Harry Potter and the Loss of Innocence

Ioci

Story Summary:
Harry is stuck at Privet Drive and has much to think about. A crazed wizard out to kill him. The death of his godfather and friend. The Prophesy looming in front of him. And not even one note from his friends. That's been Harry's summer holiday thus far, so can you blame him for wanting it to end? But should Harry really be looking forward to a year filled with surprises of all kinds and not all of them good? *HP sixth year fic following OotP and not incorporating HBP*

Chapter 45

Chapter Summary:
Here's the start of the happy ending folks! Just two more chapter of Loss of Innocence. The wedding goes as well as planned... with a few slight, er, changes. I'm sure the twins had nothing to do with them!
Posted:
09/02/2005
Hits:
4,154
Author's Note:
Gracias to Pixie, F.Pixie, Chris, and Cassie! You all are my saviors!


Chapter Forty-Five: Here Comes the Bride

Love wandered inside
Stronger then you
Stronger then me
And now that it has begun
We cannot turn back
We can only turn into one.
~Mariah Carey: Whenever You Call

"Harry Potter!" Tonks said, storming into the Hospital Ward of Hogwarts. Harry turned his head from the spot on the ceiling that he had been staring at for hours to look at the angry woman. Behind her, Harry noticed a peeved, but smiling Remus.

"Yes?" Harry asked, not sure what he possibly could have done to get Tonks angry. He had been stuck in St. Mungo's for little over a week after they had rescued him, and then in the Hospital Wing for the past three days.

"What in the world made you think you'd get away with it?" Tonks asked him.

"Away with what?" Harry asked, completely confused.

"Operation Wedding," Tonks replied simply.

"Oh," Harry said, a smile creeping on his lips. "I'll cancel it if you want," he offered. Tonks opened her mouth to yell, but then shut it. She hadn't been expecting that reply. "Who gave it away?"

"We walked into the library while Mrs. Weasley was cleaning the wedding robes for us," Remus answered. "We guessed what they were for, and then we talked with the twins. They were very willing to throw you under the bus."

"Oh," Harry answered with a huge smile. "So, Tonks, do you want me to cancel it?"

"No," she answered quickly. "I mean," she continued hurriedly as Harry started to laugh at her, "you've gone to all that trouble. Is that why you guys were so panicky about us eloping?"

"Yeah," Harry replied. "When you see the twins next, let them know that I want to see them." Tonks smiled and the couple left. Harry smiled up at the spot on the ceiling. They were so perfect for each other. Harry was jealous. Life with Ginny hadn't been good since he got back. Every time he saw her, he couldn't help but think of the minutes he had thought her dead and his threats on her life.

Something was different... with him. He had changed. Ginny was perfect for him, at least for the him of his past. But now, now Harry wasn't sure. He had threatened her. He had been moments away from casting the killing curse on her. She didn't deserve a guy like that. She deserved someone a billion times better then that.

Harry thought back to his torture. He didn't really like this line of thought, but what else did he have to do? Thoughts started to swim past his mind's eye. The look on Nose Picker's face as Harry writhed on the ground. The man always seemed bored, bored with causing him an immense amount of pain. Scarface passed by, reminding him of how close he was to killing the man and Ginny. Harry felt his body quake; he never wanted to get that close to killing a person again. But he would. He had to kill Voldemort.

"I don't want to kill," Harry told the spot on the ceiling. "I just want to live. I want forgiveness. For what I did to Ginny. For what I almost did to her. For what I did to Healer. I want the voices in my head to quiet and leave me alone. I want to forget about everything that just happened. I wish Remus hadn't told me the Prophecy."

Remus had, at Harry's urging, told him the Prophecy. He had been curious about it, and now he knew. All the memories of acceptance had been wiped out of his memory along with the Prophecy itself, so Harry was where he was last summer. Physically hurt, emotionally injured, mentally destroyed, and all he could think of was that damn Prophecy!

Harry sighed the sigh of an old man who had lived a long and hard life; and yet he wasn't even seventeen.

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"I can't believe we're doing this," Ron whispered to Harry the morning of July third. "I mean, I understand that it's tradition and all, but seriously. We're too young for this." Harry rolled his eyes at Ron.

"You don't have to be a part of this," Harry answered, feeling the butterflies come in a wave. "You're not the best man."

"No, but somehow I'm here," Ron answered with a yawn. "And it's way too early for me to be up." Harry yawned as well. Ron was right, it was only 2:55, but tradition held that the best man wake the groom at 3 AM. Harry walked up to Remus' front door and turned it carefully. Creeping through the house they made it to Remus's room. Opening the door slowly and carefully, Harry snuck into the room.

Taking out a package filled with Weasley firecrackers, the two boys started to line them up around Remus' bed. Harry kept one eye on the sleeping werewolf. Lighting them with a quiet spell, Ron and Harry retreated to a far corner and plugged their ears.

