A/N: Just FYI, Maggie is a year younger than Harry and co. and the same age as Ginny. Just to clear things up.
"Why weren't you at the rehearsal dinner?" Ron asked Maggie the next morning. "You're a bridesmaid, aren't you?"
"Yes, I am. I had a date last night," Maggie said calmly.
Ron felt a stab of jealousy. "Who was it?"
"Oh, it was an old acquaintance of mine from school. Boy, has he changed!" Maggie exclaimed. "He was this sweet, admiring kid at Hogwarts, now he's this slimy jerk who sells insurance from Muggles."
Ron laughed. "What did he do?"
"He hit on me the entire time! God!" Maggie cried. "Colin kept saying we should go back to his place to 'catch up'. I got what he meant, and finally I left." Maggie grinned. "Not before I threw water on his face."
"Colin Creevy?" Ron cried. "He's the slimy insurance salesman?"
"Yep," Maggie answered. "Things certainly have changed, haven't they?"
"I guess so. Colin Creevy?" Ron muttered again with disbelief. "I can't believe it!"
Maggie laughed. "I couldn't either before I saw it." She sighed. "I miss the old days."
"Don't we all?" Ron asked. "This entire Harry/Hermione thing is driving me nuts! It's like something out of a soap opera. Guy loves girl, but she's engaged to a jerk. Very typical plot of General Hogwarts or Potions or the Ginny used to like so much, Harry's Creek."
"It did happen on Potions," Maggie informed him.
"Oh, really?"
"Yes, Albus was in love with Clara, but she was marrying the wealthy Lucius."
"What happened?"
"Clara realized she loved Albus, but it was to late. She had already married Lucius, and they lived unhappily ever after," Maggie said.
"I hope our story doesn't end up like that."
"Let's hope not."
"Let's not talk about this anymore," Ron said. "Let's talk about good things, good changes."
"Like what?" Maggie inquired.
"Like you. You've changed a lot since school. I remember when you were always at the Burrow, playing with Ginny. You've grown up a lot since then."
"How have I?"
Ron looked at her. "Well, you lost the glasses and pigtails, that's a start."
Maggie laughed. "I didn't mean physically. I know I've changed a lot in that aspect!"
"Well, you used to be so quiet. You and Ginny, you would have never guessed you two would grow up to be the loud people you have become."
"I guess that's true," Maggie admitted.
"And you're not that shy anymore. I remember that when Harry came over, you and Ginny would hide in her room. Thank god she got over that crush on him," Ron said.
"I wasn't hiding from Harry," Maggie whispered.
"Really? Who from?" Ron asked with interest.
"Can I tell you something?" Maggie said softly.
"Sure."
"You have to PROMISE you won't tell Ginny."
"Swear to God, swear to die, stick a needle in my eye," Ron joked.
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
Maggie blushed. "Well, when I was little, I had the biggest crush on you."
Ron's ears turned red. "Really?"
"Yeah, I did. I never told you, well, because I was embarrassed."
"That's understandable," Ron admitted.
"Thanks for listening."
"Can I tell you something?" Ron asked. Maggie nodded. "Well, I liked you too, when we were little."
"You did?" Maggie questioned.
"Yeah, I did."
"Wow," Maggie mumbled.
"Wow is right."
***
Hermione stood in her room, getting ready. Her wedding was in an hour and a half, and she wasn't even dressed. She had just gotten out of the shower, and her hair dripped on her shoulders.
What happened last night? She sat down on her bed because she didn't think she could properly stand up. Harry had kissed her, kissed her better than anyone had ever kissed her before. Hermione sighed at her lack of boyfriends; she had only kissed three guys, Ron under the mistletoe one Christmas, David, and now Harry. Harry's kiss was her favorite; it made her knees weak and her world spin. Yet she was marrying David.
Why am I marrying him? Do I love him? Yes, I do, she told herself. I do. Than why don't I feel anything when I'm with him? Why does he always have me in tears? Do I really want to marry him? Hermione got scared at her questioning, and backed off. She was going to marry David.
