Chapter 54
POTTER'S DONE IT AGAIN!
Harry Potter, (16) sixth year student and Assistant Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, in a daring daybreak raid at the estate of Death Eater Lucius Malfoy, faced off with longtime foe, He -Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, and dispatched him with varied ease.
"I don't know what the big deal was. He was a wimp," said Potter as he polished his wand in front of this reporter.
"I said no such thing!"
Hermione shushed him. "There's more."
Albus Dumbledore, (150) Headmaster of same school, was reported arriving at the scene just in time to witness Potter's duel with the Dark Lord. "I was terrified that I would have to face him all on my own," said the headmaster as he trembled at his brush with certain death.
The bodies of Death Eaters Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange were pulled from the wreckage, Potter made of Malfoy manor. Lestrange was seen with a large broadsword protruding from the middle of her chest that Ministry Auror's reported was he result of her foolish swordfight with Potter as well.
Ronald Weasley (16) son of Ministry official Arthur Weasley and best friend of Potter had this to say about his savior, "It was like he was everywhere at once. I thought I was done for when Lestrange had me backed up against the wall. I had dropped my wand and Harry grabbed the sword off the wall and challenged her. Boy was she stupid for accepting."
"I never even got in the house!"
Hermione shushed him as well. "Wait, it gets better."
Other students at the location were Hermione Granger (16), Luna Lovegood (15), Ginny Weasley (15), Neville Longbottom (16), and Draco Malfoy Black (16). All were said to be saved heroically by Potter before his ultimate battle with the Dark Lord. (See page 13 for details)
Also captured at the scene was Peter Pettigrew, once thought killed by first time Azkaban escapee, Sirius Black. "This should put to rest any doubt of Black's innocence," said Dumbledore. Black is said to have been Potter's Godfather and best friend to his father was killed last year in an attempt to stop Death Eater activity at the Ministry. "Even at the risk of his freedom he had to do the right thing," continued Dumbledore. (See article on page 5 for details of the life of Sirius Black and his posthumous Order of Merlin, First Class.)
Harry shrugged. "At least they got something right."
Over the next three weeks, life slowly reverted back to order. Classes were back in session and preparations for the wedding of the century were in full blown chaos. The general wizarding public wouldn't hear of a such small ceremony being held in a room as tiny as the Great Hall, so they insisted on Dumbledore expanding it to at least six to seven times to the size to accommodate all of the visiting dignitaries and guests.
"This is getting insane," Harry commented.
Hermione walked into the Great Hall and marveled at the size. Harry's voice had echoed off the walls which seemed to be several hundred feet deep and high.
"I can't believe this," muttered Hermione. "I just wanted our friends and family."
Harry shrugged. "We could always elope."
Hermione looked like she was seriously considering the option, but negated the thought. "It's too late for that. The wedding's tomorrow."
She took Harry's hand and they left the Great Hall. "Did you ever get the Malfoy's out of your house?"
Harry nodded. "Yeah. Remus helped them find something else outside of London until they got a new house built. I think he's taken quite a fancy to her."
Hermione covered her mouth. "No!" she said in disbelief.
Harry laughed. "Apparently they got along better than expected at Grimmauld Place. She bought him new robes and everything. Made him get a haircut too."
She giggled. "I was thinking, Harry. With your Enchanting skills you might be able to get Snape to teach you how to do a Wolfsbane Potion for Remus. If your skills will be able to make the effect permanent, well ..."
He stopped and took Hermione by the shoulders. "Hermione, that's brilliant!" He kissed her suddenly. "I'm going to talk to Snape right now."
That night after Harry had completed the potion he stopped by their room and said goodnight to his wife to be. They had agreed to sleep in separate rooms so as not to curse the marriage from the beginning. He had chosen to stay one last night in his old dormitory room and bed that he had slept in for his first five years at Hogwarts.
Ron and he wound up talking through most of the night, much to the chagrin of Dean, Seamus and Neville. They did get about six hours of sleep and Harry woke the next morning, around nine o'clock, feeling energized, nervous, and somewhat sick to his stomach all at the same time.
He woke Ron after much poking and prodding who scrambled into his Best Man's black tails and bow tie that he was constantly pulling at. "Now I understand why it is people only wear these things at occasions like this."
"Why's that?" asked Harry.
