Chapter 48 – The day before the wedding
GN
"I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" I said as we walked to the kitchen.
"Why do you need to go a day early?" Cedric pouted as we entered the kitchen. His parents were sitting at the kitchen island.
"They don't want to see each other before the wedding, so Charlie is staying at the burrow while Bash stays at Bill's flat. And you know Bash, he doesn't like to be alone." I laughed softly. "And he didn't want a stag party, he just wanted me there."
"Tell Sebastian, he doesn't need to stress too much. Everything will be okay." Olive smiled as she kissed my cheek.
"I'll be sure to tell him that." I answered as she stepped back. Cedric came behind me and wrapped his arms around me.
"What time do you want me to come over?" He asked. I saw his parents share a look, before they disappeared from the kitchen.
"Are you still planning on being my date?" I smiled as he kissed my neck.
"If you still want to... with George there." He said hesitantly, and I turned in his arms, so I could look up to him.
"I was going to tell George today, no matter what. We've broken up long before we got together, but he deserves to hear it from me. So yes, I want you there as my date. Bash and I will leave for the burrow at one. Come by before then and then the three of us can apparate there." I searched my pocket for the note with Bill's address on it. "Here is the address, meet me there."
"Can't wait." He kissed my nose. "Been wondering about that dress for months now." He smiled and I poked his side as I shook my head laughing. Then he dramatically added. "I hope I can sleep tonight, without my favourite pillow next to me." His pout heavy again. "We've been sleeping together every night since that picnic in my room."
"I advise you; you don't tell that to my brother." I chuckled and curled my arms around his neck before I kissed him soundly. Cedric pushed me against the counter when a pop was heard, and someone cleared their throat. Ced and I pulled apart and looked to the place the noise came from. Bash was standing there as he looked anywhere but us. I rolled my eyes as I looked back to Cedric. "I'll see you tomorrow." I gave him a chaste kiss.
"Tomorrow." He nodded. "I love you."
"I love you."
"Bash, I'll see you tomorrow." He said turning to my brother. "Keep her safe for me, will you?" He asked and shot me a wink as I was about to protest.
"Will do." Bash snickered as he saw my reaction. "Let's go, little one." He held out his arm for me and I looped mine through. "See you, Ced." He waved. I smiled at Cedric as I felt the pull behind my navel. Cedric's eyes didn't leave mine until we were completely gone.
GN
We appeared in Bill's living room. "So, when did that happen?" He asked the moment we settled down on the couch. I looked around frantically to spot a certain red head. "Don't worry, Bill's at the burrow, helping set everything up."
"Oh." My tense shoulders slumped. "It happened two weeks before school ended."
"And you never told me!" He gasped in his typical Bash way.
"You were in Romania! Besides we kept it quiet, only three people know and Ced's parents."
"For George?"
"Yeah." I leaned my head on my hand that rested on the back of the couch. "I want to tell him myself."
"And you thought telling him on my wedding day is the best time?" I opened my mouth to speak but he carried on. "I like a little bit of drama at a wedding." He winked with a grin.
"Nothing's going to happen." I rolled my eyes. "George and I broke up ages ago. And yes, George has a flair for the dramatics, but not with something like this." I shook my head.
"I know, I was just teasing. Are you happy?" He asked as he clasped my hand in his.
"Extremely." I smiled.
"Then all I have to say is... IT'S ABOUT TIME!" I looked at him wide-eyed before we both started laughing. After we both stopped laughing, he pulled me to his chest.
"Do you think Charlie and Bill will be mad?" I asked softly.
"No." I felt him shake his head before me. "We talked about it not too long ago, actually. We were all waiting for you two to happen. Charlie and I know how you felt about each other before you guys even knew yourselves. Yes, George is their brother, but they know the break-up was his fault. He told them himself. And they just want to see the both of you happy."
"Hmm." I hummed softly. "How are you feeling? Nervous?" I asked redirecting the conversation.
"No." He said, and I turned my head with raised eyebrows. But there he was, looking like the most relaxed person in the world with a smile on his lips. "I'm marrying the man of my dreams. I knew I wanted to marry him after our first date, so I've been waiting years for this."
"I'm so happy for you and Charlie. My two favourite men."