She pulled on her dress. Hermione had to admit, it was a beautiful gown. Too beautiful for herself; she didn't deserve it. It was strapless, with a fitted bodice and a full skirt. The material was a satin that felt pleasurable to the touch. The bodice had white pearls sewn into the dress around the edges. Hermione loved how a layer of her HUGE lace petticoat showed at the bottom; it made her feel sexy. Her petticoat must have weighed twenty pounds, it made her skirt fill out to it's full potential. The train of the dress was not that long, but it was long enough to make her feel like a princess. Hermione examined herself in the mirror. It's really a beautiful dress, she thought.
Hermione left her hair down and pulled on her shoes, which were a satin material to match her snow white dress. She heard someone enter the room and turned around to greet them.
"Hello," she said.
"Hello, love," Mrs. Chabert, or Chloe, said. "That's a beautiful dress."
"Thanks."
"Are you not wearing makeup?" Chloe asked.
"I don't wear makeup," Hermione told her.
"Not even on your wedding?"
"I wasn't going to."
"Well, we'll have to fix that!" Chloe exclaimed. "Sit down, darling."
"Uh, ok," Hermione said. "Just don't do anything extreme, all right? No red lipstick, no blue eye shadow."
Chloe laughed. "I'm not even going to put eye shadow on you, just a touch of concealer and lipstick and blush."
"Well, all right," Hermione gave in. She sat down and let Chloe work on her face.
"Did you see your little friends before they left for the church?" Chloe asked.
"Harry and Ron?"
"Yes, that's them. My, they looked so handsome!" Chloe exclaimed.
"Really?"
"Oh, yes. Especially that Harry. I can tell you if I wasn't married and was twenty years younger, he would have been my date for the wedding."
"Really?" Hermione said, wanting to hear more about Harry.
"Oh yes, but he has his eye on someone. So he told me," Chloe said. "Close your eyes, dear, or I'll mess up."
"He likes someone?" Hermione said, a knot forming in her stomach.
"Likes? He said he was madly in love. He even started going off about everything he loved about this girl."
Hermione felt nauseous. Harry was in love with another girl? "What did he say?" she said, her voice cracking.
"Oh, that she was beautiful and perfect, the usual. Do you think you know her?" Chloe asked.
"I don't know," Hermione murmured. She started to tremble with jealousy.
"He described her for me. He said she was short, brown eyes, bushy hair…" Chloe ran off. "Oh, it was so romantic."
"I bet it was," Hermione said. She was trying all she could to hold her tears in. Wait a minute, she thought. I have no reason to be jealous of Harry, because there is nothing between us! Nothing! I'm marrying David. He should be the one who's jealous, not me! Still, her thoughts did nothing to comfort her emotions.
"I'm done! Look at the mirror dear," Chloe said. "You look lovely." And Hermione did. She looked absolutely beautiful, to everyone except herself. Hermione still thought she looked ugly as ever, but put on a nice face for Chloe.
"It's lovely," she said.
"Well, go!" Chloe said, pushing her forward. "Your mother's waiting for you downstairs!"
"She is? How do you know?"
"I'm a divinator," Chloe said proudly.
"But you're a muggle."
"So?"
"Is she really downstairs?" Hermione questioned.
"Yes, she is! You mustn't keep her waiting!" Chloe exclaimed. "Don't forget your veil!" she cried, tossing it to Hermione from across the room.
Hermione hurried out the door and downstairs, where she saw her mother sitting in a limousine, reading a book. She motioned to Hermione when she saw her. Hermione opened the door to the car, and they sped off to the church.
***
Harry and Ron were standing at the back of the church, waiting to take more guests in. David, his best man Arnold O'Malley, and Mr. Mercenary were greeting people at the door. Hermione's father, the soccer fanatic, was walking around, asking everyone if they knew the results of that day's soccer game.
"Are you ok?" Ron whispered to Harry.
"No," he answered, staring straight ahead at the doors of the church.
Ron sighed. "I'm sorry, but…"
"I kissed her last night," Harry said, not breaking his gaze.
"What!" Ron exclaimed.
"I kissed her," Harry repeated.
"I heard you the first time," Ron hissed. "What happened?"
"We kissed, we kissed again, and she broke away and ran."
"Oh, god," Ron sighed.
"Ron," Harry turned to him. "I've kissed a lot of girls. Cho, Hannah, Lavender, Ginny…"
"You've kissed Ginny!" Ron cried.
"I'll tell you about that later. All I'm saying is that I've kissed a lot of girls. Well, not a lot, but enough that I have a good amount of experience with girls."
