I am woken up by Fred gently shaking me.

"Harri," he sings in my ear, his voice hoarse and sleepy, "it's time to wake up, sleepyhead."

I groggily open my eyes, my heart fluttering at seeing Fred's face. Instinctively, I tighten my arms around him, half afraid that the previous night was just some vivid dream.

"Hey, you," I whisper, nuzzling against him.

He drops his head and presses his lips to my forehead. I close my eyes, sighing blissfully at the way this soothes the burning of my scar.

"I better sneak out before everyone wakes up," Fred murmurs softly, his lips tickling my skin. "We wouldn't want to cause another drama."

I experience a funny kind of uneasiness at his words. I don't know what I am expecting to happen after last night, and I'm too afraid to ask. What if - to him - it was just a one off for old times sake? Or simply birthday sex? If he says he still doesn't want us to be together then I don't think my heart can take his rejection again.

I let him slip away, turning my head so I don't have to watch him leave. The door closes behind him and my heart thuds dully beneath my chest.

I must have fallen back asleep again because the next thing I know I'm being woken up by Molly loudly banging on everyone's doors.

"UP, EVERYONE! TODAY'S A BIG DAY AND I WANT YOU ALL DOWNSTAIRS - SHARPISH!"

I groan into my pillow. Of course: the wedding.

Molly has a long list of jobs for us to do before the evening ceremony. But maybe it is a good thing - it means that I can avoid any kind of confrontation with Fred.

When I am up and dressed, I go down to the kitchen and can see that I'm the last one to breakfast.

"We'll let you off because it was your birthday yesterday," Molly tuts as she busies herself serving up bacon around the large table. "But no more excuses. I need to run a tight ship today. So come on, eat up."

I look around the table, and find the only empty chair is in between Bill and Fred.

Fred smiles at me as I approach, and I can feel my heart bursting out of my chest as I helplessly smile back.

"Sleep well?" he enquires with a twinkle in his eye as I settle myself down beside him.

"Yes, fine thank you," I say casually, reaching across the table for the pumpkin juice and trying not to beam too hard. "You?"

"Oh, it was very good." Fred winks at me as he takes a bite out of his toast.

"Good bed, isn't it?" Bill says, "mind you, a bit small, can't fit much in it."

"Well, luckily it's just little old me," I say lightly just as George - who is sat on Fred's other side - snorts loudly.

Fred's leg gently presses against mine beneath the table. My blood instantly rushes south. I catch his eye and I nearly melt in a puddle at the way he is looking at me.

"Are you looking forward to the wedding tonight?" Fred murmurs softly. "I know I am."

"Merlin, don't," Bill says as he vigorously cuts up his sausage. "I'm bloody nervous as hell. Didn't feel this way even when taking my NEWTs."

"You'll be fine, son," Arthur says, beaming across the table at him. "Best day of my life marrying your mum. Just enjoy it."

"Oh, Arthur!" Molly giggles, sliding an extra rasher of bacon onto his plate.

Fred catches my eye again and I can't help but smile harder.

"Have you a dress for tonight, Harri?" Hermione asks eagerly.

Reluctantly, I pull my attention away from Fred to smile over at her.

"I do as it happens." I say, feeling giddy at the thought of finally wearing the dress Fred bought me. "You?"

Before Hermione can answer, Lupin interrupts.

"Shouldn't we be disguising Harri tonight?" he says, frowning over at me. "With all the guests expected, it might be a bit risky."

No, no, no. Tonight I just want to be me. Me and Fred. Maybe dancing... maybe more?

"I'll be fine," I insist. Knowing him he'll have me disguised as an old hag or something. "No one coming tonight is likely to betray us. It's invite only."

But Lupin doesn't look convinced, stroking his chin thoughtfully as he looks on at me. "Still, it can't help to be cautious."

My heart sinks.

