A/N: Phew. Sorry the wait was so long guys, don't worry, there's no way I'm abandoning this fic. It's far from over. I'm just busy. Very, very busy. Don't expect quick updates, but please keep checking back 'cause this is going to get quite good eventually. ;-
DISCLAIMER: I don't own HP. But I think you already knew that.
Chapter Two- Despite the Darkness
Harry was awoken the next morning very early by much noisy chaos all around the house. After a quick shower, he went downstairs, hoping for bit of breakfast, but was instead was greeted by half the Order of the Phoenix.
"Harry!" Tonks exclaimed. "How's it going?"
Harry blinked, surprised. "Hey Tonks. I'm okay. Didn't expect to see you lot around here so early."
"Everyone's so excited for today, a lot of us wanted to come and help out. There hasn't been a proper wedding for anyone to attend to in ages," she stared pointedly at Remus, who was near her. Harry laughed at the expression on his face after her comment. He was blushing crimson.
After a moment, Remus spoke, breaking the awkward silence that was subduing the group. "Erm…hello Harry."
"Hi Remus. How's your summer been going?"
"Alright," he replied. "It's been good, considering the circumstances."
Harry nodded, somewhat grimly. A few moments later, Ginny came rushing up to the group.
"Harry! You're finally awake. You should really start getting ready."
"Already? It's not for hours," Harry commented.
Ginny sighed, "Of course it's not. But we need to make sure everyone's ready extra early, to be safe time-wise. I mean, I've been up for nearly three and a half hours already, Hermione two hours ago. Even Ron was up before you…" Ginny trailed off heatedly.
"Okay, okay!" Harry raised his hands up in mock surrender, "You win. I'll go get ready."
Ginny grinned and shooed him away. Once Harry was out of sight, Tonks turned to Ginny, with an excited look. "So are you glad he's back?"
"Of course! It'll be hard though. I mean, we just broke up a few weeks ago."
Tonks gave her a sympathetic smile, "Don't worry about it. I'm sure he'll come around. You've just got to knock some sense into him. It looks like Harry takes over Remie over here," she stated, nodding her head towards Lupin.
He interjected, "Must you use that name in public?"
"Oh, don't worry," Ginny began, "I won't tell anyone, Remie."
Remus blushed, but gave her a smile.
"Okay, anyway," Ginny spoke, "I've got to go finish some things before the ceremony. I'll see you two later."
Harry stood in the bathroom of Fred and George's old room, staring in the mirror. His hair was still wet, but despite that, it was still impossibly messy. He sighed and combed his fingers through his hair. No good. Some things never change, Harry surmised.
Harry quickly changed into his new dress robes and sat down on the bed, not knowing what else to do. He thought he might be able to help out around the house, but when he had gone downstairs this morning he quickly realized that the entire wedding was being controlled by the women. He shrugged, grabbed a book on Defense Against the Dark Arts he had picked up in Hogsmeade last semester, and headed downstairs. There, he found Ron, who, like Harry was sitting around, not knowing what else to do.
"Hey mate," Ron greeted him.
"Hey Ron. Today sure is hectic," Harry commented.
Ron rolled his eyes, "I expected it to be that way, what with Mum and Ginny around. And Hermione, really."
Harry grinned. "Well, I think I'm going to get some reading done. I think it's going to be a while." Ron nodded and went back to his glazed-eyed gaze at the wall, obviously not really seeing anything.
Several hours later, Harry finally saw some of the girls coming downstairs. Harry watched as Hermione, then Tonks, and finally Ginny walked slowly down the stairs, in what looked like nearly practiced movements. Ginny's hair was down, flowing in long, deep red ringlets. She wore her new brown dress robes, and a lovely gold necklace she had once mentioned she had received from her aunt. She wore little make-up, if any, but in Harry's opinion, she had never looked more beautiful.
After a moment, Harry tore his gaze from Ginny and looked over at Ron, who was staring at Hermione with what seemed to be confusion and awe in his eyes. Harry chuckled under his breath. He knew it probably wouldn't be long until they were snogging each other.
"Hi Harry," Ginny spoke, pulling him out of his reverie. He blinked, and replied, "Hi Ginny." He swallowed.
Hermione came forward, fighting back annoyance, "Come on you two, we've got to get going."
The group headed outside for the ceremony.
Harry and friends found seats near the front, quickly sitting to reserve them. The procession began a few minutes later, as the music began to play.
Bill was standing at the front, his face scarred and slightly deformed, but still recognizable. Fleur walked swiftly down the aisle, looking elegant, dressed in white, wearing the goblin-made tiara from Mrs. Weasley. Her father gave her away, and she took Bill's hand at the end of the aisle.
