All of Harry Potter and anything related to it are the sole property of J.K. Rowling.
(Each title is derived from a song that, I believe, complements the overall narrative, if not the individual chapter.)
* This Chapter contains snippets of the original chapter from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
The Burrow, 1 August 1997
Hermione's Point of View
I finished dressing in the vibrant red satin, knee-length cocktail dress with its fitted bodice and flared skirt. I then slipped on the sparkly silver heels and checked that my silver locket was resting flat over the bodice.
I considered my mother's beaded purple bag, wondering how to carry it. I had no intention of leaving it behind, not when it was going to have my wand as well as all the other vital items inside. I also planned to go into Ron's room before leaving the house to fetch his and Harry's bags.
With the world in such a perilous state, where Voldemort and his Death Eaters were amassing power and followers daily, I didn't have faith that the three of us wouldn't have to flee at any moment, and I hated the thought of being stranded without the necessities.
Maybe I was being too cautious, but I was always the one who thought ahead, who planned for every possibility. In this, I was sure Moody would commend me for my constant vigilance and awareness of risks. I felt like I owed it to him after my previous lack of judgement, and it was better to be prepared and not need it than to be caught off guard and helpless. I sighed, hoping that we would have a fun and peaceful night before the inevitable storm that was looming over us all.
I pushed aside the dark thoughts that clouded my mind and focused on the bag. I didn't want to hold it in my hand all night. I decided to attach it to my hip, where it would blend in with the floral ruffles of my dress. I used my wand to transfigure the long strap of the bag into a sash and wrapped it around my waist, securing it above the bag. I then transfigured the excess sash into purple satin flowers, cascading down among the red ones. It looked better than I had expected, and I smiled at my handiwork.
My hair I smoothed with Sleakeasy's Hair Potion, remembering Draco's insistence that I take my time brushing the curls, and tamed them until they were glossy with no hint of frizz. I then used a silver hair clip to pull back half of it, leaving the rest to frame my face. I applied a small amount of make-up and was done.
Harry and Ron and the other Weasley men were already outside, getting ready to help escort people past the wards, so it was the work of a moment to get their bags and then head downstairs and into the yard.
I spotted Luna and her father as they walked across the field from their home to the Weasleys', Charlie veering off from them, back towards the lane where his siblings were. I hurried over to greet them, feeling a surge of excitement.
"Luna!" I exclaimed, pulling her into a hug, truly excited to see her. "You look wonderful," I told her as I looked down at the yellow dress robes. She also had a large sunflower attached to her hair that she had done in a complicated style of braids that looked lovely. They were among some of the first to arrive for the wedding that was to start shortly.
"Thank you. Wearing sun colours to a wedding brings good luck, you know. The colour attracts the Sunnatropes. They're very friendly spirits that thrive on joy and harmony," she told me with a pleased smile of her own.
"Hermione, have you met my father?" She inquired, turning to look at the man with the long white hair who was standing beside her, in what had to be described as egg-yolk yellow robes, and an unusual necklace around his neck. For some reason, he was also wearing a white cap with a tassel that was dangling in front of his nose and appeared to be making him cross-eyed. Unless he always looked like that, but I had no intention of asking such a rude question.
"No, I don't think I have," I said, smiling politely at the man and offering my hand. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Lovegood."
"The pleasure is all mine, Miss Granger," he said, shaking my hand with a firm grip. "My Luna has spoken very highly of you, you know. She tells me that you are very clever and curious, but sadly lack the ability to see beyond this veil of deception we all live in. I wouldn't fret about it, though; most people are the same, but Luna does say you have a sharp mind for the truth, unlike most of the Ministry's puppets."
He stepped closer to me with his voice lowered and grave. "You know, I have some very intriguing information I would be delighted to share with you and your friends, if you have a spare moment?"
"Oh, er," I said, glancing back at Luna for help, unsure what to say, and she gave me a serene smile before turning to look back at her father.
"Let's not talk about such things at a wedding. Weddings should be full of life and pleasure," she told him.
"Quite right, Luna. Quite right, what was I thinking?" He said with a shake of his head, taking a half-step back from me at the same time.
"I would be pleased to talk with you at some other time," I told him, and he smiled at me, his silvery eyes never losing the slightly cross-eyed look.
"Remember that article you once wrote about the fairy-like creatures that live in wedding cakes and that grant wishes to newlyweds? I do hope they will be here today," Luna told her father dreamily as she watched all the people being escorted into the yard by various Weasley men.
