Secrets and Lies
PROLUGE
The room was quiet. Too quiet.
Hermione still didn't know what to say.
Ronald Weasley had just proposed to her.
Yes? No? Maybe?
What should she say?
Any one of those choices didn't seem right.
Not even no.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I…I…I," Hermione Granger tried to say no, but Ron was looking so hopeful, and she'd known him for 10 years, and it didn't seem right to say no.
"I will."
Ginny squealed in happiness. Harry Potter, however, was less than thrilled. Sure, he was proud of Ron, but he loved Hermione too.
When the visions around you
Bring tears to your eyes
And all that surrounds you
Are secrets and lies
Ron sighed in relief. He avoided Harry's eyes. He knew Harry'd be mad at him, but he also knew that Harry trusted him to do what he thought was right, and even told him to do so, and also to follow his heart.
This time he'd done both.
I'll be your strength
I'll give you hope
Keeping your faith when it's gone
The one you should call
Was standing here all along
Hermione didn't love Ron. She loved Harry. Why did she say 'yes?' Ron would've (hopefully) respected her choice. She remembered that song, the one that she used to think all the time. She remembered it went something like…
And I will take you
In my arms
And hold you right where
You belong
She didn't remember the rest. Ginny bounded up to her and said, "Who's your maid-of-honor?" She tried to smile, and feel better about this, but without much luck. Harry, she noticed, was gone.
'Til the day my life is through
This I promise you
This I promise you
She walked out to the back garden, without even answering Ginny's question. She didn't see Harry, but he saw her.
He took the blue velvet box out of his jacket, and opened it. Inside, a silver ring with a purple stone and a cluster of diamonds surrounding it, made him cry. He was too late. Ron had won.
Harry saw Hermione and shut the box promptly and stuck it back into his jacket. She looked gorgeous today, although that was nothing new.
She was wearing a peach colored ¾ sleeve V-necked blouse and a flowing white skirt and woven white sandals. And, she was wearing the diamond ring Ron had givin her.
As they met, they thought the same thing at the same time:
I've loved you forever
In lifetimes before
And I promise you never
Will you hurt anymore
Hermione felt a warm feeling go through her body. She hadn't felt this way since she and Harry had kissed in their sixth year. It had been a complete accident of course, but it still counted as Hermione's first kiss.
'But we're not kissing…' Hermione thought.
I give you my word
I give you my heart
This is a battle we've won
Harry reached over and pulled Hermione toward him. His heart pounded, saying, 'I can't be doing this….'He was betraying Ron.
They met and kissed.
And with this vow
Forever has begun
Just close your eyes
Each lovin' day
Ron ran out into the garden. Something wasn't right.
He got there just in time to see Harry slip a ring onto Hermione's left hand. He smacked his head mentally. 'Duh, stupid! You didn't even put on the right hand!'
Oh, well. It wasn't worth it anyway. They were getting married.
And know this feeling won't go away
'Til the day my life is through
This I promise you
This I promise you
Hermione glided up the aisle. Her dress, that her mother had worked so long and hard on, was beautiful.
It had ¾ sleeves, and the bodice was made of a soft looking fabric, that was absolutely perfect. The skirt, actually skirts, (there were three) were made of a simple silk. She wore a veil that was attached to a crown of roses. Her mother had passed a necklace down to her that had a sapphire in the middle of about twelve small diamonds.
As she walked slowly behind Ginny, her maid-of-honor, who was wearing her light blue dress with the square neck and thick tank straps, she felt a tingle in her stomach. Soon, the tingle became a knot, and the knot began to have a gymnast meet.
Over and over I fall
When I hear your call
Without you in my life, baby
I just wouldn't be living at all
She reached the altar without any problems. Harry smiled. Ron's lip quivered, but didn't do much else. Carolyn Granger sniffed. Hermione, for the first time, realized what she was doing. She smiled, noticing that she really wanted to.
And I will take
You in my arms
And hold you right
Where you belong
'Til the day my life is through
This I promise you, baby
"Hermione Granger, I love you," Harry said, "And I hope that you love me enough to be my wife, for as long as we both shall live."
"I do," said Hermione.
"Harry Potter, I love you. And I hope that you love me enough to be my husband for as long as we both shall live," she said softly.
"I do."
"I now pronounce you husband and wife!" cried the minister.
They kissed softly.
"Ladies and gentlemen! The new Mr. and Mrs. Harry James Potter!"
Everyone cheered. Even Ron.
Just close your eyes
Each lovin' day
And know this feeling won't go away
Every word I say is true
This I promise you
Minerva McGonagall smiled and nodded her head gently. For once, Sybill Trelawny had been right. It was a secret, a secret kept from both of them.
In Harry and Hermione's sixth year, Sybill had said that "Miss Granger and Mr. Potter get along well."
"Yes," Minerva had replied.
"I think they're in love with each other."
"Sybill! That's outrageous! Completely ridiculous! Granger? And…Potter!? Absolutely not! That's absurd!"
Sybill had just smiled tartly and Apparated, leaving Minerva with her thoughts.
Sybill was right.
I promise you
~*~
A/N: Why's all my stuff about weddings? I'll never know. Tell me if you like it!
Disclaimer: Everybody belongs to J.K. Rowling. "This I Promise You," belongs to *NSYNC, on their CD, "No Strings Attached."
The plot belongs to me.
Please Review!!
~Ashley "The Spaz Attack Queen"