-Chapter 35-
Willow, Aislin, and Molly were up early with Ginny. She barely touched her breakfast because of the butterflies in her stomach. Harry Flooed in and Ginny pulled him into the sitting room before they both went upstairs to start getting ready.
"So you got any advice for me, Harry? You're my best man and all; you're supposed to give me advice or something, right?"
"I think you two will do all right. You don't have to worry about fights with the toilet seat so that's good. Don't buy anything expensive without talking to her, that's a big one."
"Oh yes, the fiasco with the motorbike, I remember that. At least the buyer took it back."
"Yeah, at half the bloody price. I guess the best advice I can offer you is to just don't do anything you wouldn't want her to do to you. And if you do screw up then own up to it, don't think you can get away with it."
"What...what if I do mess this up, Harry? I know we've been through a lot and spent a lot of time together but...I just...we...it's like actually happening now, you know?"
"You won't mess this up, Ginny. You two…you were made for each other, you know? She calms you down, you fire her up. Despite what people might think, I'm a big believer in things happening for a reason. If you weren't meant to be together then I would never have run into her on the street last year."
Ginny smiled and pulled Harry into a hug. "Thank you, Harry. For everything. For helping me sober up, for forcing Hermione and I to have dinner together every week, for being there through everything that has happened the last year…just…thanks."
"You're like my sister, Gin. I'd do anything for you. We're gonna miss you around Grimmauld, you know? You've helped out so much. Thanks for all of that."
"I'll still be around. We'll still be doing Friday dinners and all that won't we?"
"Of course. You know you will be welcome anytime."
"I guess we better get upstairs. You've got the rings, right?"
"Yeah, they're upstairs with my dress robes. I'll see you in a little bit."
On her way back through the Burrow Arthur hurried passed her outside, telling her he would be back later. He had to ride with Hermione's mother over to the Lovegood house so she could help out.
Ginny headed up the stairs to her room where her mother and teammates were waiting for her. Aislin started working on Ginny's hair, leaving it down cascading over her shoulders but putting gentle curls in and conjuring tiny white flowers that sprinkled the red locks. After Willow finished her makeup Ginny stepped into her dress and Molly zipped it up.
"My baby girl…" Molly said with a sniffle when Ginny turned around to face her. "Oh my little baby Ginny!"
"Mum, it's okay." Ginny hugged her mother.
"It just seems like yesterday when I held you in my arms the first time. You were so tiny but so full of fight."
"Mum, you're kind of embarrassing me."
"Oh no, please, go on," Willow said with a smile.
"Oh gods! Mum! Did you get what I asked you to?"
"Oh yes! I did! Picked it up just yesterday," Molly said. She handed Ginny a small box that she pulled out of her pocket. "The man at the shop said it should be good as new if not better. He put a strengthening charm on it as well so it won't break very easily."
"Guests are staring to arrive," Aislin said, peering out the window.
"I should get downstairs then. I'll see you in a little while dear." Molly turned and hurried quickly out of Ginny's room. There was the distinct sound of her sobbing while she went down the stairs.
Harry appeared in the doorway in his dress robes.
"Almost time," he said.
Ginny nodded and took a deep breath. She headed downstairs and Harry escorted her into one of the small rooms in the back inside the tent.
...............
Hermione was up at almost the crack of dawn. She checked the two bags with her dress and Lennox's dress robes making sure every piece was there. She woke Lennox and Flooed the both of them with their bags over to the Lovegood house. She was greeted by a very chipper Luna who had a cup of tea and some breakfast waiting. Her mother arrived with Arthur and he waited in Harry and Luna's sitting room with the twins and Lennox while the women helped Hermione get ready.
"Any advice for me, either of you?" Hermione asked while her mother pulled her hair up into a twist.
"Don't buy a motorbike without telling her," Luna said.
Hermione laughed. "Harry?"
"Yes, about a year after we got married. He returned it after I told him it was either me or the bike though."
"You two will be just fine," Mrs. Granger said.
"You were made for each other," Luna said. "You calm her down and she fires you up. Harry would never have run into you if you weren't meant to be."
Hermione stepped into her dress and Luna zipped it up.
"How do I look?"
Hermione's mother started sobbing into her handkerchief. "You look so beautiful! Oh…oh dear…you look…oh my little girl!"
"Mum, it's okay."
"Oh of course it is! I just…I almost missed this because of my stupid temper and now…oh now I don't even know why I was ever angry! You just look so beautiful!"
Hermione hugged her mother tight.
"I love you, Mum. I'm glad you're here."
"We need to get going," Luna said, pointing to a clock. She checked herself in the mirror, and adjusted her pale blue dress. The three women headed to the sitting room. Arthur smiled when he saw Hermione and hugged her.
"You look beautiful, Hermione."
"Thank you Arthur."
"I've put an expansion charm on the car, just temporarily, so no one has to worry about using the Floo."
Everyone headed outside and piled into what looked like a normal sized car. Hermione had to calm her mother down when she saw the inside of the car. They arrived at the Burrow safely, Luna took Hermione to her small room in the back of the tent to wait.
...............
The enchanted tent was magnificent. It gave the feeling of being outside in the springtime and thanks to the work of Neville and Professor Sprout it smelled like springtime as well with all of the flowers that were everywhere. Doves fluttered above. The Ceremony Wizard flipped through his book and found the correct page. Every single surviving member of the Order of the Phoenix and most of Dumbledore's Army, several Hogwarts teachers, the entire Holyhead Harpies team and some of Team England, and of course the plethora of Weasleys sat on either side of the aisle in white chairs.
There was a knock on the door of Ginny's room.
"It's Dad, sweetie. It's time."
