CHAPTER NINE
"Okay daddy, I'm off now." Mackenzie spoke as three house elves followed her with two trucks that she'd refused to have shrunk down to a respectable size. She'd do that later. She had already been pushed into allowing them to help her in the first place as they had stood outside of her room practically whining as she dressed in a pair of blue jeans and white t-shirt. It had become unbearable for her to listen any longer after she'd pulled on her white trainers. After giving in, the crying ceased and Mackenzie went on with getting ready.
She entered the kitchen where her father had breakfast. She stopped when she read the headline crossing the newspaper page her father read. 'Malfoy-Zabini Corporations merge. Gives Minister a new set of problems'
"Daddy, if he's giving you problems, I can help you to…"
"No." Samuel stood, noticing his daughter reading the accompanying article. "As I'm sure you are able to put Mr. Malfoy in his place on a personal level, it is my job to handle him from the business aspect." His eyes met Mackenzie's with an appearance of implication. He knew she was up to something more than simple holiday plans before her impending descent into a doomed marriage to Malfoy.
"You'll be careful wherever you're going?" Samuel asked, taking his daughters hand.
Mackenzie felt his need to hug her. She resisted, as they were still on those getting to know you better as family terms, but she appreciated his attempts to try, and his desire to help her in this situation by allowing her to do things on her own, giving her the secrecy she still needed.
"Yes. Of course. I'll be just fine."
He led her out of the kitchen to the front doors. "I would feel better if you took my carriage. You may keep it as long as you like." He paused as she nodded, accepting the carriage.
"I wish you would at least tell me where you are running off to."
"You know I can't. But remember, if anyone asks, you tell them that I am on holiday before I must marry Malfoy. You've sent me to a deserted personal island to be spoiled for a week.
"As you wish my dear." The two said goodbye, and Mackenzie was off. She took the Ministry carriage only to the Leaky Cauldron so that she could not be followed. She knew the tricks played. If she'd taken the carriage further, or to her destination, she'd most certainly be followed. Her nerves were already on high alert and code red as she was about to be married.
It was still early when she arrived at the Burrow. The men had already gathered and left to kidnap George, and spend their day away, but the women remained. Mackenzie knocked on the front door. It was too damned bloody early, she thought, looking around, feeling a gust of cold wind hit her before the door opened. All she had been told was to meet the women here, at an ungodly hour of the morning. From this point on, she'd have to be surprised. Due to the hour, and her inability to properly function so early, Mackenzie had arrived fifteen minutes late.
Ginny opened the door, squealing with joy that the bride-to-be had arrived, and the festivities could now begin. She walked through the door to only be thrown back a few feet when the congratulatory yells were shouted, and magical streamers, most likely from WWW, jumped upward. She looked around at the beautiful pink decorations that were adorned the place, and smiled. Her smile grew even larger when she spotted two more women who had joined the party.
"Bailey? Lilah?" She said in shock. She wondered if she were hallucinating or really truly seeing her best friends after so much time. When they ran up and hugged her, she knew they were real.
"How did you get here? How did you know?" Mackenzie's eyes were filling with tears.
"You have some pretty smart and influencing sisters in law." Bailey explained, motioning to Hermione and Ginny.
"I know that when I married Ron, I would've given anything to have my muggle friends see my wedding." Hermione interjected. "I thought perhaps…"
"Thank you." Mackenzie hugged the still pregnant woman. "But how did you know who to find?"
"My doing." Ginny added. "You can find near anything at the Ministry, especially if your husband is Head Auror." She winked at the girls.
"And don't worry." Mrs. Weasley also spoke. "They've been informed of the secrecy that must be kept about all of this. They know the risks, but chose to come with us anyway."
"I'm glad." Mackenzie hugged everyone again. "Now let's get my party started. I want presents."
The women laughed. Ginny also then explained with an evil grin that Fleur had not been able to make it to the party as Bill was not feeling well. The two had promised to be at the wedding the following day.
"I'm starting the party by giving you this." Hermione handed Mackenzie a large cup of coffee as all of the women led her into the kitchen.