"Tenadors. Yes, one of my more intriguing pieces on the ritual of marriage," he agreed.
"Oh, look, Daddy, you hoped to speak with Norville Rogers about the giant bees with dog snouts that were barking at him in his garden. I see him over there," Luna said to him, pointing to a guest that had just arrived. Mr. Lovegood's eyes brightened at once. I turned to see a young wizard with shaggy brown hair and a goatee. He greeted Bill, and I deduced that he must have been an old schoolmate of his. I noticed how happy and excited Bill looked today, and I couldn't help but smile at his obvious joy.
"If you ladies will pardon me," Mr. Lovegood said, not taking his eyes off the wizard as if he might vanish if he did.
"Of course," I replied.
"Have fun, Daddy," Luna said to him. He nodded and strode off with determination. "Oh, I meant to say how lovely your dress is. Red is very good for promoting romance, so I am sure the couple will be grateful, and the touch of purple will remind us all of the magic of the day," she told me.
"I didn't get a chance to purchase anything new, so I simply pulled this old cocktail dress out of my closet. Besides, Draco didn't think it was a good idea for me to risk a trip to Diagon Alley to shop," I told her softly, and she smiled at me. I gestured for her to follow me over to the bench under the tree where Ron and I had sat the night before, as the yard in front of the house was really starting to fill up with people.
"Magic led you back together," she murmured happily, her voice carrying the whimsical lilt of a daydream, as we sat.
"I don't know about that, but yes." I held out my arm to show her. "We got married," I told her with a smile I couldn't suppress, as she took the arm and examined the design.
"Ooh, a soul bond wedding," she said, still looking down at the softly glowing tattoo on my right forearm and whispering, "Pretty," then looking back up at me. "Would you mind if I wrote a piece about this someday? They're very uncommon these days. You see, the Sanguis Magus plot frightens most people off," she told me, releasing my arm after one last glance.
"I'm afraid I'm not familiar with that one," I said to her. "However, I doubt that it would be suitable material for a news magazine," I said, feeling my cheeks heat up at the recollection of my unique and extraordinary bonding.
"I wouldn't need to write anything like that," she said, not at all concerned. "I just think it would fascinate our readers to know that there are those still brave enough to try and, even more importantly, succeed in this kind of ritual. I suppose I could write the article now, but I would love an interview with the two of you to go with it."
"I'm afraid that's not possible at the moment," I replied and clutched the silver locket around my neck, looking out at all the people standing around and conversing excitedly while missing Draco terribly.
"Yes," she agreed. "But I have a godson you haven't told me about," she said, dragging my eyes back to hers and away from my melancholy moment.
"I have a photograph," I said, unlooping the necklace from around my neck, opening the locket, and folding out just the first segment, eager to show Aiden off to her. She took it from me, holding it in her hand as she looked down and smiled.
"He is truly magnificent. And look at the power in his eyes. He is going to be a great defender of the truth. I will call him Veritas," she told me, making me smile now that I understood that she would also get to name my baby and grant him even more protection in life.
"How can you see all that in a photograph?" I inquired, genuinely intrigued by the gift Luna had supposedly confessed to having that last day in the RoFT. Had it not been for Jomny telling me of the conversation, I wouldn't be aware of it now.
"The eyes are the windows to the soul, and your little fire dragon is still all soul here. He is quite easy for a Heliopath to read, even if it is just a captured few moments," she explained.
"That is a frightening ability you possess, Luna," I told her.
"Many agree with you. That is why it is a secret," she replied.
"You told me," I reminded her.
"You are my friend, and I thought since I knew some of your secrets, it was only fair you had one of mine. I only have the one that I know of, so that is the one I told," she said in her peaceful tone.
"I'll keep your secret safe," I said to her, meaning it.
"Thank you," she said with a nod. "Many of my kind were killed because we scared people." I was appalled at that disclosure and resolved to honour the vow of secrecy even more. She went back to watching the picture of Aiden.
"Are there many Heliopaths?" I asked in a whisper.
"Only I and Daddy, as far as we know, but there might be others," she said, waving her hand casually. "I can't wait to meet this little one. I have such wonders to show him. He won't be a Heliopath, of course, but he will know I speak the truth."
I folded the picture away when she gave it back to me, putting the necklace back on over my head. My brow was slightly furrowed, uncertain what to make of her words regarding Aiden. Right now however, I just hoped he would always be safe and happy.
"I hear you and Ron have been spending time together," I said to her instead of worrying about the future of my baby boy.
"Oh, yes. It has been quite enjoyable," she responded.