"Uh, huh."
"Ron, I've never kissed a girl like I kissed Hermione. I've NEVER felt that way before. I've never felt so much towards one person; I've never been in love until her."
"Speaking of that," Ron began. "The day before she came back, you had a huge crush on her, but you were reluctant to call it love. Now you're madly in love with her. What happened?"
Harry sighed. "It was the moment I saw her that I knew. I knew I loved her, and every moment since then I've fallen harder and harder for her."
Ron looked at him. "I really don't know what to say, except that I'm really sorry and I'll be here for you. I know what it's like to lose a loved one."
Harry nodded. He closed his eyes and imagined Hermione. She was so perfect.
"Now tell me about Ginny," Ron demanded. "Did you two have a fling?"
Harry laughed. "No, it was nothing like that. It was during our fourth year, before I started dating Cho."
"What happened?" Ron asked nervously.
"She kissed me. She told me that she liked me and kissed me."
"And?" Ron inquired, pushing him forward.
"Neither of us felt anything. It was just, I don't know, lips. I knew she felt the same way by the look on her face. That was when Ginny stopped following me around and blushing when our eyes met," Harry exclaimed.
Ron laughed. "I guess you weren't what she expected." He paused. "Nothing goes the way you expect it to."
***
Hermione stood in the back room of the church with Caroline, Ginny, Maggie, and Hermione's other bridesmaid, her sixteen-year old cousin Iris.
"Are you nervous?" Ginny asked.
"Just a bit," Hermione admitted. Actually, she was scared out of her wits.
"Relax," Maggie said.
"Yeah. Hermione, you look so pretty!" Iris exclaimed.
"Thanks," Hermione said. "Oh my god! I don't have the new, old and blue thing!"
"Huh?" Maggie said, confused.
"When you get married, you have to have something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue," Hermione said.
"I didn't know you believed in Divination," Ginny joked.
"I don't. It's just tradition."
"Well, your dress is new," Ginny suggested.
"And your underwear's blue," Maggie pointed out.
Hermione glowered at her. "It's only blue because you washed my underwear with the blue clothes!"
Maggie shrugged. "I never said I was good at washing clothes."
"You need something borrowed and old," Ginny said.
"Here, Hermione, borrow my anklet," Iris said, taking a silver chain of her ankle and fastening it around Hermione's.
"And darling, this is old," Caroline said, pulling a beautiful, antique necklace out of her purse. It was silver and aged, with a diamond in the center. "I was going to give this to you later, but I think you need it now."
"Oh, mum, it's beautiful," Hermione breathed as her mother fastened it around her neck. "Where did you get it?"
Caroline smiled a soft, sad smile. "It was my friend Lily's."
***
"Where are we going?" Dr. Johnson demanded of the red-haired boy who was driving. "I have a wedding to perform!"
"I know," the boy said. "But something came up that I think is more important."
Dr. Johnson turned and looked out the window, not wanting to speak to the freckled boy and not wanting to think about the possibility that he was being kidnapped.
***
"This place is packed," Ron whispered to Harry.
"Yeah, it is." The wedding was starting in ten minutes, and all the guests had been seated. There were very few vacant seats.
"Look at David's side," Ron snickered. On the groom's side of the church, half of the guests were talking on their cellular phones. "Do want me to go and say something?"
"Allow me," Harry said, walking over to the seats. "I'm sorry, but you'll have to hang up now; the wedding's starting in a few minutes. You will also have to turn off your phones during the ceremony."
"We do? Or what?" Asked a platinum blonde woman with a obnoxious American accent.
"Or else I will escort you out of the church. Is that clear?" Harry hissed.
The blonde smiled. "Hey, you're cute. My name's Trisha, and I'm from New Jersey. Wanna get a drink after the wedding?"
Harry squashed a reflex to roll his eyes, then politely said, "I have plans later."
"Well, give me your number, hottie, and we'll get together, ok?" she asked.
"I'll give it to you later," Harry said politely as he could, then walked back to Ron.
"Do they bite?" Ron joked.
"No, but they hit on you," Harry mumbled.
Ron laughed. "You mean you've never been hit on before? Famous and handsome Harry Potter and all?"
Harry shook his head. "No, never." He looked at the front of the church and saw the priest get situated. "That's not the priest we had last night," Harry noted. "He looks kind of familiar though."
