Author's Disclaimer: I am no where near as good a writer as J.K., nor do I ever aspire to be. I do not own any part of this fan fiction, save for parts of the plot.

Sorry it took so long guys. The theatre is quite demanding. Here you go. Hope you like it!

Chapter 2 - The Wedding

The morning after his birthday, Harry woke up really early and went downstairs so he wouldn't wake up his roommates. He got to the living room and saw Ginny sitting on the couch in her bathrobe reading.

"Hey Gin." Ginny nearly fell off the couch.

"Harry, you scared me! I didn't know anyone else was up."

"Sorry."

"No, it's okay, really. Do you want me to make us some hot chocolate or something?"

"Sure."

Ginny got up off the couch and put her slippers back on. She went slowly to the kitchen.

"Ginny, are you mad at me? It seemed like you were avoiding me at my party last night. Then, you went to bed before I opened my presents."

"Actually...", she paused. "I went in before you opened presents because I didn't want you to notice that I didn't get you anything." Harry opened his mouth to say something, but Ginny kept going. "You know, you really are hard to shop for. I looked all day today and I couldn't find anything I felt was good enough for you."

By now, Ginny was finished with the cocoa and came to sit back down with him on the couch. She set down the two mugs on the coffee table next to her book. He sat looking at her with his head tilted slightly onto his propped up hand.

"What, Harry?"

"Nothing. Your eyes get really bright when you get emotional. "

"Umm.." Ginny was searching around the room nervously for something to say. "The hot chocolate's gonna get co -"

"You talk too much."

Harry then encircled Ginny's waist with his arms and pulled her into a long, deep kiss.

"Gin, I've missed you all summer. Now I realize that we'll both be in just as much danger whether you and I are dating or not. I want you to be my girlfriend again. I love you, Ginny and -"

She put a finger to his lips and then ran her hand through his hair making it stand on end even more than usual. "I love you too Harry, but now you're the one talking too much."

They both smiled and leaned in to reinitiate the kiss. They kissed for quite a long time. It could have been minutes, it could have been hours. All they knew was that suddenly, they were interrupted by, "So, I guess this means the two of you have made up?"

Ginny, slightly annoyed said, "Ron, do you always have to bother me when you're not needed?"

"Well, I think it is kind of my business if you decide to snog my best friend on my couch!"

Harry needed to intervene. "Guys, it's still early."

"Fine." Ron and Ginny said simultaneously.

Ron then shoved himself between the two of them and reached for the hot chocolate on the table. He took a sip and it was clearly evident that it was very cold, but he apparently didn't want to break the "moment". The three of them sat there in the same awkward position until the rest of the house had woken up. Mrs. Weasley came downstairs and began to make breakfast.

Hermione came down just after Molly, and Fleur came down about ten minutes after Hermione. Fred, George, Bill and Charlie didn't come down until Mrs. Weasley yelled up, "Breakfast, boys!" Then, they came running.

For breakfast, Mrs. Weasley had made eggs, bacon, sausages, french toast, pancakes, and muffins. "Mum", said Ginny, "After all the food last night, I don't see how you expect us to eat all this!" Ron, however, was shoveling in food as if he hadn't eaten in weeks. "Ron, you're such a pig." remarked Ginny. "Ginerva Weasley! I will not hear you speak to your brother like that!" "It's all right. She's just mad 'cause this morning I --- OUCH!" Ginny had stamped rather hard on Ron's foot.

Mrs. Weasley opened her mouth to say something, but was interrupted by a large, tawny owl with a fat package of letters. "Oh, my it's your Hogwarts letters. Ron, here's yours, and Harry, Hermione, and Ginny." Harry opened his, and read it. It said, as always, to remember that start of term was September first. Also, to make sure he was on the Hogwarts Express at Platform 9 ¾ at one o'clock. There was also a book list for the following list as well.

SEVENTH - YEAR STUDENTS WILL REQUIRE:

Standard Book of Spells, Grade 7 by Miranda Goshawk

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander

Magical Theory by Aldbert Waffling

A Brief History of Voldemort by Ferdinand Meranok

"Hmmph. I have to go to London with Fleur and pick up her dress, so I can't go with you four to get your books. Will the four of you be all right going alone this time?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, then. It's getting late, so the four of you need to go upstairs and get ready to go. Be back downstairs in an hour."

Harry and Ron went back up to the room and shut the door. Both of them began rummaging through their stuff for clean clothes. "Umm, Harry. I'm really sorry for ruining that 'moment' you had with Ginny this morning. I'm just... upset because of... er... last night."

