'The Wedding'

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A/N: Okay people here's the latest chapter. Just a small note about the characters in this fic and their significant others an asterisk indicates information sourced from Wikipedia according to quotes from JKR. All other pairings are of my own creation.

Percy/Audrey*
George Weasley/Angelina Johnson*
Charlie Weasley/Charlotte(An OFC I created and who I named after my favourite girls name and my first rat)
Oliver/Alicia
Neville/Hannah*
Justin Finch Fletchley/Lisa Turpin
Ernie McMillan/Susan Bones
Malfoy...single*
Katie Bell...single.
Seamus/Lavender
Dean/Padma Patil
Lee Jordan/Pavarti Patil

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Ten minutes later Harry and Neville were in front of the grate in Harry’s quarters.

‘You go first’ Harry said to Neville holding out the pot of floo powder ‘Ron and the girls should already be there but if not just wait by the fountain’

‘Sure see you at the Ministry’ Neville said grabbing a handful of floo powder and stepping into the grate.

‘Ministry of Magic’

Green flames swirled around Neville and with a roar he disappeared from the fireplace. Harry counted thirty seconds then grabbed his own handful of floo powder. He secured his dragon hide satchel over his shoulder then stepped into the grate and threw down the floo powder calling ‘Ministry of Magic’

Identical green flames erupted from beneath Harry’s feet and like Neville he disappeared from Hogwarts. He arrived in the Ministry atrium in a grate nearest the lifts. His first sight was of Neville waiting by the side of the Fountain of Magical Brethren alongside Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Teddy, and four of Harry’s old schoolmates, Susan Bones and her boyfriend Ernie McMillan, Justin Finch-Fletchley and his girlfriend Lisa Turpin. Gathered also was Katie, Lee Jordan, Gordon, Larissa, George his girlfriend Cherie and Larry and his girlfriend Amy. George and Angelina still on their honeymoon would be meeting everyone in Corsica.

Ginny saw him arrive and walked over.
‘Hey how was your day?’ She asked him dropping a light kiss on his lips.

‘Busy I finally managed to get through that shit of a teachers code of conduct monstrosity’

‘Did you bring it with you?’ Ginny asked in surprise spying his dragon hide satchel.

‘Hell no I left it in my quarters back at Hogwarts’ Harry said ‘Hey Ernie ‘I hex Myself for Fun’ McMillan’

‘Oh bugger off Harry I don’t know what Finnegan told you but it’s bullshit’ Ernie said shaking Harry’s hand ‘How are ya what’s happening with you?’

‘Not much’ Harry said ‘I got a new job you might’ve heard’

Ernie rolled his eyes.
Oh ha ha’ He said rolling his eyes(Harry couldn’t miss the obvious nose brace upon the former Hufflepuffs face)

‘Hey Harry should we tell everyone what Minerva asked us to do earlier?’ Neville said with a grin.

‘No’ Harry said with a grin heading over to the far side of the atrium where they would floo to Rome ‘They wouldn’t want to know’

‘Excuse me we wouldn’t want to know what?’ Ginny said pulling Harry back.

Harry laughed.
‘I suppose I better tell you’ He said holding out his arms ‘Meet the next head of Gryffindor House’

‘You?’ Ron said in surprise.

‘No you twat the Easter Bunny’ Harry said with a grin ‘Yes me, well Neville and I. I’m the primary head and Neville’s there to fill in if something comes up for me’

‘Wow congratulations Harry’ Hermione said ‘That’ll really fill up your timetable’

‘I know but Minerva said to make things easier Gin and Ted can come to stay at the castle if things get to busy and I need to stay at the castle’

‘Wow we can live at Hogwarts?’ Teddy said incredulously his eyes turning a bright canary yellow.

‘Yeah if things get busy and I can’t get back to the Manor’ Harry said picking up the small child and putting him on his hip. ‘Not all the time though’

‘But some of the time?’

Sure you’d have your own room too I have an apartment of my own you know’

‘You do? Ernie said in surprise ‘Not bad maybe I ought to get into teaching’

‘And teach the students what?’ Ron joked ‘How to hex themselves?’

Even Susan laughed at that.

‘Prat’

Everyone in the group made theor way over to the lifts and made their way down to the Department for Wizarding Tourism and Immigration. They had their passports stamped then made their way back up to the Atrium where they lined up in front of one of the fireplaces used to International flooing.

‘Harry you and Teddy go first’ George suggested ‘International flooing can be a bit rough and if Ted gets ill he’ll need time to recover’

‘Am I gonna spew?’ Teddy said loudly.

Everyone laughed.

‘You won’t if you hold on tight and keep your mouth shut’ Harry said with a grin scooping up a handful of floo powder.

‘Here take this with you’ Ginny said reaching into her bag and pulling out a small bottle of purple liquid ‘That’s if either of you spew up, I brewed it after I came home from the hospital. I know International flooing can be a bit rough’

‘Thanks’ Harry said ‘Ready to go?’

‘Yeah I schpose’

Harry stepped into the grate made sure Teddy was holding on tight. He then threw down the floo powder and said loudly and clearly…

‘Italian Ministry of Magic’

With a fierce whoosh that caused his robes to fly up above his head acid green flames erupted around Harry and Teddy and they disappeared from the grate.

It was the most peculiar floo ride Harry had ever been on. And he thought it much like a ride on a multi-turn water slide. His left shoulder still sore from his quidditch injury painfully hit something solid then he was off going uphill and down dale and twice in a complete somersault. But the arrival was perfect and he arrived at the Italian Ministry of Magic landing lightly on his feet.

‘Here we are matey’ Harry said.

Teddy made a face then with a great heave vomited spectacularly all over Harry and part of the black marble floor. Harry nearly dropped him and as fast as he could before losing his grip vanished the sick with a quick ‘Evenesco’ and conjured a squishy bucket seat out of thin air before gently easing Teddy into it.

‘I’m guessing you didn’t like that floo very much’ Harry said ruffling Teddy’s hair which had turned a sick looking green colour in transit.

‘Naw it was groooooooss!’ Teddy said retching again.

Harry quick as a flash Harry conjured a bucket out of thin air and held it under Teddy’s head as he was sick four more times.

‘Here you better drink some of this while you have an empty tum’ Harry said pulling the bottle of purple potion out of his pocket and uncorking it ‘Drink as much as you can’

Behind him the grate he’s just exited burst into green flames and Ginny made her appearance. She rushed over to them when she saw Teddy in his chair and Harry crouched at his feet.

‘Rough trip?’ She said as Teddy swallowed a mouthful of the potion.

‘You could say that’ Harry said ‘Feeling it work mate?’

Teddy nodded slowly as his hair returned to it’s usual electric purple colour.
‘Yeah my tummy still feels funny though’ He said ‘Can I have some more?’

‘Yeah mate drink it all up’ Harry said as Ron arrived.

‘Great who spewed?’ He said brightly stepping out of the grate.

‘Ron you’re not helping’ Ginny said shooting her brother a frown.

‘I spewed Uncle Ron!’ Teddy said almost proudly swallowing the mouthful of potion ‘All over Harry!’

‘Awww yuck really?’ Ron said looking at Harry.

