Ch. 8 Wedding Bells
a/n: I apologize in advance for my terrible grammar in this chapter and all of the chapters. I tend to think faster than I can type and miss many of my mistakes. Also, please be patient with me in the coming weeks as my husband is about to return from deployment so my mind is elsewhere.
The next day felt like a marathon. I was up early helping mum in the kitchen with the cooking and cleaning. I watched out the window as the men put the tent up and I smiled at Draco fitting in so well with my brothers. I was completely lost in thought when Hermione tapped me on the shoulder.
"Gin, can I speak to you for a moment?" She questioned but without waiting for an answer she looped her arm through mine and dragged me upstairs to my room where Regan was sitting on the floor packing her things into a bag.
"What's going on?" I motioned to Regan and sat down on the bed.
"I'm sure Ron has told you that we're not going back to school next year. Well we discussed it with Harry and he thinks you, Regan and Draco should go with us if the ministry falls before term starts again."
"But I can't go with you. I'm not even sixteen yet. I can't apparate and the ministry can trace my magic." It was strange to think that Hermione of all people had overlooked that fact.
"Yes you can, there is a loop hole in the law. Having a baby" She spoke sadly "lifts the trace. It is some ancient rule. The magic trace can't be put back on either. It has something to do with you being two people. Technically the trace broke when…" She trailed off unable to complete the sentence.
"When I was raped?" I took a deep breath unsure if I had ever spoken the word aloud. Memories began to flash in my head and chills ran up my back. But I ignored them and continued on. "I'm assuming you are telling me this so I can pack Draco's and my things?"
"Yes, pack the essentials only. We'll be traveling a lot in probably all kinds of weather and climates so make sure your clothes are practical." She instructed before slipping out of the room.
"Does Draco even know?" I asked Regan picking up Draco's bag from the floor and beginning to put some of my things in it as well.
"I believe Ron and Harry are telling him now." She answered trying to tie her bag shut. "I know it is dark but I hope we get to go with them. At least then I will feel like I am avenging Carter or something." I could hear the pain in her voice as she spoke her brother's name out loud and the pain in my chest intensified for a moment.
"I know what you mean" I whispered, opening my dresser and pulling out the box where I kept Merci's ultrasound picture hidden. I made sure it was tucked away safely on top of all of our other things before closing my bag as well. We sat in silence for a few minutes before Draco appeared in the door way.
"The minister of magic is here. He wants to talk to Harry, Ron and Hermione about something."
"I wonder what "Regan looked completely puzzled and also slightly worried.
"No clue, you could always go down stairs and join them in the living room if you want to know." He made a vague gesture out of the room and Regan nodded her head, standing and almost running out of the room. Draco stepped inside shutting the door behind him and turning the lock. I gave him a confused look as he closed the distance between us and kissed me passionately.
"Harry and Ron spoke to you then?" I whispered when we pulled apart.
"Yes, and I actually prefer to be going with them. That way I can keep you with me all of the time and make sure you are safe." He held me close to his chest and I listened to the steady beat of his heart.
"I cannot wait until this is all over with. It will be so nice to not be afraid all the time." I stepped back and intertwined our hands.
"Me neither my love." His smile was small but it meant so much to me in that moment. And looking back I'm still not quite sure why. "We should start getting ready; the minister has probably already left so it is only a matter of minutes before our combined absence is noticed." He stepped backwards, unlocking the door with one hand while holding mine tightly with the other. He pulled me towards him, kissing me quickly on the lips before turning and slipping out of the room.
It only took me about twenty minutes to get completely ready for the wedding and when Draco returned to find me, I was standing in front of the mirror in my room. My hair was pinned up into and intricate bun thanks to Hermione. I pulled nervously at the hem of my black dress as I stared at the dark circles under my eyes and pale, sickly skin that was my own. I hadn't realized how much of a toll the last year had been. And the last month had done absolutely nothing to help it.
"You look stunning" Draco whispered as I turned to face him.
"I highly doubt that." I rolled my eyes, sitting on my bed and slipping on my flat shoes. "But you on the other hand, look absolutely amazing."
He laughed gently sitting down next to me and pulling me into his arms. Our moment lasted very briefly before I could hear my name being called from another room. I ventured into Bill's old bedroom to find Anna, Fleur, Hermione, Regan, and Fleur's sister all trying to get the Bride ready. Hermione was waving her wand and making Fleur's hair curl up. Regan was slipping shoes onto her feet while Anna was doing her makeup.
"Who called me?" I questioned shutting the door behind me.
"I did" Hermione answered. "What do you think?" She motioned to Fleur's now completely appearance as the Bride stood to face me. The intricate white gown looked as if it was handmade just for her. And the smile on her face gave us all a moment of peace and happiness amongst the destruction and war. Soon there was a soft knock on the door and Fleur's father stepped inside.
"It's time, girls why don't you all make your way down stairs. There is a group of gentleman who appear to be waiting for you." He smiled walking up to his two daughters.
We all wished Fleur good luck before slipping out of the room and making our way down the stairs. Hermione wrapped one hand around Ron's arm letting him lead her into the kitchen and out of the house. Regan and Harry kissed gently before following Ron and Hermione. For a moment Charlie, Draco, Anna and I all stood in silence.
