Love's Battle Revisited

Chapter 13 - Harry and Ginny's Wedding

It took about six weeks to get everything planned out to everyone's satisfaction, but even with magic on their side, all concerned were convinced that they'd manage to forget something crucial at the worst possible time. Of course, it usually happens that the anticipation is far worse than the reality, so hopefully they were worrying for nothing. Just the same, with all the myriad details to sort out, it would truly be a miracle if they managed to pull it off without at least one thing going wrong...and as the Muggle saying known as Murphy's Law went: "If something is going to go wrong, it will--and at the worst possible time!" Of course, all participants intended to do everything they could to see that that didn't happen, but even at that, could make no guarantees as to how the wedding and reception were going to turn out.

* * * * *

As it turned out, the main problem involved getting the children organised enough so that they managed to follow instructions at the proper time. Harry knew his girls were at least fairly well-behaved, but couldn't be sure about the boy David, considering he was Draco's son. He liked to think that Ginny's genes would be dominant as far as his behaviour was concerned, but again, couldn't be sure...simply hope for the best. He wanted to say something to her, see if there was anything she could do, even talk to Draco, in order to see to it that things went as smoothly as possible--but he didn't have a chance to do so for days, and when he did, it was the wedding day and he wouldn't see her until the wedding...and that was if all went well.

Whoever would have thought he and Gin would actually manage to reach today, their wedding day? Not that he regretted his girls' birth for a moment, but couldn't help thinking now that if he'd truly been smart, they'd have belonged to him and Ginny instead of him and Hermione. Even with the former's temper and all, Harry sensed that of the two, she was the better mother--not to mention more of a disciplinarian, having grown up around the loving but strict Arthur and Molly Weasley.

Also, by this time, Luna was showing her current pregnancy, and you couldn't have found a happier father-to-be than Ron. He was almost extreme in his solicitousness and care for her and the baby's health and safety--so much so that there were times, Luna later confessed, that she was hard-pressed not to take a page out of Ginny's book and send a Bat-Bogey Hex between her husband's eyes. "Look at it this way, Luna," he told her as he waited with her for the other bridesmaids. "Wouldn't you rather he care a little too much than not enough?"

"You have a point there, Harry," she had to admit. "Which reminds me--do you and Ginny intend to have more children once you're married?"

"I certainly wouldn't mind, but that's really up to Gin," he reminded her. "After all, she may decide that three children are enough for any one woman to have."

"She may also decide to do a Molly Weasley and have as many as her mum did. I suggest you be prepared for that as well," Luna countered.

"Well, if she is, she's almost halfway there already--but I'd keep in mind that only one of the three children she has is mine. For us to have seven children together, she'd have to have a total of nine...and I can't be sure that Gin will want that many, even with me."

"And I'm convinced that she'll want just as many as she can possibly carry once she finally manages to marry you. After all, she's got ten years of lost time to make up for!" Luna's knowing smile prompted an involuntary blush from her former classmate and long-time friend. "Whoever thought that you of all people could still blush, Harry? Ten years ago I could have seen it, but not now."

"Oh, it can still happen--if someone happens to say something like you just said and I'm not expecting it."

Harry looked up at the sound of a nearby door opening and saw that it was the other bridesmaids, some other friends of Ginny's by the name of Susan Bones, who had married Dean Thomas, and Hannah Abbott, who had married Ernie MacMillan. They smiled and beckoned to the two of them; he and Luna exchanged glances and joined them.

"It's almost time for the wedding, you two. We'd better get inside before the others go ballistic. 'Mione and Molly are keeping Ginny under wraps until everyone's in the church, not to mention keeping an eye on the kids."

The group ducked into the church vestibule; Ron was already at the front, waiting with the wizard from the Ministry's Division of Marriage and Children who was there to join Harry and Ginny in marriage. When Harry finally reached him, Ron all but hissed in a stage-whisper, "Where the bloody hell have you been, mate? I thought you were going to be late!"

"Just chatting with Luna. She's gone now with the other bridesmaids," Harry explained.

