Disclaimer: I DON'T own Harry Potter, I wish I did, but it is J.K Rowling's stuff, and she's AMAZING for it (smiles). Ann belongs to Ann-Marie herself, and a massive thanks to her.
(A/N: Just so you know, my birthday is on the 2nd of June, so that date has particular significance to me, which is why I chose it. Enjoy )
Chapter Twenty-One:
"Ron, c'mere." Ann called across the private Common Room. Ron walked over to his fiancé, wrapping his arms around her from behind and looking over her shoulder.
"Yeah?" He asked, smiling fondly.
"Pick one." She pointed to the piece of parchment infront of her. "Fonts."
"Uh… that one." Ron chose a totally random font.
"Oh, good, that was my favourite one!" Ann said gleefully. Putting away the parchment, the French woman drew a bunch of fabric samples out of her bag. "Look, these are the colours, and types of material I'm thinking of having the dresses done in. Which ones do you like?" She asked, resting her head on his freckled arm.
"Um… hmmm." Ron looked at the fabric. "Probably that one. He picked a shimmery, gold swatch of velvet.
"Good!" Ann smiled at him. "It's hard to believe our wedding is still one whole month away." She added wistfully. "Time seems to be going so slowly."
"Yeah." Ron agreed, kissing her cheek.
"Ron!" Ann batted him away cheerfully. Then she turned her head and kissed him softly. "That is better." She grinned wickedly, eyes sparkling. "So. One long month." She stated.
"Yup. One long month 'till the 2nd of June." Ron gave her a lopsided smile. "30 days."
"You're counting the days?"
"You aren't? C'mon Ann, I know you've been counting. There's been a line of Bertie Botts Beans along you windowsill for over a month, diminishing slowly." Ann blushed, and Ron smiled.
"Oh, alright. You win." She conceded. "Just don't get too conceited. Just think how silly I'd look standing at the altar if your head basically blocked me from the view." She laughed.
"Fine." Ron grumbled, smiling. "I love you." He whispered in Ann's ear.
"I love me too." Ann whispered back. Ron looked affronted, unwrapping his arms and walking 'round to stand front of her, hands on his hips.
"Hey!" He said indignantly. "Hmm, maybe I'll have to have second thoughts about marrying you." He threatened, although his large mouth twitched.
"Nah Ron. Don't worry. I love you." Ann smiled lovingly at him. Standing up, she walked over to her mollified fiancé and kissed him sweetly, slinking her arms around his tall shoulders.
"Well, this is sweet and all, but I think you'd better stop for a while." A chuckle met their ears.
"Honestly Ron, think what would happen if student, a little First Year, walked in on you two!" Another voice met their ears. Ron and Ann turned their heads to see Harry, Ginny, Hermione, and Draco all staring at them. Ron's ears went a bright red, and Ann quickly slid her arms down to her side.
"Errr." Ron and Ann exclaimed, embarrassed.
"Really Ron, I came up here for the marvelous view out the windows, but you've fogged them all up! Surely you can wait for the honeymoon? Or even the wedding?" Ginny exclaimed, piping up. Draco laughed, his arm around Hermione's waist.
"As it is, we've came to tell you our good news!" He exclaimed, looking fondly down at his wife.
"Ron, Ann, well, I'm…" Hermione trailed off, scarlet.
"Go on." Ginny urged. With wide smiles from the others, Hermione hesitantly opened her mouth.
"Well, I'm pregnant!" She announced, smiling wildly as she spoke. Ann gasped, then smiled, hurrying over to hug her cousin. "It's a girl." Hermione disentangled herself and looked at Ron, worry creasing her face. "Ron-"
"Hermione – Congratulations!" Ron said warmly, even though he felt like someone had thrown a sack of bricks at his head. "That's – that's wonderful!" He smiled warmly, and walked over, hugging the Malfoy tightly. "It's great, Hermione. Really." He whispered into her ear.
"Thanks Ron." Hermione smiled widely at him, one hand over her stomach.
"Congratulations, Draco." Ron added, holding out his hand. To his surprise, Draco grabbed his hand, but instead of shaking it, he pulled Ron into a hug.
(Albeit a manly hug.)
"Thanks Ron." He said, glowing.
"C'mon Hermione. Names?" Harry spoke up, grinning.
