Mr. and Mrs. William Arthur Weasley

Bill had only known Fleur Delacour but a few weeks. Yet, he already knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. All his colleagues at Gringotts Bank thought he was crazy. He didn't care. The couple had met on the job at the bank.

Bill was nervous as he fingered the small box in his pocket. Her answer would determine his entire future. The night before, he had had a nightmare in which Fleur had turned him down. It probably stemmed from the fact that, deep down, he knew it was too rushed. Still, he was in love –and love makes one do stupid things, right? It was Friday afternoon, so the bank employees were gearing up for a restful weekend. As everyone flocked to the gates through the lobby, Bill spied his love in the crowd. They greeted each other with a kiss and allowed the flow of people to carry them into the street beyond.

"What zhould we do tonight, Beeel?" asked Fleur as they traipsed down Diagon Alley.

"I'm taking you somewhere special tonight," Bill explained. For some reason, he could not conceal the grin on his face, even though he was dying from nerves inside. "We have to Apparate there, though. And I want you to close your eyes as we go there. And don't open them until I say so."

"OK," Fleur affirmed. Bill was surprised that there was no hint of suspicion in her voice, but he was also relieved.

As soon as her eyes were shut, Bill turned them on the spot and they disappeared into thin air. Once the crushing darkness and squeezed-through-a-pipe feeling had been alleviated, Bill looked around and grinned more broadly, satisfied.

"Ok, open them," he commanded. Fleur did so and gasped.

Bill had Apparated them right to the top of the Eiffel Tower. For a moment, all Fleur could do was say random things, like "Mon Dieu! But how did…this is wonderful!" Bill seized his chance while she was still recovering from shock. He took her hand and got down on one knee. All of a sudden, he felt like he really had to go to the bathroom, but that had always been a sign that he was nervous. If Fleur looked shocked before, she now looked like she was about to faint as she realized what was happening.

"Fleur," Bill said. "I know that to make this ideal, I would be asking this entirely in French, but my pronunciation and accent are terrible. So instead I'll say this: I know you have been in my life only a short time. And I know times are dangerous right now. Still, I don't want that to stop me. I love you, and I want to be with you. So…will you do me the honor of marrying me?"

Fleur was speechless for a moment. Then, she finally took a deep breath and said with conviction, "Oui."

Bill blinked. Was that a yes or no? "English, please?"

Fleur laughed. "It's French for yes, silly. Really, are you that bad with languages?"

Bill didn't answer. Instead, he jumped up and kissed her with as much desire as he could. The now engaged couple held each other as the sun set over the Seine.

The happy couple didn't know it then, but their wedding day – August 1st, 1997 – would also coincide with a major turning point in wizarding history. Bill stood at the altar at the front of the beautiful marquee that his parents had set up in the Burrow's backyard. Despite the bleak times, plenty of guests had still managed to come. His younger brother, Charlie, stood by his side as Best Man. His whole family was here, as were close friends (including, in disguise, the most wanted wizard in Britain, Harry Potter).

Finally, people were being rushed to their seats. The music promptly began, and the procession started. Flower girls led off the line (Fleur's sister, Gabrielle, among them). Ginny followed as Maid of Honor, a role she would play in many more of these ceremonies in the future. Bill smiled at her discomfort that she was trying to hide from her face. It wasn't that she didn't want to be Maid of Honor – oh no, in fact, Ginny had been quite surprised and flattered when Fleur had asked her, as the two young women had had a rocky beginning to their relationship at first. It was probably because Ginny was wearing bright yellow, per the designs and general color themes for the ceremony. Ginny hated yellow, her least favorite color. Followed by her came…. Fred and George? They weren't in the procession. His silly twin brothers scurried through the center of the marquee, almost running down Ginny in the process, to get to two vacant seats in the front row. Bill heard Fred whisper something about not wanting to get "run over by the bride." Bill was tempted to say something wry about how the Maid of Honor was in more danger of getting flattened, thank you very much, when he heard a voice pipe up.

