Author's Note: This chapter is not "beta" proofed but I did check it a few times myself, although I was bound to miss a few things, so bare with me. I DID get an offer that I'm going to take up, but I have already written this chapter plus two more so I really wanted to get it out there. Thank you for all the wonderful reviews and thanks to everyone reading! You guys are GREAT! 3

Chapter 11: goodbyes and frilly stuff

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Fred was sitting next to me. I wasn't sure how early or late in the morning it was, but I knew it was definitely time to go back to the house. If they weren't worried sick about us, they probably would be by morning.

I felt bad waking him up, but I did anyway. He opened his eyes slowly. It was still dark outside, so it couldn't have been before 3 A.M. but we had left around eleven thirty last night.

"Fred," I whispered, "we need to go back. Your family is probably worried," I was still saying 'your family.' it was our family now.

He nodded, and slowly got up. With each motion he made, he regained a little more consciousness. I followed him back, staying a good two feet behind him. Luckily, even though he was tired, he still knew how to get home.

We walked into the house unscathed. It seemed as though everyone had luckily went to bed. Once we were clear, we were off to bed too. The kitchen clock read 3:14 AM. I was dead tired.

When Fred and I reached the top of the stairs, he placed a kiss on my cheek. I had been unsure how to take this, once again, so I just smiled and watched him shuffle into his room. Then, I very carefully, walked to mine. I made sure to be as quiet as possible when opening up the door and entering.

Unfortunately, as soon as I opened the door, two lit wands were pointed at me.

"Where have you been?" Ginny whispered exasperated, "we have been up for HOURS! We were about to go and look for you guys!"

Katy was standing there, agreeing with everything Ginny said.

"We were just lying down and looking at the stars. We both must have fallen asleep. As soon as we woke up, we made our way back here," well that was partially true. I didn't have to tell them EVERYTHING.

"I can tell you two did more then that," Katy said.

"What?" I asked caught, "How?"

"Your hair is disheveled, your shirt is more unbuttoned then it had been before, and you walked in here smiling. Plus, the defensive way you have answered our questions."

I had been caught, but it wasn't what they thought! "Yes! Ok FINE! I guess we made out," I winced at the word, it felt weird for me to say, "but we didn't do any more. I stopped. Then we really did fall asleep. That's why we're so late." I said honestly.

"Now THAT," Ginny started, "I believe." She put her wand down, "and I would appreciate if you would spare me any details about my brother." She gagged. I did too slightly. It was odd enough for me to even think about. Why would I ever describe it to anyone?

"I knew you two had chemistry," Katy said pleased, "It wont be long!" She said with a smile.

I shrugged, "if I have anything to say about it, it will be." I said, "I don't want it to move too fast. I don't even know what we have together. I can hardly talk to him, but I can make out with him? It makes no sense to me. It needs to be real, or I won't go any farther." I said.

"Well, good for you," Katy and Ginny said at the same time. They looked at each other, and then back at me.

"That's how George and I were a few days ago, when you walked in. We didn't go any farther either. Although, our relationships aren't the same, I get where you are coming from. I'm not going to go through the same hurt I did last time with him. I guess that's why I feel like I need to take things slow. Last time we took things way too fast, and he ended up hurting me really bad."

I nodded. Perhaps that was why I pushed Fred away. I didn't want to be hurt, especially if I had to see his face for the rest of my life. I couldn't say I trusted him with all my heart yet. I knew he was a good guy, but I want to know we can connect on all levels.

The other two wanted to talk more, but I was just too tired, and I could tell they were too. Plus, if Patricia had to tell us to be quiet one more time, I was pretty sure she was going to kill us. She said something about needing her nine hours of beauty sleep. It made me laugh. I barely got six hours of sleep. I was always working on homework.

As I was lying in bed, I started thinking about Hogwarts. What was it going to be like from now until the wedding? I'm coming to the burrow almost every weekend until the date. If not to help plan, it was to attend a wedding. How was my homework going to fit into this? My classes? I wanted to become a healer, but how would that ever happen? I have to be pregnant within one year. That meant I couldn't be a healer for several more years.

That put a damper on all my marriage thoughts. I was going to be sitting at home, taking care of my baby.

Oh GOD, a BABY! I hadn't even thought about a baby. I was so wrapped up thinking about just the marriage part that I didn't even think about what comes after that. We're married, we sleep together, and then we have a baby! I just couldn't even handle that thought.

Luckily, I didn't have to for very long. I passed out within a few minutes.

