Chapter Nineteen

Hagrid's Wedding

A/N: Thanks Hillary!!!

"About time we should get ready, don't you reckon?" Ron asked, bringing Harry's attention back to the present. He had been reading the book he had received from Ron for Christmas, while the girls began getting ready.

"Yeah," Harry agreed marking his place before he closed the book and went upstairs to change.

It didn't take long for Harry or Ron to change and be ready for the wedding. They had changed into their dress robes. Looking into the mirror Harry tried again to fix his unruly hair.

"You're fighting a loosing battle, dear," The mirror commented.

"Yeah, Thanks."

"Harry, I'm going to be down in the common room if you need me," Ron said disappearing out the door to their dormitory before Harry could answer. Harry returned his attention to his reflection in the mirror.

A few minutes passed before there was a gentle knock at the door. Harry turned to watch Ginny enter his room self-consciously. "Er… Is it okay if I come in?" she asked hesitantly.

"Yeah. You look amazing," Harry stammered beckoning his girlfriend in.

"Thank you," Ginny replied, turning slightly pink, "So do you."

Harry couldn't stop himself from grinning as he leaned in and gave her a soft kiss.

"Can you clasp this? I was having trouble," Ginny said holding up the necklace.

"Sure," Harry said taking it and gently clasping it behind her neck. Ginny had her hair all up in curls, with a few gently falling around her face. She was wearing the combs she had received from Harry that morning, and like Harry thought the whole set looked amazing. "Should we go on down to the wedding?" Harry asked offering Ginny his arm.

She quickly accepted and the two moved out of the boy's dormitory and down to the common room where they were greeted by Hermione, Ron, Fred and George. Fred and George had recovered from the initiation enough to be allowed to attend the wedding.

"George, how long do you think it will be before we see these four get married?" Fred asked looking at the two couples.

"Well, I would hope that these two," George began motioning to Harry and Ginny, "would at least wait until Ginny is out of school, since she is younger than Harry. I don't know what Dumbledore would think of one of his students being married." The two grinned widely at each other before looking at the two couples. They never stop joking, Harry thought, trying not to grin too much at the two; he did not want to encourage their teasing.

"We need to get down there to get good seats," Hermione said interrupting the twin's mirth.

Hermione was right, of course. By the time they reached the large white tent, which had been erected for the event, the group found many of the seats had been taken. Insisting that they had to sit on the right side, Hermione lead the way for the group to take seats. Before they sat, Harry and his friends found that the seats had name cards on them.

The group's seats were in the front row; next to seat's reserved for Dumbledore, Sirius, and Remus.

"Ginny, Hermione you two look beautiful," Sirius exclaimed taking his seat next to Harry. "And Ron, Harry, you two wash up nicely too!" Remus and Dumbledore soon followed him.

"Thanks Sirius," Harry said sarcastically. They didn't have much time to talk because the ceremony soon began.

Hagrid entered first, wearing what Harry assumed was his best out fit. It included his moleskin coat. He had obviously tried again to tame his hair, and failed miserably. The top of his hair appeared plastered to his head while the bottom bushed out larger than ever. Harry was also soon aware of the sent of cologne, which seemed to be coming from Hagrid.

Harry also quickly noticed that Ginny was holding his hand and their fingers were intertwined. He glanced over at her and the two exchanged a sweet smile.

Then Madam Maxime entered. She was dressed in white satin, from head to toe. Harry was able to glance around as she walked down the aisle. He noted that Fleur and Bill were seated behind Dumbledore, next to Mrs. and Mr. Weasley. Fleur looked proud. It was clear that she was the only Beauxbaton student to attend the wedding, not to mention the only one in the Order of the Phoenix. The Granger's were seated next to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Mrs. Granger and Mrs. Weasley seemed to be swelling over their children's budding relationship.

Looking around more, Harry's eyes soon landed on Snape, who was dressed in his usual black robes. It wouldn't have killed him to dress up for this occasion, Harry thought bitterly, trying hard to find someone else to look at. Luckily his attention was quickly brought back to the front of the tent where Madam Maxime, Hagrid, and an unknown wizard were standing. Harry vaguely recognized the wizard as one who had spoken at the meeting the previous night.

"Friends, we are gathered together today to celebrate the bonding of these two persons, Rubeus Hagrid, and Olympe Maxime, in marriage," the unidentified wizard began. Harry quickly understood that he was a wizard certified to perform the wedding. "They have written a little something for one another that they will now read."