"Bless you woman." She replied, taking the cup into both hands.
"I'm afraid the men have taken over Grimmauld Place today, so we will be here." Molly explained.
"This is just great." Mackenzie returned. "You've all decorated so beautifully."
"That was Ginny's doing." Lilah enlightened. "But what is Grimmauld place and where is it?"
"It's where I live. Where my husband and I live." Ginny spoke. "It's in London, sort of in a muggle area, just hidden off."
"So we can't go there?" Bailey asked. "I was so hoping to meet this man Mackenzie is to marry before tomorrow."
"Oh you will." Hermione coyly told.
Mackenzie perked up as she drank her coffee, sitting at the table across from Hermione. "They will? Will we see the men today?"
"You don't get to know what we're doing." She warned. "But yes. You will see George at some point."
Mackenzie smiled. She began to awake further as presents were set in front of her.
After all of the boxes were opened, wrapping paper had been scattered about, and many cups of finished coffee had been set onto the table, Mackenzie wondered what was in store next. She had received so many lovely and interesting gifts. Mostly she had gotten lingerie and hysterical joke gifts with much needed relaxing gifts from the women, but Mrs. Weasley being the woman she was, decided to give Mackenzie what she thought was a proper gift. Mackenzie's jaw dropped when she opened the wrapped gift. It was a knitted blanket that had the date of her wedding on it, and under were her initials wrapped in a ring with George's initials.
"It's so beautiful." Mackenzie said, hugging the woman. "Thank you."
"You're welcome dear."
"It's time for me to give you my gift." Ginny interrupted the emotional moment.
The women all turned to her.
"There are no boxes left." Mackenzie looked around.
"My present isn't in a box. So we all have to be ready to leave. There is a portkey set to transport us in three minutes to salon and spa in London. We have the whole day to be pampered before we meet up with your next surprises later tonight."
"But Bailey and Lilah have never traveled by portkey before. For that matter neither have I." Mackenzie said, worried by the new method of travel.
"Don't worry dear. That's how we got your girlfriends here this morning." Mrs. Weasley explained.
"It's easy." Bailey said. "Nothing to it."
"Sounds like a fun day nonetheless." Mackenzie said. She stood and grabbed her wand, purse, and sweater. All of the women followed suit, then gathering around a stuffed bear. Everyone grabbed hold, and were immediately transported down the street of their destination.
"Come on." Ginny urged as they all collected their bearings.
He six women arrived at 'Calma Dolce' salon and spa. It too was decorated in pink streamers and banners of congratulations, minus the magic. They had a breakfast consisting of berries, more coffee, tea, breads, and smoothies that had been set up before their arrival.
"Thank you Gin. It's lovely." Mackenzie said.
The remainder of the day was spent indulging in manicures, pedicures, facials, massages, and a mix of girl talk about husbands and husbands to be. Most of their talk around that subject was also spent in hysterical laughter.
The knock on his bedroom door came too early. George rolled over in his bed and looked out his window. He didn't want to know what time it was. The sun had barely begun to rise. He smiled brightly just the same. Despite the disruption to his sleep, George laid in his bed, looking up at the ceiling, thinking that by this same time the next day, he'd see Mackenzie walking down the aisle to him. Through the fact that they may or may not have been marrying too quickly, George couldn't wait. He'd have married her a week before this if it'd been possible.
"Get your lazy arse out of bed and out here in fifteen minutes!" Fred and Ron demanded as Fred opened the door a few inches to yell inside.
George sat up and did as instructed. Mostly because he knew that if he didn't get up himself, his brothers would've dragged him out of bed forcefully. He showered quickly and dressed as quick as he could manage.
When he joined the group of impatiently waiting men, a full ten minutes later than so pleasantly requested, he wasn't surprised to see that the large common room of the flat had been transformed into a dungeon of sorts. It was dark, chains adorned the walls, large metal torture devices were spread around, and there were the banners hung issuing such statements as ' You doom awaits', ' Welcome to the rest of your life…in purgatory', and his favorite 'You've said I do, she says you better'. Of course George could barely catch his breath when he read the sign Harry and Fred held up reading 'My Condolences'. He had to sit down until he stopped laughing.
