disclaimer: EVERYTHING belongs to Rowling
time period: June 2023
Seven
"Bang!" the sound ricocheted off of a wall in the Burrow. "Watch it! There're some fragile presents in there, and we don't want them broken!"
Granddad looked furious. The last strands of his balding red hair stood up, glasses all the way down to the tip of his nose, his eyebrows scrunched up in a frown. It was the third time he had yelled at someone today; very unlike him. However, Victoire could understand. The place was fanatic and a huge mess. There were gifts everywhere, the kitchen was bursting with fruit baskets, and there were people running all around the house trying to find something or someone that they needed. All this was the cause of Victoire's wedding scheduled at the Burrow exactly within a week.
Victoire smiled to herself, as her hand automatically went to the stunning emerald ring on her left hand. This was the engagement ring that she had gladly accepted when Ted Lupin had proposed to her almost six months ago.
"Vicky!" The call brought Victoire out of her past and into the present. "Aunt Hermione wants to see you!"
"Ok"
"She's in the kitchen," Dominique's voice came again.
"Alright, thanks." Victoire got up, thankful for being told where her aunt was. Trying to find her through all these people would've been a hard task. She picked up her wand and headed towards the kitchen. Though her destination was only a few feet away, Victoire felt like she was going through a maze.
On her fifth step, she tripped and fell. Her feet felt slippery. "Ughh…not again! Fred! James Sirius! Take off this spell right now!"
Victoire heard a roar of laughter from upstairs and stupidly attempted to climb the stairs with slippery feet. She looked up to see the boys' faces lit up with excitement. They looked proud as if they had pulled their first prank, and not just another of the thousands they had played on every member of the family.
"What happened Vicky? Can't walk? It'll be a great sight when you walk down the aisle during your wedding. All you'll have to do is slip your way to Teddy!"
Victoire felt the color rising in her cheeks, but there was no way she was going to let them see that. "Come down here, and take off this spell!"
"Take it off yourself!" James replied as Fred laughed even harder.
"You know bloody well I don't know the counter spell. Get down here or I'll…I'll get Uncle Percy to teach you a lesson."
Abruptly the laughter stopped. Victoire smiled triumphantly. Even though the boys were now eighteen years old, the thought of encountering an angry Uncle Percy was too much to bear. Of course, she would never really call Uncle Percy, but the boys didn't know that. She heard Fred mumble something, his wand pointed towards her feet. Victoire stood up straight, no longer needing the railing for support.
"Thank you." She whirled around, letting her straight, silvery hair fly behind her.
Victoire started walking towards the kitchen, dodging people left and right. Lily, Hugo, Molly, and Lucy were still levitating the boxes of presents, trying to get them out of the doorway.
Off to the side, Rose and Albus were playing a game of wizards' chess. Victoire shook her head. Why was Al even trying? Everyone knew Rose was impossible to beat. She had inherited her father's skill at the game, and was currently Hogwarts's undefeated chess champion.
With pink flushed cheeks, beautiful red bushy hair, and mesmerizing chocolate brown eyes, Rose could easily be considered the most beautiful girl at Hogwarts. However the girl never paid attention to her looks, or the attention she received because of it. She was mostly found with her nose stuck in a book, studying for an exam that was months away, or challenging someone to a game of chess and then easily defeating them. Rose was considered to be the most intelligent witch of her age, just like her mum, making all Weasleys proud.
When Victoire got to the kitchen, she noticed that most of the fruit baskets had been unpacked. Now there was a large tray filled with all kinds of fruit decorated beautifully, set on the counter.
"Oh, there you are Vicky."
Victoire made her way to her favorite aunt, wrapped an arm around her and gave her a sideways hug. "Aunt Hermione, don't stress yourself out. You've been working overtime at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement the last few weeks. You need to rest."
"No, no, I'm fine. I'm just really excited about this wedding and want to help out as much as I can. It'll be the first wedding in the family after Harry and Ginny's. I want this to be perfect!"
"It will be," Victoire smiled, receiving a reassuring smile back from Hermione. "Now what did you need help with?"
