3. The Last Day Of Peace?
Harry lay with his arm over his face. Sooty had left him feeling like he might burst, but now it was almost dawn and Harry felt completely drained. He had spent the earlier part of the evening wishing he felt more of an emotional connection to his parents, now all he wanted was for it to stop. The feelings that flooded him had quietly poured out as he lay in the moonlight; he had found the connection he was looking for to his mother and father, and he finally understood them.
The James Harry had seen in the pensieve had unnerved him, he had not at all been what Harry would have liked, he had seemed too human in his failings to Harry then, but now he finally understood; he accepted that his dad was very human and he had loved his family so much that he died trying to save them. And his mother Lily, Voldemort would have left alive, but she too had stood between him and her son and died to save him.
As the predawn grey of the morning filled his room, Harry got out of bed and pulled on his clothes. He went over to the small basin and scooped some water over his face, looking at his reflection in the mirror as he picked up the small hand towel and rubbed his face with it.
He studied himself for a moment, expressionless. He looked tired and drawn. A lifetimes worth of anguish and sorrow had flowed out overnight and now he was an empty shell. He moved over to the window and looked out at the dawn's rays as they splayed out across the lawn, it was a new beginning. Dumbledore's words came back to him.
'…the prophecy does not mean you have to do anything! … you, yourself, will never rest until you've tried! …. He will continue to hunt you…'
He breathed deeply; a new acceptance had risen within him along with the day's sun. Harry no longer feared his own weakness; he knew what he had to do. He would face Voldemort when the time came and Harry would end his reign of terror, or he would die trying. He owed his mum and dad that at least.
Harry picked up the chest from beside the bed and went downstairs. Peering into the sitting room where he had left Waldo and Fudd he discovered it empty, the fire long since faded. Across the entrance hall laid an open door from which he could hear faint shuffling coming from, and as he entered the passageway, voices began to reach his ears, voices that sounded very familiar. When he appeared at the door he saw a figure with it's back to him hunched over a large thick wooden table. Harry slipped the chest onto a bench top beside him.
'Harry!' he was suddenly swamped by an anxious looking Hermione. She threw her arms around him, breathing heavily. Harry had grown used to her displays of affection, and he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her warmly. It felt good to hold her; he had spent last night feeling very alone and having Hermione here made him feel less empty. He smiled down at her as she pulled away.
'When we heard what happened…' her face was searching his, her mouth struggling breathlessly to form words '… are you alright?' her face full of concern.
'I'm fine Hermione ... really,' He said but she was still holding onto his arms 'really!' he nodded in reassurance.
'And Hagrid? Is he okay?' she said urgently
'He's fine too, don't worry' he said as he plucked her hands off him.
'I'm glad to hear it.'
Harry looked over Hermione's shoulder; Lupin had turned around and was looking at him from the table. He looked grey and sickly 'Lupin,' Harry said guiltily. 'I-I'm sorry,' he began but Lupin held his hand up and shook his head softly.
'Don't.' he said gravely 'I know why you came Harry.' Hermione took Harry by the arm and led him to the table opposite Lupin. Harry looked around with a wry smile. His ever-present guard had caught up with him again.
Sturgis Podmore and Hestia Jones were standing by the window, deep in a whispered conversation, frequently sending glances in Harry's direction, and Elphias Doge was standing at the old fashioned stove giving Sooty instructions on how best to cook scrambled eggs. 'Fold!' he wheezed 'See? Don't stir!'
'What are you doing here? How did you know?' Harry asked as he sat down.
'Emerick sent us a message, told us you were here.' Lupin said studying Harry 'He knew we'd be looking for you once word of the Dementors got out.' His voice changed 'What he didn't know is that we had already been looking for you since mid-day yesterday.' His face was very stern. Harry sighed and closed his eyes briefly as Lupin continued. 'If it wasn't for Moody dropping in to deliver Tonks a message, we probably wouldn't have discovered you gone until it was time for you to check in,' he was frowning and looked like he was daring Harry to retort 'But I'm sure you already know that, in fact, you were counting on it if I'm not mistaken.'
