Parvati's bridal boutique was nestled in a corner of Diagon Alley, and was a classy shop decorated in shades of white and creams with gold accents. Standing outside of the shop, Hermione took a few deep breaths as she prepared to enter and face Ginny for the first time since the weekend. Truth be told she would rather be still curled up at home with Draco, but real life couldn't be ignored.
Steeling herself for what lay ahead of her, Hermione pushed open the door and entered the boutique. Parvati was standing at the cash register and she greeted Hermione with a warm smile.
"Isn't it a bit late to be shopping for wedding dresses?" she teased. "I read you got married in Las Vegas over the weekend."
"I did," Hermione replied with a nod. "But I'm here for the dress fitting for Ginny's wedding."
"Ah," Parvati returned hesitantly.
"It is today, isn't it?" Hermione checked, wondering if she'd recorded the date wrong.
"It is," Parvati replied. "In fact, Ginny, her mother and Lavender have already arrived. They're in the private fitting room."
"But there's a problem," Hermione guessed. It hadn't escaped her notice that the second she'd mentioned the fitting Parvati had become twitchy.
"I should take you through," Parvati said, gesturing towards the private room where fittings took place.
Wary about what was happening, Hermione followed Parvati through to the private fitting room. In the room she found Ginny, Molly and Lavender standing in front of the rack of bridesmaid dresses while Ginny's wedding dress was hanging up separately. The second she entered the room, the three witches turned to face her and Hermione knew something was going on. Molly and Ginny were frowning, while Lavender looked positively giddy and was smirking at Hermione.
"Just call me when you're ready to start the fitting," Parvati said before she backed out of the room and shut the door behind her.
"Am I too early?" Hermione asked, wondering where the other bridesmaids were. Ginny had several bridesmaids, but aside from her the only one at the fitting was Lavender.
"No, we asked the others to push the fitting back ten minutes," Molly said frostily.
"I didn't get a message saying the fitting was later," Hermione remarked.
"We didn't send you one," Ginny said sharply.
"You're still mad at me, aren't you?" Hermione asked with a sigh. "I'm sorry you're upset Ginny, but what happened at the weekend had nothing to do with you. It was never about trying to outdo you. Draco and I met up by pure chance, and we couldn't pass up the opportunity to be together."
"If you say so," Ginny snorted. "But whether you meant it or not, you did upstage me. And I can't risk you doing it again."
"What are you saying, Ginny?" Hermione asked.
"Your services as a bridesmaid are no longer required," Molly informed Hermione as Lavender watched on in obvious glee. "As long as you're part of the wedding party, no-one will be paying attention to Ginny. And I will not having you ruin my daughter's big day. The wedding is about Ginny and Harry, not you and your Death Eater husband."
Hermione was so shocked by the news that for a moment she didn't know what to say. "So what? I'm just relegated to being a guest?" she finally managed.
"Yes," Ginny answered. "But you won't be receiving a plus one on your invitation. I won't stop you attending the wedding as you're Harry's best friend, but I won't have him there."
"Him?" Hermione snarled. "You mean my husband. My husband who has a name by the way."
"Fine, we don't want Malfoy at the wedding," Ginny spat. "It's going to be hard enough keeping the focus on me and Harry after the stunt you've pulled. Your marriage is all anyone can talk about."
"You can lay that at the door of whoever leaked the news to the papers," Hermione retorted, turning to Lavender.
"Don't look at me," Lavender spat. "I didn't say a word."
"Well someone did," Hermione replied. "We were no sooner back from Vegas before the papers had hold of the story."
"Well, I didn't tip them off," Lavender insisted. "Unlike some people, I don't want to upstage Ginny and Harry on their big day."
"For the last time, we didn't do this to upstage anyone. Draco and I love each other, and while we may not have handled things in the best way, we didn't want to lose our second chance."
"I'm sorry Hermione, but we've made our decision," Molly said. "We have to do what's best for Ginny."