"Well, these fruit baskets were mostly from people that can't come to the wedding. They sent their regards and best wishes for you and Teddy. So if you could just make a list of all the people and give it to your dad, he'll be able to cancel their reservations."
"Sure."
Victoire walked over to the stack of letters that had been taken off the fruit baskets and started to make a list. The names didn't disappoint her much. They were mostly her father's friends from work or some important people from the Ministry. As long as her family and friends were at the wedding, she would be happy.
Suddenly Victoire's wand flashed green, and her heart leaped. She grabbed her wand and the completed list, and ran out. Quickly making her way through all her aunts, uncles, and cousins, she sprinted upstairs to the safety of one of the guest rooms. Victoire closed the door, and plopped down onto the bed. She brought her wand up to her ear and tapped the end. The latest in wizard technology: her wand had a built in cell phone.
"Hello," Victoire said breathlessly. She already knew whose voice was going to reply.
"Hey, you sound out of breath, is something wrong?" Ted's voice sounded worried.
"Nothing, just, you know, crowded house, lots of running around…"
"You ran up to your room when you got my call, didn't you?"
"Uh, no. Not at all." Victoire smiled. Ted knew her better than anyone. Of course pretty much growing up together helped.
"Vicky?"
"Fine, fine. I did run up to my room. Happy?"
She heard Ted chuckle. "Yes, very happy. So how's everyone doing at the Burrow?"
"Fine. Everyone's in their usual 'wedding mood'."
She could almost sense Ted's eyebrows rising. "What usual wedding mood? This is the first wedding the family's having in twenty years."
"Which is what makes it so scary, Ted. I'm scared."
"About what?"
"About the wedding and my family. I think about leaving them, and it breaks my heart. My family is everything to me. And there're so many people. Saying goodbye to them will be…"
"Hey, Vicky, you're forgetting something."
"What?"
"They're my family too. In fact they're the only family I have apart from Grandma Andromeda. You're as close to them as I am, and I'm bound to miss them as much as you."
Victoire gulped back her tears. She hadn't realized that until Ted said it.
"Sorry, I forgot."
"Listen. Just because we have to move to America doesn't mean we won't see them anymore. We'll come every year, you'll get to see them, I promise. I don't want you to think you're leaving behind your family to come with me."
"Sorry. I know. I'll be fine."
"Good. Now wipe your tears and smile."
Victoire did as she was told.
"I wish I could see you," came Ted's desperate voice.
Victoire shook her head. "You know you're not allowed to see me until the day of the wedding."
"But that's a week away!" Victoire smiled. The truth was she wanted to see him too, but it was customary for the groom to not see the bride until wedding day."
"I'm coming over!"
"No! Ted, everyone's here, and no one's going to let you in the house."
"But they have to! I'll just complain about how bored I am here, and then Mrs. Weasley will let me come in and embrace me and load me with food and…"
"Ted, Mamaw's the strictest about these customs. Forget embracing, she'll be the first to kick you out." Victoire laughed at the thought.
"Well, I'm just going to have to settle with your picture then, aren't I?"
"Yes, you will."
"I love you, Victoire." Victoire blushed a pretty pink at the sudden confession.
"I love you too."
"Whap!" Victoire dropped her wand, startled. Dominique walked in, a smirk on her face, and her hands on her hips.
"What was going on here?" she asked in an all-too-sweet voice.
"Nothing," Victoire mumbled.
"Were you talking to Teddy again?" Victoire felt her confidence return.
"Well, you're one to talk; always making smooching sounds on the phone with Matthew. At least I don't do that with Ted." That shut her up.
"Hey, it's fun. You should try it sometime. It's not like anyone's stopping you."
They remained silent for a while, staring at each other and trying to keep a straight face until Dominique's smile led them both into fits of giggles. Dominique joined Victoire on the bed, and they rolled around, hitting each other with the pillows. After a while, they calmed down and Dominique lay down on her sister's lap. Victoire stroked her sister's long silvery hair, the way their mum used to do when they were little.
"I'm gonna miss you, Vicky. You're not just my older sister; you're also my best friend. I'm really gonna miss you when you leave."
