The morning of the wedding dawned bright and clear, the sky a brilliant blue that promised a perfect day. The Burrow was a hive of activity, with everyone bustling about, preparing for the event. Bill and Fleur's wedding had brought a rare sense of joy and celebration amidst the dark times, and everyone was determined to make it a day to remember.

Harry, disguised as a distant Weasley cousin named Barny, wandered through the crowds, doing his best to keep his mind on the tasks at hand. The disguise, a polyjuice potion at work, had been necessary to keep him safe. With the Ministry under Voldemort's control and Death Eaters searching for him, Harry knew it was too dangerous to appear as himself. The plan was for him to blend in, to keep a low profile while still being able to attend the wedding.

Despite the cheerful atmosphere, his mind kept drifting back to last night, to Ginny, and the quiet moments they had shared. They hadn't spoken about what happened, hadn't acknowledged it in the light of day, and now the air between them felt charged, thick with memories of the night before.

Harry caught sight of Ginny across the yard, her hair shining in the sunlight as she spoke with guests, her smile bright and welcoming. She seemed to be playing her part in the celebration, but Harry noticed the way her smiles didn't quite reach her eyes, the way she seemed distant, as if her mind was somewhere else entirely. She seemed equal parts lost in her thoughts and miserable bridesmaid who wished to be anywhere else

As the day wore on, Harry and Ginny crossed paths several times, each encounter more awkward than the last. They exchanged polite smiles, made small talk about the wedding preparations, but neither of them mentioned what happened between them. It was as if by unspoken agreement, they had decided to ignore it, to focus on the wedding, on the celebration.

At one point, Harry found himself helping Ginny arrange the seating for the guests. She handed him a stack of place cards, their fingers brushing briefly, and a jolt of electricity shot through him. He glanced up, catching her eye, and for a moment, the air between them seemed to crackle with unspoken thoughts.

"Everything alright, Barny?" Ginny asked, her voice light, but there was an undercurrent of tension in her tone.

Harry nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah, just making sure we've got enough seats," he replied, trying to keep his voice steady. "Looks like we're expecting a full house."

Ginny nodded, her eyes flicking away from his. "Yes, it's going to be a nice ceremony," she said, her voice a bit too bright, too cheery. She didn't elaborate, and Harry could sense that Ginny felt the same way that he felt - they shared an understanding that today wasn't about them, that whatever they were dealing with had to wait.

Harry murmured his agreement, but his mind was elsewhere, replaying the events of the previous night. He wanted to say something, anything, to bridge the gap that had formed between them, but he didn't know how. The fear of making things worse kept him silent.

Ron and Hermione were busy with their own tasks, helping with last-minute preparations. Harry saw them often, Ron acting as a miserable gopher for his mother while Hermione checked and double checked every detail, ensuring everything was perfect for the guests. Despite their involvement in the festivities, Harry knew their minds were also occupied with thoughts of the Horcrux hunt, the dangerous mission that loomed ahead.

The ceremony itself was beautiful, a bright spot in the dark times they were living through. Bill and Fleur stood beneath a canopy of flowers, their hands entwined, their faces glowing with happiness. As Harry watched them exchange vows, he felt a pang of longing, a wish for a future he wasn't sure he could have. He glanced at Ginny, standing at the altar as a bridesmaid, her expression a smile mixed with something deeper and more complicated. An odd smirk crossed her face, causing Harry to wonder what was so funny. He noticed a few odd twitches here and there, as if some anxiety danced on her every nerve. If everything else had been normal, he might have thought she was simply miffed to be stuffed into dress robes and forced to participate in the wedding of a sister-in-law she hadn't quite warmed up to. But the atmosphere was anything but normal, and Harry was sure that whatever worries she had, he had managed to multiply them tenfold by ending up in her bed.

When the ceremony was over, the guests moved to the makeshift dance floor, music filling the air. Harry moved through the crowd, doing his best to blend in, to play his part as Barny. He watched as Ginny greeted the guests, her laughter ringing out, but there was a distance in her eyes that hadn't been there before.

