Snapshots of a Wedding

SNAPSHOTS OF A WEDDING

"Truth exists; only lies are invented."

--Georges Braque

[...Something New...]

Harry stood rooted in the same spot. He couldn't move; he felt too weak and light-headed to move anywhere. He had possibly just lost Ginny because of some awful mistake and the most he could manage to do was stare at the spot she disappeared from, like he was expecting her to re-appear and tell him that everything that had just happened was a joke. But he knew it wasn't; and he felt that it was quite possible that Ginny was not coming back.

He wiped his nose and saw that blood was ladled on his fingers from when Ginny had punched him. He started to move when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned his head towards the person and saw that it was Cho. Just as he brushed her hand off, Hermione arrived looking frightened.

"Harry, what happened?" she asked, taking his hand away from his nose to examine it. "Who did this to you?"

"Ginny," Harry replied plainly.

"Ginny?" Hermione asked, shocked. "Why would Ginny do that?"

Harry didn't answer. Instead, he turned around to walk back into the kitchen. He didn't feel like talking right now. He needed time to think. He needed time to figure out what the hell had just happened. Before he managed to make it to the door, Cho touched his shoulder again.

"Harry," she said, "you shouldn't be ashamed of what we did."

Harry shrugged her hand off again. "What we did? Right now, Cho I'm not entirely sure what it was that we did."

"Of course you are," Cho replied, smiling despite the fact that her nose was still bleeding. "We slept together, Harry. Plain and simple."

"You what?" an angry voice shouted from behind Harry.

Before he could turn around completely to see who it was, Harry received a strong blow to the nose and stumbled back, this time actually falling to the ground and knocking Cho back as well. He looked up to see Ron towering over him; Ron had evidently overheard the short conversation between Harry and Cho and was not at all pleased to find that his sister had been cheated on.

"You little git!" Ron shouted, grabbing Harry by his collar and flinging him against the wall. He wrenched his arm back and punched Harry again. "How could you do that to Ginny?"

"Ron, listen to me, I -"

"You're just what mom said you were!"

Ron pulled Harry off the wall and then flung him so hard and so far that he knocked into Fred who was standing a good seven feet away. This drew the attention of everyone who had been standing in a circle around Hermione trying to figure out what happened. They had not seen the first punch but were now definitely aware of the fact that Ron was fighting with Harry.

Ron charged at Harry just as he managed to straighten up but Harry, for his own safety, crouched and pushed against Ron's weight, sending him flying to the ground. Ron quickly recovered and pushed against Harry, knocking him into one of the tent's poles.

"Ronald Weasley!"

"What the bloody hell are you two doing?"

Arthur Weasley and James Potter had just arrived. They had been out running last minute errands for the wedding and arrived just in time to see their sons, who were the groom and the best man, fighting each other while everyone else, guests included, stared bewildered at the scene.

Arthur latched tightly onto Ron's arm just as he drew it back to punch Harry and pulled him away. James, with the help of Sirius, picked Harry off the ground and dragged him to his feet.

"Let me go!" Ron yelled at his father. "How could you Harry?" Ron shouted at Harry.

"Ron, I swear, I -"

"HOW COULD YOU GO BEHIND GINNY'S BACK AND SLEEP WITH CHO?"

There was a loud gasp and a collective 'what?' from every person present. Harry looked around to see everyone staring at him. Surprisingly, no one charged at him; they all just stood there and didn't stampede towards him to finish off Ron's task. Instead, everyone spun around to look at Cho.

"Why does everyone look so shocked?" she asked, shrugging. "It should come as no surprise that Harry would prefer me over Ginny."

"I think it's time for you to leave!" Hermione said after a few moments. "You've done enough damage."

To everyone's surprise, Molly took hold of Cho's arm and said, "We'll be glad to and once you all realize the truth, we'll be back to collect Harry for Cho."

