I have been re-reading this fic and discovered a chronological error in it which I have now fixed. Harry and Ron were both born in 1989, Chapters 1 and 2 occured in 1998 (they are both 9), Chapters 3 and 4 occured in 1999 (they are both 10), the Prologue stretches from '89 to '94. I may consider adding ages to the chapters and the year. If there are any more errors please inform me. I am also looking for Beta's to help me. If you are interested please inform me!
A World Without Voldemort
Chapter Three: Wedding Bells and Awkward Moments Part I
As time went on Harry and Ron grew even closer to each other. They considered the other more than a friend: they were brothers. Many sleepovers were had at either house as well as many friendly games of Quidditch between the two boys. There were no barriers between the two; secrets, hopes, and future plans were shared as well as any dreams or nightmares that were had. They had made an oath long ago that they would always be there for each other. Harry would keep the spiders away from Ron and Ron would never leave Harry's side.
Of course, as in all friendships that were so close there were awkward moments that had been fueled by the emotions of the moment. Instances such as either Harry or Ron falling asleep atop the other or, after being scared by one of the Twins pranks, Ron latching onto Harry for security which would therefore result in the two on the ground and Ron's lips lightly brushing Harry's. There was also the incident of New Years Eve 1999.
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"So, how's your Uncle Peter holding up?" Ron asked.
Harry snickered and then replied, "Scared shitless mate! It's damn funny. I don't think I've ever seen him sweat so much before in my life!"
Ron chuckled and then said; "I heard a rumor that your other uncles gave him the Talk; like he was some hormonal teen!"
"Yeah, it was bloody brilliant seeing him squirm. They even showed him pictures straight from the Magical STD's pamphlet and the Witches and Wizards Karma Sutra!"
The two boys both broke down into uncontrollable laughter, the tying of their ties now completely forgotten.
It was the winter of 1999, New Years Eve to be exact, and the two boys were preparing themselves to be ushers at the wedding of Peter Pettigrew and Pomona Sprout. According to Peter their meeting at Toady's last year had gone brilliantly well. Subsequent dates had occurred thereafter and soon the two couldn't spend 12 hours without seeing or hearing from each other! Then, on Halloween, Peter had proposed to her! Two months later and Peter was now pacing up and down the Potter's house wondering if this was the right thing to do, if Pomona was okay with this, etc.
"What the bloody hell was I high on that night? I swear one of you drugged me…thought it funny to see me propose to the woman!"
Remus, Sirius and James chuckled, "I swear to you Wormtail, Sirius, James and I did nothing of the sort. You had decided a few weeks before to propose to the woman." Remus then clapped a hand on Peter's shoulder and squeezed it. "You love the woman, I see it in your eyes, I smell it on your skin…and a werewolves nose is always right!"
Peter smiled at his friends and thanked them for the support.
Meanwhile, Pomona Sprout (soon to be Pomona Pettigrew) was in her dressing room primping herself with the help of Lily Potter, Minerva McGonagall and Poppy Pomfrey.
"Oh this is so exciting, you look absolutely gorgeous Pomona," Lily said, and it was true. Pomona had opted for a slightly non-traditional wedding dress and ceremony. She wore a beautiful lime green dress that reached down to her ankles. Engraved all over it were various flowers and vines. Her hair was as curly as ever, and rapped around her head was a crown of Marigolds. Her appearance was akin to that of the Muggle mythological figure of Mother Nature.
"Everything is set," McGonagall said, "just as you enter to room the archway you'll be standing beneath will burst into dozens of various flowers. It is my gift to you."
Pomona smiled and thanked her friend. Looking over at a nearby hourglass she saw that it was time. Standing up she made her way over to the Hufflepuff common rooms exit. "It's time!"
"It's time Petey-Boy!" James exclaimed. They left the Gryffindor common room and made their way out to the courtyard.
While the all the students were away for Christmas vacation the soon to be couple had asked to be wed at Hogwarts, with Dumbledore being the one to marry them.
