Chapter 23 - Old Ogden's Opened

On the twenty-first of June, Harry and Ron returned to the Ministry and their offices. They had rarely made an appearance during the NEWT weeks, so there was a considerable pile of little parchment air planes all over the place to organise and either answer, file, or bin. They'd managed to remove the wall that separated their offices. Although not part of their plan, an accordion divider had been built into the wall in case they needed it. All they would need to do is pull the divider closed and cast a silencing charm.

"I was afraid of this," Harry sighed, surveying the heap of wrecked parchment aeroplanes.

"Most of it is probably rubbish," Ron said, choosing one to read. "This one notifies all Ministry employees that Form 42-A-47 had been replaced with Form 42-B-47.

"Is there another one informing all Ministry employees what the ruddy form is for," Harry asked as he began to sort through the litter.

"Probably somewhere..." Ron grinned, tossing crumpled aircraft into piles.

They both sighed and set to the boring task of sorting through the mess, creating two parchment mountains. The job had become so wretchedly tedious that they created their own low-level dogfight reminiscent of the Battle of Britain. They were laughing like schoolboys before their fun was interrupted when Arthur stuck his head in.

"Harry, I really hate to impose, what with the wedding on Thursday and all, but there's an emergency. You and Ron are the only Aurors in the office right now, so this falls to the two of you," he said, darting his eyes back and forth between them.

"What's going on," Harry asked. Harry couldn't imagine what all the fuss could be about. Since Mafalda had been taken into custody, life had been rather quiet.

"One of my Squads reported activity at Mafalda's London flat. Check it out, but be careful," Arthur said gravely.

"No worries, Dad. We'll be careful," Ron promised. " Let's check it out." Harry and Ron left their shared office and jogged to the lifts, pursued by another airborne armada. Once they reached the atrium, they Disapparated to the flat.

"Ron, we're taking no chances on this one, all right?" Harry's question sounded more like a statement than a question. He'd already lost two of his best men and had seen a few more seriously injured. He couldn't afford to lose any more, especially his best friend.

Ron nodded his agreement but looked pale when Harry produced several stunbombs. "How many of those did I give you," Ron asked.

"I get them from George when I need them," Harry explained. "Seven in one throw should have a potent and lasting effect." Seven in one throw, seven in one blow. Why does that sound familiar?

"Harry..." Ron hesitated.

"Don't worry. We stun whoever's in there and if it's Muggles, we modify their memories later on." Harry explained enthusiastically.

"Sure... but there are most certainly Muggles in the neighbouring flats too," Ron argued.

"Oh, right," Harry said, casting a silencing charm.

"Bombarda!" Harry blew the door off its hinges and tossed a handful of the stunning bombs into the flat. Moments after they detonated, Harry and Ron charged through with wands drawn. The stunners had the desired effect, but also stirred up a heavy cloud of dust. Suspects lay on the floor.

"Aurors! You're all under arrest," Harry commanded. "Don't move!"

No one moved. "Harry," Ron began nervously, "what if those stunners were too strong?"

Harry kicked the first body lightly and it moaned. "They're alive. Let's see if it's anyone we know." Harry was quite satisfied with the effect seven stunners had, but stared in shock as he turned the first suspect over.

"Percy? What in Merlin's most Boggart-infested broom closet are you doing here?" Ron looked stiffly at Harry. "Ron, what is it? I'm sure Percy isn't a Death Eater," Harry reasoned, moving carefully to the next suspect, his wand still tightly gripped in his fist. "Ron, move, dammit! Disarm them! This stunner won't last much longer."

Harry turned the next one over. "Finnegan?" Harry again stared at Ron whose face had turned red as beet-root, causing Harry's hackles to rise. "Ron? What's wrong with you?"

Ron could no longer contain himself. "I'm sorry, Harry. We'll haunt you forever with this... for Merlin's sake, wake those poor bastards up."

"Ron?" Has the man finally gone round the twist?

"Harry, you overzealous prat! This is your ruddy Stag night!" Ron had doubled over with laughter trying not to wet himself at the look on his best friend's face.

Harry checked on the next "suspect," and found a very disoriented Neville Longbottom, who lay next to an equally disoriented George Weasley.

"But it's only ten-thirty..." Harry said mostly to himself, realising that he'd been set up and they'd royally had him. "Arthur was in on this wasn't he? Sending us here…"

"… where all your friends waited for you, but Dad's act appears to have been a bit too convincing, I'm afraid," Ron said, still snickering and wiping his eyes.

Harry blushed so red, he glowed. Ron had set this up to get his Stag night off with a bang, but it had gone up in smoke when Harry barged in and stunned them all. Harry burst into laughter and set to waking them all up, apologising profusely.

Soon, the stunned stags consisting of Bill, Charlie, Percy, George, Neville, Seamus, Tony, Terry, and Oliver Wood, had been ennervated and helped to their feet. Harry had to explain his and Ron's arrival, and despite that they were pretty shook up from the stunners, everyone assured Harry that no harm had been done and they all had a good laugh.

"How many of those damned things did you throw at us, Harry," George moaned.

"Uh... seven," Harry mumbled, blushing hot pink.

"Remind me never to take an Auror by surprise," Neville grinned, rubbing his forehead, "especially if that Auror is Harry bles-sed Potter!"

"Neville, mate, I'm so sorry, but I thought you were Death Eaters. It's so great to see you. Been back long," Harry gushed apologetically.

"Nah, got back yesterday, just for this," Neville replied. "Wait 'til I tell Hannah! She'll die laughing!"

Bill checked on the case of Firewhiskey in the middle of the room. "Thank Merlin your bombs didn't blast Ogden's Old," he said with a wink as he raised a bottle and opened it. "Charlie, do the honours."

"My pleasure, Big Bro," Charlie said, conjuring eleven glasses and filling each one.

"Harry, as the oldest one here, I propose a toast for the most stunning beginning a Stag night ever had. Sláinte!"

Everyone laughed and repeated, "Sláinte!"

"Pardon my ignorance," Oliver said directly to Bill, "but what the bloody hell is Sláinte?"

"It's Gaelic for health," Bill replied. "It can also be paired with Mhath, which means good. Sláinte Mhath!"

This was all news to Harry. He'd just never had the nerve to really ask what it meant because if it was a Weasley tradition, it was a good thing and it just didn't matter. Still, it was nice to know what he was saying.

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Ginny had gone back to bed after Harry left for the Ministry, but she rose at nine o'clock to have breakfast with her mother. At ten-thirty, there was a knock at the door and Hermione stepped through. "There you are, Gin!"

"Good morning Hermione," Ginny smiled "What's up?"

"I have fitting appointment today at Madame Malkin's. With all the fuss and fury with NEWTs, I'd almost forgotten about it," Hermione told her, biting her lip. She wasn't good at lying, although she'd pulled off some real whoppers in her day. "I really wish you'd come along. After all, it's your wedding."

Ginny hesitated for a few moments and then looked back up at her friend. "Sure. I have nothing planned and Harry had to go to the Ministry to excavate his desk. He fears it's buried in internal memos."

Hermione smiled. "I know. Ron's there too. He's always grousing that those ruddy memos are like Glumbumbles on nettles." She puffed out her chest and tried to imitate his rumbling chest-voice, which melted her like a hot knife through butter. But the real turn-on for her was when they'd have one of their signature rows and his shouts would roll like thunder through the air as his sapphire eyes flashed lightning. Chills ran down her spine just thinking about it.

"That's my Ronnie, all right," Molly said with a giggle. "He, Bill, and Charlie are my booming blusterers. Go on, Ginny. Get dressed so you can go. You don't want to make Hermione late!"

Ginny rose from the table and ran up the stairs while her mother and her friends watched her. As soon as she heard the shower running, Hermione leaned in toward her future mother-in-law and the two chatted in low voices until Ginny came bounding down the stairs about thirty minutes later.

"Ginny, Madame Malkin was kind enough to drop her wards so we could Apparate right into the shop. She felt bad about what happened to you and Molly that day with Rita Skeeter and the reporters. You can side-along with me."

