Title: Wedding Worries
A/N: Written for Dear. Dark. Destiny's 3rd Annual Can You Write a Romance? Challenge Competition.

Hermione leaned back in her seat, relaxing for what was probably the last time. In a few short days they would be heading off on a Horcrux hunt, trying to destroy Voldemort at last. But right now the sun was shining on the elegant canopy, bees hummed around bouquets of cream roses and a gold jacketed band was playing music. Ron returned to her and Harry floating three glasses of champagne. She plucked hers out of the air before he could drop it onto the table and sipped the cool liquid.
"She's great isn't she? Always good value." Ron commented admiringly. Hermione turned her attention to the golden dance floor, where Luna was dancing alone, waving her arms and rotating slowly on the spot. Next to her Bill and Fleur were twirling elegantly, the bride glowing with happiness. Fred and George were holding bottles of what claimed to be butterbeer, but their slightly unbalanced dancing said otherwise. Although it was hard to tell, George always looked a little lopsided now. Ron's amused smile vanished as Viktor Krum approached them again. Harry hurriedly made small talk with him in his disguise as Barny Weasley, wisely distracting him from Ron.
"Vould you like to dance with me Hermione?" He turned to her, offering his hand. She blushed, taking it and missing Ron's face turning redder by the second. They walked onto the dance floor, which was filling fast now. As they turned in slow circles she caught glimpses of other people. Xenophilius and Ginny had joined Luna, imitating her odd arm movements. Fred and George were dancing with a few of Fleur's Veela cousins now, offering them drinks. Ron's expression looked remarkably similar to the one he wore at the Yule Ball years ago. His arms were folded across his chest and he declined Ginny's invitation to join them quite rudely. He snapped at Harry, who had probably tried to reason with him, causing the fake Weasley to walk off.
"I have missed you." Viktor finally broke the silence. His English had gotten much better since she had last seen him.
"I've missed you too." Hermione murmured shyly, looking down at her feet. They had written letters to each other, but she had been so busy recently. He looked over to where Ron was watching them.
"Is he your boyfriend?"
"Most definitely not." Hermione smiled at him. She still held quite a grudge against Ron for ruining the Yule Ball. He seemed relieved.
Their dancing took them closer to Luna and her father.
"What on Earth is a Wrackspurt?" He asked, confused.
"I really don't know." She shook her head, laughing.
"I find that hard to believe. You always know." He smiled at her and she blushed again. He made her feel lighter, happier. She was just about to respond when a jet of silvery white light flew into the centre of the dance floor.
"The Ministry has fallen." Kingsley Shacklebolt's voice boomed from the Patronus, strong and authoritative. "Scrimgeour is dead. They are coming." As the light vanished and the echoes faded people started screaming and panicking, snapping out of their shocked silence. Order members shot shield charms in all directions as Death Eaters, or Ministry Workers, appeared. They were one and the same now. Curses flew and she grabbed Viktor's hand and turned on the spot.
They had apparated to a forest in the middle of nowhere. She wasn't quite sure where they were, but it had popped into her head.
"Where are we?" Viktor asked, lighting his wand and looking around.
"I don't know. Oh why didn't I take the bag to the wedding, I had all the stuff packed for weeks that we would need!" He started walking in a circle around her, casting protective enchantments. "And Harry, and Ron… Merlin I'm so stupid. I don't have anything and Voldemort's taken over now, and, and…" Hermione burst into tears. The shields glowed briefly as they were completed, and she felt strong arms around her. She leant into him and sobbed harder, making no effort to stop. She had left Harry, he was their only hope.
"Shh, Hermione." Viktor whispered, soothing her and rubbing small circles on her back.
"I'm sorry." She choked out. She hadn't cried like this for years. She was always too busy being the clever one, the girl with all the answers, the mudblood girl who lived off books and helped save the world. Viktor pulled off his jacket and draped it around her bare shoulders; she was shivering in her dress. She cried until her tears had run out, Viktor never moving away from her. He lit a fire, summoning the wood, and then transfigured his shirt into a tent.
"Aren't you cold?" She asked quietly, voice cracking from the tears and long silence. She was frozen, even with the fire. It was late now, pitch black. The trees blocked any moonlight or stars. He shrugged.
"Yes, but we need a tent, and it is easier to transfigure things that are a bit similar." He then realised that he was half naked and alone with a girl. "I can change, if it bothers you." He hurriedly offered. Hermione shook her head and headed for the tent. It was somewhere between a wizarding and muggle tent, with a single bed taking up half of the limited space. It was piled with blankets and pillows. She crawled in, dragging the blankets around her and curling up. Viktor made to sleep on the floor and she shifted over.
"Just get in. Don't argue. Too tired." Hermione muttered, not even opening her eyes. He hesitated, then joined her, trying not to touch. She gave him no choice in the matter, snuggling closer. He put his arms around her, sharing the warmth and breathing in her scent. It was different when she wasn't crying, when he wasn't comforting her. And it was different again to the times they had been together before. She was asleep within moments, exhausted by the wedding and the flight, but he remained awake, watching her. He brushed her hair out of her face, and kissed her lightly on the forehead.
Hermione awoke to bright sunshine flowing in through the windows, feeling odd and disorientated. She could have sworn she fell asleep in a tent.
"Finally awake then? Come on, we need to go soon." Krum poked his head around the bedroom door.
"I had that dream again." She commented as she headed for the shower. It wasn't a dream so much, more a memory.
"I'm sure this wedding won't turn out the same way." He reassured her, as he did before every wedding. Percy and Audrey's, Harry and Ginny's, and their own.
She showered quickly and put on the dress her and Ginny had found. Despite George's declaration that they could all wear whatever they liked, most of the girls were dressing up for the occasion. She emerged from the bathroom to find Viktor, still staring at her the way he had when they met.
"You are beautiful."