"Er… Right. Olympe, I knew when I first saw yeh that yeh were the one fer me. I knew yeh were like me in many ways, and that we were going ter be connected fer a long time," Hagrid said his eyes growing glassier with each word. "An' when yeh and I went on the mission frum Dumbledore I knew it was ment ter be. I love yeh with all my heart," Hagrid finished not able to go on. The tears were now silently falling from his small beetle black eyes.

"Oh, 'agrid," Madam Maxime exclaimed, her eyes too became unnaturally glassy. "I love 'oo too. I also 'ave known our connection for a long time. When Dumbleydore spoke to me about ze mizion I too saw et as an opportunity. I love 'oo wiz all my heart, and soul, Rubeus."

They both had silent tears streaming down their faces by this point and judging by the sniffles coming from behind him, Harry guessed that Mrs. Weasley was also in tears.

"Now, would you please extend your left hands, wearing the wedding bands," The little wizard instructed patiently. He drew his wand out of the folds in his robes and began encircling Hagrid and Madam Maxime's hands while chanting, "Iugum en adfinitas Rubeus Hagrid y Olympe Maxime."

Once the wizard finished the circle it shone a bright gold before growing smaller around the two out stretched hands. It enclosed their hands before disappearing completely leaving a distinct sparkle in the rings.

"I now present Mr. and Mrs. Rubeus Hagrid," The wizard said grinning at the onlookers. Hagrid leaned in to share their first kiss as a married couple with Madam Maxime.

"If everyone would please go back up to the Great Hall. That is where we will be having the reception," Dumbledore's voice boomed over the now chattering crowd.

Harry soon found himself dancing the night away with Ginny on the enchanted dance floor. The food had been delicious and Hagrid couldn't stop grinning, but Harry had been looking forward to dancing with Ginny. He wanted to make up for the abrupt end to the Halloween Ball.

Ron seemed to be doing the same, but with intermittent breaks for Hermione to go inform her parents of another thing she had learned so far at school. Harry couldn't think of what else Hermione could be telling them. She had already told them more than Harry could even remember having done that year.

Harry and Ginny didn't stop dancing until well past midnight. Harry never wanted to stop. Being this close to Ginny was more than he could ever ask for. Just her touch sent electric waves through his body. They talked about everything, never running out of conversation topics.

"I think those two are having fun," Ginny mused looking at Ron for about the twelfth time that evening. The two rarely looked at anything except one another.

"Yeah, they really are. Look at Bill and Fleur, I don't think they have been disconnected all night."

It was true. The two seemed to be joined at the hand or wrist or some other body part, at all times. Harry really didn't blame Bill. If Bill was half as content as Harry was in his relationship it was no wonder they were inseparable.

"Yeah, I heard Bill and Fleur whispering about their 'future' during the wedding. I don't think Mum is ready for any of us to get married. Look at how she was tonight, and she didn't know Hagrid half as well as we did. She would not stop crying and squealing if any of us even used the word marriage."

Harry had to laugh. Ginny was right about her observations of her mother. Mrs. Weasley had barely stopped crying all night. It was worse every time she looked at one of her children, whom all seemed quite in love, with the exception of the twins and Charlie. But even the twins had serious girlfriends; it was just that they weren't at the wedding.

Dumbledore finally had the music stopped around three in the morning and the groups all made their way to the common room ready to get some sleep, but first they would need to say goodnight to the Grangers and the Weasleys.

"Goodnight Mum and Dad," Ginny said giving both her mother and her father big hugs. Harry's turn was next, "Goodnight Mr. and Mrs. Weasley," he choked from a tight hug he was quickly enveloped in by Mrs. Weasley.

"Oh, you two make such a wonderful couple," she declared after finally letting Harry go. "I'm just so proud of all my children."

Harry and Ginny were finally able to get away from the Weasleys and headed up to the common room.

"Goodnight," Harry said before parting ways with Ginny on the stairs. He leaned in and gave her a kiss, a real kiss. One that wasn't interrupted until the twins came through the portrait hole five minutes later, giving Harry and Ginny many unwanted cat calls. "You two better break it up, otherwise we might go get Mum and Dad up here to break Harry away from our dear little Ginny," George threatened as the happy couple pulled away.

"George, you can't say a word to Mum and Dad, or I'll tell them about everything I've walked in on over the past few years," Ginny threatened her older brothers, who soon shut up, clearly not wanting Ginny to speak with either of their parents.

"Goodnight, Harry," she said giving him one last quick kiss before running up the stairs that lead to her bedroom.

