Chapter Ten - Symbols
Harry had never before been to The Burrow. It looked as though it had once been a large stone pigpen, but extra rooms had been added here and there until it was several stories high and so crooked it looked as though it were held up by magic (which, Harry reminded himself, it probably was). Five chimneys were perched on top of the red roof.
It wasn't much of a house, but he also knew that it was a home full of love. Harry would have jumped at the chance to live there if it helped him escape from Privet Drive.
Worn out as he was from the previous day's excitement, Harry skipped the coffee and resorted to a stimulant potion. He wanted to be at his best if he was going to be around so many strangers. While matching wits with Ron Weasley wasn't the most arduous task, the twins were considerably sharper.
From the designated Apparition point, a line of people had gathered, winding through the garden toward a large white tent. Butterflies and bees drifted lazily over the grass and hedges. Colourful flowers and enchanted birds adorned the witches' hats, and sparkling gems adorned the wizards' cravats. Excited conversation filled the air, masking the buzz of bees as the crowd neared the tent.
Outside the entrance, there was a waiting area where guests could mingle before being escorted to their seats by one of the Weasley boys. Fred and George were tasked with that duty. They were even acting somewhat serious. Harry wondered what threats had been issued that morning to ensure compliance and good behaviour.
"Shall we get in the queue?" he said to Pansy.
"Let's socialise a bit first," she replied.
The entrance to the tent displayed countless delicate golden chairs arranged along both sides of a lengthy purple carpet. Poles adorned with white and gold flowers framed the scene. At the focal point, a large cluster of golden balloons marked the spot where Bill and Fleur would soon marry.
Fred hurried over and spoke some passable French to a pair of pretty girls who looked like they might be some of Fleur's Veela relatives. They giggled at him and allowed him to escort them inside. George helped a gaggle of middle-aged witches, looking put out by his brother's swiftness.
Just then, Harry caught sight of his Gryffindor nemesis. He approached directly, not running, but striding with clear purpose. He had grown even taller and now stood a head above Harry. It was vexing to have to look up at him.
"What are you doing at my house, Potter?" he demanded furiously.
"A moderate volume, Weasley?" Harry's voice contained all the shock he could muster. "I expected you to be bellowing."
"Answer the question!"
There were few things Harry enjoyed more than winding Ron up. "Relax, Weasley. I was invited."
"What?" Ron's disbelief was so strong that Harry might as well have announced he was going to fly to the moon without a broom. "Let me see it."
Harry turned to Pansy. "Okay, I admit it. You were right."
She smirked at him. "I told you so. You owe me a dinner date."
Ron looked confused. "What was Parkinson right about?"
"She insisted I bring the invitation," Harry explained. "She said you would demand to see it. She even talked me into wagering on it."
Ron smiled viciously. "Anything that makes you lose is alright in my book, Potter."
"Shut up, Weasley."
The red-haired boy turned his glaring eyes from Harry and nodded his head to Pansy. "Parkinson, I was not expecting you."
"It is delightful to see you again, Ronald," she said warmly. "How are you? You look so handsome today."
"I'm fine."
"Are you standing up with Bill?"
Ron shook his head, sending his longish hair waving. "No, he asked Charlie. Ginny is standing with Fleur though."
"I assume Gabrielle is as well."
"Yeah. No Maid of Honour though."
Pansy tipped her head to one side. "Interesting."
Ron shrugged. "I really don't have an opinion. I only know because it was discussed over dinner."
"So if you're not in the wedding party, are you here with Vane?"
"Yeah, Romy's around here somewhere. I'm supposed to be escorting guests to their seats."
Pansy unleashed her devastating smile on him, and Ron suddenly seemed uncertain of himself.
"What do you talk about with a girl so young?" she inquired.
Ron flushed a bit. "We, ah, we don't really talk a lot. When we do, it's mostly about life in the castle or Quidditch."
"Does Vane like Quidditch?"
"Yeah, she's a big Puddlemere fan."
"Quidditch, gossip, and kissing," Pansy said. "Sounds like you're dating a girl."
Ron raised an eyebrow. "Well, she's certainly not a bloke."
"You ought to be dating a woman," Pansy proclaimed.
Harry was curious how this would go.
"Romy is mature for her age." He sounded defensive.
"She's certainly quite developed. I can see what attracted you." Pansy's tone was not quite acidic, but it was certainly scornful.
Ron flushed even more. Now most of his face was red. "It's not like that."
"I am glad you are not a troll. So it was her stunning intellect then? Did you know she scored bottom of the house for the last two years?"
"She's had trouble in a couple of subjects," Ron admitted. "She's been asking for help."
"She's not going to last at Hogwarts," Pansy predicted. "She'll do miserably on her OWLs, and she won't be invited to return for sixth year. What will you do then?"
