Ckat44: I hope you will. Let me know as we go along!
Sych77: Yay, hello spouse. Yeah, some comic relief is nice in dark stories. You know me, love my little light moments in all the sorrow. Good to see you reviewing again!
Redroseternity: Thank you for your review!
Kandy: Glad you think so. Because it is so soon after me finish HBP the plot is still well in my mind so hopefully I am indeed going in the right direction with it.
Catlester: Hello you. Lol, JKR in disguise? I wish! Erk, don't confused between my version and JKR's! That isn't good, lol. Flattering though!
Dragonslayerofdoom: Yeah, I finished it the same day too! Took me 5 – 6 hours. How long did it take you? I see what you mean about your idea. I can see JKR taking it that way actually.
- Chapter 2 -
Wedding in Dark Times
Harry landed inside the kitchen at the Burrow with a loud 'crack!' filling the air. Hermione had Apparated them perfectly in the middle of the room away from the current hustle and bustle that was occurring. Mrs. Weasley was stood behind a seated Ginny at the kitchen table, using her wand to levitate portions of hair as she fixed Ginny's long scarlet locks into an elegant fold against her skull. The commotion in the house was probably worse than it had been before, for Harry noticed Hermione's face consort slightly to the argument sounding from the room adjourning the kitchen. Harry raised his hand to wave to Mrs Weasley who had looked up to the arrivals. Harry's eyes met Ginny's for a short moment before he purposely looked at the wall.
"Hello Harry, dear. Hermione, was everything – "
"Go away!" bellowed a voice as a small figure stormed into the small kitchen from the living room. Harry noticed that a young girl had entered with an angry look on her otherwise angelic features. She spun her head from the door she had shouted through, her sheet of silvery hair spinning back. Her eyes settled over to Harry where she gave a delighted sound, "Hello 'Arry!"
"Hello Gabrielle," said Harry, finding the greeting somewhat strange since the last time he saw Fleur Delacour's little sister was when he rescued her from the bottom of a lake. Harry looked cautiously to the door behind her, "What's going on?"
"Ronald Weasley," replied Gabrielle sourly as she headed over to sit at the table besides Ginny, watching Mrs. Weasley add decorative flowers to the coiled plait on her head. Just then Gabrielle's larger copy drifted in, in the form of the beautifully elegant Fleur Delacour. She smiled graciously to Harry in greeting.
"What's Ron done?" asked Hermione as she walked over to take a seat at the table, watching Gabrielle.
But Fleur answered instead, "'E Apparated in de bathroom when my little seester was using eet. Needless to say, she is not 'appy."
Ron had just walked in, his ears flaming red, he was still holding his wand very tightly, "I said I was sorry," he muttered.
"Ron, I thought you had passed your test," said Mrs. Weasley shrewdly as she glanced over to her younger son. She absently flicked her wand to curl a strand of Ginny's hair.
"I did.. on my second try," said Ron, blushing all the more.
"So why, pray tell me, did you arrive in the bathroom?"
"It's probably nerves," said Mr. Weasley, who had just descended the staircase with his crisp wedding robes clean on. The indigo velvet glistened glamorously in the faint light of the kitchen. He was absently combing his red hair across his head as he strode through the kitchen, "That happens sometimes, and at times like these, well.." He suddenly stopped and blinking at Harry, "Ah, hello there, Harry. You better go and get ready soon, you too Hermione, Ron."
"Hello Mr. Weasley," said Harry as he shook the man's hand.
Mr. Weasley then hurried over to the sink to wet his comb before he began trying to neaten his hair again in the reflective bottom of a hanging saucepan.
"Your dress robes are all out on your beds for you," Mrs. Weasley told the room as she twiddled her wand at Ginny's hair who made a grumpy 'ouch' as she got poked in the head.
"Look at the time!" shrieked Hermione suddenly, causing Ron to flinch as though been scalded. Hermione jumped out of her seat, appeared to consider the stairs with a thoughtful face for a short moment before she lifted her wand and disappeared. A 'crack!' sounded from upstairs.
"Only half past two," muttered Ron upon checking his watch.
"Oh, men!" sighed Fleur as she hurried towards them, shooing them upstairs with her hands, "You go get ready, if anyone should be late, it's me, traditionally. Go, go! And if you see Bill, tell 'im to 'urry too!"
It was strange to be taking part in such a joyous and happy occasion so soon after the events at Hogwarts. This was the first wedding Harry had ever gone to, as was Dumbledore's funeral. Typically, in the wizarding world the affairs were exceedingly spectacular in comparison to the Muggle versions. Harry was seated at the front with the Weasley's, Hermione besides him in elegant robes of pastel pink. Harry was wearing his recently acquired robes of dark green – similar to his others, only bigger in size since he had grown quite a bit since his fourth year.
