Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Sorry it that disappoints you.

AN:

I apologize for the length of time between the last chapter and this one. School and other life issues have pretty much soaked up my time. Hopefully with the semester ending in a few weeks that will change and I can put up another chapter.

"…" denotes speech

'…' denotes thoughts

A Journey's End

Chapter 4: Wedding Bells

The next morning was a subdued and quiet affair. The trio woke up and quickly packed. After last night's incident, the two Dursley's weren't seen. Come early morning they had left for work or the market. This, however, didn't bother the three people left in the house; they just wanted to leave and never have to come back.

After Hermione went off on Vernon she had gone to her room and, if the look on her face when she ran up was any indication, she was definitely in shock. Ron had gone in after her, and wasn't seen for an hour. When he returned to the room he had been sharing with Harry, he didn't look happy. Hermione was a peaceful person, but putting up with Harry's relatives for two weeks seemed to have pushed her to her limit. That last comment to her was the breaking point. Harry suspected that if it weren't for laws against it, Ron would have finished where Hermione had left off.

Now as they sat at the breakfast table, waiting for Remus to come by with a portkey, the three still looked like they were seething.

At eleven o'clock the doorbell rang. Harry was the first to arrive and glanced out the peephole to see Remus. Opening the door they exchanged questions to verify their identities before getting things ready to go.

"I still can't believe they tried that," Ron stated after they had explained what had happened.

Remus looked taken aback and shook his head. "Well, we knew they were horrible, but that was inexcusable." He looked at Hermione, who, after telling about how she had attacked Vernon, seemed to refuse to meet his eyes. "You shouldn't feel guilty Hermione. What he called you was beyond contempt, and I am very proud that you stood up to him." He smiled as she looked up at him, "Just remember next time that you can use magic outside of school now."

She looked down to hide a smile. "But kicking him made me feel better," she said proudly.

That comment lightened the mood completely as the four of them burst into laughter.

A few minutes later, all the trunks were packed and shrunk. Looking around the place Harry frowned. As much as he hated his relatives, they were his family. He wouldn't feel right if he just left without doing something for them.

A few moments later, the three disappeared with no intention of any of them ever setting foot in the house again. When the Dursley's returned that evening they saw a normal house, no sign of any magical beings ever having been there aside from three little things. The first was that the cupboard had been transfigured closed by Hermione and Ron. Though visible, the door would never open again without an axe being involved.

Across from the cupboard on the mantle was a picture of Lily in her Hogwarts robes that Remus had placed. It was charmed to be visible only to people who knew about the Wizarding world and was hung with a non-removable sticking charm.

The other remaining difference was a letter stuck to the master bedroom door. When his relatives returned that night, they would look at the door to see a warning.

Dear Aunt Petunia,

You were warned last summer of Voldemort's return. There is no love between us, and you certainly never gave me any reason to think it was different between you and my mother. You were informed, I hope, that the protections for this house were going to end on my birthday. As much as I dislike it, you and Dudley are my only blood relatives and I would feel guilty if I didn't at least warn you.

Come the end of this month, stay away from the house. I don't know if it will be attacked, but since Voldemort hates what you call normal people and has been after me for the past 16 years he might come after you in an attempt to get to me. As much as you hate my kind, he hates yours even more. And contrary to what you seem to think, the police and government can't do anything to stop him.

I never want to see or hear from you, your son, or your husband again. If you ever loved your sister, then I pray you think on this. One day, you will die and might meet her in whatever comes after this life. Will she be as forgiving as I am now?

Live your life. Stay out of mine.

Harry a.k.a. The Freak

Upon arriving at the Burrow, the four travelers were immediately swept up in the wedding preparations. They ran upstairs to unpack, and were promptly ushered outside to help with the decorating. There were only five days before the wedding, and all of it was going to be needed to get everything ready.

In all the hustle of settling in, Harry forgot about the letter he had received the day before. The letter concerning Grimauld Place and Snape fell into his trunk, and was forgotten.

Those few days, helping set things up for the wedding in the morning and staying up late with Ginny watching the sunset where they made up, made that week one of the best Harry could ever remember. Not even the constant teasing of a certain pair of twins, their dragon-handling brother, or a certain werewolf that visited from time to time dampened his opinion of it. Though Remus' visits did inform him how the wards around Grimauld were going, they were vague with regards to some of the things. The work was slow, but would be done by the end of the week. The only real obstacles were doing the Fidelius charm and Harry deciding on a new secret keeper.

Of course some others in the house weren't enjoying the week much. The twins having dropped by earlier, decided to break the tension a bit with a small prank. Wednesday afternoon they had dropped by the Burrow to visit, and the next morning the entire backyard had been turned into a kaleidoscope of colors. The grass was blue and the roses that had been transfigured were green instead of white. Splashes of pink, silver, and gold were scattered all over the place. The damage changed back to its original condition by breakfast, but the incident had driven Fleur into near shock, especially when after trying to undo it, the colors began to rotate all over the garden.

