Chapter Two – The Wedding

"Why would I sabotage,
the best thing that I have?"
- 'Hands Open' by Snow Patrol

Charlie was listening to Bill breathe quite heavily through his nose as they sat at the very front of the marquee with their backs to the wedding guests.

"Nervous?" Charlie whispered.

"No," Bill answered but his brow was glistening with sweat and he couldn't keep his hands still. His left foot was tapping a random tune on the floor and he was even making Charlie shake a little because he was sitting next to him. The music began and this was the cue for Bill and Charlie to stand up. They practically jumped into place and Charlie felt horribly exposed, he wasn't used to these many people all staring at him at once and it wasn't helped by Fred's wolf whistle and the girly giggling that followed. Thankfully all attention was turned to Fleur and her father as they had entered the marquee and were proceeding down the aisle.

"She looks beautiful," Bill croaked at Charlie, not able to take his eyes from his bride.

"Yeah," Charlie replied, catching the eye of Adele Miller. "She does." Adele smiled at him encouragingly and Charlie finally placed her face from school. She had caused his broken nose in the semi final Quidditch match of his seventh year and he wasn't sure he had quite forgiven her for it yet.

Fleur and her father approached where Bill and Charlie were waiting and Charlie fixed a great smile on his face. Fleur was glowing and looked more stunning than usual and Charlie noticed that all the people around him seemed to ooze beauty and confidence. He, himself had even forgotten about his cropped hair and was also filled with confidence. He looked back to where Adele was seated and gave her a winning smile. She looked slightly puzzled but returned it none the less.

The vows had begun and Charlie almost missed his cue to pass the rings as he was too busy grinning at people. When Bill and Fleur were finally pronounced man and wife, the marquee changed rather dramatically and turned into a dance floor and tables. Charlie watched Bill and Fleur walk down the aisle, being greeted by everyone and receiving kisses and hand shakes and the further away Fleur got, the less Charlie felt like the most confident man in the world. He actually felt highly embarrassed and avoided eye contact as he made his way out of the newly formed crowd.

"Charlie! Over here!" Fred called, he and George were seated with five very pretty girls and Fred was motioning for him to come and sit next to a highly beautiful blonde girl who was smiling at him shyly. Charlie waved him off and continued on his way, grabbing a glass of Butterbeer from a waiter as he passed by. He freed himself from the marquee and carried on until he reached the back step of The Burrow and sat down, tugging at his collar and sipping his drink.

"Hey," a voice said behind him. He turned quickly and realised who it was. He faced forwards again, cheeks colouring traitorously. It was Adele, straightening her dress and clutching her own glass of Butterbeer as she came out of The Burrow.

Charlie noticed she had sat down next to him and he stiffened. He felt an idiot and wished she would leave at once. No such luck.

"You've remembered me, haven't you?" Adele asked lightly, humour in her voice. She flicked her hair over her shoulder and sipped her drink as she waited for Charlie to reply.

"Yeah," Charlie replied but his voice came out in a strangled moan. "Yeah, you broke my nose," Charlie continued, after clearing his throat and telling himself to get control of himself.

"I waited in the hospital wing with you," Adele said easily. "Made sure you survived and that." Adele laughed but Charlie didn't join in, he didn't like to be reminded about how a fifth year Ravenclaw had floored a seventh year Gryffindor Quidditch Captain with a right hook better than his.

"Oh come on Charlie, we used to be mates didn't we?" Adele teased after several minutes of silence. "You've changed a lot since school."

"Oh," Charlie said and his hand found his short hair at once. "I don't usually look like an army recruit. My mother was a little liberal and no-one can grow it back."

"I'll have a go," Adele said happily, extracting her wand from her bag and pointing it at Charlie's head quicker than he could object.

"Oh, no, I mean, don't bother, Bill's already tried..." Charlie stammered, making excuses but he felt hair touch his bare neck and forehead. He looked at Adele who smiled triumphantly. "How did you...?" Charlie asked, feeling his hair back in its original style.

"I Transfigured it," Adele replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Transfigured short hair into long. I like it both ways anyway."

Charlie was still feeling his new hair and realised he must be staring at Adele as she giggled awkwardly and sipped her drink while averting her eyes. Where was all her confidence now? The pair stared off at the unravelling celebrations, everyone was dancing or eating and having a great time. Fleur and Bill were slow dancing to a fast song and they were acting as if no-one else even existed.

"Hey!" Fred yelled as he approached Charlie and Adele, snapping them out of their gazes. "Sorry to interrupt the fun you're clearly having but for the love of Merlin, come over and join us and perhaps try and crack a smile!"

