AN: Thanks for the few reviews guys, means a lot!
BloodWar : Yeah, definitely, will keep that in mind:P
pawsrule : You're right, they don't know each other at all!
Disclaimer: No! I'm not JKR and I do not own the Harry Potter characters either!
Chapter 2: The Lovely Surrounding of Family Life
Preparing for a wedding is certainly not a small affair; especially not when one of your best friends is the poor victim. Hermione Granger has been juggling with the various accounting journals of her father-cooking lessons with her mother-giving piano tuitions to her baby sister-and helping out at the wedding of Parvati Patil, who in Hermione's opinion is a gone case. Not that she has anything against marriage, quite the contrary! She certainly has wedding on her "TO DO LIST", but at 17, its far too early for her and when you have a certain title which claims that you're the Brightest Witch of your Age, then you've got to stand up to the expectations of others.
Currently sitting in her father's office, Hermione is more or less wondering to herself, "Hmm…Parvati must be really in love but yet again, it still remains an arranged marriage, no matter what they say! After all, the groom did come here to see her, isn't it? Okay! I'm certainly NOT getting mushy at all now; Parvati is my best friend and I've been living here in India ever since I've come on this Earth, so it's quite natural if its cultures are rooted within my soul and hence, I for one, should not see this tradition as ghastly after all since both the bride and the groom got the opportunity of knowing each other, so no harm done!
"Can I, by any chance, interrupt the thoughts of the great Miss Hermione please?", teased a young girl of about 18, with long blond hair, blue and grey eyes and dreamy expressions adorning her face.
"Why, come in dearest sister! How are you Luna? When did you get back from the competition and… where's the cup?", asked Hermione in a single breath.
"Hold-on, hold-on there 'mione! Breathe! First things first, I've just got back some five minutes ago and second, here's the cup and yes, before you ask, yes, I'm first, yet again and it is just because of you! You really are the Brightest Witch of Your Age!"
Hermione is extremely happy for her cousin sister-Luna Lovegood. Luna has been living with the Grangers ever since the death of her parents when she was merely 8 years old. She has always been welcome at Amritsar, though she was born and grew up in Delhi with her parents. Luna was nothing like her other cousins, Hermione's younger sisters, Lydia, Kitty or Mary [names taken from the characters of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice]. Luna is very placid, kindly and beautiful, she's also noble hearted who can harbor no ill-will against any person; she's also the complete opposite of her favorite cousin sister, Hermione, who casts herself apart from the others through her own gaiety, high spirits and courage, wit and readiness, good sense and right feeling. She is handsome and has force and charm of character, sharp intellect and lively wit; she also possesses great strength of character and self-respect. The relationship between Luna and Hermione has always been very intimate and all jolly good.
"Hey 'mione, what say we go in the kitchen and meet the others; God knows that from the moment I arrived, I rushed in here to meet up with you first!"
Hermione looked at Luna for some time then sighed-"Alright then, let's get going!"
On reaching the kitchen, the Granger matriarch reached for Luna and hugged her so tightly that she could give Mrs. Weasley a run for her money-"Welcome back Luna darling. And before you say anything, let me tell you that no matter what has been the outcome of the competition, I will still look for the best groom for you.
On hearing this, Luna and Hermione exchanged a knowing look-"Mother, let the girl breathe at least! And please do tell, what have you been planning for my poor sister now?", asked a rather curious Hermione, arching both her eyebrows, arms crossed across the chest and tapping a foot in anticipation. 'Oh my goodness! This can't be any good', thought Hermione.
Mrs. Cassandra Granger, who has been quite beautiful during her youth, strongly believes that Beauty is Might and that all of her daughters and niece of course, should be able to use this little information in their favor. [Though Hermione never thought of herself as being beautiful at all, just the bushy-haired, know-it-all].
"Well, I have some great news for you girls, You know, Mrs. Patil's son-in-law's best man, who is also his cousin will be coming to India for the wedding and-"
"SO?", asked the two cousins incredulously.
"Quiet ladies!", shouted Mrs., Granger, "so his name is Ronald Weasley and he is at the time one of the eligible bachelors in our wizarding community. And, I am thinking or rather anticipating, that our dear Lune and Ron should hit it off on their first meeting only."
'Bloody hell, here we go again', muttered Hermione.
"I beg your pardon?" asked Mrs. Granger skeptically.
"Oh nothing mother-". Hermione was cut short by the arrival of her younger sisters, who entered the kitchen in great enthusiasm, with Lydia dashing forward to give her (much unwanted) opinion with the matter in hand, with Kitty hot on her heels and Mary just going by the table to watch the scene unfold.
Lydia said" Oh mother! I simply can't wait for their arrival! Then I'll be wearing that dress where my cleavage is well seen and formed! You know, Chandra Lamba's mother has been gagging after her all week to be prepared for the groom's guests?"
This little information seemed to have had a huge impact on Mrs. Granger for she had to grab the armchair before passing down on the floor-"Oh no! And I wanted Ronald to look into our Luna's eyes, not yours or Chandra's mummies. She's our only hope. We won't be able to get you four married out of shame of we do not marry off the eldest. So, you people better don't ruin her chances! Have I made myself clear? Merlin knows all of this really gets on my nerves."
Luna and Hermione, who have been standing in a corner all the while, were getting rather irritated by Mrs. Granger's behavior and just then, Hermione remembered her father, Gerard Granger's wise words on her mother:"Darling, did I ever tell you that your mother is a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper. When she is discontented she fancies herself nervous and that the business of her life is to get her daughters married; its solace is visiting and news." [Pride and Prejudice, Ch.1]. Hermione sniggered at the thought and whispered something like "All mothers think that any single guy with big bucks must be shopping for a wife[Bride and Prejudice]; I'm telling you, mum spends too much time in the company of and , their influence is quite apparent!", into Luna's ears, who smiled and added quietly, "I'm quite ashamed to say so, but I hope he is!" Hermione looked at Luna in disbelief, yet asked, "What? Shopping or loaded? Luna shrugged and replied-"Well, both!"
All of a sudden, Hermione took Luna's hand and rushed in the garden and immediately went into her overprotective sister mode-"Miss Luna, you listen to me and you better listen well; you'll not get under the influence of mother and marry someone you don't know or haven't met for that matter! You will not sacrifice your happiness for our sake; if you don't want to get married then you won't until YOU are not ready, no one is going to force you, not until I'm around! Am I clear?
Luna did not say anything; she had a lone tear that was threatening to roll down her cheek, so she gave Hermione a bear hug and nodded vigorously on her shoulder. This is the mutual understanding between the two sisters.
Author's Note: Yes, before you ask me, just for the sake of this story, I intend to make Luna Hermione's elder cousin by not more than 3 months.
So, the second wizarding war has just ended; yes,
Ron is 18 (March)
Harry is 17 (July)
Luna is 18 (June)
Hermione is 17 (September)
