Chapter Twenty-One: Percy's Big Wedding
"I'll miss you!" Hermione exclaimed as she hugged Professor McGonagall tightly.
Now they had become closer than ever, it was amazing how silly little fights could bring people together. Then again, the whole thing with the troll that Professor Quirrel had brought in, in their first year, caused Ron and Harry to be friends with Hermione in the first place, so Hermione could see how fights worked their charms.
"I'll miss you too. Don't stay away too long darling," McGonagall replied giving Hermione one last squeeze.
Hermione waved and got into the train compartment with Cassandra, Ron, and Harry.
"I can't wait! A wedding! This is going to be so much fun, and so exciting!" Cassandra squealed as she braided Hermione's hair (who gave in reluctantly).
Ron was looking glum.
"Exciting, right..." he trailed off.
"What? Aren't you excited?" Cassandra asked shocked.
"Well, it's a wedding. It's Percy's wedding, come off of it, who wants to be at Percy's wedding?" Ron asked.
"He's got a point," Harry replied.
Hermione slapped him playfully on the shoulder.
"You promised," Hermione scolded.
"Okay, okay," Harry replied. Hermione turned to all of the as Cassandra tied her hair with a ribbon.
"None of you can be goofing off. This is a special time for Percy, all right?"
"I wouldn't goof off! I know a wedding is special, they are important!" Cassandra insisted.
"Well, that's good. The rest of you better follow our example," Hermione told them.
"We'll act responsibly. It's Fred and George you'll have to worry about," Ron said grinning.
"Oh yeah! How's there Joke Shop going?" Harry asked with great interest.
"Believe it or not, they've made a lot of money," Ron replied with a bigger grin.
"Money from those fake wands? I don't believe it," Hermione said.
"It's true," Ron told her.
"Why would someone want to buy Canary Creams?" Hermione asked, still not satisfied with the idea of having a Joke Shop.
"To play tricks on their friends. It's a riot. There are smaller versions of Fred and George everywhere that love playing tricks on their 'close ones'. It's hilarious, it is!" Ron exclaimed.
"Well, I think it's wrong," Hermione insisted.
"You sound just like Percy..." Harry teased.
"Do not!" Hermione retorted.
Their compartment door was suddenly opened, and someone very unwelcome came inside – it was Malfoy.
"Don't tell me somebody wanted you home this time Potter," he said sneering.
"For your information, your mum must never want you home. All the time you're around her, she's got that look on her face. What is that she smells? Oh yes, dung, I forgot," Harry retorted coldly.
"Lay off my mum Potter," Malfoy said.
"Why don't you make me?" said Harry.
Crabbe and Goyle appeared behind Malfoy, cracking their knuckles and grunting.
"I really can't believe that somebody wanted those two boulders home either," Ron muttered.
"Oh dear," Cassandra murmured sensing a fight.
"You want to say something Taylor?" Malfoy asked coldly.
"FYI I do. My name isn't Taylor. My name is Cassandra Nicole, Cassandra, or Cassie. So take your pick. Know what Draco? You must be too stupid to understand that. Must be why you call me Taylor all the time," Cassandra muttered.
Malfoy swore under his breath and left the compartment.
"Cassandra saves the day," Hermione teased.
"Better than the Creevy brothers, ain't it?" Cassandra replied laughing.
"Well, I dunno..." Hermione trailed off joking.
"Why I outta!" Cassandra exclaimed with a fist in the air.
"You wouldn't hurt a fly," Hermione replied.
"Too true," Cassandra said, bringing her fist down.
After a few packages of Chocolate Frogs, Hogwarts Express came to a stop and Mrs. Weasley greeted Ginny, Ron, Cassandra, Hermione, and Harry.
"Hello children," Mrs. Weasley said happily.
"Mrs. Weasley, you don't know me, I'm sure, but just so there aren't any questions – My name is Cassandra Nicole Taylor. I'm Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny's friend. I came here from the United States of America, and I'm Muggle born. I think that about does it. Oh yeah, I'm in the seventh year, and I think your daughter is the sweetest thing!"
Mrs. Weasley was a bit overwhelmed, but she took an instant liking to Cassandra.
