Disclaimer: Not mine. Wish it were. Just borrowing it for a while.
A/N: Sorry for the delay. I had a 3-day craft show this past weekend and am still recovering. The next chapter may also be delayed as I recover and prepare for the next one.
Aftermath. Chapter 4. The Wedding
The morning of the wedding broke clear and beautiful. A bright summer's day with cotton candy clouds in the blue sky. The garden at the Burrow was spotless and shimmered with golden auras around the chairs and bridal arch.
As a surprise, Harry had asked Dobby to come over and help with the preparations. There were bubbles containing pictures of Bill and Fleur floating all over the garden. There were even some with Harry's picture in them that Harry had missed. He had already accidentally destroyed quite a number of them while 'putting them in the right spots.' Dobby had stayed to help Mrs. Weasley with all the decorations and food.
"Anything for Harry Potter and his Wheezy's family" Dobby said in a firm voice.
Mrs. Weasley was appalled. She had never had a house-elf and didn't want one. She was a firm believer in doing things for herself. Still, Dobby refused to take no for an answer and she finally gave in. She just made sure things looked the way she wanted them to, not the way Dobby may have left them. "Just tweaking it a bit," she said when Harry caught her.
"I understand completely, Mrs. Weasley," Harry agreed. "Dobby can be a bit excitable."
Remus and Tonks were among the first guests to arrive.
"How're you doing?" Remus asked Harry.
"Pretty good, all things considered," Harry responded. "Yourself?"
"The full moon was pretty rough, but I'll survive."
"Have you found anyone to make the Wolfsbane Potion for you?" Harry asked. He was thinking that with the Half Blood Prince's potions book, he could probably make it. Or at least teach Tonks.
"No," Remus answered. "Severus was the only one who could make it properly. Now with him gone, I'll have to suffer through each full moon. I still find it hard to believe he killed Professor Dumbledore."
"I saw him do it," Harry responded hotly. "He had such hate and anger in his eyes as he said the words. Professor Dumbledore always trusted him. Told me he had to get back to Snape that night. Didn't want Madame Pompfrey, just Snape. I even heard him plead with Snape. Then he killed him. Not a single sign of regret. Not a tear or even 'sorry'."
"That's the problem with that curse, Harry." Remus emphasized. "You have to hate to make the killing curse work. If you don't have a lot of hate and anger, it just won't work."
"Then I'll never be able to kill Voldemort. I don't think I can hate anyone that much," Harry said.
"You'll probably have to find another way," Remus said positively. "You don't have that much hate in your entire body. You love too easily; you've always wanted to help others. It's probably your biggest fault."
"Thanks, Remus," Harry said jokingly. "That's all I needed to hear from you now, my saving people things going to get in my way of killing Voldemort."
"Not necessarily, Harry," Remus countered. "Think of all the innocent people you'll be saving by ridding the world of Voldemort. Besides, you won't be alone when you go after him. No matter what, there'll be a lot of others with you."
Turning to Mrs. Weasley and changing the subject, Remus asked "how was Bill through the full moon last week?"
"Fine," Mrs. Weasley responded. "Just don't overcook his meat. He almost ate it raw. Barely let me warm it at all. And his eyes, almost golden in color for a couple of days."
"That's good." Remus said confidently. "I didn't think he'd go through a full change since Greyback wasn't transformed when he bit him. That's probably all he'll have to put up with."
"Well, as Fleur says, it's good he's marrying her. We British cook our meat too much for her liking," Mrs. Weasley stated, imitating Fleur's heavy accent..
"Come let's get seats," Tonks said as she returned to Remus' side. "I've looked over the perimeter and everything appears to be fine."
"You don't think there'll be trouble do you?" Harry asked.
"We don't like to take chances," Remus responded.
"There are several aurors here from the Ministry, not to mention the Order. And, we've put up anti-apparition wards," Mr. Weasley said as he came towards them. "Come, Molly, its almost time."
The wedding was beautiful. The bride caught nearly every eye in her stunning robes of white French lace. Ginny was gorgeous in her pale gold robes. So was Gabrielle, but Harry only had eyes for Ginny. Hermione nudged him and whispered, "Careful, your eyes are giving you away."
"I don't care today," Harry whispered back. "She's gorgeous. She outshines even the bride."
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As everyone was congregating around the food tables, Remus pulled Harry off to the side. "You'll be seventeen next week, Harry. You can go to the Ministry and take your apparition test, or we can arrange to have it done privately. You also need to go to Gringotts to sign the inheritance papers for your vaults."
