As I am NOT the original author of the Harry Potter series, who as anyone should know is the wonderful JKR who lets us play with her world. I don't own a darn thing here. On with the story.
Chapter 21 Wedding
Monday Bill Weasley was eating breakfast at the Burrow with his youngest brother and his sister when he looked over asking, "Gringotts is having a special day this Saturday. I was wondering if you two would like to go with me for the day?"
His sister Ginny started getting excited asking, "Do you think we will be able watch you work?"
"I'm not sure I suspect you might get the chance. What about you Ron?"
"Nah, I'm not interested in things like that."
"Ron it will be very educational." Mrs. Weasley spoke up as she put more toast on the table.
"Just what I want when I'm on vacation, more schooling." Ron replied the sarcasm heavy in his voice.
"We will talk later." Bill said eyeballing his younger brother wondering what to do if he protested too much.
"So do I need anything special?" Ginny asked.
"No, other that a nice set of everyday robes to wear, we will have everything you need, you might want to talk to Fleur about this just to make sure." Bill said before getting up and heading to work.
That night he again tried to talk to Ron about going to Gringotts but Ron avoided him and was beyond rude in telling him to leave him alone.
Tuesday Hermione stuck her head in Harry's room to remind him about lunch when she noticed his was preoccupied with a note that Dobby had brought. The house elf was standing in a corner wringing his ears as Harry scowled at the paper. "Dobby what have you been told about punishing yourself." Hermione stated then turned to Harry asking, "What's the problem?"
"It's this message from Bill Ron won't even let Bill tell him why he needs to go to Gringotts Saturday. Evidently he's being a right prick to Bill."
Hermione was worried this could mess up her wedding. "What do you want to do Harry?" Hermione asked.
"That's just what Bill asked. He offered to come right out and ask Ron but given the conditions at the Burrow he feels that where ever he asks him someone will overhear."
"So we inform the order. I'm sure the solicitor can keep them from interrupting the wedding." Hermione said resignation in her voice.
Harry got a look on his face the moment she mentioned the order that Hermione recognized. Harry had made a decision and the only thing to do was hang on. "I'm sending Dobby back with a message for Bill to get in touch with Neville. He was the other one we were thinking of. This will send Ron in to orbit but it's time he grew up and realized our lives don't revolve around him."
Two days later Bellatrix Lestrange entered Voldemort's throne room with Draco Malfoy by her side standing tall and proud. Draco nodded before looking Voldemort in the eye asking, "You summoned me my Lord?"
He barely finished his statement before a wand raised and Voldemort's voice called out, "Curio."
Bella watched as her nephew withered on the floor a part of her mind noting her master was holding the curse longer than he normally did. He normally seemed to prefer to cast it several short times allowing the individual time to recover and fear the next one rather than hold it continuously as he was doing. Her nostrils were the first to detect Draco's lose of control over his body it was only a few moments later that Voldemort released him from the curse saying, "Bella, notify Mrs. Malfoy that Draco will be staying with us longer than expected. Then forget he is your nephew and teach him proper respect, I can't believe Lucius failed to instruct his own son so poorly. Once of several things I will discuss with him when he returns. Don't forget Bella, Draco needs to return to Hogwarts after his training is complete so nothing permanent if he is to be of more use than young Crabbe."
"Yes master." She replied a wicked gleam in her eye as she slowly took out her wand and cast a strong scourgify to clean him and the floor before levitating a completely disheveled Draco out of the room and down to her quarters occasionally letting him bounce off stone walls or floor. Seeing Pettigrew she asked, "Peter where is young Crabbe?" while letting Draco fall to the floor.
"He is in my quarters under a stasis spell."
"Bring him to my quarters. He will serve as an object lesson." Bella said before re-levitating Draco and continuing her journey.
Harry was beginning to despair of ever seeing Hermione during the daylight hours when she greeted him one morning saying, "Happy Birthday!" before wrapping her arms around him and doing her best to snog him senseless.
"I almost forgot, thank you." Harry when they finally separated.
"I know it has been a rough two weeks Harry but it will all be over Friday."
