Chapter Six: Destiny
"Bloody Hell you're using a painting instead of one of your brothers as a best man!" Mrs. Weasley roared, red in the face from arguing with George. Her breathing was heavy and her eyes tiny slits and usually he wouldn't have dared cross her when she was so angry, but he had already decided and would not take 'no' for an answer. He wanted Fred to be his best man and if the painting was the only way to have that, then so be it. His mother was definitely not feeling the same way about the situation, however.
All of the other Weasley children, Harry and Hermione knew to steer clear of the first floor, where George and Mrs. Weasley were going having their row. They busied themselves with getting ready for the wedding upstairs and hoped to Merlin that she didn't finish George off and come after one of them for some minor detail gone wrong. They were fortunate; however, as George stood his ground about the painting and she poured all her fury into the battle with him.
"I don't see what the big deal is, Mum. It's like Fred's there if the portrait is there," Fred told her indignantly, growing as red as she was.
Mrs. Weasley looked scandalized. "There is no replacement for your brother, George!"
"Yes, I know that!" he exploded, finally broken down to telling her everything. "Why the hell do you think I charmed the bloody thing? I miss him and this is the only way to have some of him back!"
Mrs. Weasley was silent for a few long moments as George's chest heaved with passion. She looked him over as though seeing him in a different light, as if he had somehow changed right before her eyes into something she'd never known he could be. "Alright," she finally uttered, barely above a whisper. Without another word she turned and walked into her bedroom to prepare herself. It completely surprised George and he realized that she must have finally seen how much it meant to him.
He took a few slow, deep breaths to try to calm himself and to let the blood in his cheeks dissipate and return to his veins. Upon gathering enough of his mind to function again, the stalked up the stairs and made his way to his bedroom to get ready for the wedding that was scheduled to begin within the hour, his wedding in fact.
Each member of the wedding party proceeded down the aisle between the rows of seats, beaming and nodding to the seated guests, arm in arm with their counterpart. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were first, then the charmed portrait of Fred with Luna Lovegood, then Harry and Ginny, Then Bill and Fleur, and finally Ron and Hermione. George stood waiting and ready for them to take their places before stepping out into the trail of yellow petals and making his way down the aisle to the front of the group that had gathered to watch him make his vows.
The alter was set up nicely in front of the fifty seats set up on either side of the adorned strip of land that served as the aisle. The Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt had offered to marry George and Mary personally as he was both good friend and instigator of the law. His face was unreadable as George proceeded to take his place in front of the crowd to wait for his soon-to-be bride.
The organ player, an eccentric looking older witch with bright blue hair began playing the wedding march and Mary stepped out of the shadows of her grandfather's doorway with old Eliasus at her side onto the trail of petals and George couldn't help but beam. She had on a long, form fitting white dress with off the shoulder straps and a sweetheart cut neckline and looked absolutely beautiful. Her honey colored hair swayed as she walked and reflected the bright sunshine in a way that George never thought possible. Her eyes shone dark and chocolaty and he knew that the smile in them was only for him. He only had a few moments left as a bachelor and seeing her made him realize that that wasn't such a bad thing.
Fred's portrait wolf-whistled as she approached, but held its tongue when given a warning look by Mrs. Weasley. Mary stepped up beside George and from that point on the ceremony seemed to fly by as he looked her over, again and again. "Do you promise to love and protect, honor and serve this witch with all of your being for the rest of your living days, George Prewett Weasley?" Kingsley asked, jolting George out of his staring.
"Of course," he answered. "And when a Weasley commits, he commits." A giggle went through the crowd and Kingsley gave them a stern look before continuing.
"Do you promise to love and to serve, to honor and to give yourself to this wizard for the rest of your life, Mary Rowena Darkbow?"
"With all that I am," she said smiling.
"I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. George Weasley!" Kingsley announced. George immediately leaned forward and placed a chaste kiss on her lips as the crowd cheered them on, all except for Fred's portrait who was grumbling over not getting to see enough snogging out the newlyweds. They made their way down the aisle and into Eliasus's house where they were left alone for a moment to change clothes before they were expected to show up at the Burrow for the reception. As soon as they were inside George kissed her, pressing her to his body and immediately sighing at the feel of her.
"Want to skive off and just go back to the flat?" he asked, when they finally broke the kiss to breathe.
Mary laughed. "Your mum would kill us, and at the moment I'm too happy to die."
George groaned, but conceded. "Fred would never approve of me actually going to the party instead of extricating you from that pretty dress and consummating the thing right now. We must adhere to the laws the ministry sets forth…"
"You are some kind of crazy, George Weasley; but I love you." Mary giggled. "Besides, since when would Fred approve of adhering to rules?"
