Morning dawned on The Burrow with exceptional sparkle, excitement was in the air as everyone prepared for Bill and Fleur's wedding. Mrs. Weasley's voice had grown to an exceptionally high pitch as the entire Weasley family prepared for the arrival of the Delacours right after breakfast. Bill and Charlie were busy in the garden getting the decorations up, which was proving even more daunting due to some persistent dandelions who seemed to bite as you tried to uproot them. Mr. Weasley was on his way to fetch Fleur's family at the international portkey station. Ginny was in a battle of control with Fleur as she pinned up the flaxen dress far too tightly on Ginny's side. Even Hermione was doing her part by charming some exceptionally beautiful honeysuckle into sonnets, and she was feeling quite please with herself for performing such a difficult charm.
Ronald Weasley had been sent to fetch the apples for the multitude of pies his mother was baking. With a groggy grunt and a yawn he agreed to go, mumbling under his breath "I should be eating food not bloody fetching it." A sudden number of nearly 20 pops caught Ron's attention as he noticed his twin brothers Fred and George apparating. They were with his father and about a dozen veela-like people, including veela men! "Zis is not a very grand place for my daughter's wedding." Ron heard a thin woman with long silver hair exclaim. Arthur simply ignored her, but Fred had quickly offered her a piece of candy. Only when Arthur snatched it out of her hand did Ron begin to feel disappointed.
Disappointment at the lack of Mrs. Delacour's comeuppance soon turned to a sick feeling in the pit of Ron's stomach. He had spotted Hermione on the outskirts of the garden. She was still charming flowers. Now a set of hydrangeas was attempting to form "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" As they were, petals were falling all over Hermione and the purple flowers were getting stuck in her hair. She giggled and Ron's heart leapt. "Bloody hell she's beautiful!" Ron thought. "But we're just friends. I'm no international Quidditch player, I'm ruddy bad with school, and I have no money. She'll never want me." Ron thought this last statement and sighed.
Hermione heard a sigh and turned, flowers still in her hair. "I wonder why he looks so dazed and upset?" She silently thought to herself. "Good morning Ron!" she exclaimed despite her questioning state of mind. Ron's ears went red for staring at her. "Why are you always so cheerful in the morning?" he asked, in a very playful tone, glancing at her display. "That looks brilliant!" he marveled. It was Hermione's turn to blush now, as Goosebumps floated up her arm and she turned the same shade of pink as the orchids she was now charming into "Rough winds to shake the darling buds of may." A loud yelp from a dandelion bitten Bill startled them back into reality. Ron proceeded to the orchard. Hermione finished her last sonnet and left for the house to help the girls get ready.
It was August 1st and Harry was saying goodbye to his childhood home once and for all. He was 17 now and an adult by wizard standards. Vernon and Dudley had left for an afternoon of golf, which had not bothered Harry in the slightest. Harry sent Hedwig out ahead of him to the Burrow for some much needed hunting time.
Harry gingerly placed assorted trinkets and books into his trunk. As he put a locket in it's case, anger rose in his chest. "He's gone and Snape will pay." He exclaimed. He ripped out a piece of parchment and scribbled "Step one: Who is R.A.B? Step two…" Harry heard a rapping at his door and quickly put the locket and parchment in his pocket.
Petunia cleared her throat and remained rigid in Harry's bedroom doorway. "I um understand you will be leaving now?" Petunia asked and Harry nodded. "Well then make sure you don't leave this place filthy." Petunia stopped talking but didn't leave. Harry gazed at her curiously. "Anything else?" He said with even more bitterness than he had intended. Petunia looked taken aback, but continued. "So you're going to be in a lot of danger then, fighting that man?" Harry softened, but just nodded. "I can never justify what I've said and done to you, and I'm not going to try to." "It would take too long anyways." Harry replied sardonically. "Yes well…Please be safe. I loved your mother when we were children. When we drifted apart and she died, I never really forgave myself. You're the only piece of Lily I have left. You and this." She set a little black book on the dresser and scuttled out of Harry's room before he had any time to respond.
Harry Picked up the thin book and opened the first page. It was a muggle picture of Lily and Petunia. They were giggling and picking flowers. The next few were more childhood photographs of happy little scenes. Finally, Harry came to the last page. There was a moving picture of his parents. They were waving with one hand and touching her slightly round belly with the other. Three envelopes fell from this page. They were letters to Petunia. One was a goodbye and wedding announcement. The letter was strained and bitter. The next letter contained the picture, because all it said was "I'm having a baby boy!" The final letter caused Harry to sit. This one was long. It told Petunia they were in danger. There was an apology and sentiments of regret. The letter was dated October 30, 1980. Harry sank and every ounce of fear, sadness, and trepidation crept to the surface. He cried a single tear.
Harry thought of Ginny for just one second. That's all he allowed himself. Her warm smile and deep eyes made him feel safe. But he banished these thoughts quickly as it hurt him too much.
With a puffed out chest and a brave face, Harry made his way down the stairs with his luggage in tow. He stepped in the spotless kitchen and put one hand on Petunia's arm. "I will write you when this is all over. If anything should happen…well I don't know." He said very softly. And with that Harry met Remus Lupin to apparate to the wedding, walking away from #4 Privet Drive for the last time.
Harry was greeted at the Burrow with a twitter of excitement from his two best mates. Hermione gave him an enthusiastic hug, and went into how worried she was about him. Ron patted his back and said "I hope it wasn't too bad there, mate." "Nothing I couldn't handle." Harry laughed. He clutched the book in his pocket but didn't say anything. "Hermione, what is that in your hair?" "Oh I was charming some flowers and they got stuck there, but I can just charm my dress to match them. Speaking of which, I have to go help Ginny." She gave Harry a knowing look and was off.