‘Yup all down my front then four times in the bucket’ Harry said jerking his head toward the now clean and empty bucket.

‘Whay haaaaay way to go Tedmeister you’ve broken the Weasley family record’ Ron said.

‘The Weasley family has a floo vomit record?’ Harry said in surprise.

‘Yeah and it belongs to Percy he chundered three times when we went on our trip to Egypt nine years ago, twice on Bill’

Everyone but Ginny (Who just rolled her eyes) laughed.

‘I feel better now Harry can we go now?’ Teddy said a moment later as Susan arrived.

‘We’re not in Corsica yet matey we’re in Italy’ Harry said flicking his wand so Teddy’s chair and the bucket vanished ‘We have to catch a portkey in half an hour’

‘Am I gonna be sick on that ride?’

‘Lord he sounds like he wants to be sick’ Ron said half-amused half disgusted.

‘You shouldn’t be sick on that one’ Harry said ‘You’ve been on long portkey rides before and you weren’t sick on them’

‘The Floo ride to Rome is always rough’ George said as a short squat Wizard wearing the green/black robes of the Italian Ministry emerged from a nearby set of lifts and rushed over to them ‘The first time I did the trip I broke my nose. I apparate or put a cushioning charm on myself’

‘Velocemente velocemente! Tu portuale foglie in dieci minuti fa e it’s sul terzo pavimento! (Apparently this means 'Quickly quickly! You portkey leaves in ten minutes and it’s on the third floor)’ The wizard said in a rush waving a hand frantically.

Lee suddenly began talking to the man in Italian and the wizard looked grateful to be able to speak in his native tongue. When everyone arrived, Lee waved his arms above his head.

‘Everyone we’ve just got to follow Angelo here and we’ll be able to get the portkey’ He announced ‘He said we have ten minutes to get to the portkey and it’s on the third floor which takes time to get to’

‘Do you speak Italian?’ Neville exclaimed in surprise.

‘Yeah I had to learn it so I could easily communicate with the staff at the shop in Rome. George learnt it too so one of us could drop in on the shop and see how things are going. We had to learn French, German and Japanese for the shops in Paris, Berlin and Tokyo too, and if we open up shops in Spain and South America like we want to we’ll go about learning Spanish too’

‘Well aren’t you two a pair cultural little sausages’ Ginny said dryly.

Harry snorted loudly.

With George and the Italian Ministry worker leading the way the group made their way across the Atrium to the lifts. They split into two groups and filled up two lifts that took them to the third floor which looked like a postcard from Tuscany, Terracotta tiles lines the floor and the enchanted windows looked out onto sun kissed grapevines.

‘You go here’ The Italian wizard said opening a door with a flick from a sword like wand.

The group filed into the wide high ceilinged room in the centre of which was a round table and upon that was and old muggle style broom.

‘One minute to go!’ The Italian Wizard said looking at an extravagant gold watch on his left wrist.

‘Harry how can I touch the portkey I can’t reach it!’ Teddy said looking up at Harry as everyone else took a hold of or touched the portkey with a finger.

Harry lifted Teddy onto the table.
‘There you go’ He said ‘Remember you only need a finger on it’

‘Ten seconds!’ The Italian wizard called as the portkey glowed gold.

Harry grabbed Teddy with one hand and the broom with another and seconds later he felt the familiar tug behind the navel as the portkey activated. He closed his eyes and felt Teddy squeeze his hand hard as the group left the Italian Ministry.

Unlike flooing the landing after a portkey ride was much less elegant so when the portkey arrived in Corsica in a small clearing he landed in a heap with Ron underneath him and Angelina on top of him.

‘OOOOOW gerroff me!’ Ron bellowed as everyone in the group attempted to disentangle themselves from each other.

As Harry got up he accidentally trod on Ron’s testicles. Ron bellowed in pain as he snapped into a foetal position his hands between his legs clutching his manhood.

‘AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!’ He screamed ‘My balls!’

Ginny roared with laughter and one by one everyone else joined in.

‘S-s-s-s-sorry mate’ Harry snorted trying to hold in his laughter.

‘IT’S NOT FUNNY!’ Ron bellowed as Hermione the most conservative member of the group went brick red as she tried to suppress her laughter.

‘How would you like me to tread on your nuts?’ Ron groaned slowly getting up while carefully holding his testicles ‘Bloody hell Harry you have feet of lead!...fat lot of good you are!’ He spat to Ginny who was still laughing ‘Thanks for the family support’

Ginny hugged Ron.
‘We love you Ron we really do’ She said ‘I’m sorry but you have to see it from our side of the fence it was a bit funny’

‘No it wasn’t’ Hermione said rubbing Ron on the back ‘It was bloody hilarious’

‘Fuc..’

The roar of an engine interrupted Ron’s sentence. The group turned their attention toward the noise and saw a red family mover van skidded to a stop sending a cloud of dirt out behind it. A tall but stocky man that looked awfully like Oliver leapt out of the car and ran over to them’

‘You-lot-the-four-o’clock-portkey-from-Rome?’ He puffed.

‘Yeah Hi I’m Harry Potter’ Harry said introducing himself.

The man’s eyes performed the familiar flick toward Harry’s scar then took Harry’s proffered hand.

‘Hi I’m Brad Oliver’s brother’ He said ‘Nice to meet ya, sorry but I can’t chat I have to get you to the hotel then race back here for the quarter to five portkey from Paris’

‘No worries lead the way’

Brad led the group over to the van and they all piled in. Like Mr Weasley’s old Ford Anglia the interior of this van had been magically enlarged. Harry claimed a window seat and Teddy slipped in next to him and Ginny next to Teddy.

‘Busy today then?’ Harry said as the door shut itself and Brad leapt into the driver’s seat.

‘Busy is an understatement of the century’ Brad said starting up the engine ‘I’ve been on portkey pick up duty since seven this morning. No sooner than I drop one, off than I have to turn around, come, and pick up another one. It’s driving me insane my sisters Megan and Latetia are doing the same thing at the two other portkey depots, Damn Oliver and Alicia for being so popular’

Harry laughed.

‘How many guests are coming to the wedding? Ron asked as they eased down a steep hill.

Exactly two hundred’ Brad said ‘That includes partners of the invited guests and every member of the Wood and Spinnett family. We’ve booked out the entire hotel I’m taking you to’

‘An entire hotel?’ Ginny said in surprise.

‘Yeah but this is only a small hotel’ Brad said ‘It overlooks a small cove that hotel guests can go swimming fishing and snorkelling in.

‘Is it a muggle hotel or a wizarding one?’ Hermione asked in interest.

‘A wizarding one’ Brad said as they reached the end of the road and eased into traffic ‘It used to be a muggle one though til about twelve months ago but as a muggle business it was going broke so some disgustingly rich American tycoon bought them out and set it up as a Wizarding dwelling. It’s pretty much been full since. Corsica is a popular muggle tourism destination and the owner of this hotel wanted it to be a popular wizarding location and so far it is. I take my wife and kids here every winter quidditch off season’

‘You play quidditch?’ Harry asked in interest.

‘Yup in the Italian League, for the Tuscany Titans. And for a day job I work in the department for International Magical Co-Operation in the Italian Ministry’

‘What position do you play?’

