The burrow looked just as it always did; warm and homely, scattered with chickens and looking as though it might collapse.
They walked inside the Burrow and headed straight to Ron's room (Hermione went to Ginny's room) to unpack their things. Harry looked out the window, a giant white marquee had been set up and he could see the fluffy red head of Mrs. Weasley fidgeting around.
"Mum's been going mad over this wedding" muttered Ron.
He, Harry and Hermione headed downstairs to find Mr Weasley at the breakfast table.
"Harry! Ron! Hermione! Have you only just got here?"
"Yeah. You know, I'm starving" said Ron.
"My goodness, did you see the Death Eaters?"
"Death Eaters?" said Hermione worriedly.
"Yes. The Aurors found a group of boys- one of them was your cousin, Harry- unconscious. We recon he was attacked by Death Eaters."
Ron paled.
"Bu-but they're ok aren't they?"
"Oh, yes, they're perfectly fine, but Death Eaters can't go around attacking muggles whenever they wish, can they?"
"Definitely not" said Ron and he hurried outside, trailed by Harry and Hermione.
"Death Eaters, eh?" hissed Hermione, her eyes narrowed. Ron flinched.
"Look, they were perfectly fine weren't they? There's no harm done, and besides, they deserved it. They called you a-"
"I know what they called me! But this is war Ron; we're supposed to be protecting the muggles, not-"
"What, are you going to tell on me, then?"
"Of course not, but…" they carried on bickering until they got to the Marquee. Harry, from past experience, had learned to stay out of it.
"Good job I didn't tell her about the camera, eh?" whispered Ron, after Hermione had stalked away in search for Ginny. Harry gave him a true grin, which was rare these days. Ron had gotten a video camera that Mr Weasley had got his hands on. Harry had been able to work it, and they had secretly filmed Dudley smoking, drinking and vandalising. They had sent a copy to every house on privet drive. Harry couldn't help but smile as he pictured the look of horror and utter shame on the Dursley's face, feeling that they fully deserved it. He felt a minuscule twinge of guilt, however, remembering that his aunt had given him the only possession of his mothers… but he quickly shook himself out of that. One moment of kindness did not make up for 17 years of neglect.
Harry and Ron caught up with Hermione and Ginny, who was trying on her bridesmaids dress. She looked absololutely lovely in her robes of pale gold, thought Harry, as he felt a familiar, yet much fainter, growling in his chest.
"Hey, Ron, Harry" said Ginny brightly. She looked at Harry as though she was trying to fight an urge. This was because, Harry knew, they had had a brief relationship last year, but Harry had broken it off temporarily because of her safety. He kind of wished he hadn't, because it was very comforting to have a girlfriend, but he was convinced it was the right thing.
Suddenly he heard a rustling, and a plump, kind faced woman squeezed him in a hug.
"Harry, Dear!" said Mrs. Weasley. "So good to see you, are you ok? Have you been fed well?" but she said no more as a beautiful woman floated in.
"'Arry! `Own good eet is to see you!" said Fleur Delacour-soon-to-be-Weasley. She brushed a silvery strand of hair from her eyes and kissed him on the cheek. "Oh, la magnifique! Ginny, you look seemply superb in zat dress!" and she blustered over to Ginny, who scowled.
It seemed they had arrived at the right time. The three of them had so much work to do to help with the wedding Harry didn't have time to worry about Voldemort or horcruxes.
Finally the day came. The Weasley's garden had been expanded to fit the marquee, and Harry watched as it filled up with many more red headed people, along with good-looking people talking rapidly in French. The sky outside was deep blue, with few clouds, unusually good compared to the weather they had been having recently. Harry was being introduced to Ron's second cousin once removed or something when Fred pulled him into a seat on the third row.
"The weddings starting now. Just be thankful mum didn't drag you to sit by her, she'll have blubbered all over your shoulder" he whispered as the wedding march started. Everybody gasped at Fleur, who was gliding down the isle looking stunning, closely followed by Ginny and Gabrielle. She was wearing some materiel that clung to her, yet was light and floaty, too. Bill, who was looking at her with adoring eyes, was wearing something Harry thought was strange: dark, heavy wizards Robes made of what looked like leather, an assortment of odd metal chains and medallions, one white glove with three stones in between the knuckles (one white, one pink and one blue) on his right hand, and a thick, black, velvety wizards hat.
