Draco Malfoy Must Die
Chapter 35 - It's a Nice Day for a White Wedding
Remus was somewhere between excited and nervous as he walked up and down in the shade of the house. Neville chuckled as he walked towards the backdoor.
"Where are you going?" Harry asked him curiously.
"Uh, I'm going to wait for Susan at the stairs," Neville said in amusement, "Like all escorts do."
"Is this another pure-blood thing that I don't know about?" Harry asked in amusement.
"Yes," Remus chuckled, "And you can't do it for Lilly. She's Tonks' maid of honour, so she'll be coming down separately."
"Well who's escorting Hermione and Daphne then?"
"Nobody, because Daphne's not got a date, and Draco's coming down with Tonks and Lilly," Neville replied as he walked into the house.
Harry frowned, "I'll be back in a couple of minutes Remus," he said as he followed his friend.
Remus just smiled, knowing exactly what Harry was doing because it was exactly the kind of thing that James would have done.
When Harry joined Neville by the stairs the taller boy frowned at him, "What are you doing?"
Harry smiled, "It's not fair for Hermione and Daphne to have to come down alone."
Neville chuckled, "See Harry, it's because of how nice a person you are that the rumour mills were always going wild at Hogwarts. Everyone thought you'd end up with Hermione, or Ginny…or Luna."
Harry shook his head, "Hermione is like my sister and Ginny is Ron's little sister, I don't know where people got that idea from. And Luna? No offence, she's fantastic, but I've never liked her romantically."
"I told you, you're just too nice a guy," Neville teased.
Harry chuckled as 'their' ladies walked down the stairs, along with Daphne. They all looked beautiful, and Harry couldn't help but smile as Susan linked her arm into Neville's and he whispered something that made her blush.
"Well, I have two arms and there are two lovely ladies needing escorted," Harry grinned to Hermione and Daphne.
"Oh come on Potter," Daphne said with good-natured exasperation as she took his right arm.
Hermione grinned and hooked onto his left arm, "Lilly's right, you do need her to keep your ego from expanding beyond the boundaries of your skull."
"You kind of sounded like my Mother there," Harry said in amusement.
Hermione stuck her tongue out at Harry.
Neville laughed, "I won't tell Lilly about this," he joked.
Harry laughed too, "She won't mind, she knows I'm totally devoted to her."
"You have so much potential to be a ladies man and you are wasting it," Neville joked.
"Hey, I can't help the fact that I'm madly in love with the crazy pocket rocket up there," Harry said cheerfully. The world seemed bright and light today, he felt so carefree and it was wonderful.
They all laughed as they emerged into the garden where everybody sat down, and Harry took his spot standing next to Remus once more.
"Your Father would have done that exact thing," Remus said with a soft smile.
"Well clearly he was just as awesome as I am," Harry said cheerfully.
Remus raised an eyebrow, "Be careful, you're starting to develop the same ego that he did."
Harry shook his head, "No, I'm never going to be a bully Remus. I'm just happy that somebody in my life is finally getting the happiness they deserve."
"And there is your Mother," Remus chuckled, "You are truly a perfect mixture of your parents Harry."
"Isn't this about the point when you freak out?" Draco asked Tonks with a raised eyebrow as they reached the bottom of the stairs with Lilly holding a small basket full of confetti.
Tonks smirked at her little cousin, "Draco, I'm perfectly calm. I just want to finally marry the man I've been in love with for the last two years."
Draco shook his head and said sarcastically, "I had this whole speech prepared about how, yeah Remus is a werewolf but you love him anyway and-"
"Draco, shut up," Lilly said in amusement, "She's not nervous, she's just excited. If you ever marry Hermione I feel sorry for whoever you ask to be best man. There will be tears, and panic attacks, I bet."
"Well that will be Neville's job," Draco smirked, "We've already agreed."
Tonks raised an eyebrow at him, "So you've already decided, with Neville, that you're going to marry Hermione? Without telling her?"
