𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗡𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗔 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗧

ACT TWO, CHAPTER TWO
harry's birthday & the wedding.

IF VENUS WAS being honest, she actually didn't know if Harry was going to like her present or not. She had this sort of way of knowing what he was thinking with his facial expressions. And if anything told her he didn't like it, she was sure she would feel like she was getting punched in the stomach.

Venus awoke the morning of Harry's birthday, nerves bubbling in her stomach. She got up and got ready for the day before descending down the steps with Hermione and Penelope, the box that had Harry's present in her hands. Venus entered the kitchen where a pile of presents were waiting on the table. Bill and Monsieur Delacour were finishing their breakfasts while Harry and Ron were just starting. Mrs. Weasley was talking to them over by the frying pan.

"Happy birthday, Harry!" Hermione immediately exclaimed, adding her own present to the top of the pile. "It's not much, but I hope you like it. What did you get him?"

Ron grinned at the question. "A new book about Quidditch."

Venus then walked further into the question and approached Harry, kissing his cheek, making him smile. "Happy birthday." She sat down next to him and placed her present on the pile. "You can open this now or later."

Harry leaned closer to her and lowered his voice. "I'll wait until we're alone."

Venus, her face hot, gave him a small nod.

"Come on, then, open Hermione's!" Ron urged.

Hermione had gotten him a new Sneakoscope. The other packages contained a comb from Penelope (clearly a joke, because Harry's hair was always messy), an enchanted razor from Bill and Fleur, chocolates from he Delacours, and an enormous box of he laest Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes merchandise from Fred and George.

Venus, Harry, Ron, Penelope, and Hermione didn't linger at the table, for the arrival of Madam Delacour, Fleur, and Gabrielle made the kitchen uncomfortably crowded. They all stood up, and Venus grabbed her small present box.

"I'll pack these for you," Hermione told Harry brightly, taking his presents out of his arms as they climbed the stairs. "I'm nearly done, I'm just waiting for the rest of your underpants to come out of the wash, Ron—"

Ron's splutter and Penelope's loud laugh was interrupted by the opening of a door on the first floor landing. It was Ginny, who smiled at Harry and told him happy birthday before going downstairs. Seeing this as an opportunity, Venus took Harry's hand and tugged on it gently. She nodded her head into the room, and they ducked in while Ron, Penelope, and Hermione continued to upstairs.

Ginny's room was small, but bright. It was kind of crowded with the four beds that were placed in there, but it was cozy. There was a large poster of the Wizarding band the Weird Sisters on the wall and on the other was a picture of Gwenog Jones, Captain of the all-witch Quidditch team the Holyhead Harpies. A desk stood facing the open window, which looked out over the orchard which now houses a large, pearly white marquee.

Venus stepped further into the room, making sure not to trip over one of Penelope's stray black Converse. She turned around to face Harry, only to see him already staring at her in adoration. Venus felt her heart beat against her chest and let go of his hand, offering the small box out to him.

"Happy seventeenth," Venus said.

Harry took the box from her. "Thanks, Star."

"I hope you like it. It's not much, but . . ."

Harry opened the box. Sitting inside was a silver ring. However, around the middle of the ring, the different planets of the solar system were engraved. And by the planet Venus, there was a small heart. Harry stared down at it, the corners of his mouth twitching up. Venus felt herself inwardly take a sigh of relief.

"I know you don't really wear jewelry, but I thought it was pretty," Venus admitted.

"I love it," Harry interrupted, finally looking up at her. "And I love you."

Venus grinned at that. Harry then stepped forwards and immediately pressed his lips onto hers. Venus melted into the kiss and reached up, wrapping her arms around his neck and interlocking her hands together. Harry wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close as he still held onto his present. Venus rose up onto her toes in effort to get closer to him if that was even possible, their bodies pressing up against each other's. It was blissful oblivion to the darkness of the world and as intoxicating as firewhiskey.

Finally, after a couple very long moments, the couple pulled away from each other. They kept holding onto each other and looked up, staring into each other's eyes. Venus felt herself start to get lost in Harry's pretty green ones. She was sure that her favorite color would never change from that shade of green.

"I love you too," she replied quietly.

Harry pressed another kiss to her forehead. He then let her go and put the ring on his pointer finger. Harry extended his hand out to her, and Venus took it with a smile. They then exited the room.

As the day went on, the guests for Harry's birthday party started to slowly arrive. Charlie Weasley, whom Venus had never met before, came from Romania since he was there working with Dragons. She had watched Mrs. Weasley force Charlie into a chair and raise her wand threateningly, announcing that he was about to get a proper haircut.

Several tables were placed end to end in the garden since everyone in the Burrow, plus Charlie, Lupin, Tonks, and Hagrid would definitely not fit in the kitchen. Fred and George had bewitched a number of purple lanterns, all emblazoned with a large number seventeen, to hang in midair over the guess. George's wound was now neat and clean, but Venus hadn't got used to the dark hole in the side of his head despite the twins making many jokes.

Venus and Hermione made purple and gold streamers erupt from the end of their wands. She waved it, draping them artistically over the trees and bushes. Venus smiled proudly once she was finished, holding her wand close to her chest. Hermione then flourished her wand once more, turning the leaves on the crabapple tree to gold. The two of them high-fived each other.