'I knew you wouldn't let me come here otherwise,' said Harry, suppressing his rising anger. He was fed up with being treated like a child; tired of having everyone else around him thinking they knew what was best for him.
'Have some breakfast, Harry.' Hermione butted in pushing a plate of eggs under his nose, doing her best to avoid a confrontation between them.
'Well you are right about that at least.' Lupin carried on, ignoring the interruption 'I would most definitely have not allowed you to come!' his frown deepened 'Look what almost happened! What you did-' but before he could finish his sentence Harry let loose.
'I would have thought out of everyone, you'd understand!' Harry said furiously 'you were one of my mum and dads best friends! You would have done the same thing if you were me ... and don't tell me my mum and dad would have expected any different either, because I'm too much like them to think they wouldn't have understood!'
Lupin had a strange expression on his face, like he was looking at Harry for the first time 'You are like them Harry, very much indeed, which is one of the reasons I'm here now.' His frown had faded and his voice was tinged with sadness.
Harry sighed heavily and looked down at the table 'I know.'
'Harry, we all have to look out for each other ... for you especially, but you must understand,' He paused as a tense Hermione put a plate down in front of him 'you are Voldemorts number one target. He will stop at nothing to get to you.' He met Harry's eyes 'I am not Dumbledore, I can not protect you like he could.' He shook his head gently 'None of us can.'
Harry looked directly at Lupin 'I'm not afraid anymore.' Something in the way he said it made Lupin smile slightly.
'I've never doubted your courage Harry.'
Elphias let out a frustrated grunt as Sooty "folded" the scrambled eggs all the way over the edge of the pan and onto the hot metal surface.
'I said fold not shovel!' Hermione immediately went into a flutter to rescue Sooty, reassuring her repeatedly that it was okay and that they had plenty more eggs to go round. Harry noticed Sooty was regarding Hermione with great caution, as you might an escaped patient from the psychiatric ward, but Hermione seemed not to notice being too busy shooting scowls at Elphias.
Emerick entered the room not long after and gave Harry a smile and a nod as he settled next to Lupin and chatted in between mouthfuls. Hagrid came down a little while later and was back to his usual self, although he seemed very reluctant to catch Lupins attention and even went so far as to sit himself at the farthest end of the table away from Harry and Lupin with his mound of eggs and toast. Everyone had emerged by early morning and there was much chatter around the table. It seemed Waldo and Fudd rarely left the Hollow much anymore and they were using a kitchen full of wizards to catch up on the latest happenings.
Harry caught snippets of conversation here and there, and he strained particularly hard to hear what Lupin and Emerick were discussing, but they were difficult to hear over Hermiones repeated attempts to quiz him. At one point he snapped at her a little impatiently when he thought he had heard Lupin say Tom Riddles name but she had looked so offended that he gave up trying to eaves drop and turned his attention to her.
He gently put his hand on hers 'Sorry,' he said 'I didn't sleep much last night.'
She smiled dully at him 'No, I don't suppose you did.'
When Harry saw The Burrow his heart lifted; it was like slipping on a pair of comfortable old shoes. Mrs. Weasley had launched herself at him before he had even got in the door, all in a dither; they had all been up most of the night waiting for news.
Looking around at their tired faces he started to feel very guilty. Fleur was still her radiant self, she was the only one who seemed to suffer no consequences at all from lack of sleep, 'Arry, it eez so good to see you.' She drawled as she kissed his cheeks, Harry's eyes took on a glazed look 'we have been worried seek about you! I waz beginning to theenk you would not make it to zee wedding. You are very naughty to do zat to us.' She pouted, waving a finger at him as she sat back down at the kitchen table.
'Eh, mate!' Ron slapped him on the shoulder, a large grin plastered across his face. 'It's good to have you back.' Harry revelled in the welcome he received; it felt good to be back in Ron's company again though he found his eyes flitting around the room searchingly.