Ron shrugged. "Maybe the priest's sick and this is his replacement. Come on, let's go. It's almost time." He paused. "Harry, look!"
"What?" Harry asked, then saw what Ron was pointing at. It was David talking with Professor Snape. "They seem to be getting along. It makes sense; they're both the slime of the earth."
"What is Snape doing here anyhow?" Ron asked.
"Hermione invited him, along with all our former teachers," Harry told him. Ron just shook his head.
***
The wedding had started. Everyone took their places. David stood at the alter as the wedding party progressed toward him. The first to walk down the aisle was the flower girl and the ring-bearer, both cousins of David's. Then it was Ginny and Arnold's turn to go, then Ron and Maggie's, then Harry and Iris's.
"Have you met David?" Iris whispered as they walked towards the alter.
"Unfortunately," Harry mumbled.
"Why?"
"He's a total jerk," Harry told her.
"Poor Hermione," Iris sighed. "She was nervous in the back room; you could tell." She looked up at Harry. "Do you think she loves him?"
Harry shrugged. "I don't know." They reached the alter and separated, Harry taking his place by Ron and Iris taking hers by Maggie.
The woman at the organ started playing "Here Comes the Bride." As the entire church stood up to catch a glimpse at the bride, Harry couldn't see Hermione until she was standing next to David.
She was beautiful. Harry couldn't remember a time when she looked prettier. His knees buckled, his heart pounded, and his stomach flip-flopped just by looking at her. He wanted to walk up to her, throw her veil off, and kiss her. He felt a tear run down his cheek, and he unglued his eyes from her to look at the priest.
"We are gathered here today to join David Mercenary and Hermione Granger in holy matrimony," the priest said.
Hermione wasn't listening to the majority of the priest's speech. She had heard it before, and she couldn't concentrate. She shyly glanced at Harry. Oh, he's so handsome, she thought. Her heart sped up and she felt herself go week just by gazing at him. He turned to look at her and their eyes met, then Hermione hastily turned back to the priest. He's in love with someone, someone who's not me, she thought sadly. God, I love him so.
Hermione's thoughts froze. What did I just tell myself? I said that I loved him. Yes, you do, her heart told her. Her mind, on the other hand, was screaming at her: she was at the alter with David, for christsake! She was going to marry David.
"Do you, David," the priest began, shattering Hermione's thoughts. "Take this woman for your wife, to have and to hold, to love and shelter, for richer and poorer, in sickness and in health?"
"I do," David said calmly. He's not even scared! Hermione thought.
The priest turned to Hermione. "Do you, Hermione, take this man for your husband, to have and to hold, to love and obey, for richer and poorer, in sickness and in health?"
Hermione's mind spun. She felt so dizzy it was hard to stand up. Her thoughts went on so many things. She remembered how she wanted David to remove the 'obey' line from their vows and he refused. She remembered her and Harry's swim at the pool, how he had kissed her the night before. She remembered how she had hugged Harry at the end of their first year and acknowledged that she had subconsciously loved him then. She thought about her first kiss with Ron under the mistletoe at Christmas at the Burrow their seventh year, and how mad Harry had seemed at Ron afterwards. She was spinning, spinning…
"Miss Granger," the priest said, a small, sly smile on his face. "Do you?"
Hermione turned and looked at Harry. He was so handsome. She looked at David. He almost looked fake compared to Harry. She couldn't concentrate. The priest's words bounced in her head. "Do you?" echoed in her head again and again. "Do you?" Did she?
A/N: Haha, cliffhanger! Because I started the wedding, there will be one more part, which will be the conclusion/epilogue, unless I get REALLY bored and decide to make it longer for the heck of it. I'm still stuck on the ending. Happy ending, or sad, bittersweet ending? Ugh, I'm so confused! Thanks for your reviews guys; it's so great; I go to check my mail and I have twenty reviews! You like me, you really like me! LOL.
J.K. Rowling's: Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Ginny Weasley, Professor Severus Snape, Lily Potter, Hannah Abbott, Cho Chang, Lavender Brown
Mine: Maggie Chabert, Chloe Chabert, David Mercenary, Mr. Mercenary, Iris Granger, Arnold O'Malley
Mixed: The names of Mrs. Granger and Mr. Granger belong to J.K. Rowling, but their first names (Caroline and John) and their personalities belong to me
"Why weren't you at the rehearsal dinner?" Ron asked Maggie the next morning. "You're a bridesmaid, aren't you?"
