5 Red and Green
Molly didn't like the idea of her son spending most of his time at the Greengrass manor. She would have used "snake pit" to describe it, but she knew that would enrage Charlie. Still, come Friday, Arthur and Molly, wearing their best, came for dinner with the Greengrass.
Both parents welcomed them warmly at the Floo and then Daphne and Charlie hugged them. Freddie was suddenly shy, but only for a minute or two, until Molly bent down to hug him.
"I sense a fierce competition coming," Cygnus said with a smile.
"Competition?" Arthur seemed bewildered.
"Yes. Which grandmother can spoil Freddie more," Cygnus widened his smile as Arthur joined him, despite both grandmothers glaring at them.
They soon found common grounds for conversation. Foremost was Freddie and then the pending wedding of his parents, on which the women spent most of the time. The men, after teasing the young couple for a bit, moved on to politics and Quidditch, finding a lot of similarities in their preferences on both fields.
Freddie seemed to enjoy it the most. He spent some time sitting on Molly's lap and then on Arthur's, basking in the attention given by his "new" grandparents. Come dinner proper, he still preferred sitting between his parents. Molly volunteered to tuck him in bed afterward and Arthur joined her. Each was also asked for a story, but Freddie was fast asleep before the first story reached its end.
It was now time for the serious talk.
"As I only have daughters, I'd like my grandson to keep the Greengrass name going," Cygnus told the Weasley.
"The Weasley name is already assured to continue," Arthur said, "but I think we should leave the decision to the young couple."
They both turned to Charlie and Daphne, who were sitting together, holding hands.
"Freddie is a Greengrass now," Daphne said with a shrug, "as I wasn't married when he was born."
"And I could adopt the Greengrass name, making me a Weasley-Greengrass if it pleases you," Charlie added.
"How will your children be named then?"
"Either Weasley-Greengrass or Greengrass-Weasley. It doesn't really matter," Charlie said.
"What will you do if a child of yours is sorted into Slytherin?" Cygnus asked.
"I'll make sure he has friends in other houses as well. Ambition and cunning are not evil, and bad wizards can come from any house. Pettigrew was an example." Molly didn't like to hear this, but she knew Charlie was right.
"I need to tell you something although you probably know already. My younger daughter, Astoria, is married with Malfoy. I don't like Draco. I think he's an arrogant prat, but Astoria is happy with him and she insists he's a good man, despite his arrogance," Cygnus added.
Molly winced. The Malfoys had always been the enemy. Had anything really changed?
"I know Draco to volunteer a lot for humanitarian causes," Arthur said. "It looks like he wants to compensate for his father's deeds. He's lost almost everything in the war, save his manor, but he seems to have built a nice business all on his own by now."
"You haven't told me!" Molly complained.
"You've never wanted to hear about any former Slytherin before," Arthur noted.
"Well, I was a Slytherin and my wife a Ravenclaw. I don't even know what house most of my friends were, except for those I've known since school. I'm now glad to welcome a Gryffindor into the family," Cygnus said, making it clear that he didn't care about houses at Hogwarts.
They moved to planning the wedding. Molly thought about a large wedding, but the young couple shot the idea down. "We already have a child and I also hope to be pregnant again by the time we wed. It would seem inadequate to have a large wedding. I'd rather have my close family and friends only. I'm sure it would turn out large enough even this way," Daphne said.
"Is it only hope or are you working on it?" her father asked with a wink, making his wife slap his hand lightly. Daphne didn't answer, but Molly blushed like a young girl.
"Don't we need to talk about formalities?" Arthur asked. He knew that old pureblood families like this one were usually very strict, requiring a contract with bride price and dowry stated.
"I don't think that would be necessary. Astoria wanted everything by the book when she married, but Daphne was never following any rules, as is evident. She will skin me if I even try to impose the old traditions on her," Cygnus said with a smile. Daphne's expression confirmed his words.
"If that's the case, I think we should let the young couple make arrangements and only help them as needed," Arthur said, looking pointedly at his wife.
"Sure," she said. "Whatever they decide." Her face showed how difficult it was for her to give up the wedding planning.
"I'm sure we shall need quite a lot of help," Daphne assured her.
It was almost midnight when they reached the Burrow. Arthur looked content and Molly seemed pensive.
"They aren't as bad as I feared," she said.
"They're really nice people," he said.
"Yes, they are," she admitted grudgingly.
Despite being much larger, Greengrass Manor didn't have room for the not so small wedding. Just inviting all the Weasley first degree relatives along with close friends made the invitation list quite long. With the Greengrass relatives and friends added, it turned to be almost as large as Bill's wedding. This was an opportunity that Molly Weasley couldn't let pass. She invited the Greengrass to the Burrow.
Charlie was apprehensive about the impression his future in-laws would get. The Burrow, although comfortable and cozy, was a far cry from the elegance and style of the Manor and its gardens. Yet the elder Greengrass loved it.
"You have a really large piece of land," Cygnus commented.
"It is large, but we didn't have time or money to make it into a real garden," Arthur said apologetically.
"I actually like it the way it is. You still have a small garden to enjoy and some trees for fruit, yet the whole area is more like a vast playground. I'm sure the children loved it, as will the grandchildren," Marry said.
"Yes, the children loved it. They still come to play Quidditch here during weekends whenever the weather allows. The grandchildren are still too young, though," Molly said.
It didn't take long to persuade the Greengrass to set the wedding at the Burrow, and some photos from Bill's wedding helped as well. Molly's cooking also got a lot of praise, once dinner was served. A few hours later they had the location set as well as the color scheme. They would set the date only after making sure that the wedding dress would be ready by then.
