, it don't look like much on the inside yet but give it a bit 'o time. As for Hogwarts . . ."
Hagrid filled one of the largest glasses (which still looked tiny in his enormous hands) with pumpkin juice and knocked it back with one swig.
"Not sure what I can tell yeh about that Harry, 'cause I don't know meself. There's barely been a day since term finished that McGonagall and the Governers haven't been arguing about it. Ole Scrimgeour's been heavily involved with it un'all."
"Really?" Harry said, still having to gaze upwards to Hagrid's face.
"Yeh," Hagrid replied. "Very interested in what happens with Hogwarts, is the Minister . . ."
Hagrid looked around at all the chattering guests.
"I sure hope it re-opens, Harry. I don't care what a lot of the parents think, it's still the safest place for the kids . . . and it'd be giving You-Know-Who a victory if it were ter close . . ."
Harry found the thought of this angered him; to think of Voldemort laughing about it, laughing with Snape and Malfoy at his side. He pushed the thoughts away.
"It's getting on fer three o'clock, it's got ter be startin' in a minute?" Hagrid asked, looking around again. Harry was just about to answer when Mr Weasley appeared at the back door of the Burrow and pointed his wand at his throat, amplifying his voice over the noise of the crowd.
"Your attention please everyone," spoke Mr Weasley. "Please take your seats, we will be beginning shortly."
Several poles placed around the garden, from which hung bunting that changed into different pastel colours as the gentle breeze blew through them, also held small enchanted speakers which now began to play music as the crowd of guests began to fill up the seats.
"There's Olympe", said Hagrid, as Madame Maxime reappeared from the Burrow, and he made his way over to her. Harry now spotted lots of familiar faces in the crowd now that there was no time to speak to them: Mad-Eye Moody was walking next to Professor McGonagall, who nodded at Harry when she saw him. Remus Lupin and Tonks, hand in hand, gave Harry a wave, and Fred and George - resplendent in expensive-looking dress robes of crushed velvet - winked at him as they followed Bill and Charlie up the aisle to the first row of seats. Ron appeared and offered him a hasty "Alright?" as he hurried past towards the first row, still doing up the bow-tie of his dress robes. Harry knew he would be sitting behind them in the second row, but where was Hermione?
The answer took his breath away. Hermione emerged from the Burrow and Harry found himself goggling; she was wearing new dress robes of a deep red colour and her hair was sleek, straight and shining. He remembered feeling like this when he'd first caught sight of her at the Yule Ball in fourth year, and his brain seemed to shut down for a moment as it did back then.
She came over to him with her parents close behind her, and she was beaming. It didn't cross his mind until later how stupid he must have looked staring at her like that.
"Hi!" she said quite breathlessly.
"Wow . . ." was all Harry was able to manage. Hermione went very pink.
"I think he means you look nice," Mr Granger said with a grin.
"You look wonderful," Harry said, unable to prevent the silly smile on his face. He thought he must have been as pink as Hermione was.
"Thank you, Harry . . ."
"We'd better take our seats," Mrs Granger said, taking her husband's arm. Harry followed them to the second row and took his seat next to Hermione. All around them the guests were chatting, and Harry could see several of the youngest children in attendance being told to sit still. On the raised area of grass in front of the chairs Bill stood waiting with Charlie (the Best Man), and the grey-haired wizard who would be performing the ceremony, who wore bright white robes.
"Who's that?" Harry asked Hermione, gesturing to the official wizard.
"I don't know his name," said Hermione, "but Ron said he's a friend of Mr Weasley's, that's how they were able to have the marriage so quickly. You normally have to wait months as there are so few officiating wizards these days."
Harry couldn't help a grin as noticed Ron, sitting a few chairs down from them in the front row, had turned around and spotted Hermione and was now wearing the same expression he normally wore in Fleur's presence. Harry thought Hermione had noticed too but she didn't give any indication of it.
Mr and Mrs Weasley finally appeared, Mr Weasley propelling his wife along the aisle to the front and waving to several guests who shouted out greetings. Mrs Weasley was still fidgeting with the hem of her dress robes, apparently not satisfied.
"You look terrific, dear," Harry heard Mr Weasley saying rather exasperatedly as they passed him. Harry chuckled.
The music coming from the speakers suddenly changed, raising the volume and beginning to play the traditional bridal march. Everybody rose and turned towards the aisle; first came Gabrielle Delacour holding a small wicker basket from which she threw handfuls of flower petals that glittered and gave off a sweet but not overpowering scent. She beamed at Harry as she passed. The scent from the flower petals brought a smile to his face and Harry thought there was something about it that he recognised; he turned to Hermione but before he could even ask she was answering the question for him.