Draco's face flushed and he scoffed, "No, what are you talking about? I meant my wedding in general, not that I'm going to marry Granger…"
Tonks and Lilly shared a grin, and Draco cleared his throat as he held out his arm to Tonks, "Anyway, are you ready?"
Tonks smiled, linking her arm into his as Lilly walked ahead of them towards the door. She signaled to Neville from the door and he popped balloons floating from the arch that Harry hadn't even noticed were there. Music began to play, and Lilly grinned at Harry as she walked down the aisle and took her place on the other side of the makeshift altar. Harry returned her grin and mouthed, "You look amazing."
Lilly just winked at him as Tonks walked down the aisle, arm in arm with Draco who was taller than her. Remus's breath caught when he saw her, and Harry grinned as he nudged him. Remus caught himself, and smiled broadly at Tonks as she reached the altar and took his hands.
"You look beautiful," Remus whispered.
Tonks beamed, "You don't scrub up so bad yourself," she said, he had never looked smarter than he did now in his black and white dress robes.
Charlie grinned, "Ladies and gents, we are gathered here today, some of us at the last minute," he smirked at Harry, "To witness the marriage of Remus John Lupin, werewolf extraordinaire…"
Remus laughed and Tonks shook her head at Charlie in amusement.
"…to my lovely ex-girlfriend, Nymphadora Narcissa Dorea Andromeda Callidora Tonks."
Tonks shook her head with a grin, "Charlie," she said sounding exasperated.
There was a snigger from everyone sitting, and standing.
"Bugger off the lot of you," Tonks grinned.
Charlie laughed and continued, "Do we have any objections? Anyone? Nope? Right, well I object! I was told this morning I was doing this, how am I supposed to remember my lines? I am severely unprepared for this wedding…oh shit, I think I was turning into Percy for a minute there."
Tonks glared good-naturedly at the redhead, "Get on with the wedding you fool."
Charlie saluted her, "Alright. Do you, Remus John Lupin, take Nymphadora several middle names Tonks, to be your lawfully wedded Metamorphmagus, I mean wife?"
"I do," Remus laughed.
"Right, Nymphadora too many names Tonks, do you take Remus John Lupin to be your lawfully wedded werewolf, sorry, Husband?"
"I do, you git," Tonks chuckled.
Charlie's grin widened, "Okay, perfect. If you two would hold hands then, so that I can bind your magic."
Tonks and Remus gripped each other's hands again and Charlie did the spell that bound their magic, and bound them as Husband and Wife. The colour that their hands glowed was apparently a sign of their marriage. Draco had informed Harry of this before and told him that at his parents wedding it was an icy blue, not a good sign. Harry smiled broadly at the colour of the glow surrounding Remus and Tonks, it was golden.
The glow faded, and Charlie said, "That's it then, you may now kiss the bride!"
Remus grinned as he kissed Tonks lightly, because the 'children' were watching. He grabbed her hand as Lilly walked down the aisle, throwing confetti. The small procession made their way through the house, and entered into the front garden where the house elves had set up a little square marquee with a circular table underneath it with platters of food in the centre.
There were little signs at each place, showing them all where they should sit. Remus and Tonks sat together, and next to Remus was Harry, and next to Tonks was Lilly. On Harry's other side sat Draco, and then Hermione. Next to Lilly were Neville and Susan. And then in the middle was Daphne, and next to her Charlie.
Charlie frowned as he looked around the silent table, and at the full glasses of champagne in front of them all, "Oh shit, I'm supposed to be master of ceremonies, aren't I?"
"Yes," Tonks said in amusement.
"Uh, I kind of feel like I've done my bit. Anyone else fancy it?" Charlie asked with a grin.
Draco shook his head in amusement, "Nev, you're the only guy here not doing a speech."