"Well, that's wonderful. Yes, yes, Ron's told me so much about you by Owls," Mrs. Weasley said happily.
Ron turned bright red.
"Mom..." he muttered.
"Thank you so much Mrs. Weasley, for inviting us all to the wedding," Hermione said.
"The pleasure is all mine Hermione. Now why don't you all get your stuff in the cars Arthur borrowed? Then we can go back to the Burrow," Mrs. Weasley said.
They all piled their luggage into one car, and everyone sat into the next one. They quickly arrived at the Burrow. Crookshanks instantly ran after the gnomes in the grass.
"Looks like Crookshanks won't be bored," Hermione said laughing.
"Will Bill and Charlie be here?" Harry asked eagerly.
"Yes. They arrived yesterday, in fact," Mrs. Weasley replied.
"How's Charlie doing with those dragons?" Harry asked.
"Fine, and Bill still won't let me give his hair a little trim. He insists on cutting it himself, when he feels like it, that is," Mrs. Weasley said with a little frown.
"Does he still have that earring?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, yes. That's another thing, a fang, oh honestly. Sometimes I don't understand that boy..." Mrs. Weasley trailed off.
They entered the house.
"Hermione and Cassandra can put their stuff in Ginny's room. You'll be staying there, and Harry will stay with Ron. You can put your stuff up now, and then we'll have dinner," Mrs. Weasley said.
Hermione and Cassandra followed Ginny up the stairs
They dumped their trunks on the floor and rolled out sleeping bags.
Ron and Harry walked to the back yard and saw Bill, Charlie, Fred, and George swinging around on brooms. Charlie was very good, Harry could readily tell.
Bill's hair was just as long as last time, and Fred and George were a bit taller, and were in joyful spirits.
"Hullo Ron! Harry!" Bill shouted.
Charlie waved while Fred and George made faces – and then eventually waved.
"Hey!" Harry shouted.
Ron gave a feeble smile and sat down on the grass to watch.
"Ron! Harry! Go put your stuff up," Mrs. Weasley reminded gently.
They ran back into the house quickly and somehow managed to throw all their stuff into Ron's room and came back outside where the other four boys had stopped playing.
"Percy's getting married! I never thought I'd see the day," Bill said laughing.
"I know," Charlie replied.
"Are you two married?" Harry asked suddenly.
"Bill is, I'm not," Charlie said.
"Cassandra would fix you up with someone for sure," Ron said.
"Cassandra? Who's Cassandra?" Bill asked arching an eyebrow.
"Ron's girlfriend," Harry spat out.
"Oh really?" Charlie teased.
"Is she here?" Fred asked.
"Yes," Harry supplied for Ron, who was blushing like a beet.
"What about Hermione, eh Harry? Did you two ever hit it off?" George asked.
"They sure did!" Ron exclaimed.
Harry turned pink.
Fred slapped Harry on the back.
"Good job," he said.
"What about you two, eh?"
"I'm dating Angelina Johnson," Fred said.
"I'm with Katie Bell," George told them.
"Who'd you marry Bill?" Harry asked.
"A girl from Gringotts. She works with me in Africa. You'll see her soon. Her name is Chloe. She went to Beauxbatons – and no Ron – she isn't a veela, thank you very much," Bill said.
"Well, I didn't say anything," Ron muttered with a pink tinge still hot on his face.
Then Mrs. Weasley called, "Dinner!"
They all raced back into the house and helped bring tables and chairs outside.
"Arthur should be arriving any minute now with Percy. I do wonder where Penelope is," Mrs. Weasley said.
Just then Penelope popped into the room.
"Hello Mrs. Weasley. Sorry, I was just in the Ministry of Magic office, and I saw Percy and Mr. Weasley. They should be coming any time now. Do you need any help with anything?" she asked breathlessly.
Mrs. Weasley let her butter the bread as Percy and Mr. Weasley walked through the door.
"Arthur! How was your day?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"Fine, fine Molly. Did everyone get back safely?" Mr. Weasley asked with a tired look on his face.