"It is a dilemma…" George offered, kissing her again. "Adhering to the rules or doing what we're scheduled to do…never thought that this situation would ever be an option." After another kiss, he let her go up to her bedroom and put on a less formal dress, then he changed into khakis and a semi-wrinkled shirt which he knew his mother would disapprove of, and they walked over the hill and down to the Burrow.
The party was already in full swing when they arrived, guests excitedly greeting them when they entered. They greeted friends and family together until George was pulled away by Lee Jordan, Bill, Charlie, and Oliver Wood for a drink and Mary was brought to the front of a group of girls to toss her bouquet. The beautiful yellow roses fell into the hands of Ginny Weasley who looked as though anyone who opposed her grabbing them would suffer a terrible fate and Mary cheered along with the other girls. "Congratulations, Ginny," she told the younger girl.
"Congratulations to you, new sister," came the reply and she smiled in return. Mary then wandered into the kitchen where her grandfather was talking to the Weasleys and, Mary suspected, trying to get to the cake early.
"You really didn't have to pay for the entire wedding," Mrs. Weasley was telling him.
"No trouble at all. She's my only grandchild and we've got more than enough to do it." He smiled, edging closer to the large, 8 tiered chocolate cake.
"There you are," Mary announced, winking at her grandfather. "Shouldn't you be mingling with the guests?"
"Well I was…" he started, but she cut him off.
"Mrs. Weasley is very keen. You'll have to try harder to coax that cake out of her early." Mary grinned when Mrs. Weasley turned to Eliasus, slightly shocked. He pinkened and shrugged amiably with a grin.
"It was worth a try, wasn't it?"
Mary laughed and Mrs. Weasley couldn't help but laugh as well. Mr. Weasley, reddened as well and Mrs. Weasley realized that he'd been helping the older man try to distract her while he got cake early. "Arthur!" she intoned, scandalized. "You would ruin your own son's wedding?" He spluttered, trying to protest, but she was having none of his non-existent excuses. She escorted both men out of the kitchen and Mary followed, amused by their antics.
She found George again in the back, surrounded by a crowd of men and assumed he was telling jokes so she joined the throng. It wasn't long, however, before she realized that he was being served shots of firewhiskey through some new invention. She broke through the crowd and pulled him away from the boys with a wink and out onto the cleared space on the floor that had been reserved for dancing. They experienced their first dance as man and wife and most of the crowd applauded when the music changed.
After much dancing, some coming from unexpectedly, thanks to George spiking the pumpkin juice with a dancing enhancer, Mrs. Weasley announced that it was time to cut the cake. She started pointedly at her husband and Eliasus as she said this and both men grinned sheepishly back. Much food, more dancing, jokes, and lively conversations took place and while George was enjoying himself thoroughly, he was steadily becoming impatient for the end of the celebrations so he could have Mary alone.
They exchanged a multitude of meaningful glances while they were being entertained by party guests and in George's case entertaining the guests, waiting for the time to come when they could go back to the flat. Finally at nearly two in the morning Mrs. Weasley announced that she and Mr. Weasley were going to bed and the crowd started to disperse. "You lot can stay up as long as you want, but remember that we have to go get books tomorrow," she said as she passed Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Harry. They groaned and waited until the rest of the guests left before saying their goodbyes to George and Mary and traipsing up the stairs to get some rest.
"Don't forget to take Fred with you," Ginny reminded them with a yawn.
"And don't do anything I wouldn't do!" Ron yelled down the stairs.
"There are rules to this marriage, Ron. We aren't going to be celibate!" George replied with a wink at his blushing bride. He grabbed Fred's portrait from behind the couch and took Mary's hand. "You ready to leave?" he asked.
"Depends, do I get to join you?" Fred asked giggling. George rolled his eyes.
"If you are," Mary told him.
"Right. Ok." He turned on the spot and the three apparated into the joke shop. "This is where you get off, brother of mine," he said to the painting.
"You guys get to have all the fun!"
"Yes, well, I can't change that. And don't even suggest watching, you voyeur."
"I'll bring you a painting of a lovely young lady that's hanging in my room at Grandpa's if you like, then next time I'm over there," Mary offered.
"Fine. I don't expect it before Christmas, though, with the way you two have been ogling each other all night."
"Sorry to cut this conversation short, but you understand," George said, placing his hand on the small of Mary's back.
"Yes, alright. Have your fun. I'll be down her wanking off in this frame if you need me. Try to be loud."
"Goodnight, Fred," Mary replied, letting George lead her into the back room, then up the stairs to the flat. When they entered, Mary was amazed. "You tidied up?"
"Miracles do happen every now and again," he replied as she surveyed the living room. It was completely free of papers or product parts. "And the bedroom's even more neat," he said with a wink. She took a deep breath and let him wrap her in his arms and kiss her. They began moving toward the bedroom door and he paused to let her have a good look around.
"Never mind the cleanliness," she said as passion for George washed over her. "I think we have a law to adhere to."