Disclaimer: I don't own HP.

Harry walked around the Black house. In just a few days they would be heading back to Hogwarts, a place he desperately wished to avoid.

He loved Hogwarts, of course. It was the only real home he had ever known. But he could not shake the feeling of dread that crept through him at the sound of its name. He guessed it had something to do with the guilt he felt about Dumbledore's death. Of course he knew that it wasn't his fault. Dumbledore had seemingly made a decision, one that Harry couldn't talk him out of.

His mind kept drifting back to the confrontation with Malfoy, how he had been so close to using those two words. The scariest part was that he had wanted to hurt the boy. Enemy or no Malfoy was his classmate, a fellow student…a fellow human. How can I believe that ending his life would have made up for what happened that night? Killing just brings more killing.

Harry entered his room and sat on his bed. He held his head in hands.

"What if I really am like him?" He whispered into the darkness. As he had thought, only silence answered him. He lay back on his bed, pulling a pillow into his arms. I can't let that happen. I can't become some mindless, self-righteous murderer.

But it isn't mindless.

Harry's eyes shot open as this thought jetted through his mind.

Not mindless?

Harry thought back to everything he had been thinking during that moment.

I wanted to avenge Professor Dumbledore. I felt I had good intentions. Does Voldemort believe his intentions to be good?

No, it's not mindless, Harry decided. And that idea terrified him, leaving him feeling ill as he drifted off to sleep.

---

Harry woke up with a splitting pain in his head. He immediately raised his hand to his scar, wondering if Voldemort was angry, only to find that the pressure was nearer to his temples.

He groaned as he sat up, uncomfortable with the odd twists in his clothes. Oh right. I didn't change because I realized that Voldemort is human and felt like gagging.

The idea that his enemy, the man who had killed so many innocents, including his parents, could possibly share a world with him, let alone a species still brought that unsettling queasy feeling to his gut. He clenched his eyes shut and the pain in his forehead increased. So that's where this headache came from.

Harry stood and prepared for the day.

He sat in the kitchen, it was still a little early so only the early risers, Lupin, Mrs. Weasley, and surprisingly Fred and George, were up. He spoke with the twins about their plans for the shop after the war was over. Both twins' faces lit up as they explained their plan to expand all over the world. Their next step, Scotland of course.

Mrs. Weasley began breakfast as the rest of them spoke. The peaceful moment was broken when they heard someone come barreling down the stairs. Moments after the disruption, Tonks burst into the kitchen, pink-faced, wide-eyed, and a smile that's brightness put the full moon to shame.

"Remus, I need to talk to you."

Harry saw confusion in the older man's eyes as he stood to speak with his wife. Once the couple was gone Harry turned to the twins.

"So, what's on the agenda? We leave for Hogwarts in two weeks, so we have to fill that time some way."

Mrs. Weasley turned around and brandished her wand in their direction.

"You, will be helping prepare the house for Bill's wedding after you've packed your school things. I need this house spotless and it will take everything we've got."

Harry gaped at the redheaded woman, who had turned back to her cooking.

"I forgot they were getting married. Why did they wait so long?"

The twins answered for their mother.

"We were all real busy with Order stuff. It only really worked to have it so late in the summer. And this way everyone can see it."

Harry nodded, not entirely enthused by the prospect of having to clean. But the Weasleys were like family, he owed them that much.

Tonks reentered the kitchen, still grinning widely. Her eyes, softer than Harry had ever seen them, had a bright spark glowing beneath their blue surface. Lupin came in after her, his face a faint grey. His eyes watched Tonks nervously as she sat down. Harry glanced between the two and waited for one of them to speak. Mrs. Weasley turned and gasped when she saw Lupin's face.

"Remus! You look like you've seen a ghost. What's happened to you?"

Lupin glanced around the room before looking at Tonks. Harry noticed a fiery look come to her eyes, as if daring him to not answer. He cleared his throat and looked back up at Mrs. Weasley.

"Nym and I… are going to have a baby."

Silence held heavy in the room until Mrs. Weasley squealed with glee. She glommed onto Tonks, tears beginning to fall down her face.