The quiet of the night was disturbed by the loud explosions. Remus sat upright and swore, grabbing his wand. "What the bloody hell!" Ron and Harry started to laugh as Remus spotted them through the haze and sparks. "Get your lousy butt over here, Potter! This is something I'd expect from Sirius or your dad, but not you!"

Harry laughed as Remus continued to tell him off half-heartedly. Remus was in a great mood, it was his wedding day after all. "Seeing that Harry isn't legal yet," Ron said, teasing the almost, but not quite 17-year-old, "We aren't going to spend the wee hours of the day drinking, like tradition. My mum would have your hide before you even got both feet onto the beach."

"So what are we going to do?" Remus asked with a smile on his face.

"Butterbeers," Harry replied with a laugh. "I don't want Mrs. Weasley killing us, so this will work."

"Forget her," Remus said. "Thia would get me first." They spent the next few hours talking and drinking the butterbeer, after all, it wouldn't be good if the Boy Who Lived was skinned alive the day of a wedding.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Where are we?" Remus asked, looking out at the ocean. They had taken a portkey to this location only moments before. The sun was in the sky swinging toward the horizon. They had just sped ahead several hours.

"Not sure," Harry said with a shrug. "Thia was being a continuous snot about it, and wouldn't tell us for months." Harry looked for the pathway that he had been told about. Finding it, Harry led the groom and Ron toward the top of a small peninsula that stuck out into the water. Reaching the top, they saw a Wizarding village a little bigger then Hogsmeade. Harry smiled when he saw Thia waving at them.

"Where are we?" Remus asked Thia the second they reached her.

"Tewantin, Australia," Thia answered. "We're using Bryant's private beach for the ceremony, tonight."

"Bryant?" Harry asked, highly doubting it.

"His wife is Australian," Thia answered with a shrug. "He bought it for her mainly, but he loves it down here. He started complaining about the cold and rain the first second he arrived in England."

"His wife?" Harry asked, having a hard time picturing Bryant with a wife.

"Don't say that to either of them," Thia said with a huge smile, picking up on Harry's train of thought. "Now, Tonks and company have taken over the guest house for Operation Bride. By the way, she loves the robe."

"You guys get the upstairs to the real house to get ready," Thia finished explaining. "Everything you need for this afternoon and evening is there. If you do need anything else, just let the oldest Bryant kid know what, give him some gold, and he'll get whatever you need." Harry nodded; it seemed that Remus had just realized why he was on the other side of the globe. "Remus," Thia informed him, as they stood outside the door to the house, "do not break her heart. I'll see you guys at six." Harry nodded and then between Ron and him they frog-marched him upstairs.

An hour later, Harry sat across from a nervous Remus. This was not just any nervous Remus, but one that had just gone through a nervous breakdown. Harry looked over at Shacklebolt and Tonks' cousin on her dad's side, Stevie. They shrugged, quite effectively saying that he had to deal with Remus, as the best man. They were only groom's men.

"Come again," Harry finally said, not really remembering everything Remus had babbled on about during his breakdown.

"Why I'm doing this?" Remus asked them, ignoring the question before. Harry had to feel bad for the older man. He was a wreck.

"Because you love Tonks and she loves you," Harry replied. As long as the questions were this easy, he'd be fine.

"But why? I'm ancient compared to her," Remus said, his voice sounding extremely confused.

"But you don't live that way," Harry told him. "You could if you wanted to. Just look at your life. But you don't, you live life as a Marauder. As a said Marauder, you have wooed the girl of your dreams and she is crazy enough to put up with your pranks for the rest of her life." He really wasn't the person to be giving advice about love to Remus. Ginny and he hadn't had one comfortable talk since he had been rescued.

"I'm insane," Remus stated simply.

"I know," Stevie said, stepping in to help. "You're marrying my cousin. Not any cousin, but Tonks. I actually feel bad for you," he finished with a smile. Remus' face fell, seeing that he took that the wrong way.

"I don't," Harry interjected, before any more damage could be done. After sending a quick glare at Stevie, Harry turned back to his friend. "You've got a great woman willing to marry you. You two are perfect for each other. And," Harry said with great ado, "if you don't go through with this, Thia will dig up your body, and kill you again, seeing that Auror Tonks beat her to you. Once you're dead, Sirius and my dad will never let you live it down. You have the perfect lady and you, a Marauder, are too afraid to walk down that aisle and marry her." Remus took a deep, steadying breath and smiled weakly at Harry.

"If you want, I'll go talk to Tonks," Harry offered. "Let her know that you'll be there and everything." Remus smiled thankfully, and Harry left the room hoping that there wouldn't be another meltdown like that. Walking the short distance to the guest house, Harry knocked on the door. Turning around as he waited, Harry stared out over the ocean. It was just as beautiful as he had always imagined it.

