A very warm to thank you to;
SaruDM ,
NickelRamaMetalHydride,
MandyHowlOwl150,
Weasley-Is-Our-King26,
LeeArt,
echizenochi,
Amber611 and
Faithlace
For reviewing the previous chapter!

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CHAPTER 34.

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FRED WEASLEY'S POV :

I could not stop laughing every time I saw Lee's face. He cowered with fear whenever I came closer to him. Well, usually, Lee is never the one to back down, but being his close friend for a long time, I knew very well that he is a homophobe.

Yes, I know using this knowledge against him was low; but what else could I do?

He was openly propositioning MY girlfriend, my Hermione. I had to show him his place.

Besides it was super funny. Especially when George caught on and both of us started a mock fight over who would get Lee.

If it wasn't for mum, who broke the fight and almost tore George's remaining ear from its attachment, Lee would have bolted without even attending the wedding.

So right now he's standing as far as possible from me.

I couldn't care less, since the position I was at, I would have a great view of my girlfriend.

I had barely spoken to her today and none of it was pleasant.

I longed to tell her how beautiful she looked today. My breath stopped the first time I saw her.

I could not wait till I could run my hands through her perfect curls and make them messy. All I wanted to do was to hold her.

But I had to suffice by just looking at her.
She looked so happy, so radiant, as if it were her wedding. But knowing the selfless woman that she is, she would be happy to no limit considering her two best friends were trying the knot.

Looking at her face shine with such innocent glee, I only wish I could be there with her, hold her hand and look her in the eyes and promise her that I would be the source of unending happiness for her.

Luna had started walking down the aisle, my youngest, hare brained sister-in-law.

She looked dreamily satisfied and I mentally applauded my usually pig-headed brother for not letting her go. She was the match he could ever have.

That's all that I saw of the ceremony.

All the time afterward, my eyes never Hermione. At a point, I saw her eyes misting. Of course she would tear up at a wedding. But some time later, I saw another emotion besides happiness.

There was an emptiness, a pain, in midst of happiness. I don't know what she was thinking about.

All I knew was that I needed to just be with her. Let her know that I was there.

I sneaked up behind her, it wasn't difficult. Everyone was concentrating on Ron and Luna.

I wanted to hug her senseless, but even for a prankster like me, that would be asking for too much attention.

So I satisfied myself by just holding her little hand in mine. And I was rewarded.

Her clouded brown eyes met mine and I tried to emote something positive to her. I loved her so fully and deeply that for a moment there, I was alarmed at my own intensity.

She smiled and grasped my hand tighter.

Knowing she was okay for now, I slipped back into my position quietly, but earning a quizzical raised eyebrow from George.

I sighed. Of course George had to notice. I shook my head and saw Lee from afar smirking at me as well.

Darn. Can't hide a thing from nosy old friends and nosy twins.

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GENERAL POV :

The party after was in full swing, Ron had led Luna to the dance floor and although they were on totally different zones where dancing was concerned, they seemed to enjoy themselves and evidently had eyes only for each other.

But slowly one by one, the Weasley brothers started cutting in and asking for a dance with the lovely bride. Even Harry got up and danced with the Bride.

Just as Fred finished his dance with Luna, he saw Ron dancing with Hermione. Both were laughing and soon Ron's ears could be seen turning red and Hermione had a cheeky grin on her face.

Fred longed to dance with her.

Throughout the evening, they had been giving discreet looks to each other. These looks were more like moments of weakness from being apart from each other for so long.

They didn't even care when Fred was dancing with Estelle and the other Fred danced with Hermione.

Each didn't have to worry for long because they had only one dance with their official dates. The rest of the evening found Estelle and the other Fred almost glued to each other, dancing away, oblivious to the others.

Hermione was pleasantly surprised to find the other Fred mingling so well with the beautiful Veela. And she seemed pretty interested as well. Her guilt seemed to be lessening. But she felt bad about what she had thought in her mind about Estelle.

The song got over and George came forward to claim a dance with Hermione.

Hermione smiled politely and took his hand.
"Not the face you were expecting for your next dance?" George asked, wiggling his eyebrows comically.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "No. Actually, just the face I was expecting." She said. Only not the person I wanted.

"Careful Mione, I can be ravishingly handsome, but I'm sorry to say I'm a monogamous man, happily married too." He said suggestively.

Hermione laughed. "Sure George. I'll keep that in mind. I wonder where else I'll find someone as ravishingly handsome as you."

George cocked his head sideways and pretending to think, "Difficult. I don't believe there is anyone handsomer than I" he said, dipping her low and making Hermione squeal.

"Yes. I'm sure it's difficult. Only if you had a twin. *sigh*" Hermione said cheekily.

George laughed. "When did you learn moves like that? Last time we attended a wedding, Ginny had to bodily pull you to dance."

"Well, let's just say I took up some extracurricular lessons while I was in charge of your babies!" Hermione said.

"Merlin Mione! You almost sounded naughty for a moment when you said that! I hope my innocent children have not been witness to anything scarring for them!" George said with a mock terrified expression.