I have got to set and appointment for my licence. "That's fine, Hermione," Ginny said turning to Molly. "I guess we'll be gone for a few hours, Mum. Do you need us to pick anything up while we're in Diagon Alley?"

"No, dear. I'm fine. Have fun," Molly said, winking at Hermione.

"We're off then," Hermione said as Ginny took her arm. Crack! They were gone.

Instead of in a fitting room at Madame Malkin's, Ginny found herself standing at the centre of the Harpies home Quidditch pitch. Luna, Angelina, Fleur, Hannah, Gwenog, and Harpies keeper Gwyneth stood around her in a circle.

"Wha..." Ginny began, turning to Hermione, who stood there laughing with the others. "You convincingly lying prat-woman! I ought to Bat-Bogey you!" Ginny grinned, realising this was her Hen night.

"I know it's not exactly night, but we thought it would fun to begin with a friendly game of Quidditch," Gwenog said, hugging her newest Chaser.

Angelina provided them all with a glass of Firewhiskey. "I know it's not exactly the rule to have a toast before a game, but today we toast Ginny...and dare I say, our victory?"

"Of course!" Gwenog raised her glass. "As we say here in Wales...Iechyd da!"

"Iechyd da!" they all replied and drank.

Ginny looked around. "What's Iechyd da? Our family say Sláinte."

"Same thing, Ginny," Gwenog replied.

"Oh. So...uh...just who exactly are we playing," Ginny asked. "There aren't enough of us..."

Hermione checked her watch. "Oh, they should be arriving just about...now!"

Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! The tell-tale sound of Apparition filled the air not three seconds after Hermione's countdown. It was the boys with a blindfolded Harry. "Is that really necessary," Ginny asked, looking at Harry with a stab of sympathy.

"Oh yes," George said. "And there's a silencing charm on him too. Your mental fiancée almost put us all in St Mungo's! Payback, this is!" George told the Hens the story of how Harry had blown the door off the flat they had been waiting in and stunned them all. The others exploded into fits of laughter, but Ginny held her head high and proud.

"What did you expect, sending Harry against potential Death Eaters? I say you had it coming! Ron, was this your insanely whacked-out idea?"

Ron blushed. "Partially. But Dad and Bill were willing participants."

The boys decided that it was time for Harry to return to the sensory world, so Ron lifted the silencing charm and removed the blindfold. Harry blinked, and once he had adjusted to the light and had his glasses returned to him, not even being on a Quidditch pitch seemed to distract him from Ginny. In two strides, he captured her in an embrace, pulling her tight against him. "Hey, Gorgeous Girl," he said into her mouth as he claimed her lips in a mind-blowing kiss that left her stunned a bit herself.

"Oi, you two! Save it for the honeymoon," Gewnog snorted, pulling them apart.

"Too right! This is strictly business," Ron agreed. Harry and Ginny looked quizzically and not a little dubiously at Ron and Hermione as they clung to one another. "As we all know, both Harry and Ginny love Quidditch. We have all had one for the game, and the rules are simple. The team scoring the most points wins. Hens against Stags," Ron declared.

"The Holyhead Harpies have been kind enough to lend us their pitch and a load of Nimbus 2001s still in pretty fair shape, or so I'm told," Hermione added. Despite her vast general knowledge of the sport, Hermione made it no secret that Quidditch was not her thing. "Ginny and Harry are the team captains. Each team has thirty minutes to prepare."

Harry was thrilled to play Quidditch again. It had been too long. He had been coaching Dennis, but hadn't played a match since his sixth year. A Nimbus 2001 was a good broom, although compared to his Firebolt, it was slower and less manoeuvrable, but since all the players would fly one, the match would be interesting, to say the least.

Ginny mentally evaluated the boys. Oliver was a professional Keeper and Harry, Ron, George, Charlie and Bill were all good players by Hogwarts standards. Neville's, Seamus', Terry's and Tony's skills were unknown. That added up to a team of six former Gryffindor players with a seventh relatively inexperienced.

Harry had done some sizing-up of his own and considered the possibilities based on his conclusions. "All right, mates," Harry said to his team. "Ginny'll play Seeker. She'll want the other two professionals in their usual spots—Gwyneth as Keeper and Gwenog as Beater. Angelina will have to do the hard work as Chaser, trying to work with...Luna and Hannah. Hermione's sure to be the second Beater."

"Are you sure," Ron asked.

"Yes, Ron. You, of all people, know how Hermione flies. Ginny'll count on Gwenog, and she is among the best Beaters in the league, so watch out for her. Ginny knows I'm out of shape, but there's no one else she'll think has a chance as Seeker." I'll be seeking all right.

"Harry will, of course, play Seeker," Ginny said to her team. "Oliver's a professional Keeper, so Harry'll have him guarding the rings. Charlie's out of shape, but like Harry, he's a natural talent, so stay on him. He'll play Chaser with Seamus and Terry. Ron and George'll be the Beaters." And I'll keep Harry busy...one way or another.

Soon the teams were set and both Harry and Ginny had guessed right. With professional Keepers, both teams would be strong in that position. None of the boys had ever played Chaser, but with a talented Charlie among them and an ever-tenacious Seamus, it was hard to say whether or not they'd be stronger than the girls. Angelina had experience, but she had two unproven players beside her. For Beaters, Gwen was as good as Hermione was bad. The girls' team had, in reality, one Beater, but an extremely good one. The boys had George and Ron, both good, but George was the better of the two since Ron usually played Keeper, and both of them were out of shape. Overall, it would be an even game, as most of them believed the real fight would come down to Harry and Ginny to settle the score.

To Harry's and Ginny's surprise, their family and friends had arrived and sat in the grandstands, with Hagrid towering above everyone else. Fleur, Neville and Tony joined them there, as they both declined reserve spots since neither was fond of flying. Hermione looked longingly at them and wished she could join them. She really hated flying, but this game was for Harry and Ginny.

Madame Hooch had agreed to referee the match and had a merry gleam in her ice blue hawk-like eyes. "All right, I want a nice clean game from all of you—and no messing up your wedding, Seekers. Remember, it's just a game," Madame Hooch told them.

"Sure," Ginny said grinning seductively at Harry. She licked her lips and blew him a kiss. He gave her wicked grin and snapped at her with his teeth as if to bite her. "You're going down, Potter," Ginny snarled playfully.

"You wish, Weasley," Harry growled back.

Madame Hooch blew a short blast on her whistle and released the Snitch. Moments later, fourteen players kicked off and rose into the air as the referee tossed the Quaffle. The Chasers soon found it difficult to play. They faced good Beaters in Gwenog and George, and the Keepers played masterfully. Despite her limited flying skills, Hermione proved to be a fair Beater once she got the hang of flying and swinging her bat. The biggest surprise was Luna, who flew like the wind around the Stags. She was an obvious natural who would have earned a place in the Ravenclaw team while she was a studen, if she would have the ambition. Harry enjoyed every second of this game. He really missed Quidditch, but he knew that once Ginny got started with the Harpies, he would be able watch many of her games.

An hour into the game, the score stood at a mere 40-30 to the Hens. The Snitch was nowhere to be found. Ginny and Harry each tried to sucker one other in, but to no avail. "Gin, don't even bother. I can feel that you haven't seen the Snitch," Harry called. The bond made it impossible for them to trick each other. After almost another hour, the score had shifted to a tight 80-100 to the Stags. All of a sudden, Ginny saw a hint of gold flitting around the middle ring. Harry saw it too, and a moment later, they both dove toward it at full speed.

Side by side, the lovers gained on the Snitch, but as Harry stretched out his arm to close his fingers around it, he saw something approaching at a high rate of speed—a Bludger. Harry hesitated for a second, giving Ginny the advantage. She took the opportunity and caught the Snitch. She looked up to see who had sent the Bludger Harry's way, to find a whooping Hermione waving her bat. The Hens won the match by a score of 230-100. After a victory lap, the Hens landed at the centre of the pitch to join the Stags.