"Thanks." He said, standing back up as the men congratulated him, joking about the ups and downs of married life.
"So what mischievous kind of trouble have we got in store for me today as I am not allowed to see Mackenzie." He gave a mocking look of distaste.
"Oh don't look so sad. You'll see her with the girls later tonight." Ron stated.
"Actually," Harry mentioned. "We have something special planned for the bachelorette party the girls are throwing. We're going to give you and Kenny a massive send off into marriage."
"Brilliant." George returned. "So what's first?"
"Bachelor presents." Harry spoke. "I'll go first."
He picked up a series of gifts, artfully deemed, 'the husband's emergency kit', giving George the first to open. George ripped through the paper to the gift that turned out to be a shiny black shot glass with silver writing. It read: ' This is for celebration'. The second gift was a glass, the same color, but a bit larger. It read : 'This is for your own personal enjoyment.' The third was a far larger and taller glass that read: ' This is for when she gets loud, bothersome, and moody. In it George found a pair of charmed earplugs to listen to the calming sounds of the ocean. He chuckled. The final gift was a cup as big as a beer stein. It also had an inscription reading ' For when she becomes impossible to understand and you need an escape'. With the glasses, came a double sized bottle of fire whiskey.
Harry patted George's back and welcomed him to "the club". The next gift pushed in front of him was a big box from Fred. George saw the evil glint in his brother's eyes and smiled. Fred being the evil genius he was, and closest sibling to George also went the true bachelor present route with his gift giving. The top of the box read in Fred's handwriting, ' A box of marital fun to share with Mackenzie. George opened the box and laughed out loud. He flipped through the items, finding a few books full of interesting and thought provoking sexual positions and ideas. There were a few decks of cards that helped to give a couple new ideas on four play, handcuffs, blindfolds, etc…
"I'm definitely looking forward to married life if I get to use all of this."
The men all laughed.
After Ron gave his gift, which was generally the same as the other two, it was time for the final gift.
The last gift was from Mr. Weasley. He stood and pulled out a key from his pocket. He handed it to George and smiled.
"What's this?"
"After the war, the Ministry saw fit to compensate your mother and I for our strong efforts and large amounts of help over the years to Harry. They placed a large amount of money into Gringott's for us. We have been keeping that money in savings for you all. Our children. We want your future's to be bright and happy. We want to make things easier. You and Mackenzie are starting you future with more obstacles than most, but I'm sure…we're all sure you will both come through stronger and happier together."
"That still doesn't tell me what this key is to dad."
Arthur cleared his throat. "Your mother and I have given you two a house. It's just outside of London. It's a starter place for the two of you."
"Oh my God." George said, barely holding the key in his hand as he looked at it.
"Why didn't I get a house?" Ron complained.
"You don't have to deal with Malfoy trying to steal your wife. They need a place to hide." Harry explained.
"I'm sure you'll have Chase Manor, and you'll always be welcome with your mother and I, but we thought this could be a private place for you two to get away."
"Dad, this is too much." George argued.
Arthur closed his son's fingers around the key. "No. It isn't. It's what your mum and I want to do."
"But you've already done so much by helping to organize our wedding, keeping the license under wraps at the Ministry, and dealing with the details of our honeymoon."
"And if we could, we'd do more for you all."
"Thank you." George hugged his father.
"What's next?" Ron changed the emotional mood to a happier one.
"Come on." The men pulled George out of the flat, the shop, and began their day. They all spent their day hanging out together. It was something they'd not done in some time. They had breakfast together, played a "friendly" game of Quidditch at a nearby pitch, a game George had dearly missed, not realizing how much it was missed until he played again. He hadn't played since losing Angelina, and he thought it would bring back old memories. It didn't. He had a fantastic time flying. He and Fred of course won as it was his day and both Harry and Ron let him win. After the game, the four collapsed onto the field, lying on their backs laughing, until Arthur had arrived with lunch. The five sat on the grass eating together and having the best time together, just talking. It was as if George had temporarily lost touch with reality and his family while grieving his former relationship. He wouldn't let that happen again. As evening approached, the men arrived at number twelve Grimmauld Place. They first opened a bottle of jack daniels and each had a shot before moving up the staircase to change for the evening's next surprise event. Not knowing what would come next worried George, but he'd have Mackenzie by his side, so all was not too bad.