"Luv?" Ginny said, surprised to see him. Harry turned around, gulping as he did. There was Ginny, the most beautiful person in the world, and he had completely messed up his relationship with her. After a few minutes passed, with Harry staring at Ginny and Ginny waiting for Harry, Ginny finally lost her temper. "What do you want?"

"I have a... er... a message for Tonks," Harry stated, thrown off by her presence and anger. "Can I see her?" Ginny told him to wait outside and then she disappeared inside. Harry turned back around, kicking himself in the bum as he did so. He had officially screwed that up even more. What in the world was wrong with him? He had never had a problem talking to Ginny. But he had never threatened her before, or abandoned her before. He was on new ground with her, and he had no idea how to continue. Merlin, he wanted to keep the relationship. He wanted to keep it forever. He had finally realized, as Voldemort shifted through all the memories including Ginny, that he loved her.

Love. It was such a novel idea to him. It was something he had never thought he'd find. He remembered when he was a little kid, he'd watch parents with their kids at the park. The parents were so loving, kind, and generous to their children. Harry would spend afternoons watching one family and pretending to be one of them. It sounded so pathetic now, but wasn't that what he still did every time he visited the Weasleys? Pretend that he belonged with them?

Harry realized that too much time had passed since Ginny had left. Was Tonks having a meltdown as well? Harry knocked again, and an older woman who he didn't know opened the door this time. "Can I talk to Tonks? Remus sent a message for her," Harry told the woman.

"Well, if we could find her, then yes, you could," the woman replied. Harry noticed her accent and guessed that this might be Bryant's wife. The next second her words seeped in and Harry's jaw dropped.

"You can't find her?" Harry said, taken aback.

"No, we can't," she answered. "Come in, we're trying to figure out the last time anyone saw her." She led him into the living room and sat him down in the last open seat. The other ladies were already in the middle of their conversation.

"So we're all agreed that it was before the twins left?" Mrs. Weasley asked. There was a general nodding of heads. "Hello, Harry. How's Remus?"

"Well, when I left he was okay," Harry responded. "But before that, a nervous basket case. He sent me over to check up on Tonks."

"He sent the twins over less than forty-five minutes ago," Melissa said, stunned. "Is he so unsure about Tonks following through?"

"He didn't send the twins," Harry told them. "I've been with him since he got here, except for right now, and I haven't seen the twins here once."

"But they came with a message from him," Hermione said suspiciously. Harry shook his head.

"Nope, he didn't send them," Harry repeated again. "And they were the last people you saw with her?"

"They wouldn't," Thia let out dangerously. "Normally someone kidnaps the bride, to give the groom a heart attack. But we all decided that it wouldn't be a good thing for Remus. But obviously the twins thought his old heart could handle it."

Harry thought about everything he knew about the twins and their relationship with the couple. "I bet they did," Harry finally said. "What do I tell Remus? I'd rather not lie to him. Not on his wedding day."

"But we can't tell him the truth," a woman he didn't know said.

"I think we should," Thia finally said. "He'll probably freak, but in a better way then if we'd wait to tell him later. He'll just want to go search for the three and kill the twins. Better them then us." Harry nodded.

"That makes sense," Harry replied. "I'll go let him know." Thia nodded and Harry left. He walked across the yard, cursing the twins silently. He had to go tell Remus that Tonks was missing. Hopefully, the man would listen long enough to know that the twins had kidnapped her to be hilarious. He also hoped that Remus wouldn't kill the messenger, though Harry wouldn't blame him if he did.

"So?" Remus asked, stopping his pacing. He leaned against window sill and waited for Harry to answer. Harry took a deep breath and held up a hand to keep Remus quiet.

"You, um, know that the twins, er, like to joke around, right?" Harry asked the man. Remus nodded, a frown appearing on his face. "Well, would you find it funny if they 'kidnapped' her?" Remus shook his head. "Well, um, that's too bad, 'cause, um, that's what they did." Remus slumped into an armchair and rubbed at his face as if he was trying to iron out the wrinkles that had formed there.

"I thought Molly had told them expressly that they couldn't," Shacklebolt commented softly.

"When has that ever stopped the twins?" Remus asked the room. "We'll have to go along with this and find her. You sure she left with them, right?" Harry nodded. "She didn't realize that she wanted out and ran away?"

"No," Harry said patiently, more then willing to go through that all again to convince Remus she did actually love him. "She got herself kidnapped by two pranksters that she trusted. Where do we start?"

As if in answer to Harry's question, an owl he didn't recognize flew in through the open window. It landed on Remus' shoulder and hooted at him impatiently. Remus removed the note and the owl flew off. He read the letter and then handed it to Harry. Harry rolled his eyes; it was a scavenger hunt of sorts.

A house with a light. Go there for your next clue.

"They're horrible," Harry muttered. Harry passed it on to Shacklebolt, who passed it onto Stevie.

