A/N- Well, that last chapter was a bit STEAMY...hope you all enjoyed. Nothing tooooo exciting in this chapter but anyways...More on the story now (:
Disclaimer: Oh ya know, the usual. I don't own anything, blah blah blah.
Chapter 25 ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` September 11, 1998
Hermione brushed her hair off the back of her neck. The main floor of Weasley's Wizards Wheezes was hot and sticky. She waved her wand around herself, casting a cooling charm. It was almost time for her lunch break, but with the heat that was plaguing the store, she didn't think she would be able to eat anything substantial. The line of customers was getting ever longer.
She worked tirelessly for two more hours. She had set a refilling charm on her water so she wouldn't become dehydrated. Fred and George had decided to close the shop down a few hours early that day since Harry and Ginny would be returning from their honeymoon. Hermione was anxious to see both of them. She was lacking female companionship.
After George came out and locked the door behind the last customer, Hermione sank into the chair behind the counter. "Thank the gods we're closing early today. It seems like an inferno in here today. I didn't know how much longer I could take it." George eyed her guiltily. "Well, Fred and I were experimenting in the back with heating charms for one of the new products. That probably didn't help." Hermione shot him a glare that could only be matched by Molly Weasley. "So you mean to tell me that Dean, Lee and I have been sweating our arses off because of you two?" George held his hands up. "Maybe. But you if guys are hot out here, you know Fred and I are sweating our bollocks off!" Hermione glared at him for a few moments longer and then relented. She was halfway through counting out the drawer when Fred emerged from the back room, his hair damp with sweat.
"I just want you to know, Frederick, that if you two are messing with those charms tomorrow, I'm not coming in." He grinned at her, kissing her on her damp brow. "No, love, we're all done with them. I see you're cooling charms didn't help too much." She gave him the same glare that she had given George earlier.
Once the store was ready to close, the twins and Hermione went to Gringotts together to drop off the money. Fred started the wedding conversation. "Georgie, you're going to be my best man, right?" George gave a hearty laugh. "Wouldn't miss it for world, Freddie." George looked across Fred at Hermione. "So, 'Mione, who are you going to make me walk down the aisle with? Please tell me with won't be Lavender." Hermione's gaze jumped to his familiar face, with indignation flashing across her features. "Absolutely not! Ginny, of course. I'm thinking Luna also, and Fleur. Can you live with that?" George nodded. "Ginny, I can handle." Fred also nodded, looking thoughtful. "That means I need to come up with two more groomsmen. Who should I pick?" Hermione shrugged her shoulders. "It's up to you. If you don't want to choose, I can just have Ginny." Fred shook his head. "No, I think Bill and Charlie. I was always closest to them after George. We can ask them all tonight at dinner."
Hermione was looking thoughtful. "I wish my dad was here to give me away. I don't want to walk down the aisle by myself." Fred put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her in close to him. "I know, love. If you want, we can go look for them." She stared blankly into the distance for a few minutes, then shook her head.
"No, I think that would be extremely selfish of me. I completely erased myself from their lives and had them start anew in a completely new place. To inject myself back in their lives and have them come back wouldn't be fair. If I could even reverse the spell. I wasn't sure I would be able to when I cast it." George looked a little uncomfortable when stray tears slid down her cheeks. Fred pulled her into his chest in the middle of Diagon Alley. She wrapped her arms around his waist. After a few minutes of tears, he broke the silence. "I'm sure that Dad would walk you down the aisle, Mia."
She broke away, wiping her cheeks, with a smile on her face. "No, he walked his daughter down the aisle. I do have an idea though. I don't want to say anything else right now. I want to think about it a little more first." Fred nodded, running his hand down her hair. They apparated directly to the Burrow after leaving Gringotts, knowing that Harry and Ginny were due back soon. Hermione grabbed a piece of parchment and quill and dashed out a note to Luna, asking her if she would like to be a bridesmaid for her wedding and sent it off with Hermes, as Errol was already out on a delivery for Molly.
Halfway through making supper, Hermione heard the faint pop of apparition, and seconds later, Harry and Ginny were walking through the back door into the kitchen. There was a mad rush of giving hugs and kissing cheeks, commenting on their tans, and congratulating them on their new marriage again. Once they had settled, there were stories of Paris. Hermione listened intently. She had always wanted to visit Paris. The rest of the family seemed as caught up in the magical tales as she was.
As they were clearing up the table, Hermes flew in the window, a piece of parchment attached to his leg. Hermione rushed forward to detach it. It was from Luna.
Hermione,
I would be honored to be a bridesmaid in your wedding. I am very flattered that you would ask. Just let me know what you need me to do and when I need to do it. Thanks again.
