It was a happy time in the garden of the Burrow's backyard. Birds were chirping happily, a soft breeze was blowing and faint pops were heard every so often, announcing the arrival of yet another wizard. People were enjoying themselves on this sunny afternoon. It was a breath of fresh air in the midst of chaos.
Harry Potter, however, was sitting at the far end of the garden sulking. Harry had a perturbed look on his face and his black, round glasses were slipping down the bridge of his nose. He really would have preferred to have been inside, away from authority figures who could sweep down on him at any minute, asking him annoying questions. In the end, Harry decided it would be safer outside, where women seemed to be absent. Harry's best mate, Ron Weasley, walked up to Harry just as a man appeared beside him. Ron muttered an excuse me before turning to Harry. "This is excruciating," Harry muttered.
"Oh, cheer up. Blimey, Harry, it's just a wedding," Ron said. Ron understood Harry's position, but he didn't understand why Harry had to be so depressed about every little thing.
"I know, but I'd rather not be here," Harry complained. Ron knew where Harry would rather be. Back inside, in Fred and George's old room, thinking of some far-fetched plan to capture a piece of Voldemort's soul. A Horcrux or whatever it was. Harry had been thinking of nothing else for days and Ron was getting a little fed up with it.
Just as Ron was about to tell Harry to let loose for a little while, Hermione came bounding toward them from the other side of what used to be the Weasley's backyard. Looking across it, Harry just realized how different it looked. He could hardly recognize it anymore, between the abundance of floral arrangements and white lace that was draped over almost anything that would sit still. Rows of miscellaneous chairs ran in rows on either side of a long walkway made out of assorted flower petals. The petals stopped at the front where Bill Weasley and Fleur Decalour would soon be joined in holy matrimony. This was all obviously the work of Mrs. Weasley, who wanted everything to be perfect for her son's wedding day.
"Oh, she looks absolutely magnificent," Hermione squealed, her hands in an excited knot.
"Who?" Ron asked with a furrowed brow.
"Fleur, you git," Hermione answered with an annoyed tone. She looked over at Harry who still sat deep in thought. "Harry, are you okay?"
"What? Oh yeah, I'm fine," Harry answered robotically. But he wasn't. The truth was, Harry was frustrated and lost. He had no clue where any of the Horcruxes could possibly be. With the death of Dumbledore still sinking in, Harry had found a new independence. Sure, he had always been primarily alone in the world, however, since the death of Sirius and now Dumbledore, Harry felt more detached than ever. He was left to find the remaining Horcruxes and kill Voldermort alone. Although Ron and Hermione insisted that he wasn't alone and that they would be there by his side every step of the way, Harry knew that it would have to be he who killed Voldemort once and for all. After all, wasn't that what Dumbledore was training him for all year? Harry felt he owed it to the headmaster to finish what the two of them had begun.
Harry couldn't pretend he didn't feel his stomach tighten into a million tiny knots as he thought about that fateful night last spring. He felt a surge of hatred as he recalled how Snape had deceived Dumbledore, the one wizard who truly trusted him, ultimately killing him and returning to his concealed life. He could feel his eyes beginning to well up but quickly blinked the salty tears back and finding a sudden interest in his newly shined shoes. This was the last day that Harry and his two best mates could spend together in bliss before they began the most vigorous and dangerous journey the threesome had ever embarked on. This was it and he wasn't going to ruin it by sulking in a corner.
Harry looked up with a worn expression as the music started, signaling Fleur's entrance and steady walk down the aisle. Looking around at happy faces of the members of the Order of the Phoenix, the Weasley clan and long time friends from the Ministry, nothing seemed to fit in the path leading to Voldemort, but Harry felt more content than he had in a long time.