Chapter 3
Gabby shuffled in her car seat excitedly. "Harry, our wedding just got real for me."
Harry looked over at his fiancé driver. "What do you mean by that, love?" Gabby smiled over the wheel, her eyes glittering. "We are less than five miles away from Hermione and Ron. Our good friends who are currently holding my wedding dress. A wedding dress I will be wearing in less than 3 days." She looked at him, looking animated but slightly apprehensive. "This is really happening, huh?"
Harry smiled serenely. "Absolutely. I am marrying you in less than 3 days." Gabby squealed, quickly leaned over and pecked him on the cheek. "This is so crazy!"
"Crazy?"
"Well, not crazy. Just out of this world. I mean not strange, just weird. Not a bad weird-"
"I get it Gabs."
Gabby gave another excited squeal and drove a bit further before doing another dance again in her seat. Harry chuckled, thankful for his fiancé antics. It allowed him to forget the odd dream that he had experienced the night before. It wasn't along the same lines as the dream that he had three weeks ago but it had been about Gabby. Harry couldn't remember all the details but it left him an odd feeling in his stomach. Perhaps it was just wedding jitters.
The couple made it quickly to the airport to find their favorite couple waiting for them and doing their favorite pastime: bickering.
"Oh Merlin's sake, Ron, you can't drag that bag! Precious things are in there!"
"'Mione, I'm sure your books will survive. Don't you have protective charms over them anyway?''
"That's beside the point, Rona—Gabby! Harry!" The two couples greeted each other warmly as they brought Hermione's bag to the car. "Hermione insisted that she have her personal library with her on the plane. I can't believe you convinced me to get on that metal bird." As part of their getting away, Hermione had somehow convinced her very wizard husband at the last minute to fly on the plane at least once. Gabby would have to ask her what trick she used to accomplish that feat.
"Oh stuff it, Ron. It wasn't that bad." Hermione smoothed her bushy hair back. "Though I have to admit, I wasn't that keen on it either. We'll Apparate back home."
"Thank you!" Ron hugged his wife, with grateful tears in his eyes. "If I had to ride that thing again for seven hours again, I would've killed myself." Gabby and Harry rolled their eyes at Ron's dramatics and ushered them into the car. Gabby swiftly made their way to the highway and back to the country club.
Hermione looked everywhere through her window, not missing a sign."Finally! I am in America! Gabby, I can't tell you how much I've wanted to come here! When do you think we can do some sightseeing?"
Gabby smiled, keeping her eyes on the road. "I'm sure my cousins and mother have something planned for all of us. More than likely, we'll be heading into Boston for some much needed female time." She nudged Harry. "And I'm pretty sure that my brother and cousins are going to be taking you guys out somewhere. But don't worry. I've already threaten them to an inch of their life if they try to take you to strip club."
"Aww! Gabby! Come off—" Ron quickly silenced himself under Hermione's murderous gaze.
"What was that, Ron? I can't hear you," Gabby smirked.
He shook his head. "I agree with you. Ick, strip clubs. Who would want to go to that?"
Gabby had more she could say but felt Hermione had that situation handled. A quick glance to her fiancé showed him in a very pensive state. His eyebrows met in the middle of his forehead and his fingers stroked his chin in a slow meticulous way. Uh oh. Something is up. He has his "danger's coming" face.
"Harry? What's the matter?" she asked quietly.
Harry smiled wanly, almost ashamed that he had been caught. "Nothing, love. Just thinking."
"Harry Potter, you are not going to sit there with that face on and then tell me that nothing is wrong. You are worried about something. What is it?"
He sighed and shook his head. "Just some odd dreams last night. It just felt…odd. I can't really think of a better word than that." He looked at her from the corner of his eye. "Just…be alert, will you, Gabby?"
Gabby felt her lips pursed together. She hated such ambiguous warnings but knew why he didn't want go off on just a dream. A look at her mirror showed Ron and Hermione listening quite carefully to the couple in front. Gabby smiled brightly and said, "So what do you guys want to do first when we get to the hotel? It's only about six p.m. but are you both exhausted?"
With the attention had been cleanly averted, the two couples engaged each other in conversations until they made it to Westwood Estates. Hermione gushed at how beautiful it was as they made their way into the foyer. Fortunately, Diane and Bianca were coming from the elevator, heading to the restaurant for an early dinner.
"Mom!" Gabby called out, getting her attention. "Hermione and Ron are here."
Diane beamed at the wizard couple and gave them warm hugs. "I'm so happy to finally meet you both. Gabby has sung nothing but praises about you two since she's first met you. Especially you Hermione."