Molly and Cho disapparated and everyone instantly started to break up. Arthur dragged Ron into the kitchen followed by Fred and George. James, Sirius and Neville took Harry to a far end of the garden and all the guests decided it was the best time to leave, leaving Hermione and Luna standing in the middle of the garden looking back and forth.

"What now?" Luna asked, torn between which of the two people she should go check on first.

"You stay here and try to see if you can prevent anything else from going wrong," Hermione said.

"And where are you going?" Luna asked, seeing Hermione take out her wand.

"To try and find Ginny, wherever she is."

Luna watched as Hermione took a few slow steps towards the gate and then disappeared. She sighed and looked out into the garden at the spot where Harry had been taken. She looked at Neville who gave her a small smile and then waved at him. She looked back at the spot where Hermione had just apparated from and began to wonder where it was that Ginny could have possibly gone.

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The wave beat softly against the edge of the rock and Ginny pulled her knees closer to her chest. Being back to the exact same spot that Harry had proposed to her drew her to tears as she replayed the night over and over in her head and every time she hit Harry's speech, she felt her stomach drop and her vision became cloudy as the tears threatened to fall.

"When I'm with you I feel so illuminated and alive. It's almost as if my life has only just started since meeting you and being with you...I love you so much and I want to continue to be with you, forever."

Ginny couldn't stifle a lout outcry and started to sob. That night had been so perfect and the seven months they had spent planning their wedding had been such a smooth ride. She realized now that it was all just too good to be true and started to feel as though she had been naive not to anticipate something going wrong.

The thought of what Harry had done came back fiercely and Ginny closed her eyes in an attempt to prevent the heavy set of tears that was looming. Just as she had done so, she heard a loud crack and flung her eyes open to see Hermione staring down at her.

"It's about time I found you," she said, taking a seat next to her.

"I didn't know you were looking for me," Ginny replied, looking down at her watch to see 3:47 P.M. She gave a sarcastic laugh. "We were supposed to be putting down the old tent by now and setting up the new one for the ceremony."

"Ginny," Hermione said, noticing the bitter tone, "what happened?"

"You mean no one blurted it out yet?" She let out another sarcastic laugh. "What a shocker!"

"You mean about Harry sleeping with Cho?" Hermione asked nonchalantly, as though it was no big deal.

"Oh so you do know!" Ginny said a little too loudly. "So that little cheater found it necessary to brag about what he did!" She sat up straight and in a mock-Harry voice said, "Wahoo, look at me. I'm the great, big, Harry Potter and I shagged Cho. I'm the greatest wizard alive." She returned to her normal voice. "Yeah, whoopee!"

Hermione bit back a giggle and instead just shook her head at Ginny.

"What?" Ginny asked, obviously offended at Hermione's lack of agreement.

"It's just that Harry didn't brag about anything," she replied. "Ron let it slip after he overheard Cho talking to Harry. He went mental and started pounding on Harr-"

"Got what he deserved!" Ginny said in a satisfied tone.

"I don't think so," Hermione said, shaking her head again. "Harry seemed very mournful about it all. I really don't think it's true."

"Hermione, he told me himself. When I asked him he apologized. He didn't defend himself; he didn't try to say he didn't do it. He apologized!" Ginny said, standing up quickly. "If that's not the act of someone who's guilty I don't know what is!"

"Ginny, be reasonable." Hermione said, standing up as well. "You've been with Harry for six wonderful years." Ginny let out a resentful laugh but Hermione ignored it and continued. "You and I both know the kind of person Harry is and I'm pretty sure that he wouldn't do such a thing."

"So, what could it possibly be, Hermione?" Ginny said almost desperately. "What could have possibly happened?"

Hermione shrugged. "Dunno. But what I do know is that Harry isn't the kind of person to do this. I think it's best you try and talk to him and figure out what's going on."

Ginny sighed. "What's the point?"

"The point is that I know you don't want to lose Harry and I'm pretty sure he doesn't want to lose you." Hermione waited for an answer but none came. "Just talk to him would you?" Still, Ginny didn't answer. "I hate to see you two fighting like this!"

