I stared at the pale blue dress that hung on the back of the door. I'd only noticed it when I was shutting it, the dress swinging around and whipping against my face.

I'd completely forgotten about the wedding. Bill and Fleur were getting married tonight, and all I could think about was Scrimgeour. I shuddered, trying to get his pleading face out of my mind.

The dress had a small blue bow on the front, where the slight ruffles began, falling in waves till the knees. It was sleeveless, but as I pulled it down to get a closer look, behind it was a cream-white shawl to wrap around my shoulders.

It was probably Hermione's. Right then, she walked in, her eyes falling on the dress in my hand.

"It's pretty," I said to her.

"It actually is gorgeous," Hermione nodded her head, honest. She walked to end of the room, shuffling through a suitcase. I watched her, confused.

"Isn't it yours?"

She looked up at me over her shoulder, her eyebrows drawn together. "No, why? Isn't it yours? I was going to show you mine . . ." She pulled out a deep red dress, decorated with rose-like patterns across the waist and in feathery strips down the sides.

"I can already imagine it would look great in you," I said with a smile, hanging the dress back up on the door. "I think this is Ginny's. I'll give it to her later."

"No," Hermione said, pulling out a pair of open toed red shoes with delicate bows on the front, "Ginny's is black and this off-white color. I've already seen it. She's got black shoes picked out and everything, as the bridesmaid."

"Well then who's is this? We're the only three girls in the house," I said, annoyed. "Besides Fleur, but she's wearing a wedding dress." Hermione shrugged, she too, confused.

"Oh, hey!" a voice said, interrupting our conversation. We turned to the door, where Fred stood. "'Ello, Elvira," he greeted. I waved, setting the cerulean blue dress onto my bed. "Do you like the dress? I figured you hadn't brought one since you didn't exactly know there was going to be a wedding. Plus you seemed a bit out of it lately."

"It's from you?" I asked. "Fred, you shouldn't have."

"What else am I going to do with the earnings from our shop?" he said with a grin. "Besides creating more pranking toys and sweets, of course. Anyway, accept the gift, and don't worry, I already got George's permission. The shoes are next to your bed," he said with a wink. The blush that appeared on my face was the darkest I'd ever felt. As soon as he left, I collapsed on the bed, clutching the dress to my chest.

"Well, what did I just see with my two eyes?" Hermione said, her voice teasing. "He bought a dress?"

"He has a good sense of style, too," I said with a groan.

"It's a good thing!" Hermione said with a laugh. "You're making friends quickly. Friends are good. Oh, Elvira," she said as a breath escaped from her lips, "look at those shoes." She bent down, picking them up to show me.

They were matching, a light shade of blue. They were close-toed and about four and a half inches tall.

"I love shoes," she said.

"Me too," I stared at the pair in her hand.

"These are beautiful."

"I know. What boy has such a good taste?" I asked, looking up at her. She gave me a sly smile.

"An experienced one?"

"Well, that's my cue to leave," I said, getting up, feeling my cheeks redden again. "You're the worst."

She laughed open heartedly. "I thought Fred had a thing for Angelina," she said as I hung the dress back up.

"Who's Angelina?" I asked. Oh. Angelina from the ball.

"But I could be wrong," she said quickly. "Nevermind. I have to help Ginny with something, anyway."

And then she turned, leaving me alone with the pale blue dress.

*     *     *

The day the Delacours arrived, the Burrow had never been cleaner. The rusty cauldrons and boots that were usually on the steps were replaced by Flutterby bushes, the chickens were shut away, and the garden had been pruned. The Burrow also had many security enchantments placed on it by the Order. The Delacours assisted in the final preparations for the wedding.

They raised up a huge tent, wands out and prepared. I stepped back, watching as the twins, their father, Monsieur Delacour, and Charlie prepared the tent and magicked tables and chairs under them. The theme was a light purple; gold and soft lilac tables, chairs, butterflies decorating the drapes of the tent. Pretty, colorful cupcakes in lilac liners decorated cupcake trees on the tables. Shimmering gold decorations hung from the ceiling magically.

The entrance to the marquee revealed rows and rows of fragile golden chairs set on either side of a long purple carpet. The supporting poles were entwined with white and gold flowers.  They had fastened an enormous bunch of golden balloons over the exact point where  and  would shortly become husband and wife. Outside, butterflies and bees were hovering lazily over the grass and hedgerow.

Slowly, the guests began to arrive. I stood alone by a table . . . There was still no sign of Ron, Hermione, or Harry. Harry was going to be transformed into a Weasley by Polyjuice Potion, for obvious purposes.

There they were. I watched as they approached me; Ron in his dress robes, Harry who was probably the redhead next to him, and Hermione in her fluttery red dress, lips painted scarlet. They stood next to me, silent.

"When I get married, I won't be bothering with any of this nonsense." A voice startled us, making me reach for my wand. Fred Weasley laughed, George standing beside him. "You can all wear what you like, and I'll put a Full Body-Bind Curse on Mum until it's all over." He looked me up and down. "Blue is a good color on you, Steele." I clenched my fists and sucked in my breath to keep from turning as red as a tomato. George gave his twin brother a look, which Fred chose to ignore.

"Thank you?" I said weakly. He stuffed his hands into his pockets. He wore dress robes today as well, and although him and George were matching again, what they wore underneath was different; yellow and purple. Fred started up a conversation with Ron and I quickly inched away, fanning my face with my hands before my cheeks turned absolutely scarlet. 