"Oh dear I'm so happy for you. Just think, a new baby!" Mrs. Weasley pulled away and wiped her eyes before smiling at the younger woman.

"I'm sure your baby will be adorable. Would you like anything special to eat? I do know a thing or two about cravings, so you just let me know." Mrs. Weasley turned back to the breakfast beaming.

Tonks sat back down, a light film of tears in her eyes. She turned and smiled at Lupin, who smiled back. Harry frowned, Shouldn't he be overjoyed? He looks like he's forcing himself to seem happy.

The others began to fill into the empty spots around the table; each hearing the wonderful news…from Mrs. Weasley. Her children all rolled their eyes. When Hermione questioned her excitement, the twins answered.

"Mum's been wanting grandkids for ages." Fred began.

"She says Bill and Charlie are just biding their time to drive her mad." George continued.

"Dad just tells her it's a different time. 'Kids these days, they don't need to get married young.'" Charlie intervened. He and Bill shared a look and burst out laughing. By this time Mrs. Weasley was fuming, she turned around, spoon held out as if it were a sword.

"I'll have you all know that I'm thrilled because I believe this is a sign the war is going to turn out well. Because this baby will have the future we had hoped you would all have. If we succeed…this baby won't need to be afraid." Her voice began to break. Bill immediately went to his mother's side.

"Mum, it's alright, we understand. But it's true what dad says, we can take our time. And this kid won't have to be afraid. We'll all make sure of that."

Mrs. Weasley nodded before turning back towards the food. She levitated the pots onto the table, asking Bill to help with the plates.

Breakfast was very lively. Everyone was receiving instructions from Mrs. Weasley and Fleur. Harry, along with Ron and Hermione, had been assigned dusting detail. For the whole house.

---

"Oh…my…God."

Harry and Ron could only nod in agreement with Hermione's less than loquacious description of the room.

The lighting and size of the attic had caused it to be designated as the reception hall. Only those already present would be at the ceremony. However, it was simple enough to make the room only accessible via apparating for it to not be a security issue.

The large room, roughly the size of a quidditch pitch, was covered with dust.

Harry looked down and his eyes widened. I thought it had carpet. A layer of grime, three inches thick lay atop the once wood flooring. Harry turned to see his friends looking around.

"So…where should we start?"

Hermione gained a determined look in her eye.

"First we need to shrink all of that." She extended her arm and pointed to all the wayward furniture. Wardrobes, tables, boxes piled higher any of them stood. Both boys groaned loudly, earning a sharp glare from Hermione. Harry sighed and shuffled towards the piles, Ron close behind.

Standing in front of his most formidable foe to date, Harry raised his wand. Muttering his spell half-heartedly he watched as a stack of boxes shrunk. He heard Ron copy his spell. Instead of watching his pile shrink it shook a moment before toppling over on top of them, sending dust flying through the air.

Harry pushed a box off of him, coughing as more dust shifted around him. He heard a heavy flick and noticed the source: a photograph. As he brushed the dust off himself, he grabbed the photo and examined it. His eyes widened as he recognized the three smiling faces.

"Bloody hell, what did I do wrong?" Ron asked as he pushed a couple boxes to the side. Hermione, having quickly rushed over, sighed heavily.

"Honestly, Ronald. Can't you even perform a simple shrinking spell without nearly killing someone?" She raised her wand, shrinking the boxes. With another swish a nearby chair was transformed into a box, which she quickly filled with the furniture she had shrunk.

"Honestly, I can't believe you. Harry! Clean yourself up."

Harry just stood there looking at the picture. He glanced at Hermione and slowly extended the picture. He waited until she reached out and took it. He looked at Ron, who was standing up.

"Oh…Harry, how do you suppose this got here?"

Harry shrugged, reaching for the picture back. He looked back down at the moving picture. His father had each arm around the shoulders of his mother and Sirius. He let a small smile form before sticking the picture in his pocket. He looked back up and sent a questioning look at his two friends.