Hermione nudged Gabby lightly. "We are just as taken with her, Mrs. Peters. We haven't seen our friend this happy since…well ever!"
"Please call me Diane. We are all family here, right?"
"Where's Dad and Charlie?" Gabby asked.
"Your brother and father went to have dinner with Geoff at the nearby pub to watch the soccer game. We probably won't see them until later on tonight.
A loud coughing behind Diane reminded everyone that Bianca had been standing there waiting for her introduction.
"Oops sorry sweetie. Guys, this is my cousin Bianca. Bianca, these are my friends Hermione and Ron."
The bored smile and the flimsy wave of a hand was her response. Gabby shot her a warning look before saying, "I guess we'll leave you guys to get food then. Harry and I will get Ron and Hermione settled in their room."
"Oh join us! I'm sure we have a bit of catching up to do and what better way to do that than over food." Gabby looked at Ron whose mouth was already watering. Hermione rolled her eyes, "Fine, Ronald. We'll eat with them. Let's just put our bags away first in our room. I want to make sure that Gabby's gown made the trip safely."
Gabby bounced on her toes. "Please! I want to see my dress but it can wait a bit later. If I follow you up there, I might not ever come down. I think I love that dress more than Harry." The group laughed with Harry looking playfully indignant.
"If that's the case, then why don't you marry it?"
"Well I can't kiss fabric all day. What will people think of me?" She leaned in and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. Harry's arm snaked around her waist, squeezing enough to tickle. "Glad to know that I'm around for something."
Hermione pulled on her husband's arm. "Come on, you. I know what I'm around for and that's getting food into your system."
Ron grinned. "She's a keeper, isn't she?" The wizard couple made their way to the front desk to get their room key. Gabby and Harry joined her mother and cousin in the hotel dining room. After placing their orders, Gabby eyed her unusually quiet cousin. "Hey. What's going on with you?"
Bianca sighed. "What do you mean?"
"You sighing and looking like you lost your puppy."
"Nothing. I'm just tired."
"Tired? Tired my ass. I won't have you be rude to my friends. Don't think I didn't see those eyes rolling around in your head."
Bianca opened her mouth to say something but Hermione and Ron had reappeared. Hermione sat next to the empty chair by Bianca, giving her a smile. "Mind if I sit here?"
Bianca shrugged, not making eye contact with the older woman. "Nope."
To cut the tension, Gabby asked their friends how things were at home with the Weasley clan and little Rose. The table buzzed with conversation, regaling stories about life in England, careful to leave out anything magical. Harry wasn't sure how well they were doing in covering their tracks but by the stormy look on Bianca's face, he knew she could tell she was being left out of something. And she didn't like it.
The moment she had finished her dinner, she immediately stood up and said, "I'm feeling too tired for this. I better get some sleep. Wouldn't want to be cranky later." With her nose in the air, she stomped out of the room.
Hermione and Ron looked uneasy. "Did we do something wrong?"
"No you didn't." Gabby growled. "But I'm about to right now—" Harry stopped his fiancé from getting up. "Gabby, don't. Just leave her be for now."
Diane looked at her daughter. "I thought you talked her yesterday."
"I did! I thought we were fine." She looked apologetically to Hermione. "She was upset that I didn't pick her to be my maid of honor."
Hermione began to worry her lip. "I'm sorry! I didn't realize—"
"No, don't you dare. I picked you for a reason. I want you to be matron of honor. Bianca is being overly sensitive about me leaving Boston eighteen months ago. She feels that I abandoned her." She looked at her mother and Harry. "Only my immediate family knows about Doug or that I was married before. I only told Bianca this morning. I thought she understood."
Ron looked puzzled. "How does the rest of the family not know about Doug?"
Gabby and Diane shared a look. "Doug and I had eloped while I was still in law school. No one ever questioned my disappearance. They just chalked it up to my studies. I kept it everything a secret from everyone else hoping that things would get better first with my parents. Then I could introduce him to everyone else. So when it never did get better, I never made the announcement." She inched closer to Harry, laying her head on his shoulder. "Thank God it never got better."
Harry kissed the top of her head, the uneasy feeling resurfacing again. He always wondered what would've happened if Gabby never got away from her abusive husband that night her brother had found her. He felt his magic spike up at the thought. Hermione felt it as well and gave him a sharp look. "Harry, is everything alright?" she asked tightly.
"Never better, 'Mione."