"He told me he really likes you," I told her conspiratorially.
"Yes, his Wrackspurts have been most attentive to me. It is nice, but I also know he would like to rush things, and I didn't think that was a good precedent to set after Lavender," she replied, reminding me once again of her remarkable insights.
"He told me he wants to kiss you," I told her, and she smiled in pleasure.
"I had hoped that was what his red Wrackspurts meant, but I haven't learnt all his colours, and a lot of wizards Wrackspurts are red when they're cross," she confided in me.
"I think his would be nearer to maroon. He detests that colour," I imparted to her, and she beamed broadly at me.
"There is hope for you yet, Lady Hermione, Marchioness of Malfoy," she said dreamily. I felt a jolt of surprise and was grateful we were so far from any prying ears. It was odd to hear the title, but I was pleased she had used it too. In my very soul, I could sense that I was no longer Hermione Granger but a Malfoy, and many times over the past day I had nearly corrected people, but I knew I had to keep it secret for now.
"You see more than you realise. Maybe if you spend more time thinking with your heart and less with your brain, you will be open to even more," she advised me, smiling with a knowing light in her silvery eyes.
"Maybe," I agreed doubtfully, and Luna laughed at my obvious lie.
"Come on. The wedding is about to start, and I don't want to miss an instant of it. Nargles and Wrackspurts are going to be filling the area today in a glorious display." I simply nodded and accompanied her to the large marquee.
The sun was shining brightly over the Burrow, where Bill and Fleur's wedding was about to take place. A large white marquee had been erected, with rows of delicate golden chairs on either side of a long purple carpet. The poles were decorated with white and gold flowers, and Fred and George had attached a huge bunch of golden balloons over the spot where Bill and Fleur would exchange their vows. Outside, butterflies and bees were flying lazily over the grass and hedgerow.
It looked like a beautiful and magical scene, and Luna and I, as well as her father, chose seats reserved for the friends of the Weasleys. I saw a disguised red-haired Harry sitting uncomfortably between various other Weasley family members, some of whom were giving him uncomprehending looks. Ron was sitting in the front row with his parents and the twins. Molly had shed a few tears when Percy didn't show up, but she was determined to be happy for her eldest son.
The guests had arrived in various ways: by Floo for permitted family and friends, others by Apparition, or by flying to an approved point outside of the wards. Those guests were then escorted down by one of the Weasley sons not part of the wedding party or by Arthur, who was looking extremely proud and handsome in his black robes and trousers, white shirt, and purple tie.
Among the guests were members of the Order of the Phoenix, like Remus Lupin, Nymphadora Tonks-Lupin, Alastor Moody, and Elphias Doge. Most of the crowd had no idea they were also here as an extra precaution in case of a possible attack.
There were also friends and classmates of Bill and Fleur, including Viktor Krum, who had become close to both of them since the Triwizard Tournament. I spotted Oliver Wood, Lee Jordan, Katie Bell, and Angelina Johnson, who had all been good friends with the younger Weasleys at school. I had been surprised to learn they had all befriended Fleur during her stay at Hogwarts, bonding over a shared passion for Quidditch and still got along well with the French Veela.
Many of the Weasleys' relatives were also there, like the notorious Auntie Muriel, Arthur's younger brother Uncle Rupert, whom he called Ru, and Cousin Barny, who was actually Harry in disguise, using Polyjuice Potion and the hair of a red-haired Muggle.
Everyone mingled and chatted, admiring the decorations and greeting the bride's extended family, who had arrived from France. Fleur's parents, Monsieur Marc Delacour and Madame Apolline Delacour, were very elegant and refined, while her younger sister, Gabrielle, who was a miniature version of Fleur with silvery blonde hair and a sweet smile, was also looking extremely pleased to be part of such an important occasion.
The music started to play, signalling the beginning of the ceremony. I watched as Fleur's bridesmaids, Gabrielle and Ginny, walked down the aisle in golden dresses, looking lovely and terribly happy. Fleur followed them in a graceful glide while her father escorted her while bouncing a little and beaming at everyone they passed.
She wore a white tulle dress with two black Phoenixes that faced each other on the bodice and formed the shape of a heart. I remembered reading that Phoenixes symbolised love and eternity, and I thought it was a fitting choice for her wedding dress.
Ginny told me earlier in the day that Fleur would be wearing Muriel's tiara in her hair, which she said was a Prewett family heirloom. Everyone sighed or gasped at how stunning she looked, and the smile on her groom's face showed he thought the same thing. I felt a wave of emotion, and I hoped they would have a long and happy life together.
