Harry Potter Book 7

~Chapter Five~

The Wedding

By the time that the day of Bill and Fleur's dawned, several nights had passed since Harry had sat with Ginny on the balcony of Grimmauld Place and they did not make any mention of it to each other or anyone else. In fact, the two of them hardly talked to each other anymore.

"You're feeling guilty," Hermione said wisely when he had confided his feelings to her (Ron had refused to partake in talking about a relationship between his best friend and his sister). "You know that you have to push her away for both your good and that you might not get the chance to spend time with her again. Ginny has to be strong and go on without you until you destroy Voldemort which could be ages. The longer you take to find all his Horcruxes, the more she has to live a life that doesn't involve you."

They went downstairs together and entered the basement kitchen, still deep in discussion of Harry's forced separation with Ginny.

There was a lot of commotion going on. Everyone was dashing in and out of the room, shouting things at each other and carrying things from large, handsome bouquets of flowers to elegantly wrapped gifts.

Bill was standing in the middle of the room wearing crisp, white wedding robes with a red rose pinned to his chest while Mrs. Weasley who was looking the most harassed of all, was fussing over him, trying to smooth creases in his robes.

"Hi, Harry," he called when Harry and Hermione entered. "Hi, Hermione."

"Hi, Bill," the two of them chorused back.

With an uncomfortable jerk of his stomach, Harry saw that Bill's face was still badly scarred and disfigured from Greyback's attack last year. He did not look at all like the Bill Harry remembered. But nonetheless, he was smiling broadly as Harry approached him.

"Dear, you should really let me cut this ridiculous thing off," Mrs. Weasley begged as she touched Bill's ponytail lightly with her fingers.

"I said no, mum."

"It's your wedding day! Surely you don't want to wear this horrible thing on your special day, Bill?"

"No."

Mrs. Weasley still looked disapproving but she sighed in consent and spotted Harry and Hermione watching.

"Why are you two still not changed? I've laid your wedding garments out on your beds for you. You both better go get changed quickly because we're leaving soon."

Harry and Hermione left the room as Mrs. Weasley resumed her argument with Bill over his ponytail.

Harry found his wedding robes, ironed, on his bed when he pushed the bedroom door open. It looked very much like Bill's; white and looking and feeling as if though it had been woven out of silk. Hermione's was identical.

They both changed into their new robes and returned downstairs where Lupin was dressed in his own splendid white robes.

Mad-Eye Moody was also there, looking very odd dressed in wedding garments too with his sinisterly revolving magical eye and wooden leg.

"Hello, Potter," he growled, offering a gnarled hand for Harry and Hermione to shake. "Keeping undercover?"

"Yeah," Harry replied grinning.

"Keeping your mouth shut is only half of the act," Moody said. "Learning not to draw attention to yourself and to act naturally is the other half. That's something we Aurors always have to do. Should be right up your alley."

"Are we having a guard at the wedding?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah," Moody answered heavily. "The Ministry assigned a small force of Aurors to watch over the wedding to make sure it's safe. The Order thinks Voldemort suspects Potter will be there. The teachers will be there too for extra protection."

"Right, well, it's time for us to go," Lupin said. "Harry, if you could take the potion, please..."

Lupin handed Harry a small bottle which Harry drank.

Moody watched with mild interest as Harry transformed back into Patrick Simons just as Ron came in looking disgruntled and wearing his white robes making him look like a carrot in an ice cream.

"Right, come on then," Moody grunted, jamming a black bowler hat on his head and turning to leave.

Harry made to follow Moody but Lupin grabbed him by the arm.

"Harry, you can't go with them. They're going by Floo Network and you'll draw ministry attention. It will be too suspicious, even with your new identity."

"How am I getting there, then?" Harry asked.

"You'll be Apparating with me and then you can blend in with the others after the wedding is underway," Lupin replied.

"We'll see you soon then," Ron said to Harry before he and Hermione followed Moody out of the kitchen.

