Opened At The Close...

16: Do and Don't

       Love is a strange, and yet wonderful, neccessary thing.-LunaPage
       Ginny looked around her room, feeling a little light-headed. Hermione stood in the corner, just taking Gin's wedding dress off the hanger and bringing it over for her. They were the only two in the room, as Hermione and all the other bridesmaids (Luna, Fleur, Andromeda, Mrs. Weasley, and the Harpies) had all gotten dressed already and were down making the final preparations. Mostly everything was ready, there were just the small touches, like streamers and silverware arrangements and things like that.
      Ginny stood in a bathrobe, her long hair curled and her makeup done; her eyes were done with silver to match the lace on her dress, black mascara, blush, and a light, pearly pink lipstick. She was beautiful, but extremely nervous. What if she tripped in front of everybody? Tripping wasn't the only thing to worry about. There were a number of ways to make a fool of yourself, she thought feverishly. As if reading her mind, Hermione said,
"Of course you won't make a fool of yourself." Ginny nodded, then looked at her friend suspiciously.
"How did you know that I was thinking that?" She asked Hermione.
"Legilimency... I'm sorry!" Hermione said quickly at the look on Ginny's face. "I've been practicing...it will be a useful skill to have in the future, and-"
"Well, do me a favor and practice on strangers from now on," Ginny said warily. Hermione nodded.
  "Right. Now, take that robe off so you can get this thing on."
As the robe fell to the ground, the gown was slipped over Ginny's head with a flick of Hermione's wand. Hermione spun Ginny around and tied the corset and bow with magic, too. What would take Muggles ten minutes takes Hermione ten seconds, thought Ginny.
      Mrs. Weasley walked in at that moment, and smiled a bit sadly. But with that sadness was happiness, too; Ginny believed she detected a trace of something else. Pride.
"What do you think, Mum?" Ginny asked quietly, her nervousness dissolving into excitement.
"I love it," Mrs. Weasley said. "I love you."
"I love you, too, Mum," Ginny said, smiling.
"Here, Ginny--something old..." Mrs. Weasley placed Auntie Muriel's tiara on her daughters hair. "Auntie Muriel said you should have it, as she probably won't be around for any more weddings..."
"She didn't have to do that!" Ginny gasped.
"She told us she wanted to," Mrs. Weasley sighed."and when Auntie Muriel wants to do something we had best let her do it."
"Somwthing new," said Harry's voice from the other side of the door.
"Don't come in!" The women yelled in harmony. Harry laughed.
"I was only on my way to Ron's room to get dressed. I have something new for Gin! Just...send Hermione out to get it!" He yelled.
"Close your eyes!" Hermione said as she got to the door. "Are your eyes closed?"
"I don't really have that much of a choice at the moment." Came Harry's annoyed voice. As Hermione opened the door, Lynn and Bella pushed Harry back, both of them with a pair of hands clamped over his eyes. Luna stood behind them, smiling serenely. They laughed as Hermione shut the door.
"They made sure Harry didn't see Ginny," Luna pointed out.
"You all act like she's naked or something. Is it really that bad for me to see Gin in her wedding dress before the ceremony?" Harry complained.
"Yeah, it would be bad luck!" Lynn rolled her eyes."Pff. Men."
"Pff. Women," Harry imitated. Hermione groaned.
"Harry! Come on! Where is it?"
"Oh, here!" Harry pulled a box out of his pocket with a locket inside. The chain was fine but strong, and the locket itself was a silver little oval with intricate vines carved around the edges, and GMP ingraved in the center. Hermione opened it, revealing a picture of Ginny, Harry and Teddy, all waving at the camera from the Burrow's couch.
"Ginevra Molly Potter?"Hermione guessed.
"Yes," Harry said proudly, his stomach erupting into butterflies at the thought that that would be Ginny's full name by the end of the day.
"That's sweet," Hermione said. "You should go get dressed, Harry."
"Gladly," he replied, running up the stairs.
"Somehing new, Gin. From Harry," Hermione daid, clasping the locket around Ginny's neck.
"Ginevra Molly Potter?" Ginny guessed. It sounded strange, yet saying it made her satisfied and happy.
"Yes," Luna said.
"It's so cute!" Bella fawned, lifting it up and opening it for Ginny to see.
"Aw! Harry!" Ginny couldn't help herself; that was her family.
"Yeah, yeah," Lynn said. "So adorable. Here--" she handed Ginny a pair of daimond earrings."They're my mother's, and I'll be wanting them back."