Bill, who was waiting at the end of the carpet with his best man, Charlie, smiled radiantly at his bride. He had a long scar down his face, a souvenir from his encounter with the Werewolf Fenrir Greyback the night Professor Dumbledore died, but it only added to his rugged charm. Fleur reached him and eagerly took his hand, gazing into his eyes with evident happiness and love, while her father continued to stand almost between them, holding onto her arm.
The guests took their seats, and the ceremony official, a round-faced little wizard with a long beard who was a personal friend of the Delacour family, began to speak with a faint French accent. His appointment had been a last-minute change to the wedding. The Delacours and Fleur had not wanted any sad reminders on a day that should be happy, and so the little tufty-haired wizard who had evidently presided over Dumbledore's funeral became just another guest. Thankfully, he didn't look like he minded.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union of William Arthur Weasley and Fleur Isabelle Delacour in holy matrimony. Marriage is a sacred bond, a promise of love, loyalty, and friendship that lasts for a lifetime. It is not to be entered into lightly, but with reverence and respect. If anyone here knows any reason why these two should not be joined, let them speak now or forever hold their peace."
There was a moment of silence, broken only by the rustle of the wind and the occasional snort from a nearby gnome. No one spoke, and the official continued. I watched as the official asked, "Who gives this witch to this wizard?" And wondered if my dad had wanted to be asked that question.
Monsieur Delacour answered, "Oui, c'est moi," in a proud, clear voice. He kissed his daughter one last time on the cheek and went to take his seat next to his wife and a few other Delacour family members.
"William, do you take Fleur to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?" I was surprised by how similar the wedding was to a Muggle ceremony, and thought my own had been much more magical. I looked down quickly, concealing my self-satisfied smile from the others as I savoured my own happiness for a moment.
"I do," said Bill, his voice clear and strong. Even from a few rows back, the soft sobs of Molly Weasley reached my ears. It was clear, her new lace handkerchief would be put to significant use before the night's end. Then the official asked Fleur the same question, and in the back row, trumpet-like sounds started to issue. Hagrid no doubt had his own large handkerchief out and was using it to mop up the happy tears from his face. Luna and I shared beaming grins at the noise, and I knew my own eyes were a little shiny now from all the emotion floating around the marquee.
"I do," Fleur answered, her voice soft and sweet as she smiled at Bill. He was grinning back at her with tangible happiness.
"Please exchange the rings," said the official.
Bill took a simple gold band from Charlie and slid it onto Fleur's finger. Fleur took a matching ring from Ginny and placed it on Bill's finger. I instinctively rubbed my finger where my own wedding ring should have been resting and briefly considered putting it on but dismissed the impulse.
"By the power vested in me by the Ministry of Magic, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Bill leaned in and kissed Fleur gently, then more passionately, as the guests erupted into cheers and applause. I joined in the celebration, incredibly happy for them. Fred and George added to the festive mood by setting off some wedding-themed fireworks, which exploded in a dazzling display of colours and shapes in the tent above us.
The golden balloons then burst with a loud bang, causing everyone, including the newlyweds, to jump in fright. Silvery glitter began to rain down and cover the pair. Birds of paradise and tiny, golden bells flew and floated out of the glittery display, adding their song and chime to the amazed gasps of the guests who were clapping at the magical spectacle.
Thankfully, the glitter faded quickly as the bride gave them a murderous glare that made the twin jokesters chuckle loudly, proving that they never quite took anything seriously. Fleur looked torn in her initial anger, however, because it was soon evident her dress wasn't ruined and the whole display had been beautiful. Still, I was sure the twins were in for a talking-to by their mother shortly.
The official, who seemed unfazed by the commotion, waved his wand and conjured a parchment, which he handed to Bill and Fleur. They signed it with a flourish, making their union official, before kissing again. They then turned to face their guests, who were standing and clapping even louder now, and even more people were wiping tears from their eyes.
The official announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Weasley!"
The crowd cheered louder, and the music changed to a lively tune. Bill and Fleur walked arm in arm down the aisle, followed by their small wedding party. They made their way to the reception area, where a long table would soon be laden with food and drinks, and all the guest tables awaited them.
The delicate golden chairs disappeared behind us and left an open space for dancing later, and the walls of the marquee vanished, so that we all stood beneath a canopy supported by the golden poles with their flowery displays. Outside the canopy was a glorious view of the sunlit orchard and surrounding countryside.
