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Curiosity
Part Thirty-seven: Weddings, Dances and Refusal

After the house and surrounding areas outside had been partially set up for the wedding and their jobs were done, Fleur's family arrived. As soon as the Delacour's arrived they took the house by storm. Everything had to be rearranged because of their arrival. The Burrow, already being jam packed as Bill, Charlie and Percy were both staying overnight along with Jacob and George, meant of a lot of sleeping arrangements had to be changed. A couple of days earlier a quick thinking Molly had resized the small bed in George's old room into a double if he and Jacob ever came to stay again. In the house there were only three spare beds, the double in George's old room, and another in the room where Charlie was sleeping. So Apolline and her husband, just known as Monsieur Delacour took George's bed and their youngest daughter took the spare single and shared the room in which Charlie was sleeping in. Jacob and George were allocated every single couch in the living room, Molly said they could sleep on which ever ones they liked. It was a good thing the girls had left to stay at Shell Cottage before the wedding or else there would be next to no room in the Burrow.

Jacob hadn't been able to greet the Delacour's properly but had been introduced to them. They spoke fluid and fast French and just enough English to be able to understand and communicate with the Weasley's, Harry and Jacob. Apolline Delacour was a very beautiful woman though she was aging considerably. It was quite late when they arrived but Apolline after being introduced to the newcomer (Jacob) whom she hadn't met before she had rushed off with Molly into the kitchen to see what food she had prepared for the wedding. George whispered in Jacob's ear that Apolline was very fond of Molly's cooking and Molly loved her because the French witch never tried to change a single thing that she makes just smacks her lips like an Italian and nods approvingly. Monsieur Delacour kept a close and never failing eye on his daughter as she walked up the stairs behind Charlie to show her the room. He then with a rush of words to his wife who called back in French levitated their bags up to the room they were staying with warm smiles and greetings to all he passed on the way. All Jacob knew of Gabrielle Delacour was that she was a bold girl who was very taken with Harry and could be heard talking to him for a long time in the hallways between bedrooms near midnight until she was accosted by both her mother, father and Charlie to get some sleep.

It seemed that Harry could not get any sleep though. After his midnight talk with Gabrielle he continued to walk around and around the Burrow. When he walked through the lounge, Jacob ducked down under the sheets that covered them both and George snapped his eyes shut both hoping that he would eventually get some rest or he'd fall asleep at the altar tomorrow. Finally, Harry trudged back upstairs seeming to come to some decision but when he reached the attic room that he and Ron were sharing there was a brief conversation, quite a loud as if they were trying to wake up everyone in the house and that was followed by a loud clunk. George groaned and whispered to Jacob that Ron had obviously taken it upon himself to be the one of all the Weasley's that was going to talk to Harry about hurting Ginny in anyway. One of them was going to have to do it eventually because all of the Weasley boys were very protective of their youngest sibling and only sister. Jacob must have fallen asleep while George was blathering away to no one but himself for he woke up the next morning to quite a startling array of faces and giggling in the background.

George's soft snores were still tickling his ear so the man was still fast asleep. He quickly and suddenly remembered that the pair of them had slept in the longue and that was one of the hubs of the household apart from the kitchen. Grimacing as he felt they way he and George had been sleeping next to each other, he tried to think of a decent way to wake up so they'd clear off. He had been pressed up right against George during the night and George's hand had made it down to rest against his inner thigh but thankfully that was covered by the blanket so the other Weasley's couldn't see. But the sheet had slipped down over them sometime in the night and the George's hand against Jacob's back and Jacob's hand over George's bellybutton could be easily seen. With a tiny amount of disgust Jacob could see his blonde hair falling forward into his eyes with messy abandon. He squirmed a little, letting a small yawn escape from his lips, really wanting to smooth his hair down to its normal, less messy state. They hadn't done anything during the night; Harry's insistent pacing had stopped that but Jacob was a wriggler and tended to move about a lot in his sleep whereas George slept like a log.