The wedding was hosted outside in a large meadow a short distance from the Burrow. Mr. Weasley had fixed a lot of security charms around the land, including one that made Muggle think they had left the iron on if they came too close and so would scurry off home. In the centre of the aisle, Fleur Delacour had walked wearing a long billowing dress of ivory very similar to a muggle woman's. The only difference being that small golden fairies flew behind her, illuminating the soft sun-glowing meadow. Behind her walked her bridesmaids, Ginny and Gabrielle, both in matching dress robes of delicate lavender. Harry had heard that Fleur's parents had lavishly splashed out on their eldest daughter's wedding, ensuring the Weasleys they were all too happy to do so.
Harry watched the ceremony with glazed eyes, his thoughts drifting all too easily upon the plans that had been constantly running through his mind the past month. About the Horcruxes he was yet to find, and how he was going to go about searching for them. Before he realised what was happening, the crowd sat around him erupted to joyous cheers, and Harry's blinked out of his stupor to see Bill and Fleur Weasley in each other's arms sealing their vows with a kiss. Harry could see Mrs. Weasley besides him crying quietly to herself. For one originally displeased to the idea of their marriage, she was obviously overwhelmed with the affair. It appeared everyone here was exceptionally pleased for good news in such dark times, only made worse by the death of Albus Dumbledore.
As the crowds around him rose to their feet to move upon the newly married couple, Harry slipped to his feet and slouched down the aisle, intending to leave as quietly as possible.
"Hey, Harry!"
Harry sighed as he was discovered and turned slowly to peer to Ginny who was running down after him, a hand lifting her dress hem from the grass, "Where are you going?" she asked as she stopped in front of him, worried eyes looking up into his.
"Back to the Burrow," said Harry truthfully as he looked down glumly, "Need to get my things."
"But you've only just got here," said Ginny, who was now frowning.
"I know," Harry sighed, "But I need to go. I'm sorry, Ginny."
Just as he turned, another voice called, and both Ron and Hermione pushed out of the crowd and ran towards the pair, "Harry! You're leaving?" asked Hermione as she stopped besides her, her face sharing Ginny's concern.
"Yeah, I need to get my stuff and go.."
"But we're coming with you," muttered Ron, folding his eyes and watching Harry warily, "I hope you weren't planning on leaving without us."
But Ginny, took hold of Harry's arms, pulling his attention back upon her, "Are you sure you're not coming back to Hogwarts? It is reopening. McGonagall said so!"
Harry shook her off gently, frowning and bowing his head, "I'm sure." His eyes slowly went upon Ron and Hermione, "If you're coming, we're going now. So.. say your goodbyes." Harry said this rather coldly. His ongoing sadness from Dumbledore's death only made him determined and resolute to find the Horcruxes. He sighed softly for a moment, speaking again in a gentler tone, "I mean it. Really say your goodbyes. You know how dangerous this is going to be. Meet me at the Burrow in twenty minutes."
"But Harry, I can – "
Harry watched Ginny solemnly, "I'm sorry Ginny. But I can't let you come. I explained this before.. please.. just say here, look after your family." He saw her eyes watering with tears, and before he could stop himself, he pulled her into a tight finalising hug. "I'm sorry," he repeated quietly, "But I've got to do this. I've got to get rid of Voldemort," he felt her shiver in his arms at the sound of the name and he tightened his hold, "Goodbye, Ginny." He pulled back slowly, smiling softly before he looked over at the distant crowd who were happily mulling and chatting. He didn't want to go and say goodbye to everyone individually. It would be too much. Especially when it came to Mrs. Weasley. Instead, he settled for watching them fondly for a few minutes, receiving a gentle flutter of happiness at seeing Bill and fleur happily in each other's arms as they danced. As was Mr and Mrs Weasley. Even Remus and Tonks were waltzing around the grass elegantly; their shared looks of delight cheering Harry the most.
Slowly, Harry settled his eyes to take one last look at Ginny, as if drinking in her appearance to make it firmly stay in his mind forever. He made a gentle nod to her before he turned with a sweep of his cloak and set off across the meadow, heading to the distant unbalanced-looking building that was the Burrow.
"Be careful. Please, for God's sake, please come back alive!" cried Ginny as she watched him leave, eyes never straying from the departing figure.
".. We'll see."
Thank you very much for reading! It's a bit of a slow start, but things will get very interesting once Harry and co are off searching for the Horcruxes!