Neville frowned, "Right, thanks Draco," he remarked as he stood up, "Alright so. Traditionally the Father of the bride should go first…so Draco?"
Draco got to his feet with a grin that made Tonks and Remus both feel uneasy, "Well, as the Father, I mean, cousin, of the Bride, I'd like to thank everyone who was involved today. Weasley the elder, for his…ceremony, if you could call it that. Potter, for pretending to be best man. Lilly, for making a stunning maid of honour."
Hermione slapped Draco on the leg, and Harry raised an eyebrow, "You've got your own, Malfoy."
Draco smirked and continued, "I think that Tonks and Remus will be very happy together. I mean they're already very happy together in the bedroom from what I've heard with my wolf hearing."
Tonks threw her head back and laughed, and Remus went bright red, and looked mortified.
"And finally, I'd like to remind Tonks that next time she tries to get me to do the washing up I will tell everyone in the order what her middle names are."
Tonks glared at her cousin, "You wouldn't."
Draco grinned, "I would. The floors yours Potter."
Harry blanched, "What?"
Neville laughed loudly, "You're the best man, it's your turn to do a speech."
"Uh…but I only found out like an hour ago," Harry said, panicking a little.
Lilly laughed, "Just say whatever comes into your head, that's all everyone else has been doing today."
Harry nodded and got to his feet, "Alright, well. Firstly I'd like to thank Remus for this honour. I want to thank everyone who has taken part, Draco for being there for Tonks, all of the ladies for looking as beautiful as they do, and Charlie for an unforgettable wedding ceremony. Remind me, never to ask you to marry me."
"That's fine, I'd think Lilly would be more interested in marrying you, Harry," Charlie grinned.
"Shut up you ginger arse," Harry chuckled, "Anyway, in all Sirius-ness, see what I did there Remus."
Remus laughed, "Get on with it Harry."
"In all seriousness, Remus and Tonks are absolutely brilliant for each other. He keeps her grounded, in other words keeps her from falling over all of the time. And she keeps him from being depressed about his furry little problem. In the last few months you two have become the parents that some of us have never had and I think I can speak for all of us when I say we are thrilled to see you as happy as you are today."
This speech had brought tears to Lilly, Hermione, Daphne, Susan and Draco's eyes. Neville shook his head in disbelief at the blonde boy as Tonks smiled tearfully at Harry and Remus stood up, enveloping in a bear-like hug.
"Thank you Harry," Remus whispered sincerely as they took their seats again.
Hermione looked at Draco in disbelief, "Are you crying?"
"It's the wolfy thing, it makes me more emotional!" Draco said defensively, "Look at Remus!"
Neville snorted, "You've always been like this Draco. You cried at my birthday party when I got better presents than you. You then cried at your own birthday party because I gave you a book about classic brooms of the 19th century and it was apparently the nicest thing anyone had ever done for you. And you cried at Daphne's birthday party when her cat got stuck in a tree because you thought it was trying to commit suicide!"
"I thought you were this sexy bad arse Slytherin," Hermione grinned, "I never knew you were so emotional Draco."
"I hate you all," Draco said feebly.
"Doesn't work anymore baby cousin," Tonks grinned, "They've seen the softy beneath now."
"Screw you all," Draco remarked, picking up his champagne glass and clearing his throat.
"To Remus and Tonks."
"To Remus and Tonks!" They echoed, taking a sip and looking to Remus.
Remus smiled, "I'll keep this short. As much as you say that we've become parents to you all when some of you have never really had any, you have all become the family that I thought I had lost after James, Lily and Sirius died. I thought I was on my own, and then I met Dora and all of you have managed to worm your way into my heart. So I want to thank you all for being here, on the day that I gained a beautiful wife who is far too young for me and a family full of dramatic teenagers."
Neville grinned, "Who are closer in age to your wife than you are."
"Don't remind me," Remus smiled as he turned to his new wife, "I love you Dora."