The twins were only trying to lighten the mood and in the end no permanent damage had been done, but they were in a great deal of trouble. Oddly enough, Mrs. Weasley seemed to let the matter drop after screaming at them for an hour. That evening people realized why when they heard Fleur tear into them after they had been 'kidnapped' from the apartment above their shop.

The two had spent all the next day apologizing and helping. Truthfully, they had thought the incident would be funny. Unfortunately, they were the only ones.

As Harry woke the day of the wedding, he was immediately swallowed up in the excitement. Somehow everything had come together and now relatives of both families were arriving early to begin ensuring that enough food was made for the festivities. Much to the chagrin of Hermione, the Delacour family had even brought a house-elf to help.

While Mrs. Weasley found she had to share the kitchen with several other people and a house-elf, everyone else was outside ensuring everything looked nice before going up to change.

A few hours later Harry came downstairs to a house full of people. The robes that he had ordered earlier in the week fit perfectly according to everyone but him. Unfortunately, there wasn't anything he could do but live with it, even if it did feel tight around the neck.

Going outside, he joined Ron who had come down a few minutes earlier. Finding a seat near the back he looked around as everyone found places to sit. The grass was almost an emerald color, solid and flowing in the light breeze. Red flower petals formed a carpet like effect down the center of two sets of chairs, ending in a small stage with an arch decorated in white roses. The garden beside the house was filled with rose bushes, and the tree standing behind the arch was in full bloom. The effect created both a beautiful statement and a wondrous aroma.

Ron found Hermione further up in the rows of chairs and sat down. Shortly, both friends and relatives to the Weasley clan took their seats on the side where the trio was now seated. Likewise, Fleur's family and friends were on the other side. The mixed sounds of French and English permeated the outside chapel as everyone found their seats and waited for the ceremony to begin.

Looking around, Harry saw Tonks in a set of Auror robes, along with several other people around the area. There were at least six people in Auror dress robes, and even Mad-Eye stood off to one side.

'There is a lot more security than I had expected. I guess it is a likely target for an attack though, the Weasley family having been so close to Dumbledore, Fleur and some of her family being part Veela.' He shuddered before looking at his feet for a moment, 'and then me'.

He looked up when he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Looks nice, doesn't it Harry?"

Harry nodded, "It looks perfect. I can't believe this is the same backyard."

Remus smiled. "Given all the work everyone has done, it's not surprising." He walked off and joined Tonks in the back. Harry couldn't help but smile; they never seemed to leave each other's side for long.

After everyone settled in, the music started with the wave of a wand.

As the ceremony started Bill walked to the center area of the small stage. Harry couldn't tell who the person was next to him as best man was, but assumed he was Bill's best friend. Before Harry could think any more on it though, he caught a glimpse of white out of the corner of his eye. Fleur walked towards the front, preceded by Ginny and Gabrielle. She was breathtaking; there just wasn't any other word for it. Whether it was her Veela charms, or the fact it was her wedding day, or both, he couldn't tell. In any event, the effect was stunningly perfect.

His eyes moved away from her as the unbidden image of someone else with red hair in a similar dress came to his mind. Oddly enough, she was the person they were quickly drawn to.

She was in a pale gold dress that curved in the right places to produce a wondrous sight. The pale gold complemented the color of her hair, which was pulled up with a gold ribbon, and fanned downwards in waves along her back. He stared at her back as she walked forwards. It wasn't until she looked back and saw him that he realized it. Blushing, he glanced down, not noticing Ginny doing the same.

As Fleur and Bill finished their vows, the Minister of Bonds and Matrimony raised his wand to cast a spell that would bind them together for life, Harry believed that nothing could ruin the day. For a moment it seemed like that might be true, and then he felt a tingling sensation in his spine.

One of the Aurors quickly shouted out that the apparition wards had just collapsed, and people jumped to their feet. A robed, masked figure appeared in the front of everyone and with a shout of "Avada Kadavra" panic ensued.

Seeing the minister look up sharply and grab Fleur to pull her out of the way of the killing curse, Ginny dived to the side. 'Shit!' She looked up and saw the guests panicking while more Deatheaters apparated in before the wards went back up with a bone chilling feeling. 'Double shit.'

Harry jumped to his feet when the first spell was cast, pulling his wand out and trying to make his way to the front where the rest of his friends were. A few people apparated out within a few moments of the panic starting; however since the wards came back, no one could go anywhere.

'They wanted to trap us.' He dodged a spell, only to have it cause the ground beneath him to explode, hurtling him several feet to the side. As he got up, he threw a stunner at the Deatheater, only to have it bounce off a shield. Jumping out of the way of another spell, he used a banishing spell on a chair, before following it up with another stunner. Not bothering to wait he started to run towards the front again.

