Chapter 17

24 Hours Earlier

"Everything tonight has been perfect. I love you Harry potter."

Harry lightly kissed her forehead. "I love you too."

"I'm sorry I didn't have chance to get you anything or do anything for you," she said sadly and Harry turned around so he was facing her.

"It's ok. I wouldn't change a thing." He said softly. "But there is one thing you can do for me," he added almost as an afterthought. Tonks looked at him expectantly and Harry knelt in front of her and pulled out a small box.

"Nymphadora Tonks. Will you marry me?"

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There was a brief silence where Tonks' jaw opened further than it ever had before and in which Harry's heart seemed to skip a beat in nervous anticipation of her reply. Just as his heart pounded against his chest and he was sure another moment like this would give him a heart attack Tonks threw herself at him and started screaming elatedly.

Crushed by her weight and excitement Harry could only lie there as she said, "Yes! Yes! Of course I will Harry!" With a smile gleaming on her face she brought her head down to Harry's and kissed him deeply, savoring the moment. After everything that happened over the last few months this was the perfect way to get things back on track she thought. Just yesterday she had been fighting Voldemort's forces wondering if she'd ever get to see Harry again and now here they were, together and soon to be married. "I can't believe we're engaged Harry!" she beamed.

"Err Tonks?" Harry said still trapped in a fierce hug. "We're not engaged until I've put the ring on your finger and I can't put the ring on your finger because you knocked it out of my hands when you tackled me." With that she shot up, her eyes darting everywhere looking for her ring and then she saw it gleaming in its still open case, floating on the water.

"Oh crap! Harry its in the water. Oh no! What if it's damaged?"

"Don't worry." Harry said laughing at her panic. "Accio ring!" he called and it flew into his outstretched hand causing Tonks' panic to dissipate. For the second time that night Harry got on one knee, picked up Tonks' left hand in his left and gently slid the perfectly fitted diamond ring onto her finger. And only for the split second of making sure he got it on the right finger did he take his eyes off the face of the woman he knew he was head over heels in love with. Getting to his feet he let go of her hand and slipped his arms around her waist, "Now we're engaged."

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In every bed of the Hogwarts hospital wing there lay a sleeping patient and despite their injuries they all slept with peaceful expressions on their faces no doubt thanks to copious amounts of Madam Pomfrey's sleeping draughts. All patients were asleep except one who was sat up in bed talking amicably to a bearded old man at his bedside.

"You always were a good storyteller Dumbledore," Remus smiled, trying to process what he had just heard, not sure how much to believe about Harry's exploits on the battlefield.

"Not a story my old friend, believe it or not I couldn't begin to embellish what I just told you. It is as I said, no more no less."

Remus slumped back into his pillow his expression pensive, staring out of the window opposite his bed into the night and onto the trees where Voldemort's forces had appeared only a day ago.

"Are you not proud of Harry?" Dumbledore questioned. "He is a hero, and you are his guardian and his teacher. In many ways you have helped him get where he is." Hearing this didn't make Remus look any happier.

"But at what cost Dumbledore? He is too young for all this, all the responsibility. 'Destined to vanquish the Dark Lord' I mean come on he's 16! People are going to expect so much more from him, and I can't help but wonder whether he's going to have the chance to live his own life, to be happy. I know Harry and he will blame himself for every person that dies in this war." Thinking back to what had happened between himself and Wormtail, Remus knew he was lucky to escape with his life. He also knew that Harry would've blamed himself had he died just like he did with Sirius. "Yes I am proud Dumbledore, very proud. I just hope he can find peace."

Before Dumbledore could reply the door to the hospital wing opened and both men turned to see Harry look around until his eyes caught them and he walked over with a concerned look on his face. Saying hello to Dumbledore he pulled up another chair and turned his attention to Remus. "I'm sorry about what happened." He said sincerely. "I ran into Professor McGonagall in the hallway on the way to your office and she told me you were here and what had happened. How are you feeling?"