'Oh!' The cry was distinctively one from Molly who Jacob could see out of the corner of his eye bustling into the room and shooing her other sons out of her way. 'Goodness! They're still asleep, why didn't any of you wake them up? It's past ten!' Jacob felt Molly's hand brush past his ear and shake George's shoulder violently. 'Up, up!' she screeched at them. 'I know it's not your wedding but you still have to get up!' Taking a different tactic when George simply groaned and pulled Jacob closer to him, Molly sighed annoyance and crossed around the arm of the couch where George's head was resting on a pillow. Jacob quickly managed to struggle out of George's grip and pulling the sheets with him so George got a blast of cold air too wake him up. There was a yelp and a thud as Molly whipped the pillow out from under his head. 'Merlin's beard,' she said. 'I have to go now! I didn't have time to wake you up!'

'Bloody stinking hell, mum!' George yelled after her as she promptly left the house. Jacob assumed she must be going to help Ginny and the rest of the girls get ready. 'Merlin,' George simply flopped back down on the couch after she was safely out the door. 'Bloody woman.' He yawned sleepily and buried his head under the pillow Molly had pulled out from under him.

Jacob turned to the nearest person to him which luckily for him happened to be Charlie. He liked the man. 'Where's the shower?' he asked while rubbing sleep from his eyes and managing to keep the sheet around him with one hand.

'Up one level and to the left,' Charlie said. 'But I think Monsieur is in there.' The Weasley's never seemed to call Monsieur Delacour by his first and proper name and Jacob had never even heard it before, the man had been introduced as Monsieur Delacour as well so he'd just call him that also.

'Doesn't matter,' Jacob muttered as he took Charlie's directions. 'He's fit for an old man.' He heard Charlie laugh behind him as he trudged up the stairs and smirked to himself. Of course he wouldn't actually enter if Monsieur Delacour was in there, he'd wait but it was great to make people laugh. Best thing to start a day with, George always made sure he'd made Jacob crack up at least once before they went down to work in the shop. Jacob didn't even need to wait his turn for the shower because he nearly ran into Monsieur who was walking his down to have breakfast. The man looked mildly surprised when Jacob smiled at him as he passed like he hadn't even noticed that he was there yesterday evening or had just mistaken him for another Weasley despite the blonde hair. Or maybe it was just the blonde hair in general that had surprised him. Jacob shrugged, not thinking much else of the matter and was nearly bowled over again when Apolline charged down the corridor after her husband. Though she was a thin and small thing she could really blast people out of her way by just walking past. As Jacob ducked into the bathroom he got a full wave of her strongly fragranced perfume and nearly ended up gagging. It was pleasant smelling aroma but she had just applied an awful lot, enough to last her for at least two days.

Jacob had a quick shower and that was lucky because just as he had finished soaping himself down and rinsing off there was a knock on the door. He stepped out and grabbed the towel nearest to him, dried his hair quickly and wrapping the towel around his waist. He was glad that he had brought up the clothes had been wearing yesterday or he'd have to trudge down to the longue to get them. He stepped into his clothes with surprising speed, discarded the towels, scowled at his messy hair in the mirror and opened the bathroom to an equally messy head of hair. Harry was standing just behind the door and smiled faintly at Jacob, side stepping around him to get into the room. He looked tired, exhausted from his late night rounds of the house. Jacob couldn't even contemplate how nervous the young man must be feeling. The thoughts Harry would be having were a complete mystery to him and he wasn't going to stop and ask how he was feeling in case he was the one that made him realize marriage wasn't quite what he wanted at this stage. Jacob figured if Harry could make it all the way to alter, watch Ginny walk up the aisle, take her hand in his and still not want to run away or call it off at that stage, then he was ready for marriage and wanted it more than anything. Just before marriage jitters, that Jacob had had to deal with from his sister. Anne's were much more violent though, she had taken to stomping around and swatting Jacob over the head whenever he said something she thought ridiculous. Harry was quiet about it but Jacob was sure that everyone in the Burrow saw it was there. Bill or Arthur should probably talk to him.