The newlyweds were greeted by their parents, who hugged and congratulated them. Molly Weasley was sobbing with joy, while Arthur Weasley was beaming with pride. Apolline Delacour was smiling and kissing her daughter, while Monsieur Delacour was shaking hands with his son-in-law. The guests joined them, congratulating them heartily, until an announcement was made that the meal was about to be served.
"Hello Harry," Luna greeted him cheerfully in her dreamy voice, making Harry google at her as she sat down beside him at our allocated gold table.
It was elegantly decorated with a purple silk cloth, which matched the carpet and flowers. The cutlery, plates, and goblets were all made of gold, and Fred and George, who had prepared all the wedding decorations, added ornate birdcages as centrepieces, containing tiny, fluttering golden birds that sang softly but beautifully as they flew.
The chairs for the one hundred guests each had a hand-stitched cushion that Mrs. Weasley had made, with the initials of the bride and groom embroidered into them. I had helped add the protective charms so they wouldn't become stained or damaged.
"How did you recognise me?" he asked in surprise.
"Oh, are you in disguise? How fun," she commented dreamily. I let out a giggle, feeling a bit giddy. Harry looked at me in surprise, and I smiled back at him warmly.
"Hello Luna?" Ron said awkwardly, sitting down beside her, his ears going red. The seating arrangement was quite informal, as long as you sat at the table that had your name on the list in the centre. I chose to sit on Harry's other side since Ginny was sitting at the main table with the bride and groom. Viktor Krum also joined us, sitting beside me, making our table the only one beside the bridal party table that had five people seated at it.
"Hello, Ronald Weasley. You are looking very handsome today," she told him, making him blush a deeper shade of red. His robes were dark blue with silver embroidery, and he also wore a matching hat that he quickly removed and threw under his chair without taking his eyes off Luna.
"You always look beautiful, Luna, er... I mean... when you're all dolled up," Ron said weakly, while everyone but Luna was smirking at him. I turned to look at Viktor.
"Hello, Viktor. How have you been?" I asked him. We had become friends since the Triwizard Tournament and had kept in touch via letters. It had been nice to talk to somebody else, even if we didn't have a lot in common.
"I 'ave been vell. It is nice to see you again, Hermione," he said with a warm smile, then turned his attention to Ron and said, "thank you, Veasley. It vas nice of your family to extend zis invitation to me."
"Wasn't my doing mate," Ron said lightly with a grin but still coming across as rude.
"How's Quidditch?" Harry asked Viktor before he could take offence to Ron's words.
"Very good," Viktor said, his voice thick with the accent of his country. "I am alvays busy viz training. If you ever come to Bulgaria, I say, you must fly viz me." He stopped, a look of respect in his eyes. "I still hear of your skill as Seeker. Many alvays talk of your flying on broom, especially after you beat ze dragon."
"If I ever get a chance, I'd like that," Harry replied, sounding more polite than enthusiastic.
"I believe your team has a Hala-horn to alert you if one is near?" Luna asked Viktor, her eyes wide with curiosity.
Viktor nodded, much to the surprise of the rest of us, who had never heard of the creatures. "Da and makes a very loud noise. Ve never play if zere is one spotted. Zunder, lightning, and hail are much more dangerous vhen those beasts are seen."
"Halas are quite fascinating, you know," Luna said in her dreamy voice. "If you're lucky enough to come across some of their hair, you can use it to brew a potion that enhances your night vision. It might come in handy if you ever find yourself playing night games."
"I did not know zis. Please, vould you get me zis potion recipe? I vould very much like to try it," he told her. Luna nodded, but was apparently done with that conversation. She turned back to look at Ron.
"I was wondering, Ronald Weasley, if you would accompany me on a walk to greet your Gnomes? They do love to try mischief at gatherings like this, and I thought maybe I could try gain an understanding of their behaviour if you have a spare moment," she told him, and the three of us all looked back at him to see his reaction. He looked around the wedding in a bit of bewilderment.
"Ron, remember what we discussed last night? Perhaps this would give you the time to address that," I suggested to him as he met my eyes with his wide, uncomprehending ones, but then I saw the recognition dawn in them, and I nodded at him.
"Yeah, yeah, I can do that," he said, getting up from his chair and turning to look at Luna again. He held his hand out to her, and she took it at once. "You want to see where the Gnomes like to lurk the most?" We heard him ask her as they walked off. Harry, Viktor, and I all chuckled at Ron's retreating back and shared amused looks.