"What's Bill wearing?" asked Harry.
"Wizards marriage robes." Answered George, who was sitting the other side of Harry. "You can't wear anything else on your wedding day, not even underwear!" he sniggered. "Mum even got him to take off his fang earring."
Harry had never been to a wizard wedding, but apart from Bill's clothes, it seemed just like a muggle wedding (he'd never been to one of those either, but had caught glimpses of them on T.V). They had a vicar, exchanged rings (Charlie was best man) and said vows. It was only just before they kissed when everybody stood up, and pointed their wands (a couple of people who must have been squibs just used their fingers) at the couple. Harry just copied everyone else, and immediately a thin string of gold light soared out of his and every one else's wands and wrapped themselves around Bill and Fleur, just as their lips touched.
The sky was darkening, a faint pink tinge on the Horizon and their was a definite chill to the air, not that anyone noticed it much as they were too busy dancing, laughing and eating out on the Weasley's back yard. Mrs Weasley had set up a large buffet table (with some interesting French dishes) and the weird sisters were blaring from an unknown source. Bill and Fleur were dancing slowly and even Ron had had a dance with Gabrielle, Hermione and a girl they didn't know. Harry hadn't though, he'd mostly been quiet, occasionally talking to people or eating.
"Come and dance with me, Harry" said Ginny, flushed and breathless.
"But, Ginny…" Harry whined, but Ginny had already dragged him on to the dance floor. Fred and George wolf-whistled, behind him, and Harry felt his face burn.
"Don't listen to them" whispered Ginny as they danced and twirled to the slow music. Harry felt the chest monster raise its head again, and as the song came to an end, his and Ginny's lips drew closer and…
Harry jerked his head away, and quickly ran until he got to the Burrow.
"Oh, great job, blithering idiot!" he thought sarcastically. He heard footsteps and a voice softly calling his name. Heart racing, he emerged from the shadows and looked Ginny in the eye.
"Are you ok?" he said softly, her eyes melting with worry. She reached up to touch his cheek but Harry flinched.
"D-don't" he muttered. He took a breath. "Look, Ginny, you know how I feel about you, but we split up. Voldemort…danger…"
"Look Harry I didn't mean to do that. Ok that's a lie, I did. But I know you're leaving tomorrow, and I just wanted you to enjoy yourself for the last time before-"
"It's too late to enjoy myself." Said Harry, slowly shaking his head "the last time, I felt the tiniest bit normal was when I was with you, but I'm not normal. I have to save the world, for Pete's sake!"
Ginny stayed quiet for a long time, looking at the ground. But then "let me come with you." She stated fiercely.
"W-what?" Harry gasped.
"You want an escape to normality, right? Well I can give you that" Ginny had pinned him to the wall "and I want to help fight, and we both know we want each other"
He eyes were so full of hope and her face was so lit up with determination, Harry almost felt bad as he took her hands off his chest.
"No." he had meant to say it gently, but it sounded very harsh. Ginny blinked in surprise. "I'm sorry Ginny, but it's too dangerous. I couldn't bear it if something happened to you."
"And you'd let Ron and Hermione go with you?" she questioned as he turned away from her.
"That's completely different." He almost whispered. "They understand me."
"And I don't? Harry, I know what it's like to be possessed by Voldemort, I know what its like to be fighting death eaters, knowing it could only be a matter of time before they get you too! And I know all about pain, Harry, I know what it's like to have the school against you; people thought I was some kind of psycho after the chamber of secrets!"
Harry just stared at her as she let all this pour.
"You understand me to some point, Ginny, but this is something I need Ron and Hermione for. It's hard to explain."
"Well." Ginny turned away from him, but not before he saw her eyes well up with tears. "I… I suppose I'd just better let you get on with it, shouldn't I? After all, they are your best friends." But Harry could tell she regretted saying that. "Good luck Harry. You'll be ok, I know you will" she gave him a weak, watery smile, and headed upstairs.
A breeze ruffled his hair, making Harry feel lonelier than ever. He hated making her cry, but he couldn't have her interfering. After all, it was for the best.
"For the best, huh? Who am I trying to kid?" And he too headed for his restless night
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