Tonks smiled, "I love you too Remus," she said as he sat back down and kissed her lightly while everyone toasted them for a second time.
"I forgot that we called her anything apart from Tonks," Harry said in amusement.
"What do you think he calls me when we're shagging?" Tonks asked, grinning wickedly.
Remus went scarlet, and Draco shook his head, "I can never call her Dora again after what I've heard."
SEVERAL HAZY HOURS LATER…
"Being a werewolf sucks!"
Draco had found out tonight, that his tolerance of alcohol had risen dramatically since his werewolf attack. So while everybody else, with the exception of Remus, was happily tipsy he felt practically sober.
Remus smiled and slipped him a hip flask, "Drink that, it will help."
Draco grinned, "Thanks Remus," he said, making his way back to Hermione. They had moved the party into the kitchen when it began to get dark outside. It was for safety reasons more than weather reasons, it was a lovely July night after all. The party continued, and after about half an hour Draco felt as drunk, if not more so than the others.
"Woah, Draco," Remus said from the doorway, where he looked like he was trying to make an escape with Tonks, "How much of that did you drink?"
"All of it," Draco said offhandedly, "Why? What was it?"
"Moonshine," Remus said in disbelief.
"What?" Tonks asked in exasperation, "You gave him moonshine?"
"I didn't think he'd be stupid enough to drink the whole bloody thing," Remus said, trying not to laugh.
"I think you should go to bed, Draco," Remus said in amusement.
"No, no, I'm awake," Draco said, slurring his words a little, "The party is just getting started. You guys go, we'll be fine. We're good here, right?"
There was a cheer.
Remus shook his head in amusement and Tonks took his hand, dragging him off into the entrance hall.
"Hey Malfoy, you bloody idiot, come here!" Harry called.
"It's Black you buffoon," Draco said, stumbling a little in the direction of the others who were sitting on a large L-shaped sofa in the corner of the kitchen.
"Whatever, come here! I have an idea," Harry said.
Draco dropped down next to Hermione and put his arm around her, "What's going on?"
"Right," Harry grinned, "I think we should make a pact, except you Daphne. You don't fit the carteria."
"Criteria, Harry," Hermione corrected.
"Ooh, what's the pact?" Neville asked excitedly.
"Calm down Nev," Harry said, attempting to put his arm around Neville and then realising he couldn't, because of the massive height difference and awkwardly retracting his arm as if he had been stretching.
"Right…we're going into a war…some of us might die, or get injured…or something," Harry stuttered out, "So I think we should make a pact that all 6 of us, if we're all still together when it's over…and none of us are dead, or insane - oh shit, sorry Neville."
"Get on with it Harry," Neville said, his words a little slurred.
"Okay, so if we're all alive…and in one piece…and together…I think we should get married."
"Yeah, here!" Susan added eagerly.
"In a joint ceremony," Draco said with a vigorous nod.
"And we can all be each other's bridesmaids, and best men!" Hermione piped up.
"And Charlie can do it!" Lilly added.
"Fuck yeah, let's do this properly. Blood pact!" Neville said, hitting the table with his fist.
"Yes, blood pact!" Draco exclaimed.
"But we're all drunk," Harry slurred.
Hermione snorted, "Pfft! I can do it in my sleep, I'm Hermione Granger."
"Alright Granger, control the ego," Draco sniggered.
"Shut up wolf boy," Hermione smirked, turning her hand over and using her wand to create a small cut on her palm. She put her hand in the middle of the table, with her palm up and said, "Who's next then?"
"Do me," Draco said putting his hand in front of her.
Hermione cut his hand, and Draco placed it on top of hers. Susan was next, and then Neville, then Lilly and finally Harry.
"Use Diffindo not Sectumsempra, you silly prat," Hermione said, "You only need to make a cut on your palm not cut off your arm."
Harry glared at her and made the cut, "Screw you Hermione," he said as he placed his hand on top of the others.