As the evening wore on, Harry found the nerve to ask Ginny to dance and she hesitantly agreed. The music played softly around them, the guests a blur of movement and laughter. For a moment, it felt like they were the only two people in the world, the rest of the party fading into the background.

"Barny," Ginny said softly, her voice barely audible over the music. "It's nice to see you enjoying yourself."

Harry nodded, his throat tight. "It's a beautiful wedding," he said, his voice low. "Everyone seems really happy."

Ginny nodded, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. "Yes, it's good to see. A bit of normality, at least for today. If I'm being honest though, I really hope that I'm not going to have to do this bridesmaid bit five more times."

Harry gave her a wry smile "I could see how it would be difficult, having so many people love and adore you." A flush of embarrassment crossed Ginny's face, and she opened her mouth to apologize for her thoughtless remark to someone who had no family left. But Harry cut her off. "I'm just winding you up, it's all right." For a brief moment, they shared a spark of amusement before breaking eye contact, as if even that small connection was something to be ashamed of.

They danced in silence for the rest of the song. Harry wanted to ask her, to know if she regretted what had happened between them. But the words wouldn't come. Instead, he held her close, swaying to the music, wishing he could freeze this moment, hold onto the feeling of her in his arms.

As the song ended, they pulled apart, the moment broken. Harry looked at Ginny, wanting to say something, to tell her how much he wanted things to be different, but the words caught in his throat. He didn't have the right, not when he was about to leave, maybe forever.

Before he could speak, a sudden, silvery light filled the garden, a bright, ethereal Patronus in the shape of a lynx. It stood in the center of the dance floor, its presence immediately drawing everyone's attention. The guests fell silent, their eyes wide with confusion and fear as the Patronus opened its mouth, Kingsley Shacklebolt's deep, calm voice echoing through the garden.

"The Ministry has fallen. Scrimgeour is dead. They are coming."

The message hung in the air, a cold dread settling over the crowd. Harry's heart leapt into his throat, his mind reeling with what he had heard. The Ministry had fallen. The protection they had taken for granted was gone. And they were coming here - now.

Panic spread through the guests as the reality of the situation set in. The music stopped, the laughter faded, replaced by the sounds of fear and confusion. Harry's eyes met Ginny's, her face pale with shock, and for a brief moment, time seemed to stand still.

The sound of death eaters apparating close by filled the air. Ginny grabbed his arm, her grip tight, eyes wide with fear and urgency. "Go!" she whispered, her voice low and urgent, barely audible over the growing chaos around them.

Harry nodded, snapping out of his trance. He was already moving, his wand in his hand, his mind switching to survival mode. "Get inside!" he shouted to those around him, his voice cutting through the noise. "Get everyone inside!"

Ginny didn't hesitate. She turned and began herding people toward the house, her voice rising above the clamor as she called for her family to move. Harry watched her go, his heart pounding, a cold fear settling in his gut.

Ron and Hermione appeared at his side, their wands drawn, their faces pale with fear. "We've got to go," Hermione said urgently, grabbing Harry's arm.

"No time," Ron added, his voice tense. "We've got to get out of here, now!"

Harry nodded, his mind racing. He took one last look at Ginny, then turned and followed Ron and Hermione, pushing through the panicked crowd. They reached the edge of the garden, and with a shared look, the three of them disapparated, the familiar pull at their navel as they vanished into the night.

The peaceful, joyful atmosphere of the wedding had shattered in an instant, replaced by chaos and danger. As they appeared in the countryside, miles away from The Burrow, Harry's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, his heart still pounding. He knew this was just the beginning, that the danger was far from over. But as he stood there, catching his breath, his thoughts were on Ginny and how she felt in his arms. He knew that no matter what happened, he would carry the memory of their night together with him, a beacon of hope in the darkness.