DISCLAIMER: The great JK Rowling owns Harry Potter, other characters and stuff… okay? Okay.
Chapter 15: The Wedding
Three Broomsticks Inn underwent many renovations since Harry first came there in his third year. Rumors say that the management of the inn would upgrade it to a hotel in a year's time.
He chose the best rooms in the hotel for Ron and Hermione's guests but chose a particularly nice one for Ginny, which was adjacent to his suite. Night is slowly falling and the guests keep on arriving. The Weasleys will be coming first thing the next morning but the Grangers were already there. Dinner will be served in thirty minutes.
He was still full because of his tea with Cho that afternoon but started to get ready for dinner. The front desk told him that Ginny has checked in already as well as Hermione and Ron. The two bridesmaids, Padma and Parvati Flooed in a few moments ago and the groomsmen, Fred and George, are flying in.
Choosing his brand new moss green robes, he quickly dressed up. At quarter to seven, he was on his way to the restaurant, Floating Island, at the rooftop of the inn, overlooking the meadows behind Three Broomsticks.
Ron, Hermione, Mr. and Mrs. Granger, and Ginny were already there, sitting on a long table. Ron and Hermione were talking animatedly to Mr. and Mrs. Granger while Ginny was just looking at the meadows below, in deep thought.
"A Sickle for your thoughts." He said, easing down on the chair beside Ginny's.
"Hey Harry." She said though quite weakly. "Where's Cho?"
Harry's forehead creased. "Cho?"
"Yeah, I thought she's here." She said, taking her eyes off the meadow.
Harry shrugged. "Yeah she is. Maybe she went shopping around." He answered.
Ginny nodded. The two of them fell into an uncomfortable silence.
A little while later, Fred and George came in, followed by Padma and Parvati. Harry thought the entourage was a bit funny. Both bridesmaids and groomsmen were identical twins. But he didn't remark on this, he just went on and looked at the menu.
It was an okay dinner. Ginny wasn't silent all the while though she doesn't seem like herself at all that night. Something must really be bothering her. Harry could see the anxiety behind Ron's every laughter as well as Hermione's excitement behind every giggle. After a few more minutes of light talk over tea, they all decided to hit the sack to get ready for the big day tomorrow.
Ginny went down their corridor first. She doesn't know that their rooms were adjacent. He hid behind the corner and watched her open the door of her room and get in before he quickly walked in his own room.
Ginny looked at the clock above the fireplace of her room. It read quarter before midnight. She was tired but she doesn't feel a bit sleepy. She felt helpless and wanted to cry but she can't. She was thinking of Harry. Was he thinking of her too?
She got up and looked around the room. The light curtains of the French doors leading to the balcony outside were slightly following the night breeze. She could see the vivid summer night sky outside. Without thinking, she grabbed her dressing robe and went into the balcony.
It was overlooking the meadow where Colin proposed to her. She looked at the spot where he laid his blanket, waiting for her. They the memory of that morning started flashing in her head. She could feel tears slowly building up in the sides of her eyes. She closed them and tried to push Colin out of her mind. She focused on how light yet cold the breeze was… how it made her long hair dance around her face… when suddenly…
"Can't sleep, Ginny?" A voice she knew too well said behind her.
She quickly opened her eyes and turned around to see Harry, in his pajamas and flannel-dressing robe, in the balcony adjacent to hers, they were only separated by a waist high, wrought-iron fence.
"Harry…" She said, hiding her shock. "You're still up."
"I can see that." He smiled. "You are, too."
"Yeah… Can't sleep." She said. "The nigh sky is too inviting, I had to go out and look at it." She said, gazing back at the sky.
He walked and stood beside her, the fence between them. "That's Sirius." He pointed a star in the heavens.
"Sirius?"
"A constellation. Reminds me of my godfather." He said.
"Oh, Professor Black." She smiled, remembering Gryffindor's newest Head of House and Transfiguration teacher.
"Yeah. Professor Black." Harry repeated. Sirius joined the Hogwarts staff the year after he left, when Dumbledore was made Minister of Magic and McGonagall was promoted Headmistress.
There was silence as the two of them looked at the skies. After a few moments, they started to name off constellations they studied in Astronomy.
"Funny, they used to give us a hard time then." Ginny said laughing.
"Yeah."
Then silence again.
It was Harry who broke it. "Why did you turn Colin down?" He asked.