It wasn't long before Ron entered their dormitory, lipstick remaining on his lips. "Ron, I think you better look in the mirror," Harry warned, looking up at his best friend from the comfort of his four-post bed.

"Oh," Ron said looking in the mirror at his reflection that was clearly wearing some of Hermione's lipstick. Both the real Ron and his reflection tried hard to remove the lipstick and it finally worked after about ten minutes of rubbing. "That was nice," He commented lying down on his own bed.

"Yeah, I'm really happy for Hagrid, they seem to really be in love," Harry agreed before drifting off to sleep. His dreams were full of images of Ginny running towards him in ever outfit imaginable, and some Harry never wanted Mrs. Weasley seeing her youngest child in. Some he only saw in Dudley's stack of dirty magazines, which he had hidden in Harry's room, so Aunt Petunia wouldn't catch him with them.

The remaining week of Christmas break was filled with more schoolwork than Harry had ever imagined. Christmas and Hagrid's wedding being over Hermione had insisted that they begin working harder on their preparation for the O.W.L.'s. Ginny had sided with Hermione on this argument stating that she didn't' want to have a boyfriend who didn't get enough O.W.L.'s to pass the fifth year.

Two days after Christmas Sirius and Remus had met with Harry and his friends to explain that they were leaving.

"Where are you going?" Harry asked.

"We can't tell you that. Just trust that we will be okay. It's another mission for Dumbledore. It should be over in time for us to return to see you win the Quidditch cup," Sirius said before he and Remus hugged everyone goodbye.

Not having Sirius and Remus to visit with, Hermione had won her battle. Harry and Ron began spending all of their free time studding for the O.W.L.'s.

The day finally came for everyone to return from Christmas break. When everyone entered the common room Harry immediately noted the crowd was smaller.

"Team Meeting," Angelina had said once she entered to room. "Everyone, even the alternates."

With out saying another word the group followed her down to the Quidditch pitch.

"Okay team, I have some bad news," Angelina began.

"Shouldn't we wait for Katie?" George asked.

"That's what this meeting is about. Katie's not coming back. For those of you who don't know, her parents are muggles. And with all the dark things happening, they were scared to send her back. So not only have we lost a good friend, we have lost one of our best players. I think the only thing to do is put one of our reserve players in her place. That said… Ginny congratulations, you are our new player. I want all of you to get back up to the common room and get to bed early. We start classes again tomorrow and that means we start practice again. Our game against Hufflepuff is in a few weeks and we need to be in top condition."

Everyone, taking Angelina's lead, followed her back to the common room. They were all in a very subdued mood. "Er… congratulations," Harry said to Ginny as they walked hand in hand back to the castle.

"It's a cheep appointment. I wanted the position, I won't lie, but I didn't want it because Katie didn't return to school. I knew I would be playing next year and I might this year if any of them were to injure themselves or get really sick. I never wanted to get it this way," Ginny said pushing back tears. Harry understood. It was a horrible way to be appointed to the main team.

"Why is everyone so down?" Hermione asked once the team returned to the common room.

"Katie's not coming back to school. Her parents were worried about the dark things going on, and she's a muggle born, so they kept her home. Angelina and Alicia tried really hard to change their minds, but it didn't help. Ginny has taken her place on the team," Ron explained taking a seat next to Hermione.

"Congratulations Ginny," She said, forcing a smile, which Ginny returned meekly.

"Ginny, will she be able to use magic even though she didn't finish school?" Harry asked suddenly, not knowing the answer.

"She will be able to use it once school is through this year," Ginny explained patiently.

The group was subdued that evening talking and catching up with friends. Dean seemed to be taking Katie's absence the hardest, Harry thought; perhaps it was because of his obvious interest in her.

Classes began the next day and no one had time to dwell on the missing students. About one fourth of the students who left for break didn't return and all of the teachers seemed disappointed by this development. It wasn't long before Harry, Ron and Hermione found themselves going down to Hagrid's hut for Charlie Weasley's first class.

"Hi," he said cheerfully when they approached, hugging all of them quickly. "How was your first day back at classes?"

Everyone, with the exception of Hermione groaned, "It was wonderful. I really love being back in class, I feel so much more productive when we are learning," Hermione chirped.

"That's great! Ron, why are you rolling your eyes?"

"Er… I wasn't," Ron tried to deny his actions, but it was pointless. Hermione hit Ron playfully.

"We are going to be having class over there," Charlie explained pointing to an area that was filled with chairs. They had never had a class where chairs were needed.