Fred was mainly talking to Charlie but that didn't stop Adele feeling slightly bad for looking miserable.

"OK!" She replied brightly and stood up. Fred grinned and looked expectantly at Charlie who shrugged and admitted defeat, allowing Fred to yank him up from where he sat on the step. Fred led them back to the table he and George were sharing with the French cousins and after a couple of minutes, the twins had raised a laugh from their older brother. Adele settled back and watched everything unfold while she enjoyed the canapés that were on offer.

The evening continued on and the twins had even persuaded Charlie to ask Adele to dance, which he did and resulted in Adele choking on a prawn vol au vont. She had recovered fairly quickly and she and Charlie awkwardly joined the vibrating throng that was the dance floor. Fred and George had gained dance partners and danced next to Charlie and Adele and after a few songs and quite a few glasses of Fire whiskey later, Charlie finally felt like he was having a good time until a slow song began playing and Adele looked at him expectantly.

"Um, here," Charlie said uncomfortably and busied himself by putting his empty glass on a passing waiters tray. He took a breath before turning back to Adele, who was still waiting and watching intently. "You wanna...?"

"Sure," Adele replied, smiling and put her hands on Charlie's shoulders at once. Charlie swallowed and put his hands on Adele's waist before blushing and moving his hands onto her shoulders so they looked like they were grappling with each other. Adele laughed softly and took his hands from her shoulders and settled them resting on the small of her back. She placed her hands back on his shoulders but they ended up around his neck instead as someone bumped into them. They danced for maybe ten seconds, averting each others gaze until Charlie caught George's eye and he and Fred started making rude gestures. Charlie looked around and realised his mother and father along with Bill and Fleur were all smiling and watching him knowingly. This mad him feel incredibly self concious and he really wanted to move his hands or just stop dancing altogether.

Charlie felt Adele tug slightly on the back of his hair and he looked at her. She did look very pretty and her light blue eyes were very nice and he was enjoying the feel of her body through his embarrassment and...woah, what was she doing? She was getting closer to him...she was kissing him! In front of his family! After the initial horror, Charlie found he didn't actually die of embarrassment and was actually quite enjoying it. Her mouth felt very soft against his own and the music seemed to drown out, leaving the sound of Charlie's pounding heart to soundtrack the kiss.

It was only until the people who were dancing around them gasped that Charlie opened his eyes and broke the kiss, leaving Adele to look at him curiously until she turned and realised what he was staring at.

A Patronus stood amongst the party goers and when it spoke, the voice was deep and slow. Charlie recognised it at once and upon hearing the words it had to say, he took a firm hold of Adele's hand and pulled her quickly and swiftly through the crowds of people until he reached his father.

"Get inside the house," Arthur Weasley said briskly, scouting for the other members of his immediate family over the top of Adele's heads. "Both of you."

Charlie obeyed and pulled Adele back toward The Burrow through Disapparating people and people getting themselves into a complete panic. They reached the back door and Charlie and Adele crossed the threshold into a packed and noisy kitchen.

"What's happening?" Adele asked Charlie, pulling him so he faced her. "What's going on?" Her light smile had vanished and she looked quite scared.

"Maybe you should go home," Charlie said softly, moving out of the way so Lupin and Tonks could get past. "Go and be with your family."

Adele looked uncomfortable and looked at the floor before looking straight back into Charlie's eyes. "Look, I'm a Muggle-born," She began and Charlie made a noise somewhere between frustration and sympathy. "My parents are dead, no, don't give me that look, they died before all of this started happening but I'm pretty much alone and I was attacked just before I Apparated here so I'm probably safer here than on my own."

Charlie stared at her for a few seconds, calculating and thinking but their time was cut short as his father burst through the back door looking thunderous. He was flanked by some unknown men who glared at Charlie and Adele as they passed.

"Bill," Charlie said as Bill walked in behind the strangers. Bill looked at his brother then to Adele. "What's this? Who are these people?"

"Deatheaters mostly," Bill replied darkly. Adele sensed he was very angry and quite rightly, this was his wedding day. "They think Harry is here or we know where he is." He gave Charlie a pressing look that Charlie understood but Adele did not.

"Merlin," Charlie sighed angrily. He liked Harry a lot but he didn't half cause troubles for his family. "Oh, watch out."

Fleur came storming into the kitchen, her pretty face livid. "How dare they!" She shrieked to anyone in the vicinity. "My wedding day is ruined! How dare they!"

"Fleur," Bill began, his voice light and breezy but she was having none of it. All Bill could do was follow after his new wife while she cursed in rapid French and waved her arms around as she went and found her mother in the living room leaving Charlie and Adele standing there still not much the wiser. Oh, how it was all about to change.