Downstairs was a busy, busy place. George had finally awoken fully and was chattering away to Percy who was looking relaxingly bored about the whole thing. Bill and Charlie were hectically harassing Ron about what he had said to Harry last night (it turned out everyone had heard the talk and the crash that had followed and all thought the same thing). Ron however was refusing to tell them regarding it as a man to man talk, a private man to man talk. Charlie snorted upon hearing this and said to Bill that Ron probably had just stuttered at Harry and said words like "sister", "don't" and "hurt" before tripping over something while he climbed back into bed. As Jacob came down the stairs, Arthur called him over into the kitchen.

'Hungry, Jacob?' he asked pleasantly spooning some more of what looked like mashed potato onto Ron's plate who had woofed down the first lot. His nose however let him know that the food was actually scrambled egg. 'Made it myself,' Arthur said in an apologetic tone. 'Molly had to go help Ginny get sorted. I don't really know why, Hermione's with her.'

'Everything gets done when Hermione's around,' Ron butted in. 'Believe me, mate.'

'She could have stayed and made us a proper breakfast,' Arthur said. 'But, never mind! Want some egg?'

'Uh,' Jacob said and crinkled his nose. As he was about to speak and just ask for a slice of bread or a piece of fruit when George's hands came down firmly on his shoulders and he whispered in his ear. Jacob flushed, not because of the words he was saying to him but because everyone seated at the table had turned to look at them. George was enjoying all the confused attention and was just telling Jacob that he was popping back to the flat to get his dress robes and Jacob's suit. And he wanted to know whereabouts Jacob's suit was exactly. 'Uh,' Jacob said again trying to remember himself and cursing George mentally because the man liked to put on such a show of everything. 'In the closet I think, it was there the last time I looked. My suit, yeeeah,' he added to George but the others watching blinked as if brought out of a trance and continued eating Arthur's disastrous breakfast but he noticed that many were just eating pieces of fruit and bread. They hadn't wanted to risk the eggs. George nodded and in his typical fashion twisted Jacob around and locked his lips tightly on his in a breathtaking kiss. There was the distinct sound of cutlery dropping on a plate and an awkward cough when George finally pulled away from Jacob's lips, the smile on his face wide. Jacob grumbled under his breath at George who had excused himself from the present company and in a puff of green smoke vanished to the flat. Did George enjoy embarrassing him? Jacob didn't mind openly showing off and flaunting his sexuality but like Molly had said it wasn't their wedding, so George could tone it down a little. Jacob supposed he couldn't help it if weddings made George hot and bothered like he had told him yesterday. It was the strangest turn on.

'What will you have?' Arthur asked him pleasantly as everyone went back to eating now that the spectacle was over.

'Just,' Jacob found his voice was a little squeaky from the kiss and how George had practically left him dying from lack of air. He cleared his throat. 'Some fruit and a bit of bread will be fine, thank you.'

The Burrow started filling up for the wedding at around 1pm. People started arriving and greeting Harry and the rest of the Weasley's. Jacob was feeling a little perplexed at how different this wedding was from a normal Muggle one. When the guests came they all just sort of hung around, chatting joyously amongst themselves before waiting for word from Arthur who had obviously been waiting for word from Molly to walk up the chairs that littered the garden in neat and tidy rows. In front of these chairs a podium stood where the bride and groom and there various other people would stand. Jacob sat third row from the front by himself as George was walking up the aisle as he had said. The house and surrounding areas looked absolutely stunning. Molly had done a good job of decorating them the way that made them look best which meant less is more. There was very little around the podium apart from two huge weeping willows that just made it look stunning. Molly had put something in the trees that made them glow and glitter like there were a hundred butterflies dancing about in between the leaves. Over a short space of time the seats around him filled. All the immediate family and very close friends sat up the front and he was three rows back, not that he minded in the slightest. People had filled in the row beside him. Strong, muscular woman that you would not cross for a Galleon who were all chatting together about Ginny, her age and Harry Potter.