"If that's what you want, I can hardly object," Hermione replied through clenched teeth. After all, it wasn't as if she could force herself into the wedding party. "But as my friends, can you at least allow me to bring my husband to the wedding."
"We don't want him anywhere near the wedding," Ginny insisted. "And don't go running to Harry, because he'll stand with me on this."
"If you want me gone, then I'm gone," Hermione snapped. "And don't expect me at the wedding, because I might very well be busy that day."
Aware that Lavender was stifling her laughter at her situation, Hermione turned on her heel and keeping her head held high she exited the bridal boutique. Just as she was leaving, the other girls were arriving for the fitting and Angelina stopped her to find out why she was leaving.
"I've just being fired," Hermione said.
"From what?" Angelina asked. She knew Hermione had left her job at the Ministry, but she thought she'd been the one to quit.
"Being a bridesmaid," Hermione answered. "Ginny made it clear she didn't want me as a bridesmaid anymore. Not only that, but Draco has been banned from the wedding."
"She can't be serious," Angelina said with a frown. "What you do with your life has nothing to do with her wedding."
"Try telling her that," Hermione snorted. "To be honest, if that's the way she feels, I'd rather steer clear of the whole thing."
"You mean skip the wedding?" Angelina asked with a gasp.
"If I have to," Hermione replied with a sigh. "I don't want to let Harry down, but I don't want to be somewhere I'm not wanted. I guess I've got a few weeks to decide what I'm going to do."
"If you want my advice, don't let Ginny have the last laugh," Angelina said. "Harry's your best friend, and I'm sure he'll want you at his wedding."
"I guess we'll see," Hermione said with a shrug.
Saying her goodbyes to Angelina and the other bridesmaids, she left them to get on with the fitting while she went home. Since she'd been expecting to be gone all afternoon, Draco had headed into work so she was alone in the penthouse. Deciding to do some unpacking and rearranging she spent the next few hours adding a bit more of her presence to the penthouse. When she was finished she then started planning Sunday lunch and perfecting a menu that would hopefully impress Draco's parents.
By the time Draco was due to arrive home, Hermione had Sunday lunch sorted and had a shopping list ready for the next day. She was then curled up on the sofa with a book in her hands when her husband entered the front room.
"How was the fitting?" he asked, settling down next to Hermione.
"I didn't have a fitting," Hermione replied. "Instead I was relieved of my duties."
"Weaselette sacked you as a bridesmaid?" Draco questioned in surprise. He knew Hermione had been worried about the fitting, but he hadn't for one minute thought that her friend could be so cruel.
"Apparently I would steal her limelight," Hermione said. "With me in the wedding, no-one would pay attention to Ginny."
"Selfish tart," Draco sneered. "So what now? She just expects you to attend as a guest, and expects no-one will be talking about why you're not a bridesmaid when the groom is your best friend?"
"I don't think I'm going to be attending the wedding," Hermione admitted.
"Why not?"
"Because it was made very clear that you weren't welcome," Hermione answered. "In virtually the same breath, I was removed as a bridesmaid and warned not to bring my husband to the wedding. We might have stolen the show you know."
"Weaselette is an incredibly self-involved person," Draco remarked with a low whistle. "Does she honestly think anyone will be worried about us during her wedding?"
"Apparently so."
"And what's Potter's view on this? He was pretty good about us in Vegas."
"Harry wasn't there, so I don't know his views," Hermione admitted. "I'm sure if he cares, he'll be in touch."
"And will you go to the wedding if he asks you?" Draco asked.
"Only if I can attend with the man I love," Hermione replied. "I don't see why we should have to hide because Ginny is too insecure to realise that the whole world doesn't revolve around her."
"No matter what's decided, you should go to the wedding," Draco insisted. "You'll only regret not attending your best friend's wedding."
"I guess we'll have to see what's going to happen," Hermione muttered with a shrug. She really didn't want to miss Harry's wedding, but she wasn't going to make any plans until she'd spoken to Harry and found where he stood on the whole matter.
