Joshua Black and the Fate of the Wizarding World

by Doctor Auditore

Josh is back and the war has begun. It is time for Josh to find out what his part is to play during the war, how he can survive it, and when he will face his cousin for the last time. But Josh has a major secret, one that could literally cost him his soul. Will he save himself? Or will he let the darkness overtake him?

4. Chapter 4 The Wedding

Chapter 4 - The Weasley-Delacour Wedding

Josh awoke early on the morning of Bill and Fluer's wedding day, the soft light filtering through the attic window. Ron was lightly snoring beside him, tangled in the sheets, while Harry lay awake, staring up at the slanted ceiling. When Harry caught sight of Josh, he gave him a sleepy glance.

"Morning," Harry mumbled, his voice rough from sleep.

"Morning," Josh replied hoarsely, rubbing his eyes. "Nightmares again?"

"Yeah," Harry said, his voice distant. "Keep dreaming about a man named Gregorovitch."

Josh blinked. "The wandmaker?"

Harry propped himself up on his elbows, a frown creasing his brow. "A wandmaker?" he repeated, clearly puzzled. "I wonder why he's important to Voldemort."

Josh could only shrug in response. It wasn't the first time Harry had been haunted by strange dreams, especially ones tied to Voldemort. He pushed the thought aside and swung his legs over the edge of the makeshift bed.

Harry did the same, both boys standing up to get dressed. Josh slipped into his sharpest clothes: a sleek black three-piece suit, with a gleaming green vest and tie that added a splash of color. By the time he finished, Ron had stirred, groggily pulling himself out of bed.

Harry, meanwhile, was already dressed, his three-piece suit a deep black with a bold red vest and tie. He glanced over at Josh, giving him a small nod of approval. Ron got dressed in a suit that was going to be similar to his eldest brother. It was a similar three-peace suit with a blue vest and silver tie.

"You look sharp," Harry said with a grin.

Ron rubbed his eyes, still half-asleep. "Oi, stop making a fuss," he muttered, clearly not in the mood for compliments just yet.

The three young men left the attic and made their way through the Burrow. The house was alive with the sounds of a busy morning—some of the men were half-dressed, still rummaging through their clothes, while the girls were nowhere to be seen yet.

They walked into the kitchen, where Molly was bustling around, preparing breakfast. Sandra was sitting at the table, feeding baby Artie with a bottle.

"Oh, hello, boys," Molly greeted, offering them a warm smile. "You all look so dashing."

"Thanks, Mrs. Weasley," Josh and Harry echoed in unison, both grinning.

"Thanks, mum," Ron yawned, reaching for a piece of bacon.

"Help yourselves, but don't get too messy," Molly said with a wink. "You've got a wedding to attend."

Josh sat next to his mother and gently rubbed Artie's cheek. "Where's Sirius?" he asked quietly.

Sandra's smile faltered for a moment. "Your father was called into the Ministry," she replied, her tone tinged with disappointment. "Said he had a few things to take care of. He'll be here later, don't worry."

Josh nodded, helping himself to breakfast. Harry and Ron followed suit, digging in eagerly.

"If you boys wouldn't mind helping Remus and Arthur in the yard with the setup," Molly asked politely, though there was an unmistakable urgency in her voice. "We still have a few things to finish up."

"Of course," Harry said, swallowing his last bite of bacon. Josh nodded in agreement, finishing his orange juice. They stood up, ready to lend a hand. Ron, however, was still engrossed in his meal.

"Come on, Ronald," Josh said, patting Ron on the shoulder.

"I'm still eating," Ron mumbled, his mouth full as he reached for another strip of bacon.

Josh and Harry shared a glance before each grabbed Ron by the arm, dragging him out of the kitchen as he protested the whole way. But before they could make it out the door, Ron wrenched himself free, grabbed his plate of food, and turned back toward the yard.

Outside, Arthur, Mr. Delacour, Fred, George, Bill, Percy, and Charlie were already hard at work setting up for the wedding, laughter and friendly banter filling the air.

There was a large venue adorned with an enchanting blend of both wizarding and Muggle touches, reflecting the unique backgrounds of the two families. The main area, a large marquee set up in the Burrow's garden, was filled with cascading ivy and fairy lights that twinkled like stars, draped from every corner of the tent. The air was thick with the scent of roses and wildflowers, filling the space with a sweet, earthy fragrance. Each corner was decorated with soft, glowing lanterns, floating gently in mid-air, casting a warm golden hue over the proceedings. Small, sparkling charm-flowers twirled around the room, their petals shifting colors with the light, adding a touch of whimsy to the atmosphere.

Above, the ceiling of the marquee had been transformed into a sky of its own. Floating, soft white clouds lazily drifted across the roof, while occasional bursts of twinkling stars sparkled overhead, thanks to a charm cast by Fleur's father, who had a particular flair for celestial magic. Delicate strands of silver and gold ribbons weaved their way through the clouds, sparkling like strands of stardust.

That was all that had been done so far in decoration and set up. Tables and chairs had yet to be set up and that's what Ron, Harry, and Josh began to set up with. Ron hovered the tables, Harry started with the chairs, while Josh gathered the tablecloths.

