chapter 7.
The three of them packed quickly and travelled with the aid of the Knight bus to get to the village of Ottery St Catchpole which was the nearest village to The Burrow, Ron's home.
As they walked the dusty street through the quaint little village, the three of them kept up a steady stream of excited banter, each as excited as the other to be heading back to the wizarding world.
"Did you send a note to your parents saying we were coming early?" Harry asked casually, adjusting his heavy backpack that had been trying to slide off his shoulder.
"Nah." Ron said. "Mum'll be all over the place trying to organise food and flowers for the wedding. I figured we'd just turn up, and hopefully not add to the pressure she's under."
"I thought your mum would love to plan a wedding?" Hermione said.
Ron shrugged. "I guess its just the first of us to get married off." he said. "Ginny wrote me last week, saying how stressed mum had been looking recently. I suspect she's trying to impress the Delacour's, they have higher expectations than we have, having a big house in France and all."
Hermione smiled slightly. "But what can be more pleasant than having a wedding in a quaint little place like the Burrow?" she asked. "The orchard is beautiful, and a small outdoor wedding would be so perfect… What?" she asked, turning to look at Ron and Harry who had stopped and was staring at her.
"You've actually been thinking about things like that?" Ron asked, his face pale.
"Well, yeah." Hermione said, seemingly unembarrassed by his question. "The war won't be around forever, and I am planning to get married one day, Ronald Weasley!"
Harry snorted as she turned again and continued waking down the road. He put down Hedwig's empty cage - he had let her loose as soon as they had gotten off the Knight bus - and gently placed a hand on Ron's shoulder.
"She's planning on getting married at your house, Ron." he said gently, a large ball of laughter forming in his chest. "I guess that means she'll be marrying a Weasley!"
"But…" Ron shook his head slightly. "You haven't told her anything?" he asked quietly as Hermione moved out of earshot, his eyes searching Harry's urgently.
"About what?" Harry asked, with an innocent smile. "Whenever I bring up the topic of you and Hermione, you just turn red and try and run away!"
Ron started rubbing his neck, a sure sign of his nervousness. "Yeah, well, I assumed, what with you being my best mate and all…"
Harry grinned, unable to contain his amusement anymore.
"Of course I noticed, you dimwit." he said. "Its hard to spend a month in the same room as you two and not notice you flinching every time she touches you, and the dreamy eyes, and the staring into space, and yes, I think she suspects you like her as well."
"So…"
"So what?"
Ron started pushing at a stone with the toe of his boot.
"What do I do now?"
Harry laughed again, and picked up his empty cage.
"I say we catch up with Hermione, who is currently waiting impatiently for us at the end of the road, and then we see what the next couple of days bring."
At Ron's blank and panicked stare, explained. "We're going to a wedding, Ron." he said. "There will be more than a couple of opportunities for you to talk to her, ask her to dance…"
"Dance?" Ron croaked as Harry walked away. "What do you mean dance?"
Harry just shook his head, and smiled at his female friend as he caught up with her. At her raised eyebrow he just shrugged and looked over his shoulder to where Ron was walking up to them.
"I think you've forgotten something, Ronald." Hermione said with a smile, and Ron spun to see Pig's cage left in the middle of the road, his small owl fluttering from corner to corner, impatiently hooting at being left behind.
Both Harry and Hermione laughed as Ron dropped the end of his trunk to rush back and pick up the cage, his ears red as he once more caught up with them.
"Just leave it." he muttered as he stormed past them, causing them both to grin again.
Minutes later found them walking up the dirt track to the Burrow, and the first glimpse of the rickety old house that looked as if it would fall down at any moment made Harry so happy he felt he could produce a patronus that could take on all the dementors in Azkaban.
They strode up the path, sending a couple of garden gnomes skittering into the bushes, that looked remarkably neat and pruned compared to the Burrow's usual standards.
Ron, however, was frowning as walked up the path.
"Something wrong?" Hermione asked.