"Er, we were thinking of Saria." Hermione told them. "Or Narcissa." Draco smiled fondly at his wife. "Or maybe even Lily." She glanced at rather warily Harry, who nodded, an odd light in his eyes.
"Why not combine some of them?" Ginny put in. "Saria Narcissa Malfoy. Or Narcissa Saria Malfoy. Although I think the first one is cuter, no offence." Draco smiled.
"You know, I like that." Draco replied. "Saria Narcissa Malfoy." He smiled at Hermione, who nodded.
"Me too. Good idea Ginny!" She praised, smiling brightly. "I think Saria Narcissa Malfoy is beautiful."
"Then that it is." Draco agreed.
"Good." Ginny laughed. "No offence, but I have dibs on 'Lily.'" She gave Harry a significant look, which Ron chose to deliberately ignore.
"We're not married yet, Ginny." Harry laughed, glancing slightly cautiously at Ron.
"So how old is she?" Ann asked, smiling.
"Only a few weeks." Hermione revealed. "I was so shocked that wizard pregnancy tests worked so early!"
"We're not completely in the Dark Ages, Hermione." Draco laughed, putting his arm back around her.
"Well, congratulations!" Ann exclaimed, sidling over to Ron and leaning against him.
"Yeah." The others added.
"Well, we'd better go." Hermione interjected. "We've got other people to tell, namely Dumbledore and Minerva." She smiled shyly. "Bye all." With a wave, Draco led his wife out of the room, his thin arm still around her protectively.
"Isn't it wonderful, Harry!" Ginny said joyfully, kissing him.
"Oi, cut that out!" Ron interrupted. "It's slightly disturbing!" Ann's sweet laughed tinkled though the room.
"Aw Ron, let them be." She giggled, smiling fondly at her red-head, placing a hand on his cheek. "C'mon, we're late. Quidditch Club, remember?" A look of comprehension dawned on his face.
"Oh yeah." He said slowly. "Bye lovebirds." He threw at Ginny and Harry, who were still kissing enthusiastically.
Outside the room, with Ron being considerably more relieved now that he didn't have to see his sister making out with his best friend, Ron and Ann hurried through the corridors towards the Quidditch Pitch.
"What about you, Ann?" Ron asked, realizing he'd never asked her an extremely important question.
"What about me?"
"Kids. Do you want any? When should we have them?" He asked seriously.
"Well, Ron." Ann replied, just as gravely, "I would honestly like to have kids with you at some point in the future. Maybe two. Or three. Or even four!" She grinned. "Once we're married, maybe a after a year…" She trailed off. "I don't know. With Fiona, I never really considered it."
"I guess you're right. Although I'm glad you do want some children." He smiled warmly, scarlet. "As long as we have at least one, eventually, I'll be happy." Ann grinned.
"Definitely. There'll be one; don't worry." Kissing him quickly, she started loping along the halls, Ron jogging after her.
One Month Later June 2nd
"Oh Hermione, I'm so nervous!" Ann fretted. "What if I trip? Or I forget my vow?" Ann fretted, plucking at her hair. Hermione gently slapped her hand.
"Don't touch your hair, you'll mess it up." She chided gently. Rubbing the small of her back, she smiled at her nervous cousin. "You'll do fine." She reassured Ann. "You look beautiful, everyone's here, you know your vows off by heart, and if you forget, just make 'em up." She smiled encouragingly.
"And if you trip, raise you hands in the air. Act like you meant to do it, and grin at everyone. Trust me, they'll clap, not laugh." Ginny added gently, remembering a piece of advice someone had once mentioned.
"Thanks Ginny." Ann said, smiling wryly.
"Plus, even if you fall, they'll probably be too shocked by the dress to notice!" Ginny laughed. "You look gorgeous! My brother's eyes are going to fall out of his head." Ann looked down at her dress. Made of beautiful, pure gold coloured velvet, it fell to her wrists and down to her ankles. Little chocolate brown boots covered her feet, and there was silver embroidery on the sleeve cuffs and neckline, which was wide v-neck. Ann smiled, smoothing the perfect dress. Her hair was basically down, a waterfall of chestnut ripples cascading down her back. A few wavy strands framed her face, while a few locks had been pulled back and clasped at the back of her head to join the rest of her dark hair. A fine, silver veil covered her face, sitting on a circlet of gold in her hair.
