Author's Note: I forgot to mention that in my story, obviously, Fred isn't dead. I don't think it really matters as this is a Ron and Hermione story. Fred could be replaced by another character or left out entirely, but I simply like him to be there.

Chapter Two: 9:00 – 10:00 am

As Hermione and Ginny headed back to the Grangers, the wedding preparations at the Burrow were in full progress. Mrs Weasley was already a nervous wreck and tried to be everywhere at the same time to make sure everything was going to be perfect.

Ron and Hermione wanted a small wedding, only with the closest family and friends, more like an (to breaking point) extended family dinner really, which left Mrs Weasley of course, with a little help of Mrs Granger, in charge of the menu.

But that didn't stop her to have a look at what was going on in the garden, where Mr Weasley, Mr Granger, Bill and Charlie arranged the wedding location near the pond. That is, only Bill and Charlie were actually working, while nearby a delighted Mr Weasley questioned Mr Granger about Muggles.

"Arthur Weasley what do you think you're doing?" cannonaded Mrs Weasley's voice across the garden. "Your son is going to get married in just a few hours and you're just standing there, doing nothing. There is so much that still needs to be done and we hardly have any time left before the guests are arriving."

Mr Weasley blushed at her tirade as well as Mr Granger, both feeling a little guilty being caught in the act; or better lack of act.

Behind them Bill and Charlie had finished to set up the aisle and the stage, where the ceremony was about to take place, and began to conjure up chairs to be arranged for the guests. They were soon joined by Fleur who started to decorate the location.

"I'm sorry Molly it's my fault, I lost track of time. Did you know that Muggles invented this thing to get rid of dust? They call it a …,"

"I really don't care what they call it at the moment, Arthur." She interrupted rudely, "I'm sorry," she said apologetically to Mr Granger, "but I'm really needed in the kitchen right now, I left Jean all by herself long enough."

She wheeled around to rush back into the house, when she added over her shoulder, "SOMEONE should really start to set up the tables for the food, BEFORE the guests are here.

Both, getting the hint, trotted toward the house. Mrs Weasley, already several steps ahead, stopped abruptly.

"Ron what are you doing?" Mrs Weasley shouted enraged. Ron had turned up at the wedding location as well and was now helping Fleur to decorate the stage.

"Helping with the preparations" he answered puzzled at his mother's outburst.

"You're going to ruin your dress robes," she cried distraught. "Why for heaven's sake are you wearing them already anyway? The ceremony isn't due for at least eight hours, I know you're going to torn them by then."

"I'm just laying out some flowers, I'll be careful," he defended himself while turning pink, embarrassed to be told off by his mother on his wedding day.

"Don't expect me to fix them up for you later," she warned, then remembering her previous intention, she exclaimed. "Oh I need to go," and at last she stormed off taking care of the food.

"Bloody hell, that confirms it, she lost it completely. Now I'm even told off for being ready for my own wedding." Ron muttered to Harry, who just turned up with some of the conjured chairs to arrange them. "I should have listened to Fred's advice using the full Body-Bind curse."

"It's your own fault," shrugged Harry grinning. "That's what you get for being so eager to get married."

Ron grinned back. Then both turned toward the gate of the Burrows property, where two loud cracks signalled the arrival of Fred and George. They crossed the garden to join Ron and Harry.

"Hey Ron, guess who we just run into, or better who run into us." George greeted.

"Who?"

"Your lovely bride," Fred answered.

Ron frowned bewildered, "what did she do in Diagon Alley?"

"Don't worry, she wasn't eloping, your bewitchment still works," George said amused by Ron's facial expression. "Actually she nicely advised us not to be late for your wedding."

Ron shook his head smiling, 'mental woman, as if they would dare to be late, when his mother was in charge.'

"Oh and something about a wedding dress she needed to pick up." George added, which summoned a big smile on Ron's face.

"Come on George, we better find a hiding place, before mum realises we're here."

xxx

Meanwhile Ginny was busy to spread the hair potion generously all over Hermione's head. Then she massaged it in carefully, so that she wouldn't miss a spot.

"Thank you Ginny for helping me today, "Hermione said. She was sitting with closed eyes in front of her mirror and enjoyed the treatment.

"My pleasure, just remember to help me as well, when I'm getting married."

"I will," Hermione promised.

"That's it, I'm done," Ginny announced a few minutes later, "now all we have to do is wait for the potion to do its work."

"Finally," Hermione sighed relieved, "I think we still should make it on time now."

"Of course we will," Ginny assured her, "everything is going to …, oh no." One strand of Hermione's hair had curled up again.

"What?" Hermione asked appalled. "What has happened?"

"Nothing, I just think I've missed a spot, that's all." Ginny said grabbing the potion once more; and paled. The bottle in her hand wasn't labelled with Sleekeazy's Hair Potion but with Crazy-Hair Potion.

Just as Ginny realised what she had done Hermione shrieked as her hair in several places at once exploded. All around her head strands curled up tightly, while others stuck out in every possible angle or enwind themselves around the already extended ones and some even changed their colour.

"Oh no, Hermione I'm so sorry," Ginny spluttered horrified, "I accidentally swapped the potions."

"You what?" Hermione said faintly, "How could you do this to me?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."

"What am I supposed to do now?" Hermione almost cried, momentarily incapable of grasping a clear thought.

"Fred and George; they must have an antidote." Ginny said hopefully. "Let's go back to the joke shop and get you fixed."

"I can't go anywhere looking like that," Hermione screamed shrilly.

"Right," Ginny pondered a moment about a solution then said, "Maybe we can hide your hair somehow. Don't you know any spell for that?"

"I'm not going to use any spell on my hair right now, knowing your brothers that probably would make it even worse."

Ginny nodded in agreement and then had another idea. "Do you still have one of the woolly heads you used to make?"

"Of course," Hermione sprung up and rummaged through her cupboard; extracting a small woolly hat shortly after.

She pointed her wand at it and said. "Engorgio"

Hermione waited until the hat had reached an acceptable size then lifted the spell. Together, she and Ginny put it over her head and forced the reluctant hair beneath it.

It still looked bizarre, because the woolly hat was, through the mass of hair, slightly detached from her head and somewhat bulky. Displeased Hermione examined herself in the mirror, "well, at least you can't see the hair anymore," and they disapparated.

At 10 o'clock they were in Diagon Alley once more. But when they reached the joke shop they found it closed up for the day.

Hermione groaned, "why, on earth did I have to remind them not to be late for the wedding? And why did they listen to me? "

"That's okay," Ginny reassured her, "at least we know where they are. We simply apparate over to the Burrow, get the antidote and everything is going to be okay."

Hermione instantly paled. "Oh no, forget it Ginny, I'm not going to the Burrow like this, no way."

Ginny sighed. "What do YOU suggest we should do then?" She now was getting a little annoyed, but still keeping it in check, because she also felt immensely guilty about the whole situation.

"You go! You get the antidote from Fred and George, or when necessary bring them along and meet me back at my house."