‘Seeker, we lucked out in our pre-season cup this year the Titans went down 350 400 to the Naples United after an eleven hour game’

‘Holy shit!’ Ron exclaimed ‘I bet you were dead on your broom’

‘I was, so was every player on the pitch I caught the snitch even though we were going to lose purely so I could go to bed. Our captain didn’t even complain and that’s a miracle he’s very much like Oliver in his training and playing techniques’

‘Anal? Harry suggested ‘Like a dog with a bone?’

‘You got it in one’’ Brad said turning a corner ‘I heard about your catch in United’s win last weekend Harry nice stuff flying into the pitch like that’

Ginny laughed shrilly.

‘Oh great so that bit of news made it over the pond then’ Harry said in exasperation.

‘Yeah well I heard it from Oliver first then it appeared in the sports section of the Ciao the magical paper in Italy. How’s your shoulder?’

‘Still sore but that wasn’t helped by the floo trip from London to Rome. I still should be wearing the sling the medics at the game put on me but I took it off and forced the healers at St Mungos tape it up so I wouldn’t look like a knob’

‘Well any more than you already do’ Ron said with a laugh.

‘Oh I a never going to live that down am I?’

‘Noooooooo’ everyone in the car chorused.

‘I think the idiot of the week prize should be between Harry and Ernie’ Susan said with a laugh ‘I don’t know what’s funnier someone hexing themselves or someone flying directly into a quidditch pitch’

‘Thanks Susan’ Ernie and Harry chorused.

‘I reckon Harry should get the prize on that one’ Hermione said ‘Ernie your picture didn’t make the front page of the Prophet. And you said even your parents don’t even know you almost hexed your nose off’

‘I hate to admit it ‘Mione but I think you’re right there’ Harry said as Brad drove through a mountainous but populated part of Corsica ‘ThankYOU so much’

Ernie laughed at Harry’s sarcasm.

After a twenty minute car ride where Brad drove the group through some of the most picturesque country Harry had ever seen they arrived at a small hotel on the coast overlooking a small cove edged with crisp clean sand and sapphire blue ocean.

‘Oooooh it’s soooo beautiful!’ Hannah breathed getting out of the car and inhaling deeply ‘I’m going to go for a swim in that water when I’ve settled in'

‘Well the sun doesn’t go down til about eight thirty here so there’s plenty of time’ Brad said helping unload all of the luggage from the car ‘Look I’m really sorry everyone but I have to go and get the quarter to five portkey Flitwick and his Missus are coming on that one’

‘Thanks for the ride’ Harry said.

‘No worries Harry’

Brad got back into the car and roared off again. Harry levitated his, Ginny’s and Teddy’s bags in front of him and walking down the drive they entered the elegant whitewashed building. They checked in and were shown to their room a cosy two bedroomed apartment with a balcony overlooking the cove below.

’Oh I could live here!’ Ginny exclaimed as she flounced around the room investigating the facilities.

‘I have my own woom!’ Teddy called from the smaller of the two bedrooms ‘Wow!’

‘Do you feel well enough to go swimming?’ Harry asked leaning on the frame of Teddy’s bedroom door ‘You’re not still feeling woozy?’

‘Naw I’m okay’ Teddy said leaping off the bed and jumping over the backpack with his things in it ‘Can we go now puh-leeeze? I haven’t been swimming since summer and it’s too cold to swim back home!’

‘Yeah okay get your togs on and we’ll go for a dip’

‘Oy what about unpacking our stuff? Ginny said throwing her cloak over the back of a chair.

‘Awnty Ginny can’t we do that later?’ Teddy grovelled giving Ginny puppy dog eyes ‘Puh-leeeeeeeeze?’

Ginny rolled her eyes.

‘Oh you are such a crawler!’ Ginny exclaimed in amusement ‘Oh okay sod the unpacking lets go swimming’

‘Yaay!’

All three of them changed into swimming togs then made their way down to the lobby where Ron, Hermione, Neville and Hannah were all carrying towels.

‘So you’re going for a swim too then?’ Harry said.

‘Yeah apparently this hotel hires our snorkelling masks so ‘Mione and I are going to give snorkelling a go, it’s a muggle activity that I don’t really see the point of doing but hey I’m open to new experiences’

Hermione shot Ron a withering look.

‘Awww Harry can we try snorkelling?’ Teddy asked excitedly hopping from foot to foot ‘Uncle George said he tried it with Aunty Angelina once and said it was fun!’

‘I suppose so’ Harry said.

Harry hired Teddy a snorkelling mask then He went down to the beach with Ginny, Neville, Hannah, Ron and Hermione.

‘We have to come here again in winter’ Ginny said pausing on the beach where the waves broke and digging her toes into the sand ‘It’s so…so’

‘Mediterranean?’ Harry suggested finding a nice spot on the beach and laying their things down.

‘Yeah that’ll do.

Harry cast a spell on his, Teddy and Ginny’s belongings to keep them safe then with Teddy he went down to the water. Hermione and Ron were already dive bombing off a small rocky outcrop about five feet above the water both shrieking in delight.

‘Aw Harry can I try that?’ Teddy asked gazing longingly at Ron who was doing a handstand and wiggling his legs in the air.

‘No way have mate not from that height’ Harry said ‘But I tell you what, you can jump off my shoulders okay?’

Teddy lit up.
‘Really truly?’ He said.

‘Really truly’ Said Harry nodding whilst wading into the water ‘Want to try now?’

‘Yeah!’

Harry waded out to chest height then held his cupped hands out as if to leg a jockey into the saddle of a horse.
‘Okay you step into my hands and I’ll flip you into the air’ He said to Teddy ‘Got it?

‘Got it’ Teddy stepped into Harry’s hands balancing himself on his shoulders. When he was steady, Harry used all the strength he could muster and launched Teddy into the air. With a great shriek of delight, Teddy flew through the air and landed on top of Neville, sending him under the surface, causing him to inhale a lot of salt water and splutter violently, in turn his round face turned a bright shade of red from the effort of coughing.

‘Shit sorry Neville my trajectory was a bit off’ Harry exclaimed apologetically ‘You okay?’

Neville spat out a mouthful of water.
‘Yeah no worries Harry I’m fine’ He said as Teddy resurfaced and splashed by.

‘Uncle Neville can you frow me In the air like Harry just did?’ Teddy asked swimming up to Neville ‘Please please please pleeeease?’

‘Well you did ask nicely I suppose I can help you out’ Neville said cupping his hands together like Harry had ‘How about you pretend to be a quaffle and Harry and I play quidditch with you?’

Teddy burst into shrill giggles.
‘Aww Uncle Neville that’s thilly!’ He trilled ‘I’m thoo big to be a quaffle!’

‘Well going by the huge splash you made when you hit the water I reckon you’d be a bludger’ Harry joked ‘What do you reckon Uncle Neville Bludger or Quaffle?’

‘Well if you turn your head red I’d say a quaffle’ Neville said to Teddy with a grin.

‘Teddy squeezed his eyes shut hard and a second his electric blue hair turned a deep quaffle red.
‘There I’m a quaffle’ He said ‘Now can you frow me Uncle Neville? Puh-leeeze?’