"Well, I'll be out of school too. We'll have lots of time for each other."
"Do you really want to entangle yourself with an unqualified witch?" she said pointedly. "Ronald, don't be obtuse. Better yet, don't give Malfoy an easy weapon to use against you."
Ron was troubled, Harry could see. He clearly had not given much thought to Romilda beyond the here and now.
"Why do you care so much about my love life?" he asked, his tone surly.
Pansy gave him a withering look. "What did I just tell you about not being obtuse? You saved my life, Ronald. That matters a great deal to me, and I am a very influential witch. If you don't have a future with Vane, then I want to help you find the right witch."
"No, thanks," he said shortly. "I can get my own dates."
"Yes, and that fact does impress me," Pansy noted. "You asked out Chrissy Golding in the Great Hall in front of the entire school. That was some stellar Gryffindor bravery."
Ron shrugged. "Fred had asked out Angelina and told me to just screw up my nerve and do it."
"Many girls noticed it," Pansy stressed. "It was talked about."
"The gossip mill," he said derisively.
"You have some admirable traits, Ronald. Even we Slytherins will admit it when pressed."
"Slytherins," Ron said with a snort. "I can't believe there are three of you here today. Here!"
Harry wondered for a moment at the identity of the fourth Slytherin, but only for a moment, as he caught sight of Percy Weasley and his wife Lynn. They were smartly dressed in complementary dress robes.
Lynn Weasley had worn green and silver as Lynn Fawcett. She looked stunning in a floral print dress with vivid pink blossoms.
"Hello, Harry." When Percy smiled, he looked nothing like the great prat he could be.
"Hello, Percy. Hello, Lynn. You remember Pansy."
"Nice party," Pansy said.
"It should be fun," Lynn said.
"Weddings usually are."
"What weddings have you been to? The ones I've seen have been dead stiff," Lynn complained.
"Yours included?" Pansy asked archly.
Lynn smiled dreamily. "I was too ecstatic to pay much attention to anything. The whole day is rather a large blur. I didn't even get to eat my whole meal."
"Why not?"
Lynn harrumphed. "Photography. We had to have every possible combination of family members. I think we needed Arithmancy at one point. I smiled so much that my face cramped up."
"Yikes," Pansy said sympathetically. "There's a Charm that prevents that."
"I know, but nobody I knew could cast it."
"I can." She sounded proud and rightly so. Pansy was notoriously bad at Charms.
Lynn sighed. "Now I learn this."
Ron looked about as interested in the conversation as Harry was, but he could not just walk away.
"Why are you here, Potter?" He was actually civil.
"Fleur invited me. She invited Viktor and probably Cedric too."
Ron suddenly looked like he couldn't breathe. "Viktor… Krum?" he asked faintly.
"Yeah." Harry smirked. "Sorry, Weasley, but there will be four Slytherins here. He's bringing Millie."
"Viktor Krum. In my house. Okay then. Wow." He wandered away in a daze.
Pansy watched him go. "I wonder if I should check on him. Harry, do you mind?"
"Not at all."
Pansy followed after Ron, leaving Harry with Percy and Lynn.
"I can't wait to see Fleur," Lynn said. "She's going to look so much prettier than I did."
"Nonsense," Percy said.
"I'm not part-Veela, love. I can't hold a candle to her."
"You're the most beautiful woman in the world to me," he said, kissing her hand.
Lynn smiled. "Well, I suppose that's all that counts, isn't it?"
"How's married life?" Harry asked.
"More wonderful than I could have imagined," she said.
"No babies yet," Percy volunteered. "Auntie Muriel has already gotten after us about it. I'm sure if you run into her, she'll mention it."
"Not like it's any of her business," Lynn said snippily.
"Bridget had her baby last night," Harry said, able to share news for once.
Lynn shrieked, causing several people to glance over at them.
"How could you let that news wait?" she demanded. Bridget and Lynn were best friends.
"I just forgot for a moment. Talking with Ron is distracting."
Lynn giggled. "Is it me, or is Pansy pursuing him?"
"She has certain designs in that direction."
"Fascinating. But later. First, tell me all about the baby."
"His name is Gaius Armand."
Pansy spied Ronald standing near the guest book.
"Are you well, Ronald? You look a bit peaky."
He glanced at her. "Oh, hey, Parkinson. I'm fine."
"You got quite flustered when Harry mentioned Krum being here today. What's that about?"
Ronald sighed. "Just a little nervous about meeting him, I guess. He's an amazing Quidditch player."
"You admire him, don't you?"
He shot her a look that told her she had struck the mark.
"Don't look so surprised," Pansy said. "I'm very perceptive."
"I hope I don't make a right fool of myself."
"You'll keep your composure," she said confidently. "I have faith in you. And if you do start to blather on, I'm sure it's happened to him before. You probably won't be the only one."