"Out of the way, out of the way!" Mrs. Weasley called.

She was coming through the gate, floating a giant, beach-ball-sized Snitch in front of her. It was Harry's birthday cake, which she was suspending with her wand instead of risking carrying it over the uneven ground. She landed it in the middle of the table.

"That looks amazing, Mrs. Weasley," Harry commented, wrapping an arm around Venus' waist, making her smile.

"Oh, it's nothing, dear," Mrs. Weasley responded fondly.

Over her shoulder, Ron gave Harry the thumbs-up and mouthed good one. Venus and Harry shared an amused look.

All the guests had arrived by seven o'clock. They were led into the house by Fred and George, who had waited for them at the end of the lane. Hagrid had honored the occasion by wearing what was supposed to be his best hairy brown suit, but it was more horrible. Lupin grinned as he shook Harry's hand, but Venus couldn't help but notice he looked rather unhappy. Tonks, on the other hand, looked simply radiant.

Tonks hugged Harry tightly. "Happy birthday, Harry."

"Seventeen, eh!" Hagrid exclaimed, accepting a bucket-sized glass of wine from Fred. "Six years ter the day since we met, Harry, d'yeh remember it?"

"Vaguely," Harry answered with a grin. "Didn't you smash down the front door, give Dudley a pig's tail, and tell me I was a wizard?"

"I forge' the details. All righ', Ron, Hermione, Venus, Penelope?"

"We're fine," Hermione voiced. "How are you?"

"Ar, not bad," Hagrid admitted. "Bin busy, we got some newborn Unicorns, I'll show yeh when yeh get back." Hagrid then rummaged in his pocket. "Here, Harry — couldn' think what ter get yeh, but then I remembered this." He pulled out a small, slightly furry drawstring pouch with a long string, evidently intended to be work around the neck. "Mokeskin. Hide anythin' inthere an' no one but the owner can get it out. They're rare, them."

"Hagrid, thanks!" Harry replied.

He waved Harry off. "'S'nothin'. An' there's Charlie! Always liked him — hey! Charlie!"

Charlie approached. He ran a hand slightly ruefully over his new, brutally short haircut. Charlie was shorter than Ron and thicker, and he had a number of burns and scratches up his muscley arms.

"Hi, Hagrid, how's it going?" Charlie asked.

"Bin meanin' ter write fer ages," Hagrid stated. "How's Norbert doin'?"

Charlie laughed. "Norbert? The Norwegian Ridgeback? We call her Norberta now."

"Wha — Norbert's a girl?"

"Oh yeah."

"How can you tell?" Hermione questioned.

"They're a lot more vicious," Charlie explained.

Penelope nodded in approval. "As they should be."

Charlie then looked over his shoulder and dropped his voice. "Wish Dad would hurry up andget here. Mum's getting edgy."

They all looked at Mrs. Weasley. She was in the midst of trying to talk to Madame Delacour while glancing repeatedly at the gate.

"I think we'd better start without Arthur," Mrs. Weasley announced after a couple of moments. "He must have been held up at — oh!"

All of them saw it at the same time. A streak of light came flying across the yard and stood on the table. It resolved to reveal a bright silver weasel Patronus.

It stood on its hind legs and spoke with Mr. Weasley's voice. "Minister of Magic coming with me."

The Patronus dissolved into thin air, leaving Fleur's family peering in astonishment at the place where it had vanished.

"We shouldn't be here," Lupin voiced at once. "Harry — I'm sorry — I'll explain another time—"

He took Tonks' wrist and pulled her away, making Penelope frown. They reached the fence, climbed over it, and completely vanished from sight.

Mrs. Weasley looked bewildered. "The Minister — but why—? I don't understand—"

There was no time to discuss the matter. A second later, Mr. Weasley appeared out of thin air at the gate, accompanied by Rufus Scrimgeour, instantly recognizable by his mane of grizzled hair. Venus looked up at Harry, who in turn looked down at her.

The two newcomers marched across the yard towards the garden and the lantern-lit table, where everybody sat in silence, watching them draw closer. As Scrimgeour came further into the lantern light, Venus noticed he looked much older than he had at Dumbledore's funeral.

Scrimgeour limped to a halt before the table. "Sorry to intrude. "Especially as I can see that I am gate-crashing a party." His eyes lingered for a second on the giant Snitch cake. "Many happy returns."

"Thanks," Harry responded.

"I require a private word with you. Also with Mr. Ronald Weasley, Miss Hermione Granger, and Miss Venus Black."

"Us?" Ron inquired in surprise. "Why us?"

"I shall tell you that when we are somewhere more private," Scrimgeour answered. He looked to Mr. Weasley. "Is there such a place?"

Mr. Weasley looked nervous. "Yes, of course. The, er, sitting room, why don't you use that?"

"You can lead the way," Scrimgeour instructed to Ron. "There will be no need for you to accompany us, Arthur."

