xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX Beginning XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
Bill stood at the end of the marquee, with the ceremony official to his right, and Ginny and Gabrielle a little ways past him. The venue that had been set up in his backyard was beautiful, with the bouquets white and gold flowers and the long purple carpet that ran right down the middle. But whatever the marquee looked like, it was nothing compared to the beautiful woman that would soon be his bride.
Fleur Delacour walked, almost floated, down the aisle on her father's arm. Everyone in the golden chairs stood, Molly Weasley crying, yet Bill only had eyes for Fleur. She wore a simple dress that only made her beauty emanate even further. She was positively beaming as her father let her go, to resume his seat. He took her hands, and the ceremony began.
"Ladies and gentlemen. We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of two faithful souls…"
"Do you, William Arthur, take Fleur Isabelle to be your wife, for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do." Bill said the words with confidence, seeing, out of the corner of his eye, both his and his bride's mothers crying silently into scraps of lace.
"Do you, Fleur Isabelle, take William Arthur to be your husband, for as long as you both shall live?" asked the official.
Fleur was beaming, and Bill saw a tear sliding down her cheek. He moved a hand forward to wipe it away, and she blushed. She nodded softly, saying, "I do."
"Then I declare you bonded for life. You may now kiss your bride." Bill wrapped his arms around his wife, and they kissed.
It may have been several minutes, or several sunlit days; Bill was unsure. All he did know, however, was that when they broke apart, Fleur was crying, and he himself was fighting back tears.
"I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. William Weasley!" declared the ceremony official, and he waved the wand over the heads of the newly married couple, and a shower of golden stars fell upon their heads. The golden balloons near Bill and Fleur burst, tiny golden bells and birds of paradise appeared, and the newlyweds made their way down the purple carpet, hand in hand.
This was, reflected Bill as applause erupted all around them, the beginning of his new life. He forgot that a war was currently raging. He forgot all the unpleasantness of the world. Nothing would ruin this moment for him. No one would ruin the life that he and his wife would now embark upon. The beginning, he thought, was a very beautiful thing.
A/N: This story was written for The Magic Number Competition on the HPFC forum. This is for Bill, using the prompt 'beginning.' All reviews are greatly appreciated. Thank you for reading!