"So what's the plan for today?" Harry asked anxiously. Alan had been busy covering for Jane at their dental practice that along with their both needing to be fit for formal wear had cut into the free time the two men had planned on enjoying.
"Nothing. You, me, and a pool have a date for the day." Hermione said smiling.
"What about the wedding?"
"It's all set. Tomorrow you go to Gringotts with the paperwork declaring you an emancipated minor in the muggle world. Gringotts will authorize you access to everything you need and arrange for passports and such. They will then hold the paperwork and file it at the close of business on Monday September second. That way no one will see it until we are at Hogwarts. They will do the same thing with our wedding license. This Friday my mother's parents will arrive here and stay overnight in one of the guest rooms. Saturday my Uncle Robert and his family will arrive, as will Bill and Fleur. Everything is finalized and I can relax today." Hermione explained.
"What about Bill and Fleur's clothes?"
"Fleur has assured me that she has taken care of that."
At the pool Harry hoped she was wearing her white bikini he really like her in that one. When she dropped the jacket it took a while before his eyes left her exposed breasts and their rigid nipples. He then realized he'd gotten half his wish. She was wearing the bottom half of the white bikini he liked so much. "I have to make sure I don't have tan lines come Saturday." Hermione said looking at Harry who looked like he was about to devour her.
"You do know all I will think about is you dressed like this when I see the wedding dress."
"Not a bad thing to be thinking is it?" Hermione asked teasingly.
"I promise to behave today because you will kill me if I slip and put any love bits on you."
"Don't worry Harry I won't do anything to you." She replied watching him relax before she added, "I'll leave that to my mother." Laughing as he cringed at the thought of what Jane would do to him if he ruined any portion of the wedding she'd planned.
"They are here." Mrs. Granger's voice called out upping Harry's nervous quotation another notch.
"Don't worry love, they can't stop the wedding." Hermione said trying to relax him.
'They can if they kill me,' Harry thought saying instead, "We should have warned them."
"Do not worry everything will be fine." Mrs. Granger said hoping her parents well known ability to adjust to any situation would come through for her today.
"Jane," Hermione's grandmother cried as she entered the manor enveloping her daughter in a hug.
"Alan, things going well?" Hermione's grandfather asked as he shook hands with his son in law.
"Fine sir."
"Hermione you've grown in to quite a young lady." Grandmother Harris said looking at her before giving Alan a hug that was nowhere near as intense as the one his wife got.
Mr. Harris greeted his daughter with a kiss on the cheek before turning slightly to face Harry who was standing back and off to one side.
"Granddad, Grand Mum I would like you to meet Harry Potter, Harry this is my Grandfather and Grandmother Harris." Hermione said without a trace of nervousness.
The 'Pleased to meet you's' were exchanged then everyone adjourned to the parlor, both of the grandparents noting that Harry and Hermione sat quite close to each other.
"So Alan what's on the agenda?" Grandfather Harris asked.
"Come on, this is the first time you have ever invited us to visit and suggested we bring formal clothes, almost required it in fact." Jane's mother said looking at her.
Seeing her daughter look over at her grand daughter Mrs. Harris followed her gaze to see her grand daughter glance at the young man beside her before returning her gaze and smiling nervously as she said, "Harry and I are getting married tomorrow."
Amanda Harris's eyes snapped back to her daughter to see her nod in agreement.
"Thank you for waiting until I was seated before you announced that." Her grandfather said looking at the young couple.
"How is it things got to this point before we were informed?" Amanda asked an edge to her voice.
"Mum." Jane Granger said cautioning her mother.
"It is okay. Grandmother, Harry and I have been each other's best friend since I've arrived at school. This year things between us became serious. He asked and I said yes." Hermione replied.
"But getting married while you both are still in school?"
"It is what we want." Hermione said moving even closer to Harry as if his presence offered protection from her grandmother's questioning.
Robert Harris watched the young couple as all this was going on. Deciding to make the best of a potentially bad situation he said, "Welcome to the family Harry. Will we be meeting your side before the wedding?"
The look that crossed Harry's face at his words pulled at Jane Granger's heart. "There is no one left on my side save an aunt and her family who despise me." Harry replied in a monotone.
"Oh," Robert replied.
