With Honor

With Honor

Chapter Two - The Magic of Weddings

A long and happy week passed at the Burrow, where Harry happily spent his days playing one on one Quidditch against Ron while Hermione watched occasionally from behind a book, or spending sunlit afternoons in the garden with both Ron and Hermione, happily discussing the upcoming wedding or spending.

However at nights, lying alone on the bed, his thoughts wandered to the still missing Ginny Weasley, who had not returned in an entire week, despite sending daily owls to her mother, which no one save Mrs. Weasley read, and although she assured Harry that Ginny was indeed fine when he asked, he could not help but notice she seemed a bit more cold towards him with every letter. Harry wondered if Ginny had told her mother how he, Harry, although in her best interest, had ended up hurting her. He wondered why she would not stay at her own home, was it on his account? Did she really wish to stay with the twins?

And tomorrow, Harry thought as he lay awake far after everyone else had fallen asleep, he would see her again, and maybe even talk to her, for the first time in weeks. Would it be as he expected? Would she have already moved on to someone else, perhaps bringing a date to the wedding? He did not think he could bear it if she did, yet she had every right to, as it was he, not her, that had broke things off.

For her own good.

And yet as the day came closer, he found that Ron and Hermione were watching him closely, as if sensing his anticipation.

The night before the wedding, Harry found himself awake in the dead hours of the night, thinking about the wedding, Bill, Fleur, Ginny, and even little Gabrielle Delacour who, according to Fleur, had been long nurturing affection for him. But every time he nearly fell asleep, it was as if a scent of roses and a flash of red ran wild through his mind and pushed the ever elusive rest far away.

Sighing, he forced the thought of Ginny the best he could to the back of his mind, as he turned over and punched his pillow.

This is Bill and Fleur's big day, not Ginny's. Not mine either.

But why can't it be both?

Because, you selfish prick, weddings usually happen only once in a lifetime for people, you can see Ginny anytime you...

No I can't, she's not here, she's not at the Burrow...

Listen to yourself, you're arguing with a voice inside your head. Idiot.

Harry smacked himself, and groaned.

Before he knew it, his thoughts had melted into an uneasy dream in which he found himself holding Ginny Weasley in the sunlit garden of the Burrow, where she had always looked so natural, lounging around, sometimes picking a wild flower and placing it in her hair...

However, the vision of perfection disappeared as quickly as it came, and the warm garden feeling was immediately replaced by a feeling of bitter frost that should not have ever rightly been associated to a summer morning in Britain. He shook himself awake, and reached for his glasses. Squinting to see his watch, he found it was nearly seven in the morning, two hours before they were to catch a Portkey.

Two hours before they arrived for Ron's older brother's wedding.

"And two hours until I see Ginny again," Harry muttered aloud.

When he got up and groggily headed down the staircase, he was surprised to hear two voices speaking softly. Knowing he shouldn't listen in, but not being able to help himself, he leaned close to the corner.

"...but don't you think you're going to extremes with this, Ginny?" Mrs. Weasley's voice came, sounding anguished. "I love the dear boy just as much as you I'm sure, but is it really necessary to stay away from your own home because he's here?"

Harry felt a sick sensation of guilt run through him. So Ginny was avoiding the Burrow because he was here!

"I'm telling you, mum, I'm not staying away because of Harry, I'm staying away for Harry. You know what he needs to do, surely you do," Ginny replied patiently. "He's got a hard path ahead of him, he doesn't want me to be at risk."

She said the last part scathingly, and Harry wondered how he had not seen those emotions shine through before.

"Surely he knows that you are already at risk? Being our daughter is..."

"He is partly right though," Ginny cut in. "Harry might not know it, but he's the single most wanted target of all the Death Eaters now, with Dumbledore passing on."

The two fell into a respectful silence.

"And he's afraid that if you are his girlfriend..."

"Voldemort will come and get me and use me as bait," Ginny finished. "So I'm not going to make it any harder on Harry than it needs to be. I know how he feels about me, and he should by now know how I feel about him. And so I won't stay here, acting as a temptation for him, when I know he won't ever truly be happy until he has at least tried to defeat Voldemort - Mum don't wince, it's just a name - you know, Hermione asked me why I didn't seem to love him enough to fight for him. I told her that I love him enough to let him go."

Harry blushed from his position at the staircase, and slowly retreated upwards, his conscience getting the better of him.