The three women went dress shopping together. They found out they had quite similar tastes in clothes, which helped make that day into a very enjoyable event. The wedding gown would be ready in a week. They set the date two weeks further.
Daphne wasn't yet sure if she was pregnant again. It was too soon to tell, even by magical means, yet she was almost sure about it. Having shagged at least once a day since Charlie moved in was reason enough, and she didn't plan on slowing any time soon. She had to give up one night, though.
Chrlie spent the last night before the wedding at the Burrow, where a large tent had already been erected and everything was ready for the wedding. He felt a bit awkward to be in his old room again. He wondered why. Just a few weeks earlier he felt so natural in that same room. Now, after living with Daphne at the Manor, it turned into a relic of his childhood.
He looked out of the window. The color scheme reminded him of Christmas – red for Weasley and Gryffindor, green for Greengrass and Slytherin, with some gold and silver to complement it. Everything looked lovely and he hoped this day would go just as planned.
"May I come in?" he heard Bill ask from the other side of the door.
Charlie opened the door and Bill stepped in and hugged him in brotherly fashion. "Are you fine with it? No last minute regrets?"
"I'm fine, really. I can hardly wait until I can call Daphne 'my wife'," Charlie responded.
Bill chuckled. "I remember being as eager before my wedding. Still, I hope yours will go much smoother."
Charlie shuddered at the memory. As happy and as elegant that wedding had been, it had been marred by Death-Eaters attack and the beginning of the war proper. Yet all the Death-Eaters had already been captured. He really hoped this day to stay perfectly happy.
They were soon joined by his other brothers: Percy, George and Ron. They were all joking and teasing him in good fun. Ginny also popped in for a moment, reminding them to get ready. "Daphne's going to be a stunningly beautiful bride," she said with a fond smile. The blonde had managed to change Ginny's attitude, becoming a close friend in quite a short time. "Do you want me to bring Freddie here?" she asked.
"Sure! I need my best man to look as stunning as his mother," Charlie answered with a wide smile.
Freddie joined them a few minutes later, wearing miniature dress robes and looking simply adorable. His uncles all complimented him on his looks and he seemed to stand straighter and prouder, yet he only really cared for Charlie's compliments.
By the time Charlie walked down to wait by the altar, all the guests were already present. They all smiled at Freddie's antics, acting all mature and important. This had the additional benefit of relaxing the atmosphere.
When Daphne stepped towards him, Charlie could see nobody else. He'd already known she was attractive and beautiful, but the way she looked as she approached him, she put to shame even the most beautiful Veela. Her white gown was accentuating her perfect figure and the slight bluish tint of the fabric made her eyes look even more enticing. He could swim in their depths forever. She smiled at him as she came near, making the day brighter and warmer. He took her hand in his as he turned to face the vicar who officiated. A much smaller hand crept into his other hand, making his smile widen.
He would not remember much of the rest. They exchanged their vows. They kissed. They danced alone and then with Freddie as well. He called her "My Wife". She called him "Dear Husband". It was just perfect.
Later that night, after Molly put the children to bed, after most guests left and after they changed into more casual clothes, they were sitting with only his siblings and their spouses. Harry and Hermione were also there, being "Honorary Weasleys". Charlie looked around. Each of the women present was beautiful, yet none was as beautiful as his Daphne.
He looked for the first time over the tables which were scattered around. The tablecloths were decorated with a thin golden frame, followed by a wider green one, a red one – just as wide, and then a silver line, the same width as the gold.
He was surprised to see Astoria and Draco join them. Astoria looked happy and content as she approached. Draco was walking reluctantly behind her, looking as if he was doing this against his best judgment.
"It's been a wonderful wedding, Daphy! I cried of happiness seeing you there, and Freddie was so sweet in his seriousness!" Astoria beamed at her sister.
Ron looked at Draco, wondering how fate made them related. Draco seemed much less arrogant than he remembered him. There was some snobbish aloofness to him still, but it looked like Draco was trying to control it.
"I'm very happy for you, Daphne and Charlie. It was a beautiful wedding," Draco said, glancing a bit nervously around him. He had never felt so outnumbered, being surrounded by all the Weasleys, yet he knew they wouldn't attack him, at least not unprovoked. He tried to keep to his best behavior.
"Thank you, Draco. Care to join us?" Charlie said. He felt he should try to reach some understanding with his brother-in-law, at least for the sake of Daphne.
There was some awkward silence as the Malfoys joined the group. Harry was the first to break it.
"So, Draco, I hear you're doing quite well in your new business. What made you try it?"
Draco answered, sounding almost as friendly as the others, making the atmosphere more relaxed. They were soon talking freely, forgetting all the rivalry of their youth. Charlie liked it. He liked being with Daphne and having the rest of the family around them.
As they finally retired to bed (back in Charlie's old room), Daphne hugged him tightly.
"I've visited the healer this morning, just before starting to get ready. We're having a daughter!"
Charlie hugged her tightly, careful not to put any pressure on her belly. "That's good news, my dear wife."
He kissed her tenderly.
Daphne deepened the kiss, making it more sensual, before stopping brusquely. "I need to change and wash the makeup off. Wait for me in bed. We still need to celebrate!"
He kissed her nose lightly before letting her go. "We're surely going to celebrate!"
The story ends here. I'm a bit sorry that it is not as popular as some of my other stories, but it looks as if including Fleur in a title beats all others. Still, I hope you liked this story, despite its minor drama and less used main character.
And like always,
Please Review!