"Yeah, he might get a bit mobbed," Ronald said upon reflection. "Why are you being so nice? It's weird."
Pansy beamed at him. "I have seen a different facet of you. Of course I will treat you differently."
"Still not used to you Slytherins being nice."
"You just need to get to know us better," she replied brightly. "We can be very good friends when we want to be."
"When you want something," he corrected.
She did not deny it. "Yes, it is easier to achieve one's goals with a friendly demeanour. If you didn't have such a preconception of us all being evil incarnate, you might see that we can be very good friends to have."
"Why would I want to be friends with you?" His tone wasn't too snarky.
"We are well-connected. We have influence," she pointed out. "What do you hope to do with your life after Hogwarts? Did you want to play professional Quidditch?"
"I'll never be a Seeker," he complained. "Not built for it. Too tall and too heavy."
She gave him a knowing look. "We both know you only became Gryffindor's Seeker because you wanted to show up Harry."
He grinned. "Yeah, and it has been fun."
"What about another position?" she suggested. "Chaser might not be suitable either, but surely you could be a Beater or a Keeper."
"I didn't know you knew so much about Quidditch."
She held her tongue from a snappy reply. Everyone knew at least the names of the positions. "I am not as knowledgeable as some, but one cannot be around Millie, Draco, and Theo for so many years and learn nothing."
"My brothers always made me play Keeper. I hated it. I always wanted to play something else, but I'm pretty good at it."
"Would you want to play for a professional club?" she asked.
"Naturally." His reply implied that anyone would, if they could.
"Who is your favourite?"
"Chudley, of course. This is going to be their year. I just know it."
Pansy held her smile, but she suddenly wondered if Ronald was entirely sane. Chudley? I may know next to nothing about Quidditch, but even I know Chudley is a joke.
"And how do you plan to get invited to join the club?"
"They have open sessions every season. I figured I'd go and show my stuff and hope for the best."
She shook her head ruefully, resisting the urge to scold him. "That will never do. You will never get in that way. They need to already know you'll be there. Then they'll watch you, and if you don't make a right ponce of yourself, they'll pick you."
"Let me guess," he said heavily, "you know someone."
"Actually, no," she admitted. "I don't have any contacts in the world of Quidditch. Daddy might. If he doesn't, I'm sure I know someone who does. I shall inquire. We want you to have the best possible chance, after all."
"Why?" His tone was flat and unfriendly.
"Pardon?"
"Why do you suddenly care so much about me?"
Pansy reached out and took his hand. He was so shocked that he didn't pull it away.
"I want you to be happy, Ronald. I want you to achieve everything to which you aspire. I want to help you realise your ambitions. You need a strong witch as a partner, and I am right here."
His eyes widened. "I'm dating Romy."
"Can she help you realise your dreams?" Pansy pressed. "Does she have my wealth and connections?"
Ronald frowned. "No, but I didn't ask her out because she was rich and influential."
"Do you love her?"
Ronald didn't answer instantly.
"I could love you, Ronald. I see the person you truly are under all that bluster. Prat as you may be, I think you worthy. I wouldn't be talking to you otherwise."
"You're off your chump." Now his eyes were a little wild.
"I am entirely sane, I will have you know," she said snippily. "My friends don't believe it, but I am."
"Why do they doubt you?"
She shrugged. "Because I've told them I want to see you happy."
He was quiet for a moment. "Is this some massive scheme?"
"Not in the least," she promised. "They've tried to talk me out of it. I recognize my debts, Ronald. Even if no one else knows, I know what I owe you. I will spend the rest of my life making you happy."
Ronald fell silent again. He shifted his weight several times. He ran his fingers through his hair and grasped at his head.
"How could I ever date a Slytherin?" He actually sounded open to the idea.
"Much as one dates someone from any other house, I imagine."
Harry had almost done that. He'd had some time with several Hufflepuffs, but circumstances had not allowed anything further to develop.
"I've got to get back to work," Ronald said finally. "Mum will have a conniption if she sees me slacking off when I'm supposed to be seating people."
Pansy smiled at him. "Think about what I've said. You'll be hearing from me soon."
She turned and walked away, putting just a hint of swing in her hips.
Pansy slipped her arm through Harry's. "I'm back. Did you miss me?"
"The minutes were like hours," Harry replied.
"Is he alright?" Percy inquired.
"He will be. He's just having a superfan moment. I'm sure you know how he feels about Krum."
"Oh yes," Percy said fervently. "Three years ago, it was all he could talk about."
"I hope Krum is bringing security guards," Lynn said with a laugh.
"He's bringing Millie," Harry said. "She'll be able to fend off Ron if he gets to be too much."
"Someone say my name?"