"Congratulations, Hens," a sweaty Harry said.

"Stags, better luck next time," Ginny said, grinning devilishly.

The Hen team celebrated Hermione's great shot, carrying her on their shoulders. None of the boys was upset about having lost, at least not much, and thanked the girls for a good game. Ron beamed proudly at Hermione for distracting Harry with that Bludger, despite the fact that she'd whacked the ruddy thing in self-defence. That woman never ceases to amaze me.

As the teams moved off toward the locker rooms, Harry and Ginny took the opportunity to engage in a brief snog. "Hmm... I love getting sweaty with you," Harry said, nibbling at her sensitive spot behind her ear.

"Uh huh. Me too... umm, Harry," Ginny said breathily into his ear.

"Mmm hmm..." he answered, kissing his way up her neck to her mouth. Before she could speak, his tongue had slipped between her partially opened lips.

"I love you... but aren't we being a bit rude," she asked, breathing in his scent.

"How are we being... ummm... rude, Gin," Harry whispered as the heat began to build between them.

"Ummm... well, our friends... oh that's... mmm... have planned this... special... day and..." she couldn't finish. Her head spun as her knees began to buckle under his caresses.

"...and we... should be... joining them," Harry finished.

Ginny pulled away, albeit reluctantly. "Yes, Love. We can pick this up later, okay?"

"Is that a promise," Harry asked, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"Well... the losing captain must have his consolation prize…if he's a good boy," Ginny purred.

"Oh? And what's my consolation prize," Harry asked suggestively.

"You'll see," she cooed, tracing his lips with her fingers.

"And if I'm a bad boy?"

"I'd have to…punish you," she said, flicking her tongue across his lips.

"Hmm...I'll have to consider my options then, won't I," Harry mused, brushing her lips with his.

"Yes, you will. Now, we have friends waiting for us," she said pulling away. They made their way to the locker rooms and stopped for one more kiss before they parted for the evening.

After all of them had showered, including Harry, Ron gathered the Stags together. "Since I'm the bloke who planned this day, does anybody have any doubt as to what's next on the agenda?"

"Food," George asked hopefully.

"Of course," Ron smiled. "But first, another round of Old Ogden's, to drown our sorrows." I'll be drowning my sorrows with Hermione later on.

"Good a reason as any," Harry shrugged. "Bottoms up!"

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The boys ended up on the first floor above George's shop in Diagon Alley. When they arrived, Kreacher was just finishing up dinner preparations.

"Kreacher, I never told you to help Ron with my Stag night."

"No, Master Harry did not. But Kreacher is wanting to help Master Ron," the Elf replied with a bow.

"You did this because you wanted to," Harry asked. Kreacher nodded tentatively with a grin pasted across his wrinkled face. " Doing what you want, Kreacher. That's good."

"Kreacher serves Harry Potter and his Ginny gladly, since they is being so kind to old Kreacher, sir," he said with another bow. "Harry is Kreacher's friends."

The dinner was magnificent and with it, several pints of ale and rounds of Firewhiskey were served. The Stags were feeling the effects of the copious amounts of alcohol they had ingested by now. Still another round would be poured as Ron rose in his inebriated state to toast the groom for at least the fiftieth time that night.

"Harry, m'friend 'n' brother," Ron began. He wobbled a bit and would have toppled over if Seamus and Terry hadn't held him up. " You're puh-prinches anumm... agunn... Thanksh. Ha-Harry, you proved yourself a worthy Error... Auror...knocking all of our distingersh... distin... honoured guesht out with the stunning buh-bombs. You proved to be a gent-gentleman by letting the girls win today..." Ron belched loudly, sending the Stags into fits of drunken merriment.

"Ge-get on with it, We-weasley so you-you can sit down before-before you fa-fall down," Neville cried, spilling his drink on his shirt. "Bollucks!"

"No worries, mate," Charlie shouted as he staggered over to Neville to refill his glass. "There's more where this came from!"

"Thanksh, Chuck," Neville said. "You're a real-real mate, you kno-know that?"

"Anytime, Nevvy, ol' man. Anytime!"

"Hey, you ruddy toss-tossers," Harry called. "Ron-Ron's singin' my bloody pra-praises. Let-let the man speak!"

Ron raised his glass toward his friend and continued. "... and now you'll have the op... pop... chance to prove yerself a poten...topen...a good husband by clearing this ruddy mess. Sláinte Mhath!"

They all threw back their heads and emptied their glasses. Harry had to take care of the table while the others headed downstairs for perusal and demonstrations of the latest additions to George's stock. One he was able to steady himself, Harry surveyed the table. This looks like a bloody battlefield! He had no desire to clean all of it up by himself, at least not tonight, and not in his present condition.

Against his better judgement, which was at best impaired, Harry tried a new way of cleaning. He planted his feet shoulder-width apart—mostly for balance—and flicked his wand at the table and everything on it, muttering something that sounded like Reducio, shrinking it all. Then he cast a few random transfiguration and shrinking charms on it. Carefully as he could, he levitated the mess to the sink and dropped it in, and then splashed it with water and cast a few cleaning charms. Satisfied with his work, he left it where it was to dry. He stumbled into the sitting room just as the others returned.

"Where in Merlin's curs-ed mother-in-law's name is my table," George asked in alarm.

Harry nodded towards the kitchen. George staggered into the kitchen for a look and soon returned.

"Harry, did you transfinger my table?"

"I shrunk it, but I might be a little off... I could have made a mistake," Harry confessed. "I've had a few drinks tonight. It's all Ickle Ronnikins' fault, you know." Harry wavered and collapsed into a chair with a sheepish grin.

"Too right you did! You turned it all into soap! It's all melted in the water. I can probably have a bubble bath every day for a month," George said trying to sound offended.

"C'mon George. Take them baths with Angelina and you'll prob'ly thank Harry for it," Bill said with a belch. Everyone laughed and the evening continued with more Firewhiskey getting them all, for the occasion, properly pissed.

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After the game, Hermione brought Ginny and the girls to Shell Cottage. Molly had agreed to take care of Victoire, allowing Fleur to join in the Hen night festivities. After a few rounds of Firewhiskey and Fleur's cooking swimming in a couple bottles of French wine the Hens giggled about everything.

"All right you girls. It's time for spin the bottle, Hen style," Hermione declared, waving a bottle of Firewhiskey.

"What the ruddy hell is that," Ginny asked.

"Does it include getting ourselves sloshed," Gwen asked with a snort.

"Gwen, yes..." Hermione answered.

"Fair 'nough, less do it..." Gwen said with glee.

"So I have this bottle of dear Ogden's Old," Hermione explained. "I spin it and the one it points at takes a sip and then answers a question truthfully. Got it?"

"Spin, drink, answer..." Hannah repeated. "Got it."

Hermione nodded and spun the bottle and it pointed at herself. Hermione pulled out the cork with her teeth and spat it away, earning really surprised gasps from them all. Hermione had never been known as a party girl, and certainly could never be accused of being particularly crude, but tonight, she was in rare form. She took a really big gulp, coughed, and put back the cork.

"I must know this, 'Mione. Did you really think you would get a T," Ginny asked.

Hermione looked at her still feeling the immediate effect of the Firewhiskey. "I did... walking up to receive that diploma, I really did."

The bottle spun several more times, and before long it was empty. By the third bottle, everyone was properly smashed. They were also happy because no matter the question, few, if any of them, would remember the answer tomorrow. The bottle spun and stopped in front of Fleur. She uncorked it and took a very unladylike slug.

"Flewer," Ginny slurred, "'bout French...kisshing...yer that shexual...really? The French, I mean."

Fleur blushed a little. "Oui, ze ones I know..." she answered. "Very pash'nate..." Fleur gave a heavy nod and giggle.

The bottle spun again, this time pointing to Ginny, who uncorked it and took a huge gulp, wiping her lips with her sleeve.

"Gin... how-how many boysh di' yer ever kiss," Luna asked, her head wobbling on her long neck.