Although he was obviously in some pain Remus smiled a genuine smile. "I'm going to be fine. Madam Pomfrey got to me just in time before the silver got into my bloodstream. It's good to see you in one piece as well. Dumbledore's filled me in on what happened, you're the reason we're all here." He saw the disagreeing look on Harry's face and couldn't help but laugh. "You still won't accept any of the credit will you?"

"I couldn't have done it without everyone else helping. But what I do plan on taking the credit for is making Wormtail pay for what he did to you." An angry look appeared on his face as he imagined what it would've been like to lose Remus, the only best friend left of his father's left alive. Lupin reached out and put a calming hand on Harry's shoulder locking eyes with him.

With a look of fatherly concern Lupin said; "Wormtail is my fish to fry Harry. I'd have thought having to kill Voldemort would be enough for you, you can't lay claim to everyone!" He laughed and Harry couldn't help but feel a smile tug at his lips.

"I just don't want to lose you Remus, but I guess I can let you deal with him."

Dumbledore who had been quiet for a few minutes broke his silence in an attempt to change the subject. "Come Harry do not dwell on what has yet to come. Now tell me why is it you have come here at this late hour to see me?" Harry's mood instantly changed back to overly excited when he thought of the good news he was about to tell them and a grin spread across his face as he looked at both of the two men. "Well…" He said pausing for effect. "Me and Tonks are engaged!" There was another pause as the news sunk in and it made Harry nervous. But that feeling soon disappeared when Lupin spoke.

"That's great news!" He hugged Harry tightly, tight enough for Harry to wince. He managed to extricate himself from Lupin's grip and then both of them looked to Dumbledore who had a smile plastered on his face too.

"You have become a great man Harry and your ability to love never ceases to amaze me. I wish you and Nymphadora all the happiness in the world and if there is any way in which I can help out I will." If it was possible this made Harry's smile even wider.

"Well that's why I came, I was wondering if you could be the person to marry us?"

"I would be honoured to Harry. The fact that you thought to ask me makes me more happy than you know." And completely unexpectedly he reached over and hugged Harry who hugged his headmaster, no, his friend in return.

"Your parents would be so proud of you." Lupin chimed in. "So when's the ceremony?"

"Well about that," Harry answered tentatively. "We decided that we didn't want to wait long given everything that's going on so we were hoping it would be tomorrow. Nym's gone to speak to Molly Weasley now and see if we can have it at the burrow in the big garden."

"Well tomorrow it is then!" Said Dumbledore happily. "I'm sure we can persuade Madam Pomfrey to let Remus here out a little earlier than planned."

"I'm going to be there either way!" He added defiantly much to Harry's delight.

"That's great! I need to go and tell Hermione and Ron! I hope they're still awake!" He got up happily and said his goodbyes to Lupin and Dumbledore saying he hoped Remus started to feel better. When he left Dumbledore turned to Remus with a knowing smile.

"There is always hope."

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It was the morning of the wedding and Harry was in muggle London with Ron, Lupin, Fred and George being fitted for his suit. Telling Hermione and Ron about his engagement hadn't gone exactly how he planned but he had no time to think about that now. He was finding his suit fitting terribly uncomfortable especially since the woman altering his pants kept poking him with a pin. He had the urge to tell her that he wasn't in fact a pincushion but thought better of it. He had always hated most of his muggle clothes for being too big for him they were a hell of a lot more comfortable than the suit he was wearing he thought.

"Ow!" exclaimed Ron whose tailor had obviously poked him with a pin as well. "Watch it, I bruise easily! She better be worth all this pain Harry! It's a good job you picked me to be your best man!" Harry laughed causing his tailor to respond by poking him again for moving and it was his turn to say "Ow!"

He and his groomsmen all had there altering finished at the same time and they all stood together looking at each other in the huge mirror in front of them. Even though he wasn't completely comfortable Harry couldn't help but think they all looked exceedingly smart.

"Well Harry," the twins said in unison putting a hand on his shoulders one either side of him. "At least you're going to be well dressed when you swear you life away." They both gave twin grins and Lupin came up behind them and hit both of them across the head.

"You two can't say anything, you're already married to each other!" He joked which earned him a look that quite obviously said 'we're going to get you for that one.'

