I woke early to the sounds of cooking in the kitchen and the delicious smell of pancakes that could mean only one thing. I leapt out of bed, threw on my dressing gown and bounded into the kitchen where I proceeded to give mum a kiss on the cheek.

"Hi!" Mum brought her hand round to pat me on the cheek. "Today's the day!" I smiled and moved to the fridge. "Sit down," Mum scolded. "Don't exert yourself, not today. I'll get it."

We sat down with apple juice and chocolate chip pancakes discussing the finer arrangements of the day for 15 minutes until Hermione arrived looking a little worse for wear. Mum tutted disapprovingly at her daughter-in-law but Hermione ignored her.

"I have your dress!" Hermione sang lightly, presenting me with a large box.

"Let's see," Mum fussed, her annoyance with Hermione forgotten, replaced with excitement.

Hermione set the box down on the table and I lifted the lid; I frowned. Mum gasped.

"It's beautiful," Hermione fawned.

I nodded, "It is but it's not mine."

"Of course it is!"

"No, it's beautiful...it's perfect...but it's not the dress I bought."

"Are you sure?" Hermione asked.

"Of course I'm sure!" I cried.

Hermione frowned, "I'll floo the shop. We'll sort it out. Why don't you go start your make up before the hairdresser gets here?"

"That's a good idea," Mum agreed.

I nodded and headed off to the bedroom. I returned an hour later my make up carefully arranged and my hair expertly crafted by the hairdresser. A subtle silver eye-shadow sat on my upper eyelids and looped under my eyes. A thin line of green lay along my lashes, helping to make my bright brown eyes stand out just a little bit more. I wore no blusher on my cheeks; their natural rosy colour shone through. On my lips I wore a shimmery lip gloss. The hair dresser had arranged my hair into a braid starting at the left of my head that ran into a low chignon bun that sat to the right. Loose wisps of hair had been curled to frame my face. Delicately arranged down the braid were small silver roses.

"Beautiful," mum observed when she noticed me.

"Thanks," I answered shyly. "How did you get on with the dress?"

"It's yours," Hermione affirmed. "The shop insists that that is the dress you ordered. They're not going to change it."

"It's not," I disagreed. I looked at it unable to prevent the look of longing that came across my face.

Hermione noticed this look and glanced at Mum; she, too, had noticed it and smiled at Hermione.

"No, but it's the dress you've got," Hermione cheered. "Just try it on. You said it was perfect. If you don't like it then I'll go to the shop myself and get the one you paid for, ok?"

I was hesitant but Hermione lifted the dress so that I could see the whole thing. It was an ivory floor-length, strapless gown. The bodice had a lace covering with flowers cut into it and dipped in at the waist. The skirt was loose and flowing without being too puffy. Threaded up the skirt on an invisible thread were the occasional pearls and sparkly beads. It buttoned at the back and the back of the skirt flowed out a little further than the front, creating a small train. I gasped making Hermione laugh. "Try it," Hermione urged.

I took the dress and scampered into my room excited. Had money been no object, and if I'd had more to look, this is exactly what I would have chosen but it was definitely not what I had ordered. The material was so luxuriously soft as it slid up my body. I admired the way the light reflected off the beads for a few moments before calling mum in to help me with the bottoms. I smiled to myself as she cooed over the complete picture I made before she left the room with tears in her eyes.

"Molly, is everyth..." Hermione trailed off when she saw me follow my mother out of the room. "Wow, Gin, that dress is absolutely stunning."

I beamed, "Thank you. This, this is the dress."

"Good," Hermione laughed. "Because it's all yours!"

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

It was an outside wedding, an odd choice for October but autumn had always been my favourite season. There was something soothing about the colours and the crisp air before it got too cold to enjoy. I'd always found it peaceful. I arrived at the venue and was ushered into the main building to wait.

"Wait?" I asked. "But I'm already fifteen minutes late, why do I need to wait?"

Confused I tried to look at the two waiting staff members who turned around and sloped off before I could make eye contact. I was left alone with my eldest brother who was looking decidedly sheepish. "Bill? What's going on?"

"Er...Deanhasntturnedupyet," he rushed his words out quickly.

"What?" I asked, gripping the solid, silver star that hung around my neck.

Bill took a deep breath. "Dean hasn't arrived yet," he said slowly. "Charlie's gone to see what's keeping him."