‘Sure thing kiddo’

So for the next hour Harry and Neville tossed Teddy between then then Harry left Teddy with Neville and Hannah and before joining Ron, Ginny and Hermione on the rocky outcrop.

‘My arms are going to kill me tonight’ He said to no one in particular sitting on a particularly flat smooth rock and dangling his legs over the edge of the outcrop as a few feet away Teddy splashed around Hannah ‘Ted’s porking up every day’

‘That’s because he eats like Ron’ Ginny said with a laugh wiping her eyes of salt water.

‘Sod off’ Ron said as Hermione snorted.

‘Getting excited about the Hogwarts term starting on Monday Harry? Hermione asked after a few minutes of companiable silence ‘Only three days away’

‘Yeah I am ‘Mione I really am’ Harry said ‘I feel I can really make a difference as the D.A.D.A professor maybe even as much as I did as an Auror. As a teacher I can influence how the next generation fight the Dark Arts and that for me anyway is exciting’

‘You weren’t thinking that six weeks ago when Minerva asked you to take on the job’ Ron said.

‘Well back then I wasn’t sure I could do it’ Harry said ‘But in the month since I decided to take the job I’ve changed my mind’ Harry said ‘That’s especially the case in the last week during the teacher’s orientation. Minerva made me teach a mock class on Friday just so I’d get the feel of teaching. The students were the teachers including Minerva. I was nervous as hell but managed to get through it okay’

‘Minerva probably wanted to get rid of some of that nervousness’ Ginny said ‘At least that way you’ll be less nervous and more prepared when you’re actually in front of a class of real students, quite an effective technique I think’

‘Yeah it was, now I just have to figure out what to do if I get a shit of a student’

‘Hex them’ Ron said immediately.

Hermione slapped him.

‘Ow! What was that for?’ Ron exclaimed rubbing his leg.

‘You were being a prat’ Hermione said ‘Harry can’t hex a student’

‘I was only joking’

‘You shouldn’t joke about things like that, Harry I think the only thing you can do is deal with the situation as you see fit when that particular situation arises’ Hermione said ‘Or you can think back to whoever was most effective at disciplining students during our days at Hogwarts and try and emulate them’

‘Draco and Horace said that’ Harry said ‘From what I can recall Snape was the most effective but Minerva was the fairest’

‘Well there you go combine those two methods and what you think is effective and fair and you’ll have discipline Harry Potter style’ Hermione said with a grin.

‘Then if all else fails hex them’ Ron said with a chuckle ‘I reckon the Dragon Dung Hex would be good with the Slytherins’

‘Now Ronald you know Slytherin House is no longer the house it was during our days’ Hermione said ‘Minerva herself has told you its pureblood ideals have been diluted a lot’

‘I know but old habits die hard I suppose’ Ron said idly flicking a pebble into the sapphire blue water below.

‘What time do you have to be at Hogwarts on Monday?’ Ginny asked ‘The Hogwarts Express doesn’t get there til dark about six-ish’

‘Minerva wants me there by five at the latest’ Harry said ‘I’ve got plenty of things to do before then I have to pick up the pups from the vet in Rochester then go into the Ministry and see how Tonks and Lupin’s portrait is coming along’

‘It shouldn’t take too long’ Ron said in interest ‘You being who you are and all’

‘I suppose I’ll see on Monday’ Harry said ‘When Andromeda got Tonks and Lupin’s portrait done it took ages’

‘Yeah but to be fair Harry that was immediately after the final battle’ Hermione said ‘The Ministry was rebuilding and things like portraits were put on the backburner. And not that I’m saying Tonks and Lupin’s portrait is irrelevant but the Ministry did have better things to worry about’

‘Yeah I know but I haven’t heard anything in the three weeks since I got approved funding for it and I want to see how things are going. Portraits don’t take long to paint but from what I’ve heard one does tend to hear a progress report sooner than three weeks’

‘True’

‘Kingsley might know what’s happening and be able to give the relevant people a hurry up’ Ron said.

‘I don’t want to be shown any favouritism’

‘I know that and you’re not but Kingsley could at least get you a progress report, that’s all you want isn’t it?’

‘Pretty much yeah’ Harry said standing up ‘Okay I’m feeling like a kid who wants to try and beat me in a bomb competition?’

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Just as the sun began to set Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Teddy, Neville and Hannah left the beach and returned to the hotel. They ran into Professor McGonagall who was waiting at the check in desk.

‘Just get in Minerva?’ Harry asked.

‘Yes just now’ McGonagall said ‘How was your trip over?’

‘Not bad the floo from London to Rome was a bit rough but the portkey was nice and smooth’

‘Good good. Shall see you at dinner?’

‘Gin and ‘Mione you will but not Ron, Ted and I. All the female guests are having dinner with Alicia in Ajaccio and all the male guests are having dinner with Oliver in the function room down the hall’

‘Well I’ll see you at the ceremony tomorrow then?’

‘You will’ Harry said ‘Now if you’ll excuse me I have to go and get ready for this dinner, have a good night and don’t let Hermione and Gin get you drunk’

‘Oh ha ha’ Ginny and Hermione chorused rolling their eyes.

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Within an hour Harry, Ginny and Teddy were ready for their respective dinners.

‘How do I look?’ Ginny asked Teddy doing a twirl in her green and white wrap dress.

‘Sexyyyy’ Harry joked.

‘Prettyyyy’ Teddy said with a toothy grin, ‘Your dwess is green like a dwagon Ginny’

‘Oh gee ta’ Ginny said.

‘Naw it’s nice!’ Teddy exclaimed.

‘Green like fresh pickled toad’ Harry said with a great snorting laugh.

Ginny burned scarlet.
‘Oh you’re never going to let me live that down are ya?’ She said pulling a lipstick out of her handbag.

‘Nope I’ll be at you about it for years til you’re old demented and drooling in the dementia ward of St Mungo’s’ Harry said between snorts.

‘Harry that was twelve years ago!’ Ginny complained applying the lipstick.

‘So?’

‘So I’m your fiancée you’re not supposed to tease me’

‘Yeah I am’

After Ginny had finished getting ready the trio went downstairs. Ginny bid them goodbye and went to join Alicia and some of the other female guests and Harry and Teddy went all the way back down to the rear of the hotel where the main function room was. Oliver was at the door greeting the guests as they arrived.

‘Harry James, Ted Remus!’ He joked shaking Harry’s hand then squatting down and shaking Teddy’s hand ‘You came hey Tedmeister what’s up?’

‘Aw not much we went swimming today, I was a quaffle!’

‘You were?’ Oliver said looking at Harry.

‘Long story’ Harry said ‘Hey Ted you go off and chat to Neville okay? I want to chat to Oliver for a while’

‘Okay!’

Teddy skipped off and Harry began chatting to Oliver.

‘So are you nervous?’ He asked.

Oliver rolled his eyes.
‘I’m packing death’ He said ‘Even more nervous then what I was before the cup final. And Mum is not helping. She’s buzzing around me like a hornet it’s annoying the shit out of me. She even asked me this morning if I have my jocks laid out for tomorrow’

‘Well have you?’ Harry said with a grin.