"Harry will be joining our family." Jane said to her parents with a look that said change the subject, now.
"Tell me about the wedding dear." Grandmother Harris said to Hermione.
"It will be here in the garden tomorrow just before noon. The only guests are both of you, my Uncle Granger's family, and four of our friends. Two of them will be standing up with us."
"Naturally we have an organist, photographer, and all the rest. We were going to have it catered but Anna threatened to quit if she wasn't allowed to prepare the meal. She only relented on the wedding cake. It was far too much work for her to do both." Jane added. Not mentioning the only reason she relented was Dobby had insisted on being allowed to make the cake. He'd been taking cooking lessons from Anna since agreeing to work for Harry and Hermione.
"Sounds lovely dear," Amanda said before the talk turned to other subjects allowing Hermione and Harry to relax and enjoy the closeness of the other.
That night Hermione stayed with Harry through a rough patch of nightmares before she felt comfortable going to her own room.
Morning brought a knock on Harry's door followed by Jane's voice calling out, "Harry you need to stay in your room until some one tells you to come out. Hermione's having breakfast right now and you can't see her until the ceremony."
Harry grumbled an "Okay," before he turned over and tried to catch some more sleep.
Down in the kitchen the women gathered around the table eating and talking. Amanda Harris looked at her granddaughter asking, "I kept my peace last night in front of the men, but should I be expecting to become a great grandmother shortly?"
"Mother!" Jane Granger said sharply.
"Mum I expected this question last night. If you become a great grandmother it will take at least nine months. For the record I can wear my white wedding gown." Hermione said looking her grandmother in the eye.
Her grandmother looked at her for a moment then said, "You mean to tell me you are getting married at sixteen and are still untouched."
Hermione laughed at the old expression before saying, "Thanks I needed that laugh. Harry's touched me alright just not in that way."
"We are approaching too much information dear." Jane interjected.
"Grandmother Harris asked the question. I answered it. Harry and I have done nothing I am ashamed of discussing with either of you. She should also be aware of the same thing you are. Grandmother I am going to do my best to make you and Grandfather great grandparents before a year has passed."
"What about your education?" Amanda asked.
"I've figured it out Grandmother. As long as I get pregnant quickly I will have the baby before the start of my seventh school year. The seventh year is the hard one for us. That year Harry and I will have a nanny for the baby when I'm in school or have to study."
"Isn't that a lot to expect your parents to pay for?" Amanda asked.
"I won't be asking them. Harry and I can manage that on our own," Hermione said biting her tongue to avoid telling her Harry was worth considerably more then her father now that he'd come into his inheritance.
Amanda looked at her daughter seeking support but Jane Granger gave her mother a look that said 'drop it right now or you will regret it,' knowing her daughter she did just that.
When are we expecting the rest of the wedding party?" Amanda asked instead.
"Any time now, Uncle Richard and his family are driving over and our friends should be arriving together. Indications are the older couple might be getting married soon also."
An hour later he was pacing the room just about ready to call for Dobby and have him bring breakfast when a knock came and Alan called out, "Your turn."
Breakfast for Harry was a quiet affair it seemed everyone was busy but him. The thought did cross his mind that his next meal would be with Hermione as his wife. His quiet time was interrupted when a familiar voice called out, "Harry, I can't believe you asked me to be your best man." Neville said quietly coming up beside him.
Seeing Harry looking around Bill said, "Fleur and Ginny have gone to up to get ready with Hermione."
"Bill told me what happened with Ron. I feel bad he can't be here." Neville said.
"Neville, when Hermione and I discussed it initially it was between the two of you. We ended up choosing Ron first because we thought he'd complain if he wasn't chosen. His attitude towards his brother caused him to lose out. Hermione and I couldn't be happier with you as best man believe me." Harry replied looking Neville straight in the eyes as he did.
"Thanks Harry, this is a right nice place the Granger's rented for the wedding." Neville said looking around at not realizing this was Hermione's home.
"Yes they went all out for us." Harry replied. It had been decided that Hermione could have the wedding she wanted provided a way was found to hide the fact this was her home. The Goblin's had informed both Bill and Fleur about where they were to apparate putting the information about Hermione under the goblin's loyalty oath. If anyone slipped about the house Fleur was ready to do a memory charm separate from the wedding one that Harry and Hermione could break.