"Oh," I said, rubbing my thumb across the back of the star pendant pensively. "Who's with Ella then?" A vaguely familiar numbness washed over me but I pushed it aside as I considered that Charlie's girlfriend would now be sat alone.

Bill frowned, "She wasn't feeling well so she never came. Gin, did you understand what I said about Dean?"

"Yes, he's running late. That's ok, I was late so I can't complain about him being a little bit late, can I?"

"He was meant to be here nearly an hour ago. That's more than a little bit late."

"It's ok," I told him, still gripping my necklace. "He'll be here."

I must have sounded more confident than I felt because I could see Bill's frown deepening. I could see the concern in his eyes as he wondered why I so calm? The expression on his face was clear; my fiancé hadn't made it to our wedding, surely I should be panicking? Worrying about whether something had happened to him? Upset that he might have done a runner? The last thing he expected me to be doing was to calmly stand there.

"Gin, are you ok?" He asked me.

"Of course I am," she replied. I wasn't. I wasn't ok and I wasn't calm. The numbness was taking over. I had to focus and concentrate on the one thing that was stopping it from engulfing me. "I hope Ella's okay."

"I'm sure she's fine. It's you I'm worried about, why don't you sit down?" He moved my hand away from the necklace and led me to a seat on one of the side walls. He directed me to sit and took the seat next to me. "Gin...why aren't you panicking a little more?" he asked her.

"Why should I be panicking? Dean's late, it's not like he's not coming." I felt my eyes widen as the realisation that he might not be coming hit me. I was so close to the numbness taking over. "He is coming, isn't he, Bill? He wouldn't leave me, would he? Not here, not now. Not after everything that's happened."

"I don't know, Gin," Bill said, lowering his eyes sadly.

I nodded slowly. Stop, I told myself. You have to stop thinking this way, you cannot let the darkness take you again. There are too many people here for you to lose yourself again. I sat deathly still as I considered this.

"Our poor guests, what if he doesn't come? They'll have come all this way for nothing."

"Your guests? Ginny are you serious? What about you?" His voice had raised a little now, whether from anger or concern, I wasn't sure.

"What about me?" I asked him, surprised. "I'm a terrible person, I deserve this."

"What are you talking about?"

"This, it's my punishment. Draco and I had this big falling out and I told him to stay away from me. All he has ever done is be kind to me and I was so horrible to him."

"Gin, don't be ridiculous. What does Malfoy have to do with Dean not turning up?"

"Isn't it obvious?" I could feel the calm losing as the my internal battle raged wildly. "It's karmic payback. I did something terrible and this is the universe's way of getting back at me."

"Don't be stupid!" Bill jumped to his feet, fists clenched in frustration.

Involuntarily I shrunk back into my chair.

"Please don't hurt me," I begged.

"Hurt you? Of course I won't hurt you, why would you even say that?" I could see the hurt shining in his eyes.

I opened my mouth then shut it tight again. "Doesn't matter," I muttered, sitting straight again.

Bill sighed. "Ginny, tell me truthfully. Does Dean make you happy?"

"Of course he does," I answered, a little too quickly.

"What about Malfoy?"

"What about him?" I asked taken aback.

"I can't believe I'm asking this," he muttered before asking, "Does Malfoy make you happy?"

Once again my mouth opened and snapped shut again. "Malfoy annoys the hell out of me. He is arrogant, selfish and insufferable pig."

"And yet, you're wearing a necklace he gave you during you're wedding to Dean."

"How did you...?" I grasped the pendant once more and ran my thumb along the back. It was perfectly smooth, no engraving indentations. It must have turned around during my fiddling. "Oh."

"Ginny, you don't have to pretend with me. Does Dean make you happy?"

I nodded, "Most of the time, yes, but no one can make us happy one hundred percent of the time, can they?"

"No," Bill agreed. "But they shouldn't scare you the rest of the time, either."

"No one scares me," I argued, albeit weakly.

Bill ignored her, "When he turns up, you don't have to go through this, Gin."

The internal war was raging loudly. Do not lose focus, I reminded myself.

"Yes, I do. Even if I didn't want to, it's a bit late to change my mind now."

"Ginny, do not throw yourself into another marriage just because you think it's what is expected of you." I opened my mouth to interrupt but Bill put his hand up to silence me. "Ginevra Molly Weasley, my smart, brave, beautiful sister, do you know what your biggest fault is?" I shook my head. "You are too honour-bound and not selfish enough."