A couple of hours later, the tables were set with fine china, the plates and glasses reflecting the intricate beauty of the setting. Each centerpiece was a work of art—a combination of freshly bloomed flowers, crystal vases, and delicate candles that flickered with an enchanted light. They shimmered with soft blues and greens, a tribute to the Delacour family's heritage. The chairs were draped in ivory silk with ribbons of deep red and gold, the Weasley colors, tying together the two families' traditions in perfect harmony.

At the head of the room, where the bride and groom would stand, was an altar made of twisted silver branches, wrapped in roses and vines, and topped with a spellbinding arrangement of orchids, tulips, and lilies. The flowers were chosen not only for their beauty but for their significance, representing love, unity, and purity. Above the altar hung a floating crystal, radiating a soft, magical glow, as if capturing the very essence of the day's happiness. The decorations were not only a blend of beauty but also of meaning, every detail carefully thought out to reflect both families' love for one another, their traditions, and their shared joy on this most magical day.

Nearing the time of the wedding, the food tables were filled with a feast for the senses, featuring delicacies from both French and British traditions—hearty pies, savory pastries, and a variety of enchanted dishes that sparkled with magic. The cake, towering and magnificent, was a multi-tiered creation covered in white icing and adorned with delicate sugar flowers.

Josh glanced back towards the house to see a few of the girls making their way over. It was Tracey, Hermione, and Ginny. Hermione was wearing an elegant, crimson colored ombre halter neck pleated dress, where crimson faded into gold at the bottom of her skirt. Tracey wore a blue beautiful, embroidered lace dress with scattered sequins catching the light like a scattering of stars with half sleeves that added a touch of romantic charm. Ginny wore a soft, flowing gown of deep crimson that perfectly complemented her fiery red hair.

The three girls walked up to Josh. "Wow," he breathed out. "Don't you all look amazing."

"Thank you," Tracey thanked, giving a little twirl.

"Looks like some of the guests are arriving," Harry said, walking up to Josh but froze in his tracks when he noticed Hermione. His eyes widened in stunning silence. "Wow," he breathed. "You look.. breathtaking, Hermione."

Hermione blushed. "Thank you, Harry."

"Where's Ron?" Tracey asked, looking around. "He needs to compliment me like that." She walked off, looking for Ron.

A few minutes later, Ron, Josh, Hermione, and Tracey were standing and clutching seating plans so that they could help show people to the right seats. Harry was standing next to Ron, though he was standing underneath his invisibility cloak so he wouldn't take away from Bill and Fluer's wedding.

A host of white-robed waiters had arrived an hour earlier, along with a golden jacketed band, and all of these wizards were currently sitting a short distance away under a tree.

Fred and George had fastened an enormous bunch of golden balloons over the exact point where Bill and Fleur would shortly become husband and wife. Outside, butterflies and bees were hovering lazily over the grass and hedgerow.

"When I get married," said Fred, tugging at the collar of his own robes, "I won't be bothering with any of this nonsense. You can all wear what you like, and I'll put a full Body Bind Curse on Mum until it's all over."

"She wasn't too bad this morning, considering," said George. "Did tear up about losing Bill to another woman. Can't believe a woman loves that chum. Oh blimey, brace yourselves—here they come, look." Brightly colored figures were appearing, one by one, out of nowhere at the distant boundary of the yard. Within minutes a procession had formed, which began to snake its way up through the garden toward the marquee.

Exotic flowers and bewitched birds fluttered on the witches' hats, while precious gems glittered from man of the wizards' cravats; a hum of excited chatter grew louder and louder, drowning the sound of the bees as the crowd approached the tent.

"Excellent, I think I see a few veela cousins," said George, craning his neck for a better look. "They'll need help understanding our English customs, I'll look after them..."

"Not so fast, Your Holeyness," said Fred, and darting past the gaggle of middle-aged witches heading the procession, he said, "Here—permettez-moi to assiter vous," to a pair of pretty French girls, who giggled and allowed him to escort them inside. George was left to deal with the middle-aged witches and Ron took charge of Mr. Weasley's old Ministry colleague Perkins. One by one, Tracey, Ron, Hermione, and Josh helped guests find their seats while Harry stood around, just feeling a little bored and left out.

"Hi, Harry," someone said. Harry turned to his left, surprised to see Luna standing next to him in a glittering lavender dress.

"Luna," Harry whispered. "How did you know I was here?"

"Nargles," Luna replied with a giggle. "Kidding. Josh and Ron kept walking this way, standing just far enough apart for a person to slip between them. I figured you were invisible so you wouldn't stand out too much and take the attention off the bride and groom."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "I see why you're in Ravenclaw."

Luna beamed. "Of course."

"Luna?" Josh called out innocently. "What are you doing, talking to yourself?"

"She figured it out," Harry said with a smirk.

"Oh, right." Josh turned to see a tall, blond man approaching them.

"Luna, have you found our seats?" he asked, his smile whimsical.

"Dad, this is Joshua Black," Luna said, waving toward Josh, who shook her father's hand. "And Harry Potter. This is my dad, Xenophilius."

Xenophilius looked where Harry was standing, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Is Harry hiding inside that bush?"

Luna giggled. "Of course not," she said. "He's right here." She quickly pulled back part of Harry's cloak to reveal his face.

"Luna!" Harry gasped, yanking his face back behind the cloak. Fortunately, no one seemed to notice.