Ginny looked sharply at Hermione. "Us? What about you?"

"What about me?" Hermione asked, furrowing her eyebrows.

"You and Ron," Ginny replied. "You two have been at each other throats all day. What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Hermione answered too quickly.

"Nothing huh?" Ginny asked. "Highly unlikely." Hermione fidgeted nervously and Ginny yelled, "Spit it out!"

Hermione closed her eyes and Ginny saw a tear escape from it. "Ron and I had sex."

Ginny's jaw dropped. "Are you serious?"

"Yes." Hermione nodded. "Two months ago. And ever since then he's been trying to talk to me about possibly getting together and I've been so scared about ruining our friendship that I was avoiding it." She was in full tears by now. "And I found out last week that I'm pregnant and-"

"Freeze!" Ginny said, putting up her hands. "You're pregnant?" Hermione nodded. "As in going to have a baby?" Hermione nodded again. "Hermione that's wonderful."

Hermione shook her head hurriedly. "No, it's not. I'm already unsure about starting a relationship with him and now I'm pregnant," she cried, wiping her eyes after tears started streaming heavily. "I don't know if we're ready for this."

"Hermione, you treating Ron like how you are is not in any way, shape, or form fair to him." Ginny rested her hand on Hermione's shoulder. "You need to talk to him and stop pushing him away. You two are going to have a baby together." Hermione looked at her as if she had heard the news for the first time. "It's time you two stop fighting."

Hermione nodded. "I know it's just...I don't want to ruin our friendship and I'm just so confused."

"Talk to him. It's the only way you'll figure anything out."

Hermione's expression went serious quickly. "I'll talk to Ron if you promise to talk to Harry."

Ginny moved her hand and turned to look at the ocean. Hermione awaited a response but Ginny just kept looking out into the water, apparently not willing to reply.

"Ginny, you know talking to Harry is the best thing."

"I know." She paused. "I promise I'll talk to him."

"Good."

"Let's wait a few minutes, though. I want to calm down before I talk to him."

Hermione nodded and took her seat on the rock again. Ginny followed suit and then looked back into the water as it continued to brush against the rocks. Maybe Hermione was right; maybe there was more to the story than she thought. Ginny closed her eyes and exhaled; for her sake, she prayed that there was more to the story.

.................................................................................................................

"Episkey!"

Harry felt his nose go hot and then, a second later, it felt normal again. He touched it to make sure and found that it was no longer bleeding and wasn't broken. He exhaled gratefully and looked at his godfather who was stowing his wand in his pocket.

"Thanks, Sirius."

Sirius nodded. "So, are you going to tell us what that was all about?"

Harry looked down. "Don't think I need to. Ron seemed to say everything."

"But is it true, son?" James looked at his son the way only a father could. His expression read concerned, confused, angered, omniscient and fatherly all at the same time.

Harry shrugged. "I don't know." Realizing the confusion on their faces, Harry continued, "I mean, the memory is there. I can see me walking into Cho's bedroom and us kissing and everything but it just doesn't seem...real."

"Is it possible that you were pissed?" Sirius asked, taking a seat next to him. "That tends to make memories seem unlike your own."

"No," Harry said, shaking his head. "I don't drink enough to get pissed so I know it wasn't that."

"When did this happen?" Neville asked, knowing for certain that the possibly that it didn't happen was more plausible than it actually occurring.

"When Ginny and I had broken up for those few weeks," Harry replied.

"Er, Harry," James started, raising and eyebrow, "when did you and Ginny split up?"

"A few months ago," Harry said, looking at them weirdly. "Don't you remember? She said she wasn't sure if she wanted to get married and we separated to give her some time to think. We got back together three weeks later."

Sirius, James and Neville looked at each other; all three of them were utterly perplexed. They never heard of Ginny having ever broken up with Harry during their six-year relationship and they knew that Ginny having cold-feet was impossible; she had been ready to get married long before Harry was and was no where near being afraid of taking that big step. Harry's story just didn't make sense; it just didn't seem...real.

