Hello, darlings! I hope you've been staying safe. I cannot say how many more chapters we have left, but the story is winding down. I haven't decided if the last chapters will be on the shorter side to break apart events, or if there will just be a lot in the last chapters. I own nothing except an awesome chair for watching cross country. (Seriously the only thing it lacks is an umbrella to provide shade.) Thank you all for reading a reviewing, I adore you all.
Chapter 26: Weddings, weddings, and more weddings.
As promised, Hermione and Fleur accompanied Ginny and Molly wedding dress shopping. "Okay, Mum, we're looking at mint green dresses. The other popular shades wash me out. I told the consultant that when I made the appointment.
A blonde woman wearing a smart white suit approached them, smiling, "Good morning ladies, how can I help you."
"I'm Ginny Weasley, this is my mother, Molly. I have an appointment to look at dresses."
The woman's smile widened, "Welcome, ladies. Let me look at the book and someone will be right with you." She waved them further into the shop. She returned quickly, "Looks like you're with me, dears, my name is Madison. Can I offer you something to drink or eat?"
"No, thank you, Molly just fed us second breakfast," Hermione said patting her stomach, "it's so good you can't help yourself."
Madison grinned, "My nana was the same way. If she can make a ginger cake, I'm going to need you to adopt me." They all laughed as they followed her to a clump of couches. "The notes said you were interested in green dresses, mint, I assume?"
"Yes, I want something a little different. I also need something that can be here within the next two weeks."
"You'll have to pay full price upfront. And that doesn't give a lot of time for alternations."
"That will not be a problem. I am an accomplished seamstress." Fleur smiled.
"I hate to ask this, it feels so mercenary, what's our price range."
Ginny wrung her hands and glanced at her mother. Hermione chuckled, and answered before either redhead could, "I would say money is no object, but we all know it is, and that we have plenty of it."
"Hermione," Ginny started.
"I get it, Gin, I have trouble spending it, too. But, I promise you will not be spending a penny of Theo's money on your dress."
Molly patted her leg, "Sweetheart, your father and I will be buying your dress. And Hermione is correct, there is plenty of money for the dress of your dreams."
Fleur perked up, "Could you keep Ginny from seeing the prices. Then she will never know. We are looking at the clearance dresses."
Madison nodded, "None of our dresses have price tags."
"Perfection, let's get started." Hermione squeezed Ginny's hand.
Seven dresses in, Ginny gave a happy squeal from the fitting room. She stepped out and hurried to the triple mirrors. "This one. This is my dress." The light green dress floated out in waves. The strapless dress had no decorations, the layers of crepe silk ruffled granting the dress an elegant silhouette.
"Oh, Gin, you look beautiful," gushed Hermione.
"That is definitely your dress. Like it was made for you." Molly told her.
"You will need the tiara from Aunt Muriel," Fleur remarked.
"Oh, yes, that would be perfect," Molly agreed. She turned to Madison, "Will you be able to get it in time?"
"This one can be taken away today, off the rack. It's actually on clearance."
"Splendid lets you and I go settle up while Gin gets changed."
After Molly left the group, Hermione turned to Fleur, "How's Molly holding up with most of the planning being out of her hands?"
"I would say good, but Fred and Daphne seem to be having issues. She said she wanted to get married at the Burrow, but her mother keeps insisting on changing plans constantly like nothing is good enough."
"That sounds frustrating."
"Oui."
Having no sisters of her own, Moira asked Ginny and Hermione to stand up with her. "Ron asked Marcus to be his groomsman. And Danielle is our flower girl. She looks so precious." The tiny brunette toddled up to Hermione, latching onto the woman and refusing to let go. She pouted when Hermione had to put her down to get dressed. Ginny giggled, "Hermione the baby magnet."
"You're all just jealous small humans like me best."
"I do fear that my offspring will prefer Auntie Mione over me." Ginny quipped. They all laughed.