"What are you guys just standing around for? Ron, your mum will have our heads if we don't have this done in time."

Both his friends nodded and they went back to work. Even with magic they knew it would take a good deal of time.

Two hours later they all slumped against the wall and admired their work. One large box sat in the doorway, shrunken boxes and cabinets packed in. Hermione had showed them how to transfigure the remaining furniture into matching chairs. They had been careful not to scratch the newly polished flooring.

Mrs. Weasley came up with a tray of sandwiches. She walked into the room and took in the scenery.

The windows had been cleaned, allowing sunlight to pour in and shine on the bright wood floor. The rows of chairs were perfectly aligned, bordered with long strings of white roses and lilies, charmed to stay preserved until the ceremony. At the front of the room stood two tall candle sticks, a white sheen hidden slightly by rose vines wrapped around them.

Her eyes began to water. She hastily set the tray down on the box and seized the, now standing, teens.

"It looks wonderful! You three did a marvelous job."

Ron awkwardly patted his mothers back as Hermione returned her hug. Harry just stepped back a bit, feeling as though he were intruding on what was meant to be a private moment.

Mrs. Weasley composed herself, pulling away from Hermione and drying her eyes.

"You three must be hungry, I made you a snack. Keep up the good work." Looking around the room once me she smiled at them once more.

"Thank you. You really did a wonderful job." She turned around and exited the room.

Harry joined Ron by the sandwich tray, snickering as he watched Ron pick one up with a look of disgust on his face.

"Corned beef, why is it always corned beef?"

Harry and Hermione looked at each other and burst out laughing. Ron glared at them before taking a defiant bite from his sandwich. They watched as his chewing slowed and his face screwed up. He swallowed and looked between his sandwich and his friends as he said pitifully.

"That's disgusting."

---

The next few days were filled with cleaning the entirety of the Black House. Fleur had a radiant, yet terribly sappy, smile as she ordered people around. Fred and George could often be seen behind her mimicking her every action, and often Ginny could be seen attempting to contain her laughter.

Family from both parties had begun to show up. Each had answered question after question for fear that a Death Eater had caught wind of the event. Mrs. Weasley continued to bustle about, though she could be caught crying every so often.

Despite the war they all knew was lurking outside the safety of their hideout, everyone was in high spirits.

---

Harry woke up to a loud knocking on his door. He had barely opened his eyes when the door burst open, a bright light forcing his eyes shut once more.

"Harry! Mum's gone mad!" Ron slammed the door shut and tried to calm his excited breathing. "She's been ordering us around for the last half hour. Woke us up at the crack of dawn! It was still dark."

Harry sat up and put his glasses on. He gave Ron an amused look.

"I suppose it's actually the day then?"

He watched Ron nod before getting out of bed. He quickly located his clothing for the day: khakis and a navy blue button up shirt…and a tie? He held up the object and turned to Ron.

"Ron…did your mother put this here?"

Ron looked at the long strip of cloth and shrugged, tugging at the end of his own to show Harry he had the same misfortune.

Ten minutes later Harry was struggling with his hair, the tie hung loosely around his neck.

"Arg! Why won't my hair ever just do what I want it to?" Harry glared at the scissors lying atop his dresser. If I just cut it off, it'll grow back overnight.

"Ron, do you think I would look ok with short hair for the day?" He looked at his friend, whose face was screwed up in thought, and saw him slowly shake his head no. Harry sighed and finished tightening his tie.

"You know…we have to wear these bloody things all year. Why during our holiday?"

"Harry, mum's ecstatic to finally have one of her boys married, especially since Percy decided to be a great git and practically disown us. She wants us all 'presentable' and the like."

Harry sighed. "I know, but honestly mate, I'm not wearing a tie when you finally decide to get married."

Ron's face went beet red, "M-married?! I'm not getting married. No way. Not gonna happen."

Harry rolled his eyes, "Ron, come off it. I was just joking."

Both teens left the dark room, and were nearly bowled over by Fred and George, who were running down the hall.

"Sorry Harry."

"Sorry Ron."