The sun was shining brightly and a thin layer of snow and flower petals covered the Hogwarts courtyard. A spell had been enacted to keep all the wedding attendants warm but keep the snow from melting. It was a rather picturesque scene.
"So, my boy," Albus Dumbledore whispered to Peter, "how are you holding up?" Peter smiled and replied, "Very well sir, and I must say, thank you for allowing us to be wed at Hogwarts." Dumbledore smiled in appreciation, "You are very welcome. It was the least I could do for two of my old students."
All of a sudden the archway Albus, Peter and the rest of the Marauders stood under burst into bloom. Roses, lilies, hycenthias and just about any other kind of flower you could think of appeared. At the main entrance to the castle stood Sprout, McGonagall (her maid of honor) and Poppy and Lily.
Harry and Ron sat in the front row and watched in amazement at the procession. Neither had ever seen such a sight as this. It was almost like a dream.
Once Sprout and her brides maids reached the end Dumbledore began speaking. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today on a most joyous day to see the union of Peter Pettigrew and Pomona Sprout. You know…out of all the emotions at our disposal, none are more powerful than that of love! It is ones lantern in the darkness, ones life-jacket in a sea of sadness, if you pardon the Muggle term." At this everyone giggled. Albus smiled and turned to Pomona Sprout. "Pomona Sprout, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, united forever by magical law?" Pomona smiled and said, "I do." Albus then turned to Peter and asked the same of him. "I do." he said.
Albus smiled and said, "Then, by the power vested in me I pronounce you husband and wife! You may kiss the bride." The courtyard erupted into cheers and wolf-whistles as the newly wedded couple shared their first kiss as husband and wife.
After the wedding, dinner was held in the Great Hall. The table at the front, which usually held the professors of Hogwarts, now seated the newly wedded couple, the brides' maids and the grooms' men. Toasts were made and food was eaten. Finally, it was time for 'the real partying', as Sirius had put it. The couple shared the first dance to a lovely little melody before the music changed to something faster paced and bubbly. Lily insisted on one or two particular Muggle songs that were always played at parties: the Macarena and Cotton-Eye Joe!
Harry and Ron laughed in delight at seeing Harry's mother teaching every witch and wizard present how to dance to these Muggle songs; even more so when they noticed Dumbledore and McGonagall participating.
Soon everyone was partnered up on the dancefloor: Pomona and Peter, Albus and Minerva, Lily and James, Remus and Sirius…even Severus Snape (who had come only because Lily had insisted) had found a partner. Harry and Ron were the odd ones out.
Harry noted how Remus and Sirius had paired up and thought that Ron might want to pair up with him. Turning around he addressed his friend, "So, Ron, there's no one left to partner up with, and I'd kinda like to dance, so would you dance with me?" Ron was a bit startled but nodded an affirmative; he really didn't see a problem with that anyhow.
They were a bit awkward together at first, they had only been given a few lessons a week or so before the wedding, but they soon fell into a rhythm that they found balance in.
Soon Lily quieted down the whole room and announced that there were only ten seconds left to this year. Everyone cried out the seconds as the passed by:
"…Ten…"
"…Nine…"
"…Eight…"
"…Seven…"
"…Six…"
"…Five…"
Harry was frantic: he had no one to kiss! It was a tradition that you kiss someone on New Years Eve night but that was really more of a Muggle tradition and Harry didn't really know all that much about it.
"…Four…"
"…Three…"
Harry turned to Ron and an idea popped into his head, 'Hope Ron doesn't hate me after this,' he thought.
"…Two…"
"…One! Happy New Years!"
Just as the word "one" was spoken Harry spun Ron around and kissed him full on the lips. He had closed his eyes and so didn't notice the blush on Ron's cheeks, the size his eyes had grown, or the fact that Sirius and Remus were in the middle of their own lip-lock.
As Harry's lips parted from Ron's, Ron automatically tried to push back into the kiss but stopped when he realized what he was doing. Harry opened his eyes and saw the look on Ron's face. Harry smiled sheepishly while Ron asked, "Harry, why'd you do that?"
A sheepish grin and, "It seemed like a good idea at the time."
End Chapter 3