Up in Hermione's room she emerged from her bathroom wrapped up in a dressing robe to see Ginny and Fleur sitting with their gowns for the day draped over her bed. "Ginny I'm so glad to see you." Hermione said giving her girlfriend a big hug.
"I should be mad at you taking Harry out of circulation like this without even giving the rest of us a chance." Ginny said looking at Hermione a smile on her face.
"Yes, Gabrielle will be quite upset when she hears of this. She was expecting him to wait for her." Fleur said a smile on her face.
"Hermione?" her mother said prompting her.
"Oh sorry, I'm a little distracted today." Hermione said turning to see her mother and grandmother looking on.
"Thinking about tonight already are you?" Ginny teased.
"Ginny be quiet. Mum, Grandmother, this is Ginny Weasley and Fleur Delacour. Ginny is standing up with me and Fleur is her brother Bill's escort for the day. Ginny, Fleur, these ladies are my mother Jane Granger and her mother Amanda Harris." Hermione said.
Everyone nodded at each other before Ginny said, "Okay what the deal with you getting his hotness so fast."
"It just happened one moment he was a friend the same as always, the next we were engaged."
"You know Rita will love this when it breaks." Fleur said smiling.
"Who is that dear?" Amanda asked.
"She's a reporter for a paper. She predicted that Harry and Hermione would be getting together a year and a half ago." Ginny explained.
"My granddaughter's love life has been in the papers? With what did you call him, his hotness?" Amanda asked curious.
"Actually it was Harry's love life or lack of it. So I take it Neville and Bill are here." Hermione said trying to change the subject to a safer one.
"Yes, Neville went to join Harry." Ginny said a grin spreading across her face.
"She is wanting to see that young man dressed up." Fleur said.
"You and Neville?" Hermione asked.
"We've been owling each other." Ginny said shyly.
"So should I make sure we get a picture of you two together all dressed up?" Mrs. Granger asked. The blush that spread across Ginny's face was more than enough answer for every female present.
"Enough of this I need to style your hair." Jane said looking at her daughter.
"I will do Ginevra's hair." Fleur said motioning a glaring Ginny into one of the chairs while Hermione sat in front of her mother opposite Fleur and Ginny. Fleur was doing well until she pulled out her wand and started curling Ginny's hair around it. Seeing that Hermione's eyebrows about launched off her face.
"What are you doing with that stick?" Amanda Harris asked watching Fleur curl Ginny's hair in to soft curls.
"Oh this, I don't like to stick my fingers into someone else's hair so I carry a stick my father carved. It seems to work like magic some days." Fleur replied continuing to work on Ginny's hair as both Jane and Hermione prayed grandmother accepted the explanation.
Hermione's uncle and family arrived right on time. Mr. Granger greeted them escorting them to the back garden only moments before Harry, Neville and Bill emerged from Harry's room.
Harry was wondering just how the rest of the morning went for everyone when he found himself standing in his tux looking at Hermione relations, Bill and Fleur as they sat waiting for the wedding to start. Suddenly a door opened, an organ started playing, and Ginny looking beautiful walked over and stood opposite Neville. Harry's mind slipped into neutral when Hermione appeared from the door wearing an off the shoulder white gown that appeared to hover over the grass as she walked on her father's arm to stand beside him.
Years later when she and her girlfriends talked about their weddings she would realize that the unquestioning feeling of rightness she felt standing here next to Harry was highly unusual. The other girls would comment about the doubt or hope they felt. No one would admit to feeling as Hermione did an overwhelming feeling she had nothing to prove to anyone else from this point on in her life. She was becoming Mrs. Harry Potter, and only his opinion mattered.
It felt like moments later when Alan Granger asked everyone to adjourn to the formal dining room for lunch giving Rasumson Hogan the time he needed to perform the Wizarding portion of the wedding. "First time in a number of years I've had the pleasure of mixing the two ceremonies." He remarked before joining them as they moved inside.
A/N yes I glossed over the wedding. I just couldn't come up with a new version and didn't want to copy someone else.