"I know," Victoire said. "I was just talking to Ted about it. We'll be back though- to visit everyone. And of course I'll be here for your wedding."
Now it was Dominique's turn to blush. "You know, Vicky, when Matt proposed to me last month, I was really nervous. I thought about you and Ted. You've know each other since you were born. Matt and I've only known each other for what? Four years? I wasn't sure if that was enough time for us"
"It is," Victoire said sternly. "It's completely enough time. Mum and Dad only knew each other for two years, remember? And their life turned out great. It doesn't matter how long you've known them. The only thing that matters is that you know for certain that you love the person. And you love Matt, right?"
"Of course"
"Well, then you're on your way to a happily married life."
The two sisters smiled at each other, enjoying their sisterly moment. Finally they realized their help was probably needed in the wedding preparations, and scurried downstairs.
Victoire remembered the list she was supposed to give to her father, and set out on a hunt to find him. He was outside with Uncle Ron, setting up the lawn for the big day.
"Daddy, here's a list of people that can't come to the wedding. You can cancel their reservations."
"Alright, thanks Vicky. I'll go take care of this right now. Would you mind helping Ron? We just need to levitate a few more lawn chairs out there."
"Sure, dad." Victoire pointed her wand at the chairs, "Wingardium Leviosa!" Five chairs rose up into the air and following the direction of her wand, made their way to the shaded part of the lawn.
"Thanks, Victoire. You're a great help." Victoire smiled at her uncle.
Everyone called her 'Vicky' except Uncle Ron. Once she had asked him why, but he had side-tracked the question. However, Uncle Harry had seen the awkward exchange and told her the reason.
Supposedly, before Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione had started dating, Aunt Hermione had gone to the Yule Ball at Hogwarts with the famous Quidditch player, Viktor Krum. This had made Ron mad and he proposed Hermione called him "Vicky". Uncle Harry confirmed that Hermione had never called him that, and that the name "Vicky" just brought back to many bad memories for Ron to say aloud.
Victoire found the whole thing quite amusing and ironic. Her best friend was Viktor Krum Jr., the famous Bulgarian Seeker's son. After the Battle of Hogwarts, and Voldemort's defeat, Hogwarts pretty much became a legend and everyone wanted to go there. Viktor Krum's family decided to move to Scotland, so their son could also go to Hogwarts rather than Durmstrang. She and Viktor had both been in Gryffindor, and of course during those years, Gryffindor won every single Quidditch match. Viktor and Victoire were both born on May 2, the anniversary date in which the Order of the Phoenix and its allies prevailed against Voldemort and his Death Eaters, and they were both named after that victory.
Once, Victoire had brought Viktor over to meet the family, but Uncle Ron had tortured him with so many pranks that he had sworn to never come back to the Burrow. However, he was coming to the wedding, and Victoire was eager to see the pranks her uncle would pull on her best friend this time.
"You know, Uncle Ron, Viktor's coming to the wedding."
Her uncle's face scrunched up in disgust. "Let him. And his father too," he added nastily. "We've got a whole new stock of pranks at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. I'll ask George for the best ones." He smiled mischievously.
Victoire laughed. Her uncles may have gotten older, but their pranks were still legendary. Weasley's Wizard Wheezes was doing better than ever. After Uncle Fred's death, Uncle Ron had helped Uncle George with the business. They were even able to successfully open another branch in Hogsmeade.
Then Uncle Ron became an Auror, and they had to hire a few people to run the shops. However, now that all the kids had grown up, the shops were run by family again. Currently, Uncle George owned the two shops and paid Louis and James to work in the one in Diagon Alley, while Fred and Albus were in charge of the one at Hogsmeade. Business was booming and the Weasley pranks had become international sellers in the magical world.
"Dad! Dad, look what I got!"
Victoire and Ron turned around to see Hugo bolting his way towards them; his blue eyes wide with excitement, flying something in the air. As he got closer, Victoire could see it was a Chocolate Frog card.
"Look dad, it's Luna! Luna Lovegood! I finally got her card!"