"Yes they did, and you haven't told me everything. Has Mad-Eye Moody been up to something again?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"No, not him. Ali Bashir just tried to get some flying carpets in again. I don't know how many times I have told him to stay away from flying carpets. He just doesn't get the point! We had to erase a lot of memories. It was hard work. I'm lucky that I didn't have to work too late," Mr. Weasley muttered.
"Good evening Mum. How was your day?" Percy asked shifting his glasses.
"Very well, thank you. Put your bags down, go sit at the table. Bill! Bill! Chloe's here!" Mrs. Weasley hollered.
Bill ran to the door and let Chloe kiss him on the cheek and come in.
One by one Mrs. Weasley, Mr. Weasley, Ron, Harry, Hermione, Cassandra, Ginny, Fred, George, Percy, Penelope, Charlie, Bill, and Chloe managed to sit down at the table.
Crookshanks was licking her paw after finishing a gnome off and Pig and Hedwig were eating their food with Hermes and Errol.
"Dig in!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed as she opened the flaming pudding.
Now the Weasley's weren't poor, in fact, they were one of the richer families in the wizarding world. They weren't like the Malfoys – quite – but with Bill and Charlie having prime jobs, Fred and George having a Joke Shop that made a lot of money, Percy holding a top post at the Ministry, and the 1,000 Galleons that Harry had given them (most of it gone to starting the Joke Shop, a bit of it for Ron's new robes, and the rest gone to Ron and Ginny for school and the household), they were doing fairly well.
Everyone ate heartily, and desert was also fabulous. After dinner Bill, Chloe, Charlie, Percy, Penelope, Mrs. Weasley, and Mr. Weasley stayed outside to talk. Fred and George said they needed to go up to their rooms to work on some new jokes. Ginny, Hermione, Harry, Ron, and Cassandra went up to Ron's room (covered in Chudley Cannon stuff) and talked. It was finally one in the morning when Mrs. Weasley came up (a little bit dizzy from champagne) and told them to go to bed.
Ron and Harry left the room and the three girls fell asleep. Everyone drifted away in their dreams until –
"Wake up! Wake up! Wedding day!" Cassandra exclaimed gleefully.
"What?" Ginny asked rubbing her eyes.
"It's wedding day!" Cassandra exclaimed.
"I don't believe it," Hermione groaned, putting her pillow over her head and attempting to go back to sleep.
"I think not!" Cassandra exclaimed pulling the pillow out of Hermione's reach. She dropped it on the ground and opened the curtains so that light filled the room.
"I get the point," Ginny said grumpily as she walked out of the room.
She grabbed her towel and entered the bathroom.
"This is unbelievable? You've already showered and gotten dressed?" Hermione asked as she rolled over in her bed. "I feel like we switched places."
Cassandra shrugged her shoulders and fixed her blouse.
Hermione showered after Ginny and they were finally all dressed.
Cassandra wore a pink blouse a black skirt with a slit at the side. Hermione was wearing a full sleeved white shirt and a three-quarter skirt. Ginny was wearing a long sleeveless blue dress. They met up with Chloe downstairs who was wearing a white sleeveless dress.
"I can't wait to see Penelope! I bet she looks beautiful!" Cassandra exclaimed.
"She's wearing a dress made of pure white satin," Chloe said smiling.
"I can't wait to see how she looks!" Ginny exclaimed.
"Yeah," Hermione said with a feeble smile. She still hadn't completely woken up.
A loud thunder down the stairs brought Ron and Harry. They were both dressed in black dress robes.
They sat down and ate some toast and eggs. One by one everyone else was seated at the table (some people had to leave to make room for others). When breakfast had finally finished, they walked out to the back yard, which had magically transformed into empty field after field.
None of them had seen the bride or groom yet.
Finally Hermione, Cassandra, Chloe, and Ginny were allowed to see Penelope.
She was very nervous, putting her veil on.
"I can't believe that I'm about to be Mrs. Percy Weasley! It's so amazing, I was only in school a few years ago, and marriage is such a responsibility! I can't believe I'm even going through with this, great wizards!" Penelope exclaimed.
"Calm down, it's no big deal," Chloe insisted.