"Yes, I am. I had a date last night," Maggie said calmly.
Ron felt a stab of jealousy. "Who was it?"
"Oh, it was an old acquaintance of mine from school. Boy, has he changed!" Maggie exclaimed. "He was this sweet, admiring kid at Hogwarts, now he's this slimy jerk who sells insurance from Muggles."
Ron laughed. "What did he do?"
"He hit on me the entire time! God!" Maggie cried. "Colin kept saying we should go back to his place to 'catch up'. I got what he meant, and finally I left." Maggie grinned. "Not before I threw water on his face."
"Colin Creevy?" Ron cried. "He's the slimy insurance salesman?"
"Yep," Maggie answered. "Things certainly have changed, haven't they?"
"I guess so. Colin Creevy?" Ron muttered again with disbelief. "I can't believe it!"
Maggie laughed. "I couldn't either before I saw it." She sighed. "I miss the old days."
"Don't we all?" Ron asked. "This entire Harry/Hermione thing is driving me nuts! It's like something out of a soap opera. Guy loves girl, but she's engaged to a jerk. Very typical plot of General Hogwarts or Potions or the Ginny used to like so much, Harry's Creek."
"It did happen on Potions," Maggie informed him.
"Oh, really?"
"Yes, Albus was in love with Clara, but she was marrying the wealthy Lucius."
"What happened?"
"Clara realized she loved Albus, but it was to late. She had already married Lucius, and they lived unhappily ever after," Maggie said.
"I hope our story doesn't end up like that."
"Let's hope not."
"Let's not talk about this anymore," Ron said. "Let's talk about good things, good changes."
"Like what?" Maggie inquired.
"Like you. You've changed a lot since school. I remember when you were always at the Burrow, playing with Ginny. You've grown up a lot since then."
"How have I?"
Ron looked at her. "Well, you lost the glasses and pigtails, that's a start."
Maggie laughed. "I didn't mean physically. I know I've changed a lot in that aspect!"
"Well, you used to be so quiet. You and Ginny, you would have never guessed you two would grow up to be the loud people you have become."
"I guess that's true," Maggie admitted.
"And you're not that shy anymore. I remember that when Harry came over, you and Ginny would hide in her room. Thank god she got over that crush on him," Ron said.
"I wasn't hiding from Harry," Maggie whispered.
"Really? Who from?" Ron asked with interest.
"Can I tell you something?" Maggie said softly.
"Sure."
"You have to PROMISE you won't tell Ginny."
"Swear to God, swear to die, stick a needle in my eye," Ron joked.
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
Maggie blushed. "Well, when I was little, I had the biggest crush on you."
Ron's ears turned red. "Really?"
"Yeah, I did. I never told you, well, because I was embarrassed."
"That's understandable," Ron admitted.
"Thanks for listening."
"Can I tell you something?" Ron asked. Maggie nodded. "Well, I liked you too, when we were little."
"You did?" Maggie questioned.
"Yeah, I did."
"Wow," Maggie mumbled.
"Wow is right."
***
Hermione stood in her room, getting ready. Her wedding was in an hour and a half, and she wasn't even dressed. She had just gotten out of the shower, and her hair dripped on her shoulders.
What happened last night? She sat down on her bed because she didn't think she could properly stand up. Harry had kissed her, kissed her better than anyone had ever kissed her before. Hermione sighed at her lack of boyfriends; she had only kissed three guys, Ron under the mistletoe one Christmas, David, and now Harry. Harry's kiss was her favorite; it made her knees weak and her world spin. Yet she was marrying David.
Why am I marrying him? Do I love him? Yes, I do, she told herself. I do. Than why don't I feel anything when I'm with him? Why does he always have me in tears? Do I really want to marry him? Hermione got scared at her questioning, and backed off. She was going to marry David.
She pulled on her dress. Hermione had to admit, it was a beautiful gown. Too beautiful for herself; she didn't deserve it. It was strapless, with a fitted bodice and a full skirt. The material was a satin that felt pleasurable to the touch. The bodice had white pearls sewn into the dress around the edges. Hermione loved how a layer of her HUGE lace petticoat showed at the bottom; it made her feel sexy. Her petticoat must have weighed twenty pounds, it made her skirt fill out to it's full potential. The train of the dress was not that long, but it was long enough to make her feel like a princess. Hermione examined herself in the mirror. It's really a beautiful dress, she thought.
