Chapter Ten: His and Her List
"Harry? You do know that weddings are cumbersome to organize right? There are so many things to consider?", she told him as they were at breakfast the day after they visited her parents.
"I didn't know that Hermione. I've only been to one wedding. Bill and Fleur's.", he admitted sheepishly.
"I thought so. I reckon we should have a list of what we want. Then have someone do everything else for us.", she said.
"Alright. Let's hear it.", he sighed bracing himself for a long list.
"I want a small intimate wedding. No more than 100 guests. Just close family and friends. I want Ginny as maid of honor and Luna as the bridesmaid. I want lilies as my bouquet and scattered petals of red and white roses on the aisle. For the music, just a piano, saxophone, and violin combo. I couldn't care less for the food and cake and those other trivial things.", she said.
"What that's a really short list!", Harry exclaimed.
"You thought I'd be seem bridezilla didn't you?", she smirked and he nodded.
"I guess your list is very doable. I agree with what you said. I'll have Ron as best man and Neville as the other groom's man. No reporters at the ceremony. That's all I want.", he told her.
"Really? That's all you want?", she looked at him for confirmation.
"Yes, that's all I want. I don't really care much for the wedding. Knowing I'll marry you is more than enough for me. If you were to ask me, my list for the honeymoon would be longer.", he confessed.
"Why is that?", she asked with an eyebrow raised.
"Well, there's so many places I want to visit with you and things to try out.", he admitted.
"Alright. You plan the honeymoon. I'll coordinate the wedding. You reckon Mrs. Weasley can take care of everything else? Food and other stuff? My mum can help of course but I don't want to tire her very much. She's still on treatments."
"Mrs. Weasley would be happy to do it for sure.", he smiled.
"Where do you want to get married?", she asked.
"Well, we met at Hogwarts and it's a special place for both of us. You think that's doable?", he suggested.
"Harry, that's brilliant! We can ask Professor McGonagall if she agrees. We can get married in the Great Hall and have the reception there. That way, we don't have to do much effort.", she agreed.
"Great! So let's ask her when we get back and I'll owl Mrs. Weasley.", he said.
"You're good at this wedding planning stuff.", she teased.
"Hmmm. Don't know. I'm more of a honeymoon kind of guy. Seems more exciting to me.", he said wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
"Yeah! Yeah! Whatever helps you sleep at night, Potter.", she retorted with a slight blush on her face.
"Hermione? Your list didn't mention a dress? Don't all brides think that's most important?", he asked.
"Don't worry about that Harry. I already know what I'm going to wear. You just do you and your menfolk. And I'll take care of Ginny and Luna's dresses. I'm going on red and gold themes for their dresses as well as other wedding accents. It's best you keep that in mind in choosing robes.", she told him.
"I guess we're settled then.", he told her and she nodded.
They came back to Hogwarts with only three remaining items left on their to do list for the wedding: (1) talk to Ron, Ginny, Neville, and Luna; (2) talk to Prof. McGonagall; and (3) buy their wedding party's attire except Hermione's wedding dress. Hermione assured Harry that her wedding outfit is already a crossed-out item on their rather short list. Everything is all set since Mrs. Weasley agreed to do everything for them. They just have to confirm the three remaining items on their list and they're all set for July 31st.
They gathered Ron, Ginny, Neville, and Luna in the Room of Requirements for their big news as soon as they arrived back. It's best to talk about it at once to make things easier.
"Thanks for coming you guys.", Harry said.
"Gin, Lu, can I talk to you for a sec?", Hermione approached the girls and they sat on the opposite corner of the room.
"Gin, Harry and I decided to have the wedding on July 31st this year. I want you to be maid of honor and Lu, will you be my other bridesmaid?", Hermione told the girls and they squealed as they embraced her. The squeals of course attracted the attention of the men sitting at the opposite corner.
"I reckon this is about the wedding then? Girls only squeal about weddings and babies. So I'm sure it's the wedding.", Ron commented.
"Well, be my best man will ya mate? And Nev, be my groomsman?", he went straight to point and both men clapped him on the back indicating their acceptance.
"When's the wedding, Harry?", Neville asked.
"July 31st.", he said.
"On your birthday? Isn't that weird mate? That means getting only one present for your birthday and anniversary.", Ron said.
"Mate, I'm getting the best birthday present this year. What more could I want?", he said with a smile.
"You're so whipped mate. W-H-I-P-P-E-D!", Ron said.
"Nice to know you can spell Ron.", he remarked with sarcasm earning him a punch to the arm.
"You blokes free this Hogsmeade weekend to buy dress robes?", he asked and both men grimaced but complied to the request.
"Hermione! Us blokes are done. What about you?", he called out to the ladies who stood up and joined the men.
"We have one request though. You can't tell anyone about this. It's a secret we intend to keep from the public. We want a private wedding and only those who are invited should be in the know. We hope you understand that.", Harry said and the wedding party nodded.
"How do you make sure this news doesn't spread though? This is like the wedding of the century!", Ginny asked.