"You know, Ginny, I always had a feeling that you two would one day fall in love..." Mrs. Weasley said in a fanciful voice. "My daughter with Harry Potter! Do you know, I think you may have been the very first witch his age he's ever seen? The boy was ever so sheltered when we first saw him, do you remember dear? How he had asked for instructions so politely! How he grew to be such a fabulous young man considering how those muggles treated him..."

"How could I forget?" said Ginny, laughing. "Ickle Hawwee! He was very cute."

"Not quite the boy you imagined from the stories Dad told you as a child?"

"Oh gosh no," said Ginny. "I was expecting a rather larger than life, muscled, arrogant and self-loving boy. I must say, I like this Harry a lot more. Although to be fair, I suppose he has put on a few muscles these last few years. Nothing close to any of my brothers though."

"It'll be the fault of that Aunt and Uncle of his," Mrs. Weasley said with a sniff. "As I said, I'm amazed he has such innocence, such good in him, how he can love, growing up in that environment..."

Love, Harry thought to himself, now tuning out of Mrs. Weasley and Ginny's conversation. Mrs. Weasley, unknowingly, had touched upon the hidden power he was meant to have in the Prophecy, supposedly his greatest strength that would help him defeat Voldemort... Dumbledore had taught him that, yet did he truly know love? There was the casual attraction that passed for love at Hogwarts, there were his Aunt and Uncle who were sickening to all but themselves, and there were people like Ron's parents, who seemed (at least in Harry's eyes) to be more affectionate than passionate. And then, Harry thought, there was me... and Ginny.

"Well," Mrs. Weasley's voice said loudly, some ten minutes later, jerking Harry out of his thoughts. "Go on and take the Floo back to the Delacours' Ginny dear, I'll just go wake up Ron, Harry and Hermione, I'm sure they'll want some time to get ready. Give Bill a kiss from me, for luck."

"I love you mum, I hope you can understand why I can't come home," Harry heard Ginny say sweetly, in such a girlish voice that Harry hardly recognized it. Harry felt a pang in his heart that he could not quite attribute to anything. And in her normal voice, Harry heard Ginny say loudly and clearly, 'Delacour Estate!'

And suddenly, he heard footsteps, and his heart beating fast, he went as quickly as he could up the stairs without making a sound.

When Mrs. Weasley approached his room, she found Harry lying in his bed, glasses off and lying silently.

"Harry dear?"

Mrs. Weasley came closer, and shook his shoulder gently.

"Wake up dear, today is the wedding!"

Harry mumbled incoherently and pulled a convincing yawn.

"Thanks, Mrs. Weasley," he said, reaching for his glasses.

Unable to stop himself, he looked her in the eye and asked casually, "So how is Ginny, I've really missed her these last few days."

Mrs. Weasley looked slightly flustered, and turned her back on Harry before answering.

"I miss her just as much, Harry, I suppose we'll find out how she is today. Now go on, get ready, I'll just be waking Ron and Hermione up now..."

And she left the room, leaving Harry feeling slightly disillusioned.

Guess I'm not the only one that might've made a good Slytherin.

It was a good few hours later, and Harry had already finished two games of chess with Ron that Hermione, and the Weasley parents had finished preparing for the wedding. Harry had been sitting uncomfortably in his dress robes, occasionally messing up his hair in concentration, looked a mess, and Hermione did not hesitate to mention it.

"So how are we going?" Harry asked the room at large, ignoring Hermione's exclamation at the state of his hair. She had started dabbing some potion on his hair, and he sat dutifully as she forced down some rather stubborn strands of hair on his head.

"We're going by Portkey, as you well know," Hermione said. "It's set to go in ten minutes, come here just let me..."

"Just drop it, Hermione," Ron said casually. "Harry's hair is never going to go flat you know that..."

Hermione left Harry's hair half finished and sat down wearily. She had spent all morning getting ready, and Harry felt just a slight twinge of shame as he looked at Hermione's neatly straightened and shiny hair, compared to himself - having spent the morning largely playing chess and munching on toast. He hastily swept the bread crumbs off his robes.

Even Mr and Mrs. Weasley seemed to have cleaned up considerably for their son's big day. Harry shot a sheepish look to Ron which he did not return, apparently unconcerned with his appearance.

"I can't wait!" said Hermione happily, drumming her thighs. "I love weddings!"

"Oh and this one is going to be so grand," Mrs. Weasley gushed. "I was involved in the setting up, they're hiring Joan MacDonald to sing..."

