A/N Here it is...
As Ginny stood at the alter, the whole world melted away except for the man standing across from her. She could hear the binder speaking but couldn't quite make out the words and was only vaguely aware that she was making the correct responses. Before she knew what was happening, she heard the binder pronouncing them man and wife and her new husband was lifting her veil so that they could share their first kiss as a married couple. With her veil lifted she could now clearly see into her groom's emerald eyes and right before she closed her eyes for their first kiss, a sense of warmth and complete happiness pervaded every part of her being.
When she opened them again she gave a small gasp when the eyes that hovered in front of hers were not green, but blue.
"Morning Sugar," Mauricio said softly as he gently pushed a tendril off hair of Ginny's face. "You have to get up, it's the big day and Hermione will have a heart attack if her maid of honor is late."
Mauricio left allowing Ginny to get up and get ready but she stayed in bed a few minutes as she was still reeling from her dream. I just have weddings on the brain is all, Ginny thought to herself. With all the planning and stuff and Harry's just the one that has been involved, she reassured herself as she finally go out of bed.
She pulled on the sweats that she would wear until she changed for the ceremony and made sure her shoes and all of her accessories were in the bag she packed the night before. It doesn't mean anything, she told herself as she got ready to Apparate to the Burrow, it doesn't mean anything at all.
When she Apparated to the Burrow she was surprised when Harry was sitting by himself on the swing on the front porch.
Without a word he handed her a cup of her favorite coffee. She sat down and took a sip savoring the taste as she felt the warm liquid slide down her throat before speaking.
"Why are you sitting out here by yourself?" she asked.
"I was waiting for you. I thought I would do you a favor and brief you on what is going on before you walk into the mad house," Harry told her as he took a sip of his own drink.
"It can't be that bad," Ginny laughed as she looked at her watch, "it's only 8:15."
Harry laughed mirthlessly, "So far Hermione had a heart attack when she saw the linens and found out that they were eggshell instead of cream and it took Angelina and Alicia twenty minutes to calm her down. Your mother keeps hugging everyone and bursting into tears randomly. Parker and Annabelle found the fairies that are supposed to light up the ceremony and some how managed to set them free in the attic. Bill and Percy went to go catch them all since they are their kids, but then baby Peyton decided he doesn't like teething about the same time that Fleur got morning sickness and since Penelope is managing the floral arrangements, Percy had to take care of Peyton and Bill went to take care of his wife. So Charlie was delegated to fairy catching, which judging from the crashes that keep coming from the attic, is not as easy as dragon taming. Fred and George keep humming the funeral march every time Ron enters the room that they are in, much to their wives and your mother's displeasure, and he keeps getting paler every time they do it and I'm afraid if they keep it up, he is going to pass out long before the ceremony starts."
"Is that all?" Ginny asked sarcastically.
"Oh and no one has seen your Dad all morning, which is not a good sign with all the Muggle stuff that Hermione had brought in for the wedding. But yeah that's all that has happened since I got here."
"How long have you been here?"
Harry glanced at his watch. "Oh, almost half an hour."
Ginny sighed and drained the rest of her coffee from her cup. "Come on Harry, lets go inside. It's going to be a long day."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ginny stopped and took a moment to look around her. It had taken several months of planning and a very hectic morning of fielding emergencies and narrowly avoiding disasters, but the backyard or the Burrow had been completely transformed into a garden wonderland truly fit for a May wedding. The binding ceremony itself would take place overlooking the pond while the reception would be held in a large heated tent by the garden.
She took one last walk around both sites, checked in with caterers, and got a hold the binder and the DJ to make sure they were coming before deciding that everything was perfect and she could stop worrying about the ceremony and reception, and start worrying the wedding party.
She walked back into the house and found all of her brothers and Harry sitting in the living room in their street clothes, talking and joking.
"What do you guys think you are doing! The guests are going to start arriving in two hours and none of you have even started getting dressed!"
"Relax Gin," Charlie told his little sister, "we're guys, it takes us five minutes to get ready."
"Besides," Bill added, "you're not dressed either."
"I don't care if it only takes you five minutes, it had better be the next five minutes because I want you dressed now! And the only reason I'm not dressed is because I'm standing here yelling at you lot for not being dressed!" Ginny continued to yell.
"Why do weddings make women go crazy?" George asked his brothers.
"I don't know, I think it has something to do with all of the tulle," Fred responded.
"I'm still standing right here!" Ginny growled frustrated.
"Come on guys lets just go change," Harry announced, helping Ginny out.
"Gezz Ron," Fred complained while he got up, "You should have just eloped in Las Vegas like we did."
"Yeah, we didn't have to wear tuxes and it didn't give Alicia or Angelina a chance to go crazy," George agreed.