They returned after about fifteen minutes, Ron pulling out Luna's chair for her while he avoided looking at Harry or me, but we could see the happy grin on his face. And while Luna looked as calm as ever, I could also see the joy in her eyes when she glanced at me. The three of us, who had already begun our dinner, carried on with our conversation and welcomed them into the discussion. We all chatted easily throughout dinner, then watched the cutting of the cake and chatted some more through dessert before the first dance of the newlyweds was observed.
"If you vould please excuse me. I 'ave someone to speak viz," Viktor informed us, getting to his feet when the dance had concluded. Others were now proceeding to the dance floor, among them Ron and Luna, to join the couple who appeared lost and ecstatically happy in their own world. "Hermione, vould you please do me ze honour of saving me a dance zis evening?"
"Of course," I replied, smiling easily at the Bulgarian Quidditch star. He walked away with a nod, and a new song started.
"Now there's a miracle, a young wizard with manners," one of the old witches behind us commented, and we turned to see it was Ron's aunt Muriel with her beaky nose and another of her tiaras on her head.
"Go forth, young sir, and make a good showing of it. Beseech the fair witch to dance while your yet in your prime and not confined to mere spectating like us ancient fellows," an incredibly old wizard with a pale and wizened face and a long silver beard said to Harry from the same table. It was the table closest to Harry and me that held a group of well-aged witches and wizards who were making noises of agreement.
"I guess that means we're dancing," Harry said to me with a crooked smile, making Muriel snort. His familiar facial expressions on a stranger's face looked very odd.
"I suppose so," I agreed.
"The youth of this age have no manners whatsoever," another of the old witches said. She was thin and frail-looking in her green dress robes.
"What say you, lad? That is not how to solicit a dance from a witch," another wizard with a long white beard, a wrinkled face, and a pointed hat said, sounding offended, but we could see the teasing on all their faces.
"Sorry," Harry said to them all with a sheepish grin. "How do I go about it?" he asked.
The last old witch at the table told him giddily, "Bow to her and inquire if you may have the delight of her society for the dance." She was tiny and plump, with thick grey and white hair coiled on her head in a bun.
"Right, okay," Harry said, looking really embarrassed now while I tried really hard not to appear too amused. I think I failed if the look he gave me was any indication. He stood and bowed awkwardly, making red Weasley hair with curls flop forward, and then asked, "May I have this dance?"
"A vast improvement, albeit I marvel at the quality of instruction in yonder academy, where thou hast not learnt to make a decent obeisance," the last of the old wizards said. He had a short white beard, a bald head, and a pointed nose, and he was wearing silver wizard robes. He was evidently the most senior among them, though they all appeared to be ancient.
"Huh?" Harry asked, staring at me blankly, hoping for clarification.
"He was commenting on your lack of ability to bow," I explained.
"Dost thou not comprehend the tongue of Albion, whippersnapper?" The same wizard asked, sounding affronted with no trace of teasing now. Harry stared at me helplessly, evidently realising he had insulted the old man. I was also gaining a new insight into the reasons behind Draco's manner of speech at times.
"Art thou acquainted with the art of making a reverence, lass?" The thin, frail witch in the green dress robes asked me, ignoring her offended companion. I thought it was probably safer to follow her lead. "Curtsey," she said directly to Harry before he could look at me for clarification.
"I believe so, albeit not very proficiently," I told them all.
"When he conducteth thee back to thy seat at the close of the dance, thou must make a reverence as he maketh his parting bow. Come, let us see," the old witch said. I stood and curtseyed as best I could in my cocktail dress, and they all groaned. "Passable, but it would have been far more graceful in dress robes."
"Not even clad in proper attire. Disgraceful!" Muriel sneered with evident contempt and a disdainful eyeroll. I chose to ignore her bitterness, as I had been told most of the Weasley's did. She'd already commented on my apparent bad posture and skinny ankles earlier in the day.
"The song's over. Does that mean we don't have to dance now?" Harry asked hopefully.
"By no means," the first old wizard said, sounding irritated with Harry, and I wondered if it would have made any difference if they knew they were speaking with Harry Potter and not an unknown Weasley cousin. "Truly, what is with this generation?" he said to his table companions, who nodded in agreement.
"Looks like we're dancing," Harry said to me again, much to the dismay of the table at large, and I laughed.
"Come on. A new song is starting," I said, dragging him onto the dance floor. Harry took my hand awkwardly and frowned as if he had forgotten everything he had learned for the Yule ball. He improved quickly, though, when we started to move. He wasn't as smooth and graceful as Draco, but Draco had been getting dance lessons most of his young life and had attended many balls and galas where the Heir to Malfoy was expected to socialise.