Victoire saw Luna looking up at her from the card. Victoire had met Luna before. She remembered her dreamy voice and the way she kept her wand behind her ear for safekeeping; the way she had in the picture. Luna's dirty blonde hair and protuberant silvery grey eyes which seemed to be dreamily distracted, dazzled Victoire as Luna winked at them and left the picture.
Ron smiled. "Did you read what it said about her?"
"Yep, it says…
Luna Scamander (née Lovegood) is a witch who attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as a Ravenclaw student. She is the daughter of Xenophilius Lovegood, editor of The Quibblermagazine and Mrs. Lovegood. Luna was raised by her father around the village of Ottery St. Catchpole. In her fourth year, Luna joined Dumbledore's Army, of which she became an important member. She participated in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries in 1996 and the Battle of the Astronomy Tower in 1997, and co-led the reconstituted Dumbledore's Army when Hogwarts fell under the control of Lord Voldemort. Because of her father's political dissidence at the time, Luna was abducted by Death Eaters to be held ransom, and imprisoned in the dungeons of Malfoy Manor for months. After escaping, Luna participated in the Second Wizarding War during the Battle of Hogwarts in 1998, an ally of the Order of the Phoenix. Currently, Luna is a wizarding naturalist and is married to Rolf Scamander, with whom she had two twin sons, Lorcan and Lysander.
"Well, now you have Luna's card to add to your collection," Ron said brightly.
"What collection? I don't have much of a collection. All I have is a butt load of your, mum's and Uncle Harry's cards. Oh, and a few of Professor Longbottom's cards. But that's about it."
"You can always start one now. After you help Victoire and I fix the garden though."
"Dad!" Ron frowned, and Hugo silently bent down, stuck his face in a peony bush, and began de-gnoming.
That night at dinner, Granddad extended the dinner table the way he usually did when the entire family was over at the Burrow. Mamaw, Aunt Ginny, and Aunt Angelina had prepared a delicious meal while everyone had been busy with preparations.
Victoire sat down in her usual spot, between her mum and Mamaw, and dug into the super good food. Fleur noticed her daughter from the corner of her eyes and scolded,
"Eat slowly, Victoire. Z'ur wedding's only a week away. We can't have you gaining weight before ze wedding. Ted will be disappointed."
"Mum!" Victoire reproached.
"Anyways, tomorrow, we shalze go to Diagon Alley to buy your wedding dress. We also have to decide what your bridesmaids will wear. Dominique and Lily togezher will remind me of my wedding. Gabrielle and Ginny were my bridesmaids and now azain we'll have a silver haired girl and a red haired girlz," Fleur smiled at the thought.
However, Victoire had realized this similarity right when Ted had mentioned that he wanted Lily as one of the bridesmaids. His closest family was that of Uncle Harry's and he took Lily as his little sister.
"Oooo…shopping for the wedding! Can we come too?" Molly and Lucy asked excitedly.
"Of course," Fleur said. "The more ze marrier!"
"Ahhh!!!" Roxanne jumped off her chair, howling, waving her hands around her mouth like a maniac.
"Hot! Hot! Ahhh!!!"
Hermione rushed over with a glass of water as Angelina stomped over to Fred and pulled him by the ear.
"What did you do to your sister? Is this one of the Weasley Wizards pranks? Answer me!"
"Ow,ow,ow…mum, my ear!" Angelina pulled harder.
"Answer me Fredrick Weasley! Is this from the joke shop or did your father teach you this? Answer me or you'll end up with one ear, just like him!"
Angelina's voice had gone shrilly, the way it usually did when she saw a prank she didn't like. "Well?"
"It…it was dad. He taught it to me yesterday…"
Angelina let go of her son, and stalked inside to find her husband who had escaped the table right when the scene had started. Fred's ear was bright red and he looked down at his food sulkily.
"It was such a good prank. Roxanne just had to overreact."
"I did not overreact! My mouth was burning…literally!"
Victoire smiled to herself, shaking her head. She sure was going to miss her chaotic family.
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hope you liked it!!! more coming soon :) thanks to Amy for suggesting the new format. Please review!!