A/N: So very sorry for the super long wait! I had my posting date as August 30, but I got sick and I did not feel like writing at all. Then, when I was able to return, I found myself drowning in a sea of make-up work. After I finally built a raft and conquered the waves, the dark cumulonimbus clouds of writer's block sunk my ship :( So, the date kept moving, until this is finally being posted.

The reason I had writer's block wasn't really because I had no clue what to write next. More like I knew what had to happen, but I had no clue how to make it happen. Well, at least while I had writer's block, I was still being productive. I have written plenty of the new mysterious story idea, ya know, the one I've been saying that I'll post... he he... someday...

So, hopefully this chapter floats your boat, tickles your fancy, and whatever else means that you enjoy it :)

Gosh, I don't even remember how to do a line break... WHERE HAS MY MIND GONE?

"Ready, Weasleys? One... Two... Three!"

Mr. Weasley's shout drifted with the warm summer breeze through the open window and into Ron's attic bedroom. The bed creaked as Harry stood and walked over to the window, his messy, black fringe blown back slightly by the draft. He looked out and saw the many ginger Weasleys lined up, their wands raised high, and the large marquee rose slowly up and into the air. When it was up at a decent height, the twins broke away to fix the ropes securely into the soil.

The raven-haired teenager let out an annoyed sigh and trudged out of the room, descending the steps two at a time down into the Burrow living room.

"Mrs. Weasley?" he called out, and a moment later she appeared in the doorway, her gloved hands dirty and clutching an abnormally large weed.

"Harry? What is it?"

"Let me help. I can't just sit around and watch you guys do all the work," he argued. No use beating around the bush.

She sent him a glance filled with... pity. He hated that look. He was not a weak... puppy. "You need to rest-"

"I'm fine," he pleaded. "Honest!"

She opened her mouth to argue, but was cut off by another redhead who had appeared in the doorway behind her.

"Honestly, mum," Ron came to his friend's rescue. "You know he's just going to keep being adamant about it. And I know you will, too, but he's been cooped up for months. Resting might not be a very satisfying option for him."

"I don't want to intrude without doing my fair share," Harry added.

The woman sighed, defeated. "Oh, all right. If you must."

'Thank you! Finally!' Harry thought, and followed Ron outside.

"Why, mate?" Ron muttered under his breath once they were out the door.

"Why what?" Harry was exceedingly aware of Mrs. Weasley's eyes following him.

"I mean, there must be a reason. Normally you would just sit back and laugh while I broke my back preparing for the bloody wedding."

"I actually wanted to speak to you," he admitted. "No one's been telling me anything. What happened while I was... away?"

"Nothing much, to be honest," Ron informed him. "They sent out search parties constantly, while we sat around worrying and discussing things."

Harry felt guilt bubble up inside of him. "You shouldn't have-"

"Shouldn't have worried?" Ron scoffed. "Bloody hell, mate, you could have been dead, for all we knew. And don't go on about how it's all your fault, because it's not. If anything, it's old... snake-face's fault. Everything."

"You're telling me," Harry mumbled darkly.

Professor Dumbledore,

You don't have to worry. Nothing at all has happened with my scar. I suppose it's a good thing, that he's calmed down a bit.

Anyway, thank you for your concern. I'll see you at Hogwarts.

Harry

It was a bit weak, in his opinion. He was never a good liar anyway. But maybe, by some chance, the Headmaster would believe him. Unlikely, he knew, but still.

All that didn't matter anyway, because there was nothing he could do about it. The owl was already just a speck in the distance.

"Zip it up, will you?"

He looked up from the copy of the Daily Prophet that was lying on the table. Ginny was standing there, her back to him, and her hair pulled over her shoulder. He crossed the room to where she was.

As he zipped up her dress slowly, she said, "It seems silly, doesn't it? A wedding? Given everything that's been going on?"

"Well maybe that's the best reason to have it," he reasoned. "Given everything that's been going on..."

Ginny turned around to face Harry. She reached up and flattened his hair.

"Thanks," he said sarcastically, and then their lips met.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife," the marriage official declared. "You may kiss the bride."

Fleur and Bill did just that, and applause broke out. The new mother-in-laws dabbed at their wet eyes with handkerchiefs, and then it was over. Harry stood up with the rest of the guests, and with the flick of Mr. Weasley's wand, their surroundings transformed into the equivalent of a party room, with round tables and an open space for the dance floor.

Harry found himself wandering around the room, ducking between guests who were all gawping at him. A voice called from behind him.

"Harry!" he turned around to see Luna bobbing towards him, her blond hair pulled back, and dressed in an almost sickening egg yolk colored dress. She was pulling a man behind her, who also had blond hair, and was wearing matching yellow dress robes.

"Luna, how are you?" Harry greeted her, glancing questioningly at the man.

"Very well, thank you," she said dreamily. "I was bitten by a garden gnome just moments ago. Their saliva is very beneficial. Oh, this is my daddy." She gestured to the man, who stretched out a hand, which Harry took.

"Xenophillius Lovegood," he introduced himself, shaking Harry's hand firmly.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir," Harry said, noticing the necklace he was wearing. It was some sort of eye. Probably some sort of charm to attract nargles or something like that.

Mr Lovegood leaned forward, lowering his voice. "I hope you know, Mr. Potter, that we at the Daily Prophet fully support you and Dumbledore, unlike those baboons at the Daily Prophet..."

Harry stepped back. "Thank you, sir," he said, a little bewildered.

"Come, daddy," Luna spoke up, tugging on her dad's sleeve. "Harry doesn't want to talk to us right now. He's just too polite to say so."

Harry was about to argue, but they were already heading away, Xenophillius whispering "Harry Potter" before they disappeared into the crowd.