Gabby bounced up, effectively changing the somber mood. "The past is the past. We have a wedding to be excited about, people! Let's keep it like that!" Harry couldn't help but smile at her beautiful girl beside him. "You men go away and go do something. Mom and 'Mione are coming with me to gush over the loveliness that is my wedding dress." Everyone got up from the table intending to meet up later. Harry and Ron looked at each other and said in unison, "The pub?" Chucking and clapping each other on the back, they went to find Harry's future in-laws.
The ladies' chatter grew even more excited as they made their way to Hermione's room. "Mom, wait 'til you see my dress! It is absolutely gorgeous. The dress is an Oscar de la Renta and totally reminds me of the dress that I saw in a princess movie but sexier!"
Diane gave her daughter a playful swat on the arm. "Enough talking, girl! I want to see the dress in person. The pictures couldn't have done it justice."
"Diane, it truly is a wonder. Gabby and I were astounded when we found it." Hermione gushed as she looked through her bag for her key in front of her hotel room. The ladies shuffled from foot to foot waiting for Hermione whose eyebrows began to crease together as her search continued.
"Mione, what's the matter? Open the door."
"I can't find my key. I know brought it down to dinner." Hermione thought for a minute. "Did Ron take it?"
Gabby looked up and down the hallway to find it completely empty. "Just open it the other way," she said quietly. "No one is here and we can always find it later." Hermione shrugged, quickly pulled out her wand and silently opened the door. The women entered the room with huge smiles waiting for Gabby to try her dress to only be met by Bianca.
Inside of Hermione's room.
Wearing Gabby's dress.
The younger girl looked completely red-handed, guilt plastered all over her face. She stood in front of the wall mirror on the other side of the room. Her hands were on the back of the dress as if she had attempted to pull the dress off before the door completely opened. All three women stared wordlessly at the younger girl. Not a word was spoken for a full minute.
Diane broke the silence. "Bianca, what are you doing? How did you get in here?"
The girl's eyes were cast down. She didn't reply.
Gabby looked around. "Did I get drunk at dinner? How much did I have to drink?" She gave a short laugh, her body shaking with anger. "Because there is no way that my cousin could have broken into my friend's room and could have put on MY WEDDING DRESS!" By the end of the sentence, she was hyperventilating and was held back by her mother and Hermione from stepping forward. Bianca cowered back ready to jump over the bed to safety.
Diane saw her eyeing the exit. "Don't you dare move! You are going to tell me right now what you are doing here!"
Bianca nervously eyed her family. "I wanted to know what the big deal was. So when those people came downstairs, I took the key out of her bag. I wanted to see the dress that I couldn't have helped pick out." Her eyes narrowed looking at Hermione. "I wanted to see what the big deal was about this one. Who do you think you are, huh? Taking my position? That's my sister! I should be the one holding on and watching the wedding dress. I should have been the one who went shopping with her! I should have been maid of honor." Bianca snorted, rolling her eyes. "You are just a substitute for me, since I wasn't in London."
Hermione looked aghast. "Now wait a minute—" She stopped at Gabby's hand on her arm and the very calm look on Gabby's face. Gabby's eyes remained focused on her cousin who was still shooting angry glares at Hermione.
"B, look at me." Gabby said softly. It was the soft tones of her voice that jerked Bianca's eyes to eerily quiet bride. As a matter of fact, everyone's eyes were on her. Gabby stepped forward and stared at Bianca, her eyes betrayed nothing. It wasn't until the loud slap reverberated that anyone realized what happened. Bianca's cheek stung hotly as she held it, her eyes welling up with tears. "I want you to get out of the dress," Gabby said quietly, "and I want you to get out. If you are not out of here in the next five minutes, I won't be able to hold myself back." Bianca's eyes widened in fear as she quickly fumbled for the back of the dress and remove it. She quickly put on the discarded clothes on the floor, jumped over the bed and ran out the door.
The ladies didn't move for a few moments until Diane gingerly picked up the wedding dress from the floor and placed on Gabby's front. "You are right. The dress is simply gorgeous."
Gabby's eyes filled with tears. "How could she do that? How could she –" She sobbed loudly, feeling absolutely betrayed.
"There's no immediate harm done, darling." Diane handed Hermione the dress and hugged her daughter. "She's having a hard time right now and is acting out now. I promise everything is ok. See?" She pointed towards Hermione.
Gabby turned to see Hermione's quick flick of her wand. "I just cleaned it of any skin or potential sweat she might have left behind." She smiled, handing back to Gabby who looked at it tearfully. Gabby took it gingerly in her hand. "There's really nothing wrong with it?"