"Oh, but it is," Penelope replied with terror.
Cassandra's eyes widened.
"You look so beautiful!" she exclaimed fingering the soft satin.
"Thanks," Penelope replied shyly.
"You really do! I want to wear something as pretty as this when I get married," Ginny admitted.
"To Seamus," Cassandra teased.
Ginny blushed heavily.
They left quickly and then the ceremony began.
Through all the talking – they listened with rapt attention, then suddenly –
"I now pronounce you Husband and Wife. You may kiss the bride."
Percy blushed.
Penelope waited.
Percy blushed harder.
Penelope's face turned pink.
"You may now kiss the bride..."
Then Percy kissed Penelope quickly.
"That is so sweet!" Cassandra exclaimed.
"I know!" Ginny agreed.
Hermione rolled her eyes.
"You're turning into a miniature Cassandra. I think it's pretty awesome too, though. Percy getting married, I never thought I'd see the day," Hermione said.
Percy shifted his glasses and then Mrs. Weasley brought out the huge cake.
Ron practically ran over to it, and Mrs. Weasley started cutting slices.
"I'm glad a lot of people weren't invited. More cake for us!" Ron said grabbing a huge slice.
Hermione rolled her eyes again.
"That's so considerate of you Ron, really now," she scolded.
Ron grinned and shrugged his shoulders.
"Mrs. Weasley, this cake is really good," Harry commented with a chunk of vanilla cake in his mouth.
Mrs. Weasley smiled and said, "Why thank you Harry. You're so thoughtful."
"Congrats Percy old pal," Fred said slapping him on the back.
Percy looked hard at Fred.
"Old pal?" he asked narrowing his eyes.
"Of course! We've known you for such a long time! You're nothing but an old pal!" George exclaimed swinging his arm around Percy.
Percy irritatedly shook George's arm off and turned to walk over to Penelope.
"Well, I guess that's that," Hermione said.
"Not quite," Cassandra said with a malicious grin.
"What do you mean?" Ron asked puzzled.
"This Christmas Break isn't over yet. I personally arranged for us to have five tickets to New York City, and you can't refuse!"
"I'll miss you!" Hermione exclaimed as she hugged Professor McGonagall tightly.
Now they had become closer than ever, it was amazing how silly little fights could bring people together. Then again, the whole thing with the troll that Professor Quirrel had brought in, in their first year, caused Ron and Harry to be friends with Hermione in the first place, so Hermione could see how fights worked their charms.
"I'll miss you too. Don't stay away too long darling," McGonagall replied giving Hermione one last squeeze.
Hermione waved and got into the train compartment with Cassandra, Ron, and Harry.
"I can't wait! A wedding! This is going to be so much fun, and so exciting!" Cassandra squealed as she braided Hermione's hair (who gave in reluctantly).
Ron was looking glum.
"Exciting, right..." he trailed off.
"What? Aren't you excited?" Cassandra asked shocked.
"Well, it's a wedding. It's Percy's wedding, come off of it, who wants to be at Percy's wedding?" Ron asked.
"He's got a point," Harry replied.
Hermione slapped him playfully on the shoulder.
"You promised," Hermione scolded.
"Okay, okay," Harry replied. Hermione turned to all of the as Cassandra tied her hair with a ribbon.
"None of you can be goofing off. This is a special time for Percy, all right?"
"I wouldn't goof off! I know a wedding is special, they are important!" Cassandra insisted.
"Well, that's good. The rest of you better follow our example," Hermione told them.
"We'll act responsibly. It's Fred and George you'll have to worry about," Ron said grinning.
"Oh yeah! How's there Joke Shop going?" Harry asked with great interest.
"Believe it or not, they've made a lot of money," Ron replied with a bigger grin.
"Money from those fake wands? I don't believe it," Hermione said.
"It's true," Ron told her.
"Why would someone want to buy Canary Creams?" Hermione asked, still not satisfied with the idea of having a Joke Shop.
"To play tricks on their friends. It's a riot. There are smaller versions of Fred and George everywhere that love playing tricks on their 'close ones'. It's hilarious, it is!" Ron exclaimed.
