Numerous Nuisances at the Nuptials

Chapter One- Judgment Day

"Do we have to?" whined a nine-year-old Fred.

"For the last time... yes! Now stop bothering me and go get ready. You can wear Charlie's old robe," retorted Mrs. Weasley with a sigh. Fred scowled and ran to his room, only to collide into his brother.

"Ow!"

"Sorry... been talking with Mum..."

"Any luck?" George asked concernedly.

"Luck always in when-hell-freezes-over mode."

"Oh. That bad?"

"We have to use the recycled robes."

George let out a mock-shriek of terror.

"I am not wearing Percy's robes... I'd get some sort of infection that makes me want to read old boring books about the Ministry of Magic and like it..."

There was a mutual shudder. Suddenly, the door opened and a small redhead poked inside.

"Where are we going? I tried to ask Mum but she's too busy with her dress and Dad is trying to wrap a weird present."

"Some wedding for one of Mom's friends..."

"Yeah, it's that Heather Davies lady who likes to give us those funny muggle chocolate cups with peanut butter inside."

There was an odd silence in the twins' room. Somewhere downstairs, Arthur Weasley's ears were ringing.

"She's nice...." Ron admitted hesitantly.

"Ronnikins, have you ever been to a wizarding wedding?"

"I've never been to any kind of wedding," Ron admitted, ignoring Fred's jab at his mother's affectionate term for him.

"Well, it is torture."

"Who's the guy she's marrying?"

"That man...what's his name, George?"

"Patrick Adams."

"Yeah... he never gives us stuff..."

"Well, that's because you put frosting on the toilet seat when he came over for dinner, Fred..."

"Oh yeah... forgot about that..."

"So remind me why we have to go through this torture..."

"Mum's the maid of honor."

"Dad's the best man."

"And I'm the flower girl!" screamed yet another redhead as she entered the room. Ginny Weasley was the picture perfect flower girl, wearing a lacy pink robe with pink roses in her hair and a basket ready to be filled with petals.

"Well, one of us will actually be excited about going to that wedding...."

"You're just jealous, George," Ginny retorted nonchalantly.

"Why would I be jealous to wear a pink robe and act like a freaky girl?"

"Because I'm allowed to throw things during the wedding and you're not."

The twins considered this painfully true statement with despondency. Suddenly, Mrs. Weasley poked her head in.

"Ronny dear, I was just talking over with Heather Davies and I have a job for you," she said in her kind yet commanding voice.

"What?"

"Well it seems that her nephew, Roger, had some sort of accident while playing Quidditch and I think he landed on some ripe bubotubers. The healers managed to get the bones fixed, but he got the pus all over him and he seems to have developed some allergic reaction to it so he's swollen twice a much as usual.... poor dear.... Anyway, Heather wanted to know if you could be the ring carrier instead and I said yes-"

"WHAT?"

"I'm sorry dear but she seems really upset and it really isn't very bad... all you have to do is carry the ring. But we have to go there in five minutes because they're having a dress rehearsal. Heather lent me these nice robes and I think you'll like it." Mrs. Weasley held up a white set of dress robes with an elaborate gold hem that would have not looked out of place if a sugar-high Elrond had been destined to wear them. But Ron wasn't quite in Middle Earth and he definitely did want to be the pretty boy of the wedding. That sad job was reserved for the bridegroom.

"That's really pretty!" Ginny squealed.

"Ugh! Why me?" Ron had the ultimate look of revulsion.

"Well, because...," Mrs. Weasley was biting back to say that one of the twins would ruin the wedding by setting in on fire or something if he had to carry the ring, but didn't. "I knew that you're a very good boy and you'll listen to me."

She heard chokes of laughter from Fred and George but ignored them, handed Ron the robe, and left the room.

Fred clapped the back of Ron's shirt.

"Well good luck, little brother. Go do what Mum tells you to do and make her proud."

George sniggered along with him. Ginny, however, kicked both of them in the shins.

"Ow!" was the response from both of them. Ginny glared.

"Shut up you two. Stop bugging Ron!" With that, she turned on her heel and walked out the door.

"You're a feisty one, Ginny. I can't wait 'til you start dating!" Fred shouted to her retreating back.