Once everyone was assembled Charlie began, "Now if everyone would take a seat. We are going to be taking notes today on our next animals, Dragons."

A nervous whisper went up from all of the students seated in the seats. Even Draco Malfoy didn't have a snide remark to make. He seemed almost… scared. Harry, Ron and Hermione exchanged nervous glances. Harry knew that Charlie worked with dragons, but was it possible for him to even get permission to teach them about the animals.

"Now, we won't be dealing with full grown dragon's directly. We will be hatching one. It should be here in two days. It will then hatch in about three weeks, but I want all of you to know plenty about the animal before we begin working with it. My friend Mic will be here with the egg, and he will help me teach the classes dealing with Dragons. So today will be a note taking session. What can you tell me about the animals?"

And with that, class began. They were all eagerly taking notes on everything from dragon's mating rituals to the size of their eggs. All of this talk about dragon's reminded Harry only too much of Norbert, the Norwegian Ridgeback, and he mentioned that experience as the group walked back to the castle to go to dinner in the Great Hall.

"Does this lesson remind either of you about Norbert?"

"Ugh, I was about to say the same thing! At least Charlie is trained to deal with dragons, unlike Hagrid. Charlie's friend Mic is great; he came over to visit a few years ago. They were at Hogwarts together, and now they work with Dragon's together," Ron explained entering the Great Hall.

Dinner passed quickly and before they knew it Harry and his friends were entering the room now used for Practical Applications.

The remainder of the week passed faster than Harry could have hoped and it was soon the weekend. They would have usually had a Hogsmeade weekend but after the attack at Halloween they hadn't been allowed into the village. It was Saturday at practice that Harry and the rest of the Gryffindor team received the news of Malfoy's new broom.

"He has a Nimbus 3000," Colin explained. Angelina had employed Colin as the team's spy, sending him out during the Slytherin's practice's to see what they now look like. It was still possible for Slytherin to compete for the Quidditch cup.

"Well, I'm glad he didn't get a Firebolt. I read in the new Which Broomstick that the new Nimbus still didn't stand a chance against the Firebolt. It said that the 3000 had good handling but the speed was nothing compared to the Firebolt," Angelina explained looking at the team reassuringly.

"We should go down and visit Charlie this afternoon," Ginny suggested as she Ron and Hermione made their way back up to the common room after lunch.

"Yeah," Ron said in complete agreement.

"But - what about studying. You and Harry promised that you would study with me to prepare for the O.W.L.'s," Hermione protested.

"Aw - come on Hermione, it's just for this afternoon. We can check to see if Mic has brought the dragon's egg yet," Ron said with a grin.

"Well … okay."

So that being settled Harry, Ginny, Hermione and Ron turned around and headed back to the entrance hall. Making their way out to Hagrid's hut.

"I was wondering if you four would come out and visit me," Charlie said, answering the door to his siblings and their friends.

"We've been studying," Ron said with a sigh. "It's actually amazing that we were able to talk Hermione into taking ANY type of a break from the schedule she has laid out."

"Well, you do need to get a lot of O.W.L.'s. Mum will kill you if you don't! Especially with being part of the Order."

As Charlie motioned for the friends to take a seat, Harry was aware of how suffocating the room was. Then it hit him, Charlie has a dragon's egg, it has to be kept in intense heat.

"Charlie, why is it so hot in here?" Ginny asked taking a seat in one of the chairs.

"Oh, some one wasn't listening to her Care of Magical Creatures teacher this week."

"Er… sorry, I think that was when Su asked me a question. Charlie can't you just tell me!"

"Yeah, it's to hatch the egg," he said simply motioning to the dark egg currently resting in the fire.

"How long will it be before it hatches?" Hermione asked.

"Oh, it won't hatch for about a month or so. Mic just got here yesterday. It takes four and half weeks to hatch."

"Mic's here?"

"Yeah, he's up in the castle talking with Professor Dumbledore right now. Enough about the dragon's egg, we will be talking about it for the next four weeks in class. Tell me about the Quidditch team. Bill told me all about the last game, I'm really sorry I couldn't make it. But I'll be at all of the other one's this year."

"Ginny is now a regular member on the team," Ron explained grinning at his baby sister.

"You are? This calls for a celebration! Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"Well, it's a bad way of being appointed. Katie Bell's parent's didn't let her come back to school, so they moved me into her position."

"Oh, I see what you mean. But you deserve it. From what Bill and Fleur told me, you scored most of the points last game."

