Author Note: This is just one entry for the challenge "Reasons to Get Married". Italics represent a flashback, Bold represents thoughts and normal represents present tence.
"Hermione Jean Granger, will you marry me?" Ronald Weasley asked showing a glowing dazzling ring. It wasn't plain, nor was it too expensive, but it described Hermione Granger in the eyes of Ronald Weasley. Those very eyes she was looking at right now. Those sweet blue eyes that pleaded for her love, that were anxiously looking at her this very instance.
A feeling she knew well by now flooded inside her. Guilt. She knew her heart was stolen by a green eyed lover, but she also thought he couldn't possible love her, that his happy ending was with Ginny Weasley. And she wasn't going to destroy his perfect ending when he deserved it so much. The Boy-Who-Lived, famous Harry Potter didn't deserve her as a wife, she below him.
"I will." She said, forcing a smile. Do this for Ron's sake, she thought to herself.
And now, six months later, here she was, being prepared for her own wedding. Guilt was gnawing her insides out, and though every detail was perfect, it wasn't the wedding that mattered to her, it was the person she'd be spending the rest of her life with.
Taking a deep breath, she was led down the aisle in a beautiful church, perfect pale pink roses scattered on the ground, thrown down by her flower girl. She wasn't led by her own Father, no he died a few years before this all. Arthur Weasley led her, and she held herself high. Harry was the best man, already in his position, and Hermione's three bridesmaids –Ginny, Luna, and Cho(They had become good friends since the Battle of Hogwarts)- were waiting. But the groom was no were to be found.
Hermione took her position in the altar and waited patiently. Harry sent her a weak and she ignored the whispers of the guests as five minutes passed by. She kept a smile of her face, while inside she was a wreck. Do I really want to do this? Of course, he's my best friend, we were 'made for each other.' Hermione almost wanted to laugh at that. Many who took a look at the surface relationship always assumed they were mated to be, that they were 'soul mates'. Those people needed their brains checked, because inside every relationship lies cracks, and hidden problems, it wasn't like her relationship was any different.
Eventually Ron came through with his idea to marry Hermione, because the doors opened once more, and he strolled in. She noticed how big his grin was, though she saw the hidden sweat at rejection. For Ron's sake, she thought once more before taking a deep breath.
With each footstep towards her, she realized how much closer the decision was, as his minty breath (He fixed himself up today) smell closer, she thought about how many years they'd be together. Till death do us part.
The priest's voice (they wanted to do this the Muggle way) droned on and on, she felt her toes curl in anxiety.
"Do you, Ronald Bilius Weasley, take Hermione Jean Granger to be your wife?" He asked.
"I do." He replied with confidence, that even wedding day nerves couldn't stop. The priest turned to me, boring his eyes into her skull.
"And do you, Hermione Jean Granger, take Ronald Bilius Weasley to be your husband?" He asked. She sighed.
"I'm sorry, but I don't." She said letting tears run free, as she Hermione Granger ran from the altar. The guests gasped, but she didn't care. She couldn't torture Ron into thinking she could love him. She would never be able to bear it. Once outside and away from everyone, Hermione disapparated into thin air, leaving Ron at the altar.
