On This Wild Night

XI. Charlie

"Weasleys, assemble!"

Charlie and his brothers gathered by the gramophone as the female guests made their way into the middle of the marquee, ready for Ginny to throw the bouquet. Charlie could just about pick out Artemis' bare feet amongst the high heeled shoes, stepping lightly as she moved restlessly through the throng of women.

"I don't understand why I 'ave to join in," Fleur was saying to Bill. "I am already married!"

"It's just a bit of fun," Bill replied, kissing her on the cheek. "And I think that you'd be good at it."

Once Fleur was in the crowd and out of the way, George brought out the bag of Galleons.

"This is it, lads," he said. "Only one of us can win all the gold."

Ginny closed her eyes, and threw the bouquet backwards over her head. A split second later, it was carnage.

The little crowd of women turned into a mob, a mosh, a scrum, scrambling and tackling each other to try and grasp the bunch of flowers. The brothers laughed and cheered them on from the sidelines, and after a minute or two of jostling, a hand appeared, rising from the rabble, clutching the now-crumpled bouquet. Each brother strained to see who that hand belonged to.

"YES, AUDREY!" bellowed Percy, throwing his fists into the air.

Somewhat begrudgingly, George handed Percy the bag of Galleons, and Percy shook each of his brothers' hands in turn.

"Thank you, gentlemen," he said pompously. "Pleasure doing business with you all."

"What are you going to spend your winnings on, Perce?"

"Well..." Percy sniffed, and adjusted his glasses. "I'm thinking I might use them to purchase an engagement ring."

Ron looked stunned, and Bill clapped Percy on the back. George hugged him, and Charlie shook his hand again, before Percy ran to Audrey, his arms outstretched.

"Well, fancy that," a deep, reverberating voice said behind Charlie. He turned to see Kingsley Shacklebolt watching the women mingle in the centre of the marquee.

"I know." Charlie shrugged. "All those Quidditch players, and not one of them caught the flowers."

"I really thought it would be Tiny."

Charlie followed Kingsley's gaze to where Artemis was standing on one leg, rubbing the arch of her bare foot, as she chatted with a couple of women Charlie recognised from the Quidditch matches at school. Her eyes were still lit up from the exhilaration of the chase, her untameable hair had come almost completely loose, and there was a dark scuff mark on her shin. He smiled.

"At least she looks happy," Kingsley said. Charlie wasn't sure if he was addressing him or just thinking out loud, but he nodded anyway. "That's what matters."

"Yeah."

"For a long time, I thought I'd never see her this happy."

"So did I."

"I should've known that she would be. She might have had to fight for it, but she always was a fighter." Kingsley chuckled, a rich, melodious sound. "She was such a tough little thing. Wild. But you know that."

"I do," said Charlie, his eyes still on Artemis. He laughed quietly to himself. "She still is."

"No, that will never change."

"I wouldn't want it to."

Kingsley patted Charlie on the shoulder, slowly and just once, and Artemis caught sight of them watching her. She ran towards them, holding one side of her dress up so she wouldn't trip on the hem. As she approached them, Charlie shook his head in mock-disappointment.