Chapter 6

The dress was deceptively simple, a short purple swirl that rendered her skin luminous and her eyes violet, but cost her a week's salary.

Worth it, though, Daphne decided. She fastened on small amethyst earrings and was all ready to go when he arrived.

"You look gorgeous, Gemini. That dress makes your eyes look purple too."

Yes, definitely worth it. "Shouldn't you call me Daphne today?"

"Daphne it is. I didn't know you lived in a flat in Dagon Alley."

"You expected a manor?"

"I did."

"The Greengrasses were never among the wealthiest wizard families," she confessed. "If Perseus Parkinson hadn't been sent to Azkaban, Draco Malfoy would have wed Pansy instead of Astoria."

"Would that have made your sister happy?"

"Not really. She didn't love him, but she was fond of Draco, he's not as bad as some."

The wedding was in the garden outside the Burrow, where a tent had been set up to shade the tables surrounding a large dance floor.

Harry seated her beside Luna, then took his place with the other groomsmen.

"Hello, Gemini," Luna said pleasantly.

"I'm Daphne here."

"Good. This isn't the place for work things. Hello, Padma."

Padma dropped into the seat on Daphne's other side. "Gem…er, Daphne, I love that dress!"

Daphne murmured her thanks and returned the compliment. Padma was wearing a silken turquoise shirt dress that looked vivid against her dark skin.

Angelina's bridesmaids were all from her quidditch team. In a bit of a reversal, Angelina wore a bright scarlet maxi dress while Katie, Ginny, and Alicia were in ivory.

Harry was paired with Katie and Ron with Alicia, but Daphne saw Ron's eyes search the assembly and settle on Padma.

Hermione Granger saw it too, and her mouth tightened.

She looks like she wants to bury a knife in Padma's back, Daphne thought. I'd hate to have someone look at me like that!

She glanced around, caught Ginny Weasley's eye, and flinched. Oops, someone is!

She felt faintly reassured when Harry, as soon as his initial dance with Katie ended, made a beeline for her, circumventing Ginny's efforts to intercept him.

Daphne leaned her head against his shoulder as they drifted across the dance floor. She felt tired but happy.

The reception was drawing to a close in the late afternoon.

"We can leave as soon as they cut the cake," he whispered in her ear.

He fetched cake for both of them, and they sat to watch the sunset.

"This was such a nice wedding," Daphne told him. "I haven't been to many, and they've all been very formal."

"The Weasleys don't do formal," laughed Harry. "When Ron marries, he plans to have the wedding party face off for a quidditch game."

"I imagine Padma will have something to say about that," Daphne tossed off carelessly.

Too late she heard a gasp, and turned to see Hermione Granger standing behind them.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Daphne was at a loss for words.

"How long?"

Harry faced Ron in the little pub near Grimmauld Place and waited.

"A while." Ron was shamefaced. "It's been over a year now, but I didn't see a way forward. Not like two purebloods can marry anyway."

"I don't blame you for dating Padma," said Harry slowly. "But you should have ended things with Hermione first!"

"I planned to!" Ron said heatedly. "But I wanted to wait until after George's wedding! I thought it would be less awkward that way."

Harry sighed. As usual, Ron had tried to opt for the easy way out.

Ron took a big gulp of his pint. "It's just…nice to be with someone who doesn't want to fight all the time. Someone who actually thinks my ideas are worth listening to! Padma is every bit as smart as Hermione, but she doesn't throw it in my face!"

He took another drink. "I plan to ask her to marry me."

Harry nearly choked on his own drink. "Are you sure?"

"Yes." Ron's voice held no trace of doubt. "I've never been more sure about anything. It's just a matter of finding some way around the law."

Harry decided to walk the two blocks home, to clear his thoughts.

In all honesty, he couldn't blame Ron; Padma was a beautiful, charming girl. Harry winced when he remembered the scene Hermione had caused, shrieking at Padma and throwing a glass of punch over her. Luckily Daphne had whisked Padma away before anyone could take any photos.

Kreacher informed Harry that Hermione had floo called, and Harry knew she would probably track him down at work the next day. He debated what to say to her, and cursed Ron for being such a coward and failing to make a clean break.

As it happened, he didn't have to say anything to Hermione after Padma turned up late for work, and sporting a ruby and gold engagement ring.

"Ron proposed over breakfast," she told them happily. "I was humiliated by that incident at the wedding, but Ron told me it made him realize how much he wanted me to be his wife!"

"Leo," Daphne caught him as he left the department to go find Hermione, "I'm so sorry about blurting things out at the wedding. I couldn't help noticing the way Ron Weasley looked at Libra and I never realized Hermione was in earshot!"

"It's not your fault," he assured her. "Ron should have told Hermione the minute he decided he no longer wanted to be with her! He had no business treating her the way he did. I've got to go find Hermione."

"Okay. I hope she's all right."

But Hermione was quite composed.

"It's fine, Harry. I don't know what came over me at the wedding. I just over-reacted, I guess."

"It's understandable." He squeezed her hand. "You and Ron have been together so long, it's hard to call it quits."

"Call it quits? What are you talking about?"

"Well, Ron deciding he would like to be with Padma," Harry frowned.

"Oh, that. Nothing will come of it. We've split before, and he always comes back." Hermione smiled brightly.

Harry thought his friend was in denial. "Er, you know they are…talking about getting married?"

Hermione waved that off. "They can't, can they? They are both purebloods!"