Ron shrugged. "I just figured that mum would've gotten rid of all the gnomes by now in preparation for the wedding." he said. "I can't imagine how embarrassed she would feel if one ran out between the minister's legs during the ceremony."
"But can you imagine how funny that would be, Fred?" a familiar voice said.
"Indeed I could, George." came the reply, and the trio turned to see the twins walking up behind them, hovering a number of cardboard packages in front of them with their wands.
"How are you all?" George asked as they came nearer. "Ginny said you weren't coming back until tomorrow."
"A slight accident caused us to split early" Harry said with a grin. "I didn't think it would be wise to see the Dursley's reactions to their new décor!"
The twins grinned identically. "Glad to see we could help!" Fred said.
"What have you got there?" Ron asked, "I thought you would be working in your shop today."
George shook his head. "We have Lee keeping an eye on the place for an hour or so, just so we could drop these off."
"They're our robes for the wedding." Fred added. "Mum didn't have time to go pick them up herself, and when we offered she insisted that we bring them up early, so that she can check for any spells or tricks before the wedding."
"It's almost as if she doesn't trust us, Fred!"
"It breaks my heart to think that, George, but I think you may be right."
"And have you tricked any of the robes?" Hermione asked.
Fred and George both clutched their chests, as if insulted by the question.
"Actually, no" George said seriously.
"Bill made us swear not to spoil the "magical moment" as he put it." Fred explained.
"And what with his injuries and all, we figured we'd respect that." George continued.
"Though I wouldn't eat any of the cake." Fred said in a conspiring whisper and wink. "We're picking that up from the shop tomorrow!"
Harry laughed and looked up at the kitchen door to the Burrow as it opened to reveal the Weasley matriarch standing there.
"Fred, George? Is that you? What… oh my, what are you three doing here? Is everything okay?"
She rushed from the house to grab her youngest son by the shoulders, shaking him slightly as she checked him for any injuries or ailments.
"We're fine, mum." Ron insisted, as she moved onto Harry, going as far as turning his head to check behind his ears. "We just got sick of the Dursley's and figured you'd need some help with the wedding preparations, so headed home early."
"Well, that's very kind of you dears, but everything is already set up." she quickly gave Hermione a hug and started bustling them into the house. "Lunch is nearly ready, Ginny was just helping to make some sandwiches."
Harry's heart skipped a little at the knowledge that he would see the youngest Weasley again, though he felt anxious as to how she would respond to his presence, the last time he had seen her was on the Hogwart's Express, merely hours after he broken their relationship off for fear of her safety.
The kitchen already seemed full when the newcomers entered the Burrow. Harry was greeted by Bill, Ron's eldest brother who bore ugly scars across his face from where he had been attacked by a werewolf earlier that year. He also shook hands with Ron's father, and had a small smile from Ginny that made his heart flutter before she turned back to the pile of sandwiches she was making on the counter.
"Did you say that everything was already set up for the wedding?" Ron asked once they were all settled. "I didn't see any of the decorations in the orchard as we came in."
"Oh no, dear." Molly Weasley said as she put a jug of fresh pumpkin juice on the table and started passing out plates. "We aren't holding the wedding here."
"We aren't?" Ron asked.
"McGonagall has given us permission to set up the marquee in the grounds at Hogwarts" Bill explain. "Bit of a last minute change of plans but it all seems to have worked out nicely."
"Why would you hold the wedding at Hogwarts?" Harry asked, a dead weight in his stomach fearing the answer that he was going to hear.
"There aren't many people foolish enough to publicly announce a large gathering of people in times like these." Arthur replied, helping himself to a handful of sandwiches. "Especially a group that contains so many people that are openly opposed to You-Know-Who and what he does. Even without Dumbledore, Hogwarts still remains the safest place in wizarding Britain."
"Not to mention that it would be a beautiful backdrop for the wedding." Bill added. "Fleur's family seemed so excited about visiting the school, and would make the day even more special for those of us who think of it like a second home."
Harry jumped a little as he felt something touch his hand and turned to see Ginny taking a seat next to him. "Don't for one moment think this was because of you." she said with a small smile. "You aren't that special!"