Jacob chose to ignore them and looked around to see who else was filling the seats. A huge, looming man who blocked out the afternoon sun for a second sunk into a seat right at the back. People of all sorts of were moving about and the dull hum of chat could be heard echoing around the orchard as all the people finally settled in. Jacob saw Kingsley. If he could get the man alone for about thirty seconds, that was all it would take, he'd ask about telling Kath and Doug. He simply, desperately needed to tell them. If he wasn't able to tell them, he was sure that his desperation to would go away with the knowledge that he wasn't allowed. The Minister was a reasonable man and had already made a lot of allowances for Jacob so he wouldn't be surprised if he said no. Jacob was certain that the wizards and witches that were part of the department that sorted out Muggle's wouldn't have been very happy with him for letting Jacob do that. But he had too. He could not have spared his parents the information even though the result had been an explosive, draining one. His father had been good about as Jacob had hoped and well, his mother could be forgotten for the time being.

Suddenly the faint roll of music started, it was too quiet to distinguish what the music was but it was there nonetheless, sort of chiming along in the back of your mind. Jacob was a little shocked when it was Harry who walked down the deep Gryffindor red carpet towards the alter accompanied by Molly who was gushing and bright pink as she kept patting Harry's arm looking up at him with adoring eyes like she was the one about to be wedded to him. She left him at the stand before a wizard standing in very regal looking robes and was probably the one to marry them (yet Jacob wouldn't pretend for one second to understand wizard customs). Harry, Jacob couldn't help but think it looked bloody handsome and Ginny was a lucky girl. He wore trimmed very elegant and well fitted dress robes that had most likely been tailored by a witch who was quite smitten with his good looks. Whoever had done it and shown off everything that stood out about him. His sharp green eyes, the tailor had made his normally lankly shape look quite bold and strong and if Ginny hadn't seen him yet she was in for a pleasant surprise. Molly drew Harry into a hug, dabbed her eyes before stepping away from the stand and down into the rows of seats where Apolline gave her a comforting pat on the back.

Next Ron and Hermione came down. Hermione was dressed in a deep blue dress that Jacob was sure would be seen on all of the other bridesmaids. The red faced look Ron's face didn't escape most of the people gathered and the thrilled one on Hermione's didn't either. Ron seemed to be pacing out what would happen during his and Hermione's wedding that if George was right would be being arranged soon also. If Ron was following Harry's guide like George always said he was, he was sure to purpose to Hermione soon. Ron was dressed in a similar fashion to Harry but didn't stand out as much for obvious reasons. Ron was the typical side kick type figure to Harry. It easy to see how happy he was for his mate and his younger sister, he was finally welcoming his best friend into the family.

Bill and Fleur walked down next both looking completely at home with this scenario. The parted as they reached the stand. Fleur went to stand beside Hermione and Bill next to Ron.

Jacob couldn't help but gape like a hopeless fish as George came down with the young lady who must be Luna. He was dressed in the same robes as his brothers before him but he looked stunning in them. To Jacob he outshone Harry. Jacob had difficultly describing how perfect George looked walking down, his arm coiled in Luna's. But he looked dead serious about escorting Luna to the end of the aisle, completely happy for his sister and Harry and under all that he still had that cheeky air about him like he was up to no good. Jacob took the time to look briefly at Molly whose eyes narrowed as she also saw that on George. It unnerved Jacob slightly that he could see himself so easily in Luna's place, he had to shake that out of his head when George passed him and shot him a wink. The muscular woman beside him let out giggles as they thought it had been intended for them. Jacob smiled back biting on his bottom lip a little when George passed and he had Luna separated. Jacob grinned to himself when he remembered what George and said about the Weasley-Smith thing the other night. From the look George kept shooting him from the stand next to Bill (the stupid woman beside him kept thinking the looks were for one of them. Jacob let them have their fun) he knew that George was possibly thinking those thoughts again. If asked Jacob would seriously consider it.

Someone Jacob had never seen before came waltzing down the aisle with even more self assurance than George. Gabrielle was on his arm and she didn't look to happy about it. Jacob thought that was fair enough. The man who was walking her down wasn't exactly a looker. A tall gangly boy with shortly cut black hair but beyond his uninteresting appearance there was something about him that made you know even before meeting him that you could really trust him. Jacob ignored that and looked to see who was coming down next, sure it would be Ginny finally. But it wasn't. There was one more couple to come down, Jacob scowled. He wished this would just get to the point. He wanted to tell George who goddamned sexy he looked standing up there. Next to come were Charlie and an Indian witch that he didn't know. Charlie actually winked at the ladies sitting next to Jacob causing them to nearly pass out from excitement.