"That's just stupid," Stevie muttered, handing it back to Harry. "A lighthouse, of course." Harry nodded; no one ever said the twins were brilliant. Harry followed Remus down the stairs. Remus was about to bound right out of the house, when Harry stopped him. He had seen a boy of about 12 sitting on a chair swinging his legs.

"Are you the Bryant kid we're supposed to send on errands?" Harry asked him as politely as he could. The boy nodded and stood excitedly. "Name's Harry," Harry said, and proceeded to introduce the other guys.

"I'm Andrew," he said to them. "What can I get you?"

"Well, a bride actually," Remus told him, watching the boy's eyes pop out of his head.

"No," Harry reassured the boy. "We're being sent on a scavenger hunt to locate a friend. Seeing that we don't really know the place, it would be nice to have a guide."

"Sure," Andrew said, running to the door. "Where to?"

"The lighthouse," Remus said, following the boy out the door. They were running rather quickly, and Harry could tell that the boy had trained with his dad. They reached the old lighthouse and stared at it. Remus looked at it and cursed. "Where is that clue? It could be anywhere." Harry took out the note and looked at it again. There had to be more of a clue then this. Turning it over, Harry saw an arrow pointing up.

"Let's check the top," Harry said, showing them what he found.

"You can't get to the top without a broom," Andrew informed them. "I can go get us brooms if you want."

"That's a good idea," Harry agreed. "I'll go with you, so that I can carry a few back as well." Harry and Andrew took off at a sprint, Harry easily keeping up with the boy. Harry had been running through sword exercises throughout his stay with Voldemort. It had helped pass time and occupy his mind. Since he was released from the hospital wing earlier that week, he had started running again. He used the time to burn off his anger and bitterness, but it didn't seem to help.

"Are you the boy my dad trains?" Andrew asked him as they ran. Harry nodded. "He likes you."

"Really?" Harry asked, not believing the boy. Andrew nodded.

"He says you have talent," Andrew said as they made it to a broom shed. "Grab one for you and the groom. I'll take the other two." They flew back to the lighthouse and gave the others a broom each. Remus sprinted to the top and started searching. The others did the same.

"When I get my hands on them--" Remus threatened five long minutes later. Harry had to agree, the twins would be lucky to escape alive.

"What happens if the arrow was pointing down and not up?" Shacklebolt asked. Harry took the note out and flipped it over. If the top was the same, then Shacklebolt was right.

Remus zoomed to the ground and started searching the base of the lighthouse. Harry dived, straight at the ground, feeling the adrenaline pump through his system. This was the first time he had been on a broom since the 27th of May. He was silently cursing himself for that fact. It should have been the first thing he had done after getting out of the hospital wing. He pulled out at the last second and flew parallel to the ground with his feet mere centimeters from touching.

"Harry, come help!" Remus shouted at him and Harry sped back. There was no need to, though; Remus had found the note seconds after yelling. "Where mariners long gone had bad luck, there you will have good luck," he read to them. They looked at Andrew, hoping he would understand it.

"What's a mariner?" was all he said. Remus banged his head into the side of the lighthouse. "What's the matter with him?"

"He's just nervous that we won't find Tonks," Harry answered him. Turning to Remus, Harry addressed him. "We will find her, I'll let you have first dibs on the twins, and then you can come back and get ready to marry her." Harry turned back to Andrew. "A mariner is an old term for a sailor."

"Oh, that's easy then," Andrew remarked excitedly as he mounted his broom. They flew off and about five minutes later they were next to a shipwreck. "This it?" Harry nodded it had to be. Stuck to the prow of the ship, the next clue was fluttering in the wind like a flag. Remus sprinted ahead and carefully removed it.

"Okay, we've lost our touch a bit on this one, but don't say we didn't warn you! He whips you into shape while you enjoy one of his cool treats. Ask him and he'll give you the next clue. What the bloody hell!"

"Mr. Whippy's!" Andrew cried happily, speeding back the way they had come. Harry was completely confused and he could tell the others were as well. Five minutes later, they were standing outside an ice cream shop. Harry pulled out his loose change and bought the boy an ice cream cone. Remus came back from talking to the genuine Mr. Whippy and then they headed off to the next site.

About an hour and a half and four stops later, they were searching the town square for the last clue. Harry had seen a tree that looked like an old hag of a woman if viewed at the right angle. He had been on a tiny island invisible from land. They had flown to the far end of the bay on the other side of the peninsula from the shipwreck. Zooming back to the far end of the beach with the shipwreck, they had found an old abandoned hut. It reminded Harry of the hut he had stayed in when he had first met Hagrid.

"What was it again?" Remus asked Harry. Harry stood up from where he was searching the base of the water fountain and took the clue out of his pocket. "Where water spews in the middle of the town. It has to be here."

"What if this is the obvious answer?" Stevie asked the group.

"It has to be," Harry replied. "Think about the clue for the lighthouse."

