'This is the moment.' Harry thought to himself as he sat sweltering in the interim chamber of the small church. The smallish room was what separated him from the woman he was in love with, and the reality of time. It was the pinnacle of his life, the fence post in which he mainly stayed seated on, not wanting to sway too much either way in case he might topple to the ground. Sure the square footage of the room was small in area, but it allowed the heat to build causing sweat to pour from his pore and pool in areas he rarely felt sweaty in, but the three piece suit did not help his condition either.
Neither did the situation he was in; there had been a few days in Harry's life he thought was the day his life was changed. The first day was his first day he was learned he was a wizard; a giant hauling an eleven year old boy to London for the first time was quite different from his life from the punching bag from Little Winging. Then there was the day he first time he saw Hogwarts, and made his first friend, quite life altering again, and to learn he was famous. Another time was the fight with the troll, and becoming the golden trio. There were so many days from Hogwarts, the first kiss with Cho, fighting a dragon, loosing Sirius, riding the Thunderbolt, using a time turner, the department of mysteries. There was also the day he came to the realization that he would have to make the ultimate sacrifice. The day he died in the woods, talked with Dumbledore, and returned to the world, just normal regular Harry. The day they won the war.
Then came the days after, the ending of his relationship with Ginny which was mutually agreed upon no matter how hard Molly tried to keep the two together, the nights lacking sleep dealing with a teething baby, the days Teddy began to walk, talk, smile and do all those milestones. And through all those days, he had his best friends, Ron and Hermione helping him, being there and remaining blissfully unaware at the progressing relationship between his two best friends.
The moment he fell in love with Hermione Granger was always something Harry pondered late at night, when he was alone with his thoughts and right before he fell asleep. There were so many moments over his life time that quite possibly fit, but he couldn't place a finger on just one. But he remained as ever slightly ambivalent as his mate's relationship grew. He never put much stock that it was going to last, they were both quick to anger, and too stubborn to back down. He could not count the times he heard their shouts of angers floors beneath his, slamming doors, and echoes of glass breaking. But yet, the two remained true, steadily growing together and away from Harry. The day he thought his life truly changed was the day Ron proposed to Hermione and she accepting the offer, because he felt his heart fall to his feet and he had not been able to pull it back up into his chest since. Through the fourteen month engagement, helping Hermione with wedding details from cake tasting to dress shopping, and throwing Ron the ultimate stag party, Harry had felt like ever step he took he was walking on his own heart.
Parading a false happiness and breaking his own heart in the process.
But today was the day he was going to throw himself off the fence, release himself from the duty of friendship and for once he was going to put his happiness first. 'I will tell her how I feel' he thought and was then brought back into reality as the end of the final chords of the orchestral march ended signaling all the bridesmaids finished their march down the aisle. Soft chatter brought him back to his sense, and he glanced to the only other occupants in the room, a Weasley girl true the red hair heritage sewn into a dress of pink tulle clutching a basket of flower petals, and a boy dressed clad in a tuxedo and hair slicked back to make him look like a dashing prince. Victorie Weasley and Teddy Lupin looked quite the handsome couple, she was giggling at his expense, and he was making her giggle with changing his hair to different shades of the rainbow.
Harry smirked at the little smile Teddy was using; it was 'I am going to impress this pretty girl' smile. He always used it when he was around a pretty girl, or trying to get his way, typically with a pretty girl. The boy of five years was quite the charmer. But as he watched the innocent giggle, the door to the clergyman's office opened. It had been turned into the private dressing room of the bride for the morning, so Hermione could ready herself in peace without anyone being able to spy on her and the dress. She stood silhouetted in the doorway, as the light poured in surrounding her figure clad in white layers.
She looked like a vision. A vision of happiness, filled with laughter and love. He saw the look of love in her eyes, and it was enough to still his soul. It was love for another, a love he was not worthy of stealing, surprising her the moment she was to make the choice to change her life. It was not a choice he was willing to take from her. As she stepped into the parlor, Harry felt the familiar flutter in his chest, but the sickening feeling, knowing that this was the decision he was going to have to live with. The wedding planner adjusted the pair, before turning to the children and rounding the two in front of Harry and Hermione.
The wedding planner gave a quick direction to Victorie and Teddy smiling maniacally at the two and scooted the pair down the aisle, before giving a quick glance over Harry and Hermione before disappearing from the parlor to give the couple a few moments of silence. The wedding march began to bellow from the organ as if it was another braying reminder to Harry that this was his last and final chance, "Look Hermione-" He was cut off as the arms of his friend wrapped around his neck and pulled his body flush with hers.
He relished in the arms of Hermione Granger.
She whispered, "Thank you so much for being here for me today, Harry, I truly love you."
And that was the moment she broke his heart. The choir began to sing, so he squeezed her one last time and he helped adjust her veil then took her hand as he marched her down the aisle to marry Ron.
Every step it hurt, every smile he forced and stilling his voice not to show his emotions he answered the hardest and most significant of questions, "And who gives this woman away?"
"I do." Harry replied barely audible and released his hold on Hermione, shook hands with Ron, and took his seat.
This was the day that changed Harry Potter.
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Year 1 -August 14th
Dear Harry-thought we drop you a line, honeymoon is fantastic, and Lisbon is great. Hope all is well, give my love to Teddy.
Love Hermione.
Year 1-September 9th
Dear Auntie Hermione
Teddy wanted me to tell you that he wrote the letter's A, H and E. They are his favorite letters since he started grammar school. Hope the honeymoon is going swell. Travelling the world sounds amazing. Teddy misses you and sends his love.
Harry.
Year 1-December 2nd
Dear Harry
Wanted to send you a post, I hope this makes it by Christmas, I am so proud of Teddy liking his letters. Sorry it has taken so long to write, this training schedule Ron is on, mixed with my school schedule has been grueling. Hope we can meet up sometime over the holidays.
Love Hermione.
Year 2-March 20th
Dear Auntie Hermione
Thank you for the birthday presents! Tell Uncle Ron he is the best quidditch player ever. Harry took me on my first broom ride the other day.
From
Teddy
Year 2-August 19th
Dear Harry
I am worried that we won't be able to make it to the party tomorrow. Ron has come down with the flu, and we cannot risk the chance of putting a strain on his physical conditions. Congrats on finishing school, who thought you would want to become a financer someday. Hope all is well, and we are truly proud of you.
Love
Hermione
Year 2-December-
Year 3-February
Year-3-June-
Year 3-September 4
Dear Harry Potter
We are so happy to inform you of the birth of Rose Anastasia Granger-Weasley. Born September 4th, bright and early in the morning. She is loved by her mother and father, and wanted to share their joy of the addition to their household.
Love
The Granger-Weasleys.
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Hope you like it.
Ema