DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything affiliated with Harry Potter. Only Payton.
A/N: If you wish to see the dress that was mentioned before then you can message me and I will send you the link. Thanks!
"If everyone could remain standing," came a voice over all the clapping. The chairs that everyone was sitting on moved from their places and stacked themselves against the walls of the tent as a gold pool of liquid came from the center of the grass and spread out making a hard surface that glittered. The sides of the tents disappeared revealing a beautiful view of the orchard and the sun gave off shadows that made the floor sparkle. Tables with white table cloths lines the sides of the tents and the chairs lowered themselves back down near the tables. Everyone began to disperse and make their way to the couple and find seats.
"Come on," George said pulling Payton by the hand towards Bill and Fleur. George cut off a line of people, much to their dismay. "Congratulations!" followed by hugs for the happy couple were exchanged. Fleur looked even more beautiful up close and actually made Payton feel a pang of jealousy. They excused themselves before the line behind them pulled out pitchforks.
"Hey mate!" came a male voice from behind them as George almost fell forward. Payton looked to see a man, Georges height and age with an arm around his neck. George let out a laugh and turned around to exchange a hug. "How have you been?" he asked.
"Good, good," George said grabbing Paytons hand again and pulling her into a side hug. "Payton this is my mate Lee. Lee this is Payton. Lee and I went to Hogwarts together." Payton took his hand and shook it with a smile.
"It's nice to meet you," she said. The three of them began to make their way over to a table and sat down. Fred soon joined and an enthusiastic conversation began between the three of them as they told stories of the old days when school used to try and control them. It was a good twenty minutes before the floor was cleared and the couple took their first dance. She didn't think that Bill would have been a good dancer but he twirled her around with much skill. Payton rested an elbow on the table and let herself smile as she watched them twirl around. She saw Mr. Weasley take Mrs. Delacour by the hand and Mrs. Weasley was escorted up by Mr. Delacour. George placed an arm around Payton and kissed her on the cheek. She looked around to see all the couples at the tables sitting a bit closer. It was a day for love.
"Well it's been lovely chatting with you all," Fred said standing up. "But there are some cousins of Fleur over there who look like they could use a translator." With a wink he was gone.
Couples began to make their way onto the dance floor and soon it was almost full. "Hey," Lee said standing up as well. "I think I'm going to ask Ginny to dance, do you mind?"
George just smiled and shook his head. He leaned into Payton, "Would you like to dance?" Payton nodded and beamed as he pulled her onto the dance floor. "I have to warn you," he said. "I am not much of a dancer."
"I'm sure you're fine," Payton said. Not a moment later George managed to step on her feet.
"Told you," he offered.
"My feet are so much smaller than yours, what are the odds that you will do it again?" she said with a laugh. The odds were good. He managed to step on her feet four more times, but it didn't matter, she would trade this moment. After two more dances they made their way back to the table, where they were shortly joined by Aunt Muriel.
"Just remember to breathe," George whispered taking a sip of his drink.
"Why?" Payton was about to ask as she looked up to see Aunt Muriel settling into the seat across the table from them.
"Ahh," she groaned. "Too many people in this tent," she complained as she began to fan herself with a napkin. "Now which one are you?" she asked adjusting her glasses and eyeing George closely.
"George," he answered forcing a smile.
"Right," she said. "The one who needs to even his ears." Payton almost spit her drink all over the table.
"Auntie Muriel was kind as to inform me that my ears were lopsided before," George said to Payton raising his eyebrows.
"Ahhh," Payton said nodding slowly to join George.
"And what is your name again," she said pointing a finger at Payton.
"Payton," she responded forcing a bright smile.
"American?" she asked looking down her nose.
"Yes, ma'am," Payton said placing her glass down.
"What is it with you Weasley boys and girls from other countries," Aunt Muriel said shaking her head. "What is wrong with the proper girls around here?" Payton was beginning to feel uncomfortable and was shifting in her seat.
"What?" George yelled. "Yeah I'll be right there," he hollered to no one at the other side of the tent. "Come on," he said standing up and grabbing Payton's hand. "Excuse us Auntie Muriel." Payton could not have been happier to get away from that woman.
They were now on the other side of the tent where Bill and Fleur were heading to cut their wedding cake. "Thank god," Payton said leaning her head on Georges arm. "One more minute and I didn't know what I would do." George laughed and wrapped his arms around her as he stood behind her.
"I told you she wasn't all there," he said. Champagne bottles floated by them, filling glasses for the toasting. Bill and Fleur cut into the cake as the two phoenix's on top came to life and flew up into the sky. Shortly after everyone was back on the dance floor, including Payton and George. Everyone was laughing and having a good time, it was like the whole day was moving in slow motion, until everything came crashing down.
A silver lynx gracefully landed in the middle of the dance floor and all the music stopped. People froze where they were in mid dance and held their breaths. "The ministry has fallen. Scrimgeor is dead. They are coming" (DH 159) The voice was that of Kingsley Shacklebolt even Payton knew that. That was when chaos descended.
Everyone stood there in silence, not breathing and knowing what to do. Then there was a shrill scream that sent shivers down Paytons spine and she pressed herself closer into George. He held her close as he looked around panicked as if waiting for instructions. People where beginning to disappear into thin air.
"The charms have been broken!" came the call of Mr. Weasley over the heads of the people running around. Cloaked and masked figures began to appear and start shoving people out of their way. It was clear they were on a mission.
"Come on!" called George as he began to pull her. He rushed her to the only clear exit that led into The Burrow. He ran with her up the stairs, she was tripping in her heels but he wouldn't let her take them off. He made his way into his old room and opened the closet. After moving over some boxes it revealed a small panel which he slid open. "Go," he said beginning to lift her. She shoved herself through the small hole into the dark attic. She looked down at him and held out her hand. He just shook his head.
