2.30 PM
As the clock slowly inches to 2.30 pm, they still haven't found the right idea of what to say. Suddenly, a knock on the door revealed Harry and Neville had finally arrived, resplendent in their tuxedo.
And the first thing he did was go straight to Hermione and gave her a hug. "I'm sorry."
"You're not at fault," Hermione replied. Harry then quickly gave Ginny a hug, before sitting between them. Neville took a seat near the windows, watching the goings on in the tent with a frown.
"We still having a wedding?" Harry asked Ginny, seeing that she wasn't even dressed yet.
"I've pushed the wedding back to six." Arthur explained. "We need to deal with what Ron did."
"Screw Ron! Sorry." Harry quickly added, realizing that there is a lot of Weasleys around him. "I mean, I'll back Hermione up in anything. So, we have a strategy yet? This is going to be bad for Hermione. For all of us actually."
"Will all that is going on?" Percy goggled.
"Right." Harry looked around. "Wasn't there supposed to be a gaggle of potential wives around for you to interview. Not that I'm interested or anything."
Fleur just sighed. "I told them that I've taken their… Application and Ginny here will review it. And invited them to join the tent downstairs."
"They haven't left." Neville commented. "Looks like most are staying around. Lucky, we set the floo to receive people from certain places only today." Neville suddenly peered into the distance. "Aw, hell! They're bloody coming by the Knight Bus now."
"This is getting ridiculous. All right, lets decide on some things now." Arthur began.
"The potential brides?" He called that out first.
"My first impression, none of them would suit." Fleur quickly replied. "Mostly I have a feeling that they wanted to take whatever House they get in the direction they want instead of what Harry might want."
"Not surprising. So, we're not announcing about the potential brides. Next, what do we say about Ron?"
"He decided that he and Hermione wouldn't suit and has withdrawn from getting married." Emma suggested.
"Would be problematic when they found out that Ron did get married this morning though." Charlie pointed out.
"How about my daughter decided that they don't suit, and she dumped him?" Daniel said.
"Still, Ron got married this morning." Charlie again pointed out.
"Why is it so important that we must 'deal' with this anyway?" Daniel finally lost his temper. "So, there is no marriage. Life goes on."
"Because she's not just some ordinary witch in this world, Daniel." Arthur quickly answered. "She's making waves in the ministry, tearing down bigoted and prejudiced laws, changing our society. That takes a lot of political savvy and will. I don't know if the muggle world is any better, but something personal like this could easily be used to sap away her support, especially since we tend to be a rather parochial society in the first place."
Daniel kept quiet, processing the information. "No, not that different from muggle politics, I suppose." He turned towards Hermione. "Is this so important to you, Hermione?"
"My godson's right to go to Hogwarts will be put up for a vote next month." Hermione simply replied, reminding Daniel of Teddy Lupin's rather unfortunate antecedent's affliction. "It is rather important to me."
Gabrielle had watched with amusement the back and forth between all of them. With a clear voice, she suddenly silences the room. "Hermione, being the best friend, she is, realizes that Ginny loves Harry, and graciously stepped aside for her friend's happiness, choosing Ron as a friend. Suddenly, he must select three wives, and Ron realizes that Hermione loves Harry. Ginny too, and Ron, realizing his freedom from duty, releases Hermione to Harry, and flies off with his own love. They decided to celebrate that by getting married today, thus fulfilling the requirements of the law."
"I shall be the third wife, of course. Gabrielle, Madam Peverell." She finished her speech with a flourish.
The room is stunned silent at her words. Each looking at each other, surprisingly finding more acceptance than resistance. Percy suddenly cleared his throat. "That might work."
That was the signal for everyone to start talking at once. Hermione of course started to deny things to Ginny, Dan and Emma looked a bit overwhelmed, Arthur and Molly pinched the bridge of their nose in a mirror expression of utter exasperation.
It was Ginny who stood up and shrieked "Enough!"