"Oh, leave it to me Ginny. It'll stay a secret I'm sure.", Hermione said a smirk making the rest shiver. Apparently they all remember what happend to Marietta Edgecombe after she betrayed the DA.
"You sure you can handle marrying Hermione, Harry? She's brilliant. But scary.", Ron said.
"I'm sure I'll be fine, Ron.", Harry said with a wink to his best mate.
The next day, they asked for an audience with the headmistress which she immediately granted. Hermione told her favorite professor of their plans which the headmistress gladly granted. They were also assured of her secrecy. And with that everything was all set. They just need to buy their wedding party's attire and send the invitations.
On the next Hogsmeade weekend, the wedding party apparated to muggle London to buy their outfits. They decided to go to muggle stores since their presence in wizarding shops would spill their secret. Hermione lead her bridesmaids to a shop that sold gowns. Harry lead his party to a shop that sold suits.
"I'm thinking ruby red with gold accents fir your dresses how's that sound?", Hermione informed them.
"That sounds awesome!", Ginny agreed and Luna smiled.
"Brilliant! Let's get shopping then.", she opened the door to the shop.
"Hi! How may I help you?", a sales lady said.
"I need dresses for my bridesmaids. The wedding theme is red and gold. So maybe a red dress with gold accents?", she told the sales lady.
"I've got just the thing. Please take a seat.", and with that she left. They were then offered light snacks and champagne.
"Here we are!", the sales lady came back with a ruby red flowy dress with a golden accent on the waist. The dress reminded Hermione of what the greek goddesses wore. It was simple and elegant. It's perfect!
"I love it but the girls should try it on first.", Hermione said and the girls stood up to be fitted.
"Miss? What about you? Aren't you buying a wedding dress? You may see something you like in our store.", the sales lady told her.
"No one actually knows what I'm going to wear. I'm having it custom made to fit my fiance's taste. I already have a seamstress and it shall be ready soon. I do need something for my veil though. Do you have cute hats? I need a small white hat or red hat just to pin to my hair as an accent where the short veil that's just enough to cover my face will be set at. If you have something like that, then I'll take it.", Hermione smiled. My dress should be ready in two weeks. I'm sure Harry's going to laugh at my choice of dress when he sees it. Hermione decided to wear a custom made dress for the wedding. The dress she'll be wearing will be an exact replica of Marilyn Monroe's famous dress in The Seven Year Itch, the only difference is that her wedding dress will be made of white silk and she requested for the back to be bare to showcase her figure spectacularly, just like at the auction.
"Follow me, I think I have what you need.", and then she was showed to a display of hats. She decided on getting the small beautiful white hat that she could pin to the side of her hair along with the veil. Now I'll just need to find shoes and jewelry and my look is complete.
Ginny and Luna were very happy with her choice of dress and Hermione gladly paid for it along with her hat. She then lead the girls to some shops that sold shoes.
"Now girls, you get to decide what shoe to wear so have fun looking around. Let me know once you're decided so that I can pay for it and we'll go find the gentlemen.", she instructed. Hermione found what she was looking for the moment she saw it. It was a four inch white stiletto pumps by Manolo Blahnik. The perfect shoe to complete my wedding look. After some time, Luna and Ginny approached her with choices and she gladly paid for them. She lead the group in the direction of the shops selling men's clothes. They entered the store they saw Neville in. Apparently he was already fitted and he's just waiting for Ron. Harry also made his choice already and was just at the changing rooms.
"Hey ladies!", Harry greeted them. Harry looked at her shopping bag.
"Can I see?", he asked her.
"No!", she stuck her tongue out.
"You're no fun. It's just a shoe anyway.", he pouted.
"Fine then.", she relented and he kissed her cheek and opened the shoebox in the bag.
"I seriously can't understand why you women wear such uncomfortable shoes.", Harry asked as he perused the high heels.
"Well they're very pretty shoes.", she defended crossing her arms.
"If you say so. But I figure you won't be able to walk by the end of the ceremony.", he told her.
"Please! I wore something like this at the Yule Ball.", she huffed.
"Really? Wow! I can't believe women can endure this stuff. I'm so glad to be a bloke.", he said shaking his head in disbelief.
"Women ensure shoes like these since it helps make our legs look nice and our bums smaller.", she explained.
"Really? Go on then. Show me?", he said as his eyes shone with mischief.
"Now you're just being a prat!", she playfully smacked him on the head.
"For the record, your legs always look great with or without these types of shoes and your bum -", she cut of whatever he was going to say as she covered his mouth with her hand and glared at him. He retorted by tickling her sides making her hand on his mouth drop as she fought to control her laughter.
"Oi! Love birds! What do you think?", Ron called out to them as he interrupted their moment.
"You look nice Ron.", Hermione said still blushing.
"That's the one mate.", Harry agreed. Ron smiled and went back to changing rooms. Harry stood up from the couch to pay for their purchases. They enjoyed some time in muggle London and had dinner in one of the many restaurants before they returned to Hogwarts.
All the items on their wedding list are accomplished. They just have to wait for the 31st.