'Have you had breakfast Harry?' Mrs. Weasley was already at the stove, fry pans and plates flying everywhere.
'Yeah, thanks,' he said
'Gotta hand it to you,' Ron said 'you really know how to get up The Orders nose!' he was wearing a wry smile as he directed Harry to the foot of the stairs. 'What's that?' he asked motioning to the small black chest Harry was carrying.
'Breakfast will be on the table in a minute, Ron' called Mrs. Weasley 'So what ever you've got to talk about it can wait!' Hermione smiled sheepishly at them and all three of them turned to head back to the table. 'Not you!' she gave Harry an authoritative look 'You can go on up to Fred and Georges room and get into bed!' Harry went to argue; all he wanted was to be near Ron and Hermione and he doubted he would be able to sleep anyway 'Uh-uh' she said sternly 'up you go!'
'Well I've had breakfast too so I'll-'
'Oh no you wont.' Mrs. Weasley cut Hermione off 'You can stay here with the rest of us, Harry needs his sleep!'
'But none of us have slept!' said Ron indignantly. She glared at him
'that's not the point. Harry, bed! You two, sit!'
Harry left Ron and Hermione's bewildered looks behind him as he wound his way up the stairs to Fred and Georges room, placing the chest on a large wooden tallboy near the door. His trunk was sitting at the end of the bed so he walked over to it and stashed his father's old cloak away.
Just before apparating back to The Burrow, Hagrid had handed Harry the silvery parcel having picked it up after Harry had dropped it, and stowed it in one of his many coat pockets. Harry had forgotten all about it until that moment and was glad Hagrid had thought to retrieve it. He knew he was going to need it again more than likely, especially if faced with a situation like at the Dursleys where he needed to slip away.
It seemed as soon as Lupin had found out that Harry was missing fromPrivet Drive, he had pounded on the Dursleys door with Moody in his wake to find out how long he'd been gone. This was pointless of course as the Dursley's didn't even know that he was missing and were in such a state over being harassed by two rather scary looking magical madmen that Lupin had not been able to get even two coherent words out of them. In the end he had given up trying and had transported Harry's trunk directly to The Burrow before he and Moody had left, leaving three very stunned and frightened people behind.
Lupin pulled Harry aside at Emericks and told him he was to stay at The Burrow until further notice, he said they had spent a great deal of time trying to ensure it was safe for him there and would be bitterly disappointed if Harry chose to disregard that fact and scarper off again leaving no clue as to where he was.
Harry was all too aware he had no place to go anyway, at this point he had no idea where to start looking for the remaining Horcruxes so it hadn't been too difficult to set Lupins mind at rest. Hagrid was to take the bike back to Hogwarts while Lupin and the others escorted Harry here. They had seemed in a great hurry to leave once they had seen Harry safely to the garden path, stopping only to give the briefest of waves to Mrs. Weasley as she flung the front door open.
Harry sat on the side of his bed unbuttoning his shirt, staring thoughtfully at the floor, wondering why they had been in such a hurry. He was getting rather impatient with the fact that The Order still felt it fitting not to tell him what was going on. He would be seventeen in a couple of weeks and then he would tell Lupin he wanted in on it all or else! Surely he couldn't deny Harry once he came of age and for him, it couldn't happen soon enough.
Harry suddenly became aware of someone watching him. He looked up sharply and there, leaning against the doorway, arms crossed over her chest and eyes full of doubt, was Ginny. He stopped unbuttoning abruptly. He felt a surge in the pit of his stomach as he looked at her; it had been her he was looking for when his eyes had strayed around the room downstairs, and seeing her now he wondered how he had ever found the strength to leave her.
'Hi,' her voice sounded like nectar.
'Hi,' he answered. Stop it! He thought as he tried to reign in the emotions that flared uncontrollably within him.
'Just wanted to see that you… that you were okay.' She frowned slightly
'I'm fine,' his answer was stunted, not wanting his voice to betray him. Ginny nodded slightly then without another word, turned and left. Harry pulled his glasses off and collapsed back on the bed rubbing his face with his hands, his eyes closed. What are you doing? Get a grip! He thought to himself. It's not that hard, just deal with it!
