Harry was making himself one with the coffee pot when Ginny spoke up over breakfast.
"We want to have a small ceremony soon and have a big ceremony after I'm done with school."
He nearly dropped his coffee. He looked at Ginny. She was looking at her mum with trepidation.
Harry looked to Molly. She looked between Harry and Ginny. "Are you two sure?"
Ginny nodded forcefully while Harry nodded softly.
Harry looked towards Ron and Hermione. Both looked somewhat stunned. Harry understood the feeling. He was there for it last night and was still stunned.
Molly nodded and no more was said at the table. Harry was relieved. He thought it was going to be like the elope comment.
Harry tried to make his escape when he was finished but Ginny and Harry had been volunteered to do the dishes. Harry nodded and as soon as everyone left the room, waved his hand. The dishes started to wash themselves. Harry grabbed Ginny and pulled her to him. Tulsey watched from the corner as she polished some silverware. She was annoyed she wasn't allowed to do the dishes.
"That was not the reaction I expected from her. I thought we'd be in for something worse than last night."
Ginny nodded and kissed Harry. He slipped his hands under her shirt and rubbed her back. She sighed and buried her head in his shoulder.
"Daddy could perform the ceremony and we could have the headmaster and your uncles here for it."
Harry nodded then smiled. "We'll have to be careful of any gifts they give us."
She giggled, "the twins too."
"Not to interrupt this loving moment but can you remove your hands from my little sister's shirt? It's somewhat disturbing to view," Ron said from the doorway.
Ginny jumped and turned around in Harry's arms. She tried to pull away but Harry didn't let go. He kissed the top of her head and leaned his cheek on it.
"Better Ron?"
"Somewhat. Mum wants to talk to you, Ginny. She said if you're finished, to go up to Hermione's room."
She nodded and leaned back slightly. Harry kissed the tip of her nose and she pulled away to head upstairs.
Harry glanced at Ron warily.
"Want to go play some Quidditch?" Ron asked.
Harry nodded. "Where are the twins? I need to warn them."
"About what?" Ron asked.
"Trying to enter my library is extremely dangerous now. The wards will kill anyone who tries to enter."
Ron paled. "Why?"
"Someone broke in and shattered my other wards. I had to redo them and I couldn't tell who broke in. so I added some more. Your dad knows and Ginny does too."
"They went to Diagon Alley to look at a store I think."
Harry nodded and walked out to the cottage with Ron carrying his broomstick. Harry grabbed his from behind the door and the two walked up to the orchard.
Harry and Ron nodded to the three golems standing in the middle of the clearing. The golems stepped to the sides and watched the two flying and passing apples back and forth.
Harry had just dipped down behind the trees when the golems converged on someone. Harry changed into a phoenix and flew near to see. There was an intruder in the orchard he didn't recognize. The golems began to move forward.
Harry flew quickly at the intruder and took the persons wand. He flitted to Ron and dropped it in his hand then landed on his shoulder.
Ron walked to the golems and told them to step back.
"Who are you?" Ron asked holding the wizards wand on him.
"Your father sent me with a message."
Harry trilled and the man started. He looked at the bird nervously.
"The phoenix doesn't seem to believe you. Neither do I. my father would call over the floo or send someone who is allowed. Why are you really here?"
The man stammered and Ron signaled to the golems. One stepped over and held the man in place. His arms were held fast at his side.
Harry clenched Ron's short and carried him into the trees where they wouldn't be seen. He changed back and said, "I'll be right back with your mum. We'll contact the ministry. Don't let him go."
Harry changed and flew to the Burrow.
Ron was watching the man when Mrs. Weasley and Harry appeared. A few moments later three Aurors appeared.
Ron handed the wand to one of them and the man was taken to the ministry by portkey.
Harry changed back and the three walked back to the house. Mrs. Weasley was appraising Harry somewhat as they walked and Harry was nervous. What ever the girls had been talking about, Harry decided he was the subject.
Harry was lost in thought when they neared the houses. The dark mark wasn't on the wizard but that didn't prove anything. Harry slowed his walk as they neared the house.
Ginny was running towards Harry when she saw him. "Are you all right?" she attempted to crush him in a hug.
Harry nodded as Hermione ran up to Ron. She asked him the same thing and Ron explained what had happened.
Harry took Ginny's hand and they walked into the Burrow's kitchen. They sat around the kitchen while Ginny and Molly made tea.
"The ceremony will be the day before Harry has to go back."
Harry spat out his tea when Molly announced this. Ron was grinning over his reaction and dismayed that Harry and Ginny were getting married already. Hermione was grinning at Harry and casting a strange look at Ron.
Harry was looking at Ginny and Mrs. Weasley was looking at Harry.
Ginny asked with some trepidation, "That's alright, right Harry?"
Harry thought for a moment then smiled and nodded. "If it's what you want, it's what I want."
She smiled and kissed him.
"That only leaves us nine days then," Hermione said.
Ginny nodded and the boys were shooed out of the kitchen. The women had a ceremony to plan.
Harry was slightly stricken looking. Ron helped him over to the couch and sat him down.
"Scared?"
"Only slightly."
"Of what?" Ron asked.
"Ginny changing her mind and ummm…"
Ron raised an eye. "What?"
"Uhh… nothing."
Ron narrowed his eyes. "Are you afraid of the wedding night?"
Harry's eyes widened and he stared at Ron.
He shook his head emphatically… then nodded slightly.
"You haven't yet? Hermione told me you two hadn't but I didn't believe her."
"How would Hermione know?"
Ron grinned and said, "Ginny."
Harry moaned, "Women talk too much between themselves."