Harry listened idly to Mrs. Weasley and Hermione's conversation, when about ten minutes later Mr. Weasley cut in, holding out a can of orange soda.

"Everybody get a finger on, the Portkey is set in half a minute..."

Wondering idly if Ginny would be there to greet them, Harry placed his index finger on the portkey, and not a moment later, there was a jerking sensation, and he found himself being pulled through time and space, and he landed messily in a grassy garden, right in front of a girl's white shoes. His eyes slowly wandered upwards, past the stockings, past the thighs, past the hips, past the chest (he spent just a few extra seconds there), and to his great consternation, he met Ginny Weasley's eyes, which were dancing with amusement.

"Poor Harry," she said, and held a hand out. He took it, turning red. Falling head-first at Ginny Weasley's feet was not exactly the way he had envisioned their reunion.

After letting himself be pulled to his feet, he took a long look at the still smiling redhead. Ginny, as always, looked wonderful, dressed in simple light blue robes cut off at the knees, apparently just for the bridesmaids.

"You look really nice, Ginny," Harry said softly, still holding on to her hand.

"Thanks," she said nonchalantly. "I like a guy that falls for me."

Her voice was low and tantalizing, and Harry wondered if she wasn't simply playing with him for the sake of poking fun.

"I've missed you," Harry said, hating himself for saying it but unable to stop himself. Before she could respond, he gave her a tight hug, but let go as soon as possible, only to find Ron and Hermione, and worse, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley staring at him.

"So," Harry said, his voice forcibly pleasant. "Where's the bride and groom, I got a wedding present for them..."

Ginny, shooting him one last quick look which he relished, led the way into the large Manor where they had arrived. Harry saw many people, half of whom were conversing in French, and others spoke either English, or surprisingly, a foreign tongue which Harry suspected to be Egyptian.

"Where are Bill and Fleur?" Harry asked Ginny again, looking around but failing to see the eldest Weasley brother and his fiancée.

"Waiting to make a big entrance at the church," Ginny replied. "They won't be around, I guess you'll have to settle for me as company."

Sure enough, as Harry turned around, he found that Ron and Hermione had spotted Charlie Weasley and were engaged in conversation, whereas Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were speaking to two stately looking people whom Harry suspected to be Fleur's parents, due to the perfect face of the woman, and the fact that Mr. Weasley was calmly rubbing his glasses against his robes and looking in another direction.

Harry turned his attention back to Ginny, who chuckled.

"C'mon Harry, let's go have some fun, everyone will be here for another hour or so."

Turning, she had walked a few steps without him before realizing that he was simply staring at her.

"Well come on," Ginny said impatiently. "Don't worry, I won't push you into a closet and force you to make out with me or something."

Harry turned furiously red. What was Ginny doing? Didn't she say she was trying to make things easier on him? Staring at the lavish curls in Ginny's hair, so unlike her usual straight curtain of red which he had become so accustomed to, he followed her quickly.

"It's just me, Harry," she said quietly, as she noticed him staring. "It's just plain old Ginny Weasley, the same girl you left a few weeks ago."

Just plain old Ginny, Harry repeated to himself. And above all else, you want her to be safe. And what did she just mean about leaving her? Was she talking about the physical leaving or the breaking off of their relationship? And just why does she have to keep looking at me with that small smile on her face?

"So, what is there to do in this fancy place?" Harry asked, ignoring the voice in his head.

"Well," Ginny began.

"'Allo 'Arry!" a girl's voice rang out loudly, and Harry suddenly felt a rush of heat run through the room, it was as if there was no air left, a wonderful feeling of elation swept through Harry as the beautiful girl swept into the room. She had long flowing silver hair, vivid green eyes, and...

"Gabrielle, cut it out," Ginny said sternly, and like a knife severing bonds on his mind, Harry felt himself come back to his senses.

"Sorry," Gabrielle Delacour said sheepishly. "I am so very eek-cited... do you remember moi, 'Arry? You saved me from the lake, two years ago..."

"Err... hi Gabrielle," Harry said. "Of course I remember you. How have you been?"

"Oh!" the little girl cried. "Eet ees amazing, all of my friends..."

Harry felt the Veela spell clench slightly at his mind, and he had to shake his head to clear it.

"Gabrielle!" another voice said sternly. "Do not use your abilit-ees on zat poor boy!"

Fleur and Gabrielle's mother, Mrs. Delacour had walked in, Mrs. Weasley in tow.

