Chapter 9: The Rehearsal Dinner and the Wedding
The next two months passed in a blur. Carly, Mum, Pixie, Angelina, Hermione, Fleur, and Ginny had the whole wedding planned down to the last detail. The colors she had picked were smoky blue and a pale pink.
"FASHION SHOW!" Ginny and they all had yelled when Carly had finally finished their dresses. (This was about three days ago.)
Ginny came first in a simple pale pink dress. It was strapless with a full skirt. Harry wolf whistled. Next, Hermione came in the same style. Then, were Angelina and Fleur in the pink gowns. When all the husbands, boyfriends, and fiancées calmed down, the maid of honor walked in. Pixie looked stunning in her smoky blue dress. It was the same style as the bridesmaids. Jeremy smiled at her.
They showed off their white sandals and then they all sat down. Carly was next. My heart started to pound in my chest. Pixie had forgotten to bring the dress Carly had wanted, so she was borrowing Pixie's earrings.
Carly walked in an exquisite white dress. The shimmering seed pearls on the spaghetti strapped gown made her look so small. The skirt was full like her attendants.
Carly had fought Mum on a veil. She decided against one.
My brothers were whistling and the girls were telling her how beautiful she looked. I couldn't form any words.
"You look beautiful… Amazingly beautiful… Like an angel…" I stumbled trying to find the words of how magnificent she looked.
Carly blushed. "It's bad luck to see the bride… But I wanted to see you're reaction…"
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"George!" I cried over supper. This was about the hundredth time he was off in his own little world since the fashion show.
"Sorry, what was the question?" he looked dazed.
I smiled.
"George you will never get a fashion show from your wife if you keep this up." Fred teased.
"I said tomorrow's the rehearsal dinner…"
"And we have to make speeches." Pixie added looking pointedly at Fred.
"And then you'll be married, dear." Mum jumped in.
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"Carly, wake up…" I whispered shaking her gently.
"What, hunny?" she mumbled. Slowly she opened her eyes.
"Let's go flying."
"Flying… Now?"
"Uh huh. Come on get let's go."
Five minutes later we were flying in the air. Carly sat in front of me and curled closer against my chest to keep warm against the cool April wind.
"George, this is incredible."
"Yeah, this is a Nimbus 2004. It's a little outdated but it's still a good broom."
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I woke up by myself. The flight with George was, well for lack of better words, incredible. I had never been on a broom flying in the air before. Then I thought of everything I had to do today and groaned. I wanted to hide under the covers instead of hauling everything to the Burrow this afternoon and setting everything up.
I heard a crack and George suddenly appeared in our room. He smiled and kissed me.
"Everyone and their things are at the Burrow. Pixie, Mum, Fred, and I took care of everything."
I felt so relieved. The only thing I had to do today was the dinner and the wedding tomorrow.
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When the dinner finally arrived there was everything! I mean everything! Ham, Turkey, Chicken, Steak, Beef, and Seafood all on one table. Another held every single kind of fruit, another was filled with vegetables, Bread on another, desserts were somewhere, and pretty much anything you wanted was there.
Jeremy had really outdone himself. He was an amazing chef back in the States, but I would say he was more than an amazing chef he was a magician. (Kind of ironic because he is a pureblood wizard)
Pixie had located all the drinks from everything alcoholic to non-alcoholic.
CLING-CLING
Pixie stood up and smiled. I knew it was time for the speeches to finally begin.
"I've known Carly for 21 years… We used to sit and plan our weddings out when we were younger and that didn't change much while we were at Sarcoma. Carly started the custom when I got married two years ago that the maid-of-honor must present a gift at the rehearsal dinner. So this is for when you're expecting your children."
Carly opened the box and inside was a snow globe. She swished the snow inside and it showed us when Pixie had first seen us to now.
"It will update itself when important evens occur. It'll be like our old photo albums." Pixie smiled. "I wish for you guys to have all the happiness in the world, to listen and to comfort, and to love and to cherish each other the rest of your days."
Carly hugged her. Fred stood up.
"I didn't get you guys a present." Everyone laughed. "You'll get mine tomorrow. Anyway, we've been giving Mum gray hair since the day we were born. Now you'll be joining me in making our wives go crazy." More laughter. "I wish you two the best of luck, I hope you find marriage as wonderful and as loving as I do. Cheers to you two!"
The rest of the wedding party gave speeches and I almost thought we were done… Until Carly stood up.
"In my family, it's customary for the bride-to-be to give a speech. Okay, I'm lying it's not, but I need to say this. I want to thank all of you who pitched in and came all this way for our wedding. I also have a gift for everyone in this room. We only have 24 hours with these people, and you MUST let them go. That will be a lot harder for some of us than others. So welcome in…"
Jeremy walked calmly into the party. He gave a big smile at Carly.
"Presenting: Mr. Andrew Hawkins!" Carly's father walked into the party.
"Presenting: Mrs. Nicole Hawkins! Presenting: Mr. James Potter! Presenting: Mrs. Lily Potter! Presenting: Mr. Sirius Black! Presenting: Ms. Katie Bell! Presenting: Mr. Albus Dumbledore!"
On and on it went. People we never thought we'd see again walked in looking as alive before they had died. But we all remembered we'd have to let them go in 24 hours. Carly had long left my side and hugged her mother and father.
Katie came towards me. "You're finally getting married, congratulations, George."
I stared at her. "George, you shouldn't feel guilty about marrying her. You should love the fact that she loves you as much as you love her."
"But I can't help thinking that I loved you more than I will ever love Carly."
"George, you and I loved each other… But it's not the same way in which you love Carly and she loves you. There will always be a part of you that loves me, and I you. But George a bigger part of you loves her."
I sat dumbfounded. Katie went to talk to Angelina and Alicia. Remus and Harry were talking to James, Lily, and Sirius.
Then I smiled, Carly gave everyone what they really wanted.
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I woke up with a smile on my face. Pixie, Angelina, Fleur, Hermione, Ginny, Katie, Alicia, and I all had one big sleepover. Then we all went down to my mom and my mum making breakfast. (A/N when she says mom that means her real mom and when she says mum that means Mrs. Weasley).
We ate everything they put in front of us and more. Then we went back upstairs to do our hair. It was already noon. After putting on our gowns and shoes we put on just enough make-up and were ready to go. When it was time, Katie and Alicia left us to go grab their seats.
"Ready ladies?" Dad asked.
We all nodded. I kissed his cheek and took his arm and followed Pixie.
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Carly walked down the aisle on her fathers arm and then we shortly said "I Do."
Then we saw a crowd of hooded figures. Death Eaters. Except they weren't coming to the ceremony…
"HEY THEY'RE RUNNING AWAY WITH THE CAKE!"
Disclaimer: I own nothing except the plot and Carly Hawkins-Weasley!