When Harry and Lupin were the only ones left, Lupin began pacing up and down looking agitated while Harry sat down and watched him.

"Is it likely we'll be attacked at the wedding?"

"No," Lupin answered in a worried voice. "But we're not taking any chances."

They waited for an hour before Lupin finally stopped pacing and said, "Alright, I think that's long enough. Time for us to go, then."

Harry jumped up and they left the house, stepping into the frosty morning.

"You know how to Apparate now, I believe?"

Harry nodded.

"But I still haven't passed my Apparating test..."

"Then I will guide you," Lupin said kindly offering his arm and Harry gripped it.

"On the count of three then, Harry. One...two...three."

Harry moved forwards into thin air and felt the familiar sensation of squeezing through a rubber tube.

The next moment, Harry was gasping for air outside the gates of Hogwarts.

"Are you alright, Patrick ?" Lupin asked with concern.

"Yeah, I'm fine, thanks," Harry gulped, massaging his throat.

Lupin smiled and lead the way past the statues of the winged boars that flanked the gates and up the drive. But instead of going through the oaken front doors, they turned and began to walk across the grounds towards the lake, where Harry could see in the distance, a large group of people were gathered.

Harry felt a lump rise in his throat as he remembered that it was this very place beside the lake where Dumbledore's funeral was staged...

Tables as long as the house tables in the Great Hall had been set up on the grass and were laden with silver platters of every kind of refreshment imaginable. Sweets, biscuits, small cakes, pastries, cheese and crackers, cocktail sausages, jugs of Butterbeer, flagons of pumpkin juice, countless bottles of Firewhiskey and champagne...

Harry tore his hungry eyes away from the food and saw that chairs had been set in rows right beside the lake. He was forcibly reminded of Dumbledore's funeral again, as the chairs had been set the exact same way as they had been a few months ago...A wooden stage had also been erected in front of the sea of chairs with a podium put in the centre of it. An archway of huge, blossoming flowers of all colours stood over the podium.

Bill and Fleur were greeting the guests as Harry and Lupin approached.

"Ah, Lupin," Bill called enthusiastically, turning away from a guest he had just shaken hands with and beaming. "Thanks for coming."

"It is a pleasure. I would not have missed this special occasion," Lupin replied, shaking Bill's hand, conjuring a large gift wrapped in curly silver ribbon out of thin air and handing it to him.

"And Patrick!" Bill added in a loud voice.

As Harry shook Bill's hand, the corners of his mouth twitched and he tipped Harry a wink.

"Hi, Bill," Harry said, grinning. "Nice to see you again."

Fleur's smile stretched on her lips too as Harry turned to her. She was wearing a beautiful golden tiara for the wedding. She swooped down and kissed him on both sides of the cheek.

"Patrick! I 'am so 'appy you could come!"

"Thanks, Fleur." Harry could feel both places where she had kissed him on the cheek burn.

"I 'ope you both enjoy ze party."

"Well will, thank you," said Lupin before giving Harry a small prod in the back.

Harry caught on and nodded swiftly before ducking into the crowd leaving Lupin to continue his chat with Bill and Fleur.

He weaved his way through the chattering people, trying to find Ron's freckles or Hermione's bushy hair, searching the faces...

With a great leap of his heart, Harry saw neither distinguishing features of his friends, but a man twice the size of a normal person and easily spotted over the rest of the party guests.

Excitement flooding his chest, Harry fought his way towards the bearded form of none other then...

"Hagrid!"

The Hogwarts gamekeeper turned around and stared down at Harry in somewhat surprise. He was wearing a horrible brown suit with a chequered yellow tie. He had also attempted to tame his hair with what seemed like copious amounts of gel. Harry stared at him. The only time he had seen Hagrid attempt to look formal was when to put up a show for Madam Maxime and for an appeal to save his Hippogriff, Buckbeak.

"Hullo! Yer at the wedding too? What's yer name?"

"Hagrid, it's me," Harry said, lowering his voice and giving him a meaningful look.

Hagrid frowned and his brow furrowed in confusion.