"Well, I think it's wrong," Hermione insisted.
"You sound just like Percy..." Harry teased.
"Do not!" Hermione retorted.
Their compartment door was suddenly opened, and someone very unwelcome came inside – it was Malfoy.
"Don't tell me somebody wanted you home this time Potter," he said sneering.
"For your information, your mum must never want you home. All the time you're around her, she's got that look on her face. What is that she smells? Oh yes, dung, I forgot," Harry retorted coldly.
"Lay off my mum Potter," Malfoy said.
"Why don't you make me?" said Harry.
Crabbe and Goyle appeared behind Malfoy, cracking their knuckles and grunting.
"I really can't believe that somebody wanted those two boulders home either," Ron muttered.
"Oh dear," Cassandra murmured sensing a fight.
"You want to say something Taylor?" Malfoy asked coldly.
"FYI I do. My name isn't Taylor. My name is Cassandra Nicole, Cassandra, or Cassie. So take your pick. Know what Draco? You must be too stupid to understand that. Must be why you call me Taylor all the time," Cassandra muttered.
Malfoy swore under his breath and left the compartment.
"Cassandra saves the day," Hermione teased.
"Better than the Creevy brothers, ain't it?" Cassandra replied laughing.
"Well, I dunno..." Hermione trailed off joking.
"Why I outta!" Cassandra exclaimed with a fist in the air.
"You wouldn't hurt a fly," Hermione replied.
"Too true," Cassandra said, bringing her fist down.
After a few packages of Chocolate Frogs, Hogwarts Express came to a stop and Mrs. Weasley greeted Ginny, Ron, Cassandra, Hermione, and Harry.
"Hello children," Mrs. Weasley said happily.
"Mrs. Weasley, you don't know me, I'm sure, but just so there aren't any questions – My name is Cassandra Nicole Taylor. I'm Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny's friend. I came here from the United States of America, and I'm Muggle born. I think that about does it. Oh yeah, I'm in the seventh year, and I think your daughter is the sweetest thing!"
Mrs. Weasley was a bit overwhelmed, but she took an instant liking to Cassandra.
"Well, that's wonderful. Yes, yes, Ron's told me so much about you by Owls," Mrs. Weasley said happily.
Ron turned bright red.
"Mom..." he muttered.
"Thank you so much Mrs. Weasley, for inviting us all to the wedding," Hermione said.
"The pleasure is all mine Hermione. Now why don't you all get your stuff in the cars Arthur borrowed? Then we can go back to the Burrow," Mrs. Weasley said.
They all piled their luggage into one car, and everyone sat into the next one. They quickly arrived at the Burrow. Crookshanks instantly ran after the gnomes in the grass.
"Looks like Crookshanks won't be bored," Hermione said laughing.
"Will Bill and Charlie be here?" Harry asked eagerly.
"Yes. They arrived yesterday, in fact," Mrs. Weasley replied.
"How's Charlie doing with those dragons?" Harry asked.
"Fine, and Bill still won't let me give his hair a little trim. He insists on cutting it himself, when he feels like it, that is," Mrs. Weasley said with a little frown.
"Does he still have that earring?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, yes. That's another thing, a fang, oh honestly. Sometimes I don't understand that boy..." Mrs. Weasley trailed off.
They entered the house.
"Hermione and Cassandra can put their stuff in Ginny's room. You'll be staying there, and Harry will stay with Ron. You can put your stuff up now, and then we'll have dinner," Mrs. Weasley said.
Hermione and Cassandra followed Ginny up the stairs
They dumped their trunks on the floor and rolled out sleeping bags.
Ron and Harry walked to the back yard and saw Bill, Charlie, Fred, and George swinging around on brooms. Charlie was very good, Harry could readily tell.
Bill's hair was just as long as last time, and Fred and George were a bit taller, and were in joyful spirits.
"Hullo Ron! Harry!" Bill shouted.
Charlie waved while Fred and George made faces – and then eventually waved.
"Hey!" Harry shouted.
Ron gave a feeble smile and sat down on the grass to watch.
"Ron! Harry! Go put your stuff up," Mrs. Weasley reminded gently.
