𝙿𝚞𝚖𝚙𝚔𝚒𝚗 𝙿𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚜 - 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑙𝑒𝑦 | ✔︎

Chapter 71

The day of Bill and Fleur's wedding was much busier than that of Natasha, Fred, Remus and Tonks', and Natasha had been tasked with helping Fleur get ready, tasked as her maid of honour. The French girl had been stressing all morning, and Natasha was having none of it, swatting Fleur's hand away from the door every time she wanted to see Bill.

"You reach for that door handle again and I'll bring Molly up here to deal with you," she said sternly, placing her hands on her hips. Her floor length pink dress had two sleeves by her shoulders, and Fred had matched it with his own pink socks and a small peony in his jacket pocket.

Natasha took a seat by the window whilst Fleur changed into her wedding dress and scrunched her nose up in confusion as she noticed the Minister for Magic making his way towards the house.

"Who is zere, Tasha?" Fleur asked from behind the partition, and Natasha stood up, waddling over to the door, her feet sore and swollen.

"The Minister for Magic. I'll be back, I promise," Natasha said quietly, making her way out of the room. She struggled to walk down the stairs, but was determined to see why Rufus was downstairs, so she continued on, stopping only once to hold her bump.

"Minister?" she called out from the staircase, and Rufus looked up from where he was sat with the Golden Trio, surprised to see one of his best aurors now in a pink gown. He had known her since she had applied when he was in another department and had always respected the girl because of her bloodline.

"Miss Black, what a surprise to see you here, and..." He gestured wildly to her stomach and she sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"Pregnant sir don't be afraid of the word. Oh, and it's Mrs Black-Weasley now, I got married last December," she informed, showing of her sparkling engagement ring and wedding band. Rufus nodded, before coming over to Natasha, offering his arm.

"Please, let me lead you to a seat. I have something to discuss with you, and you look like you need to sit down," he said, in a kind tone that wasn't gifted to the previous people he had spoken to. He led Natasha to a kitchen chair, and she threw her flats off, glad for the seat.

Fred, who was tasked with helping put the marquee up, noticed his wife with the Minister in the kitchen, and went to see what was going on, but was stopped by Arthur, who shook his head. "She'll be fine son. That girl is the toughest witch I've met since meeting your mother, she can handle herself if things go sideways," he advised.

Meanwhile, Rufus produced a parcel from his pocket, wrapped in fresh parchment paper and tied with a green string bow. "As per the will of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, this parcel containing his rings and a letter addressed to a Mrs Aurelia Black are to go to her kin, Mrs Natasha Black-Weasley, in hopes both of their hearts are settled, and they forgive even those they cannot see."

He handed Natasha the parcel, and she carefully opened it, revealing the rings Dumbledore was never seen without, and a letter, with unmistakable handwriting. She looked up to the Minister, who himself stood up, ready to leave.

"Be careful, child. Don't let a bright mind such as yours be tainted by the darkness." And with that cryptic sentence, the Minister left, unbeknown to Natasha that it would be the last time she would ever see the man.

~.~

Natasha grumbled over her glass of water as the rest of the Weasley's got drunk off of their heads, including Ginny, who had gotten her supply off of Harry. Her husband was making a sales pitch to one of Fleur's cousins, and Adrian was snogging Oliver in the corner of the room, most likely now without a shirt.

She was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't see Nymphadora take a seat beside her. "Natasha?" she asked, and Natasha jumped, raising her wand towards Nymphadora, before relaxing.