Robbie set off in the middle of Monday morning. Hermione had between two and three hours to do what was required. First she needed to speak to Harry alone. She apparated to the post office in Diagon Alley and sent him an urgent private owl, knowing that owls designated 'private' would only deliver to the recipient when they were alone. She asked him to meet her, alone, in Diagon Alley as soon as he got the message. Harry arrived forty minutes later. Thirty minutes after that Harry sat stunned having heard her plans. Hermione had asked him to bring Ginny to her parents' house the next morning at ten o'clock. He was to say nothing to Ron. She would be speaking to him herself the same day. She just told him that she needed his help and that if he placed any value at all on their friendship would he please do as she asked. He could see her… desperation… was not too strong a word, and so he agreed. Relieved, she went home.
Robbie arrived back about half an hour after her. He was carrying a small bag with a couple of compact discs. He sat her down and pulled an envelope from the inside pocket of his jacket. He arranged the paper inside so that only the header was showing and turned it so she could see it. It read simply 'Special Licence.'
"Do you know what this is?" he asked her. He sounded nervous.
"No, what is it."
"It means that if you agree, if you want to that is… it means that at eleven thirty on Wednesday morning you will become Mrs. Hermione Jean MacDonald. What do you say Hermione, will you do me the greatest honour and marry me?" Now it was Hermione's turn to be stunned. She wanted to stand up, but found she couldn't. How could she say yes, knowing what was going to happen the next day, but not knowing how he would react? But I can't say no, I love him too much. She let her heart rule her head, which had become something of a habit lately. She stood on shaking legs and wrapped her arms around the neck of the man in front of her.
"Yes my love. If you still feel the same way at eleven thirty on Wednesday, I'll be proud to be your wife." As she kissed him she wondered if he had noticed the way she had phrased her answer.
"There is nothing you could say or do that would make me change my mind, Hermione. I'm yours forever." She hoped and prayed that he was right. All she had to do now was figure out a way to keep her pounding heart inside her chest.
"One thing though, can we keep tomorrow morning free. A couple of my school friends will be visiting."
"No problem Hermione. I'll look forward to it. When they get here you had better be wearing this." Out of a small box he produced a stunningly simple diamond ring. He slipped it on her finger.
"Oh Robbie, It's absolutely beautiful. I love you, thank you so much… and it fits."
"Lucky guess on my part, and I have these for Wednesday." he produced another box with two plain gold bands inside. "Don't forget we are out with Mum and Dad tonight. We can make it a celebration."
"I'll have to get a dress for Wednesday." she was surprised when he held up his hand.
"No sweetheart, I want you to wear the one you dropped on the bedroom floor the other night. That will always be special to me. It was the first time we made love. Will that be alright?"
"I'd better hang it up then, but if it's what you want, it's what I want. You're quite sensitive for a roughy, toughy soldier… sorry! Marine… aren't you?"
"I'm so happy you can call me what you like. Just this once though."
"How about 'my husband', is that ok."
"Sounds lovely, I can't wait for Wednesday morning." Hermione spent the rest of the day in a daze. I'm getting married! She wanted to run into the street and scream the news to the world. Her hand was checked every two minutes to be sure her ring was still there. Robbie had to wash up the lunch dishes on his own, there was no way her ring was going to get wet and she most certainly was not going to take it off.
They set off at six-thirty to meet his parents at the restaurant. Brian and Carol MacDonald were waiting in the hotel bar. Robbie made the introductions,
"Mum, Dad, this is Hermione. The first girl I ever kissed."
"Really!" his Dad replied, "well I can understand why. You must have inherited my appreciation of beauty. Hello Hermione, I'm Brian, pleased to meet you." Even after many years of living in the south, he retained his Yorkshire accent.
"I'm Carol, don't listen to him. How do you do Hermione? Robbie's obviously fibbing, he's had four girlfriends since he was fifteen, and those are just the ones I know of, so I doubt you are the first girl he's kissed." Hermione smiled,
"But I am Mrs. MacDonald. We were nine years old and he kissed me under the mistletoe at junior school. We met again just last week, and it's been quite a week, I can tell you." The MacDonald's looked astounded.
"The mistletoe was full of Nargles apparently." said Robbie with an air of innocence.
"What are Nargles for heavens sake?" asked Carol. Oh, here we go again, thought Hermione, wishing she had never mentioned the blasted Nargles.
"I went to boarding…"
"School." said Robbie. Hermione slapped his arm,
"Will you stop doing that!? I can finish a sentence on my own, you know." she addressed Mrs. MacDonald again "I went to boarding school, and Nargles were an invention of schoolgirls with over-active imaginations." that described Luna perfectly, she thought. "If there were Nargles in the mistletoe, you were sure to get the boy you kissed." Mr. MacDonald bought some drinks and suggested moving to a table in the bar. Robbie took a deep breath,
"Before we sit down, Mum, Dad, I have to tell you that there really were Nargles in that mistletoe, because today I asked Hermione to marry me and she said yes." He took her hand and showed his parents the ring, "I know you'll think we are crazy but we are getting married on Wednesday morning." The MacDonald's stood open mouthed.
"Wednesday! But Robbie why the rush…" his Mum began,
"Because you know what happens on Thursday Mum, I want it all tied up and settled before I go." Brian MacDonald cleared his throat,
"Son, we will be there, of course we will, but will Hermione's Dad be bringing a shotgun?"
"My parents are in Australia Mr. MacDonald, but why should my Dad carry a shotgun?"