"Speaking of which," Ron said in an accusatory tone "What did you say to her that made her mope around this house all summer. She barely smiles anymore?" "Oh no." Harry thought. "The moment I've been dreading." But he said out loud "I sorta kinda broke up with her to keep her safe. Too many people around me get hurt and I…I just couldn't lose another person I love." Ron was shocked. He was sure Harry had just said "love" but thought it best to leave that alone. "Well that was ruddy stupid of you. My sister is special to you, she needs to know how you feel." Ron was shocked my own words. Harry smirked "What? Like you?" Ron looked confused, which Ron was very good at being. "You have to admit you fancy Hermione." And with that Ron went red. "Let's go up and get ready." He mumbled as they headed into the house.
The wedding started off incredibly well. Harry took a seat next to Tonks and Lupin, Tonks was wearing a cream colored striped suit and had her hair in golden blonde curls. Ron was placed next to Charlie underneath a canopy of lilies. All of the Weasley brothers, except for Percy who declined his invitation, were dressed in sharp black dress robes decorated with lily boutonnières. The fairies that were charmed to fly around stopped as violins that came from nowhere began to play "Green sleeves." Hermione hurriedly scuttled down the aisle. It was obvious she was helping the girls with some last minute touches. Ron practically jumped out of his skin at the sight of her. She was wearing a lavender dress, which complimented the stuck flowers in her swaying hair very well. Her shoulders were bare, and the dress fit her form all of the way to her knees, where it slit on both sides and belled out at her legs. Ron could have sworn Hermione was sparkling. When her gaze met his, as she took her seat right beside Molly, he quickly looked down the aisle at his sister and Gabrielle, walking side by side in matching gold dresses. Ginny's hair was pulled up tightly on the top of her head, scattered ringlets falling past her ears. She looked at Harry briefly, and there was so much pain and longing between the two of them that she had to turn away quickly for fear of crying.
The reception started with raucous music and cheers throughout the enchanted tent in the orchard. Ron had piled on so much food that Hermione thought he was bringing enough for all of them. "Honestly, Ron! Sometimes it appears all you care about is food!" She exclaimed as she took one plate out of his hand and helped him to the table. When they got there, they found Harry and Ginny sitting in complete silence. She had tears in her eyes. "I'm hungry." She said coldly and ran toward the cake. "Harry you need to stop this. Didn't Dumbledore tell you that love is the most important magic of all?" Hermione gasped at the mention of Dumbledore and the corresponding look on Harry's face. "I'm just worried about losing her I guess." Harry explained with much more honesty than he intended. "But you two need each other, especially now." Hermione said, and Harry darkened. He slowly walked out of the orchard.
Hermione looked crestfallen. She was always very hurt by Harry's moods. "I was just trying to help." She said quietly. "Well maybe he just didn't want you meddling." Ron said with a mouthful of food. He knew it was wrong to say, but at this realization Hermione had run off in the opposite direction of Harry. Ron sat at his table alone and full of food. He did not sit there long, however. As slow music started to play, he walked off into the night.
Harry was sitting in silence at the pond. He had so much to think about. He needed to find 6 pieces of the most evil man in the world's soul. He needed to destroy him. And now Hermione was lecturing him on his love life? Harry was angry and scared at the same time. There were so many things he had to do. He wasn't going back to school. He has to find out who R.A.B is…and he has to go see his parent's house. Harry saw no end to everything that was lying ahead of him.
Harry heard footsteps, and turned to find Ginny. She had taken her hair down and her shoes were nowhere to be seen. Harry was unaware of the tears in his eyes, but Ginny had gently wiped away one falling from his cheek. He felt a pang of guilt immediately. "Ginny I…" but he had to stop. Ginny was kissing him in the same way she had done so many times before. She looked at him and smiled. "I understand you can't take me with you, but I'm scared for you. I'm never going to stop…to stop loving you." She looked at him with a twitch in her eye. "I'm scared Gin. I don't know what I'm doing, but I have to do it." And with that they kissed, and the kiss never seemed to end. It filled Harry with so much warmth he forgot himself for at least a few brief moments.
Meanwhile Ron was mentally kicking himself for alienating Hermione again. "I am such a prat." He thought angrily to himself. "This is probably my last night at home before we go off on this bloody death mission." This thought scared Ron, but his thoughts were interrupted as he tripped and fell flat on his face over some shoes. "Bloody wanking shoes!" he yelled, and then heard a gasp. Hermione was sitting under a set of her charmed flowers in the grass, it was so dark he could barely see her, but he could tell by the sound of her sighs she was crying. "Hermione I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that. It's just the thought of Harry hurting Ginny that gets a rise out of me. I mean he's my best mate!" Ron explained, but Hermione just started crying harder. "It's not that." She sobbed. "I'm scared of what we're going to do. Harry hasn't told us his plan, but I have a good idea. I am just so unsure it's frightening!" At her admission, Ron placed a hand on her shoulder; he had no idea what to say. "I'm scared too." He stated, almost matter of fact. He realized his hand still rested on her shoulder. Soft music was drifting to where they were sitting. "Dance with me." He said as he got up and grabbed her hand. She was startled but obliged.
They stood like that for a few minutes before Ron kissed her forehead and looked down at her. "I will always be here for you. I'll never let anyone hurt you." With that she laid her head on his chest and he stroked her hair gently. They felt so safe and sure in that moment, but that moment didn't last long.
Tonks' shriek could be heard throughout the whole yard, and Remus began to sprint instantaneously. The form of many of the guests was changing into cloaked forms of Deatheaters. Things were about to get much worse.