"Oh, I see," Xenophilius said, nodding. "I understand." He walked over to stand beside Josh and Harry, facing Josh but addressing Harry. "Just know that you have both mine and Luna's support. We will do whatever it takes to keep to the truth."

Harry nodded from beneath the cloak.

"Have a fun wedding," Xenophilius added, patting Josh on the shoulder before walking off with Luna.

Josh looked at Harry, still confused. "Was he talking to me or you?" Harry replied with a snort.

Ron suddenly walked over, looking a bit annoyed. "Aunt Muriel is charming, as always," he grumbled.

Hermione hurried over, her cheeks tinged pink. "Ronald, your Aunt Muriel is not a nice person," she said. "She just told me I had bad posture and skinny ankles."

"Don't take it personally," Ron replied. "She's rude to everyone."

"Talking about Muriel?" George asked, reappearing from the marquee with Fred. "Yeah, she just told me my ears are lopsided. Old bat. I wish Uncle Bilius was still around, though—he was a laugh at weddings."

"Wasn't he the one who saw a Grim and died twenty-four hours later?" Hermione asked.

"Well, yeah, he went a bit odd toward the end," George conceded.

"But before he went loopy, he was the life and soul of the party," Fred added. "He used to down a whole bottle of Firewhisky, then run onto the dance floor, hoist up his robes, and start pulling flowers out of—"

"Right, he sounds like a real charmer," Hermione interrupted, while Josh and Ron roared with laughter.

They were laughing so much that they didn't notice the latecomer: a dark-haired young man with a large, curved nose and thick black eyebrows. He held out his invitation to Ron and, eyeing Hermione, said, "You look vunderful."

"Viktor!" Hermione shrieked, dropping her small beaded bag, which made a thud far too loud for its size. As she scrambled to pick it up, blushing, she said, "I didn't know you were—goodness—it's lovely to see you—how are you again?"

Josh felt a sudden heat radiating from Harry beneath his cloak. Harry's eyes narrowed as he glared at Krum. Without thinking, he blurted, "How come you're here?"

Krum glanced behind Hermione, then at Josh, assuming it was him who had spoken. Josh gave a mental note to flick Harry later. "Well?" Josh said, trying to play it off.

"Fleur invited me," Krum replied, raising an eyebrow.

Ron, who no longer held a grudge against Krum, shook his hand. Then, feeling it might be best to separate Krum from Harry, he offered to show him his seat. "Your friend is not pleased to see me," Krum remarked as he walked into the now-packed marquee.

"Oh, he's just going through a heartbreak," Josh heard Ron say. "Very emotional right now."

"You and Ron owe me," Josh muttered through clenched teeth.

"Harry!" Hermione whispered. "What's gotten into you?" But before Harry could respond, Fred walked by.

"Time to sit down," Fred told Josh, Harry, and Hermione. "Or we're going to get run over by the bride." Josh, Ron, and Hermione quickly took their seats in the second row next to Tracey and behind Fred and George. Harry, however, sat in a chair that had been magically made invisible, settling next to Josh.

"Since when did he grow that ridiculous little beard?" Josh heard Harry grumble.

Josh gave a noncommittal grunt in response.

A sense of jittery anticipation filled the warm tent, the murmurs of the crowd broken only by bursts of excited laughter. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley strolled up the aisle, smiling and waving at relatives. Mrs. Weasley wore a brand-new set of amethyst-colored robes with a matching hat. A moment later, Bill and Charlie stood up at the front of the marquee, both dressed in formal robes with large white roses pinned to their buttonholes. Fred wolf-whistled, and the veela cousins erupted in giggles. The crowd fell silent as the music swelled from what appeared to be the golden balloons.

A collective sigh passed through the assembled witches and wizards as Monsieur Delacour and Fleur began their walk down the aisle. Fleur glided, her father beaming and bouncing beside her. Fleur wore a simple white dress, glowing with a silvery radiance.

As Fleur walked, someone else caught Josh's eye—Daphne. She looked stunning in a sleek, sapphire-colored dress that complemented her every movement. Half of her hair was pinned up, the rest cascading in loose waves around her shoulders. She was breathtaking.

Daphne looked up to find Josh staring at her, and suddenly, her cheeks flushed at the intensity of his gaze. She saw the emotion in his eyes. Quickly, she turned her gaze away, a broad smile spreading across her face.

"Ladies and gentlemen," a slightly singsong voice rang out, pulling Josh from his thoughts. He turned toward the wizard speaking. "We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of two faithful souls..."

And before anyone knew it, the ceremony had finished.

"Smooth," Ron said approvingly as waiters appeared from all sides, some carrying silver trays of pumpkin juice, butterbeer, and Firewhisky, while others tottered with piles of tarts and sandwiches.

"Let's grab a table—anywhere but near Muriel," Ron added, leading the way across the empty dance floor. He glanced left and right as they went. By the time they reached the other side of the marquee, most of the tables were occupied. The emptiest one was where Luna sat alone. "All right if we join you?" Ron asked.

"Oh yes," Luna said happily. "Daddy's just gone to give Bill and Fleur our present."

"What is it? A lifetime's supply of Gurdyroots?" Ron asked. Tracey aimed a kick at him under the table but accidentally caught Josh instead. He hissed, his eyes watering in pain. Tracey gave him an apologetic smile.