‘Oh ha ha. What’s the point of wearing any? There once Leesh and I get behind closed doors there won’t be much point in wearing any'

‘Well don’t shag immediately after the ‘I do’s’ that won’t impress the outlaws a whole lot’ Harry said with a chuckle ‘I think it’s tradition to wait til after the reception’

Oliver rolled his eyes again.
‘Oh you’re on a roll tonight aren’t you?’ He said ‘C’mon I want to introduce you to my brother’

‘Brad?’

‘Yeah that’s him’ Oliver said walking through the crowd ‘He picked you up from the portkey depot didn’t he?’

‘Yeah but we were only briefly introduced. It was basically hi I’m Oliver’s brother. He was in a rush to pick up the quarter to five portkey’

‘I’ll introduce you properly then’

Oliver led Harry through the gathered guests til they found Brad on the other side of the room where he had a small child that Harry assumed was his son was perched on his hip.

‘Oy Bradley!’ Oliver called.

‘Oliver Horace!’ Brad said with a grin.

Harry snorted.
‘You middle name is Horace?’ He chortled ‘Ha ha ha!’

‘Don’t’ Oliver said making a face ‘I hate my middle name’

‘Aw that’s too bad’ Brad said in a teasing tone ‘Horace is a good respectable name’

‘No it’s not it’s an old boring name’ Oliver said ‘Horace hasn’t been a fashionable name since Merlin was a kid’

‘Mum and Dad started a tradition where their kids got their parents first names as middle names’ Brad explained to Harry ‘I got Christopher Dad’s Dad’s name Oliver got Horace Mum’s Dad’s name, Latetia our oldest sister got Danica Dad’s Mum’s name and Megan our next oldest sister got Holly Mum’s Mum’s name’

‘That’s a good theory’

‘Anyway Bradley’ Oliver said leaning hard on the last syllable ‘I wanted to introduce you to Harry properly he said there wasn’t much time for talk when you picked him up today’

‘Nah there wasn’t’ Brad said holding out his free hand to Harry ‘I’m Brad nice to be introduced to you properly’

‘Well I’m Harry’ Harry said with as grin shaking Brad’s hand ‘And who’s this?’

‘This is my son Mitchell’ Brad said ‘Mitch this is Harry Potter’

Mitchell’s eyes widened in amazement.
‘You ARE?’ He said incredulously ‘Oh wow’

‘Nice to meet ya kid’ Harry said ‘I hear you’ve got an important job tomorrow’

‘Uh huh I’m taking Uncle Oliver and Aunty Alicia’s rings down the aisle, it’s a big boy job’

‘I’m sure you’ll do great'

*******************************************************************

The following day before the wedding ceremony, Harry, Ginny and Teddy apparated to Ajaccio and spent the morning on the beach, snorkelling and having fish and chips for lunch.

‘I wish we could spend all day on the beach here’ Teddy said to Ginny and Harry after they had finished lunch.

‘I know matey but we have Oliver and Alicia’s wedding in a few hours’ Harry said ‘But I promise we’ll come back here really soon. Most likely in the winter holiday’s eh?’

‘Really?’

‘Sure’

‘I reckon we ought to get a holiday house here’ Ginny said an hour later as she and Harry lay under their umbrella while Teddy made a sandcastle a few feet away. ‘It’s so peaceful for a touristy area’

‘You were reading my mind’ Harry said sleepily turning on his side and running a finger down her chest between breasts.

Ginny grabbed his hand.
‘Harry James Potter you are a deviant’ She said ‘We are on a public beach with a four year old twelve feet away, I am not going to get frisky with you now’

‘Drat’ Harry said withdrawing his hand ‘Later tonight then?’

‘If you’re sober enough’ Ginny said sitting up ‘There’s going to be a lot of eating drinking and being merry tonight and if by chance you are sober enough to get frisky you’ll be too tired, and if we’re to shag I want lots of hard energy not half asleep sex’

‘Fair enough you just about ready?’ We’ll have to get back to the hotel in time if we’re to get to the bay for the ceremony in time’

‘Yeah we better’ Ginny said looking at her watch.

‘Oy Ted time to go’ Harry called waving at Teddy.

‘Aw but Harry I’m still makin’ my sandcastle’ Teddy complained making a face.

‘Sorry kiddo but we have the wedding to go to remember?’

‘Aw ‘kay’

Harry and Ginny packed everything up then left the beach from Teddy gathering behind a huge tree near the beach. They then apparated back to the hotel appearing directly in their hotel room.

‘Okay Ted you in the bathroom first’ Harry said dropping the beach bag on a nearby chair ‘We have to be ready to go in an hour and a half’

‘kay’

An hour and a half later they were ready to go. Ginny emerged from the main bedroom dressed in a summery ankle length blue and white strapless dress. Harry and Teddy were dressed identically in white cargo long shorts sandals and a blue and white Hawaiian shirt in keeping with Oliver and Alicia’s request for all the guests to wear blue and white. Ginny’s hair was held back in a tight plaited bun held In place with a white ribbon. Around her neck hung the sapphire and diamond necklace she had worn to Neville and Hannah’s wedding.

‘How do I look?’ She said picking up her white wide brimmed hat and doing a twirl.

‘Very summery’ Harry said holding his hand out ‘Shall we go?’

‘Yes lets’

Harry and Ginny left the room and with Teddy made their way down to the lobby where Ron and Hermione were waiting. Ron was wearing white cargo long shorts like Harry and Teddy but his shirt was a solid pale blue. Hermione was in a floaty strapless and summery diagonal cut skirt dress, with a split up the leg almost to her hip and a long blue belt tied around her waist in an elegant bow. Her hair was in a long plait and on her head was a wide floppy brimmed hat with a spray of realistic blue flowers around it.

‘Well don’t you two look summery’ Ron said ‘Lookin’ good Gin’

Ginny giggled.

‘Neville and Hannah not down yet?’ Harry asked sitting next to Hermione.

‘Nah they were late coming back from wherever they went this afternoon and Neville said they won’t be long, that’s a load of bull they’re probably having a shag’ Ron said.

‘And if they are?’ Hermione said ‘It’s none of your business what Neville and Hannah get up to you nosey bugger’

A few minutes later Neville and Hannah emerged from their room Neville with a goofy grin on his face, Hannah looking flushed, her arms carrying two baskets full of Frangipanni flowers and on her head rested, an enormous floppy brimmed straw beach hat.

‘Hannah, how the hell can you see with that thing on?’ Ron asked in amazement as Hannah put the baskets on one of the nearby seats the lobby offered ‘It’s huge’

‘Just a simple charm’ Hannah said in her usual bright manner and reaching into one of the baskets ‘Here everyone I went out collecting Frangipannis today and made some corsages out of them. Each one has a preserving charm on it so they won’t wilt. Just a weak sticking charm will keep them attached to your tops, I made a few extra for the other wedding guests, and I plan on handing them out to everyone else when we get to the bay’

‘Thanks Hannah they’re really pretty did they take you long?’ Ginny asked.