"Pardon me?"

Harry stared at Hagrid, dumbfounded. Did Hagrid not know of Harry's disguise and new identity?

"I'm Ron and Hermione's friend," Harry hinted heavily. "Patrick."

Harry scrutinized Hagrid's face closely for any signs of dawning comprehension.

"Ron n' Hermione's friend? Blimey, is that so? I've never seen you before at Hogwarts..."

Harry sighed inwardly. Obviously, Hagrid did not know about Harry's disguise.

"Say..." Hagrid leaned closer to Harry with a serious and purposeful look on his face. "Yer Ron n' Hermione's friend, eh? I 'sppose you might know something 'bout Harry Potter?..."

Harry thought for a moment. Hagrid did not know that he was Harry. He could not risk telling him now. Not if there was the possibility of Death Eaters missing. No, he would have to play up to his new role.

"I'm sorry," Harry answered, trying to keep his face impassive. "Don't you know? Harry Potter's dead. It was in the papers."

A quick glance at Hagrid's expression told Harry that Hagrid knew he was not dead. Hagrid knew he had gone into hiding...

"Ah," Hagrid said disappointedly and looking crestfallen. "S' okay, then."

"'Agrid!"

A handsome woman as large as Hagrid with a beaky nose and olive skin was moving gracefully towards them, oblivious to the guests that were hastily scurrying out of her way, as if afraid they would be trampled. She was dressed in a majestic, flowing black dress.

"Madame Maxime!" Hagrid boomed spreading his arms so they could embrace.

Harry wondered why Madame Maxime was here at the wedding for a moment. Then he remembered she was Fleur's headmistress.

"And 'oo 'av we here?" she asked, turning to survey Harry with mild interest after kissing Hagrid on the cheek.

"This is Patrick," Hagrid introduced. "He's a student at Hogwarts. Patrick, this is Madame Maxime, headmistress of Beauxbatons 'cademy."

"It eez a pleasure to meet you," Madame Maxime said politely, shaking Harry's hand.

"Thank you, Madame Maxime," Harry replied courteously.

"I 'ope you can excuse 'Agrid and I?"

"Of course," Harry nodded.

Hagrid took Madame Maxime by the hand and they both disappeared (though Harry could see their heads bobbing over everyone else's) into the crowd.

He turned and found himself staring at one of the long tables of food. Someone moved out of his vision to reveal Ron and Hermione collecting food from and conversing in low voices, standing next to a magnificent, glittering ice sculpture of a unicorn frozen with icicles.

At once, Harry dodged his way through the forest of people towards them.

"Ron, Hermione!"

"Patrick!" Ron cried.

"We were getting so worried..." Hermione said, her voice cracking with intense relief.

"Kingsley, Tonks, Lupin and Moody are here," Ron informed Harry. "They're watching the wedding with some other Aurors to make sure we aren't attacked."

"Professor McGonagall's helping manage everything as well," Hermione added.

"Yeah. Hagrid's here too," Harry told them.

"What?" Ron and Hermione said together.

"Didn't you see him?"

"No," Ron said, accompanied by Hermione's nodding.

"He came with Madame Maxime."

"Madame Maxime's here too?"

"I can see them now," Hermione said, pointing. Ron and Harry craned their necks to see Hagrid and Madame Maxime sharing a large glass of Firewhisky, both giggling and red-faced.

Ron made a disgusting, retching sound and Hermione rolled her eyes.

Harry turned to the table, shaking his head and reaching for a delicious-looking jam scone when he heard a voice say, "'Scuse me, you are both 'Arry Potter's friends?"

Harry turned around and saw Fleur's little sister, Gabrielle wearing a handsome laurel wreath and a sparkling pale gold dress.

"Uh, yeah..." Ron said uneasily, as Hermione cast him a sharp look of warning. "...why?"

"It eez...well..." Gabrielle said uncomfortably, twisting her hands. "I would like to know...I need to know..."

"Know what?" Hermione asked cautiously. Gabrielle did not notice Harry standing there, having taken the Polyjuice potion.