Ginny's smile disappeared. "W-why did you ask?"
"Just curious." Harry shrugged and looked down into the meadow.
Ginny sighed. "I wasn't sure I want to get married yet. And wasn't sure I love Colin that much, anyway. It's better this way." She, however, is looking towards the horizon.
"Ginny…" Harry looked at her.
"Yes Harry?" She turned to him almost abruptly that their noses almost bumped.
Ginny's heart started to beat uncontrollably as she gazed into his green eyes. They stood there just like that, with the wrought iron fence between them. She tore her eyes from his and distanced herself from him. "Do you want to tell me something?"
Harry looked at her for sometime when he answered, "No…"
Ginny nodded. "I better go in, it's getting cold." She turned her back at him and started walking inside.
"Umm, Ginny?"
"Yes, Harry?" she just turned her head at him.
Harry seems to fumble with words. "I…well… good night."
She smiled, "Goodnight." And she went in.
She dropped herself on her bed and tried to sleep. But she couldn't. Her mind keeps on drifting to the next bedroom. She tossed and turned, trying to count sheep but those sheep started having those round glasses Harry used to wear (he still does sometimes).
She just stared at the ceiling, waiting for sleeplessness to sink in. The sun's rays were already starting to beam out of the horizon when she finally drifted into a shallow, uneasy sleep.
He was back at Hogwarts, running along those familiar corridors but as though running through them for the first time. He was following a red head girl. Ginny. She keeps on disappearing in the corners.
"Ginny!" He shouted. "Ginny, wait for me!"
And then he heard her shout.
"Ginny, Ginny! Where are you?" He tried to look for her. But her shouts were becoming fainter and fainter.
"Harry! Help me, Harry!" Her voice seems to come from so far. Somewhere below him yet above.
"Ginny!" He shouted helplessly.
Then he woke up.
Sweat was running down his forehead. Quickly sat up on his bed, trying to catch his breath. It was just a dream. Ginny's just in the room beside his. He looked at the clock beside his bed. Well, maybe she isn't because it was almost time for their breakfast in Floating Island.
He quickly changed and almost ran to the rooftop. The group was there already. Blushing Hermione, serious-looking Ron, the animated parents, Fred and George talking with Padma and Parvati but there was no Ginny.
Harry jogged towards the table. "Where's Ginny?"
Hermione shrugged, then gave him a mumbled "morning"
All others shook their heads and carried on with their conversations. They didn't even notice that Harry stormed out of the restaurant. He was running full speed as he turned to their corridor when he bumped into somebody.
"Harry!" It was Ginny. Dressed in old rose robes "Where's the fire?"
"Oh, Ginny, I was just…" He looked at her smiling face. "I was just about to get something from my room. Do you mind waiting for me?"
"Okay." She smiled.
He quickly went into his room and walked around, pretending he was getting something. A few moments later he went out and smiles. "Let's go."
"You look harassed, Harry. Everything alright?" She asked.
"Yeah… just wasn't able to sleep well last night… I'm…" Harry couldn't think of a reason. "Not used to sleeping in other beds. How bout you?"
"Oh I slept like a baby." She said, avoiding his eyes.
They went to the rooftop in silence. When they reached the table, the group was already stuffing themselves with breakfast.
"Oh, there they are." Hermione said. "C'mon or Fred and George will finish your breakfast for you."
They sat down opposite each other and ate their breakfast silently, avoiding each other's eyes.
Ginny took an extra long bath that afternoon. The wedding was to take place at five in the gardens of Three Broomsticks. She looked at the clock on near the sink. It was quarter before four, she needed to dress up and help Hermione dress.
Getting up from her bath, filled with lavender scent, she dried up and slowly slipped into her gown. She fixed her hair into a bun and adorned it with chamomile.
It was half past four when she went into Hermione's room. Hermione was already in her white gown while Padma and Parvati were fixing her veil on top of her brown hair.
"Oh, Hermione, you look so beautiful." She said.
Hermione smiled at her but didn't say anything. She looked really good in her mother's gown. It was quite old-fashioned with its many buttons and long sleeves. But looked great just the same.
Padma and Parvati are already dressed in their light pink gown and pink headdresses. They too were smiling happily. The atmosphere in the room was light and cheerful as they helped Hermione get ready. It was five minutes before five when they walked out of the room and started going down to the gardens.
