The Wedding (Sequel to The Act…)
Recap Time:
"Hermione, What I want to say to you is very important and I don't want any distractions. So could you please put the shirt on?"
Usually Hermione would have cracked a joke but something in his voice advised her to do otherwise. She took the shirt from him and slipped it over her head and looked at Charlie, waiting for him to continue. Charlie took a deep breath, as though he was trying to calm himself down.
"Hermione, we've known each other for roughly six years now and we've been dating for 2. There's just something about you that makes you absolutely irresistible. If I could I would go back to the first time me met during the Quidditch World Cup and I would start our relationship there so that we could have more years together as a couple. But seeing as how that is impossible I'm just going to have to settle for the rest of our lives." Charlie paused looking at Hermione for any form of reaction but all he could see was a puzzled look on her face and a hint of wariness in her eye. So he took another deep breath and continued. "You know how people always like they live to love and not love to live. Well, I live to love you Hermione. I don't know how I would start my day if I didn't wake up with you next to me and I don't know how I would sleep without you by my side. I love the way you bark at people when they interrupt your reading. I love the way your eyes glow when you smile. I love the way your hair flows down your back. I love looking at your legs move when you walk. And I love you and everything about you. I can't imagine spending the rest of my life without you." Charlie opened his hand revealing that he had taken a small velvet box out of the drawer. He opened it and unveiled a titanium band with a diamond solitaire in the middle and two smaller solitaires on each side of it.
"Hermione, will you marry me?"
Hermione covered her mouth in shock. Of all the things she had been expecting, this had not been one of them. Sure the thought crossed her mind but she immediately dismissed it. She looked at Charlie and realized that everything he had just said, she felt the same way. She knew her answer. She looked Charlie in the eye and said
"Yes."
The Wedding:
Hermione stared at her reflection in the mirror hanging in Ginny's room. Her hair was styled into a loose but still elegant bun with a few strands framing her face. Her eyes were dusted lightly with red eye shadow. Her cheeks were glowing pink from the blusher. She couldn't believe it was nearly time. Time for her to make her walk. She was going to become a part of the family that she loved. The Weasleys.
Flashback: (Telling the Weasleys)
Hermione looked at Charlie nervously as sat in the living room of the burrow, waiting for Mrs. Weasley to call them in for dinner. She hadn't been this nervous since that day Charlie convinced her to pretend to be his girlfriend so that his mother would stop hounding him. Now she and Charlie were here to tell the Weasleys (and Harry) something different. She reached into her pocket and fingered the ring Charlie had given her. When he proposed a month ago they both decided not to tell their families immediately. They wanted to just be together before being stressed out by all sorts of preparations for the wedding. But a week ago she told Charlie that she was tired of being unable to wear her engagement ring anywhere and lying to his family. So they both agreed that it was time.
"Dinner's ready!" called Mrs. Weasley.
Everyone immediately abandoned whatever conversations they were having and rushed to savor the taste of Mrs. Weasley's delicious cooking. Only Charlie and Hermione lingered back, letting everyone go first. Charlie looked at her and smiled.
"There's no need to be nervous."
Hermione frowned, was she that easy to read? "What makes you think I'm nervous?"
Charlie laughed, "I know her 'Mione. Whenever you're nervous you reach into your pocket and finger your ring."
Hermione grinned back, "I guess your right."
Charlie smirked at her, "What do you mean guess? Of course I'm right!"
Hermione laughed, "Of course you are. Now let's go eat before you're mother gets suspicious as to why we're not there." She grabbed his hand and lead him to the table at which the entire family was seated at. They took their places and dug into the food.
A while later as dessert was brought out Charlie took Hermione's hand and squeezed it lightly. This was the signal that they'd agreed upon when either felt that it was time. She squeezed his hand back saying that it was ok.
Charlie cleared his throat, trying to get everybody's attention. Unfortunately with so many people there and even more conversations going around, a mere clearing of the throat wasn't going to get any attention. He tried it another time but didn't succeed. Getting irritated he put two fingers in his mouth and whistled. The sudden silence around that table was deafening.
Mrs. Weasley looked at him frowning, "Charlie, I assume there a reason that you rudely interrupted everybody's conversation."
Charlie grinned sheepishly, "Um, yeah. I um have something to tell you guys. See the thing is…"
Ron stared at Charlie bewildered, "Spit it out Charlie!"
"Um…see we…decided…um…"
Hermione groaned next to him. And she thought she was the nervous one. "Oh, for crying out loud Charlie. I'll tell them." She turned to face everyone at the table, "Charlie proposed and I said yes."
For a while everyone just stared her as though they didn't quite comprehend what she had just said. Then everyone started talking immediately.
"You're getting married!"
"Why didn't you tell us immediately?!"
"When did he propose?"
"How did he propose?"
"When's the wedding?"
"Or are you two already married and are waiting for after dessert to tell us?!"
Hermione and Charlie just looked at each other, wondering whom to answer first. They were saved from making that decision when Mrs. Weasley said, "Everybody settle down. I'm sure Hermione and Charlie will tell you everyone what they want to know especially when he asked and why they decided not to tell us until now."
Hermione gulped nervously. She knew that Mrs. Weasley would a little pissed at not being the first person to find out their news. She looked at Charlie, hoping for some help but he was suddenly extremely interested in the ceiling. She glared at him and told everyone how and when he proposed (although she didn't give all the details for the how.) after which she had launch into a whole explanation as to why they kept their engagement from everyone for so long.
And once it was time for them to leave, Hermione felt really relieved. She was still mad at Charlie for not helping her out but decided to wait until they apparated home to yell at him.
END FLASHBACK.
Charlie adjusted his jacket as he peered into his mirror. He couldn't believe his day had finally arrived. After weeks of hard and tiring preparations Hermione would finally become his wife. Even now, as he stood in his room knowing Hermione was just across the hall getting ready, he couldn't believe that she had actually said yes.
FLASHBACK: (Yes!)
At first he thought he had misheard her. His heart was beating really loudly and fast. And when he finally realized that she had said "yes" his heart started pumping at a speed that should have been dangerous. She had said yes! She was going to be his wife! He grinned like a Cheshire cat. Hermione smiled back at him. He took the ring out of the box and slipped it onto her finger. He slid his hand around her waist and drew her closer to him until she was sitting in his lap. He rested his head on her shoulder and whispered, "You are going to be a Weasley, my Weasley!" Hermione simply grinned at him.
"You're mum always considered me as a daughter; this is just making it official." She turned to face him and traced her fingers around her lips before kissing him. Charlie strengthened his hold around her as he took in the scent of her hair, the feel of her body entwined with his, the flavor of her lips as they danced with his, and he realized that he was extremely lucky to have her in his life. Not only was she already loved by his family but she loved him. And he loved her.
END FLASHBACK.