"You can not be serious Harry! Draco freaking Malfoy at MY wedding?" Ginny glared at me as she stared at the guest list in her hands. She threw the paper in my face.
"Gin, let me explain. Please, no don't go-" I started to say but was interrupted by Ginny disapparating.
I sighed, picked up the guest list and frowned. Maybe it was a mistake to invite Malfoy. I knew, if it wasn't for Malfoy's mother, I wouldn't be here at all. It was she who stood up to Voldermort and lied about I being dead, just so I could defeat the Dark Lord and so she could find her son.
I also knew where Ginny would be going, she'd disapparate to The Burrow to whine and complain to her mum. I knew that was one place I wouldn't be going. I grabbed my wand from the bedroom, and knew where to go. I needed to see Ron. Ron would be reasonable. Ron would calm me down. Or at least, I hoped.
"Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes does not clean up messes you make. You make them, you clean them up. Take this mop and do it the Muggle way. No magic." I heard Ron say to a redheaded little boy who had just spilled a jar of yellow potions. I quietly followed Ron as Ron headed back to the counter.
"Harry, not now, I'm busy at the moment." Ron said as he saw me approaching the counter..
"Ginny's mad at me." I blurted out asI avoided a child who ran in my direction.
"Little runts, they need to be with their PARENTS." Ron yelled so the father of the child could hear him. "Why is she mad at you? What could you have possibly done to make my sister mad at you? Then it is my sister. It doesn't take a lot to get her mad." Ron started to laugh at his own joke as I rolled my eyes.
"She's mad because I invited Malfoy to the wedding." Ron stopped laughing and glared at me.
"If that oaf's coming, I'm not coming." Ron stacked some forms on the counter to avoid my eyes.
"Ron, you have to come. You're my best man." I pleaded.
"Not if Malfoy will be there. Now if you excuse me, some of us have to work." Ron said as he took the stack of papers back to the office.
"Don't despair Harry, they will come around." A dreamy voice caused me to turn around.
"Luna! What a surprise. What are you doing here?" I asked as I gave an old friend a quick hug.
"Oh, just looking around. Not really doing much of anything today. You know, the usual."
I couldn't think of anything to say, so I just smiled and nodded at her pretending I knew the typical day in the life of Luna Lovegood.
"Would you like to get some lunch?" Luna asked me nd then added "You sound like you need to talk."
"I would like lunch. You're right. I do need to talk. Is there a quiet place where we could go?" I asked her.
"Florean Fortescue's niece opened a sandwich shop where the ice cream parlour use to be. We could go there."
I turned at Ron who was standing in the doorway and sighed, hoping he would come back and apologize. I turned around and walked out the shop following Luna. She led me to the place where the ice cream parlour use to be. I sighed as I remembered Florean Fortescue. He was a good wizard who died during the Second War.
"We can sit outside if you like. I prefer sitting away from people actually." She surveyed the scene pointing out with her eyes, there were more people inside than outside.
"Sit." She ordered me as she stepped inside the shop. Luna came out with two sandwiches. I didn't feel like eating so I just stared at the food.
"Really, Harry. I didn't poison it, and there aren't nargles in it. I checked." Luna said smiling. "Honestly, what has you so down in the dumps? Ginny will come around. You really shouldn't despair on anything in life. It's too short. Don't dwell on your problems. Learn to live a little. I'm sure you have a good reason as to why you want to invite Draco to your wedding. Lovely invitations by the way, I received mine last week." She sipped her lemonade and waited for me to respond. I sighed and spilled everything to her.
"Do you know why I want to invite the Malfoys to my wedding? I wouldn't be here if it weren't for Draco's mother." I paused. It was the first time I had spoken that out loud. Not even Ginny knew this. She knew I hated talking about the war.
"I'm listening." Luna ate quietly as she stared at me. I pushed away my food knowing I wouldn't eat it.
"I've never told Ginny this or anyone this because no one would understand. Somehow, I think you'd understand. Narcissa Malfoy lied in order to let me live. She knew I was alive, but told Voldermort I wasn't alive. Just so she could see if Draco was alive in the castle. She asked me if he was alive, and I said yes, so she lied to the Voldermort. I wouldn't' be here today if it weren't for her. I owe them something."
Luna swallowed her bite. "Is that all? Harry, if you really want to invite them, just explain it to Ginny. She will come around. You can even ask her not to tell anyone. The two of you shouldn't keep things from each other."
"You really think she's that understanding?"
"I think she's more understanding than you think she is." Luna stood up.
"Thanks Luna,"
"Go talk to her. I'll see you at the wedding." Luna winked at me.
I looked down at my lunch.
"Don't worry. I'll pack it up and give it to the near by cats who don't have anywhere to live." Luna said staring at my food.
I nodded and disapparated to the Burrow.
Outside the Burrow, I could see Ginny standing in her mum's kitchen doing the dishes for Molly. I opened the door and walked inside to the kitchen. Ginny didn't look at me when I walked in.
"There's cake in the fridge mum made this morning." She said without staring at me. I walked over to her, wrapped my arms around her and gave her a kiss.
"Don't start Harry. I'm not in the mood."
"We don't need to argue over every little thing do we?" I asked. Ginny slammed the plate down in the soapy water, and turned around glaring at me.
"I'm sure you must have SOME reason as to why you want to invite the Malfoys." Ginny crossed her arms.
"I take it your talk with your mum didn't go well?"
"She didn't agree with me. She said I needed to see why you wanted to invite them instead of getting mad. She said it wasn't fair of me to accuse you of inviting a traitor. She told me to trust you."
"Gin. I talked with Luna. She told me not to despair, and that you would come around if you knew why I wanted to invite them. You know I don't like talking about that night. Here it goes. I'm inviting them because I wouldn't be alive now if it weren't for Narcissa Malfoy."
She stared at me with a blank face.
"Narcissa was the one who was asked to check on me after I dueled with Voldermort. She saw that I was breathing, and knew that I was still alive. All she wanted to know was if Draco was alive. Once I slowly nodded my head, she turned to Voldermort and told him I was dead."
"So she used you to get what she wanted. Typical Malfoy." Ginny frowned.
"Ginny, it's not what you think. I'm going to assume that she hated him too and wanted to see the war over. So she helped me out. I owe her my life. Since I can't give that to her, I'm inviting them to the wedding."
Ginny glanced at the ground before talking. She started to smile, letting me know I had argued my case and won.
"Okay."
"Okay? Does that mean they can still come?" I asked, trying not to sound too hopeful.
"As long as they swear to make nice, I can make nice. I doubt Draco will come, but invite his mum. There will be eyes watching them, just so you know." Ginny said as she tried to turn around to continue doing the dishes.
I stopped my soon to be wife, turned her back to face me and kissed her lightly on the lips. I learned to trust her once more.
"Thanks Ginny." I said as I started helping her wash the dishes.