Harry awoke with a start the next morning,and turned quickly to check Ron had not been made into congealed purple goo overnight. Fortunately, Ron was still whole, and was currently sitting pulling on bright orange socks over the side of his bed. Harry turned automatically to see if Krum was still sleeping, but to his alarm the bedding lay vacant on the floor with no occupant.
"Ron! Please don't tell me you vanished Krum!" Harry groaned, staring desperately at the ginger head that looked up defiantly.
" 'Course I didn't!" Ron said indignantly, then giving a sigh he admitted "Tried, though. I only managed up to his left elbow before he woke up and I had to pretend I was-" He wrinkled his nose, "sleep-spell-making"
Harry snorted, "I'm sure he had no doubt in believing that one, what did you do, snore between speaking the incantation?"
Harry could only but sigh as Ron nodded sheepishly. Then, jumping up, Ron pulled Harry out of his bed- "listen, we've got to go downstairs, Bill's here!"
Five minutes later Harry hopped onto the landing outside Ron's bedroom, trying desperately to retain balance as he pulled on his own final sock. Just as he'd managed the task and let out a triumphant "AHA!" He slammed straight into Hermione, who was almost thrown backwards down the stairs she had just appeared from. She gasped in suprise, reached out for something to steady her and clutched Harry's shirt, which ripped instantly.
Ginny opened the door behind them and tilted her head curiously at the sight of Hermione standing with the remainder of Harry's shirt in her arms. Grinning at the embarassed look on Harry's face, she said lightly as she strolled past- "You know just because we've broken up Harry, doesn't mean you can throw yourself at everyone," and with a final wink she went down to breakfast.
Only consideration for the fact Harry looked so miserable stopped Hermione laughing quite so loudly, but her face suddenly changed as another door opened, and Ron came strolling out. He looked up in suprise at the two, but recovered quickly an icy countenence and began to descend the stairs.
"Ron, wait, I came to get you- Bill's here!" Hermione called, looking hurt and confused by his reception of her.
"I know." Was the simple reply, and Ron removed himself from their sight.
Hermione stood perplexed for a moment, then rounded on Harry, "have you two argued?"
"No! Why would we have?"
She bit her lip in thought, "Why is acting odd then? I was looking everywhere for him yesterday..." She continued to make inaudible mutterings to herself until they entered the garden, where she gave a sharp gasp ofhorror as she saw Bill and Fleur for the first time.
It took a few moments for Harry to recognise Bill himself, three deep slashes covered and distorted his face grotesquely. One of his once brilliantly blue eyes was clouded over with a hideous type of mouldy skin, and long hairs sprouted from his ears and chin. When he grinned at Harry in greeting wickedly sharp teeth poked through, and Harry gave an involuntary shudder.
"It's...well...it's great Mum." Bill said somewhat unenthusiastically, staring at the dazzling array of frills and glitter that formed the decoration for his wedding. "Very...ah-pink." Yet next to Bill, Fleur was clapping in frantic excitement.
"Oh, Molee! It eez perfect!" and she stroked Bill's coarse hair lovingly, "I cannot wait for my mozer to see this!" Her eager eyes then settled on Hermione, and she poked Bill in the ribs and pointed to her. With a sudden dawning realisation at what she wanted, Bill moved forward.
"Erm, Hermione? Can I ask a huge favour? It's just that, well- earlier Fleur kind of argued with her maid of honour- her Veela cousin. It's just that...when Veela's get angry they tend to-" he indicated to a large tree next to them which Harry noticed had a large scorch mark on it. "We don't think she'll be back any time soon... and that leaves us without a maid of honour."
Hermione looked shocked as she realised what they were asking, and said rather ungraciously, "You don't know me, though. At all. Why me? Why not Gabrielle, or even Ginny?"
Fleur looked impatient, "Zey are too pretty, zey would detract from me as zee beautiful Bride!"
"Hey! She's standing right next to you!" Ron spat angrilly, in a way Harry never thought he would direct at Fleur. "Besides, Hermione's beautif-"Ron stopped abruptly at the shocked faces his outburst had produced, and with a swift, embarassed glance at Hermione he stuttered, "I mean she's not that bad looking, is she really?" His voice was a mere whisper by this point. Hermione turned away sharply, so Harry couldn't see her reaction- but in a very small voice she said, "I'll do it." Then walked quickly into the house.
As if there had been no interruption, Fleur turned to Ron- "And 'ee is ze best man?" Bill nodded, then his brow creased-
"Hows the binding coming along, bro?"
Ron shifted uncomfortably, and in response to Harry's quizzical looks explained, "In wizard marriages the best man has to perform this complex love binding spell to complete the ceremony... trouble is," He said in lower tones so that only Bill and Harry could hear, "The best man has to be feeling love and contentment at the time, and every time I've practiced-" Ron pointed at a tree and muttered a spell. With a great blue streak the spell hit the tree and chopped it straight in half, causing Fleur to leap for saftey before she was crushed. Her beautiful face distorted with anger, she screeched-
" 'Ee cannot do eet! We will be seezzled before our 'oneymoon! 'Ee cannot do zee spell- what shall we do!"
Her panic was interupted by an awkward yet confident voice, "I vil do it, if you vant?" Viktor had appeared behind them, smiling slightly.
"No WAY!" Ron protested, but Fleur was in raptures, "Oh Veektor! Zat would be perfect!" and without another word on the matter they all disappeared inside, leaving Bill staring apologetically at Ron.
"Hey, how about you're still my best man, he just does this spell at the end?" Bill suggested, but to no avail. Ron looked crestfallen at his elder brother before turning. "No thanks, everyone thinks I'm enough of a moron already without demonstrating how feeble my magical ability is aswell." With that he strode off angrilly, kicking a harp-playing cherub as he went.