Once showered and changed, the five men exited the house, walking along the streets of London. They stopped outside of a club called ' The cat's meow'.
"A strip club?" George questioned.
"It's been cleared out for the night." Harry explained. "We're meeting the girls here."
"Then by all means." George opened the door. They all piled into the building. There were a few strobe lights going off, colorful lights spinning around the room, and enough alcohol sitting on top of and behind the bar to send them all into a drunken stupor before the women arrived.
There were a few tables set up around the area close to the bar, and chairs surrounding them. George sat as he was handed a drink from his brother. He thought it looked safe enough, but where Fred was concerned, he knew not to trust. It would be like Fred having to trust what George gave him. It didn't happen.
"It's jack and coke." Fred said. "I know that you have to be up and coherent tomorrow."
George nodded and began to drink. The rest of the men joined him at a table, drinks in hand. They were about halfway through their second glasses when they heard the doors open.
As the women walked through the doors of the club, their relaxed demeanors changed as they happily greeted their husbands. Still relaxed, they were ready to party alongside their men. Harry placing his arms around Ginny, handed off his half finished drink to his wife who fully finished it. Ron gave Hermione a virgin daiquiri, kissing her as well. Arthur handed his drink over to his wife as she came up beside him too. Bailey and Lilah were introduced to a few of the men before the couples watched George and Mackenzie greet each other before their guests.
"Hi again." George immediately pulled Mackenzie to him. "I missed you today."
"I missed you too." Mackenzie said against his chest, unwilling to let go of him yet. She looked up at him, lifting her head only slightly.
"How did your day with the boys go?"
"Wonderful. But I spent my day thinking about you and missing you. Plus, I couldn't stop thinking about how tomorrow, by this time, we'll be married."
"I know." Mackenzie excitedly returned. "I can't wait." She giggled as he nuzzled along her neck. She in return did the same as the group around them began to awe. The couple stopped and released each other.
"So, this is George." Bailey acknowledged, walking up to the pair with Lilah beside her.
Mackenzie nodded. "George, these are my two best friends, Lilah and Bailey." She introduced the three to each other.
Both women nearly jumped when Fred turned up behind them, placing arms around each woman. "Can I get you ladies anything to drink?"
Bailey and Lilah looked from Fred to George and back again.
"They're twins." Lilah mentioned.
"The identical kind." Mackenzie added, gaining a laugh from Fred, who was clued into her joke.
Lilah turned to Fred and smiled. "I would love a drink."
Fred smiled back and turned to Bailey. "And you?"
"Absolutely." She replied. "Whatever you're making, I'm drinking."
"I wouldn't have said that if I were you." Mackenzie told her friend. "These two are known troublemakers."
"Can't be any worse than you Ken." Lilah joked.
"Stories about Kenny?" Harry asked. "Let's hear them."
"No way." Mackenzie objected. "This is my happy party. Not tonight."
"Okay." Bailey agreed. "We'll leave off the story of how you snuck into your defensive law teacher's office after hours, stole a case file, and managed to…"
"Stop it." Mackenzie said.
"And what?" Ron questioned. "What'd she do?"
"Don't you worry about it Ron." Mackenzie told him. "Besides, they'll probably tell you later."
"My devious wife everyone!" George shouted.
He and Mackenzie laughed. "Would you like a drink?" He asked, sitting down, bringing her onto his lap
She shook her head, twirling a piece of his hair around her little finger. The two spent a few minutes just involved with each other, whispering, holding each other, and kissing, before being pulled apart.
"We're going to play a game now." Ron and Fred announced. The two men pulled the couple apart, moving them off to separate corners.
