Since the news that Lupin had brought home, the Order had decided that it would be a good idea to push up the date of the wedding. That meant that instead of it being in a few months, Hermione and Fred had a few WEEKS to plan their wedding. Mrs. Weasley, bless her heart, wouldn't let them have it anything less than extravagant, which was proving to be quite difficult for Hermione.
"Fred," Hermione whispered while Mrs. Weasley was taking her measurements, "Please, tell her I just want a small family thing." She pleaded.
"Mum. Don't you think this is a little much?" Fred asked. Mrs. Weasley shook her head.
"You can never have too much for a wedding." She said as she continued sizing Hermione.
"Really, Mrs. Weasley, it doesn't have to be a huge event." Hermione tried reasoning with her.
"You can call me mum, love. I'm just excited. I never thought that Fred would get married, and here you are, probably the best person Fred could ever get!" Mrs. Weasley said excitedly.
"I take offence to that, mum!" Fred exclaimed. "Oh, hush up. You know I'm right." Mrs. Weasley said.
"Plenty of women have enjoyed me." He argued. "Drunken hookups do not count."
"Can you not argue while I'm here, please?" Hermione pleaded. Mrs. Weasley sighed. "Hermione's right. Let's just zip our lips and agree to disagree. Now, Hermione, we've got you all measured, are you and Fred still going flat hunting today?" She asked.
"Fred and I decided that it would be less expensive to live in the flat above their shop." Said Hermione. "It's in a great location, mum, right in the middle of Diagon Alley. And it IS right above the shop, so I can just walk down to work every day." Fred added.
"And George is alright with this?" Mrs. Weasley asked. "He knows it's only temporary." Hermione said. "Of course it is, darling." Mrs. Weasley said.
"Mum, it IS only temporary." Fred assured her. "Whatever you say." Mrs. Weasley said as she walked out of the room.
"What's with everyone?" Fred asked. "What do you mean?" Said Hermione.
"Is it just me or does everyone seem to think that this isn't temporary, that this is somehow going to turn into something else?" Fred asked.
"You and I both know that it won't, that's all that matters." Hermione reassured him. She threw herself into the old loveseat. "Ungh, my feet are killing me from these shoes that your mum's making me wear." She complained. Fred, without asking knelt down and removed the shoes off of her feet and started slowly massaging them.
"Your hands are amazing." Hermione moaned out loud, making Fred laugh.
"You might want to quiet down, love. People are going to start getting the wrong idea." Fred joked. Hermione pouted. "Just shut up and don't stop. That feels amazing." There was a knock on the door.
"Mione? You alright?" Harry asked cautiously. "I'm alright! Fred's just helping me with something." Hermione moaned out.
"Oh… I can come back later then." Hermione could tell that Harry felt uncomfortable. "Foot massage, Harry. That's it!" She called out. "Of course it is. I'll just come back and see you later."
"You scared Harry off, you twat!" Hermione exclaimed. Fred looked up at her and smiled. "You did that all on your own. Now, do you want me to stop?" He asked. Hermione shook your head.
"Please, don't stop." She begged, and Fred complied.
The night before the wedding, the Weasleys had decided to put together a huge dinner for the unlikely couple. During the course of the meal, it seemed like everyone had had a little too much to drink. Harry stood up from his seat and raised his glass.
"To my best friend of the female variety, happy marriage to all and to all a good night!" Harry yelled, making everyone giggle in response.
"To my second half finding a better second half than me!" George called out.
"To tolerating my brother!" Ginny hollered.
"To happy endings!" Mrs. Weasley said with a smile.
"And new beginnings." Mr. Weasley added.
"To the love of my life marrying my brother!" Ron yelled, which made everyone go quiet. "Ron…" Said Hermione.
"No, no. It's alright, because I'm just a brother to you, right Mione?" Ron asked angrily. "Ronald Weasley, get upstairs." Mrs. Weasley ordered. Fred stood up from his chair.
"No, mum, let the git talk." Fred said. "Fred, watch your tongue." Mrs. Weasley warned. "I thought we were friends, Mione." Ron said sadly, and then he left the room.
"Hermione, don't listen to him, he's drunk." Harry said. Hermione stood up and pushed her chair in. "I'm going to turn in early. Big day tomorrow." She said, fighting off tears. "Go right on up, love." Mrs. Weasley said. Hermione ran out of the room and upstairs.
"Fred, go." Mrs. Weasley ordered. Fred nodded and followed Hermione upstairs.
"Mione?" He called through the door of the bedroom that she and Ginny shared. "Go away." She called back. "I'm not leaving until you open this door." He said. After a few seconds, the door opened.
"What do you want?" Hermione asked. "Can we talk, love?" He asked. Hermione moved out of the way so that he could walk in. He sat on the bed and motioned for Hermione to join him. She shuffled across the room and sat on the bed, only for Fred to pull her into his lap, her back against his torso.
"Why does what that prat say bother you?" Fred asked. Hermione shrugged. "I guess it's because he's one of my two best friends, and whatever he says matters to me." She admitted.
"Well then, as your soon-to-be husband, shouldn't what I say matter just as much?" Fred asked. Hermione nodded.
"Alright, well you, my dear, are a smelly gorilla." He said, making her laugh. "See, you shouldn't take everything us Weasleys say seriously, no matter how close to us you are. Don't let what we say ruin your mood." He said, hugging her tightly.
"Alright." Said Hermione. "Just so you know, you are not a smelly gorilla. You are a very wonderful smelling Hermione." He said, complimenting her. Hermione leaned back against him and sighed.
"Thank you, Fred." She said. "For what?" He asked. "Cheering me up. You're very good at it."
"There's a reason that George and I run a joke shop." He said. They sat in silence for a bit, just enjoying each other's company.
"We're getting married tomorrow." Hermione said quietly. "Yeah. We should get to sleep, then." He said as he tried to remove himself from Hermione. "No, don't move. I'm comfortable." She said.
"Well, love, it's bad luck if I stay here with you tonight." He explained. Hermione sighed and sat up. Fred got up and moved towards the door.
"Fred?" Hermione called out quietly. "Yes, Mione?"
"Forget it." She said. "No, no. What is it?" He asked. "It's stupid." "It can't be if you thought to say it." Hermione sighed and looked down at the blanket.
"It's just… we're getting married tomorrow… and we've never even kissed." She said as her face turned bright red. Fred walked back over to the bed and lifted her chin up with his finger. They looked at each other for a moment, neither one moving. Finally, Fred moved in and pressed a soft, chase kiss to her lips.
"Goodnight, Hermione Granger." He said quietly, and then he left the room. Hermione put her hand to her lips, thinking that it would cease the tingling that Fred had left upon them.
"Goodnight, Fred Weasley." She whispered into the night.
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