A/N: Okay so Sharap'n had a good two cents, and I totally agree with her point, but let me explain the position I took. I needed some kind of leverage to make my characters do what I want. If you think about it, the people in this story have already lost too much to war, that they don't want to lose their world as well. If you have had family members killed and your home destroy and your way of life completely altered, you are not going to want to give up the one thing that was constant through the whole ordeal. If I was in that position, I would go along with the law in hopes that everything I lost was not in vain. So there is why I used the mandate that I did when writing the law. I hope that clears up my way of thinking! Just one more chapter until the wedding! (this is an old author'snot, but I left it so if anyone else had the same question they could just refer to this!)
Chapter Nine
Hermione opened her eyes slowly, letting her eyes adjust to the light. She blinked several times and stretched. Then suddenly she caught her breath. It was her wedding day. It was the day that she was going to marry the man she loved.
It had been hard for her to come to that realization. But when she put her head on his shoulder it seemed so- right. Perfect. As if it had been meant to be. She thought about the marriage law and realized that as angry as she had been in the first place, she was glad that it had been put in place. She never would have married Charlie if it hadn't been forced upon them.
Her thoughts were soon interrupted by a short rap on the door. Ginny stuck her head in, and grinned. "Good morning Miss Granger."
Hermione yawned and rubbed her eyes and threw back the covers. "That's the last time I'm going to hear that. Soon it will be Mrs. Weasley."
Ginny grimaced, "Sounds like Mum."
Hermione chuckled, "But I'll be Mrs. Charles Weasley."
"True. Lucky you. Anyways, it's time to get up so we can get started on your hair and such."
Hermione looked at the clock on the nightstand. She yelped, "It's ten-thirty already! Why didn't anyone wake me up? I still have to go and see if the garden is set up properly, or if the reception tent has been done up right."
Ginny held up her hand. "Hermione, everything is done, I overlooked it myself. Everything is just how you wanted it."
Hermione relaxed. "I believe you. I'll take a shower and be out in a bit."
Ginny raised an eyebrow. "I didn't think it would be that easy. I was sure you would argue and want to see the tent and such. You can take a bath and soak for as long as you want now. Plenty of time in the schedule."
Hermione swung her legs over the bed's edge. "Before my bath, I think I would like some breakfast."
Ginny grinned. "Mum is downstairs cooking a feast."
"I'll grab my robe and be down in a minute."
Ginny's redhead disappeared and Hermione sighed and followed suit. She walked into a kitchen full of chattering woman. Hermione's mother was sitting next to Molly sipping coffee and having danishes. Ginny was laughing with Luna and pouring syrup over her pancakes.
The kitchen was completely clear of any utensils moving themselves, and the family clock had been removed. The burrow looked just like any other rural British home. Even the garden gnomes had been sent on a vacation to Malfoy Manor for the day, much to their delight and the Malfoy's chagrin.
Hermione beamed at her mother before picking up a Danish and settling down with a cup of hot tea. Her mother patted her hand. "Did you sleep all right darling?"
"Like a rock Mum." Mrs. Weasley chuckled.
"I couldn't sleep a wink on the night of my wedding. I've loved Arthur since we were young, but the night before I kept wondering if I was doing the right thing. It scared the wits out of me that I was going to be with one man for the rest of my life."
Ginny suddenly spoke up. "Oh hush Mum, you know it was the right choice. Look, you are scaring the wits out of Hermione."
Hermione had indeed gone a little white in the face. Mrs. Weasley followed her gaze and Charlie was standing in the doorway. Molly jumped up, "Charles Weasley, you are not supposed to be here! You are supposed to stay at your flat until the wedding!"
Charlie gave a sheepish grin. "I know, but I need to talk to Hermione."
Hermione stood up, "It's alright Molly, I'll be back down in a minute."
Charlie gestured for her to follow him and they went up to Ginny's room.
"What's going on Charlie?" Charlie looked concerned. He pulled a rolled newspaper from his back pocket and handed it to her. She unfolded the paper and looked at the front page.
"Teenage Wizards Kill Multiple Muggles " Hermione whispered. "These are the ones that were picking on the muggle man. These are the ones I was telling you about. They were actually killing Muggles, not just messing with them? Oh Merlin. I let them get away with murder. I told the judge to just enforce community service in the muggle world. They killed the Muggles they were working with. This is, this is all my fault." Her face grew more frantic as she read the article. "Why would anyone do this?"
Her eyes suddenly shot to the door. "What if their parents go after my family now that their kids are going to go to Azkaban?"
Charlie placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Harry has already put a high amount of security on the wedding, and he's going to put some Auror's on your family for awhile he determines the situation. The reason I showed you this, is because I thought you should know. If you want to move the wedding until this is dealt with I fully understand."
Her cheeks regained some of their color and her golden eyes met his dark ones. "No, we will go ahead with the wedding. I just," She took a deep breath, "Thank you Charlie for not trying to hide this from me until after the wedding. It means a lot to me."
Charlie cupped her chin and gave her a warm kiss on the lips. "I need to go get ready, I'm sure our Dad's and the guys are wondering where I am."
Hermione looked at the clock and sighed. "So much for that bath. I am going to go ahead and take a shower if you will please tell my Mum and yours before you leave."
Charlie smoothed her hair and turned to leave. "I'll meet you at the wedding. I'll be the one up front."
Hermione blew him a kiss. "I'll be the one in white."
He shut the door and Hermione let out a breath of air as she headed for the shower.
An hour later Hermione was admiring the smooth chignon Molly had pulled her hair into. Ginny tucked in a large white rose and snugly placed her veil on the underside of the bun. Her makeup was light and natural and seemed to give her the appearance of a glowing bride. Her mother came in with a large white garment bag. Ginny helped Hermione off with her button up shirt and jeans until she was just wearing her slip and bridal undergarments. Hermione's mother unzipped the bag and pulled out the dress. Molly, Jane, and Ginny helped Hermione into the dress and several minutes later were standing back with tears in their eyes.
"Oh Hermione you look so beautiful." Hermione's mother dabbed her eyes with a white lacy handkerchief.
Hermione studied herself in the mirror. The gown was very simple. It was strapless and silk and had a tight bodice that floated from her hips down to the ground. The only color was a red sash that was pinned in place with a small diamond brooch and was tied in a bow in the back. She wore a single strand of pearls and a pearl in each ear. She heard strands of music from below and she knew that it was time to make the biggest commitment of her life.