He breathed heavily, pulled himself back up, walked to the door and closed it.
Out of the blackness came an eerie apparition, it was Dumbledore holding his arm out before him in offering, Sirius was struggling behind him, his face contorted with effort, his hands gripping the mouth of a doorway, his body stretched out behind him as he was being sucked in. Harry reached out desperately but was slowed by an unseen force; he was fighting against the air as if he were embedded in sand. Then Snape stood before them, the same ugly expression on his face as when he had struck down Dumbledore. He had both arms raised above his head grasping a shining object, and then suddenly Sirius roared 'Harry!'
Harry jumped up onto his elbow, his breathing ragged and his heartbeat racing, dripping in sweat. Snape's face still burned in his mind, a lingering residue of the dream he'd been having.
What time was it? He looked over at the window; the sun was streaming through the gaps in the curtains. Harry pulled himself up and swung his feet on the floor. He sat there with his head hung low running his hands through his unkempt hair for a moment, then he shook his head and stood up, grabbed his clothes and headed for the bathroom.
The trio had spent the following days leading up to the wedding exchanging what little information they had. Harry had told Ron and Hermione of Sooty and her revelations about his mother, both of them had eyed Harry with a mixture of shock and awe, and though she tried to hide it, Harry was sure he caught a glimmer of excitement in Hermione's eyes.
Ginny interrupted just then on Mrs. Weasley's orders to call them in for dinner. Since their first encounter he had not seen very much of her; somehow she was never in the room with him unless the whole family was present, and she seemed to spend a lot of time with Fleur, helping with last minute wedding arrangements. To Harry's surprise, Bill had asked him if he would be a groomsman, saying that the twins were going to busy doing other things and Charlie wouldn't be able to make it. Percy's name was never raised.
While Harry was at the Dursleys, Ron had spent many long hours hovering in gloomy hallways outside open doors trying to catch snippets of conversation between his father and Bill, sometimes even resorting to using a pair of Fred and Georges extendable ears.
It had become apparent the Dementors were now a formidable force; Harry had been told last year they were breeding and going by how many had turned up in Godric's Hollow there was a frightening number at large. Their random attacks had become organized ambushes where people from all over the wizarding community were targeted.
The Death Eaters had even lay siege to a number of older, well respected family homes and it was said that none were ever left behind, all were either killed or missing.
St Mungos had called in all able healers in the community they could find as their wards swelled with casualties, Mrs. Weasley, who had some skill with more minor ailments had taken to volunteering there several times a week though she had said she wasn't able to do much except reassure people. Ron had heard her sobbing one night to his father because she was finding it difficult to cope with the grief of relatives.
There was a report someone from the ministry claimed to have sited Ollivander, the wand maker previously thought missing, hovering in the shadows of the abandoned shops in Hogsmeade one evening, however when they had done a double take he was gone.
The information went on and on, all of it was pretty much as Harry had expected, but what he really wanted to know was Voldemorts plan of attack, and what The Order were doing to counter it. He was feeling incredibly frustrated as he sat in the Weasleys back yard, turning the small golden locket from the cave over and over in his hand. Hermione was leaning against Ron's shoulder stifling a yawn as he unconsciously put an arm round to support her, all three of them were exhausted having spent the last few nights meeting in Harry's room once the house fell quiet, trying desperately to work out where to start with the Horcruxes.
As yet Hermione's attempts at trying to figure out who or what R.A.B. stood for had been unsuccessful and she complained bitterly at not having access the Hogwarts library for information. They debated long and hard as to their first course of action. In the end Ron and Hermione agreed to return to Hogwarts without Harry if their letters came, it was as good a base as any and Hermione would finally have access to the extensive library, plus they would keep on studying and maybe pick up some new hexes and spells that would come in handy.