Venus noticed Mr. Weasley exchange a worried look with Mrs. Weasley as she, Harry, Ron, and Hermione stood up. Harry instantly reached out and took her hand, interlocking their fingers together. As they led Scrimgeour back to the house in silence, Venus knew the others were thinking the same thing as her — Scrimgeour must have somehow learned the four of them were planning to drop out of Hogwarts.

Scrimgeour did not speak as they all passed through the messy kitchen and into the Burrow's sitting room. Although the garden had been full of soft golden evening light, it was already dark inside. Venus pulled out her wand from the waistband of her shorts and flicked it at the oil lamps. They illuminated the shabby but cozy room.

Scrimgeour sat himself in the sagging armchair that Mr. Weasley normally used. Harry, Ron, and Hermione squeezed side by side onto the couch while Venus sat on the arm by Harry.

The Minister spoke once they did so. "I have some questions for the three of you, and I think it will be best if we do it individually. If you three—" he pointed to Venus, Harry, and Hermione "—can wait upstairs, I will start with Ronald."

"We're not going anywhere," Harry argued, Venus and Hermione nodding in agreement. "You can speak to us together, or not at all."

Scrimgeour gave harry a cold look before shrugging. "Very well then, together. I am here, as I'm sure you know, because of Albus Dumbledore's will."

The four of them looked at each other.

"A surprise, apparently! You were not aware then that Dumbledore had left you anything?"

"He left all of us something in his will?" Venus asked for clarification. "Me, Ron, and Hermione, too?"

"Yes, all of—" Scrimgeour began.

"Dumbledore died over a month ago," Harry interrupted. "Why has it taken this long to give us what he left us?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Hermione questioned before Scrimgeour could answer. "They wanted to examine whatever he's left us. You had no right to do that!"

"I had every right," Scrimgeour insisted dismissively. "The Decree for Justifiable Confiscation gives the Ministry the power to confiscate the contents of a will—"

"That law was created to stop wizards passing on Dark artifacts, and the Ministry is supposed to have powerful evidence that the deceased's possessions are illegal before seizing them! Are you telling me that you thought Dumbledore was trying to pass us something cursed?"

"Are you planning to follow a career in Magical Law, Miss Granger?"

"No, I'm not," Hermione stated. "I'm hoping to do some good in the world!"

Ron laughed a that. Scrimgeour's eyes flickered towards him for a moment.

"So why have you decided to let us have our things now?" Harry inquired. "Can't think of a pretext to keep them?"

"No, it'll be because the thirty-one days are up," Hermione answered at once. "They can't keep the objects longer than that unless they can prove they're dangerous. Right?"

"Would you say you were close to Dumbledore, Ronald?" Scrimgeour asked, ignoring Hermione.

Ron looked startled. "Me? Not — not really . . . it was always Harry who . . ."

He looked around at Venus, Harry, and Hermione, to see Hermione giving him a look that said to shut up, but the damage was done. Scrimgeour looked as though he had heard exactly what he had expected and wanted to hear.

"If you were not very close to Dumbledore, how do you account for the fact that he remembered you in his will?" Scrimgeour continued. "He made exceptionally few personal bequests. The vast majority of his possessions — his private library, his magical instruments, and other personal effects — were left to Hogwarts. Why do you think you were singled out?"

"I . . . dunno," Ron said. "I . . . when I say we weren't close . . . I mean, I think he liked me . . ."

"You're being modest, Ron," Hermione voiced. "Dumbledore was very fond of you."

This was stretching the truth to breaking point, because Venus knew Ron and Dumbledore had never really had a one-on-one. However, Scrimgeour did not seem to be listening. He put his hand inside his cloak and pulled out a drawstring pouch much larger than the one Hagrid had given Harry. He pulled out a scroll of parchment and unrolled it.

Scrimgeour started to read aloud. "The Last Will and Testament of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore . . . yes, here we are . . . To Ronald Bilius Weasley, I leave my Deluminator, in the hope that he will remember me when he uses it."

He took something from the bag that looked like a silver cigarette lighter. Scrimgeour leaned forwards and passed the Deluminator to Ron, who took it and turned it over in his fingers, looking stunned.

"That is a valuable object," Scrimgeour revealed, watching Ron. "It may even be unique. Certainly it is of Dumbledore's own design. Why would he have left you an item so rare?"

Ron shook his head, looking bewildered.

"Dumbledore must have taught thousands of students. Yet the only ones he remembered in his will are you four. Why is that? To what use did he think you would put his Deluminator, Mr. Weasley?"

"Put out lights, I s'pose," Ron mumbled. "What else could I do with it?"

Scrimgeour squinted at Ron for a moment or two before turning back to Dumbledore's will. "To Miss Hermione Jean Granger, I leave my copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, in the hope that she will find it entertaining and instructive."

He pulled out of the bag a small book that looked ancient. Its binding was stained and peeling in some places. Hermione wordlessly took it from Scrimgeour. She held the book in her lap and gazed down it. Venus looked to see that the title was in runes, and as she stared at it, a tear splashed onto it.

"Why do you think Dumbledore left you that book, Miss Granger?" Scrimgeour questioned.

"He . . . he knew I liked books," Hermione replied in a thick voice, wiping her eyes with her sleeve.

"But why that particular book?"

"I don't know. He must have thought I'd enjoy it."