Daphne was watching this scene, torn between being concerned and laughing, "Can I throw something in there? If I've got a significant other I'm in."
"Come on then," Draco grinned as she cut her hand and put her hand on the top of the stack.
Hermione tried to sober herself up a little as she said, "All of us here, bound in blood, agree to everything that we have laid out…in the event of us all surviving the war. So mote it be."
There was a pulse of magic, and as they went around, in the order their hands were stacked and said "So mote it be", there was a pulse of magic each time.
When Daphne had said it, the door to the kitchen opened and they all looked up, like guilty children.
"What the hell have you just made a blood pact on?" Remus thundered.
"Uh…"
"Em…"
"Well…"
"What have you done?" Tonks asked in disbelief, "We left the room for 10 minutes! And you made a blood pact!"
"Uh…I thought you two were going to bed," Draco said pointedly.
"We were," Remus said, "And then we felt pulse of magic coming through the floor."
"Oh, oops, forgot it did that," Hermione mumbled.
"What did you do?" Remus asked again.
"Uh, well," Harry began, "I pointed out that there's a very small chance that all of us will survive the war in one piece and I suggested that if we did and we were all still together we ought to all get married and then we all added a bit…Susan said we should get married here and Draco said-"
"Harry James Potter, you are rambling," Remus said, sounding as much like a Father as Harry heard ever heard him sound.
"So in short," Draco cut in, "If we all survive the war and we're all still together, we're all getting married here, in a joint ceremony, which Charlie will be doing, and we'll all be each other's bridesmaids and best men."
Tonks looked up at Remus and said calmly, "Well, it could have been worse."
Remus actually smiled, "Yes, I suppose it could have been."
Tonks laughed and shook her head, "Remus, we are the worst parents ever. We got them drunk, and let them make a blood pact."
"At least you didn't beat the shit out of us!" Harry piped up.
"Or use unforgiveable curses on us," Draco added.
"Or leave packets of drugs lying around the house," Lilly cut in.
"Alright, we get the point," Remus said gently, "We're going to bed and all of you should too."
"You've got a busy day tomorrow, and just so all of you know, we're taking a car to the Burrow," Tonks said in amusement, "We're leaving at 5am."
"Aw, you could have told us, Mum," Harry said sarcastically.
Tonks grinned, "Get to bed, the lot of you," she said.
The following morning, at 4.30am, Tonks woke them all up with a knock on the door and a promise that there was a tray with a plate of toast, a jug of orange juice, and two-phials of hangover potion outside each of their doors.
Draco dragged himself to the door, and downed the potion, throwing the other phial to Hermione who took it just as fast. Within a few minutes their stomachs were settling and they were able to nibble on some toast.
"You do realise you basically proposed to me last night?" Hermione asked with a frown.
"Yeah, it was a bit like that," Draco admitted, not able to look her in the eye.
"Look Draco, it was stupid alright. We did it because we were drunk, I know you didn't mean it," Hermione said quickly, "And with everyone's permission I can undo it-"
"Do you want to undo it?" Draco cut in.
Hermione's frown deepened, "You do."
"No, I don't," Draco said honestly, "I love you Hermione, and if we survive this war I'm marrying you, if you'll have me. I'd decided with Neville already, he was going to be my best man."
"You decided you were going to marry me before you even asked me?" Hermione asked, chuckling weakly.
Draco smiled, "You are singlehandedly the best thing to ever happen to me. You are the best thing in my life. You make me a better person, you make me happy, and I honestly can't imagine my life without you…I knew…I knew when I saw Greyback that night that I couldn't live without you, so I jumped in front of him, foolishly thinking that it would be easier for you to live without me."
"Well you were wrong," Hermione said firmly, "Because as much as I hate you at times, I couldn't imagine life without you either."
Draco grinned.
"What?" Hermione asked cautiously.