It turned out to be Hermione letting out an "Oooooh!", which prompted the entire congregation to turn in their seats. Fleur looked like a vision as she glided down the aisle, Mr. Delacour on her arm. She seemed like a swan poised to take flight. Bill was getting excited just looking at her. He only vaguely heard the minister start the proceedings. "Do you, William Arthur, take Fleur Isabelle….?"

Bill and Fleur said their vows and exchanged their rings. Bill could not take his eyes off the woman across from him. The minister finally smiled. "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." Fleur smiled and eagerly reached for him first. Bill pulled her in the rest of the way and her eyes closed as they kissed. The marquee erupted in delightful applause and cheers (as well as some tears from the parents).

The reception was a blast (literally, thanks to Fred and George's fireworks, which probably explained their tardiness). As it started to wind down, however, a Patronus appeared in the middle, announcing that the Minister Scrigemour was dead and the Ministry of Magic had fallen to Voldemort's followers. People began to panic. Bill and Fleur turned to each other and wouldn't let the other go. As they talked in low whispers about what to do next, the marquee erupted in flames as the first of Voldemort's Death Eaters arrived on the scene…no doubt looking for Harry. Bill and Fleur hid under a table, as more people began to Disapparate, duels started and screams filled the air. Bill heard his father shriek at him to go. Bill and Fleur rushed to a corner of the marquee. Bill watched as his baby brother, the probable love of his life, and the most dangerous wizard in Britain disappeared. Then, he grabbed his wife's arm, and they too, Disapparated into thin air.

Bill thought frantically about Shell Cottage as he was rushed through crushing darkness. At last, he could smell the sea air through his nostrils. He opened his eyes, and there was his family's old vacation home – the place where he and his wife would now live.

Wife. Despite all that had happened in the last several minutes, Bill still felt surrealism at this new part of his life. Fleur was with him. Now. He hoped it was forever. But when he looked over at her, the grin that had fought its way onto his face in spite of himself was quickly wiped away. Fleur had tears running down her cheeks. Bill enveloped her and began to rock her gently.

"Maman…Papa…Gabrielle…" she whimpered.

"They got out, I promise."

She looked up at him. Empty words alone could not drive away the fear that was now gripping the whole country. "What…what about your family?"

"Ron escaped with Harry and Hermione. I don't what those three are up to – Mum asked me to try and weasel it out of Harry, but he wouldn't listen to me. But, whatever it is, I wish them Godspeed." He continued quickly when she still looked at him with concern.

"As for the rest? They're all pretty good duelists, I'm sure they put up a good fight. If the excitement's all over though, they should just lie low for a little while. If they flee the country, I won't blame them. They'd be safer anywhere else on Earth than here."

He wiped away the residual tears from his wife's eyes. "We can't let a couple of Death Eaters ruin our joy," he told her, trying to be brave for her sake. "I want you to forget all about it for now." When Fleur didn't look convinced, Bill tried a new tactic. He broke into a huge grin. "We have a brand new house, just waiting to be lived in! Come on!"

So saying, he swept Fleur off her feet and carried her forward. Taken by surprise, Fleur squealed, but the sensation quickly caused her to laugh and giggle. She must have thought he had gone mad, but Bill didn't care. The happy thoughts only reigned in his head now.

"Beeel, you are such a charmer," Fleur smiled as they entered the house. Most grooms would have set their bride down by now, as the official rule is to carry across the threshold. But Bill didn't stop. He carried Fleur all the way up to their bedroom that he had already picked out, and placed her on the bed before lying down beside her. "I love you," he whispered, before they kissed and then continued on to other intimate things.

Bill and Fleur's honeymoon was not like what most of them should be. There was no traveling to a foreign country to soak up a little paradise. But, neither of them seemed to mind. Shell Cottage would do, and with the coastline scenery, it was a paradise in its own little way. Fall melted into winter, and a first visitor greeted the couple: Ron, who had abandoned his friends on their mission. He disappeared again just after Christmas. Winter flowed into spring. Ron came back, this time with Harry and Hermione and all of them looking in terrible shape (they apparently had barely escaped Malfoy Manor with their lives). Finally, on May 1st of that year, the battle for the wizarding world erupted at Hogwarts Castle. Bill and Fleur fought together, and Harry defeated Voldemort. A new era was dawning.