"What happened last night?"

"I'd rather not say much about it."

"All right, then."

"So, what are we going to do about our outing to Diagon Alley today if we aren't going back to Hogwarts?" Ron asked Harry.

"I don't know. I had been thinking about that too, but I think we should wait for Hermione to talk about that."

Ginny was taking quite a long time to get ready. "Gin, you've tried on four different tops now!" Hermione said exasperatedly. "We're only going shopping."

"Herm. This is NOT just shopping! This is a full day for Harry and I to be together without adults. I guess I sort of feel like it's a date. I'm surprised you aren't really concerned with how you look, because now that I think of it, this is sort of like a double date."

"You mean me. Dressing up for Ronald. No. We're friends, but... no."

"Harry's right. Trying to get the two of you to admit you fancy each other really is pointless."

"But- " Hermione tried to protest.

"Fine. If you won't do it for my brother, do it for me. Let me fix you up for the day."

"Well,... all right."

First, Ginny looked all through her closet to find her an outfit. She finally settled on a red tanktop and a pair of denim capris with tiny red flowers embroidered onto the cuffs. "So cute." Ginny said. "Now, okay." She took Hermione's hair out of the elastic band and asked her to use her wand to smooth the frizz from her curls. "Herm, you look so pretty!"

"Thanks, Ginny." As Hermione thought to herself, maybe if he thinks I look pretty today, it will make up for last night...

After Harry and Ron had finished getting ready, they went to Ginny's room to see if the girls were ready. Besides, Harry had wanted to ask Hermione what their real agenda was for today. They knocked, just incase either of them was still changing.

"Come in."

They walked in and when Ron saw Hermione, he lost track of everything for the moment. She looked really nice. She looked nice all the time, but he'd never really seen her in anything except t-shirts or her school robes. If she wore jeans, they weren't ever as form-flattering as these ones were.

"You look nice today, Ginny." Harry remarked.

"Thank you. So, did you have any specific plans as far as our shopping goes today?"

"Actually, that's kind of the reason we came to get you guys. I wanted to ask you that same question, Hermione. You know, considering."

"Oh, right. I forgot Ginny didn't know." Hermione said in a certainly sad tone.

"Ginny." Harry said, attempting to breathe deeply. "Ron, Hermione and I - In light of everything that's happened in the last year - We, we aren't going back to Hogwarts this year."

"What?" Ginny said with a very hurt look on her face.

"Harry needs to, for everyone's sake, go looking for Voldemort and fulfill the prophesy."

"And we're not leaving him no matter what. So, we're going too. But we can't tell Mum. Otherwise she'll find a way of stopping us and -"

"And I want you to come with us." Harry interrupted sharply.

"No, Harry it's too dangerous. She's still my little sister and I don't know if she should."

"Ron, I'm going. I am going with you guys and you can't stop me."

"So, what's the plan?"

"Well, no matter what your mom can't know we aren't going back to school. We'll have to just tell her we're getting our school things today, but we'll really need to go shopping for our... umm,... trip." Everyone else nodded in agreement. "Let's see", said Hermione as she got out a quill and a long roll of parchment. "We'll need some really thick robes for when it gets cold as well as some jackets and jeans and things like that. Harry's-" "Hermione! We're planning to go try and defeat the most evil wizard in the world, and you're making a shopping list for it!" Hermione pretended to ignore this comment. "As I was saying, Harry's new boots are really going to be good, but we'll each need a pair. Or at least something like it, and some very heavy duty sneakers for hiking - Oh goodness."

She folded up the list and put it in her bag. Then, the four of them went downstairs to see Mrs. Weasley.

"All set, then?"

"Yep."

"All right. Ron, you can apparate, so I want you to take Ginny. And Harry and Hermione, you can travel by floo powder. Harry dear, this time, try not to fall out of the wrong grate!"

"Yes, Mrs. Weasley. I'll make sure to take care of myself."

"Ron," said Mrs. Weasley suddenly taking on a very stern tone, "I am going to give you the key to the Gringott's vault. Remember, it's number 312."

"Yes, mum. We're big boys. We can take care of our selves." He said taking the key from his mother's hand.

Molly gave Ron a last sideways glance as she handed him the small broken pot of powder. He tossed a handful the contents into the fireplace and lit the green embers, as he shouted "Diagon Alley!"