Glancing back he saw a flash of green go right passed him. Turning he saw the panicking guests running, while a few tried to hold back the Deatheaters. With a shout of "Protego" he put up the strongest shield he knew, just in time to block a blast of purple flame. He turned, quickly noting that the Deatheaters weren't trying to kill as much as cause damage and injury. Likewise, while there were more people fighting back, they weren't winning because the Death Eaters didn't stay down.

'This isn't working. Stun them and they get back up, disarm them and they find a new wand lying around. They are just blasting people with spells and debris, and even though we outnumber them they are cutting people down left and right without caring.'

He saw Mad-Eye using spells he knew to be legal, but classified as dark arts because they were meant to hurt and cause damage. Charlie stood next to Mad-Eye and seemed to be doing the same. Making a choice Harry sent a reducto curse at a chair in front of the Deatheater. The shrapnel went right through the shield impaling him.

Hearing a familiar scream his blood turned cold and he turned and started running back towards the front, dodging spells as he went. He had to get to Ginny.

Ginny had found a small area to take cover in with an Auror. She looked at the stage and saw Fleur pull out her wand after she got over the shock of all this and use it to send a fire spell at one of the Deatheaters.

'Guess her Veela heritage is taking over. Or she's pissed.' Ginny thought.

She grimaced as Fleur then flicked her wand causing a whip of fire to erupt out of it and wrap around the Deatheater who had just barely missed her sister with a killing curse. With a crack, she pulled her arm back breaking the Deatheater's neck.

'Scratch that. Her Veela side is coming out, and she's pissed off,' Ginny revised.

Turning, glancing towards where her family had been sitting she saw them fighting off the dozen Deatheaters that had appeared. Most of the guests seemed to be heading inside the Burrow or running out of the yard as fast as they could go. As for the Aurors, most had gone down in the initial assault.

Looking at the Auror next to her, Ginny saw the woman panicking. Realizing she was being looked at the Auror nodded and the two began throwing spells at any Deatheater that got near them, and tried to cover the other groups of people that hadn't taken cover like them to fight back.

Hearing a shout of triumph she looked over at Ron and Hermione. Hermione seemed to be alternating between shield spells and directing what appeared to be a flock of small yellow birds that would attack the enemy as a distraction, while Ron used stunners to drop them, as they were distracted. Unfortunately, their success was drawing attention now that the guests that were trying to get out of the area had cleared.

Ginny saw Harry fighting against a Deatheater and shuddered when he blasted a chair into the masked figure. The idea that he was fighting like the people attacking them wasn't a comforting thought. Realization that the auror beside her, Mad-Eye, and even Remus and Tonks seemed to be fighting the same eased it some, but not much.

'The other two battles hadn't been like this.' She saw the bodies lying around on the ground, 'But then, they weren't like this either.' She prepared to send another stunner, only to see a flash of green light consume the auror next to her. She turned around just in time to see two Deatheaters approaching and the voice of Draco Malfoy.

"Well, well if it isn't Potter's little pet Weaslette." He pointed his wand and shouted "Crucio!" With a scream, her world was engulfed in pain.

Harry reached the stage and saw two Deatheaters standing over Ginny, who was screaming and writhing on the ground. The female Deatheater turned just in time to see Harry point his wand at the younger one. Suddenly, his eyes seeming aflame and looking so much like the killing curse that she stepped back in fear. Seeing where his wand was pointed she pushed Draco out of the way out of instinct only to be blasted off her feet and onto the ground several feet back. Had Harry been paying attention, he would have noticed two things: one, he had just used the Sectumsempra curse; and two, he had done it nonverbally.

Draco turned to face the person who had just cursed his mother. Tearing his mask off, he screamed out, "Potter!" He raised his wand and threw a cruciatus curse at Harry. Harry, trying to draw Draco away from Ginny and end this, dodged backwards and used a disarming spell.

Hitting Draco, it knocked his wand out of his hand. He looked back and saw his mother bleeding to death, and turned back to Harry who was walking slowly towards him. Ignoring all else he dived for his wand and rolled to his feet just in time to block a banishing charm aimed at him. With a rage he started to scream out the killing curse. He got as far as "Avada Ka" before a weak blasting charm threw him off his feet from behind.

Harry looked up from where Draco landed to see Ginny pushing herself off the ground with one arm, while pointing a shaking wand at Draco's body. Running over to her, he helped her over to some cover. For her part, Ginny dissolved into a fit of shakes while Harry held her.

"I just… He was going to, and I.."

He shushed her with a kiss and a quiet thank you. Recovering herself after a few seconds she looked to Harry and whispered, "My family". Nodding, Harry stood up and the two of them started sending spells to help the Weasleys, who had taken cover behind some tables in front of the now burning Burrow.

The few remaining Deatheaters finding themselves surrounded and outnumbered now that surprise and panic were no longer on their side quickly went down, but not before one sent a final explosion charm at the table where Ginny and Harry had taken cover. Unable to block the spell completely, it blasted the table apart, sending the two behind it into a painful unconsciousness.

AN:

I think I'll leave it there. I hope you enjoyed it.

Thanks to my reviewers:

I appreciate your support.