"You are his close friends...and you both know if eet is true..."

Harry, Ron and Hermione all waited for her to speak. Gabrielle drew in a deep breath and said in a rush, "Is eet really true 'e is dead?"

Harry hastily stifled his sigh of relief.

"I'm sorry, Gabrielle," Hermione said gently. "But I'm afraid it's true. He's dead. Harry's dead."

Gabrielle looked momentarily shocked as if though Hermione had slapped her. Hermione saw this at once.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Hermione said quickly.

Gabrielle nodded and without warning, burst into tears.

Ron's mouth fell open and he mouthed wordlessly whilst Hermione looked very alarmed.

"I'm sorry...I didn't mean to..." Hermione said, casting frightened glances at the people in the vicinity who were turning to watch Gabrielle cry. "...please don't cry, Gabrielle..."

"It eez...just...oh," Gabrielle gulped.

"What eez going on here?" demanded a voice.

A beautiful woman with her silvery hair tied into an elegant bun swept over. Harry guessed that she was Fleur and Gabrielle's mother.

She cast an angry look at the three of them while Gabrielle continued to sob.

"'Ow dare you make my daughter cry," she snapped at them.

"We didn't make her cry," Ron retorted indignantly.

Gabrielle's mother's eyes narrowed as she took in Ron's red hair and freckles.

"You...are a Weezley boy," she said disdainfully.

"My name is Ron, Mrs. Delacour," said Ron coldly.

Mrs. Delacour stiffened at Ron's rudeness, then turned to Gabrielle.

"Oh, my sweet Gabrielle. Tell me, did theeze 'orrible children make you cry?"

"No, it wuzzn't zere fault," Gabrielle hiccoughed.

Mrs. Delacour threw a glare at Harry, Ron and Hermione.

"Come Gabrielle, I do not want you talking to theeze kind of people..."

And she strode haughtily off with her daughter with her nose in the air.

"What was her problem?" Ron hissed.

"Dunno," Harry said looking after her. "But I don't like her much..."

"Patrick," Hermione said suddenly. "Ginny's coming this way!"

Harry's heart skipped a beat. He could not see Ginny. They made a vow to each other...

"I'll see you both later," Harry whispered and he darted away. But he had gone no more than a few paces when he stopped dead in his tracks.

A short woman with a toad-like face was walking directly towards him, her mouth stretched in a sinister smile, wearing a black bow for the wedding.

Harry looked wildly around for a spot to hide from Umbridge. He jumped behind a circle of people and ducked under the white tablecloth to hide beneath one of the tables.

Cursing silently and praying that Umbridge had not seen him, Harry wondered why she was even at the wedding in the first place. He guessed that she wanted to assist the Ministry's operation to oversee the event safely as an excuse to find and talk to him.

His heart thudding against his chest, he watched her heels pass the table without pausing, then he remembered that he was disguised. She would not be able to recognize him.

Somewhere above him, he could hear a pair of voices and he froze, recognizing the voice of Mrs. Weasley.

"-your daughter Gabrielle is an angel," Mrs. Weasley was saying.

"Unfortunately, I cannot say ze same for your children," said the second voice which he recognized as Mrs. Delacour's.

"Why is that so?" Harry heard Mrs. Weasley ask politely, though he could sense the quavering irritation in her voice.

"Your youngest son I theenk, is very rude."

"Ron?"

"Yes. He made Gabrielle cry, Mrs. Weezley."

"Surely not! Ron would never do such a thing!"

"Your family must be in a terrible state."

"What makes you say that?"

"Ze obvious air of ze state of shabbiness zat hangs upon you..."

Harry heard Mrs. Weasley titter angrily.

"And what is that supposed to mean?" said Mrs. Weasley sharply.

"Only zat it is very noticeable your family eez below standards..."

"Below standards?" Mrs. Weasley nearly shrieked. "Do you mean by our living standards? We are poor? Is that what you mean?"

"Precisely," Mrs. Delacour said in a superior tone.