"Yeah, but what if it's something more immature then a fountain?" Stevie asked pointedly. Harry followed his gaze and saw a woman's lavatory.

"They wouldn't," Harry begged the others. Harry searched the square for the men's lavatory. He didn't find it.

"They would," Remus told them, sitting on the edge of the fountain, defeated. The others joined him, staring at the entrance.

"I vote Harry goes in there," Shacklebolt told Remus.

"I second that," Stevie said quickly.

"Motion passed," Shacklebolt finished with authority.

"I'm not going in there," Harry told the others. "I might be best man, but no way."

"Best man always gets the dirty jobs," Shacklebolt said with a smile.

"If you make me go in there, Remus," Harry told the older man, because Harry could see he was close to making him go, "it'll be worse then anything He did to me while I was captured." Remus' face clouded over at the mention of Harry's captured, so he relented.

They sat for another five minutes staring at the bathroom. They were so close, and yet so far away. It really was too bad that they were guys, shy guys, guys who didn't feel like getting shouted at by the women in there at the moment. If only one of the ladies were with us, Harry thought and then hit his forehead.

"I've got an idea, be right back," he told the others and then shot off on his borrowed broom. Harry landed on the porch of the Guest House and knocked on the door excitedly. Ginny opened the door and Harry only felt a bit put off by that. "I need your help," he told her. Her face lit up, so Harry continued. "The twins have been leading us on this scavenger hunt and well, they put the last clue in the girl's bathroom. At least that's what we think, but none of us wants to check, 'cause you know, it's the girl's bathroom. So would you come with me and check for Remus?" Harry waited as Ginny processed everything he had just said in one breath. In the end, he had to repeat it to her.

"Sure," Ginny said once she realized what they needed. "You have another broom." Harry shook his head.

"There aren't anymore," he told her, which was the truth. "Remus, Shacklebolt, Stevie, and Andrew, Bryant's kid, all have one and I didn't grab one of theirs. You don't mind, do you?" Ginny looked at him and he saw her cheeks flush. She was angry.

She walked him away from the house and turned him to face her. "You've barely said a word to me since you woke up in the hospital. Actually you've said more to me in the last five minutes then the past ten days, which is sad, seeing that you're my boyfriend and I've been worried sick for you for the past month and a half." Ginny stopped and looked him, angry beyond words.

"We need to have this conversation," Harry told her. "But not now, and not today. Remus needs to find Tonks, and I don't want to ruin today's memory with anything that we might say to each other." And I don't want us to end, Harry added in his head. "We'll have this talk later, I promise you."

"Like you promised that you'd be back soon back in May?" Ginny spat back at him.

"Don't use that against me, Gin," Harry spat back. "I went by choice, but I didn't stay by choice. You have no idea how Voldemort used you to torture me. If it wasn't visions made up of you snogging Malfoy or you being tortured or you as a Death Eater or you married with kids or you hating me or you thinking that I switched sides, it was the real visions with you hurting, whether it was because I was still gone or you were stuck at Grimmauld or at your dad's funeral. I couldn't help you. I watched you suffer and I couldn't do anything about it. It killed me to watch you like that, Gin.

"And then I threaten to kill you when I finally see you in the flesh. I was seconds away from saying the curse, Gin, seconds away. Do you know how that makes me feel? It makes me feel like shit. It makes me feel like the biggest loser in the world, because I finally get what I wanted the whole time I was captured and I almost killed you. It destroys me, Gin; that one thought eats away at me. Just give me some space. I almost killed the most important person in my life, and I can't just get over that so easily." He stopped, surprised by his rant. I didn't want to say any of that. Not today at least. Harry looked back at Ginny and called himself several types of idiot. She was close to crying. Harry reached out a hand to comfort her, but pulled it back not sure if he should.

"Why don't I ask someone else to check the bathroom?" Harry offered. "We'll continue this later." Ginny swore at him and ran off toward the water. Hermione and Thia walked out of the house toward him, watching Ginny's retreating figure. Harry just stood stunned.

"What did you do?" Thia asked with a slight smile on her lips.

"It's not funny this time, Thia," Harry snapped. "I just started an argument that needs to be had, but not today. And, I don't know. It's just not funny." Thia sobered quickly, watching the pain that radiated from the boy. Hermione started to walk after Ginny, but Harry called her back. "Tell her that I'm sorry. That we'll finish that as soon as possible." Hermione nodded and continued on her way.

"So, what are you doing here?" Thia asked Harry.

"I need you to take this broom and ride to the fountain and talk to your brother," Harry told her, handing her the broom. "I need time to think before I join up with them again." Thia nodded and flew off.

Harry started to walk toward the center of town. What did he just do? I made the problem a whole lot worse, he thought venomously to himself. "Gin means everything," he started to mutter to himself. "The world. She deserves so much better." She did! She deserved a guy who wouldn't threaten her. Who would love her and know that he loved her. "I debated for months if I even like liked her. Now that I know that I love her, I can't even live with myself when we're in the same room together." Harry continued to walk through town, mumbling under his breath. He, of course, didn't notice that fact.