"Did you ever discuss codes, or any means of passing secret messages, with Dumbledore?" Scrimgeour urged.

"No, I didn't," Hermione stated, still wiping her eyes. "And if the Ministry hasn't found any hidden codes in this book in thirty-one days, I doubt that I will."

Hermione suppressed a sob. They were wedged together on the couch so tightly that Ron had difficulty extracting his arm to put around Hermione's shoulders to comfort her.

Scrimgeour turned back to the will. "To Venus Genevieve Black, I leave a necklace with the planet Venus on it, reminding you of where your name came from and how powerful it can be. The universe can work in mysterious ways."

He reached into the bag and pulled out a chain. Venus reached forwards and took it. She lifted up the charm on the necklace to her eyes. It was just a small circle, but on the inside, it was decorated with red and oranges that did look like the surface of the planet Venus. Her eyebrows knit in confusion. She had no idea what it meant.

"Do you have—" Scrimgeour began.

"I have no clue why he left this to me," Venus interjected, because she already knew what he was about to say. "Well, the Black family has a lot of names that have to do with astronomy. Maybe he was trying to tell me something about my heritage? I'm not sure." She then curled her fist around the necklace. "It's a pretty necklace though."

Scrimgeour looked a little disappointed at her answer, but he moved on. "To Harry James Potter, I leave the Snitch he caught in his first Quidditch match at Hogwarts, as a reminder of the rewards of perseverance and skill." He pulled out the Golden Snitch. "Why did Dumbledore leave you this Snitch?"

"No idea," Harry responded. "For the reasons you just read out, I suppose . . . to remind me what you can get if you . . . persevere and whatever it was."

"You think this a mere symbolic keepsake, then?"

"I suppose so. What else could it be?"

"I'm asking the questions," Scrimgeour insisted, shifting his chair a little closer to the couch. Dusk was falling rapidly outside now. "I notice that your birthday cake is in the shape of a Snitch. Why is that?"

Hermione laughed at that. "Oh, it can't be a reference to the fact Harry's a great Seeker, that's way too obvious. There must be a secret message from Dumbledore hidden in the icing!"

"I don't think there's anything hidden in the icing, but a Snitch would be a very good hiding place for a small object. You know why, I'm sure?"

Harry shrugged.

"Because Snitches have flesh memories," Hermione answered.

"What?" Venus, Harry, and Ron chorused.

"Correct," Scrimgeour said. "A Snitch is not touched by bare skin before it is released, not even by the maker, who wears gloves. It carries an enchantment by which it can identify the first human to lay hands upon it, in case of a disputed capture. This Snitch—" he held up the tiny golden ball "—will remember your touch, Potter. It occurs to me that Dumbledore, who had prodigious magical skill, whatever his other faults, might have enchanted this Snitch so that it will open only for you."

Harry was silent. Venus looked down at him momentarily.

"You don't say anything. Perhaps you already know what the Snitch contains?"

"No," Harry voiced.

"Take it," Scrimgeour encouraged.

Harry looked Scrimgeour in the eyes. He held out his hand, and Scrimgeour leaned forwards, placing the Snitch slowly into Harry's palm. Nothing happened. Harry closed his fingers around the Snitch and its tired wings fluttered before going still. Venus tilted her head at it.

"That was dramatic," Harry commented, making Venus, Ron, and Hermione slightly laugh.

Hermione sat up straighter. "That's all, then, is it?"

"Not quite," Scrimgeour responded, looking very bad-tempered now. "Dumbledore left you a second bequest, Potter."

"What is it?" Harry inquired.

Scrimgeour didn't read from the will this time. "The sword of Godric Gryffindor."

Venus froze slightly. Oh. She saw Harry look around for the sword, but it was nowhere. The leather pouch was also much too small to contain a sword.

"So where is it?" Harry asked suspiciously.

"Unfortunately, that sword was not Dumbledore's to give away," Scrimgeour stated. "The sword of Godric Gryffindor is an important historical artifact, and as such, belongs—"

"It belongs to Harry!" Hermione protested hotly. "It chose him, he was the one who found it, it came to him out of the Sorting Hat—"

"According to reliable historical sources, the sword may present itself to any worthy Gryffindor. That does not make it the exclusive property of Mr. Potter, whatever Dumbledore may have decided." Scrimgeour scratched his badly shaven cheek. "Why do you think—?"

"—Dumbledore wanted to give me the sword?" Harry finished, and Venus noticed he was struggling to keep his temper. "Maybe he thought it would look nice on my wall."

"This is not a joke, Potter! Was it because Dumbledore believed that only the sword of Godric Gryffindor could defeat the Heir of Slytherin? Did he wish to give you that sword, Potter, because he believed, as do many, that you are the one destined to destroy He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"

"Interesting theory. Has anyone ever tried sticking a sword in Voldemort? Maybe the Ministry should put some people onto that, instead of wasting their time stripping down Deluminators or covering up breakouts from Azkaban. So is this what you've been doing, Minister, shut up in your office, trying to break open a Snitch? People are dying — I was nearly one of them — Voldemort chased me across three counties, he killed Mad-Eye Moody, but there's been no word about any of that from the Ministry, has there? And you still expect us to cooperate with you!"