Ron laughed and said, "Well since you're gonna be my brother in law sooner than I thought I have some advice for you about Ginny. Always, always, always have a backup pair of socks somewhere if you want to not go barefoot or sock-less with your footwear."
Harry looked up at him and grinned slightly, "Sage advice when it comes to her. I've had to conjure and accio more socks than I ever thought this summer."
Ron took out a muggle chess set and asked if Harry wanted to play. Harry nodded and the two began while Ron gave more advice on Ginny. The two played until dinner and Harry only lost 16 sickles to Ron.
Harry was walking into the kitchen when a very regal looking owl carrying a purple badge flew into the kitchen and straight for him. He was somewhat worried. At the moment, he was invisible to most owls. Only hogwart's owls could find him and he was sure this wasn't one.
Harry looked at the seal and was stunned. He opened the letter and read over what was sent to him.
Lord Gryffindor,
On this day, you are summoned to the court of the queen of England for the knighting ceremony for your actions over the past four years in protecting all that your Queen holds dear. Although you hold the title Lord Gryffindor in the wizarding realm, we feel that you deserve so much more and wish to confer on you the title of Knight Commander of the Templar. Although the Knights of the Temple have been thought to be gone it is not so. Those of your realm have carried on for our country in its darkest days. Take the portkey at 10 am to the Gates of Serr on 26 August. By order of the Queen.
Under this were the seal and the signature of the Queen of England.
The owl dropped its badge in Harry's lap and flew to the window. Harry sat stunned and handed the letter to his fiancée. Her eyes widened and she read the letter out loud. Ron and Hermione's eyes were wide and Mrs. Weasley dropped the mug of tea she was holding.
The twins showed up at that moment and asked what was going on. Ginny handed them the letter and both looked in awe at Harry. Harry picked up the badge and put it in his pocket.
"It's the day before the ceremony, Harry."
Harry nodded and took Ginny's hand. "I'll be here no matter what."
One of the twins asked what was going on.
Ginny smiled and looked down while saying, "We're going to have the wedding before Harry has to go back to the castle."
Both twins smiled evilly. Then they turned to each other and began whispering. Harry buried his head in his hands. He wasn't sure if he would survive whatever they were planning.
Ginny sat down next to Harry again and Tulsey started to serve dinner. Arthur hadn't been home in time for dinner nearly all summer.
The meal was finished and Tulsey was happily humming while doing the dishes. She gave Harry and Ginny some biscuits and tea and the two went to their cottage to write the letters to Sirius, Remus, and Dumbledore. Harry had no clue what to write but Ginny seemed to know the perfect thing. Harry just sat back and watched.
Ginny sat down and tapped a quill to a marbled crème and ivory piece of stationery. It immediately began to write in Emerald tinted flowing script:
You Are Cordially Invited to the Wedding of Mister Harold James Potter and Miss Virginia Marie Weasley on the Twenty-Seventh of August at The Burrow. The ceremony will take place at nine PM in the garden of the residence.
Please RSVP before 25 August
Underneath, Harry and Ginny both signed. Then Ginny picked up the quill and tapped it to four others.
"Why five Gin? I thought we were only inviting three people."
"I thought we might send one to the staff of the school and one to Samantha Sorten."
Harry thought about that for a minute. "Are we going to keep the marriage secret? Or are we going to openly wear our rings and let everyone know? If we do, you'll be even more of a target… Although as the daughter of the minister and my girlfriend I doubt you'd be any less a target," he said thoughtfully.
She nodded. "Open. I think you'll be the only married staff member in a long time."
"Invite whoever you wish then. We'll have to make sure there are more people there for protection then."
Ginny nodded and looked at invitations. "We'll invite just family and Albus. The rest can come to the big ceremony."
Harry nodded and pulled her to him. He kissed her and she picked up the two extra invitations. "Can you frame one of these Harry?"
He nodded and looked at it. He waved his hand over it and a wooden frame appeared above it. Tissue paper that matched the ink appeared. Ginny picked up the material and looked it over. "Can you do something about the color of the frame?"
"What color?"
"Silver would be pretty," she said.
Harry waved his hand and his wand was in his hand. He muttered something and traced a rune in the air over the wood. When he was done, the wood turned to an ornate silver frame. "Too much?" he asked.
She shook her head and said, "Perfect."
She reached up and plucked a hair from Harry's head and one from hers.
"Ow. Why'd you do that?"
"You'll see," she said as she broke her hair and started braiding the three together. She placed the braid in the frame with the invitation and told Harry to seal it somewhat imperiously. He looked at her with a gimlet eye and did as she said.
She hung the invitation over the mantle and Harry grinned. "Want me to take the invitations?"
Ginny put the three invitations into envelopes and nodded. "Hurry back."
She thought he was going to go to the house to floo to the castle or apparate to the forest from the orchard. She watched him change into a phoenix and fly off. She sat down and started reading a book on muggle love poetry. She looked up at the clock twenty minutes later and wondered when Harry would get back. She started reading again and set the book down an hour later. She stretched and jumped when she saw Harry.
"When did you get back?" she asked hugging him.
"About fifteen minutes ago. You looked so cute reading with your nose all scrunched up," he teased. "Sorry it took so long. I got lost a bit. Finding the castle is hard. I had to fly to London and follow the train tracks."
She looked confused, "you were gone barely an hour though."
"Phoenixes can fly extremely fast and can actually appear in places where they need to be. Once I found the castle and dropped off the letters with Albus getting back here was easy," he said as he kissed her. "I needed to be here," he whispered in her ear. "I love you."
She smiled and kissed him back. "I love you too."
The two walked into the bedroom and fell onto the bed kissing.
~o~
A/n: I am so disappointed with book five. I'm having the toughest time rereading it. L