"Did Ron hit you hard and shake something lose?" Neville asked, looking back at Harry.

"No. Why?'

"Because none of us can remember Ginny ever breaking up with you," Sirius answered.

"Or her being afraid of marriage to break up with you," James finished. "It just doesn't make sense."

"But that's what I remember," Harry said firmly. "We were talking one night and she started crying and said she wasn't ready and told me that she thought we should take a break."

Neville shook his head. "Something isn't right."

He looked over to the tent and saw Luna busying herself with picking up everything that had fallen due to the fight and the scramble of everyone from under the tent. If anyone would know about Ginny breaking up with Harry because of cold-feet it would be either Luna or Hermione. And since Hermione was no where to be seen, Luna was second-best.

"Luna," Neville called out, causing her to jump. "Sorry. Could you come here for a moment?"

Luna nodded and dropped everything she had picked up on the table. She hoisted her dress robes to make walking easier and lightly jogged over to where Sirius, James, Neville and Harry were.

"How can I help?" she asked, her voice as dreamy as ever.

"Luna," Harry started, "do you remember when Ginny and I broke up?"

"Broke up?" She shook her head. "You and Ginny have never separated. You've been together for six years, six continuous years."

"But -" He paused and then asked, "Did Ginny ever say anything about being afraid of getting married?"

Luna shook her head and looked at Harry as though he had gone mental. "No. Ginny was more than excited to get married. She couldn't wait for today."

"That's what I said," James added. "Ginny couldn't possibly have broken up with you so I don't know how you could have a memory of something that did not happen."

"It seems odd doesn't it," Sirius said, folding his arms. "That Harry is the only one who has this memory and every one else's belief contradict that memory."

Harry looked at Sirius. That was a very, very valid point. Harry was sure the memory was real but according to every one else, there was no way it could have happened. Was Harry having some kind of pre-wedding mania that idled his brains? Could he have possibly imagined the whole thing? No, that would be just as bad as actually doing it. But even if he did imagine it, how could Cho and Molly do what they did?

Harry felt his head swing in confusion. This day seemed to be getting worse. Just as everything had settled, something else had to happen and blow everything off balance again. Harry felt himself get worried and desperate. He couldn't let Ginny go like that. He couldn't lose her. He had to figure out what was going on. What could have possibly happened to make him think he slept with Cho? Then, Harry had a revelation and jumped up, almost knocking Neville in the ribs.

"What time is it?" he asked hastily.

"4:24," Luna replied, checking her watch. "4:25 now."

"Great. I have some time," Harry said, ruffling his hair. "Look, if Ginny comes back - which I really hope she does - tell her I've gone to try and sort all this stuff out. I'll be back as soon as possible."

"Where are you -"

"No time to talk, dad," Harry said, walking away from them. "I should be back in about an hour or two."

Harry jogged for a few steps and then disappeared. Sirius and James exchanged looks and Neville continued to stare at the spot where Harry disappeared.

"I hope he comes back quickly," Luna said as she started to walk away. "Don't want nargles getting to him."

James arched an eyebrow as he watched Luna walk towards the house.

"Is that child mental?" he asked, looking at Neville.

Neville chuckled. "Luna's just very...eccentric," he replied with a dreamy expression.

Sirius looked at him weirdly and then something registered to him. "Go Neville!" he cheered, patting Neville on his back. "You like her."

Neville smiled but said, "No, I don't."

Sirius shook his head disbelievingly and he and James followed Luna towards the house. Neville rubbed at his back where Sirius had hit him and continued to watch them.

"I love her."

Neville sighed as he repeated the words in his head and then made his way towards the house. That was now two people who deciphered that he had feelings for Luna. If only Luna could figure that out. Neville sighed once again as he walked through the kitchen door. With his luck, Luna would never figure it out and he'd be left wondering if a relationship between them would ever happen.

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Coming up... [...Something Borrowed...]