Harry turned around to see Millie and Krum. She looked radiant in light blue dress robes. She had done her hair up with lots of pearled pins. She carried a matching clutch and was even wearing nice shoes. Krum was wearing dark blue dress robes and was sporting a light beard.
"Millie, you look fantastic!" Pansy gushed.
Millie rolled her eyes. "Thanks. My mum did my hair. I was just going to do a simple braid, but she wouldn't let me."
"Thank Merlin for that. That dress deserves more."
Krum offered his hand to Harry, who shook it. "Nice to see you again, Krum."
"You as vell, Potter. Looking sharp."
"You too. I like the beard."
Krum shrugged. "It is new. I am not sure I am liking it."
"Give it a few weeks," Harry suggested. "Maybe it will grow on you."
His friends all groaned at his terrible pun.
Pansy poked him in the side. "Are you filling in for Daphne today?"
Harry grinned. "Well, she's not invited. Someone has to do it."
Krum had actually smiled. "It has been some years since ve spoke."
"I'm not much of a letter writer," Harry said apologetically.
"Vat haff you been doing vith yourself?"
"Advanced combat training, mostly. You?"
Krum shrugged. "I continue to play for Bulgarian national team, but it is getting a bit boring. Father vishes me to take up the family business. I am thinking of it."
"What business is that?"
"He owns the best magical supply in all of Bulgaria. Anything you need for doing of magic."
"Important," Harry observed.
"Boring," Krum countered. "But it makes very good profit each year."
Harry had heard a lot about business from Mr. Malfoy. "Well, that's important too."
Percy cleared his throat, and Harry remembered his manners.
"Viktor Krum, do you remember my friend Percy Weasley and his wife Lynn? Percy is the Director of our Office of International Magical Cooperation."
Percy stuck out his hand. "A pleasure, Mister Krum."
"You as vell."
Lynn offered her hand, and Krum leaned down to kiss it. She giggled.
"You of course remember Pansy Parkinson."
"I do," Krum confirmed, also kissing Pansy's hand. "It is good to see you vell."
"We were just about to go in," Percy said. "Would you like to sit with us?"
"That vould be vunderful. I alvays like to know some people at any event."
"Can we do that?" Pansy asked. "We're on the bride's side, and you are definitely not."
"We're not being that formal," Percy said. "We have so many more guests than Fleur does, so it would be a little lopsided otherwise."
Pansy looked relieved. "Oh good."
At that moment, Ron reappeared with an elderly witch clutching his arm. Her beaky nose, red-rimmed eyes, and leathery pink hat gave her the look of a bad-tempered flamingo. She was quite opinionated, Harry could tell immediately.
"…and your hair's much too long, Ronald. For a moment I thought you were Ginevra. Merlin's beard, what is Xenophilius Lovegood wearing? He looks like an omelette."
Percy greeted her warmly. "Hello, Auntie Muriel. You're looking well."
"Percival, why are you standing around like an oaf when there are people to be seated?"
"I've been greeting friends and making new ones," he said mildly. "Auntie Muriel, may I introduce you to Harry Potter?"
She eyed him up and down. "So you're the Chosen One, are you?" she said too loudly. "How is a short boy like you supposed to defeat the Dark Lord with that tangled mop of hair?"
Harry really didn't know how to respond to that question. Not politely, anyway.
"I've just been instructing the bride on how best to wear my tiara," Muriel went on. "Goblin-made, you know, and been in my family for centuries. She's a good-looking girl, but still – French. Well, well, find me a good seat, Ronald. I am a hundred and seven and I ought not to be on my feet too long."
Ron gave his brothers a long-suffering look and brought the elderly witch to her seat.
"My hair isn't that bad, is it?" Harry asked Pansy.
"Well, it is a bit messy," she said. "Do you have a comb handy?"
"Who am I? Draco?"
"Ignore her," Percy advised. "She's been completely obnoxious her whole life. I don't like to say unkind things about family, but she's honestly a nightmare."
"Talking about Muriel?" inquired George, reemerging from the marquee with Fred.
"The old bat just told me my eyes are uneven," Fred grumbled.
"Remember when we put that Dungbomb under her chair at Christmas dinner that year?"
Fred smiled. "Classic."
"Best thing we've ever done for the family," George agreed. "She hasn't come around since."
"Dad keeps saying she's going to write us out of her will." Fred sounded proud of himself and his twin.
"Not like she has anything worth having other than the tiara," George noted. He changed up his voice. "Goblin-made, you know. Been in the family for centuries."
Fred snickered. "Though I think it would look good on me. Don't you agree?"
Everyone laughed.
George sighed. "I wish old Uncle Bilius was still with us, though. He was a right laugh at weddings."
"He was the one who died a day after seeing a Grim, right?" asked Lynn.
"Well, yeah, he went a bit odd toward the end," conceded George.