Finally the music struck up a cord. And the wizards and witches rose from their seats, Jacob followed suit. Everyone was craning their necks around to see the bride. Ginny was wearing a stunning pure white dress, whiter than anything Jacob had seen and he was sure that it must have some kind of spell on it to keep it that white. Her red hairs that usually fell down her shoulder was pinned up in a bun with a few strands lose. One top of her head was a glittering tiara that sparkled as the lights from the two willows hit it but it could never out do Ginny when she looked like this. The dress itself was a strapless and just slunk down her form, Jacob thought she looked beautiful. She ignored everyone else as she walked up the aisle, her arm looped in her father's. She was concentrated on Harry and no one else. She made her way along with Arthur up to the stand where Harry stood, waiting. Harry's face was completely unreadable with thickset emotion. But a small smile appeared on his face as Arthur left his daughter in Harry's hands, completely sure and content as a father what he was doing was best for his daughter. Ginny's face was bursting with emotion and yet Harry looked quite sure of himself now as he offered Ginny as another small smile and took both her delicate hands. Jacob didn't know much about Ginny but he thought she looked absolutely gorgeous and the prefect bride.

The ceremony kept being interrupted by huge blubbering sobs from the background. The giant man had pulled out his handkerchief the second Ginny had descended. Great shiny tears were swelling in his eyes and fell all the harder when Harry said his hand written vows.

And suddenly appeared they were married. It had been a quick ceremony and it was more about the party and well wishes afterwards. The pair was married and neither looked quite sure what to do about it now. But Harry pulled Ginny into a tight embrace at the foot of the stand and kissed her for all the crowds to see. Hermione had tears in her eyes like the giant but wasn't heaving out great sobs like he. Gabrielle still looked disgruntled and had adopted a foul sneer on her face that even Draco would be proud of. George was whooping behind the married couple, holding onto Ron's shoulder as his brother looked a little dazed. Instead of letting Harry and Ginny walk away together as it happened in most Muggle weddings, the wizards and witches present swarmed to their feet and surrounded them yelling cheers of joy and words of happiness. After the wedding, the party started then and there. There was no way in hell that Jacob would reach Harry and Ginny to offer them congratulations as the amount people milling about them was thicker than gorse. But somehow he found himself standing before George.

'Not bad,' Jacob said thrusting his hands in the pocket of his suit and looking the man up and down again. 'Not bad at all.'

'Clean up nicely, don't I?' George asked with a smirk. 'This is different from a Muggle wedding?' George scanned his eyes over the heads of the clustered wizards and witches looking for anyone he knew. His eye settled back on Jacob who hadn't realized it was a question.

'Oh, yup,' he said. 'Lot more relaxed.' He looked back to George after another quick gaze around at the events unfolding. Harry and Ginny were still enveloped in a cloud of people that didn't look like it was going it clear anytime soon. George standing quite still, his hands in his pockets like Jacob. He caught him watching though and flashed him a smile.

'You look good in a suit,' he commented. Jacob flushed bright pink at the compliment and nodded modestly. 'Nah, I'm serious. You really do, you look great.' He strode forward and placed a passionate kiss on Jacob's lips, his fingers tightly holding Jacob's collar as he did.

'Weddings?' Jacob asked referring to the intensity of the kiss.

George rolled his eyes and offered a small flustered smile. 'I can't help it.'

It was the first time Jacob had danced with George. They had joined the others in a quick dance but received too much attention from people still watching and decided it would be better to sit it out so that Ginny could have her day. Jacob was somewhat annoyed about that because he had wanted to dance with George whether people stared or not but he knew that near the end of the night people wouldn't care in the slightest when the slow, romantic music was rumbling through the Burrow. It was George who had thought they'd better leave because Ginny kept glaring at him whenever Harry whirled her around. And he said that he could feel people staring holes through his right buttock.