"This game is ';What is this?'
Both slightly protested the game as they learned they would be blindfolded during the exercise.
"Just relax." Fred instructed, placing a blindfold over Mackenzie's eyes, only tight enough for her to not be able to see.
Ron did the same to George and the two were walked up to face each other.
The idea of this game is for one of us to place one of your hands to areas of your partner's body. You must each then guess which body part you are touching." Ron explained.
"I think I'd like that drink now sweetheart." Mackenzie said to George.
George chuckled. "Somebody get this woman a drink."
Ginny poured a glass alcohol into a shot glass for Mackenzie and handed it off to her. It was instantly taken.
""As I have personally caught the two of you in more intimate situations than I'd like to recall, including ready to shag each other on the store counters," Fred mentioned. "I have no doubt you've each memorized the other's body by now."
Both blushed until they were nearing crimson in color.
"You caught them where?" All of the women yelled together.
"In the store?" Hermione mused aloud. "Never thought of that. Could be fun."
"In plain sight of any walk-ins no less." Fred finished gossiping about the two.
"Let's get started." Lilah encouraged.
"Actually, before you do start," Arthur spoke, "I think we will call it a night." He said of he and his wife.
Mackenzie and George temporarily lifted off their blindfolds to say goodnight.
"There will be so much to do tomorrow. I'll wake you in the morning dear." Molly told Mackenzie.
"As if I'll be able to sleep tonight." Mackenzie smiled. "Goodnight and thank you so much for today. It was lovely."
"Goodnight my dear." Arthur said, hugging Mackenzie.
As the parents left, blindfolds were repositioned and fully fastened.
"Kenny, give me your right hand. George, your left." Fred was first to position the couple's hands. He placed her hand onto George's body, and then George's to Mackenzie's body.
Both smiled.
"You first Ken." Bailey spoke. "Where is your hand on George's body?"
Mackenzie tickled her fingers on the skin a little, feeling George move just a little from the contact.
"That's his neck."
"Too easy!" Harry yelled out.
"Which part of his neck?" Bailey shouted.
Mackenzie moved her fingers again, causing George to let out a low growl, only loud enough for Mackenzie to hear.
"The back of his neck." She stated, swiftly strengthening her hand at the back of his neck, and pulling him down to her. Her mouth met his, and there were both awes and protests that went around the room
George's hands shot up to remove his blindfold as he kept his mouth attached to Mackenzie. He kept hers on while pinning her hands behind her back, stepping her backwards.
Her back hit something hard. The hard object was only at the middle of her back, so she figured it was the top to the bar.
The pair remained attached to each other, ignoring the sounds of protest to calling the game on account of the snogging couple.
"Are you two going to attack each other every time you're in a spot to do so?" Harry asked.
"Yes." Was all he heard before George and Mackenzie were once again fixed to each other.
Groans were heard. "Then why don't we change games." Ginny suggested.
"To what?"
"The next game," Ginny said, pulling out two small vials of clear liquid. "is a game of truth."
Mackenzie detached herself from George long enough to see the two bottles in Ginny's hands.
"You will be married to each other tomorrow, and there should be no secrets in a marriage."
"We have no secrets." George turned to his sister, standing up straighter.
"Then you have nothing to hide."
"What is that?" Mackenzie took a vial handed to her from Ginny as George was handed the other.
"Veritaserum." Ron told her. "It's a truth agent. From the looks of the amount, should last about fifteen minutes. Any questioned you are asked, you will not lie about. The Ministry uses it all the time in courts and stuff."
"Just drink it like a shot." George said.
She did as she was instructed as George did the same.
"I don't feel anything. Am I supposed to feel different?"
"Let's ask a question." Lilah stated, moving up to where her friend now sat. "I'll go first."
She sat beside Mackenzie.
"Why didn't you tell us you are a witch and your dad is who he is?"
"I didn't think you'd understand. I still don't understand it. I'm learning to accept it, so I didn't know if my friends would do the same."
"Are you happier here than you were before you found out you are a witch?" Bailey interjected a question.
"Yes."
