A/N: So this is a new story I've had in my head for a while. It's AU, but sticks to most elements of canon.

This story starts at the wedding of Bill and Fleur, and is set during DH. However, this is the story if Hermione went to Beauxbatons instead of Hogwarts. So, she's never met any of the Weasleys or Ron, and only knows Fleur, whom invited her to the wedding. I think Ron and Harry would have survived okay without Hermione. I think after a while, Harry would have grasped the concept of the riddle in the first book, and would have eventually connected the dots about the basalisk in second year. As for the time turner, if Dumbledore really wanted to save Sirius, he would have come up with another solution, right?

Since this is sticking to some elements of Canon, this will follow along the lines of The Deathly Hallows.

Thanks :)

Chapter 1: A Wedding

It was quarter past two on the afternoon of the 1st of August, 1997. Ron Weasley, a 17 year old wizard, was standing at the entrance of a large marquee, a list of peoples names in his left hand. Today was the wedding of his older brother, Bill.

Ron had dark red hair, slightly longer than his Mother would have preferred, and dark blue eyes. He was wearing stunning new robes, matching his eyes, bought specially for the occasion.

In Ron's eyes, it seemed quite weird to have a wedding due to what was going on around them. A few days ago, Mad-eye Moody had been killed, George had lost and ear, and he himself had been knocked unconscious. It was strange to think that anyone would decide to marry when a war was going on, especially when their friends and family were dying around them.

Ron sighed, glancing at the open fields. Guests were slowly arriving, one by one, in time for the ceremony which started at three o'clock. Many of his family members, including rude old Aunt Muriel, had arrived and hadn't exactly left Ron in a good mood.

"Why Ronald, haven't you ever heard of a pair of scissors?" Aunt Muriel had said, her hands pulling harshly on his hair. "For a moment I was certain you were Ginerva!"

Of course, being compared to a girl, his sister no less, wasn't exactly the sort of compliment Ron was proud of. Aunt Muriel had then told him off for having a long nose, which, of course, he couldn't help.

Ron glanced down at the list of guests. Fred and George had ditched him when a group of Veela cousins had arrived, and Harry had been dragged off by his Mother to help her with some 'last minute flower arrangements' that would apparently, 'stop the wedding from being ruined.'

There were only a few guests left to arrive, and Ron couldn't wait for them to, so he could he sit down for a moment, there first time in an hour.
As if on cue, there was a pop, and a fairly plump old man with a bald head appeared, wearing dark green robes.

"Eldias, Eldias Jimstone, name should be down," the man muttered, pulling out an cream and purple invitation that Ron must had seen at least a hundred times that day. Ron looked it, sighing, then checked for the name on the list. Sure enough, it was there, Row H, seat 8.

He lead the way inside the marquee, showing the man to his seat with no enthusiasm, then stooped back outside to await more.

Sure enough, someone else was waiting.

A girl about his age was standing there nervously, biting her lip, looking around the area with mild interest. She was wearing a red gown, which hung down to her knees, and was carrying a matching bag, or rather 'clasp' in her right hand. Her hair was brown and hung in soft curls at her shoulders, and matched the colour of her eyes.

She was beautiful.

Ron went slightly red. She still hadn't noticed him standing there, and he decided to clear his throat to get her attention.

It worked.

Her eyes shot towards him, and he went a little redder.

She took a breath, and stepped towards him, smiling. "Hi," she said softly. "I'm here for the wedding of Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour?"

Ron nodded, and gulped. "Can I, errm, see your invitation?"

"Oh right, sorry," she said quickly, opening up her bag, and fumbling around inside. After a few seconds, her hand emerged, holding the invitation.

She handed it to him, and he read the name etched across it.

Hermione Granger.

It suited her, he thought. He looked down the list for her name, and saw it written near the top, in Fleur's dainty handwriting. Next to her name was Row C, seat 3.

"R-right this way," he stammered, entering the marquee. She followed behind him, and he heard her gasp.

"Wow, it's beautiful!" She said lightly, looking around the room smiling prettily.

"Y-yeah," he mumbled, agreeing.

He found Row C, and lead her to the seat, and once he had, he looked at her and saw her looking back at him, smiling.

"Thanks," she said happily, sitting herself down.

"Not a problem," he replied, his throat dry.