Harry smiled a little in return, pleased that she wasn't ignoring him, yet finding it difficult to resist gathering her in his arms and telling her how much he missed her.
"How have you all been this summer?" she continued to ask. "I didn't get many letters from you."
Harry sent her an apologetic look, anxiously aware of the not-so-subtle glances the rest of the table was sending their way.
"I just figured you wouldn't want to talk to me, after… well, after what happened last year."
Ginny raised an eyebrow, and shook her head with a sad smile on her face. "Nothing changes, Harry." she said quietly. "Just because you have other things on your mind, doesn't mean I do."
Harry glanced around the table again, causing a couple of heads to turn abruptly to look in another direction.
He gently took hold of Ginny's fingers, and gently tugged on her hand, causing her to stand from her seat.
"Excuse us a few moments." he muttered, walking to the front door.
"What about dinner?" Ron called, but was quickly shushed by his mother as Ginny and Harry walked out.
They walked in silence to the bottom of the garden, where Harry turned to Ginny in the cool shadow of a tall tree.
"I'm so sorry, Ginny." he started. "I really didn't want to do break up with you, and in a way I still don't. There hasn't been a day this summer when I haven't thought about you. But you see why I had to break up, don't you? You understand why?"
Ginny nodded, her eyes glistening brightly. "I understand." she said. "But you need to hear and understand something about me, Harry. About who I am.
"I am part of an old Wizarding family, a large family, one that has always looked out for one another. Because of that we've always made it our duty to look out for others as well, to defend those who aren't able to look after themselves, to care and reach out the hand of friendship to those who maybe not so fortunate as to have a family as close as ourselves.
"We've never held back when it comes to our views on You-Know-Who. Our whole family is, or is soon to become, part of the Order, and He knows it. If He had a chance, he'd obliterate us all, starting with the weakest link of the family.
"That is me, Harry." she said. "I'm the youngest, and a girl, and was the one targeted by Malfoy when he planted that diary. I just know that if he had a mind to it, He-who-must-not-be-named will target me to attempt to make my family stop being such an obstacle. We're such a solid defence against his spread of fear that he'd take any opportunity to break that.
"Because of that, I want to tell you to forget about protecting me. If I'm targeted by any of his followers, its not going to be because I'm associated with you, but because the Weasley family as a whole are a large threat to him. And if he does come after us, he'll learn that the love of a family like ours is not one to be taken lightly.
"Harry, what I'm trying to say is this. He probably already knows how much you care for me and my family, you're best friends with Ron which is no secret and have spent several summers and Christmas's with us. Don't push us away. Join the family, and enjoy the moments that we do have together, especially over the next couple of days. We're stronger when we're together, and we'll fight whatever follows. As a family."
She stood still after her speech, her chest heaving slightly as she stared breathlessly into Harry's face, trying to meet his gaze to see what emotions could be read in his emerald eyes.
When he didn't make any effort to communicate, she sighed, one tear falling down her cheek as she turned to walk away. "I'll always be here, Harry." she said. "But even you deserve some sort of happiness in your life. What else is there to fight for?"
Harry watched out of the corner of his eye as she started back up towards the Burrow. His head turned to look after her as his heart threatened to burst out of his chest.
"You rehearse that?" he asked clearly but quietly, just loud enough for her to hear him across the distance she had already travelled.
Ginny stopped and turned to look back over her shoulder to see Harry smiling slightly.
She smiled a little back, turning a little more as she shrugged. "I've had a whole month of nothing more exciting than flower arranging to do." she admitted. "It's run itself through my head a couple of times."
Harry smiled openly, and quickly looked down at his feet before walking up to her.
"You really want to go out with the wizard on top of Voldemort's most wanted list?"
Ginny shrugged. "What does it matter?" she said. "You may think that you'll be the one standing in front of him when the time comes, but whatever happens, we're only half a step behind."
Harry nodded. "That's pretty much what your brother and Hermione told me." he said.
