(2)Oh Happy Day!

Those first couple of weeks of summer were the hardest anyone had to go through. Now it was over. It was getting close to the end of summer & the wedding has finally come.

Merida was in her room with Ginny, Luna, Mrs. Weasley & several other girls helping her to get ready. She was overly-excited of course, & actually had to have a tranquilizer to calm down!

"Meri? Are you OK?" Ginny was trying to fix Merida's hair but she couldn't keep still!

"Perfect! Merida giggled.

"Merida!" Charlie Weasley burst through the door. "The flowers-------!"

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!! He was greeted by lots of screaming girls! "Get out of here!" Mrs. Weasley scolded.

"Right! Sorry" he turned around. "The flowers arrived but Ron said the bride's bouque is wilted!"

"Oh dear!" Mrs. Weasley sighed.

"It's alright!" Merida giggled. "Just get some from outside!"

"Are you OK?" asked Charlie.

"I'm fine!" Merida continued giggling. "Why does everyone ask that? I'm perfectly fine!"

"O.....K!" Charlie gulped.

Harry was having his own problems. He was trying to get his tie on & Oliver & Ron were anything but helpful. Each had an end & were trying to out-do each other. Meanwhile, Harry was getting strangled in between.

"STOP!" He finally managed to croak. "You're killing me!! Let me do it for Merlin's sake!"

"If Ron would just let me do it----" Oliver yelped in desperation.

"You're not doing it right!" Ron snapped, stubbornly holding on to his end.

"Can't breath!" Harry pleaded.

"Ron! I'm a Quidditch Captain!" Oliver retorted. "I THINK I can tie a tie!"

"Yeah well, you're messing it up!" Ron dropped his end.

"FINE! YOU DO IT!" Oliver also dropped his end. Harry went crashing to the floor as the force of a wishbone being pulled apart suddenly collapsed upon him.

Harry slowly picked himself up. "Thank you!" He snapped. "Oliver! Get me a comb!" Oliver did as he was told, albeit, meekly. A loud scream interupted them.

"Oh for heaven's sake!" Mrs. Weasley yelled. Ron left to see what was the matter.

Charlie came back into Harry's room. "Merida's passed out!"

"WHAT?!?!" Harry yelped & headed upstairs.

Charlie bounded after him. "NO! YOU CAN'T SEE THE BRIDE BEFORE THE WEDDING!! IT'S BAD LUCK!!"

"We're already having bad luck!" Harry snapped. He stopped for a moment at the door as Ron entered, carrying a bucket, filled with what looked like slush. Another scream!

Ron came back out & handed the empty bucket to Harry on his way by. "Bride's awake!"

"& wet!" Harry reminded him, rubbing his throat & heading back downstairs much to the relief of Charlie!

"Not to mention, probably freezing!" Charlie grumbled.

"RONALD WEASLEY!" Merida's voice echoed out the hall. "YOU ARE SO DEAD!"

"Ah Meri?" Mrs. Weasley asked. "Just how many tranqs did you use?"

"Oh not many!" Merida shrugged.

"How many?" Mrs. Weasley asked again.

"5 or 6 I guess!" said Merida, somewhat drugged. Mrs. Weasley threw her hand in the air! "OH MERLIN!" Merida suddenly jumped up. "I've got no one to walk me down the isle!"

"You only thought of that just now?" Mrs. Weasley stared.

"I'll do it!" said Moody as he just happened to pass & over-heard the conversation.

"T-Thanks M-M-M-Mad-Eye!" Merida said through chattering teeth.

"Well are we ready to go?" Mrs. Weasley cast a drying & warming charm over Merida.

"Yep!" Merida tried stepping forward & ended up swaying backwrd.

"You sure?" Ginny caught her.

"Piece! Of! Cake!" Merida half-smiled.

At long last, Harry & Merida made it to the altar! Harry was dressed in a smart black suit. His tie was on so that it would hide the red marks. He stood watching Merida come down the garden path towards him, leaning----a little to much----on Moody. The tranqs still had to wear off a bit!

Merida was in a white dress with a long trail behind it. Two doves had been charmed to carry the end off the ground. Small pearls had been embroidered into the bodice making it sparkle a bit in the sun. Harry was mezmerised! Though a bit dazed, she made it to the altar.

Dumbledore laughed softly & proceeded with the vows. By the time it came to saying "I do!" Merida was fairly back to normal & Harry's throat was less red. Everyone clapped after bride & groom kissed. Merida tossed her bouque of wild roses that Charlie & Luna had to make & Ginny caught it!

Everyone headed for the reception tables. Ron, as usual, piled his plate with food. He sat down next to Oliver & prepared to eat. He let out a wail! His plate was crawling with spiders!

"Never throw ice water on me again, Weasley!" Merida called out from her table where she was sitting beside Harry. Ron felt REAL small. Merida made sure she kept her distance & held her wand firmly!