Again, Harry felt the familiar sensation of the spinning fireplace and all the soot and ashes around his face. He suddenly fell forward onto the ground. If he hadn't immediately started using Hermione's present, he would have had his glasses broken, yet again. Seconds later, Hermione came through the grate.

"You know, I never see how you seem to just step right out of that thing."

"It's not that hard." Hermione reached out a hand to help him up. "Maybe, you're just not coordinated."

"Harry! Mione!" Ron and Ginny were frantically waving from across the way.

They ran to meet eachother. "All right. Now, onto Gringotts."

"Actually, up to." Ginny was correct. They were standing at the foot of the great white steps. Then, Ron and Harry simultaneously said, "Race you!" And proceeded to run up to the top.

"I suppose we should go after them, huh?"

"I guess we have to."

It took the girls another four minutes more than the boys to get to the top. They went in through the giant double doors and down to find an available goblin.

Finally, they came to Griphook. "We need to make a withdrawl from each of our accounts."

"Names?"

"Harry Potter and Ron Weasley."

"And do the two of you have your keys?"

They placed the two keys on the desk. "Very well. Right this way."

After a long and violent cart ride, they reached the Weasley vault. The goblin unlocked the door. They swung the door back and saw quite a surprise. Well, Ron, Ginny and Hermione were surprised. Harry had already known. The door swung open to reveal a pile of galleons, a heap of silver sickles, and a large stack of knuts.

"Holy Cricket!" Ron wondered aloud to himself. "Where'd Mum and Dad get all this money!"

"Actually, it's from Sirius. In his will, he said that apart from everything he'd given me, he wanted to give some money to your family. Around one hundred fifty galleons to be exact."

Ron finally managed to close his mouth. "How much do you think I'll need?"

"Probably not much. Only what you need to buy clothes and stuff."

Hermione said, "Around seventy galleons for you and Ginny together."

"I sure hope Mum doesn't need to come to Gringotts before we get back." Ron said, shoveling the money into his bag.

They all climbed back into the cart and it took off again.

"Vault six hundred eighty seven." said Griphook as the cart came to a very abrupt stop. Again, they all ambled out of the cart and he unlocked the door. "Okay. How much do you think I need, Hermione? Remember that I need to get all of your things too."

"Well, Ron, Ginny, and I don't really need much, but you may need a few more clothes."

"Yeah, but I also really wanted to get a broomstick in case we need them because us three each have one from Quidditch anyway."

"But, Harry isn't that going to be awfully expensive? Well, I guess it probably would be best if I had one too. So, I guess we need about 150 galleons." Harry put the money in his bag and they got back in the cart for yet another gut-wrenching ride up.

Even the semi-cloudy weather outside seemed bright in comparison to the dark, underground vaults.

"Where to first?"

"Hermione's broom is going to be the most expensive, so there first, I guess."

They came to the shop and saw a large group of young boys gathered excitedly around it looking at the large sign in the window.

Nimbus 4000

NIMBUS HAS COME OUT WITH THE LATEST MODEL!

MORE AERODYNAMIC THAN EVER

HANDLE MADE OF LIGHTWEIGHT ASH

TAIL OF INDIVIDUALLY CHOSEN TWIGS

ACCELERATION OF 175 MILES AN HOUR IN TEN SECONDS

WIND RESISTANT

COST: 68 GALLEONS

"Are you gonna get that one?"

"No, no that would be completely unnecessary. I only need it for functional purposes. I'm not going to be a professional quidditch player, for goodness sakes."

They looked inside at around six different models before they came to another sign.

Attention: All Nimbus 2001 and 2002 have been marked down due to the

release of the Nimbus 4000. The reduced price of the

broomsticks can be obtained from the cashier.

"That's perfect. It's a good broom, but more importantly, it's inexpensive. Excuse me, miss. How much is the Nimbus 2001?"

"30 galleons."

"We'll take it."

"Hermione? Don't you want the 2002? It's better. Isn't it?"

The Nimbus 2002 brought back an awful memory. It made her think of the time Draco had called her a mudblood at the quidditch pitch that day in their second year. Ron had tried to defend her and had ended up throwing up a bucket up slugs as a result. At the time, she'd been too upset to think about it, but now she realized it had been the sweetest thing in the world. "Maybe he really likes me. I mean, he tried to hex Malfoy for me. No, you're over analyzing him again. You're friends, that's it. He's an tall, good looking quidditch player and you're just the bookworm with bushy hair." Hermione thought to herself. "No, the 2001 is fine." Hermione said in a faintly absent-minded tone.

They paid for the broom and left the shop.

