Chapter 2: The Wedding
Harry woke from his sleep that Saturday morning and found himself in a whirlwind rush to get everything perfect and ready for the wedding. Many people were coming and going fixing their robes as they went and knocking into each other. As the day continued Harry felt a growing excitement with the others as well, yet another feeling, a more sinister one, nagged in the back of his mind keeping his always on his guard. He also sneaked back to his and Ron's bedroom and shoved his invisibility cloak hastily into his dress robes pocket.
Harry helped set the chairs up in the backyard then assisted Harry and Hermione in leading the guest to each side. As he did so he heard Bill hum while waiting at the end of the aisle in his new robes.
'Muriel is coming now, she'll be here any moment, be careful because Percy isn't here and Molly may wet herself with her eyes.' Arthur said hurrying by. Meanwhile one of the twins, George, lead Aunt Muriel to a seat near the front, Molly had burst into tears and rushed into the house to help Fleur. However when she did, she forgot to speak with Muriel, who instead yelled for Harry to assist her.
'So you're the Chosen One,' she said in her sharp, yet reedy voice, 'Give me some help by giving this to the bride, Molly keeps forgetting to give it to her. Just run up now.' And she handed Harry a small jewellery box for him to take. He thanked her and hurried away. He reached the sitting room where Fleur was stationed, fixing her robes, as Molly bustled in behind him with a comb fixing her long, blonde hair.
''Ello 'Arry.' Fleur said as she beamed towards him, he smiled back and gave Molly the box, 'Of course, Aunty Muriel's tiara! It's made from real goblin made gold you know, here let me fix it in for you Fleur!' and she hurried forward while Harry hung back for a moment then rushed out as Ginny, Ron's youngest and only sister came in.
He sat down as the wedding was about to begin, Harry hurried next to him and his brothers, Fred, George and Arthur also sat down. When the guests were finally all situated Molly waited for the final sign to begin the wedding ceremony.
Harry suddenly felt very vulnerable among everyone so happy and exuberant; he gently slipped his wand out and held it in his pocket loosely.
Suddenly Molly took her seat by Ron, a slow music began to play, and Harry spun around to see as Charlie and Ginny both walked down the aisle, following her was a tall wizard around the same age as Bill along with Hermione. Both men wore robes of navy blue with cuffs of the same red as Harry's however they were slightly fancier, Hermione and Ginny wore robes of champagne satin.
Behind them now came a small girl, she had hair like her sister's flowing golden locks with flowers tied through out it. Gabrielle wore robes also of champagne with a bow of red. She carried a basket of flowers and spread them around the ground.
Once she and the others filed along by Bill at the arch the music slowed even more as Arthur Weasley stepped forward arm in arm with his daughter in-law.
Fleur wore stunning robes of an ivory, red ribbon tied loosely around her waist with blue ribbons coming out of her up-do and out of her tiara. She beamed at those around her through her veil.
When she reached Bill, they held hands as Arthur sat with Molly. Then the small tuft of a man who spoke at Dumbledore's funeral stood and began to speak; 'Today we celebrate the union of two lovers in a great terrible time.'
'Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour have now to say their vows.' Minerva said.
Bill turned to his love and smiled, 'Fleur, you are the amazing woman that light up my way through out these dark times. I promise to be your guide and to be what will hold you when you are need, to wipe the tears you may shed, I promise to keep you safe and to be the best I can be…for you.'
'Bill, I 'ave a'lays loved you from zee moment I 'ave seen you, you are what makes me laff when I cry, when my life is 'urt you 'elp moi-you save moi-from zee terror at night, for that I love you, and I promise you, to hold you tight to 'old you, keep you 'arm when it rains, to be zee best I can-for you.' Fleur said happily. The moved in closer and Minerva smiled.
'The ring please, there we go, now you may kiss the bride.' The man cried, and Bill kissed Fleur.
'Today I am pleased to announce the union of Fleur and Bill Weasley.' Minerva said to a massive amount of applause.
Soon, they left for the reception, food was provided inside the burrow as it began to rain. They huddled inside cramped and slightly wet.
"Rain is zee good luck for zee bride!" Fleur grinned. Bill held her close. Gabrielle sat on a chair smiling up at Harry-she had always been fond of him since he saved her from the lake.
The chairs were taken away and replaced with a long table and several mini tables for the guests. True there were not many, the Weasley's plus Aunt Muriel. Then there was Remus Lupin and Tonks, a few Hogwarts staff including Hagrid, Minerva McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, and a few other members of the Order of the Phoenix.
Dusk had settled as the rain stopped and fairies floated among them giving soft glowing and colourful light. Harry found himself laughing with Ron and Hermione as Ginny slowly walked up to him, 'Dance with me Harry?' she asked shyly, and Harry shrugged and followed her to the floor. As they danced she softly whispered to him, 'Oh I wish this had been our own wedding, for I do still love you Harry.'
'Oh Ginny,' Harry whispered, and he leaned closer to her lips, his own almost crashed into them as she leaned in as well. However they broke apart when a loud crash sounded through the tidy garden.
'What the bloody hell?' Arthur cried, 'A gnome!' Fred yelled, 'No Mad-Eye!' Ron yelled back and an aged wizard with a bright blue, glass eye appeared before them, 'The Ministry ahs been attacked by Death Eaters, not many survived, and the whole office is gone. The Minister is dead as well and Voldemort has sent the message pretty well.' Moody, a former auror and fellow member, said harshly. Many gasped and Harry suddenly felt the ground below him shrink. He let go of Ginny and felt suddenly dizzy, she caught his arm and steadied him.
