Harry opened his eyes.
He stood on the narrow path leading to the Burrow. In the distance, the crooked house rose above the fields, partially hidden beneath a massive white tent that had been set up for the wedding.
Voices echoed faintly from inside.
"Welcome to the house of endless screaming!"
"What?" Harry turned to see Charlie approaching with a grin.
"The wedding's in two days," Charlie said. "And it's happening here. So… chaos."
Tonks and Lupin joined them.
"Let's move," Lupin said quickly, already heading toward the house.
"Relax, Remus," Tonks laughed, though she followed anyway.
Harry glanced around, his expression turning serious.
"Is the Burrow protected?" he asked. "Magically, I mean."
He didn't want to put the Weasleys in danger just by being there.
"Dumbledore's protections are still active," Lupin replied, "and the Ministry added their own. But they're strongest near the house. So the faster we get inside, the better."
"That's surprising," Tonks added. "The Ministry usually takes forever to act. This time it only took thirty minutes after Arthur asked. Orders came straight from Gawain Robards."
They reached the door just as a loud scream burst from inside.
Harry froze.
"It's normal," Charlie said calmly. "Probably something to do with the flowers."
He pushed the door open.
"It's us!"
"Harry, dear, you're here!"
Mrs. Weasley rushed toward him, pulling him into a tight embrace.
"Happy birthday! How was your departure from the Dursleys?"
"Fine," Harry said automatically, though the answer surprised even him.
"Arry!"
Harry turned.
Fleur stood in the doorway, followed by Ginny, Gabrielle, and a woman he recognized as Fleur's mother.
"How are you?" Fleur asked. "You remember my sister Gabrielle… and this is my mother."
"Yes, of course," Harry said. "Hello, Gabrielle."
He tried not to look at Ginny, who was smiling at him.
"Beautiful dresses," he added quickly, noticing that Ginny and Gabrielle were both wearing identical pale gold gowns.
"They are bridesmaids," Fleur said proudly. "But Ginny's strap keeps breaking. It is driving me mad."
Harry gave her a sympathetic smile while Ginny rolled her eyes.
Behind him, Charlie muttered, "So it wasn't the florist…"
"You should take your things upstairs," Ginny said. "I'll help."
"Thanks."
She grabbed Hedwig's cage without waiting, and Harry followed her up the stairs after thanking Tonks, Lupin, and Charlie.
Once they were far enough from the noise downstairs, Harry spoke.
"So… how are the preparations going?"
Ginny let out a breath.
"It's awful. Everyone's tense. It's all wedding this, security that. Gabrielle and I have been trying on nearly identical dresses for three hours."
Harry smiled.
"Are Ron and Hermione here?"
"Yes. In Ron's room." She smirked slightly. "Playing their favorite game."
"What game?"
"I love you… me neither," she said with a quiet laugh. "It's painful to watch. They keep circling each other. Someone should force them to decide."
Harry laughed softly.
They were almost at the door when it suddenly opened.
"Harry! Ron, he's here!" Hermione called out.
Ron appeared behind her, grinning.
"Hey! How are you?"
"Good," Harry replied.
Ron stepped aside, letting them in.
Harry paused, surprised to see three beds.
"Who's sleeping here?"
"Charlie," Ron said. "Ginny, Hermione, and Gabrielle are sharing. Bill and Fleur took Fred and George's old room, and Fleur's mother is in Percy's."
"Your bed's by the window," Ron added.
Harry moved toward it and noticed a small pile of presents hidden beside it.
He turned around.
"Happy birthday, Harry," Hermione and Ginny said together, both smiling, while Ron nodded beside them.
For a moment, Harry forgot everything else.
About half an hour later, a loud shout from downstairs broke the calm.
"Ron, Hermione, Harry, Ginny, come down!"
Ginny groaned.
"Can't we get two minutes of peace? They're going to work us to death."
They all headed downstairs.
Ginny was immediately pulled away by Fleur for another fitting.
Meanwhile, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were sent outside under the tent to prepare the tables for lunch.
Harry found himself smiling as he used magic freely. It felt… right.
"Do you think Hogwarts will reopen?" he asked.
"I heard McGonagall found a compromise to make it safe," Hermione said. "But nothing's certain yet."
"We found out using Extendable Ears," Ron added with a grin.
"What about the sixth years?" Harry asked. "They didn't take their exams."
"They did," Hermione said quickly. "At the Ministry. The seventh years did theirs too. Ginny got her results yesterday. She did well."
Ron hesitated before speaking again.
"After the wedding… we're still going to Godric's Hollow, right?"
"You don't have to come," Harry said, his tone sharper than he intended. "It could be dangerous."
"We're coming," Hermione replied calmly. "We'll always come with you."
Harry looked at them.
They weren't joking.
"Alright," he said finally. "Then in three days, I'll invite you to my place. Grimmauld Place. It'll be easier than explaining things to your parents, Ron."
They both nodded.
"And Ginny?" Hermione asked carefully.
"No," Harry said immediately. "She's not coming. I couldn't… I couldn't handle it if something happened to her. I'm already worried enough about you."
"She'll know something's wrong," Hermione insisted.
"She already knows," Ron said. "Harry just needs to act like the overprotective boyfriend. She won't ask questions."
Harry turned sharply toward him.
Did he just say that?
Hermione opened her mouth to respond, but Mrs. Weasley's voice cut through everything.
"Food's ready!"
Ron and Hermione walked off, still arguing quietly.
Ginny approached, carrying a jug of water.
"What's wrong with them?" she asked.
"They're playing 'I love you, me neither,'" Harry said.
Ginny laughed.
And for a brief moment, Harry caught Mrs. Weasley smiling too.