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The Scent Of Rain
Written by lookimacloud
Plotline by Gwenhwyfar1984
Chapter
A Great Change
Previously:
"Alright." She whispered. "I'll marry you."
"Are you sure?" Ron felt like kicking himself. She looked miserable.
"Yes."
"Alright then."
"Alright then."
Ron moved to hug her, and Hermione couldn't miss the fear in his eyes. Ron couldn't miss the sadness in hers.
"They are my parents," Hermione mumbled to herself, "But sometimes doing what is safe and doing what is right are two different things. It is right that I help Harry."
This was the litany she kept running through her mind. She knew this was right. She knew marrying Ron was a good way to bring her parents around, but what she didn't know, was if their marriage would continue to push Ron's parents away.
Mrs. Weasley hadn't spoken to them in the past two days. Mr. Weasley was, but he spoke quietly and with an air of gloom to his voice. In fact, the Weasley house was nearly unrecognizable as the Weasley house. There was no laughter, no jokes... no fun.
Hermione stared into the mirror at the wedding robes she was wearing. She almost felt like an impostor. Not a single person attending the wedding had missed that Ron's mom hadn't offered her wedding robes for the event. Hermione should have felt pretty in the ones she'd picked out, instead she felt like a fake. Right now, Fleur was more accepted than she was.
She raised a horribly shaking hand to brush a lock of hair out of her face. In just a little while she was going to get married.
All day her emotions had ranged from a state of contemplation, to depression, to panic. Right now, she was in panic. Her rapid breathing, her pounding heart... Reaching out blindly, Hermione felt for the edge of her bed and sat down.
There was a knock on the door, and a minute later Ginny and Fleur walked in, both wearing dress robes.
"You ready?" Ginny asked.
"No! I'm not!" Hermione gasped. "I-I can't do this!"
Ginny sat down next to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You can. I know you can."
"I am too nervous." Hermione gasped.
"I too am nervous" Fleur supplied, "But I love Beel so I know et iz right."
Fleur had been very supportive of the marriage, and Hermione had actually grown very fond of her in the last few days, but right now she was gritting her teeth against her nasty replay. Because yes, when she was nervous, her inner bitch sometimes came out.
Ginny adjusted the bun Hermione's hair was crafted into, still holding that annoying grin on her face. "You should see Dad." she remarked, "He is completely nervous. He has never preformed a wedding before."
"I-I'm glad he agreed to do it. I know it is normal that a wedding official from the Ministry does it, but under the circumstances…"
"He's happy to do it. Well not happy but…" She paused. "Are you ready now?"
Hermione took a few deep breaths and nodded.
ooooo
Up in his bedroom Ron was terrified. "Harry what have I done?" He asked. "I can't get married! I mean, we've never been on a date or kissed."
Harry sighed like he wanted to say something, but he took the best friend road. "I know Ron, but you know you love Hermione."
"Is this really the best way to go about helping her?" Ron asked, fastening his dress robes and looking in the mirror. He had never been more scared in his life. Well…maybe during the fight at the Ministry, and the fight in the Chamber of Secrets, and the Forbidden Forest, and well, maybe that was it. But this, this was a different kind of scared. This was the 'My Life Is Changing Forever' scared.
He sighed and looked around his room. It was drastically changed already. Gone were most of the Chudley Cannons posters and the bedspread. There was the occasional poster around though. His single bed had been replaced by a double, and his Martin Miggs, The Mad Muggle comics had been stacked neatly in the corner. A lot of his other items had been removed to make room for Hermione's stuff. He knew it had been done by his mother, who still wasn't speaking to anyone.
Suddenly his door burst open and in stormed Fred and George.
"Ready ickle Ronnikins?" Fred asked.
"We can't call him that anymore. He's about to be married." George said.
"Yeah but he'll always be ickle Ronnie to us." Fred teased.
Ron ignored the bait. "How's Mum doing?"
"Still not speaking to anybody. Personally I wonder if she is still under Dad's Silencio spell."
