The weather conditions were perfect for Quidditch. Sunny, a slight breeze, with just enough clouds to keep the light out of everyone's eyes. The temperature was mild for summer, which always made wearing the many layers of padding more bearable. Ron had found Krum a broom to borrow from the Weasley stock, deciding it was probably the best of the bunch, though he himself had borrowed Ginny's for the day, which was actually the best. There weren't really enough people to play full teams, but they could make do. Ron and Bill would be keepers, George (who could no longer bear to play beater without his twin) played chaser against Percy. Percy, who never quite loved Quidditch as much as his other family members, frequently asked for reminders on the rules. Harry said he'd try his hand as a beater, wanting to see Krum and Charlie as seekers, since they were arguably the best besides him. Neville decided he'd be the least nervous as a chaser and wanted nothing to do with beating. He asked Ron if he could carry a beater's bat anyway, not to send bludgers at the opposing team, but merely to fend them off. Ron clapped him on the back and said he was sure Neville wouldn't need it. Arthur himself decided to play beater as well as Seamus who'd shown up late. Dr. Granger came along to watch, feeling quite enlivened at the prospect of watching the wizarding sport he'd heard so much about. Ron was the captain, as the event was meant to celebrate him, and he delegated as fairly as he could with the range of talent he had available.

"I think I've gotten a handle on the rules," commented Dr. Granger from a muggle lawn chair. He spoke to Neville, who'd decided to stop playing after nearly crashing into a tree. Neville had grown in many ways since his days at Hogwarts, but he still maintained that he was better with his feet on the ground. He said he didn't want to risk getting his face injured before the wedding day.

"You don't need a groomsman with a broken face," he'd said. And before Ron or anyone else could convince him they'd fix any injuries, he'd gone to sit with Dr. Granger.

"You might have a better handle on them than Percy," George said, smiling down from his broom.

"Shut it,"

"Oooh, Perce, don't get cross, now."

"It is rather fascinating," said Dr. Granger. "That sulky fellow is quite good, isn't he?" he nodded towards Viktor.

"He plays Quidditch for a living. He's a professional athlete, the equivalent of say, David Beckham in football, a household name," Charlie said, who was hovering near them.

"I didn't know you lot knew anything about muggle sports."

"A fair bit. I've followed it some in my travels."

"And this was the fellow, Hermione used to see, eh?" Dr. Granger said, shaking his head and leaning closer into Charlie and Neville. "He seems a bit serious."

"That's putting it mildly," admitted Neville. "Nice bloke, but...hard."

"It's harsher in Bulgaria," Charlie told them before catching a glimpse of the snitch and racing off.

"Well, it was kind of Hermione to invite him to the wedding. I know they've kept in touch, however rarely. She always spoke quite highly of his intelligence and passion. That certainly shows out here on the pitch."

"It was kinder of Ron to include him in this," said George coming down from his broom for a sip of water. Everyone was now taking a break, Charlie having caught the snitch and ending the game. "He was no Krum fan back in the day. Or rather, he was the biggest Krum fan until he asked out Hermione."

Dr. Granger chuckled good-naturedly.

"It seemed to have worked out for him, though, in the end. Ah, to be young. I certainly remember my days as a schoolboy... I was foolhardy and headstrong and I bored many a young woman with facts and figures. It took meeting Jean, who could actually put up with all that, to set me right."

"That seems the way of it," Bill said. "I never expected someone like Fleur to go for me, but she did."

"Neither did we, big brother," teased George.

"Ron's helped my Hermione become her best self," Dr. Granger continued, sentimentally. "That's what a spouse does."

Neville could swear he saw tears forming in the corners of the dentist's eyes, but he was more interested in what he saw across the soft grass. Viktor and Ron had both come off their brooms and were talking together, quite close. Neither looked angry and they didn't seem on the verge of any kind of fight. But they did look deep in conversation, or at least like they didn't want to be interrupted. Any threat of confrontation always made Neville uncomfortable. No one else seemed to notice.

"Hermione is fiercely loyal, and those she considers her closest friends will always remain so, whether or not they communicate regularly. I believe she thinks of Viktor as a true friend, someone who got to know a side of her that nobody else did, at least at the time. I think that meant a lot her, and she'll never forget it," Dr. Granger spoke, almost to himself. George had to admit that what he said made sense. George always felt that of the Weasleys, besides Ron of course, and Ginny, that he (and Fred) knew her best. They'd tormented her for her smarts and reservedness many times, as they had with Percy, but they always thought she was a special girl, and in particular had enjoyed watching her relationship with their youngest brother grow. He'd come home in the early days, irritated with her, and they wisely knew that his complaints were merely reasons to mention her at all. George admired Ron greatly for how much he'd matured not only through his school years, but how he'd really come into his own after the war. Even as the youngest boy, Ron had taken a lead in the family when Fred had died. He (with Hermione's help, and Harry's as well) had become the glue that held the family together. He'd taken charge in many ways, making sure things got done around the house when people didn't feel like getting out of bed. The three of them had cooked meals, tended the garden, cleaned, and tried to go about life normally. They'd shared their experiences hunting Horcruxes, holding nothing back, Ron even admitting his moment of darkness in leaving them. Because Hermione and Harry had forgiven him, so did the rest of the Weasleys. They were mostly disgusted at the idea behind the locket rather than angry with Ron. Bill had told them how bad Ron had felt when he showed up at Shell Cottage. And of course, Ron had stepped right up and offered to help George with the shop, despite being offered a place in Auror training, a career he'd dreamed of his whole life, and one he'd never expected to be in his grasp. This move had floored George. He knew that Ron had always felt a bit left-out, overshadowed, and dismissible. He knew that Ron had always desired recognition, and now that he deserved it for his heroism, it seemed the farthest thing from his mind. George admired Hermione as well, for carrying on, helping their family while she pined for her own and planned the way to get back to them. She'd done all this while studying and preparing for her seventh year at Hogwarts. George was brought out of his reverie by a loud thunderclap above them.

"Well that was sudden!" Bill said, staring at the sky. Sure enough, a dark cloud had rolled in, looking quite ominous.

"Shall we head back?" asked Ron. He and Krum had emerged from their private discussion. "I hate to cut this short," he said looking glum.

"Let's just put up protective enchantments," suggested Charlie. "We can enjoy the storm with quite a view. Hope it passes."

"Alright," said Ron.

"We'll do them, mate," said Neville rising from his chair. Percy and Charlie joined him and created a bubble around them as the rain began pounding down.