"What are you doing being so friendly with my wife?" his friend teased. "Remember, you shouldn't be looking around. You're getting married in half an hour, you know."

Harry was all ready with a cheeky retort when he heard the Wedding March start. In spite of himself, his heart began to pound with a mixture of nervousness and anticipation. It had taken ten years for he and Ginny to reach this moment, but what mattered was that it was finally here--and once they were married, he had no intention of ever letting her go. The next thing he knew, his Lily and their Lily (or more accurately, Rose) began walking down the aisle, scattering rose petals the whole time, their hair up and wreathed in blue silk flowers, matching their long, lacy blue dresses. A short while later David came along, carrying the small blue satin pillow with the rings tied to them, dressed in a miniature tux covered by blue dress robes.

Harry was pleased to see that he was on his best behaviour and could only hope that Gin had managed to have a talk with Draco and make sure David behaved himself, if only for his mum's sake. He wasn't fond of the fact that Draco and their other son, Daryl, were seated on Ginny's side, a few rows back from the Weasley family, but eventually had to admit he couldn't have been anywhere else, considering his and Draco's life-long animosity.

He was also pleased to see that most of his old friends from school were on his side, including Neville, who was sitting arm-in-arm with someone Harry had never imagined him ever fancying--Lavender Brown, Ron's old flame. Of course, stranger things had happened, but still, it wasn't something that one saw every day. He was also pleased to see that Remus and Tonks had managed to make it, also sitting on his side. The latter was showing her second pregnancy and Remus was holding the hand of their first child, a five-year-old son named Sirius James, named for his two closest friends.

Harry frankly hoped that Remus's presence meant what he thought it did--that he was ready to reinstate him as godson to both himself and Sirius now that he was actually marrying Ginny. They had continued to correspond and Harry had eventually brought Remus up to date on his life so far, but the latter still wouldn't allow him to resume calling him Moony yet. He got the distinct feeling that Remus wasn't about to give in any sooner than he deemed proper, even though the tone of their letters had gotten increasingly affectionate, albeit in a fraternal, familial manner.

Harry was brought back to reality when Ron whispered, "Mate, she's coming! Look!"

Once Harry lifted his head and gazed down the aisle, he was instantly enchanted by the vision in white lace topped with red-gold hair almost down to her waist and a fingertip-length veil, her dainty hands carrying a bouquet of blue roses (Hermione had charmed them) and white lilies held together with blue and white ribbons which dangled almost all the way to the floor. He was certain that nothing and no one could have been more beautiful than his bride; in fact, she seemed almost too beautiful to be real, much less belong to him.

The next thing he knew, Arthur was relinquishing his daughter to Harry and whispered, "Take good care
of my baby girl, Harry. I don't want to ever see her anything but happy."

Harry smiled and whispered back, "I'll do everything in my power, Arthur; you may be sure of that." Then Arthur moved off to join Molly even as Harry and Ginny turned to face the Ministry wizard with the power to perform wizarding marriages.

Once everyone was properly situated, the ceremony began.

* * * * *

The next memory Harry had was of everyone at the reception; as for the wedding, the only thing that seemed real to him was his vision of Ginny and the kiss they had shared after taking their vows--such a long, passionate kiss that everyone watching wasn't sure if they would ever come up for air again. Definitely reminiscent of their first kiss back in his sixth year and her fifth when they snogged in front of everyone in Gryffindor House after the winning of the Quidditch Cup.

Colin Creevey had been chosen to take pictures at the wedding and had, in fact, taken one of him and Ginny's kiss there; other than that, the majority were taken at the reception. Their first dance as husband and wife, the sharing of the wedding cake, things like that. Ginny had even thrown her bouquet and it had landed in Hermione's arms. There had even been a picture of Hermione taken holding it. Harry was frankly convinced that that had been by design, but even if the old tradition held, he couldn't be sure just who she would eventually marry.

Just then Harry heard Remus's distinctive voice. "Well, Harry, looks like you've proven yourself worthy of being mine and Padfoot's godson again."

