Through All Seasons
One Golden Day

Disclaimer: All characters in this fic belong to J.K. Rowling. I am merely playing in the wonderful world she has created for us.

Author's Note: Well! I must say, this is the least planned bit of fan fiction that I've ever written. After finishing my reread of HBP before DH's release, I felt an incredible urge to write my version of the wedding before the last book came out. And here is the product, started and completed in three days, proving to be my most insatiable plot bunny yet, as well as my first time writing from Harry's point of view. It was kindly and hurriedly beta'd by my sister RogueTwin. Many thanks to her. Enjoy!

Harry took a deep breath, even before he opened his eyes to blink in the bright sunlight filtering through the trees. He stood still for moment as the others moved toward the back door of the Burrow, trying to shake the constricted feeling in his chest left over from Apparating. He could feel his spirits start to lift. From the crooked silhouette, to the mess of Wellingtons on the doorstep, the Burrow was exactly as they'd left it last Christmas. There was something extraordinarily comforting in the sight of those boots.

"Harry?" Ron's voice broke into his thoughts and Harry looked up at his friend, who was waiting uncertainly on the threshold. "You coming?"

Harry nodded and followed Ron inside, shifting his bag higher on his shoulder. He was overcome by the flurry of movement and bodies that greeted him, after spending so many days avoiding the Dursleys while he, Ron and Hermione had spent his obligatory time in his aunt's house. He was quickly engulfed in a warm hug from Mrs. Weasley and saw Hermione and Ron receiving similar embraces from what seemed like most of the Weasleys' extended family. Mr. Weasley was introducing Hermione to the tall man on his left while a tiny, wizened witch with flyaway white hair was pulling Ron towards her. He was bent nearly double and flushing a brilliant red as the woman planted a rather wet-looking kiss on his cheek. Harry looked up with a grin to find who else had seen the display. His gaze found a pair of chocolate eyes that were clearly as amused as he. Harry moved toward her automatically. Ginny was barely visible between the shoulders of her brothers and uncles and Harry stopped short when he finally reached her. He felt Ron and Hermione come up behind him, but he could do nothing but stand and drink in Ginny's appearance. Her vivid hair fell about her shoulders as usual, with the front pieces tucked behind her ears. But that was the only regular aspect of her appearance. She was dressed in a long, shimmering gown. The fabric fell smoothly over her body to pool at her feet. She'd gathered it up in her hand on one side, her bare foot was visible. It was cut square across the front, with two straps looping over her shoulders. Harry nearly gaped at her as the beast within him stirred. For her part, Ginny stood resolutely before him, watching him look at her, unabashed. Harry was broken from his reverie as Hermione rushed forward to hug Ginny, emitting an un-Hermione-like squeal.

"Oh, Ginny, are those your bridesmaid robes? They're beautiful! There's more of a muggle influence then I would have imagined..." Hermione turned Ginny a little from side to side, looking over the pale gold robes.

"Apparently it's more influential in France," Ginny shrugged, but smiled at the compliments. Before she could say anymore, a small pale-haired girl came down the hall behind them.

"Ginny, Fleur says we must feenish zhe feetting," Gabrielle Delacour was dressed in the same robes as Ginny and looked older than her eleven years. "She ees very worried. Zhe wedding ees tomorrow." Her blue eyes found Harry and she smiled excitedly. Before she could say anything, her sister's voice echoed from the hall.

"Gabrielle! Ginny! Zhe robes must be feenished tonight!" Ginny rolled her eyes, but Gabrielle scurried back, shooting one last glance at Harry and the others over her shoulder.

"Oh alright! I was just saying hello..." Ginny muttered, not loud enough for Fleur to hear. With a small wave, the redhead turned and headed toward the other room. At this point Hermione let out an appreciative gasp and Harry's beast reared up with a roar. The straps on Ginny's dress looped over each shoulder and back under her arms, leaving a bare, freckled expanse of skin until the fabric wrapped around from each side to meet at her lower back.

"Harry?" Mrs. Weasley's hand on his shoulder stopped his stare and he turned back to the mass of redheads with Ron and Hermione. "Are you hungry? Come, meet everyone. This is Auntie Muriel. Yes...yes, Harry Potter. No...erm...she's a little hard of hearing...its Harry! Harry Potter! Ah, here, Harry, dear, come meet Arthur's brother..." In a short time, Harry had met what seemed like all possible living members of the Weasley clan, though he had to be introduced to Aunt Muriel twice, with Mrs. Weasley shouting very loudly both times. Needless to say, he was happy when most of the people dispersed to the living room or outside and he, Ron, and Hermione were finally able to sit down to a late lunch, while Mrs. Weasley filled them in on the most important happenings in the last two weeks, before going to check on her other houseguests. They hadn't gotten up before they heard Fleur walking the seamstress to the door and Ginny came to join them, now wearing normal clothes. She slumped into the seat across from Harry, looking exhausted.