Ginny looked at her, raising a number of fingers. "Mikey... Corner... Dean... Thomas... Harry... Potter..." she counted. Ginny held up six fingers. She stared mistrusting them, trying to focus. "When d' I get twelve fin'rsh," she wondered aloud. "Hermy. Fix my fin'rsh."

Hermy," Hermione asked. "My name is Hermy'nee!"

All the others looked at Hermione who tried to hold up an air of propriety in her best insufferable know-it-all way. Fleur collapsed on the floor, soon after Gwen, and then the rest, all of them clutching their sides. "Oh what was eet Veektor called you," Fleur cried, fanning herself. "'Er... 'Erm...own..."

Ginny began to wave her hands around and attempt to knit her brows together. "I...I know! It...it wash...um...Her-mee-own-ninny!"

"Oui! Zat was eet, Geeny! 'Er-mee-own-neenee," Fleur shrieked and the women fell all over themselves. Even Hermione had to laugh. She'd tried almost their entire fourth year to teach him to say it right, but his thick Slavic accent wouldn't allow it.

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Harry head spun. Trying to stand up straight, he cast his blurry eyes at Bill, who had clanged his glass for their attention. "Boysh. We...need... revenge..."

"Huh," Charlie grunted. "Whaffor? 'Gainsh who?"

"For losing that game, ya ruddy sod," Bill clarified. "An' I know where them galsh are."

Bill stood—or rather wavered—in silence. He seemed to expect cheering, while the others seemed eager to learn where the girls were.

"Yeah? Where ish that nest of Quiddish-play-playing birdsh?"

"Schnell Cottage!"

"Ha-Harry... d' ya have more o' them bombsh? I'm out o' shtock..." George asked hopefully.

"Only two..." Harry said, fishing through his robes, now stained with food and alcohol. "Here they are." Harry triumphantly held up the stunners as though they were Snitches he had caught in a Quidditch World Cup game.

"Less toss 'em through the Floo," Ron suggested. I can ravish 'Mione while she's stunned.

Everyone cheered except Neville. "Won' the galsh sushpect us," he asked, blinking innocently.

"It'll be fun... c'monarry," Ron encouraged him.

Harry took another manly gulp of Firewhiskey and stumbled to the fireplace. He threw a handful of Floo powder in and called, "Swell Cottage!"

A green fire lit and Harry threw the two stunbombs in and then ran for it, snorting and chuckling, toward his by-now Neanderthal-like friends. The green fire vanished.

Seamus watched the fireplace, trying to focus on it. "Thass all," he said in a disappointed tone.

"We bett'r go there..." Bill chuckled, "ta wash the show!"

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Luna was blushing from her question when suddenly, green fire whooshed in the grate and moments later, two objects came through, detonating with a sharp bang! All the girls were stunned and momentarily disoriented. In their general state, they lost their balance and fell to the floor.

The bunch of inebriated human primates Flooed to Shell Cottage laughing like hyenas, where they found the girls on the floor. "Shhh, lads," Seamus yelled. "We might su'prise 'em."

"Smooth, Irish. Very smooth. And so quiet too..." Ron snorted, nudging him.

They noticed the full body of Hens staring at them cross-eyed from too much Firewhiskey, wine and stunning bombs. "Havin' a blast, ladies," Charlie grinned.

Hermione stood up on shaky legs with her wand drawn. "What brainless Logtrodyte... Godlotryte..." Hermione took a deep breath, regaining her balance."Troglodyte... threw that blasted thing in here?"

"That would be Harry, the Boy-Who-Heaved," Percy confessed, while the rest of the Troglodytes nodded in agreement, applauding him appreciatively.

"Well done, mate," Tony called.

"Right spiffing, old chap," George added.

"Ruddy well brilliant, Harry," Neville cried.

Harry made a sweeping bow like an actor taking his curtain-call, proud of his grand achievement. "Thank you, thank you. Thank you."

"'Mione, Love," Ron asked. "Are you drunk?"

"I am not drunk..." she started, having to side-step to remain upright. She stared fixedly at her wand, trying to remember why she drew it. Tucking it away clumsily, she declared, "I... my dear Weanald Rolius Bilsey...am smashed." With that, Hermione fell right back into the sofa smiling lovingly up at her fiancé. She held her arms open inviting Ron to join her.

"Why Hermione Jean Granger, you little witch!" He leaned down and picked her up, giggling, and plopped down with her in his lap. She threw her arms around his neck and they engaged in a very inebriated snog right there on the sofa.

Ginny had eyes only for Harry and threw herself onto him with very uninhibited French kisses.

"Oi... there'd be brothers here, Ginny..." Neville observed.

"They're free to leave..." Ginny said and kissed him again. "I love you, Harry."

"Thass right, Nev," Hannah said, snaking her arms around her husband's neck. "We're free to... leave." Hannah raised up on her tiptoes and drew Neville into a very hot kiss as he ran his hands down her sides, grabbing on to her hips and pulling her close.

"Lucky me," Harry replied, smiling into Ginny's mouth. "I guess I've been a... uh... bad boy... tonight, yeah?"

"Yes, you have, Harry James Potter. I warned you I'd have to punish you," Ginny purred, drawing his bottom lip into her mouth and biting it.

"C'mon you two, save it for the ruddy honeymoon," Gwenog told them. "There'd be singles 'ere too, who are not getting shagged tonight." That made the two lovebirds break apart sheepishly.

Soon, the long day and heavy drinking made them all head for a bed. Fleur was sober enough, or rather not too drunk, to give everyone a potion. "Eet will eez zee 'angover, an' meeneemize ze vomiting."

Harry and Ginny were more or less shoved into one of the spare rooms, while Fleur and Bill headed for their bedroom. The others made themselves as comfortable as possible in the quite overcrowded cottage. Hermione conjured a mattress for Ron and herself. The sofa, the floor, and the kitchen table were other refuges for the night.

"Are you ready for your punishment, you naughty boy," Ginny asked, straddling Harry's legs.

"I'm at your mercy, Milady," he replied.

Ginny tore open his shirt and broken buttons flew everywhere. She began to trace tiny kisses across his chest and down his torso, nipping at his navel. He moaned her name and passed out.

Next morning, everyone was rudely awakened as soon as Seamus regained consciousness. "Ruddy hell, what curs-ed Gnome took a dump in me mouth last night?"

"Shut it, Finnegan," Ron protested and threw a pillow in the Irishman's general direction. He lay back down and buried his face in Hermione's neck, about to start waking her up her favourite way. He had just begun kissing his way toward her chest when reality burst through the fog in his brain. "Bloody hell," Ron said with a start and made sure his fiancée's body was fully covered.

Slowly they all woke up and stretched. Thanks to Fleur, they suffered only mild headaches and were only mildly nauseous.

Fleur prepared a continental breakfast, which was much appreciated, as it agreed with their stomachs better than a full English meal would have. Harry and Ginny offered to help clean up, but Fleur would have none of it and all but pushed them through the Floo. By noon, everyone but Ron and Hermione had left. "Ready, Love," Ron asked, offering her his arm. "We should get back to the Burrow before Mum goes spare."

"Could you ask Mum to wait for an hour or so to return Victoire," Bill asked. "We need to do some damage control."

"You mean remove the bottles," Ron asked with a smirk.

Bill grinned. "Among other things."

"I'm sure she understands. I'll bet Molly's been smashed at a Hen night, too," Hermione declared.

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The following days flew by while the Burrow bustled with activity. Molly took great pride in keeping Harry and Ginny free from duties, but Ron complained regularly about his task list, even if he was very happy for his sister and his best friend. The day before the wedding, Harry was sent to George's with Ron, and Ginny to Shell Cottage with Hermione. Molly and Kreacher were working full time in the kitchen, while Arthur, Bill, Charlie and Percy had to set up the decorations for the garden. They wanted it to be a surprise for the bride and groom.