Fleur trotted through the doors of Gringotts after a long day at work. She had had to work late beyond closing time that day, so she knew she would not see Bill. He would be waiting at home. No sooner had she reached the street than she Disapparated.

The last days of a golden summer were hanging onto the Earth with every ounce of strength they had. August was the hottest month yet of 1999, a grand finale to the several months of warm weather that had preceded it before the cold of autumn finished it off in a matter of weeks. The wizarding world had been at peace for only 15 months, and yet, Fleur was happy. The future looked extremely bright.

At last, Shell Cottage appeared before her. She practically ran up the porch steps and swept into the house.

"Beeel," Fleur called. "I'm home!" No answer. Frowning, Fleur went up the stairs to their bedroom and poked her head in. Still nothing. He had to be here; most of the lights in the cottage were on – something that had not been true when she had left for work that morning. Starting to feel a little uneasy, Fleur retraced her steps and found that only one room had its lights off: the kitchen. Quietly, she slipped inside. But before she could pull out her wand to cast Lumos, she gasped.

The room was illuminated by candlelight on the table, which reflected off of her husband's face. Bill just smiled.

"I know our anniversary was last week, love, but I wanted to give you an extra gift," he explained. Fleur gave him a big hug and a kiss and they sat down to eat a very fine meal ("Yes, I cooked this myself, and No, Mum did not help me," Bill said before she even thought to ask, as if he had to use that as some sort of disclaimer). When the dishes were washed, Bill flicked his wand at the radio. It began to play a Weird Sisters tune, which they danced too. As she looked up at her husband of 2 years, Fleur felt her eyes growing heavy…and not from sleep.

Next second, she was snogging the life out of her husband, and Bill was snogging her right back. His hands ran through her silky, silvery-blond hair. Fleur jumped onto Bill, wrapping her legs deftly around his waist. He felt her there, causing them to involuntarily spread apart, so that Fleur might have slipped off of him were it not for Bill's strong arms.

Fleur tore her lips away from Bill's to get air, but soon they went right back to kissing. Bill wasted no time in carrying his wife up to their bedroom. He dumped her on the bed and began to gnaw on her neck, all the while slyly slipping off her work clothes. Once both were naked, they resumed heatedly kissing, beginning to rock back and forth so as to find a good rhythm. Bill feasted on Fleur's breasts, causing his wife to let out an audible gasp. He thrust into her center again and again, eliciting cries of pleasure.

"Bill…" Fleur groaned before devouring his lips once more, and he knew she was close. Bill began to work faster and faster. Finally, with a cry, Fleur came. Bill was not far behind. They lay there, panting and recovering, only tasting each other in small amounts. At last, Bill found the strength to roll off of his wife. That was one of the best intercourses they had ever had, and that was saying something. Then the couple held each other in the darkness and fell into a deep sleep in each other's arms.

Life returned to normal. Both Bill and Fleur still stayed devoted to their work. For a while, it seemed as though nothing had changed or was otherwise out of the ordinary.

Then, around the time of Halloween, Bill noticed a change in his wife's demeanor. When innocently asking how she was doing gleaned no fruitful responses, Bill decided to force the issue as gently as he could.

"All right, out with it," Bill said one night at dinner. "What's going on? There is something different with you, and don't try and say you're fine again. I want to know if there is something wrong; I want to help, but I can only do that if I know you need help."

Fleur sighed and put down her fork. She had been thinking about how best to tell, as well as where and when. But, it seemed she had no choice now. So, with a deep breath, she looked up and met her husband's gaze. "I'm pregnant."

Bill's mouth fell open. For a while, the only thought that came to his mind was Well, at least she didn't say it in French. Then, more sensible thoughts swirled through his mind and he smiled so much he thought the dimples on his cheeks might fall off.

Fleur, meanwhile, was waiting for him to say something…but he did not need to. He saw no reason for it. Instead, he got up, went around the table, put his arms around his wife, and gave her a big kiss on the mouth. If she had not known his feelings about the whole situation, she did now. Fleur kissed him back with excitement, and it took them both back to the evening atop the Eiffel Tower so long ago.