It was one of those moments when Charlie knew his world was about to change. He could feel the tingle of magic under his skin. Being a dragon tamer made a man aware of his magic. It made him respect it. Listening to your magic kept you alive.
He glanced toward Bill and saw his brother checking around them. Fleur's hand pressed against her husband's back as her eyes searched the cloudless sky above them.
"Yep." He rolled his shoulders against the tight fit of his dress robes. "Something big is coming."
"Are we up against it?" Bill strolled up next to him. "I can't nail down the feeling."
"Change." Fleur frowned. Her beautiful eyes tracked across the sky again. "Eet is upon us."
"Head back to the house and check on Mum. She's not holding up to well." Bill rubbed his wife's back gently before she left.
"Mum's ready to rip Ronald's head off." Charlie shook his head. "He's a bloody fool."
"Has she tried to talk you round to courting our fair bookworm?" Bill smirked. "She tried George. He hasn't laughed so hard since before we lost Fred."
"She told me to dance with Hermione tonight. It wasn't a suggestion." Charlie chuckled. "I'm sure my hut at the dragon reserve would be just the cozy spot for our young love."
"She'd do it if you were the one for her." Bill smiled. "There's nothing that can stop her."
"I'll praise the gods and goddesses that she doesn't want me later." Charlie shook his head. "She'll always be Ronniekin's little friend."
"Looks like Luna's brought a date." Bill waved at the blonde as she stepped through the wards. "Five galleons says Hermione brings a date as well."
"No bet." Charlie waved his brother off. "I saw the seating charts. I'll go seat our neighbor. You keep an eye out."
Bill nodded and scanned the main entrance. The guests would be arriving any minute, and chaos would reign.
Susan smiled at Blaise as he fussed with his hair in the mirror. It was too precious. He was so centered on his task that he didn't realize he'd been measured by a true relic.
Her family's foe glass was the oldest and largest of its kind. She had done the research to prove it. The special aspects of its design allowed it to enhance and interact with the manor's wards. The glass had protected generations of the Bones family. It hadn't saved her parents though. They'd put the thing in their vault to protect it.
"Do you see anyone that you shouldn't?" Susan grinned at Blaise as he attempted to hide his primping.
"Foe glass?" Blaise glanced back at the mirror. "No wonder I saw my mother glaring at me."
"Your mother?" Susan raised a brow and stepped down the last few stairs to stand next to him.
"She wants grand babies and is not above using potions to get them." He shrugged. "She slipped a lust potion in my fire whiskey last time she visited, ruined my whiskey and my poker night."
"I restored it to its proper place." She trailed a finger on the elaborate frame. "It's keyed to the wards. If you'd had any nefarious purpose it would have shifted you beyond the wards."
"A nice bit of magic." Blaise nodded and then looked her over appreciatively. "Your elegant treasure has nothing on you. You could charm an enraged hippogriff out of its foul mood."
"I'll assume that's a compliment." She smacked his shoulder. "I thought you were supposed to be the suave one."
"I don't want to put on a show for you." Blaise shrugged. "You aren't some one night witch. You're the best friend of my best friend's wife. You're special."
"So, no eating where you brew?" Susan smirked.
"I didn't say that." Blaise raised both hands in mock submission.
"We need to go." Susan glanced in the mirror and winked at the ghostly face of Ron Weasley. "I don't want to miss Hermione's arrival."
"It's good of you to come for Lavender." The tall red head smiled at them. He was handsome despite his scars, and Millie felt her cheeks heat. "I'm sure she appreciates it."
"Hermione assured us that we would be welcome." Millie fussed with the silver bracelet on her wrist.
"I wasn't aware that you were friends with Hermione." The older Weasley's smile didn't falter.
"She's very dear to us." Greg looked around them sternly. "A last minute invitation of obligation would not have found us here."
Millie patted Greg's hand. He'd spent a great deal of time reading lately. Hermione had helped him find tinted spectacles that made it easier for him long before she had welcomed Millie to her circle.
"I'm not the most intelligent of men." Greg hugged Millie to his side. "But I know a woman of worth when I see her."
"Yes, it is quite obvious that you do." The red headed wizard inclined his head.
"Oh, look!" Millie waved to someone across the circle from them. "There's Susan and Blaise."
"You've worked with Susan." Millie grinned up at slender man. "She's such fun."
"She is quite creative." The red head nodded. "I should go and greet her. Please excuse me."
Greg bowed slightly to him, and Millie breathed a sigh of relief. She'd never been the pretty and precocious girl trotted out at her parents' parties for the amusement of their guests. Being an awkward and less delicate child had its drawbacks. This large an assembly made her nervous.
"Looks like we have pretty good seats for the show." Greg waggled his brows. "I still can't imagine Draco agreeing to come here."
"The Malfoy idea of muggle hell?" Millie shook her head. "He has grown up."
Arthur hated all this fanfare. It was elegant enough. Hermione had planned it after all. And there was the glaring problem. This wedding should have been special but had turned into a shameful reminder of his failure as a father.
His son was an oath breaker.
He looked out over the seated guests. There were only a few left to arrive. Merlin, why was Hermione coming to this?
Augusta Longbottom arrived with four others. Her hair was done elegantly, but perhaps it always was. He'd never seen her without a hat before. The bright navy of her robes was new as well. Had she finally set aside mourning?
He moved toward her with a wide smile. Neville and his date stood next to her, but her other companions were blocked from his view. Neville offered his arm first to his grandmother and then to the lovely Hannah Abbott. Arthur felt an odd rush of longing for such gentility. Such customs were well faded these days.
"Lady Longbottom, it is so good of you to come." Arthur bowed to the matriarch.
"It is what those with close ties do, Arthur." Augusta inclined her head to him. "Forgive me, but I am beyond the age where a curtsy is becoming. You know my grandson, of course, and his fiancée, Hannah. My granddaughter is here with me as well."
Arthur blinked rapidly. There were no other Longbottoms. He glanced toward Neville and saw the young man smile as Hermione stepped forward.
"You're a Longbottom?" Arthur bowed to Hermione. She was always lovely, but she was well beyond that now.
"My maiden name." Hermione nodded and pulled the man holding her hand up beside her. "But I married Draco recently."
"So, it's Malfoy now." Draco raised a brow.
Arthur felt his mouth opening and closing as he gasped like a dying fish. The Malfoy heir leaned close to Hermione and pressed his lips to her hairline.
"Good, good." Arthur managed to offer his hand to the blond man. His mouth was dry, but he managed to force the words from his lips. "Congratulations."