Luna
Hermione smiled to herself. Fred looked at her questioningly. She handed him the note, which he read over, smiled at her, gave her a kiss, and then handed it back to her. Ginny looked at her with a confused look on her face. Hermione had missed not being able to slip anything past her. She cleared her throat a little and laid the note on the table. "Fleur, I was wondering if you would be one of my bridesmaids in my wedding?" A grin broke out across Fleur's face. "Of course I would, 'ermione! Oh, another aisle to walk down, what fun!" She started to rub her hands together. Hermione smiled at her and then turned to Ginny.
"Gin, I was wondering, since we've been friends for seven years now, if you would be my maid of honor?" Ginny started squealing and flung her arms around Hermione. "Of course I will, why are you even asking?" She couldn't help but laugh at her friend's enthusiasm. Fred took over. "Well, we all know that George is my best man. I was wondering if you, Bill, and you, Charlie, would want to be groomsmen?" They both stood to give him claps on the shoulder as they agreed wholeheartedly.
Molly looked thoroughly excited at the thought of wedding planning going on around her table. Fred looked at his mother's hopeful face and then at Hermione. She smiled at him and then a slight nod. "Mum, would it be ok if we had the wedding here? We really want a wedding at home." The look on Molly's face was pure joy. She threw an arm around each of their shoulders. "Of course you can! It would be our pleasure to have it here." George made a gagging sound and muttered under his breath. "Suck up." Hermione hid a smile behind her hand. She turned to Harry next. "I wanted to know if you would do a special favor for me, Harry." He looked at her confused, as did everyone else at the table. Hermione sighed and went on the explain.
"I decided today not to look for my parents. It would be extremely selfish of me to expect them to forgive me for erasing their memories, no matter how noble the reason, and wanting them to just give up their lives and move back here. Therefore, I have nobody to give me away. Since you are like the brother I never had, Harry, would you give me away in my father's place?" The table was silent. Hermione felt Fred's hand move to her lower back. Her eyes didn't move from Harry's face. He stood up and walked around the table, taking her hand. "Are you sure, 'Mione? Bout not going after them?" She nodded. "It wouldn't be fair to them. In no way, would it be fair. They would never trust me again anyways. I made a choice and now I have to live with the consequences." Harry looked down, but nodded. Pulling her into a hug, he gave her an answer. "It would be my honor to give you away at your wedding. Provided that the groom deserves you." He shot a devilish grin towards Fred, who was shaking his head at this comment. She leaned forward and gave Harry a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, Harry. And trust me, Fred deserves me. I'm not sure if I deserve him sometimes." Her laugh carried throughout the room as Fred turned pink.
Harry goes back to his seat after the room has quit laughing at Fred's obvious blush. Ginny clears her throat and everyone looks at her. Hermione opens her eyes wide, expecting the worst. "Well, we have some news too. We've decided that we want to move into Grimmauld Place in the next couple weeks, rather than buy a new home. We've already talked to Kreacher and he's getting the house ready for us." Molly stared at her for a few moments and then burst into tears. "My baby is married, all grown up, and moving away! I'm never going to see her again..." Ginny looked confused and then terrified. She had no idea what she was supposed to say to her mother's tears. Arthur stood up, giving his wife a hug. She seemed to cry harder. Bill sighed, standing as well. Arthur backed up, letting his son hug his mother.
"Mum, I'm married, and have been for awhile. You still have me and I still come around. You haven't lost Ginny. You, in fact, just gained Harry. Stop worrying." She gave him a weak smile and nodded, sniffling. Ginny gave him a smile.
Not long after that, Ginny and Harry excused themselves, claiming to be tired. Hermione helped with the dishes, leaving Molly in her silence. When she went upstairs, Fred was showered and in bed, with his arms behind his head, waiting for her. She headed for the shower herself, filling the loo with steam and her scents. After she was charmed dry and dressed, she climbed into bed with Fred, snuggling into his warmth. "I like what you did with Harry, love. Brother is the next best thing to your father." She looked up at him and smiled. He kissed her on the top of the head. "I was wondering, where do you want to live after we're married? We haven't really thought about anything past the wedding." She rolled onto her back, looking up at the ceiling in deep thought.
"I'm not really sure. What are your thoughts?" He rolled onto his side and propped his head up on his hand. "Well, there's the flat above the shop, but I really don't want to start a life together with you there. That's where George and I lived together. I think I want to live in the country rather than in the city." She rolled onto her side and propped herself up to mirror him, looking him in the face. She smiled at him. "That sounds nice, actually. A country home would be wonderful for children. Away from prying eyes." He cupped her face and leaned over her, kissing her deeply. "You had me at 'wonderful for children', love." He pulled her onto his shoulder, kissed her temple, and they both dropped off to sleep, dreaming of their future children.
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` Okey doke, we got some wedding plans going on now (: Next chapter up is Hermione's birthday...wonder what will happen? Til then, let me know what you guys think! Thank you bunches, as always!