"So, Ron says you got married," Harry told me with a frown of worry.
"Yes, I did," I confirmed, smiling at him reassuringly.
"He also said you won't tell us who you're married to," he said, his voice tense and a hint of anger crept into his eyes. He was looking at me with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion, as if he was trying to read my mind. The intensity of the reaction stunned me. "Is it someone we know? Someone from Hogwarts?"
"Yes. And it's just that it would cause a lot of trouble right now, and we have much more important things to deal with," I explained to him. He frowned again and looked away, scanning the dance floor. I watched him with confusion and worry, wondering what had led to him acting this way so quickly. He grinned, though, when Ginny smiled at him as she danced with her dad, making his whole face relax once more.
"I don't like that," he whispered, annoyance creeping into his voice as his grin slipped away. "We always used to tell each other everything."
"I'm sorry," I whispered back guiltily, knowing that if it was him, I would be pestering him to share who it was, just as Ron had reminded me yesterday. But there was nothing I could say just now. I couldn't tell either of my best friends who I was married to because they both hated him, which filled me with guilt and hurt. I really did fear I was going to lose them both when my secrets were discovered.
He sighed with annoyance again and asked, "Are you sure you're alright?" Then twisted my arm slightly to see the tattoo that was glowing softly.
"Of course I am; why wouldn't I be?" I asked him as I followed his gaze to the flowery design.
"He convinced you to get a tattoo?" he said with anger in his voice now, but then he visibly forced himself to calm down, and I frowned a little myself. I had expected him and Ron to be upset, but not angry and suspicious. It worried me.
"He didn't convince me to do anything. Trust me, everything is fine, and I am incredibly happy," I told him, but the doubt on his face didn't go away. He opened his mouth a couple times as if he wanted to say something else, but shook his head and stayed silent.
"Are we all right?" I asked, suddenly worried about the strange looks he had been giving me since yesterday.
He studied my face for a moment more and then gave me a soft smile and said, "Of course, Mi. But I hope you don't mind that I'm worried about you." I sighed in relief and hugged him quickly. I really didn't want to go into this Horcrux hunt with one of my best friends angry with me.
"I don't mind," I told him, and he gave me another tentative smile. Harry became distracted with his own thoughts for a minute, even as I looked around at all the other guests dancing or generally having fun. When I turned my gaze back to Harry, it was to witness the goofy grin he had on his face as he watched Ginny yet again. I couldn't help but laugh at the look, and he looked back at me sheepishly.
"Are you going to ask Ginny to dance next?" I asked as I watched the happiness on his face. I was truly pleased to see Harry happy. Happiness seemed to be something he had so little of in his life. The sight alone had been enough for me to regain my own composure over his brief show of anger.
"I think she's dancing with Charlie next, but… I don't know, maybe," he said, sounding hesitant.
"Don't you want to dance with her?" I asked him with a knowing grin. He rolled his eyes at me, but I could see the affection in them.
"More than anything, but I'm not exactly a great dancer, and I don't want to embarrass myself in front of her," he confessed, looking back over at his red-haired girlfriend, who was laughing radiantly at something her dad was saying.
"She won't mind, Harry. She'll just be happy to be in your arms," I assured him.
"Yeah?" he asked, looking back at me to make sure I was speaking the truth.
"I'm positive," I said with a confident smile as the song started to wind down.
"Okay," he said, nodding and then made a face. "I suppose I should take you back to our table so I can make my reverence or whatever." I chuckled, and he grinned back at me.
"You make an obeisance; I make a reverence," I corrected him as we started back for the table.
"Right. That," he said, nodding quickly. Once we reached our chairs, he bowed, and I curtseyed, and then we both looked at the elderly guests to see if they were pleased. The smiles from most of them suggested that we had done well. I was getting the distinct impression that little made Muriel Prewett happy. "Excuse me," Harry said politely to the old people, then whispered in my ear, "I want to talk to the twins about something."
"Alright," I replied, and watched as he dashed off over to the twins and was joined by Ron almost at once. I sincerely hoped Harry was truly supportive of my choice and was thankful that Ron seemed to be so far. I knew my friends, however, and understood that he and Ron would be feeling confused and perhaps even hurt by my revelation. I just hoped they would forgive me when they found out I was in love with someone they regarded as an enemy.
A while later, I had witnessed an eccentric dance performed by Luna and her father, and it was a sight that brought a smile to my face. I really appreciate the friendship I shared with such a unique individual, despite our contrasting personalities, but sights such as that still confounded me.
