So it's the night before the wedding and Hermione's having a quiet night in, like she wanted :)


Chapter Twenty Eight

Wedding Jitters

The time leading up to the wedding passed quickly and it wasn't long before Ginny, Luna, the rest of the Weasleys and the remaining members of the Order had flooed over to America and were situated in tents outside in the garden of Remus and Hermione's house. Hermione had loved seeing them all again and not having their presence trigger an episode. It had been so long since that had happened.

The night before the wedding, Hermione was curled up in her room with a photo album spread across her lap.

She lightly traced the pictures inside. A bushy haired twelve year old beamed in the middle of two boys, one with dark hair and one with red hair. A few pages later, the same people were photographed, but much older.

The three had been caught in a candid moment. Ron was tickling Hermione while Harry was holding her down. They were so blissfully unaware that the photographer was even there. They seemed to find true happiness as they rolled on the floor of the decrepit shack they were in.

"What are you still doing up?"

Hermione looked up to see Remus. "What time is it?"

"Gone twelve." Remus smiled.

Hermione sighed and turned back to the pictures. "I lost track of the time."

Remus crossed the room and sat next to her on the bed. He gazed at the pictures, his eyes landing on one of the Order at Christmas.

He and Tonks were sat at one end of the table, her stomach rounded with the baby that would turn out to be Teddy, while the Golden Trio sat more towards the middle. Ron had his arm around Hermione and Harry was gazing lovingly at Ginny.

He felt tears spring to his eyes and quickly blinked them away. "It seems so long ago."
"It was. We've all moved on, at least a little bit." Hermione mused.

"Speaking of moving on, may I ask why you and Jacob got engaged so quickly?" Remus asked.

"A number of reasons really. Something bad is coming, and Jacob wanted to be married just in case something happens to him." Hermione explained.

Remus frowned. "What bad thing? You've only just recovered from the war; I don't want you to relapse."

"I won't. It's nothing to do with me." Hermione waved his concern off.

She was touched, but she didn't want to tell him a fight between the pack was about to occur because Bella was going to be turned into a Vampire when she returned from her honeymoon. It would only cause him to worry.

Remus nodded sternly. "I hope so. Mind you, I'm not exactly the best one to talk about quick marriages. I married Dora fast."

"There was a war going on. It's extenuating circumstances, like this is." Hermione reminded him.

Remus gave a small smile. "Yeah, I'm glad I had the time I had with Dora."

"You two were good together." Hermione whispered looking at the image of Remus and Tonks in the photo.

To say the Order had been surprised when Remus and Tonks had admitted they were married was an understatement. But they were all happy for the couple and celebrated as well as they could in the hard times. They were even happier when Tonks told everyone she was pregnant. Little Teddy's birth had been one of the major highlights of the war.

Tonks had been made to stay back in the cabin while the others went on missions to help the war effort. It had been when Hermione and Harry were staying behind to research that Tonks went into labour.

Hermione, thankfully, had read many books about labour, wanting to be prepared for when she had her own baby, and was able to deliver Teddy safely. Harry had been little help during the birth and had nearly fainted a couple of times, but he stayed strong for the screaming, swearing Tonks.

The members of the Order on missions had been surprised to say the least when they returned to find a newborn baby cradled in Tonks' arms and Harry drinking a large glass of fire whiskey. Remus had been delighted and Ron couldn't be prouder of Hermione.

"You know, you've come a long way since we arrived in Forks." Remus mused, after a moment.

The page in the album had been turned and the two were face to face with a picture of Hermione and Ron kissing in the woods. The sun was filtering through the trees and causing the couple to almost glow.

They looked so happy and carefree, totally unaware of the horror and loss that was about befall them.

Hermione traced Ron's face, guilt squeezing her heart.

"Do you think he'd see it as me betraying him?" She whispered.

"No. Not at all. Ron loved you and he would be happy for you." Remus told her, giving her a one armed hug.

Hermione lent her head on his shoulder. "I hope so."

"You know, they both would be very proud of you."

Hermione glanced at the next photo, taken of the trio just before the battle of Hogwarts. They were at the fire and smiling for the camera. She gave a small smile.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. I wish you all the luck in the world tomorrow." Remus gave her a kiss on the top of her head.