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Harry nervously rapped his fingers on the table in front of him as he nervously waited for Hermione to turn up. He was currently sitting in a café in Diagon Alley, where he'd arranged to meet Hermione. He'd arranged the meeting the previous evening after Ginny had casually informed him that she'd removed Hermione as one of her bridesmaids. Knowing his fiancée, Harry suspected she'd been heavy handed in dealing with Hermione and he wanted to make sure that everything was okay with his best friend.
Finally Hermione turned up only moments before the time they were due to meet, laden down with shopping bags. Apologising for nearly being late, Hermione ordered a coffee and sank down into the chair opposite Harry.
"Wow, you look flustered," Harry remarked.
"I hate food shopping," Hermione informed her friend. "Half of what I want, I can't find in the wizarding world, which means I have to do part of my shopping in the muggle world."
"Yeah, food shopping is a bit of a drag," Harry agreed. "In fact, all shopping is a drag."
"You won't get any arguments from me," Hermione said as she fixed her friend with a serious look. "So Harry, how are things?"
"I don't know," Harry admitted. "I fear my wilful fiancée has alienated my best friend."
"She told you then."
"She did. And I'm sorry Hermione, I had no idea what she and Molly were planning."
"But do you agree?" Hermione asked.
"No, but at the end of the day, it's Ginny's choice who she has as bridesmaid," Harry replied. "I did try and talk her round, but she was insistent. I'm sorry Hermione."
"I'm not really that bothered about being a bridesmaid," Hermione admitted. "She only asked me because of our friendship, and you were the reason I said yes."
"But are you still coming to the wedding, aren't you?" Harry asked.
"I don't know," Hermione said with a slight shrug. "Molly and Ginny were also insistent that if I did attend the wedding, I did so alone. I don't want to miss you getting married, Harry, but Draco is my husband. Is it really too much to ask to expect him to attend your wedding with me?"
"No, it's not," Harry admitted. "But I want you at my wedding, Hermione. You just leave Ginny to me. I'll let her get her own way regarding the bridesmaids, but I won't let her ban you from our wedding."
"And Draco?"
"He can attend with you," Harry insisted. "As you say, he's your husband and it's only right he should be with you."
"Ginny and Molly won't like it," Hermione warned.
"This is my wedding as well, and I want my best friend to be there," Harry said. "With her husband, who clearly makes her happy."
"He does," Hermione agreed with a smile. "Despite the fuss it's caused, I don't regret marrying him, Harry."
"That's good," Harry said, returning her smile. "And how are other people taking it?"
"We'll get a better idea on how Draco's parents are handling things tomorrow," Hermione replied. "They weren't happy, so Draco gave them and ultimatum. Either they accept us and come to lunch tomorrow, or he's done with them."
"He would really walk away from his parents?"
"He doesn't want to, and we're both praying it won't come to that, but he will if push comes to shove."
"And what do you think will happen?"
"I'm hoping Lucius and Narcissa love Draco enough to accept me," Hermione admitted. "I'm not sure I'd ever be able to forgive myself if he lost his parents because of me."
"It wouldn't be because of you, Hermione," Harry said supportively. "If the worst happens, and they lose touch, it'll be down to Lucius and Narcissa. All they have to do is accept his choices and that you make him happy."
"You make it sound so easy," Hermione laughed. "And right now, my life is anything but easy."
"I'm sure it'll all work out in the end," Harry predicted. "At least I hope it will."
"So do I," Hermione said. "Do you fancy another drink before I have to go?"
"That sounds good," Harry returned with a smile. "And Hermione, no matter what happens, I want you to know that you'll always be my best friend. Even if you are now a Malfoy."
"Thanks Harry," Hermione chuckled as she headed off to get them another drink and a cake.
At least now she knew that no matter what happened, she and Harry would be okay. Hopefully Harry would sort an invitation to his wedding, then she and Draco could settle down and focus on their own lives. And maybe in time the rest of the wizarding world would get used to the fact they were happily married and weren't going to let anything tear them apart for a second time.