Over the next two weeks, Harry, as usual, was enjoying his stay, but also thinking about the Order of the Phoenix.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had both told Harry in person that they would be going back to the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix by the end of July.
"Has there been any news from Hogwarts?" Harry asked them.
"No," Mr. Weasley said. "But I expect if they close or keep the school open, we should be expecting those letters soon."
Bill still bore some gruesome scars on his face, but his personality remained the same. He usually came downstairs to meals (even though Mrs. Weasley had objected) and visited with everyone.
Ron had informed Harry that Mrs. Weasley sent out a letter to Percy (the Prat, as he and Ginny called him) telling him about the wedding along with the time and date, but there had been no reply.
In the meantime, Harry, Ron, and Ginny enjoyed playing Quidditch in the yard, while Hermione insisted that she should study spells and such because if they don't go back to Hogwarts, she needs to know all she can, but Harry and Ron knew that another reason was that she wasn't very good at Quidditch. Harry just played unevenly between Ron and Ginny.
While they were playing, Ginny flew out of nowhere and accidentally knocked into Harry, who hadn't expected her Fleur-replica Eskimo boots to knock his broom forward, causing him to fall forward. He almost slipped off his Firebolt if Ginny hadn't caught his hand a moment before.
When he climbed back on, he was still holding her hand. Ginny was shaking her hand slightly with vigor, trying to make him let go. When Harry finally realized that, he let go hastily. She was now floating beside him and he could smell that familiar scent of flowers.
"Oh, sorry," he said hurriedly, then shot of to look for the golf ball (that Pigwidgeon had brought home, almost choking himself) that he bewitched to fly around.
Time passed by too quickly for Harry to notice. Soon enough, he woke up the day of Fleur's and Bill's wedding.
He woke up to the old common sound of a pop in Fred and George's room at eight-thirty in the morning, and muttered groggily, "Whozair?"
"The Almighty One," said a fake deep, sarcastic voice, but then it turned recognizable: "Nah, it's just us!"
Harry put on his glasses properly to see the two blurry figures in the bedroom.
Fred and George Weasley, both with the red Weasley-trait hair, freckles, and a bit shorter than Ron, were standing in the middle of the room. Fred wore black dragon skin dress robes, and some did George, but his were deep green.
Harry got out of bed and shook their hands.
"Hey, Harry," said George, after shaking his hand.
"Like the outfits?" Fred asked. "As we told you before, we're practically rollin' in the dough."
"Yeah, they're nice," Harry agreed. "Just stay away from Ron, he'll sure be jealous."
"We bought him some, so he can't complain," George said roughly.
"Off Harry's orders, though," Fred reminded him.
"Yeah, about that," George said. "Thanks a lot, Harry, we honestly couldn't of started a joke shop without the gold."
"No problem," Harry said wearily, running a hand though his untidy hair. "Listen, why don't you two go see your family, I'm gonna get changed…."
"Alright," the twins said in unison, and both of them disappeared in a loud pop.
Harry had bought a pair of new dress robes before the wedding on his trip with the Weasley's to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions in Diagon Alley when their robes did not fit anymore.
The twins had roused Ron, and he was still in his pajamas when Harry arrived in Ron's room.
" - 's only eight thirty!" Ron moaned at the twins when Harry came in.
"So you're not ready, I take it?" Harry said.
"This lot get to your head too, Harry?" Ron groaned.
"Well, I just thought it'd be a good idea to get ready - "
"Yeah, listen to the smart one, Ickle Won-W - " George teased, but was cut off when Ron threw his pillow at them.
"Get lost!" Ron barked.
The twins shrugged, (though smiling in an evil way) and Disapparated.
"They're nuts, I tell you," Ron said, falling back onto his bed.
"I don't think that's what's gotten into you," Harry said helpfully. On the contrary, Ron looked quite pale.
"Wha- oh, I'm fine." said Ron shortly.
"Suit yourself," said Harry before departing.
Within a half an hour, everyone was dressed and down in the kitchen, everyone except Fleur, Bill, Mrs. and Mrs. Weasley (Mrs. Weasley with Fleur, and Mr. Weasley will Bill), and Ginny.
Hermione had used the same hair spray on her hair in the fourth year for the Yule Ball, and was wearing a slim blue dress, Ron, normal dress robes that the twins had bought him, which were plain black like Harry's. Harry was expecting Ginny to wear pale gold as Fleur had instructed.
Finally, Ginny came traipsing down the landing. Her hair was curled and placed in a ponytail that did not use all her hair. Her dress was pale gold, slim, with lace at the end.
"Fleur was just doing my hair," said Ginny, pointing unnecessarily at her styled hair. "Mum's helping her, and Dad's gonna help Bill."
