Chapter 4: Wedding to Change All

With what was considered to be the engagement of the century also came the wedding of the century. Ginny had no desire to attend the wedding with the rest of her family. When her mother had seen the headlines, she didn't speak to her daughter for the next two days. Ginny didn't really mind though; she was just happy that she didn't have to listen to her mother's nagging. Ron was the one that insisted that Ginny attend the wedding with them.

"Look, Gin, he didn't mean to or want to hurt you," Ron tried explaining to his sister after he had read the article. "He just really wants the whole package, or something like that, right now, and you don't. He's not punishing you. Actually, you should feel relieved. I had dinner with them last night, and all he can talk about is the house they bought. He's already starting to talk about having children. Maybe it was for the best."

"I know it was for the best, but he was engaged not three days after he proposed to me," Ginny said sadly.

"I know, but that's why you should go to the wedding. Show him that you don't care that he broke your heart. Show him that you're happy without him," Ron told her.

"Why would you want me to do that to your best friend, Ron?" Ginny asked.

Ron shrugged. "Family matters, Gin. I say we go to that wedding and have a great time. What do you say?"

Ginny had said yes. She was glad that she did.

The ceremony was beautiful. Cho had looked so pretty, and Harry had looked so happy. They seemed to be the perfect couple, and Ginny was glad that she hadn't come between them. The wedding guests were now making their way to the reception. Ron and Ginny were walking together, but Ginny could tell that her brother was distracted. "What's the matter, Ron?"

"I had hoped that Hermione would be here, but I haven't seen her. Have you seen her?" Ron asked his sister anxiously.

Ginny shook her head. "I've been with you the entire time. When would I have seen her?"

Ron shrugged his shoulders distractedly. "Dunno, I just can't seem to find her."

"Well, you'll probably find her at the reception. It was quite crowded in that church," Ginny added even though she knew her brother wasn't listening to her.

"What if something happened to her?" Ron asked as he wrung his hands together. "I would feel better if I at least knew where she was."

"Honestly, Ron," Ginny looked around the crowd and suddenly spotted a familiar head of tamed bushy hair. "Look, Ron, I found her. She's right over there." Ginny pointed in Hermione's direction, and Ron snapped his head so quickly to look, Ginny was surprised that it didn't come off.

"Hermione!" Ron called and waved when she looked in his direction. When she saw him, Hermione gave Ron a smile.

"Hi, Ron. It was a great ceremony wasn't it?" Hermione asked as Ron stopped in front of her.

Ron nodded. "I guess, but I was wondering where you were. I couldn't find you."

Ginny nodded in agreement when she finally made her way over to the couple. "He was quite persistent on finding you. I don't know what his problem is."

"Well, I was with Cedric. He and I were-"

"Hold on," Ron cut her off. "You were with whom?"

"Cedric. Cedric Diggory. I asked him to come with me a little while ago, and he agreed. We're having a great time together." Hermione stated.

Ginny looked over at her brother and saw his face fall. How could Hermione do this to her brother? It was obvious to anyone that Ron was in love with her, and Hermione was in love with him. Ginny would admit that Ron said some stupid and thoughtless things, but this beat everything that Ron had ever done. Ginny felt bad as he blubbered, "Why did you ask Cedric?"

Hermione shrugged and looked around. "I don't know. He seems like a nice gentleman, and I knew that I would have a good time. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go and find Cedric. He was going to get drinks, but he may have gotten lost."

Hermione took her leave, and Ron buried his face in his hands. "My life is over. She's going to marry that-that pompous jerk, and I'm going to be sent to Azkaban to live out the rest of my life in misery."

"Ron, I'm pretty sure they only send you to Azkaban for three months," Ginny pointed out. "Besides, there are lots of other girls out there. I'm almost certain that you could find another one."

Ron sniffled and ran an arm across his face. "I need to get over my broken heart first, by doing the only thing I know how to do: eat," he muttered and wandered over to where the food was.

Ginny shook her head and stifled a giggle; even when her brother was upset, he was still able to think about food. Ginny turned to go wander off somewhere else, when she ran into someone...and it just so happened to be none other than Draco Bloody Malfoy.

"Weaslette, we run into each other again. My, my, we need to stop meeting like this," Draco remarked.

"Well, maybe you should to learn to stop running into people. Don't they teach you that in Pureblood town?" Ginny shot back at him.

"Pureblood town? Well, that's a new one," Draco commented as he took a seat at a nearby table. "So, tell me, Weaslette, what's got your brother so worked up? The last time I saw him, he was giddier than Dobby the House Elf."

"Well, not that it's any of your business, but Hermione broke his heart," Ginny glanced in the direction of her brother. "Truthfully, this is the saddest I've ever seen him."

"Ah, your brother gets his heart broken more than I get my hair cut; he'll get over it," Draco said.

Ginny hit his arm. "That's a horrible thing to say, Malfoy."

"If you haven't noticed by now, Weaslette, I'm not a nice person."

"Would you stop calling me that? My name is Ginny. Please use it."

Draco gave her a smile. "How 'bout this; I'll call you by your name if you stop calling me Malfoy. Deal?" He stuck out his hand.

Ginny eyed it warily before firmly shaking his hand. "It's a deal. Now, as much I would love to stick around your charming personality, I really should go and comfort my brother."

"I shall endeavor to survive without your presence." Draco waved her away. "Go and comfort your sissy brother."

Ginny rolled her eyes, but she walked away with a grin. She found her brother sitting with Remus and his wife, Tonks. Ginny smiled when she saw the woman. Tonks was one of her favorite people to talk to because she understood her so well. She sat down in a seat next to said woman. "Hey, Ron. How's it going?"

Ron had small tears falling from his eyes, and he kept trying to wipe them away. He shoved a whole forkful of cheesecake into his mouth. "I just miss her so much." He weepily took another bite before hitting his head on the table.

Tonks turned to look at Ginny. "We've invited him to come and stay with us for a while. Your parents are alright with it. He can help us watch Teddy." Teddy was their two year old son. "Besides, he'll probably gain thirty pounds if he stays here."

"Those thirty pounds will still never replace her," Ron sobbed into the table.

Ginny placed a hand on her brother's back. It was probably for the best that her brother went away for a while.