"You go too far!" Scrimgeour shouted.

He stood up. Harry jumped to his feet as well. Scrimgeour limped towards Harry and jabbed him hard in the chest with the point of his wand. It singed a hole in Harry's shirt like a lit cigarette. Venus' eyes widened and she got to her feet, reaching out and taking Harry's arm, holding onto it tightly just in case she had to pull him away.

"Oi!" Ron yelled, jumping up as well and raising his own wand.

"No!" Harry voiced. "D'you want to give him an excuse to arrest us?"

"Remembered you're not at school, have you?" Scrimgeour asked, breathing hard. "Remembered that I am not Dumbledore, who forgave your insolence and insubordination? You may wear that scar like a crown, Potter, but it is not up to a seventeen-year-old boy to tell me how to do my job! It's time you learned some respect!"

"It's time you earned it," Harry said.

The floor trembled. There was a sound of running footsteps. The door to the sitting room burst open and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley ran in.

"We — we thought we heard—" Mr. Weasley started to say, looking very alarmed at the sight of Harry and the Minister nose to nose.

"—raised voices," Mrs. Weasley let out.

Scrimgeour took a couple of steps back from Harry, glancing at the hole he had made in Harry's shirt. He seemed to regret his loss of temper.

"It — it was nothing," Scrimgeour growled. "I . . . regret your attitude." He looked Harry full in the face again. "You seem to think that the Ministry does not desire what you — what Dumbledore — desired. We ought to be working together."

"I don't like your methods, Minister," Harry admitted. "Remember?"

Harry took Venus' right hand and raised it before raising his own right fist. They both displayed the scars that still showed white on the back of it. Venus' reading blood traitor and Harry's reading I must not tell lies. Scrimgeour's expression hardened. He turned away without another word and limped from the room. Mrs. Weasley hurried after him and stopped at the back door. After about a minute, she called that he was gone.

Mr. Weasley looked around at the group of four as Mrs. Weasley came hurrying back to them. "What did he want?"

"To give us what Dumbledore left us," Harry answered. "They've only just released the contents of his will."

Outside in the garden, over the dinner tables, the four objects Scrimgeour had given them were passed from hand to hand. Everyone exclaimed over the Deluminator and The Tales of Beedle the Bard and the necklace. They also sorrowed over the fact that Scrimgeour had refused to pass on the sword, but none of them could offer any suggestion as to why Dumbledore would have left harry an old Snitch.

"Harry, dear, everyone's awfully hungry, we didn't like to start without you . . ." Mrs. Weasley revealed tentatively as Mr. Weasley examined the Deluminator for the third or fourth time. "Shall I serve dinner now?"

They all ate rather hurriedly. After a hasty chorus of Happy Birthday and eating of cake, the party broke. Hagrid had been invited to the wedding the next day, but he was too bulky to sleep in the Burrow, so he left to set up a tent for himself in a neighboring field.

"Meet us upstairs," Harry whispered to Venus and Hermione as they helped Mrs. Weasley restore the garden to its normal state. "After everyone's gone to bed."

Venus and Hermione waited until the house was still to leave Ginny's room. They tip-toed past a sleeping Penelope and Ginny and up the stairs. Finally, without much ruckus, they tapped on Ron's door and entered.

"Muffliato," Hermione whispered, waving her wand in the direction of the stairs.

"Thought you didn't approve of that spell?" Ron questioned.

"Times change. Now, show us that Deluminator."

Ron obliged at once. He held it up in front of him and clicked it. The solitary lamp that they had lit went out at once.

"The thing is, we could have achieved that with Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder," Hermione voiced.

There was a small click. Instantly, the ball of light from the lamp flew back to the ceiling and illuminated them all once again.

"Still, it's cool," Ron protested. "And from what they said, Dumbledore invented it himself!"

"I know, but surely he wouldn't have singled you out in his will just to help us turn out the lights!"

"D'you think he knew the Ministry would confiscate his will and examine everything he'd left us?" Harry inquired.

"Definitely," Hermione replied. "He couldn't tell us in the will why he was leaving us these things, but that still doesn't explain . . ."

". . . why he couldn't have given us a hint when he was alive?" Ron finished.

"Well, exactly." Hermione started to flick through The Tales of Beedle the Bard. "If these things are important enough to pass on right under the nose of the Ministry, you'd think he'd have let us know why . . . unless he thought it was obvious?"

"Thought wrong, then, didn't he? I always said he was mental. Brilliant and everything, but cracked. Leaving Harry an old Snitch — what the hell was that about?"

"Yeah, I still don't get that either," Venus admitted, pulling the Venus necklace out of her pocket and looking down at it. "I was sure that something was going to happen once you took it."

Harry raised the Snitch. "Yeah, well. I wasn't going to try too hard in front of Scrimgeour, was I?"

Venus glanced up. "Hm?"

"The Snitch I caught in my first ever Quidditch match? Don't you remember?"

"Considering I wasn't there, no."

Ron gasped and pointed frantically from Harry to the Snitch. "That was the one you nearly swallowed!"

"Exactly," Harry confirmed.