"I have to go help," he said look up at her in panic. "Don't come down, no matter what. I will come for you." With that he was closed the panel and was gone. She didn't even have time to protest. She sat in the corner of the attic listening to the screams and bangs from the back yard. There was ghoul in the corner that looked like Ron in pajamas. It looked nervous as well and was shaking in the other corner. Payton had no idea how long she was up there but soon she heard footsteps coming up the stairs and things being thrown around.
Soon they were in the room below her. She held her breath. Silent tears rolled down her face, she was terrified. Then there was silence. The panel flew off with an explosion that knocked her back and she was grabbed by the ankle and pulled down violently.
"Bring her down stairs with the others," called a high pitched females voice from behind her mask. The man who had Payton by the nape of her neck began to drag her down the stairs. Payton let out a scream of pain as she banged her ribs into a banister. The next thing she knew she was thrown on the floor, face down. From the carpet she knew she was in the living room.
"No!" George called. Payton was being pulled to her feet and held from behind by another man. She turned her head to see the Weasleys and the Delacours in full body bind curses sitting in chairs. They all look roughed up, with cuts and ripped clothes. Even Fleurs wedding dress was torn.
"Now," said a man with a silky voice from behind his mask. He slowly moved her hair out of her face and rubbed his hand on her cheek. She heard George emit a low grumble. "Where is Harry Potter?"
Payton looked at the group and noticed that Harry, Ron and Hermione were all missing. "I," she started. "I don't know." The man smacked her across the face and she tasted blood.
"Don't lie to me," he yelled in her face. She began to cry. He threw her to the ground and got low so that he was in her face. "Now," he began.
"Is she the one that lives with the twins?" came a new voice. The man who was in Paytons face asked the question again as he grabbed her hair.
"I just came back from there," said the new voice. "There is a girl who lives there as well." Payton just nodded her head. "Put her on surveillance too," said the man who was in her face. He threw her head to the ground and Payton went unconscious.
When Payton came too she was on the couch in The Burrow and there were hushed whispers coming from the kitchen. Payton sat up grabbing her head. Mrs. Weasley came rushing in. "Oh, thank goodness," she said oushing Payton back down and the others made their way into the room. George rushed over but didn't grab her. He just stared at her and covered his mouth looking away.
"Well I can't look worse then you did," she joked to him. He didn't laugh, he just looked away. She heard Mr. Weasley speaking to a silver weasel on the far end of the living room. "Family safe, do not reply, we are being watched." (DH 173) So then it began. The downward spiral even Payton didn't see coming. The twins had decided that it didn't matter where they stayed if they were being watched so they made their way back to the flat with Payton. Fred went into this room shortly after saying he had to work on something.
"I think I am just going to bed," Payton said rubbing her head as she stood on her toes to kiss George. He just stared at her.
"I think you need to leave," he said without emotion.
"What?" she asked with a confused look.
"You need to go, we are being watched," he continued running a hand through his hair. "Don't you get it," he pleaded. "They are going to follow you unless you go, you need to leave, go home!" He was yelling now. "I can't protect you, I couldn't tonight and you will only get hurt." She was crying now, uncontrollably. He turned off the lights and pulled her close, "Don't you get it. If you leave and we aren't together then they won't come after you. I love you," he whispered. The lights went on and he was gone. She fell to the floor not able to think.
Two weeks later and Payton was laying in a bed above the bar again on Diagon Alley. She couldn't bring herself to go home. She didn't talk to The Weasleys, she didn't talk to anyone. She rarely left the room and the ice cream shop had been closed for a week now. For all she knew George thought she left the country. She hadn't seen the Death Eaters but she didn't know if they saw her. She did everything she could to stay hidden. The blinds were never opened and Payton would have her food delivered along with the newspapers. The Death Eaters had taken over all of them. Harry's face graced the front cover every issue as Public Enemy Number One. Soon Muggle borns were in danger. They were being targeted and rounded up, taken away. It reminded Payton of what she would have learned about in muggle studies during World War II. In one issue she saw that school was now a requirement and she was sure that the Death Eaters would be doing the instruction.
Months passed and she celebrated Christmas by herself. She was sitting on her bed listening to the radio waiting for PotterWatch to come on when a familiar voice came on. For a second she thought it was George, but after a few minutes she was sure it was Fred. Fred, Lee Lupin and Kingsly had been telling the news of what was really happening. Even just hearing his voice made her burst into tears. She had been waiting for the day when George would realize that she was still here, but she knew that wouldn't happen, she had done a good job of keeping herself hidden.
A month after that PotterWatch program she had packed her backpack and was standing looking at her bed. She was going back to the states. She couldn't wait around for him anymore. She had no reason to. He had thought he was doing a good thing by letting her go but it had killed her inside. She never saw herself as dependent until she didn't have him anymore.
There was a commotion outside and Payton moved the curtain aside, there were Death Eaters popping up everywhere. She saw some of them heading into the bar and she threw on her backpack and tried to figure out how to make it to the fireplace down stairs just then her door flew open and she turned around hand ready.
However, she couldn't say anything, her breath was caught in her chest. George stood there looking ruffled. It took everything inside of her not to run over and hit him, and kiss him at the same time. Then once again the world seemed to move in slow motion. He turned around and she caught a glimpse of a black hooded figure coming around the corner to her room. He ran towards her.
"Payton!" he called as he threw himself at her and everything whooshed past her . She clung to him as once again she was being pulled in every direction.