5 YEARS LATER

Fidgeting in my seat, I stared into the mirror as the woman standing behind me curled my hair. Really, this was all taking so long. There were so many other things I was supposed to be checking on to make sure that the special day went without a hitch. And yet, I'd been sat in this seat for the last hour getting my hair and makeup done.

Finally, after what seemed like forever, it was finished. The makeup artist began to pack her things and left the room as I rose from my seat. Removing my robe, I took my dress from where it was hanging on the back of the door and slipped into it. There was a knock on my door as I zipped the dress up and began the search for my shoes.

Once I had retrieved my shoes, I looked up to see George standing in front of the now closed door. Crossing his arms, he leaned back against the door and looked me over from head to toe.

"What on earth are you doing here?" I asked incredulously, perching onto the edge of the bed and strapping my heels onto my feet. "You're not supposed to be here."

"I wanted to see you," he declared innocently, pushing away from the door and approaching me. He helped me to my feet, looking me over again and letting out a low whistle, "You look stunning; you'll upstage the bride."

"Don't say that," I hissed, aghast, "Especially not when the bride is my older sister who's became a real bridezilla."

"I don't think I've ever seen your sister so high strung," he admitted, bringing my hand to his lips. "If anyone else was in your place, they'd have quit a long time ago."

"Well," I trailed my hands around his neck, peering up at him, "hopefully, she returns to normal as soon as she's said her vows."

Over his shoulder, I caught sight of the clock and hurried away from him. Merlin, there was still so much to do. He reached out to hold me again but I moved away from him.

"I need to go and check on everything," I explained, making my way to my dresser to put my earrings on. "And you need to leave before dad walks in and sees you in here – he'll hex you without bothering to ask why you came here."

"If you're dad wasn't a renowned war hero then I would risk it," he admitted coming up behind me to press a kiss to my hair, "I'll see you at the ceremony?"

"I'll be the one standing beside the bride."

Snagging my clutch, I hid my wand inside. It wouldn't do for any of the muggle members of the family to see it. Before he made a move to leave the room, I handed my bag to George with a sweet smile. He made a face but took the bag without complaint. Over the last few years, he had given up complaining whenever I made him hold my bag. Leaning up to kiss him on the cheek, I wiped off the lipstick mark from his cheek and ushered him out of the room.

I watched him leave the room through the mirror and did one last check to make sure that I had everything. Realising how short the time was, I quickly checked in with the wedding planner before going to see the bride.

As I slipped into the room, my eyes landed on my sister who was having her veil fitted. She met my eyes before the mirror and her shoulders slumped a little in relief, "Where have you been?"

"I was checking up on everything," I explained, making my way into the room and taking over from mum as I fixed her veils.

"The florist –"

"Arrived on time and the flowers are stunning," I reassured her.

"The muggle guests –"

"Are completely oblivious to the existence of magic and all the magical guests have been informed to keep their wands hidden."

"Good." She let out a sigh and I squeezed her shoulders, meeting her eyes through the mirror.

"You've got nothing to worry about. Nothing will disrupt your wedding." We shared a smile, "Merlin help whoever decides to try to wreck your wedding – dad will have their head."

"Thank you." Placing her hand on mine, she squeezed it once, "You've been a massive help."

"It's what comes with being the maid of honour," I dismissed, helping her to her feet as we received the cue that it was time to go.

"I wonder when you'll become the bride. George is better off proposing before you get bored."

"I'm still young," I couldn't help but tease, "I'm not an old woman like you."

She narrowed her eyes in mock outrage, accepting the bouquet as it was given to her. As I accepted a smaller bouquet, I watched my sister take one final moment to compose herself and then we were off.

The wedding occurred in the blink of an eye. A thankfully uneventful blink and, as I stood beside the bride, I silently thought that I'd been right; once the vows had been said the tension had eased out of my sister. And when the couple were sharing their first dance, I gratefully dropped into my seat and took the chance to rest my feet.

"I still don't understand why you decided to wear those shoes," George said from my side, shaking his head as he discreetly pulled his wand from his pocket to cast a pain reliving spell on my feet.

I slumped thankfully against him, "I didn't decide. My sister did and well I wasn't going to risk triggering one of her bridezilla spells by disagreeing."

"Speaking of your sister," he muttered, gesturing towards her as she took the centre stage to prepare to throw the bouquet. Looking down at me, he raised an eyebrow, "Shouldn't you be there? Trying to catch the bouquet?"

"Why? Are you trying to hint at something?" I asked without looking at him, as I watched some of the bridesmaids volley amongst themselves to get the best position. "Besides, I thought you didn't like those women?"

"Well you wouldn't be like them because you're not single, are you?" he proposed as I straightened up, watching with interest as my now brother-in-law approached the bouquet which was still held in my sister's arms.

"If I wasn't then maybe I'd be getting hit on," I teased, seeing the way George's lips curled in distaste, "You used to go after bridesmaids, remember?"

"Well, I don't need to do that anymore," he declared, leaning in to press a kiss to my lips before his eyes shifted towards my sister. "After all, I'm the one going home with the maid of honour."

Swatting his arm lightly, I followed his eyes and watched as my sister finally threw the bouquet. My mouth dropped open as the bouquet flew an impossible distance, over the outstretched arms of the women crowded in the middle of the room. It arced in the air and landed straight in my lap. Staring down at the bouquet, my eyes instantly went towards my sister and her husband and I narrowed my eyes, seeing the way my brother-in-law hastily hid his wand in his pocket.

"Unbelievable," I muttered under my breath as I picked up the bouquet. They went to all the trouble of making sure that no one used magic –

I gasped as a ring fell out from the bouquet, my eyes moved to the man who had fallen silent the moment the bouquet had entered the air. George met my eyes, raising an eyebrow as he reached out to snag the ring from my lap. He held it out towards me –

"Well?"

"When did you get the time to sort this out?" I wondered, making him laugh incredulously.

"That's what you say in this situation."

"Be glad I'm not saying no," I tried to complain but I couldn't stop smiling.