Harry finally made it back to the guys, and Remus shook his hand excitedly. "Why didn't I think about that?" Remus asked him. Remus looked Harry over and started to worry for the boy. Thia had said something was up. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing we need to worry about today," Harry said, and was thankful when Thia came out of the bathroom triumphantly. "Thia has the clue."

Thia handed it to her brother, and then started to head back to the house. "Aren't you coming with us?" Remus called to her.

"There isn't an extra broom," Thia explained. Stevie offered his broom to her.

"Take it," he said. "I'll go back and tell the others to expect Tonks soon, and I'll get everything laid out for us so that you guys can get changed quickly."

"You sure?" Remus asked.

"Yeah." With that, Stevie started the trek to Bryant's house. Thia took the broom and everyone turned to Remus who proceeded to read the clue out loud.

"A lone sentinel stands guard over the girl. King Kong has struck again. And that means what?" Remus turned to Andrew, who just shrugged.

"It's good one of us grew up Muggle then," Harry told the others. "King Kong is a giant size gorilla that normally captures a beautiful lady. It's an old movie, but a good one."

"A gorilla?" Andrew asked. Harry nodded. "Follow me." They mounted their brooms and took off after the boy. Harry had no idea what they would have done without Andrew along. About five minutes later, a vague form appeared in the distance. The closer they got, the more Harry realized that it looked like a gorilla.

"Is that it?" Harry shouted over to the boy. Andrew nodded. About five minutes later, they were close enough to see a person sitting on the top of the rock. They landed a few minutes after that. Remus ran over to Tonks and hugged her tightly. She wasn't bound by anything physical.

"They put an anti-apparation spell on me," Tonks finally got out through her laughter. "And they put my wand on that log down there." Harry looked at the log. The rock they were standing on was at least twenty feet high with no way down and no way up.

"When I get my hands on them," Remus threatened for the billionth time since this whole thing started.

"I get to help, right?" Tonks asked with a grin, an evil grin.

"Of course, my love," Remus replied. "Let's go get your wand..." Remus stopped as Harry dove at the wand. "What is he doing?"

"Acting like a stupid teenager who happens to be really good at Quidditch," Tonks said, before cheering Harry on.

Harry had decided that he needed to put his seeking skills to a simple test. Picking up that wand on the fly should be easy, if done right. Angling the broom a bit steeper, Harry pressed his body close to the broom. The log was getting closer and Harry started to level the dive out. Just a bit more, only a few more seconds. Harry stuck out his hand, grabbed the wand, pointed the broom to the sky, and looped back to the rock.

"Show off," Remus muttered to him, as Harry presented Tonks her wand.

"I haven't flown in ages," Harry complained back at the man. "It was the perfect opportunity to dive. What did you expect? Me to let you just float down there and get it?" Remus nodded. "Never!" Remus and Thia laughed.

"For never meeting your dad, you sure have a lot of his tendencies," Thia remarked. "I can hear him say something very much like that."

"Let's just get back," Harry said both proud to be compared to his dad and a bit put off. Why couldn't he just be himself?

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"What the heck am I thinking?" Remus asked Harry for the billionth time that night. They were taking the stairs down to a private beach. It wasn't a very large beach, and it was hidden from view by steep cliffs. The celebration would happen down there.

"Not sure," Harry replied with a laugh. "I can't read minds."

"That's not helping," Remus informed him.

"Well, you won't listen to the other answer I've been giving you all day, so what am I supposed to do?" Harry countered. "Tonks loves you. She's perfect for you. I'm not sure what you're thinking this exact moment, but I know you love her back. Stop complaining and remind me what I have to do."

"You don't do much for the first several hours," Remus started to tell him, glad for the distraction. "The ceremony is at midnight. Just make sure I'm there and you have the ring. After that, there's more celebrating and then I'm leaving with Tonks for our honeymoon. Thanks for that again. It's going to be a fun honeymoon." Harry brushed the thanks off and kept Remus moving forward.

The six hours leading up to midnight were spent celebrating the couple. There was a feast right away and many toasts to the couple. The tables were set up at the near end of the beach, close to the stairs. There was a particular seating arrangement, just as custom dictated. The groom and the groom's men sat at one table, closest to where the ceremony would take place. Across from their table, the bride sat with her attendants. The guests sat in scattered tables between them. Harry caught Remus staring in awe of Tonks and he didn't blame the man.

Tonks wore her Black looks and the pale green robe glistened in the firelight. She wore a darker green cloak to keep her warm and Harry couldn't see her face clearly. All part of the tradition, Harry knew that for a fact. The groom should be able to see, but still want more. Harry smiled; Remus was walking down that aisle for sure. Flowers were woven into the cloak's hood and he figured there must be some significance for their presence.