He then pressed his mouth to the Snitch. Nothing happened for a moment. However, when he lowered the golden sphere, Venus' eyes widened. There was a sudden engraving on it.

"Writing!" Hermione cried out. "There's writing on it, quick, look!"

Engraved on the golden surface, where seconds before there had been nothing, were five words written in Dumbledore's writing — I open at the close. It then vanished.

"I open at the close . . ." Harry repeated. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Venus shrugged. She truly had no idea.

"I open at the close . . . at the close . . . I open at the close . . ."

However, no matter how often they repeated the words, they were unable to wring any more meaning from them.

"What about your necklace, V?" Hermione suggested. "Is there anything special about it?"

Venus shrugged. "I don't know." She lifted the charm up to her eyes once again. However, as the charm slightly turned around, Venus noticed writing on the back. It was small, but she could still see it. Her eyebrows knit in confusion. "Lumos." The tip of her wand lit up and she pointed it at it, reading the words. "It's written in the stars."

"It's written in the stars?" Harry repeated. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I don't know. Maybe it has something to do with the Prophecy . . ." She then reached up and clasped the necklace around her neck. "This is so confusing."

"And the sword," Ron cut in. "Why did he want Harry to have the sword?"

"And why couldn't he just have told me?" Harry added quietly. "It was there, it was right there on the wall of his office during all our talks last year! If he wanted me to have it, why didn't he just give it to me then?"

"And as for this book, The Tales of Beedle the Bard . . . I've never even heard of them!" Hermione stated.

"You've never heard of The Tales of Beedle the Bard?" Ron asked incredulously. "You're kidding, right?"

"No, I'm not! Do you know them, then?"

"Well, of course I do! Oh come on! All the old kids' stories are supposed to be Beedle's, aren't they? The Fountain of Fair Fortune . . . The Wizard and the Hopping Pot . . . Babbity Rabbitty and her Cackling Stump . . ."

Venus nodded in agreement. "Mom and Dad used to read those to me all the time as a kid."

"Come off it!" Ron exclaimed, looking in disbelief from Harry to Hermione. "You must've heard of Babbitty Rabbitty—"

"Ron, you know full well Harry and I were brought up by Muggles!" Hermione replied. "We didn't hear stories like that when we were little, we heard Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Cinderella—"

"What's that, an illness?"

"No, they're Disney princess stories," Venus explained. "Growing up in a Wizarding family while in New York City . . . well, I got both sides."

Hermione looked at the runes on her book. "So these are children's stories?"

"So these are children's stories?" Herm

"Yeah, I mean, that's just what you hear, you know, that all these old stories came from Beedle," Ron responded. "I dunno what they're like in the original versions."

"But I wonder why Dumbledore thought I should read them?"

Something creaked downstairs.

"Probably just Charlie, now Mum's asleep, sneaking off to regrow his hair," Ron said nervously.

"All the same, we should get to bed," Hermione whispered. "It wouldn't do to oversleep tomorrow."

"No. A brutal quadruple murder by the bridegroom's mother might put a bit of a damper on the wedding. I'll get the lights."

Venus kissed Harry's cheek goodnight before leaving the room with Hermione, Ron clicking his Deluminator once more.

╞════════ ༺ ༻ ════════╡

VENUS LOOKED AT herself in the mirror once more. She had been upstairs all day, now that it was the day of the wedding, getting ready with the rest of the girls. She was wearing a sparkly sky-blue dress with tan high-heels, her hair resting all natural. It was fun at first, just getting ready, but when Ron's Auntie Muriel came upstairs, literally everything went south. She started to comment on everything, so Venus, Hermione, and Penelope decided to leave.

The three of them went out to the marquee where Harry and Ron were standing since they were both assisting in showing wedding guests to their seats. Behind them, the entrance to the marquee showed rows of golden chairs set on either side of a long purple carpet. All of the supporting poles were entwined with white and gold flowers, and over the exact spot where Bill and Fleur would get married, Fred and George had secured a large amount of golden balloons. Butterflies and bees were fluttering lazily over the grass and hedges that surrounded the marquee.

Harry, however, didn't look like Harry. To save him from the attention, Harry had taken a large dose of Polyjuice Potion. They had used the hairs from a redheaded Muggle boy from the local village, Ottery St. Catchpole, which were summoned with Accio. Harry was now using the disguise of Cousin Barny, trusting in the great number of redheaded Weasley cousins to camouflage him. Venus had been sternly instructed by Mrs. Weasley to stay away — obviously, everyone knew Venus Black was dating Harry Potter. It wouldn't be good for people to think that she was either cheating on Harry or figure out that Harry was disguised.

Venus, however, couldn't help herself. She immediately gravitated towards Harry's side and grinned up at him softly.

Harry leaned his head closer to hers and lowered his voice. "You look beautiful."

"Thank you," Venus replied quietly, her face feeling hot.

She then tuned back into the conversation. Penelope was currently telling Ron that his Auntie Muriel had made a comment on her dress being too Slytherin-y for a wedding after she had gone upstairs to give Fleur the tiara.

Hermione nodded in agreement. "She said to me, Oh dear, is this the Muggle-born? and then, Bad posture and skinny ankles."