Hermione left her hair down and pulled on her shoes, which were a satin material to match her snow white dress. She heard someone enter the room and turned around to greet them.
"Hello," she said.
"Hello, love," Mrs. Chabert, or Chloe, said. "That's a beautiful dress."
"Thanks."
"Are you not wearing makeup?" Chloe asked.
"I don't wear makeup," Hermione told her.
"Not even on your wedding?"
"I wasn't going to."
"Well, we'll have to fix that!" Chloe exclaimed. "Sit down, darling."
"Uh, ok," Hermione said. "Just don't do anything extreme, all right? No red lipstick, no blue eye shadow."
Chloe laughed. "I'm not even going to put eye shadow on you, just a touch of concealer and lipstick and blush."
"Well, all right," Hermione gave in. She sat down and let Chloe work on her face.
"Did you see your little friends before they left for the church?" Chloe asked.
"Harry and Ron?"
"Yes, that's them. My, they looked so handsome!" Chloe exclaimed.
"Really?"
"Oh, yes. Especially that Harry. I can tell you if I wasn't married and was twenty years younger, he would have been my date for the wedding."
"Really?" Hermione said, wanting to hear more about Harry.
"Oh yes, but he has his eye on someone. So he told me," Chloe said. "Close your eyes, dear, or I'll mess up."
"He likes someone?" Hermione said, a knot forming in her stomach.
"Likes? He said he was madly in love. He even started going off about everything he loved about this girl."
Hermione felt nauseous. Harry was in love with another girl? "What did he say?" she said, her voice cracking.
"Oh, that she was beautiful and perfect, the usual. Do you think you know her?" Chloe asked.
"I don't know," Hermione murmured. She started to tremble with jealousy.
"He described her for me. He said she was short, brown eyes, bushy hair…" Chloe ran off. "Oh, it was so romantic."
"I bet it was," Hermione said. She was trying all she could to hold her tears in. Wait a minute, she thought. I have no reason to be jealous of Harry, because there is nothing between us! Nothing! I'm marrying David. He should be the one who's jealous, not me! Still, her thoughts did nothing to comfort her emotions.
"I'm done! Look at the mirror dear," Chloe said. "You look lovely." And Hermione did. She looked absolutely beautiful, to everyone except herself. Hermione still thought she looked ugly as ever, but put on a nice face for Chloe.
"It's lovely," she said.
"Well, go!" Chloe said, pushing her forward. "Your mother's waiting for you downstairs!"
"She is? How do you know?"
"I'm a divinator," Chloe said proudly.
"But you're a muggle."
"So?"
"Is she really downstairs?" Hermione questioned.
"Yes, she is! You mustn't keep her waiting!" Chloe exclaimed. "Don't forget your veil!" she cried, tossing it to Hermione from across the room.
Hermione hurried out the door and downstairs, where she saw her mother sitting in a limousine, reading a book. She motioned to Hermione when she saw her. Hermione opened the door to the car, and they sped off to the church.
***
Harry and Ron were standing at the back of the church, waiting to take more guests in. David, his best man Arnold O'Malley, and Mr. Mercenary were greeting people at the door. Hermione's father, the soccer fanatic, was walking around, asking everyone if they knew the results of that day's soccer game.
"Are you ok?" Ron whispered to Harry.
"No," he answered, staring straight ahead at the doors of the church.
Ron sighed. "I'm sorry, but…"
"I kissed her last night," Harry said, not breaking his gaze.
"What!" Ron exclaimed.
"I kissed her," Harry repeated.
"I heard you the first time," Ron hissed. "What happened?"
"We kissed, we kissed again, and she broke away and ran."
"Oh, god," Ron sighed.
"Ron," Harry turned to him. "I've kissed a lot of girls. Cho, Hannah, Lavender, Ginny…"
"You've kissed Ginny!" Ron cried.
"I'll tell you about that later. All I'm saying is that I've kissed a lot of girls. Well, not a lot, but enough that I have a good amount of experience with girls."
"Uh, huh."