Ginny took a deep breath and stepped out of her room. She nodded at Hermione's father who was waiting outside the door of the other small room. Arthur walked Ginny to the end of the aisle and she watched as Harry and Luna made their way to the other end. Arthur wiped a tear from his eye and Ginny stretched up to kiss him on the cheek.
"Thank you, Dad. For everything you've ever done for me," Ginny said as they slowly made their way down the aisle walking in step with the string quartet's elegant fanfare.
"You're my daughter, Ginny. I'd do anything for you."
Ginny and Arthur stepped to the right side of the aisle next to Harry. She looked over to Hermione's mother who was holding Lennox and smiled. Ginny looked up to the end of the aisle. She couldn't breathe. There was some invisible force that had taken absolutely every bit of air from her lungs. Hermione's white, strapless, floor-length gown trailed behind her as she walked painstakingly slow towards the front of the room. Ginny's eyes looked over every bit of Hermione's dress. There were miniscule pearly beads that traveled in swirling patterns all over the dress and down the gown. Ginny's eyes traveled to Hermione's lips...
"Right now I am going nowhere. It is just you and me, here and now," Ginny whispered as she traced her thumb over Hermione's lips.
And with that, Ginny leaned in and pressed her lips against Hermione's. They were salty from the tears but Ginny knew that any other time they would be sweet like honey. Hermione stretched her legs away from her chest and slid her arm around Ginny's waist. Ginny gently bit Hermione's lower lip and Hermione let out a whimper. Hermione slipped her tongue into Ginny's mouth and their tongues danced together, swirling each other. Hermione pulled back for a split second and then their lips touched once more.
"Ten years…" she whispered to herself. "Finally…"
...............
There was a knock at the door of Hermione's small room.
"It's time." She heard her father's voice from the other side. Hermione took a deep breath and opened the door. She took her father's arm and walked to the end of the aisle. There, at the other end of it, with her flaming red hair and her light brown eyes that screamed passion, was Ginny. Hermione's eyes never once left her soon to be wife as she traveled down the aisle. Ginny's freckled shoulders were partially hidden by the straps of her long white dress. A champagne colored ribbon was tight around her waist, separating the tight top from the long train. And there in the middle of her chest was a pendant. A green spherical pendant attached to a thin silver chain. A cold chill ran down Hermione's spine and she shivered…
"I…want it to happen tonight, Hermione. I want to be with you…I want you, all of you. And I want you to have all of me."
"Are you sure? I don't want this to happen unless you really want it to."
"I'm sure," Ginny said as she nervously approached a smiling Hermione. She took Hermione's hands in her own and looked deep into those dark brown eyes. "I love you, Hermione."
"Ten years…" Hermione whispered to herself. "Finally…"
Hermione reached her destination, she stood in front of Ginny and could do nothing but smile as they joined hands.
"You're so beautiful," Hermione whispered.
"So are you love. So gorgeous."
Their fathers sat down and the two looked at nothing but each other while the Ceremony Wizard spoke.
"I first met these two young ladies," the Ceremony Wizard started, "at the wedding of Ginevra's oldest brother. They were young then, the world was in disarray as a war was starting. They didn't care though. Their love was young but intense. So intense that it lasted through the war, through being separated for months, through the troubles of a young relationship. It even lasted through a misunderstanding that kept them apart for almost six years. In that time they tried to move on with their lives but it was to no avail. Nothing the two faced alone was enough to keep their souls from bonding once more as their paths crossed again. Again their love has triumphed. It has pulled them through the many unpleasant events of the passed year. It goes to show all of us that the one thing we can rely on in this world is love. A great wizard, who many of you had the pleasure of knowing, was adamant on that. Albus Dumbledore was always preaching to everyone that love will always conquer all. I believe these two are a prime example of that."
Hermione glanced up at Harry who was beaming with a smile. She looked back to Ginny and smiled.
"The couple has opted to write their own vows. Miss Granger, the floor is yours."
Hermione swallowed the lump in her throat and smiled.
"Ginny, I've loved you since I was sixteen, since the moment your lips first touched mine over ten years ago. I promise you that every step you take I will be by your side. Every adventure will be taken together. Every joy will be shared. Your burdens will never be your own because I will be by your side to help you carry them. Every day I will love you with my whole heart and nothing less. I promise I'll always be there for you, now, tomorrow, every single day for the rest of our lives."
Ginny's bottom lip quivered as she smiled at her beautiful bride. Molly sobbed.
"Miss Weasley?"
"Gods, how do I top that?"
There was a chuckle from the crowd.
"'Mione, my love, my sweetheart, my baby; we've been through hell and back together. Every moment I've ever spent with you has only made me a better person. I've loved you since our first kiss, I continued loving you through good times and through bad. My heart has always been yours and no one else's. I promise you that not one moment will pass from now on until forever that I will not love, respect, cherish, and adore you. All of you. I told you once and I'll say it again; you're it for me, you always have been."
Hermione smiled, Molly sobbed even harder as did Hermione's mother.
"The rings, please then Mr. Potter?"
Harry handed over the two thin, simple, silver bands. Ginny took one and slipped it onto Hermione's finger and nestled it up next to the band with the heart shaped stone. Hermione took the other and did the same to Ginny.
"Then I declare you both, bonded for life!" The wizard took out his wand and waved it over the couple; gold sparks fell from it and showered the two. Ginny wrapped an arm around Hermione's waist and pulled her in close.
"I love you Ginevra," Hermione whispered.
"And I love you Hermione."
Hermione slipped one hand around the back of Ginny's neck and pulled her in for a kiss. The kiss. The kiss they and everyone they knew had been waiting for ten years to witness. Ginny gently dipped Hermione back and their lips touched. The golden sparks that were still showering the two encircled their bodies and exploded. They came back to reality to an eruption of cheers. Both women smiled at each other, intertwined their fingers and ran down the aisle.