As Ron stood outside the marquee, advising many more guests to their seats, he couldn't get the girl off of his mind. He knew she was one of Fleur's guests, due to her name being fairly high up the list and the fact that he had never laid eyes on her before. She didn't go to Hogwarts, he knew that.. Did she go to Beauxbatons? Is that how she met Fleur?

After escorting the final guest to their seat in Row F, Ron finally took his seat on Row B. He was a few seats to the left of the strange girl called Hermione, and when he turned around, he saw her sitting there pleasantly, and blushed slightly. He didn't even know her, yet he couldn't stop himself from staring at her. She was worse than a Veela, because she wasn't magically beautiful, but naturally, and it had hit him hard.

Harry took his seat next to him, in his 'Cousin Barney' disguise, causing Ron to look away from the girl behind him. The ceremony was going to start soon, and he had to clear his head.

"So," he said, trying to make up a conversation. "What was this flower emergency that could 'save' the wedding from being ruined?"

Harry laughed, and rolled his eyes. "Your Mother thought that gold roses would be good to having laying on the tables at the reception, so we did a few colour charms to make it work."

Ron rolled his eyes, smirking. "Only Mum," he sighed. "I don't want it to be like this when I get married."

Harry stifled a laugh. "And who are you planning on getting married to Ron? Lavender?"

Ron scowled, folding his arms. Lavender had been his girlfriend for the majority of the previous year, their relationship beginning when she snogged him after a successful Quidditch match. Of course, at first Ron had no problem with it, but slowly she got more and more clingy, and even told Ron she loved him, which he replied, "Me too." However, finally, after Lavender had a fairly nasty argument with Ginny, and told him to pick one of them, he went with his sister, ending the failure she had called, 'a relationship.' It hadn't exactly been a hard decision, but he knew that, "Yeah, I don't want to date you anyways", wasn't exactly the best way to break it off.

"Course not," he said bitterly. "And I don't know who I'm going to marry, do I? I'm only 17 for Merlin's sake. They could either be in this room or a million miles away." He blushed at the thought of his future wife being in the room, perhaps a single row behind him...

Harry laughed. "I told you, I could have set you up with Cho, but you wouldn't hear it."

"I'm not going out with your ex, Harry, that's just weird."

"Yeah well, you're the one who had a crush on her a few months ago," Harry reminded him, laughing.

Ron blushed. "I didn't! I thought she was pretty, that didn't mean I was in love with her or anything." Damn you, Harry Potter! Say it abit louder, why don't you!

Before Harry could reply, a slow soft tune began to play, and everyone stood up. Harry was still chuckling slightly, and Ron glared at him.

Gabrielle and Ginny walked slowly down the aisle, in dresses of rich gold. Ron fought the urge to punch Harry in his face when he saw him eying up Ginny, and restrained himself.

After a few moments, a beautiful figure came into view, wearing a beautiful pure white dress. Fleur was wearing Aunt Muriel's tiara atop her head of silver hair, complimenting her beautifully. She held tightly onto her Father's arm, and everyone watched her in awe.

Finally, she reached the front, and Ron noticed Bill look as if he had been hit on the back of the head.

The ceremony was slow but perfect, and Ron watched as his eldest brother became bethrowed to a Woman who was partly Veela.

"...then I declare you bonded for life."

The tufty haired wizard who had lead Dumbledore's funeral, finished, raising his wand high over the newly married couple, sending silver stars into the air, zooming towards their entwined fingers.

Everyone stood up on their feet, clapping loudly, as gold balloons burst, showering the audience was confetti and flowers.

The wizard waved his wand, and the seats all disappeared. Instead, they were replaced with many tables and chairs, each with a gold rose in the middle, and a large space as a dance floor. Waiters appeared holding trays of Butterbeer and Firewhisky, Pumpkin Juice and Gilly Water, sandwiches and tarts.

"Cool," Ron said, looking around approvingly. "I wouldn't mind this."

He turned, looking around for Harry, but couldn't see his now ginger best-friend any where in the crowd. There was a sea of ginger, and there was no way he would be able to find him now.

Ron extracted himself from the mass of people standing around, and fought through a large crowd, until finally, he reached his Brother, and newly sister-in-law.

"Congratulations Big Brother!" He said happily, clamping Bill on the back.

