Later that night, Ginny and Harry burst into her flat, still laughing at the muggle comedy they'd just seen.
'And the dog?' gasped Ginny. She and Harry exploded with laughter. A tap at the window interrupted. A large hawk was on Ginny's window sill. Ginny quickly let the bird in and took the letter that was bound to it's leg. Instead of flying away, the bird stayed. Harry quickly found some food for it and gave it some water. The bird took this gratefully and then perched on Ginny's coat rack.
'Must have come a long way,' mused Harry.
'It sure did. It's from Australia. Ron's getting married.' Said Ginny flatly.
'What?!' exclaimed Harry 'he was here barely a week ago professing his love fore Hermione!'
'I know. All he says here is she's one of his work mates and her name's Eloise. Geez, Ron. Thanks for the notcie.' Said Ginny sarcastically, giving Harry the letter to read.
'I can't believe him sometimes.' Harry shook his head as he read the letter.
'Mum won't be happy. The wedding's tomorrow, she'd have wanted to be there. You think he could have waited for a few days. Or maybe a few years.' Ginny stormed into the kitchen to make herself a drink. Harry followed her.
'Ginny, I'm sure Ron will realise he's making a mistake. I don't think he's stupid enough to get married on the rebound.' Ginny snorted.
'Yeah, but he was stupid enough to tell Hermione he loved her two days after she gave birth to another man's baby. Who knows what that git will do next?'
The next morning, Ginny was awoken by a visit from her tearful mother.
'How could he get married without his family there, Ginny? I don't understand Ron sometimes. I mean, if he'd told us a little earlier your father could have arranged a portkey.'
'That's just it though, mother. He didn't want us there because he knew we'd object.' Said Ginny, hugging her mother.
'Promise me that you and Harry will give me at least six months notice.' Mrs Weasley begged. Ginny laughed.
'Of course mother. We were planning on eloping, but we'll stay for you.' Mrs Weasley opened her mouth to protest.
'Elope? Dear you just couldn't do that!'
'Mother, I was joking.'
Harry decided to call in on Remus and Arabella.
'Harry!' Arabella greeted him with a warm hug. Remus came to the door from the kitchen and his face lit up when he saw Harry.
'I was wondering when the new Quidditch star would descend from on high to mingle with us commoners.' He hugged Harry.
'How are the girls?' Harry asked. Remus pulled a face.
'Don't ask. They're tag team crying. We just get Alana to quiet down when Rose starts.'
'Sounds like fun.' Harry laughed.
'Definitely,' agreed Arabella 'Would you like a drink Harry?'
'I won't say no.' He followed Remus and Arabella into the kitchen.
'So how's Ginny? Sirius tell's me you finally popped the question.'
'Sure did. She's a little upset at the moment. We got a letter from Ron last night telling us he's getting married today.' Arabella gasped.
'Today? But I thought he was in love with Hermione?'
'Well, he is. He's doing it on the rebound and he gave us all such short notice so that no one could go and stop him.' Remus shook his head.
'He always did have a thing about Hermione. But she wasn't interested in him that way.' Harry nodded.
'If he'd told her all this when we were fifteen, I'm guessing things would have been different. But, Ron never could say what he felt.' Harry sipped the tea Arabella had poured for him. A loud cry suddenly came from the nursery. Arabella wearily stood up, but Harry stopped her.
'Let me go. Babies seem to like me.'
'Go right ahead. Call when you need help.' Chortled Remus.
Harry followed the cries to the nursery to find it was Rose upset. He carefully picked her up and rocked her slightly. The baby immediately calmed and shut her eyes. Harry stroked her tiny hand, and sat in the chair beside her crib. Remus and Arabella entered the room. Their mouths dropped open when they saw Rose sleeping peacefully in Harry's arms.
'How on earth did you do that?' Arabella asked faintly 'It usually takes us half an hour or more.' Harry shrugged.
'I guess it's another one of those unexplained things I can do.' He carefully got up and placed Rose in her crib. He could hear Alana fussing in her crib and he silenced her with a gentle stroke on the forehead.
'I don't think they'll annoy you for awhile.' Harry said.
'That's it.' Arabella declared 'I'm taking you into the Ministry to have the full extent of your magic tested one of these days. If you can quiet babies like that, I want it in a bottle.' Harry laughed.