"What about Cedric?" He cocked an eyebrow with a grin.
"That's a different kind." I laughed as he scowled at the insinuation. "What are the plans tonight? Just staying in?"
"Not quite. We leave in about -" He glanced at his watch. "About an hour."
"Where to?"
"Too curious, little one." He grinned just as a pop was heard in the flat. I turned to see Bill standing there. I jumped up and nearly tackled him as I hugged him. If he wasn't that tall and broad, he would've toppled over.
"Hi, Northon." He said as he picked me up and twirled us around. "You look good." He winked.
"Don't look bad yourself, Weasley." I grinned. "For an old man." I ducked just in time as he tried to headlock me. Bash was laughing from his place on the couch.
"How did the set up go?" Bash asked as I took my place next to him again, and Bill sat down on the seat next to us.
"Good, the tent is up. Mum nearly lost it." He laughed. "She really thought it would be a simple white tent. Dad had to remind her it wasn't her wedding, but yours and Charlie."
"How is Charlie?" I asked.
"By the looks of it, more nervous than you are." He chuckled as he looked to Bash.
"Nothing to be nervous about. I'm marrying the man of my dreams in less than 24hours."
"I think staying at the burrow wasn't the best idea for Charlie." Bill mused. "Our mum alone is quite stressful. And being away from you isn't easy for him. You two are worse than a couple of teenagers." He chuckled.
"I would say I'm offended, but..." He shrugged with a smile as he stood up. "I'll go get us dinner."
"Let me-" Bill started, but Bash waved him off.
"Kung Pao Chicken?" He asked me and I nodded. He turned to Bill next. "Chow Mein?"
"Yes, thanks. And some dumplings." He added when Bash reached the door. With a nod to Bill, he stepped out the door. When the door closed behind him, Bill kicked off his shoes and sat down in Bash's vacant seat.
"Aren't you staying at the burrow?" I asked and turned to fully face him.
"No." He shook his head. "Too crowded. I'm used to my peace and quiet by now." He grinned. "I'm sorry to hear about you and George."
"Thank you." I said as I looked anywhere but him.
"Are you going to the wedding alone?" He asked. And I knew he was prying. He probably had a feeling about Cedric and me from the start.
"I'm not... I have a date." I looked at my nails with interest.
"Anyone I know?"
"Maybe." I shrugged. "I want to tell George first." I said looking up. "I wanted to wait until tomorrow... but I don't want to show up with someone without telling him."
"Hmm, the twins are the ones to greet the guests, so if you're arriving with him as your date, without a single warning, it would be like a slap in the face." He said. "I know he's nervous to see you, after how you left things. But he won't be surprised if you show up with Cedric."
"Ced-?" My eyes wide. "How?"
"Who else?" He shrugged. "I know you catch the eye of many young men-" I slapped his arm, but he continued, nonetheless. "But there were only two men who really had your attention."
"Do you think he'll be mad? Cedric and I only got together months after we broke up."
"Hey, calm down." He said, placing a hand on my shoulder as I began to hyperventilate. "George would never think you hooked up during your relationship. He still loves you, so yeah, it will hurt him, but he'll be happy for you."
"I should really talk to him before tomorrow." I said as I wrung my hands together. "Should I go to the burrow?"
"You won't get much privacy there... Why don't I get George and pop him over here."
"That could work." I nodded slowly, feeling nervous suddenly.
"I'll be back in jiffy." He kissed the top of my head.
"What? NOW?!" I jumped up next to him.
"When else?"
"No, you're right. Go." I waved him off as I looked to the ground.
"It will be fine, I promise." He squeezed my shoulder before he disappeared with the same pop he came in with.
GN
I started to pace the living room before I walked to the room I stayed in the last time. I took my place on the windowsill and looked outside to the busy street of muggle London bellow us. My mind was flashing to the memories that George and had shared over the past years when the softest knock was heard. I turned to see George standing at the door nervously. He was as handsome as I remembered him, only the confidence he usually had was gone.
"Hey." He said as he rubbed his neck.
"Hi." I gave him a small smile as I stood up from the windowsill. "Thank you for coming."