"Isn't that a good thing?" I asked.

"Yes, as long as it isn't to the detriment of your own happiness. I know that you loved Harry but I don't believe that you were in love with him and I dare say the same is true for Dean. I have only ever seen you this calm once before and that was when you married Harry. You didn't want to marry him but you did it anyway because you love to make people happy. Be selfish, Gin, for once in your life and do what makes you happy..." his sentence trailed off as Charlie apparated into the room looking very wide-eyed and dishevelled. "Charlie? What's wrong?"

I looked at my brother curiously. His hair was matted together with sweat, his robes hanging off him as though he'd been running. A line of blood ran down the side of his face from his eyebrow and his lip was showing signs of starting to swell.

"Gin," he looked at me, tears in his eyes. "I don't know how to tell you this..."

"Tell me what?" I asked, rising to my feet. There was a roaring in my head. I was losing the focus. Charlie looked down at the floor. "Tell me what, Charlie?" My voice was starting to break.

"Dean, I saw him...the reason he wasn't here...Ella..."

I sank back into my seat as the numbness swallowed me. "Please tell me you're not serious?"

Charlie just stared at the floor, his head shaking. There was a distinct pop behind him and Dean had apparated into the room, too.

"You!" Bill growled, charging at Dean.

"Bill!" I cried, on my feet and clutching my necklace once more. "Leave him." The focus was back and as I looked at Dean the numbness subsided.

Bill stopped dead in his tracks, looking from Dean to I and back again.

"Both of you, please, go and keep the guests amused. Tell them the wedding will start soon." My eldest brothers stared at me dumbfounded. "Go," I instructed, my voice stronger as a new, stranger calmness surrounded me. No, not calm. Angry.

The two men grudgingly left their little sister to the cheating rat stood before her. Dean took a step towards me but I held out a hand to stop him.

"Do not get any closer," I commanded sternly. As outwardly calm as I may have appeared, inside I was seething with rage. How dare he do this to me. Again. On our wedding day. Rage coursed it's way into my blood stream.

"Gin, please, whatever he's told you is a lie."

"Oh really?" I asked sarcastically. "So he didn't catch you shagging his girlfriend? What, were you both just looking for something naked again? I'm not stupid, Dean, and I'm not going to fall for your lies again."

Dean at least had the sense to look guilty about what he'd done. "I'm sorry, it was stupid. She didn't mean anything."

"Well that makes it so much better," I spat. "That you would jeopardise our whole relationship for someone who 'didn't mean anything'."

"I'm sorry! What was I meant to do?"

"Er...turn her down? Not flirt with her in the first place? Definitely not sleep with her!"

"She came on to me!" I snorted in his face. "She did! That night, at your parents house, celebrating our engagement...you teased me so bad, I had to take care of it. I went upstairs to take care of matters and she was on her way out of the bathroom. She saw what you'd done to me and she -"

"Enough!" I growled. "I do not need to hear the sordid details. You're telling me that you didn't just sleep with her but that the two of you have been having an affair, too? Merlin, Dean!"

"Gin, it wasn't like that," he took a few steps towards me, this time I didn't stop him. "You have to believe me. I never would have done anything with her if you had just been a little more attentive."

"What?!" The rage inside me boiled to the top.

"Well, you know, you're always tired or busy and when you're not you just want to do the same old stuff, over and over and over again."

Before I could stop myself, my right hand was curled into a fist and had planted itself firmly into Dean's left cheek. Instinctively, Dean grabbed my wrist with his own hand and pulled my arm down sharply, twisting it, and me, so that I stood with my back to him, hand twisted painfully between the two of us. I couldn't stop the little cry that escaped my mouth.

"You ever lay a finger on me again, you little bitch..." Dean whispered maliciously into my ear.

"Dean, please," my voice came out hoarse and scared, though I was anything but. "Please don't hurt me," I begged.

"Oh, I'm gonna hurt you good," he promised. A shudder ran through me that Dean mistakenly took for fear. "Right after we go make them vows. We're gonna have this stupid celebration that you wanted and then tonight, I'll teach you exactly how to please a man. I won't need to cheat any more, baby, because you're going to do anything I tell you."