When everyone is silent, Ginny turned to Gabrielle. "What gave you that idea?" She slowly asked.
Gabrielle just shrugged. "A neat and tidy solution for everyone I suppose. Harry meets the requirement of the law, getting the necessary wives. Hermione gets to save face and being connected to a Most Ancient and Noble House couldn't hurt. Ginny gets a sister wife that's politically inclined, freeing her to continue her career." Gabrielle explained, before she smirked. "I get a husband that's quite immune to my allure."
Before anyone could protest, Gabrielle just raised her hand, silencing them. She stepped forward bending slightly and whispering something in Hermione's ear that made her eyes grew wide. She stood up and looked at the others in the room. "You asked for a solution, and I just gave you the best one."
"Not sure you as the third wife is a good idea, you minx." Fleur muttered, as she felt the eyes of everyone fall on her. "To tell you the truth, it is a good idea. It is no secret that Harry and Hermione are close, that's why the gossip columns tend to have you both as their most favourite subject. So, it is not that great of a leap to convince everyone about how this is a love match in the truest sense of the word."
"Ginny and Harry, well you have been dating publicly for the past five years, so that's not a problem to explain away either. Ultimately though, it is your choice what to do."
"Which we will let you decide. Everyone out, except you three." Fleur ordered. Before Molly could protest, Fleur simply stared at her, quickly shutting her up. "Out. Now." The simple words quickly cleared the room. Gabrielle protested. "They need to settle this among themselves, brat." Fleur said, as she dragged the protesting Veela out, before she slammed the door shut.
Leaving the three-uncomfortable youth staring at each other.
The rest of the party, not willing to go out and face the multitude of guest yet, congregated in the dining room. Fleur could see the questions that swirled in their faces, especially Arthur.
"I think it's time you tell us what Ron actually did during their expedition." Arthur began. It was something that has been bugging Arthur ever since he had found out that Ron did hid out in Shell Cottage for a few weeks.
"I think it's time I find out what possessed my daughter to actually use magic to make me think I'm someone else." Dan added. He and Emma had been told that it is for their safety, but Hermione never told them the specifics, even when they insisted, stressing to them that the death eaters would be looking for muggleborn parents to kill.
"During my wedding, here, that would be before their seventh year started, the Death Eaters came looking for Harry, Hermione… And Ron." Fleur began. "Of course, they went and hide, until they came back to Hogwarts and prompted Voldermort throwing everything at that school to kill Harry, before Harry again defeated Voldermort."
Everyone nodded. "That's the official story. There is an unofficial story that I hope will not be repeated after this." Fleur warned. "I know this because Bill and I got involved. Voldermort had, by the darkest of magic, made sure of his immortality. Don't ask how, I don't know, I never asked. That means while everyone thinks those three were out hiding, they were actually working to remove Voldermort's immortality. The one who gave this quest to them was Albus Dumbledore."
"Sufficient to say, they broke into the Ministry and got part of the work done. The whole might of the Ministry was hunting them down, Harry was marked undesirable number one even then. Hermione was number two. How they evaded capture? By sleeping in tents. All over Britain. At one point, with influence from dark objects, running low on supplies, they started arguing with each other. Culminating in Ron leaving them and coming over to Shell Cottage, where Bill and I hid him."
"Of course, Ron did manage to re-join them. But whatever it is that happened during that time Ron was not with them, cemented the bond between Harry and Hermione. That bond is… Complicated to define. Harry may call Ron his best friend, but he had, during various times during their friendship, let them down, really."
Fleur eyed the people in the room, letting the words sink in their mind. "We call him the Man-Who-Won because everyone saw him literally destroying Voldermort. The truth is, Hermione's bond with Harry is what won the war. Ron asked Hermione to go with him. Even with the most powerful influence from a dark object, Hermione stayed loyal to Harry. If Harry was alone, even with all his power, he wouldn't be able to do what needed to be done."