"Yeah right, not after the fuss Mum made after you two did it," Ron said looking as if he was going to be sick and wished he could have eloped.
Ginny was about to scream at them again when Harry saw the look in her eyes and spoke first.
"We can talk about this upstairs while we get dressed, now lets go," he said as he lead the pack upstairs giving Ginny and understanding look. As he passed by her he paused and whispered, "I'll come and tell you when everyone is ready."
"Thanks," she whispered back gratefully before heading upstairs to make sure Hermione was alright and to get herself ready.
She opened the door to her old bedroom expecting to find a panicked Hermione pacing in circles while making checklists but instead was surprised to see the brunette sitting at the window in her robe, looking out into the backyard with a serene look on her face.
"Hermione?" Ginny asked tentatively.
"It's really happening isn't it," Hermione said still looking out the window. "After months of planning and all the years of being together, in a few hours, I'm going to be Mrs. Ron Weasley." She looked over at Ginny with tears forming in her eyes. "In a few hours, we're going to be sisters for real."
"And I can't think of anyone I would prefer," Ginny said also trying to hold back tears in a rush of sentimentality. "Just don't tell Fleur, Penelope, Alicia or Angelina that."
They both chuckled and Hermione agreed not to tell before the tears finally overtook them and they rushed across the room to give each other a hug. hey were still standing there hugging and crying when both of their mothers walked in to help Hermione get into her dress, soon all four of them were hugging and crying.
"Enough of that," Ginny said after a moment, as she wiped the tears off her cheeks. "At least we all got that out of our systems now, because once we get our makeup on there is no tears allowed. Now come on, we need to make you look like the bride you are."
The other three women agreed and the next hour was a flurry of fabric, hair and makeup and before they knew it, they were ready.
"Oh Hermione, you look beautiful," Molly said, her eyes tearing up again.
"No Mum, we agreed, no more tears now that we have makeup on," Ginny said quickly, although she had to admit that Hermione did look gorgeous in her gown. She was about to tell her so when they were interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Don't come in!" all four women yelled in unison.
"I wasn't planning on coming in, that's why I knocked," Harry called from the outside. "I need to talk to Ginny."
"What do you need my maid of honor for?" Hermione asked, not done with her girly bonding moment.
"I need to confer with her over top secret best man/maid of honor type stuff," Harry jokingly replied.
"I'll be right out Harry," Ginny answered as she slipped on her stilettos.
Ginny stepped out of the room and quickly closed the door behind her but stopped when she saw the look on Harry's face.
"What?" she asked worriedly, looking down at herself to see if there was something wrong with her dress.
"Wow," Harry answered with wide eyes.
Ginny smiled, she had been so busy thinking about Hermione she hadn't even thought of what she looked like but from Harry's reaction she knew she looked good in her pale lavender, so pale that it was almost silver, halter dress that accentuated all of her curves and made her already small waist look even tinier as it flared out over her hips until it ended right below her knees.
"What do you think?" she asked as she twirled around to give Harry the whole view.
"I think you look– "
"Absolutely breathtaking," a voice called from below causing both Harry and Ginny to tense up unconsciously.
Ginny turned around quickly to see Mauricio climbing up the stairs towards them, "Hey, what are you doing up here?"
"Can't a man want to see his beautiful fiancée? Mauricio said with a smile as he leaned forward to give her a kiss on the lips. He was surprised when Ginny turned her head slightly so that he ended up kissing her cheek. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Ginny responded quickly, "it's just that Harry and I have a lot to do before the wedding starts."
"Oh, okay. Then I will leave you to your work and I will talk to you at the reception. Although I don't know how I am going to make it that long since you really do look good enough to eat," he said raising his eyebrows suggestively. "Potter," he said warmly, with a nod of farewell towards Harry.
"Giona," Harry responded, less friendly.
Both Ginny and Harry were silent as they watched Mauricio walk down the stairs until he was out of sight.
"So what was it that you wanted to tell me?" Ginny asked once her fiancé was gone.
"Just that all of the guys, including Ron are dressed and ready to go. And that Colin has arrived to take pictures and he said he wants to do all the portrait shots directly after the ceremony before the sun goes all the way down and that he also wants to talk to you about something," he said in a business like tone.
"Okay, thanks," she said turning to go downstairs to find Colin.
"Oh and Peanut," Harry called in a much softer tone causing the redhead to turn around, "you really do look beautiful."
"You don't look so bad in that tux yourself," Ginny said smiling before continuing down the stairs. Harry watched her go until he couldn't see her anymore and then went back upstairs to go see how Ron was holding up. When he opened the door to the room he had slept so many summer nights in, he saw Ron lying on the bed staring at the ceiling.
