Chapter 2

"Oh, I can't tell you how excited I am," said Mrs. Weasley, setting down a plate full of muffins. Hermione smiled up at the woman and took the plate from her.

"We're glad to hear that."

"Have you told Harry?" Mrs. Weasley joined her diminished family at the table for breakfast. Ginny still lived at home, but was beginning to speak of moving out. Ron had a living arrangement with some co-workers, but often found himself at home during summer for extended vacations. The twins had moved out by their second year in the joke shop, as profits had continually rolled in. Bill had a wife of his own already, but Charley was still out and about doing "God knows what," as Mrs. Weasley would bemoan. Mr. Weasley worked at the Ministry still, but the tinges of gray in the last of his red hair had become more prominent. Mrs. Weasley, in turn, hid her own follicle aging by sweeping it neatly under a kerchief.

"Yes, Ron was kind enough to break the news last night," Hermione said pointedly, giving Ron a disapproving look.

"We agreed he should be the first to know. And you came close enough to telling Mum two nights ago, that I figured the sooner, the better." Ron held up his hands in defense. Ginny smirked as Hermione passed her the plate of eggs. She enjoyed watching their tiffs.

"But we also agreed to tell him together," Hermione said, stressing the last word.

"All right, all right, I'm sorry!" Ron said. "We'll invite him over for supper."

"Now there's an idea!" Mrs. Weasley chirped brightly.

"Is that all the fight you're gonna give?" Ginny addressed Ron with a touch of disappointment.

"Whatever you may think, I am not here to provide you with a source of entertainment," Ron growled, taking the plate from his sister. Ginny smiled and took a bite of breakfast.

"That's what you think."

"Have you set a date yet?" Mrs. Weasley asked Hermione.

"Good grief, Mum!" Ron exclaimed, handing his mother the dish. Mrs. Weasley didn't look ashamed at all.

"Perfectly natural question, I think, seeing as how you two seemed to have kept this secret quite some time," she answered and patted her husband's hand. "Anything you need, dear?" Mr. Weasley shook his head in response. He had been strangely quiet all morning. Not that Ron didn't mind, but he wondered what gears were turning in his father's head.

"Well, the delightful thing is, you're not the father of the bride anyway. Won't have to pay much!" Ron said. The minute the words exited his mouth, he wondered what had come over him.

"But I'd best be taking notes for the trouble maker down there," said Mr. Weasley, his eyes lifting to acknowledge his youngest opposite him at the other end of the table. Ginny swallowed her eggs with some difficulty and pointed to herself with her fork.

"Me, Dad? Good--you can't be thinking about my wedding already! Why, that's not fair; Hermione hasn't even had hers yet!"

"All the same, it won't be much longer now. And you'd best be paying attention, too." Mr. Weasley pointed at his daughter with his fork and then returned to his breakfast. Ginny rolled her eyes and mentally wrote him off as senile.

"I've never been to a wizard wedding," Hermione said, changing the subject. "Is it very different from a Muggle wedding?"

"Wouldn't know--we've never been to a Muggle wedding," Ron said, looking up at his fiancée. A look of concern crossed his face as he realized this might become a sticky situation.

"Oh, dear," Hermione said.

"You've never been. But your father has," Mrs. Weasley said brightly. Mr. Weasley nodded and wiped his mouth.

"Not too different. Muggles get a priest or a minister of some kind. Wizards use an Officer of Ceremony, from the Law Enforcement Department. Thousands of wizards are officers that don't actually enter the office. You can usually find someone you know to perform the ceremony."

"That's not too unusual from a Justice of the Peace," Hermione said, confidence returning. When the Weasleys all returned her look with a blank look of confusion, she smiled awkwardly and waved off the comment with a "never mind." The dishes clinked in the sink under Mrs. Weasley's Scour Charm. Hermione could faintly hear the sounds of gnomes cackling in the garden underneath the kitchen window. When Mr. Weasley had swallowed his most recent bit, he continued.

"And at the reception Muggles do this salutation bit," he said, his brow furrowing. He was clearly trying to recall what it was exactly that occurred.

"Don't hurt yourself, Dad," Ginny said brightly. Mrs. Weasley shot her daughter a look of warning, but Ginny merely ignored her, unlike her brothers who would have immediately cowered.

"She's taken to spending a bit too much time with Fred and George," Ron whispered across the table.

"In any case, some members of the procession stand and say a few sloppy words--"

"Oh, now, darling, I'm sure they're very nice," Mrs. Weasley said quickly, glancing at Hermione and hoping her future daughter-in-law wouldn't take offense.

"Not really, Molly. So these blokes stand and say a few sentimental words to the happy couple. Everyone lifts their glass and gives a cheer of some kind.that's it: 'Cheers!' And they all guzzle down that fizzy drink that, in my opinion, is highly overrated and doesn't come close to matching good-old elderflower and rosemary wine," Mr. Weasley said with a touch of pride. He pushed away from the table slightly and got more comfortable in the old dining chair. Mrs. Weasley, in turn, stood and proceeded to clearing the table. Hermione noticed that as she swept by Ginny, Mrs. Weasley made a guttural sound in her throat, to which Ginny immediately responded. The girl jumped up and swiftly took Hermione's empty plate and glass before following her mother to the kitchen.

"What sort of tradition do wizards have?" Hermione asked with genuine interest.

"A long-standing, but certainly not as interesting, one," Mr. Weasley responded.

"As if there's any other kind of tradition," Ron muttered under his breath. They all paused as Mr. Weasley leaned back further in his chair. The old furniture groaned its objection, but Mr. Weasley didn't take notice, as he continued.

"The bride and groom are presented with a goblet that contains a very special elixir, pre-mixed before the reception. Someone presents the drink to the couple, by means of detailing the ingredients and the symbolic gesture behind them. The maid-of-honor and best man then add the last two ingredients, and then present it to the newlyweds who share the cup." Ginny reentered the room and returned to her seat with a sigh.

"You're not?" she groaned.

"Of course we will! If Hermione thinks it's all right," Mr. Weasley answered his daughter, slightly hurt.

"Well, it doesn't sound that bad." Hermione started, but Ginny only grimaced. Ron had a slightly peaked look about him, too. "What exactly is in this drink that has everyone so worried?"

"You'll have to wait," Mr. Weasley said with a grin. Hermione glanced once again at Ginny and Ron, who both looked quite uncomfortable at the mere thought of the draught. Her worries were abruptly interrupted however, as a snowy white owl flew into the dining room.

"Hedwig!" Ginny cried aloud. The table erupted in smiles. Ron coaxed the bird over to him, and he promptly removed the parchment attached to Hedwig's leg. After which, Hedwig immediately toddled over to Ginny's ready and coddling arms.

"It's for you, Hermione," Ron said, glancing at the addressee. Hermione reached across the table and took it from her fiancé. Her eyes scanned the paper quickly and she summarized it as she read.

"He sends us his very best.apologizes for acting like a git in the pub.and promises to come over today or tomorrow, whenever it's possible for him to get away," Hermione looked up from the letter with a grin.

"Brilliant!" Ron said, nodding his head approvingly. Hedwig, meanwhile, cooed appreciatively as Ginny pet and coddled the owl.

"I do hope he gives me enough warning to have a good dinner ready for him!" Mrs. Weasley said, coming out of the kitchen with a tea towel clutched between her hands.

"Judging by the cooking he can--or rather, can't do, he'd be happy if you just made him toast, Mum," Ron said wisely.