"Wait, where are Harry and Ron?"

They turned and saw that the boys were still standing ogling the new Nimbus.

"Ron! Harry!"

"Coming."

The four friends spent the next four hours or so shopping until finally they felt they were going to collapse beneath the weight of all their shopping bags. They went back to the grate for Hermione and Harry.

"Ron, do you think maybe I could take Ginny back, instead?"

"Well..." Ron said with a look that would have made his mother proud. He clearly didn't want Harry to start snogging again the moment he left.

"Fine. I'll apparate with Hermione then."

The two pairs went their separate ways.

Ron and Hermione came to the designated area for people to apparate in and out. In a very awkward moment, Hermione put her arms tightly around Ron's waist. His face began to turn as red as his hair. She could practically feel her heart begging to burst.

"You know, you can go at any time now." she said rather nervously.

"Oh, right." And with a crack, they vanished back to the Burrow.

The four of them appeared almost simultaneously back at the house.

"Well, mom isn't back yet, but she will be soon. So I guess we should go pack our things in our trunks as if we plan on going back to school. Mum never actually checks what's in them."

"Okay."

The friends went upstairs to the boys room.

"Can you two go grab your trunks and whatever else you have to put in them? Okay, thanks. We'll find ours too."

"All right, they're somewhere under all these clothes."

After a lot of searching, they dragged out their school trunks. The girls then brought theirs in along with a large basket of clean clothes. "Okay then." said Hermione in her usual bossy tone. "First things first. Everyone put in their jackets and their dragon hide boots on the bottom." They all complied. "Now, all the clothes you have that you think you'll need for the next seven months. But, make sure you leave out some things because we're still here for another month."

This continued until they each had a full suitcase and Hermione, in addition had a new broom on top of hers.

"Thankfully, we don't have to worry about our dental hygiene." as she pulled out four brand new toothbrushes, twelve packages of floss, and what looked like an entire case of toothpaste. "Bloody hell Hermione!" "Well, I asked my parents for a few extra things and they were so happy they didn't really question it."

"We'd be all set if you-know-who was terribly afraid of minty freshness." Ron was apparently trying to funny. There was an awkward silence. "So, when do you think Mom will be back?" There was suddenly a pair of loud cracks, Fleur and Mrs. Weasley were back. "Wicked scary how she does that."

They went downstairs and saw that Mrs. Weasley and Fleur looked like neither of them had the best day. Both of them without saying a word stormed up to their separate rooms. Mrs. Weasley never came down to make dinner and Bill, Charlie, and Mr. Weasley seemed to be missing all day. So, when Fred and George came home, the six of them raided the cupboards to find as many sugar coated items as possible and ate, and had pillow fights all night. They all ended up falling asleep in the living room.

They all woke up the next morning to Mrs. Weasley yelling that they had only an hour and a half until the wedding.

"Oh, great." Ron said, rather sarcastically.

The kids all rushed upstairs to their rooms to get changed. After about thirty minutes, the four boys came downstairs all ready in their new dress robes. They saw that Bill and Charlie were down there as well, already ready.

"When did you two get here?" Ron wasn't completely awake and was still very irritable.

"Last night, around midnight. The six of you were dead asleep. We apparated in and you didn't even flinch. But, did you know you talk in your sleep, Harry?"

Harry suddenly became very tense. He remembered two summers ago when his cousin Dudley had found out about his nightmares about Cedric because of him muttering things while he slept. He wondered what Charlie had heard.

"I believe it was something about Ron looking very pretty in his orange bathrobe." Charlie said with a very amused grin on his face.

Both Ron and Harry turned a violent shade of red at this comment. They were, however, saved any further embarrassment when they turned to the stairs to see that Ginny and Hermione had apparently finished getting ready.

Harry looked on at Ginny in pure awe. Her long red hair had been magically done into soft ringlets around her face and the top done up in tiny, white flowers. Her dress was a beautiful shade of periwinkle blue and hung in a most flattering way on her curves.

"Wow-- Ginny-- You look-- wow. Your hair-- and your dress-- and, wow."

"Well, thank you, but you could let me know when you're able to think of more words than 'wow'. And Ron, you can close the mouth and wipe the drool now." Ginny said looking at Ron very smugly.

Ron began to blush even redder than before. The moment he had seen Hermione come downstairs, his jaw had dropped. She was wearing a dress in the same color as Ginny's but Ron thought Hermione's looked much better. Hermione's dress was strapless with matching rhinestones all along the top. The bottom flared out gracefully with a perfectly straight hem, very Hermione-like. Her shoes were so dainty it looked as though she had little fairy feet that might break if she took another step.