The room went silent. "The scar. On Hermione's hand." Emma shakily asked. "The one that says mudblood. I saw it once, but Hermione normally hid it from me."
Fleur nodded. "Literally carved on by Bellatrix Lestrange, when they were caught. With the help of a friend, they escaped, and went on their mission. Magic could of course clear the scar completely, but Hermione refuses. She tells me that it is a reminder for her what could happen if good people do nothing, and why it is important that she do what she must. That is why she has already made deputy director already at her young age."
Fleur smiled. "Few guesses why Harry is also being touted as the next head Auror." At the blank look on Dan's face, Fleur added, "Probably on par like Chief of Police? Anyway, she may have modified your memory, but she did it to save your lives. Both of you will be the first person the death eaters go looking for to get to Hermione. I dare say we wouldn't be here without both of them sacrificing what they did."
"What I don't understand if Ron had let Hermione down before, why does she keep going back to him?" Emma asked. "I'm sorry Molly, I may be disparaging your son here, but I have to say what I see."
Molly nodded her acceptance. "I'm, not sure, to be honest." Molly slowly started. "I mean, I don't know if I could forgive someone who had let me down a few times before."
"Funny enough, both said the same thing about the subject." Fleur answered. "Harry and Hermione separately told me that they forgave Ron because when he did those things, he was just a teen, who shouldn't be expected to be able to make rational, adult decision."
Arthur snorted. "I'm pretty sure that's not a factor this time around."
The group fell silent. "Enough time for them to talk things over, don't you think?"
Upstairs, the trio studiously avoided looking at each other, preferring the silence. It of course fell to Hermione to break the ice. She stood up, turned and watched the duo on the bed. She took a deep breath and steeled herself. "We don't have to do this." She began. "I don't believe in marriage of conveniences. Whatever I want to do, whatever I need to do, I'll find some other way to do it."
"Why do it the hard way, when marrying Harry is easier." Ginny interrupted.
Both turned towards Ginny, who is staring at them with her mouth pursed. She blinked, then slowly stood up. "Sometimes I don't know if I'm worthy of you, Harry. Let me finish!" She quickly cut when Harry wanted to protest. "My role in the war is miniscule compared to you both. But here is what I offer to you. Yes, I love you Harry. And the only thing I can offer to you is my unconditional love and support. And the only thing I ask of you is to understand and support my desire to grow as a person."
Ginny considered her next words carefully. "Hermione, I don't know if anyone I know has your zeal to change the world. It is a hard work that you have taken on. Why not make it easier as Lady Black? Or Potter? Or Peverell?"
"I don't think marrying for political aspirations is a good idea."
Ginny snorted. "The girls currently camped out under that blasted tent out there probably is going to be marrying him for their political aspirations. I'm going to get sister wives that probably leaks political aspirations from their pores. Why not you, someone who I know will do it for the right reasons? You, who does actually have a good reason to marry Harry." She then gave her a hard look. "Did you settle for my brother, Hermione?"
Hermione stopped pacing, looking at Ginny. She stammered, "I don't know what you mean."
"You love Harry." Ginny simply stated, before turning towards Harry. "You love her too."
"Ginny, I love her as a sister." Harry protested.
Ginny snorted. "You don't even have a sister, you dolt! You too. My freaking Veela in-laws saw right through you. Admit it!"
"So, what if I do?" Hermione yelled, the stress catching up with her. "Should I break you both up? Compete with you? Seduce Harry from under your nose, the daughter of the family that helped me a lot with the wizarding world? What about my promise to Ron? I don't even know if this dolt likes me that way!"
"I do." Harry simply reply, cutting of Hermione's rant.
Harry said nothing else, but he sits beside Ginny, and pulled Hermione into sitting down as well. His arms snaked around the two, as the girls melted into him with a sigh. They sat in silence, each realizing the enormity of what they had silently decided, had silently accepted about each other.
