Chapter 12 – The Magical Marquee

Harry yelped and rushed to the mirror. To his relief, his hair was still jet-black and looking normal. To his interest, however, he noticed that when he turned his head in the light, a shining red and gold Gryffindor lion now shimmered across the top of his head, and the tips of his spiked up fringe sparkled gold.

'Flashy!' exclaimed Ron when he saw, then looked towards Crookshanks, and grinned. 'Um, Harry, I don't think that hair gel is supposed to work on cats!'

'Umm, maybe not!' agreed Harry, and the two boys burst out laughing. Recovering, they noticed that it was a quarter past eleven.

'Oops!' cried Ron. He was still in jeans though had his smart light blue shirt on, and needed to brush his hair.

'Maybe if I look handsome Hermione will like me again!' he commented hopefully, putting a pair of black trousers on.

'Of course she will!' reassured Harry. 'No need, she already loves you! Tell her how you feel and she'll be the happiest woman ever!' He knew better than to voice this thought to Ron though, as it would only depress him. His best friend was determined to believe that Hermione loves Krum, and nothing Harry could say seemed to change his opinion.

Ron put on his dress robes to complete the outfit, but after admiring himself in the mirror, frowned. Picking up a comb he brushed it through his hair, then smiled appreciatively.

'Ready Ron?' asked Harry from beside the door, all dressed up in new silky dark green dress robes.

'Ready,' concluded Ron.

They entered the kitchen to find Charlie waiting for them, adorned in dark turquoise dress robes, his longish hair styled with gel - and shimmering with many small, dancing dragons.

Upon seeing Harry he grinned and asked, 'Weasleys Wicked Hair Gel? Great stuff, isn't it?'

Harry nodded in reply, muttering quietly so Charlie couldn't hear, ' yes, unless you're a cat!'

'Bill said I should take you to the tent; make sure you're ready and such,' explained Charlie.

Ron looked indignant. 'We're old enough to make our own way over to the tent!' he protested.

'Ah, yes, but you might get lost inside it little bro!' the older Weasley answered, then smiled. 'Come on, let's go!'

Charlie opened the flap to the marquee and disappeared inside. Harry followed after him and gasped. They were standing in a great marble hallway, lighted by crystal chandeliers. Bunches of flowers were in vases around the walls, and gold glitter was falling from the ceiling, disappearing into nothing a couple of meters above the floor. On the left side of the hallway were two arched doorways, and on the right, three. At the far end was a grand staircase sweeping up to a second floor, covered by a thick red carpet. 'So that's where all the guests slept last night,' thought Harry. The supposed 'marquee' was a miniature palace!

'Amazing, isn't it?' stated Charlie to the gawping faces of Harry and Ron, who nodded in agreement, speechless.

'Wow!' Harry finally managed to voice.

Charlie grinned. 'Fleur was determined to have the best for her and 'dear' Bill! We haven't got time for a tour now, but basically, there's the ceremony room and the dining room on the left, and on the right, the ballroom, ornamental garden, and a bathroom. Upstairs are the bedrooms, seven of them, each with en suite bathrooms! The wedding's held in the Ceremony Room, we should go there now.'

He led the way to the first door on the left, which opened automatically, and the three stepped inside.

The Ceremony Room was large and spacious with glass walls and a beautifully decorated domed ceiling. Down the middle of the room was an isle, leading to a raised platform upon which a throne like chair stood. Many seats were in rows on either side of the isle, with gold, pink, silver and blue flowers creating a border along the outer edge. The view outside had been magiced so that the rough green field appeared to be a large sunny garden, shining warm golden rays into the room.

Charlie led Harry and Ron to the front seats on the left side of the platform where Fred, George and Mr and Mrs Weasley already sat. On the right hand side was Fleur's family; her mother, father, aunt, two cousins, and older brother. Mrs Weasley beamed at the three.

'You look lovely dears!' she complimented as they sat down behind her, then exclaimed, 'isn't all this wonderful! I can't believe my first child is getting married!'

Fred turned to face Harry. 'Hair gel worked a trick then! I don't think I've ever seen your hair so neat, and the Gryffindor lion was a great touch! What d'you think Forge?'

His twin studied Harry intently, pretending to be surprised. 'I do believe you're right, Gred!'

They both chuckled. 'Told you it wasn't a joke Harry,' said Fred.

'I know! Sorry guys, but I had to be cautious…'

'Course you did! Would have thought you an idiot if you weren't. But as long as you're not an animal the hair gel works fine!'

Harry felt his cheeks grow warm, the memory of Crookshank's green stripe coming guiltily to mind. He smiled. 'Well thanks for the help guys, it's amazing stuff! very artistic! Congratulations on another great product.'

'Thank you Harry,' answered George, modestly.

'Your praises are too much!' said Fred, sniffing loudly and pretending to be overcome with emotion.

Harry looked around the room. The chairs were beginning to fill up. Madame Maxime and Hagrid had been already seated when they entered, along with three French girls who were apparently friends of Fleur, and Professor McGonagall who was sitting at the back with Remus, Tonks, Kingsley and Moody. However, more people were now arriving. Fred and George's friends Angelina, Lee and Alicia hailed them loudly as they sat down behind the Weasley family. Luna and Neville shortly joined them; Luna wearing a strange blood red dress and an elaborate woolly beret, which could only work on her, she actually looked quite pretty!

There were also lots of people Harry didn't know. He gathered that they must be friends of Bill and Charlie, either from school or from their work. He knew that Charlie worked in Romania a lot, and there was a group of people with long, dark, hair and brown skin sitting near the door.

By five to twelve the room was full, the guests talking excitedly about the wonderful palace-marquee that Fleur's parents had managed to acquire. Ron started fidgeting beside Harry, looking round the room constantly. 'Where is she?' he kept muttering. Harry knew he was talking about Hermione; she should have been sitting beside them by now. He hadn't seen Ginny either, but knew that she was a bridesmaid so would be entering with Fleur.

'Ron, you're pushing me off my chair!'

'Oh, sorry mate!' he said, grinning, then looked worried. 'Do you reckon we should go and find Hermione?'

'Nah, stop worrying, I'm sure she'll be here soon.'

'Ssssh!' hissed Mrs Weasley.

The room went quiet as the door opened and Rufus Scrimgeor, the Minister for Magic, appeared wearing a black suit and top hat. He strode down the isle, followed by two grim faced aurors. They reached the front, and the aurors sat on plain chairs either side of the platform, the Minister taking his place on the throne like chair on top.

'Welcome,' he called, his voice magically magnified and echoing through the room, 'to Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacure's wedding!'

Everyone stood up, clapping and cheering.

The Minister waved his wand, the noise falling silent, and wedding music started to play. The door opened once more to reveal a smiling Bill, with Fleur on his arm, smiling shyly. The audience gasped. She looked beautiful! Her dress was white, floaty, and delicately laced, with a full long skirt which trailed out behind her. She wore a veil over her silvery hair, which was hanging loose, and a tiara of the same blue, silver, pink and gold flowers that decorated the room.

The handsome couple started to walk down the isle. Behind them paraded two pretty French girls, closely followed by two beautiful young women.

'Who are they?' whispered Ron.

'I dunno, where's Ginny?' answered Harry.

The four were wearing silver, pink, gold and blue dresses, which matched the colour scheme perfectly. As the procession neared the Weasley's, Harry and Ron's eyes widened, and their mouths dropped open in surprise.

The two stunning women walking at the back behind Gabrielle and her cousin, who had seemed unrecognisable up till now, were none other than Ginny Weasley and Hermione Granger!

A/N I really hope you like it! please review, i need to know what you think!

Rose :-)