"When are the Delacour' coming?" Hermione asked.
"Soon Ron answered.
"What're they like?" Harry asked.
"Dunno," Ron said. "We never met the parents."
"Gabrielle's coming, right?" Hermione asked.
"She has to," Ginny replied. "Or else I'm the only flower girl."
"Are you using Fleur's carnations?" Harry asked, remembering the fiasco.
"Roses," Ginny answered.
A little bit later, Mrs. Weasley, (who didn't look very patchy in her dress robes, which made a nice difference to her everyday robes) ushered them outside.
The garden was looking very nice. There were many lawn chairs spread out, a small alter up front, and a white carpet. The bright day seemed to top it all off magnificently.
"Why don't you go find seats?" Mrs. Weasley suggested. "The Delacour's have just arrived, Arthur's with them. They'll be out here soon, then you can do some introducing to your mother, father, and sister in-laws." she added to her redheaded children.
After Mrs. Weasley bustled away, Ginny said, "D'ya think they're as hollow-headed as Fleur?"
"I hope not," Hermione muttered.
"Aren't your parents coming, Hermione?" Harry asked as they all sat down in the lawn chairs. Hermione and Ron sat on either sides of Harry, Ginny sat next to Hermione, and Fred and George sat next to Ron.
"No, they're busy."
"Percy?" Harry asked, turning to Ron.
"No answer," he said grimly. "I don't think he cared much about Bill, anyways."
"That's what makes him such a prat!" Ginny snapped. "He doesn't care about anyone, just his position in the Ministry of Morons and Department of Dungbrains!"
Before the Delacour's came outside, (Harry saw through the window) Hermione started sniffing and her eyes grew bright.
"Er…what's up?" Ron asked feebly.
"If there's one thing I can't stand more than funerals," she choked out, "it's weddings! They're so happy, and they make me…well, it's silly, never mind…."
"We could go get you a tissue box," Ron said jokingly.
Hermione sprang to her feet. Apparently she had taken him seriously. "Alright then, come on!" And then she dragged Ron to the back door.
Harry gave a small laugh. The Weasley's all seemed to look a bit smug, because Ginny's mouth was twitching. Once again, Harry felt that there was something he didn't know.
The Delacour's came outside a moment later. Harry turned in his seat slightly to see them properly:
Mrs. Delacour was a tall, thin, and beautiful woman with ocean-blue eyes and long silvery hair, just as Fleur's. She wore a long pale lavender dress.
Gabrielle, who had grown three years older than when Harry had seen her last, was wearing a slim pale gold and holding the basket of roses. She almost resembled a miniature Fleur, but with short blonde hair.
Mr. Delacour had straight, short blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. He wore a gray-black tuxedo with a pale blue carnation pinned to the front. (No doubt Mrs. Weasley gave it to him - Fleur must've instructed that.)
Gabrielle craned her neck up a bit to see everyone in their seats. Her eyes sparkled excitedly when she saw Harry, and smiled broadly.
Ginny got up abruptly and strode over to the Delacour's. After looking like she greeted the adults, she struck a conversation with Gabrielle.
Fred and George followed soon after. Before George passed Harry, he nudged him and muttered, "They want to meet you to, c'mon!"
Harry followed the twins over to the Delacour's. Gabrielle looked at Harry brightly.
"Fred," Fred greeted, shaking the adults hands. "And this is George." He indicated his brother, who shook their hands after him.
"Er…Harry…" Harry said hesitantly. "Potter - "
"Ah, ve've 'eard zo much e'bout zou from Fleur," Mrs. Delacour said throatily. "Zhe speaks 'ighly of zou."
Mr. Delacour nodded in agreement. "This is Gabrielle - you might remember her from the Triwizard Tournament."
Mr. Delacour spoke in a deep, British accent, unlike his wife and children.
Gabrielle blushed at the mention of her, but stood on her tiptoes to give Harry a kiss on both sides of his cheeks.
"Zank 'ou, e'gain," she said. "For zaving me vhen my seester could not!"
"Er…no problem," Harry said. He glanced at Ginny, who had frown lines on her forehead, who apparently disagreed with Gabrielle's action.
"Why don't we sit down?" George suggested. "Other people will be coming soon, you know."
So the Delacour's, Weasley's, and one Potter took their seats. Sure enough, some people stared showing up, including Charlie, who sat next to Ginny.
Finally, Ron and Hermione joined them again. Harry was curious why Hermione or Ron didn't have the tissue box they went to get.
"Er, Hermione?" said Harry as they both sat down again. "Tissue box?"
Hermione looked surprised. "Oh…that. I just needed one, I guess."