The younger man could scarcely believe he'd heard right. "Does that mean I'm reinstated?"

Remus smiled. "You can even call me Moony again."

With that, the two hugged fiercely, tears in both men's eyes, not to mention those of their women. "Thank you, Moony. You have no idea what that means to me."

"Oh, I think I have some idea," Remus countered with a laugh as he released Harry. "And before I forget--this is my son." As he beckoned Tonks forward, the boy was holding his mother's hand, but released it to shake Harry's when his father said, "Sirius, this is Harry, my and Padfoot's godson. He teaches the same thing at Hogwarts I used to--Defence Against the Dark Arts. If you're lucky, you might even have him as your teacher when you're old enough. He really knows his stuff." He again met Harry's eyes and said, "That is, assuming you intend to stay on here."

"As long as they'll have me," Harry confirmed.

Just then, Minerva McGonagall came up to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek, something the very reserved Headmistress had rarely been known to do. Dumbledore had frankly been more demonstrative than she, but this day she had obviously decided to make an exception.

"Albus's portrait said to give you his best wishes for you and Ginny to have a long, happy life together, Harry. Be sure to take good care of her now."

"Thanks, Minerva. We can use all the good wishes we can get. I assume the same goes for you."

"I assure you, it does. I wouldn't kiss just anyone, you know." Harry laughed at the almost regal tone of McGonagall's voice, even as he knew she meant every word she said.

His smile widened when she moved over to hug Ginny and repeat her kiss, then whisper, "Congratulations, dear. Take good care of Harry, now--and never forget that you're also welcome here as long as you're willing to stay and teach."

Ginny returned the hug, her own eyes misty. "Thank you, Minerva. And don't worry, I'll take the best possible care I can of Harry. He's pretty special to me, you know...not to mention to our children." With that, the three girls came up to their father and hugged him, and the boys did the same for their mother.

Ginny caught a glimpse of Draco as he approached; he was now Head of Slytherin House, having given such a substantial financial contribution to the school last year that the school governors had given him an honorary professorship. He had mellowed over time, of course, and she couldn't help but notice how handsome he looked in his dress robes.

"Congratulations, Gin. Best of luck to you," he murmured as he kissed her on the cheek and hugged her. "This is one time I agree with McGonagall, Potter. Take good care of Ginny now, or you'll have me to answer to. Remember, she's still the mother of my boys."

"Don't worry, Draco; I don't intend for anything to ever happen to her."

"It had better not. Keep in mind, my earlier threat still stands if you ever fall down on the job."

Hermione had noted Draco's approach and stood nearby, wand in hand, albeit unobtrusively, but still ready to use it if she deemed it necessary to protect Harry. "Is everything all right, Harry?" she asked of her ex-husband, who now belonged to her best friend.

"Fine, 'Mione. I don't think Draco intends to do anything harmful."

Just the same, she kept a wary eye on him until he moved away from Harry, Ginny and McGonagall. "Sorry to spoil your fun, Granger, but not even I'm low enough to attack Potter on his wedding day."

With that, Draco took his leave, the boys in tow, after they had said goodbye to their mother.

She approached them after Draco had disappeared into the crowd, giving the newlyweds both a hug and kiss on the cheek. "Congratulations to you both. Every happiness. Have you any idea where you're going on your honeymoon, Gin?"

"Not really. All Harry's told me is that it's someplace that he believes his parents went on theirs. If you like, I can tell you about it when we get back."

Harry gave his wife a scandalised look, which wasn't lost on her. "Don't worry, luv, not any of the gory details, just a general idea of what the area looks like."

Harry breathed a sigh of relief in spite of himself. "Which reminds me, we'd better say goodbye to your family and get on with it," he told his wife. "'Mione, can you take care of the gifts until we get back? We're not going to have time to open them until then."

"Sure, Harry. Glad to." With that, the couple swung around on their heels and went to find the elder Weasleys and their other sons, including Ron and Luna, to bid them farewell.