"That's what friends and family do, Harry." Ginny said softly, and Harry suddenly became aware that she had taken half a pace forward, her face turned upwards slightly towards his. "The important thing is that you never let yourself forget that."
"I don't think you'd ever let me." Harry said, his voice dropping in volume to match Ginny's before their lips met.
The happy couple walked back into the kitchen half hour later, hand in hand, to be greeted by a round of applause from Ginny's brothers.
"Your turn!" Harry muttered as he sat down next to Ron and leaned over to grab what was left of lunch.
"Sod off." Ron responded back, though Harry noticed his quick glance at Hermione when he said it.
"Molly says we'll be heading to Hogwarts tomorrow after you and Ron have taken your apparation exam at the ministry" Hermione said as Harry ate. "We can celebrate your birthday at school and be there ready for the wedding the next day."
Harry nodded. "How are we getting to the ministry?" he asked.
"We'll floo in with dad first thing." Ron said. "Get it over and done with."
"You're bound to pass this time." Hermione said reassuringly, "Think how far you've come with your magic already this summer!"
Ron shrugged. "I'll probably leave a whole hand behind this time."
"Oh, poor little Ronniekins." George said, coming up behind his brother and putting one arm around his shoulders.
"Unable to account for all his appendages." Fred continued.
"What happens if you lose something really important?" George exclaimed in mock horror.
"Sod off!" Ron said grumpily.
"As you wish, brother of ours!" Fred said.
"We have to be getting back to the shop anyhow." George continued.
"See you at Hogwarts tomorrow, Harry."
"Good luck with the test."
And with that, both twins apparated away, leaving Ron to thump his head against the thick wooden table.
"Don't take it so hard, Ron." Bill said. "It's not common knowledge, but it took Percy two times to get his license as well."
"Really?" Ginny said, "I don't remember him going back for it again."
Bill nodded. "He was able to retake it the same day." he said. "I think Pecry scared the examiner when he grabbed his cloak and started screaming in his face that he had made a mistake."
"What part did he leave behind?" Harry asked as the others laughed.
Bill shrugged. "He never would say." he mused. "It didn't take them long to put him back together again though, so couldn't have been anything too serious."
He stood up from the table and took his plate over to the sink where his mother took it off him gratefully. "If you like we could head into the garden and practise a bit."
"You'd do that?" Ron asked. "Don't you have to be meeting with Fleur or something?"
Bill shook his head. "She's staying with her parents until the wedding." he said. "Apparently its unlucky to see the bride the day before, or something like that. Sounds like old-witch superstitions if you ask me." he smiled a little as his mother swatted his head with a tea-towel. "Charlie will be meeting me at the school in the morning, and we're going to have a quick run through before checking the robes fit. Until then, I'm a free man."
"Sounds good to me." Hermione said. "Maybe we can run off some spells that we've been having difficulty learning over the summer as well? I'm sure you could help!"
"Why have you three been learning spells?" Molly asked as she cleared the rest of the table. "I hope you haven't been breaking any underage-wizarding laws?"
"No, we haven't." Hermione assured her. "It was only to keep us occupied and out of the way of Harry's relatives. Besides, Harry's the only one that was unable to perform magic, so he just practised incantations and can catch up after tomorrow."
"But that sucked." Ginny said, a little sourly.
Harry nodded. "Its not always easy being the youngest." he said with a knowing grin, and managing to get a small one back from his girlfriend.
"Do you want to head outside then?" Bill asked. "Sounds like you three have had an interesting summer."
The trio entertained Bill and Ginny for the rest of the afternoon, telling them of Harry's house, and various stories from their study afternoons, finishing up with the Paintballs and the impromptu redecorating of the Dursley's house.
It shocked Harry how much he had to say about his holiday, when normally he answered questions about his summer with one word answers. As he listened happily to Ron recount the episode where Hermione had walked in on Dudley in the shower, he realised how much he had enjoyed spending time with his two best friends, and even though much of their month together had been spent trying to find a way to defeat Voldemort, they had also shared many happy memories that he knew he would stay with him forever.