Then she turned her face away from his and didn't speak anymore.
As more people came outside, Ginny and Gabrielle left their seats and went behind the back row, ready to toss the petals.
"Oi, look behind us!" George said abruptly.
Harry turned in his seat to see Nymphadora Tonks and Remus Lupin sitting behind them.
Tonks's hair was a slightly longer than she had it before, but still spike-ish and bright bubble-gum pink. She had a heart-shaped face that did not look as pale as last time Harry had saw her. She wore a long dark-blue spaghetti-strap dress with blue earrings.
Lupin, who was still young, had some gray hairs among his brown. He had a prematurely lined face, but didn't look shabby with a dark tuxedo.
"Remus!" Fred exclaimed.
Lupin and Tonks smiled and Hermione said, "Tonks, it's great to see you!"
"Wotcher," Tonks said. "Good to see you lot, too."
"How are you?" Lupin asked, shaking their hands briefly.
"Doing alright," Harry said automatically. "Erm…how's…the - "
"Oh," Lupin said, catching on. "It's still a bit difficult…."
The others did not notice that Harry had asked Lupin how his life with the werewolves were going, because they engaged with Tonks on some of her noses.
Tonks changed her nose into a pig snout and gave a snort of laughter.
"Oh, Tonks!" Hermione said anxiously, "You shouldn't - I mean, we didn't ask you to!"
"It's alright," Tonks said, changing her nose back to normal. "I kinda have to practice anyways, after I had that trouble with it last year."
"Yeah…about that - " Ron started to say, but was cut off by a sudden sound.
Everyone looked forward: Up front, close to where they were sitting, a violin (that had been floating in midair), started to play all by itself. This was a bit unusual to Harry, (not that no one was playing it) but that they weren't using a piano.
A man suddenly Apparated on the spot, about a yard and a half away from the violin. He seemed to be the priest.
It played very nicely for an intimate object: though there was no piano, the wedding song remained the same.
Harry turned around again to see Ginny and Gabrielle, walking up the outdoor aisle. They were both holding the flower basket with their hands closest to it while the other hand tossed different tones of red and pink petals to the ground.
Once they had reached the front of the aisle, they walked over to the end to see Bill walking with Mr. Weasley, who looked ready just in case Bill fell.
Bill was certainly looking better than he had many months ago: His scars were still on his face, but were starting to heal, so that his long red hair was more noticeable than the scars now. He, like many of the other men there, was wearing black tuxedo.
Once he and Mr. Weasley finished walking up the aisle, everyone looked back again.
A much more beautiful sight was walking up the aisle: Fleur, wearing a sparkling white wedding gown that dragged on the cloth aisle. Her blonde hair was in an elegant bun with curled hair falling from underneath it. A white-transparent sparkly veil covered her face, held up by a goblin-made tiara. In her hands was a bouquet of silvery-white carnations. Next to her was Mr. Delacour. They were both arm in arm.
Mrs. Delacour could be hear sobbing in the chairs on the other side of the aisle. Fleur turned her head slightly, most likely giving her mother a smile.
Bill was beaming at his fiancé.
Once Fleur and her father reached the front of the aisle, the priest began speaking. Harry tried to listen over the sniffing of Hermione's nose, but being right next to her, she sort of impaired him.
Finally, Hermione's sniffs subsided, and Harry could hear the priest:
"- you, Bill Weasley, take this woman as your wife, in sickness and in health -"
Hermione started breaking into small but annoying sobs that only he, Charlie (who had taken Ginny's vacated spot since she left) and Ron could hear.
Bill's voice spoke after a moment form where Harry heard the priest leave off when Hermione paused:
"I do."
"And do you, Fleur Delacour, take this man to be your husband -"
Now Hermione was getting very emotional. It was only a moment later when another voice spoke.
"Zi - I do," Fleur said, correcting her French-accented "I" very quickly.
"Very well. I now pronounce you husband an wife. You may kiss the bride."
As Bill and Fleur kissed, Hermione was not the only one who could be heard crying: Mrs. Weasley and Mrs. Delacour, who where sitting with each other, were both crying.
It was only then that Harry had looked around to see if anyone else was crying that he saw someone else familiar, but didn't believe it at first.
He came to Christmas last year grudgingly. He had a fight with the Weasley's. He was being hotheaded. He was being insensible. He had not wanted to see his family, yet, Percy Weasley was standing half-hidden in the shadows of a nearby tree, his horn-rimmed glasses and his red hair remained the same. His expression was unreadable, given that the tree had shadowed the bottom of his face.
Harry met Percy's gaze, and Percy made a sign of movement: He walked away, out of the yard very swiftly, and Apparated.