Harry held Ginny's face in his hands and drank in her beauty, committing it to memory. He pressed his lips to hers and held her close as though he wouldn't see her again for a very long time. "On the morrow, my love," he said. "And then we shall be together forever."

"I cannot wait, my knight," Ginny whispered. "Thou art my fondest dream come true."

"I shall be happy in any wise, so long as I am with thee, sweet Ginevra." He leaned in for another kiss. "I love thee so. Thou art my very life and breath. Mine heart belongeth only to thee."

"I love thee, my Harry. Thou hast held mine heart since we were but children," Ginny replied. "Until the morrow, Love."

"Until the morrow." Harry kissed his fiancée one last time, for the next time he kissed her, she would be his wife.

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Ron, George, and Harry spent the evening in George's flat drinking mulled mead and reminiscing about their Hogwarts days, laughing about the day George and Fred had escaped Toadface Umbridge and turned the entire school upside-down. Ron observed that it was the only time the obnoxious school poltergeist obeyed any student when the twins told him, "give her hell, Peeves," as they flew off on their broomsticks amid a blaze of fireworks.

At Shell Cottage, Fleur and Hermione kept Ginny company—and sane—with champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries, and a fair amount of girl talk. Harry and Ginny, although generally unused to being separated from one another, managed to sleep well because they could still pass their love for one another and the excitement of their wedding day through their bond. The remainder of the Weasley assemblage took up temporary residence at the Burrow under Field Marshal Molly Weasley's command.

Ginny woke early on the appointed day. The sun was still on the rise and it pleased Ginny that a lovely summer day had broken for her wedding. She remained in her bed in the room she had shared with Harry the night the Stags crashed the Hen party. In the other bed, Hermione still lay asleep. Today. I marry my Harry! Ginny giggled quietly at the thought and her emotions bubbled like Amortentia inside her.

In one of the many conversations with her mother since Harry proposed, Molly reminded her of an incident involving Harry when Ginny was just a little girl."I'm going marry Harry Potter someday, Mummy!" Like so many other Wizarding children, Ginny grew up with the story of the Boy-Who-Lived. She had been so worried about him because he had no family and no parents. For little Ginny, that was unthinkable.

Some seven years later, Harry Potter had been symbolically adopted into the Weasley family. He could just as well have been Merlin himself. Ginny hadn't been able to talk to him, afraid of making an arse of herself, forever labelled Ron's little sister. She had a crush on him that literally paralysed her, but it wasn't Harry she had the crush on; it was Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived—an idea, rather than a real person. She didn't know Harry, her brother's best friend.

In the Chamber of Secrets, she woke up to a new life. It was there, at that moment, that her bond with Harry began to form. She knew that. He had risked his own life for her—for her. Ginny knew that even if the love between them was unspoken back in her first year, Harry had feelings for her that far transcended the reality of her status as Ron's little sister. The way he looked at her—so intense even then—as the Basilisk venom sapped his very breath told her that.

However, it had taken a while to get together. She attended the Triwizard Tournament Yule Ball with Neville Longbottom, but just as friends. She dated Michael Corner during her fourth year, but dumped him because he couldn't handle Ravenclaw House losing to Gryffindor in a Quidditch match. She dated Dean Thomas for most of her fifth year, but she didn't love him and it ended.

Harry had been secretly jealous of her relationship with Dean, finally making him realise his feelings for her. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and conjured the memory of the first kiss she shared with Harry. It was like no kiss she'd ever shared with Michael or Dean. It was something special—something so undeniably right—and she knew then that he was her Harry.

"Are we happy today," Hermione asked, sitting up in the other bed.

Ginny turned to her best friend. "I was just thinking about some of the events leading up to this day. Hermione, I'm getting married, can you believe it?"

Hermione smiled at the happiness on Ginny's face. "Yes, I can," she said. "I've seen this coming for a long time, you know." Hermione said it so matter-of-factly, but she wouldn't have been Hermione if she hadn't.

"We'd better get up. I think I hear Fleur banging about in the kitchen," Ginny said with a stretch. "By the way, I didn't hear a peep out of Victoire last night."

"Duh...silencing charm, Gin," Hermione teased her. "Do we have our mind on something in particular today?"

Ginny grinned. I have my mind on a certain raven-haired Adonis with a body like a... She shook herself. "I just might. Come on, let's help Fleur with breakfast."

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Harry had a cup of tea and a slice of buttered toast with strawberry jam in front of him, but his mind was far away at a little cottage by the sea. She was awake—he could feel her love and desire through their bond and he sent her his. He had a very stupid grin on his face as he sipped at the tea and ignored the toast. "Harry, snap out of it! The wedding isn't until three this afternoon that's...six hours," Ron told him.

"Did you know I'm marrying the most wonderful... beautiful... loving... passionate... arousing..." Harry rambled on as though in a dream.

"Stop it, please. She's still my sister," Ron said, squeezing his eyes closed and covering his ears.

"And mine, mate," George added with a grimace.

"Eat, Harry. If you don't, you'll pass out at your own wedding," Ron warned, gesturing toward the food.

Harry ate his toast and drank the rest of his tea. "I love her so much," Harry said, drifting off again.

"I surely hope so. As I said, she is my sister," George said. "Ron, was I this bad after New Year?"

"You were a lot worse. You were pathetic."

"My brothers," Harry said. "I'm sorry, my mind is wandering. What's the order of business today?"

"Getting showered and dressed, attempting to tame your mop, picking up the rings, arriving at the Burrow on time..." Ron said. "And most importantly, Harry, saying I do at the right point."

"Ron, that part you don't have to worry about," Harry smiled. "I have no intention of bollixing that up."

After breakfast, they showered and changed into robes. "I thought it would be too warm to wear those robes," Ron said, pointing at their wedding attire.

"I hired a very skilled wizard to make those, Ron," Harry assured him. "They've been imbued with cooling and warming charms. No matter the weather, your body will be kept at a comfortable temperature."

The robes were masterpieces. Harry didn't know this tailor had been hired by British and other European wizards who could afford him. Harry's robes had come at a very fair price. The tailor knew it was worth a lot of Galleons to be able to brag that he had sewn Harry Potter's wedding robes. After a fight with his hair that resulted in little change, Harry gave it up as an impossible job. He and Ron went out to pick up the rings and then returned to the flat to relax before it was time to go.

At two o'clock, Hermione, Fleur, and Ginny arrived at the Burrow. They had spent several hours perfecting Ginny's hair, makeup, dress, and flowers. Molly, who had her hands full of Butterbeers, dropped them at the sight of her daughter. "Oh, Ginny!" Tears welled up in Molly Weasley's eyes."Come dear, you must stay in your room until it's time. The tiara is already up there. Please let Hermione help you with it. How are you feeling?"

"Mum, I've never felt better in my whole life!" Ginny blinked back tears so as to avoid smudging her makeup that Fleur had worked so hard to apply.

Molly smiled. "Enjoy every moment."

The Goblin-made tiara sat on Ginny's side-table. Hermione set it and anchored it in Ginny's flaming tresses both with a couple of pins and a charm.

"There. It should hold now," Hermione assured her. "Oh Ginny, you are absolutely beautiful beyond words. Harry's not going to know what hit him!"

"Do you think so, Hermione," Ginny asked, admiring her look in her peeling full-length mirror.

"I know so." She and Ginny hugged each other, both blinking back the tears that threatened their perfect make up.

"For what it's worth, Hermione," Ginny began. "I'm so glad you and Ron are together. You've been so good for him and I'm so glad you're going to be my sister."

"Me too, Gin. I love him so," Hermione said.

"And Hermione?"

"Yes, Ginny?"

"You're a bloody knockout. Ron's going to have all he can do to hold it together himself," Ginny laughed. The two girls continued to primp and adjust while they giggled and talked about their men.

By two-thirty, Harry, Ron, and George arrived. Many of the guests had already gathered in the garden to mingle on that beautiful sunny day. Old friends caught up with one another while new friends were introduced.