"Oh don't be such a spoil sport, Remus," Tonks says elbowing him in the side. "Let Harri just be tonight. Merlin, we all need time to kick back and have some fun."

"We'll look after her," Fred says, making my heart flutter as he drapes an arm around my shoulders, squeezing me to his side. "Won't we, George?"

"I'm pretty sure you can look after her for the both of us," George smirks quietly.

I can't breathe, afraid to look up at Fred in case I find myself quite helplessly kissing him.

This is all too much, and I still have no idea what is actually going through his mind in regards to us.

Lupin eventually relents and it is agreed that I'll not go in disguise so long as I stay close to members of the Order at all times.

This suits me fine. Especially as Fred is in the Order.

After breakfast is finished, Molly immediately orders us about, setting me, Fred, George, Ron and Hermione the task of erecting the wedding marquee in the garden.

It's not a difficult task seeing as we are all allowed to use our wands. Once we are done, we all collapse down on the grass, making the most of a quick break before Molly can assign us more work.

"I can't wait until I get married," Hermione sighs softly, looking up at our handiwork with a dreamy look upon her face.

"You don't take me for the sort," I say, raising my eyebrows at her.

"Oh yes," she says, nodding her big bushy head, "I want a husband complete with a son and daughter. And a few more cats, of course."

"Nah," George says, lying back down on the grass to look up at the cloudless sky. "I want a big family - an entire Quidditch team will do."

"I wouldn't mind just a son and daughter," Ron says, throwing a furtive look at Hermione. "And I can get on board with cats."

"Ha!" Hermione bristles, "don't make me laugh, Ronald Weasley! You used to hate Crookshanks!"

"Yes, used to. Past tense, 'mione."

Hermione throws him a dirty look before glancing coyly between me and Fred where we are sat together but at a 'safe' distance apart.

"What about you, Harri?" she asks me. "Any desires for the future?"

"Being alive would be good," I mutter, hugging my knees to me as I think unpleasantly about the impossible task ahead of me.

"If all goes well," Hermione persists, "what would be your happily ever after?"

Fred. "I dunno," I shrug noncommittally. "Kids, yeah. Marriage, why not?"

I don't believe any of it's going to happen though.

"I'd like to get married," Fred says, almost making my heart stop altogether as he looks directly at me. "And I'd like the kids and the pets. I'd like it all."

I try and swallow but find I can't. Fred continues to look at me whilst he speaks, his eyes never leaving mine. "I won't be bothering with any of this nonsense though," he says indicating the marquee above our heads. "I'll marry my bride in a way that will mean something to us. It will be small and intimate with only our closest friends and family: maybe have a firework or two. Then we'll honeymoon on a houseboat, just the two of us on the open canal. And maybe, one day, but not too soon mind because I'll want my wife to myself for a long while," he pauses as his eyes twinkle in mine, his lips flickering up the corners, "perhaps the tiny pitter patter of mini Fred's will one day be heard."

I think I have forgotten how to breathe. I have certainly forgotten how to talk. It's only when Hermione gasps and clasps her hands together do I realise it's not just me and Fred here.

"That's beautiful, Fred," she breathes. "Isn't it, Ronald?"

"Yeah, whatever." Ron bites moodily. "I bet Vicky wants to get married in a palace or something stupid like that."

"Where was the need to even bring him up?!" Hermione snaps, glaring at him.

"I could tell you were thinking about him just from the look in your eyes!"

And just like that, they start bickering amongst themselves again.

George gets up and kneels down between Fred and me, draping his arms around our shoulders as he squeezes us to him. "Sounds like a great wedding to me guys. Just let me know the date and I'll make sure to keep it available in my diary. You can't miss out on your best man being there. I've a great speech planned."

Molly chooses that moment to come running out of the Burrow, screeching at us to get inside to start preparing the canapes.

"One thing is for certain," Fred mutters, as we reluctantly get to our feet. "I'll be putting Mum in a Full Body-Bind curse on the day."

*****