Chapter Six: Beauty and the Beast

The evening before Bill and Fleur's wedding the Burrow was like bedlam. Everyone was running around trying to get everything into place in time. Mrs.Weasley was cooking like mad, while Fleur was frantically running around inspecting every inch of the yard to make sure all the chairs and flowers were in the right places. Gabrielle, Fleur's sister, was readying and inspecting all the dresses and suits with a fervor to rival her sister's. Bill and Charlie had gone out for a drink and the bachelor's party, and the rest of the Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione, were helping with the setup for the dancing area.

By the time the sun set, everything was ready, and everyone was exhausted. Ron and Harry clambered into bed with their clothes on, and were asleep before their heads hit their pillows.

The next morning, they were woken up by shrill screeching.

"EEEEEEEEEK! Ginny, where are my shooze? Zey are misseeng! Oh No! Where are zey? Mrs. Weasley?"

Harry and Ron rolled their eyes and shared an amused look... Women.

Bill fiddled with his tie as he paced around his room. Ron, George, Fred, Charlie, Abel (Bill's friend from Egypt, and his best man), and Harry sat around his bed.

George coughed.

Bill's shoe tapped against the floor.

Harry sneezed.

Abel sighed.

"Awkward silence..."

"Ron! Don't break the silence!"

"Oh well sorry Fred! I didn't know it was so important."

"Well it is, ok?"

"George coughed first, and that means he made the first noise!"

"Hey! Keep me out of this!"

"Um... how about a game of chess?"

"Excellent idea, Abel! You against me?"

"Good luck, Ron."

"I play winner."

"No problem, Fred"

Evening came and the wedding started. Arielle, one of Fleur's cousins, played the harp as the procession began. Bill came down the isle, looking pale, yet joyous. When at last it was Fleur's turn to come down, Arielle struck up a new tune, more flowing and soft that the previous. The bride walked slowly down the isle, flanked by fairies and glittering stars that shimmered as they floated about. Everyone was overcome by the beauty and elegance of her, and couldn't help but stare in awe. As Bill lifted Fleur's veil to kiss her, the fairies and stars surrounded him as well. The arrival of a singing pheonix ended their time at the altar, and they stepped off it a married couple, ready for dancing and food.

Nobody noticed Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny's odd behaviour. The golden trio had slipped away as the dancing began to pack a few last minute things.

Ginny, seeing this, had slipped inside as well. She knew they were trying to leave unnoticed, and had no plans of allowing them to do so.

Harry and Ron threw a few more sets of clothing, food, and necessities into their trunks. They then shrunk and locked them, putting them into their backpacks. Ron rolled up three sleeping bags and a few extra blankets, while Harry gathered pillows and extra food.

In Ginny's room, Hermione was shrinking and packing all the bandages and other first-aid books and things she could find. She didn't notice somebody watching her from the doorway.

AN: PLEEEAAASE REVIEW! I'M BEGGING YOU!

I know it's a really short chapter, but I felt as if the scene or whatever ended there.