Ravenclaw
22 JULY 2008—Belle knew that Alina wanted the "Wedding of the Century," but as the assembled crowd gasped in horror, she didn't think this was exactly what her cousin had in mind.
Thankfully, Alina had accurate aim and hit Nagini, not her groom.
And then she finished walking down the aisle, as if nothing had happened, and prompted the officiating wizard to perform his duty. With a shaking voice, he obeyed…though he did keep sneaking glances at the limp snake coiled on the floor. Tom was flushed with anger, and he recited his vows through gritted teeth. Alina said her "I Do's" with an air of pride and accomplishment.
Unsurprisingly, there was a full-on shouting match between the newlyweds during their first dance as Man and Wife. In the course of the argument, Alina revealed a fair amount of sensitive information regarding Horcruxes and her new husband's mortality… it was rather entertaining, given that there was no longer a concern about finding more Horcruxes.
Belle found herself standing in a corner for most of the reception. Bellatrix was flirting her way through all the male guests, even engaging in some rather…revealing displays of affection. And dear Bella wasn't the only flirt: Lavender Brown had thrown herself at the orchestra's composer, distracting him to the point that Belle had to take over the music until he returned in a rather disheveled state.
Then Belle herself got distracted… by George Weasley. He was standing at the bar, unaccompanied by a woman, ring-less left hand holding a tumbler of Firewhisky. The Horcruxes were destroyed now, she could have a normal life…
"What do you want?" he asked gruffly when she sat next to him.
"A drink," she replied, signaling to the bartender.
"I'm not paying."
"I'm not asking you to. Alina's tab will cover it."
George guffawed. "Of course she will. You've fawned over her enough."
After taking a sip of her newly delivered Bloody Mary, Belle asked, "If I explained my actions, would you listen?"
"Why do you think flowery words would make up for everything you've done? Abandoning your daughter, dropping me so you could fit in with your new Death Eater friends? Ignoring the corruption in the government? And yet you think an explanation will cut it." George snorted derisively. "Surely a woman as smart as you would know that actions speak louder than words."
Belle took a calming breath. "Next Friday, at ten o'clock, I will be at the Hogs' Head, if you are willing to hear my side of the story. Now if you would excuse me, I have some new legislation to draw up."