Jacob had to wait his turn to speak to Kingsley. Whenever the last person speaking to him cleared off another jumped out of nowhere and accosted the Minister for a chat. Yet Jacob wasn't about to line up for the privilege to speak to him. While he waited there was a variety of people to talk to talk to. Hermione even sat down for a chat and to rest her feet.

'Different from Muggle weddings, isn't it?' she said a permanent smile plastered on her face as she watched Ron being demanded for a dance from Ginny. 'He can't dance,' she murmured. 'He's shocking really, he is. Treads on my toes every step of the way. Sometimes I think it would be better if I led.' She smiled softly. 'Who leads with you and George?'

Jacob grinned. There had been a mild struggle between them before as they decided they both wanted to lead during one particular song. But the dilemma was solved as they sat down after that one. But Jacob was reasonably versatile to the whole thing. He liked to be lead personally but didn't mind leading. 'George,' Jacob said. 'But I can lead too,' he added. He followed Hermione's gaze back to Ginny who was wincing every time Ron stepped on her feet. Harry, too was watching from affair, grinning though he was busy dancing with Molly. 'Are you and Ron? Do you think-?'

He didn't need to ask the full question as a blush from Hermione answered it. She had thought about it the same as Ron. Jacob smirked. Another wedding and he could come to grips with Wizarding culture a bit more. Hermione shrugged in the blue dress. 'Maybe, perhaps, possibly, only if he asks.'

'Why couldn't you ask him?'

'It wouldn't be proper.'

'Times are changing,' Jacob said swivelling around so he could check if Kingsley was free. He heard Hermione let out a low humph of understanding but couldn't talk to her anymore as his window of opportunity was open. Kingsley was smiling at the last person who had walked away from him and was slowly walked towards the piles of food Molly had prepared to select his meal. Jacob nearly jumped to his feet as he remembered the importance of what he was going to ask the Minister. He excused himself from Hermione's company and all but pelted over to the Ministers side.

'Evening, Minister,' someone echoed as Jacob ducked around to get the man's attention.

'Oh, Jacob,' Kingsley said in his deep voice not even surprised in the least.

'Hello, Minister, enjoying yourself?

'Very much so. How is that Patronus coming?' Kingsley must have had a report on his progress from Tarn.

'Alright, thank you. Getting there, slowly,' he added to himself noting the dismay in his own voice.

'Ah, well jolly good. Please excuse me, I promised I'd talk to old Mrs Fig about the state of her garden.' He turned away from Jacob.

'Please, Minister, I just need to ask you one thing!' The Minister turned back around to face him, slight intrigue on his face. 'You let me tell my parents, Minister, Sir, about magic.'

'No one's parents should be left in the dark.'

'Mm, but my best friends ...' Jacob said.

Kingsley sighed, closing his eyes. 'Look, Jacob, I have already made several allowances for you. Many more than the others in the Ministry would like. I cannot let you, I am afraid. Yes you are different and haven't had the years to adjust like other Muggle born wizards and witches but I can't let you. Telling one set of Muggle's was enough and caused some annoyance from the Muggle departments. Telling another few ...' Kingsley shook his head. 'I'm afraid not. If you disobey Ministry regulations your friends will be Oblivated you may even be taken into custody.'

'But-'

'The answer is no.'

Kingsley strode off and Jacob was well aware that the expression on his face would closely resemble one of a scorned puppy. He sighed, shutting his eyes like the Minister had done. He had wanted to tell them, he had had to tell them. But now that he couldn't, he'd just be keeping them in the dark forever more. Maybe that was the best thing to do. Even though he wanted to tell them, he wasn't able to or the consequences would be quite large. He was sure of that. They could just think that for four months he had had no better excuse but the one of training for a new job.

'May I have this dance?'

Jacob turned around and took George's hand offered to him with a slow nod and the smile that came to his lips was slow to come as well. But it was a true smile. 'You may,' he said quite happy for George to guide him out into the floor. This was the best part of weddings, the dancing.

Review please! Takes about thiry seconds and I really appreicate it!