That was enough. Something inside of me snapped, "Like hell I am!" I stomped down on his foot hard with my heel and span out so that the two of us were facing each other once more. "Let go of me, Dean." I demanded coolly.

"Or what?" He sneered. "You've sent your brothers away, they're not coming back for you. You told them we'd be out there soon, remember."

"I'm still here, Thomas," a cold voice spoke up from behind him.

"Draco!" I exclaimed and I'm not ashamed to admit that I was a little relieved to see him.

"Malfoy? What is he doing here, Ginny?" He spoke to me directly, ignoring Draco's presence behind him. "He is always around you. You and your little man-whore."

"That's rich!" Draco sneered. "I came because I was needed. Now turn around and look at me you snivelling little coward."

I saw the anger flash across Dean's face before he spun us both around so that he could face Draco. I stood facing Dean, acting as a shield between the two.

"Thomas, let her go."

"I don't think so, Malfoy. You think I don't know that the second I let go of her you'll throw some charm or another right at me?"

"Thomas, let her go," Draco repeated.

"No," Dean replied simply.

All of a sudden Draco launched himself at Dean, his head connecting with stomach as the two went sprawling across the floor. In his surprise Dean released my wrist but not before I, too, took a tumble. I was on my feet almost instantly, adrenaline coursing through me as I scrambled to grab my wand, which had fallen from it's impractical holding place of the garter on my leg. I stood, wand poised, ready to strike but hesitated. Draco and Dean were rolling around on the floor, each throwing punches at the other. They were just an indistinguishable mass of robes, to charm one would mean charming them both.

"Draco," I said quietly, not at all surprised to find he didn't respond to my words. I clutched my necklace once more and this time an unbelievable sense of calm came over me. Head clear of anger and rage I knew what needed to be done.

"Wingardium Leviosa," I swished my wand at the sprawling pile of clothes and it began to rise.

As fast as I had done it, I stopped the incantation, allowing the two to fall to the floor again. This time when they landed it was a lot easier to distinguish the two figures.

"Petrificus Totalus," I aimed my wand at Dean, following it up with a perfectly aimed Bat-Bogey Hex.

With Dean incapacitated by his own his flying bogies, I turned to Draco.

"What are you doing here?" I was trying to sound as though I was still angry with him but we both knew I how relieved I was to see him.

"Gin..." He took a step towards me. I made to step back, too, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. His arms enveloped me and I collapsed into him, shaking with the sobs that were now freely flowing. "Ginny, don't cry. He's not worth your tears."

I shook my head against his warm chest, "Not him," was all I managed to get out.

I felt him bend his head down to rest on top of mine, heard the intake of breath and the rise of his chest as he inhaled. "Then what are you crying for?"

I wriggled out of his arms so that I could look up at him. Even with my heels on he still had a good head on me. I took a calming breath to stop the unnecessary sobbing. "Happiness?" I asked him. "Is it wrong of me to be happy that he's cheated on me again? That he hurt me again? Don't get me wrong, it's not that I'm happy he did those things and Merlin knows a Bat-Bogey Hex is nowhere near enough punishment for what he did, but I'm happy I know now. Now, before we went through with the wedding. Now, before it was too late to do anything about it and now, before he and that bitch he was cheating with could ruin mine and my brother's lives. Because he hasn't ruined it Draco, if anything my life is only just beginning and..." I stopped as I finally took him in.

His pale skin seemed paler than usual, clammy. His usually immaculate hair was lank and plastered to his head. His normally crisp robes were severely wrinkled as though he had slept in them the night before and the smell...Eurgh!

"Draco, are you ill?"

He looked surprised at the question. "No."

"Well then why do you look, and smell, so bad?"

He looked down at himself as though he had only just realised this himself. "Well, I had a rough night and then got rudely awakened half an hour ago because some silly witch had got herself into trouble. Again. So I came straight to her rescue, obviously."

"Really?" I stared up at him dumbfounded.

"Really," he smiled, then his smile turned into a sneer as he sarcastically told me, "You're not looking so hot yourself anyway, Weaselette.

It was my turn to look down at myself, I could see a tear in my skirt and red rings around my wrists. Now that I considered the tumble and the crying I was pretty sure my hair and face were probably in a bit of a state, too. "Well, we better do something about that if we're going to give these people a wedding."

Draco's eyes narrowed. "You're not seriously still marrying that, are you?!"