"Yeah, I don't think she liked that I was American," Venus added, laughing slightly. "She was like, I will never understand why those two ran away to another country with their daughter. Or allow her to wear a dress with that many sparkles."

"Don't take it personally, she's rude to everyone," Ron stated.

"Talking about Muriel?" George questioned, emerging from the marquee with Fred. "Yeah, she's just told me my ears are lopsided. Old bat. I wish old Uncle Bilius was still with us, though; he was a right laugh at weddings."

"Wasn't he the one who saw a Grim and died twenty-four hours later?" Hermione inquired.

"Well, yeah, he went a bit odd toward the end."

"But before he went loopy he was the life and soul of the party," Fred explained. "He used to down an entire bottle of firewhiskey, then run onto the dance floor, hoist up his robes, and start pulling bunches of flowers out of his—"

"Yes, he sounds a real charmer," Hermione interrupted while Harry roared with laughter.

"Never married, for some reason," Ron said.

Penelope commented that she couldn't understand why, which made all of them laugh harder. They were all laughing so much that none of them noticed the latecomer, a dark-haired young man with a large, curved nose and thick black eyebrows. He held out his invitation to Ron before staring straight at Hermione.

"You look vunderful," the man told her.

"Viktor!" Hermione exclaimed, dropping her small beaded bag, which made a loud thump that was quite disproportionate to its size. Her face flushed, Hermione scrambled to pick it up. "I didn't know you were — goodness — it's lovely to see — how are you?"

Ron glanced at Viktor Krum's inviation. "How come you're here?"

Krum raised his eyebrows. "Fleur invited me."

Harry then offered to show Krum his seat. After they got halfway down the aisle, Venus decided to follow him in. The others trailed behind her.

"Well, well," a familiar voice then began, making Venus freeze. "If it isn't our American."

Venus' head whipped around, and her face instantly broke out into a wide smile. Already sitting in the row she was approaching was Charlotte Thomas and Elijah Rogers, Venus' two best friends. Venus immediately ran up to them, making them stand up. She threw her arms around them, and the three of them hugged.

"Charlie! Eli!" Venus shouted, excitement filling her chest. "Oh my God, I've missed you guys."

"We missed you too," Elijah replied, the three of them sitting down. "I've been stuck with Lottie all summer, and she's driving me up the wall."

"I'm the best roommate you've ever had, and you know it," Charlotte argued. "How are you? With the whole . . . hunting thing?"

"We're leaving soon," Venus answered quietly. "Not sure when, but . . . soon. You guys still going to Hogwarts?"

Elijah nodded. "We made a promise to be your inside eyes."

Their conversation was cut short by a sense of jittery anticipation filling the warm tent, the general murmuring broken by occasional spurts of excited laughter. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley walked up the aisle, smiling and waving at their relatives. Mrs. Weasley was wearing a brand-new set of amethyst-colored robes with a matching hat.

A moment later Bill and Charlie were standing up at the front of the marque. They were both wearing dress robes with large white roses in their buttonholes. Fred wolf-whistled at them, and there was an outbreak of giggling from Fleur's Veela cousins. Then the crowd went silent as music swelled from what seemed to be the golden ballons.

Venus looked around at the entrance. There was a great collective sigh that came from the crowd as Monsieur Delacour and Fleur came walking up the aisle, Fleur gliding and Monsieur Delacour bouncing and beaming. Fleur was a very simple white dress and seemed to be emitting a strong, silvery glow. Her radiance usually dimmed everyone else by comparison, but not today — instead, it beautified everybody it fell upon. Ginny and Gabrielle were both wearing golden dresses. Once Fleur had reached Bill, he looked like he had never met Fenir Greyback.

"Ladies and gentlemen," a slightly singsong voice began. Venus looked to see that the same small, tufty-haired wizard who had presided at Dumbledore's funeral was now standing in front of Bill and Fleur. "We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of two faithful souls . . ."

"Yes, my tiara sets off the whole thing nicely," Auntie Muriel commented in a rather carrying whisper. "But I must say, Ginevra's dress is far too low cut."

Ginny glanced around, grinning, winked at Elijah, then quickly faced the front again. Venus looked over at Elijah with a smirk, only to see his face flush a bright shade of pink.

"Do you, William Arthur, take Fleur Isabelle . . . ?"

In the front row, Mrs. Weasley and Madame Delacour were both sobbing quietly into scraps of lace. Trumpet-like sounds from the back of the marquee told everyone that Hagrid had taken out one of his own table-cloth sized handkerchiefs. Venus looked over at Harry and smiled softly. This was beautiful.

". . . then I declare you bonded for life."

The tufty-haired wizard waved his wand high over Bill and Fleur's heads and a shower of silver stars fell upon them, spiraling around their now entwined figures. As Fred and George led a round of applause, the golden balloons overhead burst. Birds of paradise and tiny golden bells flew and floated out of them, adding their songs and chimes.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" the tufty-haired wizard called. "If you would please stand up!"

