"Obsessed by a fairytale, we spend our lives searching for a magic door or a lost kingdom of peace" - Eugene O'Neill
Molly Weasley had insisted they had to prepare for a wedding, even one that was to take place at the last minute, in a matter of hours in fact. After a quick dinner, Hermione had been whisked away by Ginny, Luna and a few other girls, mainly those that had been on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. They'd pampered her, made her look pretty, with minimal makeup and a serum in her hair that calmed her curls into perfect ringlets that were pinned back with small, transfigured daisy hair clips. Luna had then weaved a crown of flowers that had been set atop of her head.
"You look beautiful Hermione," Katie Bell told her sincerely, Hermione smiled, looking at herself in the long mirror on the back of Ginny's dorm room door. She wasn't a traditionalist and hadn't really been fussed on what she wore to her wedding, the other girls however had insisted she had to wear white and had set about transfiguring a beautiful dress for her to ware. The dress was simple in style, a snow-white gown with a sweetheart neckline, a full skirt that floated around her in layers all the way down to the ground. The dress hand capped sleaves over her shoulders in a sheer silver material while silver beads swirled like constellations across the bodice of the dress, it was gorgeous, she felt like a princess.
"You need shoes," Ginny said, the redhead was digging through her wardrobe, "these won't do, they need something extra," Ginny whispered to herself, pulling a pair of white heeled sandals out of the depths of her closet, with a tap of her wand, they watched as Ginny transformed the heels into a pair of glass sandals, which shimmered in the light of the room.
"Ginny their beautiful," she breathed, over dinner she'd told everyone what had happened with the gods, explaining to them about the fairy tale themed trials.
"Perfect for your fairy tale wedding, you're going into this the princess of Gryffindor, and you'll leave as my brothers queen," Ginny told her, leaning down to help Hermione put them on her feet.
"She's already his queen, should have heard him going on about her constantly while she was away," Angelina laughed, Hermione blushed as a knock sounded on the door.
"Come in," Luna called, the door opened to reveal Harry, dressed in a simple suit.
"Mione, you look beautiful," he told her quietly as he stepped into the room.
"Thank you, Harry," she replied smiling sweetly at her best friend.
"I have some things for you," he told her quietly holding a small box out to her, Hermione accepted it and peered inside it, gasping at what she saw.
"Your parents aren't here but I thought muggle tradition might be a way to remember them on this day," he rambled, "The bracelet was my mums, I found it in my vault last year, you can borrow it, I transfigured the necklace for your something blue," "I shrunk the copy of Hogwarts A History, it's a first addition from the library, I thought that would work for your something old. I popped into London and got the earrings for your something new. Then of course there's a silver sickle for your shoe, I wasn't sure what a sixpence looked like but figured this would do," Harry was red, rambling worriedly, Hermione began to cry in earnest, thankful, Alicia had spelled her make up to remain in place as she threw herself at the dark-haired wizard, wrapping him up in a tight hold.
"Thank you, Harry, it's all perfect," she told him.
"You're my sister Mione, I want you to be happy," he told her, kissing her on the forehead.
"Will you give me away," she asked quietly.
"It would be my honour to," he smiled at her sweetly before reaching into the box he had brought in with him, first he fastened a sapphire and diamond flowery necklace round her neck, then he reached up and placed a silver diamond tennis bracelet onto her left wrist, before helping her clip on some simple silver flowered earrings. She placed the sickle into her shoe and reached for a bunch of wildflowers Luna had brought for her, she placed the shrunken book by their stems, and secured it in place with a blue ribbon.
"I'm ready," she told the room at large, mere hours ago they'd been fighting in a battle and here they all stood helping her to marry the love of her life. The girls all smiled, exiting the room to head down to the Great Hall, each of them dressed in pretty summer dresses.
"Are you sure about this, I can help you run away," Harry half joked, she knew if she said she wasn't ready, he'd get her out of there quicker than she could say the word quidditch.