"Long afternoon?" Ron asked innocently, taking in his sister's demeanor.

"No, not at all," She shot back, voice dripping sarcasm, before launching full-force into a tirade she had clearly been building up to all morning. "Everyone's making such a fuss. It's the final fitting! That seamstress has to sew a single seam tonight, and that's only because Gabrielle changed her shoes last minute. Honestly, you'd think the robes hadn't even been started, the way they're carrying on. And you thought Phleg-Fleur was bad. Just wait until you've been around the lot of them all at once. They get worse as they get older. Gabrielle is charming compared to her mother. Even Mum can't stand to be around them anymore, that's why she stayed in here making introductions."

"We haven't met Fleur's parents yet," Hermione pointed out, after nodding sympathetically throughout Ginny's rant.

"Well dearest 'Maman' can't possibly remove herself from her daughter's side. Not even to be polite and say hello...Monsieur Delacour isn't around much. He's using his time here to make more contacts within our Ministry," Ginny sighed and shook her head. "I should try to be nicer. They are family, now." Ron gave a derisive laugh.

"If they're like you say-" But Ginny hushed him with a loud hiss as several voices came closer and three identical figures enter the kitchen. Fleur immediately swooped down upon them, kissing Harry and Ron on each cheek and smiling at Hermione with more warmth than Harry had ever seen.

"'Arry! Ron! 'Ermione! I am glad zhat you 'ave arrived. Please," She stepped back, gesturing to the pair behind her. "I would like to eentroduce my muzzer, Angelique Delacour." Madam Delacour was, though Harry had barely thought it possible, even more beautiful than her daughters. Her hair was a thick curtain of silver, falling to her hips. Her robes were elegantly cut in a rich, blue fabric. She gave a stately nod to each in turn, Harry got the impression that her English was not at all near her daughters' level. He tore his eyes away from her and saw Ginny shift in her seat and heard Ron's grunt of pain as she kicked him under the table. Ron's expression was similar to the one he had worn at the Quidditch World Cup; both Ginny and Hermione were shooting him sour looks. But Harry could hardly blame him.

"And, of course, you 'ave already met my seester, Gabrielle," Fleur continued as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened. The small girl looked around at them with excitement; Harry knew she was remembering the time he had saved her and Ron in the Triwizard Tournament during his fourth year. The three women joined them at the table, albeit more stiffly as their age increased, and Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny listened as well as they could as Fleur bubbled happily about her wedding tomorrow. They excused themselves as politely and as soon as they could, stating their wish to settle their things before the family dinner that night. Ginny followed them upstairs.

"Mum's put all your trunks in the attic, there's no room for them anywhere else. Best to just grab what you'll need for the next few days," Ginny informed them after explaining the sleeping arrangements. Harry felt a surge of guilt at her words, but didn't say anything. He couldn't tell Ginny that they would only be staying for the wedding day. He had already decided with Ron and Hermione to leave the morning after the wedding, when all the extra guests would be having a lie-in after the late-night celebrating. It would be the easiest time. But he couldn't bring himself to say anything to her. Not just yet. Hermione and Ginny left them at Ginny's room on the second floor. Harry followed Ron up to his room, once again feeling a wonderful sense of comfort from the brilliant orange Cannons posters plastering Ron's walls.

Ron collapsed on his bed as Harry sat on his cot. The pair lapsed into a comfortable silence. There wasn't much to say. They had had weeks at the Dursleys to discuss what awaited them after tomorrow. Harry knew his friends were as intent as he was on enjoying the wedding. It was a day to be happy, to forget what awaited them. A last golden day.

The morning of the wedding dawned warm and clear. Harry and Ron were woken at nine by Ginny, who ignored Ron's protestations as she dragged them downstairs. They were soon joined by Hermione and the four were set to work helping Mrs. Weasley with the last minute preparations. The next few hours were a hectic blur, often interrupted by a frantic Fleur, and it wasn't long before Ginny left to get ready.