They all did so, Auntie Muriel grumbling audibly. He waved his wand again. The seats they had been sitting on rose gracefully into the air as the canvas walls of the marquee vanished, so that they stood beneath a canopy supported by golden poles with a glorious view of the sunlit orchard and surrounding countryside. Next, a pool of molten gold spread from the center of the tent to form a gleaming dance floor. The hovering chairs grouped themselves around small, white-clothed tables, which all floated gracefully back to Earth around it, and the golden-jacketed band trooped towards a podium.

"Smooth," Ron commented as the waiters popped up on all sides, some bearing silver trays of pumpkin juice, butterbeer, and firewhiskey, others tottering piles of tarts and sandwiches.

"We should go and congratulate them!" Hermione shouted, standing on tiptoe to see the place where Bill and Fleur had vanished amid a crowd of well-wishers.

Ron shrugged. "We'll have time later." He then stopped a nearby waiter and passed seven butterbeers around for him, Penelope, Venus, Harry, Hermione, Charlotte, and Elijah. "P, cop hold, let's grab a table . . . not there! Nowhere near Muriel—"

The group of seven held onto each other as Ron led the way across the empty dance floor, glancing left and right as he went. By the time they had reached the other side of the marquee, most of the tables were occupied. The emptiest was the one where Luna Lovegood was sitting by herself.

"All right if we join you?" Ron inquired.

"Oh yes," Luna responded happily. "Daddy's just gone to give Bill and Fleur our present."

"What is it, a lifetime's supply of Gurdyroots?"

Penelope rolled her eyes and elbowed Ron, greeting Luna with a grin. The band then started to play. Bill and Fleur took the dance floor first to great applause. After a while, Mr. Weasley led Madame Delacour onto the floor, followed by Mrs. Weasley and Monsieur Delacour.

"I like this song," Luna admitted.

She swayed in time to the waltz-like tune. A few seconds later she stood up and glided onto the dance floor. Luna revolved on the spot, quite alone, eyes closed ane waving her arms.

"Ah, Luna," Charlotte voiced. "Always a good time with her."

"You've never spent time with her in the common room, though," Elijah insisted. "We've had some . . . interesting conversations."

Krum then dropped into Luna's vacant seat, a scowl on his face. "Who is that man in the yellow?"

"That's Xenophilius Lovegood, he's the father of a friend of ours," Ron replied. He then looked at Penelope. "Come and dance."

Penelope instantly agreed and encouraged Hermione to join them. She grabbed Hermione's hand, who then grabbed onto Venus. Venus' eyes widened as she was pulled up, and her hand reached for Charlotte. Charlotte then pulled Elijah along, and the train moved out onto the dance floor. Not soon after, Fred, George, Ginny, and Lee Jordan joined them.

Venus jumped up and down, a bright smile on her face as she danced with her friends. For a moment, she forgot about the impending doom of Voldemort and how dark everything was becoming. Right now, she was just having a good time.

She didn't know how long they were dancing for until Ron suggested he get butterbeers. Venus agreed, and her, Hermione, and Elijah moved off the dance floor. They saw Harry leaning against a pillar and approached him. Venus, Charlotte, and Elijah, remained standing while Hermione pulled up a chair.

"I simply can't dance anymore," Hermione stated. "Ron's gone looking to find more butterbeers. It's a bit odd, I've just seen Viktor storming away from Luna's father, it looked like they'd been arguing—"

"Harry," Venus cut in, staring at her boyfriend in concern, her voice quiet. "Are you okay? You look like you're about to be sick."

However, Harry didn't have a chance to answer. At that moment, something large and silver came falling through the canopy over the dance floor. Graceful and gleaming, the lynx landed lightly in the middle of the astonished dancers. Venus slowly straightened up, watching it in concern. Then the Patronus' mouth opened wide.

Kingsley Shacklebolt's loud, deep, slow voice spoke out of it. "The Ministry has fallen. Scrimgeour is dead. They are coming."

Everything seemed to go in slow motion. Venus pulled out her wand and raised it. Many people were only just realizing that something strange had happened. Heads were still turning towards the silver cat as it vanished. Silence spread outward in cold ripples from the place where the Patronus had landed. Then somebody screamed.

"Charlie, Eli," Venus breathed out.

"Go," Charlotte encouraged, her tone serious. "I'm serious, go."

Venus swallowed her sob and hugged the two of them again. "I love you guys."

"We love you more, Vennie," Elijah responded. "Now go!"

Venus grabbed onto Harry's and and ran after him and Hermione in the panicking crowd. Guests were sprinting in all directions, and many were Disapparating — the protective enchantments around the Burrow had broken. Hermione continued to call Ron's name. As they pushed their way across the dance floor, Venus saw cloaked and masked figures appearing in the crowd. Then she saw Lupin and Tonks, their wands raised, casting shield charms.

Finally, they caught sight of Ron. He was in the middle of saying goodbye to Penelope, but they had to go. Penelope kissed Ron one last time before he grabbed onto Hermione's forearm. Hermione turned on the spot.

Sight and sound were extinguished as darkness pressed in upon Venus. All he could feel was Harry's hand in hers as they squeezed through space and time, away from the Burrow, away from the descending Death Eaters, to start a journey that Venus never imagined she would find herself on when she moved to England.

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act two is gonna have some long ass chapters but it's FINE