The Flints set up a lovely outside ceremony at the family manor. Cerulean fabric covered the chairs. Ribbons attached to the flower covered archway wafted in the wind. A silver runner created an aisle down the center. The decorations coordinated with the azure of the bridesmaids' dresses. The color complimented Ron's ginger hair.
Violetta came to collect them not long after that. Hermione led the small girl to the end of the aisle. She pointed to the men waiting at the other end, "Look, Dany, Uncle Marcus, and Uncle Ron." The flower girl beamed at the mention of her family. "Go to Uncle Marcus." She lurched once then hurried towards her father, oblivious to the adults watching her. Ginny, then Hermione followed down the aisle joining the others. Numerous guests chuckled when Danielle broke free from her father to crawl up to Hermione. Ron shook his head in amusement.
The music swelled, and the assembly rose to their feet, turning to watch the bride. Joy radiated from Moira's face. She glowed as Malcolm escorted her to Ron. Impossibly, her smile widened when her brother put her hand in the groom's. It warmed Hermione's heart to see her love mirrored on Ron's face. As they exchanged vows she sought Viktor in the crowd. He winked when they locked eyes. She tore her attention back to the ceremony, in time to watch Ron kiss his new wife. Both Molly and Violetta wiped away tears, smiling at their children. Ron escorted Moira down the aisle and towards the manor house. Marcus offered his arm to Ginny and the two followed the happy couple. Hermione took Harry's arm, Danielle went around and took his other hand, causing laughter with her antics.
When the dancing began, Ron stole her from Viktor for a dance. "So, how do you like my new home?"
"Couldn't come up with a good enough excuse to leave the family home?" she laughed.
"No, and like I said, if Moira wanted to stay, I wouldn't complain a bit. But she doesn't want to stay, either," he sighed.
"Don't let it ruin your night. You only get married once."
"You're right. And it doesn't matter where you live, as long as you have love."
"Right."
As the night began to wear down, Fred and George called everyone's attention, "Hello, hope everyone is having a good time," Fred began.
"Before we start the fireworks display," George said.
"Everyone knows is coming."
"We won the straw pull,"
"To introduce Charlie."
"To present the new couple."
"With their present," they finished together.
Charlie chuckled, "Thank, guys, I think. Ron, Moira, it used to be a tradition in the Weasley family to present each newly married couple with a home to live in on their own. When Bill married, he and Fleur inherited Shell Cottage from Gran and Granddad. Bea and I don't need a home, we have one in Romania. Fred and George are using the flats above their shop. A moment a silence for Padma and Daphne." The audience chuckled. "And Ginny isn't married, yet, but Theo's got the home thing covered. That brings us to Ron and Moira. We hope you like it, and if you don't, blame Harry and Hermione they had final say." He approached his younger brother, handed him a deed, and pulled him into a hug.
"Orchard Nook?" Ron read.
"It is about 15 miles outside of Wareham," Hermione told them.
"With enough land to have a quidditch pitch," added Harry.
"And a herbology garden." Hermione finished.
Moira squealed and hugged both Harry and Hermione before moving on to the rest of the Weasley family. Ron slowly walked over. "I never heard of this family tradition before."
"That's strange, George and I have been discussing it for weeks now." Hermione smiled.
"Same," Harry grinned.
"Thanks, guys." Ron hugged his best friends.
"You're welcome," Hermione told him hugging her boys. Harry put
his arms around them.
"Feels a little weird, two of us are married, and this time next week, Harry will be, too," Ron whispered.
"And within a year we'll all have kids or have them on the way," Hermione added.
"Adulting sucks," Ron remarked.
"I don't know, I haven't had someone irrationally trying to kill me in a while. I kind of like adulting," Harry joked.
"How much longer do you think we can hug like this before people think it is strange?" Hermione wondered.
"I've found that if it involves all three of us, there is a lot of leeway." Harry laughed.
"We aren't that special," she protested.
"You know that, and I know that, but the rest of the world disagrees," Ron told her.
"So, they would let us stand this way for the rest of the night?"