"How you doing mate?"
"I'm bloody terrified, I don't think I was this scared when we were facing Voldemort," Ron confided.
"And why was that?" Harry asked.
"Well, because you and Hermione were there with me," Ron answered without thinking.
"This isn't any different, we are still right here next to you. This is just a way to show everyone that you want Hermione to be right there with you for the rest of your life. Which despite what the twins keep telling you, getting married is not going to kill you like defeating Voldemort killed me," Harry comforted.
"You're just trying to make me feel better," the red head grumbled as he fiddled with his tie.
"Come on Ron, this is Hermione we are talking about. This is the same girl that barged into our train compartment looking for Neville's toad and told you that you had dirt on your nose. The same girl that we had to save from the troll because you made her cry."
"The same girl we saved the Sorcerer's Stone with," Ron added.
"Who made a Polyjuice Potion when we were twelve and turned herself into a cat."
"Who time traveled for a year to take a million classes and never told us and walked out of Trelawnery's class."
"Don't forget helping to save the life of a wanted criminal who also happened to be my Godfather."
"Who got mad at me because I didn't ask her to the Yule Ball except as a last resort and Vicky had already asked her."
"Who founded SPEW and forced us to join."
"Who gave us nagging homework planners for Christmas and is the only reason we did as well as we did in school."
"Who came up with the idea for the DA and made it work."
"I love her," Ron said, sitting up suddenly.
"I know you do," Harry replied.
"I'm marrying her."
"I know you are."
"I'm okay with that," Ron said, a look of peace on his face.
"Well that's good because it's time to go downstairs, the wedding starts in twenty minutes," Harry told him, looking at his watch.
Ron only blanched a little bit as he stood up and followed Harry downstairs.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The ceremony was planned perfectly so that the sun was setting over the pond just as the Binder was announcing Ron and Hermione, man and wife. As his best friends shared their first kiss as a married couple, Harry looked across from at Ginny; what he saw took his breath away. She was backlit by the setting sun so she almost looked like she was glowing. With a soft breeze blowing the hem of her dress around her knees and the curled tendrils of hair around her cheeks and the blissful look that played across her countenance she looked every but an angel surrounded by her halo.
He was so entranced by what he saw it took him a moment to realize that she was smiling at him and for him to smile back. And the next thing he knew the binding was over and he was escorting Ginny back up the aisle.
"Beautiful, wasn't it?" Ginny mentioned while the walked to where they were going to take pictures.
"It sure was," Harry responded lost in thought.
"Is something wrong Harry?" Ginny asked.
"No, I guess I'm just anxious to get through pictures so that we can go eat dinner," he said causing Ginny to laugh.
"You've really been around my brothers too long," she teased. "But I'm excited for after dinner so that we can show off our dance moves."
Harry was going to respond but Colin started gathering them together to pose for pictures.
As was tradition, the newly married couple began by sharing their first dance as husband and wife, which was followed by the second dance in which they were joined by the bridal party. And while it was supposed to be Ron and Hermione's day, as soon and Harry and Ginny stepped onto the floor dancing to It Had To Be You, all eyes where on them.
It wasn't just their physical appearances that attracted so much attention, even though there was no one there that night who would be able to deny the fact that they made a strikingly handsome couple. But there was just something about the way they glided across the dance floor that was absolutely magnetic to everyone observing. They seemed to move as one being, in perfect time to the music. There was something simply magical, in every sense of the word, about the aura they created around them that simply demanded attention.
Ginny was completely oblivious to her environment, just as she always was when they danced together. They were simply too caught up in the music and the moment to pay any attention to what was going on around them. When she was in Harry's arms it seemed like it was just him her and the music. As the song wound down Harry pulled her in close and with his hand placed on her lower back and both their hips swaying back and forth to the music Ginny let out a laugh as Harry began to sing along with the music.
Some others I've seen,
Might never be mean
Might never be cross,
Or try to be boss
But they wouldn't do
For nobody else, gave me a thrill
With all your faults, I
Love you still
It had to be you, wonderful you
It had to be you
As they struck their final poses, the couple was completely oblivious to the picture they were making or the stir of whisperings they were causing. Ginny was too busy swimming in a sea of emerald green and Harry was lost in the depths of cinnamon brown. Even the most unperceptive observer would be unable to recognize the look of utter contentment and bliss that played across both of their countenances. Everyone could almost see the electricity jumping between them. If one had not known better, they might think that Harry and Ginny were the couple in love that had just gotten married.
There was one wedding guest in particular that was not unperceptive and did know better and was not happy watching his fiancée dancing so euphorically in another man's arms. His stomach dropped when he saw Harry whisper something to her and she let out a delighted giggle. And it was with a pained expression he ripped his eyes from the dance floor, stood, and walked purposefully to the bar.