"In other words, something borrowed," Bella said cheerfully.
"Thank you, Lynn,"Ginny said earnestly.
"That just leaves something blue," Luna said, holding up a little twig. She placed it under Ginny's pinky and said, "Circulumus," The twig wrapped itself around her finger, and tied itself into a Celtic knot. "Coloportus," said Luna; the ring changed from gray-brown to silver-blue instantly.
"Oh, ladies..." Ginny trailed off, putting the earrings in and smiling. "I just..."she sighed."wow."
"Indeed," Luna said wisely, putting an arm across Ginny's shoulders.
                               *_____*_____*
    Harry and the groomsmen buttoned their shirts and tucked them into their trousers. George and Ron had passed out self-tying neckties, which all the groomsmen were wearing. Harry had a bowtie; Ron had lent him his very best black silk bowtie for the occasion.
       Ron, of course was best man, and was therefore obliged to throw a bachelor party for Harry, which turned out to be less of a bachelor party and more of a firewhiskey and butterbeer drinking party among . Everyone had a good time, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't really a bachelor party.
      As Ginny had eleven bridesmaids, Harry in turn had eleven groomsmen: Ron, George, Percy, Charlie, Bill, Lee, Neville, Seamus, Dean, Elms, and, of course, Hagrid. Hagrid had come to the Burrow in his prized furry suit, and was now in the yard, wearing a silver tie Mrs. Weasley had made especially for him. He was outside now, tying silver and white balloons to the corners of the large tent.
      Harry's dress robes were the same style as his blue ones, only they were silver. The groomsmen all had black robes and silver ties. Some of the ties had things emroidered on them; Lee's, for example, had a little red quaffle flying back and forth on it.
"Hey, Harry, those are some nice dress robes. Think I could use them for my wedding?" Ron asked, buttoning his silver vest.
"Sure, as long as I'm best man," Harry grinned, trying to put out his nervousness.
"But you aren't engaged, are you, Ron?" Lee asked.
"No, of course not," Ron said, his face pink.
"But when he finally marries Hermione, he can have them," Harry said shrewdly. Ron said nothing at first, just smiled and straightened his tie.
"I already have a ring," Ron muttered to Harry after the other groomsmen had left. This took Harry by surprise, but only for a second.
"Have you asked permission?" He asked Ron.
"Yeah," Ron said."Went to her parents' house last night when I told her I was going to the store to buy milk, and they said yes."
"I give you my permission, too."
Ron looked at Harry for a second, confused.
"What do you mean?" He asked Harry.
"Well, I asked your permission you marry your sister, and you have my permission to marry my sister. At least, that's how I think of her. Just know that if you ever hurt Hermione, I will personally come to your house and put a Body-bind curse on you."
Ron stared at him, then smiled, and clapped Harry on the back.
"Thanks, mate," he said. "When should I...you know..."
"Well, there's always tonight. Everyone will be in a good mood. But you know she loves you; Hermione would never turn you down."
"But if she does-"
"Ron," Harry said firmly. "Hermione loves you, and if she turned you down, which she probably wouldn't, it would be because she thinks she's too young or something. It wouldn't be forever."
"All right," Ron mumbled. Then, he said more confidently,"Okay. I'll try asking her tonight."
"That's the spirit," Harry said distractedly, trying to comb his hair to lie flat. Or at least a little less messy.
       Neither of them knew that on the other side of Ron's bedroom door, stood a woman in a silver dress with bushy brunette hair. Her brown eyes were almost as wide as her incredulous smile as she walked quietly from the bedroom door, forgetting the reason she had come there in the first place.
*_____*_____*
       A few minutes later, Mrs. Weasley noticed a jar of Sleek Eezy's hair gel on the kitchen table, and she felt a little exasperated. Hadn't she asked Hermione to take that to Harry just a moment ago?
"Hermione, dear?" She called.
"Yes, Mrs. Weasley?" Hermione said, appearing around the corner. "Did you need-" her eyes fell upon the hair gel."Oh." She said sheepishly, grabbing the jar and looking at Mrs. Weasley apologetically."I'm sorry, Mrs. Weasley. I just got a little...side-tracked earlier..."
"It's all right dear," Mrs. Weasley said kindly. "Do me a favor and make sure he looks all right?"
"Yes, Mrs. Weasley," Hermione said, Apparating straight to the outside of Ron's bedroom door. She knocked and opened it, where Harry and Ron were still sitting in Ron's old bed, talking.
