Stepping carefully over the huge roots of the tall, thick trees in the Forbidden Forest, Harry and Ginny followed Hagrid deeper and deeper into the darkness. Ginny stumbled and Harry caught her, helping her over a huge log, as Hagrid ambled on ahead.
"Hagrid, we almost there?" he called out.
"Just a bit further!" he called back. Harry and Ginny exchanged worried glances.
"I was just hoping for tea and cakes with Hagrid… it seems we're in for something much more exciting," she whispered, concern clear in her voice and eyes. Harry only nodded in agreement. For twenty more minutes, they walked forward, conversation becoming less and less as their breathing became heavier.
Finally, they reached a clearing. However, it hadn't seemed to have always been free of trees: roots still littered the ground, along with little singed leaves. They curiously followed Hagrid behind a huge tree. The roots of the tree circled around the grass and formed a bed of leaves, and inside that bed of leaves was...
"Oh, my!" Ginny gasped. "Are those...?"
"They sure are," Hagrid said, his black eyes crinkling. He picked up one of the tiny red birds and placed it into Ginny's awaiting hands. "Baby phoenixes. Cute as anythin', aren' they?"
She could only nod. Harry knelt down next to the tiny birds. There were three, nestled next to a larger female phoenix who was guarding them protectively.
"I'm surprised she's lettin' us get this close. Usually they'll bite at ya if ya get near they're babies. But these guy aren' so little. They're just about ready to get on on their own, I reckon."
Just then, Harry heard the flutter of wings and felt the weight of something land on his shoulder. He jumped a little, and turned to see who had flown to him. A large red bird with golden plumage rested on his shoulder, and let out a mournful cry that Harry knew all too well.
"Fawkes," he whispered. "Ginny, it's Dumbledore's phoenix."
At the word 'Dumbledore,' Fawkes let out another mournful cry. This time it seemed to shake through the trees and run right into Harry's soul. One of the babies stood up on his tiny bird legs and began hopping toward Harry, landing on his other shoulder and spreading his wings. The baby phoenix let out a much higher-pitched cry, and Harry felt the music touch his heart the way Fawkes' always had in the past. With trembling fingers, Harry reached out to touch the baby birds new feathers, and the bird let out a satisfied croak.
Surprised, Ginny reached to pet him, too. The baby let them both stroke his wings in silence, and the mother made no objection.
"I think 'e's taken to ya," Hagrid grunted, smiling warmly. "And the mother likes ya, too. I reckon you'd be able to take 'im 'ome. They make ruddy good pets, phoenixes."
"Oh, Hagrid," Ginny whispered, before turning to Harry. "Harry, what do you think? Hagrid, are you sure?"
"Can't ya see for yerself?"
Hagrid was right. It was quite obvious that the baby phoenix had taken to the young couple, and would not be separated.
"I don't reckon there's much of a choice," Harry said, smiling nonetheless. "Let's take him. But on one condition."
"And what's that?" Ginny asked, raising one eyebrow.
"You're definitely not naming him. I don't want another Pigwideon on my hands here," he said, shaking his head sadly.
"Alright then," she laughed. "And what would you want to name him?"
Harry thought silently for a moment, staring at the red and gold plumage and remembering his years at Hogwarts. He remembered Fawkes coming to his rescue in the Chamber of Secrets, on the statue of Salazar Slytherin...
Slytherin... Hufflepuff... Ravenclaw...
"Godric. I want to name him Godric. Like Godric's Hollow, and Godric Gryffindor."
Ginny smiled. "Perfect. Come on Harry, Hagrid..." she looked at the little bird on Harry's shoulder. "Godric. Let's head back to the castle."
Meanwhile, Back at the Burrow
"Are you sureyou want a small wedding?" Mrs. Weasley asked for the thousandth time.
Hermione sighed and crossed her arms. "No. I've said it before, but I'll say it again. I would like a big wedding too, but I don't know how to do that and keep it private. So a small wedding will have to do."
"Fine then," she sighed dramatically. "Let's go over the guest list."
"Alright," Ron cut in. "So there's Ginny and Harry, George and Angelina, you and mum, Mr. and Mrs. Granger and Hermione's grandparents-"
"They don't know much about magic, I'm not sure how to deal with them yet," Hermione stressed.
"-Fleur and Bill, Charlie, and Percy. Then Neville, Luna, Hagrid, Teddy and Nymphadora," Ron ticked off his fingers. "I think that's all."
"Ron, how could you forget? There's also Professor McGonagall-"
"I was hoping you'd forget that one," he rolled his eyes.
"Ronald," she huffed, but moved on anyway. "Dean and Seamus-"
"No, Seamus was always such a git!"
"You can't invite everyone from your old dormitory except him."
"Hermione, we can do whatever we want. It's our wedding.Do you want to invite Parvati?"
Hermione wrinkled her nose.
"That's what I thought," he said.
Mrs. Weasley cut in, not able to stop herself. "But think of all the people you're leaving out! Kingsley, all of your aunts and uncles, the Delacours, Filius Flitwick, Angelina's parents, all of your father's friends at the ministry-"
"Mum, if we invite all them, that's another thirty people!"
"Oh! Ron! What about Katie Bell. I feel like we should invite her, too," Hermione said, her brow wrinkling. "Ugh, this is awful. Who knew it could be so hard? I don't want to leave everyone out!"
Ron shrugged. "Maybe we should just find a way to get everyone somewhere where the press won't bother us."
Hermione slapped her hands on the table, fed up. "And where is that? We've been talking about finding someplace like that for weeks, and we've looked and looked, and there's no where!"
"We could ask Ginny and Harry if they know anywhere," Ron suggested.
"Not right now. They're at Hogwarts, it'd take forever to find them there," Hermione said brusquely.
Ron's ears perked up. "Hogwarts?"
"Yes, Ron. Didn't you hear? They went to Hogwarts for the weekend-"
"No, no that's not what I meant! People always say there's no where safer than Hogwarts."
Hermione looked at him, eyebrows raised. "And?" she asked, eagerly.
"And, it can fit loads of people, everyone can get there, and we can keep all the press out!"
"Ron, you're a genius!" she shrieked, hugging him.
"Thanks," his said, his ears turning pink. "Plus it's not like they wouldn't want us back," he said.
Mrs. Weasley looked inquisitive though. "How do you suggest doing this?"
Hermione and Ron looked at each other. "Well, we talk to Professor McGonagall. We couldn't do it during term, though, so there goes our October wedding," Hermione thought out loud.
"We could do it at Christmas," Ron suggested. "When everyone's on break? We could use the Great Hall. And there's plenty of space for everyone."
Little by little, their plan began to take place. After about an hour, Mrs. Weasley stood up, putting a pot of tea on the stove.
"Alright then, it's set. A Hogwarts wedding," she mused, her eyes twinkling. "I'm so happy!"
"I'll write to McGongall tomorrow," Hermione stated, also standing up.
"And I'll... make a longer guest list!" Ron suggested.
"Which I'll look over when you're done," Mrs. Weasley said, giving him a stern glare. "We can't have you leaving our Auntie Muriel."
Hermione squealed and gave Ron another hug. "I think this is the best idea you ever had!"