No Time For Epilogues Chapter 36, a harry potter fanfic

No Time for Epilogues
Chapter 36

Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Weasley
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter

Ginevra Molly
to
Harry James Potter

SATURDAY, THE 1st OF AUGUST
OF THE COMMON YEAR 1999
AT NOON

WEASLEY RESIDENCE
OTTERY-ST-CATCHPOLE, DEVON, UK
RECEPTION TO FOLLOW

A small card accompanied the invitations that read: The couple requests that donations be made to the Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft Benevolent Fund in lieu of gifts.

This wedding at the Burrow would be unlike Bill's. The area set aside was twice as big, (there would be twice as many people) with no tent (the couple wanted an open air ceremony in the beautiful summer weather) and a parquet floor laid down, to be used for the reception later. As noon approached, Ginny and her attendants, Hermione, Luna, Fleur, Kathy Rooney and Laura Madley were helping with the finishing touches on her hair and dress.

"Not much to be done, really," Kathy commented.

"She's right, you're so naturally pretty," Hermione said. "I've never seen you look so beautiful."

"Oui," Fleur said.

"Stop, you're embarrassing me," Ginny said.

"It's almost noon!" Molly called from downstairs.

"Time for you to become Mrs. Potter," Hermione said, already wiping away a tear.

Harry was standing at the front of the gathering; Ron, George, Neville, Kingsley and Dean Thomas at his side. Harry sported a black tuxedo with a satin, emerald green tie and cummerbund. His groomsman wore cream colored ties and cummerbunds. Until the band showed for the reception, a string quartet was present and played a lively prelude to the wedding march while Ginny's attendants made their way down the aisle. Ron was again bowled over by Hermione when she made her way down the aisle. He was bursting with pride knowing that the most beautiful woman there today was all his. Harry couldn't get over it either when she came to a stop at her place, sending a quick wink his way. The bushy-haired, bucktooth, shy girl was gone.
The wedding march started and his Ginny appeared. Harry forgot to breathe until Ron squeezed his shoulder. Now he knew what Ron was talking about. Time stood still for Harry as an angel with flowing red hair and love in her eyes walked on Bill's arm, as Arthur was performing the ceremony. Because of his best mates on either side of him, he was alive today. Because of the young woman who didn't give up on him, he would finally be in a real family and have a family of his own to love and cherish. Ginny couldn't recall the welcome her father gave to the guests. She only had eyes for Harry. She was quite literally marrying the man of her dreams. Now she knew what her mum and Hermione were talking about. This would be the best day of her life. Arthur began the ceremony.

"Harry and Ginny, in presenting yourselves here today to be joined in marriage, you perform an act of faith, faith in each other that can grow, develop and last, but only if you both decide to make it so. A lasting love is not guaranteed by any ritual. Dedication, love, and joy can only grow when nourished together. Stand fast in that hope and confidence, having faith in your shared destiny just as strongly as you have faith in yourselves and in one another today. Only with this spirit can you forge a union that will strengthen and endure all the days of your lives."
To Ginny, it was the most profound thing she had ever heard her Dad say.

"Bride, is it true that you come before this gathering and to your groom of your own free will?"

Her eyes locked with Harry's. "It is true."

"Groom, is it true that you come before this gathering and to your bride of your own free will?"

A gentle smile graced his face, his eyes still locked with hers. "It is true."

"Groom, I have not the right to bind you to your bride, only you have that right. If that is your wish, place your ring in her in her hand."

Harry took a ring from Ron and placed it in Ginny's slightly trembling hand.

"Groom, make your vow to your bride."

Harry took a deep breath and spoke. "I, Harry James Potter, take you, Ginevra Molly Weasley, to my hand and my heart, to be my wife, my partner, my mate in this life and the life beyond. I vow to love you wholly and without restraint, in sickness and health, in poverty and wealth, in joy and sadness. All that I am and all that I will be I give to you, so mote it be."

"Bride, I have not the right to bind you to your groom, only you have that right. If that is your wish, place your ring in his hand."

Ginny took a ring from Hermione and placed it in Harry's hand.

"Bride, make your vow to your groom," Arthur spoke as his voice faltered.

Ginny took a deep breath and spoke. "I, Ginevra Molly Weasley, take you, Harry James Potter to my hand and my heart, to be my husband, my partner, my mate in this life and the life beyond. I vow to love you wholly and without restraint, in sickness and health, in poverty and wealth, in joy and sadness. All that I am and all that I will be I give to you, so mote it be."

Soft sobbing was heard from Molly and whispers of "my baby." Hermione had to wipe her eyes with a handkerchief and Arthur had to clear his throat before continuing.

"The rings are a symbol of love, without beginning, without end. Harry, if it is your wish to bind Ginevra to you, place the ring on her finger."

"It is my wish," he said softly and slipped the ring on her finger.

"Ginevra, if it your wish to bind Harry to you, place the ring on his finger."

"It is my wish," she said and a sweet, loving smile graced her face when she slipped the ring on his finger.

"Honored guests, you have witnessed the vows made by Harry and Ginny, and the exchange of the symbols of their union. Harry and Ginny, in the binding of yourselves, you have created a new life, so step forth and rejoice in your new life and love. I pronounce you husband and wife. Harry, by all means kiss your bride."

