Purple Orchids
Disclaimer: I do not own or claim to own anything pertaining to Harry Potter (characters, places, fictitious universe, etc.). J.K. Rowling has that title and I bow down gracefully at her feet thanking her for allowing me to read her wonderful series. This disclaimer is intended to cover all chapters in the fictional story that I am writing using her characters and places for my plot.
It was a bright and sunny morning when she opened her eyes from a wonderful night's sleep. She smiled as she looked over at the man she loved. He really was something special. He may not be perfect, but he loved her and she loved him. His glorious black hair was in disarray. His beautiful green eyes were concealed by his eyelids. His lips were slightly parted, as they always were when he slept. His arm draped over her side didn't cause any discomfort. She stretched and yawned while sitting up from her position, throwing her legs over the bed.
"Ginny, it's too early. Come back to bed."
"Harry, I have to go to my mum's. You know she is expecting me to help her set everything up for the wedding." Ginny replied while snuggling back into bed with him.
"Just ten more minutes, yeah? And then we can shower and head over to the Burrow." He said lazily, never once opening his eyes.
She lay there, under his arm, smiling. It was a beautiful day for a wedding. Ron and Hermione were finally tying the knot and Ginny was the maid of honor. She loved Hermione to pieces and knew Hermione loved her brother unconditionally. Harry was to be the best man as well, so it would be nice to walk down the aisle with him, hopefully putting sense into him to propose to her.
After she was sure Harry had fallen back asleep, she escaped the bed and left for the bathroom to begin her shower. After she finished, she put on a simple sundress and brushed her teeth. Looking in the mirror, she decided that she would apply some makeup today. After applying minimal makeup, she began the tedious task of taming her unruly locks. Her hair had gotten so long since the last time she cut it; it was now down to her waist. It was curly as well, so it was very difficult to manage at times. Looking at the mirror once more, she deemed herself decent enough to help set up decorations before the late afternoon ceremony.
"Harry, I'm heading over to mum's. Get up, shower, and meet us over there. Today is about Ron and Hermione. See to it that you aren't late."
"Mmff…"
She sighed and then apparated to the Burrow.
Arriving at the Burrow is usually a calm ordeal. Today, however, it was chaos. There were people everywhere setting up tents, tables, food, and décor. She shook her head quickly, trying to figure out where to start.
"Gin bug!" Her mother flew towards her with open arms.
"Mum, the Burrow…looks…um, well busy." She said eyeing all the chaos and then returning her gaze back to her mother.
"Oh, well, you know how these things go. You remember Fleur and Bill's wedding. People everywhere. Took a week to clean everything up!" Her mother chimed and she ushered Ginny inside the house to finish preparing snacks for the reception.
The two Weasley women continued preparing snacks and getting the trays ready as they continued the idle chat. She asked how everyone had been. She had been living with Harry in London now for eight months. Molly was always asking if he proposed yet and how he was doing.
"Living together that long, you would think he would make you his bride any day now. I'm not getting any younger and I need grandbabies." Molly scolded.
Ginny rolled her eyes and continued with her task. She noticed a slight 'pop' and Harry came up behind her in a solid embrace.
"Took you long enough."
"Well, I had to meet up with my partner to discuss the current case." Harry said while sounding annoyed.
Harry was an auror now. He joined the Ministry after the Dark Lord had been defeated. He wanted to continue being a hero. Ginny admired that, except she hated the long hours. She saw even less of him now that he had a new partner. His new partner was someone she thoroughly despised. Draco Malfoy had picked on her all throughout her Hogwarts years and she would never forget it. She always assumed he would have been a death eater just like his father, but apparently, he did have some kindness in his heart.
"Malfoy always has to contact you for some reason. I hate that I never see you anymore. It's like all we do anymore is sleep in the same bed. We haven't gone on a date in over a month." Ginny whined.
"I know, love, but he is one of the best. I am glad to be partnered with him. He and I get some of the most high profile cases. You know I would hate to continue getting the boring ones like I did before."
"I know, but it doesn't change the fact that you are keeping longer hours and getting chummy with him." She scoffed.
"He isn't so bad, really. He isn't a total prat like he was in school."
After everything was finished being prepared for the ceremony and the reception, Ginny made her way upstairs to get dolled up for the wedding. She entered the room all the women were in, and smiled at Hermione. She looked beautiful. Her hair was curled into perfect ringlets and pulled back halfway so it wouldn't be in her face. The other bridesmaids were still working on her makeup, but she still looked perfect. Ginny walked over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder as she looked into the mirror with her.
"Are you ready?"
"I'm a little nervous, but I couldn't be more ready. I'm marrying the man of my dreams and I'll be family with people I love." Hermione said as she smiled into the mirror.
"You look amazing. You will be the most beautiful bride in the world. All the other brides will be so jealous." Ginny replied.
"As long as Ron thinks so, that's all that matters. Now, go get yourself ready too. I have to have you by my side!" Hermione said shooing her away.