As Harry was unable to do so last time, he decided would return to Godric's Hollow to visit his mother and fathers graves. Hermione had been particularly disturbed by this but Harry had agreed to talk to Lupin about going with him, he would be seventeen and free to do as he saw fit by then so Lupin would have to agree if he wanted to keep Harry under guard.
'What's for dinner?' Ron asked
'I don't know. Your mums too busy with Fleur at the moment, she's going off for the night soon and wont be back until the ceremony tomorrow.' Answered Hermione 'your dad's taking her to the Diggory's; they were really keen to help apparently. I think they're glad to have something to look forward to for a change.' Ron brushed her hair back as she said 'Ginny and I are going first thing in the morning when Fleur's family arrive.'
'I think we should all get a good nights sleep tonight.' said Harry
'I agree' Hermione sighed 'Tomorrow's going to be our last carefree day for a long time so we might as well make the most of it.'
Harry woke next morning to a house in uproar. Fred and George came charging into the room and yanked the curtains open.
'Hiya Harry!' Fred had plonked himself on the edge of the bed, and slapped Harry on the shoulder before he'd had a chance to pull on his glasses. George was busy rummaging in one of the many boxes piled around the room.
'C'mon Sleeping Beauty!' he said over his shoulder 'Not everyday you get to see a full blown wizard wedding!'
'We're in charge of the decorations … knew mum'd come round in the end' Fred winked at Harry 'Don't know what she's so worried about.'
'It's going to be the usual thing … with our own special touch of course.' George tossed a box to the door and opened another.
'You're in for a real treat, even if we do say so ourselves.' Fred grinned
'What's a wizard wedding?' Harry was still trying to shake off sleep.
'Wouldn't want to spoil the surprise.' said Fred
'What's goin on?' Ron appeared at the doorway in his pyjamas, his hair sticking out in all directions.
'Ahh… our dear brother!' said George. He suddenly stopped what he was doing and looked from Ron to Harry and back to Ron 'Are you two having some sort of worst bed-hair contest or something?'
'Wha..?' said Ron scratching his head lazily.
'Well Ron is our clear winner this morning! Congratulations!' quipped Fred as he threw him a small golden wrapped sweet from his pocket 'and you did it without even trying!'
'That's our Ron! A natural at all the important things.' George said as he dragged another box to the door.
Hermione, Mrs. Weasley and Ginny had left already and once Harry and Ron had rushed through breakfast the four of them went outside to where Mr. Weasley, Dedalus Diggle, Lupin and Tonks were standing. They were surveying the area in front of them.
'We'll put it there; it's got some shade. It's going to be hot today and there's quite a few older and younger people coming.' Said Mr. Weasley
'Oh yes!' said Dedalus, bouncing excitedly on the balls of his feet 'Lovely spot right there. I'll get the others!' and he darted of with amazing speed for a wizard of his age.
'Wotcher Harry, Ron' Tonks hair was a long curly mauve colour and she looked much happier than she had last time he'd seen her. Lupin had his hand in the small of her back.
'Hello!' he said with a smile, Harry was surprised to see how well Lupin looked and a slight pang of guilt hit him as he reminded himself why he had looked ill last time.
'Hello boys!' said Mr. Weasley 'Got a job for you and Harry, Ron'
'Right! We'll be off then.' Said George as Fred floated the boxes across the lawn.
'Now … Fred ... George, I don't want anything too over the top, right?' Mr. Weasley was eyeing them warily.
'Muah?' said Fred innocently
'Father … really!' chimed in George.
'Height of sophistication and understatement, that's us!' said George.
'Absolutely!' exclaimed Fred grinning 'don't worry about a thing, just leave it in our capable hands.' Mr. Weasley watched them go out of the corner of his eye, doubt written all over his face. Harry and Ron exchanged grins as Mr. Weasley led them back inside.
Mr. Weasley had set them to the most monotonous task of all; tying little bundles of an assortment of Honeydukes sweets together; they rewarded themselves regularly for their punishing job with exploding bonbons and Fizzing Wizzbees. They had almost finished when Mr. Weasley appeared at the foot of the stairs looking very smart in his dress robes.