'It's not that hard. You just have concentrate on them becoming content. Stroking their hand or forehead should help.' Remus nodded. He'd had enough experience of Harry's unexplained magic to know that what Harry said would work. It had been the same with his werewolf transformations. Harry had brewed a variation on the Wolfsbane potion and told Remus to look forward to strolls under the full moon. Sure enough, the next full moon came and Remus was cured. Harry had had hundreds of werewolfs come to him when news had spread and he'd managed to cure them all. Remus was sure it wasn't the potion that had helped, but Harry's magic.
Harry looked in on James, who was napping, before he left.
'He's gorgeous,' he whispered to Arabella and Remus 'I can't wait to have my own.'
'You'd better talk to Ginny then.' Remus grinned. Harry returned the grin and left for home.
He arrived home to find Ginny and her mother knee deep in wedding magazine. Ginny squealed when Harry walked into the room from the fireplace, and ordered him out.
'But I won't look.' He pleaded. Ginny shook her head.
'No way. It's going to be a secret until I walk down the aisle. Go and have a butterbeer in Hogsmeade or, I know. Go and check on your house. Do something.' Ginny's hair was falling into her eyes and she was growing more and more flustered. Harry kissed her on the cheek and then disapparated.
'Finally!' exclaimed Ginny, collapsing back onto the couch. She picked up the nearest magazine and considered the design on the page.
'I like it,' she said slowly 'But I'm not sure about the neck line.' Mrs Weasley agreed.
'Maybe something like this.' She touched the page with her wand and the dress showed a different neck line.
'Better,' agreed Ginny 'should we go and see Madame Malkin and see if she can do this? I'd go to a muggle dress maker but that would take ages. Madame Malkin could have it mad in about ten minutes.' Mrs Weasley nodded.
'Why don't we ask Hermione along Ginny? You could probably see about her bridesmaid dress at the same time.' Mrs Weasley dug out a second magazine and looked at the design Ginny had chosen. She hadn't liked the original colour, so she'd improved it. The two women gathered the magazines they wanted and disapparated.
'Of course I want to come!' exclaimed Hermione 'But what about Alexander?'
'Bring him with you dear. I'll look after him while Madame Malkin fits you two out.' Said Mrs Weasley kindly.
Fifteen minutes later they were in Madame Malkin's shop in Diagon Alley. The witch had carefully looked over the muggle designs and then told Ginny she could do them. She'd produced some material and had set to work with her wand. Within half an hour, Ginny's dress was near completion.
'Try this on for size while I start on the bridesmaid dress.' Ginny took the gown into the change room while Madame Malkin worked her magic with Hermione's dress. Ginny stepped out of the change room and her mother nearly cried.
'Oh Ginny!' she exclaimed 'You look wonderful.' Ginny smiled happily and twirled the skirt of her dress. Meanwhile, Madame Malkin had made headway on Hermione's dress. The pieces were being sewed together while Madame Malkin attended to Ginny.
'I'll just give it a bit of a tuck there,' she muttered, tapping the seams with her wand 'and fix that neck there.' She fiddled further and then stood back to admire her handiwork.
'Haven't had much experience with muggle designs, but they come out quite nicely, don't they?' Ginny agreed, and then sat beside her mother while Hermione tried on her gown.
'I'm not sure Ginny. I've still got my pregnancy weight on. Shouldn't we wait until closer to the wedding?' Madame Malkin shook her head.
'Don't worry dear. I can place a charm on the seams so they adjust to your weight as it changes. You'll just need to wear it for about an hour on the day before the wedding and you'll be set.'
Ginny thanked Madame Malkin an hour later as she wrapped up the two dressed that had been completely finished and fitted. She'd also added a number of extra charms to protect Ginny's dress against spills, rip and most importantly, a big wind.
'Guarrenteed not to blow up in wind and show your underwear to your family and friends.' Madame Malkin winked.
The months preceding Harry and Ginny's wedding flew past. Ginny was in a constant state over flowers, hall bookings, and other wedding arrangements. Harry too, was in a bit of a state. He'd asked Ron to be his best man, but Ron had declined upon learning Hermione would be bridesmaid. Ginny had had a blazing row with Ron over his pig-headedness, but he still refused. It was doubtful that he and his wife would even attend.