They ran back into the house quickly and somehow managed to throw all their stuff into Ron's room and came back outside where the other four boys had stopped playing.
"Percy's getting married! I never thought I'd see the day," Bill said laughing.
"I know," Charlie replied.
"Are you two married?" Harry asked suddenly.
"Bill is, I'm not," Charlie said.
"Cassandra would fix you up with someone for sure," Ron said.
"Cassandra? Who's Cassandra?" Bill asked arching an eyebrow.
"Ron's girlfriend," Harry spat out.
"Oh really?" Charlie teased.
"Is she here?" Fred asked.
"Yes," Harry supplied for Ron, who was blushing like a beet.
"What about Hermione, eh Harry? Did you two ever hit it off?" George asked.
"They sure did!" Ron exclaimed.
Harry turned pink.
Fred slapped Harry on the back.
"Good job," he said.
"What about you two, eh?"
"I'm dating Angelina Johnson," Fred said.
"I'm with Katie Bell," George told them.
"Who'd you marry Bill?" Harry asked.
"A girl from Gringotts. She works with me in Africa. You'll see her soon. Her name is Chloe. She went to Beauxbatons – and no Ron – she isn't a veela, thank you very much," Bill said.
"Well, I didn't say anything," Ron muttered with a pink tinge still hot on his face.
Then Mrs. Weasley called, "Dinner!"
They all raced back into the house and helped bring tables and chairs outside.
"Arthur should be arriving any minute now with Percy. I do wonder where Penelope is," Mrs. Weasley said.
Just then Penelope popped into the room.
"Hello Mrs. Weasley. Sorry, I was just in the Ministry of Magic office, and I saw Percy and Mr. Weasley. They should be coming any time now. Do you need any help with anything?" she asked breathlessly.
Mrs. Weasley let her butter the bread as Percy and Mr. Weasley walked through the door.
"Arthur! How was your day?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"Fine, fine Molly. Did everyone get back safely?" Mr. Weasley asked with a tired look on his face.
"Yes they did, and you haven't told me everything. Has Mad-Eye Moody been up to something again?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"No, not him. Ali Bashir just tried to get some flying carpets in again. I don't know how many times I have told him to stay away from flying carpets. He just doesn't get the point! We had to erase a lot of memories. It was hard work. I'm lucky that I didn't have to work too late," Mr. Weasley muttered.
"Good evening Mum. How was your day?" Percy asked shifting his glasses.
"Very well, thank you. Put your bags down, go sit at the table. Bill! Bill! Chloe's here!" Mrs. Weasley hollered.
Bill ran to the door and let Chloe kiss him on the cheek and come in.
One by one Mrs. Weasley, Mr. Weasley, Ron, Harry, Hermione, Cassandra, Ginny, Fred, George, Percy, Penelope, Charlie, Bill, and Chloe managed to sit down at the table.
Crookshanks was licking her paw after finishing a gnome off and Pig and Hedwig were eating their food with Hermes and Errol.
"Dig in!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed as she opened the flaming pudding.
Now the Weasley's weren't poor, in fact, they were one of the richer families in the wizarding world. They weren't like the Malfoys – quite – but with Bill and Charlie having prime jobs, Fred and George having a Joke Shop that made a lot of money, Percy holding a top post at the Ministry, and the 1,000 Galleons that Harry had given them (most of it gone to starting the Joke Shop, a bit of it for Ron's new robes, and the rest gone to Ron and Ginny for school and the household), they were doing fairly well.
Everyone ate heartily, and desert was also fabulous. After dinner Bill, Chloe, Charlie, Percy, Penelope, Mrs. Weasley, and Mr. Weasley stayed outside to talk. Fred and George said they needed to go up to their rooms to work on some new jokes. Ginny, Hermione, Harry, Ron, and Cassandra went up to Ron's room (covered in Chudley Cannon stuff) and talked. It was finally one in the morning when Mrs. Weasley came up (a little bit dizzy from champagne) and told them to go to bed.
Ron and Harry left the room and the three girls fell asleep. Everyone drifted away in their dreams until –
"Wake up! Wake up! Wedding day!" Cassandra exclaimed gleefully.
