How It All Changed

Standing there staring at himself in the mirror, Ron began to think that maybe he couldn't do this after all. It was ridiculous really. He had destroyed a horocrux, defied a Dark Lord, survived being the youngest boy out of 6 brothers, and had graduated Hogwarts surprisingly, in the top 5 of his class. He was an AUROR for Merlin's sake! Taking a deep breath, he checked his reflection again and smoothed the tux that Hermione had insisted on, desperately trying to calm his nerves.

"Ready mate?" Harry asked stepping into the room.

Ron swallowed hard.

"No…" he breathed.

"You ok?" Harry asked a touch of concern in his voice.

"I can't do this," squeaked Ron.

"What do you mean you can't do this?" laughed Harry.

"I can't marry Hermione."

"Wha? Why not?" asked Harry flabergasted.

"I'm not good enough. She deserves better. I don't understand half of what she talks about, and I could care less about Creature/Wizard co-operation, and I'm hardly ever home, and...I don't make a lot of money so..."

"Ron!" Harry exclaimed. "Hermione doesn't care about any of that. She never has. You can do this."

"I can't," said Ron, hanging his head in defeat.

"You can," said Harry, walking over to his best friend and laying a hand on his shoulder in encouragement.

"And you will or Mione will have us both strung up and then what will we do?" he asked with a smile.

Ron couldn't help but give his friend a soft smile and a whisper of a laugh.

"I'm more afraid of her birds than her stringing us up," he admitted.

Harry just shuddered and the both of them laughed.

"I'm proud of you, Mate," he said as he pulled Ron in for a hug.

"And I'm happy for you and Mione. I couldn't think of a more perfect couple."

Ron smiled at that.

"You and Ginny?" he offered, making Harry blush.

"Let's get you two sorted first," he said softly.

"Then we'll work on me and Ginny."

"You're already my brother, Mate," Ron said, clapping a hand on Harry's shoulder.

"Might as well go ahead and ask her..."

Harry just smiled and nodded.

"Ready to say 'I Do'?" he asked as someone knocked on the door.

Ron took a deep breath and stuck his hands in his pockets before nodding.

He had been waiting for the moment for what seemed like his entire life.