"Hi, Hermione," Harry said, not able to hide his nerves now. He felt sweaty and hot, though his robes were very light. On top of all that, he had spent ten minutes combing his stupid hair and it still looked the same as when he woke up.
"I brought you this, Harry," Hermione said, holding up the gel.
"Will it work?" Ron asked.
"I don't know," she admitted, scooping up a liberal amount in her hand and smearing it on Harry's hair without warning.
"Hey!" He protested.
"Oh, you're fine," Hermione laughed, and she tried to sculpt his hair, but of course, each piece just sprang back into its original place. She groaned and siphoned it off his hair with her wand.
"Not even the best hair gel works for you," Ron said sympathetically.
"My hair just does what it wants," Harry said miserably.
"Well, it's for the best. The way I see it, you aren't really you without your hair like that," Hermione said, gesturing to his hair.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"She means that if you had straight hair, you wouldn't seem the same. Sure, you would be the same inside, but that hair is one of your special features," supplied a dreamy voice from the doorway.
"Hi, Luna," they all said in unison.
"Hello. The ceremony starts in twenty minutes, Harry. Are you all ready?"
"Yes," Harry said, standing a bit shakily and wiping his hands on his robes.
"I can't wait, Hermione said, linking her arm with Ron's and planting a firm kiss on his lips before they Apparated to the yard, right outside the big, white tent. The sun was setting on the horizon, casting a pink-orange light across the sky, which was dotted with red tinted clouds. It was a most beautiful early autumn's evening.
"There he is!" Hagrid beamed, patting Harry painfully on the back. "The groom 'imself! Blimey, it seems only yesserday you was all comin' down fer tea fer the firs' time!" He said a bit tearfully.
"Time does fly, doesn't it, Hagrid?" George said affably.
"I s'pose," Hagrid agreed, sniffing. "Well? Are yeh ready?"
"A bit nervous," Harry admitted.
"Ah, don' be. Yeh got yerself a good one, Harry. There's plenty o' love 'tween the two o' yeh, isn' there?"
"Well, of course. I just think I'll make a fool of myself," Harry explained as they walked to the front of the huge tent. It was filled with round tables and chairs, each seat colored silver and each table marble white. The tables were set with elegant porceline plates and teacups and glinting silverware. Silver napkins were folded to look like swans ("It's a simple spell," Hermione had said.) There was a huge table at the back with two huge chairs; one for Hagrid and one for Madame Maxime. Hagrid was going to bring Grawp, but he decided that it might be better to leave him at his cave (everyone was inwardly grateful for this).
"Potter, how are you?" A familiar voice asked from behind. Professor McGonagal was walking toward them, straightening her hat.
"Professor!" Harry grinned. "You made it!"
"Of course," she said, smiling."So, answer me!"
"I'm pretty good," Harry said. "Excited."
"Well, I'm glad that-"
"Harry!"
      They all whipped around to see Kingsley striding to them.
"The ceremony's about to start. You'd better get up there," he said.
"Right. Good to see you, Professor. And you, Kingsley. I mean, Minister," Harry corrected himself.
"No need to call me Minister, Harry. My name will always be Kingsley, no matter what my title is," Kingsley said, patting Harry's shoulder.
        Harry left Hermione and Ron linked arm and arm, and Hagrid talking to Professor McGonagal, walking to the altar with the priest, Mr. Hoyt. Hoyt was a jolly old man, and was really just a wandmaker who was certified  to join people in holy matromony.
"Well, how's the groom feeling?" He asked Harry tentatively.
"Excited, and a little nervous," Harry said for the umpteenth time.
"Ah...most grooms feel that way before the ceremony. Best not to think about it, my boy," Hoyt said cheerfully, taking out his wand at the altar and laying it upon the podium. He took a Bible out of his pocket and laid it in front of his wand just as the music started.
       First, George came out with Belle, then Percy with Heather, Bill with Fluer, Lee with Gwenog, Elms with Andromeda, Charlie with Natalie, Seamus with Deb, Dean with Lynn (the two had really hit it off, which made Harry happy for reasons that shall not be mentioned), Hagrid with a hand on Mrs. Weasley's shoulder, Neville with Luna, and finally Ron and Hermione, the maid of honor and the best man.
      Then, Gabrielle came out with a basket of red rose petals, and though some may have thought she was too old for the job, she pulled it off. The petals she tossed didn't fall to the floor at first, they stayed suspended in the air until she passed them; then they unfroze and fluttered down like relaxed butterflies.