Harry and Ginny danced to the next song together and the next and then one more before Ginny remembered her promise to talk to Mauricio. When the song came to an end she excused herself from Harry and went to look for her fiancé. It took her a good forty five minutes to actually find him since she was constantly being stopped by family members or friends who wanted to say hello. When she finally found him she was surprised to see him sitting by himself at the bar since he wasn't a big drinker.
"What are you doing?" Ginny asked curiously.
"I'm getting sloshed," Mauricio said sullenly. "What does it look like?"
"Well I can see that," Ginny said referring to all the empty glasses as she started to get irritated. "I just want to know why."
"Because it's what I feel like doing. Do you have a problem with that?"
Ginny was in shock, she had never seen Mauricio so insolent before and she didn't know what to do. "Yes, I have a problem with that," she whispered as she stepped in front of him. "In case you didn't notice this is my brother and best friend's wedding and I'm not going to have you ruin it because you woke up and decided to be a complete arse today."
"I thought Potter was you best friend," Mauricio mumbled into his drink as he took another sip.
"He is, I'm allowed to have more than one best friend aren't I?" Ginny asked incredulously.
"Why even bother asking me? It obviously doesn't matter to you what I think or what everyone else thinks does it?" Mauricio shot back.
"What are you talking about?" the redhead whispered furiously.
"I talking about you and your best friend practically making love on the dance floor!" he whispered back just as furiously.
Ginny mouth opened in stunned shock for a moment unable to speak until her anger broiled back up. "It's called dancing Mauricio and we are dancing together because I am the maid of honor and he is the best man. Where do you think I have been going twice a week for the past three months, to get my nails done?"
"Well if I had known you were dancing like that I wouldn't have let you go!"
"Let me go? Let me go...that's a good one. Like you could stop me from doing whatever I wanted," Ginny said with an angry laugh, though still careful about keeping down the volume on their fight. "You know what," she said, taking a deep breath, "you are drunk and I am not doing this with you right now, especially here in the middle of Ron and Hermione's wedding reception. Go home and we will talk about this later when I get there."
They stood there staring at each other, both of them waiting for the other to break down and say something when a voice sounded from behind them causing them both to turn around.
"Ginny!" Harry called jovially. "I've been looking all over for you. I talked to the DJ and he said he would play something that we can swing to," Harry said as he rolled up the sleeves on his shirt since he had already shed his coat and tie. He stopped when he felt the tenseness between the couple. "Am I interrupting something?"
"No Harry," Ginny said with a bright smile, "we are quite finished here." She turned and glared at Mauricio. "Go home," she demanded. She waited until he listened and Disapperated before she took Harry's offered arm and let him lead her back to the dance floor.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Harry asked as the music started.
"Of course I'm okay, now lets just have a good time and dance."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Harry was in the middle of a dream about tap dancing hippogriffs wearing top hats when a rapping on his front door awoke him with a start. At first he thought it was just thunder from the spring storm that had rolled in about the time he got home until he heard it again. A quick glance at his alarm clock told him it was just after four thirty in the morning and he had only been home from the wedding for about two hours and asleep marginally shorter.
"Just a minute!" he called sleepily to the front door as he stumbled around looking for his T-shirt. Who could that be, he asked himself as he shuffled through the living room towards his unexpected visitor, hoping that whatever they wanted would be quick so that he could go back to bed.
However, the sight that greeted him on the other side of the door caused all thoughts of sleep to vanish from his mind.
"Ginny? Merlin, what happened to you!" He exclaimed as he opened the door to reveal the redhead.
She was still wearing her dress from the wedding, but now the lavender silk was soaked through by the storm and her hair which had been coiled so carefully in an elegant updo earlier in the evening was now falling in a wet tangled mess around her face, her black mascara was running down her cheeks which he could tell was caused just as much by tears as by the rain. At some point had taken off her stilettos because she was barefoot and was holding the shoes in her left hand along with a damp and unhappy Jack. But the thing that disturbed him most about her appearance was the purple bruise that was angrily marking the right side of her pale countenance.
"Oh Harry!" Ginny sobbed, "I'm so sorry to wake you but I didn't know where else to go. Ron and Hermione are on their Honeymoon so I couldn't go there and I couldn't go back to the Burrow looking like this and I...and I... I ..."
Ginny said something else but Harry couldn't make it out and he knew it wasn't important at the moment. He took Jack from her hands and placed him inside the door then placed an arm around Ginny's shoulders and led her inside closing the door softly behind them.
A/N So what did you think? I bet you weren't expecting that ending were you...things are really starting to get interesting aren't they? So let me know what you all think!