"No," they looked up to see Viktor standing behind Hermione, "I want my wife back. Ron has his own, and Harry can pretend with fiancee." He took one of Hermione's hands. "Also, twins are about to start fireworks, the groom should be there."
"Right, off the find my wife. Boy, that just sounds wrong." He shook his head and made his way outside. The other three followed him to watch magical fireworks celebrate Ron and Moira.
Monday morning, Hermione made her rounds to check in with each couple to review how things were going. Afterward, she chose to floo to the Leaky and walk to her office. Perusing the shop windows she took her time, enjoying the sunshine and relative calm of the morning. Disturbingly, she noticed Fred waving his arms wildly inside Weasley's Wheezes, ranting about something. A nervous twinge twisted in her stomach.
The feeling increased when she entered her own building to find Daphne sobbing into Cassius's chest, while Draco stomped back and forth behind the couch. "Do I want to know?" she asked the room at large.
Draco ran his hand through his hair. "My mother is being a snobby bitch and making sure Mrs. Greengrass knows Astoria is marrying up. Which is making her into a bitch. Everything Astoria and I plan, she pressures Daphne to do something similar."
Daphne leaned up, "I just wanted to have a simple wedding at the Burrow. The orchard is perfect."
The door to the shop flew open and Fred stormed in with George on his heels. "Look, Daphne, if any of that shite is what you want, then I'm on board. Anything you want. But if I'm going to rein my mother in, you are going to have to do the same. That woman has always done the best she can by us and she will not be made to feel like her best is not enough by a social-climbing harpy."
Hermione looked confused, "I'm still missing something."
"Mum has been taking her frustrations with Mrs. Malfoy out on Mrs. Weasley." Daphne looked down. "Which is horrible, to begin with, but to make it worse, Mrs. Weasley's ideas are exactly what I want. I hate everything Mum is pushing for."
"You have other options," Hermione remarked.
"Mum has her heart set on one last wedding at the Burrow. I am not taking that away from her." Fred snapped.
"Fredrick Gideon Weasley! I would like to remind you that the door you just slammed about is my door. This is my office. Your fiancee is sobbing on my researcher, on my couch. I strongly suggest you watch your tone unless you would like to revisit the summer of '97."
Instantly deflating, Fred managed to look ashamed, "My apologies, Hermione. Please continue."
"That's better."
The shop door opened again to admit Astoria. "There you are, coward." She stalked over and smacked Draco's shoulder. "How dare you leave me alone to deal with those monsters?"
"I'm sorry."
"You should be. Now, what's Granger, oh excuse me, Krum's plan?"
"Elope today to make it legal. Then Daphne and Molly plan the bonding ritual of Daph's dreams. If your mother keeps being difficult, tell her she doesn't have to come."
"Perfect." Astoria turned to Draco. "We're eloping today, too. Then if your mother keeps up this behavior we can cancel our bonding ritual."
"You don't have to cancel your dreams for me, Tori," Daphne told her sister.
"You constantly gave up things to protect me growing up. I can never repay that. We are sharing an anniversary. That way they can never compete with anniversary parties. What they try to do for one, we can insist on sharing." She nodded. "Now that it is settled. You all make arrangements, I'm off to get us frocks." She breezed out the door.
Hermione blinked twice, "Did she just use the word frock?"
Daphne gave a watery laugh, "Yes, she did. And she will be back with one for each of us."
"Would you like to use my bathroom to freshen up?"
"Yes, please." Cassius helped her stand.
Draco blew out a breath, "What ministry official do we know who can get here on short notice?"
"Higgs?"
"In France on his honeymoon."
"Um, Peregrine?"
"On business in Norway."
"Damn."
Hermione hummed under her breath. "I know someone. He owes me a favor. Let me send the owl."
Astoria returned with three dresses draped over her arm, "All right, ladies. I have orange for Daphne, green for Hermione, and pink for me."
"Pink?" questioned Draco.
"I like pink."