I had danced with Viktor, who had confessed that he had accepted the invitation in hopes of beginning a romantic relationship with me. He had expressed his congratulations on my marriage with only a slight hint of regret, but warmly and with a promise of continued friendship.
I danced with both twins, who were both intrigued by my tattoo, asking questions, trying to divulge information about my relationship that I couldn't give answers to just now, and even Mr. Weasley, who turned out to be a fabulous dancer. I made sure to compliment him on his skill, which made him blush a dark red.
Ron then asked me to dance, and I was pleased to see how much he had improved since the Yule ball, where the only times I saw him dance, he had been stepping on toes. No matter how much fun it had been, I was glad when the dance was over because my feet were aching, and I just wanted to sit back down.
Ron offered to get us some Butterbeers, even though he was tired too. I assumed he was going to use the excuse to go see Luna once again, and smiled at the thought. I thanked him and headed back towards our table, noticing an angry Viktor on my way. When passed the throng of dancers, I could see Harry was sitting there once again.
Harry was seated, talking with an elderly wizard whom I recognised as a member of the Order of the Phoenix but had never had the chance to speak with. Ron's Aunt Muriel was sitting across from them at her own table, but I couldn't tell if she was eavesdropping on or participating in the discussion.
I sank down heavily into the chair beside him and said, "I simply can't dance anymore." And slid off one of my silver heels so I could rub the heel of my foot. Harry looked at me, so I added, "Ron's gone looking to find more Butterbeers. It's a bit odd; I've just seen Viktor storming away from Luna's father; it looked like they'd been arguing…" I began, but I finally took notice of the look on Harry's face. "Harry, are you okay?"
He looked bewildered and upset as he met my eyes, but before he could say anything, a large silver lynx patronus came falling through the canopy over the dance floor. Everyone, including the dancers, stopped to look at it. Then the mouth opened wide, and it spoke in the loud, deep, slow voice of Kingsley Shacklebolt.
"The Ministry has fallen. Scrimgeour is dead. They are coming."
Harry and I sprang to our feet with our wands drawn, but most everyone else still looked bewildered. The crowd was frozen and silent until a witch I couldn't see let out a terrified scream. All at once, the area was in chaos. Guests were running in all directions; many were Disapparating; the protective enchantments around the Burrow collapsing as a result. Harry and I rushed further into the crowd, knowing the time had come that we had to leave.
"Ron!" I shouted desperately, trying to find him, knowing Harry would be furious with me if I Apparated him away without Ron. "Ron, where are you?" I yelled again, louder, over the noisy crowd.
Harry and I made our way towards the dance floor, where I had last seen him, and nearer the refreshment table, when the first person in a silver mask and black cloak appeared. He raised his wand and shouted 'Stupefy!' at a nearby couple, who fell to the ground unconscious.
Remus and Tonks both cast a 'Protego' that was then echoed by the other Order members in the area. I hoped Tonks and Remus would leave quickly; they couldn't afford to be discovered here any more than Harry could. The rush of adrenaline and the crowd's fear fuelled my resolve, and though my heart raced, my calls for Ron rang out with determined clarity.
I could hear screams and curses all around me, and the smell of smoke and sweat filled my nose. We were getting shoved around by the crowd, and I was glad Harry grabbed hold of my hand so we wouldn't get separated. Spells were starting to fly everywhere, and several times, both Harry and I had to duck. I glanced over my shoulder at Harry in an effort to see if we had overlooked Ron behind us and saw a jet of red light just miss Harry's cheek.
I felt a surge of concern and anger; sure, we were going to have to leave Ron behind. I looked forward again and suddenly saw Ron's face. He looked scared and then relieved when he saw me through the crowd the instant before he seized my wanded hand. I immediately spun, taking us away from there, just as I felt the anti-apparition wards descending around the area.
Author's notes: - OCansino, Rkook1210, and Coni Salinas Rios. Thank you for your continued support.
: - Tenador – Fairy-like creatures that live in wedding cakes and that grant wishes to newlyweds. (Tenedor is 'Fork' in Spanish and was suggested by my daughter.) (Created by me but can be used by anyone who wishes to use it.)
: - Sunnatropes – They're very friendly spirits that thrive on joy and harmony and are attracted to the colour yellow. (Created by me but can be used by anyone who wishes to use it.)
: - Hala – A mythical creature in Bulgarian folklore that can be looked up online. I added a few details of my own for this story.