"Vaults?"
"Yes," Remus replied. "Once you attain adulthood, your full inheritance comes to you. This will include any vaults that may have been left by other family members to go directly to you or to their blood or magic heir."
"How is that done?" Harry asked. There was still so much he didn't know about the wizarding world. And, now that he was an adult, he really needed to learn it fast.
"Gringotts uses a sample of your blood to trace your family. This shows not only who your parents are, but also a complete family lineage. They use this blood sample to key your vaults to you personally. When you turned 11 and entered Hogwarts, a portion of your money was removed from your vaults and placed in a 'trust vault' for your use during your school years. Once you turn 17, you will have full access to your entire inheritance."
"There's a lot about the wizarding world I still don't know," Harry said. "Remus, will you help me? Will you continue to be my 'godfather' as I learn all of this?"
"Of course, Harry. Your parents would never have wanted you to struggle through with this. That's why they made provisions for you. Just because Sirius isn't here to help you, doesn't mean you're by yourself." Remus assured him. "You'll always have help. You have me, Professor McGonagall, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Ron, Hermione, and of course, Ginny."
"No, I don't have Ginny," Harry said quietly, looking over where she was talking with Hermione.
"Yes, you do." Remus stated calmly. "You haven't done anything stupid with her have you?"
"I broke up with her."
"Why? You care for her deeply. I can see it in your eyes. Don't tell me you're trying to be noble or something. If I can see it, so can others."
"That's why I have to hide my feelings. I can't let anything happen to her. It would kill me." Harry said determinedly.
Harry turned away, his eyes catching a movement just outside the gardens. "Remus, how certain are you about the wards around the Burrow?"
"Very, why?"
"Nothing. Well, I thought I saw a movement over there." Harry pointed towards a grove of trees a short distance away.
"Keep an eye on it, but be casual about it." Remus warned. "I'll go talk to Tonks and Moody."
"Remus, do the wards keep out animals?" Harry asked quietly.
"I don't know, why?"
"Because I think Nagini is here," Harry began.
They heard cracks of apparition coming from the trees, and heard someone, Mad-Eye, possibly, "Everyone inside. The wards are down."
Suddenly there was fighting everywhere.
"Gabrielle, inside now." Fleur's unmistakable accent.
"Ginny keep her inside, protect her." That was Bill.
Curses flew.
"Impedimenta"
"Crucio"
"Stupefy"
"Expelliaramus"
"Protego"
"Ginny, get back inside."
"No, I can help."
"The Aurors are here."
Crack, apparitions, moans, groans, sobbing from the garden.
"They've gone," one of the Ministry Aurors said.
"Taken their injured, too, it appears," said another Auror.
"Is everyone okay?" Mrs. Weasley asked, looking frantically for signs of injuries. "Enervate."
"I'm okay, Mum," Ron muttered as Mrs. Weasley began a quick once over.
"Ginny, you okay?" Harry was frantic.
"Yeah, I think so. Got hit by a cutting curse, but Hermione stopped the bleeding."
"You were told to stay inside with Gabrielle. I didn't want you out here."
"I locked Gabrielle in my room. Someone better go let her out."
"Mrs. Delacour, Gabrielle is in Ginny's room. I'll go get her for you." Hermione had noticed Fleur's mom in a near panic.
"Ginny," Harry began.
"Harry," Ginny started at the same time.
"Ladies first," Harry said.
"I couldn't stay inside. I couldn't bear not knowing what was happening to you. I love you. I couldn't stand losing you without trying so help." Ginny sobbed, tears streaming down her face.
"Ginny, don't," Harry said pulling her to him. "Please don't cry. I just didn't want you in danger. I love you so much, I couldn't stand it if you were hurt."
They stood in the garden with their arms around each other amidst the ruined reception. The Ministry Aurors replaced the wards, and left after questioning everyone. As Harry and Ginny stood arm in arm, they looked around, they noticed Remus holding Tonks, Bill with Fleur, Ron and Hermione, even Mr. and Mrs. Weasley standing hand in hand. Charlie and the twins just looked at each other.
"Well," Charlie said loudly. "It looks like everything's going to be alright."
"Yeah," said one of the twins. "Let's see if there's any food left."
Everyone laughed and the mood lightened up.
"Yes," said the other twin. "We've got a wedding to celebrate!"
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