Harry didn't feel very nervous while he waited in Ron's room, because he was already bonded to Ginny. The wedding atmosphere felt very natural, something he had been looking forward to for quite some time, but nothing to be nervous about. He smiled as a wave of Ginny's love passed through him, which he returned with a wistful smile.

At ten minutes to three, a most-certainly-nervous Arthur appeared. "Harry, it's almost time. You'd better get out there."

"Right. Okay," Harry said.

"Ready, mate," Ron said with a gulp. "This is it."

"I'm ready, Ron, but you look like you've seen a ghost," Harry laughed.

"I... I'm fine," Ron lied. He was nervous because he knew Hermione was going to look positively gorgeous and he wasn't sure he'd be able to take it in and remain upright.

"Let's go then," Harry said. They checked their look one last time. Harry had remembered to tie his overly-long hair back into a slick ponytail with a deep green ribbon. Ron opened the door to the landing and they headed downstairs and out into the garden. It was amazing.

He couldn't imagine the amount of work the Weasleys, especially Molly, had put into all of this. It was breathtaking. The garden was an explosion of flowers. Someone must have cast a scent-enhancing spell because there was a fruity-flowery scent all over the garden—Ginny's exact scent, and it intoxicated Harry.

Harry walked with Ron towards Kingsley and they took their positions. Harry turned around and watched as the people gathered. There were a lot of Weasley relatives including Aunt Muriel. Professor McGonagall and Hagrid represented Hogwarts, the entire Auror team were there, and his old Quidditch team.

Angelina stood close to George who had his arm around her waist, while members of the original Dumbledore's Army stood together with Neville and Hannah. Next to them stood Dudley, Penny, and to Harry's surprise, Aunt Petunia. The Grangers stood with Molly, who openly wept while Mrs Granger patted her back.

"What is she doing here," Harry asked Ron, nodding toward his aunt.

"I don't know," Ron shrugged. "Imperiused?"

"Can't you ever be serious," Harry asked him between snickers.

"No, I can't ever be Sirius. I'm Ron," he replied, causing Harry to snicker some more.

"Prat," Harry said through his teeth.

"Git," Ron replied, also through his teeth.

"Ponce."

"Yeah, but you still love me," Ron snorted.

"Shut it, you," Harry retorted. The two friends snickered and nudged one another as they continued to survey the congregation.

On the other side of Kingsley, Luna stood with her camera. She had insisted upon representing The Quibbler, a gesture Harry thoroughly appreciated. Her father still felt bad about the incident at his now-rebuilt house, where he'd betrayed the Trio to Death Eaters and had nearly gotten them captured. Harry didn't hold any grudges, for he knew that it was Mr Lovegood's initial support of him that had led to Luna's kidnapping and imprisonment at Malfoy Manor. In order to reinforce goodwill between himself and Xeno Lovegood, Harry granted exclusive coverage of the wedding to his magazine. The Weasley-Potter Wedding Issue should make a strong enough profit to put the Lovegoods safely back in the black.

Harry and Ron continued to survey the crowd. About halfway back, just behind the Aurors, stood Seamus with Patricia and the Prewett twins, and Joseph, holding Emma's hand. Next to Patricia stood a woman who very much resembled her, so Harry assumed she must be the girl's mother. Harry nudged Ron and gestured toward the Munchkins. They smiled and waved shyly as Harry and Ron winked at them. Just then, the village clock struck three and silence fell over the assembly. It was time and Harry's heart began to pound. In just a few minutes, his Ginny would walk down the aisle to him, escorted by her father.

A haunting soprano voice drifted over the garden singing of love, a capella. It started barely louder than a whisper—still perfectly audible—soon to grow in strength and volume, gripping everyone's hearts in its magically enhanced beauty. It turned out to be Fleur. Her song went straight to Harry's heart and everyone could feel the romance in the air. Harry guessed Fleur was singing in French, but he understood her words anyway. It must be that Veela magic.

Hermione appeared at the back of the gathering and began her slow, graceful advance to the front. She was stunningly beautiful in her elegant light-green dress that set off the emeralds in Ginny's ring and the detail in Harry's robes. Her hair was done up with flowers, her wild curls cascading like a waterfall down her back. Harry had never seen her look so lovely, not even at the Yule Ball. Ron stared at his fiancée and gulped hard, falling in love with her all over again. He couldn't help but flash his lopsided grin as she smiled up at him with her shining cinnamon eyes. She took her place and turned to face the rear as Ginny appeared on her father's arm.

Harry had to restrain himself from running to her. Merlin, she looked like an angel, more beautiful than he could have ever imagined. The elegant simplicity of the single voice singing gripped them all while Harry's eyes fixed on his bride, his Light Goddess. His world, his entire universe in that moment, was Ginny. For a brief moment that could have been an aeon, she was all that existed for him. This image of Ginny would stay with him for the rest of his life. A tear escaped and slid down his cheek. Potter, you have struck gold, mate.

Her gown was timelessly elegant in its simplicity, enhancing Ginny's already stunning figure. Everyone would remember how lovely Ginny looked, rather than the dress she wore. It was form-fitting, accentuating Ginny's perfect curves. It had been imbued with the same climate charms as Harry's robes, regulating a pleasant temperature, and another charm that emphasized the lustre of the fabric yet dampening the blinding white in the bright summer sun.

Ginny's hair was arranged in a style similar to Hermione's, only more elaborate, and crowned with the newly-cleaned and polished tiara. Around her slender neck, she wore the locket Harry had given her on her birthday. She wore specially-crafted earrings that matched the locket and tiara. Hermione and Ron had given them to her as an early wedding present.

She carried a bouquet of wildflowers, strawberries, roses, and lilies. Each element carried a significance for Harry. The wildflowers and the strawberries represented Ginny's signature scent that Harry loved so much, the roses represented their love for one another, and the lilies stood as a tribute to his mother, whose ring she wore.

As Arthur and Ginny advanced, the assembly drew a collective breath. Ginny's appearance and Fleur's voice held them in a sort of suspended animation, captivating their consciousness in a way the strongest love potion could never do. The moment was intensely magical, and years later, attendees would still marvel at the wonder of it all.

Molly sobbed as her husband escorted her baby, her one and only daughter, towards her destiny. Arthur couldn't be prouder of his daughter. Her brothers all seemed to wonder who this enchanting creature that Harry was about to marry could possibly be. Hermione beamed as father and daughter arrived at the dais. Arthur released Ginny to Harry's arm, kissed her cheek, and retreated to Molly's side.

Harry's and Ginny's eyes met and locked upon one another as they opened up their bond to share this moment. They were glowing again like they never had before. Fleur's song faded into thin air, leaving not a sound but the soft sigh of the breeze through the treetops and the song of birds in their branches. Kingsley paused a few moments before he began the ceremony.

"Harry and Ginny," Kingsley said looking at both of them, "and family and friends gathered here today, we celebrate a most wonderful occasion. I dare say that rarely has there been as strong a love between two people as the love Harry and Ginny share. Their love transcends mortal life and conquers death itself."

At this, Harry noticed a surprised look on the faces of Dudley, Penny and Petunia. They knew bits and pieces about what had happened at the end of the war, but none of the details surrounding Harry's sacrifice for Ginny and what it meant.

"It is therefore, both humbly and proudly, that I accepted the invitation to officiate and cast the Wedding charm over them." Kingsley flicked his wand, initiating the charm. "Harry, you may recite your vows to Ginevra."

He gazed into Ginny's chocolate brown eyes and took both of her trembling hands in his. He took a deep breath, hoping for enough air to speak. "Ginny, there's a saying, at least among Muggles, that love is blind." Harry shook his head slowly. "It's not. Love opened my eyes...and I saw you. My life was already yours, but I give it to you again, Ginny, today and every day with my undying love and devotion. I promise to be your faithful and loving husband, to cherish you each moment of every day for the rest of my life. I love you."

Kingsley turned to Ginny. "Ginevra, you may recite your vows to Harry."

