A WIZARD IN STARS HOLLOW

CHAPTER NINE: WHEN RORY GOES TO A WIZARD WEDDING

The next day was Bill and Fleur's wedding and Rory was excited. She had attended weddings before, but she has never been to a wizard's wedding. Rory was in Fred and George's old room with Hermione, who was helping her get dressed. Rory chose to wear the light blue dress Lorelai had bought her a while back and had put her hair in a half-up style with bouncy curls at the ends. "Can you help me?" Hermioone asked her.

"Wow!" Rory said with a smile. "You look amazing, Hermione." She helped her zip up the back of her dress. Hermione wore a red dress and her hair was sleek and shiny with curls. "I take it you don't dress up like this very often?"

"No, I only do this on special occasions." Hermione said. "Do you normally do this?"

"Same as you, actually," said Rory with a shy smile. "The only time I really dressed up like this was a dance I went to with my first boyfriend Jess and a Friday dinner with my grandparents in Hartford. Other than that, school uniforms or casual dress." Hermione nodded. "Do you think Harry will like this?"

"I'm sure he'll love it," said Hermione. "How long have you two been together now?"

"A month, I think," she said. "I lost track." Hermione laughed. "You can thank my grandpa for getting us together. We were at a Friday dinner. Mom got upset because Grandma mentioned my dad, and Grandpa, while we were waiting, said we'd make a good couple. We didn't agree at first, but decided later, after Harry rescued me, that we could try it."

"Harry saved you?" said Hermione, though she spoke with mild suprise. Rory nodded. "What happened?"

"After one of the dinners, I went outside for some air. It was actually the same night Grandpa said we'd make a good couple. I was angry with Grandma and just needed to be alone." Hermione listened to the story. "A man came up to me, Stunned me, and took me to an abandoned house near town. Harry found out and figured out where I was held at. He dueled the wizard and Apparated with me home. He actually stayed the night to make sure I was safe."

Hermione smiled, though her smile was not big like it was earlier. "Harry has what I call a 'saving people thing'. I'm sure Harry told you about him saving Ginny during our second year, saving is godfather the year after that and Mr. Weasley two years later." Rory nodded. "Well, there you go. That's what he does."

"He's very good at it, if you ask me." Rory said as they walked down the stairs. "I guess that's what makes him a Gryffindor." Hermione laughed and they sat at the table for breakfast. Harry was wearing a set of black dress robes. His hair was still messy as always but he looked nice. "You look great, Harry."

"You look beautiful." Harry said back. "Not trying to impress me, are you?" She laughed and hugged him. Over his shoulder, she saw Ginny's jealous look and quickly pulled away from him. "What's wrong?" Harry looked over his shoulder at Ginny. "Don't worry. She'll come round." Rory nodded and finished her breakfast. "Let's just keep the snogging down to a minimum, eh?" Rory smiled and sat down.

Later that evening, the wedding was on. Rory found out that most of the wedding was just like a Muggle wedding, except for the magically refilling champagne and wine glasses and fairie lights around the shelter area. After the ceremony, everyone moved to tables or danced. Harry led her away from everyone else and stopped when he saw an old man sitting alone at a table. "Are you Mr. Doge?" he asked the man who nodded. "You know who I am, right?"

"Harry Potter," he said with a kind smile. "Sit down, my boy." Harry and Rory sat down. He saw her but kept quiet.

"I read your article about Dumbledore, sir," said Harry. "It was very touching. I didn't know you knew him that well."

"Albus and I have a history." Doge said. "We went to Hogwarts together. Dumbledore was going through a lot at the time with his father in Azkaban and his sister having fits of anger every now and then." Harry looked at him strangely. "What is it?"

"I knew he had a brother," said Harry, "but I never knew he had a sister. I also read that Rita Skeeter has a book coming out." Doge didn't look happy about it, but, before he could say anything about it, they heard a cackle from the table over. A small woman with snowy white hair was sitting there drinking some wine.

"Rita Skeeter?" she said. "I read her articles all the time! Yes, my boy, she does have a book coming out soon. She interviewed you, didn't she Elphias? She also interviewed Bathilda Bagshot. You know what that is?"

"A monstrous betrayal!" Doge said angrily. "Rita had no right to interview anyone about him!"

"Who's Bathilda Bagshot?" Harry asked confused.

"Only the most celebrated magical historian of the century." the woman said. She went on about the book, even talking about Dumbledore as if he were a liar and kept secrets from anyone. Harry sat up straighter when she mentioned Godric's Hollow.

"Dumbledore grew up in Godric's Hollow?" he said.

"Yes, he did," she said. "Honestly, boy, are you sure you knew Dumbledore at all?"

Harry took Rory outside for some air. "Don't listen to her, Harry," said Rory. "From what you told me, Dumbledore was a great man and taught you so much."

"She may be right, though," Harry said. "Dumbledore kept a lot of secrets from everyone, including myself. I wish I knew more about him."

Rory stiffened when she saw something silver come flying through the shelter. It solidified into a lynx. "Is that a Patronus?" she asked and Harry nodded slowly.

"The Minster of Magic is dead," said a deep and slow voice. The Ministry has been infiltrated. They are coming. They are coming." The Patronus vanished and everyone in the tent started running around scared.

"What's going on?" Rory yelled over the yelling and screaming. "Harry?"

"Move!" Harry shouted at her. "I'll take you home!"

"There's no time!" Ron yelled while he dueled a Death Eater. Rory saw glass smashing and the tent started burning. "Let's get out of here!" He grabbed Hermione's hand with Harry and Rory and they vanished.

Rory felt the familiar sensation of being squished by invisble bands and saw nothing but darkness for a few seconds. She gasped for breath when the feeling stopped and looked around. "We're in London?"