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Saturday had blown by, and it was now Sunday afternoon. Harry, Ginny, Ron, Patricia and I were all headed back to Hogwarts. Katy was going back to work, which was at some clothing stop in her home town. Fred and George had to head back to the shop. Things were going to go somewhat back to normal. I didn't really know what that meant anymore though.

We were all going to floo into Dumbledore's office. He said we could do this whenever we needed now. He would have done anything for us though. He felt bad for all of his students who were being forced to marry. He took a particular liking to us though, as he always had.

Katy just apparated away. After a very long goodbye with George outside, she was the first to leave. The rest of us lined up by the fireplace, and took our departure. We hugged those we wouldn't see, and left. It was Ginny and Harry, and then Patricia and Ron. They would all see each other at Hogwarts. I wasn't going to see Fred for two weeks. Until Ginny's wedding.

"I'm nervous," I whispered to him.

He leaned into my ear and replied, "Don't be." Then he said something about making sure Ron opened his suitcase as soon as we got back. They were pulling some sort of prank on him. He certainly knew how to kill a moment. I laughed though. That's Fred and George for you.

He kissed me on the forehead. It wasn't awkward at all. I closed my eyes, and wished I could actually kiss him, but I didn't. I wasn't that bold, or ready, to do that. Plus his, our, parents were in the room. I waved at him and flooed away. I had no idea that I would have grown so attached to him in just a few days.

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One Week later

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"Hermione!" Ginny was calling me from down the hall, "wait up!" I halted to wait for my best friend. I really wasn't in the best of moods though. Professor Snape had given us all a ten page paper due in two days. Plus, I wasn't ahead like I wanted to be in all my other classes. I was still a good student, but I felt like I was failing myself. I was ALWAYS ahead on all of my work.

"You ok?" She asked me, panting slightly.

I shrugged, "Fine. Just thinking, only not about my work, which is really what I SHOULD be focusing on."

"Ha, well I'm behind in EVERYTHING!" She exclaimed, "I'm getting married in ONE WEEK! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!"

"You're telling me," I laughed, "I had to plan your wedding shower."

"Which was wonderful by the way!" She said giving me a hug, "thank you for the gift! I can't wait to hang it up in Harry's and my new apartment." She meant the marriage dorm. They were some of the first to move in in Gryffindor. They had already started moving some of their stuff over there.

I had gotten them a picture of Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Myself all together. It was from sixth year. It was one of the only times where we were truly happy before the final battle. I loved that picture. We were all smiling and moving about. Playfully shoving each other, and laughing so hard.

"I can't believe we won't be sharing a dorm anymore," I said sadly.

"Well it's only for like a month and a half right?" She said reassuringly, "plus, you guys will only be right down the hall."

"We will?" I asked.

Ginny nodded happily, "it's half of your wedding present. The one you two get early! I thought we should all be close by, so I made sure all eight of us will be on the same floor."

I giggled with glee, something I didn't do very often. "THANK YOU GINNY!" I hugged her tight, "that is one of the best gifts you could have gotten."

We composed ourselves as some professors walked by. We were on our way back to the Gryffindor tower.

Ginny and I passed Professor Lupin on our way. He stopped us in the hall. I hadn't talked to him outside of class since all of the Marriage Law nonsense had begun.

"Hello girls, how are you?" He asked.

I shrugged, but Ginny replied with a very excited 'grand.' He smiled.

"I will be attending your wedding next weekend I'm proud to say. I wouldn't miss Harry's and your wedding if it killed me!" He announced.

Then he turned to me. "Haven't gotten your invite yet Hermione, but so long as I am invited, I wouldn't miss it for the world."

I smiled, "of course you are invited Professor! It's on November first. I will be working on getting invitations sent out this weekend." That was the truth. Fred and Mrs. Weasley sent me a list of people to invite, as well as whoever I wanted. I needed to mail them sometime soon. I just hadn't gotten around to it yet.

We still hadn't decided any information, but we knew it was September first, in Hogwarts Chapel, at 5 pm. The reception will be in the Great Hall. I believe all eight of us are being married in the same place. They are all booked.

"Well, it's been great to talk with you two. I'm afraid I have a class to teach. Say hello to Harry and Ron for me." We nodded, and then he was off. We continued on our way to the tower.

I had been owling Fred, like we had been before two weekends ago, but they were slightly more intimate then before. I noted that he said Love, Fred every single time now. I did so as well. I guess, our talking was a little less awkward now at least. We mostly just discussed wedding plans though. Ginny's and Harry's and mine. Even Ron's occasionally. But we also discussed my parents.