"I've never been surer of anything in my life Harry," she informed him, her head held high.
"Let's get you hitched then," he said holding his arm out to her, Hermione accepted it, allowing Harry to lead her to her destiny.
The large oaken doors of the Great Hall opened, admitting them into the grand room where beautiful orchestic music played. Hermione couldn't stop the gasp from escaping her. It was beautiful, they'd removed the tables opting instead for white chairs that stood either side of a rich blue carpeted aisle. Lines of fairies fluttered above, each a colourful ball of light underneath the magical enchanted night sky, lighting her way to Fred who stood at the front of the hall, his eyes fixed firmly on her, a beaming grin upon his face. It was simple but breath taking, perfect in fact.
Hermione felt like she was gliding as she walked down the aisle, clinging to Harry, her eyes set on the man she loved. He was stood with George and Kingsley, all eyes were upon her, their importune wedding had around fifty guests, many of whom were the Weasley family. Fred held his hand out taking hers as she stepped up onto the raised platform at the front of the hall.
"You look magnificent Mi," he spoke, his eyes fixed on hers, beaming brightly as he took her in.
"You look handsome," she replied, unable to contain her own excited smile. Harry grinned at her, kissing her on her cheek, before moving off of the stage, to sit next to Ron.
"You look after my sister, remember I destroyed the evillest man to have lived in the last fifty years with an Expelliarmus, I can do a lot worse to you," were his parting words to Fred who nodded vigorously, his eyes amused as he watched the younger man retreat.
"Are we ready then," Kingsley asked, the new minister was grinning at them as he stood before them in deep violet and gold robes, both she and Fred nodded excitedly.
"We are gathered here today to witness the union of Fredrick Gideon Weasley and Hermione Jean Granger, during their time at Hogwarts and the dark times of this recent war this young couple has managed to find Love, to find kindship and passion, to find their soulmates. Today they wish to make an unbreakable marriage bond together, this bond will bind them to one another for all eternity, not even death will sever their commitment to one another, though I suppose Hermione's already proven that she won't allow death to separate them," Kingsley spoke, his voice a deep baritone, his comment gathered a few chuckles from the onlooking crowd and Hermione let out a watery one of her own.
"Hermione and Fred have today chosen to do a traditional wizarding handfasting ritual but first does anyone have any reason for why they should not be married, speak now or forever hold your peace," Kingsley asked, nobody objected so he raised his wand and continued.
"If you would please join your right hands together," he asked them, both her and Fred did as he instructed, each of them excited to be bound together.
"In a traditional handfasting ritual we ask the friends and family of the couple to choose and bless cords which will be wrapped around their joined hands, they have each chosen two people to bless their union, this evening. Please may those chosen step forward with your selected chords, and wrap them around their joined hands," Kingsley spoke firmly; Harry, George, Molly and Minerva all stepped forward, each holding a different coloured chord.
"I can't believe that Freddie is getting married, Hermione you have been like a daughter to me for years, I'm so happy you are joining my family for real. I have chosen a red chord today; I wish for your union to be full of; love, strength, fertility, courage, health, and passion, just like mine and Arthur's marriage has been," Molly spoke, tying the chord around their hands, her eyes watering as she smiled at them proudly.
"Thank you," Hermione whispered, her own eyes watering as Molly gave her a gentle pat on her shoulder and stepped away as Harry took her place.
"I wasn't really sure what to choose so I did what Hermione would do, when in doubt, go to the library, there were many things I want you to have, you deserve the world Hermione," Harry smiled at her sincerely, Hermione smiled back her eyes streaming, "Eventually though I decided on a pink chord; it represents love, unity, honour, truth, romance and happiness, I want you guys to have that," he told them as he tied the chord around their hands. Hermione was openly sobbing, Harry gave her a side hug and stepped away as George took his place.