Hermione turned to Harry. "Harry—"

"—Other side," Harry said.

"Oh," Hermione turned around, looking a bit flustered. "I think this would be a good time for you to show up."

"Right," Harry said, standing up and walking away.

"I know you saw her," Tracey whispered to Josh.

"And?" Josh replied, raising an eyebrow.

"Josh, this is your chance," Tracey said.

"His chance to what?" Ron asked after taking a gulp of butterbeer.

"To talk to Daphne and get back together," Tracey answered.

"Oh yes, you need to do that," Hermione agreed. "You two belong together. Why did you break up in the first place?"

"I've told you," Josh sighed, "we have our—"

"—Reasons, yeah," Tracey predicted. "But we all think it's shite." Ron, Hermione, and even Luna nodded in agreement. "At least ask her for a dance." Josh sighed in defeat and nodded.

Just then, Krum sat down in Harry's seat as music began to play and Luna got up to dance.

Hermione looked a bit flustered, but this time Krum didn't come to compliment her. With a scowl on his face, he said, "Who is that man in the yellow?"

"That's Xenophilius Lovegood," Ron said. "He's the father of a friend of ours."

"Come and dance, Ron," Tracey said, standing up and dragging him toward the dance floor.

"But I want to see what happens when Harry comes back," Josh heard Ron protest.

Josh didn't have to wait long. Harry appeared behind Krum, now visible. "I believe you're in my seat," he said.

"Oh, sorry," Krum said, standing up to leave.

"That's okay, keep it," Harry replied, holding out his hand to Hermione. "Hermione, let's dance." Hermione smiled and took Harry's hand, heading for the dance floor.

"That was Harry Potter," Krum commented.

"Indeed, it was," Josh replied.

Krum turned to Josh. "Who are you again?"

Josh stared at him incredulously. "I'm the guy you beat in the Triwizard Tournament," he replied. "Joshua Black." They shook hands, though Josh felt slightly insulted that Krum didn't remember him.

"You know this man, Lovegood, vell?" Krum asked.

Josh shrugged. "No, I only met him today. Why?"

Krum glared over the top of his drink at Xenophilius, who was chatting with several warlocks on the other side of the dance floor. "Because," Krum said, "if he was not a guest of Fleur's, I would duel him here and now for wearing that filthy sign upon his chest."

"Sign?" Josh asked, looking over at Xenophilius as well.

The strange triangular eye was gleaming on his chest. "Why? What's wrong with it?"

"Grindelwald. That is Grindelwald's sign."

"Grindelwald... the Dark wizard Dumbledore defeated?"

"Exactly."

Josh nodded slowly, making a mental note not to mention this to Harry and the others. Josh decided to walk around for a bit, engaging in conversation with a few of his fellow students. As he made his way through the crowd, he spotted a table with his mum and Artie, Regulus and his family, but he noticed his father wasn't there.

"Mum, where's Dad?" Josh asked.

"He's still at the Ministry," Sandra replied with a huff. "He better have a good reason for missing this beautiful wedding. I was hoping we could dance."

"I'm sure he's just been held up with something," Josh said, though a tinge of worry crept into his voice. "But we can dance."

Sandra raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you don't want to dance with Daphne?"

Josh sighed. "You too, huh?" He couldn't help but laugh. Before his mother could respond, he added, "I can take a hint." Turning away, he began scanning the crowd for Daphne.

Instead of Daphne, he found Astoria sitting at a table with Rina and Shaun.

"Will one of you please dance with me?" Shaun asked with a dramatic sigh. "I'm bored."

"Go play with the gnomes," Rina retorted. "I don't dance."

"I'm not really in the mood," Astoria said, her eyebrows raising as she caught sight of Josh. "Hey, Josh."

"Hey," Josh replied. "Where's Daphne?"

Astoria smirked. "Ah, come to your senses?"

"I was going to ask her for a dance," Josh said with a hint of frustration.

Astoria exchanged a glance with Rina and Shaun. "Er..." she mumbled, looking for a way to help.

Rina seemed to catch on immediately. "Josh, someone kind of beat you to it," she said, pointing behind him. Shaun followed her gaze and did the same. Josh turned, and his heart sank.

Daphne was already on the dance floor, in the arms of an older gentleman. A tall, blonde-haired man with piercing blue eyes, smiling warmly at Daphne, who seemed to be laughing.

"Who is that?" Josh asked, his voice tight.

"That's Scott," Astoria answered. "He's the Head Healer at the Infirmary Daphne works at."

"I see," Josh said, his voice flat as he turned away, briskly walking towards another part of the tent.

"Yikes," Astoria muttered, her words hanging in the air as Rina and Shaun both nodded in agreement.

Shaun turned back to the girls. "Will you please dance with me?" he asked once more, making a playful gesture with his arms. "I promise I'm a good dancer."

"I'd rather eat a toad," Astoria shot back. Shaun rolled his eyes and flashed a grin at Rina.

"I don't dance," Rina repeated. Shaun was about to retort with something snarky when another voice cut him off.

"I'll dance with you."

Turning, Shaun saw a girl in a sapphire-colored dress, her light blue bow keeping her hair neatly in place. "Uh, hi," he greeted. "You're Seina, right? Josh's cousin?"