"I can't believe I'm doing this, at 4.30am in the morning, when we're both in bed naked. But I have to ask you properly," Draco laughed, "Hermione Granger, will you marry me when this is all over? I don't mean straight away, but someday?"
Hermione laughed, "Yes, Draco. I will."
Draco grinned and pulled her close to him, disregarding the tray of food as it clattered to the floor noisily, "I love you."
Hermione returned his grin and kissed him, "I love you too."
"Ugh…Nev…did she say hangover potion?"
Neville groaned and got to his feet, shakily, "Think so."
"Thank Merlin," Susan moaned, "I think there are hundreds of monkeys dancing around my head. Stop the dancing monkeys Nev."
Neville snorted as he dragged the tray inside and shut the door, throwing a phial of potion to Susan and downing one himself. After a few seconds he sighed, "That's better. Last night was a bit crazy."
Susan laughed, "Are you talking about the part where we made a blood pact or what happened after that?'"
Neville grinned, "Both."
Susan threw her head back against the pillow and chuckled, "I don't suppose we can go back on a blood pact?"
"Only if everyone involved agrees to it," Neville said as he sat down on the bed and bit into a piece of toast, "Which they will this morning, trust me."
Susan yawned, "Good, it's nothing against you or anything. I just don't want to get married."
"Ever?" Neville asked in disbelief.
Susan rolled her eyes, "I don't know, maybe one day. But definitely not right now, and definitely not before I'm 20…I want to have my career first before I get all settled, you know?"
"I know where you're coming from," Neville said, although it didn't sound convincing.
"I don't think we'll all survive the war anyway," Susan said quietly, "So I doubt it would ever come to pass."
"That's a horrible way to think," Neville frowned.
"But it's the truthful way to think," Susan said as she looked up and caught his eye, "We're all playing happy families right now but it won't stay like this. Some of us will die, or get badly injured. This is a war Neville."
"Is that the only reason you're with me, Susan?" Neville asked quietly, "Because you didn't show much of an interest until a war was on the horizon."
He knew he was right the moment Susan sighed and glanced down. He knew before the words had even left her mouth, "I like you a lot Neville, you're one of my best friends and I want to be happy in the last few months I might have. I wanted to make you happy."
Neville stared at her in disbelief, "That's the worst basis ever for a relationship."
"Is it? Or is it natural?" Susan said without looking at him.
Neville fixed her with his gaze, "That depends Susan. Realising you have feelings for someone because of a war is natural. But have you thought of being with me after the war, can you imagine it?"
Susan was silent, but her silence was the answer that Neville had been searching for.
"You know what this means Susan, don't you?" Neville asked, a harshness to his voice.
"It means we're breaking up, I know," Susan said, pulling the blankets tighter around herself and looking up at him. It hurt to see how much pain there was behind his eyes, "And it means I'm not coming with you on the run."
"That's exactly what it means," Neville said coolly, "Because if what was going on between us before was going to interfere, then what is going on between us now will interfere even more so."
"I know," Susan said as she cleared her throat, "And I understand. I'll stay here with Remus and Tonks, I'll help the order and let them use it as their hide-out or a safe-house. I'll help from here, like Daphne and Ron will be doing from Hogwarts."
Neville nodded stoically, "Good," he said as he transfigured his clothes with a wave of his wand and left the room.
"Go get the food and potion Lil," Harry mumbled.
Lilly raised an eyebrow at her boyfriend, "Feeling the effects of last night are you?"
"Aren't you?" Harry muttered, not opening his eyes.
"Not as much as you, clearly," Lilly grinned as she got to her feet and quickly dressed in the shorts and t-shirt she had packed for the day. She walked to the door and got the tray, putting it down on the bed and waving the hangover potion in front of Harry's face.
He grabbed it, with only one eye open.
"You are definitely a better seeker than me," Lilly laughed.
Harry didn't say anything as he took the potion and sighed in relief. Lilly took hers too, just to settle her stomach enough so that she could eat.
