Hitched!

Chapter 1 - Before…

"Omigod, Omigod, Omigod…!" Hermione sat shaking in her armchair; her breathing was near hyperventilation. "Here, drink this!" Ginny said helpfully, shoving a rum and coke under her nose. "No!" gasped Hermione through short breaths. "I can't be drunk before I've even walked down the aisle!"

"You'll be fine," Luna kept saying. "You'll be fine!"

"Oh, shut up, Loopy!" Luna looked hurt, but didn't persist and went to fetch Hermione's vale. "Cho, let my hair down a bit more!" Hermione said, fiddling with the comb. "Here, but much more and you'll look like that Dulux puppy!" Cho laughed, trying to lighten the mood. "Oh, Ginny, go see Fred for me!" Hermione said panicking. "NO! For ninth time, and I have been counting, I will NOT be an owl for you two!" But Hermione was off again, rambling on hysterically.

"What if the vicar's late? What if Fred's late? What if Fred doesn't turn up at all? What if the vicar's late, Fred's early, we all turn up at the same time and Fred see's me in my wedding dress before the ceremony - I'll be jinxed then!"

"Look, Hermione, just-"

"Omigod, do you reckon I should have invited mum and dad as well as Hazel? I know everything kicks off when mum and I are even in the same room and I know I'm probably better off but y'know, I feel really awful now and…"

"Hermione!"

"God! I look terrible. Fred will never say yes to me!"

Ginny stood and rolled her eyes. "Haaaaaaaaaaaaarrryyyyyyyy!!!" she yelled.

"Jesus, Bianca!" He laughed coming into the room.

"Who?" Ginny asked, confused.

"Oh, she's this really loud redhead girl off Eastenders, and her husband is a guy called Ricky, and she -"

"What's Eastenders?"

"Oh, never mind."

"Look, can you just tell Prima Donna here to take a chill pill, before I shoot her!" Ginny spat. "And I can promise you, that would be a shame, because it would make a mess and that dress is gorgeous and very expensive!"

"Whatever, the point is, your ride's here, and everyone's at the church, go you'd better make a move, eh?"

"So, Fred's there?" Hermione confirmed. Harry laughed at her anxiety.

"YES, woman!" He turned on his heel and left Hermione's flat, leaving everyone in silence. "So, it's now?" Hermione said quietly. "Oh, god, I look cra-"

"Look, Hermione, you look great, trust me!" Cho assured her.

They all stood in front of the long full-length mirror, the bridesmaids in pale lavender dresses, Hermione in a full-length satin sleeveless gown, the bodice studded with sequins. "Amazing," confirmed Luna.

"You promise my hair doesn't look like sh-"

"Yes, Hermione!" Cho laughed. "Just make sure you get to the church on time!"

"Oh crap!" Hermione shrieked. "The car!"

"I don't know why we couldn't just Apparate there," Ginny grumbled.

The four girls ran out of the flat, and leaped into the Rolls-Royce, chauffeured by Percy Weasley. "Go. Go, go, go, go!" Hermione yelled, and with a squeak of the wheels, they were gone.