'Alright?'
'Yeah, almost done.' Said Harry
'Cud ff guv'n oos u berrer yob!' said Ron frowning through a mouthful of fudge.
'You'd better go on up and get ready as soon as your done. People will be arriving soon. Don't want the Groomsmen to be late!' He grinned; clapping his hands together he stalked out the back door.
When Harry and Ron finally emerged in their dress robes, people had already started arriving, Harry spotted Order members spread throughout the grounds all dressed up but looking very much on duty.
As he wondered round the grounds he looked about him amazed at the transformation. White flowers had been magicked onto every plant, bush and tree to form a spectacular curtain backdrop, and a golden silk carpet had been laid out to form a path through the middle of the white chairs that circled around a golden mesh dome raised off the ground on six thin golden pillars.
The dome was also dotted with white flowers and beneath it laid a small white platform where Harry presumed they would be standing. The shaded area outside the circle was packed with large white circular tables and on the centre of each stood a magnificent statue of a golden bird, wings half open and head held high as if about to launch into flight. The area was semi enclosed by burning torches on golden stilts.
As Harry moved through the crowd he could feel curious eyes on him and could hear quiet whispers as he passed. But today he did not care; today he would enjoy the celebrations and not worry about tomorrow.
There were many people he didn't know and some he did. To his pleasant surprise he noticed Luna waving at them, so he and Ron moseyed over.
'Hi Harry, Ron.' She had a broad dreamy smile on her face 'Nice day for it, don't you think?'
'Lovely!' said Ron 'I didn't know you were coming.'
'Oh yes. We live not far from here, just over yonder' she motioned her head 'I must say, I have been wondering how Bill is doing, have there been any side effects?'
This was typical of Luna Lovegood; she had an incredible bluntness about her, often to the slight embarrassment of others. Harry smiled.
'Not yet Luna,'
'My father says he would have a good sense of smell now at least.'
Ron and Harry both laughed through their noses. 'Maybe, haven't noticed it though.' Said Ron, composing himself.
'Probably has acute hearing too, don't you know.' Added Luna matter of factly, seemingly unaware her comments were amusing. Ron's hand went up to his mouth to stifle his laughter.
'Could be.' Said Harry with a big grin on his face, 'So are you going back to Hogwarts if you get a letter?'
'Oh yes, absolutely. I cant imagine what else I would be doing otherwise.'
Neville came up behind her 'Hi Harry!'
'Hey Neville' Harry said 'What about you, are you going back to Hogwarts?'
'Yeah … Gran wants me to go … but I'd go anyway.' He looked at them nervously 'You're going aren't you?'
'I am, and Hermione.' Said Ron 'Luna says she'll be going back too. I imagine Ginny will be as well.'
'Oh, good!' he said with some relief 'What about you Harry?'
'No … I don't think so.' Harry looked at his feet, Neville was bound to start asking questions and Harry didn't want to lie to him. He was saved by Kingsley Shacklebolt's deep resonant voice as held his wand to his throat.
'Welcome on behalf of the Delacours and the Weasleys! If you would please take a seat we can begin.'
'We'd better get into place' Ron tapped Harry on the shoulder and they headed for the dome where Bill was already standing. Whether it was the light, or the fact that Bill had never looked so happy, it was impossible to tell, but his scarring seemed almost non-existent as he stood smiling nervously.
After everyone was settled and all was quiet, a small melodic song started to drift through the air. It was hauntingly beautiful and Harry found himself looking for the source of it. He couldn't see anything but everyone else was looking towards the platform. He looked up … the song was radiating from the golden mesh dome as it glinted in the afternoon sun. It was a phoenix song. Then Harry understood.
This whole wedding was a dedication to Dumbledore. The golden mesh dome was like that which had sung to him in the graveyard years before. And the golden statues were phoenixes. Bill and Fleur must have changed the arrangements shortly after Dumbledores death. Harry felt a dull ache in his stomach.