"I wish he would stop telling everyone. I wasn't the only chaser out on the field. The other's scored too!"

"I know, but he's just so proud of you. And Ron I heard you made some magnificent saves."

Ron blushed at his praise. It was nice having Ron in the spotlight for a change, Harry thought.

They spent the rest of the afternoon discussing Quidditch and School. Hermione was keen to talk with Charlie about his extensive knowledge of Dragons and other magical animals. He was a complete wealth of knowledge when it came to any type of animal. They talked for a long time of the intelligence possessed by cats like Crookshanks.

The next thing Harry realized, Charlie was escorting the group back up to the castle for dinner. Sunday was spent doing homework and studying for the O.W.L.'s.

Even if Harry and his friend's hadn't been studying for the O.W.L.'s they wouldn't have had time to enjoy themselves, or even to worry about Voldemort because the teachers seemed to not care about other obligations or even about other classes. Each seemed to think their class was the most important and that they were the only one assigning homework. Even Charlie was beginning to give the students loads of homework.

He and Mic were teaching the class as a pair. Explaining everything they could want to know about dragons, and many facts Harry didn't want to know. So when Harry found himself at Quidditch practice the Friday before Gryffindor's game against Hufflepuff he felt like he hadn't slept and some how time had elapsed.

"Now, I know this game is going to be difficult for all of us. Especially without Cedric, but he would have wanted all of us to play harder than ever, instead of slacking because he isn't there," Angelina explained to the team after another hard practice. Harry hadn't even thought twice about playing against Hufflepuff until that moment. Then all of the guilt that he had been fighting for the past six months came back to him in a giant rush. He felt Ginny tighten her grip on his left hand, as if she were reading his mind.

"We can beat them. Their team is all new and inexperienced, nothing we can't handle. I hadn't wanted to tell you this before now, but Oliver has written me and says that he and the rest of his team will be at the game tomorrow. He is really looking forward to watching us play. I don't want this to worry any of you. We are completely able to win the Quidditch cup this year and beating Hufflepuff will improve our chances. We are the favorites for the cup, but don't let that distract you. Just play like it is any other game. Now I want all of you to go up to the common room and get to bed."

That was it, they moved back up to the common room where Hermione was waiting for them. "Harry, it's not your fault that Cedric's not here," Ginny said soothingly as they entered the common room. "Don't blame yourself. Just play like it's another Quidditch game. Don't think about who we are playing."

"Okay Gin. You're right. It's just another game. Even though it's Hufflepuff. Angelina was right about Cedric. He would have been upset if we didn't go out and play our best," Harry said gravely.

"Harry, Hedwig brought this while you were down at the game. I convinced her to leave it with me," Hermione said handing a letter to him. It was from Charlie and addressed to all of them.

Harry quickly read it then passing it to Ron he said, "Bill and Fleur are coming up for the game again."

"Hermione, you're never going to guess who else is going to be there! Oliver is coming to the game, and he's bringing the rest of the Chudley Cannons," Ron exclaimed not giving Hermione time to guess. "Can you believe they are taking a break to come and watch our game?"

"Yes I can. Didn't Oliver tell you he was going to come to one of the games?"

"Well, yes, but I thought he was being nice. You know, just saying it to be polite. I never thought he would bring the other players!"

"Team, go to bed," Angelina declared finally crawling through the portrait hole.

Harry found himself back in the now too familiar grave yard, but this time Wormtail was nowhere to be seen. Looking around it seemed that no one was in the graveyard. Why am I here alone, Harry wondered as he walked around. Then he saw it.

Cedric's echo was floating in the air right over the grave his body had fallen over.

"Cedric," Harry began in disbelief. He didn't know what to expect from this echo. This dream was nothing like his others.

"Hi Harry. I never thanked you for returning my body to my parents. It means a lot to me to know they had some sort of closure," Cedric's echo began. "I also want to assure you that my death was not your fault. I can see you have had nightmares. I want you to accept the fact that I am gone and it wasn't your fault."

"You sound a lot like Gin."

"Well, maybe she has a point. Also, don't go easy on my team tomorrow. If you do, I will never forgive you. They need to move on just as much as you do."

Harry couldn't help but smile up at the echo that warmly returned the grin. "Good bye Harry," Cedric said before disappearing. Harry felt as though the world was spinning he felt a sudden tug at his stomach and soon found himself sitting up in his bed in the Fifth year boys' dormitory in Gryffindor tower. It had all been a dream, or had it?