"What?" Ginny asked rubbing her eyes.
"It's wedding day!" Cassandra exclaimed.
"I don't believe it," Hermione groaned, putting her pillow over her head and attempting to go back to sleep.
"I think not!" Cassandra exclaimed pulling the pillow out of Hermione's reach. She dropped it on the ground and opened the curtains so that light filled the room.
"I get the point," Ginny said grumpily as she walked out of the room.
She grabbed her towel and entered the bathroom.
"This is unbelievable? You've already showered and gotten dressed?" Hermione asked as she rolled over in her bed. "I feel like we switched places."
Cassandra shrugged her shoulders and fixed her blouse.
Hermione showered after Ginny and they were finally all dressed.
Cassandra wore a pink blouse a black skirt with a slit at the side. Hermione was wearing a full sleeved white shirt and a three-quarter skirt. Ginny was wearing a long sleeveless blue dress. They met up with Chloe downstairs who was wearing a white sleeveless dress.
"I can't wait to see Penelope! I bet she looks beautiful!" Cassandra exclaimed.
"She's wearing a dress made of pure white satin," Chloe said smiling.
"I can't wait to see how she looks!" Ginny exclaimed.
"Yeah," Hermione said with a feeble smile. She still hadn't completely woken up.
A loud thunder down the stairs brought Ron and Harry. They were both dressed in black dress robes.
They sat down and ate some toast and eggs. One by one everyone else was seated at the table (some people had to leave to make room for others). When breakfast had finally finished, they walked out to the back yard, which had magically transformed into empty field after field.
None of them had seen the bride or groom yet.
Finally Hermione, Cassandra, Chloe, and Ginny were allowed to see Penelope.
She was very nervous, putting her veil on.
"I can't believe that I'm about to be Mrs. Percy Weasley! It's so amazing, I was only in school a few years ago, and marriage is such a responsibility! I can't believe I'm even going through with this, great wizards!" Penelope exclaimed.
"Calm down, it's no big deal," Chloe insisted.
"Oh, but it is," Penelope replied with terror.
Cassandra's eyes widened.
"You look so beautiful!" she exclaimed fingering the soft satin.
"Thanks," Penelope replied shyly.
"You really do! I want to wear something as pretty as this when I get married," Ginny admitted.
"To Seamus," Cassandra teased.
Ginny blushed heavily.
They left quickly and then the ceremony began.
Through all the talking – they listened with rapt attention, then suddenly –
"I now pronounce you Husband and Wife. You may kiss the bride."
Percy blushed.
Penelope waited.
Percy blushed harder.
Penelope's face turned pink.
"You may now kiss the bride..."
Then Percy kissed Penelope quickly.
"That is so sweet!" Cassandra exclaimed.
"I know!" Ginny agreed.
Hermione rolled her eyes.
"You're turning into a miniature Cassandra. I think it's pretty awesome too, though. Percy getting married, I never thought I'd see the day," Hermione said.
Percy shifted his glasses and then Mrs. Weasley brought out the huge cake.
Ron practically ran over to it, and Mrs. Weasley started cutting slices.
"I'm glad a lot of people weren't invited. More cake for us!" Ron said grabbing a huge slice.
Hermione rolled her eyes again.
"That's so considerate of you Ron, really now," she scolded.
Ron grinned and shrugged his shoulders.
"Mrs. Weasley, this cake is really good," Harry commented with a chunk of vanilla cake in his mouth.
Mrs. Weasley smiled and said, "Why thank you Harry. You're so thoughtful."
"Congrats Percy old pal," Fred said slapping him on the back.
Percy looked hard at Fred.
"Old pal?" he asked narrowing his eyes.
"Of course! We've known you for such a long time! You're nothing but an old pal!" George exclaimed swinging his arm around Percy.
Percy irritatedly shook George's arm off and turned to walk over to Penelope.
"Well, I guess that's that," Hermione said.
"Not quite," Cassandra said with a malicious grin.
"What do you mean?" Ron asked puzzled.
"This Christmas Break isn't over yet. I personally arranged for us to have five tickets to New York City, and you can't refuse!"