"Ron, I've never kissed a girl like I kissed Hermione. I've NEVER felt that way before. I've never felt so much towards one person; I've never been in love until her."
"Speaking of that," Ron began. "The day before she came back, you had a huge crush on her, but you were reluctant to call it love. Now you're madly in love with her. What happened?"
Harry sighed. "It was the moment I saw her that I knew. I knew I loved her, and every moment since then I've fallen harder and harder for her."
Ron looked at him. "I really don't know what to say, except that I'm really sorry and I'll be here for you. I know what it's like to lose a loved one."
Harry nodded. He closed his eyes and imagined Hermione. She was so perfect.
"Now tell me about Ginny," Ron demanded. "Did you two have a fling?"
Harry laughed. "No, it was nothing like that. It was during our fourth year, before I started dating Cho."
"What happened?" Ron asked nervously.
"She kissed me. She told me that she liked me and kissed me."
"And?" Ron inquired, pushing him forward.
"Neither of us felt anything. It was just, I don't know, lips. I knew she felt the same way by the look on her face. That was when Ginny stopped following me around and blushing when our eyes met," Harry exclaimed.
Ron laughed. "I guess you weren't what she expected." He paused. "Nothing goes the way you expect it to."
***
Hermione stood in the back room of the church with Caroline, Ginny, Maggie, and Hermione's other bridesmaid, her sixteen-year old cousin Iris.
"Are you nervous?" Ginny asked.
"Just a bit," Hermione admitted. Actually, she was scared out of her wits.
"Relax," Maggie said.
"Yeah. Hermione, you look so pretty!" Iris exclaimed.
"Thanks," Hermione said. "Oh my god! I don't have the new, old and blue thing!"
"Huh?" Maggie said, confused.
"When you get married, you have to have something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue," Hermione said.
"I didn't know you believed in Divination," Ginny joked.
"I don't. It's just tradition."
"Well, your dress is new," Ginny suggested.
"And your underwear's blue," Maggie pointed out.
Hermione glowered at her. "It's only blue because you washed my underwear with the blue clothes!"
Maggie shrugged. "I never said I was good at washing clothes."
"You need something borrowed and old," Ginny said.
"Here, Hermione, borrow my anklet," Iris said, taking a silver chain of her ankle and fastening it around Hermione's.
"And darling, this is old," Caroline said, pulling a beautiful, antique necklace out of her purse. It was silver and aged, with a diamond in the center. "I was going to give this to you later, but I think you need it now."
"Oh, mum, it's beautiful," Hermione breathed as her mother fastened it around her neck. "Where did you get it?"
Caroline smiled a soft, sad smile. "It was my friend Lily's."
***
"Where are we going?" Dr. Johnson demanded of the red-haired boy who was driving. "I have a wedding to perform!"
"I know," the boy said. "But something came up that I think is more important."
Dr. Johnson turned and looked out the window, not wanting to speak to the freckled boy and not wanting to think about the possibility that he was being kidnapped.
***
"This place is packed," Ron whispered to Harry.
"Yeah, it is." The wedding was starting in ten minutes, and all the guests had been seated. There were very few vacant seats.
"Look at David's side," Ron snickered. On the groom's side of the church, half of the guests were talking on their cellular phones. "Do want me to go and say something?"
"Allow me," Harry said, walking over to the seats. "I'm sorry, but you'll have to hang up now; the wedding's starting in a few minutes. You will also have to turn off your phones during the ceremony."
"We do? Or what?" Asked a platinum blonde woman with a obnoxious American accent.
"Or else I will escort you out of the church. Is that clear?" Harry hissed.
The blonde smiled. "Hey, you're cute. My name's Trisha, and I'm from New Jersey. Wanna get a drink after the wedding?"
Harry squashed a reflex to roll his eyes, then politely said, "I have plans later."
"Well, give me your number, hottie, and we'll get together, ok?" she asked.
"I'll give it to you later," Harry said politely as he could, then walked back to Ron.
"Do they bite?" Ron joked.
"No, but they hit on you," Harry mumbled.
Ron laughed. "You mean you've never been hit on before? Famous and handsome Harry Potter and all?"
Harry shook his head. "No, never." He looked at the front of the church and saw the priest get situated. "That's not the priest we had last night," Harry noted. "He looks kind of familiar though."