"Dipped in a cheering solution," she whispered in his ear, smiling herself.
Ginny came up the aisle not far behind Gabrielle, her hair drawn into the curls Fleur and Mrs Weasley had adored so much and dressed in the same blue-and-white coloured gown as Gabrielle, and drew many admiring looks from the crowd. Harry again felt that odd detachment as she passed him, that same lack-of-feeling as her eyes met his. It was strange, he thought, that he had been so besotted with Ginny last year, until only a month ago, and yet now there was nothing. None of the odd, tipsy-turvy feelings being around her had used to bring. If anything it was Hermione that was bringing on those feelings and threatening to rouse that odd beast in his chest from its slumber, as he was unable to stop stealing glances at her. As pretty as Ginny looked today, his best friend looked even prettier.
He didn't puzzle over it for long, as all eyes in the crowd were drawn to Fleur as she made her way up the aisle. She couldn't look anything other than beautiful, and several annoyed wives in the crowd elbowed their husbands to close their mouths. Fleur seemed to radiate beauty, her delicate and expensive-looking gown complimenting her perfectly. The train of her gown was enchanted and floated along just above the grass. Soon she had joined Bill, whose eyes were threatening to jump right out of his sockets, and the ceremony began.
It was not long; Bill and Fleur exchanged vows, and the officiator asked if there was any witch or wizard present who objected to the couple being joined.
"Zey are all in France, and let zem stay there!" shouted Gabrielle, and even Fleur laughed.
The couple exchanged rings, the small gold bands glowing with light for a moment, and then the officiator was closing the small book he held.
"Then by the power granted to me by the Ministry of Magic, in the name of Merlin, I hearby proclaim you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Bill took his time lifting up Fleur's veil, and looking into the face of his new bride. He seemed to be almost unwilling to believe that the stunning French witch was now his wife.
"Hurry up and kiss her or I will!" someone shouted from the crowd.
This brought more laughter and seemed to snap Bill out of his daze, for a great cheer went up as he finally pressed his lips against Fleur's.
The celebration was still going strong as the sun went down and the garden was lit by a great many soft magical lights. After a delicious meal in the marquee the seating outside had been moved and the lawn transfigured into a dance floor. A local wizarding band - Bill's favourite - had set up and had been playing almost non-stop ever since. Harry had enjoyed himself immensely talking with Remus Lupin, Tonks and Hagrid, and spent almost an hour laughing with Charlie, Fred, George and Ron as they shared memories of pranks played at Hogwarts (most of the memories provided by the Twins). Hermione left them during this hour rolling her eyes, but Harry was glad of her company for the rest of the day as like her he was one of the only adults there not drinking. They had both accepted and drank one glass of firewhiskey from Mr Weasley to be polite, and even though the taste had not been unpleasant (although both of them had gasped at the momentary burning sensation, which Mr Weasley found hilarious) Harry had stuck firmly to butterbeer. Back in Privet Drive he had resolved to never let his guard down until he was finally free of Voldemort, and even though he was sure that they were all safe here at the Burrow he stuck firm to his resolve.
Now, under the magical light with the stars out above them - the fog had not yet begun to creep in, but it would soon - Harry stood with Hermione at the drinks table watching the dancers. Hermione held a half-full bottle of butterbeer in one hand.
"Not drinking either?" he asked.
She smiled wryly.
"No. I haven't been drunk and I don't think a back garden full of Weasleys and my parents would be the best place to make a fool out of myself for the first time."
"The first time?" Harry said, teasingly.
"And when, Harry, have I ever made a fool of myself?"
Harry gave a cough that sounded suspiciously like "Lockhart!" and Hermione punched him on the arm, grinning. Harry laughed and then laughed even harder as he caught sight of his other best friend, who was staggering towards them very unsteadily. Ron, it seemed, had not decided to decline alcohol now that he was old enough to drink it. As he thought about it, Harry couldn't remember seeing Ron all afternoon without a glass of some kind in his hand.
"Harry! Hermione!" Ron said, grinning wildly as he came to a stop in front of them. "Bloody brilliant isn't it!"
"Indeed," said Hermione, beginning to giggle as Ron swayed from side to side.
"How many firewhiskeys have you had, Ron?" Harry asked, grinning.
Ron held up one hand to count, then looked at the other one, then shrugged his shoulders, almost causing him to fall over.