Seina smiled and nodded. She was the same height and age as him. "That's me," she said, and then waved towards the dance floor. Astoria and Rina shared an amused glance as Shaun's cheeks were tinged with pink.

He turned to Astoria and Rina. "Sorry ladies, maybe next time," he said to them, turning to Seina. "Show me your moves," he said, dancing with his arms. Seina giggled as the two made their way to the dance floor.

Sophie, sipping wine and chatting with a few colleagues, looked up and saw Josh walking quickly towards her. She raised an eyebrow. "Sophie," he said, stopping in front of her. "I need you to dance with me right now."

"Er, what?" Sophie blinked in confusion.

"Come on," Josh urged, grabbing her hand and leading her toward the dance floor.

A few moments later, they were swaying to the music, but Sophie could sense something was off. "Josh, are you okay?" she asked, her tone laced with concern. "You seem flustered."

"I'm perfectly fine," he said, his gaze flickering nervously behind him. "Let's move this way."

Sophie was unconvinced, but she followed his lead as they danced toward a different part of the floor. "You don't seem fine," she said with a teasing smile. "You seem... jealous."

"What?!" Josh scoffed, his face flushing. "I don't get jealous."

Sophie rolled her eyes. "Typical boy," she muttered, though she couldn't help but wonder what Josh was thinking. But as usual, Josh had no clear plan. He kept dancing, deliberately swaying close to a couple nearby.

"Oops, sorry!" Josh said, pretending to bump into someone.

Scott, the older man who had been dancing with Daphne, looked up, startled. "Oh, no, I'm sorry," he said.

Josh looked up at the man and pretending to be interested. "Aren't you the Head Healer at the Infirmary? How'd you get an invite to this wonderful occasion?"

Daphne's eyes narrowed suspiciously as she watched Josh.

"Me and Bill go way back," Scott explained, shrugging casually.

"Right, right," Josh said, feigning understanding. "Like me and Daphne." Daphne rolled her eyes.

"I've heard about you," Scott said, nodding at Josh before glancing back at Daphne.

"Daphne," Josh said with a tight smile, "you remember Sophie? We were in the Auror Assistance Program together."

"Well, same program, different squads," Sophie added, politely extending her hand to Daphne.

"Oh, right," Scott said, a sly grin creeping onto his face. "You're the one who faked his own death and traumatized everyone who cared about you."

Sophie winced as Josh froze, a familiar knot of guilt forming in his stomach. He hated it, but Scott's words stung. Josh slowly nodded. "Yeah, I was going for an element of surprise," he said, forcing a laugh, though it sounded hollow.

"You know, Daphne was really distraught when you faked your death," Scott continued.

"It was because of her that I survived," Josh snapped back, his voice rising slightly.

"Then why didn't you just come back right away?" Scott challenged.

Josh faltered. "I had things to take care of."

"Things more important than your loved ones?" Scott pressed, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Josh didn't know how to respond. For a split second, he felt like a child again, vulnerable and small. He took a breath and, without thinking, and in a swift motion, flicked his wand. A moment later, Scott's pants ripped down the middle, falling to his ankles.

"Whoa!" Scott gasped, grabbing at his pants and hurriedly pulling them up as laughter erupted around them. He gave a nervous chuckle. "Would you please excuse me?" he muttered, hastily walking away, red-faced and mortified.

Daphne slapped Josh on the shoulder. "You are such a boy, Joshua," she hissed. "What is wrong with you? Why are you acting like this?"

Josh looked at Daphne's disappointed face and felt the weight of her anger. He felt small, foolish. "I'm sorry," he muttered. "I don't know what came over me."

"I'm sure I have a good idea," Daphne said, her voice sharp. With a final, angry glance, she stormed off.

"I can't believe I did that," Josh said, turning to Sophie with a frustrated sigh. "Why did I do that? I ripped his pants. Am I eleven?"

"No," Sophie said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You're just a man in love. And love makes us do stupid things." She gave him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder before walking away.

Josh followed Daphne outside the tent, where the muffled sounds of music faded away. The night air was cooler, and the only sounds now were the crickets and distant rustling of trees. He spotted her standing a little ways off, her back turned to him. She must have sensed him approaching because she didn't turn, but spoke anyway.

"Tracey keeps telling me our break was a mistake," Daphne's voice was low but clear, and Josh's heart tightened at the mention of their break.

"She tells me the same," Josh replied, his voice almost distant. He took a few more steps closer, feeling the distance between them, both physically and emotionally. "Do you think it was a mistake?"

"No, I don't," Daphne answered firmly, though her voice wavered slightly. She turned around then, her eyes wide in surprise when she saw how close he was. For a long moment, they just looked at each other, the tension between them thick. Daphne's breath hitched. "Please... don't look at me like that."

"Like what?" Josh asked, his voice soft, but a hint of hurt in it. Daphne didn't answer, her gaze lowering, and Josh took another step closer. "Daphne, why did you suggest this break? Everyone keeps saying we belong together, but the more I think about it, the more I don't understand your reasons... or even my own."

Daphne's shoulders slumped, and she sighed deeply. She shook her head as if she couldn't find the right words. "Josh, it's because... we've got too much going on. And—" She paused, struggling, her voice breaking a little.