Ron's face suddenly looked green and clammy. He followed Ginny out the door, still holding the white robe. Fred turned to George.

"You know what? I actually want to go to this wedding after all..."

"This'll definitely be interesting, if not downright fun," concurred George, grinning very evilly.

"Dungbombs or Filibusters?"

"I have a better idea..."Even if Molly had been standing a foot away from the two, she wouldn't have been able to hear their plans... but their grins were very very evident....

* * * * * * * * * * * *

The ride to the wedding was surprisingly uneventful. The twins just grinned as if they were receiving their most wanted yet probably impossible Christmas present (which was probably along the lines of ownership of the Gambol and Japes shop). This was a bit unnerving for Molly, but she just shrugged it off. Both Ron and Arthur looked awkward in their robes. Molly had purchased her husband's robe along with her own at a low-price fancy robe shop. However, Arthur's dark blue robes seemed to be too warm for the beautiful July morning, for he shifted too much in his seat as he drove the Ford Anglia. Then again, Arthur had been at Patrick Adams' bachelor party and Molly was sure he could handle the heat after that particular event. Ron's robes, on the other hand, were a bit short and too loose, and he looked as if he really didn't want to go. Beside him, both looking really bored, were Bill and Charlie. Bill was reading a book about the N.E.W.T.s which he was going to take in the coming school year. Charlie had brought along a book too with the title Famous Dragon Trainers embossed in silver on the cover. Percy was rapidly reading his Potions text, inhaling every detail. He was convinced that Hogwarts solely maintained an academic setting, even after Charlie told him about the Quidditch games. So, he was always busy memorizing every course book he had bought the week before. The only two people who looked genuinely excited were Molly and Ginny. Molly could only hope for a peaceful wedding. Unfortunately for the poor woman, luck was very much in when-hell-freezes-over mode, especially concerning the scheming minds of Fred ad George.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Why they were getting married now, Arthur couldn't understand. Patrick and Heather were in their thirties. If Molly and he had married that late, they wouldn't have had Ginny until their forties. However, he had to admit that the bachelor's party was... entertaining. There had been a couple of half veelas and the dinner included Gobstones Fondue (where dipping the wrong piece of French bread could cover you in moldy cheese hair). And who could forget the "special invitees" from the Modeling Department of Witch Weekly? Even Arthur had a tough time remembering his marital status at some points. However, when Patrick had been "thoughtful" enough to pass around a picture of two-year-old Arthur running starkers (the interesting portion being the odd streaks of ink that one would suppose to be fake chest hair), Arthur had to give Patrick a taste of his own medicine.... to fight fire with fire. Which ever sounded cooler. As he gazed at the shiny, wrapped, box in his hands, he chuckled to himself... Wait till they find out what's in the present... he jiggled the box in his hands and heard a reassuring bumping noise. He was prepared to sit through the whole wedding to see this gift given...

* * * * * * * * * * * *

The nine Weasleys got out of the car and walked towards the entrance of the wedding hall. Arthur was oddly overprotective of the wedding present that he had insisted on personally wrapping. Although Ginny had to admit that he had one a brilliant job of it. Her brothers were... well... the same. Molly had to pry Percy's fingers off his book and Bill didn't really look enthusiastic about leaving his book and going to the wedding. The seven-year-old's mind simply could not fathom the cause. Maybe they only had spinach pudding or something. Ron was fuming... literally. His angry red face, combined with the white robes, made him look like a shiny matchstick. But Ginny couldn't have possibly known that because she didn't know what a matchstick was. Neither did she see her two twin infamous brothers because she was happy to be the flower girl. It was a very big honor indeed...

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Heather Davies greeted them as they entered, and after a long period of crushing hugs, cheek pinching, and overbearingly bright smiles, she led them to the seats.

"Just drop your stuff off... I'll be needing your help."

They all did so, some with more grumbling than others.

"All right," she beamed, pulling Ron to her side. "Now you're my new addition aren't you?"

"Umm...," mumbled Ron, looking rather scared.

"Of course you are! My.... you look so dolled up that I could eat you!"

Ron looked rather scared, thinking that she would actually want to eat him.

The grin on Fred's face would have ousted the Cheshire Cat's in a Most Maniacal Smile contest. This was going to be amusing.