Hermione playfully swatted his arm. "Not at all. In fact your innocent kids even played pranks on me. I would rethink my use of the word innocent if I were you," she said, her eyes twinkling.

"Really Hermione. Thank you so much. Ange and I can't thank you enough. You kept them as your own." George said, with an unusual hint of seriousness.

"Silly George. Of course I'll keep them as mine. They are mine. I love them to pieces, as I do you and Ange. You just wait when I have kids," she said giving a lopsided grin.

George laughed and said, "Planning are we?"

Hermione blushed and George swirled her around for one last time before the song got over. "Love you Mione!" He said and gave her a brotherly kiss on the forehead.

Hermione smiled affectionately at him.

"One more?" George asked.

Hermione shook her head. "Maybe later. I'm heading over to the bar. I'm parched."

As Hermione headed to the bar, she saw her favourite twin come up beside her with a cold butterbeer.

"I thought I heard you say you were thirsty." Fred said.

"I am. Thanks Fred." Hermione smiled.

"I haven't danced with you yet." He whispered.

"Is this a bribe in exchange for a dance?" She asked playfully, taking a big swig.

Fred saw her sip her drink and swallow the big gulp. He followed the movement of her throat as she drank and saw a little trickle escape her lips from the corners.

Oh Hermione. If only you knew what you do to me. He groaned.

For all he knew, she was innocently sipping her drink and although she would definitely not consider that sexy, Fred would beg to differ.

It took all his will power to not grab her and have his way with here then and there.

"Yes. May I have the pleasure of the next dance with you?" He asked, shaking his head of his earlier thoughts.

"I thought you'd never ask." She breathed.

A nice close song played and Hermione and Fred started dancing.

"I must say, you move well. You must've had a very good teacher." Fred teased.

"Only the best." She said lovingly.

"Have I mentioned how utterly butterly gorgeous you look today?" He whispered in her ear.

She shook her head, her eyes never leaving his.

"You look divine. And I don't mean because of the clothes. YOU look beautiful today Hermione." He said softly but truthfully.

Hermione blushed. "Thanks Fred. I couldn't stop looking at you when you entered. Have I mentioned that blue is so your colour?"

"You may have mentioned it, a couple hundred times, when you badgered me to buy my robes." Fred said.

Hermione laughed. "But it does justice to your eyes." She said dreamily.

"The only use my eyes can have is when they're looking at you." He said, never leaving her gaze.

Hermione gulped. She had felt so many emotions just some time ago. She was irrevocably in love with the man in front of her.

And she wanted him to know. She knew he loved her. She was certain.

And she understood his reason for not telling her that as yet.

But she knew he was ready. And so was she.

"Fred. I want you to know something." Hermione said, not fearful for once in her life.

She looked him in the eye and shifted closer than she was, he moved in too, sensing that this was monumental.

"I love you." She said simply.

Up close, his eyes could have been a book. And she saw everything in them.

Surprise, shock, elation, ecstasy and beyond all a wondrous amount of love. Just like her. She was sure his face mirrored hers.

"Hermione!" He whispered.

She placed her hand on his cheek and re-assured him, "I love you, Fred."

He just stood there, speechless for once and hugged her enough to leave her breathless. "Oh Merlin Mione! I love you. I love you. I love you. You have no idea how much I've wanted to say that to you."

"I may have an idea," she said, her eyes twinkling.

"When?" He asked her.

"During the ceremony. I know it's too early but..."

He broke her sentence with a swift kiss on her moving lips. She sighed and kissed him back.

He pulled away sooner than she would have liked and she suddenly realised where they were. Looking around and finding no one looking at them, she breathed a sigh of relief.

"I love you. I have since quite some time." He said.

Hermione's smile reached her eyes as she held onto Fred's hand and they headed to the main dance floor away from the bar.

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...
Ginny meanwhile almost spat her butterbeer.

She had come over by the bar with the idea of quenching her thirst, just like Hermione.

Only, she came from the front of the garden unlike Hermione and Fred who had taken the behind route, so that no one could have a direct view of them.

She didn't hear much except that they loved each other and wanted to tell each other since some time.

She had to bite her tongue from screaming and shouting out in glee.

She was so happy for her brother and best friend.

After she settled down, it struck her that those rascals were playing her all along!

All her scheming to get them together and all along they were together!

Wicked!

She was glad that they finally saw sense.
Let's make it more fun! We'll play your game! You want to keep it a secret? We'll see for how long! Ginny thought as the wheels in her hear whirled.

She finished her drink hurriedly and approached her brother and dragged him a safe distance till no one could hear or see them.

"Charlie, there's something I need you to do." She said as she grinned.

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Sorrry for the cliffie!

But it was getting long!

Hope you liked the declaration!

i would also like to say for my future readers, who would be reading this, even if this fic is complete, i would greatly appreciate reviews and feedback from you all.

i always love hearing from my readers and it makes me write better!

Thanks for reading!

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