Josh couldn't take the hesitation anymore. "Oh, come on, Daphne," he interrupted, his frustration rising. "Cut the crap and just say it! Please."

"Because I'm still angry!" Daphne finally blurted, pushing her hands against Josh's chest, her voice shaking. "You were gone, Josh! Gone! I cried for days, every single night. Only exhaustion could help me fall asleep. Do you know how that felt?" Her words cracked, and her tears started to spill over. Josh stood still, the weight of her words hitting him like a wave.

He looked down at the ground, guilt crawling back into his chest, squeezing his lungs. "I thought you forgave me," he whispered, barely able to get the words out.

"I thought I did," Daphne replied, her voice trembling. She wiped at the tears brimming in her eyes but didn't stop them. "But I think I was just lying to myself."

Josh's heart ached. "I didn't want to hurt you," he said, his voice breaking.

"I know you didn't," Daphne said softly, her hand reaching up to gently cup his cheek. "But I need you to understand that I've never stopped loving you, and I don't plan to. But I don't want to resent you, Josh. I won't."

Josh closed his eyes, his heart sinking. "I don't want that either," he whispered.

"That's why I suggested the break," Daphne continued, her hand slowly dropping from his face. "I need time. And, honestly, I think you do too."

Josh shook his head, not wanting to hear it. "No... no, I don't need time. I just... I need you. I—"

"Yes, you do," Daphne interrupted gently, her voice firm with a quiet sadness. "You need time to think, to heal. So do I."

Josh felt as though the world was collapsing around him. She was right. He knew it deep down. But hearing it out loud, from her lips, made the truth unbearable. He had thought, somehow, that everything would fall back into place once he returned. But there were consequences. Heartbreaking consequences.

"I was there," Josh said suddenly, his voice thick with emotion. Daphne looked up, confused.

"What?" she asked, her eyes searching his face.

"My memorial," Josh clarified. His voice cracked as he spoke. "I was there, watching from a distance. I wanted so much to come to you, to comfort you, but I couldn't."

Daphne's face softened, her tears now streaming freely. "I know," she whispered, her voice thick with pain. "I know." She reached for him then, her hand touching his arm, the connection a bittersweet reminder of everything they'd lost.

Josh's chest tightened as he watched her, his heart breaking for the woman he loved.

"I told you why I faked my death," Josh murmured, his voice raw. "When we reconnected after the battle, I explained everything. But I didn't explain the hardest part: that I didn't want to lose you. And now I'm afraid I have." His eyes met hers, and the weight of the years apart, the pain, the silence—it all hung in the air between them.

Daphne said nothing, just wiped her tears and gently shook her head, as if trying to hold herself together. "You're not losing me, Josh. I've never stopped loving you. But right now, I need to take care of myself, and you need to take care of you."

Josh closed his eyes, finally understanding the depth of the hurt. He had thought he was doing the right thing by pushing through, by chasing after Cyrus—but in the process, he had hurt her. He had hurt the one person who had always been there for him.

Josh took a slow, shaky breath, watching Daphne. Her tears shimmered under the faint moonlight, and he felt an unbearable sense of loss flood over him. Everything he had done—every step he had taken to find answers about Cyrus, every decision he had made—had led him here, standing in the quiet night, unable to undo the hurt he had caused.

Daphne wiped her face with the back of her hand, trying to regain composure, but her shoulders trembled slightly. "I don't want to be angry anymore," she said softly, her voice filled with exhaustion. "But I can't just pretend that everything is fine, Josh. We need time. We both do."

Josh nodded, his throat tight with emotion. He wanted to argue, wanted to convince her that they could pick up right where they left off, but he knew that wasn't realistic. Not right now.

"Okay," he said quietly, the word feeling foreign as it left his lips. "I understand. I don't want to make things worse."

Daphne looked at him, her gaze softening just a little. "I need you to promise me something," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Josh raised an eyebrow, confused. "Anything."

"That you'll stop pushing yourself so hard," she said, her eyes searching his face. "You're always running after something. I know you're trying to find answers about Cyrus... but don't lose yourself in the process. And don't lose the people who care about you."

Josh's chest tightened, the weight of her words sinking in. He suddenly felt her words were too late. Josh had already had a moment where he lost himself. He opened his mouth to tell her that but instead he said, "I will."

Daphne took a step back, her eyes lingering on him one last time. "You're my best friend, Josh. I still love you," she said, her voice thick with emotion. Josh's heart clenched painfully. He wanted to hold her, to take away her pain, to make everything right. But he knew now that he couldn't. Not like this.

"I love you too," Josh replied, and then he closed the gap between them, caressed her cheek and leaned in to kiss her with great passion. Daphne returned the kiss with equal love. It was almost like a goodbye kiss, but both knew this wasn't goodbye. This wasn't over between them. Josh released the kiss. "I will always love you."

Daphne gave him another light kiss on the lips. "How about we go dance?"

Josh nodded as Daphne grabbed his hand and led him back into the tent. However, before they could reach the dance floor, something large and silver fell through the canopy above. Graceful and gleaming, the shaggy dog landed lightly in the center of the astonished dancers. Heads turned as those nearest froze absurdly mid-dance. Then the Patronus's mouth opened wide, and it spoke in the firm, familiar, and hurried voice of Sirius.