Bill laughed, sighing with relief. "Thanks Mate," he said happily. "Can't believe I'm married."

Ron smiled, and looked towards Fleur. She was shining brightly. "Welcome to the Weasleys," Ron exclaimed, and Fleur beamed.

"Zat is wonderful, thank you Ron!" She smiled happily. "Can I ask you a favour?"

Ron shrugged. "Sure."

Fleur looked delighted. "Now, zere ees a girl 'ere, 'Ermione 'er name is, would you keep 'er company? Zat would be genial Ron, she ees shy and I don't want 'er all alone?"

Ron nodded, going a little red, knowing exactly who the girl was.

"Ooh, Merci Ron! Zat is magnificent! She went to Beauxbatons, like myself, but zey were hard on her, not being native francais. But, I took 'er under my wing! She ees a very intelligent girl and very beuatiful, heart in ze right place. I think she ees sitting over zere?"

Ron glanced in the direction she was pointing, and sure enough, saw Hermione sitting alone at a touble, a glass of Butterbeer in her hand.

Fleur pecked his cheek, muttering 'Merci's' and 'genials' in his ear, and he wandered off towards the table.

"H-hi," he managed out, taking a seat opposite her.

She jumped slightly, and he thought that maybe he should have approached her a little less forward. However, she smiled, and spoke back.

"Hi."

"Nice ceremony, huh?" He asked casually.

"Yes, it was beautiful! I got a little teary," she told him, a light blush rising in her cheeks.

He laughed. "Yeah, it was okay. A little weird seeing my Brother get married."

"Oh, you're one of Bill's brothers? I should have guessed really, you look a bit like him, but there's just so much ginger around here," she mentioned.

"Yup, he's my brother. I'm Ron, the youngest brother," he said, extending out his hand, feeling a surge of Gryffindor courage.

"Hermione," she replied, reaching out her hand and shaking his. He felt a slight jolt go through him when their hands met, his ears going red; he wondered if she felt it too, and the pink on her cheeks comfirmed it. "So, you went to Beauxbatons huh?" He said, after a moment of silence.

"Yes. I was offered a place at Hogwarts, but my Father had just decided to move to France, to open up a new clinic, so Professor Dumbledore got in touch with Madam Maxime for me."

"Oh right... clinic?" It was the word that had confused him entirely.

"Wha-? Oh! Sorry! I'm Muggleborn, my parents are dentists.." her voice trailed off, and she tore her eyes away from his.

"Hmm, that's cool... My friend Dean's Muggleborn. He's always going on about football and Westham and fellytones, and that sort of thing."

Hermione started laughing, and immediately Ron went bright red. What had he said wrong? It was Football, right? Or was it Ballfoot?

"Do you mean Telephone?" She asked him, smirking, once she had stopped laughing.

Right. Telephone. "Yeah, sorry, always get confused," he muttered, still red.

"It's fine! It's just funny, that's all," she replied, giving him a soft smile.

"Cool," he said, still slightly embarrassed, drumming his fingers on the table.

She smirked again.

"So, are you staying here after the Wedding?" He asked curiously.

"I think maybe for tonight. I've been staying at the Leaky Cauldron for the last week."

Ron nodded. "So are your parents still in France?"

"Yes, they're still there; they were planning to attend, but my Mum broke her leg a few weeks ago, and didn't feel up to the journey."

"Oh, that's a shame," he said honestly, and she sighed.

"Yeah, well."

A slow song began to play, and both Ron and Hermione looked towards the dance floor. Bill and Fleur had glided onto the dance floor, and were now softly dancing to the melodic tune. Slowly, other couples made there way up, Fred and George each with a Veela cousin, and Ginny with Lee Jordan.
He wasn't really much of a dancer. When he was in his fourth year, there had been the Yule Ball, and he didn't dance at all with his partner, but just joked and laughed around with Harry. He didn't really want to dance with his partner because she didn't seem the right person to dance with.
But, for some strange reason, Ron wanted to dance with the strange girl he had known for less than a day. And with a hopeful glance towards her, it looked like she wanted to dance with him too.

He didn't know her very well, but technically, she didn't know anyone very well. He got slightly nervous as he stood up, wondering whether or not she did want to dance with him. However, before he could fully address what could go wrong, the words had tumbled from his mouth.

"Do you want to dance?"