"For the record Ginny, I am so sorry. I've been nothing but selfish and immature about everything." Anna turned to me. "I know I don't deserve your forgiveness and I understand if you do not wish to give it to me but I had to express how deeply upset I am with myself about how I have handled her death." She winced and barely managed to say her and I knew that while our pain was different, we both were experiencing the loss of the same child.
"I do forgive you Anna. Life could get a bit tricky if I didn't since you are married to my brother and all." I laughed a little trying to lighten the tense atmosphere that had crept up on us before I took Draco's hand and we made our way to the tent where the wedding would be held. After we took our seats it wasn't long before the ceremony began.
Fleur looked so happy and so at peace as she glided down the aisle that the mood was contagious. And Bill held a smile brighter than I had ever seen on his face before. When the pair met at the end of the aisle I could hear the mothers of the couple starting to sniffle.
"We are gathered here today to join these two in the eternal bonds of marriage. To find true love is so rare and so special that when we come across it, we should hold tightly to it and never let it go. This is exactly what Bill and Fleur have done. They have found each other and are holding on together for the rest of their lives. Now, I must ask, if anyone has any reason why these two should not be wed, speak now or forever shut your mouth." The whole audience laughed at bit at his unconventional wording but there were no words spoken and both Bill and Fleur smiled while sighing with relief.
"Bill, do you take Fleur to be your wedded wife? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, from this day forward, as long as you both shall live?"
"I do"
"Fleur, do you take Bill to be your wedded husband? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, from this day forward, as long as you both shall live?"
"I do"
"Now by the power given to me by the Ministry of Magic, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." Everyone cheered as Bill and Fleur kissed passionately in front of the whole crowd.
"I now present to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Weasley." The happy couple made their way back into the house amongst the cheering and clapping of the happy crowd.
Soon after the party was in full swing, I was dancing with Draco and smiling happily.
"If I had known a wedding would cheer you up this much, I would have taken you to several already." He grinned down at me as he twirled me around.
"Who do you know that has recently gotten married?" I questioned.
"No one, but I could find a wedding for us to crash or something." He kissed me on the head as the song ended and we made our way to a table. I observed the other couples around us and let myself believe that there really could be a truly happy time amongst this war we were in. My delusion was shattered however, when Kingsley patronous came flying into the tent and stopped in the middle of the dance floor.
"The minister of magic is dead. The ministry has fallen. They are coming. They are coming." The voice stopped and everyone was frozen where they were. The pause lasted only seconds before death eaters started pouring into the reception. Some guest stood their ground and fought before fleeing and others immediately grabbed their loved ones and ran.
Draco grasped my hand and pulled me through the crows. We collided with Regan and Harry first. And as soon as Ron and Hermione joined us we were dissapperated by Hermione. As soon as we found an ally away from the busy street we appeared on, we all took a breath.
"First off, we need to get out of these clothes." Hermione gestured to the formal wear of the group before reaching into her bag and pulling out jeans and shirts for everyone. Once we were all changed, we slipped into a nearby coffee shop and sat down.
"All of our stuff was left at the burrow." Harry sighed but Hermione shook her head and motioned to the little bag she had pulled the clothes from.
"You are a genius Hermione." Regan admired, knowing that Hermione had packed all of our things into her bag.
"Well what do we do now? " Draco questioned sipping on the water that the waitress had placed in front of him. "If Voldemort has control of the ministry, is there anywhere safe for us to go?"
We all sat quietly for a moment, all wondering where we could possibly be safe now. The bell above the door chimed and two workers walked past our table. I paid them no mind until Harry yelled.
"Down!" We all dove behind tabled as the two death eaters rounded on us and a duel began. It took only moments to overpower them as we outnumbered them.
"How the bloody hell did they find us?" I questioned as I brushed broken glass out of my hair.
"I don't know; no one here still has the trace on them." Hermione walked around the counter as the waitress came out of the kitchen. "Leave, just go" She commanded and the waitress obeyed without hesitation.
"What do we do with them?" Ron nodded his head towards the two men as he stood behind Hermione.
"Wipe their memories." Harry answered over Regan's head as he looked her over to make sure she was alright. "And I know where we can go when you are done."
Ten minutes later, after we had erased the death eaters' memories and made sure no evidence of our encounter was left behind we made our way to Gimmauld place. It was strange to be sitting in the living room after so much time had passed.
"What now?" Regan asked surveying the dust covered surrounding of our temporary home.
"Now we sleep, then tomorrow, we start to make a plan." Hermione directed passing us all our personal bags so that we could clean up a bit.
Everyone started putting together make shift beds in that room as known of us really wanted to be separated after the day we had just encountered. I and Draco were the first to split off, making our way to the upstairs bathroom so that I could wash my face and we could brush our teeth. Instead of immediately making our way back to the group we sat down together at the top of the staircase.
"I'm beginning to wish my bad feelings would be wrong once and awhile." I whispered laying my head against his shoulder and yawning.
"Me too, but at least we are together. And together we can get through this." He wrapped an arm around me. "I hope our friends are alright. At least we were all prepared for the possibility of this happening."
"You mean at least Hermione was prepared for this happening." I looked up at him with a smirk just like his.
"Fine, at least Hermione was prepared for this to happen." He conceded and I smiled at his unwillingness to give Hermione a compliment.
"We should probably go downstairs and join the others." I stood and held his hand while he joined me. I went to start climbing down the stairs but he stopped me and looked at me with a serious expression.
"I love you Ginny. Today, tomorrow and forever."
"I love you too, Draco. Today, tomorrow and forever."