The Wedding
The wedding was set to take place at one o' clock that afternoon. At nine o' clock A.M., Dobby made his rounds, waking the sleeping men from their beds. They had all trooped down into the kitchen, Ron and Harry coming in a few minutes later than the rest looking pale. "Nervous, you two?" Sirius asked with a wry grin as they sat down at the large table.
"It's funny, we've defeated the Darkest wizard of all time and won a Quidditch World Cup, but I don't think I've ever been this nervous before in my life," Harry said, picking up his teacup with a slightly shaking hand.
"I hear you mate, my stomach is doing back flips and I'm sweating like I've just ran a mile," Ron replied, buttering his toast.
"Ahh boys, nothing to be nervous about. It happens to the best of us," Mr. Weasley said, clapping the both on the shoulder and smiling brightly.
"I know when I married Luna, I was nervous too. You both remember, you were there. But when you finally see her walking towards you, it'll all be worth it, mates. It's the greatest feeling in the world," Neville said, wisely.
"Next to the day your child is born," Fred added. George nodded in agreement as they all tucked into their breakfast.
They had all showered and congregated in the large sitting room. Harry and Ron had their suitcases, since they would be Apparating to the honeymoon after the reception that night, and Mr. Weasley was sorting through a stack of cloak bags containing their dress robes with the help of Dobby. Sirius approached Harry, who had been trying to get his hair to lie flat in a far corner of the room. He held out his hand, and in it was a small velvet box. "For you, Harry. These were the cufflinks your father wore on his wedding day. I thought you might like to have them. He gave them to me in hopes that I would marry someday, but I'm not really the settling down type now am I?" Sirius said with a grin.
Harry opened the box and revealed two silver and diamond cufflinks. Harry supressed the tears that were now forming in his emerald green eyes as he hugged his godfather in a tight embrace. "Thank you, Sirius. This means alot to me," he said with a smile.
"Anything for you, Godson, anything for you."
It was eleven o' clock when they finally arrived on the Hogwarts lawn. Harry noticed that there were already wedding guests milling about the lawns and he hoped they wouldn't get too impatient. The ceremony didn't start for another two hours, after all. "Don't you worry about them m'boy, you've enough on your mind I'm sure," came a gruff voice from behind him. He turned to see Kingsley Shacklebolt standing with his wife on his arm, broadly grinning at him.
"Thank you Minister, I'm glad you could make it. I don't think I would trust anyone else to perform the ceremony," Harry said, shaking the Minister's hand briskly.
Meanwhile, the girls had just Apparated with a faint pop into the Transfiguration classroom on the first floor. The charms that were usually placed on Hogwarts School against Apparating had been lifted for the purposes of the double wedding. Mrs. Weasley had set about, with the help of Luna, Parvati and Lavender, unzipping the cloak bags and removing each of the gowns. The bridesmaids changed first in a small bathroom in the back of the classroom. The gowns were a shade of sky blue with an empire waist. They were simple A-line gowns, strapless and beautifully beaded at the top with silver beads. They all strapped on their silver high heels and were busying themselves with their hair when Jane Granger entered the room. She and Mrs. Weasley were wearing the same sky blue ensembles of flowing silk.
After they had finished the last minute details, both Hermione and her mother, and Ginny and hers disappeared into the small bathroom in turns to get into their gowns. With a half an hour left until the ceremony, Mrs. Weasley exited the room to cross the hall and check on the boys.
They had already been dressed and were sitting about the Charms classroom chatting away like old school chums. She began passing out the boutennieres, which were a simple white rose bud. The girls would be carrying bouquets of white roses.
The Minister entered the classroom where Mrs. Weasley was busy fastening Sirius' flower onto the front of his black dress robes. "It's time to get into place," he said with a smile.
"This is it, mate. The beginning of the rest of our lives," Ron said to Harry with a smile and clapped him on the shoulder.
"Let's do it," Harry replied, returning the smile.
They boys trooped down the hall, passing through the Entrance Hall and into the Great Hall. When the doors opened, Harry's jaw dropped. The House tables had been replaced with row upon row of silver folding chairs, each with a sky blue sash tied in a bow at the back. Rows of white roses lined the specially lain sky blue carpet that ran the length of the long hall. Above them, the ceiling reflected the sky outside. It was a beautiful clear day, and the sky was the exact shade of the dresses in which the bridesmaids were dressed. The large fluffy white clouds had parted slightly revealing a rainbow, which had arced itself over the Great Hall. Thousands of candles floated in midair above their heads as Harry made his way with Ron to the top of the hall.