Hermione looked up as he got off the bed.

"Now get some rest. It's a big day tomorrow." Remus chuckled.

"I will try. Goodnight, Remus." Hermione nodded.

"Goodnight, Hermione." Remus slipped out of the door.

Hermione sat looking at the photo album for a little longer. She flipped back to the pictures of the younger years. She moved slowly through the pictures of her first, second, third and fourth year.

The fourth year. That was the year it all took a turn for the worse, with the resurrection of Voldemort and the death of Cedric. After that, Sirius had been killed, Dumbledore had died and the war had escalated.

Hermione sighed. Whenever she had previously imagined her wedding, she always imagined that her groom would be a handsome red head by the name of Ronald Weasley.

She and Ron had planned to be married when the war ended, and it had broken Hermione's heart when she had lost him. She had felt as though her entire future had been stolen from her along with him.

She closed the photo album and replaced it in its normal place tucked in the shelf under her bedside cabinet. She turned off the light, rolled over and surrendered to the bliss that was the realm of dreams.

Petals fell from the sky and silkily caressed her cheek. She looked down and was surprised to see herself wearing a white version of her Yule Ball dress. It wasn't her real wedding dress, but she had loved her Yule ball dress.

She was standing in the clearing where she met Jacob for the first time in wolf form and meadow flowers formed a neat square either side of a white carpet aisle. A natural arch of trees stood a couple of feet from the tree line.

Jacob stood under the arch dressed in a suit looking devastatingly handsome. He was smiling as he looked at her.

Hermione reached up and felt the veil atop her head and that her hair was fastened into a fancy bun.

"You look lovely."

Hermione froze. She hadn't heard that voice in months. She turned slowly and gave a tearful gasp, her hand covering her mouth.

"Ron."

Ron smiled at her, holding out his hand. Hermione slipped her hand into his and was pulled into a hug.

"I missed you so much." She whispered.

"I missed you too." Ron murmured.

"Did you miss me too?"

Hermione whipped round. "Harry?"

"Hi, Mione." Harry grinned, holding his arms open for a hug.

Hermione threw herself at him, crying silently. "I missed you too."

Ron came up behind and the three hugged.

"What are you guys doing here?" Hermione asked when they drew apart.

"We wouldn't miss your wedding for the world." Harry smiled.

"Too right." Ron agreed.

Hermione looked up at Ron. "You're not angry?"

"How can I be? Jacob's your soul mate, literally. As much as I love you, I'm happy to see you marry someone that loves you just as much, maybe even more, than I do." Ron replied, giving his adorable half-smile.

Hermione gave a soft sob and threw her arms around his neck. "Thank you."

"Anything for you, Hermione." Ron whispered into her ear.

The opening strands of the wedding march played by an invisible orchestra rang through the clearing. Both boys turned to face the front and held out their arms.

"What are you doing?" Hermione frowned, confused.

"Walking you down the aisle of course." Ron chuckled. "What else?"

Hermione gave a radiant smile and slipped her hands into the crook of their arms. She sighed happily as she allowed them to guide her down the aisle to a waiting Jacob.

As they arrived at the arch, the boys detached her from their arms and Ron placed her hand into Jacob's waiting one.

Hermione stared up at them as they both kissed her on the cheek.

"Congratulations, Mione." Ron said, giving her a sad smile. "You deserve some happiness in your life."

"Yeah, congratulations. We've got to go now, but we will always love you." Harry grinned, giving her one last hug.

Hermione blinked and the meadow was filled with a brilliant white light.

Hermione's eyes fluttered open and was greeted by a sunlight bathed room. She sat up in her bed, her hand rested on the cheek both boys had kissed in her dream.

Today she was getting married and both of her boys had given her their blessing through her dream.

She looked out the window at the sky and could have sworn she felt Harry and Ron's presence.

"Thank you." She whispered.


Please Read and Review. I don't know if it's just an influx of hormones that us girls can get, but I nearly cried when I wrote the bit about the Order Photo and Tonks. I have to admit, my favourite part of this story so far is the ending of this chapter, the dream and after that. Next chapter: The Wedding!