"But before he went loopy he was the life and soul of the party," said Fred. "He used to down an entire bottle of firewhisky, then run onto the dance floor, hoist up his robes, and start pulling bunches of flowers out of his –"
"Fred!" hissed Percy. "Mind your tongue. There's no need to go telling those sorts of stories."
"Oh, lighten up, Percival."
"Queue is thinning a bit," George observed. "You lot want to sit yet?"
"I suppose we should," Harry said. "Lead on."
They took their seats, more toward the front than the back. When the last guests had been seated, the Weasley boys moved to the front and sat in their own places.
"What did Muriel mean when she called me the Chosen One?" Harry whispered to Percy.
"Some of us have been talking about our preparations against Voldemort," he whispered back. "Your name came up a few times as taking a lead in all that. There are rumours about a prophecy, you know, and he wasn't able to kill you as a baby. It's not a large jump to guess that you're the one who's supposed to do him in."
It was uncomfortably close to the truth.
"Great," Harry said with a rueful sigh.
"You won't be alone," Percy assured him.
Lynn shushed them. "It's about to start!"
Inside the cosy tent, a palpable sense of nervous excitement hung in the air, punctuated by intermittent bursts of joyous laughter. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley made their way down the aisle, greeting relatives with smiles and waves. Mrs. Weasley looked radiant in a new ensemble of amethyst-coloured robes, complete with a coordinating hat.
Shortly after, Bill and Charlie stood at the front of the tent, dressed in robes adorned with large white roses in their buttonholes. Fred whistled appreciatively, prompting giggles from the Veela cousins. The crowd then hushed as music emanated from what appeared to be the golden balloons.
A collective sigh swept through the gathered witches and wizards as Monsieur Delacour and Fleur proceeded up the aisle. Fleur moved gracefully, Monsieur Delacour bounced with joy. Fleur was dressed in a beautifully understated white gown, adorned with a sparkling silver tiara on her head.
"Muriel let me wear it when I married Percy," Lynn whispered. "Fleur looks so much better than I did."
"Lies," Percy protested.
Fleur seemed to be emitting a strong, silvery glow. While her radiance usually dimmed everyone else by comparison, today it beautified everybody it fell upon. Ginny and Gabrielle, both wearing golden dresses, looked even prettier than usual.
"Ladies and gentlemen," said a small, tufty-haired wizard in a slightly singsong voice, now standing in front of Bill and Fleur. "We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of two faithful souls…"
Despite the stimulant potion he had taken, Harry felt his attention wandering. The presiding wizard's voice seemed bored, like he was merely going through the motions.
"Yes, my tiara set off the whole thing nicely," said Muriel in a rather carrying whisper. "But I must say, Ginevra's dress is far too low cut."
Harry hadn't noticed anything wrong with Ginny's dress.
After an interminable time, the tufty-haired wizard finally got down to the vows.
"Do you, William Arthur, take Fleur Isabelle to be your wife? Will you love her, honour her, and cherish her, forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live?"
"I will," Bill said in a strong voice.
"Do you, Fleur Isabelle, take William Arthur to be your husband? Will you love him, honour him, and cherish him, forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live?"
"I will," Fleur said, equally strong.
In the front row, Mrs. Weasley and Madame Delacour were both sobbing quietly into scraps of lace. Lynn and Pansy were clutching hands, both also crying.
"In front of your friends and family you have made this sacred promise. As none will stand between you, then I declare you bonded for life."
The wizard with tousled hair raised his hand high above Bill and Fleur, causing a cascade of silver stars to descend upon them, swirling around their intertwined forms. Fred and George initiated a round of applause as golden balloons overhead suddenly burst, releasing birds of paradise and tiny golden bells that fluttered and chimed, joining the festive atmosphere.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" called the tufty-haired wizard. "If you would please stand up!"
They all stood, with Muriel audibly grumbling; he waved his wand once more. The seats they had occupied rose gracefully into the air as the canvas walls of the marquee disappeared, revealing a canopy supported by golden poles. They now had a splendid view of the sunlit orchard and the surrounding countryside.
Next, a pool of molten gold emerged from the centre of the tent, forming a gleaming dance floor. The floating chairs arranged themselves around small tables draped in white cloths, which descended gracefully to the ground. Meanwhile, the band in golden jackets marched towards a podium.
Pansy practically quivered with excitement. "Now the fun part," she said.
The band began to play. Whereas the DJ at a Muggle wedding would do announcements of the wedding party, here Bill and Fleur took to the dance floor first, to great applause. After a while, Mr. Weasley led Madame Delacour onto the floor, followed by Mrs. Weasley and Fleur's father.
When the song was finished, Mrs. Delacour and Mr. Weasley quit the dance floor. Bill offered his hand to his mother. Fleur turned to her father. They had the father-daughter dance and the mother-son dance at the same time. Harry didn't recognise the artist. Mrs. Weasley could not stop crying.
