AN: Prepare for a looooooooong chapter.
Hermione smoothed the ruffles on her dress before she looked in the mirror. Her hair flowed around her shoulders, the tiny tendrils of curls framing her face. The hair potion that had showed her usually unruly curls was supposed to last twenty-four hours. Fleur had performed several very good charms on her face to give her perfect makeup that would stay on all day. It was going to be a full day, after all, and Hermione should not have to worry about her makeup or her hair or her dress or her shoes or her guests or her fiancé waiting for her down the aisle.
Today was her and Ron's wedding day. Three years after the war and almost fifteen years after they had first met, here Hermione was, waiting to see the man she had promised to love for the rest of her life.
And all she could think about was her dress.
"It's creasing." She turned to her Maid of Honor. "Ginny, it's creasing and it won't stay flat!" Hermione's voice was full of panic.
Ginny rolled her eyes. "You, my dear, are freaking out," she said. The redhead was sliding her foot into a silver heel. Next to her, Luna was putting on large silver earrings while staring fixedly in her own vanity mirror. Fleur was running a comb through her glossy hair for the hundredth time.
"I'm not freaking out!" Hermione squeaked. "Please, just, fix it!"
Ginny walked over to Hermione, shaking slightly in her heels. Her periwinkle dress swayed around her knees. She ran her hands across Hermione's dress, smoothing the fine lines that Hermione was focusing her energy on. When she felt the lines were sufficiently smoother, she stood back to look at Hermione. The dress was simple. Her white, lacy sleeves fell off her shoulders and reached down to her wrists. The bodice was lace as well, in laid with a shimmery material that was not too over-the-top (Hermione did not want to be a flashy bride, after all). The dress cinched at the waist and the skirt fell to the ground, a pure white material overlaid with light lace. When she had tried it on in the shop, Hermione had felt like a princess. She had to remind herself that today was the day she was allowed to be a princess.
"Better?" Ginny asked, hand on hip as she surveyed her friend's dress for more wrinkles.
Hermione turned back to the mirror to survey herself. "Yes, I think so," she said. She wanted everything to be perfect. She had been researching weddings for months, which proved to be harder work than most of the subjects she had studied at Hogwarts. Not only were wizard weddings completely foreign to Hermione, but she wanted to find a way to input Muggle traditions into her wedding, as well. The planning had driven her crazy a few times, but Ron and Ginny's help had made it a bit easier. They were especially good at the taste-testing. After Mrs. Weasley had gotten involved, things had seemed to fall into place. The woman had a certain eye for detail for big events that Hermione did not always have.
At that moment, Mrs. Weasley bustled into Hermione's dressing room, clad in a jam-colored dress. Hermione's mother trailed behind her in an eggplant-colored dress. Hermione felt relieved that they had stuck to the purple and silver color scheme she had so desperately wanted.
Hermione's mother rushed to Hermione's side, tears in her eyes. "Your father is waiting outside," she said, running her fingers through her daughter's hair. "You look dazzling, honey."
Hermione blushed. She held her mother's hand and kissed her cheek. "Some people say I get it from you," Hermione responded with a smile. Her mother batted her away.
Mrs. Weasley was rattling off a list of guests who had recently arrived to Ginny. Ginny was barely listening to her mother, electing to apply another layer of mascara instead.
"How are the boys?" Hermione asked Mrs. Weasley. Her stomach flipped as she thought about seeing Ron, her handsome Ron, wearing dress robes for her. She was sure he was just as nervous as she was. All she wanted to do was see him and laugh about all this craziness together. She hadn't seen him since he had left their flat promptly at 11:59 the night before. He was very superstitious about seeing the bride on her wedding day. We've had enough bad luck, love, he had said. No use adding more.
"Harry's hair won't sit flat, Neville is practicing walking in his shoes - keeps complaining they're too tight, which is absolute nonsense, if you ask me - and George keeps changing the color of his suit from periwinkle to lavender to mess with Ron's nerves," Mrs. Weasley huffed. "Honestly, these boys must not realize what a big day this is. Ginny, you have bruises all over you! You'd think you could take it easier on the Quidditch pitch this week. Here, let me clear those up for you-"
As Mrs. Weasley disillusioned the bruises from Ginny's body, Hermione's stomach tightened. Ron was nervous? What kind of nervous? Butterflies nerves like Hermione had, or leave-Hermione-at-the-altar nerves?
"Ron's nervous?" Hermione squeaked. Her wide eyes traveled to the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of Ron as he ran out of the house they had rented for the wedding, sprinting to escape Hermione and the rest of their guests.
Ginny escaped her mother's grasp and came next to Hermione. The redhead grabbed the brunette's face in her hands, turning Hermione's face towards her.
"Stop thinking what you're thinking," she said threateningly. "No panicking on you wedding day."
Hermione laughed a bit too loudly. Her mother squeezed her hand.
"Everyone is nervous on their wedding day," her mother said. "It tends to be a bit stressful, but you have all of us to help you."
"Oh yes, I've already saged the ceremony area to ward off Lollybills," Luna said. "They're attracted to happy occasions, you know."