"Oh, go on, you three," Mrs. Weasley ushered them towards the stairs. "Hurry and get ready, we can't be late!" A quick change of clothes and an apparation later, Hermione and Harry arrived at the reception room with the Weasley family and the Delacours (for Harry could only assume the dark-haired man beside Madam Delacour was Fleur's father). The musicians were setting up on the raised platform in front of a small dance floor. Round tables were set around the opposite side, already weighted down with flatware and cutlery. Mrs. Weasley had enlisted most of her children to help her put out the platters of food, casting warming or cooling charms, depending on the dish. Unrelated guests were beginning to apparate or Floo in from the fireplace in the corner and Mrs. Weasley bustled over to direct guests down the hall, where the ceremony would take place. Amongst the bands of foreign wizard and witches and loitering groups of what seemed to be Bill's co-workers and former classmates, Harry saw various familiar faces: Remus Lupin and a pink-hair Tonks seemed to have arrived together, Kingsley Shacklebolt was dressed in deep green robes and talking with a short, dark-haired witch whom Harry had seen at the Dursleys' the summer before his fifth year. Before Harry could move toward any of them, Mr. Weasley cleared his throat and announced loudly from beside the door.

"If everyone could please make their way down the hall," He called over the crowd, gesturing behind him. "We're about to begin." Harry found Ron and Hermione and followed them in to take theirs seats in the sea of brightly colored robes. The center aisle was a length of white fabric, scattered with petals.

Bill and Charlie, the best man, entered from the side and stood, in Bill's case, nervously, at the top of the aisle. Both were dressed smartly and the groom's hair looked freshly trimmed, though it was still pulled back in a ponytail. Music began to play, though there was no visible source, and all heads craned around to see the double doors swing open. Fleur stepped forward, a vision in lacy cream, topped with the Weasley tiara. Her robes were cut similar to Ginny's, though Harry thought it had to be held up magically, since there were no straps. Her skirt was full and elaborate, with a long train. Ginny and Gabrielle walked slowly behind her, a matched pair, bending every so often to smooth the train and to rearrange it when Fleur turned and was handed off by her father. Gabrielle and Ginny took their places to the left, holding their small bouquets.

For all of Fleur's wedding-glow and Veela beauty, Harry hardly glanced at her. Instead, his eyes were drawn towards Ginny. Her gown was the same as before, but her fiery hair had been twisted back into an elegant knot. When she turned her head, he saw that tiny blossoms had been tucked into the twists, white in Ginny's hair and pink in Gabrielle's, to match the bridal party bouquets. She turned back and Ginny's eyes met his. She flashed him a small smile, before turning back to the pulpit. Harry could tell that the ceremony was different from a Muggle wedding, there was a lot of wand movement, but he couldn't quite hear what was being said. While Hermione was clearly enthralled, he soon lost interest, and found himself, once again, studying Ginny.

The music started once more and Harry looked up in time to Bill and Fleur kiss and turn to walk down the aisle as husband and wife. Ginny, Charlie, and Gabrielle followed the pair through the doors before the beaming wedding guests rose and began to make their way to the reception, chatting happily and offering congratulations to the families.

The musicians had already begun to play, softly, as the guests filed in to find their seats and begin helping themselves to the bountiful platters of food. Toasts were made to the couple (though Fred was quickly pulled back into his seat by his mother when he stood to speak). When the guests' glasses were nearly empty, things settled down and everyone turned back to their food.

It was after the first dance, while the musicians were playing a lively imitation of a Weird Sisters' song. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were the only ones left at their table, as Remus and Tonks, their tablemates, has stood to mingle and dance with the other guests.

"Care to dance, Harry?" Ginny stood in front of him, having finally escaped from Auntie Muriel's company. Harry took a deep breath.

"Ginny..." He began, trying to be polite. But they couldn't do this. Everyone that he had cared about-

"It's just a dance, Harry," Ginny held out a hand and flashed him a small smile, as though she could read his thoughts. She led him onto the dance floor as the band struck up a slower song and wrapped her arms around his neck. Harry was surprised how comfortable he was in the silence between them and, after a moment, Ginny moved closer to rest her head on his shoulder. As she did so, he felt her lips brush against his neck, though he couldn't tell if it was intentional. Harry was very aware of how much he had missed being with her, holding her close.

"We're leaving tomorrow." He said bluntly, trying to break out of his own sentimentality. He couldn't afford to get this close again. Ginny raised her head and looked him straight in the eye. Harry stared straight back and he could tell she wouldn't argue. He added, more softly, almost apologetic. "We'd decided it...before."

Ginny didn't say anything, simply laid her head back on his shoulder. He remembered that today was a day to be enjoyed. One without worry. And it had been. He knew that Ginny did understand and that she would be at the kitchen table when he, Ron, and Hermione came downstairs tomorrow morning. They could continue on to Godric's Hollow in confidence. He knew she would be waiting.