"That's my Dad's way of asking if you are pregnant Hermione. He's trying, in his own clumsy way, to be diplomatic." Robbie explained. Hermione smiled sweetly at her prospective father-in-law,
"No, I'm not pregnant, Mr. MacDonald. No shotgun." she could feel her cheeks reddening. Robbie explained,
"I'm doing this because I've never wanted anything in the world as much as this. I've never wanted any girl as much as this one. I don't know why, and I don't want to know. I just know I love her." Mrs. MacDonald sighed, hugged Hermione and kissed her son.
"Oh I'm all of a quiver. It's the last thing I was expecting of this evening. Congratulations to you both, I hope you'll be very happy. I always thought it would take a special girl to get him. I don't know what you did to bewitch him, but it seems you are that girl." Hermione smiled inwardly, I didn't bewitch him Mrs. MacDonald; I could have given him a dose of Amortentia, but I didn't, she thought.
"Come here Mrs. MacDonald," said Brian, and when his wife turned to him, "No not you, the new one." He hugged Hermione and kissed her cheek. "Welcome Hermione, welcome. If he gives you any trouble you let me know and I'll drop his trousers and spank him."
"Thank you Mr. MacDonald, you'll have to teach me to do that, and then I won't have to bother you. Sounds like fun!" she began to blush as she realised one connotation of what she had said and was grateful when a waiter announced that their table was ready. Mr. MacDonald laughed,
"You'll do lass, you'll do. Allow me to escort you in." he offered his arm, Hermione accepted and they went to eat. They had a very enjoyable meal, the food and drink was good, and by the end of the evening Hermione felt quite comfortable in the company of Robbie's Mum and Dad. His Dad, she found out, had a wicked sense of humour. He even called his wife 'old trout' at one point. Carol said with a smile,
"It's his way Hermione; I think if he was ever nice to me, I'd divorce him." At eleven o'clock Mr. MacDonald suggested they call it a night. They arranged to meet Robbie at the Register Office at eleven on Wednesday.
Hermione lay in bed with her left hand out, still not believing what she was seeing. Robbie lay beside her. She looked at him,
"You've done so much for me today. I haven't done anything for you. Is there something you would like?" He smiled lasciviously,
"Yes there is." she had that twinkle in her eye again as she asked,
"What is it?"
"Put the light out and come for a cuddle. It's as easy as that. And you have done something for me, Hermione, you said yes." she settled into his arms and they were both asleep in minutes.
Hermione awoke early, she was dreading this day. This was the day that could destroy all her hopes and dreams. By the end of it she could have lost Robbie and devastated Ron. She had never considered herself a religious person but before getting up she said a silent, but fervent nonetheless, prayer, that at the end of this day, all would be well. Over breakfast with Robbie she announced to him that her school friends would be arriving at the back door.
"What's wrong with the front door?" he asked.
"Nothing, but I've asked them to come to the back. Also would you go upstairs so that I can have ten minutes alone with them before I introduce you? There's something I need to check with them."
"Now who is being mysterious?"
"Sorry, but it's my turn. Are you okay with that?" He nodded his head.
"Alright, but make it five minutes"
"Seven and we have a deal." He agreed. They cleared away the breakfast things… and then she waited. At five minutes to ten she asked Robbie to go upstairs.
She paced nervously around the kitchen until a cracking sound brought Harry and Ginny into view. She opened the door to admit them. "Come in you two, thanks for coming."
"What do you need us for Hermione?" Ginny's tone was distinctly chilly. Hermione looked at Harry,
"How much have you told her?" she asked.
"Everything you told me yesterday. Robbie, living as a Muggle, the whole bit."
"I need you because I'm going to tell Robbie that I'm a witch. Call it cowardice if you like but I don't think I can do it alone. Ginny, I am so sorry about Ron. I'm going to see him later and I know I must do that alone," She held out her arms, "Please you two can I have a hug, I'm so bloody scared. Then there is something else I have to ask you." She hugged Harry with one arm and held out the other to Ginny who did not move. "Please Ginny, I need you too… please." Ginny reluctantly relented. The hug ended and they sat at the kitchen table. "There has been a development since I saw you yesterday Harry."
"What's that?"
"After I got back here yesterday Robbie asked me to marry him." Harry was surprised.
"Really? What did you say?"
"I said yes Harry, I'm getting married!" She showed them her ring which, of course, they admired, even if Ginny's reaction was muted, "But there's more."
"More? What more could there possibly be?"
"We're getting married tomorrow."
"Tomorrow! Blimey Hermione, when you want something you go for it don't you?" For the first time Ginny showed a little bit of concern.
"Tomorrow! You've known him for what, four days? Are you sure you know what you are doing Hermione?" her tone was still cool.
"I love him, Ginny. I've never felt anything like this about anyone before. There's something else, Harry."
"I give up, what's coming now? You're not er…"
"No, I'm not pregnant. Why is that always the first thing people ask? It's dead annoying. No, I need somebody to give me away. Will you do it for me?" He could see her eyes filling up. He picked up her hand, kissed the back of it and said,
"Of course I will, Hermione, I'll be proud to." Hermione looked at Ginny.
"You've been very quiet, will you come with Harry? Please." Ginny's voice was now icy,
"Of course I'm quiet. I'm sitting here listening to you planning to break my brothers' heart and you're asking me to take part. Well, I'll help you with Robbie today Hermione, but I won't be here tomorrow. I can't do that to Ron. Even if Harry can." Harry was stung by the implied criticism.
"Not now, Ginny, we'll talk about this later alright. Hermione is my friend too, and if she needs me, I'll be there for her." he looked into Hermione's eyes. "Always." He squeezed her hand, "Okay Hermione it's time to meet Robbie I think." Hermione sent them to the living room and then called Robbie down. They walked in holding hands.