"My twin and Hermione have been like water and oil since they first met; opposites in almost every way but they work. I've never met a couple more in love; and I'm proud to have Hermione as a sister-in-law. I have chosen an orange chord today. May you always offer encouragement to each other as you pursue your dreams; may you have adaptability; God knows you'll need it with all of Fred's pranks. I want you to have stimulation, to do better, learn more, be the best versions of yourselves. May you always have this crazy attraction to one another, even when your old and grey. Finally, I want your union to be full of kindness, never go to bed angry, always apologise," George told them seriously as he wrapped the orange chord around their joined hands.
"Thank you, O'twin of mine," Fred whispered, he was crying openly at his twins' words.
"Anytime brother," George, patted him on the back and then squeezed her hand before Professor McGonagall took his place.
"Two of my most brilliant students getting married, I'm honoured you chose me to bless your union. I want your union to be filled with strength, empowerment, wisdom, success and pure love which is why I have chosen a black chord," Minerva McGonagall spoke tying her cord around their joined hands a proud smile on her usually stern face.
"Their union now blessed, we move on to their wedding vows," Kingsley spoke as Minerva retook her seat. "Fred and Hermione have chosen to speak their own vows; Fred please speak yours now," Kingsley continued nodding at Fred.
"I remember the moment I first laid eyes on you; your hair was like a lion's main as you demanded if I'd seen a toad on the Hogwarts Express. I thought who's this crazy little petite firstie, she's cute and annoying. That was probably the start of my crush on you, as years went by, it grew bigger; you grew prettier and was always disproving of my pranks, but it became a game to make you laugh, I love your laugh. I knew I was in trouble when it would be you, I was worried about instead of Ron when you guys got into mischief saving the world. You were so beautiful at the yule ball that I couldn't resist kissing you, I'm glad I did because it was what led to us getting here. I'm in love with you Hermione, have been for years, you are my person. I want to spend my life with you, the good the bad and the ugly. I will be your shoulder to cry on, your sounding board, the one you come to speak to about your day. I promise to always make you laugh and to support you in all of your pursuits. You are amazing Mi, I'm so happy you've decided to choose me, to be by your side forever," he told her tenderly, his voice hitching. Hermione could here sniffing from the audience, none louder than Hagrid who repeatedly blew his nose into a tablecloth sized hankie.
"Hermione your vows," Kingsley smiled.
"How am I meant to beat that," she asked with a teary chuckle, Fred smiled tenderly at her and she took a shuddery breath staring into his eyes as she spoke her vows.
"I'm so lucky to have you in my life Freddie, I don't know what I did to deserve you. I've always considered myself to be a bit of a loner, content to spend my life with books and knowledge but you bring out the best of me. You saw something within me and pursued me, making me fall for you in return. I'm in love with you and those few hours without you made me wish that I'd died instead. We've been given a second chance and I don't want to waist a moment of it. I want to support you with your dreams of expanding WWW, and I know that you will support me in whatever I decide to do after I get my NEWT's. I want to live my life with you, have a family with you, grow old with you. You are a light in the darkness, the other half of my soul and I love you unconditionally, whatever our life brings I know we'll be alright because we have the support of each other," she told him through floods of tears.
"I love you," Fred whispered.
"I love you too," she replied.
"Hermione and Fred have now spoken their wedding vows to one another with us as their witnesses, Fred do you take Hermione as your lawfully and magically bound wife," Kingsley asked raising his wand to their conjoined hand's.
"Yes sir, I do," Fred responded confidently. With a flick of the minister's wand, a thick sparkling silver strand wrapped around their conjoined hands.
"Do you Hermione take Fred to be your lawfully and Magically bound husband," Kingsley asked her.
"I do, I really do," she told him just as confidently, as another silver strand came out of the older man's wand and wrapped around their hands.