Harry looked at his watch and realised that they should probably get back to the burrow to help Mrs. Weasley set up for the wedding, which she was unbelievably happy to host Tonks had told him. Showing the others the time they proceeded to pay for their suit rentals, which Lupin had offered to pay for with the money Sirius had left him. "He wouldn't have had it any other way," he had told Harry. Then they made for the Leaky Cauldron to get a portkey home.

Harry was sat alone on a couch in the Burrow's living room staring contemplatively into fire. He had been given strict orders from Mrs Weasely not to lift a finger and Harry knew if he did he'd probably lose it. Everything had been done unbelievably quickly and Molly had organised everything with a speed Harry didn't know was possible. The invitations had gone out the previous night and Dumbledore had persuaded the Minister for Magic to give time off to those people who needed it such as Moody and Kingsley Shacklebolt. It was only going to be a small wedding but Harry was still seeing people around the Burrow he didn't recognise and assumed to be part of Tonks' family. He found them all to be very pleasant and felt somewhat rude for not chatting to them for long but needed time by himself to collect his thoughts before he got married. Leaning back on the couch he let out a sigh and closed his eyes, he hadn't had much sleep and needed a power nap before he had to get ready.

Meanwhile in the kitchen Hermione and Ginny were helping prepare the food for afterwards. At one point Ron walked through but Hermione pretended not to notice and Ron only said hi to Ginny. Rolling up some shredded duck into a pancake, not very delicately, Ginny turned to Hermione. "You want to explain what just happened?"

"Maybe later," She replied awkwardly not meeting Ginny's eye.

"I can't believe this Hermione." She said and Hermione looked up from her casserole questioningly. "Why is he getting married to her?"

Usually good at giving advice in these types of situation Hermione's response was lacking in its usual comforting intonation. "Because he wants to be with her, nothing you can do about that." Seeing the look on Ginny's face she realised that she had been a little tactless and her expression softened. "Look Ginny," she started. "Harry's happy and I get that you wish he could be with you because you are an amazing person but sometimes the person we like doesn't always like us back. I'm sure there's someone else out there for you."

Hermione's little speech didn't seem to help, instead Ginny just looked even more sad. "But I love him Hermione. How can he be sure he wants to be with her if he doesn't even know how I feel. Maybe I should tell him." Hermione shook her head quite forcefully and told her it wasn't a good idea.

"Look," she said. "I know it's hard but it won't make a difference trust me, you just need to try and let him go. Come on let's get this food put on the table in the food tents." Ginny didn't say anything but looked deep in thought as she started to take the food out with Hermione.

They had just finished putting the food out on the table, Hermione checked her watch and realised that she was going to have to start getting ready soon. After all she was a bridesmaid, her first time as a bridesmaid to be precise and she wanted to have enough time to look nice. Tonks had asked her to be her third since she only had one really good friend who she worked with and her mother.

"I'm going to get ready Ginny, are you coming?" Ginny looked at her and Hermione knew she was thinking something, something that she knew she didn't want to hear.

"I'm going to tell him how I feel. He needs to know."

"No Ginny! It's not a good idea. He doesn't need any more pressure today." But Ginny kept her resolve.

"I don't care, he needs to know." With that she started to head out of the tent and looking at her despairingly Hermione took out her wand.

"Sorry Ginny, this is for the best."

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With his head lolling over the back of the sofa Hermione found Harry asleep. 'He looks so peaceful' she thought to herself smiling, then realised she hadn't much time and shook him awake.

"Huh, what?" He mumbled groggily as his eyes opened. Hermione was stood in front of the couch looking nervously at Harry.

"Harry we need to talk."

"If this is about last night it's fine, honestly." He replied somewhat awkwardly.

"It's not. It's about Ginny." Looking at his watch he shot up when he saw the time. He was going to be late for his own wedding if he didn't get ready now.

"Sorry Hermione I've not got time, I need to get ready." He headed towards the stairs past Hermione and she turned round and shouted after him.

"But it's important!"

"Tell me later, I can't be late for my own wedding!" He ran up the stairs leaving a very frustrated Hermione in his wake.