Mr. and Mrs. Granger met them at the gate. The three left Hermione with them and started lining up for the aisle. George and Fred took Padma and Parvati's hand and led them down the aisle as an organist played the wedding march. When the two pairs reached the makeshift altar, Ginny looked ahead and saw Harry beside Ron, waiting for Hermione's walk. Harry looked really handsome in his tux and with his hair pulled back slickly. She slowly walked down the aisle, smiling at the people there. Then her eyes met Harry's and they smiled at each other before she took her place beside Padma and Parvati.
Everybody turned their heads to the gate. Hermione was already there with her father. They slowly walked down the aisle. She looked at Ron, who was so captivated on how Hermione looked so beautiful.
Her eyes then fell on Harry's as Ron reached for Hermione and helped her up the altar. They smiled at each other again and faced the minister.
"Dearly beloved…"
It was a very beautiful ceremony, Harry thought as he was sitting down one of the tables in the reception. Ron and Hermione are eating happily in their own table on a small stage. Ginny was sitting across him as and the two twins were there with him too.
Hagrid was in another table with Dumbledore, McGonagall and Sirius. They looked like they were having fun, too. Harry looked over at Dumbledore. He said he wanted to speak to him after the reception, in the inn. Now, he was wondering what the wise old man wanted with him.
He gazed around the table. Ginny's face is already flushed, after drinking too many champagne. Padma and Parvati are talking animatedly with Fred and George.
Angela and Drew are on the next table with Neville and Lavender. They too were laughing. His eyes fell on his watch. It was nine pm. Ron and Hermione's portkey to Paris was due at ten. He was about to get Ron's attention when the Hermione stood up and the girls followed her to the dance floor. It was time to throw the bouquet.
Padma and Parvati were persuading Ginny to go but she declined. The twins started walking to the dance floor, both unsuccessful.
"Why didn't you go with them?" Harry asked.
Ginny just smiled and shook her head. They turned to watch the ladies line up behind Hermione to get ready to catch her throwaway bouquet. Hermione threw it very high… it went pass every girl in the dance floor and landed on Ginny's feet.
Her face registered shock as Hermione came to get her. She was red all over when she stood behind Hermione as Ron pulled the garter from under her gown. Hermione was laughing hysterically.
George and Fred declined saying they don't have to line up to get to kiss Ginny. Though they pushed Harry towards the dance floor.
Ron was looking at him with a wicked grin on his lips. Before he knew it, the garter came falling down his head.
Ginny was definitely red all over as she sat down Hermione's chair. Harry kneeled down before her and started putting the garter up Ginny's leg as the newlyweds watched over.
"Higher! Higher!" The guests cheered.
Harry felt heat creeping up his cheeks as he pushed the garter further. Fred and George were cheering from behind while Ron patted his shoulder. "That'll do, Harry!" He was laughing.
He helped Ginny get up and the guests asked them to kiss. He looked at Ginny and she just shrugged. He brushed his lips on her red cheeks and quickly pulled back.
He saw Ron pull Hermione away as the guests started filling the dance floor. They started running for the gate. Harry and Ginny following closely behind. The couple turned back to the crowd and waved. As one body the crowd waved goodbye, too.
The four ran towards the inn. Hermione and Ron quickly changed and got their bags from their rooms. Harry got the portkey from his and met them at Ginny's room. It was five minutes before ten when Hermione and Ron held on tightly on the portkey (a deflated basketball).
"Ready now…" Harry said, looking at his wristwatch.
"Three minutes… Two… One…" He and Ginny watched as the newlyweds disappeared. "They're off to their honeymoon."
"Yeah." Ginny said, dropping herself on her bed.
"Aren't you going back to the party?" He asked.
"Maybe later. Go ahead. I'll rest for a while." She said, closing her eyes.
"Okay…" He said slowly. For a few moments he just stood there as he looked at Ginny, whose eyes were closed. Then he turned and slowly went back to the garden.
Ginny quickly opened her eyes as soon as she heard her door open and close. Harry was on his way to the garden. She sat up and pulled the garter from her thigh. Her gaze landed on Hermione's bouquet on her dresser. If superstitions were true, she'll be the next to marry! Ha!
Ginny slowly walked towards the balcony. She could hear the laughter and music from the garden though she couldn't see them. She looked down the meadow and saw a familiar figure walking alone. It was Harry.
Chapter 15 friends! Please r/r. the end is near…hang on!