DISCLAIMER: I hereby declare in front of Holy God that I did not create any of the characters, or the world in fact, within the following tale. Any similarities to real people or events are purely coincidental. No animals were hurt during the making of this story. Thank you.

Butterflies and Orange Cake

The sun glistened over the graveyard and slithered up the steps and into the church. He turned towards the doors lifting his hand up to his face to protect his eyes from the blinding light. No one in the packed church seemed to notice how uncomfortable this light was, least of all Ron and Hermione. Then that awful familiar cold swept over him like a blanket of ice, but his scar still burning white-hot. Harry fought to stay on his feet looking up to the ceiling of stained glass only to see those red, snake-like eyes looking right back at him.

Harry threw open his eyes. "That's new," he thought brushing the cold shudder aside. "He's dead," Harry said so forcefully to remind himself that he wasn't sure if he had said it out loud. He hadn't noticed Cho stir beside him as he gently released himself from her arms and drew back the curtain to reveal a window enchanted with butterflies. Harry laughed to himself, remembering Ron's argument with Hermione about this choice of decoration, saying that he had a reputation to uphold. "I'll give him the toughest keeper in the league!" Hermione's voice echoed in Harry's mind. He also remembered the relief he felt when they decided to compromise as the big orange cake Ron had wanted was being carefully wheeled up the driveway by Mrs. Weasley, her wand raised keeping Fred and George at a considerable distance. Hermione was running about the garden of The Burrow with poor Ginny in tow. Harry saw the now famous clipboard that she was carrying was still flashing, the light reflecting off their faces. She had assigned various tasks to everybody and the task they were to do would flash until it had been completed to her standards.

Harry felt Cho's arms wrap tightly around his waist as he turned, sweeping her jet-black hair away from her eyes, kissing her softly on her brow. Cho responded with that sweet smile of hers and craned herself on the tips of her toes to reach Harry's lips. Harry liked to tease her by refusing to lower his head to hers as he was over six foot now but Cho had barely grown since the first time they had played each other at Quidditch.

However, this rare moment of peace was disturbed by an almighty crash that both Harry and Cho deducted came from Ron's room below.

"What's he trying to do now?" Cho groaned but Harry could see the smile on her face. Ron's attempts to alleviate last minute nerves in the past week had been a great source of amusement for everybody. Everybody except Hermione and Mrs. Weasley, of course.

"I'd better go and help him," he said pulling his clothes on making his way to the door. But he didn't get very far as Cho grabbed the neck of his Quidditch team shirt and pulled him back into her arms. She may have been small but she still had the strength of the top seeker that she was.

"Don't I get a kiss? I won't see you until afterwards now", she asked playfully to which Harry willingly obliged. "Bye bye, best man."

"Bye bye, bridesmaid", smiled Harry, the image of that red dress clouded his mind for a second but he was brought back to reality with a jolt at the sight of Ron at the foot of the stairs.

*

Harry walked down to Ron and turned into his room. Ron followed closely closing and bolting the door behind him.

"Sorry" he said sheepishly, "hope I didn't wake you up."

"You didn't, don't worry, we were already up." Ron threw him a smirk and Harry couldn't help returning the gesture, "We're not all like you and Hermione, you know and, anyway, how old are you now?" But before Ron had a chance to reply there was a deep rumbling that Harry felt through the floorboards and with a loud burp a flock of butterflies were expelled from Ron's mouth.

"Beats slugs, anyway," he moaned as he slumped on his bed.

"What happened?" queried Harry, "I mean, what was supposed to..." He trailed off by the hurt look on Ron's face.

"Not EVERY spell goes wrong with me, you know!" And Harry knew immediately that today would not be a good day to tease Ron. "It was a Quik spell," he continued, "supposed to remove the feeling of anxiety and nerves. I knew the saying was butterflies in your stomach but this is bloody ridiculous!"

A shrill cry of "NOT THE RED ONES THE GOLD ONES! HONESTLY, FRED!" from Hermione below send a shiver through Ron and just as he composed himself once more, a couple more butterflies were freed.