Ron was suddenly at his side. "Not to be rude or anything, but I'm glad that's over. Can't stand wedding ceremonies." He grabbed a couple butterbeers from a floating tray and handed one to Harry.

"Same," Harry agreed. "Now, if only people would stop staring..."

They were staring, indeed. Harry had felt too uncomfortable to be put under a disguise, but now he was beginning to regret that decision. Oh, well. It wasn't like he could help it now.

"Here, sit," Ron invited him, and they took a couple of seats at the closest circular table. They watched the newly wedded Weasleys dancing in the middle of the room, Fleur's dress flouncing up and down as she danced. The room was filled with the sound of people clapping to the beat of the music.

"So, are you glad that you're now legally related to your fourth year crush?" Harry smirked.

"Oh, shut up, Harry."

A moment later, they were joined by Fred and George, who sat down without invitation.

"So, Ronnie," Fred practically sang out, in a voice that showed pure mischievousness. "Are you glad that you're now legally related to your fourth year crush?"

Ron scowled. "You planned that."

"Planned what?" George asked 'innocently', before making a break for it, Fred on his heels, both snickering.

"Eavesdroppers," Ron muttered under his breath, earning a wide grin from Harry.

Suddenly, Harry noticed someone across the room, and almost did a double-take. "Is that-"

"Who?" Ron asked, sounding a bit annoyed still.

"Krum!"

"WHERE?" Ron jumped up suddenly, almost knocking his butterbeer over. He searched frantically through the crowd.

Harry's hand shot out to steady the tilting bottle. "Over there, by Hermione." He held back a smirk as Ron's eyes almost instantly found the brunette witch, before narrowing dangerously when he saw who she was talking to.

The ginger muttered something that sounded like "Facial hair," before taking an absent-minded swig, draining the last of his butterbeer from the bottle. Another tray floated past them, and his hand reached out and grabbed a random bottle; not noticing the label, which read 'Odgen's Old Firewhiskey'.

Harry looked back over to Hermione, and saw her nearly doubled over in laughter, and something equivalent to a smile on Krum's face. Ron slammed the already half-empty bottle onto the table and growled, "Alright, that's it!" before storming off in their direction.

"Oh, this can't be good," Harry muttered darkly to himself, before taking off after his friend. In and out of the crowd he wove, exclaiming loud "Excuse me!"s and attracting many stares, both by his scar and his harried manner. The only thing that kept Ron in his sights was the shock of red hair on his head. Somehow, Ron was managing to create a clear path in the crowd without stopping; Harry found himself rather jealous as he dodged yet another pair of people.

When Harry finally reached a clear area, he saw Ron, Hermione, and Krum a few feet away from him. Rather than looking annoyed, as he had expected, Hermione looked... flattered. He soon found out why, as she followed Ron to the dance floor. A small smirk slid onto his face, but he replaced it with a friendlier smile as he approached the famous Quidditch player. "Hello, Victor!" he called out.

Krum turned around and, upon seeing Harry, nodded in greeting. "Hello, Harry. It has been a long time. How are you?"

"Fine, thank you," Harry told him, coming up next to him. "You?"

"Very good," Krum told him. "I vas invited here by Fleur, I did not expect Hermione to be here."

Noting that Krum could now pronounce Hermione's name. Harry nodded. "Bill is Ron's older brother. Speaking of Ron..."

"I know vat you are going to ask, Harry," Krum said in a serious tone. "I am over Hermione. Ve are friends now, that is all. Also, I heard about vat happened. You are sure you are okay?"

Feeling annoyance bubbling up inside of him again, he answered, "I'm fine."

Krum seemed to think for a moment, as if deciding whether or not to mention something. Apparently he decided to, because he said, "I saw you talking to a man before, in yellow robes. Do you know him vell?"

Harry was rather taken aback by this question. "No, I just met him today. I'm friends with his daughter, though. Why?"

There was raw hatred in Krum's dark eyes now. "His necklace. He is vearing that horrid symbol..."

"I'm sorry, what symbol?"

"Grindevald's mark," he growled. "I am sure of it. I valked past it everyday in Durmstrang. He carved it into one of the valls one day, vhen he vas there. I know that sign anyvhere. He is lucky that I have not already cursed him."

Harry's brow furrowed. Grindewald? He opened his mouth to ask who exactly Grindewald was, but just then Fleur called to Krum, and he was already walking away.

Just in time, as well. Ron and Hermione were making their way back towards him, faces pink and grins etched onto their faces. Harry raised his brows. "Have fun, did you?" He pushed the thoughts about what Krum had said away; they could wait.

Hermione giggled uncharacteristically. "Yes, it was very charming. Didn't know Ron had any dancing skills in hi-"

She froze suddenly, her gaze fixed on something over her shoulder, and her hand flying to grab her wand. Harry whipped around just in time to dive out of the way of a large, whispy thing hurling towards him. It came to an abrupt halt in the center of the area, surrounded by scattered people who had no doubt dove, like him, to escape from it's path.

The thing, which he now recognized as a patronus, took the shape of a faint, nearly transparent linx When the screams died down, he managed to catch the words that came from it, in Kingsley's deep voice.

"Be warned: they are coming. They are coming..."

A/N: Cliffhanger!

I meant to make this chapter much longer, but I decided to split it into two parts. Not to make you hate me by leaving you hanging, but because if I hadn't, this would be being posted in mid-October. So, yeah.

I hope I did Krum's accent well enough. It was very hard, and involved lots of research. In the end I just gave up and did this instead XD

Next to update is Living in a Daydream. It should be up by next Saturday (September 27, I believe, but I don't have a calendar on me at the moment), but if history repeats itself, it'll be updated in about a month... Sigh... Again, sorry about that :(

Please let me know what you think, and keep an eye out for part two when it comes up next on my list!

Breeze