Harry took Ginny in his arms. "We did it," he whispered and kissed her like he had never kissed her before.

The crowd rose to their feet with applause and cheers.

"Harry, welcome to the family!" Arthur exclaimed and embraced them both.

After the wedding cake had been sliced, the toasts given by Hermione and Ron, Harry and Ginny took to the floor for their first dance as husband and wife. At the head table, Hermione laid her head on Ron's shoulder, sighing in contentment.

"Great isn't it? One big happy family now," Ron said softly, kissing the top of her head.

"He deserves it, so much," Hermione said. Harry and Ginny's eyes were dancing with each other more than their feet were, swaying to the music.

"Every time our eyes meet, this feeling inside me
Is almost more than I can take
Baby when you touch me, I can feel how much you love me
And it just blows me away
I've never been this close to anyone or anything
I can hear your thoughts, I can see your dreams

I don't know how you do what you do
I'm so in love with you
It just keeps getting better
I wanna spend the rest of my life
With you at my side, forever and ever
Every little thing that you do
Baby I'm amazed by you

The smell of your skin, the taste of your kiss
The way you whisper in the dark
Your hair all around me, baby you surround me
You touch every place in my heart
Oh it feels like the first time, every time
I wanna spend the while night in your eyes

Every little thing that you do
I'm so in love with you
It just keeps getting better
I wanna spend the rest of my life
With you at my side, forever and ever
Every little thing that you do
Baby I'm amazed by you..."

When the song ended, the crowd clapped when Harry grinned, dramatically dipped Ginny, eliciting a squeal of surprise and kissed her. While Harry and Ginny made their way around the gathering to thank everyone for coming, servers brought food to the tables, signaling the lunch banquet and socializing. The band started up another tune and Hermione and Ginny talked excitedly about the honeymoon in Madrid. For months, Ginny had become enchanted with the idea of a romantic Spanish honeymoon, not to mention the fact that the Quidditch World Cup championship was being held there in two days.

Harry and Ginny told Ron they could get him a ticket, but Ron did what he considered the hardest thing he had ever done in his young life.

He turned down the tickets.

Tickets to the Quidditch World Cup.

That bears repeating: Ron Weasley turned down tickets to a Quidditch World Cup Match.

Why, you ask, on God's green earth, would he turn that down? First reason being that he really didn't want to intrude on his sister and best mate's honeymoon. Second reason, a book.

Yes, a book.

Not just any book, but Hermione's book, hopefully. The day of the World Quidditch Cup, his lovely wife would be meeting with a publisher about her Centaur book. After seeing the hopeful, anxious look in her pretty eyes with the accompanied "You'll be there with me, won't you?" he knew he wouldn't be going to Madrid. Oh well, I can can go to The Cup next year.

Harry laughed as Hermione led a conga line around the dance floor.

"Every little thing she does is magic
Everything she do just turns me on
Even though before my life was tragic
Now I know my love for her goes on"

When the song ended, Hermione went to the band's microphone and spoke.

"Harry and Ginny, I've been taking some guitar lessons just for this day, so this is for you. I hope you like it."

Ron smiled in encouragement when she put the guitar strap over her shoulder. He knew she was nervous, but had listened to her her practice for months. She would do fine, he was sure of it. She cleared her throat, strummed the guitar and started.

"I can't imagine any greater fear
Than waking up without you near
And though the sun will still shine on
My whole world would all be gone
But not for long

If I had to run, if I had to crawl
If I had to swim a hundred rivers
Just to climb a hundred walls
Always know that I would find a way
To get to where you are
There's no place that far

It wouldn't matter why we're apart
The lonely miles, two stubborn hearts
And nothing short of God above
Cold turn me away from your love
I need you that much

If I had to run, if I had to crawl
If I had to swim a hundred rivers
Just to climb a hundred walls
Always know that I would find a way
To get to where you are
There's no place that far..."

Hermione was startled by the whistles and claps when the song ended. She smiled shyly, thanked the band for sharing the guitar and mike then and joined Ron at the table.

"And you thought it would be terrible," he teased and pulled her into his lap.

Beside them, Arthur tapped his glass with a fork and spoke. "I know the happy couple wanted no gifts, but as my prerogative as father of the bride, there is no way my daughter and her new husband are leaving without a little something."

He gave Harry a scroll. With a curious look he unrolled it, read it and looked at Arthur in astonishment. "You're giving us land?"

"What?" Ginny asked and took the scroll from him. Arthur had deeded them a portion of Weasley land on which to build a home.

"Dad, it's perfect, thank you," Ginny said and walked into her Dad's embrace.

Hours later, the band announced the last song of the afternoon. Harry again took his bride in his arms.

"Thank goodness, I wanted to leave hours ago," Ginny whispered and ran a fingernail lightly along his earlobe.

"Oh really, Mrs. Potter?" Harry replied smoothly.

"Call me that again," she whispered. Now she knew what Hermione was talking about.

Song credits!!
Amazed as performed by Lonestar
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic as performed by The Police
No Place That Far as performed by Sara Evans (the perfect song for this wedding, I think)