"Schafstbury Avenue." Hermione explained as they hurried along the sidewalk to an alleyway. "We need to change clothes." She opened her small beaded bag and pulled out everyone's clothes. She and Rory went behind a dumpster to change while Harry and Ron did the same nearby. When they finished changing, they returned to the entrance of the alley. "We need to find a place to think."

"There's a coffee shop down the street," said Harry and he led them inside the shop. The four of them sat at a table where a waitress asked for their orders. Hermione ordered four coffees and they started brainstorming. "Well, can anyone think of a place where we'll be safe?"

"The Leaky Cauldron?" Ron suggested. "We'd be around a lot of people."

"No!" Hermione said. "Death Eaters could be there and they know Harry very well. Most of them had met him before and know what he looks like." Ron looked slightly disappointed. "There has to be somewhere else. Somewhere more protected. We can't go back to the Burrow."

"Grimmauld Place." Harry said automatically. Ron and Hermione looked horrified. "Listem. It's protected by the Fidelius Charm and other enchantments. I heard from Mr. Weasley that Moody placed some extra enchantments there before he was killed."

"I agree with Harry." Rory piped up. "If that's the only place we have left, then let's go!"

"Even Voldemort couldn't find us there," said Harry, "and we need to plan." Two men walked in and went to the counter as they talked. Harry saw them and said, "Get down!" The two men pulled out wands and they were suddenly bombarded by a volley of spells and curses. "Rory!" He shot a Stunner at one of them, but the Death Eater blocked it. "Confringo!" he shouted and one of the tables exploded causing the Death Eater to fly behind the counter.

"Petrificus Totalus!" Hermione yelled and the second one fell backward behind the counter as well. Rory stayed hidden behind a table until she thought it was safe to come out. "It's okay," said Hermione. "It's over." Rory slowly walked toward them, carefully stepping over the broken glass and ceramics.

"This one's Thorfin Rowle," said Ron nodding to a dark-haired man who he had Stunned. He looked at the second man. "That's Dolohov." He stepped over the two men and looked down with murder in his eyes. "So, what do we do with you, eh? You'd kill us if you had the chance, won't you?"

"Get the lights." Harry said taking charge. Ron used his Deluminator to extinguish the lamps. "Hermione, get the blinds, please." Hermione did as told. "Let's get out of here." The four Apparated out of the shop and, when they appeared, Rory was slightly disappointed. She saw houses with the numbers eleven and thirteen, but there was no number twelve. Harry tapped the door with his wand and it swung open.

"Hang on," said Hermione drawing her wand. "Homenum Revelio!" Nothing happened. "Nobody is here but us." They stepped forward but stopped when the carpet moved. Rory stood frozen as the dust solidified into the image of an old man. Hermione had tears in her eyes, but it wasn't from the dust. The dusty figure pointed at them and flew toward them.

"We didn't kill you!" Harry yelled and the dusty figure vanished. "Must be Moody's enchantments." He held his hand out to Rory, which she took and they went to look around the house. Harry gave her a short tour of the house. He first showed her the sitting room and then the kitchen before taking her to the second floor landing. "This is the bedroom of my godfather, Sirius. I wish you would have met him."

Rory smiled and said, "From what you told me, he seemed like a really interesting man." Harry laughed, but it wasn't full-hearted as usual. Rory noticed that his laugh was bitter and sad. She put her arm around him in a hug. "I know it's been almost two years since you lost him."

"Yeah," he said. "Let's go look around more." She followed him through the house before heading back downstairs to the sitting room. By the time they had a small dinner and went to bed, it was very late at night.

The next day, Rory woke up feeling somewhat refreshed and a little scared when she saw that Harry, Ron and Hermione were nowhere to be seen. It took some time before she found them in the kitchen. "You could have woke me up, you know," she said a little irritated. "Or at least told me you'd be down here."

"Sorry," said Harry. "You were sleeping so peacefully, I didn't want to wake you." Rory took a seat at the long table. "We were just trying to figure out who this R.A.B. person is." He read the note to her so she knew what it said. "Any ideas?"

Rory raised her hands in surrender. "What are you asking me for? I'm new to all this."

Harry sighed. "Well, it's got to be someone." His eyes got wide for a moment as a thought hit him. "Ron, you said there was a sign on the door that had the name 'Regulus Arcturus Black'." Ron nodded. "The name matches the initials in this note. He has to be the guy." Rory jumped when they heard a thumping sound from nearby. Harry got up with his wand out and opened a cabinet door. He reached inside the cabinet and pulled a small crreature out of it by the scruff of its neck. "Kreacher," he said, "were you spying on us?"

"Kreacher was watching," the creature admitted. He saw Ron and Hermione and started muttering to himself. "Harry Potter brought his friends, the blood traitor and the Mudblood." His large eyes turned to Rory and he muttered more. "He also brings a Muggle into the house of Black. Oh, what my mistress would say if she ever found out."

"I order you not to call anyone by those titles, Kreacher." Harry said firmly. "Now, there was a locket like this in the house." He held up the fake locket. "Have you seen it? Where is it now?"

"He came in the night." Kreacher said in his low bullfrog voice. "He took many things, including the locket."

"Who did?" Harry asked, but the elf didn't speak. "Who was it, Kreacher?"

"Mundungus." Kreacher said licking his lips. "Mundungus Fletcher."

"Find him." Harry ordered him. The elf vanished with a loud crack leaving them alone.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I really hope you are enjoying this story as much as I am writing this. I am sure you are all aware by now, I am setting this during Deathly Hallows for Harry Potter and Season One of Gilmore Girls. I have plans for later chapters, so prepare for some comedy, romance, adventure and even despair as we go along the journey of the relationship between Harry Potter and Rory Gilmore.