The guests arrived quickly. Lupin and a few others stood outside, guarding the tent. Inside, cheerful Irish music began to play, lifting people to their feet as they started to dance. When the Delacour family arrived along with Fleur's guests, they looked beautiful. Tall frames, delicate faces, and silky locks of hair they entered. Silky sapphire dresses wrapped around their bodies, dropping to the ground like waves from a waterfall. Everyone was dressed their best.

  Fred led away some of the bridesmaids, leaving his twin with a gaggle of middle-aged witches, which I couldn't help but scowl at. 

"Is that Luna?" Ginny asked. We were left standing together, glasses of gold liquid in our hands. I took a sip, feeling the liquid burn down my throat and into my stomach. I searched for a sign of Harry (Weasley in disguise) and found him seated beside and old man and woman, deep in conversation. A look of anger flickered in his eyes, then surprise. "Hey, you alright?" Ginny nudged me with her elbow. My head snapped towards her.

"Hmm? Oh, yes." I looked at the entrance to see Luna enter with a tall man, someone who was probably her father with their identical pale blond locks of hair. She wore a sunny, bright dress full of ruffles, a smile painted on her delicate features as always. Her father's outfit matched hers in color, and where her neck was empty, on his hung a necklace with a triangular shaped symbol on it—one with a line and a circle inside. I frowned, realizing it seemed greatly familiar, but shook off the feeling before it could give me another headache."

"She looks pretty."

"I'll go talk to her," Ginny said, happy to see her friend. I nodded as she set down the glass on the table we stood next to, making her way over.

Once again, I was alone.

"She looks amazing doesn't she?" Ron asked out of nowhere, a dazed look in his eyes, standing next to me.

"Who?" I asked.

"Hermione." She stood a few feet from us. A man stood in front of her, taking her hand for a kiss. It looked like-

"Victor Krum," Ron said with a roll of his eyes.

"Why are you standing here?" I gave him a shove. "Watching won't do anything. Go, ask her to dance."

"Yeah," Ron said, with a slow nod. "That's what I'll do. Dance." He handed me the empty glass and I stared down at it as he walked away, towards the Quidditch star and the brightest witch of her age. The butterbeer twirled in the glass as I turned it slowly. The blue from my gloved hands shown through the bottom of the clear glass. I'd had to borrow them from Fleur herself, after realizing the sleeveless dress would in no way hide the mark. It wasn't too obvious, for many people had come wearing long gloves.

"It shows delicacy," I shot at Ginny who'd laughed at them for hours.

Hermione accepted Ron's request.

As the couple began to take their vows, several guests began to cry, including Molly, Apolline Delacour, Hagrid, and Hermione. The presiding over the ceremony waved his wand over the bride and groom's heads, and a shower of stars fell upon their entwined figured. Fred and George led the applause, and around the newlyweds burst tiny golden bells and birds of paradise that flew around the tent, singing. 

  Once Bill and Fleur's vows were complete, the chairs were magically removed from the tent, the walls of which were removed, so that the sunlit orchard and surrounding countryside could be seen. A dance floor was formed, along with tables, and  entered with trays of beverages and food as the  began to play music. 

Suddenly, the music got louder and people started to cheer as Fleur appeared with her new husband, clad in a feathery swan-like dress, decorated with black gems shimmering at her waist and down with every turn. She looked just so happy.

They began to dance as people laughed, clapping. Bill twirled her around and lifted her in the air as she laughed with joy and triumph.

And then, everything went dark. The reception was silenced as a round blue ball of light appeared, lowering into the center of the room. People gasped, backing away.

"What the hell?" I whispered. It was a patronus.

And it began to speak.

  "The Ministry has fallen. Scrimgeour is dead. They are coming." 

So they'd killed him. Horror engulfed everyone's faces as people started to run. Chaos fell over the reception people disapparating as back balls of smoke appeared outside of the tent, shooting colored spells. Someone ran past me, their shoulder knocking into mine. I fell to the ground, slamming against the floor.

Dazed, I looked up, only to feel as if I'd been sucker punched in the stomach again. Draco Malfoy stood in the shadows, a jeering smile on his face. He had his wand in his left hand. With his free hand, he raised his index finger, tapping the inside of his left forearm. Then, he pressed the finger to his lips, as if saying, Stay silent. Don't reveal yourself.

Like hell I would do anything but that.

Suddenly, a pair of arms grabbed me, pulling me to my feet. I was knocked out of my trance, turning to face my savior.

"Go find Ron," Fred said, panic in his eyes. "Don't just lay there. Quickly! Hermione knows the plan. Go with them for now, and stay safe." He turned on his heel, running to help someone else. I turned back to see if I'd seen properly, that Draco really was here, but he was gone.

I scanned the crowd, frustrated as I looked for signs of a red dress.

There.

Her hair flew as she looked for for Ron, grabbing onto him.

Her red lips moved. Where's Harry?

The Polyjuice would be wearing off soon. I looked for another redhead, spotting him running towards the opposite side. I pushed my way towards Ron and Hermione.

"There!" I shouted, pointing at Harry. She spotted him. Grabbing onto Ron's hand, she ran for her life. I followed as she grabbed onto Harry, turning towards me.

"Ginny!" Harry shouted, running for her. Lupin interecpted, grabbing him and pushing him towards Ron and Hermione.

"Go!" Lupin shouted as glasses crashed to the ground. The Death Eater were inside. Fires set to the tent. I ducked as pieces of glass went flying. Adrenaline pumped through my body as I ran towards the trio.

"For now," she said, holding out a hand. I grabbed on, and then felt my body liquefy as we warped through space, the four of us hanging tightly to each other.