'Not that I care.' Ginny stormed 'That git is quite welcome to stay in Australia and never come back!'
Harry had asked Ron a few more times, but each answer was more and more determined. At last, Harry decided to ask Sirius.
'But what about Ron?' Sirius asked, puzzled.
'I've asked him and he's refused. Ginny's incredibly angry with him. Hermione's angry at him, and Viktor's ready to rip his head off.' Harry replied. Sirius laughed, but agreed.
Harry started to regret making Sirius his best man on his buck's night. Sirius, Remus, Viktor, Neville Longbottom, Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas had taken Harry on a whirlwind trip through London's seedy bars. Ginny had threatened to curse Sirius if Harry ended up in any place other than Hogsmeade or London, so Sirius had had to content himself with merely getting Harry obscenely drunk.
'Urgh,' Harry moaned, waking up on the floor of Sirius' house. His mouth tasted awful and his head felt as though he'd been dropped off a broom at a hundred feet up.
'Wakey wakey!' sang Sirius, pulling the blanket off Harry and opening the curtains. A beam of sunlight hit Harry's face and he burrowed into the cushion his head lay on to block it out.
'Come on Harry! Time to get up.' Neville Longbottom stood over Harry, blocking the sun. Harry reluctantly got up and shuffled into the kitchen. Viktor, Remus, Seamus and Dean were all sitting around the kitchen table, looking as though they'd had a nice early night.
'Why aren't you all looking as bas as I feel?' Harry muttered, plonking himself in a chair. Remus poured Harry a steaming cup of potion.
'Here, drink this. We probably should have given you the "No Hangover" potion last night before we went out, but that would have taken away all the fun.' Harry gave Remus a death stare.
'Yes, I'm sure it wouldn't have been as much fun if my brain was still functioning this morning.' Harry replied, sipping the potion. His eyesight became less blurred and some of the pressure in his head relieved. He tipped the rest of the potion down his throat and checked his watch.
'Twelve fifteen.' He murmured. He did a double take. 'Twelve fifteen?!' he yelped. He raced out of the kitchen into the shower.
'It was a bit mean to put his watch forward two hours, Sirius.' Viktor laughed.
'Mean, but incredibly funny.' Sirius snorted.
Two hours later, a showered, dressed and sober Harry stood at the end of the aisle, waiting for Ginny. He watched as the pews filled up with his friends and Ginny's family. Mrs Weasley looked as though she would cry at any moment. Luckily, she had baby Alexander to keep her busy. She'd volunteered to look after him during the ceremony. Sirius watched in amusement as Harry fidgeted continually, checking his watch every thirty seconds.
'She's supposed to be late. Would you just relax?' Harry breathed deeply and tried to control himself. At that moment he saw a familiar face walk in. Ron slid into a back pew along with a pretty blonde. Harry pointed him out to Sirius.
'Didn't think he'd turn up.' Harry whispered.
Before too much longer, the wedding march played and Hermione walked into the church. Harry could see Viktor grinning as he watched Hermione walk towards them. She looked radiant. Her dress was a cream, off the shoulder creation, with a beaded bodice. Harry looked eagerly towards the door for Ginny. She came in, arm in arm with her father. Harry gasped. He'd never seen her look so beautiful. Her hair was hanging simply down her back, tiny wisps framing her face. Her dress was a more elaborate version of Hermione's. Crisp white, intricate beading. In her arms she carried a bouquet of pure white lilies, in honour of the mother-in-law she'd never know. She gave Harry a dazzling smile as she stood beside him, waiting for the minister to begin.
Soon, the new Mr and Mrs Harry Potter stepped out of the church to thunderous applause. Hermione had enchanted flower blossoms to gently fall over them. Mrs Weasley was a basket case as she hugged her only daughter and new son. The photographer was snapping away, none other than Colin Creevy.
Harry helped his bride into the car and waved to his family and friends. Ginny tossed he bouquet and there was a mad scramble to catch it. Finally Hermione took a 'speccy' over the pack, much to Viktor's pleasure.
Harry kissed Ginny as the car pulled away.
'I love you.' He told her. She smiled at him.
'I love you too.' Ginny rested her head on Harry's shoulder.
'Now we can get on with life.' Harry murmured as he stroked her hair.