‘About an hour’ Hannah said attaching one of the corsages to her own dress ‘It took me a while to pick out which arrangement look best then I just charmed the rest of the blooms to arrange themselves, quite a simple spell’

‘This is an idea we can use for our own wedding’ Ginny said to Harry giving her wand a flick and attaching the corsage to her dress ‘Hannah we may have to appoint you to the planning committee there’s only a month to go’

‘I’d be more than happy to help Ginny’ Hannah said once again picking up the baskets ‘Shall we go? There’s only forty five minutes til the ceremony begins’

‘Yeah we'd better’ Harry said.

Harry, Ginny, Ron Hermione, Teddy, Neville and Hannah left the hotel and took the path down to the beach they then took a short off cut to a grove of Frangipanni trees where they gathered in a circle.

‘Awnty Hannah can I puh-leeeze apparate with you?’ Teddy asked Hannah tugging on her skirt.

‘Okay Teddy but you’ll have to reach up to hold my hand; I can’t bend down to get you’

Teddy hugged Hannah around the waist instead.

‘Oh that’ll do’

And with a collective crack, the group disapparated appearing a moment later in the bay where Oliver and Alicia’s wedding would be held. A huge white open sided marquee stood before them and inside were dozens of white wooden chairs upon which rested blue cushions, on the ends of each row were elegant bows of chiffon on blue and white about a hundred feet either side of the main marquee were two smaller marquees. One for Oliver and one for Alicia to get ready in.

‘Oh everything looks so beautiful!’ Hermione breathed as guests mingled around the bay and Hannah skipped off to distribute the frangipani corsages ‘Shall we find out seats?’

‘Yeah we better everything starts soon’ Harry said.

Therefore, with the direction of the ushers Harry, Ron, Hermione, Teddy and Neville made their way down the aisle and to their seats. They found Larissa Gordon’s girlfriend already seated. She had conjured a hand held fan from somewhere and had charmed it to fan itself a foot or so in front of her face.

‘Harry you’re here!’ She said kissing him on the cheek ‘Have you seen Oliver yet?’

‘No we only just got here’ Harry said ‘How are things going?’

‘Last time I checked well. Larry, Gordon and both Georges are with Oliver and Brad in the groom’s tent and when I checked on proceeding’s ten minutes ago everything appeared to be going smoothly. However, Oliver has lost his stomach a couple of times’

‘Like you eh Neville?’ Ron said with a grin elbowing Neville in the side.

‘Oh sod off’

Fifteen minutes later Oliver emerged from the groom’s tent with Larry, both Georges, Gordon and Brad and took his place at the right hand side of the altar. All five men wore identical outfits, white long shorts and royal blue collared shirts. Harry noted that each of them wore Frangipanni corsages on their left breast pocket they were barefoot and Oliver was nervously digging his toes into the white sand as he conversed with his brother and friends. The string quartet gathered near the left of the altar then stuck up a lively classical tune as the guests began finding their seats.

‘Well they look smart’ Hermione said to no one in particular.

‘You should see Alicia’s dress’ Larissa said ‘It’s beautiful and the veil looks like it’s made of mist, I think it’s a Spinnett family heirloom. Both of her sisters and her mother got married in it I think’

‘That’s a nice thing to have as a heirloom’ Ginny said ‘The Weasley/Prewett family have a goblin made tiara’

‘Yeah?’ Larissa asked in great interest.

‘Yeah, Fleur, Penny and Angelina got married in it and when Harry and I get married next month I’ll be wearing it. When our Great Auntie Muriel died a couple of years ago, she passed it onto Mum because apart from me she is the only other Weasley woman. I was the first girl born into the Weasley family for a hundred years. Apparently a female line heirloom, only female family members inherit it but if there are no girls born into the family it goes to the eldest married female like it did with Auntie Muriel’

‘Sounds gorgeous’

‘Oh it is it’s really fine almost like a spider’s web and its centuries old, I’d have to ask Mum how old though’

As the minutes passed by Harry could see Oliver getting more and more nervous, then when the scheduled start time for the ceremony came and went he looked positively green. Alicia played the part of the bride being traditionally late perfectly and at ten minutes past four, the ceremony began. The string quartet struck up a romantic version of Pachabels canon in D Major and the bridal party began coming down the aisle led by one of Alicia’s nieces Kate who was dropping frangipani petals down the aisle as she walked. Brad’s son Mitchell came next wearing a miniature version of what the men in the groom’s party were wearing carrying a blue velvet pouch tied with gold thread, then came the bridesmaids led by Angelina, then Katie, then two of Alicia’s friends who Harry didn’t know but knew worked at the Ministry followed. All women were wearing identical dresses and carrying accompanying bouquets of white and pink Frangipannis. The string quartet then broke into a lively version of ‘Here Comes the Bride’ as Alicia appeared at the head of the aisle. All the guests rose to their feet then turned to look Alicia as she progressed down the aisle on the arm of her father who Harry noted looked very teary indeed.

Harry knew he had seen few women who looked more beautiful than Alicia did now. She wore a floaty strapless floor length snow-white dress and around her waist was a blue chiffon waistband that trailed the ground. On her hair which was pulled back in an elegant updo was a small but intricately crafted diamond and sapphire tiara out from which frothed an very elegant floor length veil that Larissa had said seemed to be made from mist she too was barefoot the warm summery weather making footwear unnecessary.

‘Oh she looks beautiful!’ Hannah breathed leaning on Neville’s arm.

‘You’re going to look that good in six weeks’ Harry whispered in Ginny’s ear ‘But you’ve got a bigger tiara’

Ginny struggled to hold her snort and slapped his arm.
‘Behave’ She hissed as Alicia and Mr Spinnett passed them.

Alicia reached the altar where her father handed her over to Liver. He kissed her and brushed her cheek then went to sit down next to Alicia’s mother. Alicia gave Oliver a warm look then handed her bouquet to Angelina.

‘Friends welcome!’ The celebrant called ‘Welcome to this happy occasion. We are all gathered here today to witness the joining of Oliver Horace and Alicia Tara in forever matrimony who giveth this woman to be wed?’

Mr Spinnett raised his hand.
‘I do’ He said in a watery voice.

‘Then let us begin’

Half an hour later after Oliver read Alicia the lyrics of a popular wizarding love song and Alicia read Oliver a love poem she'd written herself, the time came for the exchange of rings. Alicia took Oliver’s ring from Brad and slipped it on his finger up to the knuckle.

‘Alicia repeat after me’ The celebrant said.

Alicia nodded.

‘I Alicia Tara take you Oliver Horace, from this time forward’

‘I Alicia Tara take you Oliver Horace, from this time forward’ Alicia repeated

‘In sickness and health, in good times and bad’

‘In sickness and health, in good times and bad’

‘From sun up til sundown, from now til the moment of my death’

‘From sun up til sundown, from now til the moment of my death’

‘And even when United lose and it’s all your fault’

A rumbling laugh went through the guests.

‘I bet that was Oliver’s suggestion’ Ron whispered with a grin.

‘Alicia, do you mean to abide by this promise forever and a day?’

'I do'

Alicia pushed Oliver’s ring past the knuckle and squeezed his hand. Oliver grinned his eyes full of tears then took Alicia’s ring from Brad pushing it up her finger and to the knuckle.

