I couldn't believe it? A double wedding? They're only supposed to exist in fairytales. Damn Ron for making that joke! And damn me for agreeing to this.
Ginny and I had stayed at the Leaky Cauldron the night before the wedding. Mrs. Weasley insisted on it, to avoid the misfortune that would come to Ginny and/or I should one of us be spotted in our gown before the wedding.
Looking into a full-length mirror, I fixed my veil on my head amidst my up-do. Then I smoothed out my dress. I had bought it at a muggle dress shop, after trying on dozens of dresses. It fit me snuggly and had a long train.
The door opened and Ginny came into the room. She tugged the bottom of her train into the room and shut the door. Mrs. Weasley had made her dress for her, and it was beautiful.
"Hey," she said.
"Hey," I said. "Are you nervous?"
Ginny nodded. "Are you?"
"Yeah."
"Well, even so, it is exciting, isn't it?"
I nodded, but I didn't feel very excited. Nervousness overpowered every other emotion.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
"Come in," Ginny and I chorused.
The door opened and my mum came into the room.
"Oh," she said. "Don't you two look lovely?"
Ginny and I both smiled. "Thanks, mum," I said.
"Ginny, dear, would you mind if I had a word with my daughter in private?"
"Not at all Mrs. Granger," Ginny said.
Ginny left the room, shutting the door behind her. Mum turned to me.
"You and Ronald," she said.
"Yeah," I said. "Who would have thought?"
"I was always under the impression that you two hated each other."
I shrugged. True, Ron and I had had a few quarrels in our younger years, but we had both grown up a lot since then.
"Hermione," mum said. "Do you love Ron?"
"What?" I asked.
"Do you love him?"
"Of course I do. What kind of a question is that?"
"A serious question. Now let me ask you; are you in love with him?"
I averted her gaze. I knew that the moment she made eye contact, she would be able to see everything that I was holding inside.
I sighed. "I'd like to say yes, but it would be a lie."
"If you're not in love," mum said. "Why did you agree to marry him?"
I shook my head. "I can't tell you that."
"You're not pregnant are you?"
I jerked my head up to look at her. "What? No. No, I'm not pregnant."
"Oh, thank God. Don't scare me like that."
I didn't know what to say. There was no way that I could make her understand without breaking my promise to Ron.
"Hermione," mum said. "Is there someone else?"
I hesitated. Mum knew me all too well. "Yes, there is."
"And this other person. Are you in love with them?"
"I love him with all my heart."
"Then that's the person you should be marrying, not Ron."
I shook my head. "I can't do that."
"Why not?"
"It's…complicated."
"Oh. I see."
Mum knew. It was clear. She came over to where I was standing. "Darling, you have always done 'the right thing.' This time, think with your heart and not with your head."
I nodded. Mum gave me a small smile and then left the room. I knew what I had to do. I was sure it was for the best.
I reached up underneath my dress and removed my wand from where I had tucked it into my garter. With a quick flick, I apparated myself to the Burrow. Careful not to be seen, I made my way up to Ron's old bedroom and went inside. As I shut the door behind me, I heard a voice.
"You shouldn't be in here."
Startled, I flinched. I turned around and saw Harry sitting on the bed. He was dressed in a brand new set of dress robes and his hair was neatly groomed.
"Oh, Hermione," he said. "Sorry. I thought you were Ginny."
I was a little disappointed that he couldn't tell the difference between the two of us, but I didn't want to let onto it. I gave him a small smile. "Well, you thought wrong."
Harry looked me over. Was he actually checking me out?
"You look beautiful," he said.
I couldn't help it. I giggled. "Thank you. You don't look so bad yourself."
He smiled at me. "Are you nervous?"
I nodded. "You?"
He nodded, like I knew he would. There were few things that terrified him, but one of his best abilities was to hide it.
"Um, Hermione, there's…something that…I need to tell you."
"I'm listening," I said.
Butterflies started to flutter in my stomach. I was more anxious excited than I was anxious nervous I knew what Harry needed to tell me was something big.
Just as he was about to tell me, there was a knock on the door.
"Harry, can I come back in now?" Ron asked from the other side.
"Hang on," Harry called back.
I took my wand out again and disapparated, reappearing back in my room at the Leaky Cauldron. Ginny had come back into the room and I scared her when I reappeared.
"Where were you?" she asked.
"I just wanted to wish Harry good luck," I said.
"Oh. Well, we had better get going."
"Yeah."
The two of us headed downstairs to meet with the girls in our wedding party. The decision had been unanimously made that we would not name a maid of honor or best man. Not everyone was happy about it, but it was accepted.
With a wave of our wands, we apparated ourselves to the Burrow's garden. Quickly, we got into our places. The girls paired themselves with their chosen Weasley boy, and our fathers joined Ginny and I. An enchanted organ started to play and the march down the aisle began.
The march down the aisle was lead by Dobby the house elf. Since none of us knew any little girls and Dobby wanted so badly to be a part of the wedding, he was made our flower person. He was even happier than the day Harry helped to set him free.
Dobby skipped merrily down the aisle, scattering flower petals as he did. Then he took a seat in the front row. The rest of the wedding party made their ways down to the altar and took their respective places.
The music swelled and I felt my stomach drop when everyone stood to watch Ginny and I. My eyes locked on Harry and I couldn't pull them away. I didn't even try. He looked incredibly handsome. My staring ended when my father gave me away to Ron. Mr. Weasley gave Ginny away to Harry and then both fathers sat down. Then the ceremony began.
The minister opened his book and began his speech. He didn't get far before he was interrupted. The crowd gasped when two voices, in unison said, "I object."