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

Suddenly, chaos erupted. Guests screamed in terror and began apparating away. Josh and Daphne shared a glance, tightening their grips on each other's hands—but that didn't last. A magical blast tore them apart. Black smoke began to apparate in, turning into Death Eaters who laughed maniacally, attacking anyone in sight. The Order quickly mobilized to protect the defenseless.

Josh scrambled to his feet, desperately searching for Daphne, but he couldn't see where she'd been thrown. "Josh!" he thought he heard her cry.

"Josh!" He whipped around to find himself face-to-face with two Death Eaters. He shielded against their spells, then stunned them with ease. His mind, however, was focused on one thing: finding Daphne.

He pushed forward, stunning more Death Eaters who were engaged with others. He suddenly ran into Harry. "What the hell are you doing here!?" Josh yelled over the chaos.

"I need to help them!" Harry shouted back.

"No!" Josh snapped. "You need to get out of here with Ron, Tracey, and Hermione! You've got a job to do!"

Josh's gaze flicked to Tracey and Hermione, battling a pair of Death Eaters. "Where's Ron?"

As if on cue, Ron was thrown in front of them. "Oh hey," he groaned, and the two boys helped him to his feet.

"Ron, you and Harry need to get to Hermione and Tracey and get out of here!" Josh ordered. "I'll cover you so you can apparate!" Harry opened his mouth to protest, but Josh cut him off. "You have to leave, Harry."

"Okay," Harry nodded reluctantly. "Now!"

The three boys surged forward, heading for Tracey and Hermione. Ron cast up defensive charms while Josh and Harry unleashed offensive spells. They fought their way through the fray until they reached the girls.

"Go!" Josh yelled, raising a powerful shield. Tracey, Hermione, Ron, and Harry grabbed hold of one another, and in an instant, they disapparated away.

Josh gripped his shield as tightly as he could, but the Death Eaters in front of him simultaneously cast the same spell, sending him crashing over a table. Dazed, he looked up to see the Death Eaters advancing. Suddenly, someone leaped over him, their wand swirling in a circular motion, conjuring a powerful wave of magic. With a swift thrust of his hand, a surge of force erupted from the wand, hurling the Death Eaters back into another table.

The figure turned, revealing Hoshi—Josh's cousin. Hoshi extended his arm toward Josh. "On your feet, Josh," he said calmly. Josh, impressed by his cousin's impressive magic and steady composure, grasped Hoshi's forearm, and in an instant, was lifted back to his feet. He surveyed the chaos unfolding around him. Most of the guests had fled to safety, but some lay motionless, their eyes fixed on the tents' ceilings, already lost to the violence.

Everywhere he looked, friends and family were locked in combat. Sophie was elegantly dueling a dark wizard, her dress tattered and her hair disheveled. Bill and Fleur fought side by side, while their parents were ushering guests to safety. Percy, Charlie, Fred, and George were shielding the children who had sought refuge. Rina and Astoria were battling a witch who seemed to have the upper hand, effortlessly parrying their spells. Shaun, clutching a terrified Seina, was guiding her through the chaos, crawling beneath tables and chairs to escape danger. Regulus and his wife, Keiko, were locked in a duel with two Death Eaters, defending Sandra and Artie, who hid behind a table. Sandra peeked out now and then, casting spells to defend herself and Artie.

The air was thick with terror. Death Eaters kept flooding in, and with the Ministry now under their control, the protective wards had fallen. That meant the Burrow had to be abandoned—at least, for now.

Josh turned to Hoshi. "On me," he commanded, and Hoshi nodded, ready. Together, they charged forward, heading toward Rina and Astoria with determination.

The dark witch hurled a cutting hex toward Rina, striking her leg. Rina let out a sharp cry of pain and collapsed into Astoria's arms, who caught her just in time. The witch's laughter echoed as she raised her wand for another strike, but before she could cast, Josh appeared, his magic pulsing in the air. With a swift motion, he lifted the witch off the ground.

Hoshi stepped forward, thrusting his wand out with precision. A blast of raw magic exploded toward the witch, sending her flying backward into a nearby table.

Josh and Hoshi rushed over to Astoria and Rina, their movements coordinated, and worry etched across their faces.

"Can you walk?" Josh asked, conjuring bandages around Rina's leg with a swift flick of his wand.

Rina gritted her teeth but nodded. "I think so."

"Good," Josh said, his voice steady, though his eyes flicked nervously toward the chaos surrounding them. "I need you two to help my mother and Artie. Get them to safety, alright?"

"We will," Astoria replied firmly, her gaze locked on him for a brief moment before she helped Rina to her feet.

The two women set off, moving quickly but carefully, leaving Josh and Hoshi to face the next wave of danger.

On another side of the tent, Daphne knelt beside a male guest, whose neck was gaping open from a brutal curse. She pressed down on the wound, her hands shaking as she fought the rising tide of helplessness. She knew it was too late. He was gone.

"I'm sorry," she whispered hoarsely, her voice trembling. His life slipped away with a final, ragged breath. Daphne let out a frustrated growl, her anger mixing with sorrow. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. As a Healer, she was meant to save lives—not watch them slip away. She needed to save everyone.