 

   At last, Mr. Weasley came out, his arm linked with a familiar redheaded girl.
"Gin," breathed Harry. She was always beautiful, but this was breathtaking. She was gorgeous like always, but the dress and just seemed to mirror her natural beauty. Harry was glad he waited to see her was glad he was forced to wait to see her, because it had been worth it.
      Mr. Weasley reached the altar, handed her to Harry, and sat next to Kingsley and McGonagal. He gave Harry an encouraging smile, which was mirrored by Ginny as Harry lifted her veil. Harry suddenly wasn't nervous anymore. He took Ginny's hands in his own and returned her smile.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," Hoyt said, coming from behind the podium to stand behind Ginny and Harry."We are gathered here this eveninv for the holy matromony of Miss Ginevra Molly Weasley and Mister Harry James Potter. Shall we begin?" He took his wand and his Bible frim the podium, and began reading passages of Scripture. Some were philisophical, some religious, some made you think. Then, he put the Bible back in his pocket, and touched the tip of his wand to Harry and Ginny's linked hands.
"If anyone has any reason why Miss Weasley and Mr. Potter should not be joined in marriage, dpeak now or forever hold your peace," Hoyt said. Harry held his breath, waiting for someone to yell objections, but no one did. Hoyt nodded, and thin, glowing strip shot from the tip of his wand, and wrapped itself around their hands like red hot wire.
"Do you Harry James Potter, take Ginevra Molly Weasley to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold in happiness and grief, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," Harry said with confidence, looking straight into the eyes of Mrs. Soon-to-be-Potter.
"And do you, Ginevra Molly Weasley take Harry James Potter to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold in happiness and in grief, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," Ginny said strongly, her eyes  with that hard, blazing look in them.
"Then I pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Potter! You may kiss the bride."
      Harry and Ginny ingnored all the clapping and cheering as they kissed. The world dissolved, and everything spun with the happy couple as he swept his bride off her feet.
      The reception passed by very fast, everyone was having so much fun. Everyone feasted on a meal of spaghetti and garlic bread, which was mass produced by Mrs. Weasley, Kreacher. Harry siphoned some sauce off Ginny's dress for her after they ate, and Ron gave him a thumbs-up (Harry wasn't sure why; it wasn't like Ron had been in that situation before.)
       After they ate, the time came to cut the cake. Harry and Ginny stood on one side of the hulking white tower of cake and frosting, Harry behind Ginny, holding her hands on the knife with both of his own. They brought the knife down in one clean sweep, and cut off a chunk of cake. The two fed each other the cake, an experience that Harry will never admit that he liked.
     Finally, the first dance of the married couple was announced. Ginny took Harry's hand, smiling, and led him to the dancefloor where the tables were already out of the way; the tent was just that big. The music started and Harry put her hands on her waist while she wrapped her arms around his neck. Harry felt totally at his ease, as people started to dance all around them; Hagrid and Madame Maxime, Bill and Fluer, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Ron and Hermione, Dean and Lynn.
"I wish..." Ginny began. "...that Fred was here. He would've had so much fun."
"I do, too," Harry agreed. "And Sirius. And Remus, Tonks, and Mad-eye, too. They should have all been able to be here today."
"I know," Ginny said soothingly, holding him tighter. "I know..."
"I love you," Harry said.
"I love you, too," Ginny sighed, running a hand through his hair.
        Ginny danced with Mr. Weasley next, and Harry danced with Mrs. Weasley.
"You should be dancing with your own mother, Harry," Mrs. Weasley said with a sad smile, taking his hand.
"You are one of my mothers, Mrs. Weasley," Harry said simply."You love me like a mother, and I love you like a son. You were better to me in a hanful of summers than the Dursley's were in sixteen years. Thank you."
Mrs. Weasley smiled, but said nothing except. "You're more than welcome, dear. Now, call me Molly. You are my son-in-law now, after all."
          The night was filled with dancing and laughter, and as the wedding came to an end, Harry and Ginny piled onto Harry's Firebolt, which had streamers and tin cans on strings tied to its end. They laughed and waved as they set off for Grimmauld Place on their noisy ride.
         After they landed in front of the house, Harry threw the broom into the shed. Ginny opened the door, and Harry swept her off her feet. Mr. and Mrs. Potter laughed and kissed, as he carried her across the threshold of their house with her arms wrapped around his neck.