Emma Potter; Going to War

95: Disguises [Pt.2]

The Delacours arrived the following morning at eleven o'clock. 

Me, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were feeling quite resentful toward Fleur's family by this time, and it was with ill grace that Ronstumped back upstairs to put on matching socks, and Harry attempted to flatten his hair. 

Once we had all been deemed smartenough, we trooped out into the sunny backyard to await thevisitors. I had never seen the place looking so tidy. The rusty cauldrons and old Wellington boots that usually littered the steps by theback door were gone, replaced by two new Flutterby bushes standingeither side of the door in large pots; though there was no breeze, theleaves waved lazily, giving an attractive rippling effect. The chickenshad been shut away, the yard had been swept, and the nearby garden had been pruned, plucked, and generally spruced up, although I thought that it looked rather forlorn without its usual contingent of capering gnomes. 

I had lost track of how many security enchantments had beenplaced upon the Burrow by both the Order and the Ministry; all I knew was that it was no longer possible for anybody to travelby magic directly into the place. Mr. Weasley had therefore goneto meet the Delacours on top of a nearby hill, where they were toarrive by Portkey. 

The first sound of their approach was an unusually high-pitched laugh, which turned out to be coming from Mr.Weasley, who appeared at the gate moments later, laden with luggageand leading a beautiful blonde woman in long, leaf-green robes,who could only be Fleur's mother. 

"Maman!" cried Fleur, rushing forward to embrace her. "Papa!"

 Monsieur Delacour was nowhere near as attractive as his wife; hewas a head shorter and extremely plump, with a little, pointed blackbeard. However, he looked good-natured. Bouncing toward Mrs.Weasley on high-heeled boots, he kissed her twice on each cheek,leaving her flustered. 

"You 'ave been to much trouble," he said in a deep voice. "Fleurtells us you 'ave been working very 'ard."

 "Oh, it's been nothing, nothing!" trilled Mrs. Weasley. "No trouble at all!" 

Ron relieved his feelings by aiming a kick at a gnome who waspeering out from behind one of the new Flutterby bushes. I caught Fred and George's eye, and turned my head to stiffle a laugh. 

"Dear lady!" said Monsieur Delacour, still holding Mrs. Weasley'shand between his own two plump ones and beaming. "We are mosthonored at the approaching union of our two families! Let me present my wife, Apolline."

Madame Delacour glided forward and stooped to kiss Mrs. Weasley too.

 "Enchantée," she said. "Your 'usband 'as been telling us such amusing stories!"

 Mr. Weasley gave a maniacal laugh; Mrs. Weasley threw him alook, upon which he became immediately silent and assumed anexpression appropriate to the sickbed of a close friend. 

"And, of course, you 'ave met my leetle daughter, Gabrielle!" saidMonsieur Delacour. Gabrielle was Fleur in miniature; eleven yearsold, with waist-length hair of pure, silvery blonde, she gave Mrs.Weasley a dazzling smile and hugged her, then threw Harry a glowing look, batting her eyelashes. Ginny cleared her throat loudly. Hermione and I shared a smirk.

 "Well, come in, do!" said Mrs. Weasley brightly, and she usheredthe Delacours into the house, with many "No, please!"s and "Afteryou!"s and "Not at all!"s. 

The Delacours, it soon transpired, were helpful, pleasant guests.They were pleased with everything and keen to assist with the preparations for the wedding. Monsieur Delacour pronounced everything from the seating plan to the bridesmaids' shoes "Charmant!"