The feast was finished, and music started to play. The wizards and witches rose, some singing along with the old tunes. Remus frowned; he would dance every dance with eligible witches, whereas Tonks would dance every dance with eligible wizards.

"Don't worry, Remus," Harry told him. "The three of us, along with one or two trusted fellows, plan on monopolizing on her time." Remus smiled his thanks, he had obviously been worried that Tonks would realize that there were younger fish in the sea. Harry didn't know why he worried; Tonks looked just as disgruntled about Remus dancing with ladies other than her.

The hours before midnight passed quickly, yet slowly. Harry wished he knew these songs; it seemed that everyone else did. He danced every fifth dance with Tonks, with only a few problems. Remus found himself dancing with Thia, Melissa, and Trish (an Auror that Tonks worked with and the third bridesmaid) most of the time. Harry found himself forgetting about the horrors of the past month and a half and enjoying himself completely.

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Harry stood next to Remus, waiting for Tonks to get up from her table. She was taking her good old time. It was her way to let Remus know that she didn't answer to his every beck and call. Harry had to smile. Remus was in for hard, but good years ahead married to her. Tonks finally stood and her Maid of Honor, Thia, took the cloak off and left it on her chair. Harry watched Remus' jaw drop.

Tonks did indeed have her Black looks, no playing around today. In her braided hair were woven chains of beautiful flowers. A thin silver crown circled her head, and glittering charms hung from it. Harry remembered hearing tinkling when he danced with her, and he guessed that it was those charms making that sound. A young child ran up to Tonks and handed her a bouquet of flowers. Tonks kissed the boy's cheek and then started to walk toward Remus. She paused at the start of the chairs, and Ted Tonks stepped forward and took her arm. Harry smiled; Tonks and her dad were great together.

Harry heard Remus gulp. "You'll be fine, mate," Harry whispered to him as music started up. The guests filtered in behind Tonks, taking seats as they went. Three young girls ran ahead of Tonks and up to Remus. They each handed him a flower. Remus bent down and gave them each a kiss on a cheek. Harry grinned at the sight; the oldest girl couldn't be more then five.

Dumbledore made his way up after Tonks and Ted, followed by Thia, Melissa, and Trish. He was about halfway there when Tonks and her dad reached the end of the chairs. They waited for the old man to make his slow and solemn way forward. When he reached them, he looked at Ted and his daughter with eyes that had seen many weddings.

"Ted Tonks, do you wish to give away your daughter, Nymphadora Bobette Tonks," Harry saw her flinch at the use of both her first and middle name, "to Remus John Lupin?" Ted looked at his daughter with a sad smile and then at Remus with a calculating look.

"Yes, I do," he answered in a tone that said he truly did. He gave his daughter a last kiss before shaking hands with Remus. "Take care of my little girl," he told Remus, and Remus nodded.

Dumbledore took Tonks' and Remus's right hands and joined them. He conjured a vine of ivy and wrapped their entwined fingers with it. Then, Dumbledore moved forward and turned to face the crowd. Thia led the other two women to stand opposite of Harry, Shacklebolt, and Stevie. Harry thought that from the sky they must look a lot like a flock of geese flying in the "V" formation; Dumbledore at the head, Remus and Tonks starting the branch off, and Stevie and Trish at the end.

Dumbledore commenced the wedding and started to address the crowd. "Before we begin, is there anyone, besides the Weasley twins, who wishes to discontinue this wedding? Speak now, or forever hold your peace." There was silence except for the waves crashing on the beach. It was high tide, so the water was only a few feet from the end of the chairs on that side. Sounds of insects added to the music of the place. This is where I want to get married, Harry promised himself.

Dumbledore continued with the service, and Harry listened with half of his attention. The magic of the place was overwhelming. Off to his right stood tall beach trees, their palm branches reaching out to bless the couple. Far to his left, the sliver of a moon reflected off the ocean water. All around them, torches were lit, giving the ceremony an unearthly feel. Harry felt midnight fast approach. The belief was that a couple should be pronounced man and wife at exactly midnight, so that they could start the new day with their new life together.

Remus turned to him, and Harry handed him the ring. "I, Remus John Lupin, present this ring as a pledge to my undying love for you, Nymphadora Bobette," his face broke into a huge grin as she winced at the names, "Tonks. You've brightened my life when I thought it never would. I had given up on love. I had lost everyone that was important to me during the first war. I had let down my best friend's son. I let down my other best friend, by believing that he would betray the other. I didn't deserve love. I still don't. But by some miracle, I have it. I found you. You brightened an old werewolf's life in more ways then he can ever express, though I plan on trying every day we are married." He slipped the ring onto Tonks' finger.