I had written them back, telling them that I wanted them to come, but not if they weren't going to be supportive of me. I was staying at Hogwarts, and I wasn't going to ever leave this magical realm, or give up my magic. They could forget it. I told them, if they could accept this marriage, then I would really love it if they could be there. I also mentioned I wanted my father to give me away. If he refused, I could always have Mr. Weasley do it though. He was more of my father then my own father.

I was missing Fred. I wanted to kiss him again. For some reason, now that I have, I sort of craved it. Something was wrong with me. I tried my hardest to suppress it, but all I could do was think about him. If it wasn't in a good way, it was in a bad way. I thought about all his previous relationships. I thought about all of his gags, and how I would ever live with him. How would I stand it?

I went back to writing my paper for Snape. I wasn't getting very far, and I had been working on it for hours. I needed a break.

I knew Ginny was in Harry's room. Surprisingly, she had told me she was holding out on him until the wedding night. I wasn't sure if I believed her or not, but she was very passionate about it, so I let it go. I decided if this was true then she wouldn't mind me stopping by.

I knocked on the boy's door. Ron opened it.

"Hey 'Mione," he said depressed, and then opened the door for me.

"You ok?" I asked.

He nodded, "I went shopping for four hours today with Patricia. I don't know how much more of it I can take. The girl is bloody crazy."

I laughed, "I could have told you that,"

"Agreed" Ginny said from somewhere behind me. I looked over at her. She was sitting on Harry's bed as he was trying to write a paper. I was certain it was the same paper I had been trying to write.

"Hello Harry," I said sweetly. He smiled over at me, and mumbled something, but nothing comprehendible. Then I looked over to Ron again who had passed out on his bed.

"It'll just take some time to get used to her. I mean, you never know, you might be good for her. Maybe you were paired with her to mellow Patricia out." I said.

"Well that sounds like some bloody hard work considering how she acts now," He said depressed, "the only plus side she is fucking hot. And REALLY good in bed." He smiled. I threw a pillow at his face. He seemed insulted and I didn't care. Pig.

We just talked for awhile. I had forgotten how much I missed us. The four of us. My friends. We didn't need to talk or worry. We just had to be.

It reached midnight quickly. Ginny and I weren't supposed to be in the boy's dorm still, but we couldn't bring ourselves to leave. It wasn't that hard though when Patricia stormed in.

"I just finished writing a TEN PAGE PAPER and you are in here laughing it up?" She said angrily. I was surprised that she had actually been doing something academic.

"Well I didn't have to write a paper, so yes," He said as a matter of fact.

"You could have helped me! That's what boyfriends, and soon to be married people DO!"

"I went shopping with you for four hours today! What do you call that?" He said annoyed.

"I call it being helpful!" Her mood changed from angry to happy. She looked over at us with a smile for the very first time, "Mrs. Weasley sent over your bridesmaid's dresses for both mine and Ginny's wedding. Both of our wedding dresses arrive too."

I was about to comment on what she said, but she went back to yelling and glaring at Ron. I took it as my queue to leave. Plus, I wanted to see the two dresses.

I said goodnight to my friends and made my way back to the girl's dorms. Ginny followed me.

"I can't believe I'm getting married this weekend," Ginny said excited, "My dress is here, everything is planned. It just seems so fast."

"It's fast for all of us," I mumbled, "but I'm glad you guys are the first to go." I smiled.

"Yes, well, I am too actually. I am slightly worried about Harry though. My brothers are throwing him a bachelor party. I guess they are doing it for Harry, Ron, George, and Fred. It should be interesting. I don't think they are going to be sober until Christmas!"

I laughed, "I think it'll be alright. They better be sober for the wedding though!" I thought of Fred. He sure as HELL better not be drunk at the wedding. That would just make everything worse.

We unlocked our door and walked into the room. Sure enough beautiful dresses awaited us on our beds. The one for Ginny's wedding was beautiful. It was long, silky, and lavender. It touched the floor. Her wedding dress was long and silky too only it was white. They were going to look beautiful.

Then, we looked at the dresses for Patricia's wedding. They weren't as beautiful. I wasn't even sure if the dress would cover my butt. She had decided to go with a "Vegas Theme" dresses and all. I had a feeling her dress was going to be sluttish. The only traditional thing about this wedding is she is wearing a white dress. How mortifying.

Her dresses were short, sparkled, and were hot pink. I was pretty sure I had seen a showgirl on a movie wearing this once. Of course, there were the shoes to match. Pink spiked heals. I had never even seen a shoe like it, let alone wear one.

"Oh god Ginny," I looked over at her. Panic struck me. Ginny laughed and held up her dress too. They were matching.

"That will be an interesting wedding." She said with a smile. I nodded, "that's for sure"