Ginny sighed and blinked back her tears. Harry's words had touched her so deeply that she could barely breathe. He sensed her struggle and sent a wave of calm through their bond. Thusly fortified, she gazed back into his emerald green eyes. "Harry, my life is yours. My heart beats only for you, for you are every breath I take, and you are always in my thoughts. I promise to be your faithful and loving wife from this day on, for the rest of my life. I love you."

A golden cord appeared between Harry and Ginny and wrapped itself around their joined hands. Kingsley flicked his wand again and the cord flashed for a moment, signifying the couple's promises of love and faith to one another.

Kingsley looked at Harry. "Do you, Harry James Potter, take Ginevra Molly Weasley to be your wife according to British Wizarding Law?"

Harry gazed into Ginny's eyes once again. "I do." Another tear stole down his cheek.

"And do you, Ginevra Molly Weasley, take Harry James Potter to be your husband according to British Wizarding Law?"

Ginny returned Harry's gaze. "I do." Ginny shed her own tears as she made her promise.

How many times had she spoken those very words in her fantasies since she was four years old? Now her fantasies had become reality. A second golden cord appeared and wrapped itself around their joined hands, signifying the legality of their marriage. Kingsley again flicked his wand and it flashed.

Kingsley smiled and nodded to Ron and Hermione, who took a step closer to Harry and Ginny. Ron held Ginny's ring on his pinky, while Hermione held Harry's on her index finger. The last part of the wedding charm was the tangible symbol of their union, the exchanging of rings. Ron held out Ginny's ring to Harry, who took Ginny's left hand in his and gazed into her eyes."With this ring, I thee wed." Harry slowly slid the ring onto Ginny's finger.

They were both trembling with anticipation, feeling each other's love, knowing that within minutes they would be husband and wife. Hermione held out Harry's ring to Ginny, who took Harry's left hand into hers, gazing back into his eyes."With this ring, I thee wed." Ginny slid the ring onto Harry's finger.

At this, a third golden cord appeared and wrapped itself around their joined hands. Kingsley flicked his wand three times, and all three cords flashed simultaneously and disappeared. A wave of emotion overwhelmed the couple, and for a moment, they melded into one entity, looking at each other through one another's eyes. Soon they returned to themselves, feeling one another more intensely than ever before.

Kingsley raised his arms over them, grinning broadly. "You have spoken your vows before these witnesses, according to our law and tradition. It is my great pleasure to declare you husband and wife. Mr and Mrs Potter, you may kiss each other," Kingsley boomed as the congregation burst into cheers and applause.

I must restrain myself from snogging him senseless right here and right now. Harry took a step closer to Ginny, her scent enchanting his senses. He gazed into her chocolate brown eyes allowing himself drown in them. Mr and Mrs Potter, we're married. Of all the things I've ever done, I must have done something good to deserve the love and devotion of my wonderful Ginny, my wife. Harry took her into his arms and their lips met in their first kiss as husband and wife. They embraced and gave each other a soft nibble at the ear and then kissed again with open mouths in a very sweet, yet uninhibited way.

As they broke apart, Fleur began to sing once again, her song conveying the joy following the sobriety of the ceremony. Harry offered Ginny his arm and they walked back up the aisle formed by the assembly. There were tears in everyone's eyes as the happy couple passed. Ron offered Hermione his arm and they followed the bride and groom, with Kingsley bringing up the rear.

"'Mione, Love, you look... you look... bloody amazing," Ron said with a gulp. "I mean, you're beautiful, but today, you're... I can't describe it."

"Thank you, Ronald. You're very sweet," Hermione said. "And you look quite handsome yourself."

"When I saw you walking up the aisle, I... I stopped breathing. I couldn't take my eyes off you," he confessed. "I... I fell in love with you all over again."

"I know. It was all over your face," she said with a slight blush. "I love you."

They continued to the other side of the Burrow where the feast would be served. There was a tent-like ceiling magically levitated, dispersing the bright sunlight to an inviting shade. Under the ceiling tables had been set, decorated with the same flowers as in Ginny's bouquet, replete with strawberries dipped in chocolate.

Harry and Ginny stood with Ron and Hermione, the Minister for Magic, and Arthur and Molly Weasley at the entrance to welcome their guests. It took more than an hour, because every witch and wizard in attendance wanted to congratulate the happy couple. Among the first were Professors McGonagall and Hagrid. Hagrid was still wiping his tears with a tablecloth-size handkerchief. Even stoic Professor McGonagall was clearly emotional. Oh Albus, I wish you were here to see this. "Harry... Ginny..." she said, without a trace of her normal strict formality, and kissed them both on their cheeks. "Lily and James would be so proud."

Hagrid looked at them with watery eyes. "Ginny an' 'Arry. Me best wishes... Sorry, can't help me ruddy tears... yer weddin' was so beau'iful."

"Thank you, Hagrid," Harry said and turned to the headmistress."Professor, I'm so glad you're here." Professor McGonagall gave them both a smile before they moved on allowing the next in line to greet the newlyweds.

Next in line came the Munchkins, accompanied by Seamus and Patricia's mother. "Harry!"

"Hey Pat," Harry said as she wrapped her arms around his waist.

"You look so handsome today," she beamed. "And Ginny, you look like a fairy princess."

"Thank you, Patricia. Is this your mum?"

"Oh... yes. Sorry. Mum, this is Harry and Ginny Potter," Patricia said, introducing her mother to the bride and groom. "And this is my mum, Diana Murray-Templeton."

"Mrs Templeton, thank you so much for bringing Patricia," Harry said. "She's quite the young lady and scholar."

"We're very proud of her, but I must admit..."

"I know," Ginny said. "Hermione's parents are Muggles and it's been quite an adjustment for them, too. But don't worry, you'll get used to it all. In fact, the Grangers are here today. I'll have her introduce you to them. You'll have much to talk about."

"C'mon, Mum! You must meet Hermione and Ron," Patricia said excitedly. "Hermione's my best friend... after Emma, Erica, and Joseph."

"All right, dear," Mrs Templeton said, allowing herself to be dragged along by her daughter. "It was wonderful meeting the two of you. Congratulations."

"Hurry up, Emma," Erica cried as they approached the bride and groom. "You and Joseph can snog on the dance floor later on!"

Harry and Ginny about choked. "Emma and Joseph? Snogging," Harry asked incredulously. "Aren't they a little young for that?"

"Hey, Erica," Ginny cried, squeezing her in a tight hug. "How's my girl?"

"Ginny, you're so beautiful! And Harry looks...wow," she gushed.

"Whoa there, little one," Harry laughed. "You're looking quite lovely this fine afternoon."

"Not as lovely as Ginny," Erica said, looking back at the bride. "She's really pretty today."

"Yes, she is," Harry laughed. "Very pretty."

"And you're really handsome, Harry," Erica said shyly. "I think she likes you."

"That... that's a good thing," Harry chuckled. "Because she's stuck with me for life! Now, Erica, Ron's just over there and he's looking pretty jealous. His favourite Munchkin hasn't given him a hug yet today."

"Oh! I'd better get over there, then," Erica giggled. "I don't want him to be jealous."

Emma and Joseph approached together, holding hands. "Miss Ginny, you look right loverly," Joseph said. "No other lady was ever lovelier...exceptin' maybe Emma, here!"

"Why thank you Joseph," Ginny smiled. "Emma, you've got yourself quite a sweet-talker here."

"I know. He says the most wonderful things sometimes," Emma replied dreamily. "But gosh, Ginny! You look like a queen!"

"Gin, you've been promoted," Harry laughed. "You've risen from Princess to Queen in less than ten minutes!"

"Harry," Emma began as she began to blush. "Can I... um... give you a kiss on the cheek?"

"Gin?"

"Oh I think that'd be all right, but only if Joseph gives me one," Ginny said with a twinkle in her eye.

"Blimey, Miss Ginny," Joseph gulped. "You... you'd let me... uh..."

"Why not? You're a dashing young man who's going to be an Auror someday, and she goes spare for a man in uniform," Harry said. "On three, all right, mate?"

"Right," Joseph agreed.