"Why orange?" questioned Cassius.
"Orange is my favorite color."
"Which Daphne learned and mentioned to me."
"So, Weasley gets his favorite color and I don't?"
"Your family and my family are driving my sister and the Weasley family, insane. He deserves a treat. And we're going to share an anniversary, I want him to like one of us. Otherwise, we'll both spend them getting pranked."
The twins howled with laughter while Draco sputtered. "Don't worry, Draco, our mother would murder us for ruining any fancy to do you parents threw us," Fred promised.
"Ladies, we need to get changed. Gentlemen, discuss where you would like to hold this elopement." She led her sister towards the inner office with Hermione following after. Whenever Daphne tried to apologize, Astoria bossed her into returning to the task of getting ready. "Look, Daphne, this is not your doing. And both Mum and Mrs. Malfoy need to learn their place. I am not spending the rest of my life competing with you, or letting the two of them compete through us. I love the sound of an orchard wedding, but I'm marrying Draco, so a small simple ceremony isn't happening."
"Yes, it is," Daphne told her. "We're sharing one right now." She took and squeezed her sister's hands. Let's go get married." The sisters hugged and made their way back to the outer office. "We're ready."
A small man with large bushy eyebrows sat quietly at Katie's desk watching the younger men discussing venues. He perked up when he noticed Hermione, "Mistress Krum, you requested me?"
"I did, Morris, thank you for coming." She held out her hand in greeting. "Do you remember lamenting that you were unlikely to get to perform any ceremonies because most people would overlook you, even with the crunch?"
"Yes," he looked confused.
"My friends want to get married right now, and need an authorized official, can you think of anyone who might be available?" She batted her eyelashes innocently.
"I would be delighted, you know that." Morris laughed.
Hermione turned to the men, "Where are we doing this?"
"Malfoy wants to use the storeroom of the shop," George said, "but Fred wants the store floor."
"Why?" asked Morris.
"The shop is an important part of my life. Daphne is important." Fred smiled at her.
"Using the storeroom will further horrify mother and perhaps put some things in perspective." Draco shrugged.
"To Weasley's Wheezes then," Hermione opened the front door.
After the two ceremonies, Fred and Draco both insisted on slipping Morris a tip. "Gentlemen, no, just letting me get in on this was enough for me. I'm honored Mistress Krum remembered a conversation from months ago."
"Nope, we're playing you. You can take it, or we'll get Mione to get you to take it." Fred threatened.
"Fred," she protested, "I am not the bogeyman!"
"Well, not our bogeyman, but Mr. Morris is unlikely to be as frightened of Mum as we are."
"She did take down Bellatrix Lestrange," Draco pointed out. "She's got my respect."
"We're getting off-topic," Fred interrupted, "Mr. Morris we want to show our appreciation for your assistance. If we don't, once they get over the annoyance of eloping without them, our parents will be so disappointed."
"If you won't allow me to refuse, very well," Morris smiled. "I have to be going, thank you all again. I'm sure I'll be seeing you soon, Mistress Krum."
"Thank you, Morris. You'll probably see me in the next few weeks."
"Wonderful." He waved as he left the shop.
"Who was that, Hermione?" asked Daphne.
"Stuart Morris, the head of Spell Patents, an office I visit regularly, but not many others do. Had we not already had our legal ceremony, I would have asked him to perform ours."
"Now what do we do?" questioned Fred.
"We confess and throw ourselves at your parents' mercy," Daphne replied.
"Which we earn by telling Mum Hermione will be performing a ritual for us similar to the one she had. One that you and she will be planning, with or without your mum, that part I leave up to you." Fred told her.
"Once you have the essence of the wedding you want, I can tailor it around you."
"How much?" Fred asked.
Hermione shrugged, "How should I know? Katie handles that ends. She complained I didn't charge enough, and Cassius voted against me, so she sets the prices." She looked over at Draco, "I'll tell her to punish your parents by charging eight times the going rate."
He nodded, "That's all I ask."