That lace hanky of hers must be soaked through, Harry thought. I wonder if it's got some magic to help it stay dry. I wonder if it can keep up.
When the song ended, they moved right into the tossing of the bouquet.
"Could we have all the unmarried witches come to the dance floor, please?" the band leader requested. "All single witches, it is time for the bride to throw her bouquet."
Harry saw the giggling Veela cousins go up. Several witches he didn't know joined them. Fred and George practically hauled Ginny up there. Even Millie was participating. Pansy squeezed Harry's hand and joined the throng.
Fleur smiled and waved at them all. She turned her back, made several practice motions, then tossed the bouquet high over her shoulder. It didn't go cleanly to anyone, and several witches scrambled to get it. One of Fleur's Veela cousins came up with it. A big cheer went up.
Pansy came back, looking a bit miffed. Harry could understand. She'd been very close.
"Now could we have all the unmarried wizards come to the dance floor, please? Any wizard who wants a chance to catch the garter, to the dance floor, please."
Pansy nudged him. Harry hadn't planned on participating, but he got caught up in the spirit of things and went out with all the other lads. Viktor was on his left. Ron was on his right.
"I'll catch this just like I caught that Snitch," Ron promised.
"How, by fouling me?" Harry retorted.
"There was no foul!"
Bill tossed the garter. Distracted by their bickering, neither Harry nor Ron caught it. It sailed into Viktor's hand as though it had been aimed directly at him.
There was another great cheer. Viktor scowled.
Viktor and the Veela cousin moved to the centre of the dance floor. The band struck up a medium-paced song, and the pair began to dance. The song was short, and soon the band leader said, "That concludes our special dances. Everyone, please feel free to join in."
Viktor quickly moved off the dance floor. Millie leaned over and kissed his cheek. He smiled.
"Shall ve sit?"
"You know I hate dancing," she said.
Pansy pulled Harry onto the dance floor. They had danced together many times before. In fourth year, she and Daphne had been the ones who had taught him in the first place. She fit naturally into his arms.
Harry danced a few songs with Pansy before taking a champagne flute and having a sip.
"I'm going to go dance with Ronald," Pansy said. "You don't mind, do you, Harry?"
Harry laughed. Watching Ron deal with a determined Pansy Parkinson would be highly entertaining. "Have fun."
Ron and Romy were dancing, but Pansy tapped Romy on the arm and clearly asked to cut in. Romy looked unhappy, but she let go of Ron's arms. She practically stalked off the dance floor. Pansy seamlessly took her place, and she and Ron began to dance. She actually seemed to be leading.
Harry smiled, happy for his friend. She had decided that she would make Ron happy, and she was clearly doing everything in her power to win his attention.
Ginny approached him. "What's going on there?" she asked, tilting her head toward Pansy and Ron.
"Hi, Ginny. You look great. Pansy has taken an interest in him."
"What on Earth for?" she asked.
"He's not a hopeless case."
"Vane is ever so vain," Ginny noted. "I never understood what she saw in him. No idea what Pansy sees in him either."
"He saved her life during the battle." There was no need to specify which battle.
"Fascinating. I'll have to ask him about it." She gave him a penetrating look. "You don't mind?"
"We're just here as friends."
"You two were pretty close at one point last year." Ginny's tone put all sorts of insinuation on her words.
Harry flushed slightly. "We're good friends."
"And that's all?" she pressed.
"Yes."
"Then she won't mind if I ask you to dance."
Harry started. "Yeah?"
"Why not? I'm not involved. You're not involved. Let's have some fun."
Harry took her hand and led her to the dance floor. She did not fit into his arms as neatly as Pansy did, but after an adjustment, they flowed well around the floor.
Pansy caught his eye and winked at him. Ron saw them a moment later and looked to explode, but Pansy took him firmly in hand.
Nearby, Fred and George were dancing with a pair of Fleur's Veela cousins. Percy and Lynn were dancing more expressively than Harry had thought Percy capable. He was downright nimble.
Cedric Diggory and Cho Chang were in their own little world. Harry remembered rumours of their impending engagement, which were confirmed by the ring glinting on her finger.
Ginny noticed Harry looking at them. "It was really nice of Fleur to invite her fellow Triwizard Champions, but Cedric would be here anyway. His family lives nearby. His dad works at the Ministry. He and my dad have been friends for years."
Millie and Viktor were not really dancing. Neither one cared for it, so far as Harry knew. They sat at a table adjoining the dance floor.
The song ended. Harry bowed slightly to Ginny. "Mind if we take a break?"
"Not at all. I'm thirsty anyway."
There were bottles of champagne floating around, and Harry caught one, pouring a flute for himself and Ginny.