The man at the front began speaking, but Harry hardly heard any of the words. He was simply staring at the happy couple. He just couldn't seem to grasp how the pair could be so happy during such a hard time. There was a war on, yet somehow, despite the destruction and death, they were still blissfully in love. Harry only wished that he could have that. One day.
Within moments, Bill was kissing Fleur, the pair happily married. Everyone clapped and exclaimed with joy as gold sparks shot out from people's wands, the perfect contrast to the areas simple white scenery. It reminded Harry vaguely of a muggle movie he'd seen once, where they through rice and flower pedals after a marriage took place.
Harry was yanked from his thinking by Ginny grabbing his hand.
"Come on, Harry! It's time for the reception." She was grinning madly, making Harry glad that there was still something out there to be happy about. Ginny dragged him along and soon they arrived inside the Burrow. But it didn't look like the Burrow at all anymore, in Harry's opinion. It was completely decked out with decoration and sheer elegance. Harry assumed the area had been temporarily expanded magically because the size of the room the reception was being held in was enormous, nothing like any of the rooms in the Weasley's home. There were tables on the left side of the room, with what seemed to be self-serving plates and glasses already set, waiting for the diners. To the right of the tables was an enormous dance floor and a stage with self-playing instruments (Harry noted that they couldn't hire a band for security reasons).
Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione walked over to one of the tables and sat down. They each quickly ordered and started eating, casual conversation going on between the different members of the group. Then Harry noticed Charlie stand up and put his wand to his throat, muttering "Sonarus." He tapped his glass with his spoon, calling everyone's attention.
"Um…hello," Charlie began awkwardly, "Well, as most of you know, I'm Charlie Weasley, Bill's brother. And now I guess it's time for my speech. Bill is great guy and a great brother. I've grown up with him, and he taught me so much, in so many different aspects of my life. I'm so happy that he's been able to find love in such horrible times, and I wish both Bill and Fleur the best. I love you both," Charlie raised his glass, as did everyone else, took a long drink, and sat back down, grinning.
With that, the music started playing again, and as people started finishing their meals, they went off to dance. Harry watched as Hermione and Ron kept shooting tentative glances toward the other, while they thought no one was watching. He had to hold back a laugh. Finally, Ginny interrupted the pair.
"Ron! Hermione! You two are insanely frustrating. Won't stop staring at each other and dance!"
The pair blushed crimson, but nodded. They Hermione held out her hand to Ron and the pair went off to dance.
"Nice one," Harry commented, smiling at Ginny.
She grinned, "Thanks. It was about time. They'd been gawking at each other for hours. It was getting a bit annoying, really."
Harry laughed and nodded in agreement. "Definitely."
The pair was silent for a moment, simply taking in the moment and listening to the enchanting music. Harry was tempted to dance with her, even though he tried to hide it, and he knew Ginny could tell. But he checked the impulse and didn't act on it, knowing it would only lead them somewhere they couldn't remain. He sighed. "I'm going to get something to drink," he stood up, "You want anything?"
"A gillywater would be nice," Ginny replied.
Harry nodded and walked off. He began gathering a gillyweed and firewhiskey at the food table.
"Hello Harry," he heard Remus' voice behind him.
Harry turned to greet him. "Hi Remus. You look a bit tired. Have you been dancing with Tonks?" he asked nonchalantly.
Remus grinned, "Of course. And where is your Ginny?"
Harry shifted awkwardly on his feet. "She's hardly mine anymore, Remus."
Lupin flashed him a sad smile. "I think she'll always be yours Harry, whether or not you're with her." And with that, Remus grabbed a water and left Harry standing alone, pondering his words.
Harry sat back down with Ginny and handed her a gillyweed. They sipped their drinks for a few minutes, until Harry finally gave in.
"Ginny…do you want to dance?"
Her eyes lit up and she nodded, beaming at him as he grabbed her hand and led her to dance floor. Luckily for the both of them, the song was fast, and they didn't have to slow dance just yet.
The pair had loads of fun, dancing to several quick-paced Weird Sisters songs, but eventually the fast songs were replaced with slow ones. Harry and Ginny stood awkwardly for a moment, until Ginny sighed in exasperation and wrapped her arms around Harry's neck. "We're dancing," she said pointedly.
Harry simply laughed, surrendering for the time being. "Fine. We're dancing."
Ginny smiled victoriously. "Yep."
The dance went fairly well, and Harry only stepped on Ginny's feet twice. But looking back on the dance later, they only vaguely recalled any mistakes or goofs; they simply remembered what it felt like to hold each other. They remembered the feel of each other's heart beats, the feel of their arms around each other. They remembered the feel of every moment, every gesture. Because both of them knew it could be their last moment together to remember.
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A/N: More reviews, faster update. I need motivation somehow.