It didn't take too long to get herself ready. She didn't wear much makeup. She applied a small amount of blush to her cheeks, some minor purple eye shadow in the arch, mascara, and a medium shimmery pink lipstick. Her hair was easy when she used her wand. She conjured her hair into an intricate updo of braids and curls atop her head. She slipped on her lavender dress and walked back over to the others to help Hermione into her wedding dress.
After everyone was ready, the bridal party headed downstairs to await the cue to begin the walk down the aisle. All of the groomsmen were in the foyer as well, lining up with the bridesmaid they were to walk with. Harry found Ginny easily with her mass of red hair. He smiled and placed her hand over his arm with his other hand. She smiled and then looked back at Hermione.
"Last chance. Ready?" Ginny teased.
"My feet are pretty toasty right now. Let's get the show on the road." Hermione retorted.
Ginny laughed and they waited their cue to begin the descent to the aisle. As they walked, Ginny looked around at all the guests and tried to recall everyone's face. The wedding wasn't too large, only around 100 guests. She was midway down the aisle, still holding Harry's arm, when she saw that painfully platinum blonde hair. She immediately rolled her eyes wondering why Hermione would agree to invite him in the first place. Malfoy was no friend of the family. There was no real reason for him to be here. But out of kindness, Hermione sent him an invitation anyway.
Ginny also noticed he did not come alone. Sitting prim and proper was Pansy Parkinson to his left. She looked the same as she did when they were in school. Short, straight, black hair to her chin; pug nose; sneer on her face that resembled pain. Pansy hadn't changed one bit. Six years did nothing to her persona. As she was staring a hole in their backs, Draco turned his gaze towards her. He looked her straight in the eye before a smirk settled on his face. Ginny abruptly shifted her gaze back to the altar.
The wedding was amazing. Everything was perfect. Hermione was glowing and Ron was beaming. Everyone clapped as the couple shared their first dance together as a married couple. Toasts were made and the reception was joyous. After about six glasses of champagne, Harry started to look annoyed.
"Dance with me, Harry." Ginny pleaded.
"Gin, you know I don't dance. I'm rather tired and fancy going home."
"You haven't danced with me all night. I have sat in this chair the entire time except for the bouquet toss. I caught it. Did you even notice?" Ginny asked. She hated when he started acting like this.
"Yes, I noticed. This is exactly why I want to leave now. I don't want to be here when they toss the garter."
"Why not?" Ginny asked, confused.
"Because, if I catch it, people will automatically assume that you and I are going to get married."Harry said a little too quickly.
"And now, it's time for the garter! All you single men, come on up!"Ron roared into the microphone.
All the men started making their way towards the center except Harry. He looked thoroughly annoyed and put his head in his hands.
"I told you we should have left."
"Just get you arse up there. It's just a garter. It doesn't mean you have to marry me if you catch it." Ginny spat back and then got up to go talk to other people.
She noticed he jumped from his seat and went to stand with the other men so that Ron could toss the garter. Ron turned his back, peaked over his should to take aim, and the flung it backwards. The men were jumping, rolling, and falling into a huge pile on the floor. Ginny saw Harry emerge empty handed as he shrugged his shoulders and trudged back to the table.
"Sorry, mate, I was aiming for you!" Ron bellowed to Harry. Harry just waived his arm and sat down.
"Well who got it? Who gets to share a dance with my baby sister?" Ron asked. One man stepped forward swinging the garter over his fingers with a smirk across his face.
"Malfoy! Get over here Ginny!" Ron hollered. He must be drunk.
Ginny trudged over to the front, sighed, and then placed her hand in Malfoy's. The dance wasn't bad. He was a great dancer. It could have been worse; it could have been Neville.
"Surprised that your brother finally married Granger?" he asked. The smell of his cologne entered her senses and she fought the urge to close her eyes and lean her head in the get a better whiff.
"No. He's been crazy about her since, well, forever ago actually." Ginny replied. He glanced into her eyes briefly, but then his gaze darted somewhere behind her.
"I could make some nasty remark, but however, at the moment, I must go see why my date is dancing with yours." He said and then left her. She turned around and saw that, confirming what Malfoy said, Harry was dancing with Pansy.
"What the hell?" Ginny exclaimed to herself. She walked over to the pair and placed her hands on her hips.
"Harry, you wouldn't dance with me all night, yet here you are dancing with her?" She exclaimed.
"Gin, it's just a dance. I didn't feel like sitting there waiting for you, so I asked Pansy. No big deal, really." He shrugged his shoulders.
"Whatever, let's just go home Harry. I'm suddenly tired." Ginny said as she began dragging him away so they could apparate.
She believed him, of course, but it still upset her that she had been trying to get him to dance with her all night, yet he declined. But he agreed with Pansy? She couldn't understand it, but she was tired and didn't feel like arguing any further tonight. Her day had started off beautifully, but it ended pretty ugly.