A bitter laugh bubbled up from deep within her. "I'm starting to sound like Josh," she muttered to herself, the words coming out almost as a release, a coping mechanism for the chaos around her.

After the explosion that had separated her from Josh, she'd lost track of him. There hadn't been time to search him. She had spotted a woman across the room, writhing in agony after being struck with a bone-breaking curse. Daphne immediately rushed to her side, casting a quick healing spell. But the moment the woman was stabilized, another victim caught her attention—the man who had bled out too quickly and lost his life.

With a sigh, Daphne grabbed a discarded napkin from the floor, wiping the blood from her hands. She could feel the weight of failure creeping in, but there was no time to dwell on it. Not while others were still in danger.

Gripping her wand tightly, Daphne crept to the edge of a nearby table, her heart pounding. Nearby, Shaun and Seina were trapped, crouching low as a Death Eater squared off with a guest. The Death Eater cast a curse that sent the guest sprawling to the ground, lifeless. The Death Eater's attention was momentarily distracted, giving Shaun the opening he needed. In a desperate move, Shaun grabbed a nearby steak knife and thrust it into the Death Eater's foot.

The Death Eater howled in pain, bending over, just as Shaun was dragged out from under the table. The Death Eater slammed him onto the table with a roar of fury.

"You little pissant!" the Death Eater spat, his eyes blazing with rage. "I'm gonna kill you!" He raised his wand, preparing to strike again, but Shaun fought back with all his strength, kicking and struggling against the Death Eater's hold.

Daphne's instincts kicked in. She held up her wand, her eyes narrowing as she whispered an incantation. Ropes shot out from her wand, wrapping tightly around the Death Eater, binding him to the ground.

The Death Eater let out a strangled yell, his wand dropping to the floor as he fell to the ground, helpless.

"Jerk!" Shaun yelled, his voice rough with fury. He jumped off the table and began kicking the fallen Death Eater, letting his anger fuel each strike.

Daphne dashed forward, pulling Shaun away before he could do more damage. "Pull it together, Shaun," she ordered, her voice hard with urgency. She grabbed his arm and pulled him back, making sure he didn't go too far over the edge. She glanced down at Seina, who was still trembling beneath the table.

"Come on, Seina," Daphne said gently, extending her hand. Seina took it, eyes wide with fear, and Daphne helped her up.

The two stood up and looked around, only to see Astoria and Rina racing toward Sandra, Regulus, and Seiko.

"Go with them," Daphne instructed Shaun and Seina. The two nodded gratefully, dashing off to join their friends.

Suddenly, Daphne's world exploded in pain. A cutting hex struck her in the leg, and she screamed as she crumpled to the floor, clutching her bleeding wound.

"Daphne!" Tonks shouted, rushing to her side.

Tonks quickly raised her wand, deflecting another barrage of curses aimed at them. "Come on, we need to get out of here," Tonks said, pulling Daphne to her feet, her expression fierce.

Daphne winced but shook her head, her gaze scanning the chaos-filled tent. "I'm not leaving without Josh," she said, her voice determined.

She spotted him across the room, fighting fiercely next to his cousin Hoshi. They were a whirlwind of spells, their movements perfectly coordinated. "Josh!" Daphne's voice rang out across the chaos.

Josh's heart skipped a beat at the sound of her voice. He turned and saw Daphne, leaning heavily on Tonks, the cut on her leg still visible but clearly not as severe as it could have been. Relief surged through him. "Thank Merlin," he muttered to himself.

"Let's go!" he called to Hoshi, who gave him a sharp nod. In perfect sync, the two of them flicked their wands simultaneously. A shimmering magical wall materialized before them and shot forward, crashing into the group of Death Eaters. The force of the spell pushed them back, creating a brief window of opportunity.

Josh and Hoshi didn't waste a second. They dashed toward Tonks and Daphne, who were moving toward the edge of the tent.

"Hey, are you alright?" Josh asked, his gaze flicking down to the cut on Daphne's leg, the blood still fresh and staining her robes.

"I'm fine," Daphne replied, though her voice was tight. She was trying to brush it off, but Josh could see the strain in her eyes.

Tonks's voice cut through the moment. "Josh, it's time to go. Everyone's almost out."

Josh's gaze swept around the tent. He saw the last of the survivors pushing forward, their spells flashing as they held off the Death Eaters, buying the others precious time to escape. The situation was getting critical.

"Let's get out of here," Josh said, his voice resolute. He took over for Tonks and took a hold of Daphne. He turned on his heel, motioning for them to follow.

The four of them sprinted toward the edge of the tent, joining the others who were already racing toward the Burrow, apparating away one by one. The sound of crackling flames filled the air as they neared the house.

But the danger wasn't over. Josh turned his head just in time to see a few Death Eaters break off from the group, heading straight for the Burrow.

And then, without warning, a wave of fire surged toward the Burrow. Josh's heart sank as the familiar stone house was engulfed in flames, its once-solid structure now being devoured by the blaze.

His hand shot out, grabbing Tonks's arm as she grabbed onto Hoshi's arm. "We need to go, now!" he urged, the urgency in his voice unmistakable.

With one last, lingering look at the scene, he concentrated and felt the familiar pull of apparition, the world blurring around them. And in an instant, they were gone, the image of the Burrow burning forever etched into Josh's mind.