"The Harpies are asking my decision about the team." Ginny began.
"Ginny, if you want to re-join the team, go ahead. Never doubt that you play a role even by playing Quidditch." Harry answered.
"That is why Hermione should be first wife." Ginny added. "Both of you together, you'll change our world."
Hermione wanted to protest, but the fire in Ginny's eye stilled her denial. "You sure?" She finally gave in.
Ginny nodded.
"Do we want to do this today?" Harry clarified. "I'm not too comfortable about having a cover story. Seems too… Politically correct or something."
Ginny snorted. "Why not? Technically, it isn't a cover story if it is true in some respects. The difference probably is in the semantics. At least we head off less headache that way if we get the whole married thing settle today. Who will we pick for the third wife, though?"
"Well, Fleur blackballed all your potential candidates." Hermione reminded Ginny.
"Except one." Ginny replied. Right on que, the door burst open, revealing a breathless Gabrielle.
"They sent me to check on you." Gabrielle offered, slowly closing the door. "Have you decided?"
"Yes." Harry answered. "Double wedding."
Gabrielle smiled, as she looked at Ginny and Hermione alternately, before striding confidently to Hermione. "I formally ask to be considered as your soon-to-be husband's third wife." Gabrielle bowed. "I am Gabrielle Delacour, and I am nineteen years old, currently doing my mastery in charms."
Hermione looked at her, scratching her head. "Why are you pressing the suit to me?"
"You are going to be head wife, of course." Gabrielle answered. "It seems, logical."
At the disbelief on the other three faces, Gabrielle sighed. "Fine, I heard your conversation when I was at the door."
Ginny had to smile. "What do you bring to the marriage if we say yes?"
"Lust." The answer comically shocking all three. "Logic, Love and Lust. Perfect combination. We shall be unstoppable." Gabrielle exclaimed.
"I suppose I am logic then? Then tell me, Gabrielle, why do you wish to marry Harry?"
Gabrielle just smiled. "I remember a teen really, who without being asked, waited to make sure everyone's safe, even if it meant losing a contest, and endangering his life. I know then that I have found someone special, someone worthy of being loved. I fell in love that day, not with the Boy-Who-Lived, but a boy who will do the right thing, in any circumstance. Short of my father, I have not found anyone even close."
Harry cleared his throat. "We haven't known each other long, Gabrielle. I can't really say I love you."
Gabrielle nodded. "Love is not finite. It is not halved when cut, it does not diminish if shared. I believe it will come for me. Sooner or later, doesn't matter to me."
Harry felt that there was something Gabrielle wasn't telling them. Ginny and Hermione felt it too. "Gabrielle, may we talk to Fleur, first?"
Fleur came and the three queried her about Gabrielle's enthusiasm in wanting to get married to Harry, and by extension, to all of them. "She's fancied you ever since you got her out from the lake." Fleur admitted. "As to why I recommend her, well, she is my sister, and I know for a fact that she's extremely loyal, and like me, understands political play because we were always raised with it."
"Will your father agree to it though?"
Fleur nearly winced. "He has some idea that Gabrielle is pressing her suit. I believe he'll be more accepting of her marriage to you that mine ever did. Marriage of the daughter of the Deputy Minister of France with the soon to be Head Auror of the British Ministry and Hereditary Wizengamot member?"
Ginny smirked. "And you forget, sister wife to the future British Minister of Magic."
Fleur nodded. "That too." Quickly silencing Hermione's protest. "The more I think of it, the more I think that this is the best for everyone. Harry doesn't get dragged into factional disputes in the Wizengamot. Hermione gets the prestige of being the matriarch of a Most Noble and Ancient House and Gabrielle…"
"Gets to make a lot of babies and a husband who doesn't turn into an idiot every time I flash him."
"Gabi…" Fleur warned. "You still need to speak to papa about this."
Harry nodded. "I need to speak to all your parents, to be honest."