"Zair is no reason to worry, 'Ermione," Fleur said, floating over to join the group surrounding Hermione. "At my wedding, I was worried, too. It is natural to feel ze butterflies, but zat just means that you are excited. Plus, it is over so soon and you will wish you could relive it again and again." Fleur gazed softly outside at the flower-covered archway and smiled, no doubt reminiscing on her wedding.
Look at how well Fleur and Bill's wedding went, Hermione thought snidely.
"I'm not worried, I just- I want to know how Ron is," Hermione said sternly.
Mrs. Weasley leaned against a vanity to rub her foot. "Ron is excited to see you," she said. "He asked me what your dress looked like. Of course, I couldn't tell him." She smiled knowingly and Hermione's heart lifted. Of course Ron wouldn't run. He had wanted this wedding just as much as Hermione had. He was the one telling her that her nerves leading up to the wedding was just stress from planning, not cold feet.
"It's time to go now," Hermione's mother said. "Let's line up, everyone!"
The women shuffled into the hall outside. Hermione met up with her father and held fast to his arm. It would be over before she knew it. It would be over before she wanted it to be.
Hermione watched as her bridesmaids had walked arm-in-arm with each of the groomsmen. First, Fleur and George, who, evidently, had finally decided on periwinkle (probably after Mrs. Weasley had chided him). Then, Luna and Neville walked out. Finally, Harry and Ginny, who looked positively exuberant that the next wedding would be theirs. Ginny's engagement ring gleamed on her finger as she wrapped her arm with Harry's. Before they exited the building, Harry had given Hermione an encouraging wink. It had made her feel much better.
Then, Hermione's entrance music began. Her arm clutched tight at her father's arm. She looked up at him nervously.
"I made sure his feet were planted in front of that altar before I came to get you," her father joked. Hermione smiled slightly.
The doors opened and Hermione smelled the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers and the Spring breeze. She began walking gingerly.
Then she saw him. Barely fifty steps in front of her, Ron stood looking at her with his mouth slightly agape. His black dress robes was perfectly pressed and even his periwinkle pocket square was neatly tucked. Hermione couldn't remember the last time he looked so polished. He tended to prefer his Chudley Canons boxers and an old t-shirt when he was home, and all of his Auror robes were shabby with use. As Hermione got closer, she noticed that his hair had been styled, too. What a strange sight.
At the foot of the altar, Hermione dropped her father's arm and grabbed for Ron's hands instead. Her palms were sweaty, but his were sweatier. She giggled a bit at this and he did too. His neck was twinged red, probably from all the eyes on them. Ron's family was huge, of course, but Hermione hadn't realized how many people they would have to invite. Filling out the invitations took days, and now there were over a hundred people sitting in front of them. Hermione met eyes with Professor McGonagall, who nodded approvingly. She saw Hagrid's shaggy head, already sobbing. Kingsley was smiling at the couple. Viktor Krum gave her a thumbs up. Even Ron's Aunt Marge was watching them in awed silence. Hermione's eyes returned to Ron's blue ones as the wizard next to them began the ceremony.
Where the ceremony was emotional, the reception was raucous. Hermione was handed another champagne flute by a waiter, which she promptly began to drink. Music floated from everywhere, it seemed. The food never stopped flowing and, thankfully, neither did the drinks. Hermione heard another toast thrown in her and Ron's direction and the happy couple looked to each other before linking arms to drink the rest of their champagne.
Ron had loosened his tie and his hair was slightly out of place. Hermione was sure she looked no better, but hoped her face wasn't as flushed as Ron's. He turned to Harry and laughed loudly, still holding Hermione's hand. Everyone's spirits were high.
"As much fun as I'm having," Ron murmured in her ear, "I'd much rather start our honeymoon right now."
Hermione blushed furiously. "Ronald," she protested, but the grin she wore would not wipe off her face.
"Oh, come off it," he laughed. "You're gorgeous and now you're all mine. Can't get away from me, I'm afraid."
"I think you're drunk, love," Hermione said. She kissed him lightly and heard a chorus of "Cheers!" around them. She giggled and he laughed before kissing her again.
A glass clinked and Harry stood, champagne glass in hand. He cast Sonorous on himself before he started speaking.
"I was told I would have to give a speech at this thing," Harry said. His tie had come off completely and there was a lipstick stain on the collar of his shirt. Hermione gave Ginny a look, but the redhead just grinned back at her. "I suppose I'm the best man for the job. I introduced these two, you know.
"Fifteen years ago, Hermione was a bossy know-it-all and Ron was some freckled git who had some dirt on his nose. It was obvious to everyone but them that they were in love practically from the moment they met. They argued with each other every chance they had, and sometimes went weeks without speaking. They're both stubborn, so it's no wonder they put off dating for so long. Ron once said to me that Hermione needed to sort out her priorities. It seems she rather has now, mate." Harry turned to Ron and Hermione. "To my best friends, the happy couple, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger-Weasley!"
The crowd stood and all of them raised their glasses. Hermione and Ron beamed before kissing each other, rather roughly. The alcohol and the festivities buoyed their confidence. Hermione didn't quite care that their families, professors, and friends were all watching. She loved this man, and she was so glad he had proved to have a wider emotional range than a teaspoon.