"Thank you."
"No problem."
A peculiar wizard approached them, accompanied by a girl. His appearance was strikingly unconventional: slightly cross-eyed, with shoulder-length hair as fluffy as candyfloss, which was pure white in colour. He sported a cap with a tassel that hung down over his nose, and robes in a vivid, almost startling shade of egg-yolk yellow. Around his neck, a curious symbol resembling a triangular eye sparkled from a golden chain.
Next to him, Krum rose sharply to his feet, and his hand dipped inside his robes.
"Hello. Xenophilius Lovegood," he said, extending a hand to Harry.
"Harry Potter."
"Yes, I know. My daughter Luna and I live just over the hill." He bowed to Ginny. "So kind of your family to invite us."
Similar to her father, Luna donned vibrant yellow robes, complemented by a large sunflower adorning her hair. Despite the initial boldness of her attire, the overall impression was rather pleasing. Thankfully, there were no radishes hanging from her ears.
"She's mentioned you a few times," Mr. Lovegood said to Harry. "She says you've been encouraging her to learn more Defence."
"Oh yes," Harry said. "I've tried to get her into the duelling club, but she hasn't been interested."
"Not much of a joiner, my girl."
Luna examined Harry from head to toe. "You look quite dapper. I suggested to Daddy that most people would probably wear dress robes, but he insists that sun colours bring luck to weddings, you see."
Harry pointed to the man's medallion. "That's an interesting symbol. I've never seen it before, and I've taken Ancient Runes for four years."
Mr. Lovegood perked up. "It is no rune, my boy. This is the sign of the Deathly Hallows."
Krum snarled, his accent becoming thicker, "It is the sign of Grindelvald! How dare you veer it? If you vere not a guest of Fleur's I vould duel you, here and now, for veering that filthy sign upon your chest."
Harry started. Grindelwald was the Dark wizard that Dumbledore had defeated fifty years ago.
"I am no supporter of Grindelwald, Mister-?"
"Then vhy do you veer his symbol?" Krum demanded vehemently. "I recognized it at vunce: Grindelvald carved it into a vall at Durmstrang ven he vos a pupil there. Some idiots copied it onto their books and clothes thinking to shock, make themselves impressive – until those of us who had lost family members to Grindelvald taught them better."
Krum cracked his knuckles menacingly and glowered at Mr. Lovegood.
Harry felt perplexed. It seemed incredibly unlikely that Luna's father was a supporter of the Dark Arts, and nobody else in the tent seemed to have recognized the triangular, finlike shape.
"Are you – er – quite sure it's Grindelwald's –?"
"I am not mistaken," said Krum coldly. "I vawked past that sign for several years. I know it vell."
"My good sir, you are misinformed. The symbol is far older than Grindelwald. Have you never heard of the Deathly Hallows?"
"No," Krum said coldly.
"I'm not surprised. Very, very few wizards believe. There is nothing Dark about the Hallows, at least not in that crude sense. One simply uses the symbol to reveal oneself to other believers, in the hope that they might help one with the Quest."
"What quest?" Harry asked.
"Well, you see, believers seek the Deathly Hallows."
"But what are the Deathly Hallows?" asked Millie.
"I assume that you are familiar with 'The Tale of the Three Brothers'?"
"The children's fairy tale?" Millie said. "Of course."
"It is no mere tale, my dear, and fairies have nothing to do with it."
"Does someone want to fill me in?" Harry requested.
"It's one of the tales of Beedle the Bard," Millie said. "I'll get you a copy."
"Mum read it to us all the time," Ginny said. "In essence, there were three brothers who encountered Death himself. They avoided his trap, so he offered them each a prize. One brother asked for a wand more powerful than any other. He was given the Elder Wand, and he lost it soon after, through violence. The second brother asked for the power to recall others from death. He was given the Resurrection Stone, though it was cursed. He was so tormented by what he saw that he killed himself. The third brother asked for something that would prevent Death from following him. It was Death's own Cloak of Invisibility. Many years later, he passed the cloak to his son and went on to meet Death. As an old friend, the third brother greeted Death, and he passed in peace."
Mr. Lovegood nodded. "Well, there you are."
"Sorry?" said Millie, sounding confused.
"Those are the Deathly Hallows," said Mr. Lovegood.
He pulled his wand from his pocket and traced flaming symbols in the air.
"The Elder Wand," he said, and drew a straight vertical line. "The Resurrection Stone," he said, and added a circle on top of the line. "The Cloak of Invisibility," he finished, enclosing both line and circle in a triangle. "Together," he said, "the Deathly Hallows."
"But there's no mention of the words 'Deathly Hallows' in the story," Ginny protested.