"One... two... three," Harry counted and both Munchkins gave the bride and groom a kiss on their cheeks, clasped hands, and scurried off to talk with Ron and Hermione.

"They are so cute," Ginny cried softly as she captured Harry's lips in a passionate kiss of their own. "I see so much of us in them."

"Yeah, except Joseph got a clue a helluva lot sooner," Harry said, kissing her again. "Good on him."

A while later, Dudley, Penny, and Aunt Petunia approached. Aunt Petunia looked troubled. "Thank you for the invitation. I must say I didn't expect one," she said.

Ginny felt Harry's discomfort through the bond. "You're Harry's family."

"As you can understand, Vernon wouldn't even consider coming here. I'm here mostly out of respect for my sister, as a final act of my promise to care for Harry. I know your kind are considered adults at seventeen, and now, Harry, you and Ginny are married and starting your own family."

Care for me... some way she did that... Harry had all he could do to hold his tongue and let Ginny do the talking.

"Mrs Dursley, Harry gave me your sister's ring when he proposed to me and I'm very proud to wear it," Ginny said. He was glad to give his wife the lead, since he wasn't sure what he should say to his aunt.

Aunt Petunia looked at them with a slight smile. "I do wish you happiness, and it really was a beautiful wedding. Thank you for allowing me to come."

Harry nodded and met his aunt's eyes. With that she left them. "Dudley," Harry greeted his cousin with a warm smile. "Good to have you and Penny here."

"Harry and Ginny, that wedding was so...wicked," Dudley said. "I've never seen anything like that before. It was brilliant!"

"It was unlike anything I'd ever imagined," Penny said, hugging Ginny. "It was so romantic, I couldn't help but cry," Penny agreed.

After an exchange of hugs, Dudley led Penny through the receiving line, exchanging greetings with Ron and Hermione while Harry and Ginny greeted more guests. Among the last were the Weasley brothers, who congratulated them and gave Harry a man-hug each.

"Welcome to the family, Little Bro," Charlie said. "You're officially a Weasley now!"

"You've got a good man, there, Gin-Gin," Bill said, draping his arm over his brother-in-law's shoulders. "Be good to him."

"I will, Billy. I promise," Ginny said, kissing her eldest brother's scarred face.

Aunt Muriel came along, escorted by Percy and George, and followed by Angelina. Aunt Muriel showed no sign of tears. "Harry, you are a most handsome and well-mannered young man. Remember not to go too soft on your wife. She can be a handful," she told him sternly. "Ginevra, quite a catch you've made for yourself, eh? I must say that you bear the tiara with a surprising amount of grace, despite your much-too-revealing dress."

Neither Harry nor Ginny dared say anything other than Yes, Aunt Muriel or No, Aunt Muriel, wishing it would soon be over. As soon as she waddled safely out of earshot, they put their heads together and laughed privately before they greeted their next guest.

"What the hell was that all about," Harry asked, trying to contain himself. "I don't think she knows what a handful you are." He kissed her hand, his lips lingering on her wedding band. "I love you so much, Gin." I wish to Merlin this line would end so I can take you off for a snog.

Arthur and Molly were next. Like Hagrid, Molly continued to weep while her husband blinked back his own tears. "Son, I know you'll take good care of her," Arthur said, hugging Harry before turning to Ginny. "My little girl, you're so beautiful today. I know you'll be very happy." He kissed her cheeks.

Molly had temporarily lost her ability to speak and simply gathered the two of them into a big hug. She tried to say something, but nothing came out.

"Molly, I don't know how I'll be able to thank you for all of this," Harry said.

"Mum, it's beyond every dream," Ginny agreed.

Still speechless, Molly hugged them again.

"Harry," Arthur began in a fatherly tone. "I've said this before and I'll say it again: I want you to know we have considered you our son for a long time. Please call Molly and me Mum and Dad if you want to."

Harry had, despite the strong and overwhelming emotions, not shed but a few tears so far, but now he felt them run down his cheeks. "I've never known any parents other than you... Dad," Harry said and thought about something he wanted to tell them.

Ginny sensed it and knew instinctively what it was. She silently sent her assent."Mum and Dad," Harry said, "you know how much Ginny and I love the Burrow and this area. We want to build a house not far from here on some land we own about a mile up the road, by that little brook."

Molly looked up at them and found her voice. "You mean... you'll live... a short walk from here?"

Ginny nodded.

"If you wouldn't mind having your son-in-law that close," Harry said with a smirk.

"It would be just..." Molly started.

"... splendid." Arthur finished.

Before they left for the feast, Luna took the customary pictures of the wedding party and the bride and groom. "I'll arrange all the photographs in an album for you," Luna promised. "That's the Lovegoods' wedding present to you. When I bring it, we can choose the best of them for the spread in The Quibbler."

"That sounds like a plan, Luna," Harry agreed. "Thank you." Harry and Ginny hugged her like a sister before she wandered off too snap candid shots of the festivities.

The feast began. Molly seemed to have prepared every kind of food imaginable. She and Arthur remained standing before their seats on either side of Harry and Ginny. "Welcome, and thank you for coming today to share this occasion with Harry and Ginny. I won't say much more right now other than... tuck in," Molly said, trying not to burst into tears again.

Despite personal tastes, every guest would leave the feast saying that their absolute favourite food had been served. It was phenomenal. Harry knew Kreacher had done a lot of the cooking too, very proudly assisted with the food and drink. The din of conversation was interrupted by a clanking of a spoon on a glass. Ron and Hermione had risen to propose a toast to their two best friends.

"Harry and Ginny," Hermione began, "you are the brother and sister I never had. I love you both, and being here today, sharing in your happiness is an honour, as well as a pleasure." She deferred to Ron, who took up the tribute.

"Me, I have a mob of brothers and one sister." He paused to allow a wave of light laughter to pass through the crowd. "Harry, you've been my best mate for seven years, and now you're my brother-in-law, Merlin help you. Ginny, you're my only sister and how you stood it, I'll never know. I think anyone with eyes can see that you're meant for each other."

"Ron and I want to propose a toast," Hermione continued. "To Harry and Ginny!"

"Sláinte," Ron called, raising his glass and slamming it back.

"Sláinte," the crowd replied and drained their own glasses of whatever they contained.

Harry and Ginny spent much of the feast gazing at each other and exchanging kisses whenever the crowd clanked their glasses with their spoons. They fed chocolate-covered strawberries to one another as a prelude to later activities. After the feast, tables were shifted aside and a dance floor appeared in the centre of the canopy. Harry and Ginny danced every dance they could together, as well as a few with the Munchkins.

"Gin, once Luna's pictures make the press, you will most certainly spend another 40 weeks as the most beautiful witch in the country, but no matter what the ruddy Witch Weekly says, you are always the most beautiful to me."

Ginny felt her heart beat faster and she whispered to Harry. "And you haven't even seen what I'm wearing under this dress yet..."

Harry looked at her pretending to be offended. "And you tell me this now, at the feast?"

"I want you to have something to look forward to... tonight... Mr Potter."

"I already am looking forward to it. I plan to spend it with... Mrs Potter."

Ginny's heart melted. Mrs Potter. That was who she was now. She had thought about her name changing, and now that it was a fact, it felt perfectly natural. She was Ginevra Molly Potter. She was married to Harry and about to leave for her wedding night, the first night of their new life together, and the first night of their honeymoon.

Harry buried his face in her neck and kissed her pulse point. Her scent captivated his imagination as readily as it ever had. "This day, Ginny, is the happiest of my life."

"I know, Love. Mine too," she whispered. "And if you don't stop that, I'm going to have to give myself over to you right here on the dance floor!"

Their hands found each other and they kissed again. They both felt each other's love through their bond as they danced.

"Gin," Harry said seriously, "I'm truly happy. You make me happy."

Those simple words went straight to Ginny's heart. After all Harry had been through, she made him happy. "Harry, we'll always have each other and we'll always be together," Ginny promised him.

Harry smiled as he held her closer in his arms. Yes, we'll always be together.