Ron sighed and took a deep breath. "I guess I'm ready."
ooooo
The ceremony was short, with none of the frills that were planned for Bill and Fleur's upcoming wedding, but Hermione liked it that way. She didn't feel that her sham marriage deserved it. She kept glancing around the room, anywhere but at Ron. She put up a good front, but she was sure she couldn't hide her sadness.
Mr. Weasley said some nice words, then indicated that they should place the rings on each other's fingers and hold hands so the rings were touching. They did, both surprised to find the other's hand was shaking. Mr. Weasley aimed his wand at the rings.
"Amor Aveum!"
A slight warmth moved through Hermione, and she saw Ron close his eyes as it moved through him. It was over almost as soon as it had begun. They were officially married. They looked at each other then moved closer and lightly, quickly, kissed. Ron looked away, embarrassed at their first kiss. Hermione was just numb.
There was of course, a celebration party afterward. The twins had brought a lot of butterbeer and other treats. Ron was grateful for the butterbeer.
At some point, he and Hermione went their separate ways. It eased them both to pretend like the party wasnt a wedding reception.
After a bit of Firewhisky, Ron's mother calmed somewhat and actually congratulated him. She then proceeded to burst into tears and the only understandable words were "Baby" and "Ronnie". This made the twins smirk and turn to Ron. He ignored them and searched out Hermione.
He found her standing with Harry, Bill, and Fleur smiling at something Bill had said, although it didn't reach her eyes. To Ron she just seemed sad.
"Hermione!" Ginny cried, running up to her and enveloping her in a big hug. "I'm so glad we're family now! I always wanted a sister!" Ginny reached out and grabbed Harry's hand. He didn't look at her but he didn't pull away either.
Fleur huffed and Bill placed a hand on her waist searing his sister with a chastising look.
Ginny ignored him while Hermione gripped her. "Me too." Hermione gasped, "It's hard being the only child. Now I have six brothers and sisters." She looked to Fleur. "Make that seven."
Fleur smiled and Bill gave Hermione a grateful smile.
ooooo
Ron wasn't sure how to approach Hermione all evening. He knew it was expected, that he and Hermione show this love their marriage proved existed between them, but it was just hard to be around her. She couldn't look at him without looking like she was going to cry, and frankly, Hermione crying was such a foreign concept that if she did, he wouldn't know how to handle it. Thankfully, the party only lasted a few hours, which suited both newlyweds just fine.
Ron dawdled downstairs as long as he could get away with before heading up to his, and now Hermione's, room. He had barely made it to the hall when he heard the painful sobs muffled by the doorway. Harry stood just outside the door, not knowing if it was his place anymore to comfort Hermione. Ron just shrugged his shoulders and waved him away. Harry nodded.
"'Mione? What is it?" Ron eased the door open to find his friend curled up on a chair in his room. Her knees were brought up to her chin, arms wrapped to hold them in place.
She just shook her head and continued crying, albeit, a bit more quietly now. Ron eased onto his knees next to her, remembering the last time he had done this, and how it had gotten them engaged. Instead of making more trouble for them by speaking, he just letting her cry.
"I'm sorry." She said. "I just wish…I wish my parents could have been here."
He nodded. "I know, me too."
"I'm sorry if I spoiled the wedding."
"You didn't. I thought it was great. Maybe not what I had expected when I was younger but…"
She sniffed. "Me neither." They were silent for a while, then she yawned and looked at him. "Thank you. I know this wasn't easy."
Ron brushed her tears. "No problem 'Mione. And it wasn't that hard of a choice."
She leaned down and grazed his cheek with a kiss, resting her head on her knees.
Ron stood and pulled her from the chair, leading her to his bed. She was shaking by the time she got under the covers, but Ron just held her hand and closed his eyes. Eventually, he heard her breathing even out, and he knew she was asleep. "I love you Hemione." He whispered drifting off himself.
Author's Note: Thoughts anyone?