"Dunno," he said, grinning.
"Well I think you may have had enough," Hermione told him, still giggling.
"Nonsense Hermione," Ron said, managing to stand up straight and adopting the most serious-sounding voice he could, "I'm Of Age now and know how to be responshible with firewhiskey."
"Respon-shi-ble?" Harry asked with a grin.
"That's what I said. Responshible."
Harry exchanged a look with Hermione and both of them were unable to contain the laughter any longer.
"What's going on here then?"
Bill and Fleur had come over to them, still wearing the wide smiles of newlyweds that had been plastered over their faces all afternoon. Fleur had changed from her gown into black dress robes to match Bills.
"Hermione reckons I've had too much to drink," Ron said. "Hi Fleur."
Bill, who looked rather inebriated himself, grinned.
"Well Hermione's a very smart witch, you'd probably do well to take her advice. Harry, my wife insists that you dance with her."
"Come, 'Arry," Fleur said, offering him her arm.
"I'll want her back in a minute," Bill said, winking at him as Fleur dragged him off to the dance floor. Despite having already danced with Hermione, Mrs Weasley, Mrs Granger and Gabrielle Delacour that evening Harry still felt a little awkward. He didn't think he'd ever get the hang of dancing. Fleur didn't seem to mind though as they began to slowly weave their way around.
"I am so 'appy, 'Arry. I 'ope that one day you will bee az 'appy az I feel right now."
"Thanks, Fleur. You and Bill are great together, I know that it'll work out for you both, even with Bill's condition . . ."
Harry paused, wishing he hadn't said that, but Fleur laughed.
"Do not worry, 'Arry, you 'ave said nothing wrong. I am more grateful to you than you know!"
Harry frowned, puzzled.
"Why's that?"
"Because if not for you, Bill and I would never 'ave met! If you had not been een ze Tri-Wizard Tournament, Bill and Molly would not 'ave come to see you I would never 'ave known heem!"
"Fleur, I don't think that's right . . ."
"Of course eet iz," Fleur said, beaming at him. "Through you I 'ave met my 'usband, you kept Gabrielle safe, and you were always reezpectful to me when others could not see past ze Veela in me. For this I thank you, 'Arry."
She placed a kiss on his cheek, and Harry flushed bright red.
"Zere iz so much on your shoulders, 'Arry. I would not bee able to 'andle eet, this I know. You-Know-Oo."
She shook her head sadly.
"I 'ave joined ze Order, and will gladly fight with you. Bill and I both. When ze time comes, 'Arry, you 'ave only to call."
Harry was feeling incredibly humbled by Fleur's praise, yet also incredibly warmed by it. He wasn't quite sure what to say to the stunning witch who was looking at him with the deepest respect in her eyes.
"Thank you, Fleur, that . . . that means a lot to me."
Fleur smiled, and stopped dancing.
"Come; eet is not long until Bill and I take ze portkey to Paris, I want to dance with my husband once more before we leave."
Harry followed Fleur back to where Bill was still talking to Hermione. Fred and George passed them carrying Ron between them, whose head was lolling about on his shoulders and was singing what Harry thought was a Quidditch song. Fred tipped Harry a mischievous wink which led him to believe the twins had had a part in Ron's excessive consumption of firewhiskey.
"There you are," said Bill as they arrived, still wearing his grin. "Do we have time for a dance before our portkey?"
"I theenk so," Fleur beamed at him.
Bill led her away back towards the dance floor, and Harry saw him wave at the band. They immediately changed the song they were playing into a slower number, and soon the dance floor was filled with swaying couples. It was a lovely sight to see, this strange combination of a polished dance floor in the middle of a lush green lawn, lit by the magical lights with the skies still clear of fog and the stars shining brightly. Around Bill and Fleur Harry could see Mr and Mrs Weasley dancing, along with Mr and Mrs Granger and Remus Lupin and Tonks. Ginny was dancing with Charlie and Harry was pleased to see that she looked happy. He felt very good at that moment, remembering Hagrid's words earlier. They did need a time like this, when everyone could be happy.
"So are you going to ask me to dance, Harry?" Hermione asked him.
He turned to her and smiled.
"Yes," he told her. "Yes, I am."
They made their way down and joined the couples swirling slowly around. Harry allowed himself to finally completely relax and forget about everything that hung over him, and in doing so he even forgot about his awkwardness with dancing. He held Hermione close to him and, as a great volley of Fred and George's Fabulous Filibuster Fireworks went off in the skies above them all, he decided that it was very nice indeed.
* * *