Harry watched as they disappeared down the stairs. He turned to Ron.

"What do you suppose they did now?"

Ron shrugged. Both whipped around when a door slammed open.

"Fred, George I'm going to rip you to pieces!" Hermione flew down the hall. "Give me back my curling iron!"

Harry and Ron shared a look and mouthed, "Oh."

---

Harry sat on the groom's side of the room. He was surprised at how many of Fleur's family members had made it, though he noted with amusement that the Weasleys had overflow on her side.

He had never been to a wedding before, but he was sure that it was one of the nicest ceremonies one could imagine. Both Bill and Fleur had written their own vows. Harry was convinced every female in attendance had begun crying at some point through them.

Harry wondered, as they were proclaimed man and wife, if he would live to see any of his friends standing up there.

The reception was set up in the living room. Harry was surprised they had been able to stretch it to the size they had. Harry was sitting at the table nearest to Bill and Fleur's, their parents and siblings took up the remaining seats. Hermione was sitting next to him, he noticed she kept glancing at Ron. Harry shook his head, Will those two ever just get it over with? As if on cue, Ron appeared behind Hermione and whispered something in her ear. She smiled brightly before nodding. Harry watched Ron lead her to the dance floor. He knew Ron had never been very good at dancing, but it looked as though he had practiced extensively for this moment.

Harry looked around the room. Lupin and Tonks were dancing across the room, Lupin's gaze would occasionally drift to where there would soon be evidence of the child growing inside before he looked back up smiling. Bill and Fleur were dancing in the center of the room, Fleur grinning from ear to ear while Bill had a soft smile. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were also dancing, though Mrs. Weasley seemed to be paying more attention to Ron and Hermione than she was to even the newlyweds. Fred and George were each dancing with girls Harry had never met before, but they seemed to be behaving. He spotted Ginny dancing with a tall blonde, Harry was positive he must have been part Veela. He could feel resent building up but quickly pushed it away and looked towards the doorway. Is that Percy?

Sure enough, the third Weasley boy was standing there, looking unsure of himself. He watched the boy walk to where his parents were and tap his mother's shoulder. Mrs. Weasley turned around, and immediately clasped her hands to her mouth, her eyes growing wide. She hardly moved while Percy, looking down at the ground, said something to her. Though Harry couldn't hear what was being said, he didn't have to hear it to know what was occurring. It's about time, Harry thought, smirking. This was their moment, Mrs. Weasley's moment, which was long overdue.

Harry, still avoiding looking at the red and blond hair twirling around each other across the dance floor, watched as Percy fidgeted nervously from one foot to the other. He finally shot one very nervous glance up towards his mother. She looked back with tearful eyes for a second before launching herself towards Percy, holding him tightly and sobbing into his shirt. Percy looked disgruntled for a moment, and Harry snorted, noting his distress; he was bound to be happy to get forgiven, and yet horrified and disgusted at what might end up on his shirt. He finally reached forward and put his arms around his mother, hugging her back. Harry smiled, then nodded and turned back towards the dance floor.

It was good to know that though things change and you couldn't control everything that was given to you, things found their way back to where they were supposed to be. Harry saw Fleur's sister, Gabrielle, walking up to him. She stopped ahead of him and he looked up, "Can I help you?"

She fidgeted before looking down at her shoes, "Will you dance with me?"

Harry smiled and stood up, "Sure, I could use a little exercise."

Gabrielle's head shot up and she smiled brightly, taking Harry's extended hand and let him lead her to the dance floor.

Harry lie in bed, "God, five hours of dancing, and drinking, and the newlyweds." Harry shuddered. They're great people, but honestly I don't know how long I could take them giving each other those looks. Harry took his glasses off and placed them on his nightstand. In a couple days it's back to Hogwarts. Just like any other year. Harry thought back over the last few weeks, Well, it was nice to have a little bit of time away from being 'The Chosen One.' With that Harry fell asleep, a small smile on his face.

I realize this seems a lot like filler, and it kind of is. But I needed some of it to happen, and it was best this way, I promise.

I hope you enjoyed it.