People started turning their heads, looking up the golden carpet expectantly. Soft 'oohs' and 'ahhs' crept through the crowd as Harry's mouth gaped slightly, the ache in his stomach rising as his heartbeat quickened.
Fleur was coming down the carpet adorned in layers of white chiffon with gold silken overlays hanging in gentle peaks, her hair was up in an elaborate knot and the tiara Mrs. Weasley had offered her in the hospital ward at Hogwarts sparkled in the light. Everyone was staring at her entranced. Everyone that is, except Harry.
A little way behind Hermione came Ginny. She was also adorned in white chiffon that flowed so softly around her, it gave the appearance she was floating. Her hair was up in a knot and soft strands escaped and wisped around her face. Harry had never seen Ginny like this before, only once had he seen her dressed up and that was three years ago when they had both seemed so much younger. His eyes followed her all the way down the carpet and it wasn't until Ron gave him a nudge that he came to and thought to close his mouth. He stared at Ginny's slender neck, straying to the gentle line of her full lips, and as she came to a halt, he found himself waiting for her to look up at him, longing for her to acknowledge him, but her eyes stared directly ahead or at her feet.
The ceremony was quite quick and a shower of bright white sparks fell from around the edge of the dome to indicate the end. People applauded loudly and Bill and Fleur kissed before leaving the dome, Harry fell in behind them, Ginny at his side. He was acutely aware of her presence and he thought he might go mad if he had to stand with her much longer, so close, and yet unable to touch her. Thankfully the crowd followed and the bridal party dispersed to the lawn area.
Fred and George put on a display like nothing he had ever seen before. There were fireworks in the shape of white doves that flew into the air and showers of white flower petals burst from gold balls they sent into the sky. Everywhere people were laughing and clapping, but the ache in Harry's stomach did not abate.
The chairs flew to the tables as a couple of wizards flicked their wands and everyone sat down to eat. To Harry's dismay he was seated next to Ginny on the bridal table. She engaged herself in conversation at once with a young wizard who was a family friend of the Delacours, so Harry spoke to Hermione and Ron who were seated next to him. Hermione looked almost as beautiful as Fleur, and it was apparent that Ron thought so too as he held Hermiones hand in his under the table, stroking it gently. Harry's chest pounded as he thought of all that he was giving up.
After the sumptuous meal which Harry barely touched, people started moving off to dance and chat with others. Ginny had left as soon as she finished eating, and Harry noted with disappointment that she had cleaned her plate. Obviously she wasn't having as hard a time as he was.
As the afternoon turned to dusk Fred and George put on another brilliant display of multicoloured fireworks that culminated in a big golden cylinder exploding over their heads that spelled out a rather mischievous comment about the impending wedding night, before showering the giggling crowd with golden glitter.
Harry felt completely drained and decided to try and slip away unnoticed. He entered the house and crept up the stairs quietly, not wanting to get trapped by someone. As he passed the bathroom something caught his attention and he paused. It sounded like someone was crying beyond the closed door.
He put his head to the wood and rapped lightly with his knuckles, 'Hello?' It went immediately silent.
'Are you alright?' Still nothing. He rapped again 'Hello?' Only silence.
He headed away from the door, climbing a little higher then stopped on the shadowed landing. A moment or two passed, and then the door clicked open. Light streamed out onto the landing and a figure emerged, closing the door behind them and heading down the stairs.
'Ginny!' Harry ran as fast as he could to catch her. Grabbing her elbow he spun her around on the step. Her eyes were red and swollen and her cheeks flushed. He brought himself level with her 'Ginny,' he said softly, taking in her pained expression. Before he could think about what he was doing he kissed her. She melted into him with a soft groan and he could feel her pain as she kissed him back.
Harry didn't know how long they stayed there like that, but something made him pull away. Drifting up the stairwell from outside were faint cries growing in the darkness. Suddenly, a series of loud bangs and crashes rang out in the distance followed by yelling from desperate voices.
'Stay here!' Harry breathed and bolted down the stairs three at a time towards the terrified screams.