"Well, of course not," said Mr. Lovegood, maddeningly smug. "It is a children's tale, told to amuse rather than to instruct. Those of us who understand these matters, however, recognize that the ancient story refers to three objects, or Hallows, which, if united, will make the possessor master of Death."
"When you say 'master of Death' –" said Millie.
"Master," said Mr. Lovegood, waving an airy hand. "Conqueror. Vanquisher. Whichever term you prefer."
"Surely you can't mean that these objects – these Hallows – really exist?"
Krum snorted. "Fantasy."
Any further discussion was interrupted as Fleur suddenly seized Krum's hand. "You must dance wiz me!" Her tone brooked no argument. Krum was hauled away to dance with grace that belied his stoop-shouldered appearance.
Mr. Lovegood bowed slightly to Harry. "A good evening to you, Mister Potter."
"Good night, sir."
Harry pondered the strange legend, lost in thought. Ginny noticed his distraction.
"The man's a crank," she said. "Have you ever read The Quibbler? He believes in all sorts of crazy things. According to him, Minister Fudge has an army of heliopaths and is going to invade France."
"Any reason or just for fun?"
Ginny laughed.
Fleur and Viktor returned as the song ended. She clasped hands with Millie.
"Do not let zis one get away," she cautioned. "'E is a good man."
Millie blushed. "I know. Still not sure how I caught him."
Fleur greeted Harry with a kiss on the cheek. "'Arry, will you dance wiz me?"
"Of course. It's bad luck to refuse to dance with the bride, or so I've been told."
She laughed and linked arms with him as the band started up a slower number.
He held her properly and maintained correct form.
"Thank you for coming."
"Wouldn't miss it. I was a bit surprised though."
Her smile faded a bit. "I do not 'ave many friends, 'Arry. Girls want to be me, men want to 'ave me, and girls 'ate zat ze men want me. To find zoze who are not influenced by my powers is rare. I once thought you only a leetle boy, but zhen you won ze tournament. After zat, I took you more seriously. I 'ave not been ze best at staying in touch, but I would like zat to change. I would count you as a friend."
Harry had never considered what her life must be like. He respected her magical skills immensely, but he hadn't really thought about her as a person. Even when he had written to ask her to bring her Veela kin into the war, he had been thinking of her as a resource. He realised suddenly that she must have had a terribly lonely life.
"You are my friend, Fleur, and it is an honour."
Her smile returned, and Harry felt her radiance dazzling him.
"Ze honour iz mine."
They danced on.
"Are you 'aving fun?"
"Things were a bit tense there before you pulled Viktor away. I thought there was going to be a fight."
"Beel noticed eet as well. I 'ad been planning to dance wiz my fellow Champions, but 'e suggested I should do it now. I do not want my wedding marred by a brawl."
"Other than that, yes, this is a great party."
"I am so glad."
The song ended, and Harry gave Fleur a small bow. She curtsied briefly.
"I must find Cedric," she said.
"Get all of us out of your dance card at once, eh?"
"I want to have zome fun before we take 'undreds of pictures."
"That makes sense."
They kissed on both cheeks.
"Write to me soon," she said.
"I will, Fleur. I promise."
As Harry returned to the table, he fought back a yawn. His stimulant potion had definitely worn off. He wondered if there was any coffee available.
Pansy was suddenly at his side. "Are you okay?"
"Tired," he said. "Lots of excitement last night."
"Do you want to go home?"
"Do you want to stay?" he countered.
"Yes, but I think I've twisted Ronald's brain enough for one night."
"Where is he anyway?" Ginny asked.
Auntie Muriel had latched onto Ron again, and he was presently escorting her from the tent. "Help me to the Apparition point, Ronald. It's far too late for me to be out. I need to take my potions and go to bed. I am one hundred and seven, you know."
"Yes, Auntie Muriel," Ron said in a long-suffering tone.
Harry didn't want to leave so soon. Bill and Fleur hadn't even cut the cake yet, a magnificent affair topped with two model phoenixes.
"I'll stay for cake," Harry said to Pansy. "After that, I really should go."
"Will you be okay to Apparate? Maybe I should take you home."
"I put myself in your capable hands," he teased.
"I'll take care of you, Harry," she promised.
Harry sat at the table with Millie and Krum. He avoided any further champagne, knowing it would only make him sleepier. Pansy and Ginny checked on him from time to time. He drank water, wishing it were coffee or strong tea.
He must have nodded off, because Pansy gently shook him awake. "Harry, they're cutting the cake now."
His eyes blinked open. "Already?" he said groggily.
She giggled. "About time, if you ask me."
The model phoenixes took flight when the cake was cut. It was a nice effect, Harry thought. Once he had eaten his piece, Harry said his goodbyes and allowed Pansy to lead him to the Apparition point. The sun was just going down, so he had to shade his eyes as they walked. She held firmly to his arm, and they disappeared.