International Love | Fred Weasley

Chapter 89

Fred is right (for once). I did promise to help with the wedding preparations happening in the following days. Mad-Eye's death keeps lingering in the air, but everyone tries not to let it stop the excitement for the upcoming wedding.

Molly is in charge of it all. Everything that has to be done, from the flowers to the cleaning of the whole house, goes past Molly for approval. Fred and I barely see each other during the day – only when we're in bed together do we have some peace and quiet.

I have been officially promoted to Fleur's right hand (although I wouldn't call it being promoted per se). Every time something needs to be checked, I'm the one who is sent in.

"Hermione?" I ask when I pass the living room where the younger girl is reading a book, "Could you help Ginny with Fleur's parents' room?"

The brown-haired witch looks up and nods, closing the book and placing it on the table beside the sofa. I check off another item on the checklist in my mind as I make my way through the house. I bump into Ginny who is carrying a stack of towels up the stairs with Pixie perched on top. The little dragon moved with me to the Burrow and over the summer, I have been teaching Ginny how to take care of her. Pixie has grown fond of the youngest Weasley and I have decided the dragon will accompany Ginny back to Hogwarts. Pixie enjoyed exploring the grounds and it's a better environment than being stuck here at the Burrow.

"Elena, have you asked Hermione to help Ginny?" Molly's voice interrupts my thoughts and I spin on my heels to face the older witch. There are deep lines etched on Molly's forehead, betraying how stressful all of this is for her.

"Yes," I answer with a smile, "I'm looking for Fleur to speak with her about the final menu."

Molly nods and crosses something off the physical checklist she has in her hands at all times the past few days.

That evening, when I sit down at the kitchen table for dinner, Fred mutters in my ear: "You, me, henhouse, after dinner. I don't care what Mum says you have to do."

George has returned and stayed at the Burrow after the mission where we transported Harry to the Burrow and I have begun to notice Fred doesn't like him sleeping in the same room as us. I nod at Fred with a smirk and remark softly: "Henhouse, that sounds romantic."

Fred rolls his eyes at me and I suppress a snicker.

"Dad keeps his Muggle things hidden from Mum in the henhouse – it's literally the only place we'll have some privacy."

George, seated opposite of us, eyes us suspiciously. I ignore him and blow a kiss to Fred before nodding in agreement.

During dinner, the subject of Harry's disguise is brought up by Fleur who remarks: "We needs to decide 'ow we are going to disguise you, 'Arry."

The boy looks up from his food with a bewildered facial expression, as if Fleur pulled him out of a thought, but the French witch ignores him and continues: "Of course, our guests are on our side, but it's better we won't take any risk. Too muz champagne can make the most tizt-lipped people talk."

"The Polyjuice Potion is almost done," I pipe in. At my words, Harry's facial expression changes from confusion into disgust, but before he can open his mouth to say something, George says: "That's what I'm smelling the whole time I walk up the stairs. I thought it-"

"Were your feet?" Fred interrupts and laughs when George pouts as his joke is ruined.

Molly – having completely ignored the conversation between Fred and George – looks at her checklist and nods absentmindedly before turning to Ron and asking him about the state of his room. Bill tells Fleur he will try to check some hair from the red-haired Muggle boy that lives in town.