"Why?"
Mackenzie locked eyes with her friends. "I love you both so much and I was absolutely content to live my life as it was, but now, knowing what I know, and meeting the people I've met, I could never go back to who I was before."
"We understand." Lilah told her friend.
The three hugged.
"Now that we have that out of the way," Fred said. "Next question."
"Kenny, what was the first thing that attracted you to my brother here?"
Mackenzie looked across at George and smiled. "He challenges me. He won't back down from me when I'm being stubborn."
"Same question to you brother dear." Fred urged.
George also smiled, recalling the first time he'd seen Mackenzie Chase walk though the door of his parents kitchen. It was the same day light shone in his heart again.
"Her eyes." George stated matter-of-factly. "I remember her dark blue eyes being the first thing I saw. They took me by surprise. She was like magic. I couldn't turn my head from her."
"Oh brother." Ron muttered.
Hermione elbowed him in the side. "It was sweet. And at least he remembers the first thing that attracted him to her."
"So?" Ron asked.
"So do you remember what it was about me?"
Ron scoffed, looking a tad nervous. "Sure I do." He thought.
"Lie." Harry coughed, before being smacked on the shoulder by his own wife.
"I bet you can't answer that question about me either." Ginny stated.
"As a matter of fact, I can." Harry informed her. He leaned in and whispered something into her ear, causing her to blush and laugh.
"You are lying." She told him. "But I'll accept the answer because it is close enough to being suitable." The two kissed each other and wrapped their arms around the other, turning back to Ron and Hermione.
"It doesn't matter Ron." Hermione broke. She dropped the argument and returned her attention to George and Mackenzie.
"I didn't want to start fights in other marriages." Mackenzie said.
Hermione smiled at her. "Don't worry. This is normal for us."
The couples all returned to their drinking and partying together for a few more hours before remembering that they all still needed to look rested the next day. Or at the very least, they needed to look as if they could fake their way through looking rested.
George stood from his chair, offering Mackenzie his hand. She placed her hand in his and stood. The two walked away from the other couples for a few final moments of privacy.
"So, I'll see you tomorrow." George said.
"Yeah. I'll be the one walking down the aisle in the white dress." Mackenzie joked, turning to face him, wrapping her arms around his waist. Her head turned up to his.
"That thought will get me through the next few long hours of not seeing you."
Mackenzie laid her head against George's chest and just listened to his heartbeat as he breathed.
"I wish we could go back to my flat and just fall asleep together." He offered.
Mackenzie turned her head upward again. "Your mother would murder us both. You're with the boys at Harry's. We girls are at the Burrow. Tradition. We're not supposed to see each other until the ceremony."
"Oh bugger tradition." His hands rubbed at her lower back. After a few seconds, his hands moved higher, over the skin on her shoulders, and up further into her hair.
"Come with me." He growled softly into her ear.
She might've caved and said yes, had it not been for Ginny who came from beside the pair, linking her arm with Macknzie's.
She said goodnight to her brother.
"Good night Gin." George said. "Good night Ken." He then said, kissing her before she was pulled off.
Fred joined his brother soon after. "I'm exhausted. What do you say we go back to Harry's, grab another bottle, and then try to get in an hour of sleep."
Ginny and Mackenzie joined Lilah and Bailey. "We'll see you two tomorrow morning. Your portkey leaves Bailey's flat at ten exactly. That's just enough time to get there, change, and help see to the bride's needs." Ginny explained.
"See you tomorrow morning Mrs… "
"Not yet." Mackenzie stated, not tempting fate or any bad luck. "See you tomorrow."
All of the girls said goodnight, and left in opposite directions.
The men all said goodnight to their wives while keeping the bride and groom separated.
"Ron, I want you at the Burrow, at nine sharp. We need your help. Not a minute later, or so help me, I will come wake you myself."
Ron turned to George, whose eyes were only on Mackenzie.
"You see what you're in for?"
George grinned. "Looking forward to it."
Mackenzie winked at him.
And that was it. The following day, the two would be married, and spend the rest of their lives together.