‘Oliver your turn please repeat after me, I Oliver Horace take you, Alicia Tara from this time forward’

‘I Oliver Horace take you, Alicia Tara from this time forward’

‘In sickness and health, in good times and bad’

‘In sickness and health, in good times and bad’

‘From sun up til sundown, from now til the moment of my death’

‘From sun up til sundown, from now til the moment of my death’

‘And even when United lose and it’s all your fault’

‘Oliver, do you mean to abide by this promise forever and a day?’

'I do'

‘Well by the power invested in me by the British Ministry of Magic I now pronounce you husband and wife, Oliver you may kiss the bride!’

Oliver’s tears finally spilled over as he lifted the veil over Alicia’s head cupped her face in his hands and kissed her on the lips. The guests then rose to their feet applauding loudly.

‘Ladies and gentlemen I now give you Mr and Mrs Oliver Wood!’

Harry thrust his wand into the air and cried ‘PLUVIA MICO’(Rainbow Sparks). With a soft pop rainbow, sparks erupted from his wands and showered down over the happy couple. The rest of the guests caught on and soon the air was thick with rainbow sparks as the bridal party made their way up the aisle and out to where the photos would be taken.

Because of the large amount of guests, Harry didn’t get around to greeting Oliver until an hour and a half after the end of the ceremony.

‘Well I never thought I’d see you Oliver Wood a grown man cry like a sissy’ Harry joked shaking Oliver’s hand ‘Congratulations mate I wish you and Leesh every happiness’

Oliver returned the handshake.
‘Thanks mate’ He said looking over at Alicia who was showing a guest Harry didn’t recognize her wedding band ‘I can’t wait till you and Ginny get married then you’ll know exactly how I feel now, it’s out of this world to be married to your soulmate’

‘Well I’ll see in six weeks I suppose’ Harry said with a grin.

After speaking to Oliver Harry found Alicia.
‘Congratulations Leesh you look beautiful’ He said embracing her then kissing her on the cheek.

‘Thanks Harry you’re looking pretty snappy yourself’ Alicia said ‘The hippie surfie look suits you’

‘Oh ha ha I am not a hippie surfie; the blushing bride look suits you’

‘Thanks, today is one of the best days of my life I haven’t felt anything like it ever even when we won the pre season cup last week, you’ll feel that when you marry Ginny in October’

‘Oliver said something similar’ Harry said ‘Good to see the whole old Gryffindor team, here huh?’

‘Well almost all of it, I know I’ve said it a lot over the years at various function we’ve both attended but it feels weird not to have Fred here goofing off and making smartarsed jokes, you’d think you’d get used to not having one of your best mates about but you don’t’

‘I know I think it’s more like learning to cope’

‘Yeah that’s what we’ve all been doing over the last few years’ Alicia said ‘I mean for so long it was Me, Oliver, Angelina, George and Katie and Fred and now there’s one missing from our midst’

Harry hugged Alicia
‘But Fred died defending those he loved for the greater good you know that don’t you? He said patting her back.

‘Yeah I know but that doesn’t make it any easier to handle. I'd hate to imagine what Katie feels like’

‘I think Katie’s handling things okay’ Harry said ‘That’s just the impression I’ve gotten from chatting to her at practice, she’s learnt to cope also. I think she’s done that by keeping busy with work, quidditch and managing her property at home. A lot of people learn to cope with loss that way’

‘You’re sounding like a mental health expert’ Alicia said with a grin.

‘Oh ha ha, nah that’s what I was told when I had all that counselling Mrs Weasley insisted all of us have at the end of the final battle. The healer I saw said that many people when they’ve had a lot of trauma keep busy so they don’t have to think about the situation they’re in. I was a little like that after Sirius died, if it weren’t for Dumbledore the Weasley’s and Ron and Hermione I’d have gone spare’

‘Hmm I can’t help feeling sad for Katie though’

‘I used to feel that way too but after talking to her I’ve changed my mind’ Harry said ‘Plus I have someone in mind to set her up with’

‘Malfoy? That little shit?’

‘Leesh he is not a shit, I’ve told you all but his new and improved views on life and you know minus all that mudbloods are scum crap he’s actually rather a nice guy’

‘I never thought I’d hear you say that’ Alicia said with a grin ‘I haven’t seen him since my own days at Hogwarts so what I know about him is from my own experiences’

‘I can understand that, plus some people who seem the complete opposites seem to make the best couples’ Harry said ‘Look at Ron and Hermione she’s a bookish stickler for rules nerd and he’s...’

‘A loud quidditch nut?’ Alicia suggested with a laugh, as a few meters away near a potted Flitterbloom Ron and Hermione shared what they obviously thought was a private kiss.

‘Yeah that’s about it’ Harry said with a laugh ‘And they’re a pair of nymphos too Gin and I saw them shagging the shit out of each other at your place after the game last weekend. Gin says Krakatoa didn’t blow as hard as Ron did’

Alicia let out a loud unladylike snort.

*******************************************************************

Oliver and Alicia’s reception was one of the rowdiest parties Harry had ever attended. Even Teddy who was usually out like a light was still going strong even though it had just gone 11PM. He along with all of Alicia and Oliver’s nieces and nephews were on the dance floor dancing like only small children can to a catchy tune the stereo system that was put on during band breaks was churning out. Ron ad Harry who had been dragged onto the dance floor by Hermione and Ginny more times than they cared to keep count were exhausted and were at their table taking a break.

‘My legs could fall off now and I wouldn’t give a shit’ Harry said to no one in particular kicking off his beach sandals and putting his feet on a vacant chair ‘I didn’t even dance this much at the housewarming and the Weird Sisters were there. I’d go up to the room now but it’s bad form to leave a reception before the bride and groom’

‘Oh come on one can never dance too much’ Hermione said her face red from the effort of dancing.

‘Yeah you can’ Ron said ‘I’m so tired that at this stage I wouldn’t have the energy for a shag when we get back to the room’

Harry and Ginny laughed.

‘Who said you were going to get a shag anyway? Hermione said with a raised eyebrow ‘You pompous arse Ronald Weasley if you haven’t got the energy for a shag you’ll just have to attend to business yourself won’t you?’

Harry and Ginny snorted so loud a group of elderly women at a nearby table ceased their conversation and gave them scandalized stares.

Hermione grinned at her own joke.

‘When are Oliver and Alicia leaving for America?’ Ginny asked no one in particular, watching the happy couple chat to Alicia’s parents Anne-Marie and Martin.

‘Soon I think’ Hermione said ‘I think Oliver said something about catching a portkey to Los Angeles at half past twelve ‘So romantic going to Hawaii, Hong Kong and the Seychelles. Sun surf and…’

‘Shagging the shit out of each other’ Ron added.

‘Oh you are so crass’ Hermione said.

‘Yeah but you love me’

‘Sometimes I wonder why’ Hermione said fondly.

*******************************************************************

At quarter to twelve Brad who was emceeing the evening stood on a chair in the middle of the dance floor.

‘Ladies and Gentlemen if I could please have your attention for a moment!’ He called waving his arms above his head ‘Now is the time for the traditional throwing of the garter could I please have all single and unmarried but not engaged gents to the dance floor…no wands!’