Ron shrugged. "Maybe the priest's sick and this is his replacement. Come on, let's go. It's almost time." He paused. "Harry, look!"
"What?" Harry asked, then saw what Ron was pointing at. It was David talking with Professor Snape. "They seem to be getting along. It makes sense; they're both the slime of the earth."
"What is Snape doing here anyhow?" Ron asked.
"Hermione invited him, along with all our former teachers," Harry told him. Ron just shook his head.
***
The wedding had started. Everyone took their places. David stood at the alter as the wedding party progressed toward him. The first to walk down the aisle was the flower girl and the ring-bearer, both cousins of David's. Then it was Ginny and Arnold's turn to go, then Ron and Maggie's, then Harry and Iris's.
"Have you met David?" Iris whispered as they walked towards the alter.
"Unfortunately," Harry mumbled.
"Why?"
"He's a total jerk," Harry told her.
"Poor Hermione," Iris sighed. "She was nervous in the back room; you could tell." She looked up at Harry. "Do you think she loves him?"
Harry shrugged. "I don't know." They reached the alter and separated, Harry taking his place by Ron and Iris taking hers by Maggie.
The woman at the organ started playing "Here Comes the Bride." As the entire church stood up to catch a glimpse at the bride, Harry couldn't see Hermione until she was standing next to David.
She was beautiful. Harry couldn't remember a time when she looked prettier. His knees buckled, his heart pounded, and his stomach flip-flopped just by looking at her. He wanted to walk up to her, throw her veil off, and kiss her. He felt a tear run down his cheek, and he unglued his eyes from her to look at the priest.
"We are gathered here today to join David Mercenary and Hermione Granger in holy matrimony," the priest said.
Hermione wasn't listening to the majority of the priest's speech. She had heard it before, and she couldn't concentrate. She shyly glanced at Harry. Oh, he's so handsome, she thought. Her heart sped up and she felt herself go week just by gazing at him. He turned to look at her and their eyes met, then Hermione hastily turned back to the priest. He's in love with someone, someone who's not me, she thought sadly. God, I love him so.
Hermione's thoughts froze. What did I just tell myself? I said that I loved him. Yes, you do, her heart told her. Her mind, on the other hand, was screaming at her: she was at the alter with David, for christsake! She was going to marry David.
"Do you, David," the priest began, shattering Hermione's thoughts. "Take this woman for your wife, to have and to hold, to love and shelter, for richer and poorer, in sickness and in health?"
"I do," David said calmly. He's not even scared! Hermione thought.
The priest turned to Hermione. "Do you, Hermione, take this man for your husband, to have and to hold, to love and obey, for richer and poorer, in sickness and in health?"
Hermione's mind spun. She felt so dizzy it was hard to stand up. Her thoughts went on so many things. She remembered how she wanted David to remove the 'obey' line from their vows and he refused. She remembered her and Harry's swim at the pool, how he had kissed her the night before. She remembered how she had hugged Harry at the end of their first year and acknowledged that she had subconsciously loved him then. She thought about her first kiss with Ron under the mistletoe at Christmas at the Burrow their seventh year, and how mad Harry had seemed at Ron afterwards. She was spinning, spinning…
"Miss Granger," the priest said, a small, sly smile on his face. "Do you?"
Hermione turned and looked at Harry. He was so handsome. She looked at David. He almost looked fake compared to Harry. She couldn't concentrate. The priest's words bounced in her head. "Do you?" echoed in her head again and again. "Do you?" Did she?
A/N: Haha, cliffhanger! Because I started the wedding, there will be one more part, which will be the conclusion/epilogue, unless I get REALLY bored and decide to make it longer for the heck of it. I'm still stuck on the ending. Happy ending, or sad, bittersweet ending? Ugh, I'm so confused! Thanks for your reviews guys; it's so great; I go to check my mail and I have twenty reviews! You like me, you really like me! LOL.
J.K. Rowling's: Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Ginny Weasley, Professor Severus Snape, Lily Potter, Hannah Abbott, Cho Chang, Lavender Brown
Mine: Maggie Chabert, Chloe Chabert, David Mercenary, Mr. Mercenary, Iris Granger, Arnold O'Malley
Mixed: The names of Mrs. Granger and Mr. Granger belong to J.K. Rowling, but their first names (Caroline and John) and their personalities belong to me