"Does it matter my family is not as rich as yours, Mrs. Delacour?" Mrs. Weasley demanded hotly.

"I am seemply a little concerned about ze welfare of Fleur..."

"So you don't think our family's good enough for your daughter? Are you saying we're not rich enough for you? Our Bill's not good enough for your Fleur?"

"Judging from your cheeldren's rudeness, your poor state...it eez not good for our daughter, Mrs. Weezley..."

"And you're rich, are you?"

"I," said Mrs. Delacour in a dignified and arrogant voice, "am a famous star and one of ze most highly paid models in ze world. I cannot have a scruffy boy who deels wiz dangerous beasts as my son-in-law. Your family's poverty will tarnish my reputation! It eez not wholesome for my family!"

"Scruffy boy! Tarnish your reputation?" Mrs. Weasley shouted. "How dare you! You filthy, vile woman!"

Harry ducked out from under the table the same time as Fleur and Bill appeared, glancing at Mrs. Weasley who was scarlet in the face with anger and Mrs. Delacour who wore an ugly expression.

"What eez going on here?" Fleur asked swiftly.

"I'll tell you what's going on!" Mrs. Weasley snarled, trembling with fury. She pointed a shaking finger at Mrs. Delacour. "Your mother just insulted me and my family! She doesn't think we are rich enough for Bill to marry you!"

Bill looked shocked and Fleur looked her mother in the eye and said, "Is zis true, muzzer?"

"Fleur, I do not want you marrying zis boy," Mrs. Delacour hissed. "and I do not want to be related to zis filthy people!"

Everyone reeled in shock.

"You hypocrite! How can you judge Ron for being rude, now?" Harry said coldly.

"Be quiet, child. Zis is none of your beezness," Mrs. Delacour snapped.

"Muzzer!" Fleur exclaimed, both shocked and reproachful.

"Darling, I told you zat zis wedding was not a good idea..."

"But you promised!" Fleur cried. "You promised when I grew up, I could choose whoever I wanted to be my husband!"

"Be zat as it may, but I am not allowing you to marry zis...zis...Weezly," she spat.

Bill's face darkened and Mrs. Weasley looked menacing.

"Is there something wrong, here?" said a horribly familiar, girlish voice.

Umbridge had come to investigate the source of the fighting and Harry saw her eyes narrow as she surveyed Mrs. Weasley and Bill.

Harry felt anger pound in his veins and rush to his head. Mrs. Weasley glanced at him and seemed to notice this. She moved beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder in warning.

"Who are you?" Fleur asked harshly, distaste on her face.

"I am Dolores Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic," replied Umbridge. "I am here to assist in the safety operations of your wedding."

"Well then, you're not needed here," Mrs. Weasley said through gritted teeth.

Umbridge turned to her, giving what she obviously thought was a sincere smile.

"I assure you, my dear Molly, I am quite well within my limits. I am merely seeing if I can be of any help here."

"Well, you can't," Harry shot at her.

Umbridge's eyes moved slowly to Harry who felt suddenly unsettled. He hoped to himself that Umbridge could not perform Legilemency.

"And you are..." she enquired slowly.

"Patrick Simons," Mrs. Weasley said at once. "He's a friend of Ron."

Umbridge's gaze moved back to Mrs. Weasley's angry face and she forced her expression back to determined sweetness.

"Of course," she said sweetly.

"What eez going on?" asked a small voice curiously.

Everyone looked around to see Gabrielle standing there, staring back at all the people with a confused face.

"Eet is nothing, Gabrielle," Mrs. Delacour said roughly before turning to Mrs. Weasley. "As I wuz saying...your children's behaviour eez appalling-"

"And what evidence is there of that?" challenged Harry.

"I can bear witness," Umbridge chimed in.

Mrs. Weasley rounded on Umbridge. "You?" she said furiously.