‘Damn I wanted to add to my garter collection’ Harry said with a grin.

‘You have a garter collection?’ Ginny said with a raised eyebrow as Ron got up and made his way to the dance floor where Alicia had seated herself on the chair Brad had just vacated.

‘Damn I shouldn’t have let that slip’ Harry said with a laugh 'Well not a collection as such just Hannah's I caught it at her and Neville's wedding'

All the single and unmarried men gathered on the dance floor where Alicia was seated on the chair. Oliver was knelt in front of her ready to perform the tradition of removing the brides garter with his teeth.

‘Okay ladies and gents the procedure is as follows’ Brad said ‘The band with strike up a tune and my dear brother here will remove the bride’s garter with his teeth He will then toss it in the air and as tradition says the man to catch it will be the next to get married…are you ready?’

‘YES!’ The group chorused.

Brad nodded to the band and they struck a lively tune. The gathered men on the dance floor began clapping in time to the music as Oliver swept Alicia’s skirt aside and grasped her foot. Kissing her toes and making her squirm.

‘Oy Oliver wait til you get back to your room before you start on the foreplay!’ Saxon one of Alicia’s brothers called from the sidelines ‘We don’t need the show!’

Oliver gave his new brother in law the finger then theatrically ran kisses up Alicia’s leg til he came to the garter. An elegant white lace and blue silk piece. The drummer in the band then began a drum roll and the crowd around Oliver began chanting.

‘Ol-iver-Ol-iver Ol-iver!’

With a grin Oliver grabbed Alicia’s garter and slowly pulled it off he then leapt to his feet. With a grin he flicked into the air slingshot style and bellowed.

‘CATCH IT!’

The gathered men scrambled after the garment and several of them fell over. Then displaying all the grace of a figure skater and the accuracy of an outfield baseball catcher Ron flung out an arm and caught it.

There was a second of silence before Ron realized what he had done. He then stared at the garter in his hand incredulously before Brad announced his feat to the whole room.

‘Ladies and Gentlemen Ron has caught the garter!’ He announced as all the married man in the room applauded Ron with wolf whistles and cat calls and all the men gathered on the dance floor shot him daggers ‘Congratulations mate let us know when you and Hermione tie the knot and this lot’ll turn up to see you toss the garter’

Ron returned to the table clearly embarrassed but pleased at his feat.

‘So when should we expect you and ‘Mione to trot down the aisle?’ Harry asked with a grin ‘Let’s tell your Mum when we get home eh?’

‘Oh don’t do that then she’ll be disgusting’ Ron said with a grin tying the garter around the stem of his champagne flute ‘Just like that time I our fifth year when ‘Mione and I became prefects’

‘Nah she’ll be worse than that’ Ginny said.

‘Is that possible?’

Once again Brad waved to get everyone’s attention.
‘Okay ladies and gents now is the girls turn’ He said ‘Could I please have all single and unmarried but not engaged girls to the dance floor? It is time for Alicia to throw the bridal bouquet’

‘Go on ‘Mione this is your time to shine’ Harry said with a grin.

‘Why not I fancy making myself look like a prat’ Hermione said with a tipsy grin getting to her feet.

Hermione made her way to the front of the room with all the other mainly under thirty women in the room, bumping into Katie on the way they shared a girly giggle and made their way to the dancefloor where Alicia got up on the chair holding her huge bouquet of white roses and buttercup yellow orchids.

‘Okay girls be nice I don’t want this magnificent bouquet ripped to shreds’ She said turning her back on the throng and speaking over her shoulder ‘My father wouldn’t like that he’s paying for this whole shindig so think of him’

‘They won’t give a rats arse’ Ron said with a grin as once again the drummer struck up a drum roll.

Alicia turned her back on the group then with a huge heave; she threw her bouquet over her head.

Like with the garter throw there was a mad scramble for the bouquet but no one got near it before it landed in Katie’s outstretched arms. She looked more shocked than Ron had when he caught the garter and started at the bouquet of flowers as if they were an alien being.

‘Bloody hell!’ She exclaimed ‘I caught it!’

‘I live for the day where someone over thirty catches the bouquet of a wedding I go to’ Harry heard an older woman he didn’t know grumble ‘I’m going to be a spinster all my life’

Hermione and Katie left the dance floor and came back to the table.

‘Good on ya Katie I really ought to set you up with Malfoy now’ Harry said with a grin lifting his champagne flute toward Angelina ‘Then you will get married’

‘Oh hell why not’ Katie said her guard down in her inebriated state ‘I’ll try anything at the moment’

‘Even girls?’ Ginny said with a great snort.

‘No way I’m not that desperate’ Katie said rolling her eyes ‘I could go a young virile millionaire at the moment’

Even Hermione found Katie’s state funny.

‘Well that’s Draco’ Harry said with a grin ‘Well the young millionaire bit, I can’t personally guarantee the virile bit'

‘You can let us know about that once Harry sets you up Katie’ Ron said with a laugh. ‘Mind you I’m not sure I want to hear about Malfoy being virile’

‘When we get home I’ll owl him and see what he thinks’ Harry said ‘Might make a blind date and not tell him who I’m setting him up with’

‘Oh he’d love that’

*******************************************************************

‘Okay ladies and gentlemen boys and girls. It is now time for Oliver and Alicia to leave the reception and go forth as a married couple’ Brad announced at quarter past twelve ‘If you could all please form a guard of honour leading to the door with wands raised, as the happy couple pass you please cast the Pluvia Mico(Rainbow Sparks) spell’

Everyone in the room got up ad formed a guard of honour leading from the stage where the band was set up to the door of the reception room. Then Oliver and Alicia began walking under the raised wands as cries of ‘Pluvia Mico’ were heard. Someone took photos then Oliver and Alicia left the room with a wave.

‘Oh that was romantic’ Hannah said as she and Neville joined Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione and Angelina, George and Katie at their table ‘I’ll remember that for awhile. Oliver and Alicia are the perfect couple’

‘Yeah they are’ Angelina said ‘Well Harry your and Ginny’s turn next I hope your ceremony will be as romantic as today’s was’

‘Better’ Harry said with a grin, ‘We’ll be nauseatingly perfect’

‘Is that possible?’ Ron said ‘You two are already nauseatingly perfect’

‘We are?’ Ginny said edging her chair closer to Harry’s and leaning into him (Harry put an arm around her).

‘Yeah I realised you two would end up together long before you two did, even Dad started to wonder from the end of out fifth year and all through our sixth year when you would. He’s just as pleased as Mum is you’re getting married. I reckon he might even cry at the ceremony. A bit like Mr Spinnett did when the celebrant asked who was giving Alicia away’

‘Ronald Weasley if I didn’t know you better I’d say you were turning into a hopeless romantic’ Hermione said with a grin wiggling her toes.

‘You’re right ‘Mione you do know him better’ Ginny said with a grin.

‘Excuse me I’m quite capable of being romantic!’ Ron exclaimed.

‘I suppose so’ Ginny said ‘I suppose what Harry and I witnessed you getting up to at Oliver and Alicia’s last weekend proves that’

Harry thought if he’s attempted it he could’ve fried eggs on his two best friends faces.

*******************************************************************