'We need to mobilize and assist those that survived, let's get into safe house mode. Divide and bring any survivors to them.' Lupin shouted taking charge.
'Let's go!' Moody said loudly to many who were still frozen in shock.
'Harry!' Hermione moaned rushing forward, 'We have to leave soon, we can't let this keep happening!'
'You're right, lets meet upstairs now!' Harry hissed. The three rushed upstairs with Ginny following.
'You're not coming.' Ron said shortly to her, her eyes flashed angrily, 'I've fought death Eaters just like you!' she argued.
'No Ginny.' Harry said, her eyes widened in shock and she said thickly, 'Why not?'
'Because we can't afford to lose anyone else. It's risky you being here even, just stay where you can help the others.' Harry said.
'But I want to be with you.' She said.
'And I can't be with you. Not yet. Just let us go.' Harry said desperately. Finally she relented and said, 'Okay, I'll tell mum some bogus reason why you guys left, but you have to do it now!'
'Alright, let's move to the nearest place where the locket would be.' Harry said and Ginny left the room, 'But where?' Ron nearly shouted, and Hermione hushed him, she was staring at where Ginny stood her mind wheeling faster then ever, thinking harder then she had ever thought before.
'We don't know who R.A.B is, the one that took the real locket, nor where it could've been.' Harry said frustratingly. He ran a hand through his messy black hair and stared into a mirror at his reflection. His bright green eyes stood out against his pale skin as did his thin lightning bolt shaped scar…he had to end it soon.
'Who would have connection to Voldemort so closely.' Ron said, 'And access to what horcruxes are.' Hermione added. Suddenly there was a loud bang and screams below them, someone entered shouting, 'THEY'RE HERE! WHERE'S HARRY?'
'Whose here? The death eaters!' Ron asked looking frightened. Hermione uttered a shriek as a death eater shot a spell at their door blasting it apart. Harry whipped his wand out and stunned him.
'JUST RUN!' Harry shouted and they peeled down the stairs he aimed another stunner at an oncoming death eaters knocking them down, he leaped over the body and the other two followed him, they rushed out the back door into the night, where tables had been set on fire.
Many were fighting the death eaters including the Weasley twins and Lupin.
'Harry, Hermione, Ron, what are you doing! We need to hide you!' Remus shouted dodging a curse. But as he turned another death eater screamed, 'IMPEDIMENTA!' pointing his wand at Lupin, it hit Remus and he was knocking backwards, Harry rushed forward to help with Hermione and Ron following, Hermione quickly revived Remus but as she did Harry looked up as spotted the death eater aim, 'Let's get out!' he shouted blocking the curse and as more death eaters rushed, and closed in on them.
'Grab on to my arm!' Hermione moaned and Harry did. He felt the squeezing feeling of her apparation and the battle zone disappeared before him.
'Where are we?' Ron grumbled. Everything was dark until Hermione muttered, 'Lumos.' And her wand tip lit up. Ron and Harry did the same and they took in the surroundings.
'Where are we?' Ron asked again and Harry said, 'We're in Grimmauld Place aren't we?'
'Yes,' Hermione said tentatively, 'It was the first place I thought. I had heard from Remus earlier that most of the spells are broken except a few protections the Order put on to keep Snape out. It wont last long though.'
'Alright then, what now?' Ron asked.
'We need to figure out where to look first.' Harry said.
'We keep saying that but we never have any answers!' Hermione said angrily leaping up. She walked out of the room they were in, which turned out to be the kitchen, and wandered through the house, Harry walked about as well with Ron next to him allowing her to blow off some steam.
'This place still scares the crap out of me.' Ron said. Harry nodded, in fact for him, the house reminded Harry of the loss of Sirius. He then tried to push the thoughts away and took to staring at the odd assortment of dark objects locked in cabinets.
'Where are you Hermione?' Ron asked, 'In the drawing room.' She called back. They moved to the drawing room with patches of dust lifting from their feet. They found her sitting on the loveseat with tears in her eyes.
'What a wonderful end to the wedding.' She said thickly, Ron quickly dipped next to her and put his arm around her. She laid her head against his shoulder and cried earnestly.
'I hope everyone got out alright. What a crazy night, first the ministry then out home.' Ron said.
'We should let them know we're safe.' Harry said.
'But how?' Ron asked.
'How about a patronus?' Hermione said finally coming around. She sniffed and nodded towards Harry inclining him to do it. He raised his wand and said clearly, 'Expecto Patronum!'
A silver stag burst from his wand tip and cantered about the area. It gently landed before him and Harry murmured to it face, 'Find Ron's family…let them know we're safe.' He said awkwardly. The stag stared at him. Finally Hermione said, 'I think you need to give it something to say.'
'We're safe. Ron, Hermione and I are safe.' Harry said loudly and the stag nodded. It soared through the walls and disappeared leaving them in silence.
'Now what?' Ron said. His stomach growled loudly and Harry said, 'Let's go get some food.' And they left Hermione for the kitchen. They entered and searched the pantry for food goods. They found cans of soup and jam and brought it with them back into the drawing room.
'There isn't much.' Harry said.
'It will do.' Hermione said taking a spoon from Ron and opening the jam jar. They dug in and munched away taking in their situation.
'So any ideas?' Ron asked again, the same questions came into their minds and Harry found no way of answering them. So he took to walking about staring at the walls and finally taking a seat again where Hermione was. Hermione herself had also stood and was reading the tapestry showcasing the family tree of the Black family.
'Harry!' she suddenly gasped.
'What?' he asked.
'Harry come here and look!' she cried eagerly, he and Ron moved swiftly standing and moving to where she was, she then pointed to a name on the tapestry. The name jumped out at him Harry and suddenly he realized what it said.