Ten minutes later, Dobby had ushered the last of the guests into the Great Hall and seated them. Amongst the crowd, Harry could see the massive form of Hagrid, already sobbing into a tablecloth sized handkerchief. There were many familiar faces throughout the crowd, and Harry was filled with affection for all of the guests. They had all come to see he and Ron wed the loves of their lives. The doors to the Great Hall were finally closed, and on the other side, the girls had emerged from the classroom, dressed and ready. Luna and Neville stood arm in arm, and behind them, George and Lavender, and Fred and Parvati. Arthur gave Ginny a kiss on the cheek and smiled broadly at her, clearly trying to hold back tears at the sight of his youngest child in her wedding gown. David Granger and Hermione were behind them, and he too was fighting back an outburst of emotion.
At the front of the line, Mrs. Weasley and Mrs. Granger were holding a single white rose. They were to be the Maids of Honor, so they were to walk, together, first.
The music had started, signaling the Mothers of the Brides, who walked gracefully forward, stopping at the head of the Hall, and turning to face the crowd. Next came Luna and Neville, followed by George and Lavender and Fred and Parvati. Sirius and Charlie Weasley had been standing beside Ron and Harry at the top of the Hall, and were holding the wedding bands for the pair.
The music had paused, and when it started back up, Harry recognized it as The Wedding March. He turned to face her, and when he did, his heart skipped a beat. She was beautiful and seemed to be floating to him. Beside Harry, Ron was fighting to hold back tears as Hermione walked towards him. She looked as though she was glowing in her gown. He had never seen a more remarkable sight in all his life.
Ginny and Arthur and Hermione and David were standing side by side as the Minister of Magic addressed them both. "Who gives these brides away today?" he asked.
"We do," said Mr. Granger and Mr. Weasley simultaneously. After kissing their daughters quickly, they placed their hands in that of their groom's hands.
Kingsley then turned to the awaiting crowd.
"We are gathered here today, to join in the joyous event of marriage. Marriage is the uniting of two people and a journey towards the unity of two hearts. It thrives on the love that you have for each other and grows deeper as each of you grow older. May you never forget this special day and may your hearts be blessed as you often reflect on it. As you journey through life together, may you learn to trust each other, laugh together and speak often to one another. May your lives together be filled with joy, whether in times of peace or chaos, trouble or good fortune. Ronald Billius Weasley, do you take Hermione Jane Granger as your wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, until death do you part?"
"I do" Ron said with a smile, as a tear formed on his cheek.
"And Hermione Jane Granger, do you take Ronald Billius Weasley as your husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, until death do you part?"
"I do," she said, with tears streaming down her face. They gazed into each other's eyes as they held hands.
Kingsley turned to the other couple. "Harry James Potter, do you take Ginerva Margaret Weasley to be your wife, to have an to hold from this day forward, until death do you part?"
"I do," Harry said with a smile. He no longer cared who saw it, the tears now flowed freely as he gazed into those soft brown eyes.
"Ginerva Margaret Weasley, do you take Harry James Potter to be your husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, until death do you part?"
"I do," Ginny said, smiling from ear to ear, her eyes shining with tears.
"These couples have decided to exchange rings as a sign of never ending love and devotion. The rings please." Kingsley turned to Sirius and Charlie. They handed Harry and Ron the rings, and Sirius winked as he did so. "If you would please, place the ring on the finger of your brides." Kingsley nodded towards both Ron and Harry. They each in turn slide the rings, both slender silver bands, on the fingers of Hermione and Ginny.
Kingsley then turned to Mrs. Weasley and Mrs. Granger. They both handed to their daughters, a silver band each. They followed suit and placed the rings on both Harry's and Ron's fingers, smiling as they did so.
"I now pronounce you all Husbands and Wives. You may now kiss your brides!" Kingsley exclaimed.
Ron pulled Hermione to him close and they locked in an embrace, kissing her passionately. A few feet away, Harry and Ginny were kissing in the same fashion.
"I'd now like to announce to you for the first time, Mr. And Mrs. Ronald Weasley, and Mr. And Mrs. James Potter!" Kingsley exclaimed. The crowd erupted in cheers and sobs.
The two newlywed couples stood at the Entrance Hall, to be greeted, hugged, and congratulated by the two-hundred-some guests in attendance. A large white marquee had been erected outside on the grounds for the reception, and after meeting each bride and groom, the guests made their way out for cocktails before the dinner was served. After the Entrance Hall had cleared, the foursome stood, embracing their spouse and smiling happily.
"Defeating Voldemort is nothing compared to how I feel right now," Harry said, hugging Ginny close to him and smiling brightly.
"You've got that right, mate," Ron agreed.