"But mama," the girl exclaimed. "C'est 'Arry Potter!"

Harry instinctively inched towards Ginny as Mrs. Delacour beamed at him.

"You are ze boy who ees saving my daugh-tair two years ago?" said Mrs. Delacour imperiously, looking down at Harry with an inscrutable expression on her face.

"Err... I suppose you could say that," Harry said sheepishly.

"'Arry Potter is my hero!" Gabrielle declared. Walking towards Harry confidently, she kissed him twice on each cheek, only having to barely tiptoe as she was very tall for her age.

Harry smiled at the girl who was beaming at him so radiantly, and he felt an urge to do something impressive, maybe he could lift that metal table there to impress her...

"Well," Ginny said cheerfully, her voice completely severing the Veela spell on Harry's mind. "I'm going to show Harry around, shall I?"

Harry grinned at Ginny thankfully, and immediately moved to her side.

"Oh, it would be rude to see--mply..." Mrs. Delacour started.

"I'd be delighted to be shown around by Ginny," said Harry. Noting that he probably sounded rude, he hastily added, "I'm sure you have a lot to do, Mrs. Delacour, your daughter is getting married! And Gabrielle, it was nice to see you again."

Taking Ginny's hand, and smiling feebly at the two women and young girl still in the room, he allowed himself to be led out of the room.

"Well," said Ginny, as soon as they had escaped the room. "I think you disappointed little Gabby."

"Why?" Harry asked, alarmed.

"Oh she's had these larger than life thoughts about you. You know, the press and all," Ginny said casually. "I think she's suffering from a secure case of eleven-year old hero worship. She even whipped up some Veela charms on you there."

"Oh yeah," Harry said, laughing as they passed a nearly gardened bush.

Ginny looked at him for a moment.

"Seems like they worked, eh?"

"That's gross, Ginny, she's like half a decade younger than me..."

"Hardly makes a difference in another ten years or so," Ginny said, shrugging. "Besides, don't you love the way those French Veelas say 'Arry?"

Harry frowned at Ginny, who simply looked back at him with an expression of challenge on her face.

"If I liked it so much I would have simply taken the H out of my name," Harry replied, and Ginny looked disappointed, as if hoping for a fight. "And, if I remember correctly, you once had an eleven year old hero worship yourself."

There, that's what you wanted! Harry thought.

"Do you think that's all it was?" said Ginny, seeming inexplicably angry. "Fine! Maybe when I first saw you at King's Cross, maybe when Ron came back home with stories about how you were ever so brave saving the Philosopher's Stone... how Quirrell, with You-Know-Who possessing him, tried to kill you..."

"Ginny," Harry cut in, alarmed. He had only meant to joke around with her, he didn't expect her to actually get angry, she must've misheard him, he had meant that she used to, even she could not deny it...

"But do you think, do you really think, that when I saw the skinny twelve year old boy, covered, completely covered in blood and grime..."

"Ginny, please!"

"Standing with a basilisk fang in one hand, Godric Gryffindor's sword in the other, and on the ground was Tom Riddle's diary with a gaping hole, beside us a giant snake about fifty feet long dead on the floor, looking so superhuman, yet so unbelievably human at the same time, and yet when you looked at me..."

Tears began running down Ginny's eyes, ruining the light makeup she had on.

"Ginny, please, I'm sorry," Harry said, trying to pat her on the shoulder but she furiously twisted out of his grip.

"You had nothing but concern, concern for me, Ron's sister in your eyes, despite everything... and it was there I saw what a great person you truly were, and there, Harry James Potter, that my little eleven year old hero worship died."

"Ginny..."

She had seemed to recover herself, and rubbed her eyes with a handkerchief angrily.

"I know it hasn't been about the Boy-Who-Lived for a long time, Ginny," Harry said as slowly and rationally as possible. "Just like it hasn't been about Ginny Weasley, my star Chaser, one of the most popular girls in the school for me. It's been about us, just Harry and Ginny."

He handed her his handkerchief, which she took gratefully to dab at where her makeup had run. She looked disgusted with herself, and Harry knew he could do little to help, but stand back and let her master herself. However, when a moment passed and Ginny still didn't meet his eyes, he spoke.

"And that, Ginny, is something amazing. You and I... we're... well... you know, we're just two people who can see each other's true selves, and accept each other, flaws and all. I'm sorry I made you cry. Please enjoy the wedding Ginny, and please come back to the Burrow after. It isn't fair on your family to miss their daughter on my account. I'll be moving out..."