"Morning Lil."
"Morning Harry," Lilly laughed, kissing him lightly on the lips.
"We should talk about last night," Harry said awkwardly as he pushed himself up in the bed, "I mean…about the…blood pact…don't you think?"
"What's there to talk about?" Lilly asked as she passed him a glass of orange juice.
"Well, we basically agreed to get married after the war," Harry said with a frown.
"Yes," Lilly nodded, "We did."
"So…aren't you…I mean…do you want to?"
Lilly sighed, "Harry…we can't keep pretending, can we? Of course I want to, I wasn't as drunk as the rest of you last night. I wouldn't have agreed to it if I didn't want to, and I know you feel the same."
"Well yeah…but-"
"Harry," Lilly interrupted, her voice quiet and a little shaky, "We both know you aren't going to survive the war. Don't we?"
Harry's eyes snapped up, "W…what?"
"You talk in your sleep," Lilly whispered, "I know about the prophecy. I could recite it word for word after the amount of times I've heard you mumbling it."
"It doesn't mean I'm going to die," Harry lied.
"Yes it does," Lilly said, her voice getting quieter with every word, "The Dark Lord will mark him as his equal…well, that was him giving you the scar."
Harry frowned, and Lilly continued in a hoarse whisper, "Either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives...You know what it means."
"You don't," Harry said weakly, "You don't Lilly. Whatever you think, it's wrong."
"Is it?" Lilly asked, fixing her blue eyes firmly on Harry's emerald eyes, "Because I take it to mean that Voldemort has to kill you, or you have to kill him. But why could neither of you live while the other survives…that's the part I didn't understand…until a few weeks ago. You can't kill Voldemort because he has horcruxes…and Voldemort can't kill you…because you are a part of him. You know it Harry, that night in Godric's Hollow, you survived because he accidentally made you a horcrux. You have to die, so that Voldemort is mortal and can be killed."
By the time she finished speaking Lilly's voice had practically disappeared and she was trying desperately to keep her tears in her eyes, and not let them spill down her face.
"I didn't know Lilly," Harry practically croaked, "I had an idea…but I didn't know…I just wanted to pretend, that this would all end and we'd all be happy. I just wanted to pretend for one night."
"I know," Lilly said as the tears broke through the barrier and began to spill. She threw her arms around Harry and held him tightly, "I did too."
A frown began to form on Harry's face as he pulled back and looked at her.
"Hang on one fucking minute. I've got some of the smartest witches and wizards of our age on my side. I've got amazing friends who were willing to fight for me to save our school. I've got the sister I never had in Hermione, the parents I never had in Remus and Tonks, as much as I hate to admit it the brothers I never had in Nev, Ron and Draco. The best friends I could ask for in Daphne, Suse and Ginny. And you, the most amazing person I've ever met. And do you know what? That's too much to live for. I will survive this war and when I do, I'm bloody marrying you Lilly!"
Lilly was laughing through her tears, "Harry, you're meant to ask me first."
Harry smiled weakly, "Lillian Allison Moon, MacKinnon, Black, or whatever your name is," he joked, "Will you marry when this is all over?"
"Of course I will you bloody idiot," Lilly have laughed, half-cried as she threw her arms around him and kissed him like there was no tomorrow.
Come 5am they were all the gathered in the entrance hall, some with smiles, some with tearstained faces and some with hard-faced stoic faces.
Remus and Tonks looked around them all in bemusement, and Daphne looked thoroughly fed up.
"What happened this morning?" Tonks asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Uh, well Lilly and I kind of got engaged," Harry said with a frown.
"Oh for fucks sake Potter," Draco remarked, "You're always stealing my thunder!"
Tonks looked around the four of them, seemingly torn between smiling and shaking her head in exasperation, "For the right reasons, I hope?"