Hermione shook her head no.
Gabby burst into tears again and hugged the witch fiercely.. "What would I do without you, 'Mione." Hermione looked over at Diane over Gabby's shoulder. Diane laughed softly and mouthed, "Bridezilla moment." Hermione patted the emotional bridge gently. "Why don't you take a walk, love? Some air will do you some good."
Gabby nodded, grabbing several tissues before leaving the room. Hermione and Diane looked at each other before taking a huge sigh. "Welcome to the Peter's family drama, my dear." Diane said apologetically.
"If it's anything like the Weasley family drama, I'm pretty well equipped then." Hermione said with a smile. "We'll give her a couple minutes, I guess?"
"Better give her more than that if you don't want a river in here."
"Harry!" Charlie's voice boomed as the two Brits entered the pub. "Get your ass over here, man. This game is incredible."
The Beantown Pub was a bit crowded because several games were on at the same time. Most of the attention was on the Red Sox baseball game but somehow a television had been allowed to play the soccer game from South America. After quick introductions and new orders for beers, the Peters men, Harry and Ron relaxed back in their chairs.
"I don't know about you guys, but I am so glad to be away from all that wedding craziness." Geoff said taking a swig of his beer. "Harry, I know you love my cousin but she is driving me crazy!"
"Who you telling?" Charlie grumbled. "Two weeks ago, she calls home and starts freaking out about the seating plan. Her and Mom had an all-out argument over the phone that Mom couldn't see straight afterwards. Who had to deal with it?" He points to himself and his father. "Yeah us poor idiots."
Harry gives them a wry smile. "Trust me, I think I've been getting the full grunt of it back at home. With her planning two weddings and all." Geoff looked confused. "Gabby's planning two weddings? Isn't that going to cost a lot of money? How are you affording that?" His questions came mid-gulp for Harry who started to cough violently. Ron pounded on his back to clear his passages. Jonathon cleared his throat, taking attention away from Harry. "Geoff, you know how your cousin is. But that doesn't matter! Stop asking questions and drink before the women call us back to the hotel!"
Attention diverted, the men returned to the game. Harry and Ron weren't familiar with the rules of soccer but they got caught up in the excitement of the game. Add the alcohol and soon the men were having a grand time, until Charlie suddenly stopped short during a loud cheer. "What's the matter with you, man?" Harry asked, his speech slightly slurred, slapping Charlie's back."Argentina is beating the bullocks off of Brazil!"
"I think I just saw him." Charlie said breathlessly. His face looked ashen, all joyous attitude gone. All of the men stopped as well, very concerned.
"What's the matter, son? You look as if you just saw a ghost." Jonathan said as quietly as he could in the crowded bar.
"He's here, Dad."
"Who's here?"
"Doug."
From a stone bench in the middle of vast hotel garden labyrinth, Gabby wiped her eyes with her dampened tissue for the n-th time. She wasn't sure how long she had been out in the garden walking around but it was enough time to calm down. How could Bianca have done that? Breaking and entering? Endangering the state of her dress? The more she thought about it, it made her want to spit. She took another calming breath. Ok I think I'll just sleep on it and talk to her in the morning. We have everyone showing up tomorrow. Everyone will talk if we don't look like we have it together. She stood and tried to retrace her steps back in the darken garden.
Crap, I should thought about bring my phone or a flashlight. It is dark as hell out here.
The high hedges made it a bit difficult to find the glow of the hotel. She climbed on top of the bench and was able to make out that the hotel to the west. After several laborious minutes, she was several feet away from the entrance when she saw a shadowy figure by the labyrinth entrance. The glow from the hotel's light didn't make it any easier to determine who it was. Feeling a bit apprehensive, she slowed her pace to a stop and eyed the figure. It seemed that the figure had already seen her because it slowly made its way into the labyrinth and towards her.
"Hello?" Gabby called out cautiously.
The figure didn't say anything but continued very slowly towards her. Gabby slowly backed up, not liking the feeling of being trapped.
"Who are you?" she said strongly, refusing to be pushed back. The figure stopped, and she could hear a low chuckle.
"It seems like you just don't know when to stop talking, do you? Huh, wifey?" Gabby felt all of her blood turn cold. The figure closed the gap quickly, sensing Gabby's intent to flee. He grabbed her arm and pulled her towards.
"Aren't you going to say hello?" his low voice turned Gabby's stomach. She defiantly looked up at the face that had been a nightmare for her for years. The man who had beat her repeatedly. The man who tried to kill her. The man who she had once called her husband.
"Hello, Doug."