"Sure." He looked around the room. "Don't know why Bill suddenly popped into our old room though."
"Can you come in?" I asked, and when he stepped in further, I closed the door behind me. "I wanted to see you before the wedding." I said as my eyes locked with his. He was standing in front of the bed, his hands behind his back. "I didn't want to surprise you when I brought someone with me, as a date."
"Oh." He said so soft, I almost missed it. "Is it Cedric?"
I looked down at my feet before I answered. "Yes." The room was silent for a few minutes as I didn't dare to look at his face, afraid to see hurt of betrayal. But then, he was standing in front of me and lifted my chin with one finger. "We only got together two weeks before the end of school." I blurted out.
"It's okay." His voice soft as his finger grazed over my chin. "If your happy, then I'm happy. Thank you for letting me know before."
I couldn't stop myself; I wrapped my arms around his waist and rested my head on his chest. His arms went around me, and we stood there for a moment.
"I've missed you." He said in my hair.
"I missed you too." I answered honestly as he pulled back. His smiled down at me, but I saw his eyes were sad.
"You should come by the shop."
"You opened already?"
"Opened the first weekend of July." He said proudly. "And you do have a coupon."
"Oh, George." I shook my head. "No, I can't -"
"You can and you will. It was a gift." He said in a matter I couldn't disagree with him. "I'll see you tomorrow." He leaned down and gave a lingering kiss on my cheek. And with that he walked out the room. I heard him talk to Bill for a moment before a pop was heard.
"How did it go?" Bill asked and I looked to the door to see Bash and Bill standing there.
"It went well." I said as I walked towards them. "When did you get back?" I asked my brother.
"Just now. And to my surprise when I came in, Bill informed me you were in your room alone, with a boy."
"I believe you and a boy alone in a room is way worse than me and a boy." I laughed as he sat down on the table. "Now dig in." I gestured to the food before they could ask more.
GN
An hour or so later, Bash and I were standing in a park. In front of us an old carousel with wooden horses, large colourful bulbs on the ceiling. I was grinning like mad as I looked at the old carousel. I wanted to squeal and tug at Bash's sleeve, but I restrained myself.
The thing is... the carousel was near our old home where we lived with our parents for over ten years. Bash being the fun, older brother always took me to the park and sneaked on the carousel when our parents were away. We spend hours, maybe even days if you counted it up, on this very same carousel. But with Bash being away, it has been years since I've been here. My hand stroked the wooden horse's head, paint chips coming lose under my fingers.
One time when I was six, we had for once paid to ride the carousel, Bash was sitting in a carriage behind me, casually with one leg over the other. I on the other hand was sitting on the one of the horses that "pulled" the carriage forward. My eyes lifted up to the colourful lightbulbs above me. It was just then, one of the bulbs burst and glass came falling down. A piece hit the corner of my eye, and Bash rushed over while the carousel came to a halt. I was crying, my tears mixed with the blood that trickled down. Bash put a handkerchief against the wound and carried me off the carousel. The owner of the carousel came over in a panic, seeing if I was okay. The moment his saw the bloodied handkerchief, he said we could ride the carousel for free for the rest of our lives. Bash gave him a strained smile and said he could handle taking care of me and the owner walked away. Once we were alone, I pulled the handkerchief away and revealed my flawless face, no scar or wound in sight.
"Well done, little one." Bash said with a shaken voice. "Good that you waited until we were alone."
"I'm okay, Bash." I said in his chest as he pulled me against him. "And now we get free rides!"
"Yes, we do." He smiled softly as he stroked my hair.
"Bash." I whispered as my eyes scanned the dark carousel. "It's been-"
"Years." He finished.
"Mum and dad aren't coming, are they?" I asked, taking my eyes away from the wooden horses.
"No, they are not. But I already told you, I only need you here. That's why I took you here. You and I, like always."
"Always." I said as I wrapped my arm around his waist. "I love you, Bash."
"I love you, little one." He answered as he looked around. Once he deemed it safe, he waved his wand, and the carousel came to life, the lights brightened the park, music filled my ears. "After you." He bowed and helped me up on a horse. We stayed on the carousel until late at night before we headed back to the flat, where Bill was snoring on the couch as the TV played on the background.