Tonks turned toward Thia and retrieved the ring from her. "I," she paused and looked at Dumbledore, pleading with him. He shook his head, and Harry had to smile. "I, Nymphadora Bobette Tonks present this ring as a pledge to my undying love for you, Remus John Lupin. Your love for life is intoxicating. The stories you have to tell put my antics to shame. Your laughter is wonderful, and your smile lights up the room. I love to make you laugh and see that smile. I brighten an old werewolf's life? I beg to differ. You brighten a young motherless woman's life. I can't believe I found you so soon. I can believe though, that our love will endure the ages. Until death do us part and then beyond, Remus. I've got a hold on your heart, even after we die." Remus laughed as she slipped the ring onto his finger.

There was a strong feeling of magic in the air. Waves crashed hard onto the beach. A wind whipped at their robes and made the charms on Tonks' crown twinkle prettily. Harry was reminded of how strong a form of magic that love was. It had enabled him to survive the killing curse all those long years ago. Now it was going to bind these two people together into one. Harry smiled; Remus deserved this completely and Tonks would make sure that there wasn't a dull moment.

Dumbledore smiled at the young couple, young at least compared to him. "May you flourish together as you begin your new life together on this great adventure. I now pronounce you man and wife." Dumbledore looked at a stunned Remus. "You can now kiss your bride." Which Remus did without any hesitation.

"My eyes!" George cried out, standing up and pretended to claw at them.

"I'm blind!" Fred screamed. Remus broke the kiss with Tonks and glared at his two bosses. They sat back down and remained quiet as Remus kissed her again.

Dumbledore then looked up at the crowd and addressed them. "It is my extreme honor to present to you Mr. Remus J. Lupin and his wonderful new wife, N. B. Lupin." Harry laughed as Tonks thanked the old man for the abbreviations. They walked back down the aisle, removing the ivy so that they could hold hands easier.

The next several hours before dawn were spent in dancing, feasting, toasting, laughing, and singing. Harry watched the happy couple, thankful that Operation Wedding had turned out so wonderfully.

Yet as the morning started to approach, Harry's gaze traveled more and more to a certain red-head girl: Ginny Weasley. He sighed. He had officially messed things up with her. She was perfect, yet he wasn't worthy. What would he do? When would he have a chance to make amends? Would he be able to fix it? Harry hoped so. She started to walk toward him and Harry felt his heart quicken.

"Can I have this dance?" Ginny asked him. He nodded and Harry realized that it was Ginny's favorite slow song. He felt his body tense and he tried to relax. This is Ginny after all! he scolded himself. Harry let Ginny wrap her arms around his waist and pull him close to her. He wrapped his arms around her and looked down to where her head rested on his chest. The dance continued and Harry laid his head on her, breathing in the scent of her hair. How could he mess this up?

The next two songs were slow songs and Harry danced them both with Ginny. As the third song winded down, Harry whispered into her hair, "I'm sorry, Gin."

"I know you are, luv," she replied, not moving her head to look at him. "But we still need to talk."

"Can you forgive me?" he asked her, almost pleading.

"Of course," Ginny replied. "I just need to know what I'm forgiving you for to begin with." Harry nodded and swayed to the music with her. He hadn't felt so grounded in a long time.

About an hour later the sun was rising and the call went up for the groom and bride. They were nowhere to be found.

"Time to turn it in then," Dumbledore informed everyone. "It seems our lucky couple has taken it upon themselves to leave. So it's time for us to leave as well." Harry smiled, knowing that it was normal for the groom and bride to leave the 'after party' without telling anyone. It had been a good day, considering everything.


Author notes: Well... Well, there, they're finally married! I spent several hours (all day one weekend) reading up on wedding customs around the world. Thia is dressed in green because it is the color of new life, fertility, and ... something else that I don't remember... the charm crown is I think a Norwegin (sp?) custom... several cultures had people kidnapping the bride... one had the groom being wokend up early... of course many customs has the father give away the daughter, though if Tonks had a brother, I might have gone with that tradition instead... Ivy is used because it is a plant that is nearly impossible to kill, a symbol of undying love... um.. the flowers in Tonks' hair are heather and lavender... I think it's a Celtic tradition, but I don't remember, flowers are used in almost every culture though...

I want to thank Chris for coming up with the location of this Wizard Villiage... he used to go on holidays as a little kid there and Mr. Whippey is in there just for him... All the clues, but the lighthouse and the shipwreck are my own imaginations... oh, and the secret beach is a truly secret beach that he and his cousin found once... What else? Nothing that I can remember...

Chapter 46.... Chapter 46.... Tis the last chapters folks!!! I promised a happier (please note happier!) ending and I hope I deliever! We also find out what the heck Lily gave Harry for his 16 b-day! The sequel will start mid September hopefully and I'm hoping college doesn't ruin anything... If you'd leave you're e-mail address I'll send you an e-mail when i start posting again! There's a separate thread for e-mail addresses, and I'd appreciate it if you left them there. If you don't want to leave you e-mail, just ask for a personal message, and I'll PM you instead!

Til the next time!

~Ioci