"'Mione, you look amazing."

"Thanks, Ron. So do you."

"See Harry, now that was articulate." said Ginny.

"Ginny, you are a vision of loveliness this morning." said Harry giving her a quick peck on the cheek. He was not going to be outdone by his best friend who wouldn't even admit that he was in love.

The four of them linked arms and went into the backyard. The backyard had been transformed yet again. This time into a fairy-tale wedding chapel for the bride and groom to be. All of the other guests had already arrived and taken their seats. They went around and said hello to Lupin, Tonks, and the rest of the Weasleys. They came to a girl with the same silvery blonde hair as Fleur whose dress was being tied by a young woman who was presumably the mother of the bride.

"Oh, 'Arry! I 'ave been wishing to see you since zee last time at 'Ogwarts!" Gabriella threw her arms around Harry.

"Hi Gabriella."

"Guess what! I get to be zee flower girl!"

"I know, you look so cute, Gabriella but we really have to go to our seats on the other side. We'll see you at the reception." Ginny dragged Harry by the arm to their spot in the front.

"Gin, you look mad. Are you jealous of the little girl in love with Harry? Goodness, she's ten!"

"No!" she said quickly. Her face was the one turning red now. Ron thought it best not to make another smart remark. Ginny looked as though she might bite his head off.

Suddenly the music began to play and the guests quieted. Bill and Fleur had decided not to have a full wedding party, but rather just having Charlie be the best man and having Gabriella carry the rings as well. So, Charlie walked down the aisle escorting Fleur's mom. Then, the flower girl came down the aisle apparently fighting the urge to run. Just behind her came the sound of the wedding march and the lovely bride. Fleur looked gorgeous. Her dress and veil were both as white as fresh snow and her hair was pulled back into an elaborate bun with little magical twinkles all in it. She stepped gracefully down the aisle. She got to the end with Gabriella, handed her the bouquet and Gabriella set down her petal basket. The minister magically magnified his voice and began his long speech beginning with "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this witch an this wizard in a bond of marriage,...". Finally they reached the end of the vows and Bill placed his ring on Fleur's finger.

"I now pronounce you two husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

The happy couple kissed as everyone clapped and cried.

The reception was as beautiful as the wedding itself. All the round tables were covered in navy blue material with centerpieces of white roses. Harry and Ron didn't want to disrupt the festivities, but they were becoming quite bored. Harry was teaching Ron how to use a pack of muggle playing cards Ron had found in his room. Ginny was out on the dance floor with her eldest brother. Hermione was a few tables away playing hand games with little Gabriella. It looked as though the two of them were going to fall asleep from boredom when suddenly, "Harry, would you like to dance?" Harry looked up. "Aren't I supposed to be the one to ask you that?"

"First of all, Mr. Potter, that was terribly impolite. Second, that was less of a question and more of a 'You're going to dance with me.'" Ginny said smiling.

Harry put out his hand, as though he were proper lady and wished Ginny to take it. She grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him to the center of the dance floor.

Ron watched them and was beginning to drift off into a daze when he heard, "You look really bored."

"What-- oh, no. Well, yeah."

"I'm sorry."

"Have you been having fun with Gabriella?"

"Oh, yeah, I love kids."

There was an awkward silence.

"Ron? Would-- would you--"

"Hermione, would you like to dance?"

Hermione, apparently unable to form any more words simply nodded her head and allowed Ron to lead her onto the dance floor. With one hand already around her waist, Ron took Hermione's left hand in his right. She placed her other hand on his shoulder and they started to dance. The song ended, as did several more. They had become oblivious to the obvious stares from Harry and Ginny. Finally, Ron took both of her hands in his and kissed them gently saying, "Thank you, Hermione."

He walked off the dance floor and Harry followed suit.

The boys sat down at the table and Ron was staring into the folds of his fingers with a vacant expression and a big smile plastered on his face.

"Mate, you may as well be wearing a great big sign across your forehead that says I LOVE HERMIONE."

"No, I love Hermione as my friend. She's my best friend, but nothing more."

"C'mon, we've all seen the way the two of you act around eachother."

"We bicker constantly!" Ron was now becoming very heated.

"And why do you think that is?"

Ron chose to end the conversation here and stormed into the house. No one but Harry even seemed to notice this. He hoped Ron wasn't too mad at him in the morning.