"On your account?" said Ginny sharply. "What makes you think that?"

He tried to look away but he felt Ginny's small warm hand gently push his gaze towards her. When their eyes locked, he knew he could not possibly lie.

"I heard you and your mum, this morning..."

"Harry!" Ginny exclaimed. "You just sat there and eavesdropped?"

"Don't tell me you wouldn't have done the same, Miss Extendable Ears," Harry said, inwardly sighing with relief as he saw Ginny smile instead of react fiercely.

"You heard... well... everything?" Ginny said sheepishly.

You mean how you love me enough to let me break up with you?

"I'm not sure," Harry said. "But all I know is your family misses you. Hermione also."

And me, I miss you most of all.

"You got to come back," Harry finished lamely.

Ginny looked thoughtful for a moment and nodded.

"I will. And in a few weeks, Hogwarts will start... we'll need to replace a Chaser, shouldn't be too hard with all the young hopefuls," Ginny said, smiling. "Do you believe Ron was going on about not going back to school? Probably thinks he can pull a Fred and George move. I told Mum I wasn't going just to see her reaction... and I'll tell you, Ron better not pop the question, Mum'll disown him..."

Harry numbly smiled back, unsure of how to tell Ginny that her brother, as well as himself, would not be returning to Hogwarts, and immediately felt guilty about Ron's situation.

He saw Ron and Hermione come out of the house and walk towards them.

"Hi!" Hermione said breathlessly. "Where have you two been, everyone is getting ready to leave for the church!"

"Just catching up," Harry said. "Sorry I monopolized Ginny."

"Ah, you can have her, we're used to it," Ron said airily. "You've pretty much done that since second year unconsciously. Anyway, come on, let's get going, everyone's looking for Ginny and we'll be wanting good seats..."

"Right, of course..." Harry said slowly.

"Yeah," Ginny said half-heartedly.

"Oh my, what have you been doing?" Hermione said to Ginny. "Here, let me..."

She took out her wand and tapped Ginny's face twice, fixing the makeup.

"Well, I suppose I'll see you lot after the wedding," said Ginny casually, although her smile looked slightly forced.

"Sure Ginny," Ron said. "You're coming home tonight, right?"

Ginny looked at Harry briefly before answering.

"Yeah. I'm coming home."

***

"...and do you, Fleur Delacour, take this man, to love, and to hold, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"

"I do," said Fleur, looking even more magnificent than usual in her wedding gown, oblivious to all the loud sniffs coming from the onlookers as she held out her hand to a trembling Bill Weasley, who placed the diamond ring on her finger.

"Then in essence, spirit, and love I unite you both, may the magic of Merlin watch over this sacred union."

The priest shot a jet of golden sparks into the air, which, upon descent, turned into doves, which flew towards the open door of the church. Harry smirked to see Fred Weasley get hit in the face with a dropping.

"And finally," the priest said with just a small smile on his face, completely captivated in the couple in front of him and not noticing Fred Weasley furiously scraping at his face. "You may kiss the bride, and bring the union to fruitition."

A witch let out a strangled sound in the crowd - no one seemed to notice this save Harry, for everyone's eyes were on Bill and Fleur as he bent down and kissed her tenderly, as the entire church erupted into applause and cheers. Next to Harry was Hermione who had tears running down her cheeks, and Ron who also had watery eyes at the sight of his eldest brother getting married. Harry saw Fred (who had hastily wiped his face clean) and George, who beamed, apparently contenting themselves to let the wedding go smoothly, Charlie Weasley who clapped the loudest save Hagrid, whose massive hands alternated between wiping tears from his face and clapping so loudly that a few witches beside him scurried away. Molly and Arthur Weasley clutched each other tightly, beaming with pride. Standing behind Fleur was Ginny Weasley and Gabrielle Delacour, both of whom were smiling radiantly, and again, both caught his eyes and smiled, and he grinned back, joining in the applause. At the very center of it all, however, was the tall Bill Weasley, battle scars and all, who swept his newlywed wife off her feet, and carried her down the aisle.

"Thank you everyone for coming," he shouted, as he kicked open the door, and with a shriek of surprise from Fleur, stepped into a grand Thestral-pulled carriage.

"We love you all!" Fleur also yelled, laughing joyously.

And without another word, newly married husband and wife were pulled up, up, and away, into the twilit skies.