"Yeah Ann, you look beautiful." Hermione confirmed. "Come on. Everyone will be wondering where you are."
Out on a raised dais, everyone was wondering where the bride had gotten too. One red-headed man in particular.
"Harry, what if she doesn't show up!" Ron worried. "What if she's decided to call it off? What if she thinks it's too soon, or she just doesn't want to marry me?" He freaked. "She's always been better than me, what if she's realized that?" Harry resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
"Ron, mate, she'll show up. You know girls. Probably just fussing with her hair or something." Ron looked at him, eyes feverish. "And get rid of the notion that she's better than you. In a marriage, both partners are equal." He emphasized, showing unusual sentiment. "If Ann thought you'd both rushed things, she would have said no, okay?" Harry reassured his best friend. Privately, the Potter was wishing the women would hurry up, before Ron had a nervous breakdown, and because it was hot standing in the sun in a black suit.
Suddenly sweet music filled the air, coming from a few flautists and violinists over to the left of the platform. Smiling widely, Fiona skipped out of the big tent erected for the women to get ready in, strewing white, yellow, pink and red rose petals across the lawn. Hermione and Ginny came out next, and the three slowly made their way down the flower-strewn aisle. When the flower-girl and bridesmaids had taken their places opposite Harry and Draco, there was an expectant pause.
The wedding music began, lilting sweetly on the slight breeze, as Ann slowly emerged from the marquee. Slowly, smiling tearfully, she made her way up to the dais, taking her place beside Ron.
A hush fell over the crowd again as the marriage-dude-guy stepped up. It was Professor Dumbledore! Seeing the crowds surprised look, he grinned wolfishly.
"Welcome to the wedding of Ann D' Neige and Ronald Weasley." Dumbledore said slowly. "And yes, this is a legal wedding." He smiled again. "I have a permit to marry people, amongst my many bits of parchment." The crowd chuckled, sitting down onto rows of seats that had suddenly appeared. "We are here to witness this happy couple enter marital bliss. Although they have only known each other a relatively short time, anyone who's seen them together knows that this union is true love." An 'awww' went through the crowd. Mrs. Weasley smiled tearfully up at her son. "They have decided to write their own vows, as well as most of this little speech," Dumbledore chuckled mischievously, "And have insisted that I cut through most of the other mumbo jumbo and let them give their vows." He stepped back.
"I, Ron Weasley, promise to you, Ann D' Neige, that I will always be there for you. I love you more than anything or anyone in this world, and will never leave you. You are more special than you can ever imagine, and I will be proud, honoured, and delighted if you would consent to be my husband." Mrs. Weasley burst into loud, delighted sobs.
"Do you, Ann D' Neige, take Ron Weasley to be your husband, to have and to hold, through sickness and health, for richer or poorer, and ultimately to love him, till the day you die?"
"I do." Ann said firmly, smiling under her veil.
"Good. Continue."
"Ron Weasley, I love you." Ann said happily. "I want to be with you until I'm old, wrinkled, and no longer sexy." A laugh ran through the bystanders. "Actually, I want to be with you for even longer than that. For ever." She wiped away a tear of happiness. "I promise I will always love you, more than anything, and to always be there for you, and again, always love you. I would love for you to be my husband, if you would consider accepting, and I promise you'll never regret it." The silence continued.
"Do you, Ron Weasley, take Ann D' Neige to be your wife, to have and to hold, through sickness and health, for richer or poorer, and ultimately to love him, till the day you die?"
"I do." Ron said seriously, feeling a wave of happiness and joy run through his veins.
"Well then." Dumbledore commented happily. "I now pronounce you husband and wife." Clasping his hands together, he stated the statement known all over the world. "You may now kiss the bride."
Smiling wildly, Ron lifted Ann's veil, revealing her teary, stunned and utterly delighted face. Tilting her chin up slightly, he leant down, and kissed her passionately.
(A/N: Well, it's been a lovely time writing for you all. I hope you've enjoyed this story as much as I've enjoyed writing it, which is enormously. I'm sorry it had to finally come to an end, but it really needed to finish.
Thank you for bearing with me all this time, and I give a deep thanks to Ann-Marie herself, who's allowed me to borrow her persona all this time. Even if it was your idea, Ann-Marie, thank you so much! A massive thanks to all who've read, and especially all you wonderful people who've reviewed! )
THE END.