Harry giggled & tried to lift some pasta salad on his fork. The weight was emmense! Harry looked down at his plate. There sat Trevor, basking in the coolness. He glanced around. Merida was looking the other way, talking to Ginny. Harry grabbed the toad & flung it behind him. Trevor landed in the fountain with a load splash, sending droplets back to Harry. A toad's revenge, no doubt!

Ribbit!

An hour passed without incident. Everyone was laughing & talking. They were suddenly interupted by Harry's voice. "Excuse me everyone!" He waited for them to quiet down. "Uh-----my bride tells me it's time to cut the cake! & I hope you've all saved room because Mrs. Weasley made it herself!"

Everyone "Awwed!" & waved to Mrs. Weasley, making her blush. She was known for making excellent cakes & she had made the wedding cake a large three-deck layered cake, decorated with icing red & white roses. Everyone turned to the cake table & gasped.

"S......Salem?" Harry stared.

There stood Holy City Jerusalem, literally up to his horn in cake & icing. The cake was lop-sided & slipping as Salem buried in further, gorging himself! The glass figurines of bride & groom fell off & smashed to pieces on the ground. Mrs. Weasley burst into tears. Mr. Weasley tried to comfort her!

"Well, we have ice cream!" Merida offered.

"Look again!" Dumbledore said. His wing finally healed, Buckbeak flew over them & gracefully landed in the pasture, the large ice cream bucket dangling from his beak! Merida burst into tears & joined Mrs. Weasley! Harry buried his face in his hands. Tranqs, anyone?

"'Arry?" Hagrid came over. "Don'' a'worry, 'Arry! This day's not a total loss!" Hagrid handed over some keys.

"What are these for?" Harry stared at them. The keychain had two keys, one was a spare, & a name tag with the initials S.B.!

"Figured he mighta wanted ya to 'ave it!" Hagrid nodded to the barn. "It's still ina perfec' condition!"

"Thanks Hagrid!" Harry gave him a big hug. He knew what the keys were for. Harry fled for the barn, Salem in hot pursuit, hexes from several people closely following the unicorn! Salem hid in his stall as Harry moved over to Buckbeak's stall. There was a very large, oddly shaped white package. Harry pulled off the covering to reveal Sirius Black's motorbike! It was in perfect condition. Still shiny black, with silver accents, so "Sirius-y"! On one side, was labled "Lady". Typical! Sirius was a bit of a lady's man in his time; it was only natural he'd associate ANYTHING with women! Harry hid his face in his hands again, half-laughing, half-crying.

"It'll be OK, Meri!" Oliver patted her hand. "I'll beam over to Diagon Alley & get some cake & ice cream!"

"OK!" Merida shrugged. "I'll lock up those monsters good & tight in the meantime! Harry! What do you think you're doing?"

Harry suddenly appeared beside her, riding the bike. It was floating a few inches off the ground. "My Godfather's bike! Care for a ride?" Harry offered his hand.

"Oh sure!" Merida stepped on & sat down behind him. They took off, Merida holding on around Harry. The day might have been a screw-up but the evening was wonderful! They flew over the countryside, watching the sunset.

An hour later, they returned. Harry put the bike away in the barn. Everyone managed to have a little cake & ice cream after all, thanks to Oliver. Mrs. Weasley promised to be back tomorrow with another proper wedding cake. Finally, everyone was gone & Harry & Merida were left to their own devices.

"Harry, what are we going to do about our Owls?" Merida aksed as she stepped to the door.

"What? I'm finished those!" Harry reminded. "& you ace everything, I'm sure you'll be fine!"

"No, No!" Merida pointed to the patio. "I mean Owls!" Harry glanced in the direction she was pointing. Peeps & Hedwig were squauking madly at each other, wings outstretched. Each were stubbornly digging their talons into what they considered their half of the patio railing!

"Oh!" Harry groaned. "Just let them kill each other off!" he marched inside.

"Harold!" Merida snickered, following him in. Merida stretched out on the bed. "What a day! I'm glad it's over!"

"I HATE unicorns!" Harry grumbled.

Merida laughed at him & stood up. She pulled Harry close. "I'll just let the two of you kill each other off!" she teased.

"I suppose so!" Harry pulled her into a long kiss. Merida stepped closer but tripped. Harry stumbled. Merida fell across the width of the bed, Harry fell over her. CRACK! The bed split in two, width-wise!

"OW!" yelped Merida.

"Oh God! What else can go wrong?!" Harry groaned.

"Is everything alright up there, Mistress?" Winky asked from the hall.

"Nothing Winky!" Merida half-laughed. "We're just rehearsing------stuff!" Harry let his head fall on Merida's chest & burst out laughing. The bottom half of the bed slanted down to the center meeting the top half that slanted up to the wall. They were wedged in between.

"Maybe we shouldn't do anything tonight!" Harry said. "It's just to dangerous today!"

"Wait until this day is completely over!" said Merida. "Maybe at midnight we could.......!" She began seductivly trailing a finger up & down Harry's chest.

"Midnight is a wonderful idea!" Harry agreed.