"Well, it's to warn us off from being tied down to one woman and being choked to death. Go to enough of these thing and you'll never get married."
Harry smirked. His own outfit, that was chosen by Hermione, consisted of a white ruffled shirt with billowing sleeves and black slacks. the neck of the shirt was ornately designed with a white lace scarf tied in a large knot dropping down his front. Ron helped him on with the Royal blue waist coat that reached almost past his knees. The collar was high and black as well to match the slacks.
Ron looked at the finished product. "Yeah, I guess that'll do. Got you all dress up like the doll on a wedding cake, she did."
Harry didn't care about Ron's jibes for he knew he was just jealous. After all, who wouldn't be jealous of Harry's love for Hermione. "Ready then?"
Ron nodded. "I'd best be downstairs and warning her not to come out."
Harry agreed. After one last look in the mirror he straightened the waist coat and made his way down the spiral staircase to the common room below. There were a number of students down below who were milling about in their dress robes and looked at him as he descended the staircase.
Several girls were looking at him and smiling and the boys stared at him as he exited through the portrait hole. Ron was along beside him as they trotted down six flights of stairs and down the marble staircase in front of the Great Hall.
Dumbledore was there, decked out in his most purple of robes and star and moon decorated pointy hat.
"Ah, here is the man of the hour." He looked at Harry with much mirth and pride. "Ready for the big step, Harry?"
He nodded without saying anything.
"The guests started arriving about an hour ago. I would say we are in for quite a wedding reception afterward."
Harry nodded again.
Dumbledore smiled at Harry's nervousness and took him by the elbow. "We have about thirty minutes before the ceremony starts. We're to wait in the antechamber at the head of the Great Hall."
He and Ron were led around and Harry nodded his head at the people he passed in the halls. Finally they reached the antechamber and had a seat until the proper moment. Dumbledore sat across from him and tried to look solemn.
"Ron would you mind checking on the minister, and see if he requires anything before the ceremony?"
Ron took his cue to leave so that Dumbledore could talk to Harry in private. Once the door was closed the head master made himself comfortable.
"Harry, I realize some of what I have to say should be said by your father and I wish beyond all others than yourself that he and your mother were here today to witness this event."
Harry looked down and picked at a worn spot on the arm of the chair he was sitting in.
"While this wedding was forced on you by the presence of the ring, I have no doubt that it would have occurred in the near future in any case. I have seen you grow from a scared eleven year old boy with stars in his eyes to the strapping young and brave man I see before me today." He paused. "You have taken every adversity set upon you and turned it to your advantage. You have led your students in a great band of solidarity and have taken away that which much of the wizarding world had to fear. And now you are to be married."
Harry shrugged. "The way you say it make it not seem so hard to do anymore."
Dumbledore chuckled softly. "There is nothing frightening about marriage if one is prepared. Are you prepared for marriage, Harry?"
"I love Hermione, if that's what you are asking."
Dumbledore nodded. "In part." He paused. "Tell me what you feel toward her, Harry."
That was asking a lot. "Um ... well, I ..."
"Close your eyes, Harry." Dumbledore waited until he complied. "I want you to picture Hermione in your mind's eye, and tell me what you see."
Harry smiled briefly. "Well, I don't really see any particular one picture of her. It's more like a jumble. Sometimes I see her studying away furiously in the library and another time as I'm in the middle of a Quidditch game and she's hopping up and down yelling my name."
"What else," prompted the headmaster.
"I see her laying on the ground in the Department of Mysteries when Dolohov hurt her and later in the Hospital wing when I found out she was going to be alright. I see her hovering above me at Grimmauld Place waking me up after I ran away and the look on her eyes when I first gave her the ring."
He breathed in happily. "I see her at lunch. I see her in class. I see here everywhere."
Her heard Dumbledore shift in his chair. "And what is it you see for your future, Harry."
More than a minute passed before he answered. For he could not see anything until only her face appeared before him, smiling shyly and looking down. Harry followed her gaze to a bundle of blankets she held in her arms.
"I see my future. I see our family."
"Open your eyes, Harry. I believe it is time for you to continue on with your life."
Harry blinked open his eyes. and stood, more sure of himself than he ever thought he would be. Ron opened the door. "She's here mate, out in the hall, waiting. You ready?"
Harry nodded and reached out a hand to Dumbledore. "Thank you, Professor."
"It was my pleasure, Harry."