"Of course," Umbridge said in a sugary voice. "As I have been Mr. Weasley's teacher, I can provide truthful feedback, and rest assured..." Umbridge gave Mrs. Delacour a little bow, "...that I agree with you without hesitation. Mrs. Weasley's children are indeed rude and quite incapable of good manners."

Mrs. Weasley turned incandescent with rage, Harry, Bill and Fleur standing next to her while Mrs. Delacour, Umbridge stood side by side facing them, Gabrielle looking frightened and clutching her mother's hand tightly.

"What eez all zis shouting about?"

Madame Maxime had arrived with Hagrid right behind her as well, looking from Mrs. Delacour's dirty expression to Mrs. Weasley's face reddened with anger.

Umbridge turned a nasty brick red herself at the sight of Hagrid.

"You!" she gasped in suppressed rage and looking horrified. Hagrid was looking at her with equal hatred in his face.

"What eez all zis shouting about?" Madame Maxime repeated. She did not notice Umbridge was eyeing her with a mixture of loathing and fear. Harry knew what she was thinking.

"Madamemoiselle Maxime!" Mrs. Delacour said at once. "I have decided that the wedding will not go ahead!"

A stunned wave of shock passed over the group.

"Pardonner?" Madame Maxime exclaimed incredulously. "My dear Antoinette! Why would you say zat?"

"I 'ave discussed my concerns wiz you, before," said Antoinette brusquely.

"Antoinette, don't do zis again..."

"I decide whezzer a man is fit to marry my daughter! And I 'ave decided zis man is not fit to marry her!" Antoinette Delacour said fiercely.

"No," Fleur said quietly.

"Excuse me?" Mrs. Delacour said disbelievingly.

"No," said Fleur in a louder and stronger voice. "I will not leesten to you anymore! You 'ave always controlled my life! Always! But you will not decide whom I will marry! I will choose my own 'usband!"

Antoinette's lips went white and she looked dumbfounded.

"What did you say to me?" she whispered dangerously.

"I will decide myself who-"

Slap!

Everyone froze in shock and stood silent as Mrs. Delacour had just raised a hand and slapped her daughter across the face. Even Umbridge was speechless.

Fleur looked stunned for a moment; her left cheek had a red mark on it where her mother had slapped her.

"I will not be spoken to like zat! Come, Gabrielle," Antoinette said to her youngest daughter. "We are leaving."

And turning on her heels, she marched away without a backwards glace, pulling Gabrielle by the hand with her.

As soon as she had gone, everyone started moving again, murmuring about what had just happened. Umbridge was wearing a very smug and satisfied expression on her toad-like face.

Mrs. Weasley, Bill and Madame Maxime converged on Fleur who now had tears in her eyes. Umbridge slipped away with a dark, threatening look from Hagrid.

Harry's eyes however, were caught by a magnificent bird, the size of a swan with wonderful red and gold plumage sitting in the branch of a tree nearby, its black eyes fixed on Harry and blinking peacefully.

He felt his heart began to beat fast. Why didn't he notice the bird before? Or did it just appear there? Could it be...Fawkes?

At once, as if though sensing Harry's gaze, the phoenix spread its wings and soared off towards the castle; and Harry followed.

As Harry chased Fawkes, the phoenix sang a soft, encouraging note, as if trying to tell Harry to follow him.

Fawkes lead Harry through the front doors and up the marble staircase. Harry tried to keep the phoenix in sight as it soared above him, letting out more soft, quavering notes of encouragement...

And it dawned on Harry where they were heading.

The stone gargoyle that guarded Dumbledore's office was standing to the side and the wall was already open. Harry felt his heart suddenly beat a great deal faster. What did this mean?

Fawkes flew past the lifeless gargoyle and up the spiral staircase with Harry struggling to keep up.

Harry's bewilderment and excited anticipation increased. Why was Fawkes leading him to Dumbledore's office? Did this mean...

Harry reached the top of the staircase, panting slightly and with a great leap of his heart, saw Fawkes' tail whip out of sight and the door to the office ajar.

His fingers trembling and his entire body shaking with excitement, Harry reached out, pushed the door open and walked inside.