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"Stop tapping your foot Harry!" Remus said. "You've got nothing to be nervous about." Harry was stood at the alter dressed in his black suit with polished black shoes, slightly tamed jet black hair looking very smart and very nervous. The alter was surrounded a beautiful wooden arch with an angel attached to the top and surrounded by ribbons and flowers. It had been placed in the corner of the Weasley's extremely large back garden which had been specially landscaped, magically of course, for the event. The rows of white wooden chairs were now filled with guests and Harry's stomach was turning. He didn't have cold feet but they certainly weren't feeling too warm at the moment. Molly Weasley gave him a reassuring smile which helped slightly. The Weasleys and The Tonks' made up the first two rows. Since the Dursleys certainly hadn't been invited the Weasleys took their place, which Harry was more than happy about since they were practically family anyway. Ginny's seat was mysteriously empty Harry noticed but was a little too nervous to think much of it.

It felt like he had been stood there with his four groomsmen and Professor Dumbledore forever before he finally saw Hermione start walking up the aisle followed by Andromeda and Tonks' friend Alice all dressed in deep red bridesmaid dresses. "About time." he silently muttered. As they reached the top of the aisle they lined up on the opposite side of the alter but Harry's eyes were fixed on the woman being walked up the aisle by Ted Tonks. There she was, his bride to be, looking unbelievably gorgeous in her long, white, flowing wedding dress her face framed perfectly by her veil. Unable to take his eyes off her he watched as she moved with flawless grace up the aisle. It was only when she was near the alter that he was able to remove his eyes from her and as he did he noticed Ginny's empty seat again. Leaning toward Hermione he whispered in her ear, "Where's Ginny?"

"That's what I was trying to tell you before but you ran off." She whispered keeping a smile on her face for the guests. "She was going to do something that might've spoilt today so I err…put a spell on her so she couldn't do anything."

"You did what?!" he whispered angrily and by this point Tonks was looking at Harry expectantly, ready to start the ceremony.

"Ahem." Dumbledore coughed. "Are we ready to start the ceremony?" he asked politely. Before Harry could even say anything there was a loud crack and instinctively Harry drew his wands.

"Reducto!" the Deatheater shouted blowing a massive hole in the ground sending chairs, guests and splinters of wood everywhere. Screams filled the air as people ran frantically. Those that weren't panicking had begun to fight. The Deatheaters had apparated in taking everyone by surprise and chaos ensued. Harry blocked out all the screams and focused on his next target. "Constricto!" he shouted. Not waiting to see if his spell had hit its mark he carried on and picked another Deatheater to take care of. After quickly dispatching another Deatheater he heard the original Deatheater howl in pain and knew his spell had done its job. Harry looked over his shoulder and saw his bride to be firing off spells in her wedding dress. Some wedding day he thought.

Dumbledore was fighting along side Harry and despite the Deatheaters best efforts they were no match for the two extremely powerful wizards so they tried to focus their attention on the other guests, mostly those were running terrified. A stray spell hit one of the food tents and set it alight causing more screaming but Dumbledore quickly quelled the flames. Kingsley Shacklebolt was almost hit by a stunner but Mad-Eye Moody deflected it just in time sending a volley of hexes in retaliation.

The Weasley twins were up fighting, Ron and Hermione just ahead of them. Hermione made her way over to Harry deflecting spells as best she could. "Harry I'm so sorry!" she said desperately but Harry ignored her comment and carried on fighting.

Harry knew the Deatheater numbers were dwindling and would soon be defeated but he didn't let up, especially seeing the bodies of his guests lying on the floor injured or worse. He turned his attention on a group of three Deatheaters and shouted "Electrolonux!" lighting shot out engulfing all three of them and they screamed in agony. Seeing this, the remaining Deatheaters apparated away, leaving behind a massive mess of debris and casualties.

Harry quickly surveyed the scene and then he saw her, lying on the floor in one of the food tents. He sprinted over to her, Ron and Hermione close behind, and bent down lifting up her deathly white body.

"Come on Gin, wake up!" he pleaded but got no reaction. "God Hermione what did you do?!"