"Not because of the blood pact if that's what you mean," Hermione admitted, "Because we're in a war, and we need hope. Don't we?"
Remus smiled weakly, "We do. And Lily and James…they got married and had Harry as young as they did for that same reason. War changes us, it makes us grow up. And some of you have been tangled in this one since you were 11 years old."
Tonks cleared her throat, looking quite emotional, "I'm sorry to end the moment so soon. But we're in a hurry. There is a car outside, magically modified to fit us all inside, and invisible, with the power of flight. If we make good time we should arrive at the burrow around 9.30am."
"Well we'll say goodbye for a few days then," Harry said, looking towards those who weren't invited to the wedding. He frowned when he saw the looks on Neville and Susan's faces.
"What's going on between you two?"
Neville cleared his throat, "We discovered some irreconcilable differences this morning."
"You've broken up?" Hermione asked in disbelief.
Susan nodded and said quietly, "But it's fine because it won't interfere with the mission. I've finished restoring my family's old tent, and it's packed in Neville's bag. I'll stay here with Remus and Tonks and communicate with you via the mirror. All you need me for is my information on Helga Hufflepuff and her cup, and I have it all here anyway."
Harry glanced between them, "Right…well I'm sorry that it didn't work out."
Susan just shrugged, and Neville said, "We'll get over it, and there are much bigger worries at the moment anyway."
Harry nodded slowly, "Right, do you all remember the rendezvous point then?" he asked.
"We don't need to remember the rendezvous point," Draco said with a slight smile.
Harry frowned, "What are you talking about?"
"We're all coming Harry," Daphne said happily.
"Molly invited everyone to stay, for your birthday and the wedding," Hermione beamed.
"Happy birthday Harry," Lilly grinned.
Harry stared around at them, and felt a lump in his throat. He was speechless.
"Are you crying Potter?"
Neville snorted, "Shut up Draco, you can't talk."
Harry cleared his throat, "I need to give Molly a massive hug when I see her."
Hermione laughed weakly, "I think she'll appreciate that."
"She will," Tonks smiled, "Come on, let's pile you all into the car."
They all said goodbye to Susan who didn't want to come to the wedding for obvious reasons. Daphne in particular had a long hug, and a whispered goodbye with her best friend. They then walked outside where a black Ford Mondeo was waiting. They put their luggage into the massively enlarged boot, and then piled in. There were two seats in the front, for Remus and Tonks, who was driving. Then there were two benches, facing each other in the back. Each held four people, and each place had a seatbelt which Remus forced them to put on. When they were all buckled in Remus pressed a big red button and the outside of the car disappeared, camouflaging itself into its surroundings. It hovered into the air, to gain height, and then as Tonks pressed on the accelerator it lurched forward, flying smoothly after that and at a decent speed, into the cloudless blue sky.
The 4 and half hour journey was occupied with much discussion and debate on the shapes of any clouds that they passed. There were also lots of 'games' that Hermione had told them about and had termed 'driving games'. When the Burrow came into sight, Harry could not have been more relieved after half an hour of Draco playing 'I Spy' and picking a different shaped cloud every time. The car slowly began to descend and came to a hovering stop in front of a shimmering, transparent wall. Remus closed his eyes, conjuring a patronus which leapt from the car towards the house.
"Someone has to let the wards down," Tonks explained to the others in the back.
"Will they know it's you?" Harry asked anxiously.
"I doubt they know anyone else with a werewolf patronus," Remus said, with an amused smile in Draco's direction.
He chuckled, "Don't look at me, I can't cast a patronus."
"Do you want me to teach you?" Harry asked thoughtfully, "Before we go on the run?"
Draco caught Harry's eye, "Yeah, actually."
Harry smiled, "Sure," he said as Bill walked out of the house and put his hand through the wards, onto the front of the invisible car. It edged forward and once it was entirely within the confines of the warded home Remus rendered it visible and lowered it to the ground, with a soft thump.
TBC :)