"In that case, I bind you now with magic for all eternity. By the power of this spell you will love one another, be faithful to one another and stand by one another in times of happiness and times of sadness. Together you will stand as spouses in this life and the ever after for all of time, so mote it be," Kingsley spoke firmly waving his wand in a complicated patten over their conjoined hands. A blinding golden strand came out of his wand wrapping around their conjoined hands, the magic was warm, scolding on their flesh, after a moment the strand exploded into a thousand twinkling stars, as the four coloured cords split apart weaving together into two identical bracelets, that bracelets sank into their flesh becoming colourful complex tattoos around their right wrists. The two silver strands he had cast earlier wove together in a simple braid before splitting and wrapping around both of their right index fingers. The silver braids of magic solidified into solid platinum wedding bands and the twinkling stars faded out of existence.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may now kiss your bride Mr Weasley," Kingsley told Fred. Fred smiled at her sweetly, cupping her face with both his hands as he leaned down and claimed her lips in a loving kiss, the crowd of witnesses cheering in the backgrounds as butterflies erupted within her stomach. She was married, a Weasley. Hermione giggled, wrapping her arms around Fred's neck as she deepened the kiss. She heard someone, George she suspected wolf whistle in the background, but she paid it no heed and continued kissing her husband.
Their reception was small, Molly insisted that they share their first dance together in the centre of the hall. Everyone had congratulated them, wishing them well in their futures together and they'd each had a glass of champagne and a slice of cake the House Elves had prepared for them.
"We have a surprise for you," George spoke, he was stood with the other Weasley's and Harry, all of them looking excited.
"What is it," Fred asked quietly.
"Your honeymoon," Ginny replied, holding out an empty champagne flute towards them, Fred took it from his sister.
"I don't understand," Hermione spoke confused as Harry passed over her enchanted beaded bag.
"Rita Skeeter and other journalists have been buzzing about, they want dibs on the mass resurrection story," Ron told them, never one to sugar-coat anything.
"Kingsley is going to release an official statement however it's been decided that it would be best if the both of you were far from here when it hits," Molly told them kindly.
"We can't just go, the ministry needs reforming, Hogwarts needs rebuilding," Hermione protested.
"They will be, when you return there will be lots of things you can help with," Arthur told them seriously.
"Where are we going," Fred asked, holding the flute tightly.
"Brisbane," Harry responded.
"Australia," Hermione gasped.
"An Auror, Sandy Wentworth, she's a friend of Kingsley's, will meet you when you get there, she's going to take you to a hotel for you to get settled, then she's going to track down your parents," Harry told her, taking her hand in his.
"My parents," she gasped, tears forming in her eyes for what must have been the fiftieth time that evening.
"There's a specialist in modified memories who works at a hospital in Sidney, they'll do what they can to restore them to who they were," Molly told her, pulling her into a tight hug.
"I can't afford," she gasped.
"Everything is taken care of, it's a present from all of us, have fun, enjoy been newlyweds and get your parents back," Bill told her quietly.
"Thank you," she breathed feeling overwhelmed by the generosity of her new family.
"The portkey will be leaving in two minutes," Percy told them, his eyes fixed on his pocket watch. They quickly hugged everyone, thanking them for everything before each of them wrapped their arms around one another as the charmed champagne flute, glowed blue, pulling them to the other side of the earth.
"Howdy, you must be Fred and Hermione," a pleasant voice greeted as their feet touched down, both of them stumbling slightly. Hermione grumbled, her stomach rolling as she gazed up at a tall, tanned woman with bright green eyes and long straight purple hair.
"Nice to meet you," she replied quietly before promptly vomiting up the contents of her stomach.
"Not used to long distanced portkey travel, I see," the woman laughed, vanishing the sick with a wave of her wand.
"You could say that" Hermione groaned as Fred conjured her a glass of water.
Good news is we can walk to where you will be staying from here," the woman told them happily, gesturing for them to follow her. Hermione looked around; they were stood next to a large river, muggle tower blocks towering above the pristine waters while the hot sun shone down upon them. Muggles hurried by them, none of them noticing that two people had appeared out of nowhere beside them. Sometimes magic really was useful she thought as she followed the witch, Fred's hand firmly grasped within her own.
